Teacher Bai's Teaching

The other male contestants climbed out of the pool one after another, wiping the water from their bodies with resigned expressions, without the slightest unwillingness to accept defeat. Competing on the same stage as a freakishly talented player like that, they had lost so thoroughly they could not even muster any resentment.

Kanzaki Ryuji walked over to Bai Mu's side. Seeing the boy's calm, unruffled expression, as though he had merely gone through the motions, he could not help shaking his head helplessly, his voice filled with rueful amusement.

"Honestly, being in the same class as you is really stressful."

He considered himself one of the most disciplined among his peers—well-rounded in both academics and athletics, steady-tempered, and always somewhat confident. But ever since getting to know Bai Mu, that confidence had been crushed again and again. Whether it was strategy and planning, club competitions, or now physical fitness and swimming, Bai Mu had utterly outclassed him in every respect.

Hearing that, Bai Mu casually took a towel and dried his wet hair. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he teased, relaxed yet slightly wicked, "Then you need to train more."

Those four simple words were plain yet piercing, instantly leaving Kanzaki speechless.

Shibata Hayate, who had just climbed out of the pool and was panting from exhaustion, burst out laughing at that. Then he let out a deep sigh, feeling it all too deeply.

"It's not just a matter of training more. We'll probably never catch up to that absurd boss in this lifetime!"

As everyone chatted and joked around, the competition area was quickly set in order again, and the PE teacher started the girls' speed race. Compared to the fierce, hyper-competitive clash of titans in the boys' group, the girls' competition was much gentler. There were no exaggerated gaps in speed, and the entire race proceeded steadily and orderly.

Quite a few boys stopped to watch, their gazes instinctively falling on the girls in swimsuits. The pleasing sight instantly soothed the frustration of having just been utterly crushed.

Bai Mu also lifted his eyes and glanced over, his gaze immediately settling on Ichinose Honami in the center of the group.

Without her school uniform concealing her, her simple, conservative swimsuit accentuated her tall, well-proportioned figure and graceful curves, radiating youthful energy. The gentle, reliable class representative usually carried herself with had given way to a touch more girlish liveliness and innocence, making her especially eye-catching.

However, compared to the other girls' practiced strokes, Ichinose's movements were clearly much more awkward. Her paddling rhythm was a mess, she repeatedly messed up her breathing, and her speed lagged far behind. Throughout the race, she could barely maintain a float, making it clear she had almost no foundation in swimming.

When the round ended, Ichinose barely managed to finish the course. She climbed out of the pool, panting, her cheeks flushed and wet strands of hair clinging to the side of her neck, looking adorably disheveled.

She was not discouraged in the slightest. She merely flicked the water droplets from her hand, her eyes carrying a hint of helpless self-awareness.

Just then, Bai Mu walked over at an unhurried pace. His gaze was gentle as he casually asked, "You're not joining the speed race?"

Ichinose turned at his words and met Bai Mu's clear gaze. She smiled awkwardly, her tone slightly shy. "My swimming is pretty average, and I'm really not familiar with the basics. If I joined, I'd only hold everyone back, so I won't join in on the speed race."

At that point, she seemed to think of something. A flicker of anticipation crossed her eyes, and after hesitating for two seconds, she gathered her courage and asked, "Bai Mu, you're so good at swimming... could you spare some time to teach me? I want to use class time to properly practice the basics."

The request was not excessive. It was simply classmates helping each other out, but to those around them, it instantly took on a different meaning.

Not far away, Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Hayate had been watching the fun and chatting together. The instant they heard that, both of them froze.

They exchanged a remarkably tacit glance, their eyes instantly lighting up with gossiping excitement as matching knowing, suggestive smiles curled across their lips.

The next second, without needing to say a word, the two naturally slung their arms around each other's shoulders and quietly turned to leave. They deliberately cleared out a wide empty area, forcibly creating a private space just for the two of them.

That smooth, seamless retreat, as if they were terrified of disturbing someone, was the very pinnacle of gossiping etiquette.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Mu caught sight of the two fleeing at lightning speed, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He silently complained to himself, These high schoolers really have top-tier imaginations.

He was clearly just teaching a skill, and Ichinose merely wanted to improve her swimming basics. Yet these people had somehow turned it into an intimate, private moment. It was truly exasperating.

The other students nearby also quickly understood the situation and tactfully dispersed. Some went to practice in the shallow end, while others gathered together to chat. No one came over to intrude anymore.

Even Shiratori Chihiro, who had always quietly stayed at Ichinose's side and was intensely possessive of her, unusually did not step forward to stop them. She merely stood some distance away, silently watching the two of them, her eyes carrying a subtle emotion.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, they all tacitly accepted this private one-on-one training session.

Bai Mu helplessly shook his head, but ultimately nodded. "Sure. I'll teach you the basic movements."

"Thank you so much, Bai Mu!" Ichinose's eyes instantly lit up. Her brows curved with her warm, healing smile, and the gratitude in her expression was impossible to hide.

The two walked into the shallow end one after the other. The water came just above their waists, making it safe and suitable for a beginner to practice.

Bai Mu did not slack off in the slightest. With great patience, he broke down the basic movements, carefully explaining everything step by step—from holding one's breath, breathing, and kicking, to how to exert force when pulling with the arms. His speech was calm and his explanations clear and methodical.

"The mistake beginners make most easily is with breathing. Don't lift your head to breathe—it'll throw off your balance. Just turn to the side and use that momentum."

"You don't need brute force when kicking. Use your calves and ankles, relax your muscles, and remember—the stiffer you are, the easier it is to sink."

Ichinose listened with exceptional focus, obediently nodding and committing every point to memory. Then she slowly began trying to practice according to Bai Mu's instructions.

The theory was easy enough to understand, but putting it into practice was not so simple. As a complete beginner, she found it difficult to get the rhythm of exerting force right in one go. After trying repeatedly several times, she still kept making mistakes.

Left with no choice, Ichinose looked at Bai Mu awkwardly and quietly asked for help. "I still can't quite get the hang of it..."

Bai Mu did not waste any time. He stepped closer and began correcting her movements at close range.

There was limited space beneath the water, and the distance between them instantly narrowed until they were nearly standing against one another.

Ichinose had already felt embarrassed from her repeated mistakes, and the close contact made her cheeks flush crimson at once. Her heart began racing beyond her control, and even her breathing softened. Her entire body radiated the bashful innocence of youth.

Her conservative swimsuit could not conceal her graceful figure, and from this close angle, her excellent proportions stood out especially clearly. Her youthful, healthy girlish form was strikingly eye-catching.

The clear pool water swayed gently, and amid the rippling waves, the hazy light and shadows made the girl before him look even more captivating.

Bai Mu's self-control far surpassed that of his peers, and his temperament had long since matured into something calm and steady. Yet even he could not help feeling a slight stir in his heart under such close visual pressure, his body temperature quietly rising.

The occasional unavoidable contact beneath the water, the soft and delicate sensation coming through clearly, added a subtle air of intimacy to the scene.

No matter how calm and restrained Bai Mu was, faced with such close physical contact and such a striking sight, his body honestly produced an instinctive physiological reaction.

Fortunately, they were in the swimming pool at the moment, and the cool water perfectly concealed his awkwardness. The cover provided by the water completely hid the change.

If they had been on land, without the pool water to conceal it, the onlookers gossiping from afar would definitely have spotted that subtle change at a glance. Then there would have been another round of uninhibited teasing and heckling.

Bai Mu forced himself to steady his mind, cast aside his distracting thoughts, and focus on correcting her movements. His fingertips precisely adjusted Ichinose's arm position and the angle at which she exerted force through her waist and abdomen. His tone remained calm and steady. "Relax your body, lower your center of gravity, and follow my rhythm when you exert force."

"Mm!" Ichinose obediently responded. Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a barely noticeable tremble of shyness as she tried to calm her frantic heartbeat and earnestly cooperated with the practice.

Not far away, Shibata Hayate watched in secret with great interest and quietly remarked, "This scene is way too pleasing to the eye! It feels exactly like a school romance drama!"