Chapter 245: Pool Play
It had to be said — those ordinary-looking girls who usually wore identical uniforms every day suddenly became dazzling the moment they stepped out in their tight, dark-blue one-piece swimsuits known as "school swimsuits." The bright lights reflected off the surface of the pool, shimmering over their bare shoulders and glistening hair, creating a contrast that was almost unfair. The sound of laughter and splashing echoed through the indoor space, and even the normally dull air of school life seemed to brighten for a moment.
However, Kouya's pleasant surprise evaporated the instant his gaze fell upon Machiko walking timidly among them. His expression darkened instantly, the corners of his mouth twitching as an unpleasant memory surged back.
That awful "love letter." The one stuffed with cash.
The whole ridiculous incident from that morning replayed in his mind — Satania's loud, exaggerated shriek, the crowd's stunned silence, the whispering that followed. By now, the rumor had spiraled completely out of control. Supposedly, Kouya had been "sponsored" by a mysterious rich girl in school! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!
When Machiko saw him looking her way, she visibly panicked. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she quickly turned her head aside, pretending to be focused on her friend's conversation. Her steps quickened, carrying her to the far side of the pool as if she were escaping a predator.
"Ah… Kouya-kun's face looks so dark. He must be angry…" she whispered to herself, guilt and anxiety battling on her face.
She sneaked a glance through her bangs. Kouya was standing silently, his expression unreadable but unmistakably severe. He wasn't glaring, but the weight of that quiet frown made her knees wobble.
Relieved that he wasn't marching toward her, she exhaled shakily. "It's normal he'd be mad. Being misunderstood as… as someone's sponsor…" Her voice trailed off in shame.
She poked her index fingers together nervously, brow creasing. "I only did it to thank him properly, but now it looks even worse…"
She bit her lip. "Maybe I should apologize later…" Her mind flashed to Kouya's stoic face, and she immediately panicked. "But what if he takes that chance to demand something… indecent?"
Her imagination spiraled out of control — Kouya leaning close, whispering something shameless, his hands reaching… She gasped and shook her head violently, cheeks burning. "He's the kind of guy who takes girls to game stores and buys eroge! He's definitely a pervert!"
...
A few minutes later, Vigne and Gabriel emerged from the changing room.
At the front marched Satania, her bright red hair stuffed under a swim cap that barely held it all. She placed one hand proudly on her hip while covering half her face with the other in a ridiculous pose. Chin lifted, she strutted forward like a self-proclaimed queen surveying her kingdom instead of a student going to swimming class.
Behind her walked Takanashi Rikka. With her ahoge hidden under her swim cap, her usual chuunibyou aura had dimmed slightly, though her dramatic expression still remained. Without her eyepatch, her golden contact lens shimmered in the pool's light — a detail Kouya immediately noticed.
You're supposed to take those out before swimming, you maniac.
Following them was the always-lazy fallen angel Gabriel.
Normally, her small figure didn't stand out much, but once everyone was in swimsuits, her petite proportions became all the more obvious. With her long golden hair tucked under her cap, she suddenly looked half her usual size — like a fluffy cat trimmed down to its true, tiny form. Her swimsuit hung loosely around her, emphasizing just how small she actually was.
And her chest… well, calling it flat was being polite. Even describing them as steamed buns was pushing it.
Kouya hadn't meant to stare, but even a quick glance was enough to confirm: Gabriel was definitely the flattest girl in class. All her extra weight had probably gone to her lazy lifestyle instead.
Gabriel herself was painfully aware of this, her bored face tinged with subtle resentment. "What a cruel, anti-human subject. I wish I could just blow up the school."
Shut up! The problem isn't the subject — it's that you're shaped like a plank!
Kouya's eyes then drifted to Vigne.
In her school swimsuit, she looked almost ethereal — her proportions were perfect, her curves balanced and graceful, her skin smooth and healthy with a soft white glow. The simple navy fabric hugged her form just right, drawing quiet stares from every boy in sight.
Vigne, sensing his gaze, instinctively brought an arm across her chest and bit her lip, shooting him a sharp, embarrassed glare. "Turn around. Don't look."
"Why not?" Kouya tilted his head with feigned innocence. "Everyone's wearing the same thing."
She huffed softly, her cheeks coloring deeper as she turned away, refusing to respond.
The pool was neatly divided into lanes. Teachers supervised from the side, clipboards in hand, their expressions stern enough to prevent any "accidents." Boys and girls shared the space, but there was no chance for chaos.
Groups of girls clustered together, chatting as they stretched, laughter bubbling between them. The air was humid and filled with the sound of splashes, chatter, and faint echoes of pop songs from a nearby radio.
The class had only two boys — Kouya and the androgynous Itsuka Shido — which made them immediate topics of conversation.
"Hey, look, Kouya-kun actually has a pretty good body."
"Yeah, he's more toned than I thought."
"Wow, he's kinda good-looking, huh?"
"If he wasn't so expressionless, he'd totally be cool."
"Expressionless?"
Kouya's mouth twitched. He turned slowly and gave the giggling group a piercing stare.
They froze, cheeks flushing pink, but once he looked away, the whispers resumed — even louder this time, mixed with quiet laughter.
Girls were no better than boys when it came to curiosity, and in a group, their courage multiplied tenfold.
Kouya's lean figure stood out effortlessly. He wasn't overly muscular like a bodybuilder nor weak like a typical student. His frame was defined, balanced, and sharp — every movement fluid and natural. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, and the faint sheen of water on his skin made the muscles of his back and shoulders glisten under the light.
Even with his power suppressed, his body still radiated an aura of quiet perfection. It was no wonder girls like Kanna were drawn to his scent and warmth; there was something inherently magnetic about him.
Now, even girls who had never spoken to him before couldn't help stealing glances, whispering among themselves, giggling every time he turned his head.
"Didn't expect the lieutenant to be that fit," Satania commented in a mock-commanding tone, tapping her chin as if judging a subordinate.
"Tch. Average," Gabriel muttered without looking. She'd already seen him shirtless before — when she'd stopped by his room for snacks just as he came out of the shower. It wasn't a big deal to her.
"Enough about him already," Vigne said quietly, her face pink as she brushed wet hair from her cheek. The image of that night in the love hotel flashed through her mind — the rain, the silence, the dim light, and Kouya's bare chest. The memory made her pulse quicken.
The swimming lesson was simple: laps, form correction, and timed practice. The girls swam first while the boys waited, then switched halfway through. Everything was calm, rhythmic, and orderly — until it wasn't.
About ten minutes before class ended, the girls had all finished and were gathered at the pool's edge, waiting for the teacher's signal. Kouya and Shido were still swimming, cutting through the water with steady strokes.
And then chaos struck.
Satania, as always, opened her mouth at the worst possible time. Whatever she said was enough to make a vein bulge on Gabriel's forehead. A split second later, the fallen angel's patience snapped. She clenched a fist and slammed it into Satania's face, sending her flying backward with a splash.
The red-haired devil yelped, stumbling as her foot caught a slick puddle on the tiles. Her arms windmilled wildly as she lost balance.
At that exact moment, Kouya surfaced near the edge, grabbing the handrail to climb out.
Timing — perfect in the worst way possible.
Satania's eyes widened as she slipped, her body pitching forward directly toward him.
"W-Wait, no—!" she screamed.
And by pure reflex, she flung her arms out and grabbed onto the only thing within reach — Kouya himself.
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