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Kanade dipped her feet into the water, flinching at how cold it was. She sat like that, her feet gently swinging back and forth in the water and her hands resting on the ground she was sitting on as she waited for Honami to return.
After revealing to her friend that she wasn't sure how to swim, Honami had kindly offered to teach her. Well, it wasn't that she couldn't swim at all, but she hasn't swam since before her mothers passing, and she wasn't confident that she could remember how to.
She didn't have to wait long, Honami just had to take off the casual clothes she’d worn on top of her swimsuit. Kanade had done something similar, having worn a swimsuit under her normal jacket, which took much less time to remove.
Honami quietly sat down beside the other, letting her legs submerge in the water. The two sat side by side for a moment, the only noise being the soft sounds of the water and distant animals. Honami linked her pinky with Kanades as she turned to look at her, a patient smile on her face.
“Are you ready?” she asked, gaze flickering to the water for a short second, immediately returning to Kanades eyes.
“I…. think so” Kanade replied. She knew she was safe with Honami but she still felt nervous. Honami slid forward, more of her body submerging in the water until her shoulders were only just jutting out.
She set her hands softly on Kanades, gently pulling her forward to assist her in entering the water. Kanade tensed once she entered more of the water, her hands moving from Honamis to instead cling to the brunette's arms. Honami readjusted her hands, now resting them on kanades waist as she supported her weight.
The two stayed like that for a moment, Honami keeping the both of them afloat, as Kanade adjusted to the feeling of being in the water. It was cold and wet, the feeling of it surrounded her body, and it was a feeling she was not used to. Despite this, it felt almost calming.
The feeling of floating, her feet not touching anything as they gently swayed back and forth. The way the water felt around her wasn't the only thing that seemed to calm her. Honamis soft hands were placed on either side of her waist, and the weight of them grounded Kanade in a way, keeping any panic from her mind.
Kanade dragged her eyes away from the view of their legs, subtly moving beneath the water, almost entwined, and instead met Honamis. Her eyes were a blue to which the water couldn't compare. Kanade loosened her grip on Honamis arms, her hands moving up to rest gently on her shoulders instead. After a few more seconds of a comfortable silence, Honami cleared her throat and spoke.
“Do you think you could float on your own?” Honami asked. Kanade nodded hesitantly, and Honami nodded in return and began to move away. She didn't go far, taking Kanades hands from her shoulders to hold them gently in hers. Without the support provided by Honamis hands, Kanade almost immediately went under.
Her senses were immediately flooded by water, and her eyes shut on instinct. She could hear that Honami said something, but the water blocked her ears. She felt soft hands she'd grown familiar with wrap around her, pulling her from the water. Honami helped her back onto the land they were sitting on before, supporting her weight once more. Her hair was heavy on her head, stray bits sticking to her face.
Honami placed her hands on either side of Kanades face, looking at her intently. She seemed to just be checking if she was alright, but the attention made her flush. “Are you alright, Kanade? I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have made you do that so soon” Honami had a clear look of worry on her face as she fussed over Kanade.
Kanade lifted a hand and placed it on top of one of Honamis, leaning into the touch. She saw the pink that rose in Honamis cheeks, and wondered if she felt as warm as Kanade felt in the moment, despite the cold water clinging to their bodies. “Im fine Honami, just… cold and wet” Kanade said in an attempt to quell Honamis worries, moving a stray bit of hair from her face.
Honami took said stray piece of hair and tucked it behind Kanades ear, her hand coming down to gently caress Kanades cheek. “That's good,” Honamis worried expression eased, a soft smile growing on her face. “I'm glad”.
Honami continued to hold Kanades face in her hands, a comfortable silence growing as the two girls looked at each other. Once the silence began to grow awkward and a matching blush started to rise on each girl's face, Honami let go and stood.
She offered a hand down to Kanade, which was taken almost immediately.and used to pull Kanade to her feet. Honami dropped her friend's hand and rushed to grab one of the towels she had brought with her. Grabbing the towel, she threw it around Kanades shoulders and let her begin to dry herself off.
Once dry, Kanade noticed that Honami had just been standing there as opposed to drying herself. She picked up the other towel and offered it to Honami. “You'll get sick….” Kanade said, voice laced with worry. Honami stared at the towel for a moment, before taking it in her hands.
“Thank you” She replied with a smile on her face. Beginning to dry her hair, Honami looked towards Kanade. “We…. might have to do this again some other time” Honami said, her voice soft.
“I'd like that” Kanade replied, a smile on her face and red on her cheeks. And she would, even if she never learnt how to swim, she’d like it, just because it's with Honami.