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Her body cuts through the water, fluid and easy. Around her, bubbles slowly rise to the surface, small sparkles in the expanse of blue.
Her hair - now freed from its normal ponytail - swirls around her like a mermaid's, brown serving to accentuate her tan skin. With a small laugh (or what passes for a laugh underwater) she does a small flip, rolling over once in the water before her feet touch the pool wall. The tile feels smooth against her toes as she pushes off again, a blissful smile crossing her face.
Her head breaks the surface and she gasps for air, sucking in a hasty breath before she returns to the watery depths.
The pool is her home, in all its chlorinated glory. Even if it's not her actual home, with Yuta and her parents, it's still comforting enough.
It still feels as though, if she were to close her eyes, she'd open them to see real sunlight, not the washed-out fluorescent of the gym.
It's a paltry substitution for freedom, but a welcome gesture nonetheless.
"Asahina."
Aoi breaks the surface, grasping the edge of the pool for support. She hoists herself out of the pool, chlorinated droplets splattering across the tile.
Sakura offers her a towel, the faintest smile playing on her face. "That was quite impressive."
"Thanks!" Aoi chirps, taking the towel from Sakura's calloused hand. She rubs it over her hair, ignoring the way her brown locks stick up randomly, and proceeds to drape it around her neck. "You know I love to swim!"
"That I do," Sakura replies, and yep, she's definitely happy.
That is, if the kiss she places on Aoi's forehead is any indication.
"Sakura!" Aoi playfully protests, swatting half-heartedly at the other girl's head. "Meanie."
Sakura shoots her a mischievous grin - or rather, what passes for mischievous, since Sakura is typically fairly stoic - and ruffles Aoi's hair, which does nothing to help the mess.
"Hey!" Aoi whines, but she's smiling too. "You suck."
Sakura merely shoots her a faint smile, striding away at a fast clip.
With Aoi's clothes.
"Sakura!"