Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Outsider Learning to Swim
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Si-a and Yoo So-mi's reserved parasol was tucked away in the corner of the swimming pool.
It wasn't completely out of sight...
But it was a spot where people's gazes rarely lingered.
So, I was quietly impressed by their choice.
If they had picked a spot just because it was close to the pool, there might have been a line of onlookers crowding around our parasol to catch a glimpse of them.
"Oh! Yi-an, you made it? Feeling better now?"
As I arrived at the parasol, Yoo So-mi greeted me from her lounge chair, sunglasses on and lying back.
...
I'd thought it was impressive even standing up, but lying down, it was still that size.
No offense to her for asking if I was okay, but it felt like I might not be okay again soon, so I quickly looked away.
After arriving at the parasol, I unpacked my stuff while chatting idly with Yoo So-mi.
A little later, Han Si-a returned from the showers.
She'd gone wrapped in a bath towel, but now she was just holding it in her hand?
I'd assumed she'd wrapped it to avoid stares.
So I asked Han Si-a about the towel.
But Yoo So-mi jumped in and swiftly changed the subject, leaving me without an answer.
.
.
.
Before heading into the pool, we first decided on our guidelines for behavior inside.
We couldn't bring smartphones into the pool area, so we started with where to meet if we got separated,
Locations of the first-aid stations, where the lifeguards were, and other safety-related matters.
Han Si-a and Yoo So-mi were first-year high schoolers, and they'd probably always come to places like this with their parents.
But now it was just us students, so we had to handle safety ourselves.
There were no parents around our parasol, eyes wide open, watching to make sure their kid didn't get hurt.
And the most important part: even though the three of us came to have fun, one of us had to stay at the parasol to guard our stuff.
Smartphones, Yoo So-mi's sunglasses, wallets— we had a lot of valuables,
And if we got caught up playing in the pool... we might come back to find everything stolen, with no way home.
So we decided to take turns watching the bags,
And Han Si-a volunteered first.
"You two go have fun first. I've been wanting to lie on this lounge chair since earlier. Now that I can finally relax, it's fine if I hit the pool later."
Since Han Si-a took the first shift, I got to head to the pool with Yoo So-mi.
.
.
.
This place had a kiddie pool, a youth pool, and the main pool.
The kiddie pool was... exactly as it sounded, water only up to your knees, so actual swimming was impossible.
Plus, with kids and their parents, it was the most crowded spot.
That said, if you just wanted to dip your feet, it might surprisingly be a decent choice.
The youth pool had a depth of just under 1 meter.
So its main users were elementary kids, and it was the noisiest of the three.
About 80% of the noise in the whole place probably came from there.
Still, if you only cared about water depth, it seemed like the best spot for casual fun—
As long as you could tolerate the elementary school racket.
Finally, the main pool. It boasted the largest size and deepest depth in the Han River outdoor swim complex.
Depth: 1.4 meters.
Elementary kids couldn't touch the bottom, so entry was restricted, and lifeguards kept a sharp eye on it.
Yoo So-mi and I were tall enough to enter no problem, but if Han Si-a tried, they'd probably warn her.
The water would come right up to her chin if she stood.
Separate from the depth, people swam proper laps in lanes here, so it wasn't great for playing around.
So, youth pool it was, even if it was noisy?
"Yi-an, let's go!! Wanna race to see who swims better?"
But Yoo So-mi dashed off toward the main pool with sparkling eyes, so I followed her there.
...
For the record, I lost the swim race.
The last time I'd seriously swum was over ten years ago, pre-regression, so I'd forgotten how.
I'd planned to show off some freestyle, but my arms and legs flailed independently, and I barely moved forward.
In the end, I flipped onto my back and did backstroke,
But even that couldn't match Yoo So-mi's toe.
"Yi-an, you're worse at swimming than I thought? First time I've seen someone do backstroke in a race."
"No, I'm more surprised you're that good. Did you take lessons or something?"
"Yeah! When I was little, I went to swim classes holding hands with So-ha. Up until middle school, but then my chest kept growing..."
She must have had it tough.
Getting those kinds of looks as a kid would've made swim classes hard.
Having to quit something she loved because of body changes.
I silently pitied Yoo So-mi.
...
But her next words were nothing like what I'd expected.
"It kept growing, and swimming got harder. I thought having boobs would make me float nicely, but they threw off my balance, added drag, and made it tougher to go forward, you know?"
"...Never would've imagined that reason."
"Right? So even you're worse than me, lugging around these swimming obstacles. From now on, let me teach you how to swim!"
Truth is, I already knew how to swim.
I knew it all; my body just wouldn't cooperate after so long.
But we came to the pool to have fun— I couldn't go off alone to practice.
Plus, from her skills earlier, she was pretty good, so it'd actually help.
So I gladly accepted Yoo So-mi's offer.
.
.
.
"Alright, let's start with kicking while holding my hand in the water? You seem fine with backstroke, so no need to get comfy with the water first, right?"
"Hmm... How about we jump straight to strokes? Do we really need to practice kicking?"
Yoo So-mi, now my swim coach, had me start by holding her hand and kicking in the water.
I wanted to practice freestyle sooner and suggested skipping kicks, but...
"No way~♫ Most of your propulsion in swimming comes from kicks. If that's weak, even perfect strokes won't be fast."
So I held both her hands and started kick practice in the pool.
But since the main pool was deep, Yoo So-mi had to raise her arms to shoulder height to hold my hands.
"See? Your kick form is a mess! That way, you waste energy without going forward. Let me show you first— copy me step by step!"
Oh... I'd never actually learned proper kicking technique before.
I'd just kicked the water vaguely and hoped to move forward.
Fascinated by this new knowledge, I decided to watch her demo closely.
Yoo So-mi took me to the edge of the main pool and floated horizontally, gripping the side.
To show her leg movements underwater.
Her snow-white skin gleamed under the sunlight through the blue water,
And her curvaceous lower body, rivaling artwork,
Was exposed beautifully above the water, barely covered by her white bikini with less fabric than regular underwear.
Plus, thanks to the main pool's depth, her lower half was right in front of my face.
...
Honestly, I lost confidence in focusing on her 'kicking technique' lesson.
"Okay! Focus on my movements now— watch the sequence of my body. Start with my waist?"
Yoo So-mi kicked vigorously.
Her waist and hips shook powerfully with each motion.
Watching that plump, water-slicked flesh jiggle and change shape,
I recalled the dance practice when I'd smacked her butt.
Her sweat-damp pants clung to her skin, so my palm had sunk right into her soft flesh.
Staring at this pale, quivering skin up close, the sensation from that day felt vividly alive in my palm again.
"See, when kicking, it's not just your legs— move your whole thigh like taking big steps! Next, focus on the knees."
I shifted my gaze to her knees as instructed.
But the desire already surging inside me wouldn't stop, and I was grateful for the main pool's sufficient depth.