The Swim Club and the Blue Fairy

"I'm so sorry... You came all this way just to try it out..."

"No, it's fine! Really!"

Our plan to sneak out of the pool without bumping into Sharona had failed, but at least she hadn't realized we were the ones who had turned the swim session into a complete disaster. She looked incredibly disappointed. A sudden accident had occurred before she could even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teach us anything. Since there were no security cameras installed in the pool area, she said there was no way to know what had actually happened.

"If only I hadn't stepped away..."

"We'll be going now."

Leaving Sharona behind as she anxiously checked on the other students, I led the way out of the pool area. It felt like a long time had passed, but the sun was still beating down brightly outside. The three of us walked quietly down the hallway.

The swim club. It actually seemed like it would have been pretty fun. Even Rain had looked so excited.

Though we seemed to be walking normally, Shine's breathing was a little ragged. I stepped closer to her side and gently took her hand. As if she had already known I was coming, the moment our hands brushed, her fingers slid between mine, interlocking tightly.

"Where should we go next?"

"Hmm..."

Shine and I put our heads together, trying to think. Where would be good?

"How about the reading club?" Rain suggested, poking her head out from behind my shoulder. Her sun-kissed golden hair tickled my arm and side. She wrapped herself around my arm like a warm scarf, her smile bright and sparkling.

"The reading club?"

"Yeah. You like reading books, Jeff."

"I do, but what about you two?"

The reading club. To be honest, it was a name that had caught my eye from the very first moment I looked at the club list. But I hadn't brought it up because Rain hated reading, and Shine didn't particularly enjoy it either. I patted Rain's head and looked back and forth between her and Shine.

They both nodded in unison.

"I don't mind, as long as you're happy, Jeff."

"Me too!"

I felt a little guilty that they were catering so much to my preferences, but we didn't seem to have many other options. We headed to the library to try out the reading club.

The library was dead silent. The only sound was the occasional rustle of turning pages. The children inside were so intensely focused that they didn't even notice us walk in. After speaking with the teacher in charge of the club, we sat down to read a book, experiencing what a typical club session was like.

But it was just too quiet.

I was fine on my own, but Rain was the problem. Less than five minutes after opening her book, her head slammed down onto the desk, and she began to snooze. In the end, we had no choice but to slip out of the library.

We visited several other clubs after that, but nothing really caught our interest. In the end, the swim club still seemed like the best option. It allowed us to move around a bit, and it was the only activity that all three of us—myself, Shine, and Rain—could actually enjoy together.

"I think the swim club is still the best choice."

At my words, Shine's face contorted. As if asking if I really had to choose swimming, she reached out and pinched my cheek, pulling it wide.

"Really? You like swimming that much?"

"Y-yeah," I mumbled, nodding anyway.

Rain started jumping up and down in excitement at my answer. I smiled softly and patted her head. Feeling pleased, she kicked her feet, sending tiny droplets of water fluttering into the air.

"Shine. Let's join the swim club."

Shine shook her head with a displeased expression. But I knew her well. If I kept pushing, she would eventually give in and do what I wanted. Though, of course, it would come with a condition.

"Look how happy Rain is."

"I-I knew it! I'm so glad I brought my swimsuit. Right? I did good, didn't I? It wasn't weird of me, was it?" Rain pulled her freshly dried swimsuit out of her pocket. It was completely crumpled, but as she shook her hands, the fabric smoothed out instantly without a single wrinkle.

I hadn't planned on returning to the swim club so soon, but it looked like that swimsuit would be put to use again after all. I nodded at Rain's words.

"Fine. But promise me one thing."

"Okay."

Shine leaned in close, whispering into my ear so no one else could hear.

"You have to go to the restroom with me."

"Okay."

I nodded. It was our little agreement. If Shine granted my favor, I had to grant hers. It required me to endure a slightly embarrassing posture, but it would be over quickly.

With our minds made up, we headed back to the swim club, this time with the genuine intention of joining.

"Oh, really? Then could you three sign this registration form?"

Sharona welcomed us back with a delighted smile. Her eyes swept over my body, then Shine's, and finally Rain's. It didn't feel unpleasant. Perhaps because it was just a professional habit of hers, there was no strange intent behind her gaze, which was probably why Shine didn't react either.

We tapped our student IDs against the tablet Sharona held out. A prompt immediately popped up on the screen.

Without hesitation, I pressed accept.

"Welcome to the swim club!" Sharona cheered happily. "We only have group lessons once a month, but the pool is open after school as well. If you're interested and have the time, feel free to drop by!"

Sharona led us toward the large benches near the pool.

"Ah. There's no water."

Rain, who had been trotting along behind Sharona, muttered quietly as she looked at the empty pool. Just as she said, the massive pool didn't have a single drop of water in it. Instead, people in work jumpsuits were inside, busy scrubbing the tiles.

"Well, you see... we suddenly couldn't use the pool water anymore," Sharona explained, recalling the incident from earlier.

The children had suddenly floated to the surface. There was nothing wrong with their bodies, but the water itself had been the issue. I vividly remembered how the pool water had begun to dye itself a strange color, radiating outward from the floating children.

"Did the kids... do that?"

"W-well, we do get students like that from time to time."

"Ugh..."

It really had been the right choice to grab Rain and Shine and get out of there as fast as possible. Seeing Sharona's reaction, I knew my instincts hadn't failed me.

"So we're giving it a thorough cleaning. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to teach you how to swim today."

Sharona chuckled softly and sat down on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bench. The moment she sat, the two massive, watermelon-sized breasts on her chest bounced heavily. Once again, my eyes were helplessly drawn to them.

As we were talking, Sharona suddenly jumped up and ran off toward the medical room upon hearing the news that the unconscious children had finally woken up. Her massive chest swayed wildly with every step.

I stared blankly at her retreating figure before looking down at my own hands.

"Hey. Rain. Shine."

"Yeah?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you two... in the pool..." I mumbled blankly, my voice trailing off. I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence, but it was obvious they both knew exactly what I was asking.

"No," Shine said flatly, shaking her head.

"Really?"

"Yes."

I turned my gaze to Rain. She flinched under my stare and squeezed her legs tightly together.

"I didn't either!"

Was that true? Even if it wasn't, it seemed best to just believe her. I gently stroked Rain's flushed cheek.

"Yeah. I know you didn't, Rain."

In the end, no classes were held that day. By the time club hours were coming to an end, a strange rumor began to spread among the children who had regained consciousness.

If you see a blue light underwater, it makes you feel amazing.

The rumor, which started with a "blue light," quickly mutated into stories of a "blue fairy." Watching the rumor transform in real-time as it passed from mouth to mouth, I silently closed my eyes. Next time I came to class, I was definitely going to wear a power-suppressing bracelet.

After club activities ended, we said goodbye to Sharona and returned to the fifth-grade classroom. Appleton was already there, waiting for us. She had been sitting with a dejected look on her face, but the moment she saw me, she stood up with a small smile.

"Jeff!"

"Appleton."

Once we sat down, Appleton showed us the photos she had taken. Most of them were landscapes, but occasionally there were shots of cute students. There wasn't a single male student to be found in her camera roll anymore.

"Which club did you three choose?"

"The swim club."

Appleton's eyes went wide at my answer. Her light blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Really? Truly?"

"Y-yeah. Why are you so excited?"

"W-well, you see... I really want to take some good photos, but I haven't found the perfect subject yet."

"And?"

"Would it be okay if I took some photos of you in your swimsuits...? Only if it's not too much trouble, of course..."

I fell silent at Appleton's request. Was this girl always like this? The twin tails that looked like handles were definitely Appleton's. I reached out and gave one of them a firm tug.

"Ow-! That hurts-!"

"Yep, you're definitely Appleton."

"Ow..."

Appleton was still Appleton. The frail, sickly girl from a few days ago had become incredibly healthy, likely thanks to the gift I had given her.

"You want to take photos?"

"Mhm."

Shine was the one who reacted to the mention of photos. She looked at me with a mysterious smile, then reached out and took Appleton's hand.

"Can you come to the swim club after school?"

"Ah. After school? Just a second!" Appleton nodded eagerly at Shine's words, grabbing her phone as she stood up to make arrangements.

I looked at Appleton's empty seat, then turned to Shine.

"Are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we stopping by the swim club after school?"

"Yeah. Appleton said she wanted to take photos."

"But Amy will worry..."

"It'll be fine if we text her. Besides, Appleton is your friend, right? We should help out a friend."

I suppose a quick visit would be fine... I fidgeted with the phone in my pocket before nodding.

Appleton, having cleared her schedule, immediately packed her things and stood up. She was practically bouncing on her heels with anticipation, clutching her camera tightly.

I sent a text to Amy, letting her know we would be about an hour late because of club activities. She replied almost instantly, giving her permission without any fuss.

With a slightly hesitant expression, I headed back to the swim club. Unlike earlier, the pool area was completely deserted.

"The water is back!" Rain shouted excitedly, looking at the filled pool. Her voice echoed loudly in the empty space.

I adjusted my bag and looked around. Sharona was nowhere to be seen. She had definitely said the pool was open after school, though...

"Come on. Let's change."

While I was looking around, Shine gently pushed my back, guiding me toward the changing room. The changing room we entered was also completely empty. Rain handed over the swimsuits she had brought earlier.

But that was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when a problem arose.

"Which one is Jeff's?" Rain tilted her head, holding two identical swimsuits in her hands.

Since they were the exact same design and size, it was impossible to tell them apart just by looking. I had no idea which one I had worn earlier either.

"Hmm..."

While I stood there with my arms crossed, debating what to do, Shine strode forward and took the swimsuits from Rain.

Suddenly, she brought one of them to her nose and began to sniff it. Shine sniffed intently, her nose pressed right against the fabric, but then she tilted her head as if something was off.

"Um..."

"Shh."

Cutting me off, Shine took a deep breath and sniffed again.

"Sniiiiiff!"

It looked as if the swimsuit was about to be sucked right up her nose. After repeating this action several times, Shine finally nodded and handed one of the swimsuits to me.

"This one is yours, Jeff."

I took the swimsuit, my fingers brushing against the fabric. For some reason, the delicate crotch area of the swimsuit felt slightly damp and warm.