Yuko's POV:

It's been a long time since I've visited a swimming pool...

The last time was during my freshman year since this is my physical education class...

"Yuko-chaaan!" I turned to my back and I saw Kokoro coming towards me. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yup! And I'm not gonna let you win! Hehehe!"

Today, we're in a community pool, as I granted Kokoro's request to help her swimming club in holding a community program that will teach swimming methods, and the scouting club will join them...but not without a competition to learn who swims the fastest.

And little did Kokoro knows that I've already listed this activity as part of documentation requirement for her promotion to Tenderfoot Scout. I'll bet she's gonna be shocked when I tell her by the end of this activity.

"Is this fun? You're not only helping me promote swimming to my neighbors, you're also helping my rank advancement." Then Kokoro smirks at me. "Hmm...well, if you all fare well, you can qualify to join the swimming club."

"Of course, we will! Hmph!" I pouted at her. "Don't underestimate us! We've accepted your challenge, and we're not gonna run away from it!"

Sakura, Aoi, and I will represent the scouting club, as Kokoro tags along two of her friends from the swimming club to join us: Emika and Ichika. I know that Kokoro is a medalist in several swimming individual events...mostly gold, but she's not the only swimming royalty. Emika and Ichika also make their own records in the competition...making podium finishes on their participated events.

"Hi, Yuko-san. Thanks for taking care of Kokoro-san in your club." Emika shakes my hand and smiles at me. "She's much more happy than ever since she join the scouting club."

"No problem, sis." And then I whispered to her while Kokoro returns to the changing room. "But...umm...can you do me a favor and teach me how to do a simple swimming style? I'm only telling this to you because I'll be embarrassed if Kokoro learns that I can't swim!"

"Oh! I see. Alright, I'll teach you." Emika agrees with me. "Then, I'm gonna tell my friends to distract Kokoro from seeing you. Hehehe!"

"Thanks! I promise that I'm gonna treat you to something in return! Hehehe!"

As members from our clubs arrive, I embark on a swimming crash course with Emika. I know that Sakura and Aoi is good in swimming, but for me...I'm expecting some hard times ahead.

You see...I did take swimming course last year...but I barely passed it. And right now...gulp...I forgot the only swimming style that make me through the course, backstroke! I've got to learn the ropes again!

Ichika's POV:

"Could you cover Kokoro for me? I'm teaching her friend how to swim."

Emika sent a message in our group chat. I have no idea how I can distract Kokoro...but I can think of one. Hmm...this can also be an opportunity to hangout with her...as well as with my new friends!

I've already met Sakura and Aoi when I arrived at the community pool. I've been oriented on how our club president fares well in their's. I'm so proud of Kokoro!

"So...what's next for her?" I'm interested with her progress on Scouting. "If there's anything that needs a helping hand, just let me know. Don't worry, I'll do my best not to be biased. Hehehe!"

"No worries, you won't do anything for that. Hehehe!" Aoi assures me. "I only need your help to measure Kokoro in our routine physical fitness test."

"You see, we had conducted the exam a month ago as part of our requirements." Sakura adds as I glance through the list that she holds. "And right now, you can help us track her progress."

"Okay, no problem. But I'm must warn you. If Kokoro is great in swimming, much more when it comes to the ones in your list. Some of which are our warmups."

"Hehehe! We learned to never underestimate her."

As Sakura comments with my warning, Kokoro finally emerges from the changing room, already prepared for today's activities with her swiming trunks on.

"Hey, Koko-chan! Let's start with our warmups!" I invited my jolly friend. "And it will be a good timing, since you're having a physical fitness test, I hear."

"Hmm! You've tricked them, do you?" Kokoro pouts at me. "Yuko promised that I'm gonna do that after this! That's not fair! Hmph!"

"Hehehe! My bad!" I scratched my head in embarrassment. "But hey, Sakura and Aoi will gonna get a glimpse on our daily routine."

"Sigh...alright." Kokoro becomes energetic again. "Let's do this thing! Hehehe!"

Let's see here...the exam is composed of pushups, situps, sit-and-reach...and a some swimming. I see...I'm starting to learn why Kokoro wants to do this swimming collab between our club and the Scouting club.

"Oh! By the way, I heard that the dates for the regional swimming competition were announced." Kokoro tells me as she performs some situps. "Do we have some intel on our future rivals? Hehehe!"

"Well...the Yoshida Academy Swimming Troope is the team to watch, they said." I revealed to her. "Their team captain has improved her performance since last year, so you...or we better watch out."

"Noted!" Kokoro's tone of voice become a bit serious. "Since the competition's still at least three months away, you can just practice our skills at home. Then we can decide when we're going to get intense. I don't want you all to be pressured."

"Roger, sis!"

And just as I expected, Kokoro finishes  her physical exam with flying colors. In fact, I can see that her results are far more better than the previous test. Hehehe! That's Kokoro for you!

With Kokoro's exam done and all...I wonder if that will delay whatever Emika doesn't want to happen.

Emika's POV:

"Huh? I think you don't need more help from me after all."

I'm satisfied right now. Earlier, Yuko wants my assistance to perform backstroke. At first, I thought that it will gonna take long to teach her since she's literally struggling to float over the water...and that will be embarrassing since our program will start within an hour...

But 45 minutes into our training, Yuko can able to perform backstroke, at least she's slowly learning. But with the program's coming up, I fear that I won't be able to track her progress...

"Well, you did it. You can perform backstroke. Though...we don't have much time to hone up your skills." I'm worried about Yuko. "Are you gonna be alright with this?"

"Oh! No problem about it." Yuko smiles at me as assurance. "I only need a refresher so I can at least finish the course later. Thanks for the lift. Hehehe!"

"You're welcome. I'm glad that I helped you." Though still worried, I respect her decision. "I hope that you won't get drowned later. Kokoro always panics when someone sinks to the bottom of the pool."

"Hehehe! No worries. I'll try my best!"

Yuko goes back with her friends in the scouting club, while I headed to Kokoro and Ichika as they prepare to host the outreach program.

"Oh! Emika-chan!" Kokoro is the first to notice me coming. "Where have you been? We're looking for you."

"Hehehe! My bad." Then I make an excuse to cover Yuko's training with me. "Well, I took a phone call from my parents because they wanted to check on me."

"No worries. We've expected that." Good thing Kokoro knows my parent's routine call. "They always worry about you when we go to places farther than your home, right?"

People have gathered on the benches beside the pool, as program begins. By the way, what we're covering in this outreach is simple steps to float over the water.

"Hello, guys! Thank you for joining us today!" Kokoro greets our guests with our bright smile. "You better carry your lifevest or any flotation devices with you because you're gonna need it for our exercises today."

Our club president immediately plunges into the pool...and Aoi from the Scouting club follows her. The two girls begins to teach our guests simple swimming techniques: the dog paddle style, and the eggbeater style...

"Alright, guys. The dog paddle style is the simplest of them all. This is the key to enjoying plunging into the world of swimming. We're gonna start with simply float over the water..."

Despite being the best swimmer here in Yasuda City, Kokoro is teaching her neighbors with the easiest trick to swim. I'm proud of her...just as her list of achievements grow longer and longer...she's simply keep herself cheerful and humble to them.

Let's see...after some warmup of taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling under the water, the dog paddle training starts...the learners incline a bit towards the water, extending their arms and feet...cupping their hands...and they begin to pull water towards their themselves through their arms and hands...and kicking their legs out while keeping their necks and head above water...

When someone has trouble mastering this technique, Kokoro goes to him, helps him to relax...teaches him the steps according to the learner's pace...huh?

Yuko is just beside me...and she watches intently on Kokoro's little swimming class. Perhaps, she trying to learn the swimming techniques that this program will teach as backup for later...but she's afraid to go into the water with the learners.

"Yuko-san?"

"Hehehe! Sorry! It's just in case." Yuko seems to read my mind and giggled. "But don't you worry about me. I've got this."

Oh well, I admire the president of the Scouting club for her determination. I heard from Kokoro that she led her club to be the most decorated scout patrols in the country...just like Kokoro with our club. For some reason, I'm rooting for Yuko for the swimming competition later. There's one catch though...everyone of us will participate on that competition.

And then, Kokoro energizes the mood of our guests...

"Alright, guys! After Sakura-chan teaches you how to do the egg beater style, you better watch out for the much awaited exhibition match between the Swimming club and the Scouting club! Oooh! I'm so excited! Hehehe!"