The three jump into the water with a large splash. Daiki immediately begins swimming back to the surface. As Hikigaya sinks for a moment, he opens his eyes to see Kitaro keeping his eyes tightly shut and with a look of fear. Hikigaya notices but swims to the surface not thinking too much into it. As soon as he comes back up, he doesn't begin swimming away. He pauses for a moment causing the others to look at him with confusion.
Hisana "Kitaro…"
She says quietly as Chizuru begins to worry. Before she can say anything, Hikigaya shouts.
Hikigaya "He's not coming back up!"
Before diving back down under the water. The others get looks of concern as Goda instantly dives into the pool. Shiori and Touma get close to the edge of the pool ready to act when Goda quickly comes back up with Kitaro. Kitaro coughs and panics a little as Goda brings him to the edge of the pool so he can grab onto it. Kitaro does, still coughing and with his eyes closed. Hikigaya rubs his back as Goda climbs out of the pool.
Goda "Go get me a towel please."
He says to Shiori. She nods and rushes back into the locker rooms. Hikigaya holds onto Kitaro's back for a moment more as he catches his breath. A few moments later, Kitaro is sitting on the bleachers facing the pool, wrapped in a towel. Goda sits next to him in silence for a moment.
Goda "Are you alright?"
Kitaro nods softly with a look mixed with embarrassment and frustration. Goda stares at him for a moment before patting him on the shoulder softly and getting up. The others give him space as Hisana sits gently next to him with a concerned look.
Hisana "Kito… Why didn't you tell him you couldn't swim? Why didn't you tell me..?"
Kitaro doesn't look at her for a moment before looking down.
Kitaro "I didn't want you to think badly of me. You look up to me so much, I wanted to make sure I filled the pedestal you've put me on."
He says softly. Hisana has a sad look before she latches her arms onto him, crying.
Hisana "You big dummy! I almost died because of me!"
She rocks him back and forth aggressively as he gets an irritated look.
Kitaro "I didn't almost die and it wasn't because of you. Besides, you're the big dummy here."
He says softly. She lets him go and gives him a pouty face with tears in her eyes. Soon after that, Goda asks him if he'd like to try and learn to swim. Kitaro agrees so Goda begins teaching him. He starts in the shallow end and makes Kitaro go deeper until he begins to sink a little. He panics a bit but Goda is right there and lifts him up over the water. He coughs as the others giggle a bit. Eventually, Kitaro is able to doggy paddle in the deep water. He gets a smile on his face as he roughly swims from one side to the others. Hisana watches and blushes with a big smile on her face.
Hisana "You're so cute, Kitaro."
Eventually, the swimming unit comes to an end.
One weekend at Kenji's Ramen Shop, Ryuji and Lucy are in their server uniforms, bussing tables and serving food. Eventually, the shop closes up and they change out of their uniforms and into their street clothes.
Kenji "Thanks again you two. Sorry to do this to you again."
Lucy "Don't worry about it dad. We love helping out."
Ryuji nods happily. Kenji smiles.
Kenji "Alright, well I'm taking your mother out tonight so you'll have the house to yourselves. You better behave!"
He says teasingly. Lucy and Ryuji blush as Lucy gets flustered.
Lucy "Dad!"
Kenji "I know! I know! I'm going!"
He says as he begins to walk away. Lucy exhales softly and looks at Ryuji who is still blushing. She gets a smirk as she grabs onto his arm.
Lucy "He is right though. We'll have the whole house all to ourselves."
She whispers into his ear. He jumps back a bit, blushing more intensely.
Ryuji "Lucy!"
She giggles before punching him in the arm playfully.
Lucy "Jeez, I'm just kidding! Get your mind out of the gutter!"
She laughs while blushing as Ryuji pouts. They eventually make their way to Lucy's house and begin hanging out.
Lucy "We should watch that new horror movie that came out. I heard it's, like, super bad haha!"
Ryuji nods happily as he takes a seat on the couch. Before he can even really get settled in, however, Lucy quickly takes a seat right next to him and leans against him. Ryuji is surprised and blushes as she snuggles up next to him letting out a sigh of comfort.
Lucy "Ahh~ this is a good spot."
They turn on the movie and begin watching. After a bit, Ryuji slowly looks down at Lucy on his shoulder, still blushing.
Ryuji 'She's been so affectionate lately. Ever since I…'
He thinks back to the day he confessed his love for Lucy and the moment she turned him down. He looks a bit sad.
Ryuji 'But despite that, she has only gotten more touchy. I like it, but… I wish she would like me back…'
Lucy "Hey Ryuji, I'm bored."
He is surprised a bit by her sudden words. She leans off of him and turns to face him. She gives him a nervous look while blushing a bit. He begins blushing at her cute face.
Lucy "I think it might be fun if we maybe… made out..?"
She stares at him innocently for a moment before he freaks out and falls over the edge of the couch, blushing intensely. Lucy freaks out a bit and shoots over the edge of the couch watching him on the ground. She begins to laugh.
Lucy "Relax Ryuji, I was only joking! I can't believe you reacted like that, haha!"
She laughs loudly as Ryuji gets up off the floor, still blushing as he fixes himself back on the couch. Lucy composes herself a bit but still has a smile on her face.
Lucy "Now that I think about it, you've always reacted that way growing up. Anytime I mentioned kissing or anything like that, you always got so red and nervous. I guess I really was that dense to never realize it."
She says softly. Ryuji stops blushing and stares at her, surprised by her words. She doesn't look at Ryuji as she sits in silence now.
Lucy "Ryuji, if I did mean it, what I said earlier… what would you have said?"
She looks at him softly but seriously, not joking this time.
Ryuji "You mean about… making out?"
She nods softly. He pauses and looks away before answering.
Ryuji "I mean, if that's what you wanted, then I guess I wouldn't mind."
He is then surprised when he notices Lucy beginning to cry. He panics a bit, waving his hands in defense.
Ryuji "I-I'm sorry! What did I say? I didn't mean to-"
Lucy "You're too good for me…"
She says with a smile while tears roll down her cheeks.
Lucy "You've always been so nice to me. You've always taken care of me and yet I… I never did anything for you…"
She continues to cry as she speaks. Ryuji watches in silence, unsure of what to say. She laughs to herself a little.
Lucy "The best I could manage was turning you down then messing with your feelings. Mock you for liking me because I couldn't believe someone as caring and wonderful as you could ever love someone like me. I haven't earned it… All I've done is played with your emotions… Why do you let me do that..? I haven't earned it… I'm… I'm such a bad person..!"
She says now crying more. Ryuji quickly grabs her shoulders causing them both to fall off the couch and onto the ground, Lucy underneath Ryuji. She cries as she covers her eyes with her hands, sobbing a bit. Ryuji sweats a bit as he pants over her, his hands by her head on the ground holding himself over her. He stays in silence for a moment before gritting his teeth a bit.
Ryuji "You're not a bad person! You have earned it!.."
He pauses again. Lucy slowly moves her hands away from her face and looks at him with tears in her eyes. He relaxes his muscles a bit and calms down some.
Ryuji "I like the way we are. I like the way I feel about you."
Lucy looks to the side with an upset look.
Lucy "I'm such a coward. I never try in anything I do because I'm so scared of change. If I try and succeed or fail, then that means something could change. What happens if it doesn't work out? That's why I said those things despite…"
She looks back up at him with shiny eyes.
Lucy "Despite actually being in love with you..!"
She says before suddenly Ryuji kisses her. She is surprised for a moment before calming down and falling into the kiss. They hold for a moment before he gently pulls back. He looks nervous and shy as he blushes. She does the same.
Ryuji "If you're too scared to take the chance, then maybe we should take it together and no matter the outcome, you will never have to be alone."
He says softly. She begins crying again while nodding softly with a slight smile. Eventually, the night comes to an end as the two longtime friends embrace their feelings together.
Another morning in the Spring. Hikigaya and Shiori walk to the front door of their home.
Shiori "Alright Mama, we're heading over to Chizuru's."
Hamasaki "Okay, be careful you two."
She says with a soft smile. Riku comes rushing to them and hugs onto Shiori's legs. He looks up at her with bright eyes.
Riku "Bring me back something sweet!"
Shiori "Okay, okay! Will do."
She rubs his head before they leave. Hamasaki and Asami sit together at the table as Takanou comes into the room and heads for the door as well.
Asami "And where are you going?"
He looks back at them surprised.
Takanou "Just going on a run."
Asami "Ah, then proceed."
Hamasaki "Not without saying goodbye!"
She says, slightly pouty. Takanou happily kisses Hamasaki on the lips then Asami on the forehead. They give him soft smiles before he heads back out.