Tsuna held onto her waist, feeling the soft touch on his hand constantly, and a blush crept into her ears.
Submerged in the water, Shouko, caught by the subtle trembling of his fingers, forgot the key to the movement and froze in the water, holding her breath.
"Did you forget the movement I just taught you?"
Tsuna asked curiously, noticing her hesitation in the water. With both hands exerting force, he lifted her out of the water.
"It's okay, it's okay," Shouko hurriedly shook her head, extending her index finger to signal, "One more time, just one more time."
The boy's sudden lift sent her heart pounding, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Yeah," Tsuna turned his head away, his burning face averted. The two continued their teaching in tacit understanding. With his support on her waist, Shouko gradually became accustomed to the water, her movements becoming more and more accurate.
Tsuna hesitated, wondering whether to release his grip on her waist and let her try floating on her own first.
Just as Tsuna had finished adjusting her form, it might be helpful to give her a try. With this thought in mind, Tsuna was about to release her grip when suddenly, Miu's voice rasped in his ears:
"Coach over there! If your hand moves another five centimeters, I'll call the police...!"
Tsuna's grip, which had been gradually loosening, suddenly dropped sharply at the sound.
Everyone around the pool and around her gaze instantly focused on Miu, then followed her gaze toward the shallow end.
"Splash!"
But all they heard was a splash and a sudden, high splash.
Shouko, nervous at Tsuna's sudden release, choked on the water and, using both her hands and feet, headbutted him in the stomach.
Because the pool floor was slippery and Tsuna's attention was distracted by Shouko, he was about to turn his head to look at Miu when the sudden collision sent him careening backward into the pool.
When the onlookers looked in the direction of the sound, they saw the girl choking and coughing in the boy's arms, the boy patting her back repeatedly.
They stopped looking and returned to searching for the pervert the girl had mentioned. The few children who had been staying in the shallow water took a quick look and then looked away, returning to their playful activities.
Even the lifeguard was the same; he'd been watching them from beginning to end. They were just a normal couple, nothing much to say.
"Shouko, are you okay?" Miu, realizing her mistake, rushed forward to check on them.
Matsuri and Chika hurried over.
The people who had been searching for the pervert the girl had mentioned realized she was joking with her friends, muttered a curse, and gradually left.
After recovering somewhat, Shouko shook her head at Tsuna to indicate she was fine. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the three people running over and asked in confusion,
"Miu? Why are you here?"
She had been completely deaf in the water, let alone hearing Miu's snarky words.
Tsuna suddenly wanted to teach this little girl a lesson, but he was not sure how to do it.
He turned around and explained the whole story to Shouko and put all the blame on Miu, who naturally received a severe lesson from Shouko.
As for how severe? It can only be said that in the next few months, Miu never dared to talk about the two people's teasing and jokes again.
After the three people left, Tsuna started teaching again, and it didn't take long for Shouko to learn to float on the water without the help of external objects.
"Okay, let me teach you the last one. Once you learn it, swimming will not be a problem."
"Yeah!"
"Hold the float with both hands, lie flat on the water, kick your legs up and down alternately, and bend your knees slightly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tsuna grabbed the shark float and demonstrated the move in front of her two or three times, confirming she had memorized it before standing up.
"This move is the same as before, and there's a technique. Use your thighs to drive your calves, keep your insteps straight and push against the water, and avoid over-bending your knees. Shouko-chan, do you have any other questions?"
"Yes, yes!" Shouko raised her right hand, as if questioning a teacher in the classroom. After waiting for a nod from him, she curiously inquired,
"Coach Tsuna, is it okay for me to practice with something else?"
"Hmm..." Tsuna pondered the question carefully before nodding. "As long as it's fixed and floating, and you can use it as a base, it's fine."
"Okay!" Shouko nodded happily.
Without hesitation, she slid closer, wrapping her arms around Tsuna's chest as he stood.
"Wait, you're not trying to grab me, are you?" Tsuna observed her movements, speechless.
Shouko wrinkled her nose at him: "You said it was okay before, and you just asked if it was okay? If not, I'll just hold the float and go."
"Okay..."
"Hehe..."
Shouko hugged his chest tightly with both hands, but felt a little uncomfortable, so she moved down again.
"Just hold me, but don't move your hands..." Tsuna's face looked a little unnatural after she did that...
"It was uncomfortable just now, but it's okay now." Shouko smiled at him and suddenly took a deep breath, plunged into the water, and began to practice the movements he had just taught.
Tsuna felt a little regretful because she kept rubbing her face against his belly in the water, but he saw that her legs were indeed swinging as he taught her.
He felt that she didn't do it on purpose... His heart was beating fast, and he felt like a virgin who was taken advantage of by this girl.
The point is, he's not in the right...
"Well..." Tsuna watched her stand up for air, hesitated, and asked, "Shouko-san, when you hold me, can you please stop rubbing my belly?"
"What do you mean by rubbing your belly? Coach Tsuna, you can't blame me. I've been practicing the moves you taught me. When have I ever rubbed your belly?"
"It's okay, it's just an illusion." Tsuna looked at her innocent face.
After all, he had raised her since she was a child. She really wouldn't do such a thing...
And looking at her innocent face, without a trace of acting, could it really be an illusion?
"Coach Tsuna, is there anything else? No, I have to continue practicing!"
"You continue."
"Okay!"
Shouko smiled and moved forward to hug his waist, diving into the water.
Then the feeling of Shouko's face rubbing against his belly came again. Tsuna looked down at her in the water, as if he could see her cunning smile.
He shook his head, shoving the image out of his head. How could Shouko make that expression underwater? He must be being paranoid again...
Yes! That had to be it. Besides, she was underwater, so he couldn't see clearly.
"Coach Tsuna, your heartbeat is so fast~" Before he could say anything, her devilish whispers accompanied by the splash of water.
(End of this chapter)
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