Chapter Twenty-Nine

                                    

                                          
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Summer Start and Swimming Shenanigans
It was times like this that made Chikako regret making friends. 
It all started during the end of the exams. The girls were circling Yaoyorozu’s desk, lamenting on not being able to travel for safety reasons, when Hagakure suggested using the school's swimming pool as a summer vacation activity. Naturally, hearing the words ‘pool’ made Chikako tense up. Despite being forever ago, the thought of water reminded her of herself drowning during one of the rescue zones when the villains attacked the USJ. 
Chikako never told her cousin about it, thinking she got over the experience, but if her reaction was anything, it meant it still affected her. Still, she couldn’t decline, it’ll look suspicious and would make Chikako feel left out. So she sucked it in and pretended to be excited. 
At first, they were going to wear bikinis to really make it feel like a summer vacation. Sadly, they realized that Tweedle-dee overheard their conversation and relied the message to his twin, Tweedle-dum so they opted for the school’s swimsuits to make their plans fail. What made it even better was getting a text from Midoriya inviting everyone to the place to practice. 
It was hilarious seeing the shocked and destroyed faces when they saw not only the rest of the guys, but the girls stretching in regular, plain and uniformed swimsuits. But this would be the only time that Chikako had fun, for while the other girls were playing ball in the pool, Chikako was standing far away, making sure the water didn’t splash near her.The boys did a few laps until Ida called for drinks, where every male aside from Midoriya gave into the short break to relax. 
It didn’t take long for someone to notice she wasn’t participating though. 
“Kako-chan! Are you sure you don’t want to join?” Mina called. 
“I’m sure!” Chikako said. “I’m not really feeling it.”
Mina made a disapproving noise. “What do you mean? You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t feeling it!”
“Just…not now, Mina,” Chikako sighed. 
That was the wrong tone to use and everyone’s reaction solidified that. Many pairs of eyes landed on her, most had concern filled in them. Ochako, Midoriya and Ida were the ones starting to walk over to her but stopped when Chikako gave them a look. No one decided to return to their chatter and it made Chikako guilty for ruining everyone’s fun.
“Um, I’m just gonna go to…” she didn’t bother coming up with an excuse and just began leaving.
“Chikako-san!” She heard Midoriya's call, but ignored him. 
Sadly, she didn’t get very far in the long hall when she bumped into two, rather late, Bakugo and Kirishima. 
“Where are you going, Beasty?” Bakugo gruffed. 
“Not now, hedgehog,” Chikako huffed. She tried to side-step him, but he blocked every chance to escape, which greatly pissed her off. “Would you stop and let me pass?” she yelled.
“Oh no. You’re not going anywhere,” Bakugo said, grabbing her arm and dragging her back to the pool. 
“Hey–! What are you doing!?”