“I see that you are correct.” Ino spoke in a slightly raised voice to convey her panic. She hadn’t noticed until he pointed it out, but now the girl had felt, or rather didn’t feel her bikini top anymore. Her fashion blunder made her blush in front of Hakuta for the first time in her life, revealing a softer side to the usual tough exterior she showed.

“Oh my gosh that’s so embarrassing!” Even though she wasn’t the one suffering from this faux pas, Iruka immediately went into a frenzy to seek out the missing bra. “Don’t worry, it shouldn’t be far.” The girl tried to assure her as her head span back and forth trying to catch a glimpse where it might’ve floated to.

“I’m not seeing it anywhere.” Hakuta took a slower approach towards trying to find the important item. Though unfortunately he was met with the same lack of success as his friend.

“This is really bad.” Even though they were covered thanks to be below the water’s surface. Ino couldn’t help but put her arms over her chest to continue to hide away for the sake of her dignity. “I can’t go out like this.”

“We can try to cover for you.” Iruka suggested she and Hakuta form a shield around her to try and keep the boys from getting a lucky peek. “It’ll be a little embarrassing, but we can get you somewhere private and take care of this there.”

“No, we can’t do that.” She responded in a strong, assertive tone. “We need to come up with something else.”

“Huh? Why not?” She asked in bewilderment. “I don’t see the problem, I promise we’ll do our best.”

“You idiot, that’s not the problem here.” Hakuta gave her a light slap on the back of the head. “That’ll get a lot of attention and it’s not just about her showing her body off that’s the issue here.”

“I don’t get it, why don’t you guys just tell me what’s up.” She replied, rubbing the back of her head and pouting her face.

“She doesn’t want any scandal popping up. Her dad’s a politician, so if she does something that can be taken as a bad thing. It’ll come around to her.” He explained. “Is that right, Ino?”

“You are correct.” She quietly admitted. “I don’t want people snapping pics of me, even if you don’t see anything. So if we can come up with something else, I’d much rather prefer that.”

“Well geez, that’s really putting us on the spot.” Once she was informed of the issue, Iruka went into thinking of another way. That was when it hit her. “I got it!” She snapped her fingers. Then, without saying why she did this, the girl went behind Ino and wrapped her arms around her. She made sure to stick her hands underneath the arms which she had been using to cover up her more private bits.

“Hey, it’s wrong to harass someone like this!” She got a big reaction from Ino, but didn’t mind once she got what she was looking for.

“Great, now I know your size.” She said, finally explaining her actions. “Just wait here, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Iruka ran towards the shore, making her way to what was likely the closest shop to buy a replacement. “Please Hakuta, don’t let anyone near her while I’m gone.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.” He said back to her. Though now the boy was left with the odd situation of being stuck near a girl whom he knew was half naked. Admittedly, Hakuta couldn’t deny that he may or may not have caught a peek of her indecency. After all, he was the one who realized it first that she was not all covered up.

“I knew my mom was wrong with making me wear that.” Ino verbally complained to him about her own personal gripes. “And maybe I was wrong to trust you two.”

“What? Why are you blaming us?” He replied, shocked that she had turned his sights onto him and Iruka. “We’re just trying to help here.”

“And how do I know that you didn’t both plan this out? She’s the one who wanted to make us hold hands. Maybe when I wasn’t looking, she loosened the strings on my bra.” She had a hard time believing that something she had put on tightly would fall off so easily.

“We really aren’t trying to do anything.” He defended himself. Though it was a tough argument to make. Even Hakuta had no clue how she lose the top, but somehow her glasses were still placed perfectly on her face. “Your dad though, is that why you keep trying to accuse us of something?”

“It’s hard not to want to protect myself.” She admitted. “When I was younger it felt like there was always someone who wanted to take me down. Maybe it was because their family didn’t like my dad’s politics. Or maybe they just were jealous of me. I don’t know, but it’s hard to ever relax.”

“I guess I never really though it about it like that, but I imagine that everyone just assuming you’re a shoo-in for student council president would likely draw some undesirable attention.” He sighed just thinking about. Despite all the things life had thrown his way, Hakuta was glad being in the spotlight wasn’t one of them.

“Fortunately I’m not always recognized, but since everyone here goes to the same school as me. My reputation precedes me.” After hearing her concerns out, he had come to a realization as to why she had been so withdrawn as a person. Ino was just trying to protect herself along with her father when it came to public perception. She knew many of her actions would be scrutinized, and therefore adjusted herself to fitting into a spot where she wouldn’t bother anyone, nor would she be bothered by most. “Since we’re stuck here waiting, I want to tell you something I’ve been keeping in for a while now.”

“What is it?” He asked, a little concern seeing as this followed up their previous subject.

“I’ve always been rather… Envious of you, Yamamoto.” She told him.

“Envious?” This was not a word he’d ever imagine her using to describe her feelings about him. Even ignoring what most didn’t know about him, what was there about his life to be envious for? From her point of view, he was just some guy whose family was poor and he spent most of his free time playing video games. “I don’t think I’m a real special guy.”

“That’s exactly it.” She explained. “You’re just some nobody most people barely take the time to even glance at.” With a description like this, he wondered if she was more like Rouko than she’d care to admit. “I never wanted to say that because what right do I have to complain? Oh, boo hoo, the girl who gets all the fame and attention is sad. I’m sure you probably think I’m whining about some useless things when you’ve got much worse to deal with.”

“I wouldn’t say my life is bad at all.” She didn’t get the context of all the changes he had been through lately. So it was understandable for her to have some pity for his prior life. Then again knowing her, she might still take pity on his current life as well. At least from the eyes of a gyaru hater, living with one must be viewed as suffering. Perhaps even worse a fate than death.

Regardless of this fact, he wasn’t going to downplay her own feelings. “Most of my friends are better off than me, but I’m not blind to realize they all got their own issues.” Though the way he’d describe their issues might not be things they necessarily agree with. “But they’re my friends, so it’s pointless to me to worry about stuff like standing. So if you’re in trouble, I’ll always have your back.”

He was a bit presumptuous in saying so. After all, she never said anything about them being friends and even still addressed him by family name. But her face grew a small smile of joy in hearing his words, so he didn’t need any words of affirmation from her to understand the truth between them about their relationship.

“Hey guys!” Iruka called out to them, diving into the waters with something else in hand. “Ah, finally got you something.” She showcased another completely new swimsuit for Ino to wear. “Sorry I made you wait so long.”

“I should be thanking you.” Ino replied as it was handed to her. “How much did this cost? I really owe you for this.”

“Eh, there was a sale going on.” She declined the request for payback. “And I just picked up something cheap. I hope that’s not a bad thing for you.”

“It doesn’t matter to me either way.” She did originally want to wear the one provided by the school anyway. Fortunately in her mind, the one Iruka got her was much more conservative in how it covered her bust. Though there wasn’t really a need for bottoms right now. “Thanks, it really means a lot.” She said as put it on. It fit surprisingly well, which made sense as she had been measured even if in an inappropriate manner. “Now I can finally get out of the water.

She moved her way to the shore to stand up and onto some land. However, as she stood up above the water’s surface, Iruka made a funny face in seeing her bare bottom. Hakuta also saw and might’ve had a bit of a nose bleed. Quickly, before anyone else saw them, she tackled the girl back under the sea.

“Maybe we should put on those bottoms too.”