Suddenly, Shiori was reminded of Peter Pan. Or of the crocodile and Captain Hook, anyway. She could almost hear the ticktock and could almost imagine his eyeballs alternately popping out of his head as he loomed closer. Whatever fear she might have felt from his glare quickly evaporated at the mental image. If their school ever did a play, and by chance did Peter Pan, Shiori was so nominating Shirai-san for the role of the crocodile.
Much like her fear, her amusement evaporated when Shirai-san grabbed her ankle and once again she was mildly worried. He wouldn't tug her in or anything, would he? Rather than struggle, she waited until he let go before continuing to move back - though she paused to lean forward and pat his head.
"Aww, does that mean you care about me?" she asked, voice as sweet as her smile. "I'm touched, Shirai-kun!"
She finally stood and told him she'd "be back, then," and shuffled off to the girls' locker room to change into her school swimsuit. It was as she was finishing changing that she realized that perhaps she should have taken her bag with her, because there were some pictures she'd rather not have Shirai-san see. Like the ones she had drawn in the other world.
...then again, maybe Shirai-san would have liked to see those.
Finally emerging from the locker room amidst flashing neon lights and sudden pulsing techno music, Shiori began to walk over to the pool calmly before breaking into a run and jumping into the water. Breaking up through the water's surface, she pushed her hair back with a laugh.
"Ah, this feels way better!" she giggled, kicking so she was floating on her back.