harmonize_rpg | (no subject)

Who: Kazuki, Haruka
Where: Swim Club
When: Monday 24, After School
What: Photography sucks

The thing about being in a photography club is that it's a very good way to get integrated into different aspects of school life. Photography is based on external events, so you're never lacking for things to do. Today, Kazuki's learning that this can be both a blessing and a curse.

Having had an injury that kept him from school for 2 weeks, Kazuki entered the photography club on his first Monday (an exception to their usual day, given how the next Saturday was a day off) to find that a system had already been established on how to handle themes shoots. This being the start of the year, this meant that they had to photograph a variety of different club to show the school daily activities on each of them. Kazuki got the unenviable (although some of his fellow club members would strongly disagree) assignment of taking pictures of the swim club, having quite literally drawn the short stick.

It's not like he's never covered events before. The student has never found it a problem to integrate himself (as much as he's able to) into other circles just long enough to get photos. This time, however, he feels as though he's Robert Capa, evading countless glances, so much deadlier than bullets, to get the right shot. Kazuki is actually sitting on the benches, as if he's just a spectator, well-aware that trying to hide would make him seem infinitely worse.

The sweat caused by nervousness and sun alike... may not be making him look all that better, incidentally.

That said, at least it isn't immediately obvious that Kazuki's taking pictures. He tries to pass it off as if he's just checking his phone, feeling no small amount of guilt at doing something that could be easily interpreted the wrong way. That's just his conscience speaking, though. In reality, this may actually go fairly smoothly, if he can only go a few more minutes without trouble. He'll just never show his face here again. No problem.

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Haruka, meanwhile, was diving for rings from the bottom of the pool with marginal success.

She was a few other girls at one end of the pool, seeing who could gather the most rings in one dive. She could track where the rings fell but once they entered the water they drifted. Though she stayed under the water longer, she turned up less rings as she felt the bottom.

When she surfaced, she heard, "He's kind of cute."

She tilted her head. "Who?"

"That guy on the benches." Giggle.

The conversation continued as it became Haruka's turn to toss the rings. She picked up that the guy had apparently been around for a while, that he looked quiet and shy, and that he kept looking at his phone. Then someone wondered what he would look like in a swim suit - probably pretty skinny?

Eventually, somehow, it'd been decided that because Haruka had the least amount of points, she should be the one to ask if him if he wanted to join. She shrugged and replied, "Yessuh, I guess. Could be worse?" and was out shortly after. She grabbed her towel, a short distance away, and dried off a little before wrapping it around her waist. She followed the general direction that had been pointed out to her until she stopped close by, her head in his general direction as she asked,

"Hey. Are you here to join up?"

It takes Kazuki a... fairly low amount of effort to remain externally calm, actually. It's pretty much his natural state in any and all situations, so he manages to simply turn to look at Haruka with a mildly puzzled expression. However, he's actually very stressed out inside, wondering how he can possibly explain his situation without coming off as weird.

"I've been thinking about it, yeah. I was wondering if there was information I could have on the club before I make a decision, though."

...And, in a panic, just ended up digging himself deeper, instead. To be fair, not even a second passes before Kazuki realizes he may just be causing more trouble in the long run.

She tilted her head a little, stepping a bit closer now that she had a more exact idea of where he was. Some droplets of water fell from her hair as she said,

"Sure. What sort of information are you looking for?"

Kazuki waits a little before talking. Something feels odd about this conversation, and not just the part where he thinks he's stepping through a verbal minefield. He considers asking her a question, but figuring it could come off as incredibly rude should he be wrong, decides to answer hers instead.

"Well, I already know the days... So I guess I just wanted to see the atmosphere for myself. It looks like everyone here gets along, actually." Kazuki didn't actually hear the swim club's conversation, but in his book, the mere act of talking is a step in the right direction.

"Mostly," Haruka replied. She turned her head upwards, "Though that could just be a front to lure unsuspecting newbies in. We could actually be the backstabbing bitches and bastards of school dramas, waiting for fresh meat to tear apart. Ahhahhahaha-

"-But that'd be pretty twisted. We're actually chill?" She shrugged. "Any swim experience?"

"I guess you've got to start learning at some point...?" Kazuki's comment drifts off into a question by the end (although at least he retains a tone of jest all throughout), not quite sure how to come up with a suitable response for that joke on the spot, but also much too willing to play along. His answer to the last question is quite serious, however.

"A little. Nothing constant, but I know the basics." Kazuki's actually not lying here. He'd have to be pretty sheltered to not have gone swimming in his entire life. Sure, he may not be the most sociable person, but family and friends from his early childhood made sure he went out about as much as any other kid.

"Yep. Experience is the best experience? And the newbie always comes out on top in the end anyway," Haruka replied.

"That's enough. We got a little for everyone." She tilted her head slightly. "Are you any other clubs yet?"

Cut off date was soon.

"Photography and track." He answers. Seeing as this is Monday, it is indeed cutting into the latter, but it's no secret that Kazuki puts his duties as part of the photography club above anything involving track. Mostly because he has little in the way of positive notability in the latter.

"Honestly, I've been doubting I made the right choice for a sports club anyways, so..." Were club transfers even a thing? It seemed like something you should reasonably be able to do, but Kazuki doesn't have a lot of experience with changing clubs.

"Could try both?" Haruka suggested. She shrugged and said, "Come to the dark side, we have water, fun and swimsuits."

Somewhere in the pool, she heard a giggle. Sounded like one or two of the girls had migrated closer.

Looking genuinely curious, she continued, "Interesting combo. Take any interesting pics?"

"I guess I can make that work." The implication here being giving up Mondays at the track club. Kazuki's not sure what that will do to his academics. He'll have to talk it out with the right people, but it's worth a shot.

"I don't know the wildlife here all that well yet, so I'm still improving. I'll probably start trying urban photography. Mix it up a little." Subconsciously, Kazuki returns the phone to his pocket.

"Interesting," she nodded.

"Sounds like you're pretty dedicated to it?" She tilted her head slightly, seeming to regard him. "At least, you don't sound like someone who just goes into photography to have an excuse to take pics of girls."