It’s Saturday, The indoor pool complex at West Bakju Aquatic Center shimmered under soft skylights, the sunlight filtered through glass panels above. The soft slap of water echoed through the air as swimmers gathered across the various lanes.

Araka stepped out of the changing room with her high-cut, bright blue Novak competitive swimsuit. The swimsuit hugged tightly onto Araka’s body and chest, with the white coloured Novak logo standing clean and centered on the front. Upon making her way to the deck, she adjusted her grey-golden coloured swimming goggles resting on her white, Novak-logo marked silicone swimming cap and stretched her arms above her head, preparing for the swimming. 

“Wow, Sara-cha, I like your swimsuit,” Leana, now in her graphite grey lower-cut Asumi swimsuit, said: “you really look like a competitive swimmer or even a model in that.”

“Uh, thanks, I should say?” Araka adjusted her straps and responded, “That’s just what I wear all the time.”

Anikara, adjusting her Asumi two-piece nearby, pointed with her water bottle, said: “of course that’s the case - you should know Araka’s mom literally runs Novak.”

“Nin-cha, you don’t have to let everyone know about it,” Araka sighed, “it’s - it’s not that important.”

“He? Interesting,” Leana leaned forward and took a closer look at Araka’s swimsuit, showing her curiosity: “I know Novak’s swimsuits are quite good, but didn’t realize you’re getting these ones even though you’re not a competitive swimmer.”

“My mom got me these samples for free,” Araka said plainly, “But still, it’s hard for my mom to run a company, especially such a well known brand with so many products and people involved.”

Anikara chuckled: “Guess you’re different. If my family owned a sportswear brand, I’d have custom sprint shoes and make neon logos stitched into my running leggings.”

Leana left out a soft chuckle while stretching herself: “Guess we are ready for the warmup?”

Both nodded.

After some stretching and preparation, Araka and Anikara jumped into the pools from the deck. The cool touch of the pool wrapped around Araka like silk. Leana, stood at the edge with her stopwatch in hand, one foot lowered down from the platform, started to give instructions.

“100M, Take your time, no pressure, at your own pace. I will see you then.”

Without a word, Araka pushed off the wall. Her stroke, while not yet on the competitive level, was smooth and relatively efficient. Her body cut through the water with a steady rhythm with her breathing being evenly timed. After reaching the other end, she flipped and glided into the water without pause. As she finished the lap, she surfaced and lifted her goggles.

Leana nodded in approval: “Sara-cha, Your form looked quite good, and you controlled your rhythm quite well.”

“Thanks,” Araka said while exhaling, “Guess I’m not wasting my IAA approved swimsuit.”

Leana smiled and then turned toward Anikara: “Anikara-cha, it’s your turn now.”

Anikara nodded and dived into the water. Compared to Araka, her swimming was accompanied with big strokes, scattered kicks, and water splashing off everywhere yet still moved relatively slowly. She surfaced on the other side and then came back with the same form. 

“Okay. That’s it,” before Leana could comment, Anikara spoke first, breathing heavily: “I am not built for this.”

“But you still managed to finish the lap,” Leana smiled, “plus, your breath is stable at least.”

Then, Leana, putting away her stopwatch and adjusting her swimming cap, said: “I guess you two can take a break. In the meantime, I’m going to show you how a proper swimmer would handle this.”

As Araka and Anikara moved sideways, Leana got into the pool, put into a perfect streamline, and launched forward. Her stroke was even smoother than Araka’s, and without much effort, she returned without taking much time. 

That - that was fast, Araka said to herself: even if Leana wasn’t someone with Matake spell power, she is surely someone more interesting beyond her sweet smile. 

As the girls made their way toward the changing room,  Araka noticed a familiar face - Aqua, who just put on the swimming cap and hid her orange hair tied underneath was sitting on the platform around the edge. To Araka’s surprise, she was wearing the half spats competitive model - the dark-navy one with minimalist red striping and geometric patterns that lowered the resistance. Her body was barely fitting inside the swimsuit. 

“Wait, isn't that Aqua?” Anikara called out. 

Araka narrowed her eyes slightly: “And why’s she wearing one of the high-tier Novak models?”

Aqua didn’t respond. Instead, she lowered her head and kept her profile low. Anikara then approached her from the side: “Wait - Aqua, you have that? Since when do you even swim?”

Aqua, putting her goggles on, replied softly, “I - I saw it online last month. I thought it looked nice.”

Anikara tilted her head. “So you just… bought it?”

Aqua nodded. “I liked the design. It feels sporty.”

Araka joined in and said calmly, “Aqua, the one you’re wearing is the kind used for at least state level teams. You got these refined textures for minimising resistance.”

“Ah,” Aqua replied with her low voice: “that explains the price.”

“So Aqua-cha, why do you even want to buy this in the first place?” Leana asked. 

Without further explanation, she jumped into the pool and immediately started swimming. The three focused on her, and not to their surprise, Aqua’s speed was around the  same as Anikara’s, and her stroke was slightly off sync as she made her way back. 

“Hah, hah,” Aqua panting heavily, with her hand barely holding on the handle. 

“Aqua, I thought you would drown as soon as you got into the water,” Anikara said.

“I - I do swimming sometimes, though it’s my first time in this,” Aqua said. 

“Well at the very least,” she said, glancing over at Aqua, “you proved our design works.”

“Yeah, guess that Novak suit’s legit,” Anikara nodded while rubbing her chin, “If it can take you from casual to ‘solid effort’ level, then it really meant something,” She glanced at Aqua’s now soaked swimsuit.

Meanwhile, Araka added: “Aqua, you know my mom runs Novak, right?”

Aqua, now breathing more calmly, let out a low-voice surprise: “Heh?”

“Nevermind,” Araka said, “I’ll cover the difference between yours and mine, which also works for casual swimmers like you.”

Aqua took off her goggles and blinked again, and then she replied with a small nod: “…Thanks.”

As the girls found a bench near the further end of the indoor pool, Aqua, now wrapped in her indigo towel, was sitting quietly. 

“So Aqua, why do you want to buy this one?” Araka asked, “you can just buy a training suit instead of this one.”

Aqua tugged her towel a little closer and replied with a voice barely audible: “I wore it today because of… I want to see if this one looks good on me for my band’s concert tomorrow.”

Anikara tilted her head: “Wait. The band? Is that the band you have been talking about recently?”

“I can play guitar,” Aqua said softly, “And I joined an underground group - we have auditioned several times before during the summer break.”

Araka raised an eyebrow. “Ah, no wonder I have never heard about your performance.”

“So what is the genre, Aqua-cha?” Leana asked.

“Just - just youth rocks, nothing too special, though I’m the only youth - all the others are around and above 18.”

“So where will the show take place?” Araka asked.

“It’s not a large one you would see for other bands - just inside a warehouse with our group supposed to be the first among the performers,” Aqua said.

“So you decided to wear this?” Anikara asked.

“Everyone in the band is expected to wear some kind of competitive swimsuit or track uniform - the leader said this would increase our chance of success in the community,” Aqua explained.  

Then Anikara just let out a half-laugh. “Okay, Aqua, that’s new. I’ve never seen a band do that. Didn’t even know that was a thing that could gather attention.”

Leana, however, wasn’t too surprised by the info: “Actually, it’s more common than you’d think - competitive  swimsuits have some kind of clean form aesthetic, while highlighting your entire body outline. It’s not strange to see some people modeling in these, and for engagement, some may even use them for stage outfits.”

“Wait, really?” Anikara blinked.

Araka nodded. “I mean - I have heard that especially young male adults literally collect our promos, and it’s common for influencers to wear them to increase engagement for their social media accounts.”

Anikara leaned back with a groan: “I feel like I’ve just found another subculture, Aqua.”

Leana chuckled. 

“I actually considered wearing a track and field set instead,” Aqua continued, voice barely audible: “you know the sports-bra-ish top and racing briefs, but - but that doesn’t fit my body shape.”

Araka, however, was thinking of something else. Her instinct told her that Aqua might be in some kind of danger when wearing something like this.”

“Anyway, Aqua,” Araka said, “could we come? I mean, after all you’re not used to it, and we don’t know if someone would have the wrong gaze.”

“That’s right,” Anikara said: “you’re not even an adult yet, and I really was thinking someone out would have some wrong idea on you. If we were there, we could at least call the police.”

Leana said: “Especially in a crowded environment filled with male audience like this. I have heard some rumors about how underground idol groups constantly feel the mental stress when presenting in such environments.”

“Than- Thank you,” Aqua said, now looking more confident. “I will send you all the tickets.”

——

Later during the afternoon, Araka sat on the bus home, earphones in, watching the cars pass by the window. She pulled up the ticket and brother Aqua had sent it to her group chat. 

“BAKJU — E.21 Soundroom, Former Donzak Power Plant (東閘發電廠）// hr 19:30, Sunday // ‘Riftless’ Live Session”

That’s really a sketchy place, Araka thought, letting out a small breath.

Then, another beep came from her backpack. She took out the phone - a simpler phone without brand marks - and turned it on: it was Huashin forwarded her message through the SAIR internal chat.

“All agents and interns:

Bakju Police, as well as the SAIR had been notified of certain members of organized criminal groups involved in cases of unsanctioned cognitive manipulation. For safety, in case of entering the following street blocks with high frequency of reported cognitive manipulation cases, please notify an agent of at least Instructive Agent clearance within the SAIR Division 2 for further instruction …”

Araka browsed through the list and found the name:

“Bakju East District –  Donzak Power Plant and Creative Districts: 7 new cases of cognitive manipulation currently under investigation.”

Araka opened the street map on her other phone and checked the location of the concert Aqua gave her  - it was at the centre of the zone.

Wait - how could that be possible? Araka said to herself.

After getting back to the Peni Residence, Araka went directly to the basement. 

“Jun?”

“Araka,” Jun, just walked out of his “studio” in the basement, said: “how was your swim with Leana?”

“Aqua is in danger. I need your help.” Araka’s voice was direct and authoritative. 

“Aqua? You mean your classmate with long, messy orange hair?”

Araka nodded: “She invited us to a concert hosted in an area where the SAIR had deemed as a high risk zone for unsanctioned Matake usage. Huashin said if any SAIR agents and interns plan to enter the zone needs to notify her.”

“Wait, high risk zone for Matake misuse? They have a designation like that?”

Araka displayed the message and the web map from her SAIR designated phone to Jun.

“Interesting,” Jun browsed the web map and said: “Araka, how about I send an email to Instructor Huashin and ask for a video conference? Instructor Anawa just gave us the email address and video conference links while you were at the pool.”

Araka nodded. 

Inside Jun’s “studio” - a room with robotic models and prototypes, video game consoles, and disks and game cards lined on shelves and a wide display sits on the table - Jun logged into the SAIR intern portal and wrote the message to Huashin. It didn’t take long for Huashin to reply with a link to the virtual meeting room.

“Instructor Huashin, sorry for disrupting your weekend- ”

Before Jun could continue, Huashin, sitting inside her office, responded: “Jun and Araka. I’ve read your message and you said you and your friends are heading to one of the Zones of Concern, right?”

Araka nodded: “Yes, and I was worried about the safety of my friend because of the ongoing situations you mentioned, and she couldn’t withdraw as she is a member of the band to be performing there.” 

“It’s okay, Araka,” Huashin said with a small smile, “in fact, we actually got a task for you.”

Araka and Jun blinked their eyes.

“Zone of Concern #7, or Donzak Power Plant area, is an area that saw the rise of cognition manipulation cases that had ties to organized criminal groups. The reason we encountered the gridlocks was the complex actor within the area - the Zaonchin Group (長清幫), which is close to their home turf.”

“So it involves the mafia,” Jun nodded, “but why hasn’t the police or the SAIR made arrests in the area?”

“This is the part that we and the police have tried but made little progress,” Huashin took a sip from her water bottle and said: “first, none of the cases involved crimes that seemed ‘over the top’ - mostly are related to debt collection and sometimes extortions, and none of these resulted in major damage or physical harm of the victim; second, while victims believed their minds were being ‘manipulated’ and Anawa’s team’s analysis indicated the victims encountered Matake adjacent field, there was no direct evidence indicating that these suspects were unsanctioned Matake users; third, a major joint operation that involved both the SAIR and the police would certainly shift the balance of the powers between these organized criminal groups - and isolating specific members from the group would be even harder if without warrant.”

“So basically, we couldn’t just issue warrants and get in?” Jun said.

Huashin nodded: “And that’s why you, Araka, as a Matake capable civilian who had a different legitimate reason, would actually be the best for such an operation.”

“But Instructor Huashin, I couldn’t move around the area if I was supposed to be at my friend’s concert,” Araka said.

“Actually, may I ask where you’re heading to specifically?”

“E.21 Soundroom.”

Huashin lowered her head and browsed the map from her tablet. 

“That’s in the area that saw the majority of new extortion cases,” Huashin said, “mainly around debt collections as the mafia believed the high foot traffic volume during specific events would make themselves blend in.” 

“So that means we’re good to go?”

“Not only that,” Huashin smiled and said, “but we need to lay out a plan, and I will also bring other agents for standby.”