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The air felt strange, somehow. Tsubasa couldn't explain how--it just did.
Perhaps growing up around rockets, planes, and various flying machines had prepared him to be very aware of changes in altitude, or maybe living higher up had gotten him accostumed to the pressure above sea level. He couldn't say what it was that made the very air in this new place feel...wrong. He just knew it was.
Looking around, he realized he was at some sort of pool area. A fence surrounded the pool area and a few closets sat nearby, but it was surprisingly empty of other people.
Well--empty aside from a girl crumpled against the far opposite corner. Tsubasa could barely see her form across the way, but he saw enough to know she was still out cold.
Feeling urged to go to her, he wandered towards her, kneeling next to where she lay. Her choice of dress was odd if she had come for the pool--he expected a swimsuit--but on that note, Tsubasa himself wasn't any better.
Vaguely concerned, he touched her shoulder, shaking her slightly. The girl stirred, blinking open large, green eyes. She sat up, yawning. After a moment, she glanced at Tsubasa, offering a pleasant smile.
"Hello," she said softly.
"Hey," Tsubasa said back. He cleared his throat, somehow acutely aware he would have to guide the conversation. "What are you doing sleeping out here? And not even in a swimsuit."
"Oh..." The girl glanced down as if noticing her attire for the first time. She looked around the area for a moment, then turned back to Tsubasa with a spacey grin. "I don't know. Oh, but I am wearing a swimsuit underneath this...would you like me to take these off?"
"That's not necessary," Tsubasa said quickly, embarrassed. There would be time to think about his new companion's incredibly shapely body later--for now, he was more concerned with this new venue they had woken up in.
Where even is "here"? Wait a minute, how did I get here?
Tsubasa was suddenly very aware that he couldn't remember a thing. Well, that was an exaggeration--he remembered most thing. His life at home, his invitation to Hope's Peak Academy...and then nothing. Was this Hope's Peak?
Maybe the girl in front of him was a student like he was. "Are you here for Hope's Peak too?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, I am. My name is Tanaka Tomomi, the Ultimate Swimsuit Model."
That explains it. "Susugihara Tsubasa, Ultimate Aeronautics Engineer. It's nice to meet you, Tanaka."
"Oh..." Tanaka trailed off, tapping a finger to her chin. "You can just call me Tomomi if you want. Or Tomo. Or Momo. Or anything, really..."
"Tomomi, then." Being on a first-name basis with her already was a tad bit embarrassing, but again, there would be time to dwell on that later. "Well, for starters, I didn't realize Hope's Peak had a pool."
Tomomi nodded, slowly rising to her feet. Tsubasa stood beside her. "It is strange, isn't it? Ah, Susugihara...what should we do?"
It felt strange hearing her use his last name when she had just granted permission to use her first. Figuring it wouldn't hurt, Tsubasa cleared his throat. "Call me Tsubasa, it's fine. Anyway, let's look around a bit. Standing here isn't going to get us any answers and I'm willing to bet there's someone out there who knows more than we do."
Tomomi smiled, bowing. "Good idea, Tsubasa. Then, I'll follow your lead..."
"Right." Being in charge was relieving, in a way--it gave Tsubasa something to do and something to strive for beyond "think about stuff". He headed for the first gate he saw, pausing to be sure Tomomi was keeping up alright. She toddled behind him obediently, pausing as he did. "Keep up, alright? I want to move fast."
"Yes. Will do, Tsubasa!"
Together, the two headed beyond the pool. Tsubasa took note of each building as they passed it--he couldn't explain how, but he felt they were important to remember.