2 The conversation

It was a good start to a perfectly normal conversation, or so I thought, but when I didn't get a reply I froze and my smile turned into more of an awkward grin. The grin which people wear before they continue with an awkward silence.

I began to think, ' Maybe he can't speak... Or he didn't understand. I should try again but slower.'

"My name is Haruto, nice to meet you" he suddenly said. I snapped out of my thoughts and focused on him again.

'So he can speak, and his voice is quite nice as well. Soothing- unlike the of the rest of the group.'

I was about to say something along the lines of 'Is it your first time diving?' but we had been called to the diving boards by a especially snappy Maria.

"Right listen up you guys, I am not in a good mood today for reasons that do not concern you...However, you do need to know that the result is your suffering."

She had just announced our upcoming misery when Jacob yelled and dove into the pool in a futile effort to lessen his load if Maria saw his efforts- which she hadn't. She was busily talking to Haruto and explaining the basic dives we usually went through at the start of each session. I watched them for a while before he turned his head with indifference, glanced at me then right back round to Maria.

Embarrassed- for some reason- I pushed Carlo out of the line and stepped onto the diving board in his stead. When I started my approach the only thing running through my mind was-'What an interesting conversation that was...', and that was the last thought before I was engulfed by the water.