"Do you need me to keep holding your hand?"

Umji simply shook her head in response to Sowon's words, a determined expression on her face. Sowon couldn't help but smile. This was going way better than she had expected.

"Alright. I'm going to let go now." Sowon said. "Make sure to relax. You'll float in the water better that way." 

Umji nodded before allowing her grip to slip out of Sowon's hands. Sowon watched as the former brown striped kitten successfully started to float on her back in the pool water. Umji had seemed a bit nervous the second Sowon stopped holding onto her but that quickly faded away once the younger girl realized that she wasn't sinking. Umji's head turned sideways slightly in the water to give Sowon an eager and excited look while continuing to float and Sowon smiled widely in response. 

"You did it!" Sowon exclaimed happily, taking Umji's hands back in her own once the former brown striped kitten got back to her feet in the water. "See, that wasn't scary at all, was it?"

"It wasn't." Umji agreed with a wide grin, jumping up and down in the pool water out of pure excitement. 

"That was amazing, Umji!" Yuju called out after she had swam up to the two from the deep end of the pool that she had been swimming in. Umji only was able to let out a single giggle before yelping happily in surprise as Yuju picked her up once she was on her feet as well, her feet kicking up and down and splashing a bit of water on Sowon in the process. Sowon only continued to smile as Yuju placed a happy kiss against the side of Umji's wet head, rubbing some of the pool water off of her face. This plan to get the former kittens used to water was going way smoother than she had anticipated. 

Sowon's mother had surprised all of them by inviting them to stay with her at a luxury hotel at one of the famous beaches she liked to frequent. Sowon had been to the resort a few times when she had been younger so she had remembered that most of the hotel was focused around swimming and the water. The beach was a hot spot but the main attraction at the resort was the almost water park like section built into it, full of water slides and large pools. Sowon was more than okay with bringing the former kittens to such a fun spot but the main problem was that none of the girls knew how to swim, especially SinB. So getting the girls accustomed to water and teaching them how to swim properly was Sowon's main priority. Thankfully Sowon's mom had scheduled the three day trip for next week, giving plenty of time for Sowon to buy the former kittens their own beach towels, swimsuits and take them all to the local community pool every day to practice. 

Yuju had been the first one to get into the pool when the former kittens had arrived and gotten properly dressed into the swimsuits Sowon had helped them all pick out, already enjoying the feeling of the water on her skin. Umji had quickly followed after her, eager for her turn to be taught as Sowon had started teaching Yuju the proper way to swim. Yerin and Eunha had been content to relax in the shallow end of the pool until SinB's condition had caught Yerin's eye. SinB was refusing to even try to get in, curled up on one of the pool chairs while covering herself with her new towel to shield the pool out of her vision. Yerin had exited the pool to be by her side and provide comfort. Eunha had settled on sitting on the pool steps, gently kicking her feet under the water like she had seen Yuju do when the former gray kitten was learning to swim with Sowon. 

Sowon glanced over at the pool chairs to check on how SinB was doing while Yuju and Umji continued to play around. SinB was still hiding under her towel while Yerin rubbed her back, causing Sowon to sigh, a sympathetic look in her eyes. Of course this would be hard on SinB. Sure, the former black kitten had improved over the past two years but water was still somewhat of a tricky subject. Hopefully she would be able to at least try to put her feet in the water later on. 

"Alright." Sowon turned her head to focus back on Umji and Yuju, a smile appearing on her face again. "Since you know how to float, Umji, how about we try actually swimming now?"

"Can I teach her?" Yuju asked before Umji could even respond, an eager glimmer in her eyes. 

"I guess you can." Sowon nodded, the smile never leaving her face. "Just make sure to be careful."

"I will. I'll get Umji swimming in no time!" Yuju exclaimed. "That way we can race across the pool together!"

Sowon laughed, nodding and allowing Yuju to help Umji over to the deeper end of the pool to start her personal swim lesson. Sowon kept an eye on them for a few moments until she felt comfortable enough to leave the two former kittens on their own. Eunha was still occupying herself in the shallow end by splashing around with her feet but she looked up the second the sound of Sowon making her way through the water to join her hit her ears. Instantly, a similar eager expression to Yuju's appeared on Eunha's face, the cutest smile ever spreading across her lips as she started to talk before Sowon could.

"Is it my turn now?" 

"It is." Sowon nodded with a gentle smile, holding her hand out to the former white kitten. "Are you ready?"

Eunha nodded her head quickly, her cute bob bouncing with the motion as she grabbed the taller girl's hand and got to her feet. Sowon didn't speak again until both her and Eunha were in the midway point between the shallow and deep end. Eunha had learned how to float on her back just as quickly as Umji had and Sowon couldn't help but feel incredibly proud of the girl. Eunha had been afraid of the water touching her face when she started taking showers two years ago, which made Sowon a tiny bit nervous to continue the actual swimming lesson. But she was more confident that the former white kitten would be able to handle it. 

"Alright. I know this is a bit scary but I need you to float again but this time on your chest." Sowon instructed gently. "Do it for as long as you can while holding your breath and then I'll be able to show you how to swim forward and get air at the same time."

"Float on....on my chest?" Eunha seemed to grow a bit hesitant at that, looking up at Sowon nervously.

"Yep. Just like this." Sowon let go of Eunha's hands and submerged herself in the water, showing Eunha how to float properly. The former white kitten was focused, watching as Sowon came out of the position to breathe again, the older girl pushing her wet hair out of her eyes before continuing her explanation. 

"Do you think you can do that? You don't have to do it long. Just enough for you to get used to it."

Eunha hesitated again for a few seconds before nodding, eyes full of determination like Umji's had been. Taking a deep breath of air, Eunha moved forward and mirrored what Sowon had done before, the older girl making sure to stay close with her arms out under the water just in case the former white kitten got scared or panicked. But Eunha didn't move, only floating for a few moments before coming out of the position and back to her feet, rubbing the water out of her eyes while taking in a fresh breath of air. 

"That was perfect." Sowon smiled. "Maybe I should get you some goggles though. The water doesn't feel good when it gets in your eyes, does it?"

"It stings." Eunha mumbled, rubbing her eyes so she was able to see properly. The white kitten's short hair was all out of place thanks to the water and Sowon couldn't help but push Eunha's wet bangs away from her forehead before kissing it gently. Eunha immediately giggled happily, grinning proudly up at Sowon while the older girl brushed her bangs back down over her forehead.

"I'll get you some goggles before the trip, okay?" Sowon laughed. "Now, let me teach you how to swim so you can join Yuju and Umji." 

Eunha nodded and Sowon was quick to take both of the girl's hands in her own, letting Eunha get used to kicking her legs so she could move forward in the water before teaching her how to move her arms and head to get air while swimming. It took a couple of tries but after a while, Eunha was finally grasping how to do it properly. Yuju and Umji had joined them, cheering Eunha on as the former white kitten grew more confident and was able to swim to Yuju from Sowon's arms. Yuju picked Eunha up out of the water into her arms just like how she had done to Umji earlier, kissing Eunha's cheek as the former white kitten happily clung to her and nuzzled her face against the former gray kitten's lips, Umji patting her back proudly.

Sowon smiled but left the three to practice among themselves so she could check on SinB's condition properly. Yerin was still rubbing the scared former black kitten's back as Sowon approached, the former ginger kitten glancing up at the older girl with a worried expression on her face. 

"Go join the others, okay? Yuju will teach you while I stay with SinB." Sowon said softly, ruffling Yerin's hair gently. Yerin seemed like she didn't want to leave but she eventually obeyed, placing a kiss against SinB's towel covered head before making her way back into the pool. Sowon quickly took over rubbing SinB's back, reaching over and slowly pulling the large towel away from SinB's face. SinB wasn't crying or shaking but the sight of her fearful eyes glancing up at her made Sowon's heart sink. 

"It's still scary, huh?" Sowon whispered as she placed the towel around SinB properly like a blanket, making sure SinB's face was uncovered. SinB didn't respond, wide eyes glancing over at the rest of the former kittens in the pool before back up at Sowon's face.

"You don't have to be comfortable in it right now." Sowon said, pulling SinB up to a sitting position before wrapping her arm around the former black kitten's shoulders to keep her close. "All I want is for you to put your feet in today. We have plenty of time before the trip for you to at least learn how to float." 

SinB was silent, her shoulders and body tense as she focused on the pool water in front of her. But the sight of Yerin learning to swim properly with Yuju's help seemed to soften the former black kitten's expression. 

"We can take as long as you need. I just want you to at least try, okay?" Sowon pressed a kiss against the top of SinB's head as the former black kitten rested her head against her shoulder.

"I want to make sure you stay safe when we go on this trip. If you can swim even a tiny bit, I'll feel a lot better about letting you explore and have fun at the resort. I don't care if you just know how to doggy paddle."

"Doggy paddle?" SinB finally spoke, a confused expression on her face as she stared up into Sowon's eyes. "Why is it called that?"

"Because the way you do it is similar to how dogs swim." Sowon managed to laugh at the question. "It's kinda silly sounding, huh?"

"It sounds dumb." SinB huffed as she glanced back down. "It should be called kitty paddle instead."

"That does sound a bit better." Sowon laughed again. "We can call it that if you want."

SinB nodded firmly against Sowon and the older girl let out another small laugh, resting her head on top of SinB's. The two sat like that for a while, watching the former kittens in the pool practice swimming and playing around in front of them before Sowon spoke again.

"Can you at least try putting your feet in the water today? We can go home after you do and then try to do more tomorrow. Sound good?"

SinB seemed to prickle at the thought of touching the water but she eventually agreed. Sowon had taken her hand but even so, SinB was hesitating, inching forward towards the pool as slowly as she could with fear in her eyes. 

"Just take it slow. I'm right here with you." Sowon encouraged. "I won't let go. I promise."

"You can do it, SinB." Yerin chimed in from the pool as she took a break from her lesson to watch. 

"Yeah, you can do it!" Eunha joined in, both Yuju and Umji nodding in agreement from beside her. 

SinB glanced at the other former kittens faces before taking a deep breath, closing her eyes tightly as Sowon led her to the entrance stairs of the pool. The first step was easy since there was no water on the step but the second that SinB's foot touched the next step she froze, the feeling of the wet step causing her to pause and her breathing to quicken. 

"That's it. Take your time." Sowon whispered, letting go of SinB's hand to wrap her arm around her waist. SinB pressed her body against Sowon in response, a small tremble coursing through her. Sowon let SinB catch her breath for a few moments before helping her down to the next step. The third step was submerged in the water and when the former black kitten's foot entered the water, she immediately whimpered. Sowon held on to SinB tightly. The fact that she was even trying right now was huge. If she had tried this two years ago, SinB would have definitely had a much worse reaction. 

"Just one more step, okay? Just touch the bottom of the pool here and we'll be done for today." Sowon ruffled SinB's hair with her free hand. "Just a little more. It'll be okay. You can't drown in water this shallow."

"She's right, SinB." Yerin said as she joined the two, taking SinB's hand in her own in order to help out. "We're both here. We won't let you fall."

SinB shuddered but allowed the two to help her down the last step to the pool, the water hitting her knees as her feet hit the bottom. The former black kitten was tense and slightly shaking but at least she wasn't panicking. That was a good sign. Progress was progress. Even if it was a tiny step forward, it was better than noth