He rarely felt fear in the presence of Karane. After all, they were friends. It wasn't really until the hot summer of their sophomore year at the academy came that he felt it.

Maybe a little crush on her was to blame. He couldn't bring himself to act on that crush, however, because wasn't it entirely inappropriate? Not to mention he didn't want to risk a friendship like theirs.

Regardless of his silent feelings for her, the two of them had decided to go swim that day—much like every other academy student. It was too hot not to be in the water.

He was quick to peel off his shirt and jump in the water in casual shorts, as did every other boy around Skyloft. He jumped into the water and came back up with his normally spiky hair slick to his head.

And then he noticed Karane. She'd kept a baggy shirt on over a dark colored bra, probably to cover herself up or something but she must not have considered that the shirt was light enough it didn't matter.

He admired the way the shirt clung to her body, regardless of its larger size. The way her hair, free of its ponytails, splashed red over her shoulders. It was longer than he had realized, when it was wet and down. Cascading over her pink shoulders, peaking through the collar of that shirt. Who's shirt was that? It couldn't have been hers. Pipit wanted to be that shirt.

And all at once he was overwhelmed by unspoken attraction and emotion. He could feel himself growing just the slightest bit hot, the blood pooling in a way that he really wished it wouldn't while they were in public.

While she was almost naked. While /he/ was almost naked. 'Oh stop thinking about it!' He practically screamed to himself in his head. But he was beginning to worry. What if she saw it? Or worse. What if she tried to dunk him or something and felt it?

Nerves got the best of him. He couldn't get out of the water. The way the fabric fell it would become obvious. And he couldn't stay right there, for her to notice it.

"I—er—I'm going to go see Link..! I'll… I'll catch up with you later, Rane!"

And he swam away so fast she didn't have a chance to protest. He certainly hoped he didn't hurt her feelings too badly, that was certain.

But right now he had other concerns.