Stress and irritation had gotten to Tanaka in the past weeks, built up from too long wondering what exactly he was supposed to be doing around here. He had worked himself into a fit of frustration, second-guessing whether or not anything he was doing was the right thing to do. He had finally had to think very hard about what he would be told if one of his superiors were with him in the city.

At first he thought they'd remind him things like be diligent, be strong, be passionate. Then, the cynical thought crossed through his mind that they'd probably tease him and tell him to take a break, like they often do. Then he realized maybe that would actually be a good idea.

Ouendan were most often caught off guard, anyway. They were never off duty, but they often took opportunity to relax. The party was maybe a sign that he should cool off a bit.

And the young Ouendan had not forgotten his last encounter at the pool. It still made him flush to think of Genie's momentary lapse of fashion sense, so Tanaka had made a point of bringing his own swimsuit this time. There was a cross between feeling awkward, not having so many layers for the first time, and relief; it got hot under that thing, really. A casual observer might have noticed he looked pretty good, too.