Stay close to the river for the slower, subtle route.

(Chapter originally by doragom333 on writing.com)

The wide open space of the main route was too much of a threat. If anyone else was using the road they would see her and immediately realize she wasn't wearing anything; even if they were too far to do anything but gawk. Chie wasn't going to back down, but if there was even a slim chance she could somehow get through this with no one else seeing her, then she still had to take that chance.

With a final scan to make sure her path was clear, Chie quickly crept down off the main roadway to the riverside. Keeping her head down, she made her way upstream along the beach. As Chie pressed on, she couldn't help but notice, between the feel of her bare feet on the dirt and rocks of the shore, to the warm sunlight beaming down on her body, that it was like she was out for a day at the beach. Without any people around, Chie started to feel the tension lessen somewhat... only for it come right back as she saw something in front of her.

Ahead, there was something splashing about in the water. Instinctively, Chie winced, covered herself, and edged toward the streetside hill as she eyed the disturbance cautiously. As she looked at it, the splashing almost looked like someone was... thrashing about in the river!

"Mmph! H-Help! Grbblbl!" a child's voice shouted out, **** on water.

"H-Hey!" Chie shouted, immediately covering her mouth with a gasp.

"Ah! Someone! A-Anyone!" the child cried out. They seemed to have heard Chie, but it was hard to tell as they were drowning.

"Oh no!" said Chie. That kid was drowning! She dashed towards the water, ready to leap in, but-

"Eee!" Chie shivered as the water covered her hips. "Crap, I forgot I'm naked!" she gasped, coming to a halt.

But her moment of hesitation just that, a moment. The kid in front of her was starting to sink, but she was still downstream from them. There was still time! With a yell, Chie dove into the river and swam towards the child.

"Gotcha!" she shouted, grabbing the kid and pushing them to the surface.

"Ah! *glub* Who?" they sputtered.

"Grab on! I'll save you!" Chie said, turning around so that they could grab onto her from behind.

They didn't respond, but Chie could feel the kid grabbing onto her. First their legs around her waist, and then the arms up on her-

"Eek!" Chie squeaked.

"Wha-?" the kid uttered.

"I-It's fine! Just, don't let go!" Chie flinched, making her way back to shore. It wasn't easy, but the young martial artist's tenacity proved to be stronger than the river's current.

"We... we made it," Chie panted as she crawled onto shore. "Hey... are you alright?" she asked.

The child didn't say anything, but their arms were still wrapped around Chie's chest.

"Hey!" Chie spoke louder.

The kid started to move, and fell down, having slipped off of Chie's back.

"Oh no!" Chie gasped, as she moved to get a good look at the kid. He looked like a young boy dressed in normal clothes, not a swimsuit. "Did he even know how to swim?" Chie thought. "How long was he in there!?" Worried, she felt his body, checking for signs of life. The boy's skin was almost numb, (she herself was feeling quite chilled from the river as well,) and she couldn't quite tell if there was a pulse or not.

"Oh no... come on, come on..." Chie pleaded.

*Cough* *Cough*

The boy suddenly lurched, coughing up water.

"Ah! Is he-?" went Chie.

"*Hack* *Cough* M-Miss...?" the boy asked, weakly looking in Chie's direction.

"I-I'm here!" Chie replied. "You're all right now!"

"Th-thank you..." he trailed off, before closing his eyes yet again.

Chie drew a short breath, and put her ear towards the boy's mouth. She could hear the sound of steady breathing.

"Phew..." Chie sighed a long sigh, sitting back upright. "First streaking home thanks to Yosuke's prank and now rescuing a kid like this? What a day this has been!"

Looking around, she made to get back on her path, but then realized something. Was it all right to just leave him there? The sun was warm enough that even she was starting to dry out already but, while he seemed to be stable, but if he was alone when he fell, it could be hours until someone finds him!

Chie looked toward the boy, then off towards her path. It still would be really, really bad if she was seen, but was it all right to just leave him here by the shore? No, she couldn't do that! But if she stayed on with him, then she would be- but what if they could help? She was just in the river after all... maybe that could work too?

Shaking water droplets out of her hair, Chie decided to-