The soft hum of the spaceship's engines filled the air, a serene backdrop as the five travelers settled in for their long journey. With a smile as radiant as Neo-Venezia’s brightest sunrise, Alicia Florence stretched her arms and turned to Akira Ferrari.

“Well, Akira, it seems we have plenty of time to relax,” Alicia said.

Akira crossed her arms, her trademark smirk tugging at her lips. “Relax? Alicia, we can’t let these three slack off for a moment! They’ll lose their edge before we even reach our destination.”

Aika, sitting nearby, groaned. “Onee-sama, we’re on holiday! Aren’t vacations supposed to be for, y’know, taking a break?”

Akira raised an eyebrow, the glint in her eye unmistakable. “Aika, the sea doesn’t care if you’re tired. Neither should you. Besides, I have a plan.”

She gestured toward a sleek device on the table. It gleamed with the kind of futuristic elegance that was becoming more common as technology advanced across the planets.

“Listen up,” Akira began, holding the sleek shrinking device like a scepter of authority. “This gadget is going to make you one-twentieth of your normal size for seven days. During that time, your ‘training ground’ will be the jacuzzi over there.”

She gestured toward the pristine, 3x3-meter spa bubbling softly in the corner of the room. To the girls, it seemed inviting right now. They had no idea how intimidating it would feel once they were shrunken.

“Seven days? That’s how long the trip takes!” Aika asked warily, arms crossed.

“Exactly! A week of training in this environment will make your usual conditions feel like child’s play,” Akira replied smugly. “Trust me, by the time we arrive, you’ll thank me.”

Alice raised an eyebrow. “Do we have a choice?”

“Nope!”

Before anyone could protest further, Akira pressed the button. A brilliant flash of light enveloped the trio, and when it faded, Aika, Akari, and Alice found themselves standing no taller than a few centimeters.

“Wow…” Akari said, marveling at the now-giant world around her. “This is amazing!”

Aika groaned, shielding her eyes from the immense gaze of Akira looming above them. “Amazing? This is terrifying!”

Alicia leaned closer, her soft smile radiating warmth even as her enormous presence overwhelmed their tiny perspective. “Oh, how delightful! You’re all so cute at this size.” She cupped her hands to her cheeks, observing them with fascination.

Akira, meanwhile, strode toward the jacuzzi, her movements causing subtle tremors the tiny girls could feel. “Alright, rookies. Get into the water and start rowing. You’re going to learn how to handle rough seas—or, in this case, rough… not sea.”

Akira leaned against the edge of the jacuzzi, her toned arms resting on the rim as she observed the tiny gondolas. The jets of the spa sent mild ripples across the surface, but to the miniaturized girls, it felt like navigating an unpredictable ocean.

“Keep your balance!” Akira barked, her voice booming. She smirked as she shifted slightly, the subtle movement of her body causing the water to ripple further. Her toes wiggled idly beneath the water, the gentle motion enough to create waves that tipped Akari’s gondola precariously.

“Akira-san!” Akari called out, gripping the edges of her tiny boat. “You’re making it hard to steer!”

Akira laughed, her grin mischievous. “I haven’t even started yet. I’m still giving you time to adjust”

Aika, meanwhile, struggled against a particularly strong current caused by Akira adjusting her posture. “Are you kidding me, Onee-sama? This is impossible!”

Akira chuckled, her feet stirring the water again, though she made no effort to stop. “It’s only impossible if you give up, Aika.”

Alicia, seated nearby, watched the scene unfold with interest. “Akira, your method is… unconventional, but effective,” she mused. “Though I wonder—”

Her sentence was cut short as she slipped off her sandals and began dipping her foot into the water.

“Wait, Alicia—” Akira started, but it was too late.

Alicia’s graceful toes broke the surface of the water, creating a massive wave that sent the tiny gondolas tumbling. The trio let out cries of surprise as they were knocked from their boats and into the jacuzzi.

“Oh no!” Alicia exclaimed, her voice full of concern. “Are you all alright?”

Akari popped up first, her cheerful demeanor unshaken. “I’m fine! That was a big wave, though!”

Aika spluttered, wiping water from her face. “Alicia-san! Your feet are as bad as Akira’s!”

Alice said nothing, moving carefully towards the edge of the tub, clearly wanting to avoid bigger girls, not really in the spirit of “training”.

“Oh dear,” Alicia said, feigning innocence as she pulled her foot back out. “I suppose I should be more careful.”

The ripples in the jacuzzi slowed for a moment, offering a brief reprieve to the three tiny Undines. Alicia sat at the edge of the tub, her feet dangling just above the water. Her serene smile remained, though her fingers idly tapped against her chin as she seemed lost in thought.

Akira leaned back against the rim, one hand trailing lazily in the water, her toes swirling beneath the surface.

“You’re not going to join, Alicia?” Akira asked, smirking as she watched other girls struggling from her minute movements.

Alicia glanced at her, her smile soft but noncommittal. Instead of answering, she dipped her toes back into the water, sending delicate ripples outward. The younger girls braced against the disturbance, paddling furiously to keep their balance.

Akari laughed brightly, clutching the edge of her gondola. “Alicia-san’s waves are so graceful! It almost feels like I’m back at Neo-Venezia.”

Aika, who was far less optimistic, muttered, “If only she wasn’t trying to drown us...”

Meanwhile, Alice clung to the rim of the jacuzzi, her small hands gripping the edge tightly. She watched the chaos unfold with her usual stoicism, though a flicker of discomfort crossed her face whenever the water splashed too close.

Akira raised an eyebrow at Alice. “What are you doing hugging the edge like that?”

“It’s safer here,” Alice replied curtly, her voice even.

Akira raised her toes from the water, nudging Alice lightly. The small motion was enough to make Alice flinch.

“Training isn’t about finding the safest spot,” Akira teased. “You’re supposed to be out there, learning how to handle the waves.”

Alice didn’t respond, only clinging tighter to her spot.

Akira nudged her again, this time with a slight curl of her toes. “Come on, rookie. Don’t be scared, I won’t let you drown.”

“I’m not scared,” Alice said calmly, though her knuckles turned white against the rim.

Akira leaned closer. “Then prove it. Show us how you can handle the water.”

With a deep breath, Alice finally pushed away her gondola from the edge towards the tub’s center. Her movements were precise, if not a little tense, as she tried her best not to fall in turbulent waters.

“Not bad,” Akira admitted, watching her. “But next time, don’t cling like a barnacle.”

Alicia continued to watch the scene unfold, her toes dipping in and out of the water in a rhythmic motion. The waves she created were faint compared to Akira’s, but even her gentlest movements caused ripples that sent the tiny gondolas swaying.

After a particularly strong wave from Akira, Aika’s gondola tipped, and she tumbled into the water. She paddled frantically, but the current pulled her toward the center of the jacuzzi.

“No, no, no!” Aika squeaked, flailing as the water swept her closer to Akira’s reclining form. She scrambled onto the nearest surface, only to realize too late that it wasn’t solid ground—it was Akira’s stomach.

Aika froze, her face heating up as she realized where she had landed. “Oh, no. Please don’t tell me…”

Akira’s laughter boomed from above. “Aika, are you inspecting my abs? Or did you get lost on the way back to your gondola?”

“I’m stuck in your belly button!” Aika shouted, her tiny voice barely audible to the towering mentor.

Alicia giggled softly, leaning forward to get a better look. “Oh my, how unexpected! Are you alright, Aika?”

“No, I’m not alright!” Aika flailed helplessly, her voice muffled slightly as she squirmed in the soft crevice.

With exaggerated care, Akira plucked Aika up between her fingers and set her back on the edge of the jacuzzi. “You’re welcome,” she said, smirking down at the flustered girl.

Aika crossed her arms, grumbling. “This training is ridiculous.”

Alicia’s laughter was soft and melodic as she turned her gaze back to the water. “Well, Akira, it seems like you’re having all the fun. Perhaps it’s time I joined in, too.”

Without waiting for a reply, Alicia slid gracefully into the jacuzzi. Her entry was slow and deliberate, yet the resulting waves were anything but gentle. The ripples cascaded outward, flipping Akari and Alice’s gondolas and sending them tumbling into the water.

“Alicia-san!” Akari’s cheerful voice rang out as she resurfaced, laughing. “That was a huge wave!”

“Oh dear,” Alicia said, feigning innocence as she settled beside Akira. “I didn’t mean to cause such a disturbance.”

“Yeah, right,” Aika muttered as she paddled back toward her gondola, muttering about how even Alicia was against her.

Alicia stretched her legs beneath the water, the movement sending smaller ripples outward. Though her actions were less chaotic than Akira’s, they still challenged the tiny girls as they adjusted to the new currents.

After an hour of training filled with mishaps, the younger Undines paddled toward the edge of the jacuzzi, eager for a break. Alicia reclined against the rim, her feet resting on the edge of the tub. Droplets of water slid down her toes, catching the light.

Akari leaned against her overturned gondola, still smiling despite her exhaustion. Aika flopped onto her back, groaning. “Seven days of this? We won’t survive.”

Alice said nothing, quietly trying to get the strands of her wet hair in some order, which was hard after falling into the water and getting messed with so many times.

Alicia smiled warmly at them, though her expression shifted as if a thought had just struck her. “Oh dear,” she said softly, her hands flying to her cheeks.

“What now?” Akira asked, glancing over.

Alicia sighed melodramatically. “I just realized—I forgot my foot massager!”

Akira rolled her eyes, her tone teasing. “You’re seriously upset about that?”

Alicia’s gaze lingered on the tiny Undines near her feet, she tilted her head slightly, observing them with an expression that could only be described as thoughtful.

The tiny girls, noticing the shift in her demeanor, exchanged nervous glances.

“What… what’s with that look, Alicia-san?” Aika asked warily.

“Oh, nothing,” Alicia replied, her serene smile returning. “I was just thinking…”