Harder and faster, he thrashes, even kicking his feet in an attempt to surface quicker, though he's floundering quite a lot with the excess weight on his body. Lucky for him, it doesn't take much effort to reach up, loosen his skewed headdress and shove it off entirely, the remaining bit of dainty chain snapping free when he does, somehow snagged around his wrist. His heavy sash belt takes more maneuvering onehandedly, but it comes loose then he bobs a little higher, which prompts him to start his desperate half-swim.

It's as he's stretching his hands out again that something (someone?) else comes underwater too, takes hold and starts helping, guiding them back upward. Sizhui doesn't hesitate to hang on, bursting forth through the water, gulping long, deep lungfuls of air once they've finally resurfaced.