The azure sea, but a lonely, fulfilled life.

"Yeah, I'm asking for directions and I'm also buying a can of soda."

"Soda?"

Shinji Tokita looked at the can held by the black-haired boy. Wasn't that wheat beer? But beer is carbonated, so it could be considered a soft drink.

"Sorry to bother you, I'll be going now."

As a new human with highly sensitive intuition, Hachiman Hikigaya sensed a dangerous aura. His intuition kept warning him that he needed to leave immediately.

He tried to squeeze through the gap between the two doors, and just as he grabbed the doorknob, the store manager's leisurely voice rang out.

"By the way, he's a freshman this year."

When introducing someone, you wouldn't deliberately mention their academic background, would you? Could it be that these two graduated from Izu University?

With just a slight thought, Hachiman Hikigaya came to this conclusion, and it was this moment of hesitation that cost him the chance to leave the store.

"newborn?"

"That is to say."

Two burly men, one after the other, placed their hands on either side of the door handles. Hachiman Hikigaya mechanically raised his head, only to see that their faces had transformed into devilish expressions, revealing ferocious smiles.

"The opportunity for club recruitment has arrived!!!"

Watching their figures gradually approach, Hachiman Hikigaya leaned close to his suitcase, gazing at the natural scenery outside the shop's glass entrance, his eyes revealing a look of longing.

Komachi, it seems like I'm going to be forced into some bad place again.

No way! He finally escaped Chiba and got a brand new university life! At least let him have some time to rest alone!

Chapter Two: The Beer and Diving Club

"Peek a Boo?"

"It's the name of our club; we're the Diving Club."

Sitting on the tatami mat, Hachiman Hikigaya held the jar in his hand and listened to the two people's introductions. He really didn't expect that just by looking at their appearance, he would think that the other party was a graduate or a staff member who had already graduated. He didn't expect that they were just third-year college students.

Isn't that a bit too precocious? With that burly physique and massive muscles, he would believe them even if they said they also worked part-time as fitness instructors.

“My name is Shinji Tokita, and I’m the head of Peek a Boo,” the man with the neat buzz cut said.

"As for me, Ryujiro, just a friendly reminder: drink your soda quickly to enjoy it." The blond, muscular man chuckled heartily, blinking one eye as he pointed to the can in his hand.

"Oh well."

Could there really be such a rumor? As a child from inland China, this was the first time he had ever heard of it.

Hachiman Hikigaya opened the jar from a distance, shaking it a few times while he was handling it to avoid splashing any liquid onto himself.

The pull tab was pulled open, and a hissing sound filled the air. As he expected, white foam began to condense at the mouth of the can.

Amidst their pleased gazes, he brought the jar to his lips, took a sip, and the aroma of wheat filled his mouth—a very refreshing taste, without much of a bubbly sensation. Not bad at all.

Come to think of it, this soda smells somewhat familiar.

"It really tastes good... but something seems a little off."

Isn't this beer?!

Hachiman Hikigaya stared wide-eyed at the drink in his hand. Although he had never drunk alcohol before and was still a month away from turning 18, he was unfortunately surrounded by an older female teacher who was both a smoker and a drinker. So, in some less formal occasions, he could often smell her alcohol on her.

"It's delicious, isn't it! This Kirin Ichiban Shibori is very popular among young people in the area. The aroma of whole wheat fills your body through your nose, making your heart pound. The texture is very dry. Although you can taste a slight bitterness while drinking it, that's not a flaw, but rather a unique feature!"

Shinji Tokita gave a thumbs-up in praise. He then took out the beer he had hidden behind his back, pulled the tab, and downed it in one gulp before smacking his lips.

"The only downside is that the alcohol content is a bit low, so it tastes similar to soda."

"It's quite suitable as a small drink before the revelry," Shoulong Cilang said with a smile, clinking glasses with him.

Is the prescription very low?

Indeed, he didn't feel anything after drinking it.

That's not the point! He's a minor, how can he drink alcohol!

Hachiman Hikigaya put the jar down, revealing a black line at the end of his head.

"What's wrong? Don't you like this flavor? There are other options in front of the counter." Seeing that he didn't continue drinking, Shinji Tokita pointed to the counter.

"Oh, no, it's just that I'm not an adult yet."

Upon hearing his words, Shinji Tokita and Ryujiro Kotobuki exchanged a glance and spoke in unison.

"That's not important."

"This is very important!"

Completely baffled by their thought process, Hachiman Hikigaya quietly retorted, "Japanese law clearly stipulates that minors are prohibited from consuming alcohol."

"What does sake mean to you, Hikigaya?" Shinji Tokita asked with a faint smile.

"Um, it's a beverage containing ethanol made by fermenting starchy or sugary substances such as grains and fruits."

"I'm not asking you to give such a comprehensive explanation of the meaning of alcohol, but rather, what does alcohol mean to you? Is it something like rules or regulations?"

"Well, you can't say that."

After all, adults will likely drink for work or other reasons, as Japan is a country that places great importance on social engagements, and the national drinking rate is an astonishing 90%.

“In that case, let’s drink.” Shinji Tokita waved his hand and looked at him encouragingly. “Alcohol is a wonderful thing; it not only tastes good, but it also helps people forget their troubles.”

"That's true, but it's just a way to escape pressure."

"We don't drink to forget the pressure, but we drink to forget the pressure. Without any emotion, we just drink the alcohol, feel it spread through our veins and throughout our bodies, and experience that intoxicating feeling. That's what makes us happy," said Juryujiro calmly. His words carried a sense of power, though Hachiman couldn't understand them. In his eyes, it was still just escapism.

However, perhaps he needed to escape, otherwise he wouldn't have come all the way from Chiba to here.

Hachiman Hikigaya picked up the can of beer, stared at the pale yellow liquid swaying in the hollow, hesitated for a moment, then took another sip. It was indeed very good; it made him feel a little lighter.

"Speaking of which, Hachiman, you've never drunk alcohol before?"

"Well, after all, I'm not an adult yet."

"Then how do you know you're not allergic to alcohol?"

"Huh?" Hachiman froze. He was allergic to alcohol; it seemed like he had that condition. Did he have it? Probably not, he didn't feel anything after drinking it.

"Probably not," Shinji Tokita said uncertainly.

“After all, there are no red spots.” Ryujiro Kotobuki continued his words.

Hachiman looked at the jar in his hand in horror. Had he just taken a step onto the bridge leading to the Sanzu River?

"Could you please remind me before I drink it next time?" His tone carried a sense of weariness, as if he had left his body.

"Oh, I thought you knew about it since you bought the beer."

"I had no idea it was beer until I drank it."

The three sat around the tatami mat, staring at each other.

After a while, the two burly men in front of them began to stroke their chins: "This is really bad."

Hachiman Hikigaya was speechless with exhaustion. What kind of hellish place was this? He had encountered so many unexpected things on his very first day.

"Yo, Tokita, Hisashi, we're here."

The door was pushed open again, and a wave of heat, accompanied by a multitude of heavy footsteps, approached. Hachiman Hikigaya turned his head to look at the store entrance and saw a group of men wearing various colored shirts, some strong and some thin, walking in.

They don't have much in common, but aside from themselves, they share one thing in common that makes Hachiman Hikigaya's right eyelid twitch.

Everyone is holding a case of liquor!

Is this place a diving shop or an alcohol enthusiasts' club?!

"Oh, you've already started drinking! How's your spirits?" The burly man at the front chuckled, then looked at the stunned Hachiman Hikigaya. "This is... a new member?"

"Yes, he's part of our diving club." Shinji Tokita stood up to greet him, and he and the big guy held each other's right hands and leaned on each other's shoulders.

A member? When did he agree to join the diving club?

Hachiman raised his hand, looking completely bewildered: "Um, I don't think I've joined the club."

Everyone turned their attention to him, and under so many gazes, he curled up uncomfortably.

"That makes sense, so let's seize the day and celebrate your birthday."

"Okay!"

Huh? What?

A pair of hands landed on his shoulders. Hachiman turned his head and saw a blond, burly man with a gentle smile holding a club application form. Immediately afterward, he felt his right hand being clamped down by the other man and uncontrollably pressed into the inkpad.

No, no, no! Please don't!

He already shouted that line ten minutes ago! Repetition of lines easily causes visual fatigue for the reader!

Chapter Three: The Naked Man and His Escape and Capture

What kind of place is this...?

Hachiman Hikigaya stared dumbfounded at the group of people practicing their baseball fist techniques. They were surrounded by a golden aura that only appeared in shonen anime, and that wasn't the most surprising thing.

Why, why is everyone completely naked?!

The horrific scene before him was constantly tormenting his fragile nerves. In order to protect his brain from damage, his brain automatically blurred the naked genitals of the people in front of him, but this only made it look even stranger!

How could this happen? Just a few minutes ago, everyone was laughing and drinking, and then someone suddenly said, "Sure enough, you have to play some rock-paper-scissors when you're drinking," and everyone nodded in agreement.

He thought it was just a game like rock-paper-scissors where the loser drinks, but he never expected that the loser would not only have to drink but also take off their clothes!

And they really didn't hold back at all; they even took off their underwear.

Hachiman took a sip of beer to calm his nerves, as this was the most birdwatching he had ever done.

Alcohol is truly a magical thing; it can actually make people forget their troubles and return to a state of simplicity and nature. He should drink less in the future, lest he be regarded as a pervert like them.

Fortunately, it was his first time drinking alcohol, and the two seniors didn't know his alcohol tolerance, so they let him drink by himself to avoid the trouble of him mixing in.

He couldn't imagine being completely naked outside the bathroom.

"The atmosphere is very lively."

The door was pushed open again, and this time the store manager who had left earlier walked in. Facing the completely naked crowd, he smiled peacefully, stood in front of the counter, and put on an apron.

Have they gotten used to it? It seems this isn't the first time this group has done something like this.

"Why is there one who's wearing clothes?"

Hey, manager, he heard your whisper, is that so strange? Is it really that strange? Is being completely naked the only style this store has? And that apron doesn't suit you at all.

Hachiman Hikigaya really wanted to complain, but he was afraid of attracting other people's attention, so he could only take another sip of beer.

Oh no, how is he supposed to get out of this situation? Should he just say he needs to go to school to complete the enrollment procedures? No, as the two seniors, they must know that the enrollment procedures can be extended to the first day of school, which would mean waiting until tomorrow.

He said he was going to his apartment to pack his luggage, but he was new to the area and hadn't found an apartment to stay in. He had planned to complete the formalities first and then look for one.

No, what if they get drunk and become so enthusiastic that they offer to help him tidy up his room? Where is he supposed to find an apartment that's currently rented out?

What to do? Leaving abruptly might make things awkward, but staying here until they're drunk is risky; who knows how late they'll drink.

Hachiman Hikigaya felt like he was trapped in a cage, waiting for a knight to rescue him... "Prince, please save me! Anyone will do! Please come and rescue me from this dark prison!"

As if the heavens had heard his call, the door was pushed open once again, and a boy in a white hoodie stood in the doorway, his hands still in the motion of pushing the door open. His eyes were full of expectation, as if he had personally opened his hard-won treasure.

From his youthful face, Hachiman Hikigaya could tell that he was different from the group of exhibitionists in front of him; he was a normal person.

Could it be that he is a hero?

Hachiman Hikigaya looked at him expectantly, his eyes full of urging, urging him to come in and attract everyone's attention so that he could take the opportunity to slip away.

He even had a line ready for their first meeting: "Hero, thank you for your help. I will remember your kindness forever."

Hero, step in bravely!

Eh? Hero, your face seems a little stiff. Eh? Why did you close the door again? Everything in here is real. That door doesn't have the ability to change space. It's not a portal! Ah, he pushed it open again and knelt down, looking very unwilling.

"The new life I had envisioned has been shattered..."

Listening to his mutterings, Hachiman took a sip of beer and nodded in agreement. He was a kindred spirit.

"Yo, Iori, welcome to my shop!" the shop manager greeted him warmly.