The azure sea, but a lonely, fulfilled life.

"Hmm, (sniff) Did you have bamboo fish this morning? I smell a very familiar aroma."

"Oh right, not only that, there's also sea bream miso soup, and the main dish is natto toast. Of course, if you want rice, that's available too, and there's also pickled rice bran."

"What a feast! Is today a special day?"

"You need to replenish your nutrition before going into the water."

The conversation between the two Kotegawa sisters interrupted his memory recollection, but in the last second before his train of thought was broken, he remembered a relevant clue.

Could it be the girl in that photo? The hair color matches, but that doesn't make sense. The age doesn't match either. Could she be an older sister or something? But he's always stayed in Chiba and never gone out. How could he know a woman living in Izu?

He was too young at that time to remember some things clearly. Perhaps his parents had brought him here for a trip, or perhaps the other party had been to Chiba. However, it is also possible that his entire guess was wrong.

Did Iida mention last night that she knows me?

His question made Iori pause for a moment: "No, but she said she also knows someone named Hachiman, except that he's much more cheerful than you."

“That’s right.” Hachiman spread his hands, looking completely innocent. “I’ve always been dark.”

From a very young age, he was called strange nicknames behind his back because of his aloof and unsociable personality. Some bolder people would even call him that openly to his face. In his memory, he never had a sunny day.

So it's definitely just a coincidence of names. This is very common. Japan is such a small country, there are bound to be a few people who share the same name, and there are even quite a few who look alike. Otherwise, how could there be so many terrifying urban legends about doppelgangers or triplet beings?

Moreover, his name was given by his mother based on Hachiman Daisuke, a famous Japanese deity who grants children. Perhaps other families who wanted sons would also go to the bodhisattva to pray, and after having a son, they might have named him Hachiman as a way of expressing their gratitude.

"...Your first half of life sounds really tragic."

Iori watched him speak such hurtful words with an indifferent attitude, unsure whether to comfort him or what. Just before, she had been furious that he knew so many beautiful girls his age, wishing she could strip him naked and make him drink with Truth-Seeking Balls. But now that he had said this, wouldn't doing so be framing him without evidence and forcibly punishing him?

"What are you talking about?"

Chisa walked over carrying a bowl of miso soup. She handed the hangover medicine that Nanaka had just given her to Iori and the other two, and looked at Hachiman and asked him a question.

"We were talking about the social gathering last night."

Hachiman replied frankly, in his opinion there was nothing to hide about it, after all, they had discussed it in front of all the members of 'Pab' yesterday afternoon.

"Oh." Chisa didn't react as expected. "So? Did anyone succeed?"

"I don't know. After reading your text message, I left halfway through and came back."

Having found an excuse to leave, why should he stay in that uncomfortable place of conversation? The only regret was that he didn't eat much and still ended up paying a huge sum of money.

My savings from all these years aren't much left. Next month I might have to break my promise and go out to do a part-time job.

"Oh, yes."

Chisa drank the miso soup, took a sip, and noticed it was a little sweet. "Did you put sugar in it, sister?"

Hachiman also had some questions about what exactly happened last night, so he looked at Iori and the other two, only to see them both shaking their heads and showing expressions of regret.

Of course, Iori wouldn't reveal the details of last night's battle. After all, not only did he fail in the end, but he was also ridiculed as an animal. How could he possibly say such a thing? Those corpse-masking monsters are truly despicable!

[Bang—]

"That's really strange, even Iori is up."

Is it incredible that I woke up this early?

Ignoring his complaints, Shinji Tokita and Ryujiro Kotobuki grinned. As they approached, a chilling aura mixed with the smell of alcohol swept over them. Hachiman looked at the two still full of energy and couldn't help but sigh, in terms of drinking capacity, Kohei Iori and his companion were completely outclassed by their seniors.

"Ashi, Shou, you're here! Where's Zi?"

"I'm not sure, but it should arrive soon."

The two found an empty seat and sat down. Shinji Tokita smiled and said, "Today is a really good day. The weather is bright and perfect for swimming. Plus, we have a new member. 'Pab' is getting stronger and stronger."

Juryujiro: "Well, it's about time!"

Hearing this, Iori asked in confusion, "At that time? When?"

"Of course, it's time to take the license test."

"Licenses?" Kohei asked. "Licenses for tasting various types of alcohol?"

Iori retorted, "It must be a license to undress at the speed of light."

These two really think the club they're in is just a drinking and rock-paper-scissors club! Even if they haven't had a single real club activity, they shouldn't forget what kind of club they're in!

Speaking of licenses! It's definitely a proper nude dancing license, which allows you to strip and dance outside anytime, anywhere after passing the exam.

Spinning and jumping, I closed my eyes~

"How could you have such a strange idea? It's a diving license, of course," Shinji Tokita said, puzzled.

Upon hearing the correct answer, the two were as if struck by a heavy blow.

A diving license? No way!

The two lay slumped over the table, their eyes filled with terror.

"We're going diving soon, why are you reacting like this?" Chisa sipped her miso soup, speechless at their reactions.

[Bang-]

She turned to look at Hachiman, whose head was slammed against the table, her eyes turning rotten: "You..."

"Don't get me wrong, I just had a neck cramp."

Hachiman quickly looked up. It was terrifying that he was actually following their line of thinking. Could it be that he was really going to be assimilated?

Don’t do this kind of thing!

Chapter Sixty-Five: Let's Set Off, Ocean!

Standing in front of the diving shop 'Grand Blue', Yoshihara Aina placed her right hand on her thin chest to calm her anxious emotions. From today onwards, she would officially become a member of the diving club 'Pab'.

She was about to step out of her awkward past and into a completely new life. This was a major turning point in her life, a dash marking the realization of her life's aspirations! It was a crucial moment when she could officially enjoy her youth and face a story that seemed to unfold like a romance comic.

Excitement and unease swirled in her mind like angels and devils. Yoshihara Aina took a deep breath, placed her hand on the doorknob, and thought, "Come on, the life I've always dreamed of!"

[Click—]

"No! You have to recite the diving rules loudly so you can remember them! You're not putting in any effort, yet you expect to chase sea turtles in the ocean?"

A loud shout startled Yoshihara Aina, who had just entered the room. She instinctively took a few steps back, staring at Tokita Shinji, who was standing not far away, his eyes wide with fury, looking like a demonic Buddha.

This person is completely different from the one I met last time.

"Oh, you've arrived, you corpse monster."

"Call your name properly!"

Iori walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of dry noodles. Although eating greasy food in the morning is bad for her stomach, she still wanted to have a bite.

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized insincerely.

"Really!"

At the invitation of Chisa Kotegawa, Aina Yoshihara sat down on a chair. She looked at Hachiman and Kohei, who were holding diving rules, and asked timidly.

"Um, what's going on here?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just playing a game."

Chisa replied, as she was painstakingly picking out the fish bones from the bamboo carp. The bones in the main part of this fish could be easily picked out with chopsticks, but the bones in other parts were small and stuck in the meat, which affected the taste.

"game?"

It looks like he was being scolded.

"Yes, a kind of imitation game."

Iori tossed a note to Mana, who opened it and read a line that read: "[Imitate a line from your most memorable movie and fit it into the current scene.]"

"Just eating breakfast would be a bit boring."

"Please eat properly!"

Chewing slowly and swallowing food, and keeping quiet are excellent traditions that have existed since ancient times! These practices effectively prevent choking or getting something stuck in your throat, and they must be followed meticulously!

Although she knew beforehand that this group of people were quite unserious, she didn't expect them to play games even during meals. She found it a little hard to adapt to such a youthful club.

"Hey, you're here, you corpse monster."

"I'm too lazy to even complain anymore."

Hearing Aina's voice, Kohei turned around and saw her pouting, looking like she had been hurt. He scratched his head, a little confused.

"what happened?"

"I think you should first take a good look at yourself."

Hachiman put his hand on his shoulder. As the losers of the game, they each took off a piece of clothing. Iori took off a hair clip, he took off a sock, and Kohei had already taken off his trousers with practiced ease. As for shirts, neither of them had been wearing them in the first place.

Kohei glanced at his lower body: "It's normal."

"Damn it, there aren't any normal men in this club at all!"

Aina covered her face and howled. She had already witnessed the madness of her two predecessors late that night. They could pour out 96-degree water of life without hesitation. After getting drunk, they even went to tease the little crabs buried in the sand, making them so angry that they waved their pincers as fast as France surrendered.

I thought that Iori and the others were somewhat normal, at most just a little lecherous, but I never expected that they would have the habit of running around naked in broad daylight.

Are all the men in this club perverts?

"Wait, did you leave me behind?!"

Hachiman retorted, "He's still perfectly normal, okay!"

What do you need to bring if you go to the sea to catch turtles?

"A net?" Iori thought for a moment and answered quickly after hearing this question, which sounded like a quiz.

"Raw meat, right?" Kohei judged based on the predator's habits.

"You two are really stupid."

Hachiman shook his head. How could he bring these things at a time like this? He really doesn't understand the ecology of sea turtles at all.

"Then what do you say it is?"

"Of course it's jellyfish. Didn't you guys watch the Chinese animated series when you were kids, the one about the little carp and the rascal snake who lived together for thirty years, only to have a third party appear and have to go through all sorts of things? The sea turtle in that show liked jellyfish."

"I see--"

Iori and Kohei tapped their palms together, suddenly realizing what was going on.

Seeing this, Yoshihara Mana was even more heartbroken.

Chisa, standing to the side, twitched her eye as she looked at the smug boy in the middle of the fight and sighed.

……

"Alright! Now that the new students have arrived, let's head to the beach and get ready for our first official diving session!"

Shinji Tokita clapped his hands and announced the first official diving club activity with a hearty laugh. Mana Yoshihara looked at Chisa and Nanaka beside her and winked.

"and many more."

"What's wrong? You corpse-makeup monster?"

"Don't you need to give me some background information first? And don't call me 'corpse monster,' address me properly! Didn't you say at the social gathering last night that you really wanted to call me by my name?!"

Yoshihara Aina angrily pointed at Iori, her cheeks puffing out slightly in dissatisfaction, as if she had two meat buns stuffed in her mouth.

"Don't be so loud."

Iori waved to her to keep her voice down. Yesterday was a special case, wasn't it? If it weren't for the fact that Yamamoto could fulfill his wish, would he have sold his personality and made such a big sacrifice?

It should be noted that his face was stiff when he said those words. If he hadn't tried so hard to appear calm, his tears of grief would have flowed from his eyes.

And yet, in the end, it still failed, and someone who left halfway through even got the last hat removed.

Hachiman! Don't think you can cover this up with excuses! He doesn't believe in the idea of ​​a name coincidence; how could it be such a coincidence! This guy can easily become friends with a beautiful girl now, but maybe he already secretly pledged his life to someone else back then, using the excuse of being young and naive!

Damn it! This guy who pretends to be lonely but is actually a social butterfly, one day he'll write the word "misery" on him!

Why are you looking at me like that?

Seeing his gritted teeth, Hachiman sensed something was wrong and walked over to Chisa's side. He had already learned about the structure of this ecosystem pyramid.

Apart from Nana, who is a powerful weapon at the top, Chisa is the safest person around.

"It's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something. Hachiman, aren't you afraid of the sea? Maybe when you go into the sea, you'll be so scared that you'll surface anxiously. If something happens then, that wouldn't be good. So I came up with a solution."

Iori changed her expression and a bright smile appeared on her face.