"It's been a while since we last went diving!"
"I know. We have so many assignments and experiments. The only time we can relax is during the drinking parties at night."
"The last time I went diving was about half a month ago, I think? How pathetic—"
The people who had finished changing into their swimsuits in Grand Blue gathered together in groups of two or three to chat. The only two missing from the group were Miyazawa Yu and Aina Yoshiwara.
"Hey, Nanaka, did you hear what Yu was talking about with Toshio-ojisan?"
Shinji Tokita, sitting regally on the sofa, was getting bored and started worrying about Yu.
After all, the economic situation in Japan was pretty bad right now. Any business that could make a quick buck sounded shady!
If the store manager rejected him, how should he comfort his sad junior?
"Well, he seemed to be bringing some kind of business to Grand Blue. All I heard was something about a ten percent discount."
"Huh! Is he pimping? Yu isn't a local, is he? Can he even get anyone?"
"Who knows... But Yu sounded very confident, and my father seemed interested!"
Nanaka Kotegawa smiled bitterly and spread her hands. She was an expert at giving diving lessons and doing chores, but she was still learning how to maintain clients and get business.
It wasn't something you could learn in a day or two to go from a diving instructor to a diving supply store owner!
"Hmph? I see..."
Iori Kitahara put his hands behind his head and thought for a few seconds. He then saw Miyazawa Yu come out of the inner room and immediately waved to him. "Yu, how did it go? Did Uncle Toshio agree?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am? It's a one hundred percent reliable business!"
Miyazawa Yu walked to the counter, poured himself a huge glass of ice water, and chugged it down. A confident smile was on his face as he gave a thumbs-up.
If all went well, his living expenses would be taken care of from now on.
But whether he would be living in luxury or scraping by would all depend on his methods.
This was no problem for the top salesman who had "convinced" dozens of loyal customers to join his gym... wait, I mean "invited"!
"Mm-hm! That's great~ But speaking of which, Aina has been in there for a long time."
"I can't help it. For someone who's not used to being naked, everything needs practice~"
Miyazawa Yu, in a great mood, temporarily forgot about the mental damage that his rival, Azusa Hamaoka, had caused him.
He looked up at Chisa, who was staring at her camera with sparkling eyes.
"Why don't you go check on her, Chisa? Just in case."
"That's a good point. I'll go first..."
"No need! Thanks for waiting, everyone~☆"
With a click of the changing room door, Aina's voice came from behind them.
Miyazawa Yu's first reaction was that something was off. Eleven out of ten times, something was off. Because that voice was way too energetic!
According to the memory ingrained in his DNA, the appearance of this tone meant that...
"Now I'm not afraid of wearing a swimsuit! Let's go~☆!"
"..."
The heavy makeup of the "Cakey" was burned into his retina. Miyazawa Yu felt his vision cells wailing!
They were accusing him of why they had to see something so grotesque!
Whoosh—
Iori Kitahara instantly teleported behind Aina Yoshiwara. With a blank expression, he held her arms so she couldn't resist.
Seeing this, Kohei Imamura went up and threw away Aina's twin-tail wig. Miyazawa Yu grabbed a rag and rubbed her face frantically.
"Mmmph!! What are you doing!"
"Is that a question? Are you trying to pollute the ocean, 'Cakey'!"
"We're helping you! Say thank you! Did you hear me?!"
In a few quick moves, her original skin was revealed. Aina Yoshiwara's sense of shame instantly overpowered her reason.
The moment Iori let go of her, the girl shrieked and hid in the corner made by the sofa and the wall, refusing to come out.
With her arms crossed and tears in her eyes, anyone would think she had been violated.
"Mmmph... I'm so embarrassed..."
"Heh! A girl with heavy makeup has the nerve to say she's embarrassed!"
"Exactly! Have some shame!"
"Pfft!"
"You three who are always running around naked have no right to say that to me!"
Spurred on by their three contemptuous faces, Aina Yoshiwara, though still flailing, relaxed a lot.
"Alright, enough playing—Now, let me teach you how to wear a wetsuit. The rest of you, go put on your wetsuits!"
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
The others scattered, leaving a space with less visibility for Aina.
Then Nanaka Kotegawa used both her hands to finally mold the contempt on Miyazawa Yu's face into a smile.
"First, because the wetsuit is very tight, your chest might get stuck when you put it on..."
Her hand patted his chest. Miyazawa Yu could only obediently take a deep breath to create some space in the wetsuit for his chest.
"At this point, you just need to take a deep breath, and the part that's stuck will go whoosh right up!"
"...Most people don't get stuck, do they?"
Aina Yoshiwara timidly came out of her hiding place, shocked as she looked at Miyazawa Yu's chest.
She touched her own meager chest and realized a cruel fact: she might not even be bigger than a man!
"Second! When you put on your goggles, remember to lift your bangs to prevent any leaks!"
"Finally, for the flippers, they need to cover your heels completely, got it?"
"Mm..."
Aina Yoshiwara turned and looked at Nanaka Kotegawa's magnificent physique, a tear streaming down her face—
I can't compete! I can't compete at all! Is there even a chance I can be half as magnificent as she is in this lifetime?!
"Alright! Is everyone ready?"
"We're good to go!"
"We are, too! Do we have a plan?"
Miyazawa Yu, having been used and discarded by Nanaka-san, raised his hand and passed in front of Azusa Hamaoka to push the air tank.
However, the immense gravitational pull of evil was too strong. Even as he kept reminding himself that he was still angry, his eyes involuntarily glanced at her.
"Hmm? Hehe~"
Azusa Hamaoka caught Yu's little action. She unashamedly puffed out her chest and raised her eyebrows in a provocative manner.
Miyazawa Yu responded by putting up his middle finger and cursing softly, blaming all his actions on gravity.
"Everyone! Today is for both training and relaxing. Let's go to a shallow place to enjoy the scenery!"
"Okay!"
Everyone headed out to the diving spot. Miyazawa Yu pushed the air tank, walking in the middle of the group. He saw Chisa Kotegawa walking far ahead of everyone else, and he quietly asked,
"Iori, did you do something to anger Chisa again?"
"What? Did you have a change of heart and decide to let me have Nanaka-san?"
"You're dreaming."
Iori Kitahara sighed lightly, feeling that his grievances were as hard to melt as the snow on top of Mount Fuji.
He hadn't done anything, but Chisa was still unhappy. His nude full-body apology didn't even work!
"Hey, why do you think Nanaka-san put Chisa in a group with me?"
"Why is that even a question? She wants you two to make up!"
"I beg to differ. I feel this will have the opposite effect..."
"Oh, don't worry! Chisa-chan becomes super easy to please and talk to once she's in the water!"
Azusa Hamaoka wrapped her arms around the two juniors, smiling as she looked at Chisa with gentle eyes. She then pushed Iori, telling him to walk with Chisa.
"Iori's problem is solved. Now, what about you, Yu-chan? How would you like me to make it up to you?"
"Stop with the pranks and the rivalry! And let me have Nanaka!"
"Oh—no!"
Miyazawa Yu tilted his head and silently pushed his cart away from Azusa-senpai, showing that he would absolutely not accept an out-of-court settlement.
He could talk to her about the rest of the matters with his lawyer, but unfortunately, he didn't have a lawyer! That meant there was nothing to talk about!
"So stingy! While I can't give you Nanaka, I can show you a nice view~"
Azusa Hamaoka smiled and leaned into Miyazawa Yu's ear, whispering, "Swim a little slower, and get a bit higher up on the right. Got it?"
"Got it? Got what?"
Completely baffled, Miyazawa Yu had no idea what Azusa Hamaoka was talking about. He was still thinking about it even before he entered the water.
It wasn't until the cold seawater immersed him and the vast blue world unfolded before his eyes that he relaxed and followed behind Nanaka Kotegawa, enjoying the dive.
[Ascend! Come closer to me!]
Nanaka Kotegawa made two classic hand gestures. Miyazawa Yu obediently ascended and immediately saw a sea cucumber in front of her.
How lucky! I can probably keep something I find in the sea, right?
Looking at the soft creature that Nanaka-san was carefully handing to him, Miyazawa Yu unhesitatingly grabbed it.
The next second, countless white, thread-like substances spewed out from the sea cucumber's opening, scattering and sticking all over Nanaka Kotegawa's back.
"!!!"
He exhaled a large amount of air bubbles. He had forgotten that sea cucumbers had this kind of self-defense mechanism. Miyazawa Yu quickly reached out, wanting to help Nanaka-san get the dirty things off.
However, as he got closer, the distance between them became too short for the details to be hidden.
Looking at the white threads on her full curves, his pupils instantly shook with shock—What a treasure! This is truly a treasure!
As she moved around, her curves were full and dynamic...
It's amazing!