"You're so slow, idiot Kitahara. So, what did Chisa say to you just now?"
Shiro looked at Iori, who was trailing behind with a defeated expression, and asked curiously.
Shiro had already freed himself while they were still discussing the Izu Spring Festival. In the end, he was rescued by the seniors because they had another activity planned for the day.
Today's main event was introducing the freshmen to diving! By now, they had already changed into their wetsuits.
As for how Shiro managed to drink an entire bottle of water of life and then go diving… Don't ask! If you ask, it'll just get complicated! (Do not drink alcohol before diving!)
"Ah... She asked me if there was anything that made my heart race since enrolling in school..."
Iori answered lifelessly. There were too many things that had made his heart race.
Drinking. Drinking with beasts. Drinking completely naked with beasts. Waking up in a different room for no reason…
His life was probably a tragedy.
Seeing Iori's miserable expression, Shiro quietly took a step away from him. This guy's resentment was starting to affect him too!
But thinking about what this idiot had been through, Shiro fell silent. He was constantly being forced to drink no matter where he stayed, so living at a dive shop like Kitahara's must be even worse.
Shiro silently traced a cross in the air, hoping that God would bless this poor idiot.
He felt incredibly considerate, though he wasn't sure if drawing a cross had any effect since he wasn't religious.
But something that made his heart race, huh…
Shiro thought about his own life since starting college.
Morning classes… sleeping!
Afternoons… drinking with beasts!
Nights… playing strip rock-paper-scissors with older women while drinking!
Every now and then, he even found time to reply to messages from the young college girls who added him!
Thinking about it like this, Shiro realized his university life in these past two or three weeks had been pretty great. He just didn't understand why he always felt the urge to strip and drink recently. It was so strange.
(Japan's school year starts in mid-April, and the Izu Spring Festival takes place in May.)
...
Since he couldn't figure it out, Shiro decided to stop thinking about it and headed to the dive site with Iori.
Shiro slowly stepped into the water. Unlike regular swimwear, the wetsuit was filled with warm air, so he didn't feel cold at all. His whole body relaxed.
Since Chisa had to watch the shop, Shiro lost his personal instructor and was assigned to Tokita along with Iori.
The first thing they had to practice was breathing through the regulator underwater and opening their eyes while submerged.
Recalling the senior's instructions, Shiro slowly dove into the water.
Since he had never used a regulator before, he was a bit nervous at first and found it difficult to breathe properly.
But as soon as he opened his eyes, all his anxiety vanished.
Sunlight pierced through the ocean surface, illuminating the water below. Before his eyes stretched a dazzling blue world.
The mysterious veil of the sea was slowly being lifted before him.
Shiro had once thought that standing on the beach and looking at the vast blue ocean was one of the most breathtaking sights.
But now that he was underwater, he realized that what he had seen before was merely the ocean with its veil on.
The real ocean lay beneath the surface, so beautiful that it could make someone lose themselves in it, as if they were wrapped in a warm embrace. In that moment, all worries and stress disappeared.
It was almost impossible to think about anything other than admiring the stunning view.
"This is the most beautiful love letter I've ever received."
Shiro smiled. In this moment, he admitted it, he was completely captivated. He had fallen in love with the author of this love letter!
On the other hand, Iori was struggling. Already having a natural aversion to water, he kept running into issues; forgetting to breathe, a leaking mask, and more, making him feel like he might never be able to dive properly.
But after some encouragement from the senior, he finally took the plunge.
For the first time, he saw that beautiful love letter.
.....
"Chisa!"
Iori ran back excitedly, still not having changed out of his wetsuit, as he grabbed Chisa's hand and kept talking nonstop.
"I understand what you were talking about! Being able to breathe underwater is amazing! Even though there was water above me, I didn't feel uncomfortable at all! And to think, I was such a landlubber before!"
Iori was like a child who had just received a new toy, eager to share his joy with everyone.
---------
Changing Room
Four naked men were in the locker room getting changed. After all, their clothes were inside, changing outside wasn't even an option.
It had been a while since they last changed in a locker room.
"That idiot Kitahara is surprisingly happy, huh?"
Shiro shook his head as he recalled Iori's excited expression. What a fool, getting this worked up over something like that.
"Well, this is the kind of joy that those who only choose to do what they're capable of will never experience."
"…Feels like you're throwing shade at me, senpai."
"How could that be? Shiro, you're great too. Unless… is there something you wouldn't dare to try?"
"Yeah! Like crossdressing!"
"…You're really stubborn, Shiro. But actually, I think you should give it a shot."
"No way in hell!"
…
"Cheers!"
As expected, the best way to celebrate was with alcohol!
Drinking after diving was surprisingly refreshing, and they even had sashimi from a neighbor!
Although Shiro preferred peanuts as drinking snacks, sashimi was a nice occasional treat too.
"By the way, Iori, it's really great that you overcame your weakness."
"You felt the joy of stepping into a whole new world, right?"
The two senpais praised Iori. After all, not everyone had the courage to face their fears.
Hearing their compliments, Iori felt a little embarrassed for the first time and lowered his head.
"T-Thank you so much for this!"
At this moment, PaB almost looked like a normal club—what a harmonious scene.
And then…
Shiro wanted to run away!
Where was he?
PaB!
Even though he hadn't been in the club for long, Shiro prided himself on his high intelligence and had already figured out all of their routines.
Anytime things seemed normal, something insane was bound to follow!
And the more heartwarming the scene, the crazier things would get afterward!
Sure enough, as soon as Iori admitted to stepping into a new world, the two senpais pulled out that female uniform again!
"Well then, why don't you step into this new world too?"
!!!
Iori's face stiffened instantly.
"No! No matter what, I'm not wearing a girl's uniform to some dumb men's contest! Let Shiro do it, he's the real scumbag! He'd totally be up for it!"
"!!! Kitahara, you bastard! But no problem—I saw this coming, so I already signed up for the men's side!"
Shiro grinned wickedly at Kitahara. Just as he expected, this guy was trying to throw him under the bus!
As the female uniform got closer and closer, Iori's expression turned to pure terror.
"Wait! I can enter the men's division too!"
"Hmm… Iori, let's not. You're not really suited for it."
The two senpais rejected him without hesitation.
Why would they need Kitahara Iori when they already had Kamishiro Shiro?
"You bastards! You're looking down on me!"
"Sometimes, accepting reality is also a kind of progress. Don't be so stubborn, Iori."
"Until you agree, we'll just keep drinking!"
"Nooooo!!!"
Thus, the first diving experience ended successfully.
Kitahara Iori—down for the count!