"Sigh~ To think so much happened yesterday!"
"Right? That girl Busujima was worrying herself to death because she has to go back to her family home in Tokyo!"
The next morning at Grand Blue, Miyazawa Yuu was yawning non-stop, sporting dark circles under his eyes from dropping each of the girls off at their doorsteps. He looked dazed, like someone suffering from a severe lack of sleep.
"I heard it's because her younger sister is being rebellious—insisting on starting a band and shouting about becoming a shut-in. So, she wants Sakurako to go back and educate her..."
"A shut-in, huh? Yeah, you definitely can't spoil that behavior!"
Lying on the sofa with both her legs draped over Yuu's shoulders, Azusa Hamaoka seemed very interested in the band idea. After all, who doesn't like a boy who can play an instrument?
If Yuu grew out a mushroom cut and stood in front of the Shelter in Shimokitazawa with a guitar...
An image popped into her head of a muscular, mushroom-haired hunk with a guitar strap screaming for its life against his bulk. A drop of cold sweat slid down her forehead. That scene is bordering on body horror!
"Hmm... So, Yuu, you didn't go back to your hometown at all when you accompanied us to Tokyo last time, right? Do you plan on going back?"
"No, no, no! My old man and old lady are the type who can't sit still for a second. Going home means being treated as an eyesore and getting in their way, or just drinking and playing games in a different location!"
"Morning..."
"Oh, morning Iori... whoa!"
Yuu had just finished a stern declaration of his intent not to return home when he heard Iori's voice from behind. He tilted his head back to respond, only to be met with two lifeless, dead-fish eyes staring intensely at him, making him squint.
"Iori, you bastard, did you play games all night? Those dark circles are massive."
"If only that were the case..."
Seemingly unwilling to chat, Iori Kitahara floated lifelessly to the table, grabbed some breakfast, and retreated to a corner to wallow in self-isolation. He showed none of his usual "scumbag" spirit.
Seeing him like this, Yuu's eyebrows twitched as intense curiosity flooded his mind.
Yesterday, he had barely managed to scare the scumbag Kohei using a horror masterpiece from another world. Who on earth had the skills to turn the "King of Scumbags" Iori into a pathetic little snack? He was fascinated!
"Azusa-senpai?"
"Iori said yesterday he found a place to work part-time. He's been like this since he got back. He won't say a word to anyone~"
Sharing a mental connection, Azusa leaned into Yuu's ear the moment he spoke and dumped all the intel she had gathered.
Her expression shifted to one of worry mixed with confusion. After hesitating for two seconds, she added tentatively, "And it's like he's done something guilty... he's been avoiding Nanaka-san at all costs!"
"He's done plenty of guilty things, but related to Nanaka-san..."
Iori had done so many unethical things they were impossible to count. Yuu frowned, trying to think, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. However, to deal with a scumbag, one must use scumbag methods!
"Iori-kun..."
With a menacing expression, Yuu "teleported" next to Iori and hooked an arm around his shoulder. Rather than internalizing the stress, he preferred getting answers through threats!
Besides, Iori wasn't some little girl; a bit of "intimate interaction" with a muscular hunk wasn't going to make him cry... probably.
"So, what exactly happened? Onii-chan can give you some life guidance, you know!"
Drip!
"..."
A tear hit the floor. Yuu stared for two seconds at Iori's "emo" face as he silently wept while nibbling on bread, then shifted his gaze to the crystalline teardrop on the wooden floor to confirm.
He swallowed hard, his expression flipping from a thuggish scumbag to a terrified girl on a train surrounded by bad guys.
Terror filled his eyes. He scrambled back a dozen meters, pulling a chair from the dining table to hold in front of him before he felt even a modicum of safety!
Horrifying! To make the King of Scumbags weep—this must be the work of an ancient curse! I hope this isn't contagious!
"Hmm? Yuu, what's wrong?"
"Nanaka-san! Iori—this guy is crying! And he's crying so bitterly! Quick, go check the emergency supplies!"
"Do you people have no hearts?! Get over here and comfort me!"
He couldn't take it anymore. No matter how depressed Iori was, he couldn't stay on the sidelines, especially since Nanaka really looked like she was going to check the disaster relief stockpile!
Seriously, what do they take me for? A forecast for unnatural weather?!
"Eh? A guy like Iori needs comforting? Sounds like a hassle..."
"Then shut up, you bastard Yuu! I'll kill you, believe it!"
"Oh! You're both so energetic!"
Toshio Kotegawa had just stepped out and seen Iori and Yuu "bonding" again. Used to the sight, he waved at them. "Come here for a second. I have something I'd like you two to help with!"
"Hmm? If it's about stock, I already went yesterday. I've checked the wetsuits too, we're ready for business!"
"Tokita-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai have been contacted. They said they don't have time today, so I'll handle the customers this morning and Chisa will take over in the afternoon!"
"Ahhh..."
Resting her chin on her hand, Azusa Hamaoka watched the "loving" duo who were currently picking their noses and scratching their mouths. She squinted and remarked, "You guys are really getting the hang of the business!"
"Indeed!"
Hands on his hips, Toshio Kotegawa was quite satisfied with his retirement life. However, a "retired" old man like him couldn't just fish and read the paper every day. It was time for some action!
"Actually, it's not about the shop here. A diving shop in Palau has opened, and they need extra hands. Do you guys have time?"
"Palau?"
Forcefully pushing Iori's ugly face away, Yuu heard Toshio's casual tone and assumed it was some place in the neighboring prefecture of Izu.
If it was a short trip, the shop's van should be enough. As for time—worthless college students lacked everything except time. They had two and a half months of summer vacation!
"The shop has to reimburse the gas for the van though! A round trip will empty my secret stash!"
"Ah... regarding that, they'll cover travel expenses, so don't worry. But you can't reach Palau by car!"
"Eh?" x2
Pulling out his phone, Toshio searched for "Palau" and showed the screen to the two of them. "Because it's overseas—in another country—please make sure to bring your passports!"
"That far?!" x2
Their faces squished together as they read the wiki entry calling it a "Southern Diving Paradise." Yuu looked up in confusion at Toshio, who seemed to have no self-awareness about shipping labor across borders.
"Um... can you give us a reason? This is international travel. The timeframe is way too long!"
"Well~ including the round trip, it'll be about half a month. It is a bit long..."
"Right!"
"In that case, I'll just tell Nanaka's mom you're not going. It can't be helped."
Shaking his head with regret, Toshio saw that the two youngsters weren't interested in the long trip and didn't force them. He turned to walk back into the shop, acting as if he were going to call and report the result.
However, halfway there, a gust of wind blew past him, and a terrifying giant beast with an indistinguishable face blocked his path!
"Wait, Uncle Toshio! What do you mean 'Nanaka-san's mom'?"
"Exactly what I said."
Toshio's calm smile now seemed particularly devious. He showed two rows of white teeth and asked suspiciously, "Yuu, you didn't think I was divorced or that my marriage was failing, did you?"
"Hahahaha! No way! How could I think something so impolite!"
His pupils were darting everywhere as he rubbed his head frantically to alleviate the awkwardness. Yuu's guilt was written all over his face.
He really had thought something had happened to Nanaka's mother, or that they were separated due to a failing marriage. Otherwise, there was no reason he hadn't seen a trace of her for so long.
Because of this, he'd even been careful to avoid any topics that might make Nanaka sad!
"He definitely thought you were divorced!"
"What a dark mind!"
Iori mocked him heartlessly, having no self-awareness that he had thought the exact same thing. As long as he wasn't the one embarrassed, it was someone else's problem!
"So, Yuu, changed your mind?"
"Yes! Please let me go!"
"In that case, you'll need to get your visas first. And remember to convince Aina and Kohei too; they're very short on manpower over there!"
Knowing the boy would react this way, Toshio had already told the Palau side that he would send four or five young people. There wasn't even a need to change the story.
"Understood! Leave this small matter to me!"
"Achoo!"
Waking up slowly from his futon, Kohei Imamura scanned the area under his bed with immediate vigilance. Good, no weird dolls or psychopathic killers.
Although the room was a bit dark because the curtains were drawn, Aina's steady, light snoring proved no murders had occurred here, nor was it a horrific supernatural realm.
"Whew... safe. No danger! I must be overthinking things!"