The sunlight stabbed through Hydro's half-open blinds, cutting clean across his face. He groaned, rolling over like he was trying to bargain with morning itself. The air in the room felt calm for once — no alarms, no systems, no weird dimensional rumbles — just that quiet hum of a city waking up.
Hydro finally dragged himself up, stretching till his joints popped. "Alright, chill day," he muttered. "No dungeons, no drama. Just a shower and some peace."
He grabbed his towel, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the water. Steam filled the space as he let the hot water hit his face — like it was washing off all the tension from the last few days. When he was done, he threw on his freshly washed white jacket, black uniform, and pants with a white belt. He glanced at himself in the mirror — calm eyes, still carrying that faint tiredness that never really went away.
Then — ring, ring.
Hydro looked at his phone and saw the name: **"Quinn 🌀"**
He blinked. "Huh? Quinn this early?"
He swiped to answer.
"Yo, Hydro!" Quinn's voice exploded through the phone like caffeine in human form. "Guess what?! You're officially in the Ohara Community GC!"
Hydro rubbed his eyes. "...GC? Wait— what GC?"
"The Ohara Community one! You know, the main group chat. I added you last night!"
Hydro froze for a second. "Oh crap, yeah, I totally forgot about that."
"You forgot? Dude! Everyone's been saying hi to you all morning!" Quinn laughed. "Kai even made a meme outta your cosplay pic from last year. It's already got like, fifty reacts."
Hydro let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. "Oh no… what kinda meme are we talking about here?"
"Nothing bad, chill!" Quinn giggled. "It's the one where you're standing all serious, with the caption, 'When the Wi-Fi cuts off mid-transformation.'"
Hydro facepalmed. "Why does that actually sound like something they'd do?"
"Because it is! You should hop in and say hi. Everyone's so hyped you're finally in the chat. You've been like a mystery figure for ages, y'know?"
Hydro leaned back on his bed, phone resting on his chest. "Mystery figure, huh? More like I just forget people exist sometimes."
"Well, now you don't have an excuse!" Quinn teased. "Come on, say hi before Bea or Nate start spamming 'WHERE'S HYDRO??' again."
He smiled faintly, voice soft. "Alright, alright. I'll text something. Thanks for adding me, Quinn."
Quinn's tone mellowed a little. "No prob. Just thought you deserved to be part of the fun for once."
Hydro paused. That hit a bit deeper than he expected.
"Yeah… thanks," he said quietly. "I guess I needed that."
"Good," Quinn said, cheerful again. "Now go check your notifs before the memes get worse. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah, see you."
The call ended. Hydro stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the Ohara GC icon glowing with unread messages.
He smiled. "Alright, let's see how chaotic this place really is."
LATER
The morning air along the coast smelled like salt and sunlight — that sweet mix of ocean breeze and grilled street food from the stalls near the boardwalk. Hydro's sneakers sank a little with each step through the soft sand. The sky was clear, the waves were whispering, and it was way too peaceful for him to be running this hard.
"Where the hell's the meetup again—left or right—?!" Hydro muttered, his voice carrying over the crashing tide. He'd been walking for a good ten minutes from the hotel, following the map Quinn sent him, but somehow the marker kept bouncing around like it was trolling him.
Finally, he caught sight of a banner waving in the distance: "OHARA COMMUNITY SUMMER MEETUP — BEACH DAY!"
He grinned and started jogging faster, dodging a couple of frisbees mid-air. People were laughing, swimming, and blasting J-pop remixes from waterproof speakers. The whole place was full of life — bright tents, beach mats, coolers stacked with energy drinks, and of course, a volleyball game in full swing.
Hydro slowed his pace a little, catching his breath. He could already spot some familiar faces from the group chat — people he'd just met online, now laughing in person. Quinn's silver-streaked hair caught the sunlight from across the net. Bea was there too, in her usual pastel bucket hat, cheering so loudly the seagulls flew off.
Hydro smiled and waved, but she didn't see him.
So, naturally, he did the dumbest thing — he sprinted.
"Yo! Quinn! Bea!" he shouted, running through the sand like a man escaping a kaiju attack. He passed by the Ohara Community banner completely, not even noticing it. Then he stopped, realized, turned around, and jogged back awkwardly.
When he finally reached them, he dropped his hands on his knees, panting hard. "Yo… I made it…!"
Quinn laughed so hard she almost dropped her water bottle. "Hydro, dude, are you running from the cops or something?"
Hydro wheezed, "Bro— I thought I was late— I saw the banner, and I thought I missed it, so I— ran."
Bea giggled. "You literally ran past the banner saying 'Welcome, Hydro!' We even wrote your name on it with blue chalk!"
Hydro straightened up, squinting toward the entrance. Sure enough — the banner had "Welcome Hydro U!" scribbled in giant, messy handwriting. "Oh hell nah, I just embarrassed myself in front of everyone, huh."
"Nah, it's fine," Quinn said, still grinning. "Everyone does something dumb their first day. You're officially one of us now."
Hydro rubbed the back of his neck. "That's… comforting, I guess."
Bea stepped forward and offered him a small water bottle. "Here. Hydrate before you pass out, silly."
He took it, smiling. "Thanks."
Then, a voice came from behind them — calm but confident.
"Oh, Bea, so this is Hydro?"
They all turned. It was a tall, slim man with soft brown hair tied up and bright lavender eyes. He wore a flowing sleeveless summer jacket over a graphic tee that read "Cosplay is Art, Not Competition." Her smile had a sense of authority, but not in an intimidating way — more like the kind of person who'd listen first, talk later.
"Yeah!" Bea said cheerfully. "Hydro, meet Milky Way — the owner and founder of the Ohara Community. And Milky, this is Hydro, the one I told you about!"
Hydro stood up straight and reached out his hand. "Hydro Undergrove. Nice to meet you, sir."
Milky shook his hand firmly. "Oh please, no 'sir' stuff — makes me sound ancient. Just Milky is fine."
Hydro chuckled awkwardly. "Alright then, Milky."
"So," Milky said with a playful grin, "you're the one everyone's been talking about in the group chat. You kinda came outta nowhere."
Hydro scratched his head. "Yeah, uh, I've been around, just… lurking, I guess. Quinn dragged me in officially."
Quinn laughed. "Dragged is a strong word."
Hydro shot her a side-eye. "You sent me like, ten messages at midnight, bro."
Milky chuckled softly. "I see. Well, we're glad to have you here, Hydro. But I gotta ask — what made you finally join? The Ohara Community's been around for years, but this is your first meetup, right?"
Hydro took a second to think. The ocean wind blew past him, and he looked out at everyone laughing, playing, being free.
"Guess I just wanted to… be around people again," he said quietly. "Not like, fake crowds or random cons. Just— real people who actually care about what they do. Y'know, like, passionate but chill."
Milky nodded, his expression softening. "That's a good answer. You'll fit in fine here."
Then she tilted her head slightly. "So that's your outfit for the meetup?"
Hydro looked down — white jacket, black uniform, white belt, and Nike MAG. Everyone else was in swimsuits, shorts, and bright shirts. He looked like he'd walked off a noir film set.
"Yeah," Hydro said with a small smirk. "My other clothes got washed. I guess this is what I'm stuck with today."
Milky laughed. "Well, points for style. You look like you're about to fight crime at a summer festival."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Hydro muttered.
Milky crossed his arms, giving him that kind but knowing look. "Alright, since you're new, lemme give you a few tips — straight from the top."
Hydro raised an eyebrow. "Tips?"
"Yup. First off — don't overthink it. You don't need to act cool or try to impress anyone here. Just vibe."
"Alright, fair."
"Second — always bring water and sunscreen. You'd be surprised how many people faint trying to look dramatic in 40°C heat."
Hydro snorted. "Sounds like something I'd do."
"Third — if you ever feel outta place, remember: everyone started as a nobody. Even I did." Milky smiled. "The only thing that matters here is respect. For yourself, your craft, and the people around you."
Hydro nodded, genuinely appreciative. "That's solid advice. Thanks, Milky."
"Anytime," he said, heading toward the back where some people were prepping food. "Now go, enjoy yourself. The beach isn't gonna admire you back."
Hydro chuckled. "You sure?"
He laughed over her shoulder. "Not with that jacket, it won't!"
Quinn nudged Hydro playfully. "See? Told ya he's cool."
Bea smiled warmly. "You seem more relaxed already."
"Yeah," Hydro said, glancing out at the sea again. "Maybe I am."
But that peace didn't last long.
Hydro's ears twitched — not literally, but close. His senses flared, catching something faint from the far end of the beach. Laughter — not the fun kind. That mocking, pointed kind that usually meant trouble.
"Yo, check out trench-coat boy over there," a voice said from afar.
Another followed, louder. "What's he supposed to be, a lifeguard assassin?"
Then another snickered, "Nah, bro looks like he spawned in the wrong anime!"
Hydro sighed, rubbing his temples. "God damn it… it's one of those people."
He turned his head slightly and saw them — five guys in half-assed cosplay gear and bright beachwear, clearly drunk on energy drinks and self-confidence. Three of them were lanky, messy-haired, the kind that wore fake bandages and thought it made them "edgy." The other two were built like gym regulars — shirtless, flexing, loud.
Quinn followed Hydro's gaze and grimaced. "Oh, crap… yeah, I forgot to warn you about them. They're regulars — kinda rowdy."
Bea sighed. "They always make a scene. Think they're funny, but it's just noise."
The voices carried over again.
"Yo, maybe he's one of those cringe tryhards who bring swords to photoshoots!"
"Bet he's got a tragic backstory too, huh?"
Hydro closed his eyes for a second, trying not to react. The sand crunched under his boots as he shifted his weight, calm but clearly irritated.
"Why do people like this always show up," he muttered.
Quinn frowned. "Just ignore them, man. They'll get bored once you don't bite."
Bea touched his arm gently. "Don't mind them, dearie. Just focus on yourself. They thrive on attention."
Hydro looked at them one last time — five rowdy cosers laughing among themselves like hyenas circling a joke that wasn't funny. His reflection in their sunglasses looked cold, unbothered, but under the calm surface, something darker stirred.
He smirked faintly. "Yeah… focus on myself."
The wind picked up, blowing his jacket slightly as the sun dipped a little lower.
Hydro's shadow stretched long across the sand, reaching toward the five troublemakers who were still laughing, unaware of what was about to unfold.
And with that, the beach air grew just a little heavier.
The sun was high, hanging like a golden coin over the blue sea, making the whole beach shimmer like something out of a film. Everyone in the Ohara Community Meetup had found their little corners to sit and vibe — under umbrellas, on towels, in circles of laughter and chatter.
Hydro sat in the middle of one group — kinda awkwardly — surrounded by familiar faces he'd only recently started to trust.
Atlarus Quinn sat cross-legged beside him, a can of soda sweating in her hand. Her twin, Terry Quinn, was scrolling through photos on her phone while chewing chips like she was auditioning for a crunch commercial. Bea and Kai were on the left side, sister duo energy on full display — Bea calm and refined, Kai bouncing between conversations like a tiny chaos gremlin.
Nate Grey leaned back on his elbows, sunglasses half-sliding down his nose, talking with Yurei Zeun, who always had this mysterious smirk that made people think he knew secrets about them. Kristine sat near Mina, the little girl, while Matt Tomizawa — the quiet type with a deep laugh — was arguing playfully with Dan Le Fish over which anime had the best ending of all time.
It was a full-on summer hangout. The kind that made Hydro almost forget what he really was.
"Okay but listen," Dan Le Fish said, waving a fry like a pointer. "You can't just tell me Evangelion's ending made sense. It's just therapy with robots."
Matt snorted. "Therapy with robots? Bro, it's literally art. It's trauma in motion."
Kai laughed. "So both of you need therapy, basically?"
Everyone laughed, even Yurei.
Hydro just sat there, quietly sipping a cold can of soda, eyes scanning the beach now and then. He was smiling, but in that subtle, polite way — like he was still adjusting to the idea of being around people without needing to fight for his life.
Quinn looked at him sideways. "Yo, Hydro, you okay?"
He blinked. "Hm?"
"You've been zoning out for, like, the past ten minutes. You sure you're not thinking about going super saiyan or something?"
Hydro chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm good. Just tired, maybe. And… still a bit irritated back there."
Bea tilted her head. "From earlier?"
"Yeah. Those guys." He sighed. "They were loud. Real loud. Felt like I was babysitting bad Wi-Fi connections."
Terry laughed so hard she nearly choked on a chip. "Bad Wi-Fi connections, I'm stealing that."
Quinn snorted. "Man, don't let them bother you. Rowdy cosers like them always show up at events just to flex for attention. You handled it better than most would."
Hydro shrugged. "Yeah, but it's just—" He paused, looking down at the sand. "—stuff like that used to piss me off. The old me would've decked them without thinking twice. Now I just… walk away."
Nate, ever the calm one, spoke without looking up. "Growth ain't quiet, man. It's not about walking away. It's about choosing what deserves your energy."
Hydro glanced over, surprised. Nate just smirked. "Don't act shocked. I can be deep sometimes."
Everyone laughed again. Even Hydro cracked a genuine smile.
"Alright everyone!"
A familiar voice cut through the beach chatter. Hydro looked up and saw Milky Way walking toward them, now wearing a blue tank top, baggy shorts, and a ridiculous pair of sunglasses shaped like stars. He was balancing a tray full of drinks, snacks, and sealed boxes labeled "SOUVENIRS."
"Finally!" Quinn said, raising her arms dramatically. "The man, the myth, the legend!"
Milky grinned. "Sorry, sorry, y'all! Had to make sure everything was perfect. Alright—souvenirs for later, but the food and mojitos are ready now!"
Everyone cheered. The energy was instant.
Milky set everything down on a big fold-out table under a parasol, the scent of grilled meat, buttered corn, and fresh fruit spilling into the air. "Listen up, everyone!" he shouted, getting the crowd's attention. "Before we eat, I just wanna say something real quick."
People quieted down, leaning in.
Milky took off his sunglasses, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. "The Ohara Community started ten years ago — with just 100 more people, including me, and the ones I know: Bea, and Terry. We didn't have fancy cameras, big cons, or big names. We were just a bunch of kids who loved cosplay — and maybe, just maybe, loved being weird together."
A few laughs. Milky smiled, letting the moment breathe.
"Over the years, we met so many of you. Different people, different walks of life, all sharing that same spark — that thing that says 'yeah, this world's crazy, but at least we got imagination.' We went through drama, burnout, a freakin' typhoon, and one near lawsuit after someone tried deepfrying a prop gun in the hotel kitchen."
The group erupted in laughter. Quinn yelled, "That was you, wasn't it, Terry?!"
Terry shouted back, "OBJECTION! You can't prove that!"
Everyone cracked up.
Milky continued, grinning. "But you know what stayed the same? This — right here. People coming together to create something, not destroy it. And that's what makes Ohara special. We don't need to be the biggest or the richest. We just gotta be real. And if you're here today, you're part of that family. For real."
Applause spread across the tables, claps and whistles echoing over the waves.
Milky raised a mojito can like a toast. "To everyone here — old friends, new ones, even those who joined on accident—" he winked at Hydro, "—let's keep doing what we love, without losing who we are."
The crowd cheered. Hydro lifted his drink too, giving a little nod. It felt… good.
And with that, the beach turned into a lively mess of laughter and clinking cans.
Everyone dug into the food like they hadn't eaten in days. Terry was juggling two corn cobs, Yurei was carving watermelon slices into perfect triangles, Mina was helping Kristine mix fruit juice, and Kai was busy trying to take group selfies with everyone — even Dan Le Fish, who pretended to hate photos but still posed like a model when caught off guard.
"Hydro! You gotta try this!" Mina said, holding up a small dessert cup. "It's called halo-halo, Kristine said it's a Filipino dessert!"
Hydro looked at it — colorful layers of crushed ice, jelly, and milk. "That's a lotta color for one cup."
Mina laughed. "It's like a rainbow but edible!"
He took a small spoonful. "Huh… not bad. Cold as hell though."
Kristine smiled. "That's the point, silly. It's supposed to cool you down."
Meanwhile, Bea was lecturing Kai about sunscreen.
"Did you reapply?"
"Yes, mom— I mean sis."
"You're gonna burn."
"I like being toasty!"
Quinn chimed in, "You're literally turning into a crab."
Everyone was vibing, eating, sharing, just… living.
But Hydro's attention shifted again.
Something felt off.
He looked up, scanning past the tables, past the volleyball game and the bright tents. Near the edge of the palm trees, just a little further down the sand — he saw them.
The five rowdy cosers.
Same dudes from earlier.
Leaning against the palm, drinks in hand, laughing loud enough to make it over the music.
They weren't causing a scene yet, but Hydro could tell — they were watching. Maybe not him specifically, but the group.
He stared for a few seconds. His soda went flat in his hand.
He could hear snippets of their voices — just barely.
"Yo, that's the new guy, right? The one who acted all cool earlier."
"Yeah, man. He's tryna be mysterious or whatever."
"He looks like he brought a katana to a beach party."
Another laughed. "Probably names his swords too."
Hydro's jaw clenched slightly.
The laugh track in his head went silent.
He looked down at his food — half-eaten rice, bits of meat — then back at the five. His mind went quiet, like the calm before a storm.
But he didn't move.
Not yet.
He took another sip of his drink, slow and controlled, eyes still locked on them from under his fringe.
Bea looked at him. "Hydro? You alright?"
He blinked and looked back at her. "Yeah. Just… thinking."
"About what?" she asked softly.
He smirked faintly. "About what comes next."
The waves crashed, the laughter carried on, but in Hydro's mind, something was shifting — not anger, not vengeance, just that quiet, simmering feeling of knowing something's about to happen.
And as the sun started to lower behind the horizon, painting the sky orange and violet, Hydro kept eating in silence.
Still smiling faintly.
Still watching.
Still waiting.
Later
The afternoon hit different — hot, lazy, but alive. The beachside crowd looked like a painting dipped in laughter and saltwater air. Waves tapped the sand like a metronome keeping everyone in sync. Music from a nearby speaker looped an upbeat anime remix — chaotic but somehow perfect for the Ohara Community's meetup vibe.
Hydro sat on a bench by himself, half-shaded under a coconut tree, phone glowing on his lap. He scrolled, thumbs dancing over Discord as his hair blew in the sea breeze. His reflection stared back at him from the phone's screen — calm, tired, but lowkey amused.
Electroman: yo bro where tf u at?
Hydro: at the meetup
Atlas: oh u actually went? damn miracle
Hyper: lmao bruh just dont punch nobody
Hydro chuckled a bit, shaking his head.
Hydro: too late, i already wanna
Electroman: 💀💀💀 chill dude its a community event not yakuza wars
Atlas: hey remember that one time at Nagashima you tried to act calm and ended up breaking a chair?
Hydro: ...that was self-defense
Hyper: bro said self-defense against gravity 😭
Hydro exhaled, a crooked grin sneaking out. For a moment, the tension from earlier faded. His eyes drifted up — Quinn, Bea, Kai, and the others were out there playing volleyball. Quinn jumped to serve, sunlight bouncing off her hair, while Bea dove to save the ball, crashing in the sand and laughing so hard it echoed through the beach. Kai yelled something at Yurei, who clearly had no clue what he was doing but still threw himself into it anyway.
It was so… normal. It almost felt unreal. Hydro watched, half-smiling, half-lost. He didn't really fit in, but damn — this scene made him want to.
That's when he noticed shadows stretching over the sand near him. Five figures. Loud. Familiar.
The Rowdy Cosers.
They stood there, blocking the sun, smirking like wannabe bosses. Hydro's jaw clenched instantly. The one in front — the muscular one with bleached hair and a half-open floral shirt — took a step forward, squinting down at him.
"Hey, uh," Hydro said, tone casual, almost lazy. "Can I help you or something?"
The muscular guy cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, you can. By leaving."
Hydro tilted his head. "Leaving where? This is public space."
"We don't like your kind around here," one of them sneered. "You lookin' like some edgy reject who thinks he's cool in that washed-up uniform."
Hydro blinked slowly. "Oh I'm sorry," he said, putting on the fakest polite smile ever, "I thought cosplay was about creativity — not who can look the most basic in shorts."
The whole squad went "OOOOHHH—" in unison, one of them covering his mouth, trying not to laugh. The muscular guy didn't take it well — his grin cracked into something ugly. "Say that again."
Hydro leaned forward, lowering his tone. "I said… you look like a tourist who lost a fight with a thrift shop."
That was it. Dude's face went red instantly. His whole body tensed up. "You little—!"
Hydro pointed suddenly to the right. "Wait, what's that over there?"
The guy's reflexes betrayed him. "Huh—?"
BAM.
Hydro's knee shot forward with speed — a direct hit to the guy's crotch. The sound wasn't cinematic, it was horrifying. Like someone dropped a durian on concrete.
The guy froze mid-breath, pupils shrinking. Then he collapsed.
Hydro stepped back, blinking twice. "Oh s███— I shouldn't have done that."
"GET THAT SON OF A B████!" one of the others screamed. Hydro didn't wait for them to finish. He bolted.
The scene exploded into chaos. Hydro sprinted through the meetup area, dodging tables, chairs, and confused people holding plates of food. Drinks spilled, someone screamed, and the volleyball match froze mid-game. Quinn was mid-serve, eyes wide as she saw Hydro charging through their game like a man escaping a crime scene.
Bea blinked. "HYDRO WHAT—?!"
Hydro didn't even answer. He ducked under the net, sliding on the sand like a stunt double. Behind him, the rowdy dudes were still chasing, kicking up sand clouds, swearing in stereo.
Yurei muttered, "Yo is this part of the event—?"
Hydro skidded near a table stacked with snacks. He glanced at it — sturdy, wooden, about the right height. His instincts clicked.
Hydro plants one foot hard on the edge of the table, using it like a springboard — his body already leaning forward with momentum. The table creaked under the sudden pressure, bending slightly like a slingshot. Then—
whoosh
Hydro launched himself off it, twisting mid-air into a clean backward flip. The entire motion looked effortless — his jacket fluttering, sand scattering beneath him like a halo. Time slowed. People gasped. Even Quinn dropped the volleyball.
He cleared the table, spinning over the crowd, flipping past the pursuers. Their faces tilted upward in slow-mo disbelief.
Hydro landed, perfectly balanced, a few meters away — knees bent, hand brushing the sand. A perfect reverse aerial.
"Oh s███—" he muttered under his breath, realizing what he'd just done. "I really shouldn't have done that."
The muscular guy, still half-bent from pain, stared at him. "What the hell was that?!"
Hydro raised both hands, smiling awkwardly. "Sorry— that was self-defense." His grin was nervous, but his tone had that sarcastic bite that made everyone unsure if he was joking.
"Hey! Knock it off!" Bea yelled from across the court, stepping between them. Quinn rushed next to her, arms outstretched like a human shield. The rest of the Ohara Community gathered, voices overlapping, people whispering, phones recording.
"What's goin' on?" "Is this for content?" "Are they filming?" "Wait, is that the new guy?" "Bruh he flipped over a whole table!"
Hydro looked around, sweat dripping down his neck. "Uh oh…" he said quietly.
The Rowdy Cosers weren't backing down. The one in front — now limping from the low blow — growled. "Well guess what, I'll 'knock it off' once I get him ripped out!"
The rest of his crew took stances — not just random postures, but clearly trained forms. Snake-style footwork, flowing arms, flexible wrists. Their eyes narrowed, moving in sync like they'd done this before.
Hydro sighed, exhaling hard. He adjusted his jacket, cracking his neck once, his eyes sharpening. "Guess we're doing this, huh…"
The air thickened. Waves crashed harder, wind picking up like nature itself wanted front-row seats.
Hydro took a single step back, lowering his stance — cautious, grounded, but confident. His right hand hovered near his belt, his left ready to deflect.
Across him, the five readied themselves, circling slightly.
The crowd was silent now. Even the music had stopped — only the wind and heartbeats could be heard.
Hydro's shadow stretched over the sand, overlapping theirs.
He muttered under his breath, voice calm, faintly smiling—
"Alright then…"