"Wahoo! This feels amazing~"
The salty sea breeze brushed across Shiro's face, instantly lifting his spirits.
Thinking about it, it had actually been a long time since they'd gone diving.
He missed this feeling so much!
But… it would've been even better if the senpai were here.
He had gotten so used to having his seniors around every time he went diving. Now, being guided by someone unfamiliar felt a little strange.
Shiro looked toward Iori and the others, wondering if they felt the same.
However—
"I wanna see a barracuda tornado!"
"Manta rays!"
"Look! Wild dolphins!"
These three airheads were already completely absorbed in the beauty of the ocean.
Seeing the pure joy on their faces, Shiro couldn't help but smile too. Man, they almost outshined him this time.
Splash!
A dolphin leapt out of the water.
Any trace of melancholy was wiped from Shiro's mind.
Without hesitation, he whipped out his beloved camera.
If he couldn't dive with his senpai, then he'd just take tons of photos to make them jealous later!
（λ?_??）
Meanwhile…
Watching the excited group, Chisa called out anxiously,
"Be careful not to lean out too far..."
After all, the yacht they were on wasn't that big. It'd be easy for someone to fall overboard.
But perhaps because her voice was too soft, only the team leader next to her heard what she said.
The others were still enthusiastically sharing the sights they were seeing with each other.
"Chisa~"
The team leader, noticing the nervous expression on her face, smiled.
"Hmm?"
"No need to be so tense."
"But…"
Chisa wanted to explain—wasn't the job of a dive guide to ensure everyone's safety? This seemed really dangerous...
Looking at Chisa's still-green expression, the team leader chuckled, as if reminiscing about her own early days on the job.
Back then, she had been overly cautious too, afraid that even the smallest mistake might endanger the guests.
Only after working for a while did she come to understand the true role of a dive guide.
"A guide isn't just about safety—you also have to help everyone enjoy themselves~"
That's right.
A good dive guide ensures people can enjoy their experience to the fullest—safely, yes, but also joyfully.
The smiles on the guests' faces are a guide's greatest badge of honor.
"So—"
The team leader leaned closer to Chisa, gently lifting the corners of her lips with two fingers to create a smiling expression.
"You have to keep smiling too~"
No one wants a guide who looks too stern. That kind of vibe can really kill the mood.
(Of course... perverts are an exception!)
"Sorry, I'll try to be more mindful."
Chisa didn't completely get it yet, but she still took the advice to heart.
She tried to smile, though it came out a little stiff.
The team leader smiled back, her warm expression helping Chisa gradually relax.
"But… that's also the hardest part. We guides are human too, after all~"
Controlling your expression isn't as easy as it sounds.
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and looked in Shiro's direction.
"Maybe… that boy would make a great dive guide."
Chisa followed her gaze.
Shiro was looking out at the sea, but just seeing the smile on his face made people feel at ease.
It was like… the smile of an older sister, comforting and warm.
"This is a well-known dive spot called Blue Corner, and it's one of Palau's most popular sites. Please enjoy it to the fullest~"
"Got it!" ×4
They had already taken in the view above the sea. Now it was time for the underwater world~
Since everyone had prior diving experience, only a few safety notes were needed before they dove in one after another.
The moment Shiro submerged beneath the surface, his eyes widened.
What greeted him was a stunning underwater world completely different from Izu or Okinawa.
Brilliantly colored scenery and schools of fish swimming in formation made Shiro feel like he had entered an underwater palace.
Once again, he found himself utterly captivated by the sea.
He believed that anyone who saw such beauty would fall in love with it, drawn to explore even more of the ocean's splendor.
Time flies when you're surrounded by beauty. Before they knew it, they had done three dives.
Even after finishing, they were still giddy with excitement on the yacht.
"That was incredible!"
"I had no idea oceans this beautiful even existed!"
"My palace is definitely down there!"
"Learning to dive was so worth it!"
Seeing their elated expressions, the guides couldn't help but smile too.
Every dive guide is someone who truly loves the ocean.
Helping others fall in love with diving and the sea gives them a deep sense of fulfillment.
That's one of the main reasons they're so passionate about their work—wanting more people to experience the beauty of the ocean.
"Did everything go smoothly?" Aunt Kotegawa asked from the yacht.
"Heh, with me here, of course it did!"
Shiro puffed out his chest proudly, looking every bit like he wanted to be hired as a staff member. His dive just now had been awesome!
Smack!
The hand of justice came down again.
"Didn't ask you."
Then she looked at the team leader beside her.
The leader smiled and nodded,
"Everything went smoothly. And... Kamishiro really is impressive. His skills don't feel like someone who's only been diving for half a year."
Being praised, Shiro lifted his chin even higher, winking furiously at Aunt Kotegawa.
Hire me! Hire me!
No chores! No errand-boy stuff!
"Don't even think about it. Without the proper certification, I can't let you work with customers."
After all, she didn't want the new shop to get shut down right away for having unqualified staff.
"Oh…"
Shiro's dream shattered. He hung his head in disappointment, his dejected look making the team leader's heart ache.
Aunt Kotegawa noticed and smacked him lightly on the head.
"Cut it out. You're gonna charm the team leader right off her feet."
(;?＿?)
Caught red-handed, Shiro averted his gaze,
"Ahem, just a reflex…"
Then he scurried off to find the idiot duo before he got smacked again.
The team leader, meanwhile, looked heartbroken.
So that was all an act just now…?!
"Team leader."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Don't let yourself get tricked by pretty boys."
Aunt Kotegawa patted her on the shoulder. She had to protect this sweet cabbage before it got snatched up.
The team leader opened her mouth but had no idea how to respond.
(*?????)
Turns out the TV was right—good-looking boys really are all liars!
"Oh no!"
Just then, something the team leader had said reminded Iori of something important!
A Very Important Matter!
"We got too into it and forgot we were supposed to act like troublesome customers!"
Upon hearing that,
Shiro and the other two were stunned.
It did seem like that…
Should we… do it again?
At that moment, the supervisor, having already composed herself, smiled and stepped forward. "It's fine. Watching such enthusiastic beginners making all kinds of moves is also a great reference~"
You had to admit—on the job, the supervisor's ability to bounce back was impressive!
Even Shiro was in awe; she clearly had maxed out her working skills.
Beside them, Maki gave a wry smile. "Some of those moves earlier really gave me a cold sweat…"
"..."
Shiro's mouth twitched. That comment was totally unnecessary!
Iori and Kohei, those two idiots, looked relieved—clearly not realizing she was saying they were the problem!
Seeing this harmonious scene, Aunt Kotegawa knew the timing was just right. It was time for her to step in!
"You've gone diving three times already—you must be exhausted."
Only after hearing the manager's concern did everyone start to feel how tired their bodies actually were.
"Yeah, a bit."
"After all, there's quite a bit of resistance in the water."
"But this part-time job was really worth it! What an amazing experience!"
"We really have to thank the manager!"
"You're all too kind."
Seeing how energetic they still were, Aunt Kotegawa was relieved. She took off her sunglasses and said, "Your real work is just getting started."
"Eh?"
Looking at the scattered equipment around them, Shiro suddenly had a bad feeling.
He desperately needed a team of muscle-bound seniors right now!
"You're not customers anymore. Get those empty air tanks over here, now!"
"Also tidy up the gear and do maintenance!"
"Once you're done with that, prep tomorrow's equipment and clean up, too~"
!!!
"Noooo!"
"I wanna go back to being a customer!!!"
(*Ｔ▽Ｔ)
That's the thing about diving—the happier you are while diving, the more despair you feel when cleaning and maintaining afterward.
Especially since there were still so many customers to handle later!
Thinking about what lay ahead, Shiro once again regretted not getting his instructor's license back in Izu!
Damn it!!!
Several hours later, under the rising moon…
After a full day of hard work, the five finally returned to their dorm.
The moment they got back, four of them (excluding Chisa) collapsed straight onto the floor.
Especially Shiro—he felt like he could fall asleep any second.
He seriously suspected he was being targeted. Why did he have the most chores? Just because he peeked at the girls' swimsuits?
(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)
"Totally wiped…"
"Started diving first thing in the morning…"
"Tidying and maintenance are all physical labor…"
"Please don't tell me we have to wake up at six again tomorrow…"
Just thinking about having to get up at six again tomorrow, Shiro's face was filled with despair. So this is what it takes to earn that high salary…
This was his first time experiencing the full workload of a dive shop. Back in Izu, he'd only ever helped out a little.
Thinking about that, Shiro couldn't help but admire Nanaka-nee. Despite being so busy, she always had a smile on her face—and could still mess with Chisa…
A true role model for us all!
Clunk!
At that moment,
Iori slowly got up. A pile of beers had somehow appeared on the table.
But when Shiro was lying there earlier, there were definitely none…
Damn it—what kind of dark magic is this!?
"Well, to be in top shape for tomorrow, let's just have a small drink and go to bed!"
"Great idea!"
Kohei immediately chimed in!
"So tired…"
Even though Shiro complained about being tired, his body betrayed him—he cracked a beer open with one hand without hesitation.
Aina shook her head. "You guys are just hopeless…"
Totally hopeless!
Pffft~
Another bottle popped open.
Chisa, visibly exasperated, glanced at Aina. She couldn't stop them now—so she silently opened a bottle herself.
Clink!
The five clinked their bottles together in perfect sync. Yep—there's nothing like a cold beer after work.
So refreshing!
Thankfully, they really did keep it light this time.
They were so physically exhausted that even alcohol couldn't do much for them.
After a few bottles, everyone quietly called it a night.
Iori and Chisa were the first to head back to their rooms.
"Well then, good night."
"Good night~"
That left Shiro and the other two in the living room—though Shirou was already halfway into dreamland.
Kohei was fiddling with the TV remote. As expected—he just wanted to watch anime!
Unfortunately…
This was Palau. Nothing he wanted was on TV here.
Watching Kohei, Aina couldn't help but sigh. "You really are passionate about this."
Hearing her voice, Kohei turned around—only to see Aina covering her face, looking like something was on her mind.
Also…
Her chest pad had slipped down again!
"Can't you keep that thing in place already…"
Kohei pointed directly at her chest. How many times had this happened now?
"Ah, sorry. It slipped again."
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe she just knew everyone had already figured it out—
Aina didn't bother pretending anymore. She simply reached into her shirt and took the pad out.
"I'm not used to wearing them anyway. They're too big and always move around."
"Is that so? But seriously, why do you wear them in the first place?"
"…None of your business."
Of course she wasn't going to tell him. After a curt reply, she slumped onto the table.
The cool surface brought a blossoming smile to her face.
In summer, nothing beats something cold and refreshing~
"I don't really care anyway."
Kohei, getting no real answer, went back to fiddling with the TV.
But…
For some reason, even though he should've been focused, he couldn't quite figure out what to do.
His eyes involuntarily wandered to Aina lying on the table.
And the shop manager's words from earlier kept ringing in his head:
"Of course—because the person she likes is around."
Back then, both he and Kitahara had turned to look at Shirou, but… he didn't think Shiro was the one she liked.
Even he could tell Aina only saw Shiro as a regular friend. If it were really Shirou, she wouldn't have pulled out the chest pad so casually just now. The person she likes must be…
Kohei suddenly started to understand. All of Aina's odd behavior in the past made sense now.
He should've realized it back in Okinawa.
So it was him…
Kohei lowered his gaze. He wanted to confirm it.
"Zombi…"
"Don't call me Zombi!"
This time, Kohei didn't argue with her. He just quietly continued:
"If I'm wrong, I'll apologize first."
That unusually formal tone made Aina sit up straight. She felt like something serious was about to happen.
Since when was Kohei this polite?
The next second,
Aina found out exactly what that "something serious" was!
"Do you… like Kitahara—?"
In that instant, Aina's pupils shrank.
Even the supposedly "sleeping" Shiro suddenly went still.
The once lively living room fell into complete silence.
…