"Underwater panoramic camera, bone conduction sound generator, and... party balloons?"
"That's an emergency life-saving valve. You probably forgot what this store does, right..."
By the shelf, Chisa Kotegawa looked speechlessly at Iori, who was curious about everything but only understood a little.
She glanced longingly at the underwater panoramic camera, which was rumored to be a new model capable of 360-degree, dead-angle-free shooting! Its functions were comprehensive to the extreme!
However, the girl's anticipation was so fragile that it was immediately defeated by the astonishing price tag below the display stand—shocking price: 300,000!!!
"Gulp! So expensive!"
"Seriously, who can afford this kind of thing!"
300,000 Japanese Yen. If converted into living expenses and spent frugally, it could sustain Kitahara Iori for several months!
And even with a 30% discount, it was still an astonishing 210,000. How was this any different from robbery! He estimated that even if he sold Kouhei, he would probably still need to add more money to get it.
"Um... Azusa-senpai, I have a question!"
"Hmm, what is it, Aina?"
"It's about the regulator. Which model is better for girls to choose?"
Lowering her head, Yoshiwara Aina walked up to Azusa Hamaoka with her hands behind her back, a little shy, and awkwardly pulled out two regulators that looked identical.
They looked similar and had similar functions, but the price difference was a whopping 1,300 Japanese Yen!
She really didn't know which one to choose!
"Eh? Regulator?"
"Are you referring to the mouthpiece we've been using all this time?"
Suddenly using professional jargon, Kitahara Iori was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had indeed put this thing into his mouth a few times.
However, Kotobuki-senpai had already said that the equipment could be rented at the store. Logically speaking, wouldn't it be more cost-effective to buy some practical small items to enhance the diving experience!
"Mhm, I think it's better to rent the regulator for now."
Chisa Kotegawa shared the same opinion as Iori. After all, if they weren't planning to buy the full set, it would be troublesome to replace the regulator every time, so it wasn't recommended for newcomers to prioritize buying it.
"Wait! But! Indir..."
"Indir?"
Seeing Aina shyly cover her eyes with her bangs, Azusa Hamaoka leaned in affectionately and smiled gently: "Indir, what is it?"
"It's just that, if many people use the mouthpiece, wouldn't that be indirect kissing!"
Covering her face, Yoshiwara Aina finally shouted out what she had wanted to say for a long time. She was whimpering miserably and twisting her body on the ground.
It was clearly too much for her to confront the thing that made her shy!!!
"Indirect kissing? I really hadn't thought about that..."
Cold sweat broke out on Chisa Kotegawa forehead. It had to be said that Aina's focus was truly peculiar.
Kitahara Iori also added helplessly: "More than that, Aina, for you to join a club like ours and still care about something like that is quite something in a way."
What can I do! After all, the thought of possibly having an indirect kiss with the person I like makes me completely unable to forget it!
Wailing internally, Yoshiwara Aina glanced at the completely unconcerned Iori through her fingers—doesn't this guy feel ashamed to share a mouthpiece with a girl?
"Ahaha~ Regarding this question, Aina, we usually bite the mouthpiece, right?"
"Mhm..."
"So, I would say..."
Holding up a finger, Azusa Hamaoka smiled bitterly and comforted Aina: "It's actually not indirect kissing! It's more like sharing a toothbrush!"
"Isn't that even harder to accept!"
The beautiful scene of Kouhei and Iori sharing a toothbrush appeared in her mind, and Yoshiwara Aina instantly burst into tears. But compared to the fact that nothing had even happened between her and Iori yet...
"Nanaka-san, don't you and Yu mind? Using a mouthpiece that others have used and so on..."
"Emmm... actually, the regulators in our house are disinfected according to regulations, so I didn't think too much about it!"
With a similarly helpless bitter smile, their hygiene standards had, after all, been questioned.
As for the issue of indirect kissing, Nanaka Kotegawa had also adapted to the rental model and had never paid attention to such minor details.
But now that she had a boyfriend, should she also consider Yu opinion...
Turning her head, her gentle smile and thoughtful question solidified at the same time, because she realized that the space behind her was empty.
"Wait! Where's Yu?"
"It seems he hasn't followed us... since the beginning?"
Exchanging glances, Nanaka Kotegawa and Azusa Hamaoka could both see a capitalized sense of guilt in the other's eyes—she had just gotten a boyfriend and abandoned him to run off with little Chisa/Nanaka-chan. She seemed to have been a little too much!
"We're doomed!"
"Chisa, you guys keep shopping. Azusa and I have something to do..."
Quickly leaving the group to search, watching Nanaka and Azusa Hamaoka frantic pace, which created afterimages, the remaining three people all showed looks of speechlessness.
"Yu got left behind, how tragic..."
"Older sister is so lame..."
"Speaking of which, I'll go look for Kouhei and the Senpais. It would be too pathetic if they were also like Yu."
The team of five instantly dissolved until only two were left. Watching Iori back fading away in search, Yoshiwara Aina suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity to be alone with Chisa!
She had actually wanted to ask Chisa about her attitude toward Iori for a long time, but was frustrated that the three scumbags always cut in whenever they were alone. Why not now...
"Aina, let's go buy swimsuits."
"Okay, but Chisa, I actually have something I want to ask you!"
"Hmm?"
Taking down a blue separated swimsuit and comparing it to her body, Chisa Kotegawa turned to Aina, listening to the noticeably lowered volume of her voice.
"What is it, Aina?"
"Chisa, are you really dating Iori?"
Dating Iori?
The memory of subconsciously considering Iori as her boyfriend earlier flooded her mind, and Chisa Kotegawa expression immediately became a mixture of disdain and disgust. Her tightly furrowed brows looked as if she had heard something unbearable!
"Ah, judging by your expression, I think I already understand."
Cold sweat ran down Yoshiwara Aina's forehead. Just how much hatred does it take to show such a despairing expression? Was she really just looking for a shield during the Miss Beautiful award ceremony?
Since that's the case, a relieved smile appeared on her face—she now had a little confidence in winning Iori over...
"Wait! Please change clothes in the fitting room!"
"It's fine, after all, I haven't taken off my swimming trunks yet~"
"You can't do that either, Iori. You're blocking the way. Hurry up and move."
"..."
Looking at the shameless Iori, who was stripping in the middle of the road despite having fitting rooms available.
Yoshiwara Aina stood still, the light fading from her eyes. To be honest, for a brief moment, she started to wonder if it was really necessary for her to try so hard for a guy like this.
"But I'm telling you! Yu is also half-naked, isn't he? Why am I the only one who has to change? That's so unfair!"
"Yu?"
"Ah~ It looks like Nanaka-san rescued him!"
Looking at the divinely colored, body-painted Yu, whose face was extremely sullen, and her sister and Azusa-senpai, who were covering their stomachs and holding back laughter, Chisa Kotegawa raised her hand and waved twice before noticing something was wrong—
Why were so many people following Yu and filming him! It turns out he wasn't rescued; they just changed the location?
"Anyway, it's exactly as you see it!"
Five minutes later, posing in the most popular stance, Miyazawa Yu faced his two girlfriends, who were kneeling very neatly with black faces. Aina and Chisa were watching from the side, not daring to intercede.
"So, what are your reasons?"
"I'm sorry, I followed little Chisa without thinking when she left. Please forgive me, Yu!"
"I followed Nanaka-san, hehe~"
"Hehe! What does that mean!"
Mercilessly rejecting Azusa-senpai's attempt to use cuteness to get away with it, Miyazawa Yu took a break from his ordeal, rubbing his temples, and desperately whispered to this group of unreliable people: "The problem now is how to wrap this up!"
"Why not just leave? We're just customers anyway. As long as Yu doesn't have a psychological burden, it's fine~"
Shrugging his shoulders, Kitahara Iori thought Yu question was strange. No one asked him to attract a crowd in the first place.
The current scene was completely built up by his popularity. This means he just needs to say goodbye and the crowd will disperse; no one can restrain him!
"Oh! That makes sense. As expected of Iori, a born low-morality person."
Miyazawa Yu deeply agreed with Iori words and instantly looked enlightened. He turned around, intending to say that the visiting time was over for today.
However, before he could speak, a bald man squeezed through the crowd with difficulty.
"Wait a moment! Young man, I'm the manager here. This is my business card."
"Ah~ Hello?"
Hesitantly taking the bald man's business card, Miyazawa Yu excused himself in confusion: "If there's nothing else, I think I'll be going..."
"Uh, actually, this is what happened. Our original intention for this collaboration was to drive traffic to the store."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, the bald manager had rushed over by car under the blazing sun and was even slightly out of breath as he spoke.
But even so, he stood on his toes, put his arm around Miyazawa Yu neck, and whispered: "But the effect at the affiliated stores hasn't been great, and the cosplayers we hired have also received lukewarm responses..."
"So... you want me to help drive traffic, but I'm just a customer doing this out of interest."
Gaining a new understanding of the influence of Kyoudo no Kin, Miyazawa Yu finally understood the manager's intention, and his eyes instantly turned into the shape of money.
Just kidding, the name Miyazawa had some clout in Japan. If his old man knew he was doing free labor, he would be laughed to death!
"I understand! I understand! As long as you agree to wear our store's swimming trunks, we will give you a 50,000 Yen voucher!"
"Deal!"
The plump hand shook Miyazawa Yu large hand, signifying that a temporary transaction was officially formed.
"Hiss... Yu was completely bribed!"
"A 50,000 Yen voucher. Although it might be useless in the hands of others outside, for us, it's genuine gold and silver!"
If it were anyone else, the store wouldn't accept a voucher for payment, but unfortunately, Miyazawa Yu was a Pab club member.
This meant that even ten more vouchers like this wouldn't be able to offset the money he was about to spend at this store!
"Hmm... what do you think Yu will buy?"
Pinching his chin, seeing Kouhei return with a sacred look on his face, as if he had seen a holy relic, Kitahara Iori pondered for a moment and held up two fingers to start a bet.
"I bet it'll be swimming trunks, two bottles of Water of Life!"
"Mhm... for a newcomer, it should be a mask, right? I'll match the bet!"
"Yosh! Then I bet the regulator, double the stakes!"
Seeing that Yu didn't seem angry anymore, Azusa Hamaoka immediately joined the bet excitedly with a wicked smile, even choosing to double the stakes with absolute confidence!
That was six bottles of Water of Life, just over four liters, Iori eternal pain!
However, she was certain of her win because Nanaka had told her that Yu wanted to buy a regulator the first time he came but felt it was too expensive.
Tonight, she would make sure to get Kotobuki, Tokita, and Iori all drunk!
...
That evening at nine o'clock, Grand Blue was littered with bodies. Drunken corpses who had lost the bet were everywhere, with Iori being the most miserable, his underpants nowhere to be seen.
In front of the dining table, Azusa Hamaoka eyes shook like an earthquake as she stared at the two neatly placed designer bikinis. She then swallowed hard as she looked at the full basin next to them.
"Yu, can we not wear the bikinis, or maybe drink a little less? Otherwise, I'm afraid I might not be able to get up tomorrow morning..."
"No! The reward for staying up all night with me was agreed upon, and the bikinis are the punishment!"
With a smile of satisfaction, if time were to rewind a few months, Miyazawa Yu remembered being given PTSD by Azusa-senpai using the exact same tactic.
But now, the tables had turned. The person in control had become him, and the cute senpai in front of him had become his girlfriend.
"Oh my~ Things seem to be getting serious."
Willing to admit defeat, Azusa Hamaoka thought, 'Just for today.' She accepted that she might not be able to get up tomorrow morning.
However, just as she chugged half of the Water of Life, Miyazawa Yu gently took the basin away. Now, the two of them had almost equally divided all the alcohol.
Then, in a daze, she felt like she was being carried up the stairs and placed next to Nanaka, who was wearing her favorite bikini.
"This is... heaven!"
Smelling the familiar scent at the tip of her nose, her consciousness left her body, and her sleeping posture was as bad as ever!