Riku dropped his huge backpack onto the campus grounds and let out a long sigh. New school, new life… and for now, he was certain of only one thing: he was probably going to embarrass himself within the next ten minutes.
"Hey! New guy! You practicing how to fall gracefully or something?"
An eccentric voice caught his attention. A boy with messy black hair, wearing a ridiculously colorful t-shirt, pointed at him while laughing.
Riku blushed slightly and tried to smile. At least his roommates seemed… interesting.
"Haruto, leave him alone… or at least try," muttered a serious-looking girl adjusting her glasses. "Welcome to the campus… I hope you survive."
Riku nodded, still too intimidated to respond. Then a higher-pitched, teasing voice chimed in:
"If you fall again, we're taking photos for the comedy club!"
It was Yuki, who laughed before Riku could even react.
Okay, new life… I'll survive… maybe… Riku thought, trying to straighten himself up.
A few minutes later, loud and cheerful shouts echoed from the diving club building:
"To the water! To the water!"
Curious, Riku approached and came face-to-face with Aoi. She was beautiful, serious, focused, and spoke firmly to a small group:
"Make sure your masks are secure! Safety first."
Riku froze. There was something mysterious and commanding about her presence that completely unsettled him. Wow… she looks serious… and… really pretty.
Aoi finally noticed him and waved a little.
"New here? Come help with the equipment."
Riku's face turned bright red, and he stammered:
"Uh… y-yes… I mean… okay!"
Haruto, who had been following him, whispered with a sly grin:
"Look at him… heart already racing!"
Riku's first task was to put on a diving mask. What should have been simple quickly became a comedy show. He put it on backwards, almost choked, and nearly fell while trying to fix it.
Yuki burst out laughing. "Perfect! Our comic hero of the day!"
Sena sighed, arms crossed. "You're going to make the club look ridiculous if you keep this up."
Riku, red as a tomato, got back up and tried to smile. He could feel Aoi watching him, and even though she said nothing, he guessed she found his clumsiness… kind of charming.
After the initial mishaps, the group headed toward the beach for the first diving session. Riku tripped two more times on the way, but every stumble brought a wave of laughter that oddly made him feel… comfortable. Maybe this new life wasn't so terrifying after all.
While the group was gearing up, Riku couldn't help but watch Aoi more closely. She distributed wetsuits and patiently explained how to adjust the fins. Her voice was calm, but her eyes… her eyes shone with an intensity that made Riku's heart beat faster.
New university… new friends… and maybe… something more?
The sun slowly set over the ocean, casting a golden glow over the scene. The sound of the waves mixed with the laughter of Riku's friends, forming an unexpected but comforting symphony. This was the beginning of a life he had never imagined.