"In the end, we're still brothers and sisters in misery! There, there!"
"Sigh... Mother-in-law is great in every way, but her temper really needs work. I honestly don't know how a guy as easygoing as Uncle Toshio caught her eye!"
The entire diving session had gone smoothly. On the return trip of the final run, Miyazawa Yuu and Kujo Maki were leaning against the ship's railing, figuratively licking each other's wounds.
With both of them sporting large lumps on their heads, they had undoubtedly become the biggest "eye-catchers" of today's itinerary.
Almost everyone who saw them would take half a step back, their actions delivering a metaphorical "elbow drop" to the already battered hearts of the Backward Underwear Hero and the Inside-Out Shirt Woman!
"Honestly, you're both total idiots..."
"Mm-hmm!"
Nodding in agreement with Kohei's assessment from not far away, Kotegawa Chisa felt grateful to Yuu for acting as her translator, but she simply couldn't defend them on the "idiot" front!
"Everyone! We're about to dock. Guests, please move to the gunwale and wait!"
"Oh! We're almost there. What's the plan, Maki?"
"I'll go help out. For this final stretch, let me show you part-timers the 'breadth of spirit' of a veteran staff member!"
Patting her flattened chest, Kujo Maki gave a small laugh and ran toward the gunwale. She needed to get down to the pier ahead of the guests with the Floor Manager to assist them in disembarking.
Coastal wooden piers were usually waxed, and since the guests were soaking wet and wearing flip-flops, one slip-up could easily lead to a fall.
"Everyone! The pier is quite slippery, so please watch your step!"
"Hmph~ only acting like a senior right at the very end, typical..."
Continuing to lean lazily against the railing, Miyazawa Yuu figured that since today was his last day working for Dolphin, being a bit of a "labor slacker" for a few minutes shouldn't hurt...
"Up we go! The line is way too long, I'll just hop off here—"
"..."
Trouble always finds the idle. Just as he was trying to be an "observer" on the sidelines, work literally jumped in front of him.
Yuu quickly stood up, making a "halt" gesture as he walked toward a middle-aged man attempting to jump from the stern directly onto the pier!
"Pardon me, sir. Palau is a tropical region with high humidity, so our pier can be quite slippery. For your safety, please disembark using the gangway!"
"Huh? I'm fine, kid. Anyone who trips on a little water is just an amateur. Stay out of it!"
Turning around, the middle-aged local guest frowned the moment he saw Miyazawa Yuu. Rubbing his nose in annoyance, he prepared to ignore the warning and jump anyway.
Seeing this, Yuu sighed and practically teleported in front of the man, extending an arm to guard the man's waist while physically blocking his path over the side.
A diving shop has a responsibility to protect its guests' safety. Even if the guest is being stubborn, Dolphin would undoubtedly be held legally liable if a safety incident occurred.
"Deeply sorry, sir. Though you clearly look like a pro, for your safety, we must insist that—"
"Urusai! Didn't I tell you I don't need your help, you arrogant brat! I've had enough of you!"
Mid-sentence, Yuu keenly caught the twitch of the man's jaw muscles. He skillfully tilted his head back, swallowing the rest of his words while avoiding a direct hit from the guest's flying spit.
"Eh? My apologies, sir. I'm only looking out for your safety. Is there something I've done to offend you?"
"Is that a joke?! I know exactly what I'm doing, kid! I've probably been diving ten times longer than you! What right does an unprofessional guy like you have to boss me around!"
"Eeeeh—?"
Confused, Yuu racked his brain. He didn't remember any protocol violations; his workflow as a dive guide had been pretty much perfect.
Seriously, he had no idea where this man's "rage point" was...
"Hey! What's with that confused look! You think I'm being unreasonable? What right does an amateur who wears his underwear backward have to be so cocky!"
Though the boy in front of him was broader and stronger, the middle-aged local uncle wasn't intimidated at all. Seeing the boy "play dumb," he decided to voice his irritation directly—
A total goofball wearing his underwear backward actually had the nerve to come and manage him? He didn't know his place!
If he listened to a guy like that, he'd become a laughingstock among the locals for yielding to an amateur "backward-underwear brat"!
"Ah... I see. No wonder~ I literally have no rebuttal for that point..."
Nodding in realization, Yuu's spark of annoyance vanished instantly. He narrowed his eyes and bowed his head in a humble apology: "I'm sorry. My 'penalty game' has caused you an unpleasant experience. Please forgive me!"
"Hmph, as long as you know..."
The man's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected Yuu, who looked so imposing, to be so easygoing. He turned his head and clicked his tongue, his tone softening: "Now that you understand, get out of the way!"
"I am so sorry! Has our guide caused you any inconvenience? In that case, please let me lead you off the boat!"
"...Fine, I guess..."
Seeing a situation developing with Yuu, Kujo Maki came waving her arms to play peacemaker.
Given a graceful way out, the middle-aged man wasn't actually hell-bent on jumping. Since this staff member's attitude was decent, he could deign to follow the instructions...
"My apologies!"
Quickly readjusting her T-shirt, which was strangling her neck during her run, Kujo Maki pressed a hand against her flattened chest and smiled. "Please, follow me—"
"See! Is there anyone normal at this shop?! First the underwear kid, now you, and look at that sickly blonde guy over there—what is wrong with all of you!"
"S-Sumimasen!"
Maki was scolded the moment she arrived. She kept a forced smile while feeling immense bitterness in her heart. After all, wearing her T-shirt backward was the Manager's demand; it had nothing to do with her!
"Um, sir, I am terribly sorry that our staff didn't meet your professional expectations. Please allow me to apologize to a veteran like yourself!"
"Hmm?"
The man shifted his angry gaze downward toward the pier. There stood a refreshing girl in an orange swimsuit, bowing respectfully in apology.
Not sickly, no backward underwear—at least her appearance was flawless, a far cry from the "misfits" currently in front of him!
"Hmph. At least you can see I'm a veteran! These guys start lecturing me without checking if they're even qualified."
"Exactly! As a veteran, you are exactly the kind of role model us diving newbies look up to!"
"Hmph—! Exactly! You have to respect your seniors!"
Raising her head with a smile, sensing she had successfully buttered the man up to the heavens, Kotegawa Chisa immediately turned on her "sparkling eye" mode. "And honestly, you just wanted to come to the stern to check out the view, didn't you? I'm so sorry our guide misunderstood your intentions!"
"Exactly! I wasn't even planning to jump yet, that backward-underwear kid just has a big mouth! Finally, someone sensible around here! Seriously..."
"Yes! Please, right this way~"
Haughty and proud, the middle-aged man was so dazzled by the young, pretty girl's praise that he couldn't even see straight. He didn't spare another glance for Yuu or Maki as he strode grandly down the gangway.
Along the way, he kept muttering about "reverse psychology" and "staff training."
Chisa hummed in agreement, and for a moment, the air was filled with cheer!
"Chisa... can actually smile like that?"
Back on the boat, Kujo Maki was stunned for quite a while before she realized what had happened.
She had been prepared to be yelled at until the Floor Manager finished with the other guests and came to save her. She never expected the usually silent Chisa to swoop in like that!
And what was with that soul-soothing smile? Isn't Chisa supposed to be a pure iceberg just like the Manager?!
"Yuu?"
"Blegh... sorry, Chisa's smile is so disgusting, I can't take it! Blegh!"
Leaning over the railing, Miyazawa Yuu covered his mouth, his eyes filled with tears of strain. The 190cm giant was so weak his legs were literally shaking!
Even so, he occasionally dry-heaved into the sea to prove that his body had a natural "rejection reaction" to Chisa's sweetness!
"Hey! You should be encouraging her in this situation! Why are you nauseous enough to vomit?!"
"Blegh..."
"Even Kohei too?!"
Looking at the PaB duo both leaning over the side to "empty" themselves, Kujo Maki's pupils vibrated. She had reached a whole new level of understanding regarding this group's friendship!