The five-step checklist:
the final checks a diver is supposed to perform before entering the water.
Bag.
Appearance.
Uniform.
And zipper.
Step one, "Preparation," all clear!
Step two, "Location,"
front door of my home,
all clear!
Step three, "Time,"
7:30 AM,
all clear!
Step four, "Air"...
All clear!
Step five, "Action"...
Perfect weather!
All clear!
I'm Kohinata Hikari, fifteen,
and I'm making my entry into another fun-filled school day!
Amanchu!
Bus Stop
Tokai Bus
"The Story of Doing Something Bad With Hikari"
Tokai Bus Pass Student From 4/1 to 6/30 Kohinata Hikari
The scent of freshness.
It's a close call as to which is better, this or a new textbook.
Good morning!
Good morning.
Can't sit anywhere but here,
the deluxe special seat!
Alarm
No New Messages
I have to go...
To an unfamiliar school in an unfamiliar town.
Beam
Huh?
It's almost like I...
Whoop!
This feels really good!
Next stop: Yumegaoka Shopping Street.
Next Stop:
Yumegaoka Shopping Street
Yumegaoka Shopping Street.
Stop
Please press this button if you wish to alight.
Stop
Kohinata.
Katori-sensei?
Good morning!
Morning.
Wait! Were you on that bus?
Yeah. I was sitting right behind you.
I didn't notice at all.
That aside, why didn't you take the bus until the stop in front of school?
I managed to wake up early today,
so I figured I could take the scenic route to school.
"Scenic route"?
That's right.
A route where I can take in all of morning's glory.
Yeah, I hear you.
Did you have the same idea?
I'm impressed you know this route.
Whoop!
Do you take this route every day?
Nah, only when I have time.
It's perfect for a leisurely stroll, isn't it?
Yeah. It lets you indulge in some morning healing time.
Race!
Inbox From: Chizuru-chan Sub: Morning! Good morning! Don't be late, Futaba! Also, ride safely on your way to school! From Chizuru
Compose To: Chizuru-chan Sub: RE: Morning! I'm off!
Sending
Yeah, I'm off.
I have the lead!
Here we are!
This is the most scenic point in this route!
But running down this slope would require skills akin to a master scuba diver.
Obstacles like these...
must be overcome with youthful energy!
I'll overcome it with adult charm, then.
No fair!
Smell ya later!
You seem to be in a hurry today, Sensei.
Is something happening?
Not really, no.
Just...
I may have gotten a little too heated
first thing in the morning.
Surface...
All clear!
Hey, Kohinata! You okay?
My legs have gone numb
Look, I have no idea what you're saying.
I'm sorry.
The water surface wasn't all clear at all.
Please, never do a giant stride from that high up again.
Okay.
Huh?
"Giant stride"?
Katori-sensei, don't tell me...
You're a diver?
Whoop!
Busted, eh?
I'm glad we found out we're dive buddies,
but don't you ever do anything that reckless again, Kohinata Hikari.
Please, call me Pikari!
Are we clear, Pikari?
Kohinata-san...
is a total weirdo.
Amanchu!
Well, that's all for today.
Starting Monday, there'll be six periods, and school will last the whole day,
so you'd best be prepared.
Also,
you can find info on all the clubs, where they operate,
and their advisors on the bulletin board by the shoe lockers.
Be sure to take a look,
and check out all the clubs you're interested in
during the trial period starting next week.
Okay!
Clubs?
Meh.
I think I'll spend my next three years in the Going Home Club.
There're all sorts of clubs.
I kind of feel like playing a sport.
I hear you!
But I don't want anything too vigorous.
True.
It's so pretty.
Kohinata-san?
Where is she going?
That's the opposite direction from the front gate.
Uh...
Teko?
That nickname is denied!
Is this...
the pool area?
Why did she drag me here?
My hobby is scuba diving!
You're a diver?
Busted, eh?
Diving Club
Um, Katori-sensei said the trial period for clubs starts next week—
It's all good.
Denied!
Pardon the intrusion!
You can't just go in! You'll get yelled at!
Whoop!
I never expected to run into you here!
Is someone in there?
Kohinata-san?
Excuse me...
Cha...
Cha, cha.
So you're a member here, Cha?
Cha?
Cha.
Yep, Cha.
Cha.
He goes "cha" all the time, so I'll call him Cha.
Do you like coming up with nicknames?
Cha...
Yep!
Cha!
Cha, cha, cha.
You're not a member?
Then...
Are you the Diving Club's advisor?
Yeah, no.
Probably snuck in because it's only the start of spring
and it's still cold out.
Are you interested in the diving suits?
Y-Yeah...
I just thought they looked kinda cool.
Diving suits come in all shapes and sizes,
but there are basically two major categories:
wet and dry.
Wetsuits allow water to enter the suit,
whereas drysuits are completely waterproof.
Completely waterproof?
How?
Hold on a sec.
Kohinata-san?!
It'd be easier to show you by putting it on.
Denied! Denied!
We'll totally get into trouble!
Cha, cha...
Cha?
That was quick.
Close the zipper on my back, Teko.
The only holes on this are for your neck and hands,
and they have really tight rubber seals,
so water can't get in.
Can't it get in through this zipper here?
It's all good!
Apparently, this zipper is similar to the ones used in space suits!
Space suits?
W-Wow!
Whoop, whoop, whoop!
Generally speaking,
you wear wetsuits in warm conditions,
and drysuits when it's cold.
By the way, in this area,
the three months from July to September are wetsuit season.
You sure know a lot, Kohinata-san.
Yeah.
I've been a hobby diver for years.
Wow...
Cha...
Cha?
Do you wanna try one on, Teko?
Just for a bit!
I think this would be the right size.
I guess...
This is bad.
I get the feeling Kohinata-san's leading me around by the nose.
But...
Just for a bit.
That looks great on you!
So, what do you think, having tried it on?
Yeah, I think I like it.
Great!
Cha!
Then...
Diving Club
Let's-a-go!
Wh-Where?
Since it's quite far from the school building, nobody will see us.
And since it's right at the start of the new term, nobody will come here...
To the pool!
Cha!
Hup.
What's the matter?
A tummy ache?
Opening the neck seal and squatting like this
gets rid of the excess air all at once.
Huh...
You try it, too.
Like this?
Yeah.
It's clinging to my body!
This is fun!
Cha.
Whoop whoopity whoop!
Are you okay, Kohinata-san?
Relax.
Getting rid of some air won't make you sink.
Jeez.
Don't scare me like that.
Teko!
Cha, cha, cha!
You're coming, Advisor Cha?
This is bad.
This is really, really bad.
I've been letting Kohinata-san
lead me around by the nose this entire time.
I've been doing all these audacious things
that I normally wouldn't even dream of.
But...
The classmate I met in this unfamiliar world
shone brightly in my eyes,
and I don't know...
I don't know why,
but watching her enjoy herself to the fullest
gave rise to a surging current of excitement in my heart
which gave me the wings
to soar in the sky!
Whoop!
When you're underwater,
at first you can only hear the sound of your own breathing,
but you gradually start becoming one with the ocean.
You can't tell where your body ends
and the ocean begins.
At that moment,
it really hits me
that we were all born from the sea.
As if!
Would you like to try diving with me, Teko?
Oh, I get it now.
I wasn't as hesitant about coming to school this morning as I was yesterday.
She might be the reason why.
Guess I'll think about it.
Fun things can be found hiding in the most ordinary of places.
That's what makes every day so much fun!
"The Story of the Secret to Excitement and Happiness"
Next time, on Amanchu!:
"The Story of the Secret to Excitement and Happiness."
I'm so excited...
I'm so excited!