The Loveless Genius and the Scowling Diving Girl – Grand Blue IF – - The Library's Foolish Couple and the Forced March to the Sea

Spring sunlight streamed through the large windows of the library. The Misaki University library was a four-story building at the center of campus. The first and second floors housed open-stack collections, the third floor had self-study spaces, and the fourth floor contained group study rooms. The floors were covered in dull gray carpet that gave slightly underfoot with each step. Sakurako sat at a window-side seat in the third-floor study area. Her black hair, cut in a bob at the shoulders, was pinned back from her face with her usual clip, as if the bangs annoyed her. She glanced at her watch. 2:30 PM. Thirty minutes past the time they'd agreed on. "Unbelievable..." The screen of her phone, lying on the desk, showed no messages or missed calls from Iori. Sakurako closed the marine ecology textbook she'd spread out before her. The dry *thump* echoed through the quiet study space. A student at the next desk glanced her way. Sakurako's deep brown, upturned eyes narrowed further as she glared back. The student hurriedly returned their gaze to their notebook. There it was. This was the problem. Ever since she was young, Sakurako had often scared people upon first meeting them. It was because of her sharp eyes. Even when she wasn't trying to glare, just looking at someone normally would prompt them to ask, "Are you angry?" Back in high school, there was even a whole semester where none of her classmates would talk to her. But that had its conveniences too. She didn't have to stick her nose into unnecessary things. After all, someone like her— "Sorry to keep you waiting, Hamaoka-san!" A carefree voice shattered the silence. Turning around, she saw Imamura Iori standing there, his arms laden with a mountain of books. Messy black hair with bedhead, droopy brown eyes. His 177-centimeter frame was slightly hunched, and a handmade friendship bracelet dangled from his left wrist. As always, a band-aid was stuck near his right temple. He'd probably bumped into something again. "I was looking at the fish encyclopedia and totally lost track of time!" Without a hint of remorse, Iori dropped the books onto the seat across from Sakurako with a heavy thud. *The Complete Guide to World Diving Spots*. *Encyclopedia of Japanese Coastal Fish, Revised Edition*. *Introduction to Coral Reef Biology*. *The Great Sea Slug Encyclopedia — Beautiful Jewels of the Ocean*. "...What?" Sakurako was at a loss for words. Today was supposed to be the day they decided on a theme for their paired assignment. Ever since she'd been paired with Iori in last week's marine ecology lecture, Sakurako's stomach had been in knots. This man was hopelessly good-natured, utterly oblivious to details, and thick-skinned to an extreme degree. He was fatally bad at reading the room and almost never noticed other people's romantic feelings. And above all, he was her best friend Konan's boyfriend. "Just borrow books related to the assignment, you idiot! What's with *The Great Sea Slug Encyclopedia*?!" "Huh? But this thing is amazing! Look at this little guy!" Iori opened the thick encyclopedia and thrust a photo of a vividly blue and yellow sea slug in front of Sakurako. His eyes were sparkling. When it came to the ocean, this man became passionate as if he were a different person. He was one of the few people who honestly and openly acknowledged Sakurako's diving talent. "Don't sea creatures just get you excited just by looking at them? How do they even get these colors?!" That defenseless smile. Something deep in her chest lurched. "...Shut up. You're too loud." Sakurako turned her face away and slumped over the desk. Her ears were burning. She was angry at herself. Getting all flustered over something like this—she felt like such an idiot. Sakurako had never been able to be honest, even with her own feelings. In front of the person she liked, she'd end up snapping at them instead. She was hopelessly clumsy when it came to love, the type to run in circles and dig her own grave. There was a reason for that. In the summer of her third year of high school, right after winning the gold prize at her final piano competition, Sakurako quit the piano. The reason—she didn't even want to remember. It was just that, back then, the words "someone like me" had burrowed deep into her heart and refused to leave. Now, the only place she belonged was beneath the sea. Underwater, gravity and sound both vanished. She could shed her armor and return to her true self. That was why she'd joined the diving club, "Seahorse." "Anyway, let's just read every book about the ocean!" Iori was already on his feet, heading toward the bookshelves. "How many books do you think there are, you moron?!" Sakurako's voice rang through the quiet library. Students all around simultaneously pressed fingers to their lips with a chorus of "Shh." Sakurako hunched her shoulders and slumped over the desk once more. Her stomach was churning. This man's ability to go at his own pace truly threw her for a loop. About an hour passed. Iori kept borrowing book after book, shouting things like, "This fish is insane! Its stomach comes out of its mouth!" and making a huge fuss with, "Isn't this coral's shape crazy? It looks exactly like a brain!" The amount of information relevant to their assignment was zero. Sakurako proposed settling on a theme multiple times, but each time Iori would say, "Yeah, you're right! But wait, just let me finish this page!" and open yet another new book. This was hopeless. Just as Sakurako was about to seriously lose her temper— "Sakurako-chaaan!" A bouncy voice called out from the library entrance. Before she could even turn around, something warm latched onto her back. Softly waved, light brown hair tickled the nape of Sakurako's neck. A small frame of 155 centimeters squeezed tightly against Sakurako's back as she sat in her chair. Kotegawa Konan. Sakurako's best friend, and Iori's girlfriend. "I stopped by on my way home from work. Just wanted to see if you two were working hard." With a fluffy smile, Konan swung the convenience store bag she was holding. The wrapping of rice balls was visible inside. A paper bag with the logo of the apparel shop "Leaf" was also hanging from her arm. Konan was always like this. Kind to everyone equally, smiling like an angel. She hated conflict and would fluster about trying to mediate whenever trouble arose. On the day of the university entrance ceremony, it was Konan who had first spoken to Sakurako as she stood alone by the wall. "We're in the same department, right? Want to sit next to me?" If Konan hadn't talked to her back then, Sakurako might still be isolated at university even now. She had sworn in her heart to protect Konan's smile, no matter what. —And yet. She harbored faint feelings of love for Konan's boyfriend. "Konan! You're cute as always today!" Iori shouted at full volume. Konan blushed, "Jeez, Iori-kun... we're in a library, you have to be quiet, okay?" but smiled happily nonetheless. Students throughout the library collectively shot them dirty looks. Whispers of "Ugh, it's that idiot couple," "Do that somewhere other than the library," and "They're way too dazzling..." could be heard. Misaki University was a regional university with about 4,500 students. It was a closed community with tight-knit circles and department connections—once you stood out, rumors spread fast. With their cheerful personalities and good looks, Iori and Konan were a famous couple on campus. "Both of you, shut up!!" Still wrapped in Konan's embrace, Sakurako raised her voice. But inside, she felt the exact opposite. Konan cared about her this much. And yet, she herself was in love with this girl's boyfriend. That guilt pricked at her chest like a tiny embedded thorn. "Oh, right. Want some rice balls, if you'd like? Let's all take a little break." With an innocent smile, Konan pulled rice balls out of the convenience store bag. Tuna mayo, salmon, and kelp. "Konan, you're so thoughtful! I was just getting hungry!" Iori pushed the encyclopedia aside and reached without hesitation for the tuna mayo. Sakurako silently accepted the salmon rice ball. As she unwrapped it, the faint scent of nori rose up. As the three of them ate rice balls in a corner of the library, Konan began cheerfully talking about what had happened at her part-time job today. Iori nodded along, occasionally exclaiming, "No way, that's crazy!" Sakurako let out a small sigh. Being with these two put her heart at ease. But at the same time, it made it ache. Just as they finished the rice balls, Iori suddenly spoke up. "Hey, why don't we go to Nagisa Beach for some field research?" Sakurako furrowed her brow. "Huh? What a pain. Books and the internet are enough." "Don't say that! Seeing the actual ecosystem is way better! There's so much you can't understand just from textbook photos!" Iori spoke passionately. When it came to the ocean, he really did become a different person. "Even if we go in the water, you can't do anything anyway. You can't even swim." "Even if I can't swim, I still have fun just looking! And besides, you can swim, Hamaoka-san! You're in the diving club!" At that, Konan tilted her head and looked at Sakurako. Her large, round brown eyes sparkled like a puppy's. "Sakurako-chan, could you go along with Iori-kun's selfish request?" *Ugh.* Sakurako was at a loss for words. She'd always been weak against Konan's innocent, upward gaze. Actually, no one could win against that smile. Ever since that day at the entrance ceremony, Sakurako had never once managed to refuse Konan's requests. "...Fine." Sakurako let out a heavy sigh. But this was where the real issue began. Sakurako was a sore loser, and her tendency to blurt out whatever she was thinking—a flaw and a virtue in equal measure—was extreme. Now that things had come to this, she wasn't about to let it slide without a catch. "In exchange, as punishment, I'm dragging you to a Seahorse trial session." "...Huh?" "I'll make you understand what it means to underestimate the ocean. They say half the new members cry during Seahorse training, you know." Seahorse—Misaki University's officially recognized diving club. Established about twenty-two years ago, with around twenty-five current members. They held ocean training twice a month, weekly meetings, and training camps twice a year. The club room was on the second floor of the extracurricular activities building. It was one of the few places that knew Sakurako's real smile—the one she only showed underwater. "W-wait a second! I can't swim, you know?!" Iori turned pale. His expression had changed completely, as if his earlier passionate speech had been a lie. "Wow, the two of you going to the ocean sounds so fun! Field research and training—you get both at once, killing two birds with one stone!" Konan clapped innocently. She had absolutely no grasp of the situation. Sakurako looked up at the ceiling. "Why do I have to go through this..." Even as she muttered, Sakurako was aware of it. Deep in her heart, a small flame had been lit. Underwater, she was better than Iori. At the very least, the water alone was her domain. If this man was going to talk about the ocean, she'd teach him properly about its dangers too—that stubborn pride, and just a tiny sense of superiority. And the moment she realized that, self-loathing welled up again. She truly hated herself for having these feelings toward Konan's boyfriend. As the sun began to set, the three of them left the library. "What exactly do you do in training...?" Iori muttered as he headed home first. Just as Sakurako was about to head toward the bicycle parking, a voice called out from behind. "Sakurako-chan, do you have a minute?" Turning around, she saw Konan standing there with an uncharacteristically serious expression. It was rare for Konan, wh

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Episode 2

Name: The Loveless Genius and the Scowling Diving Girl – Grand Blue IF –
Author: Novelia

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