Kamiru woke up, slightly disoriented, before the image of Shoei—his boisterous uncle—vacuuming in his birthday suit, flashed back into his mind. A grimace crossed his face as he shook his head to banish the disturbing memory. After failing to fall asleep again, he got up, greeted by the gentle morning light flooding the minimalist wooden room. The breathtaking view of the beach in the distance was almost enough to make him consider becoming a morning person.
As he stretched, his face buried in the pillow, a strange smell wafted into his nostrils: a nauseating mix of rubbing alcohol and... cereal? Frowning, Kamiru headed downstairs to the kitchen. There, his uncle Shoei awaited him, a wide grin on his face, holding a bowl of cereal in one hand and an unlabelled bottle in the other.
Shoei: "Morning, sleepyhead! Here, try this—it'll wake you right up!"
Kamiru hesitantly took the bowl of cereal. At the first bite, he nearly spat it out as a searing burn blazed down his throat. He coughed and fought the urge to gag, tears springing to his eyes.
Kamiru: "What the hell, Uncle?! What did you put in this?!"
Shoei, laughing uproariously, handed him the unlabelled bottle.
Shoei: "It's homemade 90-proof liquor! The ultimate breakfast for real men of Okinawa!"
Kamiru stood frozen, still coughing and half-choking.
Kamiru: "Are you insane?! Who puts alcohol in cereal?! And I'm underage, for crying out loud!"
Shoei, still laughing, clapped him on the back as if he'd just shared the world's funniest joke.
Shoei: "Don't worry, kid—you'll get used to it! Around here, we start the day strong, or we're not real men!"
Kamiru pointed at the bowl like it was Exhibit A in a trial.
Kamiru: "Well, I don't want to be a real man! And I'm not even sure this stuff is legal! You're completely insane!"
Their exchange quickly devolved into a heated argument, with Kamiru hurling insults like "reckless brute," "complete buffoon," and "public menace," while Shoei roared with laughter, clearly enjoying his nephew's outrage. Finally, Kamiru gave up, storming outside in search of peace and quiet, away from his uncle's bizarre "parenting techniques."
Outdoors, he inhaled the salty air deeply. The beach stretched out before him, calm and beautiful, with the sun gently warming the waves. It was, without a doubt, the most tranquil moment he'd had since his arrival.
Then, a figure caught his eye. A woman was walking down the path, graceful and radiant, her silky hair flowing in the ocean breeze. She wore a summer dress that accentuated her curves, her serene smile lighting up her face. Kamiru's heart skipped a beat. Her beauty was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
As she approached, Kamiru couldn't help but stare, his face turning red. To his surprise, she stopped in front of him, her gaze warm and amused.
Woman: "Kamiru?" she said in a gentle voice.
Kamiru blinked in shock. How did she know his name? Was she a friend of Shoei's? He stammered, trying to form coherent words.
Kamiru: "Uh… yes, that's me. Do we… know each other?"
The woman laughed lightly, her voice full of mischief, and looked at him with a playful smile.
Woman: "Kamiru, I'm Misaki. Your aunt."
A deafening silence followed, like a gong reverberating in Kamiru's mind. Aunt? She was his aunt? His thoughts scrambled as he cursed himself for admiring a woman who turned out to be… family. His face flushed crimson as he coughed awkwardly, trying to regain composure.
Kamiru: "Oh… uh… I didn't know… Sorry!" he blurted, avoiding her gaze.
Misaki chuckled kindly, shaking her head.
Misaki: "Don't be embarrassed. Shoei didn't tell you anything, did he?" she asked, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Just then, Shoei arrived, patting Kamiru on the back with his usual exuberance.
Shoei: "Ah, so you've met the lovely Misaki, huh?" he said with an exaggerated wink.
Kamiru, still red as a tomato, nodded stiffly, clearly struggling to keep his cool.
Kamiru: "Yeah… I figured out she's my aunt…"
Misaki stepped in to diffuse the awkwardness, her tone turning slightly more serious but still kind.
Misaki: "Yes, Kamiru. We're family here, but this is also a place where people come together. Our bar is a unique spot where locals and visitors gather to relax. Shoei likes to have his fun, but I make sure everything stays in order."
Shoei burst into laughter, interrupting her explanation.
Shoei: "In other words, Auntie here keeps me in check! She runs the bar with me and loves giving her opinion!" He turned to Kamiru with an exaggeratedly serious look. "Alright, kid, now it's your turn. Tell us why you've holed up here!"
Kamiru took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their expectant gazes.
Kamiru: "Well… I came here to focus on my studies. And… to get a break from my family." He straightened, gaining a bit of confidence. "I may not be great at snowboarding or skiing, but I've got a good brain, so I figured I'd put it to use where it matters."
Shoei burst out laughing again, slapping his knee.
Shoei: "Did you hear that, Misaki? The kid's a brainiac!"
Misaki smiled at Kamiru, her expression warm and understanding.
Misaki: "That's a great reason, Kamiru. You'll have peace and quiet here to study… unless your uncle throws one of his parties. But don't worry—I'll protect you as much as I can!"
Shoei, still grinning mischievously, suddenly turned to Kamiru with an unsettling gleam in his eye.
Shoei: "Oh, by the way, kid, there's something we haven't told you yet…"
Kamiru raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
Kamiru: "This doesn't sound good. What are you scheming now, Uncle?"
Shoei laughed and shook his head.
Shoei: "Don't freak out! Just wanted to let you know—you're starting at your new school here in Okinawa tomorrow."
Kamiru nearly choked.
Kamiru: "Tomorrow?! I just got here! You didn't even give me time to settle in!"
Misaki gave him an apologetic smile.
Misaki: "We thought it'd be best to immerse you right away… Don't worry; we've got everything arranged for you."
Still in shock, Kamiru looked back and forth between his aunt and uncle.
Kamiru: "An immersion… into a jungle of Okinawan high schoolers I don't even know? Are you kidding me?!"
Shoei crossed his arms, his expression gleeful.
Shoei: "Hey, we had to tell you sooner or later. Don't sweat it—you've been holed up in your snowy cave in Hokkaido for too long. Here, you'll meet real people who don't live for snow-covered slopes."
Kamiru shook his head in disbelief.
Kamiru: "This is insane… I came here to escape school pressure, and now you're dumping me into a new one right away? And what kind of school is it, anyway? If it's some kind of Battle Royale, I hope you've signed me up for the right dojo."
Shoei roared with laughter and threw an arm around Kamiru's shoulders, shaking him affectionately but nearly knocking him over.
Shoei: "Relax, kiddo! You'll handle it like a champ. It's Takahashi High—completely normal, except for a few crazy teachers. You'll be fine!"
Kamiru rolled his eyes.
Kamiru: "Great. A new school, surrounded by strangers, with crazy teachers to top it off. You sure you don't secretly hate me?"
Misaki gently patted his shoulder, her smile soft and reassuring.
Misaki: "Stay strong, Kamiru! It'll be a good experience—you'll see. And we'll be here to welcome you home every evening at the Splash!"
Shoei shot him a teasing wink.
Shoei: "Yeah, kiddo. With a bit of luck, you'll stop being so clumsy. Or at least, you'll make us laugh trying."
Kamiru sighed, running a hand over his face, but a small smile betrayed a hint of curiosity—though he'd never admit it.