TV-Series
Description
Iori Kitahara is the central protagonist of the college comedy series, a first-year student enrolled in the mechanical engineering program at Izu University. His background is rooted in a desire for change, having graduated from an all-boys high school. Seeking to reinvent himself, he dreams of a vibrant and typical campus life filled with new friendships and romantic encounters. To begin this new chapter, he moves away from home to live above Grand Blue, a scuba diving shop owned by his uncle, located in a coastal town.
On the surface, Iori initially appears to be a relatively normal young man. However, his personality is rapidly and overwhelmingly defined by his assimilation into the rowdy diving club, Peek a Boo, which is often shortened to PaB. Far from the peaceful school life he envisioned, he spends most of his days engaged in wild, alcohol-fueled parties, often ending up stripped down to his boxers or completely naked alongside his male club members. He is loud, boisterous, and often perverted, with a tendency for crude and socially awkward behavior that frequently lands him in trouble or creates misunderstandings. Despite this chaotic and idiotic exterior, Iori possesses a remarkably kind and caring side. He is deeply loyal to his friends and is quick to defend anyone who is being unfairly treated. This is seen when he stands up for the otaku lifestyle of his friend Kohei Imamura against ridicule, and when he avenges Aina Yoshiwara after she is bullied by her former tennis club members. His core philosophy is a deep respect for what others are passionate about, believing that it is wrong to interfere with or mock someone’s genuine interests, a lesson he learns through his own unexpected love for diving.
As the protagonist, Iori is the lens through which the story is experienced, and his primary role is to be an unwilling participant in the increasingly absurd schemes of his seniors. He is constantly pressured into drinking, going on adventures, and overcoming his own limitations. Initially, his motivation is simply to have a fun, normal college life and perhaps find a girlfriend, but this dream is perpetually thwarted by his reputation for eccentric behavior which makes him the subject of disdainful looks from female students. His motivations shift as he is reluctantly but persistently drawn into the world of scuba diving. Although he cannot swim and is initially terrified of the water, he gradually develops a genuine fascination with the ocean and a desire to experience its beauty.
His key relationships are central to his development. His dynamic with his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, is a major focus. Their reunion is disastrous, as she catches him in a drunken, half-naked state, leading to her immediate disgust and disdain for what he has become. Over time, as they live together, Iori slowly mends their relationship, and they develop a close, sibling-like bond characterized by bickering and an unspoken trust. Their relationship is often hinted at as having the potential to become romantic, though both typically dismiss the idea. His other cousin, Nanaka Kotegawa, is fiercely protective of Chisa and initially views Iori with suspicion, though she eventually comes to accept him as a suitable partner for her sister, while also keeping a watchful eye on his love life. His relationship with the boisterous upperclassmen, Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki, is one of reluctant mentorship, as they forcibly drag him into the drinking and diving lifestyle that comes to define his college years.
Iori’s development throughout the story is significant. He transforms from a land-locked, water-fearing novice into a certified diver who learns to appreciate the underwater world. His tolerance for alcohol grows immensely as he is forced to participate in countless drinking bouts with the PaB club. While he remains an idiot at his core, he becomes more confident and capable, often stepping up to solve problems for his friends, whether it is mending family rifts or resolving emotional conflicts, revealing a surprising level of emotional intelligence beneath his foolish antics.
In terms of notable abilities, Iori is a puzzling case of contradictory skills. He is a terrible swimmer and has a natural fear of water, which is ironic for a diving club member. However, he demonstrates exceptional talent in nearly every other sport, including tennis and even fighting, displaying high physical aptitude and coordination. He also has musical abilities, having experience playing the guitar, though this skill is a double-edged sword, as it led to the creation of embarrassing original songs that his younger sister later leaks to his friends as a source of eternal ridicule. His final notable ability, cultivated through relentless repetition, is an extremely high tolerance for alcohol, turning him into a formidable drinking opponent.
On the surface, Iori initially appears to be a relatively normal young man. However, his personality is rapidly and overwhelmingly defined by his assimilation into the rowdy diving club, Peek a Boo, which is often shortened to PaB. Far from the peaceful school life he envisioned, he spends most of his days engaged in wild, alcohol-fueled parties, often ending up stripped down to his boxers or completely naked alongside his male club members. He is loud, boisterous, and often perverted, with a tendency for crude and socially awkward behavior that frequently lands him in trouble or creates misunderstandings. Despite this chaotic and idiotic exterior, Iori possesses a remarkably kind and caring side. He is deeply loyal to his friends and is quick to defend anyone who is being unfairly treated. This is seen when he stands up for the otaku lifestyle of his friend Kohei Imamura against ridicule, and when he avenges Aina Yoshiwara after she is bullied by her former tennis club members. His core philosophy is a deep respect for what others are passionate about, believing that it is wrong to interfere with or mock someone’s genuine interests, a lesson he learns through his own unexpected love for diving.
As the protagonist, Iori is the lens through which the story is experienced, and his primary role is to be an unwilling participant in the increasingly absurd schemes of his seniors. He is constantly pressured into drinking, going on adventures, and overcoming his own limitations. Initially, his motivation is simply to have a fun, normal college life and perhaps find a girlfriend, but this dream is perpetually thwarted by his reputation for eccentric behavior which makes him the subject of disdainful looks from female students. His motivations shift as he is reluctantly but persistently drawn into the world of scuba diving. Although he cannot swim and is initially terrified of the water, he gradually develops a genuine fascination with the ocean and a desire to experience its beauty.
His key relationships are central to his development. His dynamic with his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, is a major focus. Their reunion is disastrous, as she catches him in a drunken, half-naked state, leading to her immediate disgust and disdain for what he has become. Over time, as they live together, Iori slowly mends their relationship, and they develop a close, sibling-like bond characterized by bickering and an unspoken trust. Their relationship is often hinted at as having the potential to become romantic, though both typically dismiss the idea. His other cousin, Nanaka Kotegawa, is fiercely protective of Chisa and initially views Iori with suspicion, though she eventually comes to accept him as a suitable partner for her sister, while also keeping a watchful eye on his love life. His relationship with the boisterous upperclassmen, Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki, is one of reluctant mentorship, as they forcibly drag him into the drinking and diving lifestyle that comes to define his college years.
Iori’s development throughout the story is significant. He transforms from a land-locked, water-fearing novice into a certified diver who learns to appreciate the underwater world. His tolerance for alcohol grows immensely as he is forced to participate in countless drinking bouts with the PaB club. While he remains an idiot at his core, he becomes more confident and capable, often stepping up to solve problems for his friends, whether it is mending family rifts or resolving emotional conflicts, revealing a surprising level of emotional intelligence beneath his foolish antics.
In terms of notable abilities, Iori is a puzzling case of contradictory skills. He is a terrible swimmer and has a natural fear of water, which is ironic for a diving club member. However, he demonstrates exceptional talent in nearly every other sport, including tennis and even fighting, displaying high physical aptitude and coordination. He also has musical abilities, having experience playing the guitar, though this skill is a double-edged sword, as it led to the creation of embarrassing original songs that his younger sister later leaks to his friends as a source of eternal ridicule. His final notable ability, cultivated through relentless repetition, is an extremely high tolerance for alcohol, turning him into a formidable drinking opponent.