TV-Series
Description
Iori Kitahara is the central protagonist of the story, a first-year student at Izu University where he is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. Standing at 170 centimeters tall, he possesses an attractive and handsome face that often creates a favorable first impression. However, this positive initial perception is almost immediately shattered by his crude, tactless, and often perverted behavior, which stands in stark contrast to his looks.
Background and Motivation
Iori grew up in a household that runs a traditional Japanese inn, a family business he has no intention of inheriting. Before enrolling in university, he attended an all-boys high school and felt disillusioned by its rigid, male-dominated atmosphere. As a result, he enters Izu University with a singular, burning motivation: to experience a vibrant, coeducational campus life filled with romance, new friendships, and exciting parties. Seeking a fresh start away from home, he moves into the Grand Blue, a diving shop owned by his uncle, Toshio Kotegawa. He is unaware that this decision will completely derail his plans for a normal youth.
Role in the Story and Personality
Upon arriving at Grand Blue, Iori is quickly and forcibly recruited into the university's diving club, Peek a Boo (often shortened to PaB), by the intimidating seniors Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki. Despite the fact that he cannot swim and has a significant fear of water, he is thrust into a world where the male members spend far more time engaged in heavy drinking, wild parties, and walking around naked than they do diving. Iori’s personality is defined by this duality. On the surface, he is a loud, boisterous, and irresponsible idiot who frequently parades around campus in his underwear, fails miserably at picking up female students, and makes indecent remarks. His alcohol tolerance, initially very low, transforms through repeated exposure into a formidable ability, and he becomes a skilled drinker. Yet beneath this chaotic exterior, Iori possesses a surprisingly keen observational skills and a deep, genuine compassion for his friends. He is remarkably open-minded and never judges others for their passions or struggles. This allows him to sincerely support his friend Kouhei Imamura's obsessive otaku hobbies, recognize Aina Yoshiwara's hard work, and empathize with Sakurako Busujima's hidden heartbreak.
Key Relationships
Iori's relationships are central to the story. His primary dynamic is with his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, who is not related to him by blood. Their reunion is disastrous, as she first sees him in a drunken, half-naked stupor, leading her to view him with immediate disgust and contempt. Over time, however, a complex bond forms between them. Despite her constant chastising and labeling him an idiot, she becomes his diving instructor and a person he deeply trusts. A fake relationship they start for mutual benefit gradually deepens into a genuine, unspoken connection, with Chisa often leaning on him for support.
His friendship with Kouhei Imamura is a chaotic rivalry based on slapstick violence, petty arguments, and a shared brotherhood in their debauchery. Despite their constant fighting, Iori fiercely defends Kouhei when others mock his otaku lifestyle. He also shares a warm, sisterly relationship with Nanaka Kotegawa, Chisa's older sister, who looks after him. Iori is a source of support for Aina Yoshiwara, whom he defends from bullies, and he unknowingly becomes the object of her romantic affection. He also has a group of male classmates, including Nojima and Yamamoto, who share in his often-failed pursuits of romance.
Development
Iori undergoes significant character development throughout the narrative. While he initially resists the diving club and has no interest in the ocean, the persistent encouragement from Chisa and the seniors, combined with his first experiences underwater, leads him to discover a genuine fascination and love for diving. Although his reputation on campus is ruined by his bizarre antics, he finds a true sense of belonging within the rambunctious and caring community of PaB. He learns to overcome his fears, develops a deep respect for the sea, and matures from a naive boy chasing a dream of a "normal" college life into a young man who values the extraordinary and unconventional family he has found.
Notable Abilities
Iori possesses several surprising talents, which are a running joke in the series given his ineptitude in the water. While he is a poor swimmer who initially fears the ocean, he excels in almost every other sport, particularly those requiring precise aim, such as tennis and volleyball. He also has a background in music and can play the guitar, though his original compositions are embarrassing and have become a source of endless ridicule after being leaked by his younger sister, Shiori. His most developed ability, however, is his high tolerance for alcohol, earned through countless nights of partying with his seniors.
Background and Motivation
Iori grew up in a household that runs a traditional Japanese inn, a family business he has no intention of inheriting. Before enrolling in university, he attended an all-boys high school and felt disillusioned by its rigid, male-dominated atmosphere. As a result, he enters Izu University with a singular, burning motivation: to experience a vibrant, coeducational campus life filled with romance, new friendships, and exciting parties. Seeking a fresh start away from home, he moves into the Grand Blue, a diving shop owned by his uncle, Toshio Kotegawa. He is unaware that this decision will completely derail his plans for a normal youth.
Role in the Story and Personality
Upon arriving at Grand Blue, Iori is quickly and forcibly recruited into the university's diving club, Peek a Boo (often shortened to PaB), by the intimidating seniors Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki. Despite the fact that he cannot swim and has a significant fear of water, he is thrust into a world where the male members spend far more time engaged in heavy drinking, wild parties, and walking around naked than they do diving. Iori’s personality is defined by this duality. On the surface, he is a loud, boisterous, and irresponsible idiot who frequently parades around campus in his underwear, fails miserably at picking up female students, and makes indecent remarks. His alcohol tolerance, initially very low, transforms through repeated exposure into a formidable ability, and he becomes a skilled drinker. Yet beneath this chaotic exterior, Iori possesses a surprisingly keen observational skills and a deep, genuine compassion for his friends. He is remarkably open-minded and never judges others for their passions or struggles. This allows him to sincerely support his friend Kouhei Imamura's obsessive otaku hobbies, recognize Aina Yoshiwara's hard work, and empathize with Sakurako Busujima's hidden heartbreak.
Key Relationships
Iori's relationships are central to the story. His primary dynamic is with his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, who is not related to him by blood. Their reunion is disastrous, as she first sees him in a drunken, half-naked stupor, leading her to view him with immediate disgust and contempt. Over time, however, a complex bond forms between them. Despite her constant chastising and labeling him an idiot, she becomes his diving instructor and a person he deeply trusts. A fake relationship they start for mutual benefit gradually deepens into a genuine, unspoken connection, with Chisa often leaning on him for support.
His friendship with Kouhei Imamura is a chaotic rivalry based on slapstick violence, petty arguments, and a shared brotherhood in their debauchery. Despite their constant fighting, Iori fiercely defends Kouhei when others mock his otaku lifestyle. He also shares a warm, sisterly relationship with Nanaka Kotegawa, Chisa's older sister, who looks after him. Iori is a source of support for Aina Yoshiwara, whom he defends from bullies, and he unknowingly becomes the object of her romantic affection. He also has a group of male classmates, including Nojima and Yamamoto, who share in his often-failed pursuits of romance.
Development
Iori undergoes significant character development throughout the narrative. While he initially resists the diving club and has no interest in the ocean, the persistent encouragement from Chisa and the seniors, combined with his first experiences underwater, leads him to discover a genuine fascination and love for diving. Although his reputation on campus is ruined by his bizarre antics, he finds a true sense of belonging within the rambunctious and caring community of PaB. He learns to overcome his fears, develops a deep respect for the sea, and matures from a naive boy chasing a dream of a "normal" college life into a young man who values the extraordinary and unconventional family he has found.
Notable Abilities
Iori possesses several surprising talents, which are a running joke in the series given his ineptitude in the water. While he is a poor swimmer who initially fears the ocean, he excels in almost every other sport, particularly those requiring precise aim, such as tennis and volleyball. He also has a background in music and can play the guitar, though his original compositions are embarrassing and have become a source of endless ridicule after being leaked by his younger sister, Shiori. His most developed ability, however, is his high tolerance for alcohol, earned through countless nights of partying with his seniors.