Ep 6. First Buddy

After a heated argument with his cousin, Iori is left alone to look for a new diving buddy. Despite his initial hesitation and awkwardness, he quickly bonds with a fellow freshman named Kohei who shows him the ropes of scuba diving and introduces him to a new group of friends. However, as Iori becomes more comfortable with his new group, he begins to question whether he's truly found the right people to share his passion with. Meanwhile, Chisa struggles to find a new part-time job after being fired from her previous one, but luckily her friend Nanaka has a solution that might just come with unexpected benefits.

In "First Buddy," the sixth episode of Grand Blue Dreaming season 1, we see Iori dealing with the fallout of his argument with Chisa's cousin, which seems to have put a damper on his diving journey. Feeling lost and alone, he's unsure where to turn for the comradery and adventure he craves. But fate seems to have other plans for him when he happens upon Kohei, a fellow freshman who's just as passionate about diving as he is. Despite their initial awkwardness, the two quickly hit it off and set out on a day of diving, with Kohei eagerly showing Iori the ropes and introducing him to his own group of diving buddies.

It's clear that Iori is drawn to the sense of community and shared passion that he finds with Kohei and his friends, and it's refreshing to see him letting his guard down and opening up to a new group of people. But as the day goes on, he begins to realize that not everything is as perfect as it seems. When he discovers that Kohei's friends have a reputation for being reckless and irresponsible, he's forced to question whether he really wants to associate himself with them. This conflict between Iori's desire for adventure and his need for safety and responsibility is a recurring theme throughout the episode, and it creates some interesting character development for him as he struggles to navigate the murky waters of his new friendships.

Meanwhile, we also get to see Chisa facing her own struggles as she hunts for a new job. After being fired from her previous one for "inappropriate" behavior (in a hilariously absurd scene that illustrates the show's penchant for over-the-top comedy), she's left without any steady income and desperate for a way to pay her bills. Luckily, her friend Nanaka has a solution: a maid cafe that's hiring part-time staff. While Chisa initially balks at the idea of dressing up as a maid and serving customers, she eventually decides to give it a try, and finds that she's surprisingly good at it. Along the way, she also has a few unexpected interactions with her new customer base that hint at some potential romantic developments in future episodes.

Overall, "First Buddy" is another fun and engaging episode of Grand Blue Dreaming that balances its wacky humor with some more serious character development and relationship-building. It's satisfying to see Iori making new friends and pursuing his passion for diving, even as he struggles with the consequences of his choices. And Chisa's side story adds a nice counterbalance to the main plot, showcasing her own journey of self-discovery and adaptation. Fans of the show's distinctive brand of comedy and slice-of-life storytelling will definitely find plenty to enjoy here, and will likely be left eagerly anticipating the next episode to see where the story goes from here.