Daphne in the Brilliant Blue

In a future where rising sea levels have submerged most of the Earth, 15-year-old Maia Mizuki-an orphan who just finished middle school-applies to join the Ocean Agency, an elite paramilitary branch of the world government. Only the brightest and strongest students qualify, and Maia seems poised to succeed. But her plans unravel when she fails the entrance exams. Soon after, she loses her home, gets robbed, taken hostage, and even shot. Rescued-or perhaps just claimed-by two women, Rena and Shizuka, she finds herself recruited into their unconventional help-for-hire group, the Nereids, named after the sea nymphs of Greek myth. With no other options, Maia stays, taking on odd jobs that range from catching criminals to tracking down lost pets, never knowing how things will turn out. Later, Gloria and Yu also join the team. The title’s "Daphne" hints at a subplot that emerges halfway through the story and grows increasingly significant to Maia. "Brilliant Blue" reflects the world itself-a vast, watery expanse with scattered islands and floating cities, where land is almost nonexistent.