Somchai is Niran’s human roommate in Bangkok. He is a pragmatic and supportive friend who serves as Niran’s gateway into human culture and technology.
While not described in great physical detail, he is characterized by his interests and actions. He is a student of computer science, enjoys science fiction movies and novels, and stays up-to-date with technological news. He is the one who introduces Niran to the concept of Silicon Valley, describing it with fervor as “the hub of the global technology industry.”
He is instrumental in Niran’s life on land. He not only invited Niran to move in with him but also hatched the plan to sneak him into university classes, successfully turning Niran into the “ultimate undercover student.”
He is encouraging of Niran’s talents, insisting that skills matter more than degrees and that he could “make it to the Silicon Valley.” Their friendship is built on shared interests, as they spend hours together coding, participating in hackathons, and socializing with friends over drinks. The story frames their relationship strictly as a strong, platonic male friendship built on mutual interests and shared experiences, with no indication of romance.
Somchai is also shown to be domestically capable, as he is the one who prepares the crispy battered fried bananas that Davika enjoys, while she is too afraid to use the kitchen.
He represents the normal, forward-looking human world that Niran aspires to join—a world of innovation, informal education, and camaraderie that stands in stark contrast to the traditional and duty-bound underwater society Niran left behind.
