2nd Wave - A Silent Misconception [2]

“So, listen to this. I invited Hyou-chan to dinner yesterday. This time, however, she only ignored me. I’m telling you, soon I will melt all that ice surrounding her heart. No woman can resist the burning passion of the grand Ketsuya.”

As they moved the boxes, Okihiro passively paid attention to the one-way conversation being thrown his way.

“You know, it’s been pretty difficult so far… No matter what I do, she’s always so strict with me. You think Kouri-chan is the type of woman who is meaner with the ones she likes? ‘Cause I’m fine with that.”

‘Kouri-chan’? Is that a different person?

It was not.

Hinomiya Ketsuya, a man nearing his thirties, was quite fond of calling others by nicknames. Alas, he could also hardly settle on the nicknames he picked.

The one exception would be the nickname he gave to Okihiro. Which was Okirin.

Though everyone at work knew Okihiro’s dog, no one knew his name. And that was because Okihiro never bothered explaining how he had named his dog, much less telling his name. Which was why, to everyone else but Okihiro and Okirin himself, the dog’s name was Kuma-san.

Since Okirin was a good boy, he didn’t care what others called him. However, he made sure to only obey his master. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a good boy to his master, but a good buy for just anyone. And Okirin was not that fickle.

With that said, Ketsuya did find it amusing how whenever he called Okihiro ‘Okirin’, the dog would bark and wag his tail. Which was the only reason he never changed.

Okihiro did feel a bit annoyed to be called that, though.

“You can’t really understand this now because you are young. But once you get close to my age, you start seeing romance differently, you feel me? Right now I don’t need a woman to treat me kindly and care for me. I need one who gets me. Someone I can see eye-to-eye, that I can trust.”

Ketsuya suddenly stopped, leaning against the piled boxes with a sigh.

“I know what you must be thinking. Do I believe Hyouka-chan gets me?”

That was not what Okihiro was thinking at all.

“And let me tell you, Okirin—I will let my heart decide. What I know now is that it wants my dear Kouri-sama, and as a man, it’s my duty to pursue this happiness.”

Okihiro wiped the sweat from his forehead, not sure he understood what his colleague was trying to say.

Out of everyone at the port, Hinomiya Ketsuya was the only one who often reached out to Okihiro. Most people either avoided him or saw him as a bother, yet Ketsuya was the closest thing the young man had to a friend.

And, although almost all their conversations were carried by Ketsuya himself, he did take some consideration in slowing down his speech so that Okihiro would get the most out of it, which he was grateful for. Also, for some reason, Okihiro found Ketsuya’s speech one of the easiest to lipread, making it so that their conversations, though mostly one-sided, were quite comforting to him.

“What’s with you today, anyway? You seem more distracted than usual. Is the boss picking on you again? Or some of the seniors?”

Okihiro shook his head.

Ketsuya leaned closer and whispered, not that Okihiro could tell the difference. Yet by the devilish grin on the older man’s face, he knew those next words would be nonsense.

“Ah, then is it a lover? Has this little bird finally learned how to spread his wings and fly toward the honorable quest of love?”

That was also not it.

Yet how would Okihiro explain he had an encounter with a mermaid? A very odd one, at that.

To his luck, however, before Ketsuya could pester him some more, he was called over by someone and soon Okihiro was alone again. Being able to appreciate some form of quietude.

He rested his arms on the woodbox, gazing over at the ocean.

Perhaps I should avoid sailing for a while…

For how, in all the seas, would he handle a vengeful mermaid?

                                                                 𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

Eirin thought Risei was in quite the sour mood that morning.

She was correct.

“I’m a squid.”

“Yes, this much is pretty clear to me.”

“Then you know I can’t help you.”

“Now, this is nonsense. There is no reason why you can’t help me. All I need are some ideas.”

There was a long pause.

Risei’s voice managed to capture even more of its tiredness as he replied.

“…I’m a squid. I don’t know how to bewitch humans so they will give me their useless possessions.”

The princess held her breath, trying—and pitifully failing—to keep the frustration away from her tone.

“But you have lived for longer! Aren’t you always bragging about the days you served the previous King of Pearls, and how you attended my parents’ wedding?”

He rubbed three tentacles on his forehead, fearing the migraine that was about to come.

“…your point?”

Eirin’s voice got higher—more explosive, brighter, almost hopeful.

“You probably know a lot about things merfolk used to do! Things we don’t anymore. Like, for example…With our voices, that thing, you know, when we…didn’t…use them…?”

There was another long pause. One that became a dead, unforgiving silence.

Risei once again met the princess’ eyes.

“Again. I’m a squid.”

Eirin bit her lips, her face becoming redder.

“I know that…”

“You want to find other ways merfolk can lure humans, you go speak with other merfolk. Say, for example, your cousins.”

She flinched, her body stiff.

Princess Eirin knew perfectly well how the best creature she should ask for advice was her older cousin. And Eirin herself had considered the idea.

But this is so humiliating…!

It just happened that Princess Eirin was not what others would call ‘humble’.

And she was also quite aware of that fact.

Whenever any merfolk showed any hardship with their singing, or in using their song with humans, Eirin would give them mocking smiles and pitiful laughs.

“How sad it is, to be born without talent…”

“Oh? Was that supposed to be difficult? I’m sorry, I guess I never noticed.”

“Well, I can see why you would want advice from me. Don’t worry, I shall do my best to help someone on your level.”

And after years of such spoiled and conceited behavior, to Risei’s satisfaction, Princess Eirin from the Palace of Pearls was suffering the consequences of her actions.

In order to receive help from her family, she would have to beg. Worst of all, Eirin would have to admit defeat. How there was one human who didn’t get affected by her song.

And she, definitely, no matter what, under no circumstance, wanted to do that.

The princess flushed and bit her lips, clenching her fists as she swam away.

“Fine. Have it your way. I will figure it out myself.”

Rise watched the princess leave with a long sigh, shaking his head. Youngsters, these days, he thought, should learn more about patience.

Even though the squid himself had filed a twelve-page complaint against the company that sold him tickets for Daughters of the Seven Waves of Love's next concert, because they promised an express delivery yet delayed the order for half a day.

For the following days, Eirin isolated herself and relentlessly researched all the different ways humans could be charmed—though many of the sources were, at best, questionable.

And after finally reaching a breakthrough on the fourth day, Princess Eirin was ready to face the deaf sailor once again.

Her spirits elevated, her motivation burning with passion, her drive unstoppable.

And, away from all the wetness and quietude of the sea, on land, Okihiro Kojin did not take one step into his boat for more than two weeks.