Ch. 1: A Sparkling Smile and a Sandy Beach
The Kingdom of Coralia in the Land of Coral, Month of Brilliance…-.
The white sand of the beach sparkled brilliantly, as if it were studded with gemstones…
I walked slowly, the sand whispering around my feet.
OO: “I’m pretty sure I was supposed to meet Corail around here…-.”
As I stopped and thought, I heard a cheerful voice come out of nowhere.
Corail: “OO!”
I turned around, looking for the source of the voice…
Then, I saw Corail, waving excitedly at me.
OO: “Ah…”
His smile sparkled like the clear surface of the water.
It filled me with happiness, and I found myself rushing towards Corail.
OO: “Corail!”
Just a little further, and I would touch his outstretched hand.
The second I thought that, I suddenly felt my feet trip up in the sand…
OO: “…”
I stiffened.
Then…
OO: “…huh?”
I felt myself held by soft, gentle arms and slowly looked up.
Corail: “Hehe! You just jumped right into my arms! Were you that happy to see me?”
Corail smiled mischievously and my whole face went red.
OO: “N-no, I just…!”
Corail: “You just…what?”
Corail acted all aloof as he poked my cheek and I frantically tried to give an explanation.
Corail: “You’re so cute when you blush like that OO!”
OO: “!”
I found myself unable to say anything more in the face of his dazzling smile.
Ch. 2: Strolling in the Sea
Corail: “You’re so cute when you blush like that OO!”
Corail smiled innocently, and I ended up sinking into silence but…-.
A sudden question crossed my mind, and I slowly started to speak.
OO: “So… is the sea your kingdom Corail?”
Corail: “Nope…not really. My kingdom is in the sea.”
OO: “In the sea?”
As I spoke, I looked out at the clear, blue sea that spread before me.
(If there’s a kingdom in the sea does that mean… you dive to get to it? What should I do? I’m sure I can’t hold my breath for that long…)
Uneasy, I looked at Corail.
As soon as our eyes met, Corail suddenly drew me in close.
Corail: “OO.”
OO: “…!”
In an instant, Corail’s face was very close and our noses touched.
OO: “C-Corail. Wait!”
I tried to move away as our lips seemed about to touch.
(Why is he doing this all of a sudden!?)
As I tried to control me heart, which gave a little start, I stared at Corail and…
Corail: “Huh? You don’t want a kiss?”
He asked that with a mischievous smile.
(That smile is so not fair…)
Though I was thinking that, I couldn’t say anything…and Corail silently took my hand.
Corail: “Then let’s hold hands.”
OO: “Eh!?”
Corail: “That’s fine, right?”
I was still fretting as Corail spoke. Then, still holding my hand, he started walking towards the sea.
OO: “Wait, I can’t breathe underwater!”
Even so, the water level gradually rose towards my head….
I readied myself and took a deep breath.
(…what do I do? I definitely can’t keep holding my breath…!)
I looked at Corail, praying he would notice in the water.
Corail: “Relax, take a breath.”
Though I wanted to believe Corail…
(I’m too scared, I can’t.)
I tightly closed my eyes at the thought, and felt him once again cup my cheek in his hand.
(Corail…?)
I opened my eyes to find Corail looking at me closely.
Corail: “It’s alright, trust me?”
Even with Corail telling me that, I didn’t know what to do and slowly shook my head.
(I’m scared…)
Then Corail’s face fell slightly and he looked a little sad.
Corail: “You’ll really hurt yourself if you do that. Please, try to breathe.”
Corail was serious as he spoke, and I nervously opened my mouth.
(…huh, it doesn’t hurt. I can…breathe!!)
I looked to Corail in surprise.
Then Corail grinned at me.
Corail: “It’s because we’re holding hands. You can talk too!”
(No way…)
Hearing that, I slowly tried to speak.
OO: “Ah…you’re right.”
Corail: “See? I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Corail spoke with a satisfied look on his face…-.
…
……
After enjoying a little stroll through the sea, I could see the castle.
Corail: “That’s Coralia’s castle!”
Corail squeezed my hand and started walking even faster towards the castle.
Nearer the castle, fish seemed to be excitedly swimming around all the beautiful coral.
Ch. 3: The Kingdom of Coral
After an enjoyable stroll through the sea with Corail…-.
Corail: “That’s Coralia’s castle!”
We finally arrived at Corail’s castle, mystical and shimmering in the water.
I continued to hold Corail’s hand as we went in.
Chamberlain: “Welcome Lady OO.”
As we finally reached solid ground, a beaming chamberlain came out to greet us.
Chamberlain: “You must be tired as you aren’t accustomed to being under water. A room has been prepared for you, so please go and rest.”
OO: “Thank you.”
Corail: “In that case, let’s go to your room together.”
OO: “Y-you can’t.”
Corail: “Eh? Why?”
OO: “W-why…”
Corail: “…huh? OO, were you hoping for something?”
The corners of Corail’s lips lifted up as he peered into my face.
OO: “Eh!?”
Corail: “…no? Don’t you like spending time with me?”
OO: “Th-that’s not it.”
Corail: “Then it’s okay? For me to come too?”
Corail looked right at me with those big, round eyes.
Corail: “…just kidding! Gotcha.”
OO: “!”
Chamberlain: “…my apologies lady, but Lord Corail has something else to see to.”
OO: “Eh? A-alright.”
Corail: “What is it?”
Chamberlain: “The king has called for you Lord Corail.”
Corail: “Oh, okay. Then I’ll go…and you can go to your room.”
OO: “Okay, I-…”
(I…can’t breathe!)
Corail: “Ah…!”
I went stiff and Corail suddenly pulled me in tight, then his lips came closer.
Corail: “Hm…”
And just like that, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
OO: “Ah…I can…breathe!”
Corail: “Sorry about that. If I kiss you, you can breathe underwater.”
OO: “I can breathe because of your kiss…!?”
Corail: “Yeah. My kingdom’s in pretty shallow water, so that should be fine for now. If you go deeper into the sea, you’d need a deeper kiss.”
OO: “A-a deep…kiss…”
With those words, the incident on the beach suddenly came to mind.
(So that’s why he was about to try and kiss me before. Wait. But if he was going to kiss me then…)
My cheeks heated up as I remembered the closeness as our lips had been about to touch.
Attempting to hide the blush, I frantically covered my cheeks.
Corail: “Hm? What’s wrong?”
OO: “N-nothing.”
Corail: “Really? Cause it kinda looked like your face got red again.”
OO: “!”
Corail: “Is it because of me?”
Corail tilted his head slightly as he looked at me.
I felt so embarrassed that I slowly looked away.
Corail: “OO?”
OO: “…”
I didn’t look up, even when he said my name, then…he gently stroked my head.
OO: “Corail?”
Corail: “Hehe, finally got you to look up.”
He smiled without a care in the world and I felt my face flush even more.
Corail: “Hm, well I gotta go! See ya later!”
OO: “Ah, yeah.”
I worked to get my fluttering heart under control as I watched Corail leave.
Then Corail spun around and looked back at me.
OO: “…!”
Corail: “…be right back!”
Once again, Corail smiled with mischief in his eyes, then spun back around.
Looking up, I could see the sunlight dancing on the surface of the water, far above me.
Ch. 4: Coral Serum
The next day, I was invited to see the coral reef with Corail and we left the castle together.
OO: “Wow…it’s beautiful.”
Corail: “Yup!”
The coral reef spread across the entire sea floor, and the light above filtered down to bathe it in such a way that made it all seem like something from a fairy tale.
(It really is amazing…)
The beauty took my breath away.
Corail: “Do you like it?”
OO: “Yes, very much.”
Corail: “Good…I’m glad I brought you.”
At the beauty, I found myself reflexively reaching out to touch the coral.
Corail: “Wait.”
Corail gently placed his hand over mine.
Corail: “The coral can be really brittle. So you shouldn’t touch it.”
OO: “I see. I’m sorry.”
Corail: “You don’t have to apologize. I’m just really happy that you like it.”
As we spoke, a deep, loud voice called out from behind and startled us.
??: “Well well, if it isn’t Lord Corail!”
Turning to look, there stood a middle-aged man behind us.
Corail: “…hello. Have we met before?”
Man: “Oh no, this is the first time.”
The man spoke with a snide smile, rubbing his hands together.
Man: “My apologies, but I’m developing a beautification serum for coral. I was just wondering how this remarkable coral reef was doing.”
As the man spoke, Corail’s clear eyes grew wide in delight.
Corail: “That’s great!”
(I-is it…?)
I didn’t know why, but I felt uneasy. I tried to hide my discomfort, but the man paid no attention to me as he continued talking.
Man: “I can explain it to you, if you’d like.”
Corail: “Yes! I’d really like that!”
Standing before the coral reef, the man began to explain about the serum.
The man took out two photographs and held them up for comparison.
Man: “This is the coral before it’s been given the serum. And this one is after it’s been used.”
OO: “…they do look completely different.”
What I was looking at was an image of plain colored coral that had been changed to a vibrant color.
Man: “If you use this serum, more people will come to see the coral!”
Corail: “Yeah yeah, that’s some great stuff!”
Corail was smiling and open as he spoke, but then his expression turned serious.
Corail: “I…want to protect this beautiful coral. And I want more people to know how wonderful it is.”
(Corail…)
Corail spoke with conviction and nodded…
Man: “Very well then…”
The man’s smile grew and held an undefinable boldness.