Ch. 6: I Want to Talk More
And then…
We sat at the edge of the clear sea and talked for a while.
Before I knew it, the sky had become tinged with red.
Sarasa: “It’s that time already, huh… I should go back.”
OO: “Ah…”
By that point, we’d talked so much we completely forgot the time.
Sarasa: “I really… want to talk to you a lot more.”
The way the evening light illuminated his downcast profile made him look so lonely.
OO: “Me too…”
Looking at Sarasa’s sad face, I suddenly felt lonely too.
(I want to know more about Sarasa…)
OO: “Can we meet again tomorrow?”
Hearing my request, Sarasa smiled gently and nodded.
(I’m so happy…)
After Sarasa left, I watched the sea for a while, listening to the sound of the waves…
Ch. 7: Land of the Merfolk
OO: “Can we meet again tomorrow?”
Hearing my request, Sarasa smiled gently and nodded.
From then on the two of us would meet at the seaside from morning to evening, talking and having fun.
And today, too…
After eating breakfast, I rushed to the coast.
OO: “It’s lovely today, too…”
The brilliant blue sea reflected the light of the sun, shining brightly.
The weather was so sunny and clear, it made me feel light-hearted.
(Maybe I’m a little early…)
Yesterday, I saw Sarasa sometime after lunch.
Since I had just eaten breakfast before coming to the coast, I realized that lunch time was a long way from now.
(I’ll wait for Sarasa while taking my time gazing out at the sea.)
With a calm feeling, I returned to the place I met with Sarasa the day before.
Then…
(Eh…)
Sarasa was there, smiling happily as he watched me walk over.
Sarasa: “Good morning.”
OO: “Good morning! Did you wait long…?”
Sarasa: “Not at all, I just got here myself.”
As he said this, Sarasa’s expression became calm.
(Sarasa is so gorgeous when he smiles…)
While I was thinking about that, I sat down on the same rock I rested on yesterday and met Sarasa’s gaze.
And, once again, we listened to each other speak.
OO: “I wonder if the Kingdom of the Merfolk is beautiful…”
Sarasa: “Yes, it’s very beautiful. I would love to take you there, OO, but the royal palace is so deep in the ocean you would surely not be able to breathe.”
I was so very interested in Sarasa’s stories of a world I knew nothing about.
OO: “Hmm, if I had an oxygen tank, I wonder if I could go?”
Sarasa: “An oxygen tank?”
OO: “It’s something you fill with air, then you put a hose on it…”
Sarasa: “Then you put it in your mouth? …that sounds kind of awful.”
Sarasa listened to me with rapt interest.
It had only been a few days, but it felt like we were becoming much closer.
(Sarasa… seems like he’s talking a lot more, too.)
I was so happy thinking about it, a smile broke out on my face.
…
……
Today, once again, we talked so much we lost track of time and the sun was about to set.
Sarasa: “Already… it’s that time again.”
OO: “One day goes by pretty quickly, doesn’t it?”
Sarasa: “…”
Sarasa made a grim face and clenched his fist tightly.
Sarasa: “Hey, OO… how long do you intend to be here?”
OO: “Eh…”
(That’s…)
Sarasa: “I want to hear more of your stories. Will you always be here?”
OO: “…”
I wondered how long I would be able to come and see Sarasa like this…
(I couldn’t keep coming to the seaside every day forever… but, being a human, I also couldn’t visit Sarasa’s kingdom.)
Worry and loneliness gripped me.
(I… wanted to be together more too.)
Thinking about it, I couldn’t answer his question…
Sarasa: “That’s right… there’s a witch living on the sea bed…”
As Sarasa muttered to himself, I unconsciously raised my face.
OO: “A sea witch?”
Sarasa: “It’s nothing… just…”
Sarasa: “OO. I… to be together with OO…”
OO: “Eh?”
I let Sarasa’s words sink in.
(Sarasa… what are you talking about?)
Watching his thoughtful expression made me feel uneasy, but…
Sarasa: “Well then… I’ll see you tomorrow.”
OO: “Yes, see you tomorrow.”
He muttered something and returned to the ocean.
(I wonder if he’s okay… something seemed off about him…)
Pressing down on my thrumming chest, I stood alone in that place…
Ch. 8: The World Beyond the Sea
Sarasa: “That’s right… there’s a witch living on the sea bed…”
OO: “A sea witch?”
Sarasa: “It’s nothing… just… OO. I… to be together with OO…”
That night…
I got into bed, but my thoughts were so occupied by him I couldn’t fall asleep.
(…just what was he talking about?)
Since I was unable to sleep, I opened the window. Outside was a vast, starry night sky.
(…because I’m a human, I cannot be by the side of Sarasa, Prince of the Merfolk. That’s why… tomorrow, I’ll have to say goodbye to Sarasa.)
The sound of the waves softened the welling sadness within my heart…
…
After parting with OO, Sarasa gazed out at the sea alone.
Sarasa: “The second human I’ve met… OO, huh…”
As he said OO’s name, a smile crossed Sarasa’s face.
Sarasa: “It’s the first time I’ve met a human woman, but… as I thought, she’s not a bad person. On the contrary…”
Having said this, Sarasa’s expression became anguished.
Sarasa: “… I want to talk to her more. I want to be with her.”
After he’d said it clearly to himself, Sarasa softly dove into the ocean.
Deeper and deeper he went, until he arrived before…
??: “…Who’s there?”
Sarasa: “Are you the sea witch?”
Sea Witch: “Indeed… and you are Sarasa, Prince of Lorelai, I see.”
A merperson just like Sarasa, the old woman looked him over with a scrutinizing glare.
Sea Witch: “And for what business would a noble person such as yourself come here?”
Sarasa: “I have a favour to ask. I…”
…
Still unable to sleep, I ended up greeting the morning as it came.
(I have to tell Sarasa properly…)
Although I felt that way, my heart was filled with loneliness.
Despite myself, I locked the feeling deep inside and departed for the coast.
Today, even the normally beautiful glittering sea looked dull and sad.
(Sarasa… isn’t here yet.)
After taking a deep breath, I sat on the beach and waited for him.
But…
…
……
No matter how long I waited, Sarasa did not appear.
Even as the sun began to move in the sky, the waves quietly lapping at the shore…
(Sarasa… what happened?)
Slowly, a bad feeling began growing in my chest.
(Could it be, Sarasa isn’t coming back? I wonder if he’s left… because I’m a human.)
When the thought crossed my mind, I felt as though a hole had opened in my heart.
(I thought I would part with him today… maybe this is for the best. But…)
Sadness rose inside me, and I was unable to bring myself to leave that place…
…
……
The sun was sinking, and the moon had begun to rise in the sky.
(What am I doing, anyway?)
Sarasa: “OO…”
Hearing a voice I recognized, I turned around and there was…
OO: “Eh…!”
My eyes could not believe the sight before me.
Standing in front of me was Sarasa, in human form…
Sarasa: “Sorry I’m late.”
OO: “Your appearance…”
I was so surprised I was at a loss for words, staring at Sarasa with wide eyes.
Sarasa: “I got human legs.”
OO: “Why did you… do…”
Sarasa: “Why, you ask…?”
Then, suddenly, Sarasa took my hand.
Wrapped in Sarasa’s arms, the sound of my heartbeat heightened in my chest.
Sarasa: “Listening to your stories, I couldn’t control my curiosity. I wanted to see the world above the sea. I also want to try meeting more humans…”
Trailing off for a moment, Sarasa gave a refreshing smile.
Sarasa: “And… I didn’t want to be away from you.”
(For me… Sarasa…)
The warmth I felt from my hand in Sarasa’s spread, confirming that this was not a dream.
Sarasa: “Here, watch how I can do this…”
As he said this, he happily took a step.
However…
Sarasa: “Wah…!”
As he bravely stepped forward, his feet became tangled.
OO: “….! Are you okay?”
He almost pulled me down with him, but I managed to catch myself and stay upright.
Sarasa: “Ha ha, having two legs is difficult, huh?”
OO: “It is, isn’t it?”
It was kind of strange, but we both laughed.
Sarasa: “It’s okay if you take me with you, right? Walking on these legs with you… I want to see and learn lots of things. And, someday, when I return to my kingdom, I want to be able to tell everyone about human relationships.”
OO: “Sarasa…”
Overflowing joy filled my heart, and I finally remembered to utter a single word.
His beautiful blue hair was illuminated by the pale moonlight.
Hand in hand, thinking of the many sights we would see together from now on, we gazed at the distant sea.
END
~Guest translation by Kiesa~