Digging Out Your Corner

On the seventh night after work began.

The platform outside the shipyard.

After an especially lively post-work banquet, Lin Nuo drank too much because he was in such a good mood.

Though he kept saying, "Lunarians have incredible adaptability. I can't get drunk at all," his face was flushed red now, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

He swayed to his feet, waved at everyone, and walked out of the shipyard onto the wooden platform stretching out over the water, hoping the sea breeze would sober him up.

Kokoro was sitting at the edge of the platform.

She had changed out of her practical work clothes and into a light blue short dress, its skirt deliberately slit to reveal the fish tail beneath her waist.

Her silver tail was submerged in the cool seawater, gently swaying with the ripples.

Hearing footsteps, Kokoro turned around.

"Soaking your tail again, keeping it moist?"

Lin Nuo walked over, his voice tinged with drunkenness.

He sat down beside Kokoro and pulled a can of soda from his clothes.

He had specifically bought this drink in the city. Every time he drank it, it gave him a strange sense of nostalgia.

Lin Nuo popped the tab, took a gulp himself, then handed it to Kokoro.

"What is this? You already drank from it, didn't you? I don't want it." Kokoro wrinkled her nose. "You're not drunk, are you?"

Lin Nuo said nothing. He simply placed the soda can on the planks between them and tilted his head up at the night sky.

The lights of Water 7 reflected across the canals.

After several seconds of silence, Kokoro suddenly reached over and snatched the soda.

She took a small sip, then stuck out her tongue. "So sour!!"

"Where did you buy this?"

"In the city. Honey