"Then let's fish now, just to be on the safe side."
"Idiot!" Koala punched him again. "This boat is tiny. It can't hold much fish anyway. Besides, aren't we supposed to be traveling? Where would we find the time to stop and fish?"
"Oh, right. Good point."
"You asked that stupid question on purpose, didn't you? Honestly, I give up."
"Hahaha."
While Koala and Sabo bickered, Lin MuMu and Shusuke kept themselves occupied.
Lin MuMu leaned over the side of the boat, idly trailing her hand through the seawater.
Shusuke held a bottle of juice, drinking as he said, "A saying came to mind."
Lin MuMu played along. "What saying?"
"The calm before the storm," Shusuke said calmly.
"Don't jinx us," Lin MuMu said with a yawn.
Then the seawater around their little boat began to churn, as though something were about to emerge from below.
"What's going on...?" Koala immediately went on alert.
Sabo made a quick decision. "Speed up. We need to get out of here."
But no sooner had he spoken than an enormous mantis shrimp Sea King burst out of the sea.
The little boat rocked in the surging waves, looking ready to capsize at any moment.
"Looks like this thing isn't going to let us go," Shusuke said expressionlessly.
Koala didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "At this rate, the boat's going to capsize sooner or later. Let's jump. Shusuke's an ability user, so he's yours, Sabo. Lin MuMu isn't a very good swimmer. I'll take her. I think there's an island nearby. We'll meet there."
"Okay," Sabo agreed at once. "Let's do that. Everyone, jump into the sea."
"Jump now?" Shusuke sounded doubtful, then asked another utterly baffling question. "What happens if a Sea King eats us?"
Lin MuMu rolled her eyes at