The small bay was hidden behind the rocks and could not be seen from the shore. Five people occupied the entire sea.
Odette set up another parasol on the beach.
She spread an extra cushion on the fabric under the umbrella, sat down, and opened a book, as if the whole commotion had nothing to do with her.
The sea breeze couldn't affect her expression.
"Isn't Odette going to play in the water?" Bai You asked.
"Maybe she'll be in charge of keeping an eye on us," Varesa laughed.
"Don't let her expression fool you; when she's alone, she's incredibly entertaining."
Odette:...
Varesa laughed and took her hand, "Come on, I'll take you home."
"Going home?"
"Oh, the sea." Varesa blinked.
Bai You was pulled along by her, step by step, into the sea.
The seawater washed over my feet, over my calves, and over my knees.
As soon as she touched deep water, Bai You's pink swimsuit seemed to be lifted up by something, the skirt turning into layers of pink tulle that spread out in the water.
Her two legs were together.
Below the ankles, fine, dense scales emerged.
Below the shimmering scales was a fish tail.
With a flick of its tail fin, the water flow gently parted to make way for it.
The Bai You spun around in the water.
She looked down at her tail, her eyes shining with an astonishing light.
"... It still feels magical every time."
"Swim over here quickly!" Varesa's voice came from ahead.
She had already swum out first.
"Come and chase me." Varesa turned around and beckoned to her with her finger.
"Wait for me!"
Bai You wagged its tail and chased after it.
She wasn't as skilled as Varesa, and in her haste, her tail fin stirred up a string of bubbles.
Varesa deliberately slowed down.
Even when I slowed down, I was still faster than her.
Two fish, one after the other, skimmed over the rocks and past large patches of seaweed swaying in the waves.
A group of small silver fish swarmed around, circling the Bai You.
Bai You reached out, and a small fish slipped through her fingers, tickling her.
She giggled, bubbles rising from the corners of her mouth and floating one after another to the surface of the sea.
The underwater world is still.
Sunlight streamed down from overhead, forming beams of light.
Bai You chased after the beam of light, but as she chased, the person in front of her disappeared.
She paused for a moment, stunned.
·... Varesa?"
No... fish should.
The fish scattered.
She spun around, and all around her was blue.
A slight panic had just begun to rise within me--
Someone wrapped their arms around my waist from behind.
The familiar temperature, the familiar force.
Bai You bumped into a hug, her back pressed against a warm chest.
Varesa rested her chin on her shoulder, her tail wrapped around hers, round and round.
"... Oh, that scared me to death!" Bai You patted her hand, bubbles gurgling, "I thought--"
What was the reason?
"I thought you didn't want me anymore."
Varesa smiled.
Her laughter traveled through our skin, one burst at a time.
"You idiot."
She turned Bai You's face towards her.
It was hard to see clearly underwater; only the eyes of two people were very close together.
Varesa's eyelashes brushed against her cheek.
Then she kissed him.
A kiss in the water is perfectly justified.
The Water Nymph didn't need to breathe underwater, so the kiss stretched on and on.
Bai You initially gripped her arm tightly, but her grip gradually weakened.
Bubbles escaped from the corners of their overlapping lips, one after another.
After what seemed like an eternity, Varesa finally loosened her grip a little.
"... I can't breathe," she whispered.
" Water Nymph is afraid of choking on water?"
"That's different!"
What's different?
Bai You couldn't answer.
She buried her burning face in Varesa's neck, her tail still wagging uncontrollably.
Varesa smiled and stroked her hair, her hand sliding down to her lower back, pulling her closer into her arms.
"One more kiss?"
"No."
"I'll do it myself."
"Wait--Hmm."
Just as the second kiss landed, a school of small fish swam by.
They cleverly avoided it.
The beam of light shone on the two people.
After kissing her enough, Varesa led her upstream.
"Whoosh!" The water burst forth from the ground.
A sea breeze suddenly rushed in, Bai You shook her hair, sending water droplets flying everywhere.
The sun was still hanging low in the sky, casting a dazzling golden glow on the sea.
Two people floated on the water's surface, their tails swaying with the waves underwater.
"... Look... "Bai You suddenly pointed to the seabed.
The water was so clear you could see the bottom.
There was a white seashell lying underneath, with concentric rings of patterns on its shell.
Bai You plunged down, flicked its tail, and popped its head back up, presenting the seashell to Varesa like a treasure.
"Here you go!"
Where did you find it?
"There it is!" Bai You's eyes sparkled. "Listen, there's a sound inside."
There really was a sound.
The sound of the sea, a soft murmur and a buzzing sound, is trapped inside a tiny seashell.
"What did you hear?" Bai You leaned closer and asked nervously.
Varesa looked at her.
He looked at it for two seconds, then put the seashell in his palm and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
"I heard you say you like me."
"... Shell would never say that!"
"I must have misheard." Varesa lowered her head, her nose brushing against Voyanisa's.
"Say it again, let me hear if it's the same."
Bai You's ears turned bright red.
She was floating in the water, with nowhere to hide.
"I like it."
The sound was as faint as a bubble.
"I can't hear it."
" Varesa!"
"Hey, I'm here."
She laughed uncontrollably, pulling the person and seashell into her arms, resting her chin on the top of her head.
"I like you too."
Bai You fell silent.
She nestled in Varesa's arms, her fingers secretly hooking around Voyanisa's, one by one, until they were intertwined.
Later, they swam another leg of the race.
With all its might, Bai You slapped its tail, splashing water everywhere, and swam a long way away.
Looking back, Varesa was following half a body length behind her at a leisurely pace.
"... You made me!" Bai You puffed out her cheeks.
"I gave in."
"No way! You always swim really fast!"
"Then why don't you pursue her again?"
"Go for it!"
Bai You turned and rushed forward, but she rushed too fast and crashed headfirst into Varesa's open arms.
Bai You was stunned.
"Walking right into the trap." Varesa laughed, hugged the fish tightly, and bit the tip of her nose.
"I caught this fish, it's mine."
As soon as we reached the shore, a small crab lay sideways in a crevice in the rocks.
It was bluish-gray, holding two pincers, walking sideways with an air of authority.
Bai You curiously leaned closer.
"Hello." She stretched out her finger, wanting to touch it.
The crab raised its pincers and pinched her fingertips without any hesitation.
"Wow!"
Bai You abruptly pulled her hand away; the crab was stuck to her finger and she couldn't shake it off. The pain brought tears to her eyes, and she buried her face in Varesa's arms.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch—it bit me!"
Varesa suppressed a laugh, gently pinched the crab shell, and put the crab back into the crevice of the reef.
"They didn't do anything to you."
"It... it pinched mine first..." Bai You held up her fingertips, which had a small red mark on them, looking aggrieved.
Varesa lowered her head and took her fingertip into her mouth.
Warm and soft.
Bai You suddenly fell silent.
"Does it still hurt?" Varesa looked up at her.
"No, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Bai You withdrew her finger, her ears turning red again, and she avoided looking at her.
The crab poked its head out from the crevice in the rocks, as if showing off its spoils.
Bai You made a face at it and shrank behind Varesa.
"I'm not eating crabs anymore."
"Hmm?"
"... If you want to eat it, you can peel it."
Varesa smiled and hugged him tighter:
"Okay, then I'll peel them for the rest of my life."