You know that... melancholy feeling?
Nostalgic, scary, yet comforting?
That moment when you find yourself lost in your own thoughts...
So, that's how a woman was, watching the landscape of the sea of stars.
She witnessed her kingdom in a bloody war, twice. A loved one sacrificed himself to save everyone... many innocent lives were lost...
"Tatsumiya?" The woman is pulled out of her reverie, feeling the touch of the little witch at her side.
Looking at the smaller one, Tatsumiya feels even more melancholy. That little witch who was at her side had saved the entire sea, still so young. The heroine, beloved throughout the kingdom, was recognized everywhere she went. Her name was Wadanohara.
"Are you ok?" The girl asks, seeing that Tatsumiya was still watching her with no answers.
The older one realizes that she was still silent, and looks away from the witch, giving an embarrassed smile.
"Oh... I'm sorry" She looks back at the stars - I'm just a little pensive, don't worry.
"Hmm..."
Wadanohara was more mature. Her heart was still childish and kind, but the witch was more rational than before. That's to be expected, after years have passed and after waging a grueling war at such a young age.
"Even after all this time, you're still going to come here and stare the ocean, aren't you?" Wadanohara says with a smile, putting her hands behind her back and taking in the scenery with Tatsumiya.
"Ahaha... yeah, I can't help it." The two then begin to share, even without saying a word, nostalgic moments together. Being there, in the same place that the two have been before and several times, brought a familiar and cozy feeling.
"UWAAAAA I SURRENDER, I SURRENDER!"
Memoca's scream makes the two look back. The scene was Dolpi forming "snow" balls with the white sand of the Sea of Stars, and throwing Memoca several times, which began to sink into a small white pile.
Wadanohara and Tatsumiya look at each other, and start laughing at the two. The witch decide participate in the game, pretending to walk away, but she was actually picking up a ball and throwing it at Dolpi from behind.
The dolphin is surprised by the ball that came from beyond, giving Memoca an opening to jump from her little pile and attack her friend.
"AHA!" Says Memoca, jumping on top of Dolpi.
"WHAT!? NOOO NOOOO!! NOT FAIR!!" She says struggling in the sand irritated, while Memoca was on top of her laughing.
Wadanohara just starts laughing at the situation and goes to get Memoca off Dolpi. Fukami was also present, but just watched the scene from afar, while looking at the stars buried in the ground at the same time.
Seeing that scene made Tatsumiya get away from her thoughts, and smile more calmly at the young people who were playing.
"...I'm glad things are still going like this." The lady thinks.
Tatsumiya senses the presence of a few more people, so she looks up at the star path, and sees two familiar figures in the distance. It was Helica and Pulmo, and the two were looking at Tatsumiya.
"Eh? What is the berserk woman doing here?" Memoca asks, referring to Helica that was approaching with Pulmo.
"Berserk and jellyfish..." Dolpi murmurs. Despite being older, the dolphin still has some habits from when she was a child, one of which is muttering simplistic phrases.
Fukami walks over to his familiars, seeing the girls approach.
"Are they just out for a walk?" Wadanohara asks.
"I don't know" Memoca shrugs and runs to the middle of the small road, signaling with raised arms to Helica and Pulmo.
"HEEEEEY BERSERK AND JELLYFISH!!!"
"There's only five of us here...why is she waving?" Fukami finally says something with his usual neutral expression, and Wadanohara laughs at Memoca's randomness.
"Over heeeeere" Dolpi stands beside Memoca, doing the same.
"Did something happen? Helica and Pulmo were busy with Princess Uomi... they wouldn't just leave the castle and walk around at a time like this." Tatsumiya thinks. And then Helica finally arrives at the five present, mad at Memoca for calling her berserk.
"WHO IS BERSERK HERE??" It's the first thing Helica says after reaching everyone there, clearly angry about the 'nickname'.
"Well, who else would it be hehehehe" Memoca laughs. The bird girl receives a flick on the back of the head from Fukami, who appeared behind her, scolding his friend's behavior.
"AW! HEY!!" Memoca says putting her hand on the back of her head and looking at Fukami.
"Good morning, Helica, Pulmo" Wadanohara welcomes the girls with a serene smile.
"Wadanohaaaaara, graceful as eeever" Pulmo return the witch's smile.
"Good morning Wada..." Helica says in a sigh, pulling herself together because of Memoca.
"We're sorry to disturb you, but we came to get Tatsumiya." The girl says, looking at Tatsumiya next, who already seemed to expect something like that.
"D-Did something happen?" Tatsumiya asks a little tense, even more so after covering her mind with those traumatic thoughts.
"Hm? Oh, no no. The princess wants to speak with you about the decision we made on the matter we had to discuss in private."
Tatsumiya still didn't understand anything about this matter. Earlier that same day, Jiiya told Tatsumiya that they had personal matters to take care of with Helica and Pulmo. As Tatsumiya is a little closer to the princess than the others, it was strange why she couldn't participate in the conversation, since nothing would be too important or too silly to the point that she couldn't hear... and Uomi had never done that before.
Since then, the older one has been paranoid and a little sensitive, making it easier for her to sink into nostalgic memories. Realizing what was really going on, Wadanohara looked at Tatsumiya worriedly.
"I see..." The lady says, and then going to Helica and Pulmo, without saying another word.
"Sorry kiiiids, Tatsumiyaaaaa will be backing soooooon" Pulmo says goodbye to the four, as she floats to Helica and Tatsumiya who went further ahead, leaving Pulmo distracted with the stars behind.
"... The princess held a meeting without Tatsumiya?" Memoca asks, with a confused expression on her face as she watches the three girls walk away.
"Ehh?" Dolpi is also confused, realizing the strangeness of the situation.
Fukami also looked at the leaving figures, with his expression neutral but the same questions only evident in his mind.
"..."
Wadanohara had a sad look on her face as she watched Tatsumiya completely disappear from her sight.
".... What made Princess Uomi make that decision?" The witch thinks, thus losing sight of the three girls.
In the Sea King's castle, Uomi was sitting with her usual neutral expression, waiting for Tatsumiya.
"Uuuh... I hope she isn't upset... " Jiiya says, referring to Tatsumiya's departure after telling her to leave.
Soon the doors to the room open, revealing Helica, who has opened; Pulmo, floating next to Tatsumiya; And Tatsumiya, in the middle of the two young women, with a slightly nervous expression on her face.
"T-Tatsumiya! Sit down, please." Jiiya says, noticing that the girl looked sad.
"Right..." Tatsumiya enters the room, sitting on a small beanbag that was in the center of the room... something that wasn't before.
Helica and Pulmo go to their normal positions, which are next to the princess's seat.
"I think you're upset...I'm...I'm sorry. We had some business to discuss and I wasn't sure it would be a good idea for you to listen. But, we came to the conclusion that you should know." Jiiya says, and then the princess gets up, leaving all the girls there in shock.
After the war, Princess Uomi awakened. Although Princess Mikotsu was somehow "defeated", Princess Uomi manages to wake up from time to time without it significantly affecting Mikotsu.
Then, people are not used to the princess being awake, and speaking, since she started waking up from her slumber.
"Tatsumiya" Uomi says, her neutral expression still on her face.
" Y-Yes, Princess Uomi?" Tatsumiya was the one who REALLY didn't get used to the princess waking up like this. The fear that her awakening disturbs Mikotsu attacks her every time Uomi opens her mouth.
"... I ... have something to declare, not just for you, but for everyone here." Uomi says, looking at Pulmo and Helica who were also a little nervous seeing Uomi awake.
"... You all know how important all of you are to me, right?" Uomi says, holding her own hands.
"As much as the whole sea, as every citizen of this kingdom. Since my father left, things have been very difficult, both for me and Mikotsu... And even after all that, you never left my side. Contrariwise, you gave your lives to save the entire kingdom, and me. I know this happened a few years ago, but I never properly thanked you, so..."
Tatsumiya seemed to understand what Uomi was getting at, and as soon as she opens her mouth, Uomi cuts her off.
"I know, Tatsumiya. And yes, I do need to do this." The princess says, already knowing that Tatsumiya would say that she didn't need to do that, since everyone's duty was to serve her.
"Besides, there are other reasons for me to make the decision that I will talk about soon." Uomi turn her back on the girls.
"It's about Mikotsu..." She says, making even Jiiya shiver, even though they already knew what the subject was about.
The others present were on alert. Helica clenched her fists tightly, and her anger was visible on her face, thinking that something serious had happened.
Pulmo was neutral and uneasy, while Tatsumiya was in shock.
" I... I can still feel her presence." Uomi says, placing a hand on her chest
"But, it's weird."
She turns to the girls again.
"It's a different feeling. I feel your presence... but there's something missing."
"...So...she's alive?" Tatsumiya says, more to herself. She knew Mikotsu wouldn't die that easily, but still.
"That's not the problem, that was expected." Uomi lifts her head, looking at the three there "I can't feel her hate anymore."
The three of them at the same time changed their features, as if they had just received very sudden and serious news.
"You know, we're part of each other. It was natural for me to feel your anguish and sadness... but now, I don't feel that pain anymore. It's like she's turned these emotions off, or is asleep, because I can't feel anything but her presence."
"...That means..." Tatsumiya thinks.
"T-The princess thinks..." Helica says in shock, making Tatsumiya look at her, as if the two thought the same thing.
"... Mikoootsu... are caaalm?" Pulmo complete, putting her hands in her mouth. Uomi just nods.
"... Impossible. Mikotsu hates the princess with all her might since the king is gone... and still in the war... the two got to talk but..." Tatsumiya looks at her own hands, which were on her knees.
"Well... we certainly shouldn't make hasty decisions, but we should take the princess's opinion into account." Jiiya speaks, noticing the silence of everyone.
"Actually, I'm not implying anything either, but..." Uomi looks down again "I'm curious about that feeling. I've never felt this before, and I want to delve deeper into Mikotsu's emotions. If there's even a possibility that she's starting to abolish her hatred, I want to help."
The three young women then look at each other, still surprised and confused.
"So... what will the princess do anyway?" Tatsumiya breaks the silence, getting back to the point.
"Before that" Uomi starts a less tense subject, leaving to delve into that complex later.
"You all know that the kingdom's birthday is coming up, right?" She says, lifting her head again and looking at the girls.
"Ooooh it's truuuee!" Pulmo says, floating a little higher and smiling, completely changing her expression of concern. As if she didn't already know about it, since that's exactly what Jiiya talked about with her and Helica.
"I'm thinking of having a big party this time." Uomi says, holding her hands again. "And... your birthday is coming up too, isn't it, Tatsumiya?"
Tatsumiya is surprised that the princess remembers her birthday, which is a month away. She looked away at Helica and Pulmo, who were smiling at Tatsumiya.
"Wait..." Tatsumiya starts to realize.
"Ahem!" Jiiya butts in "Well then. The Princess thought it was a good idea to celebrate your birthday and the kingdom's birthday! We've been thinking about this for a while, and since your birthday is a few days after the realm, we wanted to know if you think this is a good idea, hehe..."
Jiiya concludes, with a little embarrassment. Tatsumiya feels her cheeks get hot too, embarrassed that everyone has thought of her birthday as if it were such a big deal.
"Guys...!! I don't need something like that!" Tatsumiya blushes completely, looking down.
"Of coooourse you neeeeed it!!" Pulmo floats to Tatsumiya.
"You are one of the closest to the princess, our pillar, you deserve it." Helica says, approaching and giving a short smile.
Uomi walks over to Tatsumiya, and looks at the girl who struggled not to flinch with her embarrassed gaze.
"Tatsumiya, like I said, you and everyone here... are very important to me. Please let me repay you for everything you've done for me."
Tatsumiya finds herself cornered, with the princess in front of her, and two companions smiling anxiously waiting for the girl's yes.
Then she sighs, and lowers her head.
"... If that's what your majesty wants..." She says, blushing again.
"YAAAAAY!" Pulmo floats across the room.
"HAHAHAHA!! MORE BEER!! Glup, l-I mean..." Helica scratches the back of her neck, smiling embarrassed at what she just said.
"So that was the matter I couldn't hear..." Tatsumiya thinks, giving a shy smile. She lifts her head, and sees Uomi, smiling at her.
Seeing that left Tatsumiya surprised, and happier inside. It wasn't common to see Uomi smile...
"Right! So, about Mikotsu!" Jiiya draws the attention of the happy girls in the room, making them all return to their posts.
"The princess will monitor Mikotsu, which means she will have to stay awake. This is dangerous so she does go to sleep sometimes, but... to be sure of Mikotsu's emotions, we need to understand if she's awake or not... to see if that's what's affecting her emotions."
"Hmmp. Princess, don't risk too much on her behalf. We cannot have another war here." Helica is straightforward.
"I know... don't worry. I'll make sure she doesn't do anything, even if I have to sleep forever again." Uomi says, sitting back down, leaving the others with sad looks because they were already excited for their princess to be interacting like she used to years ago.
"Okay, so..." Tatsumiya stands up. "Is that what you were going to talk to me about, princess?"
"Yes... and I have a request."
"Oh...okay, what can I help you with?"
"You've seen Wadanohara and the others today, right?"
"Yes, your majesty. Do you want me to call them?"
"I have a matter to discuss with Wadanohara and Samekichi... I hope I don't disturb them."
"... I understand."
"... Is she going to talk about the Sea of Death?" Tatsumiya thinks, but shakes her head and prepares to leave the castle.
"Should I call them both now?" Tatsumiya asks, holding her hands.
"Yes please. I can't stay awake any longer, I'd be taking too many risks so I want to talk about this soon."
"Understood, then..."
"C-CAREFUL YOU WILL...!!" Tatsumiya is interrupted by a familiar voice invading the room.
Everyone looks at the hall doors, and they only see Memoca lying on the floor, with Dolpi on top of her. Right behind them was Fukami judging them sternly, and Wadanohara beside her with her hands over her mouth.
Tatsumiya just sighs and closes her eyes.
" S-Sorry princess... We were worried about Tatsumiya and... we thought it would be a good idea to come here and talk to her but..." Wadanohara says, bowing to Uomi from where she was.
"The two over here couldn't control their tempers and came to gossip about your affairs." Fukami completes Wadanohara's sentence with his own words.
"F-Fukami!!" Wadanohara looks at him nervously.
"WAAAH IT'S LIE!!" Memoca slams her hands on the floor, irritated with Dolpi who was still on top of her.
"Good morning, Princess Uomi." Dolpi says normally, like she's not crushing anyone with her body.
Uomi looks at that scene, while Memoca struggles and shouts "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY GOOD MORNING!!!??? GET OFF ME YOU ARE TOO HEAVY AAAAARGH" and Dolpi was like "Are you calling me fat??"
"And I'm the crazy berserk..." Helica mutters...loud enough for Memoca to hear and yell at her too. But everyone's attention goes straight to Uomi, who smiles for the second time that day.
It was as if everyone was looking at a large bar of the latest quality of gold, because that was how it felt, because Uomi was radiating a giant aura of joy.
"THE PRINCESS SMILES!!!" Dolpi screams.
"MY GOD" The shock made Memoca stand up quickly, making Dolpi fall backwards to the ground.
"WHAT'S THE DISGRACE??? WILL THE SEA GET MENSTRUED AGAIN?? WILL THE MISERABLE WHITE SHIT TRASH COME BACK HERE??" Memoca freaks out, really thinking it was the end of times because Uomi was smiling.
Everyone then started to laugh - except fukami, who only made a facepalm, judging the things Memoca said in front of the Princess - And Tatsumiya walks to Wadanohara, who after laughing along with everyone went to help Dolpi to get up.
"My back hurts...." Dolpi says smiling because everyone was happy, but a tear was running down her cheek.
"Ah...! Want me to do some healing magic?" Wadanohara asks. It was funny to see that scene, since after everyone grew up, Dolpi and Memoca who were MUCH SHORTER than Wadanohara, are taller than her.
But still, that doesn't stop the witch from continuing to take care of the two like a mother.
"Wadanohara..." Tatsumiya interrupts their conversation.
"You arrived at the right time, despite being snoopy..." The lady jokes, laughing behind her hand over her mouth.
"EHH!?.. I-I wasn't snooping..."
Yeah, despite the years, she's still the same sensitive and loving little girl deep down.
"Ahaha... I know silly. Anyway, the princess wants to talk to you and Samekichi."
"Ah...Samekichi?" Wadanohara is surprised that the princess wants to talk to him after a while.
" ...Did something serious really happen?" Wada asks, having no good memories of the last time the princess wanted to speak with Samekichi directly.
"What? Oh no. I'm more relieved actually..." Tatsumiya smiles at the smaller girl.
"It's just that, apparently, the princess is feeling something in Mikotsu..."
Wadanohara widens her eyes after hearing that, getting curious and worried at the same time.
"M-Mikotsu...?"
"Wadanohara!" Jiiya cuts the big noise that was in that room, because everyone was still celebrating Uomi's smile, who even stopped smiling feeling embarrassed by everyone's action.
Wadanohara looks at Princess Uomi, and Tatsumiya does the same.
"Can we have... a talk" - Uomi's voice echoes around the room after everyone has fallen silent and looked at Wada.
The witch then swallows hard, and feels a tap on her shoulder. She looks to her side and Tatsumiya was giving her a serene and warm smile. The little girl then feels calmer, and walks to the princess, making everyone in the room withdraw.
"Aah... Is she going to take long? I really want to eat sea grapes..." Memoca says yawning, and waiting for Wadanohara in a room with benches.
"Sea grapes..." Dolpi mutters, going after Memoca.
Fukami was right behind the smaller ones. Tatsumiya walks past them, and Memoca catches her eye.
"HEY! Tatsumiya!" The woman looks back.
"What happened? Did something really awfull happen?"
"No, it was nothing..." Tatsumiya smiles at the three, still relieved that it wasn't something so serious.
"It was just some unfinished business with the princess, and " She look down, making Memoca and Dolpi curious.
"I think Wadanohara will leave the room with a little surprise." Tatsumiya lifts her face, revealing a mischievous smile while referring to the kingdom's birthday that promised to be a big party, which the little ones like.
"WOOO!!! NOW YOU MADE ME CURIOUS" Memoca's eyes sparkled and she soon ran towards the hall doors again, but Fukami just pulls her by the collar of her shirt when she passes him, without any effort.
"ARGH, MY THROAT DUDE" Memoca starts to struggle, and Fukami releases her, starting to scold her childish behaviors again and saying that she shouldn't gossip about the princess's affairs. Dolpi just looks at Memoca having a tantrum on the ground, and Tatsumiya smiles at the young people from behind, leaving the place.
The lady then go to the top of the castle, going to the castle's balcony, where she used to go to reflect.
The sea was beautiful and serene, just as it had been before.
She places her hands on the wooden railing, feeling the ocean waves ruffle her long white hair.
Tatsumiya had changed just like Wadanohara during those years. She grew her hair, just like it was when Meikai was alive.
Speaking of him, she returns to her melancholy state. Observing the landscape, memories of the last war invade your head.
"Since my father left, things have been very difficult, both for me and Mikotsu... And even after all that, you never left my side. Contrariwise, you gave your lives to save the entire kingdom, and me."
Uomi's words pop into her mind, like a bright light shining in the darkness.
Knowing that Uomi saw peace, even in misery... Knowing that she felt safe with people like Tatsumiya by her side... inspired her to think the same.
Even in difficult situations, she was never alone... Even lost in the dark, she found a rumor... a light...
"I know this happened a few years ago, but I never thanked you properly..."
Those words, along with the memories of the last war, reminded Tatsumiya of a person. Her eyes lit up as she saw this person in her mind. Yes...
"...That orca... " Tatsumiya whispers to herself.
She remembers when she was on the verge of death, completely lost in a terrible darkness... and then, suddenly... A stranger in a suit, appeared in the complete chaos, and saved her without even thinking twice.
Those memories warms her heart, and just like the princess...
"That was so many years ago... and yet, I never thanked properly..."
She sighs, leaning over the wooden banister, looking down at the kingdom below.
"If only I... had a chance. If only I could see him again, I..." Several invasive thoughts screamed in Tatsumiya's mind, she began to feel anguish and regret.
"Just like Meikai... I never... I never thanked you properly... I..."
She felt her mind sinking into the darkness of her own pain.
She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, like a glass of water about to overflow.
Thinking about memories like that would send Tatsumiya into even a small meltdown. She needed to calm down. She needed...
"The view from here is really beautiful."
... Of a light.
" . . ."
Tatsumiya hears the familiar voice, and quickly looks to her side.
A young man in a suit, with a cigarette in his mouth, leaning over the wooden railing next to Tatsumiya, observing the same landscape as her.
The lady moves away from him a little, incredulous. Her expression was one of pure shock.
"Hm? What's that?" The man finally looks at her.
"Why are you crying?"
Tatsumiya was paralyzed,
only then noticed a tear on her cheek, but that didn't matter.
Cause she was just looking
A light, in the midst of your darkness.