Sanemi, the merboy prince, swam gracefully through the coral labyrinth, his eyes alight with wonder as he examined a peculiar object clutched in his hand—a tarnished compass from a sunken ship. Genya, his younger brother, trailed behind, bubbling with excitement at their latest find. "Look, Genya! Another treasure from the human world," Sanemi exclaimed, his voice filled with longing.
Sanemi gazed up in awe, captivated by the spectacle of fireworks that burst in the night sky above. Amidst the dazzling display, his eyes caught sight of Kanae, a human woman with a radiant smile, standing on the deck of a ship. Her laughter, like a melody, reached his ears, and his heart swelled with a desire to know her. But Genya tugged at his arm, whispering urgently, "Sanemi, we can't be seen by humans!"
Kanae stumbled on the slippery deck, her scream swallowed by the howling wind as she was thrown overboard. Sanemi's heart leapt into action, and he surged through the raging waters, reaching her just in time. With great effort, he brought her to the surface, cradling her unconscious form. "Please wake up," Sanemi murmured, his voice gentle and soothing.
Shinobu, Kanae's sister, called out frantically from a nearby boat, "Kanae! Where are you?" Torn between staying with Kanae and returning to the depths, Sanemi reluctantly released her to the safety of the search party, his heart heavy with longing as he slipped back into the ocean's embrace.
Sanemi approached Doma, driven by the memory of Kanae's smile. "I wish to be human," he declared, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. Doma chuckled, replying with a sly grin, "A simple trade—your voice for legs. But remember, three days to win her love, or you become my eternal slave," he warned, the words laced with dark promises.
Genya watched in disbelief as his brother's transformation unfolded, his heart aching with worry. "Sanemi, don't do this," he pleaded, reaching out as Sanemi stumbled forward, adjusting to his new form. But Sanemi's resolve was unshaken, his thoughts solely focused on Kanae.
