"Well guess that's all we need" Kihimoto mused as he closed and zipped his bag ready for the trip, getting up he stretched his back to relive his spine before doing the same with his elbows before he left his room going downstairs so he can phone his work place about a leave of absence for this vacation from the exchange species program.

He came across Mero who kept her gaze to the window watching the tree or rather a couple of birds the same ones she saw before only this time eggs had been laid on the nest being tended to by their mother "Mero is something the matter?"

Snapping out of her trance she was greeted by the concern of her host "Yes I'm doing well."

"Did you pack the necessary items for the trip?"

"Yes I'm packed well."

"Good then I'm going to give a call to work for a leave of absence then."

(…)

The day had finally arrived and Kihimoto was surprised that their taking to the airport rather than a bus not only that but it seems only him and Mero are going in since they weren't required to wait for their flight in a waiting room just as soon as they arrived they were taken before the jet.

The jet was small from the outside with blue streaks resembling waves of the ocean the size seemed to occupy one or few people on board, this bizarreness was only matched when the crew was greeting them outside with bows and spoke in perfect sync "Welcome lady Meroune."

"Thanks" Mero waved at them with a forced smile she really didn't seem to be taken well to this accommodation.

Kihimoto could understand after all despite being a first exchange student it is bothersome to be given this much attention "Excuse me but allow me to get lady Meroune up first."

Kihimoto wasn't even given much of an option as the attendee had lightly pushed him aside before she pushed Mero's wheelchair forwards getting her up on the plane while her host awkwardly followed suit riding along, the interior was fancy looking with giant chairs that can easily lay back and act as beds to giant tables it certainly made the plane look a lot bigger here than the outside however it also only cater to a small number of people rather than a regular plane "Do you need anything lady Meroune?"

"No thanks just leave me and my host be" Mero dismissed the attendant who bowed before she left not caring that she nearly pumped into Kihimoto by accident if it weren't for him going to side to evade her narrowly.

"Well that's a bit too much accommodation" Kihimoto commented as he took his seat right next to Mero.

"Yes" Mero agreed letting out a huge and long sigh "Mother can be quite the handful."

"Mero your mother is the one responsible for this?" her host asked making her bite her tongue before she quickly turned around with a smile.

"Ye-yes mother is actually a very important person in interspecies relations."

"I see she's really important no wonder the crew were catering to you so much" Kihimoto chuckled scratching the back of his head before he looked up recalling "So the same can be said about the aquarium folks."

"The aquarium yes" Mero looked to her hands with saddened eyes.

"I'm sorry didn't mean to bring that up" Kihimoto quickly held on to her webbed hands regretting bringing back that trip.

Mero quickly shook her head "Kihimoto I believe I asked you not to take the blame for that."

Kihimoto nodded before letting go "Now that I think about it Minato did say something along these lines when the show was over."

"You mean your friend?"

"Yeah he did say something about me not knowing who you are" Kihimoto answered.

"Did he tell you?" Mero hesitated in her question.

"No."

This got the weight off of her chest before she glanced at her host "If you knew my mother was important or know what her importance is would you change the way you treat me?"

Kihimoto glanced at her with an assured smile "I don't think so after all you're are my guest in the house."

The answer was assuring however it is one Mero deep down didn't like to hear it as her chest had tightened yet again.

(…)

After their long flight the duo were taken by a giant limo across the snowy fields reaching a giant onsen building being a traditional Japanese one but was notably larger since it's a new facility to cater to the new public of mixed races, the limo stopped allowing someone from the outside to open the door for Mero before taking her out and placing her on her wheelchair while Kihimoto followed after them "Welcome to the Snowball resort lady Meroune."

Before them stood the staff of human and liminal races bowing before Mero two in particular stood before all the others the first was a human man with average height and short spikey brown hair with matching eyes wearing a brown yukata, the second was a woman three times taller than the man having pale bluish skin and matching blue eyes that look dead with long wavy albino hair held up in a ponytail by a snow shard shaped hair clip along with a blue kimono that has white snow shard designs "Thank you for attending on such short notice milady I'm the owner of this establishment Yahiko Gama and this's my partner Yukio."

"Nice to make your acquaintance" the woman named Yukio got up "The opening ceremony of the place shall take place in two days' time until then please make yourself comfortable in the royal suite."

"Royal suite?!" Kihimoto cried out making heads turn to him before he quickly gulped down.

"Thank you we'll rest for now" Mero quickly clapped her hands together with a smile bringing attention to her to save her host.

"Very well" Yukio turned to some of the staff "Take their stuff to the assigned suite!"

With the clap of her hands the staff opened the back of the limo taking the belongings of the duo while they were led by the managers towards their room, which was even bigger with a king sized bed along with expensive decorations as well as view of the snowy mountain top from the window "If you need anything please use the hotel phone and dial this number."

Yukio offered tapping on the phone which had a number on it to call the desk of management "Will do thank you we'll take our rest now."

"As you wish milady" Yukio bowed before leaving the two.

Kihimoto sighed in relief "Man this's intense."

"Were you bothered by it?"

"Kind of it's just weird and hard being the centre of attention" Kihimoto voiced.

"I see" Mero simply replied not finding it in herself to bring comfort to her host "If it pleases you I'll arrange with the staff that only I appear for the grand opening."

"That would be nice but also take away the purpose" Kihimoto admitted with a huff making Mero stare at him with a puzzled look on her face prompting him to explain "Well normally this's a place that is meant for both humans and liminal's as a vacation spot me not a host not being present with my stay will not bode well."

Mero smiled her face flushing pink just like that of her hair at his words "Fear not I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Ye-yeah" Kihimoto replied flushing a little himself before he turned around "Well time to hit the bed we got a long day tomorrow."

"Will you still sleep next to me?" Mero asked more in a plead.

"S-sure" Kihimoto answered with a gulp as he got up to collect the necessary clothing to sleep in a body of water.

(…)

*Knock-knock

"Lady Meroune the time had come for waking up" spoke Yukio from outside the assigned suite for the guest of honor and her host but no reply was heard again the pale skinned woman knocked and again no answer.

Meanwhile on the other side Kihimoto's ears picked up on the knocking making him groan since it's too early for his assigned alarm to be ringing so he turned to it and was correct he still had at least three more minutes to rest but it appears someone is knocking on their door "Troublesome."

He was about to get up and move over to the door but something pressed against his face smothering him "Hmm."

Mero hummed beautifully still sleeping as she hugged her host smothering his face inside her possum making him flush hard "M-Mero someone at the door."

"Ku" however the mermaid was still in her sleep unable to hear his plead for release from her smothering.

"Is something the problem?" asked Yukio from the other side in alarm.

"E-everything is fine miss!" Kihimoto exclaimed as he continued to struggle to get the sleeping siren off of him.

"Please get ready for the grand opening then" Yukio spoke firmly.

Kihimoto gulped looking over to Mero's gills and shoved his finger in making her jolt up withdrawing back as she held her gill protectively staring at her host with widened eyes and a red face "K-Kihimoto what was that for?"

The human face matched hers "S-sorry but the staff are knocking for us to get ready."

"I-I see" Mero replied in shame before she looked down not paying attention when her host left her side.

Putting on a yukata before answering the door meeting the cold woman "Is everything alright with our guest of honour?"

"Y-yes everything is fine" Kihimoto assured with a wave of his hand however the woman narrowed her cold eyes at him "Something wrong?"

"No not at all breakfast shall be prepared immediately" Yukio spoke with a bow "We had also prepared a schedule for the trip for lady Meroune and yourself."

"Trip?"

"Yes me and young master Yahiko wish to gain publicity from Lady Meroune so we prompted to show her around."

"Alright I'll note her on that."

"Thank you very much" Yukio replied before she left leaving Kihimoto puzzled on Mero's position.