Coco: Hey, where did RSBCS-san go?

Karen: I think he disappeared some time ago. He better not be leaving us out to dry like before.

Noelle: Now now, he has been rather busy. I'm sure he's been trying to work on all those other fanfictions.

Karen: Arrgh! Let's just hope he comes back to us soon.

Coco: Well, we can do the disclaimer for this chapter then.

Noelle: RSBCS-san does not own us or anything with Mermaid Melody. Everything belongs to their rightful owners. And now,

Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!

Chapter 29:

Sea of Gallery

In his secret underwater base, Hishki was looking at images of the three kingdoms he sent his agents to. His face was scrunched up in frustration after he had learned his agents had failed at all three locations. Somehow, in some way, the six Mermaid Princesses and Sea Princes had foiled his attempts at capture. His whole plan upon discovering those three pairs were supposed to return to their kingdoms had been ruined, trounced as easily as flicking a fly. And all he could ask himself was: how?

How, despite all his planning and improvements, had his agents failed him in getting the mermaids? How had he made such mistakes to allow them to slip through his fingers once again? He didn't know what else he could do to remedy these errors. What more could he attempt to get those accursed mermaids?

In a fit of rage, he swiped his hands across the desk and knocked papers and parts onto the ground. He knocked over his chair, yelling in anger. As he retrieved an item to throw onto the ground, he looked up and paused. In his hand was a framed picture of someone. A woman with long, aqua-blue hair tied in a side ponytail, wearing a marigold shirt that hung below her shoulders. Gazing upon this person quelled Hishki's rage, and he became contemplative.

Collapsing against the wall, he muttered, "My dear Yuzu," and he hugged the picture against him as he wept.

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At Pearl Piari on its back patio, Coco was sunbathing on a beach chair. Although she was lounging, her eyes were wide open as she contemplated matters. Ever since the play, Seira had been a bit more reserved. When Coco had tried taking her places to improve her mood, the little one seemed to do things almost mechanically. There would be times where she would be her usual self, but they were few and far between. And this worried Coco.

This situation, where the person the Orange Mermaid Princess loved had gone away, reminded her too much of Sara's situation. Coco remembered that troubling time all too well, and this greatly concerned her for Seira. But nothing she or the other mermaids had done lifted her spirits.

And Hippo, surprisingly, was minding himself whenever Seira was around.

Letting out a small sigh, Coco wondered aloud, "What are we going to do?"

While she was contemplating, she heard Karen inside say, "Oh, you're here. Coco's out back." As she looked back to see who was coming in, she spotted Ryu coming out to meet her.

He didn't have his art tools with him, striking as odd for Coco as she had not seen him without them.

"Hiya Coco," Ryu greeted.

"Ryu," Coco returned. But she noticed his face seemed a little forced with that smile of his. After learning about his family situation, it was easier to pick up on it. "What's wrong?"

"Well, um…" The guy seemed to swing on his feet. It was not something Coco expected. Ryu had never been like the other guys that tried to get her attention. Then again, none of them had been nervous talking to her. It was cute. She would normally have liked seeing Ryu acting nervous.

But, with matters as they were, she told him, "It's alright. You can tell me."

That seemed to help with his confidence, as Ryu then asked, "Would you be willing to go on a date with me to the art museum? They are showing this new exhibit there. And it made me think of you."

Curious, Coco inquired, "Think of me? What are they showing?"

"The exhibit said they were pieces displaying ningyo. Basically, mermaids," Ryu explained.

That reveal stunned Coco. It was the first she had ever heard of mermaids under a different name.

"And maybe we can bring your friend Seira," he suggested as well. "It might help cheer her up too if we did something like that."

Coco took a moment to think about it. She did agree going to an art museum would be a different thing.

And Seira always enjoyed trying out new things in the human world. Even before Luchia restored her, it was her biggest passion to try new things and experience what all of them had done.

Coco had to admire Ryu for thinking about her like that.

Thus, she replied, "Seira and I would be happy to go with you. Thank you for the invitation."

Beaming, Ryu replied, "Thank you for accepting it. We'll meet at the museum tomorrow. I'll see you then." And with a quick farewell, he headed out.

Coco settled back down on the beach chair for a bit, thinking about the offer. Going to the art museum to see pieces on ningyo. The name was curious for her. She had never heard of another name for her kind before, particularly here in Japan. Everyone she had met, especially of the human variety, had always called them mermaids. She wondered if perhaps Noelle had come across this bit of knowledge.

Considering that prospect, Coco got up and went inside to find Noelle to get some answers.

After a little bit, the two were in the lobby as Noelle looked through one of her books with her reading glasses on. Coco still had no idea where she got those glasses after all this time. But after a while, Noelle found a section that detailed the supposed ningyo. Coco took a look at the corresponding image and was immediately grossed out, cowering back in disgust at what she saw.

Ignoring her reaction, Noelle went on to explain, "The ningyo is a Japanese mermaid that had been told in records and history since even before the Edo period. It is hideous in appearance, looking more fish than human. Many tales surround the ningyo and its other forms such as the amabie and amabiko. They all share similar traits of having a fish-like tail and a human-like upper body."

Her face scrunched in disgust, Coco questioned, "Why would anyone be fascinated by something so ugly?"

"Well, there are fables about their mystical properties as well," Noelle added. She went on, saying, "One such story tells of a ningyo foretelling good harvest or the plague. But there is also a fable about its flesh."

This just continued to gross Coco out, but she figured she might as well hear it from her friend. But she really was not liking what this was telling her about mermaids in Japan. It even made her question a few things.

"In a few tales told, ningyo flesh is said to grant eternal life to the person who eats it," Noelle elaborated, unfazed by all this information. "If one were to eat the flesh, they would cease to age forever. But there was no guarantee this would happen. Sometimes, if one were to consume the flesh of a ningyo, they might be afflicted with a curse or be killed from consuming it." Putting down her reading glasses, Noelle also mentioned, "Come to think of it, I believe I heard mention of an anime about the fable of ningyo flesh. I believe it was called 'Ningyo no Mori' or something like that."

Apart from the negative consequences of what she heard, Coco was intrigued by this particular bit of info. The flesh from these creatures could grant one eternal life. That would definitely make anyone intrigued in such myths and fantasies. There had been plenty of stories involving people seeking eternal life when she was younger, one story even telling of a Fountain of Youth. But that even this group of mermaids were said to give this gift if you ate their flesh, while gross in context, was fascinating.

Coco rationalized that maybe that was why Ryu was interested in ningyo, as well as why he thought of Coco when he invited her. He had done plenty of mermaid pictures with her as his model, so perhaps that was related.

Still, Coco was grossed out at everything else about them. She just hoped she could get through seeing such gross images tomorrow and spare Seira the unsightly display that would come from it.

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On his way home, Ryu stopped by the sea wall along the coast. The sun was low in the sky, but not quite approaching sunset yet. He would have enjoyed drawing the scene if he could help it, but he didn't even have his sketchbook with him. And he had been hitting a wall in wanting to draw things recently, apart from what he worked on with Coco.

While he looked out, his sister Miyu came up beside him, leaning her back against the sea wall. She wasn't in any cosplay right now, just wearing a small jacket over a shirt with a nekomata character on it and skinny jeans and sneakers. Her black hair was in a small, side ponytail on the right side of her head. Her expression was rather serious, Ryu noticed when he glanced over to her after her arrival.

Figuring out why she was talking to him, he guessed, "Is mom still upset at home?"

"She's been out with a couple friends," Miyu answered. "And she always comes home the same way. Very angry."

Sighing, he asked, "Did she say anything?"

"The usual," his sister bluntly replied. "Nothing else. You probably will want to wait until she goes to bed before coming back. Why not spend a day at that hotel your girlfriend is at?"

Chuckling, Ryu clarified, "Miyu, she's just someone who agrees to be a model for my artwork. She's only a friend right now. I doubt she'd ever have any romantic inclinations with how many guys she has attracted with her beauty."

Scoffing, the spy wannabe explained, "All those guys are dopes. They just follow her because she's pretty. You don't. And you did say you were asking her out on a 'date'. Ergo, she is your girlfriend."

"Dates are between two people," Ryu corrected. "I asked her to bring that friend of hers with us. Thought it might help them together."

At that, Miyu sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her brother was such a doofus. She knew that friend of hers was depressed for some reason, but Ryu was throwing away a good chance to grow closer to this one girl he's been seeing for about a month now. Why would he ruin such an opportunity by bringing a third wheel?

Standing upright, she warned, "Well, whatever you do, try not to get into trouble again. Mom's just looking for an excuse to send you overseas to join the military. One misstep, and any chance you had on being an artist is going to be gone like the flowing tide." With that, she began walking off.

Ryu knew his sister meant well and was trying to protect him should the worst come to pass. Even so, he knew what he would be doing. His mother would probably back off if he mentioned he was helping a friend with someone who was depressed anyway, which was why he invited Seira as well. And if they could help Seira get better, it was a win for all of them. He felt that was well worth whatever risks he took in this regard. And as he watched the sky change to orange, he bolstered his resolve in this trip to the art museum tomorrow.

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The next day came with a partly cloudy sky. Coco and Seira were walking up to the art museum in the more bustling part of the city. The building itself was rounded and quite large, almost like a stadium. There was a bit of a line to get in at the entrance, which would no doubt be because of the ningyo exhibit being shown today.

The two girls were dressed nice enough for a day like today. Coco wore a small, yellow dress with a pleated skirt and spaghetti straps with a marigold cardigan draped over her shoulders, while Seira had on an orange turtleneck and dark orange pants. As they arrived, the two looked around for any signs of Ryu. But it appeared he hadn't arrived yet.

Noticing the long line, Seira suggested, "We should get in line and wait for Ryu-san inside."

Remembering what she had been shown about ningyo yesterday, Coco proposed instead, "You know what? Perhaps it's too busy inside. Ryu might not find us if we went in, so let's wait for him out here."

But just as she began ushering the younger mermaid princess away, they heard, "Coco! Seira!" This caused Coco to halt and look over her shoulder to see Ryu near the front entrance with three tickets in hand. The Yellow Mermaid Princess could not help the small groan she let out while Seira hurried over and called for Coco to follow.

Once she made it to the others, Ryu told her, "We'll be able to get in quickly. The main exhibit is showing the ningyo, but there are also other exhibits if we want to see more."

"Th-Thanks Ryu-kun," Coco returned with a slight stutter.

Pulling at her arm, Seira urged, "Let's hurry in. I want to see the art." And she dragged the girl off while Ryu followed, chuckling at how Seira seemed to be perking back up.

Once inside, the three saw different corridors leading to the different exhibits being shown today. Some had statues of figures or scenes from fables or history, others had tapestries showing Japanese pieces like "The Wave". But immediately to their right from the entrance was the chamber displaying the ningyo exhibit.

Upon entering, Seira's demeanor immediately changed. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she looked everywhere she could. She twirled around as they walked in, marveling at this new place she had never been to.

Seeing the younger Mermaid Princess so full of awe once more made Coco smile. She was happy Seira was being her old self again. It relieved many of the concerns she had regarding the younger mermaid and what might come in the future.

When they entered the exhibit they came to see, Coco was quite surprised by the first portrait shown.

It was of a ningyo, as they appeared more fish than human, bearing only a human-esque face and webbed hands. Their fish-like body had a bony fin along its back with spines, and scales going down the length of its lower body. It looked to be riding a wave in the picture, which intrigued Coco. What was even weirder for her was that this ningyo didn't look all that ugly like the pictures Noelle showed her.

"Is this what ningyo look like to humans?" Coco questioned aloud.

To which Ryu came up next to her and explained, "It's one of many depictions. From what I read, the earliest recordings of someone seeing a ningyo was back in the 7th century. Some looked more like how this one does, and others looked more like monkeys. It's like in that anime about mermaid flesh."

Recalling said myth, Coco said as she pondered, "Mermaid flesh that would bring eternal life to whoever consumes it. That would be something people would want."

"Eternal life is not all it's cracked up to be," Ryu stated, catching Coco by surprise.

The prospect alone seemed enticing enough. Coco thought all humans would want to live forever. Then they wouldn't have to worry about losing their loved ones or having to say good-bye. But Ryu didn't think so. Why would he think that?

Curiosity overtaking her, Coco asked, "Ryu, would you want eternal life?"

But they were then summoned when Seira called, "Coco, Ryu-san, there's more over here."

"Coming!" Ryu called back before going over.

And Coco was left with her question unanswered.

The three saw more examples of art involving ningyo throughout the exhibit. Most were of the more grotesque nature, which Coco did her best to stomach despite not appreciating how these humans depicted her kind. But others were baffling in being strange yet beautiful. There were also parchments and books that detailed ningyo and even encounters with them. One even read about medical procedures or observations of ningyo humans had at the time.

And while Seira absorbed every facet of the exhibit, even the gross stuff, Coco could not help but feel repulsed more so. She was starting to question what Ryu saw in these kinds of mythical figures that reminded him of her. For the most part, Coco couldn't see it. It can't be because they were mermaids, as they didn't even resemble her or her friends in any way. It couldn't have been like the mermaids from the treasure cave portrait Rina saw.

The three later took a break to the side on a nearby bench, with Seira animatedly discussing everything they saw with Ryu while he did his best to hear her out. Coco looked back at another picture of one of the prettier ningyo, her face scrunched in concentration. She squinted her eyes as she tried to perceive what Ryu saw in these that reminded him of her. She tried tilting her head side to side, looking at it from her peripheral vision, anything to glean what might be fascinating about these creatures. But nothing helped her come to any understanding in regards to what made them so fascinating.

Giving up, Coco came over to the other two and slumped down next to Ryu with a heavy sigh.

Made aware of her slight frustration, both Ryu and Seira halted their conversation as the guy asked, "Are you alright Coco? You look upset."

"I just don't understand what people would find so fascinating about these. I understand art is interesting, but all of this doesn't make any sense. And why would you say they remind you of me? You're not saying I'm that ugly, are you?" She gave him a side glare to drive her point across.

To which Ryu hastily responded, "No, nothing like that! Honest. It's not because of how they look." Once Coco eased up on him, he elaborated, "When I meant they remind me of you, it wasn't how they looked or how I drew you that made me think of you. It was more the mystique they have."

That answer caught Coco very off-guard. She then asked, "Mystique? What do you mean?"

"Well, it's hard to explain," he told her, rubbing the back of his head. "Putting it into words, it's like there is something more to you. Like these ningyo. We may have all these interpretations, but do we really know them at all. Who they are, how they lived, what they did. It's all a mystery, yet also magical. That's how I feel about you. Like there is so much more I have yet to see. Don't you think so?"

In a way, Ryu was more right than he knew. His answer, his way of thinking, it moved Coco more than words could say. She was honestly surprised by his honesty about thinking of her in another way outside of romance or attraction.

And with it came the burning hope in Coco's heart. The hope that, because of his diligence to pursue her, he might awaken to becoming a Sea Prince too. She had been interested in Ryu up to this point, that she could not deny since he helped her and stood up for her to all those other guys. But she thought this might have been the first time she could grasp what Luchia, Hanon, and even Rina had wrestled with and sought all the time they were here on land.

Is it really happening? She thought, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. Am I really falling in love with Ryu? Aqua Regina-sama, please let it be true.

While Coco was off in her own world, Seira asked, "Ryu-san, do you like Coco?"

Flustered, Ryu replied, "W-Well, I don't not like her. I wouldn't say I like her in that way. I mean, we haven't been around each other all that long."

"Oh that doesn't matter," Seira countered cheerfully. "Hanon and Rina didn't know their boyfriends for too long either. And now they like them very much. I'm sure you and Coco will be like that too."

"I don't know, Seira," Ryu said softly. "I'm not exactly like Hamasaki or Doumoto."

"You don't have to be," Seira once again refuted. "Luchia told me that love between people isn't determined by circumstances or by how a person is. It just comes and people are together." Looking down at her feet, Seira mumbled, "Just like it was with Hugo and I."

That change in mood snapped Coco out of her musings, making her take notice to Seira. Wanting to keep the girl from falling back into that despair, she suggested, "Well, I think we can come back to this exhibit later. Let's look at something else for a change."

"Let's go look at the Edo period art exhibit," Seira proposed, perking back up. She then hurried off for the next exhibit, leaving the other two behind.

Watching her go, Ryu commented, "You really look out for her, Coco. She's really lucky to have you for a big sister." With everything settled, the two hurried after their eager companion once again.

After having a quick bite for lunch, the three friends went back to seeing the different exhibits. However, Coco's focus was less on the tapestries and statues being shown and more on Ryu and his words earlier. The elated feeling she had from his honest thoughts about her still caused her to reel. She thought it was wonderful that these feelings manifested at last.

In addition, she was happy to see Seira looking much happier while they explored. She was asking so many questions that Ryu and Coco had a hard time keeping up with her. She was enthralled to see so many new things, especially pieces of art that displayed people back in the past. She was especially enamored by the women in beautiful kimonos.

But the day began to be a bit much for Coco, who stopped to rest while the other two went on ahead. She sat down at a bench, looking up at the painted ceiling. Today had been so full of surprises. The ningyo exhibit wasn't as bad as she thought it would be, Ryu admitted why he was so interested in Coco outside of her being a cute face, and Seira was getting back to being her usual self. All in all, today was an amazing day.

Letting her mind wander, Coco began to fantasize her future a bit. She envisioned herself being discovered at last by Ryu, who would then pick her up and whisper sweet nothings to her. She thought of what life might be like back at the South Pacific Palace, where Ryu would be practicing his artwork. How the two of them would one day be wed and everyone would be cheering for them. Her mind even conjured the thought of them expecting someday.

"It is strange what we interpret about the world through art," came an old man's voice from beside Coco. This startled her out of her revelry as she turned to see a man with thinning, white hair and a full beard touching at the nape of his neck. He was wearing a white coat over a light-blue button up shirt and tan khakis with brown, leather shoes. Something about the man seemed familiar to Coco, but she couldn't deduce what.

He went on, "All these pieces project a certain image that we then take in from the artist's rendering. We see what they interpret. And, rather humorously, we interpret from what they interpret. Such a sad state of existence."

"Um… Who are you?" Coco asked as politely as she could.

"And then that ningyo exhibit," the old man continued, seeming to have not heard Coco's inquiry. "I must say, the painters of old must have seen the true face of mermaids then. The Western folk have muddied their visage, painting them as these delightful maidens that sailors would leap from ships to be with. When they are nothing more than bestial things that prey upon humanity. They feel nothing but resentment and loathing for humanity. The artists must have seen the face of what mermaids truly are."

Coco felt a bit insulted at the implications the man was saying, but she held back on any retorts. It would not be good to chide an elderly person on their personal thoughts.

Thus, she attempted again, "Excuse me, old man, but who are you? You seem familiar."

Letting out a breath, the man requested, "Might you help guide me to the bathroom? I feel I might have gotten a little lost in this massive place."

"I will," Coco agreed, wanting to be courteous. "It's this way." But just as she stepped towards where she would lead him, she felt something be shoved right into her mouth and nose. She tried calling out, but her voice was heavily muffled. And there was no one close enough to notice the two people in a tussle. Not even the security guards could notice them.

"You hide your true form well, Mermaid Princess," the man uttered in a low voice. "But you gave yourself away when you mentioned how familiar I was. For I should be, since I will reveal you and your kind to the world once and for all."

Coco began to feel herself get sleepy and lethargic. She tried fighting as hard as she could to stay awake, but it was a futile endeavor. Her eyelids got heavier as whatever she was being smothered with did its job.

Aqua Regina-sama, send Ryu, she prayed before finally succumbing to fatigue and letting her world fade to black.

Around the same time, Seira's pendant began to glow, startling both her and Ryu with its action. She knew immediately that someone was in trouble. And the only person that would be in danger was Coco. But she didn't know how to go rescue her without drawing Ryu into her fight. He didn't know they were mermaids yet, nor was he Coco's Sea Prince. But she couldn't confront whatever was after Coco as she was. And Karen and Noelle were still back at Pearl Piari, so they wouldn't get here in time. It was all up to her.

"Hey Seira, can you go check on Coco for me?" Ryu requested, prompting the girl to hide her pendant in her hands so he didn't see the glow. "She seems to be taking a while."

"Yes, I can go look for her," Seira agreed immediately. It was the perfect excuse to save her, so she didn't think much of Ryu's request. With a quick farewell, Seira darted off to someplace secluded. But not before saying under her breath, "Forgive me Ryu-san. You'll see someday."

And before she transformed, she added mentally, Hugo, watch over me. And she went to find someplace to change without drawing attention.

When she made it in one of the exhibits showing pre-Edo art, she spotted an old man trying to stuff something into a sack he had with him. Looking at him, she realized it was Dr. Hishki, recognizing him when he came after Luchia when she was sick. She then saw Coco's head poke out as he wrestled to put her unconscious body inside. Looking at the scene, it gave Seira an idea how to address this issue without using her songs right away.

Keeping hidden, Seira called, "Help! There's a thief! He's stealing the art." Just the call drew the guards' attention, and that was when they spotted the man tying off the sack. Without further delay, they went to confront the scientist before he could go anywhere with Coco.

"Sir, release the contents of the bag immediately," they called, four guards surrounding the old man. Seira watched on from behind a decorative vase. If she didn't need to use her songs to defeat Hishki, it would be for the best. But she was ready if she was needed.

Dr. Hishki seemed to resign himself to being caught. He began raising his hands in surrender, prompting one guard to approach. Before he got too close, though, the wall near the doctor exploded, conjuring dust that obscured them all.

Seira then spotted the telltale silhouette of Hishki's machinations. Another mech had rolled in, but it was more human-sized than his prior constructs. But it still looked the same as the giant mech he normally piloted.

Through the smoke, Seira saw him enter the mech before going to retrieve the sack that had Coco. She was about to transform when another obstacle intervened.

"You have someone I know," Ryu addressed the mech, halting its retrieval. "You better give her back."

Not bothering to hide his intentions, Hishki returned, "I am doing you a favor. This creature will betray you someday."

"You don't know that," Ryu responded, voice steadfast and firm. "You don't even know her. And why are you calling her a creature? She's a person."

Turning around, Hishki challenged, "You don't really know who she is, do you? What she really is? The kind of being she is would make you walk away, you know. She is detestable, deplorable. I would be doing you a favor by taking her out of your life."

At this point, Seira began to worry. If Hishki told Ryu that Coco was a mermaid, she would turn into bubbles. Not only that, but all her friends would be at risk if their secret was released here. Meru, Nikora, Luchia, Karen, they would all disappear.

Yet, to both her and Hishki's surprise, the boy declared, "You are letting your interpretation overtake you. You've let yourself be consumed by what you believe someone to be, closing off your heart and mind to what could be right in front of you. And that's why you're wrong, about her and about this." Hand over his heart, Ryu went on, "I know there are things Coco hasn't told me yet. She has secrets she can't tell me. That's okay. I choose to be with her not because of what she looks like or how she acts. I don't follow her because she does something for me.

"I stay with her because I want to be with her. And I don't need any other reason." The scene seemed still at that declaration, time seemed frozen after those words were spoken. Seira took a moment to register what was said before beaming and rejoicing inside.

Coco, you really have found your Sea Prince at last, she thought. If Coco heard Ryu, she knew her friend would be over the moon.

But Hishki grunted, stating, "You'll need more than pretty words to stop me." He then launched a claw at the boy, who managed to dodge with only a minor graze. And it was then Seira decided to jump in.

"Orange Pearl Voice!"

After taking on her idol form, the Live Stage began to play its song as she made her presence known to everyone there. Bystanders came to watch the spontaneous show, some commenting on how they never expected a concert in an art gallery, and even the guards seemed confused by the idol's sudden appearance.

"Hishki, I will not permit you to trample on this boy's heartfelt confession," Seira declared, pointing her mic at the mech. "Let me sing to show you how powerful these feelings can be." And bobbing to the beat, she readied to sing "Legend of Mermaid" as she called,

"Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!"

Nanairo no kaze ni fukarete

Tooi misaki wo mezashiteta

Yoake mae kikoeta MERODII

Sore wa totemo natsukashii uta

Higashi no sora he to habataku toritachi

Saa... Takarajima no nukeru chikamichi

Nanatsu no umi no rakuen

Arashi no yoru no ato ni wa

Ai wo tsutaeru tame

Inochi ga mata umareru

Nanatsu no kuni no MERODIA

Daremo ga itsuka wa koko wo

Tabidatsu hi ga kitemo

Watashi wa wasurenai

As great as Seira's singing was, the mech didn't seem affected by the single Mermaid Princess contesting with Hishki. Even so, the youngest Mermaid Princess sang her heart out as best as she could, hoping to at least do something to push against the oppressive machine.

While she did sing, Ryu used the distraction to slip over to where Coco was stuffed. He went to work trying to open the sack, but the knot had been well made despite the old man. But he did not let that deter him as he worked at freeing the girl inside.

When Seira finished the chorus, Hishki laughed and said, "Silly little princess. You might be able to best my minions with your power alone. But I am unaffected by your songs. And my machines are far stronger than you could ever hope to defeat."

Seira knew this was true, grimacing at his reveal. She alone couldn't defeat Hishki, and it was questionable if even her and Coco together could push him back. Without Luchia and the others, this contest might not end in her favor.

"I must thank you for giving me what I need for my research," Hishki added, his claw pointed at the Orange Mermaid Princess in preparation to capture her. But it was then they heard two new voices.

"Purple Pearl Voice!"

"Indigo Pearl Voice!"

Coming up alongside Seira, Karen and Noelle took their places as the song came around for another segment.

"Are you alright Seira?" Karen asked, being careful no one heard her call out Seira's name.

"I'm alright, but Coco was about to be taken by Hishki," the youngest Mermaid Princess informed.

"Then let's send him packing together," Noelle suggested.

And thus, the three resumed into the second verse.

Yukkuri to kumo wa nagarete

Niji no hate no kiete itta

Hoshitachi wa shinju no you ni

Tsuyoi hikari hanachi hajimeru

Minami no sora kara kikoeta kuchibue

Sou otona ni naru toki ga kiteita

Kiseki wo meguru bouken

Yasashii haha no negai wo

Mune ni idaki nagara

Daremo ga tabi wo shiteru

Hoshifuru yoru no FANTAJIA

Afureru namida to inori

Dare ni mo wakaranai

Mirai wo terashiteru

Even with the other two Mermaid Princesses helping her, their song seemed to not be doing anything to the doctor or his mech. It was very clear their power wasn't enough to push him back. The three noticed this and seemed to shy away once they finished singing.

"It looks like the show is over, Mermaid Princesses," Hishki taunted, his mech prepping his claw again. "But don't worry. You'll get to perform your encore. Once I have all your friends, you'll perform on the biggest stage of your lives."

Suddenly, before he could do anything, some pieces of trash were thrown at his mech. Looking over, he saw a couple patrons staring him down. More people began to join in, all looking annoyed at the intrusion.

"We don't want you here," one griped.

"You are ruining my date," a woman shrieked.

"Get out of here! Leave those girls alone," a third called out.

More and more people voiced their disdain and animosity for Hishki coming in and causing problems as he had. Some security guards were coming up to apprehend the mech, though they were quite hesitant due to the circumstances. Hishki looked out among the crowd, and his anger began to grow in magnitude.

Frustrated, he thought, Those fools! I do this for their sake, and they treat me like the villain. Why can't they see I am doing what's right? But he didn't bother arguing or defending himself. The interference was not going to allow him to capture the mermaids before him.

Looking back at Seira, Karen, and Noelle, he declared, "This isn't over, Mermaid Princesses!" And he took off where he came from.

Seira and the others breathed a shaky sigh of relief. They had managed to come out of another confrontation with Hishki, but they almost hadn't. The people barely paid them any attention, watching where the mech disappeared to. This allowed the three to look back at Ryu as he finally pulled Coco out of the sack.

She was still out of it, but Ryu just seemed relieved she was safe. Seira herself was glad too. Their day had been interrupted, making her worried about how the two would be. But seeing Ryu's concern and how he stood up for her gave the younger Mermaid Princess hope for them. And maybe, one day, she would share in that hope too.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she heard Karen suggest, "Seira, let's give them a moment." The three then became scarce before the crowd really took notice of them.

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As the sun was touching the horizon, Coco began to come around. She heard the lapping of the waves, telling her she was on the beach. Squinting her eyes, she could just make out Ryu's small ponytail to her right, blocking most of the sun's blinding rays. His back was to her, but he was still close by.

As she rose, he turned and gave her a smile as if to comfort her. "How are you feeling? Woozy at all?" he asked.

Coco answered, "Tired, but I'm okay."

Ryu chuckled a little, explaining, "My sister figured you were given something to knock you out. She thinks chloroform, but she couldn't be sure. You might be foggy for a bit."

Coco rubbed her eyes, bringing her legs around so she could face Ryu as he turned to face her. She noticed a bandage on his cheek, then drew her hand up to it.

Feeling where she rubbed, Ryu assured, "I'm okay Coco. You don't need to worry."

"How can I not?" Coco told him. "Was that because of me?"

But Ryu shook his head, urging her, "Don't fret over me for that. I'm more worried about you. You were attacked by that strange mech. And there were those creeps from before when we first met." Readjusting his seating position, he asked, "Coco, what's going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

Coco froze again. This was getting close to revealing her secret. What could she say to keep Ryu from finding out? Especially since he wasn't her Sea Prince yet. He was very intuitive to her, since he did help her escape her followers when they first met. But if she revealed who she was, that would be the end. For her, and the others.

But before she could answer, Ryu assured, "I don't ask because I'm upset. At least, not at you or your friends. I ask because…" He paused, which made Coco curious. What was he about to say that made him hesitate? "I probably sound like those other boys, but I ask because I care about you," he finished, looking down as if in shame. "Ever since you helped me with pursuing my passion for art, I have really enjoyed the time I have spent with you. I want to be with you more often. But then, other guys probably tell you that."

He got to his feet, and said to her, "If you want, I'll go away. You probably have enough fanboys without me getting mixed up in it." He then began to leave, passing by Coco in the process.

In that moment as he went by her, Coco's heart stopped. She felt like her chest was crushing her, pressing down on her heart. Was this how Sara felt when Mitsuki left her? She didn't want that. Ryu, she realized, had become something to her.

Quickly grabbing his wrist, she cried, "Wait!" Ryu stopped, looking back at her with a puzzled expression. "I… I don't think you are like the others. I don't want you to leave me." With tears pooling in her eyes, she went on, "I like being the person you paint for. I am happy when you consider my feelings. If you were to go away, if I was to not see you again, I don't know how I'd go on after this. I think I finally understand it now."

"Coco…" Ryu said softly, trailing as he heard her heartfelt plea.

"I don't want you to go," Coco declared. "Because Ryu, I—" Before she could finish her sentence, Ryu went down and put a finger to her lips to stop her.

"I know," he merely said, before going in and giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. Coco was stunned by his sudden move, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the kiss. But Ryu pulled away before she thought about it for too long, whispering to her, "You don't need to tell me now, Coco. Let us strive for it, together."

"Ryu," Coco returned in a soft voice. She was half-tempted to give him another kiss to return the one he gave. But a part of her held back. She didn't want to ruin this moment, when Ryu was so vulnerable. She would wait, until the day came where she would express the same feelings he did.

She then leaned against his chest, much to his mild surprise, and requested, "Hold me, Ryu. I just want you with me right now." Ryu said nothing in return, merely wrapping one of his arms around her back. And they stayed like this on that beach, with the sun casting its amber rays upon them.

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A couple days later, Ryu had arrived at Pearl Piari upon Coco's request. When he came in, he saw a pleasant and heartening sight.

"Meru, that's cheating," Seira bemoaned at one of the tables with her friend. The other girl, Meru, was holding a couple cards in her hand just as the orange-haired girl was picking up a huge pile from the center of the table.

"We are playing a game of deception Seira-sama," Meru spoke cheekily as Seira's hand became crowded with cards. "Playing too honestly will hurt you."

"Actually Meru, half those cards are yours," Karen, who was also playing, pointed out. "By your rules, you take half of Seira's cards as your own."

"That's playing a bit harsh," Noelle commented.

The four of them went back and forth in their game, but seeing Seira perking back up relieved Ryu of his worries from before. Hopefully with her back to her usual self, Coco wouldn't be so stressed looking after the little one. It made him think about how great of a sister Coco was to Seira, just like his sister was to him.

Just then, Coco came up to him from down the hall by the stairs, calling out, "Ryu, perfect timing. I just finished my chores, so we have the day to ourselves."

"That's good to hear," Ryu returned, his smile warm and soft.

Coco returned it with her own, before suggesting, "Wait for me up in my room while I put away a couple things. And don't be a pervert!"

"I won't," Ryu promised with that last statement. He then went up and quickly found Coco's room. With a brief scan, he noticed one of the drawers on Coco's dresser was open. He thought to be polite and close it for her.

But as he came up to it, he noticed what was inside. It wasn't clothes, but paper sealed in plastic. He looked closer to see it was the drawing of the yellow mermaid he did. This stunned him. He had given this picture to the mermaid herself. How was it in Coco's room? He flipped it over, afraid of what he would find, and saw the picture he drew of the mermaid and himself, just as he placed it when he gave it to her.

"That's impossible," he muttered. Coco shouldn't have this. Unless…

He was broken from his thoughts when he heard Coco coming up. Ryu put the picture back the way he saw it and closed the drawer. As his girlfriend made her final approach, all Ryu could think about was how she had this picture and what it could mean.

Noelle: Daichi-kun's been in that coma for so long now.

Karen: Noelle, it might be time to move on. He isn't waking up.

Noelle: I don't know. Tsubasa-san hasn't given up hope.

Karen: Tsubasa-san? You've been with him again?

Next time on Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Duo