After their chaotic quest to get Ryoma to come out of hiding, the students that went into the sea towel-dried themselves off before entering the beach house.
His back turned away from his other classmates, Ryoma dried himself off as much as he could, attempting to avoid tracking water into the house like the previous night.
Maybe it was because of his fish-like scales, but he didn't mind how the water felt on his skin compared to when he was human. Not just because it wouldn't dry out his skin, but it felt good in a way he couldn't really describe.
Somehow, it made him feel comfortable, almost secure in a way.
Of course, it becomes less enjoyable when you're hiding from your classmates for several hours.
Everyone headed inside, the outside heat quickly being replaced with the cooling sensation of the indoor air conditioning.
As the others went to change back into their regular clothes, the ex-tennis player headed directly to his room to grab some clean clothes to put on after he took a much-needed shower.
His mind wandered as he stepped through the door.
How exactly was he going to tell everyone what happened? His appearance was bizarre enough to them, and now he had to explain to them the even more bizarre scenario about how he wound up like this. He understood if some of them didn't believe him, it was obviously too outlandish to accept, but there wasn't any other possible explanation that he could provide.
Not to mention, he had to worry about everyone staring at him.
Keebo's words repeated in his head about the others knowing better than to stare. Even if he could ignore the anxiety, he still didn't enjoy being the center of attention. They likely had so many questions for him, and all eyes would be on him.
But there was nothing he could do about it, so the only thing he could do was put up with it until something could be done.
Ryoma walked up to the closet to get his new clothes. When he opened the door, he saw that the towel that had his punctured clothes wrapped in it was gone.
The prisoner mentally slapped himself.
Of course.
He hadn't even considered the possibility of Kirumi looking in his closet when she prepared to collect the laundry. Even if he managed to stay hidden from everyone, they likely would've found out that something happened anyway.
Sighing in deep disappointment in himself, he grabbed a fresh jumpsuit and leather jacket. His damp beanie was placed in the laundry basket, leaving it to be washed tomorrow.
The memory of Shuichi discovering him this morning replayed in his head once he reached the bathroom.
The start of this entire mess today.
He didn't blame him, though. Had he not stood around thinking of what to do, he probably would've never been caught by him. Not that it even mattered, as he learned from the missing towel.
Ryoma took a clean towel from off the rack. There wasn't any point in thinking about what could've happened differently. All he could do was deal with the resulting present.
His shower only lasted about 10 minutes, the saltwater and sand from the sea cleansing from his scaly skin.
Drying himself off again and slipping on his new clothes, the sea monster prepared to step out of the bathroom and to the living room where everyone was waiting. He spent a few moments fighting with his tail like the last couple of times as he put his jumpsuit on.
A way to deal with it was desperately needed.
Ryoma took in a breath and held it for a few moments before letting go. Bracing himself as he walked out, he headed down the hallway to meet with the rest of the class.
They were all sitting and talking amongst each other, stopping any and all conversation as they saw him approaching.
"Hey, monster boy is here!" Kokichi cheered as Ryoma stepped foot into the room.
"Kokichi..." Shuichi quietly chastised the purple-haired boy, having fully recovered from his mishap earlier. Kirumi quickly checked on him briefly before returning to her chores.
Kaito scratched his head awkwardly. "So, uh... you gonna tell us what happened?"
"Yeah..." Kaede agreed. "How did this happen, Ryoma?"
Ryoma was quiet for a moment, processing the looks he was given. Having an audience like this was starting to make him anxious again, all of them staring directly at him. Trying to suppress his nerves, he began to explain.
"Well... I went out last night when you guys were all asleep, just to have some time to myself. I was out there on the rocks on the beach for a while, until high tide started coming in."
"High tide? You didn't try to move somewhere a bit safer?" Rantaro questioned.
"That's the thing... I did try to, but this wave came outta nowhere and crashed over me. It was pretty strong, and it pulled me into the water." He remembered the shock he felt as the forceful, salty water overpowered him and sent him spinning through its current.
"Wh-What? You got swept into the sea?" Tenko stammered nervously, shivering in fear a little. "That's so scary..."
"Yeah... I couldn't swim back up because my clothes were weighing me down, so I was stuck sinking. I thought I was gonna drown, but I heard something moving around in the water."
Ryoma sighed, recalling the admittedly frightening event that transpired shortly after.
"...Before I knew it, I felt something grabbing me from behind."
"Grabbed?! Ryoma means he got attacked?!" Gonta questioned with shock.
The smaller boy nodded slowly. "I didn't know what was going on, but I couldn't get loose no matter how much I tried. Whatever it was, it grabbed my arm and bit me hard enough that I bled. I don't know why, but it let go of me after I was bitten and left... and I passed out."
His palms opened, revealing the claws on his fingers. "And when I woke up on the seabed, I looked like this."
The class stared at him in awe, stunned by the unbelievable story.
"Holy shit..." Miu cursed quietly.
Shuichi was dumbfounded. "I-I don't believe it, all of that happened to you, Ryoma?"
The prisoner grimaced. "I'd be lying if I said I was making all of this up."
"Were you able to identify what attacked you?" Keebo asked him.
"I couldn't see because it was dark." Ryoma rubbed his hands. "Although when I tried to pull its arms off me, the way they felt was kinda similar to my skin, all scaly and everything."
"Maybe what bit you was something similar?" Kaede proposed. "If it felt the same way, it had to be."
"That was what I thought, too. Don't got any else to go off of, though."
"But how is something like that even possible?" Maki questioned dryly. "It sounds too difficult to believe."
"Perhaps I could provide some further evidence." Kirumi spoke up.
"Kirumi?" Shuichi glanced over to the maid.
Right. Ryoma forgot Kirumi had also seen him this morning when he ran outside. He already knew what she was going to show to the class.
The olive-haired girl left for the laundry room, soon coming back with his bloody shirt and pierced jacket. It seemed she purposely hadn't washed them yet so she could present them to the others once they returned from the beach. The blood was long dried, leaving a dark, burgundy stain.
"I discovered these pieces of clothing in Ryoma's closet. They were wrapped in a used towel, which I have already washed. And though I have cleaned them up, there were wet footsteps trailing down the hallway this morning."
Everyone turned towards Ryoma.
The smaller boy could practically feel his reputation going down. "I only tried to hide 'em 'cause I didn't wanna get caught. I'm not really that good at that, I guess."
"But wait, if you got bit, maybe you could show us the wound!" Kaito proclaimed.
Ryoma didn't say anything for a few seconds before sighing. "There's no wound."
The astronaut was taken aback. "Wh-What do you mean 'there's no wound'?!"
"I didn't understand it, either. When I came back inside, I grabbed a couple of first aid supplies so I could clean it. But when I looked, there was nothing there."
"So Ryoma was bitten but it didn't leave a bite mark... Maybe magic healed it..." Himiko suggested tiredly.
"Maybe that is possible, considering what Ryoma just told us..." Tsumugi agreed with the self-proclaimed mage.
"Is that why you were in the bathroom this morning, Ryoma? To put the first aid supplies back?" Shuichi recalled the moment he spotted him in the doorway.
"Yeah. I didn't wanna risk waking anyone up last night, so I waited until morning to put 'em back."
"But, Gonta still doesn't understand. How did this happen to Ryoma?"
"Kiyo, you said you might know something about this." The detective addressed the anthropologist, who was inspecting Ryoma's clawed hands. "What did you want to tell us?"
"Yeah, I wanna get to the exciting part!" Kokichi bounced energetically.
"Ah, yes..." Korekiyo closed his eyes in deep thought and began to explain. "In many different cultures, there are various interpretations of sea monsters, whether it be from folklore to mythology. There are many variations of sea monsters, ranging from massive, draconic or serpentine sea beasts, to more recognizable, fish-like creatures."
Ryoma listened in on Kiyo's explanation. He sensed Kokichi reaching for his tail to pull it and lightly snapped his jaws at his fingers.
"There are also tales of humans transforming into sea monsters, sea monsters becoming humans, or disguising themselves in the form of humans. Some sea monsters are even said to possess the ability to turn humans into sea monsters themselves, often with a simple bite. Perhaps it is possible that you, Ryoma, might be a subject of this."
"You think so?" He stepped further away from the nosy Kokichi. "I don't really believe in things like that, but I guess I don't really have any other explanation."
"So... you're really saying that Ryoma was bitten by a sea monster and was turned into one?" Kaede couldn't believe her ears.
"Yes, it is a very strong possibility." Kiyo confirmed.
"Ohh, so a sea monster nibbled at Ryoma and changed his form completely!" Angie summarized cheerfully.
Kaito looked a bit unnerved. "Does that mean there's just sea monsters out there just waiting to bite people?"
"Typically in most interpretations, sea monsters do not attack unprovoked, unless one has entered its territory. But in the curious case of Ryoma, it was not intending to seriously injure him."
"I wonder why..." Shuichi pondered, filled with disbelief that everything Kiyo said was possibly real.
Maki looked reluctantly convinced. "Fine. But let's just say any of that was possible. Is there a way to undo it?"
"Hmm..." Kiyo hummed. "Unfortunately, I do not know of any possible solution to undo the transformation. I will have to research further into this phenomenon."
Great. So he was stuck like this.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ryoma." Kaede sympathized with the prisoner. "I hope Kiyo can find a way soon."
"You don't gotta apologize." He said with a humorless smile. "Guess I gotta get used to this."
"It doesn't seem all that bad, though." Kaito tried to console with a grin. "I think you look pretty cool, actually. With those teeth and claws, nobody could mess with you!"
"Um, I'm not sure if that's the point." Shuichi smiled, the space enthusiast giving him a confused look. "But, if you're concerned about any of us bothering you," he shot a glance at Kokichi, who simply grinned with his hands behind his head, "then you don't have to worry."
"Yeah!" The pianist agreed. "I think we'll get used to it eventually. It's kind of like dyeing your hair. Everyone will look at first, but soon it'll just be normal like everything else."
"Is that so?" Ryoma relaxed his shoulders a little, putting aside the fact that his hair was already dyed. "Hmph, thanks."
Kaito bumped his fists together. "Alright, I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry!"
"Yeah, I'm ready for some food!" Kokichi beamed with eagerness.
"Yes." Kirumi gave a curtsy. "I shall begin preparing everyone's lunch."
Pulling out a notepad, the maid began to jot down what everyone wanted to eat. Tastes were vastly different from each other, but being the skilled maid that she was, she could prepare all of it by herself.
Ryoma sat quietly, idly chewing on a candy cigarette from a fresh box, since the old pack was soaked from the previous night. His sharp teeth crunched through the chocolate candy with ease, crushing it into pieces within seconds. He opted to chew a little slower, giving him a chance to savor the sweet taste.
"Ryoma, what would you prefer to eat?"
A bit startled, the former tennis player was pulled out of his thoughts, looking up at the maid addressing him. She had already taken some of the others' lunch requests and had moved on to him.
He found himself in the mood for fish, ironically enough. An odd, sudden craving for seafood overcame him, feeling his mouth starting to water at the thought of it.
"You got anything with tuna?" Ryoma abruptly asked, partially embarrassed.
"Yes. I can prepare a number of dishes with tuna as the main ingredient. I can prepare tuna nigiri, tuna onigiri, tekka maki, and a variety of other foods. For more American-based cuisine, tuna sandwiches, tuna salad, spicy tuna rolls..."
"Hm? Spicy tuna rolls are American?"
"Somewhat. It is a type of tuna maki roll that was invented in America a few decades ago. The rolls are made with tuna and either spicy mayonnaise or sriracha sauce, and is seasoned with red chile powder."
Ryoma pondered for a moment. He had been to America before and had some of the sushi rolls that were made there, but never anything like she had described. He also tried other American foods to see how differently they were prepared compared to what he was used to in Japan. The rolls didn't sound bad at all, and after missing out on eating breakfast, he was eager to get some food in him.
"Alright, I'll try that." He gave a small smile.
She smiled back with a bow. "Thank you."
About an hour and a half passed, and everyone's lunch was ready. Despite food being made for sixteen people, all of it was finished rather quickly, thanks to Kirumi's expertise.
Everyone sat at the table where the food was placed, the various dishes lined up across the tabletop.
The tuna rolls Kirumi made sat in front of Ryoma.
The sushi rice was tightly packed, ensuring that the tuna and nori stayed in place. To the side was a small dish of soy sauce for dipping.
He wasn't expecting Kirumi to make so many of the rolls for him, but he supposed it was because he hadn't eaten breakfast this morning.
The sea monster picked up the chopsticks next to his plate and gingerly took one of the rolls, trying to maneuver the sticks around the webbing between his fingers. He took a glance to see if any of them were looking his way, but thankfully, everyone was too wrapped up in conversation to pay attention to him.
Closing his eyes, he stuffed the roll in his mouth.
Ryoma's eyes lit up.
The flavor was unlike anything he had ever tasted.
Despite its spiciness, it was the right amount of heat, the spicy mayo providing a slightly tangy taste. Every individual grain of rice was bursting with flavor as he chewed through them.
But most of all, the tuna itself was what he couldn't get enough of. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he found his cravings increasing the more of it he ate.
Ryoma quickly grabbed another roll, this time dipping it into the soy sauce. The sauce itself further enhanced the flavor of the tuna, giving it a savory and salty edge.
It was like he couldn't stop himself, hardly taking a drink of his nearby grape soda as he ravenously downed the tuna rolls.
Unfortunately, he was too distracted to notice some of his classmates shooting glances at him indulging in the rolls. Kaede giggled to herself, while Shuichi simply smiled.
As much as Ryoma often appeared sullen and heavy-hearted, he was happy to see him actually enjoying something. After running away and isolating himself, he felt more than glad to see him eating alongside everyone else again.
Within a few moments, his plate was empty, all of the tuna rolls having been consumed.
Ryoma noticed that he had finished his food earlier than usual, everyone else still eating. Feeling a little awkward just sitting there with an empty plate, he picked up his grape soda and sipped, keeping himself occupied while everyone continued their lunch.
The tuna rolls were more than enough, his hunger being sated completely. It was a little embarrassing to admit, but he wouldn't mind having more of it in the future.
In fact, he wouldn't mind having anything with tuna in it.
Maybe it was another thing that had something to do with his transformation, but his taste for seafood suddenly felt stronger, almost inherent.
The sea monster quietly fiddled with his claws, tuning out the others' conversations. As much as he tried to avoid being seen, they didn't seem to pay him any heed, not an eye peering over at him.
It wasn't a problem, but he was a little surprised considering how nosy they could all be. Hopefully it stayed that way, although he had his doubts that it would.
The rest of the students eventually finished their lunch, everyone having been equally satisfied with their food.
The class decided to go back outside, since they haven't had any time to actually enjoy themselves after trying to convince Ryoma to come out of the cave. They got ready to change back into their swimsuits, Kirumi staying behind to wash the dishes again. She didn't mind all of the chores, she disliked taking days off.
Ryoma wasn't looking forward to changing again. Every moment where he had to change, he'd have to fight with his newly-acquired tail to make sure it fit through his clothes. Knowing that he would be stuck like this for a while, it would be a constant struggle.
Staying inside was an option, but after his classmates went out of their way to coax him out of hiding, they would feel as though he was distancing himself again. He really wasn't asking to be bothered like that again.
"Ryoma, are you quite alright?"
The sea monster turned around to face the maid behind him, having noticed him standing in place. "Nothing, I was just gonna change."
"Do you need some assistance? I can modify your clothing to suit your new appearance."
"Huh? How did you...?" Ryoma replied with surprise, too embarrassed to tell anyone about his tail situation.
She smiled. "Your body language indicated that you were flustered about something, evidenced by your tail flicking. It does not appear to properly align with your clothing as well."
Heat from his face flushing was felt at the thought of his tail swinging back and forth in frustration. "Y-Yeah... It's a hassle trying to get it through every time I have to change clothes."
"Do not feel ashamed to ask for help. If you have any more accomodations you may require, please feel free to request them."
The prisoner involuntarily reached for his beanie that wasn't currently on his head. "...I will. Thanks."
Ryoma waited in the living room as Kirumi left to alter his clothes, the others having already left to enjoy the sunshine.
What would he do when he got out there? Typically, he always sat in the shade under one of the beach umbrellas, watching the others play in the ocean or the sand. They would offer him an opportunity to hang out with them, but he would always decline.
There were better people around to talk to than him.
He could swim, but after the fiasco earlier, it would've been redundant to go back in the water.
Then again, he didn't mind it.
A few minutes later, Kirumi returned, informing him that his clothes were ready.
Turns out, she had merely cut a wide enough slit through his swim shorts and the pants of his prison jumpsuits, ensuring that his tail could go right through without any struggle. Once he was human again, she assured him that they would be sewn back up.
More than relieved that he won't have to fight with it anymore, he thanked her and went to his room to change into his swimsuit.
As Ryoma looked into the mirror while he changed, he was able to take in more of his appearance. His chest and belly was mostly gray in color, similar to an underbelly you would see on an animal. He was still as physically fit as ever, just with the added effect of being covered in scales.
His tail slipped through the hole in the back of his white and blue-striped swim shorts with ease. Putting on his identically colored swim hoodie, he ventured out into the hallway, getting ready to go outside.
"Ryoma?"
He looked up at Kirumi as he stepped back into the living room, who was in the midst of washing everyone's dishes.
"Please try to enjoy yourself."
Ryoma slowly nodded. "Thanks."
The maid smiled softly as he headed out into the summer heat. She continued her chores, thinking about how much he loved her tuna rolls.
o0o
It was a lively time under the cloudless, afternoon sun. Some swam and splashed around in the refreshing ocean water, while some of them lounged in the sand or built sandcastles while enjoying the salty sea breeze.
Ryoma sat quietly on top of the large rock behind the one where he sat the night prior, staring out into the vast, sapphire sea. The sunlight made the surface sparkle like diamonds, the waves rolling and gently clashing together.
Thankfully for him, he was sitting someplace where he was sure he wouldn't be swept out to sea again.
The events leading up to this point replayed in his head again.
Though he had already accepted them, it was still puzzling to think about. Maybe it was an indicator that he needed to broaden what he believed was common sense. After all, this incident contradicted his disbelief in the supernatural. All of that stuff Kiyo would talk about in his anthropology studies... he wondered how much of it was real.
Maybe he should've just told them about it rather than running away like Rantaro and Shuichi said. They wouldn't have had to waste time trying to convince him to show his face.
Ryoma rubbed at the back of his hands, wiping at the ocean spray landing on his scaly skin. His hands still held that firmness from his days on the tennis court, the tough, smooth scales only adding to their firmness. Clawed fingers opened and closed, the webbing between them stretching out.
He wondered if they would help grip a tennis racket easier, the webbing, claws, and tough scales preventing the racket from slipping out of his hands. The claws could also give him a tighter hold on the tennis ball as he served...
His head shook. What was he even thinking about?
Ryoma was too occupied with his thoughts to notice one of his classmates coming up to him from behind.
"What's wrong, Ryoma? Aren't you going to swim?"
The former tennis player looked to his left to see Shuichi standing by the rock he sat on. Rather than being in his swimsuit like everyone else, he was in a plain white t-shirt, shorts, and open-toed shoes.
"Nah, I've been in the water for long enough today."
"Yeah... me too." The detective couldn't help but agree. After nearly drowning earlier, he didn't feel at ease going in the water at the moment. And even if he wanted to, it wasn't recommended for him to do so.
"Why? Were you expecting me to?"
"I just thought you would, since it looked like it would be easier for you."
"Hm... So that's the way you see it, huh?" Ryoma said in a quiet tone.
Shuichi deflated a bit. "Ah, I didn't mean to offend you or anything..."
"It's fine, kid." His tail gently swayed behind him. "I'll admit it's a lot easier now. I feel like I've got more control over myself when I swim, and I can move a lot faster, too."
"You could probably go wherever you want as well, since you can breathe underwater."
Ryoma nodded, eyes falling to his hands. "And when I saw you stuck in that kelp, I had to do something."
"Yeah... I appreciate you saving me."
"You don't gotta keep thanking me. I wasn't just gonna leave you there simply because I didn't wanna show my face. I might be a murderer, but I'm not selfish."
"Speaking of 'fish'..." Shuichi smiled at the pun, "you seemed to really like Kirumi's tuna maki rolls."
Ryoma's ear fins twitched, mentally shaking his head at the detective's joke. "Yeah, they were pretty good. I didn't eat breakfast, so I guess I was just hungry."
"I mean, I've never seen you eat like that before. You even finished it before most of us."
"Why were you watching me?" The sea monster asked with slight sternness in his voice.
"Um..." Shuichi nervously smiled, accidentally outing himself. "I... just happened to look."
The sea monster sighed through his snout, deciding to change the subject. "Don't worry about it. You feeling better now?"
"I'm alright. Kirumi didn't find anything wrong with me, but she said if something comes up, I should tell her."
"Hm." Ryoma felt a pang of mild guilt from the situation. If he hadn't decided to run away and hide underwater, Shuichi would've never been in danger.
He caused more trouble for them than necessary.
Someone like him always managed to get others hurt.
"Ryoma?" The detective noticed his tense expression.
"It's nothing."
"Okay..." Giving his smaller classmate a sympathetic look, he began to leave.
"Um, I'll see you later."
"Yeah..."
Ryoma wistfully gazed back at the sea as Shuichi left to interact with his other classmates.
How they could put up with someone like him was unknown.
The waves washed over the rocks in front of him, water running off of the sides and back into the sea.
The longer he stared at the vast expanse of azure, the more he wondered if he should actually swim.
Although he told Shuichi that he wasn't going to, he found himself changing his mind. He had been in the water all morning, and yet, he felt the urge to go back.
Perhaps instead of sitting around on the surface, he could spend his alone time below it.
Making sure no one was looking, Ryoma slipped off the rock and onto the sand, feeling the tiny grains of rock in between his paw-like toes. The water loosely lapped at his feet as he slowly approached the shoreline, white foam surrounding his ankles.
Exhaling, he walked forward into the open sea, his footing in the soft sand lessening until he couldn't feel the ground anymore. Kicking his legs, his webbed feet aided in keeping him afloat easier.
Swimming a distance from the rocks behind him, he stopped before he went too far out.
The crisp water easing his nerves, Ryoma dove under the sea.
Bubbles escaping his snout as he was surrounded by water, he drew in a breath.
Even though he was stuck like this, he was grateful for his newfound ability to breathe underwater. An ability he had only known in works of fiction, it was the easiest change he could come to terms with.
Not only did it allow him to save Shuichi, he could spend as much time alone as he wanted, undisturbed.
Swimming his way further down to the shallow seafloor, his webbed hands paddled to give himself a boost of speed. Tail swaying behind him, the fins on the back of it guided him effortlessly through the water.
Small groups of vibrant coral and seagrass greeted him as he made it to the bottom, fish swimming about and darting away from him when he approached the seabed.
Ryoma stopped, floating in place.
Lines of light shifted across the still objects in the water, moving in tune with the waves above. The seagrass loosely rustled as if they were being blown by a soft wind, pointing in the direction of the tide.
Beginning to swim in the same direction he went earlier, he had no plans on going back to the cave.
He wanted someplace where he could sit and take in his surroundings. There was no reason for him to stay hidden anymore.
Ryoma traveled by the same coral and seaweed he had seen, passing the rocks resting in the sand. Looking around, he spotted more groups of coral in the distance to his right.
Seamlessly turning to swim further out, larger rock formations began to stand out among the coral. More of the colorful fish swarmed amongst the small, reef-scattered area, either traveling in schools or hiding within the underwater environment.
In the midst of an open area, there was a flat rock formation decorated and surrounded by some of the coral.
Picking that one to sit on, Ryoma propelled himself forward to the rock and turned to sit down, slowly sinking onto the solid surface.
The sea monster breathed a deep sigh, relaxing his shoulders.
It was quiet, the only sound being the ambience of the ocean. He looked up at the surface, bright sunlight shimmering down through the water. In contrast to the blazing heat of the summer sun, the water was cool and calm, his clothes swaying with the gentle current. Hues of blue bathed his surroundings, the color deepening the further out objects were.
The feeling of the water on his skin wrapped him in a blanket of ease. Even while he was in the shower earlier, the warm running water pouring on his scales relaxed him more than it usually would.
He wouldn't say he loved the water.
But he certainly liked it a lot more now.
Small schools of fish moved through the coral as he gazed at the sea life around him. Some were curious about him, swimming up close and dashing away when he turned his head.
Fish had always come off as timid, skittish creatures to him, fleeing from anything that wasn't their own kin. Ryoma supposed it made sense, being out in the open sea made them susceptible to predators far larger than them.
Knowing he was a being that ate them regularly, they would rightfully be wary of him. That is, if they even knew that he did. If anything, he was more like them now. At least, when it came to the scales, fins, and being able to breathe underwater.
Regardless, he knew it didn't really matter. Any fish would be smart enough to avoid someone like him anyway.
Another fish swam up to him.
Reddish-orange tinged with blue stripes on its body and fins, it approached the piercing on his right ear fin with that same curiosity.
The turning of Ryoma's head wasn't enough to make it skitter away.
Round, charcoal eyes locked with beady, dark ones, the fish opening and closing its mouth as it gazed blankly at him.
"What do you think you're doing? Shouldn't you be with the rest of your school instead of looking at me?"
The striped fish drew closer to his snout, making Ryoma inch backwards instinctively. Again, the fish just stared, unblinking.
The sea monster changed his tone, bringing his hand in front of him. "You shouldn't hang around someone like me, y'know. You might get yourself hurt."
His words went unheeded, the fish swimming up to his webbed hand.
"Don't you know I eat fish like you?"
Ryoma pointed a clawed finger at the flame-colored fish, enunciating his statement.
Instead of darting off at the warning, it began to swim around his hand, circling it while avoiding the pointed nails.
Ryoma watched in mildly stunned silence, the fish poking at his partially closed fist.
Opening his palms, it pressed up against it as it swam, its bright, shimmering scales gliding across his own dark scales.
The sight before him was odd.
Despite his sharp teeth and claws being on full display, the fish didn't see him as a threat.
Ryoma rotated his hand around it, carefully running his fingers across the smooth, reddish scales.
"You're pretty bold, y'know. Usually people listen when I tell 'em they shouldn't get so close to me. Then again, I don't know if you even understand what I'm saying."
The blue-striped fish swam close to his snout again, poking at it as well.
Ryoma scrunched up his snout and huffed at the sensation, letting loose a few bubbles.
"Hey, don't do that. It... tickles a bit."
The black drawstrings on his hoodie swaying in the water, the fish inspected those next, attempting to tug at the strings with its mouth.
The small boy simply watched as it toyed with the loose drawstrings, repeatedly trying to pull at them when it would lose its grip.
"...You remind me of my cat. He was always so smart and calm, and watching him play and go nuts over catnip always helped me relax."
Ryoma's expression fell. "But, I can't see him again, now that I'm in prison. I wonder how he'd react to me looking like this."
The fish stopped briefly as it spotted him watching it, swimming up to his face and staring curiously.
"Hm, maybe I shouldn't talk about cats in front of you. They ain't exactly nice to fish."
The staring continued.
He felt ridiculous, talking to fish like this. Apparently becoming a sea monster didn't grant him the ability to communicate with them.
But somehow, it knew he wouldn't harm it.
Was it instinct, or could it sense that he wouldn't?
Whatever it was, he didn't object, despite urging it to be wary of him. Unwilling to fully admit it to anyone, Ryoma had a soft spot for animals.
A crueler person than him would've snapped their jaws and bared their fangs at them to back off.
He wouldn't do that.
Whether it be a person or an animal, he wouldn't.
Allowing the striped fish to continue playing around with his drawstrings, Ryoma took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the smooth, placid current cradle him gently.
Bubbles exhaled from his snout floated towards the rippling surface, traveling up through the vast expanse of blue.
The sea's ambience brought comfort, his tail slowly swaying in content as the sound rolled heavily in his finned ears.
Maybe he could get used to this.
Absorbing the silent, calm atmosphere, the sea monster sat quietly while the waves churned above.
And above those very waves, the other students continued their frolicking in the beaming sun.
Underneath a cool beach umbrella pressed into the sand sat Shuichi, the shade shielding him from the heated rays. A towel he could sit on placed down, he watched his peers splash around in the sea.
Usually he would be with them, but the circumstances affecting him disallowed it. Although he had recovered from his brush with death, swimming was off-limits for the day.
Not that he was thinking about wanting to.
The detective still remembered how it felt.
Helplessly trapped in the kelp forest, the unforgiving weeds gripped his ankle tightly while he fought to escape. Seawater choked the air out of him, suppressing his cries into muffled struggles to breathe. Bubbles left him with every attempt, lessening the more of his air he lost. He was lucky he didn't swallow any of the seawater, or else he would've really been sick.
Even when Ryoma rushed out of his cave to save him, he was fading.
When he started to sink, he thought that was the end for him. Shuichi could hardly feel Ryoma carrying him to the surface until he could breathe again.
And when those memories reached that point in time, they would rewind back to the kelp forest again.
In an attempt to keep his mind off of it, Shuichi looked away from the water.
To his left, the large rock in the distance lacked an occupant.
Ryoma must've headed off somewhere.
The only place he could've gone was the water. Unless he absolutely needed to communicate, he never intentionally approached any of them.
The prisoner definitely wouldn't want to now, since his new appearance would draw instant attention.
Being in the water ensured no one came and bothered him.
The detective supposed he understood in this case. Even though everyone would get used to him eventually, that didn't stop them from staring or giving him glances. And having mistakenly revealed himself to have been watching Ryoma scarf down his tuna rolls, it certainly didn't help.
On top of that, Kokichi was bound to be incredibly nosy.
Regardless, Shuichi hoped Ryoma would warm up to them.
Though he didn't know when exactly that would be, considering his disdain for being the center of attention.
"Shuichi, you feeling better?"
A voice drew closer to him, turning to see familiar, spiked purple hair approaching.
"Yeah, Kaito, I'm alright now."
The astronaut reached out and handed him a canned soda. "You're not gonna come hang out with us?"
The detective shook his head as he took the ice cold drink. "Kirumi told me I should stay out of the water. I don't really feel like doing much right now, anyway."
"That sucks. I guess I get it, though. Wouldn't wanna strain yourself after all that."
"Yeah..."
Kaito took note of Shuichi's tense expression. "Hey, sometimes these kinda things happen. It's fine now, right? Ryoma was there to save you."
How often do you think 'these kinds of things' happen? The raven-haired boy thought to himself. "I know. It's just bothering me a little."
"Well, you shouldn't worry about it too much. Just be a little more careful next time."
"Mhm, Ryoma told me the same thing earlier."
The space enthusiast looked around for the aforementioned sea monster. "Where is he, anyway? He better not be hiding out in that cave again."
"I don't know, Kaito. I don't think he has any reason to hide anymore. It would be pointless, and I think he just wants his personal space."
"Doesn't he get enough of that? He never wants to hang out with us."
"Yeah, but..." The detective gazed out into the sea. "I think after everything earlier, he needs some time alone. And besides, he's not going to avoid us forever."
"You sure do think a lot, don't you?"
"Ah, yeah." Shuichi blushed from embarrassment. "It's just that I don't know what goes on in his head. He doesn't really tell us a lot."
"Not that he would. He just mopes around and acts like nothing around him really matters." Kaito scoffed bitterly.
The detective frowned at his friend's harsh words. "I believe there's a lot more to it, though. We just don't know what all he's been through."
"I just hope he gets over it. You just can't live your life that way."
Shuichi hadn't said anything. Knowing that Ryoma was still technically in prison, it likely wasn't easy for him to enjoy his time away from it.
But even so, he knew that a life of unhappiness could only lead to unfulfillment.
The tennis pro was emotionally closed off, unable to bond with or get close to anyone. Depressed and sullen, he wandered alone, spending his days distant until he would eventually graduate and go back to prison.
The detective wanted that to change. Even though the rest of his life would be spent behind bars, Ryoma deserved to at least appreciate the time he has left beforehand. Not everyone in his place was lucky enough to get an opportunity to be in the outside world like this again.
The prisoner should be allowed to leave Hope's Peak a little bit brighter than he was.
And perhaps, his new sea monster form could be the thing to turn things around.
The afternoon went by as quickly as it came, the sun beginning its descent below the horizon as evening painted the sky a vibrant orange hue.
The sea was no longer a deep shade of sapphire, but a dark teal tinged with orange light from the setting sun.
Beneath the rolling waves, schools of colorful fish swam among the scattered coral, likely on their way to end their aimless travels for the day. Wherever they rested, it was a guarantee that they would be comfortable and safe from the open waters.
A few of the fish still full of curiosity, they swam around the rock formations standing out around the reef.
Approaching one of the rocks, they were promptly startled by a sudden stream of small bubbles rising from the coral-decorated rock.
Or rather, what was on it.
The fish swimming away, the figure's chest gently rose and fell. They didn't make a sound, lying on their side as they rested on the flat rock. The bubbles left their snout with each exhale, drifting up to the ocean surface.
An ear fin twitched.
A pair of round eyes slowly creaked open, a sliver of onyx peeking through. Through their blurry vision, they could see the bright coral littering the seafloor in front of them.
A yawn escaped them, small canines bared.
Groggily blinking a few times, their surroundings caught up with them, the water now a teal-orange tint.
Ryoma realized he had fallen asleep.
The sea monster rubbed his eyes as he sat up. The striped fish that approached him earlier was long gone, having swam off somewhere else.
He didn't really remember dozing off, although he did remember lying down at some point. The water putting him at ease, Ryoma had stretched out on the rock, lazily watching the underwater scenery around him.
After that, nothing.
Apparently he had slept through the entire afternoon, the water's color indicating that evening was bordering on arriving.
Everyone was likely heading inside for the day, dinnertime approaching. The sea monster didn't want to keep them waiting, and considering he hid from them earlier, it was probably a good idea to make his presence known soon.
Stretching as much as he could, Ryoma pushed himself up from the rock, floating in the water using his webbed hands and feet.
Taking a quick glance back at the coral and rocks, the prisoner began to swim to the surface, his tail swaying behind him.
After all, he was looking forward to some more tuna.
Bubbles appeared on the water's surface, his finned head popping out of the water with a splash.
In the distance, he could see the others heading towards the beach house, carrying towels to dry themselves off.
Ryoma made his way to shore, stepping into the warm sand and starting his trek in their direction.
"Ah, Ryoma!"
The sea monster turned his head, spotting Shuichi behind him.
The detective caught up to him, opting to walk beside the smaller boy who was sopping wet from the briny water.
"Why aren't you with the others?" Ryoma questioned as they followed the rest of the students.
"I told them I was going to wait for you. I didn't think you would go hiding somewhere again, so I stayed behind in case you showed up."
"You... didn't have to do that, y'know. I just nodded off, that's all."
The raven-haired boy scratched his head. "Um, you fell asleep underwater?"
"Sounds strange, but yeah. Guess I got a little too comfortable sitting there."
So that's what he was doing this entire time. "...Comfortable?"
Ryoma nodded loosely. "You might already know why, but... I don't really mind the water. After you left earlier, something was urging me to go back. It just feels good in a way, I guess."
"Ah..." Shuichi understood." It must've been nice, getting to relax underwater like that."
"Hmph... you'd probably find it boring."
"No, not at all, Ryoma. You get to look around down there as much as you want. A lot of people would find something like that exciting."
"Do you?"
The detective averted his gaze. "A little. It... would be nice."
Knowing how he worded his response, Ryoma knew the incident from earlier in the kelp forest was still bothering him.
Being caught up in kelp and drowning didn't sound very pleasant. Someone like him even found it unnerving. Hopefully it wouldn't trouble him as much after today.
The sea monster technically put him in that position anyway.
A soft sigh left his snout as they reached the beach house. "I should get dried off. Don't want to track water inside like last night."
Shuichi's distant expression faded. "Ah, yeah."
Wiping the water away from his scaly skin, Ryoma stepped into the cool air of the living room.
Heading off to his room to change, he repeated the same process, although with much more ease thanks to Kirumi modifying his clothes.
An embarrassing amount of elation passed through him as his tail slid through his jumpsuit without struggle.
No more fighting with this stupid thing.
Slipping on his leather jacket, the boy returned to the living room to wait for dinner.
The others had already finished changing, wrapping themselves in conversation as they anticipated their evening food.
"Where were you, Ryoma? You didn't try to hide again, did you?"
Ryoma looked up at Kaito, the astronaut giving him a firm expression.
"Nothing like that. I just decided to hang out in the water for a while."
"Quite a while indeed." Korekiyo added his statement. "Are you perhaps adjusting to your new transformation?"
The sea monster recalled the way he felt sitting on that rock on the seafloor.
The water was soothing, having eventually lulled him to sleep with its heavy, ambient sound. In a sense, it was better than total silence, sort of like the sound of rain comforting one into an easy sleep.
It was odd, but he was being honest.
Probably not so much as a human, but as a sea monster, the water drew him in. From his short interaction with his striped fish acquaintance, to watching the sea life around him...
When it came to all of this, it wasn't really a problem.
He saw it as a good thing, actually.
Maybe he liked the water a lot more than he believed.
"Sort of... I guess."
"I see..." Kiyo responded in a low, thoughtful tone.
Ryoma raised a nonexistent eyebrow. The anthropologist always appeared strange, with his odd ramblings about humanity and his tendency to give anthropology lectures in conversation when the mood struck.
Though it shouldn't surprise him that he was invested in his new form. He seemingly knew more about it than he did after all.
The prisoner sat at the end of the couch, awaiting Kirumi to ask for everyone's food preferences.
Just the thought of more tuna was making his mouth water.
What would he eat this time? More tuna rolls? Sashimi? Onigiri?
Or maybe tuna salad? Tuna casserole?
A casserole all to himself seemed excessive.
But not out of the question.
His mind shifted through all of the possibilities.
Will he have tuna in the future, too?
Maybe he should have tuna sandwiches for lunch tomorrow, or-
"Ryoma, are you okay?"
Nearly gasping in shock, the boy jolted in his seat.
Sweat beading on his forehead, he quickly turned his head to Kaede and Kirumi, the pianist trying to hide the laugh in her voice when she called his name.
"Uh..."
No words left him.
"Would you like for me to wipe that from your face?"
The maid's question raised an alarm in his head.
"Wha-?!"
The sea monster immediately rose his arm and rapidly wiped his face.
He really just drooled right in front of them.
If Angie's god really existed, he wished he would just strike him down right at this moment.
"Sorry..."
"Hehe, don't worry about it." Kaede giggled to herself at the sight of the normally stoic tennis player's eyes glazed over and drooling slightly.
The prisoner sighed deeply.
"Evidenced by your... reaction, I can assume you know what you would like to eat for dinner?" Kirumi smiled.
Ryoma refused to make eye contact. "Yeah..."
Allowing to just let the maid surprise him, the sea monster sat at the dinner table with the rest of the class, everyone having given their dinner requests.
Hopefully no one else saw his little zone-out session.
Hopefully.
Soon enough, the dinner plates were brought to the table. Like before, there was plenty of variety, all different from one another.
Surprisingly, he was brought a plate of tuna sashimi.
Topped with pickled ginger, the fish rested over daikon radish.
It seems as if Kirumi knew exactly what kind of tuna dish to give him, provided his rather... intense cravings for it. Compared to the tuna rolls he had earlier, it was mostly just the fish on its own. Besides the garnish, there were hardly any extra layers to it.
More than a little excited, Ryoma reached out to pick up his chopsticks.
Checking to make sure no one was watching this time around, the sea monster took a piece of tuna and eagerly stuffed it into his mouth.
Savoring the fresh fish in between chews, he carefully moved his eyes up while everyone else ate.
No one was looking.
Ryoma guessed Shuichi learned his lesson in not watching him while he wasn't looking.
Swallowing the tuna, he quickly picked up another piece and bit down, his mouth watering with each bite.
He didn't bother dipping it into the soy sauce. All of his focus was on consuming the tuna.
It was the only thing he really wanted from the plate.
The only thing he craved.
Ryoma didn't eat it too quickly, however. As badly as he wanted to completely tear into the sashimi like earlier, the attention it drew wasn't worth it.
The prisoner would have to find a way to be more discreet about it.
There wasn't as much on his plate this time, the tuna being eaten fairly quickly. Just to keep himself busy, Ryoma began to eat the leftover radish and pickled ginger.
Though it tasted as great as he expected, it was still nothing compared to the tuna.
Soon enough, his plate was empty, everything on it having been cleaned off.
Ryoma stared down at the blank plate.
Was that really enough?
Maybe it was.
Or, maybe it wasn't.
With how much he had his newfound tuna cravings, who knew.
Sipping on his drink to pass the time, everyone eventually finished their food.
The plates were collected by Kirumi, the dishes placed in the sink to be washed. She had taken notice of the untouched soy sauce, setting it aside to avoid wasting it. Ryoma's sashimi plate was completely empty, as she expected.
Although it was not very polite to watch him eat, considering he had been vocal about his disdain for attention from what she was told, she couldn't help herself.
His sudden love for tuna was endearing to her, in a way.
The evening transitioned to dusk, the sun setting well below the horizon and stars beginning to make their presence known.
Some of the students stayed in the living room, others went back to their rooms to hang out.
Ryoma decided to head back to his own room for the day, exhausted from all of the events that transpired.
The sea monster removed his jacket, placing it in the now empty laundry basket. Kicking off his boots, he climbed into his bed, a candy cigarette resting between his sharp teeth.
The dim, faint light from the sky shone through the window, coating his room in a dull hue. Ryoma lay on his back, chewing on the chocolate candy.
Everything ran through his mind. Getting caught, running away, hiding in the sea, his classmates trying to get him to come out of the underwater cave.
Shuichi getting stuck in the kelp forest.
...
Ryoma tried to move past that thought.
Coming back and explaining to everyone how he wound up like this, stuffing himself with tuna rolls...
Relaxing and falling asleep under the sea.
The sea monster mulled it over in his head.
It was nice, but the thought of being stuck like this for a while still weighed on him. Although he felt he could get used to it, he didn't want to get too used to it.
What if Kiyo took a long time to find a way to undo his transformation?
As he thought the other night, the other students back at Hope's Peak Academy would stare and ask questions. The pressure was already tough with his own classmates.
The entire school having their eyes on him?
It was a nightmare waiting to happen.
Of course, he remembered Keebo's words. But how would he be able to handle it, given he didn't know most of them? And with how many of them there were?
Ryoma let out a deep sigh.
Maybe he was getting ahead of himself.
The prisoner finished his candy cigarette, chomping it into bits with his fangs.
The sweet taste lingered in his throat, the candy replacing the leftover taste of the sashimi from dinner.
His thoughts went back to the tuna.
The tender, juicy texture of the fish gracing his palate, the soft way it dissolved in between his teeth when he chewed...
Ryoma's mouth began to water again.
Even though he had already eaten, the cravings returned.
In his mind, the sashimi wasn't enough.
There wasn't any way he could have more, though. The food was neatly stored away for the night, waiting to be used the next day. If he wanted more of the fish, he would have to wait.
Or did he?
They wouldn't notice if a little bit was gone... right?
Just a nibble wouldn't hurt.
Would it?
Ryoma moved his gaze to the door.
Later tonight.
The sun eventually set completely, giving the moon and the stars their full time in the dark sky. Soft light from the round, white object projected into the windows of the beach house, coating the rooms in a faded blue hue.
The break from the heat of the summer sun was more than welcome.
A door closed in the hallway.
Ryoma stood outside his room with his leather jacket and boots back on, staring directly in the living room with his now-glowing eyes.
He couldn't believe he was doing this.
But maybe, it would be worth the risk.
Prepping himself to look as normal as possible, the sea monster began his trek down the hallway, preparing to give his excuse to the few people that were left in the room.
Thankfully, the ones that were left in the living room from earlier were heading back to their rooms for the night.
Lucky him.
"Oh, where are you going, Ryoma?"
The boy stopped at Keebo's voice.
Excuse ready.
"Just gonna sit outside for a while. It's cooler."
"You're not going in the water again, are you?" Without his flashlight, he could get a better look at Ryoma's cyan, glowing eyes in the dark.
The prisoner shook his head. "I think that's enough for me today."
"I understand."
The robot paused for a few seconds.
"Actually, I wanted to tell you something."
"Hm?" Ryoma listened with interest despite a slight impatience sparking within him. "What's up?"
The automaton pressed his metal fingers together. "Um... talking to you actually helped me a little bit."
Fins twitched. "What do you mean?"
"I was terrified of going underwater. I cannot swim like a human, and I have always been afraid of sinking to the bottom and becoming trapped."
"I can see why you would feel that way. Gonta had to go down there to come get you."
"Yes..." Keebo gazed dejectedly at his hand. "I was nervous when I initially went down, but when I began speaking with you, I felt my fears begin to ease."
Ryoma placed a hand on his fuzzy head. "Someone like me made you feel better?"
"Of course." The robot boy smiled. "I simply wanted to say thank you."
"Huh..." The sea monster ran his clawed hand through his hair.
He didn't really do anything, but he supposed it wasn't a bad thing.
"...Don't mention it."
Keebo nodded. "I'm going to return to my room to recharge for the night. I will see you in the morning."
"Yeah..."
Ryoma watched as the automaton left, heading to the room he and Rantaro stayed in.
He couldn't see it, but his tail swayed slowly behind him.
During the two's conversation, Shuichi stood silently at the edge of the hallway.
He knew it wasn't good to eavesdrop, but he happened to catch some of what they were saying.
The detective was happy for the robot being able to feel less fearful, but...
Kaito's voice called out for him, asking if he were coming back to their room.
Assuring the astronaut he was joining him, Shuichi left the hallway, his footsteps feeling heavier than usual.
Ryoma lingered around the sliding door, making sure Keebo was completely out of sight.
The room's door closed.
It was time.
The sea monster was the last to leave the living room, making his way to the kitchen.
The large, double-door refrigerator eventually stood before him.
Almost there.
Reaching out his small hand, he wrapped them around the handle and carefully pulled.
Bright light temporarily blinded him, contrasting with the darkness of the kitchen.
Adjusting to the light, his charcoal eyes scanned the contents of the fridge. All of the food was neatly stored in plastic containers or tightly wrapped up in plastic wrap, ensuring no moisture ruined its contents.
What he was looking for finally met his line of sight.
Among the food items wrapped up, the tuna sat before him, basking in the seemingly heavenly light of the cold refrigerator.
Ryoma's mouth began to water in anticipation.
His clawed hands outstretched, he grabbed the wrapped up fish, lifting it from its resting place like an ancient treasure in a temple.
Slowly closing the fridge door, the prisoner placed the tuna on the dining table.
Pinching the plastic wrap with the tips of his claws, he peeled back its edges.
The tuna was now open for him to take.
No turning back now.
Strategically peeling off a piece that would be the least noticeable, Ryoma eagerly popped it into his mouth.
Just as fresh as it was earlier, the flavor spread across his taste buds.
The sea monster pulled another piece.
Then another.
He couldn't get enough of it.
Unfortunately, if he didn't want to get caught, he couldn't take too much.
Pulling two more pieces to take with him, Ryoma began to wrap the tuna back up, attempting to hide the consumed side from visibility.
He couldn't quite do it the way Kirumi likely would, but he tried his best.
Making sure the fish was tightly packed again to keep out air, he reopened the fridge and returned it to its rightful place.
Gazing longingly at the tuna, Ryoma gently closed the refrigerator doors.
The sea monster quickly but quietly crept back to his room, taking his remaining pieces of fish. His eyes moved around with caution, watching out for anyone who might unexpectedly leave their rooms.
Softly opening and shutting his door, he removed his jacket and boots once again, his ruse no longer needed.
The boy hopped back into his bed, stretching as he yawned.
Lying on his back, he pulled out his prized pieces of tuna.
Ryoma stuffed them into his mouth, chewing as his tail swayed in content.
Mission accomplished.