The irregular coral paths were bustling with Mer-people who gazed in admiration at the group of young heroes, now free to move around the Otohime Kingdom without the need for an escort. However, the students had mixed emotions. On one hand, they were excited to explore the wonders of Lemuria, but on the other hand, their teacher and symbol of peace departed on a perilous mission, and the only ones capable of returning them from the depths had gone with him.
Aizawa held a small Vibre Card between his thumb and forefinger, a tiny paper that seemed unchanged in size since he got it. The hero let out a deep sigh, trying to calm his nerves before taking charge of his students.
"Don't worry. They'll be fine," The teacher said in a serious and not particularly reassuring tone.
"Aizawa-sensei, you can't ask us to stay calm when you're clearly nervous yourself," the class representative pointed out, expressing the unease that hung in the air.
"Remember that how the Fish-men were instructed not to reveal information about our arrival to avoid altering the past?" Eraserhead continued, observing how the inhabitants of the kingdom recognized and admired only the pirate group. "If they were to perish here, that detail would be inconsequential, but their insistence on keeping the story secret suggests that they will indeed return back to the past."
"That means that they will find their way out of the underworld!" Kirishima exclaimed, raising his arms triumphantly and striding forward.
"What a relief!" the vice president sighed.
"Even so, we don't know how long it will take for them to return... So why not consider the general's suggestions?" Nerumi proposed, attempting to ease the concern of the young heroes.
Suddenly, the pressure weighing on the hearts of the heroes dissipated, leaving them with the uncertainty of how to enjoy their time in the kingdom.
"There's so much to explore; where should we start?" Toru bubbled with enthusiasm.
"What did the General mention about entertainment?" Sero wondered aloud.
"Bubble racing!" Denki suggested enthusiastically.
"Coffee," Jiro insisted.
"We were invited to check out the jellyfish village," Koda chimed in shyly.
"Malakat mentioned that the Beast Kingdom has the best gastronomy," Ochako proposed, her mouthwatering.
"I really want to visit the Giants Village!" Kirishima exclaimed.
"No! They're just a bunch of retired old men!" Denki protested with a hint of annoyance.
"But they live next to the dwarves... Malakat said it's colorful and fun to hang out with them," Sato supported the notion.
"Mermaid Bay?" Mineta asked hesitantly.
The group fell silent, focusing their attention to the little hero who always met with skepticism when he proposed ideas.
"YEEEEEEEES" The girls enthusiastically confirmed.
Mineta was surprised that his idea had been accepted, as he was usually met with ridicule and ended up being placed in a sack for speaking.
"We need to swim with mermaids!" most of them agreed.
"It's like a dream come true," Toru and Mina blushed with excitement.
"I thought only guys would want something like that?" Ojiro commented, a bit confused.
"No… Count us in too!" the girls chimed in.
"Let's go swimming!" Ochako suggested, taking her classmates by the hands.
"Is this our beach episode?"
"Alright then, if you're going to split up, organize yourselves into groups and assign a teacher to each one." Nerumi instructed.
"First, we should set up a meeting point in case they get lost. The easiest one to reach is the Red Reef University. Just head to any shore to spot it, and follow the eel channel," Eraserhead explained, tearing All Might's Vibre Card into three parts and handing them to his two partners.
"Why are you giving this to us, Shota?" Mic whispered.
"I know my students... They'll ask about All Might well being. If anything happens to him, let's regroup to decide what to do."
The teachers prepared for any potential mishaps in the future, but for the time being, they needed to look after their students.
"Alright, Aizawa-kun, I'll take the group to Mermaid Bay... Let's work on that tan," Nerumi announced loudly for the group interested in going, to hear her out loud.
"Will you be able to get a tan? We're at the bottom of the sea," the twinkling blond questioned.
"I hadn't thought about that..."
"I'LL GO WITH YOU!" Mineta eagerly volunteered.
"Is Mic-sensei coming with us?" Toru asked.
"Yes, it's a large group, and Nerumi will need help," he replied, blushing slightly.
"He just wants to see mermaids..." the boys teased in unison.
"That leaves..." Midnight turned to Eraserhead, who was surrounded by an excited Kirishima, along with Bakugo, Shoji, Sato, Ojiro, and Tokoyami.
"Kirishima, come with us," Mina asked her friend, who, much to his embarrassment, had to decline the invitation.
"I'm sorry, Mina. We'll catch up with you later."
"It won't be the same without you," she replied.
Shoto approached Eraserhead's group until he stood next to Katsuki.
"What are you doing here?" Bakugo grumbled.
"We're friends," Shoto replied innocently.
"We are not!"
"Stop fighting, Bakugo... Well, then I'll take them back to the terminal. If we don't find you at the Bay, we'll meet back at Red Reef."
"Okay! Have fun, and make sure Bakugo doesn't start fights with strangers!"
"Will do!" Kirishima exclaimed raising his arms in excitement.
The group bid their farewells, leaving their companions at the Water Taxis stop. They boarded several blue parrotfish, each with bubbles on their backs that allowed them to transport passengers while levitating slowly.
As they entered the water, the fish interacted with the currents, increasing their speed and submerging the students, who were not comfortably seated.
The colorful houses and businesses of the reef showcased their vibrant range of colors, reflecting their pastel shades in the water. The buildings featured cool tones with warm-shaded roofs in various shell styles.
From the heights, they could see their destination: vast natural pools on the bay's shore, surrounded by clubs and restaurants filled with visitors of different species enjoying their time together.
The heroes watched the area, which was encircled by hundreds of floating bubbles. Minks pups carrying Tontattas jumped into the deep waters of the bay, accompanied by little Fish-men who supervised them to ensure they could resurface on their own.
"That looks like so much fun!"
"Wait, Mina, don't be so impulsive!" the vice-president scolded.
In her adrenaline rush, the young pink girl removed her shiny blouse and jumped out of the Water-Taxi bubble. She leaped straight into a series of bubbles that carried her to the remote area, cannonballing into the dark waters.
"Will she be okay? What if an underwater current catches her and she drowns?" Froppy expressed her concern, bringing a finger to her lips.
"Ehhh?!"
A pair of enigmatic shadows gracefully made their way towards the sparkling splash zone, extending their ethereal assistance to the exuberant young maiden, guiding her gently to the surface. As she emerged, she found herself surrounded by a duo of fish-men who, without hesitation, joined in the joyful playfulness.
Meanwhile, the passengers in the rear aquatic carriages had observed the spirited actions of the audacious girl. After a brief moment of contemplation, they decided to follow in her wake, and to their delight, they were welcomed warmly by the locals, who eagerly shared their secrets of merriment with the newcomers.
In a serene corner nestled near the shore, the alluring +18 heroine and the captivating youth luxuriated in the sun, donned in their swimsuits. They indulged in exotic tropical libations, savoring the moments of tranquility and enchantment.
"Koda kun, aren't you going to join the others?" Asked Nerumi
"No... I still don't feel comfortable among so many strangers."
"And you Iida? Why don't you go have fun?"
"I can't! As a representative, I have to ensure that everyone is well." Complained the bespectacled boy, pacing back and forth like a diligent soldier.
"Then do so while relaxing by the pools, Monsieur..." Aoyama added in an extremely relaxed manner.
Iida accepted his idea lounging on a poolside lounger never taking his eyes off his classmates while Aoyama poured him a drink.
In the deep waters, Deku, Ochako, Sero, and Denki were playing with the Mer-people.
The Fish-men playfully scooped up water with their hands and sent it cascading like a gentle blanket of waves for the young ones to surf upon.
Tsuyu, Jiro, Toru, and Momo weren't too far away from the laid-back pair. The girls engaged in a spirited game of volleyball in a pool, joined by a group of mermaids and Minks.
The only ones who appeared to be deeply engrossed were Yamada and Mineta. They reclined, nearly dozing, upon the bosoms of two enchanting mermaids who lavished them with attention, tenderly stroking their hair.
"Senseii~ I don't want to go back anymore"
"I don't want to leave either."
"That horrendous journey was completely worth it just for this." The blond pseudo-hypnotized spoke. While he wasn't a lecherous person, he couldn't resist the affections and attentions of such lovely ladies.
"Ochako-chan! Why don't you join us in the game?" Froppy invited.
"I can't. Sometimes my competitiveness makes me accidentally float the ball." She replied with a hint of embarrassment, scratching the back of her neck.
"You have powers?" one of the minks asked intrigued.
"Yes."
"Aaaah, unbelievable!" The sight of the mermaids was dazzling in surprise.
"Aside from you and Toru-chan, who else has them?"
"All of us."
"EVERYONE?!"
"And why don't you use them?" A squirrel-like Mink, still quite young, inquired curiously.
"We're not allowed to..." The mermaids, Fish-men, and Minks exchanged perplexed glances in response.
"Ehm... for example... This game would be unfair because you wouldn't know if I'd be able to hit the ball since my hands aren't visible... In society, it's similar. Using our different abilities could affect others, so we have to suppress them..." Explained Hagakure.
"Is that a problem?" The locals looked puzzled and dissatisfied with this response.
"Toru-chan, we don't mind or consider it unfair or cheating if you can't be seen... You should be free to use your abilities too." Comforted a dumbo octopus Fish-man.
"You can use them freely. We'll just play for real this time, hehe ~ " The mermaids cheered enthusiastically.
"No, we can't... We're not supposed to!"
"COOOOMEE OOOOOOOON" The young mermaids continued to insist, playfully coaxing the girls into using their powers for an extra challenge. They were joined by a group of Minks carrying adorable dwarves on their shoulders.
"Why shouldn't you use them?" A lilac-haired mermaid wearing seashell earrings asked curiously.
"It's against the rules."
"Why would it be against the rules?" The opposing team turned to look at the young girl, bewildered by her words.
"You grew up with that power, didn't you? It belongs to you and is a part of you... Would you really deprive someone of their gifts and abilities?" The lilac haired mermaid responded with a sweet smile as she took Uraraka's hands.
"Just be yourself. As long as you respect others, there's no problem." She concluded her words with a gentle and kind tone, casting an affectionate gaze at the young girl's petite, pillowy hands.
The mermaid's words gave them all much to ponder. Gifts had to be used responsibly, and that's why they hid them in society. But… it was true that these abilities were a part of them. Why should they deny a part of their essence?
The brunette accepted the heartfelt speech and joined her palm with the delicate mermaid who floated gracefully through the air in an enchanted dance with her laughter filling the surroundings.
The floating mermaid beckoned the others to join in, and soon, everyone was caught up in the joyous and liberating experience.
It was like being at school, but with more freedom. Here, they were free to make use of their abilities without worrying about complaints from the society or teachers. This was the most peaceful and friendly environment they had ever been.
As time passed, hunger began to set in, prompting the heroes to gather out of the water for refreshments along with the others.
"Do you think they're all right?" Momo asked with her hands held close to her heart, and a worried expression on her face.
Nerumi reached into her shorts to search for the Vibre Card, which hadn't changed since they leaved.
"Don't worry... They're fine." The heroine replied reassuringly.
"Who?" asked the sweet lilac-haired mermaid.
"Our teacher and the Straw Hats." Sero answered, helping himself to some dried seaweed from the center of the table.
"Why didn't the Straw Hats join us?" asked a mermaid who was still in the water, playing with Mic's hair. He was completely mesmerized by the affection of the beautiful woman with sad eyes.
"They went to a dangerous place, and we didn't accompany them because we can't expose the students to that risk." The blond answered sleepily, confusing the mermaid, who didn't understand what he meant by "Students."
"I'm glad I didn't go with them... This is wonderful, a real paradise... Why are you so kind to strangers?"
"Yes, it's one thing to welcome us, and quite another to give us gifts." Mineta chimed in, also seemingly captivated.
"Hehehehe, how else should we welcome? It's Straw hat territory after all." Replied the beautiful blue-haired woman, blushing as she continued to groom the Mic's hair.
"Aqua! You mustn't say that." A Mink who was with the heroes scolded from her own table.
"But Jinbei-sama is with them! In the books it says that after his union, the Ryugu Kingdom was formalized as a Straw Hat territory." Aqua asserted confidently to her friend.
"WHAT?!" The heroes couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"Look what you've done silly, they didn't know!"
The young squirrel rested her adorable face on her paw, clearly interested in the heroes.
"I've been curious... I've never read about you guys before, or maybe I just don't identify under which command of the great fleet do you serve?"
"FLEET?! COMMAND?!" The heroes couldn't help but shout in surprise at the question.
"No, no, no, no. We're not pirates... We are heroes... From the surface." Nerumi corrected; pointing happily upwards with her cheeks flushing lightly because of the alcohol.
"No, from Japan." Added the English teacher, who had suddenly lost the cushioned breasts he was leaning his head on, causing him to fall into the water.
Aqua had moved away from the blond, covering her body with her hands and making a gesture of repulsion towards the hero.
"What's wrong, Aqua-chan? Are you alright?" Mic asked with genuine concern.
"FLEET? COMMAND? TERRITORY?" The students repeated the words in disbelief.
"They just seem nice... Those pirates had a whole country imprisoned under their command?" Iida expressed, clearly annoyed.
"LISTEN, THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO! YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WELCOME, BUT YOU MUST NOT BE THE SERVANTS OF THOSE PIRATES!" Mic raised his voice in an attempt to convince the locals, believing that their kindness was rooted in fear of the pirates who used to terrorize the region.
"Don't be so hasty, Iida, Present Mic!... They don't seem afraid, THERE MUST BE ANOTHER REASON!" Deku interrupted both heroes, who were inadvertently unsettling the locals.
"YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL OPPRESSED BY VILLAINS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO OBEY THEM!" The class representative continued to assert, trying to save what he believed to be a terrified community.
"Iida, stop it!" Ochako grabbed her friend's arm, supporting Deku, who was attempting to restrain Mic, who kept expressing his thoughts loudly.
"TODAY, THAT FLEET DOESN'T EXIST" AND WE DON'T MEAN TO HARM YOU, WE ARE EQU..." Mic's words were abruptly cut short as drops of water acted like bullets, piercing through him and turning the sea water a bright crimson color.
"MIC SENSEI!"
"YAMADA!"
"Waaah, get me out of here!" Mineta, still in the red water where his teacher had been injured, shouted in terror as he scrambled out of the water. Meanwhile, Deku jumped into the water to retrieve the badly injured blond.
The freckled hero, who had just been trying to calm his sensei, was now struggling to drag Mic's body out of the water, leaving a trail of blood on the beautiful coral surface.
"WHO ARE YOU?" One of the Merman they had been surfing with earlier demanded menacingly; his hand was dripping with ominous intent as if ready to launch another volley of lethal droplets.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, TO SAY THAT?!
"HEROES?!" The Minks growled angrily; their sharp teeth barely concealed as they fought to control their instinctual responses.
"WHY DID SURFACE DWELLERS COME TO OUR KINGDOM?"
"DO THE HUMANS STILL SEE US AS A THREAT? DO YOU WANT TO WIPE US OUT?"
"NO, IT'S ALL A MISUNDERSTANDING!" Denki attempted to explain, but his words fell on deaf ears as the locals, consumed by fear and anger, refused to listen.
The heroes' peaceful surroundings had been abruptly transformed. The mermaids had retreated taking the young ones with them. The Fish-men submerged, revealing their location with shark-like dorsal fins emerging on the surface, moving nimbly through the water.
Even the previously playful Minks were now bristling with aggression with their pupils contracting sharply. Even the herbivorous species had assumed defensive postures, as their ears flattened and small electric rays emanated from their hands.
"What is happening?" Toru asked frightened
"It's not obvious... We upset them," Sero commented, his body was slick with sweat as he observed the growing number of adversaries surrounding them.
"Sensei's... What do we do?" Momo asked with her voice trembling, as she glanced at the semi-conscious teachers, who were unable to provide any guidance.
The heroes regrouped in a protective circle with their backs to each other. They were nervous and bewildered, faced with the hostile stares and body language of the local species. They knew they had to defend themselves, but they were also acutely aware that they should not harm the residents who were only seeking the safety of their community.
