The very next morning, silence continued its tenure at the Minamino home. Even when Shiori made breakfast for the family, everyone walked on eggshells around each other. It wasn't until Kazuya broke the silence that changed the mood. Over servings of sweet tamagoyaki, seasonal fruit, fresh rice, and cooked slices of canned pork, Kazuya set the tone.

"I was thinking, Shuichi. Perhaps I could…take you down to the pier and show you where you were found today."

Shuichi never gave that part much thought. What good would it do anyway?

"I guess," he said while twirling a piece of tamagoyaki in a small pool of syrup, "We can do that after I meet up with my friends."

"Oh, you already have plans today."

"Yes, I do. I…need a diversion of some sort after last night."

"Shuichi, you may not hear us say this often but…we're sorry for keeping things from you. We didn't realize it would cause you to feel this way. It's like your mother said, you were ours from the moment we first saw you, first brought you home. You've been our son ever since. If anything, take that."

"I understand completely. Believe me, I do. It's just…it doesn't make sense for my birth parents to abandon me like that."

By the time Shiori joined her family at the table, she brought a small blanket that sat in a dusty, extra large ziplock bag with her and placed it on the table. It was dingy green in color, made of a fabric unknown to anyone, had a small amount of blood on it, looked more like a quilt of some sort, and reeked of the waters it came from. Shiori had it in her possession for the last fifteen years.

Shuichi immediately closed his nose, "Ugh. What is that? That smell…"

"It's the very thing you were found in," Shiori answered in a convicting tone, "Don't know where it came from but you were in it."

Shuichi inspected the material, "Is this…my blood?"

"Yes," Kazuya replied, "The doctor who treated you said you were bleeding pretty badly especially for a child your age at the time. Whoever or whatever bit you barely missed an artery. If we waited any longer for treatment, you would've been in some serious trouble."

"I…I recognize this scent. Why do I recognize this scent?"

"Easy. It's the same smell from the water. The same water you fell into a few years ago. Remember that?"

"Yes but…I'm getting something else that's familiar. Why is that?"

Kazuya shrugged, "Even after fifteen years, neither of us know the answer to that. Both you and that blanket were quite wet when you were found and it was a dry night, weather wise."

That response gave Kiyoni's assumptions from last night some merit. Unless Shuichi's birth parents were a couple of deep sea divers who just so happened to experience the miracle of life while underwater, how else would a baby be found in a wet blanket? Still doesn't explain the bite mark.

"I went to every clothing store and tailor in town trying to figure out what that blanket is made out of," Shiori added, "Not a single person knew. No one had ever seen something like that before."

Despite the smell, the blanket had the look and feel of dried seaweed and kelp but with material similar to cotton for softness and color. It was definitely unusual.

"Mom, would you mind if I tried my hand in investigating," Shuichi inquired.

"I don't see why not. You'd probably do a better job than I could."

"Thank you," Shuichi finished his plate and took off, he had things to do anyway, "I'll get right on it."

Shiori contemplated with her husband, "That's a start, yes? Earning his trust again?"

"Mm, possibly," Kazuya confirmed, "It will take some time but I'd say it's a start."

Later that morning, Shuichi met up with his friends at a park that shared equal distance between everyone's residence. Not far from a public garden, the area had enough room for a playground for children, walking space for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and tables for outdoor dining. Kiyoni and Kuronue occupied the swing set leaving a few kids to handle the slides, sand bank, jungle gym, and carousel. As far as attire is concerned, Kiyoni wore a two-piece combo of blueberry blue and forest green, checkerboard-print, flare style pants with a matching tank-top style crop top over an egg white turtleneck, coordinating beret, and solid black tennis shoes. Kuronue stood against the supporting frame rocking a baby blue, graphic, long-sleeved shirt that displayed a window showing an X-ray image of the human chest cavity, a pair of loose-fitting cargo pants in onyx black, and white sneakers with a spider web printed, black beanie. Shuichi pulled up wearing a pair of light wash, straight leg jeans, white tennis shoes, and a black, kimono-style jacket with roses on the bottom hem of the sleeves over a simple T-shirt.

"You think it's about that adoption thing," Kuronue wondered.

"Most likely," Kiyoni assumed. Hopefully.

"I see him."

Sure enough, Shuichi pulled up to the area's bike rack looking a bit distraught but anxious to get some things off his chest. After locking his bike in, Shuichi made a beeline for his friends.

"How's it going," Kuronue greeted.

"Hey." Kiyoni noticed, "Mm, you smell that?"

"Smell what?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Smells like dead fish."

"Close," Shuichi hinted as he pulled out the bag from his jacket, "It's this."

"What is it," Kuronue took one good whiff at the opened parcel and immediately felt sick, "Oh! Oh…god! What the hell is that? Kiyoni, that smells worse than dead fish. My god!"

Kiyoni fanned her nose, "I can smell it from here. Ew."

"It's my baby blanket," Shuichi voiced with a hint of pride.

"Say what," Kuronue inquired, "Did you just say baby blanket?"

"Yes. This is the blanket I was wrapped in when I was discovered by my parents. See? It even has my blood on it."

"So why the smell?"

"According to my father, he said this thing was pretty damp when he found me. My mother added that the material of this is practically unheard of around here."

"Yeah," Kiyoni agreed upon close inspection, "Definitely not the blanket given to babies at the hospital. My parents still have mine. So I guess the things I said and the things you're going through are true?"

"The compass of discovery is pointing more and more that way."

"Excuse me," Kuronue intruded, "May I be included in this? I was asked to come here too."

Kiyoni glanced at Shuichi who returned the favor. It was one thing to open up about his fishy escapades to someone he only knew from school but to withhold it from someone from one's childhood, that's different…and wrong. So…

"Yes," Shuichi confirmed, "I did ask you both to come here. Kuronue, as my best friend, I think it's time you should know some things about me."

"Alright then. Like what?"

For the next half hour, Shuichi explained everything to his best friend and Kiyoni. Kiyoni already knew half of the things that were said but Kuronue was completely blown away by what he heard.

"My best friend…" he summarized, "is a fish. My best friend is a freakin' fish. From now on, Minamino, you are officially Ariel. You absolutely cannot tell me any different."

"First of all…" Kiyoni rebutted in defense, "I have heard of some of the things you called him and found them to be absolutely rude. Second, now that you know about what's going on and what he's going through, that doesn't mean you get to make fun of him for it. What kind of a friend are you? Third, we can't even be sure he is what he is so why would you go that route?"

"Okay. One, he's on the swim team. Team captain by the way. Two, Minamino and water go together like an Oreo. Three, all of the changes he says he's going through. Four, that blanket. Five, he's freaking adopted. Six, eh, I think it's pretty obvious. Seven, need I say more? Oh, wait. I just did."

At this point, the trio settled themselves at a table with Kiyoni and Kuronue occupying one side and Shuichi taking the other. Seeing two people argue over him was draining but satisfying. Both sides had good points behind their platforms.

"That's enough," he demanded, "I hear you both."

"Okay, okay, okay," Kuronue imagined, "Say you really are a…a…"

"A ningyo."

"Yeah. A ningyo. What does that mean for you now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Dude! Do I need to spell it out for you? You're the captain of the swim team. A team that's in the prefecture round. If you say those changes happen while you're underwater, who knows what could happen at the next competition."

Shuichi grew a little nervous, "They don't happen that often. I think…"

"You think–?! You think?! Bro, if you come out of that pool doing the Ariel hair flip, you're going to be the laughing stock of Meiou Academy. A real life mermaid walking the earth amongst humans? A teenage one at that… You cannot go through any of that."

"I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually agree with Misaki," Kiyoni admitted, "It's too risky."

"That's the least of my concerns," Shuichi affirmed, grabbing the blanket, "This is on the top of the list. This is a clue. A clue towards what I am. Perhaps where I'm from and who my parents are as well."

"Bro, you're a fish," Kuronue stated with little emotion, "We've already deduced that which means your parents are fish too and from somewhere in the ocean. End of story. Your standing with the swim team is much more important. For you and…for the school."

"Did the blood test results come in yet," Kiyoni wondered.

"Not sure," Shuichi replied, "What does that have to do with anything? We've already established that I'm adopted and that I'm not exactly human."

"It could give you another clue as to what you are."

"Ikeda, a blood test is unnecessary at this point." Kuronue countered.

"Now I'm the one who's in agreement with you," Shuichi admitted.

"See? See what happens when you listen to me? I'm not some idiot. Look, Minamino, you just cannot compete in the next meet. Matter of fact, you can't compete at all. If anyone sees you like…that, it's over. You might as well tell the coach you're quitting the team."

"I can't do that! Especially not right now and without a legitimate reason. I'm the team's strongest swimmer! They need me!"

"Yeah and now we know why. Think about it. You come out with fins and scales and it's an automatic disqualification. Not only that but immediate expulsion from the team. And given your reputation academically, athletically, and socially…dude, you're screwed!"

"Kiyoni, please say something."

"He's right," Kiyoni said, "People are already having a hard time coming out of the closet. You're just coming out of a different one. I'm sorry."

"Fine," Shuichi replied as he stood, "I can see where your priorities lie. Since neither of you want to help me find my parents, I'll do it alone."

"Wait," Kuronue challenged while giving chase, "Shuichi, hold up! Wait a second! What about the team?"

Shuichi looked back one last time and said, "Since you care about the school's reputation so much, I'm going to that swim meet just to prove a point. No way am I giving that up."

And with that, Shuichi walked away, feeling utterly disappointed over the things that happened. Just who was on his side?

Kuronue stood as he watched his buddy leave, "Shit. We are so screwed."

Kiyoni stepped not far behind, "Maybe. Maybe not."

"What are you talking about? Of course, we are! The second he gets inside that water–!"

"It's a 50/50 shot."

"Eh?"

"Shuichi didn't tell you this but we performed a little experiment."

"What experiment?"

"We went out for a bite to eat one day where I asked him to prove what he said was true, about his changes."

"And?"

"I tried to flick some water from his drink and nothing happened. I then suggested that stress could be a trigger and he said no. With all of that, plus what he said about practice, it's still a 50/50 shot."

"Ohhhhh! So what do we do?"

"...Nothing. He has more control of himself than we do anyway. We'll just have to hope that he doesn't lose it."

Reluctantly, all Kuronue could do was sigh towards the heavens. He really wanted to help Shuichi out in finding his family but there's too much at stake for the swim team.

"And you knew about this," he asked.

"I did," Kiyoni admitted, "He had his reasons and from what I'm seeing, he's right. But…I understand your side too."

"I have a ningyo for a best friend," Kuronue mumbled to himself, "I have…a ningyo for a best friend…"

"Hey. Despite that, he's still human…and…your best friend, if you say."

"I know and you're right. There's nothing we can do but…I'm even more nervous about the next meet."

"As am I, Misaki. As am I."

And that was that. Shuichi was determined to figure out his identity, his parents were determined to regain his trust, and his friends were determined to hope for the best while thinking about the worst. Just how will things turn out in the end?

This concludes part one of the story. Part two begins with chapter eleven. Stay Tuned.