Reunited Luna

Rejecting fate and reeling in her own destiny.

If this were a fairytale,
a strange creature would use some wonderous magic
to turn me into a princess.

And just like the stories say,
the princess will marry a prince and live happily ever after.

Such envious happiness...

A girl meets mermaid romance!!

only exists in fairytales...

Father! When will you take me to the sea like you promised...?

Ah, you'll be going to a banquet that day.

Mother...! We promised to go on an outing that day...

You'll be meeting the prince of the neighboring country that day.

B-But...
my promise came first...

You're the country's princess, aren't you? The future of our people rests on your shoulders.
You can't be playing around all the time.
Eh...?
But...
Right? You've got dining etiquette lessons after this.
And you've got your piano lecturer waiting for you after that.

We can listen to your promise another time!
That's right.
Next time, okay, Sorulia?

...
...Right.

...Huh?
How am I...

A mer-...
...maid?

Eh!?
H-
Hey, wait!!

U-Um, tomorrow...
I promised to bring you something tasty to eat...!!
So come here again tomorrow!!

Hah... Hah...

...Why am I making such a promise...?

...Why did I come here again...?
I have no idea if she'll even be here...

She's here.

Y-
Y-
You came...!?

Huh?
You said you "promised", right?
In the sea, a promise is a contract, so I came here to fulfill it.

I-Is that so...?
I'm Sorulia. And you?
...Luna.
That's a lovely name!
Thanks...

So, where's this tasty food you promised?
Ah, sorry. Here it is!

Grapes~!
I picked them from our vineyard~

Ah~...
...

D-Delicious...!!
I see... Good to hear.
That's a long tongue...

p10

I haven't eaten something this good
in the 300 years I've been alive...
300 years!?

Amazing!! So mermaids live for a long time!?
The heck!? Are you trying to say I'm old!?

I'm going home!
That's not it! Wait...!

Hey! Let's meet here again tomorrow...!

...Will there be grapes?
There will! I'll bring them! I promise!

...A contract is formed. Make sure you fulfill it...!
Ah.
Y-Yeah!
It's cute how much of a glutton she is...

p11

When I first met you, Luna,

I thought you were prettier than the mermaids in my fairytales.
I guess you could say... I fell in love at first sight.
Wha-...

Wh-What are you saying all of a sudden, Soru...!?

But you're such a beautiful and fascinating mermaid.
You're antagonistic, obsessed with contracts, 300 years old and a glutton...
You don't see those in fairytales!
Ahaha
So do you like me or hate me!? Which is it!?

I like you,
Luna...

p12

Your antagonistic and gluttonous sides
are something I never get bored of...

You're the most beautiful mermaid in the world. I want to be with you forever.

...Th-
The heck...
I feel the same way...

...Say, how long do mermaids live for?
About 700 years... Sometimes about as long as 1000...
Heh~! That's really long.

p13

I've... never really wanted to live a long life myself,
but if it's with you, Luna, it might be fun...!
If only I were born a mermaid. Then I could be with you for longer...

Hey.
Is there a potion that can turn humans into mermaids?
There's magic that can turn mermaids into into humans...
but the contracts state that's taboo magic...

Guess there's no freedom in the sea either.
Contracts and taboos...
It's a contract that affects your very life...!

Hah... I just want to be with you, Luna.
Can't we just stay together as human and mermaid?

I want to live the same amount of time as you, Luna~...
Your face is so cute.
Ah~ You're dodging the subject.

p14

I'll bring you some different fruits tomorrow.
Not grapes?
It'll be something just as tasty!
...Really?

Really.
It's a promise.
That's good then.

...Hey, Luna.
If this were a fairytail, we'd surely get married.
Yeah... I'm sure of it.

p15

What fruit should I bring her tomorrow~...?
Fufu...♪

Sorulia. Where have you been?
Father...
I told you not to wander around.
Did you forget our promise?

...I'm sorry.

Besides, Soralia,
you have an important day the day after tomorrow. Have you finished getting ready for it?
...Ng.

p16

...
...
...Soru.

You're awfully quiet today.
Did something happen?

...

...It's nothing. I'm fine.

Then I'll change my question.
Why did you jump into the sea the day we met?
Does it have something to do with why you're so quiet today?

p17

...Ng.

Tell me, Soru.

...The day after tomorrow,
I'm to be married off to a major country in the mainland.
I don't think... I'll be able to come to the sea anymore.

Eh...?

p18

Princess Sorulia, is it true you're getting married!?

You're getting married to a major country in the mainland, right!? I'm certain it'll bring blessings to our country too!

By having trade connections to a country in the mainland, our country will become wealthier too!
We can count on you, right, Princess Sorulia!?

Your marriage will being these two countries together and further the development of our country.

p19

You'll make sure to go through with it,
right, Sorulia?

Yes.

That's what I promised my life away to.
If I break it, it'll cause trouble for the people of our country...

p20

I'm sorry for bringing this up now.
No...
It's fine, but...

All Mother and Father care about is the country.
Even though they never kept any promise to play with me...

I really hate it...
Soru...
I wish... I lived in a fairytale world...

I wish I had been born a mermaid too.
...!

p21

That's it...
Eh?

Soru!
Come with me to the sea!

We'll run away together,
the two of us!
Eh...?

p22

I'll make you a mermaid!
Wha-... How!? You said there wasn't such a magic...

True, there isn't one yet.
But that's just "yet".
That's why

I'll make some magic
that can turn you into a mermaid.

C-
Can you really do that...!?
I don't know for sure yet, but...!

p23

If there's magic that can turn mermaids into humans,
then I should be able to make magic that does the opposite...!!

I'm sure to make it someday!

I pro-...
...Stop it.

Soru...?
Stop it!
Don't give me any more hope...!!

p24

Eh...?

When will "someday" be?
How many years will it take?
Knowing your sense of time,
I might be dead by then!!
Soru...

It might not be easy,
but I'll definitely make it while you're still alive.
Definitely.

There's no such thing as definitely!!
Everyone says that to me but they never keep their promises...!!

p25

Soru.

Have I ever made a promise with you
that I didn't keep?

It may take some time,
but I'll definitely finish it and come to get you.

Wait for me until then.

p26

...
...In that case,
?

in order to find you easily, Luna,
I'll need to come back to the sea too...

Soru...?
What are you...

p27

Here.
I'll give this to you.

You're giving it to me...?
I'm a coward so...
I'm still worried.

That's why
this will be a charm.

p28

So even if it takes decades and my appearance changes,
you'll be able to find me again.

Keep that close to your skin
until the day you finish that potion.

p29

And once the potion's finished,
make sure you come to return it.

...Of course.

p30

I'll make the life you lead from now on
a fairytale where you and I get married.
It's a promise.

Yeah.
A promise...

p31

Let's meet again.

p32

Please be careful.

Thank you.
Queen Mother, the sea will be stormy today.
I should come with you...
I told you before, didn't I?
I need to go alone.

For this, at least...

p33

...She's not here today either, huh...
...Ah, they're a little too ripe...
I guess grape season's almost over...

How nice. Those grapes are my favorite.
How about trading me them for this?

I'm sorry I'm late,
Sorulia.

p34

...
What took you...?

For keeping your promise...
and making my life a fairytale...
Thank you.

Warning