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When Kojiro was six years old, he almost drowned in the ocean.
He was already exhausted from the beach day with his family. The sun was about to set and Kojiro had wanted to swim one last time before they left. The waves were choppy and the breeze had a chill to it, the signs of an upcoming storm on the sea. He swam out farther than he should, trying to prove to himself just how good of a swimmer he had become.
It was a mistake.
The tide pulled him under. He tried fighting his way back up to the surface but the waves were too strong.
And then there was darkness.
Kojiro only remembered flashes of what happened when he regained consciousness.
He remembers the feeling of the sandy beach on his back. He remembers light pink hair, the color of cherry blossoms. He remembers frightened, golden eyes on a beautiful face outlined by light pink and purple scales belonging to a boy who looked around his age. He remembers a dark pink tail attached to the boy, lined with scales that matched the ones on his face. He remembers seeing how scared the boy looked, maybe even angry. He remembers watching him disappear into the ocean.
Then the darkness came again.
His parents were there when Kojiro woke up for a second time, frantically crying and checking him over. He wanted to tell them about the beautiful boy who saved his life, who came from the sea, but knew they wouldn’t believe him.
Kojiro thought of the encounter often in the years that followed, later realizing that the mysterious boy he met was a mermaid after he put all the pieces together. The scales, the fins, the inhumane beauty. Kojiro would visit that beach every year on the anniversary of his near drowning, skipping a few years when he was studying culinary arts in Italy, hoping to see a glimpse of his savior but he never did.
Exactly twenty years have passed since that day. A dock was built a few years back along the beach and that’s where Kojiro finds himself currently. He sits along the far edge of the dock, legs dangling just above the water’s surface. The sun has already set and he stares out at the water, as he does every year, looking for a flash of pink among the dark water. He takes the last sip of his beer and sets it down beside the empty cans he has already consumed.
Kojiro has already made up his mind. This is the last time. He won’t be coming back here after tonight.
He lets out a sigh before standing up. Kojiro feels his head spin, from the combination of standing up too quickly and too many beers. He loses his footing, too close to the edge of the dock, and lets out a yelp as he falls off the edge into the cold water below.
The alcohol mixed with the coldness of the water tonight has Kojiro struggling as soon as he falls in, limbs flailing as he tries to overcome the dizziness and keep his head above the surface. He feels so weak, his body heavy with the water pulling him down like quicksand.
He feels himself start to sink down and he closes his eyes, accepting his fate. Seconds later, lean but strong arms wrap about his torso and pull him back up towards the surface. He starts coughing as soon as his head is above water, trying to catch his breath while figuring out what happened, and then he sees him.
Light pink hair, longer than he remembers, framing the face of the most beautiful creature he’s ever laid eyes on. Pointed ears peaking out from behind the pink locks. Pink and purple scales along his face and arms. A dark pink tail Kojiro can make out through the surface, brushing lightly against Kojiro’s legs as he is pulled towards more shallow water. When Kojiro is able to touch the bottom, he pulls back to get the mermaid’s attention.
“I knew you were real,” Kojiro whispers. To himself or the pink-haired man, he’s not so sure. The mermaid locks eyes with him, eyebrows pulled together in an angry scowl.
“What were you thinking?” he yells. “Are you an idiot? Getting drunk and falling into the ocean?”
“I…” Kojiro finds himself at a loss for words. How could he find someone so beautiful when they were criticizing him?
“What would you have done if I wasn’t here? You could have drowned for real this time!” The mermaid crosses his arms over his chest and Kojiro can see long, pointed fingernails on his delicate hands.
“You remember me?” Kojiro asks.
“Of course I do,” is the reply he gets. “I have watched you come here on the same day every year.”
“And you never said anything? For twenty years? I thought I was crazy, that I made you up. But you’re real.”
“I am,” he replies shyly, anger dissipating slowly.
"Can you tell me your name?" Kojiro asks.
The mermaid hesitates before speaking. "Kaoru."
"You have a lovely name, Kaoru. You are lovely. Thank you for saving me. Both times. I'm Kojiro." He slowly grabs one of Kaoru's hands and brings it up to his mouth, fascinated with the feeling of Kaoru's scales against his lips as he gives the hand a kiss. Kojiro pulls back, eyes locked with Kaoru's as the mermaid stares back in wonder.
"Kojiro," the mermaid says slowly. "That's a strange name."
Kojiro feels an eye twitch in response but somehow keeps his composure. They stare at each other in silence for a moment until Kojiro speaks again.
"Are there a lot of your kind?" he asks. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
"It’s fine. There are many different clans around the world. Mine has around thirty."
"And you all live near here?"
Kaoru gives him a nod.
"How come no one has seen any of you before?" Kojiro asks. "With so many of you nearby?"
"We live deep down near the bottom of the sea," Kaoru explains. "And we are not allowed to reveal ourselves to humans. Or intervene when they are in peril."
"Then why did you save me? All those years ago?" Kojiro is hesitant to ask but he has to know .
"I couldn't let you drown," Kaoru replies shyly. He pauses for a moment and continues. "I watched you that day on the beach, playing with your siblings, full of so much joy. I couldn't let that sort of happiness be taken from this world."
Kojiro found himself at a loss for words for a moment, swallowing deeply.
"And today? Why did you save me?"
Kaoru looks back at him, looking frightened.
"I should leave," Kaoru says. He turns to start swimming away but Kojiro grabs his hand to stop him.
"Wait! Can I see you again?" Kojiro asks.
"I don't think, I can't-"
"Please, Kaoru?"
Kaoru pauses for a few moments.
"It'll have to be a secret," Kaoru finally agrees. "Meet me tomorrow night at the cave when the moon is highest." He gestures through the darkness to a cave in the distance at the end of the beach.
"I'll be there," Kojiro replies quickly.
"I have to go," Kaoru says but doesn't move away this time, hand still in Kojiro's. Kojiro is about to reply but is cut off by Kaoru pulling him into a hug, arms wrapped tightly around him. Kojiro squeezes the mermaid back and lets out a content sigh. Too soon, Kaoru pulls away. He brings a hand up to run his long-nailed fingers through Kojiro’s green locks.
"Tomorrow," Kaoru says with a small smile and nod.
Kojiro smiles back and then watches as Kaoru turns around and swims away before disappearing under the water.