The prince?
Why did I turn back into a mermaid?!
What did you say?
One person saw it.
I tried my best to hide her.
But then I changed back immediately.
Who was it that saw you?
Someone who reminded you of the prince, right?
What?
He looked like him just a little bit, but anyway!
Why did I turn back into a mermaid?
Your heart must've been deeply moved.
It must have been the same 200 years ago...
when you tried to be with the prince.
It was different from that time!
Of course, maybe you were just shaken.
Yeah...
In any case, there must be a reason behind it.
It could be that he's the one.
The one you're destined to find true love with.
I got scared because he reminded me of the prince, that's all.
He's not my soulmate!
Um...
Here.
My clothes.
That day...
You dove into Lake Biwa and went home without getting your clothes...
You dove into Lake Biwa?!
Wait, who is he?
He came in and asked for her.
Th-Thanks.
I'm Luca.
Okay?
What's your name?
It's Lara.
I see.
Does everyone know you're a mermaid?
Don't ever mention that!
I won't.
They'd think I'm the crazy one.
Oh yeah, give me your number.
My number?
I don't have one.
What?
Luca Akizuki
This is mine.
Figure out a way to contact me.
What a handsome weirdo.
Mari, what should I do?
You can use this.
It's Dad's old smartphone, but it should work.
What's the matter?
I won't allow a mermaid and human to love each other.
Is it okay...
Find people to follow
for me to keep on searching for my prince?
I don't know what Lisa told you,
but in order to bring light back to your family, you must find true love.
True love with a human.
Following
Luca
But...
Wanna try sending him a message?
Press here to speak and it'll type it out for you.
Lara.
Today
Lara
Hey, it worked.
What should I do next?
Today
Lara
What should I do next?
Huh?
It's your finger!
Huh? What?
"Come see me."
Luca
Come see me.
Does he just mean the two of you?
It's a date.
Take your finger off! Hurry!
Oh no...
Give me that!
Luca
Meet me at Biwako Terrace this Saturday at 10.
"Meet me at Biwako Terrace this Saturday at 10."
Mommy.
U-Um!
Hello!
Hey.
This way.
What?
Where are we going?
Please be informed that we operate a lift at the summit.
Cool!
What a great view!
It is a free service we offer.
Yeah!
Please enjoy the summit to your heart's content.
Why did we come up here?
They said it was going to be sunny today.
Let's try going higher.
I wonder if she's okay.
Break time's over!
Yes!
Don't worry.
We'll be there soon.
Who are you?
A first-year in high school.
Besides school?
Various things, I guess.
Various things?
Riding the lift is fun, huh?
Fun?
Where does this even go?
The view from the top is really beautiful.
So you like beautiful views?
Well, yeah, I guess.
I like beautiful things.
Beautiful...
That vile, repulsive form of yours!
I say "beautiful things,"
but beauty comes in various forms.
I'll get into that some other time.
We're almost there.
Get excited.
The weather report got it all wrong.
Can you really eat one yourself?
Thank you for your patience.
Yeah, I can!
Two curry breads, correct?
That's right.
Are you really not him?
Are you okay?
What a relief.
The buns are okay.
I'm starving right now.
Hey! They're both yours?
You're not giving me any?
Why aren't you sharing?!
So I guess this was something called a "date."
I didn't really understand the point.
But since that day, for some reason...
Luca started to contact me frequently.
Done with school.
Are you working today?
Can I see you?
Just finished.
Be right there.
Yesterday was fun.
I'll send you the Biwako Terrace pics later.
Thanks.
What are you doing?
The laundry.
I brought some snacks for you from Kyoto.
I'll be right over.
Luca
Good night, Lara.
I guess he can't sleep until he says good night.
So, what do you think of this Luca guy?
At first, I was scared, but...
He's not like the prince.
That's the feeling I get.
Okay.
Luca
There's a place I want to show you next time.
Lara, you're the first person I've ever brought here.
It's a secret place that even my friends don't know about.
I'm showing it just to you, Lara.
Okay.
Amazing!
Leo.
I told you not to come.
I knew it was a girl!
I'm Leo!
What's your name?
I'm Lara.
You're so pretty!
Too good for my brother.
Brother has a pretty face like me, but he's pretty clumsy, right?
Leo!
Look at that!
His paintings are crap, too.
Lara-chan, just tell him he sucks, okay?
It's for his own good!
I don't suck.
Is this your work?
Yeah.
What is this place?
This is what I wanted to show you, Lara.
What a strange room.
What did you paint here?
The blue sky.
How about this?
A wet dog.
And this?
My real self.
What were you looking at when you were painting these?
So I... I love beautiful things.
But not all beautiful things are visible to the eye.
I want to find true beauty with my heart, feel it,
and preserve it in painting form.
Ever since I saw you that day, I've wanted so badly to paint you.
And I've wanted to keep discovering all the beautiful things about you.
I think you're beautiful, Lara.
That's why...
This is you, Lara.
This is what I wanted to show you today.
Wh-What?
I-I'm so sorry.
Why are you laughing so hard?
Well, because...
It's doesn't look like me at all!
It's not done yet!
I think it's a nice painting.
There are still more colors I want to try out.
What happened?
That...
That dagger...
Lara?
I'm sorry.
Please leave me alone.
Lara, come back again!
I want to finish the painting!
You're home.
It's pretty late.
How did it go today?
Are you okay?
I want to see you again.
Sorry.
I'll check in again.
Good night.
The witch is aware of our presence.
She'll get rid of us if we try to approach Lara.
But please, let me try...
No.
There are other ways.
We'll get Lara back no matter what.
Before it's too late.
I'm cutting weight right now, so you can have mine, too.
I don't want any today.
Hey, the fireworks are happening next week.
Oh yeah. You going?
Luca, are you going with a girl like usual?
Nope.
How many girlfriends have you gone through?
Zero.
But you like someone, right?
Luca
Can I call you tonight?
Only when the chosen princess feels true love
will that radiant light be born deep within her heart.
But I fell in love with a human.
I fell in love with you.
Why are you rejecting me?
What's going on?
Why can't you love me?
That's the dagger?
I want to eat it...
I want to eat that soul!
I want to pierce through the prince's heart!
I want to eat it...
I want to eat it!
No!
I'd forgotten this until now...
That day, the light in my heart transformed into a blade.
My light that's supposed to be born from love...
But why?
I don't know, but...
That is my heart itself.
And it might hurt someone next time.
Are you worried?
You are too, right?
I thought she finally met that prince she was talking about.
Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival
What is that?
The fireworks festival. You've never been, right?
Our whole family watches the show from here every year.
I see.
People like to go with friends, too.
Is there anyone you'd want to go with?
Then join us this year!
You seem down lately.
Did Lara-chan dump you or—
Lara!
Mari.
Your friend's been standing at the pedestrian bridge for a long time.
I can't see him anymore.
You're okay with that?
There's no other way.
You're going to distance yourself without hearing him out?
La—
You're right, Mari.
I'll do the right thing and end it.
Luca!
Lara?
Were you waiting here this whole time?
I don't know.
Why do you look so sad?
You wanted to paint me that badly?
Because I'm a mermaid?
Getting close to me is different from getting close to another human.
I'm sorry.
I don't want to see you again.
I see.
I understand.
Luca?
At first, I was interested because you're a mermaid.
But it's different now.
Do you not like me because I'm human?
I know you don't want to see me anymore, but I'm sorry.
I... I want to be with you because you're you, Lara.
I may have been waiting for those words all this time.
Thank you.
Translation: Sachiko Takahashi
Timing: Andy Ellis Editing and Typesetting: Ashley Barboza
Quality Control: Riley Dalton Translation Check: Sriram Gurunathan
I want to be closer to him.
We're home!
Hey, Lara-chan.
You were out late.
The fireworks were amazing!
They sure were!
They were incredible.
To Be Continued