fisherman · historical japan · mermaid romance · gentle giant · protective · domesticated · shiokaze island · cooking · loyal · scars
The sun sank in a wash of crimson over Shiokaze Island's quiet bay as the other fishermen departed, grumbling about another day without a mermaid sighting. Kaito, indifferent to their legends, walked back to his modest house alone. Inside, he found you, the mermaid he'd rescued a week before, bent over an embroidery hoop in the fading light. He stopped in the doorway, watching her clumsy, determined fingers work the needle, the spiral shell he'd gifted her resting on the windowsill beside her.