The Merman From Ashore-A Bakudeku Love Story(Ao3 Version, New and Improved)

Chapter 11

You can do this. How hard can it be to just talk to him? Kiri said so himself, I have to get along with him. No matter how much I'm reminded how much of a jerk he was towards me.

"Kacchan," I called out his name, nickname to be specific. He looks at me over his shoulder. Okay, he has your full attention. Just talk to him. "What am I supposed to expect from this firework show?" Don't pretend to be that dumb! I know I'm supposed to expect a show of fireworks!

He lightly chuckles, why is his laugh so addicting? "I honestly don't know. Usually, fireworks are just rockets being shot into the sky and explode in all sorts of colors"

"Oh." Right, I knew that. That's what they had on the poster. Well, keep it up. You're making some good progress. "Then, what is it like? I mean, what was it like to see fireworks?"

Kacchan laid his arms down, holding himself on the edge of the pool, leaning his head back just to look at the sky, "In my opinion, it's just really annoying. The first time I saw fireworks was at a festival, I was just beyond tired and wanted to go home. Though the one time I did end up enjoying the fireworks was at my house, we were on the roof and watched the fireworks from there."

"Who were you with?" That's kind of pushing it. "You know what? Forget I asked that," I waved it off as I took a sip of water that I'm halfway finishing.

He raised an eyebrow, "Hah? You're the one that asked. If you want to know, then it was with my parents."

His parents... Huh. That's weird. How come I don't feel any envy towards someone with parents? Is it because I never had a mom and dad in my life? That I can't relate to these moments he's had as a kid because I was abandoned by them? "Your parents? What were they like?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

Shit, I've reached into the too-personal deep end! "Well... I was just wondering because I don't know you all that well. The only time we've ever bonded was when we were in handcuffs together."

Kacchan slowly nodded his head, "Is that why you asked me about fireworks?"

"Yeah..."

He sighs, "Deku, why didn't you just ask me something like, what's my favorite color?"
Huh? "Those are the kinds of questions humans ask each other? Why is that even an important question?"

"It's just for fun. We always have to ask and answer questions about our likes and dislikes. Like I just asked what your favorite color is. Your merlife must be the same thing as how people live up here."

I didn't know how to respond to that. I mean, merpeople always strike up a conversation like that with others, but the minute I was going to introduce myself, I get shut out. "I guess, but nobody ever asked what my favorite color is."

Looking at his face, it's sympathetic and serious, with a hint of focus, "What does that mean?"

"I mean, you're the first one, let alone a human to ask me what my favorite color is. No one's ever asked me that before."

Kacchan moves his arms away from the edge of the pool, lifting his head. He rubs the back of his neck, "I didn't—". I could faintly see some pink on the tip of his ears, despite how dark it is, he was probably angry with me. "I would like to know and I'll ask again," he took a deep breath. He looks back at me with determination, "What is your favorite color?"

I started fiddling with the pearl necklace again, I'm trying to think and sometimes it helps. "If you want to know, my favorite color is red. I don't know why, but there's just something about the color red that just makes me happy."

"Maybe because you're thinking of Kiri," he joked.

What?! He's only a friend! "Well, obviously his red hair makes him stand out," but to be honest, while I do like that shade of red, there's a different shade that I like. I couldn't say that it's the same color as Kacchan's eyes, because that would turn this into a very awkward conversation. "I just think that red is a very beautiful color."