"Lord Leno, I've finally waited for you!"
"Waaahhh—!"
After confirming it really was Leno, Shirahoshi could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs, her tears pouring down as if they cost nothing.
She scooped Leno up in one hand and rubbed him back and forth against her cheek nonstop.
Thus, the once-mighty Leno was reduced to a helpless toy, unconsciously kneaded by the Mermaid Princess.
Endless teardrops cascaded like a burst dam, washing over Leno from head to toe again and again.
He never imagined that in just a moment's distraction, he'd end up in such a tragic state.
He tried to say something, but Shirahoshi gave him no chance—once she started crying, she just couldn't stop!
Left with no choice, Leno turned into a bolt of lightning to escape, returning to the others.
Wiping the water from his face, Leno turned toward the princes and asked with mild frustration,
"What's going on? Princess Shirahoshi knows me?"
"Cough… we're terribly sorry, Sir Leno. We didn't expect Shirahoshi to react so strongly…"
Seeing Leno soaked and miserable, the eldest prince looked rather awkward. He hadn't expected his sister to pull something like this.
He understood her feelings, but welcoming someone with such a 'grand gift' on first meeting was indeed a bit much.
Glancing at Shirahoshi, who was still crying loudly, fukaboshi steeled himself and explained to Leno,
"To be honest, sir, even if you hadn't asked, we were planning to tell you today…"
As fukaboshi recounted the story, Leno and the others finally understood.
During the years Shirahoshi was forced to live inside the Hard-Shell Tower, in order to keep her from falling into despair or suffering a mental breakdown,
the three brothers and their father had woven a kind-hearted lie—telling her that Fish-Man Island's benefactor, Leno, would one day come to save her.
Over the years, Shirahoshi came to believe this completely, praying every day for Leno's arrival.
Under this subtle influence, Leno had long become the light of hope in her heart—the sun that would bring her rebirth.
Seeing the long-awaited hero suddenly appear before her today, Shirahoshi's emotions completely overflowed.
As if she had finally found someone to rely on, she poured out all the grievances she'd endured over the years.
And once she started crying, she simply couldn't stop.
Hearing Shirahoshi's story, everyone looked at her with deep sympathy.
At an age meant for carefree happiness and freedom, she had instead been confined to this 'narrow' space, never seeing the light of day.
Thinking of the true culprit behind all this, even the usually gentle Nojiko had anger surging in her eyes.
"Leno…"
"Ah, don't worry! I won't let that guy off easy!"
With years of tacit understanding between them, Leno immediately knew what Nojiko meant and replied in a low voice.
Before, he'd only heard about it without much emotional impact—but now, placing himself in her situation, he finally understood just how much evil Vander Decken had done!
Looking at the endlessly crying Shirahoshi, Leno sighed inwardly. What a pitiful child.
Slowly drifting in front of her, he spoke gently, "Don't cry anymore, little Shirahoshi~"
"From now on, you won't have to hide anymore."
"Mm-hmm, thank you, L-Lord Leno~"
Lowering the hands at the corners of her eyes, Shirahoshi looked at the 'tiny figure' before her with tear-filled eyes and nodded vigorously, lips pressed together.
This was the hero she'd waited for all these years—he had finally come to save her!
The nightmare that had haunted her for so long was finally shattered. She was finally free!
Seeing that Shirahoshi's emotions had finally stabilized, Leno's smiling voice sounded again.
"Do you want to go outside and take a look? Or is there somewhere you want to go? Anywhere is fine~"
"Eh? Right now?" Shirahoshi froze for a moment at Leno's words, then joy flickered in her eyes.
Her bright fish tail swayed nonstop, and after a short while, she continued nervously, "The, the Sea Forest! I want to go to the Sea Forest!"
Just as expected! That was where her mother's grave was.
Because of Vander Decken, little Shirahoshi couldn't even attend her own mother's funeral—something she'd kept in her heart all these years.
That bastard really deserved to die. Leno had already decided—he absolutely wouldn't let that guy die easily!
"Of course. You can go anywhere you want!"
"Mmm-hmm-hmm~" Hastily wiping the tears from her face, Shirahoshi turned to pack her things, only to spot a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.
"Boss Jinbe? Long time no see~"
"Hahaha! Long time no see, Princess Shirahoshi!"
Jinbe didn't mind at all that the princess only just noticed him, laughing heartily as he greeted her.
He'd practically watched this child grow up, even if they hadn't seen each other in many years.
"I can't believe you've grown this big. I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Thank you, Boss Jinbe~"
Her soft, sweet voice was full of shyness as a blush quickly spread across Shirahoshi's cheeks.
It really was improper—only noticing a familiar face now, and crying like that in front of so many people.
And weren't some of these others Lord Leno's companions? She vaguely remembered seeing them in the newspapers.
That man wearing a hat—she didn't recognize him. Was he a new companion?
…
The scene shifted. Shirahoshi was now sitting cross-legged atop her pet Megalo, flying with Leno and the others toward the Sea Forest.
Along the way, Shirahoshi chattered endlessly, full of curiosity about everything outside.
"Hey, hey~ Lord Leno, have you seen the sun before? At night, the stars rise into the sky, right?"
Resting her chin in her hands, her eyes brimmed with longing. "And all kinds of flowers and plants, and animals covered in fur!"
As if she suddenly thought of something, her fish tail swayed happily as she asked Leno ahead of her,
"Oh right, Lord Leno, have you ever been to a place called a forest? You know, the kind that's all green!"
"Little Shirahoshi, I've seen all of that. Don't forget—I'm an adventurer who's traveled around the world!"
Turning back with an amused smile, Leno looked at Shirahoshi with clear affection.
Thinking that if he ever got the chance, he could take her to see the world outside.
"So amazing! Traveling the world! That's wonderful~"
"Maybe you can someday too."
You are the Poseidon —once you awaken, you'll be able to go anywhere you want. Of course, that's all for the future.
Right now, she was just a child yearning for life on land.
Watching Shirahoshi chatting happily with Leno, Fukaboshi, Jinbe, and the others couldn't help but smile with relief.
Since that incident, they hadn't seen a smile that truly came from her heart.
Just then, the usually quiet Robin suddenly looked at Shirahoshi and asked curiously,
"Princess Shirahoshi, why do you want to go to the Sea Forest?"
The cheerful atmosphere instantly vanished. The air fell silent.
Fukaboshi and his brothers, along with Jinbe who knew the truth, all fell silent as well.
After a long moment, Shirahoshi's sobbing voice sounded again.
"I… I want to pay my respects to mother's grave …"
"..."
…
…