Chapter 12
“At least one of you seems to know what it is. What’s it about?”
Sharkrof said with interest.
But judging from the playful tone in Phineas’s voice, it didn’t sound like a story Sharkrof would enjoy hearing.
As expected, my prediction was right.
After hearing the plot of the shark movie from Phineas, Sharkrof’s expression only grew darker.
“There’s a limit even to absurd stories. I’m disappointed in the foolishness of land people to the point where I can’t possibly be any more disappointed. Just as I expected, land is a terrible place. When I think about Miss Marina having lived here her entire life while carrying the spirit of the sea within her… it truly breaks my heart. I find myself thinking every day about how I might rescue Miss Marina from this dreadful place.”
Sharkrof spoke sadly.
In any case, the two of them ended up not fighting.
Not in the way I had expected, though.
Phineas had developed a taste for teasing Sharkrof so much that he no longer complained about having to teach him how to work.
At that moment, Sharkrof was learning how to make ice cream in order, and the lesson was quite a spectacle.
“Alright, Sharkrof. First, you scoop the ice cream. Then you pour the syrup the customer chooses and serve it. That’s it.
Come to think of it, the way the chocolate syrup drips kind of looks like a cute little fish. Almost as cute as that glass shark over there.
Then ask if they want a cherry on top. Pick a cherry as lovely as that shark’s eyes and place it carefully.
And those palm-tree candies in that bowl over there—keep an eye on them whenever you pass by and refill them if they run low. There are bags of candy in the drawer under that cute shark statue…”
Phineas truly had a talent for mercilessly teasing people.
Sharkrof glared at the cartoonishly carved glass shark as if he had encountered the enemy of his life.
He looked genuinely resentful.
At least, that was what I thought.
Though I did notice his gaze lingered on it a little longer than expected for something he supposedly hated…
But it seemed I had been mistaken.
The next day, when I stepped out for a moment and came back, I saw something strange.
Sharkrof was absentmindedly stroking the shark ornament with eyes filled with a strange mixture of love and hate.
His watery eyes sparkled in the golden sunlight the same way they did whenever he looked at something enchanting.
And every so often, a faint smile—almost as if he found the situation ridiculous—appeared on his face.
It was like he was laughing at himself for not knowing whether he liked the glass shark or hated it.
I made a bit of noise as I entered the shop.
Startled, Sharkrof hurriedly straightened up.
But in his haste, he made a mistake.
His arm bumped into the ornament and knocked it off.
The poor glass shark was just about to shatter against the floor.
But with astonishing reflexes, Sharkrof reached out and caught it.
Holding the ornament gently in both hands, he sighed in relief.
Then he stood up—and our eyes met.
For a moment, Sharkrof wore his usual flustered expression, like a fish that had just been hooked.
“I thought you hated that glass shark. I must’ve been mistaken. You protected it so desperately. If you’d just let it fall, you could’ve watched that ugly decoration shatter into pieces.”
I said.
“You understood correctly. I still hate it. I only saved it because I thought Miss Marina might be sad if it broke.”
Sharkrof replied hurriedly.
“Really? It looked like you were stroking it rather affectionately before I came in…”
“There was absolutely no affection in my touch. I was merely studying it.”
“Studying it?”
“Yes. I was researching the bizarre tastes of land people. If things like this really are cute symbols that weaken the hearts of land people, then I must think of ways to exploit that weakness. Whether I ever use it or not, studying hunting methods is always important for a shark.”
Sharkrof continued, pretending to be calm.
“Why ordinary land people like such strange things is truly puzzling… but also an interesting subject of study. Because I can’t understand it, it only makes me more curious.”
“Still, it looked like you were smiling the way people do when they see something cute.”
I pointed out.
“That was a sneer… probably. Or perhaps the wicked sunlight swam through the window like waves and created a mirage that made it look like I was smiling…”
Sharkrof protested in a rather unconvincing voice.
“Is that so? If you say so, Sharkrof. Actually, I wanted to give you one, but I guess I won’t.”
“Huh?”
“When the shop asked, you said you absolutely didn’t want one. But I bought another identical ornament just in case you changed your mind later. Do you really not want it? This is my final offer. I don’t want to bother you, Sharkrof. If you refuse now, I’ll never offer one again.”
I said.
At the words “final offer,” Sharkrof became oddly restless.
“Alright. In that case, I’ll take one. Not because I like the ornament itself. I just don’t want to refuse something Miss Marina gives me.”
He added in a voice as small as a mosquito’s, clearly wounded in his pride.
“I’ll take it back to the sea and show it to others as evidence of the corruption of land culture. And after showing it… I’ll break it. Probably… I’m only accepting it so I can break it.”
Despite his words, Sharkrof held the blue glass shark I gave him very carefully in his hand.
“Sharkrof, you’ve already accepted a land item as a gift, you’re working on land, and you’ve even started liking land food.”
I said with a smile.
“Yes… unfortunately.”
Sharkrof replied sadly.
“But why? Are you planning to tease me mercilessly like Phineas does?”
“No, it’s not that. Do you remember the bet we made earlier? If you grew attached to land, I’d win.”
“I remember.”
“Doesn’t it look like you’re losing?”
“Absolutely not. My heart hasn’t changed in the slightest.”
Sharkrof said firmly.
“In fact, my resolve has only grown stronger. My determination to rescue Miss Marina from this terrible land. Tomorrow I’ll show you the beauty of the sea. Surely that will win your heart. Look forward to it.”
The next day, Sharkrof appeared at the shop a little later than usual.
In his hands was a mysterious bundle of seaweed.
He proudly presented it to me like a trophy.
“Miss Marina, this is my gift.”
“What is it?”
“You said yesterday, didn’t you? That giving bouquets like this is a courtship method on land.”
Sharkrof continued proudly.
“So today I secretly went into town and observed people. I passed by a place called a flower shop, and someone bought a big bouquet of land flowers, saying it was for a woman he liked.”
“Oh really? Whoever receives it will probably be happy.”
“So land people have a custom of giving flowers to win the heart of someone they like. Did I understand correctly?”
“I think that’s right… but…”
“I’m glad I understood correctly. So I decided to follow that custom too. Here is my bouquet.”
I looked down at the bouquet Sharkrof proudly showed me.
At first glance, it really did resemble a bouquet.
Except instead of classic roses and tulips, it was a bundle of coral, lily-pad sea urchins, rainbow-colored shells, and seaweed sparkling cheerfully in the sunlight.
Seeing the salty bouquet that only Sharkrof could have made, I couldn’t help but smile quietly.
“Did I do well? Do you like it?”
Sharkrof asked anxiously.
“I really like it. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Do you like it enough to swear eternal love with me and leave for the Sea Kingdom?”
“Ah… that might be a little fast.”
“Still not? That’s sad.”
But Sharkrof wasn’t someone who stayed sad for long.
As soon as I thanked him and patted his shoulder, Sharkrof began circling happily around me, his cheeks flushed coral red.
It looked like the innocent movements of joy.
Though the way he circled me was a bit eerie—like a shark swimming around its prey.
Sharkrof said:
“I only used sea materials, but I think I copied the shape of the bouquet I saw quite well. Yes… it definitely looked exactly like that.”
Sharkrof pointed at the real bouquet of land flowers placed in a vase.
Then suddenly he stopped talking.
Something seemed to click in his mind.
Looking puzzled, Sharkrof said,
“Come to think of it, that’s a flower I’ve never seen in the shop before. It’s exactly the same bouquet that land man bought yesterday. That’s strange. Where did you get it?”
“Oh… well…”
