Chapter Text
In the small town of Seirin, there are rumours of a silent underwater city, called Seirina, with humans, just like those walking the earth. These humans can breath underwater, but look just like us. They live day by day, much like the upper surface, have school, shops, businesses and families. Humans that live in Seirin have begun to dub this as a simple myth that the elderly have completely conjured up to stop children from wandering too close to the harsh sea on especially stormy days. That is what many first year high school students believe at Seirin high school, but when a couple new first year students transfer into their high school, who live in the sea, the Seirin students must learn to adapt.
Of friendship, love, and breaking barriers.
...
They say Seirina was like another world.
A beautiful world that only those who are chosen can see. On a complete other plane of existence from the surface world.
The surface world was told to be nothing in comparison to the wonders that are by those under the sea.
Kuroko didn’t believe in that. He thought the surface was on a whole other world, one that never became a part of the sea’s equation - that is until Seirina's high school shut down.
Kuroko isn't one to withhold his education, unlike Kagami-kun. So the surface is now a part of the sea's equation. They say the barrier between the two conflicting worlds should never be broken, but now they are forced to do just that.
What is the worst that can possibly happen?
...
It had been through eavesdropping that Kuroko heard about the news. This wasn’t really a surprise, not in the slightest.
Kagami always tells him he’s much like a ghost and people don’t really notice him - but Kuroko likes to think he’s just good at hiding. Hiding has always been his speciality, what with so many duties and eyes on him since birth, from being the chief priest’s son of Seirina - the underwater city of Seirina.
The point is, it’s a regular occurrence for him to overhear his Father’s meetings in their home. He’s simply hiding beside the sliding door that would lead him into their main living area. The weather was warmer today - the water’s temperature being warmer than usual, meaning their short spring break is nearly ending - the start of a new school year in the beginning of April. The spring showers will likely continue, for now the water has been warm, but it is due to him comparing it to the harsher winter from before.
And that was what Kuroko suspected this conversation would be about, for his Father, Ryusei, and the Mayor, Toshio, often held a meeting before the start of the school year. Normally they met with the other members of the Mayor’s council, but the fact they are meeting privately means it must be serious. Which in truth it was for his Father suddenly exploded, delivering the news to Kuroko’s ears.
“What do you mean the high school will be closing down?!” his Father bangs his cup loudly against the table, Kuroko cringes at how easily his Father gets angry. His mother was always calm, much like himself. His Father often got angered by this, but then after complaining, he will go on about how it’s great that Kuroko seems stoic for it is a great image to have as the son of the chief priest. To seem stoic and smart coupled with a good head on his shoulders, a person, a future chief priest ready to lead the people.
Kuroko hears Mayor Toshio place the cup back in it’s rightful spot before replying with a smile, “I’m sorry - but this can’t be helped. The numbers in students are dwindling, you know that. And the teachers have all been moved to other cities since they simply can’t be paid the amount they need to live here.”
“This doesn't make any sense - what about our children, Toshio?! They need to complete their education! And I would like Kuroko to experience high school here in Seirina like I did, even if the number of students has gotten smaller!” his Father snaps back, no room for objections. Kuroko can tell his Father’s tone is slowly turning for the worst - like the flip of a coin. Quickly and suddenly.
Mayor Toshio is a calm voice of reason, his voice coming out soft with a great level of care, like one would give a stray injured fish left astray in their waters - Mayor Toshio knows this is a sensitive topic. “Ryusei… there are only five students able to attend the high school. The last few years have taken all the older students out, and now even our elementary and junior high school is emptying out. People are leaving to the other underwater cities and… as you now…” -
"Don’t mention the disgusting surface people when I’m here! I’d rather not be reminded of those people’s insolence of leaving our home to live with those pigs with human’s faces!” his Father cusses out, voice dripping in toxic waves - making Kuroko jolt in his hiding spot. He nearly knocks into the potted plant standing tall beside him on a low table, appearing silent and innocent in the midst of this back and forth between two old friends.
Mayor Toshio sounds sympathetic, “Ryusei, I have to bring them up… since there are no schools that are close by, the only option is for them to attend the surface world’s school.”
The room went quiet, without warning, the only noise Kuroko could hear was his own bubbles of breath flowing out into the water. The anticipation for his Father's obvious denial of this fact was grating on Kuroko’s nerves. It plagued his mind, making it go numb with every waking second like a frostbite creeping it’s way into his blood vessels, slowly making his mind numb. The water is calm down here, the only sound emanating in the waking steps of the small number of maids working far into the late hours of the evening, the pitter patter of their small heeled flats and their quiet distant whispers.
His mind was waiting.
Waiting for an explosion.
Anything to escape the numbing silence, the cruel anticipation seeping into his bones; becoming ingrained in him. His ears strain.
“No.” His Father denies this. As expected. Kuroko doesn’t know why he thought otherwise. The silence was playing tricks on him - fooling him into thinking that his Father would logically go through with this news.
“Ryusei, think logically, our kids” -
“Maybe you’re okay with allowing your daughter on the surface world, but I’m not fine with my son communicating with those self absorbed non believing humans!”
Mayor Toshio sounds desperate, voice now crumbling, “They are not non-believers, they” -
“They don’t pray to the guardian of the sea, Murasakibara-sama himself, and you expect me to call them believers?!” his Father accuses.
“Our children don’t pray” -
“They visit him and offer him food, that speaks volumes to how much they care.”
Mayor Toshio gives a resigned sigh, “Well - the surface people don’t have the privilege of seeing him with their own eyes - can you blame them for not believing us?”
Kuroko is once again plagued with silence. This time it feels awkward to be associated with, the conversation seeming to only get worse through the time they continue speaking. His heart cannot help but pound and his shoulders shiver a little in the overbearing lack of speech coming from the closed door Kuroko is peering at. The yellow string of light is the only sign of life, it’s oozing onto the floorboards where Kuroko is standing. His pale powder blue eyes shift back forward.
His father’s voice is no longer raised, now sounding calm and collected, but extremely sharp - sharper than the weapons Kagami’s father forges. “Toshio, you know that Murasakibara-sama wasn’t always visible to our ancestors - they still believed.”
“People aren’t like that anymore, Ryusei - as much as you think otherwise….” he trails off, voice whispering and Kuroko strains his ears to keep a hold of the conversation, making sure he only breathes when he needs too. He doesn’t wish for his Father to hear the moving waters escaping his mouth, his worries seemed to be unnecessary.
His Father says, “The sea will not be happy about our people leaving and coming back as they please. There’s a reason our cities are separate.”
“I know. But this is only for school. A couple hours and then they are back - that’s all. I’m not too keen on my Satsuki-chan being with high schoolers that may treat her rudely or judge her, but high school is where you learn about that. I have faith that she will be fine, and I think Tetsuya will be fine also.” Mayor Toshio explains himself pointedly, saving no more room for uneasiness and objections. It seems that Mayor Toshio may actually have convinced his father, the feat was a large one and Kuroko is once more amazed by Mayor Toshio’s patience. Momoi herself was patient when he needed her to be - he supposes the two are similar in that manner. The daughter and father were very much alike now that he thought about it.
Kuroko’s father mutters, succumbing himself to the truth of the news, “Hmph. And I’m guessing that Taiga and Takao will be going also. Takao will likely bring trouble - that boy doesn’t have a filter. At least with Taiga there I will know that Kuroko won’t get ensnared with the humans and their lies.”
Kuroko finally lets himself roll his eyes at how old his father sounds - not thinking highly of the surface people at all; judging them based on what the ancestors have told them.
“Mhmm… I’m sure Takao will learn he can’t get away with everything soon enough - the fisherman incident nearly resulted in Takao being skinned alive!” they both laugh heartily and Kuroko can tell his father has finally calmed down, Momoi’s father has always been good at that. They were old friends that knew each other better than anyone else. He thinks they know each other better than their wives do. Toshio continues, “Taiga and your son are a great duo. The Kagami’s have raised that boy well - he gives great care for his friends, I know with him around, Satsuki will be safe.”
He can tell his father is grinning widely, “Of course. It won’t just be Taiga, it will also be Tetsuya, he wouldn’t want his future wife getting hurt now, would he? He will surely protect her.”
Toshio sounds like he’s hurriedly agreeing, “Ah, yes, of course.” There’s a silent pause and he continues, “Oh… it won’t be just them… that Furihata boy is also in their same year. He will go with them all.”
Kuroko decides to leave, slipping past a maid walking by, making it seem like he was just passing through the hall. The maid doesn’t pay him any mind despite how late it really is. Through the panes of glass lining the tall walls, the moon is lighting up dimly against the water and the bright blue spirit fires illuminating the lanterns are the only sources of light at the bottom of the sea. The The spirit fires are bathing the streets in light that eerily casts dark shadows against the small buildings of their city.
Their city appeared asleep in it’s dark state - but Kuroko felt anything else but that.
Pale eyes reflecting against the blue lights in the distance are wide and awake like the unblinking eyes of a fish. His skin is pale and grey in the blue lights he passes, his limbs fluttering through the waters as he walks forward back to his room. Kuroko’s mind wanders, grasping desperately and unable to let go of the news.
He heard enough to know that the news is indeed solid and true. They are all attending high school on the surface.
He can’t wait to deliver the news to Kagami.
