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Fukami stood still in the middle of a zone in the Sea of Death, his eyes now red fixated on some of his “neighbors”, monstrous creatures that could hardly be called fish. By how they behaved at the moment they would give the impression of being peaceful past their aspect. All they did was swim around and some even greeted him when he passed by.
If that was the case it was because the creatures had brutally murdered all life that didn’t belong on the Sea of Death when they were released from their restraints. These were all brainless killing machines, nothing else.
Or so he thought.
A pair of eels, to give them a name, were mutually producing strange noises to the other as in a natural conversation. He had seen an eel exactly like those two using their own body to impale a mermaid’s stomach, then eating her with others as if it were nothing. Yet there they were, being… normal.
Meditating it, they reminded him of himself in a way.
“It’s impolite to eavesdrop.”
His stoic face turned into a startled one for a split second when he heard someone whispering that to his ear. Not that he didn’t know the owner of the annoying voice.
In front of him a cute, smiley shark smiled at his reaction. It really felt like he didn’t belong among all of these monsters based on his appearance. But everyone in that sea knew you can’t judge a book by its cover, as he was the cause of the horrifying red hell in the first place, as well as Fukami joining it.
Sal had taken an interest in Fukami ever since they first met, back when the sea was still sparkling blue and the octopus loyally served Wadanohara. He was good at reading people, but because of Fukami’s stoic nature, he was the first one Sal struggled to understand. Until he started picking up body language and subtle gestures whenever a certain shark was mentioned. Then he found out.
This octopus was just like him. Like them.
He knew he was different from the start, but it was a little surprising when he went along the Sea of Death’s corruption and ended poor little Wadanohara so brutally. He mentally laughed at him, “as delicate as these things.”
“Why do you still use that form? You’re not fooling anyone.”
“It’s more comfy. Why, do you prefer me…” He transformed back to his human form with a stupid grin. “... like this? ♪”
“I hate both.” For some really upsetting reason, this wasn’t completely true. Fukami supposed it was the Sea of Death taking control of his mind, but he… appreciated Sal when he looked human-ish. The suit and its color palette just looked pleasant to his eyes. Plus, his eyes now held a strange kind of beauty, being his own eyes that color after his awakening.
“Ah, of course. Someone so pretty must have high standards, huh?”
“Shut up.” His response was just a giggle.
Fukami sighed. Sal had never once stopped pestering him ever since he joined him with these jokes that tried to sound flirtatious. Sal had told him multiple times he “liked” him, but he refused to elaborate when Fukami questioned him.
“I have a question.”
“Ask away!”
He went back to staring at the eels, still talking about whatever they were. “These creatures, what are they speaking?”
“Oh? Well, I should have supposed the nerd would be interested in this topic.” He ignored Fukami’s deadly eyes and explained. “That’s a language they’ve created on their own entirely with help from the princess. It’s pretty impressive.”
“Do you know it?”
“I like languages and I am the ambassador, so yeah, I learned it looong ago.” He lent an ear to the conversation, nodding. “It’s a bit rusty though, because these guys don’t chat much.”
“Can it be learned? I need something new to kill time.” Wanting to understand his fellow denizens would be the main point, if this weren’t the Sea of Death we’re talking about.
“I’d say so. They’re not smart, so it’s like baby language.”
“I see.”
“Before you ask though, there are no books that teach it.”
“Then how…” He stopped at the realization when he saw Sal’s suggestive face. “No.”
“Come on~ I’m a great teacher! Ask the kids here!” Fukami knew he wasn’t completely lying, because he had seen him giving lessons to the starfish girl and the boy with a fish hook, whatever their names were. Still…
“I don’t care. Hearing you talk for too long makes my head hurt.”
“Then why do I find you spying on me so often? ♪” Prime example, his lessons to Stella and Tsuribari. He was a sneaky one, hard to spot sometimes. The children wouldn’t notice him until Sal pointed him out.
“Because I have nothing else to do.”
“I’m offering you the chance to have something else to do!” Fukami stayed silent. Sal was aware of his true feelings, and likewise, Fukami was aware of that.
Fukami must have assumed being cold would push Sal away eventually. As if anyone there was truly kind. More than that, he was forgetting how surprisingly patient Sal could be.
“Fukami. I’m the only one here that thinks about you.” He walked closer to him, his tone for once serious. “Your passive attitude doesn’t mask the fact you do want people to think about you.” Sal wasn’t sure of Fukami’s opinion about him, to be sincere. One thing he was sure of though is that Fukami needed him despite it all.
He had been domesticated by Wadanohara for so long, he was lost now. While he went back to being independent, he looked for support in the only companion he had now.
… Did Fukami even enjoy that independence?
“I’m as bored as you, so why not kill two birds with one stone?”
Fukami wasn’t stupid. He knew Sal loved attacking someone’s weak points to get what he wanted. However, this wasn’t really a manipulation of his. He was just making a clear point. With another sigh, Fukami gave up. “Fine. I can try.”
“Yay! ♪” He attempted to hug Fukami and was quickly met by his tentacle pushing him 10 meters away. “We’ll start today! Come get you later! ♪”
He went back from wherever he came from. Fukami despised himself for thinking he was nice for offering.
~~~
Just a few.
Just a few classes to waste time.
That was what Fukami strived for.
So why was he now at much more than a few.
No, no. He shouldn’t be surprised. The language required more. He had found it to be interesting to learn. He didn’t mind hearing more about it. That’s all.
That’s all.
“Prepositions don’t exist here so you gotta add them by yourself when you translate in your head…”
As Sal rambled on and on pointing at stuff on the blackboard with a stick, Fukami dozed off. The classes had flown by ever since he started. Sal was indeed good at the job. Slow at explaining, more practical than theoretical, positive attitude, soothing voice…
Wait, where did the last thing come from?
“Fukami, Fukami!”
A clap in front of his eyes woke him up from his train of thought. Sal smiled at his face with fake concern. “Hey, these classes are for you!”
“I was only lost in thought for a moment.” How could Sal even tell he was, when his face was always the same…?
“So? There is a lot you can miss in a moment.” He shook his head. “You have to stop thinking so much!”
“Easy for you to say that.” In an uncommon Fukami fashion that was now common thanks to the Sea of Death’s influence, he grinned at him.
“Heey~!”
He focused back at the nonsense Sea of Death symbols Sal was writing while he explained. He looked very happy. He was probably proud of being the superior there between the two.
But his words still echoed through Fukami’s head. “I’m the only one here that thinks about you.” Maybe he wasn’t lying that time. Maybe it was true he had someone who actually cared. As loathable of a man as that someone could be, as stupid of an activity the classes were... It was still a nice sensation to have.
With another clap, Sal loudly announced the end of their session. “Oh well, enough for today! This one is a long point.”
Fukami got visibly shaken up by the abrupt up. “Wait. I didn’t understand the last part at all.”
“I’ll review it next time, don’t worry!”
“That sounds like you want to sneak away.”
“Ah- No no! I can keep up a little longer if you want to.”
“If you’re going to do this, do it right.”
“I take that as a yes…” Sal couldn’t help but wonder if Fukami was exaggerating his passion for a pretty boring language, because not even Sal found it worth the extra time if it weren’t for Fukami’s company. Which meant…?
For the rest of the extended explanation, Sal had a stupid smile on his face the whole time.
At his second announcement of the end, Fukami said nothing else as he prepared to leave except a whisper.
“Hm? What did you say?” Sal asked at Fukami’s turned back.
“Nothing.”
When Fukami left, Sal let out a soft chuckle. He had heard Fukami perfectly. The words were basic vocabulary in all languages. It was one of the first things he taught him back when he thought he wasn’t paying attention to him.
“Thank you.”