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The storm is so powerful Kohane is sure it will blow her off the deck and out to sea. She shouldn’t be out of her cabin, what does she know about sailing a pirate ship through a storm, but she heard An screaming, and can’t just leave her to do nothing.
Minori felt the same, clearly, because she follows Kohane up from below deck and immediately runs over to Kiritani, the first mate, and helps grab onto one of the ropes before it snaps.
An is holding onto the steering wheel of the ship trying to keep it from capsizing against the waves.
“An!” Kohane yells, dodging flying ropes and debris to get to her. As she gets closer, she sees An’s right arm has gone limp and she’s trying to hold the steering wheel with her left.
“Get outta here, Princess!” An says. “I’ve got it!”
Another wave crashes into the ship, causing the wheel to slip from An’s grip, and Kohane quickly grabs it and tries to force it backwards with all her might.
An grabs the top and manages to right the ship.
“I-I want to help!” Kohane gasps, salty water filling her mouth the moment she says anything. “Let me!”
She locks eyes with An, who nods. “Alright, be my extra pair of hands, there’s an island not far from here, we’re gonna try and dock the ship there and wait out the storm.”
Kohane nods, helping An steer through the Vivid through the choppy waters, quickly becoming completely soaked.
“Uncle, I dunno what you’re so pissed at, but let! Us! Through!” An shouts. She gives Koghane a nod, and with one last giant shove, they get the ship through one last gigantic wave before practically crashing into the small dock of an island.
The ship is finally still, but the storm is still whipping around.
“Ok, everyone off ship! We’re heading inside!” An shouts, and the rest of the crew clambers down over the sides of the ship, helping the injured as best as they can to get to the single large house on the island.
Minori runs over to Kohane, scoops her up, and jumps over the side of the ship. First Mate Kiritani helps An, and they all head to the house.
An knocks, and a woman with orange hair opens it. “An-chan!”
“Hey, Yoka-san,” An says. “Sorry for dropping in, but we needed someplace drier.”
“No need to apologize,” Yoka-san says, “come in.”
Kohane had been worried that the ship’s crew would be too much for the small living room, but they fit in fine.
Apparently, Yoka-san’s son, Arata, and his husband, Souma, had been members of The Vivid when An’s dad was captain, so they were more than happy to put them up for the duration of the storm.
“What’s got your Uncle in a twist today?” Arata asks as he helps reset An’s dislocated shoulder.
“Oh who knows,” An says. “Maybe he’s just moody.”
“Your… uncle?” Kohane asks, taking a small sip of the tea Yoka-san brought.
“Ah, I guess you’ll find out soon,” An says. “But yeah, I’m a siren. We all call the God of the Seas ‘Uncle.’”
“A siren who runs her own pirate ship?” Minori asks.
“Is it odd?”
“No, more like amazing!” Minori says. “Haruka, are you a siren too?”
Kiritani laughs. “No, just a regular human pirate.”
“And you’re still the first mate? Cool!”
“Of course,” An says. “Haruka’s been my best friend since we were little, she was my only choice for first mate.”
“Yeah, what would you have done if I had taken that job as a court singer back home?”
“Well, I’d have to tell my dad why his ship was destroyed.”
“And, you two,” Souma asks. “Are you the newest members of the crew?”
Kohane shakes her head. “No, we’re travelers. An was willing to give us a ride to the nearest kingdom across the ocean, and from there we were going to travel by ourselves, see new things.”
“Oh, is that all you wanted to do?” An asks. “That’s a shame, because if you really want to see new things, you could join us. We sail all over, doing all kinds of jobs. Meet all kinds of people.”
Kohane’s eyes widen. “R-really? But I have no experience… I mean Minori and I were going to find someplace to settle down and open an inn…” Kohane looks to Minori, to be sure that accepting the offer wouldn’t mean consigning her to a life at sea she doesn’t want, but Minori’s staring at Kiritani with sparkling eyes.”
“Once the storm dies down, I’ll ask some of my cousins to help float us back to a proper port,” An says. “Then we can do repairs, take jobs, and if you’re interested, maybe you’ll stay with us?”
“Y-yes,” Kohane says. “I’d love that.”