Work Text:
When Barok’s beloved niece dragged him and her problematic godfather to the beach, saying she wanted to introduce them to her new friends, Barok was immediately wary of the situation.
First of all, what was his brother thinking, allowing a ten-year-old to wander off in such a dangerous place on her own? And then came the whole “friends” thing… He didn’t like the idea of Iris growing closer to people he didn’t personally know. What if they were a bad influence? Or worse, what if they had bad intentions by approaching a girl with the van Zieks name like that?
“Barok, dear… You should control your scowling, or you might frighten Iris’ friends.”
Barok looked at Herlock, who walked close to him with a pleasant smile on his face. How could that man be so nonchalant in such a situation? He treated Iris like a second father figure, and still acted as if there was nothing to be worried about. And Klint as well… One would expect that Iris’ own father would want to meet those mysterious “friends” in person, yet he simply allowed Barok and Herlock to do it in his place.
But he could forgive Klint, given how full of worries his brother’s mind had been. They had only recently moved into that coastal city in the hopes that the peaceful place and pure air would do good to his sister-in-law, who had been sickly since Iris’ birth but whose condition had gotten much worse in the past two years. So, as caring and protective as Klint was as a father, he had spent most of his time watching over his wife, entrusting Iris’ safety to Barok and Herlock.
And, apparently, they had both failed spectacularly at it. But Iris was quite smart and independent, always finding her way out to explore, with or without their company. Often without. Or only with Herlock.
Moments like those made him wonder if Herlock was right when he said Barok worried too much, to the point of being overprotective—and suffocating. That difference in their personalities was the main reason why things hadn’t worked out between them, and he would be lying if he said he didn’t regret choosing to end things instead of trying harder. But at least, with that, they managed to stay friends. For their sakes, but also Iris’.
They arrived at the place Iris had told them about, an isolated and peaceful area of the beach, pretty but surrounded by large rocks. Barok glanced around, but found no sign of those friends. He sighed: their lateness was another sign that they shouldn’t be trusted, after all.
“They should be hiding around here,” said Iris, stepping forward. “Just a minute… I’ll call them.”
Barok creased his brow. Why would they need to hide? Oh, God… She hadn’t befriended pirates or any other kind of criminals, had she? Iris was a smart girl, but she was still a child… Maybe her innocence made it difficult for her to understand how evil some people could be. At least Barok had his sword with him… Those despicable people wouldn’t harm his niece without feeling his blade first.
A small laugh made Barok look at Herlock, who seemed quite amused. Before Barok could question him about his lack of concern, however, Iris’ voice grabbed his attention.
“Suzie! Kazie! Runo!” she called. “I’m here! I brought my family to meet you!”
With his hand on his sword, Barok quickly approached his niece, glancing around in search of any sign of those people. Nothing seemed to happen for a long while, until he felt Herlock’s hand on his arm.
“Barok, dear… Look!”
Barok followed his gaze, and his heart jumped. From among those rocks, a trio of monstrous creatures approached, dragging themselves in their direction with their countless tentacles. Barok was so shocked he could only stare at those things for a few seconds.
Everyone knew about the existence of the merkind, but it had been centuries since them and humankind had come to a peace agreement where they would stay away from each other’s territory to avoid new conflicts like those from the distant past. He had seen many images of them in books: fish people, sentient sea creatures, and, among them all, those fearful beings with four pairs of tentacles instead of legs, named octomer.
He instinctively rushed to Iris’ side, pulling her back, standing between her and those creatures. To his surprise, however, his actions only made her giggle.
“It’s fine, Uncle Barry,” she said. “These are my friends I told you about.”
Barok blinked, surprised, then raised his eyes to those three creatures. Red, blue, pink… In that first moment, he could only differentiate them by the colors. But when the creatures stopped at a safe distance, as if respecting his fear, he calmed down enough to pay closer attention to their appearance.
They weren’t as monstrous as his frightened mind had made him believe at first. In fact, something in their faces was surprisingly human. Not the bright eye colors that matched their scales, or the vertical pupils, or the pointy ears, but the expressions they showed: curiosity, but also some fear. Or at least Pink and Blue seemed scared, while Red stared at him with narrowed eyes, clearly displeased.
“Barok,” said Sholmes as he approached, “you should lower your sword… You are scaring dear Iris’ friends.”
“Oh…”
Barok hesitated, then did as he said. It seemed to make the creatures relax, though Red still stared at him for a few more seconds before turning his gaze toward Herlock, his expression changing from suspicion to curiosity as Herlock tipped his hat with a smile.
“Hello, dear octomer friends of Iris,” he said. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Herlock Sholmes, her godfather. And this—” He gestured toward Barok. “—is Barok van Zieks, her uncle.”
His words made Blue’s eyes grow wider with excitement.
“Hello!” he said.
To Barok’s surprise, that made Pink giggle.
“Hello,” she said in a polite voice, then brought a hand to her own chest. “Susato.” She gestured toward Blue. “Ryunosuke.” Then, toward Red. “Kazuma.”
“I see…” Sholmes’ smile widened. “You may call me Herlock if you wish, though most people refer to me as Sholmes.”
Ryunosuke nodded to show he understood. “Sholmes.”
The other two repeated that name, and Iris clapped her hands in response, seeming pleased.
“I’m still teaching them our language,” she said. “They can understand most of it, but speaking is still a challenge. Right?”
Ryunosuke nodded with an awkward smile. “Hard…”
“Still learning,” Susato agreed.
“But you’re learning very fast!” said Iris. “When we first met, we couldn’t understand each other at all… We had to communicate with gestures or drawings on the sand.”
The trio of sea creatures agreed, seeming amused by the memory, which made Barok wonder if Iris had known them for longer than he first thought.
“I know some of their language too,” Iris continued, “but it’s far from perfect. Listen…”
She spoke something that made little sense to Barok, but made that trio smile proudly and respond in the same language.
“Fascinating!” Herlock moved closer to them. “I would love to learn your language as well, if you won’t mind teaching it.”
And, as easily as that, that man found some common ground between him and those creatures. Meanwhile, Barok felt like the strange one in that friendly conversation, saying nothing while everyone else seemed to get along nicely. Not wanting to ruin the mood with his awkwardness, he stepped back, leaning against a nearby rock to try and sort out his thoughts.
So, his niece was close friends with sea creatures… Creatures who had isolated themselves far from human lands for centuries. And they looked… quite friendly too. That sounded so impossible that he struggled to believe he wasn’t having a strange dream.
Barok was so lost in his thoughts that it took him a moment to realize that one of the creatures was approaching him. Red… No, Kazuma was his name. He stopped close to Barok, who tried his best not to stare at those red tentacles and the peculiar way they moved. Instead, he met Kazuma’s gaze, the two of them staring at each other for a long moment before the octomer finally spoke.
“Worried for Iris?”
The question caught him off guard, but he managed to nod in response.
“No need,” said Kazuma. “We friends her.”
His way of speaking wasn’t perfect, but clearer than Barok had expected. His surprise might have been apparent, since Kazuma slightly creased his brow.
“What?”
“Nothing…” Aware that he wasn’t sounding very friendly, Barok tried to soften his voice. “You speak our language quite well.”
“Not well. But try.”
As he said those words, Kazuma smiled, and Barok couldn’t help but notice his sharp fangs—more than scary, they added an unusual charm to his smile. From that close distance, Barok could notice the small details in his appearance: his red eyes had a golden circle in their center, which was quite pretty… And the scales that covered his body had a similar golden sheen under the sunlight, which reminded him of living flames. His tentacles and the way they moved were still a strange sight, but after that small exchange, Barok felt more curiosity than uneasiness when he observed them.
He had been so distracted by it all that it took him a long while to realize he was staring.
“I look weird?” asked Kazuma, sounding more amused than annoyed or uncomfortable.
Barok shook his head, raising his hand. “No… Forgive the discourtesy, I have never seen your kind before.”
“Curious?”
“Very much so.”
Once again, Kazuma smiled. Then, to Barok’s surprise, he raised a tentacle, wrapping it around Barok’s forearm.
“Come.”
Barok looked at him, wide-eyed. “What?”
Kazuma indicated the group, a few steps away, with his head. “Everyone there. You come.”
He pulled Barok by the arm, and Barok didn’t resist it, soon rejoining the main group, who continued the lively conversation as if not noticing that he had left. No… As soon as Barok looked at Herlock, he knew that man had noticed it, and he soon averted his gaze, which fell upon his niece, who was in the middle of telling the story of how the four of them first met—it made Barok feel slightly guilty and wish he hadn’t left.
Kazuma, who was still close to him, leaned slightly in his direction to mutter a few words. “She drop little bear in water. Susato give back.”
A very abridged version of the events, but it helped Barok imagine things better.
“I see…” said Barok. “Thank you.”
Kazuma offered him a slight smile. “Not leave again.”
Saying that, he crawled away and closer to Ryunosuke, who added to the story, speaking with some effort. Barok listened, but his gaze often fell upon that red octomer. Despite the negative first impression they had of each other, that creature—Kazuma—was far from unpleasant.
When the stories were over, the quickly approaching chaos finally started. Herlock asked countless questions about the trio, their home, and their lives, asking for more and more details—to the point Iris sometimes had to help translate their responses.
And then Ryunosuke made the mistake of giving Herlock permission to check his tentacles more closely. Herlock didn’t hold back, examining him and then the others with his habitual and unrestrained interest, from the tentacles to the pointy ears, at some point holding Kazuma’s hand in his to give the membranes between his fingers a better look.
“Fascinating…” he would say with the widest smile every time. “So similar and yet so different from humans.”
Still under that man’s interested gaze, Kazuma moved his hand, holding Herlock’s instead.
“Can touch too?” he asked.
Herlock’s eyes glistened. “By all means, go ahead, my dear octomer.”
And so he did, touching his fingers first, then moving his attention to Herlock’s face. With an amused grin, Kazuma started to poke, and touch, and lightly pinch Herlock’s cheeks, all while Susato told him to behave, and Ryunosuke seemed eager to do the same as him. Herlock wasn’t bothered at all—in fact, he seemed quite pleased with that playfulness. And so did Kazuma. Somehow, Barok had a feeling those two would get along quite well.
A small, strange feeling swirled deep inside Barok’s stomach, but he chose to ignore it, watching as Ryunosuke finally joined the playful touching, to Herlock’s delight, Iris’ amusement, and Susato’s exasperation. Meanwhile, he stood there, present but mostly quiet, until someone referred to him during the conversation or asked him a direct question. And still, the time they spent together was far from unpleasant.
After saying goodbye to their sea friends, Barok, Herlock, and Iris started to make their way back home. Barok offered Iris his hand, but instead of holding it, she crossed her arms with a slight pout.
“I’m quite cross with you, Uncle Barry,” she said. “You left so suddenly and only returned because Kazie brought you back.”
He had been too naive to think she wouldn’t notice—or care about—his absence. But his mind often did that when he was anxious: simply turned off for a moment, making him do things he normally wouldn’t.
“My deepest apologies, Iris,” he said. “I simply thought my presence would make your friends uncomfortable.”
“Don’t be silly,” she retorted. “Why do you think I brought you to see them? Because I want the most important people in my life to be friends.”
Her words caught Barok by surprise. Herlock, on the other hand, smiled widely and gently patted her head.
“That is quite the sweet thought, my dear,” he said.
Iris nodded, then lowered her eyes, her smile fading just slightly. “I hope mommy and daddy can come one day, too.”
“They will, sweetie,” said Herlock in a reassuring voice. “Just give it some time. Until then, both of us will accompany you anywhere you wish to go.”
Herlock threw Barok a glance, and he took that as a sign to speak as well.
“Of course we will. And despite the awkwardness I caused, I am glad you introduced me to your friends.”
His words made Iris’ smile widen. “Will you come see them with me again?”
Barok nodded. “Anytime you wish.”
“Great!”
As if that promise had been enough for her to forgive his mistake, she offered him her hand, and Barok took it while Herlock took her other one, the three of them walking together like that the rest of the way back.
Their encounters with that trio of sea creatures became quite frequent. Barok accompanied his niece and her godfather as often as he could, only refusing the invitation if Klint or Irene needed his help for something.
In just a month, not only did the friendship between all of them start to strengthen, but the octomer’s grasp on their language also deepened, making communication flow much better. Iris and Herlock had also learned much of the language of the sea, at a speed so impressive that Barok—who had always been considered an intelligent man—struggled to follow.
But none of his sea friends judged him for it—despite some teasing from Kazuma when he said something particularly senseless—instead helping him little by little, until it all started to make more sense in his head.
He was also learning more and more about each of them, their interests, and traces of personality. Susato had a great interest in stories, and was very kind and gentle, but would lose her temper if someone tested her patience too much, using her tentacles in response with more strength than her small frame would suggest—often against Ryunosuke, more than once against Herlock. Ryunosuke, on the other hand, was quite friendly and somewhat silly at times, but as soon as Barok spent more time with him, he realized how intelligent and curious he was, to Herlock’s delight, since he loved to discuss the cultural differences between their people… And sometimes tell him absurd tales, waiting to see how long it would take for Ryunosuke to catch him in his lies.
And there was Kazuma, of course. Bold, strong, always with a retort at the tip of his tongue. He had a short fuse and sharp words, but whenever something seemed amiss with anyone, he was the first to check on them. Seeing them interact, it was clear Kazuma was something like an older brother to the other two. Barok asked him about it, and received a complicated response he imagined was close to family of consideration.
“I see,” said Barok. “You do seem quite close.”
He gestured toward Herlock and Iris. “Close like you.”
“I suppose so.” He considered it for a moment. “Though sometimes I feel like I am simply following those two everywhere they go.”
Kazuma furrowed his brow, seeming confused. “What?”
Barok regretted his words as soon as he said them, but he couldn’t just go back anymore. So, with a deep breath, he tried to explain what he meant.
“We are always together, but it is like they are the ones leading me everywhere. And sometimes, it is difficult to keep up with their energy.” He paused, lowering his eyes. “I’m not the most sociable human, I’m afraid.”
“Really?” Kazuma observed him for a moment. “I don’t think that… You’re just quiet, but that’s not a big bad thing.”
“Yes, but sometimes I need a quiet moment for myself.”
“Right…” Kazuma nodded. “I’m like that too.”
Barok widened his eyes. “Are you?”
“Surprise?”
Kazuma grinned, seeming amused. Barok could only look at him for a while, remembering all the times Kazuma had been the one to approach him first, especially during their first few meetings.
“You act very friendly,” he said.
“With ones I like, yes.” Kazuma shrugged lightly. “But to be alone is good sometimes.”
The implication in those words made Barok’s heart race a little, but he quickly spoke again, before his face had a chance to go red.
“I agree,” he said. “Though conversations like this are not bad at all.”
Kazuma smiled, then raised one of his tentacles, lightly patting Barok on the head. “Barok think too much.” He stopped, quickly pulling it away. “Ah, sorry… That was…”
That rare, embarrassed expression earned a small chuckle from Barok. “It is fine.”
If anything, as awkward as he could be sometimes, Barok deeply enjoyed that kind of proximity with those he cared about—and he was growing more fond of Kazuma each day they spent together. His response brought the smile back to Kazuma’s face, and he lightly patted Barok’s arm before lowering his tentacle again.
“They like you,” said Kazuma. “Iris and Sholmes. Ryuu and Susato, too. They understand Barok is quiet, but no need to have fear to talk to them.” A small pause. “Me too. You can talk to me.”
His words made Barok feel warm inside, and he could only nod in response—which was enough to earn him a smile from Kazuma. For some reason, the moments they spent together never felt awkward, and Barok caught himself looking forward to those days when they would meet again.
When that evening came, they gathered around a bonfire to tell stories. Iris was the favorite storyteller, followed by Susato, while the rest of them were better listeners. They had to pause when Herlock told a spooky tale that left Ryunosuke frightened, with eyes shut and ears covered, while Susato and Iris tried to comfort him, and Kazuma and Barok scolded Herlock for going too far with that tale.
So, to compensate for his mischief, Herlock started to play his violin, which he had brought to the beach after mentioning it to Susato and catching her curiosity. As Herlock played his violin, Kazuma watched him as if enchanted by it.
“Do you play any instruments?” asked Herlock.
“I don’t,” Kazuma admitted.
“I do,” said Susato. “But not very well. Just a little.”
“Right,” Ryunosuke gestured at her with a smile. “Susato makes scary sounds like that story.”
For a moment, Barok was sure Susato would send Ryunosuke flying for that comment. Instead, she looked away, mumbling something in their language that Barok was quite sure was a request for Ryunosuke to be quiet, which made him look slightly guilty.
“But she great at making food!” he quickly added. “Right, Kazuma?”
Kazuma nodded. “The best.”
“See?”
The two of them looked at Susato, who seemed to cheer up again thanks to those comments.
“You are the opposite of me, dear Susato,” said Herlock. “I can play a few musical instruments quite well, especially the violin, but my sweet godchild has forbidden me from stepping into the kitchen.”
Iris brought her hands to her waist, narrowing her eyes. “Do I even need to tell them why, Hurley?”
“Why don’t we simply enjoy the music for now?” Without giving her the chance to continue, Herlock glanced toward Barok. “Speaking of which, dear Barok is quite the musician as well.”
Having all the eyes on him made Barok slightly nervous, so he lowered his head as he responded. “I have simply played the piano since my childhood.”
“Piano?”
The question came from Ryunosuke, but all three seemed intrigued.
“Another instrument,” said Herlock. “A very classic one, with a pleasant and calming sound. I wish I had a picture with me…”
“Next time?” said Susato.
“I will remember it.” Herlock paused. “It has only now crossed my mind, but why don’t you give the violin a try, my dear friends?”
Kazuma shook his head. “I prefer listening.”
Unfortunately for him, by being the first to respond, he had also fallen into Herlock’s trap. Herlock approached him with a wide grin, raising the violin between them.
“Here, give this a try.”
Kazuma seemed unsure, but when the others encouraged him, he did as Herlock said, clumsily holding that violin, unsure of what to do with it. With an excited smile, Herlock moved closer to his back, avoiding his tentacles as he stood close enough to guide Kazuma as he held the violin properly.
“Like this…” said Herlock.
He helped Kazuma move the bow, playing the first few notes, which made Barok wince a little. Kazuma didn’t seem too happy, grimacing at the result.
“Sounds horrible…” he said.
“Don’t be so harsh, my dear,” said Herlock. “You have high expectations for your first try. Here, relax and allow me to show you.”
Kazuma did as he said, and Herlock patiently guided him through the entire music scale, one note at a time. The sight brought some memories to Barok’s mind: he and Herlock had played together before. Not like that, but each focusing on his own instrument, creating music together. When Herlock invited himself to play the piano with him one day, Barok had seen it as another attempt at being an annoyance, and Herlock had simply chuckled it off as he left the bench. But maybe that was what he had in mind at the time, that small but intimate proximity as Barok guided him into something he loved.
The realization filled him with bitterness. The more he thought about it, the more he realized his younger self hadn’t been a good partner for him. Not only because of the differences in their personalities, but because he struggled to accompany Herlock in that endless enthusiasm of his, and would often misinterpret his intentions, which weren’t always clear to someone as shy and introverted as himself.
But Kazuma kept playing while Herlock instructed him, seeming quite pleased by it. And while the sound itself was still rough and far from pleasant, their expressions were quite the contrary—soft, happy… So similar in their enjoyment of that activity that it was hard to believe they had known each other for no more than a single month.
It was nice to see them so close… It was, wasn’t it?
A strange feeling grew inside Barok, and once again, he chose to ignore it. Instead, he thought of what Kazuma had said to him, and approached the others, talking to Ryunosuke while Iris played with Susato’s hair, adorning it with an ornament she had crafted with a pretty shell she had found a few days before. Time passed calmly until the sound of the violin finally stopped.
“Enough for now,” said Kazuma.
“Very well.” Herlock smiled. “As long as you will allow me to teach you again.”
“Fine. But not today.”
“Fair enough.”
While Herlock started to play again, Kazuma moved closer to the others, forcing himself between Barok and Ryunosuke—which almost made Barok fall from that stone thanks to the combined volume of their tentacles. But Kazuma swiftly placed one tentacle around his waist to keep him from falling, then let out a tired sigh.
“Sorry for the noise…”
Ryunosuke offered him a playful smile. “It was so bad…”
Kazuma pouted, which made Barok feel bad for him—especially since he seemed so focused on playing, and had made some small improvements in that short time.
“For your first try,” said Barok, “you did quite well.”
Kazuma sighed. “No feeling bad for me.”
“I wasn’t.”
And he meant it. Kazuma observed him for a while, then, as if realizing he was being honest, he smiled. There was a hint of fondness in his eyes—perhaps something close to what Barok felt for him.
Ryunosuke patted Kazuma’s back with a tentacle. “You’ll get better.” A small, dramatic pause. “In thousand years.”
Kazuma aggressively messed his hair, which made the girls tell them not to fight. Barok stifled a laugh, then his gaze fell upon Herlock. Once again, those thoughts filled his mind: how different things would have been if only he had been more mature at the time?
He would never know… Time only moved forward, after all, even if his regrets refused to do the same.
As the months passed, Barok caught himself surprised at how much he was enjoying his life in that place. At first, he believed being so far from the city he grew up in would be difficult, but after all that time, he struggled to think of any downsides to that change. And, the most important part of it all: his family seemed quite happy as well.
As Irene’s health slowly but steadily got better, she and Klint could finally join them and meet the octomer friends their daughter spoke so much about. Their visits to the beach were rare, but according to the doctors, with time Irene would be strong enough to live a mostly independent life, which also meant being free to leave their house more often.
After so long trapped in a bed, she was delighted to spend time in such a pleasant place with new people. Klint had been more cautious at first—not as much as Barok, but clearly paying attention to those sea creatures his daughter called her friends. However, as soon as he realized how strong their bond truly was, he quickly warmed up to them as well.
“And I am so glad that Barok made new friends!” he said, suddenly. “He was always a shy boy, so, as his older brother, seeing how close you are to him brings me great joy.”
“Klint, dear…” said Irene. “You will embarrass our little Barok like this.”
She truly didn’t realize that being called little at his age was just as embarrassing… He glanced toward Kazuma and Ryunosuke, who looked at him while clearly holding back their laughter. Gods… As soon as Klint and Irene left, those two would be insufferable.
Herlock, on the other hand, didn’t even have the courtesy to wait that long.
“I certainly understand your feelings, my friends,” he said. “Little Barok looks much happier lately, don’t you agree?”
“He does,” Klint thought briefly. “You have been his only close friend for so long, Herlock… I hope this doesn’t make you jealous.”
Barok had to hold back a groan. He and Herlock had never told Klint and Irene about their brief romantic relationship, so his brother had no idea how awkward that comment was. Thankfully, though, Herlock responded with a hearty laugh.
“I must admit,” he said, “the only reason why I am not overcome with jealousy is because these three are my dear friends as well. So, instead, I am quite joyful that all of us have become so close.”
“Me too!” said Iris, slightly bouncing in place. “I never had so many friends before!”
Her words pushed that uncomfortable feeling out of Barok’s chest for the time being. He brought a hand to her head, gently caressing her hair.
“Indeed.”
But, despite all the truth in those words, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Herlock and Kazuma had grown closer than anyone else. Always talking, frequently touching in a way so casual that one could easily think they had known each other for the longest time. Barok had first noticed it that evening, when Herlock first showed Kazuma how to play the violin, and it only became more evident with time.
He should be happy, but a complicated, tangled-up feeling continued to grow in his chest, taking the space once filled with pure joy. If that truly was jealousy, then… Of whom? Was it of the sweet man he had once called a lover? Or that beautiful creature who tried so hard to know him better despite Barok’s awkwardness?
It was hard to tell. And, the more he thought about it, the more certain he became that the answer was actually of both. He didn’t want the attention of just one of them, but to be part of that sweet relationship as well—an extra piece trying to fit into a perfectly arranged puzzle, while aware that there was no place for it there.
He tried not to let that bitterness overcome him. It wasn’t like either of them owed him their heart and affection. And if they found happiness in each other, then… As someone who deeply cared for both of them, Barok should feel happy as well.
And yet, he could barely keep his composed face when Kazuma approached him that day, asking him that question in his usual straightforward manner.
“What happened between you and Herlock?”
Herlock… Not Sholmes anymore, but Herlock. Barok tried not to think about that small change that meant so much, and instead, gave Kazuma his sincere answer.
“We were together years ago.” A small, hesitant pause. “As lovers.”
Kazuma nodded, not seeming very surprised. “And you’re not together anymore?”
“No. We were too different, so we chose to part ways.”
“You really are different.” Kazuma offered him a slight smile. “But I like you both as you are.”
His words made something sting inside Barok. “You certainly like someone like Herlock more.”
“I said I like both of you, Barok. Or do you not understand human language at all?”
The fond exasperation in his voice sweetened the bitterness inside Barok, getting a slight smile out of him.
“Yes, my apologies.”
Kazuma observed him quietly for a moment, seeming deep in thought. “Do you still like him?”
Barok wished he could say no, but all those recent worries had made the response clear in his mind. “Perhaps I do.”
“I understand.”
It was hard not to notice a slight pain in his voice, which only confirmed what Barok already knew. Still, he feigned ignorance as he spoke again.
“Is something the matter?”
“No,” said Kazuma, “I was just thinking about it.”
“Don’t worry about this. It simply wasn’t supposed to be.”
“But it’s sad, isn’t it? Knowing that you two…”
He stopped himself, which made Barok crease his brow.
“Yes?”
“Nothing.” Kazuma sighed. “It’s just sad when things don’t work out as they should.”
There was more to it, but it seemed that neither of them had the courage to touch that subject directly—Kazuma because he didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and Barok because a foolish part of him still hoped for something that wasn’t meant to be.
“You truly don’t need to worry about my feelings,” said Barok in a soft voice. “Everything is fine, I swear.”
“But how could I not?”
He seemed about to say something else, but before he could, their attention was caught by Iris’ voice.
“Uncle Barry, Kazie… You should come and have some food while it’s still hot.”
“Unless you want our dear Ryunosuke to eat all of it,” added Herlock.
“I won’t!” Ryunosuke considered it briefly. “Only if they take too long to come… Can’t waste good food.”
Their lighthearted words seemed to make Kazuma relax. He looked at Barok, a faint smile on his face.
“We should go.”
Before he could move away, however, Barok reached for his arm, lightly holding it.
“Kazuma…” He briefly struggled to find the words. “Thank you for worrying about me. But I am fine, truly.”
“If you say so…”
Kazuma said nothing else, but it was clear that he didn’t believe Barok’s words. Which was a problem: Barok still had unresolved feelings for Herlock, but he also cared deeply enough for Kazuma to want him to find happiness. As long as those two were fine, he would have time to deal with his own feelings later.
For the following days, Barok tried to come to terms with his own feelings and think of ways he could offer his support to those he cared so much about.
After much consideration, he concluded he had to have a proper talk with Kazuma, this time without hiding behind his cowardice and indirect words. He had a feeling his friend wouldn’t take the first step as long as he believed he would be hurting Barok in the process, so Barok was ready to do whatever was necessary to ease his concerns—even lie, if he had to. All for his and Herlock’s happiness.
But instead, before he had the chance to touch that subject, Kazuma approached him with a serious expression, wrapping a tentacle around his wrist.
“Come with me.”
It was so sudden that Barok couldn’t even come up with a response. Kazuma pulled him toward the sea, and then, to Barok’s surprise, gestured toward his back.
“Hold on tightly,” he said. “I need to show you something.”
“Are we going into the water?”
“Yes, but don’t worry… I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Barok never thought the contrary, and still, he had a bad feeling about it. Noticing his reluctance, Kazuma offered him a reassuring smile.
“Just trust me.”
And Barok did trust him. So, he did as Kazuma said, holding onto him—which was slightly awkward given the size of his body. But Kazuma didn’t seem to mind it, wrapping a pair of tentacles around him before entering the water.
The sudden coldness made Barok shiver, but he didn’t complain—in fact, there was little space in his mind for anything but that sudden closeness, which he tried so hard to ignore. When Kazuma stopped moving, Barok glanced around, trying to find whatever it was he had wanted to show him. He was still looking for anything other than a large flat rock when, with surprising strength, Kazuma raised him by the waist and placed him on that surface.
“Just wait here for a minute,” said Kazuma. “I’ll be back soon.”
Before Barok could say anything, Kazuma swam away from him. Left with no choice but to do as he was told, Barok let out a long sigh, his heart still racing. He was trying to keep those thoughts at bay, but sometimes, it was hard to control his imagination.
Barok was still lost in his own mind when he saw Kazuma again, and his heart jumped when he realized he was carrying Herlock on his back this time. Herlock’s eyes widened when their gazes met, proof that he hadn’t been aware of Kazuma’s plans either. As soon as Kazuma reached that rock, he placed Herlock beside Barok, then looked from one of them to the other before speaking.
“Now that you’re both here, you need to have a proper conversation.”
“Conversation…?” asked Barok.
“Yes,” said Kazuma. “About how much you love each other, and how you want to be together again, but are too scared to take the first step and ruin your friendship.”
Silence fell upon them until Herlock spoke in an unusually quiet voice.
“Kazuma, dear…”
“Just do it, already,” Kazuma insisted in a louder voice. “You can get as angry at me as you want when you’ve talked things out.” He gestured at a large rock formation nearby. “I’ll be around there. Just call me when you’re done.”
Without waiting for their responses, he once again swam away. Barok could only watch him until he disappeared from view, his stomach sinking as the silence grew heavier.
“Oh, my…” Herlock murmured under his breath. “I was not expecting him to go this far.”
As Barok’s mind finally recovered from the shock and started to connect things properly, guilt grew in his chest.
“It might have been my fault,” he said.
“I doubt it, my friend.”
“I am serious.” Barok turned his gaze away. “He recently asked me about us, and I may have told him more than I should.”
Herlock considered it for a moment. “It makes sense. He asked me the same question. And insisted on it until I gave him a proper answer.”
Those words grabbed Barok’s attention, a question escaping his lips before he could hold it back. “And what did you say?”
Herlock’s smile was slightly bitter. “You already know the answer to it, don’t you?”
“How could I know?”
“Then, why don’t you tell me…” Herlock met his gaze, surprisingly serious. “What was your response, dear Barok?”
The most instinctive part of him wanted to change the subject or give a dismissive response without having to voice how he truly felt. But, despite his fears, he couldn’t bring himself to commit the same mistake a second time. So, while sustaining that gaze, Barok finally said those words.
“That I still have feelings for you.”
That was all he could say, voicing the feeling that had haunted him those past few months—if not much longer, while he desperately tried to look away from it. He didn’t know what kind of response he expected from Herlock, but instead of words, he felt a hand on his cheek and lips covering his mouth.
It had been so long, and yet, the familiar touch made his entire body tremble. Without thinking, Barok covered Herlock’s hand with his, returning that kiss with a hesitation that didn’t last long. When the kiss finally came to an end, their eyes met, and there was a slight smile on Herlock’s lips.
“How troublesome,” Herlock murmured. “I so proudly call myself a perceptive man, and yet, I’ve missed something like this.”
“I did everything in my power so you wouldn’t notice it.” Barok lowered his eyes. “I thought we would permanently drift away from each other if you did.”
“You are such a fool, Barok.”
The comment made him smile. “And what does this say about you?”
“Nothing different.” Herlock forced a deep sigh. “We are both fools, my dear friend.” He paused, considering something. “Does this mean you are willing to give our relationship a second chance?”
The thought of it was enough to make him nervous. “If this is what you want as well, then yes.”
“It is.”
Barok almost kissed him again, but then that veil of happiness finally fell, reminding him of the obvious.
“What about Kazuma?” he asked. “I was certain that you had feelings for each other.”
Herlock’s smile faltered. “I should be honest with you. I do have feelings for our dear octomer friend. And I was quite certain you did, as well.”
Those words weighed in Barok’s heart. “I do.”
“Oh.” Herlock blinked, speechless for a moment. “This is quite the predicament, isn’t it?”
Barok agreed with a small nod. “What are we supposed to do, then?”
“We should consider the possibilities.” Herlock closed his eyes, staying silent for a while. “If Kazuma happened to have feelings for you, what would you want to do?”
The question took Barok off guard. “We just fixed things between us.”
“If it wouldn’t mean the end for us, would you want to be with him as well?”
The answer was yes, but Barok couldn’t simply say it. So, instead, he answered with another question. “How do you feel about this?”
“I simply want the ones I love to be happy. So, what do you say?”
With nowhere else left to run, Barok finally responded. “Maybe… I have never considered a relationship like this before.”
“And if he happened to have feelings for me?” asked Herlock. “How would you feel about it?”
“It would hurt,” Barok admitted. “But I would want you to be happy as well.”
“And if he happened to have feelings for us both?”
The possibility sounded so absurd that Barok almost laughed. But he couldn’t, stopped by that faint hope inside of him that kept questioning what if…?
“Then,” he said, “the three of us could be together.”
“Sounds like a perfect solution, doesn’t it?” Herlock grinned. “But before we decide anything, we need to hear what dear Kazuma has to say about this.”
Those words were enough to revive Barok’s anxiety. As if noticing it, Herlock reached for his hand, holding it.
“May I call him?” he asked.
As nervous as he was, Barok nodded in response. Herlock gave his hand a light squeeze before calling for Kazuma, who soon approached them again. He looked at their faces, and then their joined hands, a smile appearing on his lips.
“Have you worked things out?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Barok.
“Thanks to your interference, dear Kazuma,” Herlock added.
“Good!” Kazuma’s smile widened. “I’ll take you both back, then.”
“No, not yet.” Herlock moved away from Barok, who did the same, opening some space between them on that rock. “Come here.”
Kazuma tilted his head, confused. “You want me to sit there?”
“Yes.” Herlock tapped that space. “Sit between us.”
“But won’t that be a tight fit?”
“Come now, dear.”
Kazuma opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself, seeming defeated by the gentle insistence. “Don’t blame me if you fall in the water…”
He did as Herlock said, and indeed, almost sent Barok into the sea. But Kazuma wrapped a tentacle around his arm, keeping him safely in place while Herlock giggled at the sight, amused.
“Those are some impressive reflexes,” he commented.
“I tried to warn you…” Kazuma sighed, looking at Barok. “Are you alright?”
The concern in his voice made Barok smile. “Yes, thank you.”
And then he remembered why they were in that situation to begin with, lowering his eyes while his heart threatened to burst. Kazuma, on the other hand, seemed to relax a little.
“Well,” he said, “since no one is yelling at me yet, I’m guessing you’re planning to thank me for my meddling, instead?”
“We certainly are,” said Herlock with a chuckle. “But that’s not all we have in mind.” He paused, looking at Kazuma. “When you brought us here to open up about our feelings, you missed an important piece of this entire puzzle.”
“Did I?”
Herlock nodded, looking at Barok, who took that as a sign for him to respond. He drew in a deep breath, pushing through his anxiety as he finally voiced what he carried inside.
“That we both have feelings for you as well.”
Kazuma stared at him, his eyes getting huge as the meaning of those words fell upon him. The sudden movement of his tentacles in his surprise almost sent both Barok and Herlock into the sea, but Kazuma managed to grab them both by the waist and hold them in place on that rock, looking from one to the other with an open mouth as he seemed to struggle with the words. His shocked expression, as well as the sight of his fangs behind his lips, seemed to melt Barok’s heart.
“This is not a joke, is it?” Kazuma asked in a low voice.
“It surprises me that you haven’t noticed it yet,” said Herlock.
“Noticed what?” Kazuma shook his head. “No, I mean… Are you really serious about this?”
“We are,” said Barok. “And we want to hear your side of this as well.”
“What you feel for the two of us,” Herlock added.
For a long while, Kazuma didn’t respond, as if still absorbing the meaning of that confession, while also not letting go of either of them.
“I thought I… I had no chance at all,” he finally said.
Herlock brought a hand to his head. “Because Barok and I have feelings for each other?”
“You broke up because you thought you were too different…” Kazuma lowered his voice. “But you’re much more alike than either of you will ever be to me.”
“And you see this as a barrier?”
Kazuma seemed perplexed at that question. “I am from the sea. Our people haven’t interacted with each other for centuries. Everything about us… Bodies, lives, everything… It’s all so different.”
“And are these differences stronger than your wish to be with us?” asked Barok.
Kazuma lowered his head, his response barely audible. “No… Not even close.”
His tiny response was enough to make Barok’s chest feel much lighter. He glanced at Herlock, who smiled at him before leaning in Kazuma’s direction, their heads touching.
“That settles it, then,” said Herlock. “Kazuma, dear… Beloved Kazuma.”
In response, Kazuma grumbled something in his language, and Barok could only understand part of it, while Sholmes laughed in delight.
“It seems I need to study your language harder,” said Barok.
Kazuma grunted, covering his face with both hands. “Right now, I’m glad you didn’t.”
“He said his heart cannot survive all of this,” said Herlock.
His words made Kazuma glare at him, to which Herlock responded with a mischievous smile before pulling him into a kiss. Barok observed them, part of him incredibly glad that things had turned out that way—and part annoyed at that cunning man for acting before Barok could even think about it. When the kiss came to its end, Herlock caressed Kazuma’s face, then turned his eyes to Barok, seeming delighted at his frustration.
“Who said you could do it first?” asked Barok.
“Forgive me, beloved…” he responded with a smile. “I could not resist.”
That man hadn’t changed at all… Which wasn’t so bad, all things considered. So, instead of complaining further, Barok brought a hand to Kazuma’s face, turning it toward him. Kazuma still seemed in shock, but when their gazes met, his expression softened. Barok offered him a smile, which was soon returned before their lips touched.
It was still hard to believe. He had spent so long thinking he was unlucky when it came to romance, sure that the two people he ever loved would never want him in return. And then, he kissed Herlock and Kazuma on the same day, their love for him so clear it left no room for his insecurities.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” Kazuma admitted as soon as they parted their lips.
Herlock nodded. “I believe none of us were.”
“Indeed.”
Saying that, Barok reached for Kazuma’s hand, holding it as Herlock did the same with the other one. A small, pleased giggle left Kazuma’s lips—a cute sound, coming from someone as strong and determined as Kazuma, which pleased Barok as much as his embarrassed expression. He still had much to learn about him, it seemed… And he was looking forward to it.
“Do you want to go back now?” asked Kazuma after a while.
“In a moment, dear,” said Herlock. “It is quite pleasant here.”
Barok couldn’t hold back a satisfied smile. “I agree. We still have time.”
“Alright.”
While still holding Barok and Herlock’s hands, Kazuma tightened the tentacles around their waists, hugging them closely with a pleased grin on his face. Barok and Herlock’s eyes met, and they exchanged a smile: they were both enjoying that unexpectedly adorable side of their lover.
So, for the minutes that followed, the three of them simply stayed together like that, surrounded by the clear sky, the calm sea, and each other’s beloved warmth, as if all pieces of that puzzle had found their way together, making it hard to believe that life could ever be better than that.