Someone to Lean On

*joyous humming*

Hm? I know that voice.

*hum*

Oh, Aldo! So lovely to see you.

I thought that was your voice I heard. Am I interrupting?

Oh? W-Was I singing?

Yeah... It was a lovely song.

Oh no, I'm so embarrassed... I didn't think anyone would hear me.

I-I'm so sorry!

But you sounded really happy. Did something good happen?

I-It's just... This land is so nice and warm, even without crimson coral. It's such a lovely feeling!

Oh right, Siren's Village is on top of an iceberg, yeah?

That's right! So just looking at this view...

Is it cold where you're from, Pizzica?

It is, it's really very chilly. There's ice as far as the eye can see!

I didn't know that.

So just looking at this view...

Makes me feel as if I could melt under this warm sun.

Haha, I see.

But of course, I also love the north sea, huddling up with everyone, warming each other up.

Fair enough. I'm glad you like this region as much as you do.

Anyway, it really was a lovely song. If it's all right with you, I'd love to hear more of it...

You can't!

Huh?

You can't listen to her song!

That sounded like a child's voice...

Get away from that monster! Her song...it's a curse!

Hey, wait!

A curse?

He must have fallen prey to some rumor. Siren's songs are often badmouthed in the human world.

Oh, so that boy has the wrong idea about your song?

It would be wonderful if it was as simple as that... But he seemed so serious, maybe there was more to it.

Actually, Aldo, I'm a little worried about him. Could we go and check on him?

Since we're here, we might as well clear up this misunderstanding about the sirens. He ran off toward Acteul. Let's go after him.

There he is! There's the boy!

Pizzica?

He was scared of my song before. If I go to see him, it will only make him more scared.

Oh, right.

Could you go and talk to him? I'll watch from over here.

Okay. Thanks, Pizzica.

See you later!

You're that kid from before, right? The one who called out to me...

M-Mister! Are you okay?!

Wh-Why wouldn't I be?

You heard her song! Aren't you cursed now?!

I'm totally fine, I'm not cursed or anything. See, nothing out of the ordinary, is there?

Not that I can see... But do you feel the urge to jump into the sea? Or do you hear sirens calling you?

That's not what Pizzica's song does!

Is that her name?

How do you know her name? A-Are you friends with that thing?! Or is she controlling you with her song?

Why are you jumping to these conclusions? Why do you distrust sirens so much? It's just a rumor that their songs are curses.

It's not a rumor! Y'see, my dad...

He was taken by the sirens!

Wha?

Huh? What was that noise?

Wait!

It's you!

I-I'm sorry... I...

You came to take me, didn't you? Just like you took my dad!

......

Would you mind telling me what happened to your father?

Don't play dumb now! You already know!

That day, my dad's ship went out to sea, and didn't come back again. I waited day after day, watching the sea from dawn till dusk.

......

After waiting a month, the only thing to wash ashore was a scrap of wood. But I knew what it was right away. It was the deck from my dad's ship.

Oh no...

There's no way there was a storm, and no way his ship sunk on its own. Someone must have sunk it. And you sirens sink ships with your songs, don't you? You lure sailors into the sea, don't you? I read that in a book!

......

I know you took him with you! My dad's trapped at the bottom of the sea, just waiting for me to rescue him! Isn't he?!

The bottom of the sea? But...

Aldo.

Gimme back my dad!

Why'd you take him? Me and Mom've been waiting for him to come back!

......

Nothing to say, eh? Then I'll have to get him back myself!

Huh?

......

Um, Pizzica, can we really just leave him to think this? I'm sure whatever watery fate his father met with was no fault of the sirens. But any way you slice it, his father's...

It's fine, Aldo. If we're being honest, that boy's father isn't coming back. But finding someone to blame must be his only way of coping.

Pizzica...

Oh dear... I can't find him anywhere.

Hm?

Excuse me. Have you seen my son?

Your son?

Yes. H-He just ran away from home...

He ran away? Why would he do that?

I think it has something to do with my husband's shipwreck...

...!

When my husband never came back, my son spent every single day looking out to sea. Then he found the wreck from my husband's ship on the beach. He shut himself in his room reading books after that...

......

Then today... When I came home after doing some shopping, he disappeared. He's packed up his things. I think he's planning on going far away. What do I do?

There's no need to panic. I'm pretty sure he hasn't gotten far.

You are?

Yes, we came across a boy saying the same thing just now.

He went that way. Search anywhere he could have gone. We'll search the area, too.

Thank you so much!

Oh! I'm so sorry, Aldo.

What is it?

I decided we'd look for him all on my own, without even asking you first. But I couldn't just leave him...

Haha, what are you talking about? There's no need to worry. If you hadn't said anything, I would've offered to look for him anyway.

Oh, Aldo!

Thank you. I'm so glad I'm friends with someone as kind as you! If we weren't in such a hurry right now, I'd give your head such a stroking!

Well, I appreciate the thought...

But where should we look for him?

Hmm... Come to think of it, he said something interesting before.

And what was that?

When he was talking about his father, he said, "I'll have to get him back myself." Assuming the "him" referred to his father, then...

He wants to go out to sea?!

There's a harbor near here. Hurry, let's go and check it out.

I already told ya, you can't borrow it!

Oh? Is that...

Don't be like that! Just lemme borrow it! I only need it for a bit!

No way! Who in their right mind would trust a boat with a scrawny little kid like you?

But I'm the son of a sailor! I know how to use it...

No, no, NO! Try somewhere else!

There you are. We were looking for you.

You two!

You said before that you were going to get your father back yourself. Were you planning to use that boat to look for him?

Yeah. Since you won't tell me anything, I figured I'd look for him myself.

Don't be so reckless! You can't look for your father all on your own! Don't you know how big this sea is? You'll be putting your own life at risk!

Then what am I meant to do? You think I'm just gonna abandon my dad? He could be waiting for me to rescue him! Everyone gave up on him... So I've gotta be the one to find him!

......

Pizzica, I think we should tell him...

That his father isn't coming back.

Aldo...

This isn't just hard on you and the other sirens now, it's hard on him, too. He can't live like this, refusing to give up on his father who's clearly gone.

......

You're right.

Then I'll...

Forgive me, Aldo. I'm going to do this my way.

Pizzica?

Listen, kid, how does this sound? Why don't I search for your father instead?

...!

You're gonna look for my father?

Yes. I'm a siren, so I'll be able to search the seabed. It's a much more reliable method than searching from a boat. What do you think?

B-But...

What if you're friends with those sirens who took my dad? If I can't keep an eye on you, you're not going!

Oh, so you're coming with me to the bottom of the sea?

C-Can I really do that?

Hm... I think the Dragon Palace sea turtles can transport people using magic bubbles. If we use that magic, you should be able to walk in the sea for a short while! Only if you want to come, of course...

Okay. I'm coming with you. 'Cause I still don't trust you. But...

Yes?

Why are you doing all this for me? When you know I have my doubts about you...

Teehee! Don't worry you about that. I want to put those doubts of yours to rest. And... You may not believe me, but I'm really worried about you.

......

Aldo, do you think we can summon a Dragon Palace sea turtle from Kira Beach?

Yes, I imagine so. But more importantly, do you really think you're going to find his father?

I don't know... But I want to do whatever I can for him.

Pizzica...

Okay then. Let's head to Kira Beach.

Thanks, Aldo! Oh, wait a moment, will you?

What was that about?

I asked the boatman to tell the boy's mother that we found her son, should she come here. She must be at her wit's end trying to find him, poor thing.

You...

I know you're just looking all sweet to try to get me off my guard, but that's not gonna happen.

Teehee. I know. Let's go to Kira Beach!

I'm sure I've seen the sea turtle around here before...

Oh! Look, Aldo!

Ah, there he is!

Teehee. What good timing. Let's go ask him.

Excuse me, Mr. Turtle? Would you be able to take someone to the seabed?

Hold up! Just 'cause I'm proud of me shell, don't mean any ol' person can ride it! I'm a respected turtle o' Dragon Palace! Unless you got me approval...

Wait, yer Sheila's, Well, why didn't ya say so before?! Ain't no problem at all if it's for her!

Yikes! Well ain't you a thing o' beauty! Them glitterin' scales, that glossy fin! It'd be my pleasure to do a favor for someone as beautiful as you, Miss!

Miss...

But why're you askin' me? You could just use that gorgeous fin o' yours 'n' get to the sea bed in the blink o' an eye!

Oh, um...

It's not me I want you to take. It's this boy here!

Wha?! This li'l pipsqueak? Why even bother...

Wh-What?!

Oh well. If that's what ya want, pretty missy, I ain't gonna turn ya down.

So let's get goin'! 'Old on tight!

Whoa... I never knew this kinda place existed under the sea!

Teehee. You'd never see this from a boat, right?

No, I'm so surprised...

So this is how you drag humans into the sea!

So that's what you were thinking? How cruel!

I still don't trust you. I mean, you're...

I know. I'm a siren.

......

But you'll let me do all that I can to find your father, won't you? First, let's search nearby!

Okay...

It doesn't look like he's around here.

Oh...

It's okay. The sea is a vast place, after all. I'll search a little more!

......

I've searched as far as I can go in the western sea. Judging from where the ship was going, as well as the tidal current, I doubt it would have drifted any further than that.

......

Don't worry. We still have the east, the north, and the south to go! If I ride the ocean current, it'll take me right there.

Wait!

Yes?

Um...

It's nothing... Don't go getting washed away, okay?

Teehee. Thank you for worrying!

......

He wasn't there either, huh?

I'm sorry... I'll just have to be more thorough!

Surely it's getting harder and harder to do that? It's been quite a while since we started looking for him. It's already night.

It is? Already? I'm sorry, I didn't realize...

It won't be safe for you in the sea when it's dark. You should go back to your mom for today. Aldo will take you.

I will? And what are you going to do?

I'll keep searching a little while longer. There must be somewhere I haven't looked yet.

...... It's fine. You don't have to do that.

Huh?

You've worn yourself out already! Why would you push yourself so hard just to find my dad? It's got nothing to do with you!

That's not true. I have an important duty to clear your suspicions of sirens like me.

Then you could just tell me that I'm talking nonsense! You could just tell me my dad's not coming back!

Like all the other adults did...

......

That's so sad...

Huh?

But you see, you believe you'll see your father again, and I want to believe you.

Why?

It must be incredibly difficult when no one else believes you, to be the only one not losing hope. I thought if I at least could believe what you believe, to hope what you hope...

You wouldn't be alone...

...!

So that's why you've been doing this?

Teehee. I can keep going. I'm confident in my stamina! You can depend on me. So let me be your ally.

Really?!

What was that?!

What a lot of commotion! I think some huge enemy is approaching! Aldo, get the child to safety!

That's...

That's no ordinary monster. I think it came to cause trouble!

Aaaargh!

It's okay! I'm going to protect you! Let's do this! I can take this thing on!

Phew, we did it...

Are you okay? You're not hurt?

I'm okay...

We may have gotten rid of that monster, but it's still not safe for you here. There could be others. I think it's best you return to the surface with Aldo. I'll just be a little...

You can stop looking for him now.

Huh?

I knew it. This is my dad's flask.

Then your father...

That monster must've gotten him.

Oh dear!

While you were fighting, I saw a ship fragment stuck to the monster... There's no way I saw it wrong. That was my dad's ship, I'm sure of it.

......

Oh... I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say.

It's fine. To be honest, I knew in my heart that Dad wasn't coming back.

......

But...I thought if I gave up, everyone would forget about him. And that made me dig my heels in even more. I guess I was just taking my anger out on the sirens.

I wish I could blame somebody. But you...

It's fine. Don't you worry about me. Your feelings are much more important right now.

...... Oh...

Wargh... Daaad... Waaaaah...

*sniffle*... *sob*...

You'd been holding that in all this time. You're not having difficulty breathing, are you? I'll wait however long until you feel calmer.

*sniffle*

No, I should go back. I feel much better. D'ya mind taking me back to Acteul?

Are you really okay now?

It's not like I can make you wait forever.

And... I do feel a little calmer thanks to you, Miss.

My sadness hasn't gone away, but I feel weird, like I've been wrapped up in something warm. It's 'cause you stayed with me till I was all cried out.

......

I'm okay now. So will you take me back to my mom?

Sure. Let's go back to Acteul.

Mom! Sorry I'm late.

Oh, I'm so glad you're safe!

I heard from the boatman that you accompanied my boy into the sea. Thank you so much for putting up with him.

It's fine. But...

Mom, I was looking for Dad all this time. But we couldn't find him. I don't think he's coming back.

......

I'm gonna look after you from now on, Mom. I may not be much of a substitute for Dad... But I'll make sure you're never alone again.

Heheh. Oh, you're so mature all of a sudden!

I'm sorry I never realized how much you were struggling with this.

No, it's my fault. I never really told you.

It's funny, though. I thought sirens had taken Dad into the sea. But sirens are actually so much...

Yes?

So much kinder than I ever could've imagined.

Oh!

Thanks, Miss.

Sirens are amazing.

Teehee, you're welcome. If you ever get lonely, just come back to the coast!

I'll serve you crinklebell cracker, chilly chips, eggplant kelp tea, and snow roasted green tea. And when you're stomach is full and you start to get sleepy, I'll stroke your head and lull you to sleep!

You can't baby me like that! I've gotta grow up fast so I can look after Mom!

Oh my, such a reliable young man!

Looks like there's nothing to worry about now.