I Like the Softness

Volt. Surprise attack.

Need new one.

Want soft one.

Hey, Captain.

Did you come to fish?

No kidding? I might have just the thing you're looking for.

It's not a fish.

It's neither of those, either.

Just sit tight.

A sponge crab.

It's super soft. Take it.

Sure you could.

Its entire back is essentially a furry sponge.

It'll be fine.

As long as you don't move, it won't pinch you.

What?

Let me see.

Good.

Now sleep.

Zzzz...

Hey, Volt! Bring it back!

Woof!

Morgan can do that too.

Go, Morgan!

*Kheeek*

That parrot is pretty good.

Volt's not too bad either.

Oh, hey Captain. You came at the perfect time.

We were just about to do our last match.

There sure is:

to determine whether Volt or Morgan is smarter!

Up until now, it's been a tie.

The next match will decide everything.

I'll admit that this parrot is talented,

but it'll never best Volt, not in a million years!

Ha! You'll be eating those words soon enough.

Please, this last match is practically a foregone conclusion.

Greenhorn, would you like to watch it before you go?

Tell me, Captain, who do you think is going to win?

Good answer.

See? Greenhorn knows how it is.

I appreciate the support, Captain!

Morgan will bring us victory, I'm sure of it!

All right, what's the next task?

Riding a two-meter wave without any equipment.

Maybe, but only a truly difficult skill like this would be worth constituting the final match. Let's go, Volt!

Woof woof!

Tally ho, Morgan!

Keeeeeeeeeak!

*Eeep*

*Crawwwwww*

Volt!

Morgan! Get it together!

Captain,

I thought giving them a good whack would calm 'em down.

Your perseverance is remarkable.

You came all the way out here, and you're still working?

...

Amazing!

Have you ever considered that you might be a workaholic?

Would you two can it?! I'm trying to work.

I've gotta keep my hands nimble so that I don't lose my touch.

Cool!

Truly the mind of a master.

Whatever you say.

Anyhoo, does this mean you're accepting orders?

Was there something you wanted?

Yep!

A whole bunch actually.

Just tell me one.

Fine...

To be honest, I really want to go to the sea.

Ah ha!

You want her to make you an inner tube, don't you?

Why didn't you just tell me you were jealous? I'd have given you a ride on mine.

I don't want any stinkin' inner tube!

Those are for kids, and besides, they're a pain in the butt to haul around all the time.

Isn't there anything a bit more modern and convenient that you can make for me?

What? You've got no idea how comfortable an inner tube can be.

All you've got to do is place it around your waist, and viola! You're done.

Maybe your hips aren't wide enough, and it ends up sliding down?

That's not it!

That's enough from the peanut gallery!

Hmm...

How about a surfboard?

You ought to be able to carry that around with just one hand.

Ooh, that could work!

Okay, I've got some leftover wood from the boat I made, so I can whip something up for you.

Just give me some time.

Wow, awesome!

There's a reason why they say you're the best.

Thanks a bunch! I'm gonna get a lotta use out of this thing.

It's so smooth! So pretty!

I wanna take it for a spin too.

Those who are always making such a ruckus.

Oh, hey Greenhorn.

If my hands rest too long, they'll get rusty.

Huh? Like wha... Agh!

I can't believe

you're actually encouraging me to horse around.

You don't think I'd actually fall for th...Argh!

...

I'm an adult. I won't fall for such a cheap tric... Urgh!

...

Don't you know you're supposed to respect your elders?!

I'll get you for this!

!

...

Ugh.

Ughhh...

Big trouble. Tired.

Hmm...

...

Frima?

What are you doing here?

Are you not feeling well?

No.

Feeling all wrong.

Going.

Huh?

Hmm...

...

That storm really snuck up on us, didn't it?

There we were, having a ball, and then whammo! Big ol' gusts of wind.

Totally.

It really brought the mood down.

Not it either.

Gah!

You scared me! I didn't see you there.

What are you doing here?

Leaving.

*Sigh*

!

Commander?

Amazing.

This is it.

The hammock.

Paradise.

*Gasp*

*Cough, cough*

Are you okay?

I'm okay. Water's just a bit salty, that's all.

I thought this would be a piece of cake,

but it's tough keeping your balance.

This is why nothing beats a good inner tube.

It's nice and safe, and it doubles as a fashion accessory.

Weren't you going on about how you wanted to try out the surfboard before?

Yeah, but I don't wanna get soaked,

so the inner tube will do me just fine.

Just you watch.

I'll get this down by the end of the day.

Argh!

...

...

I agree with the Commander.

We aren't the Aegis squad.

Continual exposure to seawater isn't good for us.

Right!

What if it has an adverse effect on your body? Then what?

If Mary finds out about this, she'll chase you down with a hypodermic needle for sure.

A big one.

Which is good for your health.

... Neon.

Mary doesn't go out giving inoculations willy-nilly.

I get what you're all trying to say,

but I think I'm getting the hang of this.

I'll be able to stand up and hold my balance any minute now.

Can I keep going for just a little longer?

I won't push myself too far,

I promise!

Pretty please?

Commanderrrr!

A-Anis! Your swimsuit!

What about it?

!

Gahhh!

Commander, don't look!

Commander,

please close your eyes for a moment!

Mmm? What's going on here?

It was raining cats and dogs earlier,

and now the sun's come right back out.

I know, right?

Maybe island weather is fickler.

Holy moly!

It's freezing out here!

Would you look at that? Isn't it sweet?

What a lovely summer scene.

Rapi! Anis!

There is a buncha pretty seashells over here.

Whoa, you're right!

This one's even rainbow-colored.

I've never seen that before.

There's no way that can be rainbow color...

!

Fascinating.

Totally fascinating.

Must be some kind of mutation.

Would you get a look at that?

Ah, to be young again.

...

*Sigh*

What's going on with her?

The storm could come back any minute, and she's wasting this precious time zoning out.

Rookie, are you just going to stand there watching her?

She's got her own personal storm cloud following her.

Go and help her chase it away. I'll give you a discount if you do.

This is some leftover watermelon juice from today.

A sip of something sweet is sure to cheer her up.

Don't sweat it.

It bums me out seeing her down on herself like that. Now hurry and go cheer her up.

Subordinate? What's going on?

What is it?

Oh...

...

Thanks.

It's very sweet. Delicious.

What kind of drink...

Wait a minute...

?!

I'm definitely feeling something...

What the...

I know what you're doing.

I'm not dumb.

When men give women this, I know what they're after.

I know it all... too well.

You... Like... Meeee...

He... Heheh...

Subordina...

Whoops, my bad.

Guess I put something else in that glass.

...

Not that it matters anyway. So long as it made her feel good.

Volt, we should head back inside.

*Whine*

Great, I'm not gonna sell any drinks in this kind of weather.

Just my luck.

Anis, Neon.

We should go inside too.

This is so unfair!

I can't go in because it's so unfair!

We just started having fun, and now a storm's brewing?

I refuse! I'm staying out here.

The wind is awfully strong, though.

If we could withstand the wind, then...

I'd have mastery over fire, water, and even wind!

My powers would be limitless!

I would truly be a force to be reckoned with!

...

What could you possibly do in this weather?

Surfing, maybe?

Yikes. If we take a tumble against one of those waves, we could be swept out to sea.

I guess that rules that out.

How about a squirt gunfight?

Ow!

I think squirt guns may be unnecessary.

Okay, fine. How about this?

Whoever can endure the storm longest, wins!

What?

So we're training to become one with the storm?

Maybe then we could have power over the elements!

Hyah!

You two are something else.

The wind isn't even that bad yet. Going inside now would be super lame.

Let's stay outside and enjoy it a little more.

When else are we gonna have a chance to enjoy nature, or this version of it, at least?

...

Very well.

Agh! What is this?!

... Ha.

Hahaha!

You should see your face, Anis! So funny!

Don't just stand there laughing! Help me get this thing off!

Hey, look at that.

Isn't that a handkerchief flying past?

That's no handkerchief. That's the swimsuit Pepper was wearing.

Watch out!

What was that that just flew past?

I think it may have been the clinic's sign.

We'll have to tell Liter to fix that.

Ugh! All this wind is kicking up too much sand.

My eyes sting...

Not to mention all the flying debris.

I think we've 'enjoyed' enough nature for the time being. How about we head inside?

I will if Neon agrees to it.

I'll go if you go.

...

...

...

Let's count to three and all go in together.

Fine.

Okay.

One...

Two...

Three.

Hey! I thought we all promised we'd go in together.

You didn't stand up either!

*Sigh*

One, two, three.

Let's head inside, for real this time.

I don't want to hear any crying about it, either.

Argh, this sand is so annoying!

I'll be sure to bring sturdier glasses next time, ones that'll block out all the flying sand.

Zzzzz...

Jeez, it's practically the end times out here, and she's out like a light.

Her hammock is steady as a rock, too.

How is that even possible?

That's it!

She must have already mastered the art of wind power.

I'll have to ask her for her secret next time.

...

Let's hurry inside.

As the thick fog unfurls across the ominous lake, a woman with long, black hair

slowly emerges from the depths.

...

Standing far off on the shore, you see her gesture with her hand, beckoning you to come closer.

...

I can't go alone... I won't!

Nooooo!

Gah!

Liter, your screaming is freaking me out more than the story!

All right, everyone, that was my final story.

Since we're on vacation and all, I'll give you a discount. Only 1,000 credits per person.

What? 1,000 credits?!

I didn't know we had to pay to listen?

You should have known better.

In this world, nothing comes free.

How could I have?

We got taken for a ride with that stupid collection of scary stories.

Getting ripped off on vacation is a common occurrence.

I guess you could say it was our own personal horror story.

Do you think Rapi knew this was going to happen?

That's not fair! She should have told us!

That'd explain why she was so adamant about not coming.

Something fishy is going on here.

Yeah, you're right.

Let's find her and get some answers.

Maybe she's at the beach.

Let's go find her!

Anis, don't you feel like the fog is getting thicker around us?

Huh? You're right. What's going on?

*Sigh* She must be working again.

I don't get it. Why bother with vacation when all you're gonna do is work?

Let's go say something to her.

Maybe something else is going on.

Huh?

Like what?

She might be doing some solo training.

What kind of training?

To become a master of the elements.

What in the world are you on about?

Rapi might want to commandeer the wind, or she could be trying to accomplish some other ambitious goal like that.

Sorry, but you're the only one interested in pursuing such unintelligible fantasies.

Hey! Don't call them fantasies! You're so mean...

Okay.

We can ask her ourselves

and see if I'm right or Anis is right.

Fine by me. Let's go.

Rapi!

Rapi!

How come she's standing in the water?

And why is her hair all wet?

Commander?

Wait, is that...

Rapi?

Just come a little closer.

I can't go alone...

Huh?

Wh-who said that?!

...?

What's going on with all of you?

What kind of question is that?

Of course I'm Rapi.

Who else would I be?

Then what about the Rapi out in the water?

Yeah, the one who keeps beckoning us to come closer?

...

...

Who caught all these fish?

Is someone planning on starting up an aquarium?

We went fishing earlier today.

At first, we just caught one or two, then it started adding up.

That reminds me,

should we cook these fishies up?

You, Liter, and me, of course!

I'm not exactly well-versed in cooking either.

But it's okay, we've got Liter.

We can be her sous chefs.

Wait a minute, why are you roping me into this?

Because you've got the magic touch. You can make anything.

I can only assume that'd extend to cooking as well.

Or are you not confident in your cooking skills?

...

Oh boy, I'm sorry.

I hadn't even thought you being bad at cooking was a feasible option.

I'll stop bringing it up.

Would you just be quiet? Quit rushing to conclusions.

I haven't even said anything yet.

Oh... so does that mean you can do it?

How hard can cooking be?

I'll lend a hand.

Awesome! Thanks.

What kind of dish should we make?

My thinking exactly, Greenhorn.

Grilled over a high flame.

Sounds like something that calls for firepower!

Then I'm just the woman for the job!

A solid recommendation, Greenhorn.

We'll have to boil the stew over a high flame.

That way, all the ingredients will get nice and soft.

I knew you'd be an expert at this.

As for me, I'll supply the firepower!

The smell is intoxicating.

And it looks delicious too.

It's a good thing you've got two capable sous chefs.

And with me as the head chef, we'll have ourselves a delectable meal in no time.

Of course.

You've done well up until this point, so I'll leave the finishing touches to you.

...

...

Oh, hey Captain.

It's good that you showed up.

We're not quite finished with it yet, but can you guess what it is?

Sorry, but not quite right.

What you're looking at is a sail.

I'm making a pirate ship, which I've always wanted to sail on.

Yep!

You could say it's my dream ship.

You should come back to see it when I'm done.

Subordinate,

could you pass me that shell over there?

Correct.

You should be able to tell what this is.

... No.

It's the foul creature that we all defeated, the Kraken.

I'll try to make some improvements next time.

Hey, Captain. Are you here to join us?

Ah, first, let me tell you what I made.

Okay, sure.

Hmm...

It's something that I like.

Indeed.

Not.

It's a castle where all the starfish live.

What's with the fish?

As if I'd do that!

Oooh, I'm glad I came. I heard about there being lots of fish here.

Word on the street is that you're quite the chef, Liter.

Wh-what?

Who's spreading such bald-faced lies?

Neon.

She told us you're a master when it comes to cooking with fish.

So we wanted to get a taste ourselves.

So Neon must have caught all these.

That's right... because we asked her to, hehe.

If you're in need of a few sous chefs, look no further.

Mary and I will help you.

Ugh...

Fine. Let's try it.

I don't need your help though,

Greenhorn.

I don't want you dumping an entire bottle of seasoning and ruining the dish like last time.

You can just stay back and watch.

The key to quality grilling is a nice, strong flame.

Crank the heat up to the max and grill away!

Gotcha!

Let's do it!

Pepper, wait a moment.

That should be enough.

So you just dice up all the ingredients and toss them in?

Sounds easy enough.

The key to making a nice, hearty stew is a strong flame.

Keep on boiling everything until those ingredients get to know each other.

Gotcha!

Leave it to me!

Pepper, wait a moment.

That should be enough.

It looks like Neon was telling us the truth about you, Liter.

It already looks and smells delectable.

You're really good at cooking.

Haha, that's right.

If I'd known you were so good at this, I'd have come by sooner.

The day is still young,

and we've got plenty of fish left over.

We can still put them to good use.

Sounds good!

As for the dish, I think all it needs is some seasoning.

Would you like to do the honors, Commander?

I can't imagine you'd make the same mistake twice.

You must have been bored sitting there watching us, so go ahead.

Fortunately for you,

I'm pretty good at catching things, Commander.

No problem.

Scrumptious.

Mhmm! Super delicious.

What do you think, Commander?

I always thought that was a weird expression,

but I actually think it's appropriate in this instance,

since it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Mast.

Anchor.

We may be on vacation, but that doesn't mean we can neglect our training entirely.

Even if it's just for a little while, let's train together.

I told you,

didn't I, Anchor?

Pay up. 100 credits.

Dang it. Fine, here.

What are you two doing?

We made a bet as to

whether you'd bring up training during vacation.

I went with my gut feeling, which is never wrong!

I knew it'd be impossible for you not to mention anything about training.

You'd go insane in the membrane if you didn't bring up training at least once during the day.

If she had a membrane, that'd make her a lot like a squid.

...

...

Aaaanyways,

I knew you'd bring up something like this, Helm,

so I've been preparing.

I was hoping that

you wouldn't bring it up,

but I expected you might.

...

So, I take it this means you both are ready to train?

Make any additional preparations you need, and meet back here in a few minutes.

Aye aye, Sir!

Okay.

Mast, reporting for duty.

I'm here, too.

All right, that's everyone.

Shall we begin?

Just a minute.

What is it?

Didn't we gather to train?

Correct.

Then how come you're all in swimsuits?

!

And...

I'm the only one in the squad

who doesn't have a swimsuit.

!!

You two did this on purpose!

W-wait.

It's not what you think.

Ju-just put the starfish down.

Yeah, what she said!

This is all just a big misunderstanding!

Hmph.

You two go have fun in your swimsuits.

Eek!

Argh!

May you live long and prosper in those stupid swimsuits of yours.

M-Mast...!

C-can you take this off for me?

Sorry,

but I can't see anything either.

!!

!!!

Helm?

Sorry to bother you so late.

It's okay.

Is there something wrong?

You didn't go swimming, did you?

No, it's not that.

I just have a headache.

Let's take a look.

It looks to me like you're overworked.

Have you been working this entire time?

... Yes.

If overwork is what's causing it, then it's not a major issue.

Thanks for seeing me.

Just a moment, Helm.

?

Let's go for a walk together.

Isn't this nice?

There's something special about the sea at night.

...

That it is.

... You brought me out here because you were worried I'd continue working, didn't you?

You're a doctor, all right.

Thank you for your concern.

It's not that at all.

When I saw you, it was like I was looking into a mirror.

So, I thought I would go out for a little breather, and figured I'd ask you to come along.

If it weren't for small breaks like this, I'd be overworked too.

So you're a fanatic about work as well?

Pepper was pestering me the other day,

urging me not to work so hard.

She says that, but she herself hasn't had a single day's rest since we got here.

I think that may have something to do with me, though.

Even just now, at this hour of the night, I was still here at the clinic.

Perhaps a resident physician who sees the attending physician working so hard feels they have to do the same.

I can certainly imagine

that being the case,

but as a leader, there's only so much you can do.

You have so many other responsibilities to focus on.

For me, protecting my squad is what I care about most.

That's what I place the most focus on.

I feel the same way.

I guess there are some problems we just can't solve.

How's your headache?

Gone now.

I think this little stroll had a positive effect.

I'm glad to hear that!

We should head back.

Yes, we still have lots to do.

Can you promise me one thing?

What is it?

It's okay to push yourself,

but going forward, come and see me whenever you're feeling unwell or out of sorts.

That's not too hard, is it?

Fine. I'll do that.

Come on then, pinky promise.

Do I have to?

I'm afraid so.

Words only mean so much, but a pinky promise makes it official.

Are you feeling a bit warm, Commander?

Sure, but not when it's to the point that you start to feel light-headed.

Pepper's right.

You don't look so hot... pardon the choice of words.

Go inside and rest.

How about I take you to the clinic and get you a nice IV booster?

Hmm...

You're not the only one, either.

Lots of people have been suffering from heatstroke, but no one has been coming to the clinic.

Is there any good method?

Hmm...

Isn't there anything non-invasive you can give them,

like a vitamin drink, or some medicine?

We don't have anything on hand, but I'm sure I can whip something up.

A shot is the most effective option, though...

No way, no how.

You have to banish that option from your mind right now.

I've often encountered the same thing in business.

You want to sell the best products for the highest price,

but the customer isn't always cooperative.

Some people would rather pay less for a product that may not be top-of-the-line, but simply gets the job done.

I know it may not be as effective as an injection,

but you've gotta come up with an alternative medicine that can be easily consumed and doesn't hurt.

Hmm...

Ah!

I've got just the ticket!

What do you mean?

I'm just a helpful gal.

You mean something like this?

Wow, that was fast.

Is this a vitamin drink?

Yep!

Drinking it will help you recover from fatigue and replenish your energy.

Can I try it?

Of course!

Hmm...

The taste is a little weird, but it's really refreshing.

That's because it's packed with vitamins and nutrients.

Fair enough. First things first, you can't be serving this in a paper cup.

Pour it inside a proper glass,

add some ice,

and top it off with a straw and a clamshell.

Wowee!

It's so pretty!

I'm sure this'll fly off the shelves.

Oh, I'm sure it will.

Seeing that I'm not totally unconscionable, how about you take 60% of the profits, and I take 40%?

Huh?

I couldn't do that. I'm going to give this away for free.

Pepper, listen.

If you want to drum up interest and potential customers, you've gotta wrap it up in a nice-looking package.

If you put a reasonable price tag on it, it'll come off as more trustworthy to customers.

You mean trust in me?

...

Okay, fine, I give up.

This industry and mine are clearly night and day.

Thanks for giving me such great ideas anyway, Yan.

I'll make some more of this and give everyone a cup.

Oh, no you won't. You just sit here and drink this like a good boy.

Exactly! What she said.

What do you mean you don't believe me?!

I'm telling you, we saw Rapi out there in the middle of the sea,

slowly waving her hand, beckoning us to come near.

You can only imagine the fright we had.

...

...

I'm sorry,

but I find that hard to believe.

Seeing strange visions in the sea is a common occurrence, especially if your night vision is subpar.

Coral reefs, marine life, light sources from the shore... nearly anything can be mistaken for some terrifying apparition.

I'm willing to bet the same thing happened to you all.

Hmm...

So it's going to be like that, is it?

How about you put that oh-so rational brain of yours to work

and come with us to the beach where this mystery Rapi appeared?

... What?

Since you're so logical, you should be able to figure out what it is we're dealing with.

Or, at the very least, whether it's just some 'marine life' as you put it.

...

Fine.

It's best I put these juvenile ghost stories to bed,

otherwise it'll cause unnecessary fear and unrest

amongst those responsible for night patrols.

Um... Helm.

Why do I have to come along?

We need your radar.

You're to scan the waters and see if you detect anything suspicious.

Especially something that could conceivably be mistaken as Rapi.

You're the witness.

People might not believe our story if it's just the two of us.

I figured it would be beneficial to have your testimony as well.

I'm not sure about 'eerie',

but there seems to be a stronger fish smell around than usual.

If a dead whale were on the beach,

there's no doubt the odor would spread for miles.

I don't see anything like that, though.

Let me turn on my radar.

... Subordinate,

you are the superior officer on this excursion.

Please don't foment any fear which is unfounded.

Anchor, activate your radar.

Let's keep our eyes peeled for something that could be causing this smell.

Okay.

...

... Huh?

I'm picking up something coming from the bungalow.

Moving, or squirming rather, at a slow speed.

It appears to be moving from house to house in search of something.

I don't want any wild speculation.

Let's proceed in that direction.

Anchor,

are you sure this is where you caught a signal?

I'm positive.

We must have passed each other at some point.

...

...

... I'm not sure.

I'll turn on my radar again.

...

Nothing.

At least not within 10m of us.

!

Commander?

Can I come in for a moment?

...

That's Rapi's voice.

No way. Rapi wouldn't do that.

Commander?

Can I come in for a moment?

Commander?

For a moment can I come in?

Wh-what should we do, Captain?

I don't think that's a good idea.

No, let's open it.

We came here to conduct an investigation.

If anything, we should be thankful that whatever this thing is has sought us out.

Commander for a moment I can come in?

Eeep!

Let's open the door.

If anything dangerous is on the other side, I'll hold it off.

...

...

Commander?

Of course it's me.

Is something wrong?

You all look like you've seen a ghost.

... It's nothing.

We just heard some strange noises, that's all.

Strange noises?

Now that I think about it,

the entire reason I came rushing over here was that

I saw you sprinting through the water towards the floating bungalows.

But you're dry as a bone right now, and you don't seem the slightest bit out of breath.

What are you talking about?

We've all been inside these bungalows for a while now.

...

...

...

Anchor!

I don't see any snails!

Are you sure you caught them on your radar?

I'm sure of it.

Even now, it's showing that they're in this area.

Are you sure your radar isn't busted?

Nope, everything's functioning as it should.

Captain? The storm is in a rage.

You should get inside.

Anchor said there was some kind of special snail here, so we're looking for it.

I know what I saw.

I was just about to catch it, but then a wave washed it away.

Maybe it got carried out to sea.

Then how come I keep detecting it on my radar?

Captain is right.

At this rate, Morgan might get blown away and sent off to sea.

Hmmm...

Wait. Just let me look at the radar one more time.

It was here... I'm sure of it...

!

It's here!

I found it!

We couldn't find it before because it was buried under the sand.

Check this out, Captain. It's a translucent snail that you can only find up on the surface.

Cool, looks super rare.

I've never seen snails like this before.

Okay.

Thanks for the help, Mast.

No worries.

Now it's time to put this little guy into the box and take him back to the Ark.

You two went out at a time like this? There's a storm raging outside.

Helm!

Look at this.

We found a translucent snail out there.

We got stuck in the rain while we were looking for it.

... I see.

Isn't it adorable?

I can't wait to take this little guy back to the A...

You do realize that you can't take that back to the Ark, don't you?

A word of forewarning.

It's illegal to transport any animal or plant life into the Ark.

Huh?!

When we return, you'll have to leave it here.

But...

No ifs, ands or buts.

Aw man...

Don't beat yourself up, Anchor.

These things happen in life.

*Sob*

Subordinate?

I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing out here so late at night?

I see.

Same with me.

Oh, sorry...

I guess it was louder than I thought.

I couldn't fall asleep, so I came out here for some fresh air.

I feel like sleeping is such a waste.

I want to enjoy the time that we're here for a little longer.

Ah,

would you like me to show you something interesting?

...?

I'm going to throw it in the sea.

You guessed it.

Beautiful, isn't it?

These are bioluminescent plankton.

They emit a natural light whenever they bump into each other.

Whenever the waves become stronger, that light becomes visible to the naked eye.

Isn't it so beautiful?

There are so many precious things you can only see up on the surface.

It breaks my heart that so many people will miss out on this.

I'm glad that

I was able to show it to you.

Until today, I'd only read about this in books.

I was planning on going to sleep early, but after discovering this, I couldn't fall asleep.

So do I.

We can tell everyone about it once they wake up.

Of course.

The sea is on our side.

Let's.

I appreciate you staying here with me for a while, Subordinate.

Have you got a cold, Captain?

You're always sick.

It's because of you two.

You two went out during a full-blown storm.

You're not being fair, Helm.

Captain was only out there with us for 10 minutes, tops.

There's no way he could have caught a cold that quickly.

He must have been sick to begin with, so it's not our fault.

Yeah!

*Sigh*

...

...

Would you like me to make you some soup?

If you need anything, just say the word.

...

At any rate, I'm just glad you don't appear to be overly sick.

I'll have Mary come over anyway, just to be safe.

Anchor, Mast. Look after Subordinate until then.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Is there anything we can do for you, Captain?

Okay then, you do that. I'll wake you up when Mary gets here.

Anchor, have you ever looked after someone when they were sick?

Nope. First time.

I saw on a TV show once that being kept cool is really good for you when you're ill.

Do we have anything cold around here?

What about ice?

Too cold.

Should I bring a wet towel?

Too much of a hassle.

Ah, then what about this? This is colder than you may think.

Nice! It's the perfect size, as well.

All right then, here we go.

How about it, Captain?

Are you feeling cooler?

I heard this kinda thing helps when you're under the weather, so I stuck this on your forehead.

Hold it right there, Captain.

You're not feeling well, so why don't you just lie down?

Yeah, we've got to take proper care of you.

I also remember hearing something about how you've got to keep the blood flowing when you're sick.

Any ideas on how we can accomplish that?

Hmm...

If that's what you're after...

Is that a sea squirt?

Yep. A sea squirt's shell is pretty lumpy, so...

You can use it to stimulate blood circulation... interesting.

Hand me one.

Here.

For goodness sake,

Captain,

hold still.

We'll take care of everything.

I just remembered something.

I saw a medical documentary recently, and

it said that bloodletting with something sharp can be beneficial.

Do we have anything that would work for that?

If you want something sharp,

you can't go wrong with sea urchins.

Okay then, take them out!

Sure.

Huh?

They're not here.

Darn, that's too bad.

Not to worry. I've got another box around here somewhere.

That's probably where they are.

Okay, great. I'll stay with the Captain while you go get them.

All right.

We need to go over everything that's happened thus far.

Let's start with the first sighting.

Subordinate, Anis and Neon were strolling along the beach at night.

There was a thick covering of fog everywhere,

and off in the distance, you saw Rapi waving at you.

*Gulp*

...

Let's move onto

the second sighting.

When Anchor, Subordinate and I were searching inside the bungalow,

someone began knocking at the door.

The person introduced themselves as Rapi,

but by the way their raspy voice creaked and cracked,

I'm fairly certain that it was in fact not Rapi.

Yes, she did.

So to summarize, this mysterious entity has been imitating Rapi, and perhaps Subordinate as well,

and is attempting to lure us closer to it when night falls.

For what reason, we have been unable to ascertain.

...

I'd like to propose a solution.

I say we get rid of this thing,

before it has a chance to do us any real harm.

Hmm...

What exactly do you propose?

The sea is already full of salt.

You want to spray it with even more salt?

... You're not actually being serious, are you?

Okay. I'll pray to the starfish.

I'm not a religious person,

so I'm not sure what to pray to.

Then what possessed you to bring it up?

...

Here's what I think.

During the first encounter, it attempted to lure Subordinate out to sea.

There must be a reason why.

Either myself or Anchor

should tie a rope to our body and head towards wherever that thing was pointing.

Hell no!

I'm not doing that!

...

Fine, then I'll do it.

You'll be responsible for pulling me back if I give you the signal.

That, I can manage.

You'll be in charge of communications.

If anything happens to me, contact Seraphim and the others.

All right, then.

Let's get everything prepared and head over there.

Ugh, that stench is horrendous.

It was the same when we went into the bungalow.

Looks like we're right on time.

Just a sec.

...

Not yet.

...

There's something I just can't shake from my mind.

Why is this ghost showing up?

This kind of stuff is usually reserved for campfire stories.

This island has been deserted for quite a while,

so there shouldn't be any souls lingering around that would turn into ghosts.

... Well.

If ghosts are the souls of people who still have unfinished business in this world,

surely there would be a reason it's still hanging around here.

If anything, I think it's more likely that we're all hallucinating.

I think the possibility of that is pretty high.

I've heard of this kind of thing before.

If a group of people are so intensely

fixated on a single thought,

it can end up manifesting itself

as a kind of psychic apparition.

...

I'm picking up something on the radar.

It's coming from the middle of the sea, but it's heading straight towards us...fast.

What direction is it coming from?

Give us the exact coordinates.

Just a second.

8 o'clock. 1000 meters out... 700... 200...

... 50.

Sssh.

I can see something.

You see that reddish color? It looks like Rapi's hair fluttering around.

She's also got her hand raised above her head... wait.

Is that an arm or a leg?

...

It's gone.

I'm getting nothing on my radar.

...?

I don't know.

Maybe it meant to go somewhere else...

!!

10 meters out!

I suggest we get out of here.

Don't look at it!

I don't know why, but something tells me

if you look it in the eye, something bad will happen.

We're scrapping the plan.

Now that we've seen what we're up against,

we need to regroup.

The sea breeze is so refreshing.

Huh?

What's that sound?

Anchor?

Is that sound coming from you?

Yeah, it's my radar.

Are you looking for a glowing squid too, by any chance?

Uh... no.

So that's where that sound

was coming from.

Oh, hi Yan.

Did you come for the glowing squid too?

Glowing what? What is that?

There's nothing within a 2-meter radius.

Seems like you're having a tough time finding this thing.

Do you want me to help?

Could you explain a few things about this glowing thingamajig?

Is it worth a lot?

If it is, then I'll help.

Wow, you guys are willing to lend a hand?

That's great. I was getting tired of searching by myself.

Mast already took off.

I'm not sure if I'll be of much help, though.

It's pretty dark out here, and I don't even know what it looks like.

Don't worry about that.

A glowing squid is just that: a squid that glows in the dark.

You'll know it as soon as you see it.

A bioluminescent squid? This could fetch a tidy profit.

Count me in.

If either of you see a light shining in the sea, let me know.

Are we sure this glowing squid is a real thing?

I don't see so much as a speck of light.

Same here.

Anchor said it would be easy to spot.

Here she comes.

Did you find anything?

Nada. There must not be any in this area.

It's apparently a rare species.

Why didn't you say that from the start?! Good grief, what a colossal waste of time.

It's too bad we couldn't see one.

You're telling me.

If this thing is as rare as she says, it's probably worth a fortune.

At any rate, it's getting late.

Let's head back.

Wait.

Huh? What is it?

Thanks for helping me search for it.

Hehe, don't mention it. It was fun. It felt like a treasure hunt.

I'd like to give you something to show my thanks.

I'll show you something that shines nice and bright.

Hyah!

Ahhh!

Argh!

Is that how you repay something for a favor?!

Ugh... everything is spinning.

Look up.

What are you talking ab... huh?

Wow!

So pretty.

They twinkle more than any jewel ever could.

Hehe.

It's like a pack of yellow starfish.

So shiny.

...

...

Hammock mine.

You later.

Woof!

No.

You use tomorrow.

Woof woof!

Negotiation over. Go away.

Sleepy.

*Whine*

...

... No. Today mine.

*Whine*

...

*Sigh*

Liter.

Another hammock. Please.

Woof woof!

Busy?

Hmmm.

What's going on here?

Can those two actually communicate?

Woof woof!

Go away.

Woof woof woof!

... Fine.

30 minutes.

Woof!

Deal?

Woof woof!

How on earth are they able to understand each other?

Sleep now.

Woof!

Zzzz...

Zzzz...