A Lovely Time (Coco Kiumi)
| A Lovely Time (Coco Kiumi) | |
|---|---|
| Date of Cutscene: | 02 April 2025 |
| Location: | Charity Gala |
| Synopsis: | During one of her charity events, Coco has a coincidental meeting with one of her fellow music club members. With questions arising over his origin and more besides, the mermaid finds herself with a dance and a date. |
| Cast of Characters: | Coco Kiumi, Rihito Amagi |
After being hurt, I'm shining again and feel our invincible bonds.
It isn't someone else, it has to be you.
Through all the pain, I still pursue to increase them.
If miracles overlap over one another, it would seem like they could change fate.
Throwing away all doubts and darkness,
I believe in our strong bonds.
The music fades to silence, and the singer gives one last smile towards the audience, stepping away to give space to the host. "A round of applause for Kiumi-san, one of our charities' most steadfast contributors. Now please, welcome our next singer, Watanabe-san, who traveled all the way here from Gotsu to take part. She is going to sing..."
Walking down the steps, Coco's yellow off-shoulder plunge dress flutters slightly, the host's words disappearing from her focus. She makes her way to the drink table, shaded by the trees, though their cover seems less important now with the sun dipping towards the horizon. The blonde girl's gaze surveys the selection of drinks intently, a smile appearing when orange juice shows up amidst the various alcoholic and carbonated beverages.
"A good performance as always, Kiumi-san", a voice approaches her from behind, familiar and friendly to the mermaid's ears. "I didn't expect to see you here today, Amagi-san. The Chaconne wasn't on the list of today's performances", Coco turns around to her fellow club member, just as her dressed in a suit fitting the day's event, a blue tailcoat over a white shirt held at the neck by a pale beige bowtie, blue trousers and black mocassins.
"Oh, no, that was just a whim I have had recently", Rihito explains with a smile. "While my father was frequently off to random expeditions, my mother was always particularly interested about the preservation of sea species alongside her musical career, and I am here to keep up the tradition", he explains with an almost imperceptible nod.
Coco hums curiously at this piece of news. He had told her his mother had inspired his passion for the violin, but he had never brought up the sea even in passing. The revelation makes her reconsider a lot of what they had talked about. Had she really missed something this important all this time?
Her eyes linger for a second on Rihito’s grey hair and eyes. Those aren't common colours. She’d never paid much attention before, but now... Could it be something more? "Her mind runs through the possibilities, connecting pieces she hadn't considered before. Aqua Regina had allowed the innocent Panthalassa to live on the surface... but was it really that simple?"
"Something caught your eye?", Rihito's mouth opens in a full smile, but a look of confusion passes over his eyes. Was she still staring? "Well, I mean..." Coco starts looking for the right words, but they feel foreign in her mouth. Lying never came naturally to her, even when it was necessary. If only Hippo was here. Usually he is better at handling this type f situation. But, she is not sure she wants him here this time. Something about Rihito, with his sharp gaze and quiet curiosity, it feels even harder to be secretive.
"Just you, you know?", she gives him a wink. Silence falls between them, letting them hear the sound of conversation and clinking glasses mixing together behind them. The mermaid watches him, a quiet amusement flickering inside her, though it’s almost drowned out by a faint, pulsing awareness.
A small, unexpected thrill runs through her. 'That was a bit surprising, wasn't it?', she thinks with a small smirk shaping her lips. A strange, almost hesitant curiosity lingers beneath her amusement. Maybe it was a good thing they stopped to chat tonight.
Coco's hands move to some imaginary wrinkles in her dress, adjusting it slightly. "You know, I actually really like this choice of dress. I put a lot of effort into it", she muses, a playful cadence showing up in her crystalline voice.
Rihito raises an eyebrow, a knowing look flickering across his features. Was she fishing for compliments? That thought bounces in his mind for a few seconds before he finally responds, "Well, it looks really good on you." He adds a courteous smile, as if indulging her.
Not quite the effect Coco had intended, but expected. "I was thinking I’d be the best-dressed person here tonight," she continues with her arms crossed together, "but then you had to show up looking all refined and composed." A wide smile accompanies her words, unwavering even as Rihito hesitates. "Uh, sorry?" He takes half a step back, uncertain. "I didn’t realize we were competing."
Coco closes the distance again, reaching up—not quite to his collar, but just below, where his bowtie sits slightly off-center. "You got that right. We aren’t." She straightens the fabric with careful precision, letting the touch linger just a beat longer than necessary. "But your bowtie was a little crooked. Would’ve been a shame if that distracted people from your face."
For a fraction of a second, Rihito's lips part slightly, his posture frown in uncertainty. Sporting her same smile, Coco's fingers brush lightly over his arm and the mermaid takes a step back, faster than Rihito's recovery. Rihito exhales through his nose and shakes his head slightly with a quiet chuckle. "You’re something else, Kiumi-san."
Coco's crystalline laugh warms up the air, and she touches his arm again affectionately. "I will take that as a compliment," she tells him, an amicable shine in her golden eyes. "But I would also take a call, if you want."
Rihito blinks before huffing a short laugh of realization, and the boy pulls out his phone and hands it to her. "Guess I’ll have to make up for my supposed crimes, then."
The soft tap of her fingers against the screen fills the brief silence, punctuated by the ringing of her own phone as she calls herself from his.
"Perfect," she winks, handing his phone back to him with a twirl, and, as if she just thought of it, the mermaid extends a gloved hand towards him. "Want to commemorate this moment with a dance?"
There’s the briefest flicker of surprise in Rihito’s eyes—gone as quickly as it appears. His gaze flicks between her offered hand and the faint challenge in her smile before he takes it, fingers wrapping around hers.
"Sounds like a lovely time." And with that, he leads her away from the table, into the warm glow of the evening.
