Concerns of Yellow and Green (Coco Kiumi)

Concerns of Yellow and Green (Coco Kiumi)
Date of Cutscene:	29 August 2023
Location:	Bay of Tokyo
Synopsis:	An unexpected meeting off the coast of Tokyo ensues after Coco receives a letter entrusted to her attendants.
Cast of Characters:	Coco Kiumi

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The bay of Tokyo is a very calm place: unlike the frenetic activity of the city, there is nobody to disturb the quiet currents of the sea. It is a good place to relax, especially on the days immediately following failed plans of her enemies.

Nonetheless, today Coco isn’t here to find peace and quiet, but rather a messenger from her kingdom had visited her to inform her she had been requested, with a letter given for her due to Coco’s absence.

The letter, written in simple and elegant calligraphy, had requested a meeting with her two Saturdays from now. The signer? The mermaid princess of the North Atlantic.

A trap? Maybe, but the fact Saturday had been specified gives her hope it isn’t so. Not many know of that particular detail about the workings of their Pearls.

The days pass as the wait constantly robs Coco of her focus as she keeps thinking of what awaits her. After all this time, meeting another mermaid princess… There aren’t many people Coco could feel closer to.

Turning up in the wide expanse of the sea should let the sender of the letter notice her. And besides, she had gone in a straight line from Yumegahama’s beach, just as the letter said.

Her barely contained patience is soon rewarded as she sees a green mermaid show up, her heart skipping a beat as the colour matches the pearl of that kingdom.

Coco’s face lightens up so much that were it actual light there would have been a serious risk of blindness. “Heey, I’m here!” the yellow mermaid shouts as she kicks with her tail as fast as a mermaid can go.

“I did see you. I am Rina, the mermaid princess of the North Atlantic”, the other mermaid confirms in a placid tone, her eyes directed towards the shell locket dangling at her neck. “I could hardly believe my ears when I heard the kingdom of the South Pacific had suddenly started to be rebuilt. I thought Gaito had caught you.”

Coco just throws herself at the neck of the other mermaid, the joy she feels unmeasurable. “I am so glad you are here, you don’t know how much I missed everyone.”

The other mermaid raises her eyebrows as she detaches herself from Coco’s embrace, but nonetheless reserves her a smile. “How did it happen… Well, your name, what was it?” Rina asks, her tone fairly neutral.

“Oh, it’s Coco”, she replies, caught by surprise by the other mermaid’s demeanour. She has probably been a little overeager there. “The Dark Lover Eril messed up. She had inadvertently let Hippo in and he was able to take the Sealing Key from her and free me.”

Rina bites her lips, an anxious look showing up on her face. “And Noel? Where is she?” she asks. “Her kingdom is still deserted. What happened there?”

“I am sorry, Rina”, Coco hesitates to say. “The Black Beauty Sisters attacked us before we could save her. We were barely able to make our escape.”

The green mermaid shakes her head at the news. “She can’t seriously still be there… Why?” she sighs. “It was stupid of me to let my hopes up. I thought that since you are here, maybe she would have been free too.”

A slow nod comes from Coco. “I am sorry, we really tried but there was nothing we could do. They had caught us by surprise and taken the Key back. We should have been more aware of our surroundings.”

Rina looks at her, the saddened look she is sporting being as clear as the limpid water around them. “Now I doubt we can try that again. But you have been in Gaito’s castle. Could you find your way around it?”

Coco blinks slowly at the other mermaid’s question. Finding her way back there… That’s something she will have to do eventually, she thinks with a small shudder. “I wouldn’t say I can. I have been able to move around once, and Hippo and I were being chased by the Black Beauty Sisters.”

Will Rina perceive she really didn’t mean to leave Noel behind? Keeping her hopes and doubts for herself, Coco continues. “I’m sorry for having been unable to help her, Rina. I have no intentions to leave things like that. We will save her”, she ends with a resolute promise, clasping the green mermaid’s hands in hers.

Rina is at first dismayed at what Coco is saying, but the promise the yellow princess helps turn her impression around. She doesn’t perceive any insincerity in her words at least. “Eh, I will hold you to that”, she says in a pleased tone. There is still hope for Noel after all.

“I will have to go back to my kingdom to organise a few matters, but I will also keep researching the matter myself. Me and Noel have been friends since forever”, she adds, communicating to Coco the meaning of her haste.

The princess of the North Atlantic turns around and begins swimming away. “Make sure you do your best, Coco, and take care of yourself.”

“I will”, she nods, being left with having to go back to the city herself. “Be careful on your way back”, she shouts to the other mermaid, before turning towards the beach.