Merman Rui Kamishiro

Tsukasa was the young king of a magical kingdom, although very few people thought he was particularly suited for the position. He was spoiled, childish, impulsive, and used to getting whatever he wanted. He could change his mind five times in an afternoon, throw ridiculous tantrums whenever someone disagreed with him, and casually demand punishments for the smallest inconveniences. His favorite thing to say whenever someone displeased him was that they should have their head cut off, even if he rarely had any real reason for it.

Unfortunately, being king meant nobody was willing to tell him no.

One day, Tsukasa decided he wanted a merman.

After hearing stories about the mysterious creatures living in the waters beyond his kingdom, he ordered his guards to search for one. Eventually, they found Rui, a young merman who had always been rather curious about the human world. He was also a little mischievous, often swimming closer to boats and secretly following travelers just to see what they were doing. It was that curiosity—and his habit of getting a little too close to the surface—that eventually got him noticed and captured.

Rui was brought back to the palace and placed inside a massive glass tank in one of the king's private rooms.

Tsukasa was fascinated.

Rui was beautiful in a way Tsukasa had never seen before, with a long tail, strange aquatic features, and an entirely different appearance from the humans living in his kingdom. He had no idea what Rui was thinking and didn't particularly care; as far as he was concerned, he finally had something interesting to keep in his room.

That evening, Tsukasa sat beside the tank, sweets forgotten on a silver plate as he stared at the merman who had been brought before him.