Subtitle: ‘I can’t bear to see you go! Who will I hug to sleep once you’re gone?’
“My dearest, most beloved big sister is back, little Sapphire! I want a hug!” Qiweiya spread her arms wide, closing her eyes as she anticipated Reiz Sapphire’s embrace.
Eh! How could Reiz Sapphire just walk past like that? Eh, eh, eh!
“Bibi! What are you doing here? Did Father send you to pick me up?”
Qiweiya dejectedly lowered her arms, then swayed dramatically as she walked behind Reiz Sapphire. “I~ died such a miserable death~ oh~”
“Eek!” Reiz Sapphire was startled by the sudden, eerie voice.
Reiz Sapphire turned, a shiver running down her spine as she met Qiweiya’s resentful gaze. She whispered, “What’s wrong, big sister? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“So I’m not even as good as a fish~ Little Sapphire, I’m upset now. I need a kiss to forgive you!”
Blushing, Reiz Sapphire gesticulated wildly as she explained, “That’s not it! I only accidentally ignored you, big sister, because I was homesick.”
Qiweiya’s gaze grew even more resentful. “I don’t care! I need a kiss to forgive you! And I want you to kiss me on the lips~”
“Eh? Eh!!!” Reiz Sapphire covered her small face, shyly looking at Qiweiya. “But if I do that, I won’t be able to get married~”
“It’s fine! I’ll support you~”
“That won’t work either! My mom and dad won’t agree~”
“What’s there to be afraid of? We’ll deal with problems as they arise! I don’t believe they could ever beat me! Just push through it with sheer force!”
“Eh! You can’t hit my mom and dad! I’m their daughter!”
“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ll just beat up your subordinates, not your parents-in-law, right? I’ll even give them New Year greetings and thank them for raising such a wonderful daughter for me.”
The nearby Kawaii Tiger-striped Shark remarked, ‘This “dog food” is incredibly satisfying! I can use this method to win over those maternal magic beasts in the future too.’
“Eh eh eh! That’s not it at all! I wasn’t born for you! You’re so annoying and shameless!”
“Fine! Then I’ll be shameless for you to see.” Qiweiya chuckled playfully, wrapping an arm around Reiz Sapphire’s slender waist. She even reached around to her little belly, stroking it gently.
Feeling Reiz Sapphire shiver twice, she teased, “How’s that? Am I still shameless? If so, I have even more shameless tricks up my sleeve~”
Reiz Sapphire struggled. “Big sister, that’s too much! This isn’t fun at all! Sapphire doesn’t want to play this.”
Qiweiya watched as tears welled in little Reiz Sapphire’s eyes, then clicked her tongue. “This really isn’t fun~ I just wanted to tease little Sapphire because she’s so cute… but it turns out I almost made her cry~”
Reiz Sapphire’s emerald eyes widened in surprise, staring intently at Qiweiya. “Eh? It was just a game? Sapphire thought you were serious!”
Qiweiya chuckled. “Oh-ho? Do you wish I was serious? Big sister is so happy~ Come, kissy-kissy~”
Reiz Sapphire forcefully pushed away Qiweiya’s puckered, ‘lewd’ face. “Stop playing! Sister Qiweiya is so annoying~ You’re always bullying me!”
“Sob… sob! Sapphire-chan hates me! What should I do? Waiting online~ urgent!”
Reiz Sapphire looked at the clowning Qiweiya with a helpless sigh. With a bewildered expression on Qiweiya’s face, Reiz Sapphire patted her head. “Big sister, don’t mess around~ We’re about to part ways now.”
Qiweiya’s spirited eyes dimmed. “When… will we… be able to meet again?”
Reiz Sapphire leaned her head against Qiweiya’s chest, her gentle, soothing voice echoing in Qiweiya’s ear. “We won’t be apart for long. After all, you’re human~ Our lifespans aren’t proportional~”
Qiweiya’s expression was a bit strange. ‘To be honest, shouldn’t *I* be the one saying that? Why is she saying it to me? The plot is all messed up! Director, I want a retake!’
Qiweiya looked at Reiz Sapphire’s profile with a touch of sentiment. ‘Forget it~ Let it be this way. Sever ties when necessary~ This is fine… otherwise, I won’t be able to bear to break it off later~’
Qiweiya lowered her voice. “Yes… we’re impossible after all. Humans and sea folk can’t be happy together. Let’s just part ways here. I can’t drag you down and make you sad and cry!”
Reiz Sapphire raised her head, and to Qiweiya’s astonishment, she was actually crying! ‘Holy moly! This is brilliant now! She’s genuinely emotional!’
Reiz Sapphire’s face was streaked with tears. “Sister Qiweiya won’t blame me, will she? Sapphire is also very sad that I’m not human and can’t stay by Sister Qiweiya’s side! But I don’t regret being sea folk, because my mom and dad dote on me and love me very much~ So there’s truly nothing that can be done…”
Qiweiya gazed with heartache at Reiz Sapphire in her arms. She had never expected to hold such a significant place in Reiz Sapphire’s heart.
Qiweiya cupped Reiz Sapphire’s face. “Chu~”
She kissed Reiz Sapphire on the forehead.
Qiweiya looked at Reiz Sapphire. “As long as Sapphire-chan remembers that someone like me existed~ then I’ll be content~”
Reiz Sapphire looked at the dazzling Qiweiya under the sunlight, then whispered timidly, “Sister Qiweiya, can you kiss my lips?”
“Oh my god! Sapphire, do you know what you’re saying? Don’t forget your sea folk traditions!”
Reiz Sapphire giggled, watching the flustered Qiweiya before her. “Sister Qiweiya is so amusing~ Sapphire was just making a joke~”
Qiweiya patted her chest. “Oh my! You scared me to death~ I thought you were serious!”
“How could that be!” Reiz Sapphire leaned closer. “Or perhaps Sister Qiweiya *wishes* I would do that?”
Qiweiya waved her hands frantically. “No, no, no! I don’t have any such thoughts! You just imagined all that yourself.”
Reiz Sapphire looked amusedly at the flustered big sister in front of her, then grabbed her head and gave a soft, “Mwah~”
“Bibi, hurry and go see Father King and Mother Queen!” In Qiweiya’s stunned gaze, the space blurred, and Reiz Sapphire vanished.
Qiweiya touched her lips, whispering, “The last kiss of farewell, huh…”
Qiweiya shook her head with a wry smile. “Alright, alright! Anyway, in a few days, I’ll be a strong woman again! Sever ties when necessary, or chaos will ensue! I can’t be so sentimental anymore… after all, there’s not much time left.”