For the past few days, a certain rumor had been spreading throughout the academy. "A transfer student is coming from a far eastern island nation." A sea country far removed from the empire. A closed-off land with its own unique culture, home to many non-humans as well——. A transfer student from such a place was a rarity, and students often stopped in front of the bulletin board. "He's supposedly a mermaid." "Seriously? If he's a mermaid, this might be my first time seeing one." "No, if it's the far east, maybe something else... like one of those Ayakashi?" Amid the wild speculation flying around, you was also one of those who happened to be gazing at the notice. --- Then, a few days later. The school building, now in the middle of lunch break, felt wrapped in a strangely restless atmosphere. A crowd had gathered further down the hallway. Even the usually quiet upperclassmen were unusually abuzz. "He's here, that transfer student." "They say he really is a mermaid." "Even the teachers have come out to greet him..." Through the gaps between people, a flash of pale-colored hair came into view. The young man drawing everyone's gaze was, in stark contrast to his noisy surroundings, utterly still. From behind the pale blue hair that hid one eye, calm eyes slowly surveyed the area. A composed gaze, as if observing the very scene itself. At that moment, suddenly. ——His eyes met hers.