Chapter 87. They’ve Grown.
Roku. Kiyoshi Island.
Right on the shore, the inhabitants of a small but independent island were fishing. Much water had flowed under the bridge since Unagi became more friendly, but the fishermen still hadn't stopped thanking Shizuka's man.
"Luck was on my side today! I managed to catch three koi!" said one of the fishermen, pride evident in his voice.
"You still can't compare to Gan—he's already caught five," grumbled his neighbor in another boat, who hadn't yet boasted a large catch himself, leaving him in a foul mood.
I began hearing such conversations as I approached the island. Suddenly, the head of the local water queen emerged from the water, but quickly retreated, pretending she hadn't seen anything.
"I thought she liked giving me rides," I thought, feeling like her intelligence had only grown over the years. "They say suffering makes us stronger, smarter, and more resourceful." I immediately took all the credit for myself.
After Unagi disappeared, her children emerged. Spotting me, they began energetically moving their serpentine bodies, as if performing a welcoming dance.
"Oh no, not them again!" one of the fishermen said in utter despair. "They'll scare all the fish away..."
"Looks like we won't catch anything today," muttered another, already setting aside his harpoon. After all, koi fish are known for their enormous size, and they can't be caught with a simple fishing rod.
After a while, I began descending. My arrival didn't go unnoticed.
"Master Roku!"