The morning sun rose over Minato Village, casting ripples of gold across the harbor. Kenji sat on the edge of the Triton, sharpening a knife absentmindedly. His thoughts weren't on the day's catch, for once.
"Papa," Sora said suddenly, leaning against him with a sly grin. "You're thinking about Ayaka-san again, aren't you?"
Kenji nearly cut his finger. "Wh-what? No! I was thinking about… nets. Yes, nets."
Sora laughed so hard he almost fell into the water. "Papa, you're terrible at lying. Why don't you just admit it? You like her."
Kenji sighed, staring out at the horizon. "She's strong, honest, and not afraid to speak her mind. But she's also… well, Ayaka. Tough as old rope. I don't know if she'd ever look at a fisherman like me that way."
Sora puffed out his chest. "Then we'll make her look, Papa! Leave it to me!"
Kenji groaned. "This won't end well…"
The First Attempt
That afternoon, Kenji brought his best catch of the day to the market: a gleaming sea bream, fat and fresh. He carried it carefully to Ayaka's stall, where she was sorting herbs.
"What is this?" Ayaka asked, eyeing the fish.
Kenji cleared his throat, trying to sound confident. "A gift. The best fish I caught today."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "And why would you give this to me for free?"
Kenji scratched his neck, awkward. "Consider it… appreciation. For helping me at the festival."
Her lips twitched. "Appreciation, huh? Not bribery?"
Kenji laughed. "If I were bribing, I'd offer more than one fish."
Ayaka stared at him for a long moment, then took the sea bream. "…Fine. But don't expect me to cook it for you."
From behind the stall, Sora whispered loudly, "She accepted it, Papa! That's step one!"
Ayaka's ears turned pink. "Sora, you're far too cheeky for your age."
The Second Attempt – Flowers by the Shore
A few days later, Kenji asked Sora, "What do women like besides fish?"
Sora tapped his chin. "Flowers! Girls always like flowers in stories."
Kenji frowned. "Flowers? But Ayaka isn't like most women…"
Still, that evening, he awkwardly picked a small bundle of wild camellias from the shore and brought them to her stall.
When he held them out, Ayaka blinked in surprise. "…You picked these?"
Kenji nodded, embarrassed. "They're not much, but—"
Ayaka suddenly burst out laughing. Not a cruel laugh, but one of genuine amusement. "You're really terrible at this."
Kenji's face heated. "Terrible at what?"
"At courting," she said bluntly, though her eyes softened. "But… I'll accept them. Just this once."
From behind Kenji, Sora whispered again, "Step two! Papa's winning!"
Kenji wanted to sink into the earth.
The Third Attempt – Cooking Together
The breakthrough came when Sora invited Ayaka over one evening without telling Kenji. She arrived at their modest hut holding a basket of herbs.
Kenji froze at the door. "Ayaka? What—?"
She smirked. "Your son said you eat nothing but grilled fish. I can't let a child live on that."
Kenji glared at Sora, who only grinned. "I told you I'd help, Papa."
Inside, Ayaka quickly took control of the tiny kitchen space, chopping herbs and scolding Kenji for his dull knives.
"You don't even know how to season properly?" she said, shaking her head.
Kenji held up his hands. "Hey, I'm a fisherman, not a chef."
Ayaka muttered something under her breath but then showed him step by step how to prepare a stew with fish, vegetables, and her herbs.
As they sat down to eat, the aroma filled the small hut. Sora dug in eagerly. "This is amazing! Papa, marry Ayaka-san so we can eat like this every day!"
Kenji nearly choked. Ayaka's face flushed crimson. "Sora!"
But instead of snapping, she laughed softly, her usual sharp edges fading for a moment.
A Quiet Moment
After dinner, as Sora dozed off, Kenji walked Ayaka back to her stall. The night air was cool, the waves gentle against the shore.
Kenji spoke carefully. "Ayaka… I know I'm clumsy with words. But I mean it when I say I admire you. Not just for your strength, but for how you live. Honest. Hardworking. Even when it's tough."
Ayaka stopped, staring at him. For once, she didn't speak right away. Then she looked away, cheeks pink. "…Idiot. Don't say things like that so casually."
Kenji smiled. "It's not casual if it's true."
Ayaka bit her lip, then smirked faintly. "We'll see if you can keep proving it."
And with that, she walked off, leaving Kenji standing there with a racing heart.
Income Record – Courtship Days
Fish sales (steady income): +80 copper
Loss (boat rope replacement): -20 copper
Extra herbs purchased for Ayaka's stew: -5 copper
Total income: +55 copper
Running balance: 634 copper
That night, Kenji lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He felt like he'd just faced a storm more terrifying than the sea—yet somehow, it left him smiling.
Thank you for sailing this far with Kenji, Sora, and now Ayaka as their story slowly unfolds. Writing this tale has been like casting a net into the vast sea—sometimes uncertain, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding when I know you're on the other side, reading and supporting.
Every comment, every like, and especially every power stone/currency you send is like wind in the sails of this story. It tells me, "Keep going—we believe in this journey." ⚓💙
Kenji started with nothing but a small boat and determination, and just like him, this story is growing step by step. With your support, we can bring his dream of building a home and a life by the sea to reality.
👉 From here on, I'll be updating 1–2 chapters a day so you'll always have a fresh wave of adventure to look forward to.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please drop a comment, vote with your power stone, or share your thoughts. Your encouragement means more than words can say—it's what keeps me writing, day after day.
Together, let's see how far Kenji's journey will go. 🌊✨