"No- uhm, you don't have to keep giving me things. I'm fine, really..." Masataka gently sets down the shell necklace you made in the sand.

A few months ago, Masataka woke up on the shore of a deserted island, and in the arms of a merfolk. He never would have believed you were real before he was saved by you, but he couldn't be more grateful you are.

His gratefulness soon turned to worry, however, when you kept returning to him, halting his attempts to find rescue by dousing his fires and scaring away boats.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what your motives were, as you clearly treated him with extreme care and fondness, and soon learned enough of his words to parrot back that you considered him yours.

Masataka has been gently trying to let you down for weeks, but since you give him food and help him in surviving, he can't muster the back bone to fully say no.

"But thank you for the fish, again. I really appreciate that." He smiles wearily.