The Land above and The Ocean below

Sayaka awoke and hummed comfortably as the covers of her bed embraced her body. She reached out blearily for Kirari's warmth and sighed with relief when she felt her wife intertwine their fingers together.

"Sayaka," Kirari said softly as she stroked her beloved's hair and brought her even closer to her.

"Are you feeling better?" Kirari asked with a hint of worry and paranoia in her eyes.

It seemed that she was still recovering from the shock of almost losing both her wife and children.

Sayaka kissed Kirari's cheek to calm her down and nodded. She knew her wife got worried about her easily and didn't want her to stress herself out. "I'm fine, I promise. How's Mary?"

"Mary's fine. Ririka managed to get through to her," Kirari replied. She was about to elaborate further when she noticed Sayaka stifling a yawn.

The Mermaid Queen blushed a deep red. "S-Sorry...it's not that you're boring...it's...I..."

A loud growl sounded from her stomach.

Kirari smirked. "My, my, are you hungry for me perhaps? I'm famished."

"W-Wha-?! No!" Sayaka stammered. "I-I...what...not......" she covered her face in embarrassment as she struggled to find the right words.

Kirari laughed out loud, the kind only Sayaka could draw out of her. A pure, genuine laugh.

"Oh Sayaka," she giggled as she pressed a kiss to the side of her wife's head. "You're truly so adorable. I just want to squeeze you to death."

Sayaka grumbled and snuggled closer to her.

Mary grunted as she woke up. She tried to move but felt as if she was trapped.

Looking to the side, her eyes softened as she realised it was Ririka's arms and legs that were around her. Ririka had a faint aura around her, which Mary had learnt meant she achieved Idosia.

Ririka's soft snores filled the air as she snuggled even closer to Mary, causing her partner to curse as she now had difficulty breathing.

"Mary..." Ririka mumbled in her sleep.

Mary blushed deeply and closed her eyes, going back to sleep.

"You idiot..."

"Say 'ah'," Sachiko instructed.

Sayaka turned beet red. "O-One-san, I can feed myself!" she insisted.

"Hm, just let her feed you, my Sayaka," Kirari chuckled, amused by this interaction.

Sayaka huffed and opened her mouth, her eyes widening as she tasted the sweet flavour of her favourite strawberry shortcake.

"Mm!"

"Geez,"  Mary grumbled. "I already told you all that Sayaka and I can feed ourselves!" She opened her mouth just as Ririka brought a spoonful of soup to her mouth.

"Well, you two have been through a lot and deserve rest," Lady Siena yawned as she took a bite out of a sugar cookie with purple icing on top.

Sayaka nearly fainted as she saw this. "Okaasan! Did you decorate that cookie to look like me?!"

"Why of course!"

"B-But it's shaped like a pumpkin!"

"You looked like one when you were a baby."

Sayaka groaned in embarrassment as she buried her head in Kirari's shoulder.

"Hey! Lie your head on my shoulder instead!" Sachiko exclaimed.

"Are you sure this human game isn't rigged?" Sachiko asked as she took five more cards from the stack.

"UNO is a very simple game," Mary replied. "Only dull people won't get it......"

"What was that?!"

"One-san, it is quite simple," Sayaka said.

"Well, I'm surprised Sayaka won so quickly. I was a human, so I thought I'd be the first," Mary sighed.

Kirari kissed Sayaka's cheek. "Is it so surprising that my wife is naturally intelligent?" Sayaka blushed furiously before leaning her head back on Kirari's shoulder.

"Just shut up and make your next move," Mary snapped.

"Hm," Kirari hummed as she set down her last card. "Maybe you should focus on the game."

"Why you——!"

"Calm down, M-Mary! I-It's just a game!" Ririka stammered.

"Well, Kirari added stakes, remember? Whoever loses has to get drunk. And I do stupid things when I'm drunk."

"True," Yumeko coughed before giggling. She too put down her last card. "Oh my, I guess I'm third."

Mary smacked her own head. Here she was, the only one who was experienced with playing UNO and she was losing.

To a bunch of misinformed sea folk.

Mary watched as Sachiko cursed and took ten more cards.

At least she knew she wouldn't be the one getting drunk today.