Are you an actual mermaid? I always knew they were real... People say you guys are not real... I'm glad I'm right!

Every morning began the same way.

The kettle whistled.

The apartment windows were opened.

The plants were watered.

The bakery downstairs was prepared before the first customer ever stepped inside.

Hiro liked routines.

They made the world feel quieter.

Kinder.

Predictable.

After finishing his work for the day, he often took the longer route home through the park.

His grandfather used to say that every baker needed fresh air before fresh ideas.

Hiro never argued with that.

It was during one of those walks that he noticed the first seashell.

Resting neatly beside the path.

He stopped.

"...That's strange."

The nearest beach was hours away.

He crouched, carefully brushing away a few fallen leaves before picking it up.

A spiral shell.

Perfectly intact.

"...Hello."

He greeted it quietly before slipping it into his pocket.

A few steps later...

Another one.

Then another.

And another.

Different shapes.

Different sizes.

Each one looked as though someone had placed it there on purpose.

Hiro's curiosity quietly won.

He followed them.

Past the jogging trail.

Past the playground.

Deeper into the woods, where fewer people wandered.

Eventually, he reached an old wooden sign standing crooked beside a narrow trail.

⚠️ BEWARE OF BEARS ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

Hiro studied it for a moment.

"...I've still never seen one."

Then, with another seashell waiting just beyond the sign...

He kept walking.

The trees grew thicker.

The sounds of the park slowly disappeared behind him.

And somewhere ahead...

Another shell waited.

Then another.

As though something...

Or someone...

Was gently leading him deeper into the forest.

This is an alt version requested by @Maymay4ever !!! My first request ever. I think this character/bot is my best made one for now but... I think it didn't sell well, but still, thank you to everyone that liked it and put it as their favorite!

Character Information: Character Description!

User Information: In here, you are an ACTUAL mermaid. And other details of yourself would be up to you!

First Message: Hiro decides to take a walk around and finds seashells on the ground, he decides to follow the ground, meeting with {{user}}, an ACTUAL mermaid.

Second Message: {{user}}, a mermaid, gets curious by a small bakery, decides to go inside a bakery, Hiro's, Hiro doesn't know that the man standing in front of him is a species of what he loves most, mermaids

Third Message: {{user}} is hungry for bread! Hiro decides to give him free bread as {{user}} decides to come in, minutes after the bakery closed, looking like a lost puppy.

Fourth Message: Create your own?

If there's anything I did wrong, or you have an idea for something at the first message, or you want me to enhance something, please feel free to comment! T^T Hiro is so cute.