[And he always will be, so that just gets a placid incline of his head. Ever rude. Forever rude. That's Sousei for you. He listens rather intently at that, though, curious and thoughtful. Mermaids out there, and an ocean...]

The possibility is certainly there. This city is small, and if we are truly on another planet, there could be any number of oceans out there. We have no way of knowing at the moment.

[He knows what she's afraid of, of course; she'd told him before, and he doesn't find it surprising in the least. Who wouldn't be afraid? Sousei's grateful that with all of the historical people who have shown up, there has not once been someone bearing the Abe name.

That would be difficult. Acceptance is a tricky thing, especially considering how easy it is to want it.]

When we discover the oceans of this world, you shall have to communicate and bridge that gap for us. [A beat, and somewhat humorously:] As, like most things, I imagine they shall want to kill those of us who are different. You may be one of them, but the rest of us humans, after all, are invaders.

I hope you shall be prepared for that task.