beta
It's so short and fast-paced, but the art is pretty and it's a rare merman story.
One may think that she transitioned so fast from cold and grumpy to sweet and loving, but I guess they did what they could to fit it in 5 chapters, much like fairytales where a people fall in love in a matter of minutes. Because she started out grumpy it looks unnatural rather than if she was bewildered and curious from the beginning, it'd be easier to transition into love. The backstory was the main brace and backbone of the story:
Because they met during their childhood, it's easier for the girl to accept that he's not a stranger, even becoming her savior, and easier for us to understand why the merman trusted her despite the possibility of being captured and exploited, because she didn't immediately do anything untoward, and even later tended to him and told him to go back to the sea, reconfirming his initial impression of her. Plus, it provides the brewing point of conflict for the confrontation later on, although this was not too necessary, as other humans can easily fill in that antagonistic role.
They could've explored more things that remain unanswered to the end, but I suppose it's a matter of fill in the blanks for the readers.
Like why merman has no voice, or how her sister/friend was able to know that she and the merman are ok, or even what may have happened to everyone else, including the villain. Then there's also the possibility of the existence of other mermaids, or why there's one young merboy who thrives despite avid hunting of mermaids.
So, if I'm just going to presume, I might as well just believe that the reason the lady knew their fate with strange certainty is thar maybe the girl remembered how they panicked when they hadn't heard from her when she disappeared for a few days after diving, so she decided to send a letter from an undisclosed location telling them that she's fine. The woman seemed so sure, and I want to believe in that happy ending.
Problem with this is that despite their happy ending, there's a looming cloud of uncertainty. What if the crazed villain eventually finds them? He knows what they look like. It only takes a little water to transform the guy into his original form, so even any of their possible future children can also be in danger.
But, like I said, since author ended it here for now, and it's good for a quick read like a little fairytale, maybe I ought to leave it at, "And they lived happily ever after".
I was surprised to see that there were more of those dolls; it must be pretty hard for the hero to remember all their names in a day even if he named them all.
Oliver - green-haired, green-eyed doll who's always with Hugo. Appears to be a general asssistant in the home. Seems to be a little more energetic than Hugo.
Hugo - black-haired, dark eyed doll who's always with Oliver. Appears to be a general asssistant in the home. Seems to be a little more reserved than Oliver.
Cookie - white haired doll with distinctly darker skin. Prototype, so he doesn't speak as much as the others (although we haven't heard the two others speak yet.) Cooks food.
Flona - Blonde haired doll. In charge of "groundskeeping".
Paprika - Red haired doll. In charge of laundry.
Considering how happy Oliver and Hugo seem to be with their names, and how much they anticipated Guster to name everyone else, I think it's safe to presume that the other dolls are also pretty pleased upon receiving names. (And headpats)