
Artist's commentary
Ocean Ayakashi
Kokoro's jet ski, Ayakashi, is an efficient mode of transport for navigating the flooded world of eternal summer. Kokoro sighed when she stopped at the dock. Then, she lifted up her goggles and slowly turned around to see a creature pop its head out of the water. "Oh, it's Kasen's pet. Hey, Manzairaku." Manzairaku happily waved a flipper in reply.
Seated atop Ayakashi, Kokoro gently rocked up and down with the waves. It was a hot day with the Sun blazing down from up high. She could hear seabirds squawking, and all she could smell was the ocean. "Smells like home," Kokoro said out loud, thinking it sounded pretty cool. But then she suddenly became self-conscious and looked around to see if anyone was nearby. That's when she noticed that Manzairaku was still there. "...Are you waiting for someone, too?"
"Eurgh, salty." Manzairaku used its flippers to splash water right into Kokoro's face. It didn't take them long to start playing together once they realized they were both in the same proverbial boat. "Heh, not bad." Not one to back down from a challenge, Kokoro powered up her Ayakashi and performed a spectacular 180, causing water to spray all over Manzairaku. Then they were off. Kokoro crested a wave as Manzairaku leaped up out of the water. They passed each other in the air and then landed simultaneously with their full weight behind them. The ocean erupted with two monstrous splashes.
Kokoro kept talking as they played together. "I'll show you my super fast ocean Noh dance!" Handling Ayakashi like it was an extension of her own body, she gracefully glided across the water. "I don't need any brakes! Time to go full throttle!" Living up to her self-proclaimed name of master jet skier, she cut through the waves at high speed. The great torrent of water that she kicked up in her wake earned a round of applause from Manzairaku.
The slender arms Kokoro used to deftly maneuver Ayakashi were deceptively strong. Ayakashi may be an exceptionally well-crafted pseudo-artifact, but it's still a tool, and thus, its performance largely depends on the rider's skill. Kokoro had grown much as a jet skier, and as a person, through all the experiences they'd had together. Suddenly, Kokoro heard a familiar sound behind her. She turned to see a girl racing toward her on another pseudo-artifact. The person she was waiting for had arrived. Kokoro greeted her with a wave, and the girl answered with a smile as radiant as the rising Sun. "Sorry I'm late. C'mon, let's go!" They both revved up their jet skies and sped off toward the horizon.