Beneath the starry skies, there was unrest. She vied for him, always loving and kind. But for some reason...he seemed so reluctant to accept her feelings. The moon-child had to know why.

He sat there silently on a rock, staring out into the open sea. His curly black hair hung loose, blowing a little in the breeze.

"Hey...Hau?" she asked.

"...what is it, Mahina?"

He turned to face her, silver eyes shimmering like the ocean.

"I've asked you a billion times and until you answer me, I won't stop—"

"...I won't fight you anymore. If you...if you so desperately need to know, I'll tell you."

She waited patiently for him to continue, sitting down beside him.

"...listen, Mahina. I...I'm not great. I'm not Maui, who's fished islands from the sea, lengthened the day... I'm none of that. Anchor or no anchor."

The moon-girl put her hand on his shoulder, and tried to meet his gaze with her loving eyes. But her attempt was to no avail; he refused to move his gaze from the sea.

"I'm only a demigod out of pity. My parents didn't want me either — they never really noticed me and just kind of...kept me fed. The gods decided to help me out...and...I haven't been able to repay them."

"Sure you have! You saved me!" she butted in.

"...and? I haven't done anything helpful since!"

She grinned a little. "You've made me smile. You helped a little pelican when she was stranded here. You're helpful!"

He turned to her abruptly, silver eyes shimmering with tears. "D-don't you get it?" Hau stammered. "I...I'm no legendary hero... I'm just a...a...a kid playing pretend..."

Mahina's face fell. "Hau, no!! Don't say that!"

"I might as well be!" he exclaimed. "If you had to spend your life under the shadow of the guy who basically built the entire ocean, maybe you'd understand how I feel!!"

She was speechless. There wasn't a word she could think of to help him.

Hau sobbed into his hands, his magic anchor resting beside him. "...I...I know they say love conquers all, but...love isn't going to make me so happy I shine like the sun."

Mahina crossed her arms. "How hard is it to get you to realize that maybe I'm right? Stop being difficult and notice what's right in front of your face."

"...I have."

"Then what is it?"

"...the vast expanse of the universe that just makes me realize how small and insignificant I am."

She grabbed the demigod by his small shoulders, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Hau... You're loved! I love you! I would go to the end of the earth and back again for you, and you know it!! Why can't you just listen to me?"

"I'm listening...you're just not doing anything except repeating the same thing over and over again. I...I get it, you love me. And...don't get me wrong, you're a wonderful young woman and I'd never have you any other way. But...Mahina, I...I'm just an immortal weakling who can't do much of anything. I'd outlive you, anyways... What's the point?"

She fell quiet, crying. "...Hau...we've got time, right? Why can't we make it last for a while? I just want you to be happy...and I love you..."

He stared at her silently, silver eyes shining with affection. Hau's expression was one of loving acceptance. The young demigod's eyes filled with kind tears as he pulled her into quite possibly one of the most magical kisses she'd ever had in her life. There was no fighting it, he realized. So he decided to love her and be loved.