OVA
Description
Meroune Lorelei Du Neptune, most commonly referred to as Mero, is a mermaid who becomes one of the residents in Kimihito Kurusu’s household. She is officially the fourth monster girl to move in, though the slime girl Suu lived there illegally before her, making Mero technically the fifth. Her full name reveals her royal lineage: she is later revealed to be a princess of the Mermaid Kingdoms, a fact that aligns with her refined bearing.
Mero’s background begins in an underwater community of liminals, where she grew up as the daughter of the Neptune royal family. Her mother, the queen, imposed strict regulations on her, forbidding her from taking normal jobs, and their relationship is strained. As a young girl, Mero became deeply fascinated with Hans Christian Andersen’s story of The Little Mermaid, particularly its tragic ending where the mermaid dissolves into sea foam. This fascination shapes her entire outlook: she wishes to experience a similarly tragic, unrequited love in real life, often romanticizing the idea of suffering for love or becoming a lover rather than a bride.
In terms of personality, Mero is warm, gentle, graceful, and unfailingly polite. She stands out among the other monster girls as a calm and reasonable presence, often acting as a peacemaker when conflicts arise. Despite her serene exterior, she possesses a cheerful and energetic nature, especially when discussing romance or tragedy. Her romantic fantasies border on masochistic: she actively seeks out situations where she can play the part of a heartbroken or doomed lover, and she often tries to orchestrate such scenarios in her daily life.
Because her mermaid tail prevents her from walking on land, Mero uses a wheelchair to get around. She initially relies on others, such as Kimihito or the other girls, to push her, though she later receives a motorized wheelchair from her mother but prefers the manual one. Her mobility challenges do not dampen her spirited determination.
Mero’s role in the story is that of another love interest for Kimihito, but her approach is distinct: she deliberately tries to create a tragic romance narrative, including moments of dramatic longing and near-death experiences. She was the first girl to kiss Kimihito, albeit through CPR. Her key relationships include her fellow housemates—Miia, Centorea, Suu, Rachnera, and later others—with whom she generally gets along well. Centorea correctly senses a regal quality about her. Mero’s relationship with her mother is contentious due to the queen’s restrictions and expectations.
Over the course of the series, Mero shows some development as she learns more about human society and grapples with her own romantic fantasies versus reality. Her infatuation with Kimihito remains central, but she also grows more comfortable with her own identity and abilities.
Mero possesses several notable abilities derived from her mermaid physiology. She is an excellent swimmer and can breathe underwater thanks to her gills. She has a beautiful singing voice that can enchant listeners. Her life in the ocean has given her extensive knowledge of marine biology, particularly fish, as well as a skill in herbal medicine using aquatic plants. She is resistant to cold temperatures, though not immune to extreme cold. Additionally, she has a unique water-sensing ability that allows her to detect water, even within living beings. These traits make her a capable and distinctive member of the household, even as she pursues her dream of a tragic love story.
Mero’s background begins in an underwater community of liminals, where she grew up as the daughter of the Neptune royal family. Her mother, the queen, imposed strict regulations on her, forbidding her from taking normal jobs, and their relationship is strained. As a young girl, Mero became deeply fascinated with Hans Christian Andersen’s story of The Little Mermaid, particularly its tragic ending where the mermaid dissolves into sea foam. This fascination shapes her entire outlook: she wishes to experience a similarly tragic, unrequited love in real life, often romanticizing the idea of suffering for love or becoming a lover rather than a bride.
In terms of personality, Mero is warm, gentle, graceful, and unfailingly polite. She stands out among the other monster girls as a calm and reasonable presence, often acting as a peacemaker when conflicts arise. Despite her serene exterior, she possesses a cheerful and energetic nature, especially when discussing romance or tragedy. Her romantic fantasies border on masochistic: she actively seeks out situations where she can play the part of a heartbroken or doomed lover, and she often tries to orchestrate such scenarios in her daily life.
Because her mermaid tail prevents her from walking on land, Mero uses a wheelchair to get around. She initially relies on others, such as Kimihito or the other girls, to push her, though she later receives a motorized wheelchair from her mother but prefers the manual one. Her mobility challenges do not dampen her spirited determination.
Mero’s role in the story is that of another love interest for Kimihito, but her approach is distinct: she deliberately tries to create a tragic romance narrative, including moments of dramatic longing and near-death experiences. She was the first girl to kiss Kimihito, albeit through CPR. Her key relationships include her fellow housemates—Miia, Centorea, Suu, Rachnera, and later others—with whom she generally gets along well. Centorea correctly senses a regal quality about her. Mero’s relationship with her mother is contentious due to the queen’s restrictions and expectations.
Over the course of the series, Mero shows some development as she learns more about human society and grapples with her own romantic fantasies versus reality. Her infatuation with Kimihito remains central, but she also grows more comfortable with her own identity and abilities.
Mero possesses several notable abilities derived from her mermaid physiology. She is an excellent swimmer and can breathe underwater thanks to her gills. She has a beautiful singing voice that can enchant listeners. Her life in the ocean has given her extensive knowledge of marine biology, particularly fish, as well as a skill in herbal medicine using aquatic plants. She is resistant to cold temperatures, though not immune to extreme cold. Additionally, she has a unique water-sensing ability that allows her to detect water, even within living beings. These traits make her a capable and distinctive member of the household, even as she pursues her dream of a tragic love story.