(Guest! Thank you! Your feedback to this story, that's really appreciated. Thanks, man. I'm genuinely glad to hear you enjoy the story. So, without further ado, here, we-a-go!)

North was lying awake on the hospital bed for some time, now. He was fully awake, and ready to go. All he needed now was the doctor to lead him out. All he could do now is wait, and listen.

"Why are you in here?", one Inkling asked.

"Superjump mishap. I landed on someone and really messed up my leg.", another responded.

"IT WAS YOU! YOU DID THIS!", said yet another in response. He had bandages on his head.

Laughter filled the room. North grinned. Life seemed so easy to these people; which was a humorous contrast to North's lifestyle, which was mostly work. (Cut down trees, clean the guns, make the food, simple stuff.) After some time of complaining an laughter, the doctor walked in. he grinned while shaking his head.

"If only my job allowed enough time to enjoy the turf wars like you guys...", The doctor said. He walked over to North.

"How are you today, North? Do you feel well?"

"Indeed I am, actually!", North responded.

"Good to hear! Now… You're about ready to go… Let's take a look at that wound, shall we"

The doctor checked the stab wound. The other inklings looked at North.

"Hey! You! Yeah! What happened to you?", one Inkling said.

"Oh, uh… I just got stabbed… that's all.", North replied.

The room fell silent. North chuckled. The other people had been jumped on, landed the wrong way, irradiated (Somehow...), got splatted by their own ink, but no one was stabbed, nor was anyone was as harmed as North. And yet he was smiling. He could have been killed on the spot, and yet he smiles. Some folks were actually scared by this, others laughed softly with North. Suddenly, someone shouted, "that's badass"! Suddenly the whole room was cheering and chanting "North! North! North!".

"Anyways…. North, you can leave. Come with me, please.", the doctor said.

North stood up without a North and the doctor walked out, but just before he left, North stopped.

"See 'ya round, folks!", North said then left.

North was lead into the front lobby and to the door.

"That was it? No cost?", North inquired.

"Nope."

"Thank goodness! Everywhere else had this annoying freshness gimmick goin' on!", North Exclaimed.

"Thanks, Doc!", and thus, he left.

Suddenly, a new problem appeared; What now? He couldn't go to the turf war, because he didn't have a weapon, so he couldn't become "Fresh", and he couldn't get weapons because he wasn't fresh enough. A paradox. How quaint.

"Oi… What now…?", North said to himself.

The day was new; it was only about 1100. There was the buss driver, or the officer and his sister… And there was no way that he was going back to those ruffians, and is journey had just began, so returning to his parents would prove to be fruitless. What now… What could he do…? Our protagonist decided to scout around. Perhaps there was hope yet. Daylight was burning, and he didn't have a whole lot of options. Occasionally, he'd admire the lack of blood on his shirt. The doctors were quite amazing at what they do.

"Hey! Like, it's you! North!", an obviously familiar voice. It was Sepha.

North turned to face her.

"Hm? Oh, hello, Sepha."

North turned to face the smaller kid and smiled. Sepha had gotten a new outfit, but he didn't quite know how to describe it. It also included a white hat. (For those who don't know, I'm referencing the Squid Girl item they added a small while back.)

"Don't I look the freshest? Like, ever?", She inquired with joy.

"Yeah. I like it. Not bad.", North responded.

"Thanks!", She exclaimed. "Oh! I just remembered! Pete was looking for you!", she said

"What for?", North asked.

"I dunno.", she responded. "Here he comes, though!"

Pete walked up. He wasn't in his uniform, so he assumed that he was either undercover or off duty. North was going with the latter. He looked almost like a tourist. He wore a blue Hawaiian looking shirt. It was darker than his tentacles, which were also green. This was actually the first time North had noticed them, considering he only saw Pete twice, and both times he was wearing a hat.

"North! Dude! It's nice to see you! Man, you healed fast, didn't you! They even cleaned and sewn up your clothes? Dude, that's awesome! Anyway, man…I wanted to know if you wanted to play some turf war with us!", he offered.

"I don't have any weapons..", North said somberly.

Pete and Sepha started, their mouths agape in astonishment.

"Well, heh, I'm sure you just borrow them from your parents… We'll lend you our guns!", Pete said as he perked up.

North lifted is shirt in an all but New Jersey manner reminding the officer that the lad had just been wounded.

"Oh. Right...", Pete said.

Awkward silence ensued for a few minutes. No words. Just silence and thought.

"Want to come over to our house?", Sepha asked, breaking the silence.

"That works if you want, North.", Pete agreed.

"Sure I don't have anywhere else to go...", North responded.

"What do you mean by that?", Pete asked.

"Home's an hour and then some away.", North said.

Pete and Sepha murmured amongst themselves.

"Like, is he a hobo?', Sepha said.

"I think so...", Pete said. "I don't think this is a good idea, sis..."

"I don't know… I trust him… He like, did get hurt really badly… I think we should...", Sepha said in return.

They debated for some time. It was already near 1700!

"Uh, guys? It's getting kind'a late, isn't it?"

They broke their huddle, and looked at North.

"After a small debate, we've decided to allow you to spend the night. If you want, of course.", Pete said nervously.

"Alright...", North responded, not entirely sure what to say with his tone.

"Like, come with us!", Sepha said. She never lost her enthusiasm.

And so they walked. Pete would look at North to see if he was a threat in any way. Nothing. Heck, this kid looked safer than someone they'd already known! Assuming that they had any friends in the first place.

"Why are you staring at me?", North inquired.

Pete recoiled. North had never moved his head.

"H-how?!", Pete stammered.

"I have really good peripheral vision. It's something my dad taught me.", North said. He smiled.

(I'm going to end this here. I think this one was a little longer than usual, actually. Sorry that this one was delayed; I've been really busy with life lately. I'm going to be working on this less for the next week or so… Stay fresh, folks. And remember, this has only just began, and it will get much darker.)