Authors Note: Hi all, I want you all to know. There is one more chapter after this, and I hope you enjoy. Take care! Leave a Review about what you thought of this Fic.

Maize could hear nothing more than a slow, steady beeping noise. Darkness was everywhere, in every direction. However, his eyes began to slowly open with each passing beep. He groaned in pain, struggling to sit up.

"Wh-where am I?" Maize asked, holding his chest in fear. He wondered if he was now just a soul not long after going to the afterlife. However, his fears were quickly alleviated when he looked around. He was in a hospital room, lying on the bed. Two IVs were hooked up to his arm, and all of his wounds were bandaged and heavily treated. Agent 3 could see a collection of flowers on the nearby table, but so much that they were in the floor. He saw a pair of glasses resting nearby with a small note attached.

"We got you new ones. Get well soon. Sincerely, Callie and Marie."

Maize noticed a few plush toys as 'get well soon' gifts next to the flowers, all lying around. He pulled himself out of the bed, putting the glasses on before he approached the window, seeing the bright day before him. It looked like it was only a little bit past nine in the morning.

"…I've never felt so great," Maize smiled, just before he heard a clattering noise. He looked to his right to see Fallow, who stood there with a now dropped tray of food, but her expression differed when she saw her brother standing tall and looking well.

"Maize?! Oh, my brave brother, Maize! I can't believe what I see in my gaze!" Fallow looked ready to burst out into tears. Her little brother had no time to react before she had tackled him into a hug that was tight enough to send his body shock waves of pain. His injuries had not completely healed yet.

"He-hey, Fallow…! How long have I been out cold?" Maize lightly laughed before the embrace ended. His sister pulled out his very cellphone that she had been taking care of, presenting it to him. His eyes went wide at what he read on the date.

"What?! I've been asleep for a… a month?!" Agent 3 asked in disbelief.

"Yes…" his sister nodded. That great showdown with the Abraliopsis Morisii had injured him quite gravely to the point that he needed multiple surgeries. The wounds that his body took had sent him into a deep coma. It had done nothing but make every one of his friends upset and worried about him.

"Bro… I don't know what I'd do if you died… if you did, nobody would let it slide," Fallow sobbed in her usual rhyme. This was heartbreakingly strong enough to break her usual cheerful personality, and severely, too. Maize patted her head, giving her that big bright smile of his.

"I promised I'd come back alive, didn't I?" Maize chuckled. She watched him reach down and take out his IVs. He saw some clothes on a nearby chair, which were brought by one of his dear friends in case he woke up so he could change out of the hospital gown. He was eager to get out of this place while he could, not wanting to waste any more time in medical care than he already had.

"Sorry, Fallow, but why don't you head on home and get some rest? I need to go check up on some things on my own," Maize requested, wanting to go explore and see how much had changed in a month's time. To him, it felt like he had been asleep for only ten minutes. In which case, time flew at the speed of light.

"Aright. I'm just glad you're alright and not too hyper… oh, also. Do you need help changing out of your diaper?" Fallow asked. Maize quirked an eyebrow, though gained a quick blush that nearly turned his whole face red, realizing what she meant. He had been in a coma for a month, and he had not gotten a catheter inserted into him. He quickly put two and two together on that one.

"No! Ju-just go home!"

After another awkward thirty minutes spent in the hospital getting himself checked out, Maize found himself back on the streets of Inkopolis, wearing a blue and yellow striped shirt and green shorts. He brushed his one tentacle to the side, looking around.

"The skies are clear… the birds are singing… the flowers are blooming… Nowhere else to go but the plaza," he chuckled. That was the only place he thought was logical to visit, hoping that not too many things had drastically changed. He was happy to know that all his friends were around to visit and give him support when he was stuck in his comatose state, and he was glad to know they all had been there for him just like he had been there for all of them in the past. It was nice to know his good deeds did not go unnoticed. The yellow squid made off to the right, heading toward the main plaza, ready to see how things had been the last month.

Maize was noticing something as he walked further. People were looking at him, either pointing him out to their friends or whispering amongst themselves. That was not the only oddity right now. The yellow inkling could see octolings in broad daylight. They were not even trying to disguise themselves, and instead were wandering Inkopolis in a carefree manner. Some were even with other inklings. It was all an amazing sight. However they seemed to be doing the same thing and whispering and pointing him out. It was confusing, but he ignored it as he neared the plaza.

"This place is more active than ever…" Maize stated. The stages were set up for splatfest. There were octolings and inklings everywhere. The shops were all full, and the café looked like it was getting more business than ever. He looked at the huge flat screen television, seeing a report coming on live from the Squid Sisters studio. There he saw Callie and Marie appear on the television. He noticed that Callie had a brace on her leg. It was still healing from that war a month ago, and Marie seemed to be forcing her smile for the camera today.

"Hey there, squids and octopi! With the new splatfest starting tomorrow night, you'd best sign up for what team you want!" Callie exclaimed, advertising the usual splatfest where her and her cousin were supposed to be against one another for who to side with on each splatfest. Maize couldn't believe what he was hearing, and he was still unable to. Octolings were in Inkopolis, and no one seemed to care.

"Yeah! This splatfest is about what's cuter; squishies or blobbies. Personally, I think blobbies are really adorable with all their little tentacles," Marie exclaimed in addition to her cousin. The white inkling's depression could easily be seen through that fake smile.

"Really? My son lives up to the name squishie. He's as soft and as sweet as a marshmallow!" Callie retorted, following the script as usual. At this point none of them had any care that Inkopolis knew she had a son, thanks to that camera man they had long since fired for showing him on the air. Maize had no idea what team he was going for, but he was leaning toward team squishie. Maize decided to head into Ammo Knights to try and buy a new splatterscope. He remembered his past weapon had been destroyed by the Abraliopsis Morisii. Once he stepped through the door, the bell rung, alerting the clerk of the entering new customer.

"Hello! Welcome to Ammo Knights-…! …Maize!" he suddenly heard, looking at the counter. ECO hopped over it, running up to hug Agent 3.

"ECO? What are you doing here? What's going on?" Maize was confused already than happy, requesting to know what happened, while the mechanical octarian was quickly sending out a text message to her sister to let her know.

"I work here now, Maize. You see… after that huge war, Mollusk Metropolis needed help repairing the damages those possessed lunatics caused. DJ Octavio and Captain Cuttlefish acted as representatives for us, and with the Squid Sisters' help, Inkopolis's leaders gladly agreed to aid with the matter," ECO explained everything. Inkopolis's repairs were easier, but damage was damage, and sadly the octarians' homeland had taken even more aggressive damage from the assault.

"Wow… they convinced them to trust octolings?" Maize could not deny that it was impressive. He saw a green tint on her chest light, representing her joy. However she did seem sad, recalling the events back then, considering the boy she had a crush on almost died.

"All of the agents and others that helped in that fight stepped up and elaborated the situation… but it was the officials stepping up that tilted it in agreement. They said octolings had turf wars as well, and it would be gruesome to leave us to fend for ourselves," ECO explained. Maize was quite surprised. He never expected the turf war officials to care about anything. Technically it was involved with more turf wars, but still, the officials' statements and opinions were none to be taken lightly. Everyone took them seriously, even if they did not play in turf wars.

"This is great! And congrats on the job employment… I need to go see the Squid Sisters," Maize stated. He assumed Octoronia was back at her home in Mollusk Metropolis to fix up the damage the cultists had caused to her home. However, before Agent 3 could leave, he got grabbed by the shoulder.

"Maize… you aren't interested in me… are you?" ECO asked out of the blue. He looked at her in confusion, but was aware she was saddened to know this, but his eyes were on someone else. Still, the yellow inkling wanted to be honest with her, aware she will at least understand.

"Yeah… sorry. It's someone really close to me… but I'd like you to do me a favor and keep that love emotion of yours on," Maize responded. This confused the mechanical octoling as she rubbed her head. She found it as a worthless emotion now. All it did was either get her in trouble or in love with someone who she had no chance to have.

"Why? All it does is hurt me," ECO retorted sadly, deciding this was going to be her break for this morning anyway. She saw him gain a smile.

"That's the point of love, and you wouldn't be complete without it," Maize answered, that optimism of his once again shining through strongly. She thought over this for a moment before letting out a sigh, nodding.

"Alright… it's hard not to smile with you around, anyway… but, I'll leave it on… if you promise me something," she stated. He had a bad feeling about whatever it was she wanted him to promise her, but he nodded.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Promise me that you'll tell her you love her," ECO explained. Maize blinked, unsure what to think on that, rubbing his tentacle nervously. After all, he had already nearly died once, and he felt bad for leaving the person he was in love with concerned with him.

"I guess it's fair. I promise to tell them the next time I see them," Maize promised. After all, he was going to see them soon.

"Thank you, Maize. I'll see you later," ECO smiled, bidding him goodbye since she had to get back to work, letting the yellow squid leave. Agent 3 needed to go visit the Squid Sisters, and he could only assume that all of his friends who had aided in the matter were either back to their normal lives or trying to take it easy to recover from the massive event.

The Squid Sisters had finished the splatfest update in their studio for the selected time and stages on the turf war rotations. Marie went over to her usual seat at the table by the window, sitting down tiredly, Callie taking her seat across from her cousin.

"Why are you so down Marie? …I mean more down than usual," Callie corrected herself. For the last month, the white inkling was depressed and it was understandable. The black inkling herself had not been in any better of a mental state, but for some reason, a day after the new month started Marie began to grow even more depressed than she was. Marie decided to be honest with her cousin on the matter.

"Sorry, Callie… it's just… he's been asleep for a month… and I can't stop thinking of him," Marie apologized, explaining what had been on her mind lately. Her cousin had another memory on her mind, back when they talked about when Marie wanted to have a squishie. It had been a month since then as well.

"…did you ever decide on if you were going to go through with the in vitro fertilization?" Callie asked.

"I dunno…" Marie admitted. She had not changed her mind in the last month, but she still felt unsure about it. She had agreed to make the unconscious inkling be the donor to save her the trouble. They heard a knocking on the door before it opened up, revealing the guard who usually watched the entrance of the studio.

"'ey, Squid Sisters. You got a visitor. Should I let'em in?" the guard asked. Marie paid him little mind, looking out through the glass wall nearby, seeing a few of their fans waving happily to them, the white inkling returning the wave half-heartedly.

"Sure. We could do with a friendly visit," Callie nodded, letting the guard open the door and lead the person inside. The black inkling gasped in shock.

"Hey… Callie and Marie," Maize happily greeted his two friends. They both have the same looks across their faces. They almost thought they were seeing a zombie. Callie immediately leapt toward him and hugged him. He was happy to have so many warm embraces today.

"You're awake! I can't believe it… You had us all worried," Callie exclaimed as the embrace ended. Maize felt bad that the big fight had gotten Callie's leg injured, but he guessed it wouldn't take long before that brace came off and she would be back to normal.

"Sorry about that," Maize smiled when he saw Marie come to him, but then he received a hard slap to the face. He somewhat expected to receive this. He kept that smile, despite the hit he took.

"You jerk! You promised to come back alive!" the white inkling shouted at him, visibly upset.

"And I did. It just took a while," Maize warmly replied. Callie was just surprised that the scene had suddenly broken out before her.

"When the ambulance came to get you, you were dead! They rushed you off! And like a jerk, you left us just to be worried!" Marie explained. Maize had no idea that he had wound up somehow nearly dying from the blood loss along the way to the hospital. The paramedics had thankfully revived him and got him stable. He fixed his glasses.

"Heh… sorry. I didn't mean to break that promise and worry you guys," Maize apologized, aware that he had made that promise and doubted being in a coma for a month helped at all. His smile got bigger when he then recalled that promise he made to ECO, and nearly dying put a lot of things in perspective for him, but he had no regrets on his actions. He was going to keep being helpful as long as he could no matter the cost, and confessing his feelings should not become close to another regret.

"Marie, these last few weeks… err, months, I've started to feel odd around you. These missions we've had together have taught me one thing. I like you a lot," Maize explained, trying to be brave over this, but the words didn't come to mind. Marie slowly started to feel confused, taking in a few breaths to calm. All the while, Callie was recording them with her new cellphone, right on their backs.

"…you like me? Is this because I agreed to let you be the donor to help have a squishie?" Marie asked. He put up his hands defensively. He couldn't believe he had forgotten about that.

"N-no! You don't see me as stupid for my promises. You go with the flow, and no matter what, you help me out, no matter how bad the situation is..." Maize started. However one thing immediately came to mind. He put his hand in hers.

"I also heard about what happened. You helped change the world. Like a Dagenhart, you helped inklings and octolings get along after saving a lot of lives. You helped me fulfill my tradition," Maize finished, that bright smile shining once again. Marie had no idea how to respond. She had forgotten about his whole reason behind his promises, and he was positively radiant over the matter.

"…our lives wouldn't have been the same without you. We're all being seen as heroes, now. You're our hero though, Maize, and we are to everyone in Inkopolis. I like you too… the whole time you were in the hospital, I've been promising things like you did on missions," Marie exclaimed. Maize felt amused, imagining the white Squid Sister making promises on missions while helping others as a funny sight, but he was glad she kept him alive in some way, even while he was unconscious.

"You're so cheesy, y'know?" Maize commented. That one thing he was told all the time bit back.

"…y-yes I am cheesy! You're cheesy, too!" Marie blushed, poking his chest, though it didn't seem to faze him as much as it flustered her. The atmosphere of the room steadily calmed down as she backed off a bit, regaining her composure.

"Fine. I'll give our relationship a shot," she agreed to try dating the yellow squid. Maize jumped a bit in joy.

"Great! …err… wait, did you still want to have a squishie?" Agent 3 asked. Agent 2 opened her mouth, wanting to scold him, but all she could do was bury her face in her hands in embarrassment. They hadn't even been on a date yet, and already he was talking about having a squishie, leaving out the whole confrontation the two had back when she wanted to have one in the first place. Now Marie was conflicted whether or not to still go through with it.

"Can you say one thing without making the moment awkward?!" Marie wondered aloud. They both heard Callie break out into a fit of laughter before they saw her cellphone aimed at them. They both knew now that she was recording them.

"Wa-wait a second! Delete that right now! Or you'll regret it!" Marie threatened.

"Too slow," her cousin shook her head, hitting a button that uploaded the video up to a backup media storage cloud online. Maize sighed, aware that a fight would break out soon if he did nothing.

"He-hey! How about we go grab a bite to eat? On me, of course… I have some ideas I'd like to talk about involving the Special Squid Services," Maize requested. The two took a moment before agreeing with that. The three headed out of the studio to go get some food to eat. With a new relationship forged, and the world being changed slightly by bringing two entirely different races together in peace to help repair damage to both cities, the Special Squid Services had worked hard, and they still had a lot to handle in its future. Maize had finally fulfilled his decision for the tradition. However, he wished his mother could see him now. Maize wondered where Apricot was, but he decided to not let his depressing thoughts weigh him down. He just wanted to go forward. The future was bright, all of them had a lot of inklings and octarians to help, and with the help of other agents, and they vowed to make sure it stayed that way

The End...