Journal entry date:

March 22nd, 140XX. 5:17 PM.

It felt like the entire plaza was there. To see Marie's "big announcement." Yeah right. There's "something" missing, yet a-fuckin-gain, like we don't know. Either I'm in a sea of idiots or we're all playing a big game of pretend. It doesn't matter though, not to me, I'm here because I have time to kill. Just got back from a decently sized event with a group of friends or whatnot, my radio is going crazy over this damn event. It's just what I've tapped into though. Nothing crazy.

March 22nd, 140XX. 5:47 PM.

It just felt like a standard Splatfest, at least, how it was being handled. You had the deck like structure taking over the damn place and forcibly moving things like tables for people to, uhhh, I don't know... EAT? I always found these things dumb. Terrorize the entire square while you're at it. Really. I found this entire fucking culture stupid to say the least. The better people in this world don't reside here. Not anymore. I don't get it. I don't get any of it. It's already late, why am I even here right now in the fucking first place? Ugh..

It just seems like another shitty journal entry for today. Stuck in a sea of, well, delusional idiots or phenomenal actors.

March 22nd, 140XX. 6:07 PM.

The whole thing is starting. Marie is there, standing, about to start talking. And now she's talking. Seems like some emotional shit, well, can't really blame her considering what the hell happened and how this affects her image. Even though a lot of people have completely forgotten about her existence, or well, the new-gens if you will. What a concept. Their catchphrase was so much better than the Off-The-Hook one, holy hell.

Radio's gone silent. This is the thing that freaks me out the most. I'll write more about it when something else comes through.

March 22nd, 140XX. 6:15 PM.

Something came through, but I could barely hear it because the music was starting to play almost exactly as soon as they started saying anything important. To cheer up the whole crowd, have fun, and have no energy by the end of it. Whatever. Apparently there's something happening way later that's not a bunch of music or whatnot. One of the voices was fuzzy. I'll head over to the benches of the train station and see if I can chat up with somebody there, and to stay away from the event in case something bad happens close up. Or maybe write some more. Again, I'll keep listening, don't worry.

Here's what I got.

V1: "[He]y, you make it?"

V2: "I'm reading just fine, and I'll make it too. You really shouldn't have to worry about me, ma'am."

V1: "[Exc]use me? You are out - 3."

V2: "No, god no, I'm not. I'm already at the place by the way. Does Marie know anything about it?"

V1: "Erm.. not to me, but, tha[t's]-. [I]f's there is a problem, plea[se]-."

V2: "Alright, alright."

March 22nd, 140XX. 7:32 PM.

I really fucking love it when a train passes by me. Oh my. It's such an amazing feeling. I'm just standing, looking straight ahead and this wide capsule is going faster than certain people can imagine, and certainty faster than how most people's heads work. Just zooms by. You feel the wind hit you, everything on your body reacting from this massive air hit, and you just stand still, admiring all of the turned on lights in the center, the grey top and bottom finish, the sound of it zooming by in your ears. God. It sounds simple but it works.

Night-time hit. Radio went fucking wild, yet again. Today is just an odd day. It's that one day you remember in your whole week. Jeez, just, I don't know what I'm writing in this damn notebook anymore.

Evi, what the hell are you writing in this damn notebook?

March 22nd, 140XX. 7:45 PM.

The concerts done. Radio still going crazy. I can't understand any of it. It's all garbage. Garble. I don't get it. They weren't like, saying anything crazy, but still said things, but now I can't understand it. Most people are going away. Some are just hanging around in the night.

Nobody got hurt. Thank god. Can't understand a damn thing on the radio except for that once voice. I'll write some notable stuff down from, well, since I've been listening. This was all the second voice I heard, the non-fucked up one.

"No, no. I'm not doing anything stupid. I won't ruin her fun either. But I'll use her energy. That's for sure."

"A fucking schi.. you want to run back what you just said?"

"That's what I thought. Don't use that word again. You know how certain people feel about it."

"Of course people are touchy about that kind of stuff. They don't want to hear that the people before us were right about some things."

"12,000 years later, what do you know."

"I'm not gonna go back out there again. I would be really annoyed with myself if I did that. I went through all of these damn changes to be who I am right here, right now. Everything.."

"Yep, not too long before it happens, I'll be ready."

March 22nd, 140XX. 7:53 PM.

Lights are out, but I hear the microphone. It's still on. What idiots. Radio stopped after the last line I wrote down. Freaky stuff.

Still on the bench at the damn train station. Had some food beforehand so I just relaxed there. I saw one person next to me look at me like I was a weirdo. Have people really become that damn scared of someone like me? I got this radio from, well, you know who. And they were much weirder than me, good god. Miss that kid. And his fucking sister, holy hell.

It's funny to think I turned a communication device for me and him into, a game of sorts.

They just left. The person sitting next to me. That's why I opened my damn notebook again. To write to myself. Cool moves, Evi. Cool. Moves.

Wonder how Frankie's doing. Give em a call when you get home.

March 22nd, 140XX. 8:00 PM.

What. The fuck.

The fucking concert thing, how they didn't turn off the mic. Was it planned? There's someone just saying, "Hello? Hello?". Some people are going back.

Couple of minutes in. Lights turn back on. All white lights. Don't really know how to describe people's looks. At all. Was a girl. Their hair was orange. Long tentacles. Kind of short?

She started saying stuff as soon as the lights turned back on. I started walking closer to get a better view and to be more involved. This had me interested. Then again, like always after a event, I have nothing better to do for a solid week.

"Hey.

You all don't know who I am."

It's the same voice from the radio. Voice 2. No, fucking wonder.

"I know it might not seem like much, and I might look like some idiot, and I doubt anybody is listening, but last time something like this happened, it was me who fixed all of it. And saw that maybe it wasn't all fun and games in this damn city, or that, people aren't 'recognized' properly. Remember the first time the Great Zapfish was stolen?"

What?

I went down near the square and nobody was really there, just eating and/or minding their own business. No damn noise though. Nobody was talking. What a concept, a quiet Inkopolis.

Unless you count four chatterboxes pointing fingers a crowded Inkopolis.

"If you're wondering who I am, I'm Agent 3. And it might not seem like a surprise, and I doubt many care. It's just, in the wake of a situation like this I find it appropriate to at least be mentioned. So I'll bring myself up. And I'll state the truth. I'm not going back there. I'm not doing it. And that might seem silly, or that I'm being a coward but...

I'm really not.

I was a weird one, sure. And along my journey down I met some interesting people to say the least. But I did my part. Some of you might of just found out about them, and their separation, but even the Squid Sisters gave an announcement really, really late at night when everything was said and done. I guess we'll never know who did it, right!? Yeah, well, at least some of you know.

I doubt anybody is taking this seriously, and that's why I'm being so straight up. I wanted to be one of you for so long and, it felt like after what I had done for you all that it would be easy if I stayed undercover. But being in a sea of many is exactly what I don't want in my life. Not anymore. Because being in a sea of many really hurt me in the long run and, honestly, I'm sure someone can take the opportunity I'm denying, to go out there and get this damn thing back.

I wanted to at least feel fearless when going up here but,"

She stopped speaking into the microphone and stepped down, hanging from the ledge of the deck. I think she knew there was a small audience listening. I was apart of it, for sure. So I think it was smart to ditch the mic and the big speakers.

The mockers left because of that. Good.

She started speaking in a normal tone of voice. Well, she was always but, now without a mic. And with a little bit of a sadder tone to everything.

"I doubt it'll do anything. I doubt this will really do anything in the first place. It's been some dark times for me, and I just want to get this straight. It was life-changing down there and it's still hard as all hell to adjust. I wish Callie was here. I really do."

Ouch. She took a moment, staring at the floor. A decent group started asking her if she was okay, while I thought that maybe she was taking a break. It felt wrong to me at least. The big energy of the whole place wasn't really there. Then again, I don't come here too often. But it's iconic. Inkopolis! The big place to be! All, quiet? I guess she just brought the whole place down late at night. Well, not too late, it is like, eight. Still. My point still stands. It stands tall.

"I'm.."

I perked up. Hard. I was invested in this probably more than anyone. It actually made me happy there were some genuine souls out there.

She got back on the deck. No mic. And, she seemed upset. Don't blame her.

Whatever this is, I want to hear the end.

"I'm Agent 3! I'm Rina! And I'm the person who was meant to get you all out of this damn mess! The person meant to help you! To be the one underground who saved you! And you idiots repeat the same thing!? You all let the same thing happen!? What.. what can I fucking expect anymore!? All this effort and all of this hiding was for nothing! It was all for nothing! And now we're back at square-fucking-one! I helped those people, the people you called enemies, and completely changed my damn identity to the one you see before you and yet NOTHING changed! Absolutely NOTHING! It's a fucking cycle in this city and I can't stand it for anything! I'm using this damn tool as a platform to finally get myself out there because every other attempt has fallen flat on it's fucking face, and the only reason this ever happened in the first place was because I have 'connections' that barely even act like real people! I don't get it! I don't understand it anymore! This, this used to be everything I fought for and now it's, it's this! A barren place with nobody in it.. and if there is they're here to experience nothing other than a little thrill here and there and it's just.. it's sickening! I'm tired of having to go through all of this alone and I'm certain I'm ruining myself right now! But I just want this damn pain to end! Just.. let it end."

Screaming, yelling, crying, having a full on fit. And it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life.

March 22nd, 140XX. 8:47 PM.

Lights went off. Brought me back to here. This place.

I heard something I was most definitely not meant to hear. It disturbed me. It disturbed me hard. And I loved it. Someone comforted her, but I didn't do anything. I'm too scared to do anything, really. I don't want to talk to someone with that much on them mentally. I've barely done anything in my life. I don't plan to. So I don't relate to any of it, or, most of it. But this entire fiasco in the city is nice timing for someone to step in, I agree. Not much to say on the damn breakdown. Other than that I'm impressed. A sentimental ghost-town is what the place turned into. Inkopolis. A ghost-town. It's late anyways.

Radio didn't do anything during the entire gig. Not a peep. A shame, really.

I'm gonna take the train back home.

March 22nd, 140XX. 10:13 PM.

Evi has arrived home!

I went straight into my bedroom. Got my phone out. Radio on my nightstand. I didn't want to worry about anything. I started reading all of what I left behind and I'm about to call Frankie. I'll write it down since me and Frankie don't talk too long.

What a crazy night its been. The dial took a couple of seconds. Nothing long, thankfully. She got the first word. I'll put a dash next to her words.

-"Hello?"

"Frankie. I'm hoping you remember who the hell I am."

-"Evi. The pessimist. I'm pretty sure I know why you're calling me."

I shuffled in my bed, started to get cozy.

"I think about the old times quite often. I know it's stupid and stereotypical of someone like me, but I just do it."

-"No. The speech. You were there, weren't you?"

Huh. Interesting.

"That's not why I wanted to call you. Stop acting like it. Don't be stupid, Frankie."

-"I was there. You were there. We were there for the same reason. The damn thing you showed me. I do it too. Even today. I think everyone in the friend group does it. Even though we've all moved on. Our way of remembering things."

The damn radio.

"You're kidding."

-"God no, I'm not kidding at all. I use sketchbooks to draw out how I think certain people look and I write pretty big on those sheets anyways. That moment has been chatted about for a while. I even heard some practice speeches from her. Very different from what ended up getting out."

"Who the hell do you think she is?"

-"Agent 3. A member of Squidbeak. What a crazy bunch, doing what they do best. Causing hell for themselves and themselves only."

"Did it feel in any way fake to you?"

-"No. I've been tracking their chats for a while. I'm about to finish my third sketchbook of it. Glad to know I finally got a damn reference."

Out of anybody, I would expect her to, be more vocal. Or think that it's fake for the sake of sparking a conversation.

"I kinda wish you said 'Hi' to me or, something."

-"Like you'd actually respond and not just give me, that look."

Ow.

The quality of a phone call does her voice justice. That hit hard.

"And you call me the pessimist."

-"Evi. Good friend. Good times. What do you want?"

"Someone not so damn weird."

-"Well then.. we hear the same things. So what's new? Anything?"

I hung up.

I didn't want to deal with her attitude. I wasn't doing anything anyways. I haven't been. It's been awfully dry in my life, but a smirk response like that is certain to get to me. I always wondered how I survived in a group like that. It would be absolute torture for me today, but back then it was exactly what I wanted. I just want to get some fucking sleep if anything. At least the day was normal and exciting, but I don't remind myself of exciting things on paper, now do I?

Now do you, Evi?

March 23rd, 140XX. 1:16 AM.

I heard some random noise and it woke me up. Now I'm here. It's coming from the radio again. It's Rina. I know that voice now. Here's some lines that I remembered.

"Been transmitting noise for a while just to make sure I woke you up, 'Cerl'."

"I wish I told them about you, Contri. [I wish I told them about everybody.] About my big change. And I know you like to lay low, like me, in a sense. But at least you're here. That's all I could really ask for."

Parts of that was fuzzy, so I filled it in with what I would say combined with what I heard. You know the fuzzy part.

"Thanks. Getting tired of pressing this damn rubber button, what about you?"

"Sounds good to me. See you then, Contri."

March 23rd, 140XX. 9:16 AM.

Yesterday wasn't a very good day. I felt wrong. Everything felt wrong. It's Monday today.

So I'm sorry to my future self if you ever read the aftermath of this again, because that means you read everything else again.

I felt opposite. I really did. Like a mirror, almost. It's flipped. But you can still see yourself and the things behind you.

I swear I'm more mature than this. I swear I'm better than this.

I should give Frankie another call and just throw out the damn radio already. It's been messing with me for too long. I just need to focus on my job, and look forward to playing a game once I get home or something.

Sorry, again. I don't want all of this to fall apart again. I understand.

Sorry, Evi.

Author's Notes

This is something I thought about very quickly and I needed something to clean up my writing skills badly. The challenge with this was to write it in a single, day. I wrote it in like 6 hours.

Originally, this was going to be linked to Disregard, but I decided not to link it but rather nag at it. And I did. I also wasted a great name so I replaced it with a bad nickname that is consciously bad. Oops.

A writing test. I don't really do one-shots. But I liked this one. Heavily inspired from my own notebook and recent events. My "diary". I love that thing.

There's a lot more lore to this and I'm sure you could see where this COULD go, but I doubt where I want it to go would warrant anything more than just another chapter. It lacks the Disregard level of detail that I usually loose myself in writing but, this isn't Alex. So. Oops.

Either way, I just pulled an all nigher to write this and I want to make sure that it stays in it's unpolished state because this was a challenge. That I'm letting off into the world. Enjoy.

As for the photo, well, I'm sure you can figure that one out. And I'll probably get rid of it. Aw.