"How did we get here?" Jory sighed with a deep exhale of strain. Thinking back to the exhausting events that'd transpired throughout the week, he sinks his body into the water; this "water" of course wasn't actually the lethal liquid-though there were special suits created for inklings to survive in the sea, another alternative was to treat the water by mixing a chemical within it that allowed it to be easier on the skins of inklings since their membranes struggled to keep out the water, however this could only be done at very hot temperatures, hence why hot springs still function!
The fatigued Reice began blowing bubbles under the water as the hot steam hits his face during his descension, "Hey, at least it's over...right?" his voice muffled; it was supposed to be a fun time. The Rank Wars is the biggest event on campus that gives the school a chance to boast its best qualities with everyone watching, and here came Ixia ruining the spirit of the Rank Wars from their hacks and hijacking of attention, to their rhetoric filled with fear and hatred. The stakes were raised to an unimaginable degree as the students of Squid Academy came to the realization that their institution meant more than they thought-they were a pillar in the nation's history and infrastructure. Squidcom's defiant attitude to defeat, the student's rally against Ixia, and the tactical measures taken by Principal Telfin all served as the major points that granted Squid Academy's victory over Ixia.
Jory shook his head as he thought about the revelation reached regarding their battle with Ixia, "Everyone played their part in this battle, but I doubt it's over. This is just the beginning, unfortunately."
"They declared war on us…" Fuchsia spoke as she brought her knees up to her arms and buried her face. Relaxing in the girl's hot springs with Sally and Kosami, the trio were sharing the same conversation as Reice and Jory in the other room-anxious about the future now that Ixia made their presence. As she bathed her tanned skin in the warm water, the sounds of water splashing and swishing echoes as a pair of legs join her.
"We'll be ready for them. I vow that they won't ruin our season." Kosami flexed her right arm with a wink as her teal tentacles dampen upon contact with the steamy water after moving head a bit with an optimistic sway.
Sally pets Kosami playfully with a beam in her eyes, "You really stuck it to them! Thanks for telling us. I know you were probably sworn to secrecy-I appreciate that."
"You all are like family. I couldn't hide anything even if I wanted to."
The three are silent for a moment as Sally's smile fades, looking at the clock over to her and seeing that they only have an hour left before their time in the springs is up. Looking over to her teal and magenta haired companions who're both satisfied by the calming steam entering their noses, Sally joins them-sinking lower and closing her eyes to enjoy the blissful silence. While Squidcom relaxed in the hot springs and used the opportunity to regain lost strength and release stress, two members of the team sat together at the bar where a bartender served them some cola and even offered them a dessert, though the purple haired inkling refused while maintaining her emotionless gaze; next to her sat her smiling blue haired captain who was as polite to strangers as usual as he struck up a conversation with the bartender since there weren't too many patrons to occupy his time. Since it was a weeknight, the bar would close earlier which was why there was barely anyone there and hence the kids being there-free of having to worry about being scolded for being around alcohol.
"A shame we can't grab a couple of drinks, huh Violet?" Azule elbowed her playfully; Violet's gaze was broken.
"Yeah…"
Azule's eyes relax as he glances at Violet, admiring her features from the side. From her fair skin tone to the glimmer that enveloped her from the angle he sat, her vibrant purple hue extended like silk as she rests her head n her hand, her cheek getting hugged by her fingers as she stares forward with a bored expression. The silence between them gets interrupted as Violet turns her gaze to her captain, feeling his stare on her.
"Azule, how are you feeling?" she asks in a lowered tone as though if he gave the wrong response would trigger a confrontation.
Azule pats his body and smiles, "I'm fine!"
Violet didn't stop her gaze on him until she felt the silence between them was adequate of an answer that there wasn't much to be said. Returning her gaze forward to the row of bottles and drinks lined up on the counter opposite of them. "Just checking."
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I've been feeling good for the last few weeks."
Awkward silence follows, their bartender who'd been with them up until this point fixing his station found himself scooting away from the duo-letting them have this moment to themselves. Violet faces Azule again, but this time a glare is present as she clenches one fist that rests on the table while her other hand rests in her lap. Azule is startled for a second by the sudden glare but forces a smile. Leaning closer to her captain, who brings his hands up to show he surrenders, she gives an irritated sigh. Looking forward again she sips her cola and crosses her arms, "You're not lying to me, right captain?" her voice filled with distrust and concern.
Surprised by her uncharacteristic tone, Azule tried to keep a smile, "W-wow, hearing you call me captain feels weird." he laughed, but Violet wasn't amused.
"Answer the question."
Azule's smile fades, "I'm not lying. Why are you so concerned about my health right now?"
"I've known you for a quite a while and I can tell when something is wrong. Whether it was because we have some sort of special connection as friends or just great chemistry as teammates, I can tell something is up. So, I'll ask once again: is everything ok?" Violet's eyes lock with her captain as she gave the same look she always did when she was very concerned. That same cold stoic stare that gave him shiver even when they were dating.
Shaking his head, Azule reassured Violet that everything was fine, but when he saw the transition of her emotionless stare to one of concern as he eyebrows lowered, he felt the guilt hit in his stomach like a hook. "I'm fine, really. So, uh-don't worry! If anything was wrong, I'd say so right!?"
Violet narrows her concern filled eyes, "I'll believe you."
The conversation went flat after that with not much being said other than some small talk about classes. Sometime afterwards they are joined by the rest of Squidcom and together the group returns back to the campus.
The next day comes by with matchday 13 taking place at Piranha Pit. Squidcom waste no time in crushing their opponents, showcasing their talent as they easily mop the floor with their opponents and win in a pair of games; day by day, the cheers and chants of their names grew louder and the dozens wearing their team colors multiplied tremendously in attendance. While they treated everyone to a dominating performance, the number of notable spectators grew by the day as every week saw many familiar faces from around the country and foreign nations having representatives from many of the schools scope out their future competition. Whispers about their strange appearances and demeanor had Squid Academy students stay on their guard, still sensitive to the whole Ixia fiasco. But where they rejected most foreigners, they identified some popular international players that they couldn't help but extend a friendly hand to such as Siot, who stood in front of a TV monitor with an entourage around him, giving a cheeky grin when watching the teams go at it and turning serious when opponents like Squidcom and Kidvel played, respecting the talent those teams possessed. Likewise, Shiore too sat in attendance for every game and observed the talents that Squid Academy had to offer, but always found herself becoming focused whenever Squidcom played, unable to resist drawing the comparison of the young team to their seniors in the Elites. The more she watched Azule play, the more she saw Sky on the field and with growing interest, Shiore anticipated another encounter with him; Siot couldn't wait to face Azule in the future, knowing he'd probably have to play at full strength for a team like Squidcom.
As that day of the Rank Wars came to an end, everyone took this chance to recuperate and prepare for the road ahead. That evening after their victory, the girls decided to have a special feast to celebrate because Brittany felt so proud of the team. For the past few weeks she observed how hard Sally and Violet had been working, peeking in to check on them when they fell asleep after spending the night studying film or writing notes on how to improve their game and found herself inspired when she watched them play with such energy. She wanted to reward them personally for their hard work. But when she went into the kitchen to gather everything, she was surprised by a Sally who jumped her from behind and pegged her with questions about what she was up to. By the time Brittany could come up with an excuse, Sally already picked up on everything she was planning. Without letting Brittany get a word in, Sally offered to help cook as well, which was hard to refuse since Sally was the best chef in the household. With no choice but to take her help, Brittany went along with it. Sally inspects all the cupboards looking for the necessary ingredients since the feast Brittany wanted to prepare a foreign dish.
"I was thinking of a nice fruit bowl, a salad bowl, and then the main course dish could be a foreign dish that that hasn't been made in this household yet." Brittany's fingers tap the counter as she observes Sally concentrating on a half empty bottle of yellow seasoning.
Sally holds the bottle up and gives it a quick shake, "Understood. I'm going to write a list down of the things we'll need. Anything else? Dessert?"
"Hm. Dessert sounds nice..."
"For the main course dish, why not curry from the western isles?"
"Oh Curry! Friya's complained lately that she's wanted curry but had grown tired of Inkopolis curry. Western Isles isn't different, isn't it?"
"Only the seasonings used and the addition of meat like chicken. If anything, I can also do some black beans and rice in case they aren't up for curry."
"Wow! How do you know so much about the west isles?"
"My gramps used to vacation there a lot and tell me stories when I was younger. He bragged that the food and music over there was something extraordinary and that the scenery of crystal blue oceans and sparkling beaches were a sight to behold. I'd love to visit there myself one day."
"I hope you can go one day…"
Sally takes out a small notepad and begins making a bulleted list of the things needed in the home and for dinner, Brittany rolls up her sleeves and turns on the kitchen sink faucet. A few minutes pass by as the sounds of metals clanking with water echo through the room with Brittany cleaning the many pots and silverware that needed cleaning, behind her leaned Sally on the island counter still writing down the list. Violet and Friya appear a few minutes later with their backpacks and laptop and sit on the living room couch with Friya turning on the TV to Musink and playing a classic playlist of popular songs from the previous era before they were born. The ambiance in the room is positive as the heavy bassline of the guitar infects the minds of the girls and has everyone bobbing their head to the beat along with the catchy melody and rapid lyricism of the artist rapping over the beat. Sally looks up after having finished her list, her hand cramping from having applied too much weight while writing. Skimming through the list, she grows a mischievous grin and looks up at her diligent roommates working on the couch.
"Hey Violet, Friya, would you like if I cooked a big din-din tonight?" she teased with puckered lips like Hatsunika Mika; Violet and Friya smiled and nodded.
"Your cooking is delicious! I'd love to have you cook dinner tonight. I almost forgot what it tastes like." she says while typing something.
Sally's grin grew wider, "Oh? You love my cooking? You want me to cook?"
Friya laughed, "I don't know why you're making your voice sound like you're some seductress but sure! Your cooking is delicious!"
Sally's winds up her arm and goes into a pitcher stance, pitching the notepad at full force, throwing the notepad so hard it even make a "fwip" sound as it smacks Friya's face like a pancake being flipped. "OW!" Friya yelped, gripping her laptop to make sure it didn't fall; Violet tries to contain her laughter. "What the hell Sally!?" Friya yells.
"I need you and Violet to go and do some shopping using that list. Brittany and I are going to make preparations so that by the time you get back you can munch on fruits or veggies until dinner is ready."
Friya massages her face, "Ok. But why did you have to throw the notepad?"
Sally's eyes shine like stars, "You looked too adorable working like a good student, so I figured I should just throw something at you. What? Prefer me to step on you, huh?"
"W-what? Violet what's up with Sally? Why does it look like she's out to get me?"
"She's exhausted. Don't take her too seriously."
"Or I could just be picking on her because it's fun?"
"Can you not do that then?"
"Nah, I like it."
"Nyeh!?"
Putting their books aside, Friya and Violet put their shoes on and head out the door to get the chore over with quickly and read the list on the way there. Seeing items like Cayenne and Paprika along with black beans and even chicken, the girls had no clue what Sally was up to with the long list of items. Exiting the campus and waiting at a nearby bus stop, the duo sits together and admire the image of the setting sun that casts an orange hue on the fresh green plants around them along with the faint sounds of crickets chirping and mosquitos buzzing. Violet crosses her arms and leans back with impatience as she checks her surroundings, Friya takes a quick glance at Violet and then giggles.
"What's so funny?" Violet asks.
Friya smiles, "Nothing."
"If you say so. Say, how much longer until the bus arrives?"
"Uhhhh…" Friya checks her phone; "Another five minutes or so. Don't worry, we'll be back in time to finish our stuff."
"I know. I'm just not a fan of going out at night."
"Understandable. We're just going to get the stuff on this list and then we're good!"
A few minutes later they hear the humming engine of the bus approach, seeing the well-lit interior of the bus show that there were a few passengers already seated. Scanning their passes, the duo took a pair of seats over in the rear and overlook everyone as they sink into the comfy seats. After stopping at a few places to let off the other passengers, the girls finally reached their destination over at a bus stop in front of a market. Going through the automatic sliding doors, Friya raced over to grab a shopping cart as Violet grabbed a sanitary wipe to give Friya.
"Sally really organized this list…" Friya's hand guides along the shelves, her finger stopping at one of the brands listed. "Ah, here it is! Yellow Curry powder. Hey Violet, have any clue what this is for? Doesn't seem like an eastern type of spice."
"Seems like a seasoning used over in the west, I think. Probably used for curry since it's called yellow curry powder."
"But I thought? Why is it yellow? What curry they make in the west?"
"Everyone is different. Their culture probably prefers this to what we use over here."
"I search it up-hey! They use meat in their dish! Isn't meat unnatural anymore? I remember those animals went extinct from what the textbooks said."
"Well, they found ways to make it alternative to real cattle meat since they're extinct. The alternative tastes pretty nice."
"Hm. I guess I should give it a try. I wonder what she'll cook. Hopefully some fried rice and veggies! I love it when she cooks fried rice."
"Stop salivating, we're in public."
"Sorry!"
The grocery cart was a little full after having grabbed everything on the list, but because this was Sally who wrote the list, one item had to be difficult to get. Even though they snagged every possible item, the last item was so much like Sally the it's no surprise that she hinted to go to the city for shopping. The girls narrow their eyes and peer at the final item on the list circled in red marker. Violet's eyes twitch a bit as she furrows her brows imagining the stupid grin on her roommate's face at this exact moment.
"Banana Cream Pie from Fukuro's bakery? That's in the city!" Friya shook with horror after having bought all the items and in the process of checking out.
Violet gave a tiresome sigh, "Looks like we're going to the city after all…"
"O-ok...This is no problem! We'll just take the subway to the main street and walk to Fukuro's. If I remember right, it's in the heart of the city."
"Sounds like a plan."
Packing everything into the grocery bags, the duo made their way to the bus stop and waited for the next bus that'd take them to the nearest subway where they'd switch to the train into the city. After a peaceful ride and transfer to the underground subway that was thankfully less busy than usual, the girls took a seat and waited until their destination was called. Heading up the stairs and exiting the crowded subway, they headed to station square and saw the mesmerizing sight of the many inklings and other aquatic lifeforms roaming the plaza and crossing the huge crosswalk that had a huge intersection in the middle. Up high towered skyscrapers decorated with giant advertising monitors of the latest products and companies popular throughout the country, colorful posters of popular musicians and idols also shared spots with the monitors, and the lights of many office buildings still lit; Indistinct chatter fills the streets along with the clatter of footsteps onto the streets and sidewalks. Moving through the crowd, Friya and Violet head to a nearby school store and buy a backpack since Violet felt uncomfortable carrying groceries around in such a crowded public, then heading to Fukuro's bakery to get a key lime pie for Sally. Fukuro is an old cuttlefish man who looked as old as Cap'n, but his age was supported by the wonderful knowledge of desserts and baking. Asking them how their friend was doing, they learned from him that Sally would always stop by his shop whenever she was working and get a pie to go and found it heartwarming to see her become a regular customer of his. Handing them a whole key lime pie, he encouraged the girls to try a slice and see if they'd follow in her footsteps, laughing as he saw them off.
"We got everything that Sally asked for. If we hurry, we can make it to the subway in time." Violet tightens her straps on the bag, careful now that there was a pie in there along with the groceries.
"Gotcha-ohhhhh my goodness…!" Friya stops in her tracks and does a quick twirl and faces the opposite direction from where she was heading, her eyes closed and a growing smile as she furrowed her eyebrows with satisfaction; "Do you smell that!? Goodness, what is that! It smells...it smells..."
Violet raises an eyebrow in irritation, "Wagashi…it's wagashi."
"Eh!? Really!? I haven't had any in a long time and after going to that bakery… It smells so good! I...should try some, right!?"
"Wait, we have to get to the station before we miss our tra-"
"I'm gonna go get some! I'll meet you back home! Don't worry, I'll save you some-I Promiiiiiiiise!"
Friya darts off.
Violet's sigh becomes heavier as she watches her friend disappear off in the direction of the smell, shaking her head at how impulsive Friya could be. Boarding the subway and then heading for the bus, she checks her surroundings and focuses on the bus stop just short of the way. Accompanied by the howling wind that blows Violet waits patiently under the light at the bus stop. After a few minutes pass by, her bus arrived. Scanning her pass Violet dragged her feet over to a seat where another inkling that seemed to be her age sat just a few seats away; the bus empty for the most part. Resting her bag next to her, Violet leaned in her seat and rests her head. But before she could doze off and get some rest, she gets a tap on the shoulder. When she opens her eyes, it's the girl from the few seats over. Violet didn't feel like interacting with anyone, but when she noticed the girl's oddly yellow pigtails and radiant glow of face, she couldn't help but feel like she recognized this stranger from somewhere.
The pigtailed girl bops her head as she catches Violet's attention, "Made you look!" she said with a charming smile, taking a seat next to Violet.
Violet sat up, "Say...you seem familiar."
"Wow! I do!? I guess I could say the same about you: Squidcom's sniper!"
Violet's expression stayed the same as usual, but she was surprised by how quick to the point this girl was, based on her reference of Violet's position, she was probably someone who went to Squid Academy. "Ah, so you've seen me play."
"I must admit, you're scarier in person. I always though watching you play was something intimidating, but up close it's reassuring! I'm glad I was so lucky to run into you!"
Violet sighed, "So uh-who are you?"
The girl froze for a second, surprised that Violet didn't recognize her; she thought Violet's initial response was just a joke. "Wow, you really don't recognize me? How pompous!"
Violet shook her head, "No, I didn't mean anything by it. I'm not great at remembering people's faces. Sorry."
She crosses her arms and lifts her chin as if to look down on Violet, "Hmph! Well, my name is Evelyn. I'm the captain of Mayhem!" she pointed at her chest with her thumb, prideful to speak her title; Violet's indifference only served to crush her pride however.
"Captain of Mayhem...We play you next. What a coincidence that we meet after all."
Evelyn looks irritable, "I thought you were cool but you're pretty boring, luckily I can spice things up!"
"How so?"
Evelyn's devilish grin widened, "B-O-Y-S!"
Violet narrows her eyes, "Boys...right."
"Say, is there anyone you like right now?"
"No."
"Really? Not even the boys on your team? They look rather cute, especially the captain…" Evelyn analyzes Violet's expressions and reaction, but there was nothing; she'd have to dig deeper. "Say, have any fun details about them? I'm pretty interested in learning more about them and who better to get information than from someone close to the both of them."
"I don't know what you're trying to get at, but please leave me alone. I'm not interested."
Evelyn smirks at the opportunity of having caught Violet where she wants her, "Not interested? You're right, you sound way more upset than I thought. Could it be that you're jealous of me making a move on your precious boys? Silly Inkalian."
Violet's eyes widen, her head jerks forward and immediately her attention is on the smirking Evelyn who looks down at her, "What!?"
"One of the prettiest girls on campus who is adored by dozens upon dozens of boys is feeling threatened that a prettier girl in the same grade is about to steal her thunder and her two most loyal puppets!"
"What? How do kno-"
"No need to finish, I can see it written all over your face! I know everything about you, my rival! I know that you used to date your captain and broke up with him suddenly, and rumor has it that it's because of the yellow one since him and your captain weren't getting along for a little bit. Am I wrong?" she sneered; Violet tried her best to contain her emotions, but right now she felt like punching this girl in the face. Nothing upset her more than someone talking lightly of her heritage and though Evelyn didn't mention much about Violet's heritage, Violet didn't like the idea of some stranger knowing that secret of hers.
"You have a lot of nerve to be meddling in other people's affairs."
"Whatever it takes to get under the skin of your opponents, I'm all for it. Nothing entertains me more than ruffling the feathers of the stoic Violet of Squidcom. I'm going to leave you in utter defeat: I'm going to showcase my superior beauty, steal the hearts of your supporters and boys, and leave you insecure about your identity as I strip that away-your role as a top sniper. I'll one up your ability as a charger user. I'll leave you as defenseless as Inkaly was during the war."
Violet grinds her teeth trying to hold back from giving the pigtailed inkling what she wanted and instead took a deep breath and calmed down, sucking the tension out of the conversation. Fooling Evelyn into thinking that she once again was playing off everything just spoken, Violet crosses her arms and glares at Evelyn. "We'll see on the turf if your words hold weight. Don't disappoint me, Evelyn."
Evelyn gives a final smirk as their destination nears, the bus pulling over at the stop nearby the campus. Evelyn steps off and takes a few steps forward with a laugh, then turning around to look at Violet with smug-filled eyes and an accompanying smirk, "Hehehe you already remembered my name! That's a good start for a secret immigrant."
After that, Violet steps off the bus and walks to her dorm where she is greeted by a snoozing Friya on the couch who has whipped cream on her face and a hungry Sally and Brittany who ask for the ingredients on the list to which Violet delivers. The aroma of the food hit her face like a punch as the various spices were put to work with the ingredients purchased. That night, the girls had a family feast. However, Violet's mind was preoccupied by Evelyn. Her comments bothered her, not the fluff talk about boys or her reputation, but of Evelyn's knowledge on her being an Inkalian. Violet's tight lips rarely ever mentioned her personal life, so the fact the Evelyn knew her heritage meant that she must've known something about her, but the question on her mind that weighed heavy like an anvil was: Did she know? Did Evelyn know of Violet's identity as a Sororia, if so, what would happen if she decided to black mail her? This was sticky matter she needed to handle alone. Excusing herself early, she went to her room and slept on a solution.
