14017 July 24th
Village of Shark Tamers
It's 03:20 in the morning in the next day in the village, both bikes are revving their engines as Rei and Marina are riders of their respective vehicles.
The only difference in appearance is Rei, Marina and Serika.
Rei appears in the Eggplant Mountain coat as a substitute hero jacket. Marina brought a long mint coloured trench coat for winter, despite currently summer. Serika appears in a black hoodie as she needed something lighter, exposing her legs like Rei, considering Rei wears shorts. Even the leg straps on Serika make a tail as the end are metallic octopus shapes.
"What. I just needed somethin' to wear." Serika pouts.
"How's your tentacle?" Ryu calmly asked.
"Doesn't hurt, but I'm alright." Serika pulls up her thumb.
It's because Rei and Serika are covered in bandages after their fight as they scarred each other more than their own enemies.
With Rei and Neku coming along with Marina, Ryu and Serika, the 5 are about to leave the village without any hostility thanks to the octoling woman's hospitality.
"So Fuuka isn't as bad as Shiver, huh." Rei asks.
"No. But we need to put a stop to this madness like ya said." Marina points out.
"Well, with many octolings leaving this place, the four thangs are actually meaningless." Serika sighs.
"Not necessarily. Something's not right about the four thangs. We need to search for them and find out what it actually was." Ryu points out.
"Ryu's right. But first, we need to check on Mama Hotaru's side." Rei beeps her headset as she's waiting.
Click.
[Mmn… Who is it?] Marie's voice mumbles as she's sleeping.
"It's me. I got some guys to take. We're heading to Mount Nantai."
[For eel? Hm… Rei, be there once my group wakes up.] Marie whispers.
"Okay." Rei nods.
[Good.]
Beep.
"Let's go. Mama Hotaru is waiting for us." Rei starts her Hero Bike 3 as footsteps are approaching an inkling girl, 2 inkling boys and 2 octoling girls.
"Leaving already?" The octoling woman asks in octoling language.
"Yeah. It's been an honour staying at your place, ma'am. Thank you." Marina bows while speaking octoling.
"Man, you guys speak octarian. Even my junior speaks well." Neku groans.
"I know. I can't speak their language…" Rei moans.
"Heh. You're welcome to try. I'll teach you guys some basics." Ryu smiles as he's offering some lessons for Rei and Neku.
"Nah. I'm good." Neku declines.
"Sure. I want to learn more about them." Rei happily accepts.
"Of course ya would. You've been studyin' for years." Serika sighed.
"Hey! I wanted to!" Rei retorted.
Before the group leaves, the octoling woman bows while still speaking her own language.
"Be careful. When you see Fuuka, make sure to stop Shiver from harming everybody."
"Will do." Marina nods and puts her bike helmet on.
With Marina having Ryu and Serika on her motorcycle, Rei has Neku on her Hero Bike 3 while both bikes are moving away from the village and avoids other octoling villagers.
"So, Iida, knowing you're an octoling, how did you manage to get into Inkopolis without any hostility?" Rei asks through the speaker.
[Um… Y'see, I was bein' stared at by other inklings as a refugee. I felt like I never belonged there until I met a certain inkling who's actually short. She's a rich girl who lives with her little brothers and her parents, hence the name 'Hime.' She's an actual princess that feels more like a prince to me, despite her youngest brother is named 'Prince.' She took me in before we raise Serika and Shiki. The reason why we raise them as our daughters is because they have no family and no homes. That's why this inkling girl who may be rough on the outside, but deep down she's the sweetest girl with a good heart.] Marina explains.
"So she doesn't care what species they are?" Neku asks.
[No. She's never interested in the Great Turf War. She knows that I wasn't trying to harm her. The reason why we formed a duo in 14013, when I was 14, is because we understood each other's music and our tastes. I like pop and senpai loves rock. We looked up to your mothers as we became the next hit these days.] Marina answered.
"I see. Seika, your mamas are just like my mamas." Rei said.
[Yeah…] Serika sounded quiet as something must've hit her.
To Rei's surprise, she can see another Serika behind her as if that's the one Serika mentioned, Sin.
Shaking her head, Rei is moving behind Marina to follow her to a certain location.
Mount Nantai
"#9... Party…" Dedf1sh calls as the music plays in the background.
In the school building at 05:10 at a single classroom, Marie, Mirai, Sheldon, Pearl, Hachi, Big Man and Dedf1sh are sitting in their own desks as Cap'n Cuttlefish acts as a teacher for the plan to strike back against the Deepsea Metro.
"Aight, now that we're up. We're about to make a plan to put an end to this madness. I need some objectives to note. I'm forgetful."
Hachi is the first to answer by writing a note.
'Find the four thangs.'
"That is correct, Hachi." Cap'n Cuttlefish writes down on a board, leading Mirai to raise her arm.
"Defeat the sanitised octobosses!" Mirai calls.
"Also correct, Mirai." Another note Cap'n Cuttlefish puts down.
"Bring back Aori from the octarians' claws." Marie raises her hand but not as high.
"Yes… That's right, Hotaru." Cap'n Cuttlefish agrees as he notes another one.
"Ay! (Stop Shiver and Frye from attacking innocent people!)" Big Man raise his fin while calling.
"That's also correct, Mantaro." Cap'n Cuttlefish notes another one.
"Hold on. Wasn't our prime objective is to save those stuck inside this shithole? What if they're all suffering worse than they're challenging?" Pearl asks out of concern, leading Cap'n Cuttlefish to rub his beard.
"Hmm… Good point, Pearl. Then maybe we should consider grouping toge-"
"They're here!" Mirai yelled, interrupting Cap'n Cuttlefish's speech.
"Really!?"
"Yeah! Even my big brother Neku!" Mirai cheers.
"Hell yes! They're still alive!" Pearl laughs, celebrating Marina and Serika's return.
"Rei too. Thank goodness…" Marie sighs with relief.
Hachi gasps with joy as she witnesses Rei, Ryu and her big sister Serika returning from their horrible fates.
"You're right! They're back!" Cap'n Cuttlefish laughs.
"I'll let them in!" Sheldon calls while dashing out of the classroom.
A few minutes later.
"Mama Hotaru!" Rei calls while dashing towards Marie.
"Rei! I knew you're still okay!" Marie catches as she hugs Rei as a mother does for a daughter.
"Shiki!" Serika calls while dashing and hug Hachi while sobbing in octoling language. "Are you okay!? Please tell me!"
"Ah!" Hachi nods as she's weeping with joy.
"Shiki." Rei smiles as she's able to see her old friend again.
"Hey, Shiki. Long time no see." Ryu calls as Shiki rushes towards Ryu and then catches him by the lips. "Hm?"
"Aww…" Marina admires a loving relationship between a young inkling boy and an octoling girl.
"I didn't know you had a boyfriend." Pearl sighs while looking at Hachi and Ryu funny.
"Hehe. Happens a lot. They get flirty with each other sometimes." Serika giggles.
Rei laughs and stops as she turns towards Mirai with a serious expression.
"Oi, Rei." Neku reaches his arm after Rei approaches Mirai.
"Mirai." Rei calls solemnly while standing in front of Mirai.
"You're Agent 3!? Cool!" Mirai gasps with excitement, seeing the real deal that is Agent 3.
The atmosphere is getting gloomy as Marie, Cap'n Cuttlefish, Ryu, Neku, Sheldon and Serika remain quiet after realising what's going to happen.
"I'm sorry." Rei apologises.
"Huh? Why are you sorry?" Mirai halts until a Hero Slosher drops to the floor, revealing to be stained in both green and yellow ink. "Huh?"
Mirai's smile instantly drops after witnessing what's in front of her.
"Eh? Is that…"
"That's all that's left in Dai… Two years ago, my own friend was killed by Deep Cut." Rei grunts while holding back the tears.
This led Mirai to fall to her knees, her chest stopping beating as she came to a realisation about her own brother.
Slowly, Mirai turns towards Big Man as her glare becomes wider.
"Ay! (Ay, you got a reunion!) Ay? (Huh? Why is she looking at me like that?)" Big Man stops as he sees Mirai shaking with pure fear and rage.
"B- Big brother… Why?" Mirai's tone drastically changed as if it became deeper.
Tears are dropping.
"Oh no… Mantaro, run." Marie orders.
Afterwards, CRASH!
"Mirai!" Pearl shouted.
The tables in the classroom are crashing all over the room as Big Man is groaning in pain.
To his horror, Mirai's ink becomes magenta as her hair and her right arm are bubbling with Mirai instantly clenching her fist on Big Man's… Neck?
"You did this!"
"A… Ay! (Help me!)" Big Man is struggling to breathe as Mirai points her one of her Hero Dualie at Big Man with a glare.
Ink pressure arises as her stress and sanitisation slowly increases from 2.4% to 23.8% as it causes Mirai to twitch as she drops her Hero Dualies.
Afterwards… Thud.
"Mirai! Mirai!" Marie yells out of worry while slamming the door open and then rushes towards her and then picks her unconscious body up.
"Sister…" Neku grunts, realising Mirai's own brother is dead.
"Oh dear… I didn't know she would react that way." Cap'n Cuttlefish sighs as he couldn't tell what's happening.
"Neither did I. If I hadn't have let Dai and others die, then Mirai would've been happier." Rei lowers her head in guilt as she remembers what happened 2 years ago.
"I told you before, it's not your fault!" Marie calls out as her voice trembles in sadness.
"She's right. If there's anyone to blame, then blame me. I was associated with Deep Cut's deal with my boss." Serika closes her eyes, guilty for not knowing Deep Cut's true nature.
"Don't. All of this happened because of Shiver. Maybe Frye was ordered to kill us all." Said Ryu.
Rei grits her teeth while lowering her head.
Neku then pat Rei's shoulder.
"I know. But they're right, no need to blame yourself. Even I told you it's not your fault." Neku speaks out as Rei moves her shoulders by letting Neku go.
"Yeah… Not my fault, huh." Rei mutters under her breath and then marches towards Big Man and points her Hero Shot 0 at him.
To Rei, Big Man is less harmful, but what's holding him back is that he's a part of the trio, leading Rei to struggle to pull a trigger.
After lowering the Hero Shot 0, Rei turns to Marie and Mirai and then to Pearl, Marina and Hachi.
"Take Mirai somewhere safe. We need to discuss our situation." Said Rei while picking up Big Man.
"Ay… (Thank you…)" Big Man sighs.
"You're lucky this time, Mantaro." Rei spat out.
With Pearl and Marina taking Mirai off of Marie and taking her to the nurse's office, Neku approaches Marie and takes off his baseball cap.
"Hey, Hotaru. Should I call you Marie? Anyway, thanks for taking care of my sister… Also, it's been years since I left this cause."
"Neku. You've grown up. I thought you're never coming back." Marie sounded miserable as Neku grabbed Marie's shoulders.
"I thought I never will either. Maybe this situation brought me back here with you." Neku pulls a grin as he picks Marie up.
As Marie is getting some comfort by Neku, Ryu, Serika and Hachi lean by the door together while Rei walks past them.
'We're stuck in a horrible situation.' Hachi gestures as her expression is depressing.
"I agree. Us too. The sanitised are on the loose, Frye's body is taken over and we're now against each other. If this Sheldon guy gets his squit together, then we'll be able to easily get the shell out of this nightmare." Serika closes her eyes while trying to think.
"With Mirai losing her cool, I guess we'll have to take over." Said Ryu.
"Yeah." Serika replies.
"Mm." Hachi nods.
With the trio planning together, Marie and Neku went past them and walked towards the nurse's office until Marie and Neku encountered Rei who was on the wall looking miserable.
"Mama Hotaru."
"Hm? Rei, I thought you left." Marie approaches Rei after being let go.
"It's about Mama Aori." Rei says without hesitation.
"Huh? You saw her!?" Marie gasped.
"Yeah. There's something she needs from you." Rei raises her head while looking into Marie's eyes.
Before Marie leaves after getting the information, she stops and turns towards Rei.
"I know you're friends with octolings many years ago, but why?"
"And you still hate them? Mama, listen, Seika, Shiki and DJ Hyperfresh are different. Even Fuuka." Rei points out.
"Who's Fuuka?" Marie asks in a bitter tone.
"Shiver. She possessed Fuuka as I was told. It's the inner demon, Mama Hotaru."
"And what if Fuuka and Shiver are the same?" Marie asks as it caught Rei off guard which led her to believe that Marie is actually wrong in this discussion. "If so, then I won't hesitate to splat her."
"Mama…"
Then Marie turns around and marches forward while heading to the nurse's office by herself, leading Rei to stand still with Neku arriving by her side.
"I know. Whatever Deepsea Metro is, we're gonna dismantle it!"
"Yeah." Rei agreed.
In the end, both Rei and Neku are walking through the corridor while finding a dorm to sleep in.
Later in the nurse's office, sitting in front of Mirai, who was being cared for by Dedf1sh, are both Pearl and Marina as they're worried about a certain inkling who just started and was put through something this overwhelming.
"Iida, she kinda reminds me of someone."
"Oh, like Prince? Your brother?" Marina asked.
"Yeah. But I was thinking more of my other little bro, Emperor. They're both annoying and impatient, but actually scared of losing something closest to them, even though Emperor is always full of himself and is almost always full of shit." Pearl chuckles.
"I know." Marina puts her feet on a chair while putting herself in a foetal position. "Senpai, why did Mirai pass out?"
"Too much stress, or Sheldon's crap." Pearl turns behind as she catches Sheldon who approaches the duo.
"Yes. It's actually both. You see I have to put Mirai and Hotaru on leash by putting shock collars on them to prevent them from going loose and harming others." Sheldon explained.
"Clever little crab. I guess you're not as dumb as you think, but you're still boring." Said Pearl.
"You may think I am, but let's just say that I have a lot of technical skills along with an inkling friend of mine."
"Sora is it?" Marina asked.
"Correct." Sheldon nods.
As Pearl and Marina turn back to Mirai, Pearl bites her thumb, knowing what she must do.
"Collar me."
"Huh!?" Marina exclaimed.
"F- For eel!?" Sheldon too is shocked.
"Yeah. I have an inner demon, remember. If you collar me while Chaos is being unleashed, then you can stop her from running loose in my body." Pearl explained.
"Hm… Good point. Alright, I'll get you one tomorrow."
"Senpai…" Marina gasps with worry.
"I know, but I need to keep you guys safe from any harm, despite not being the type that does it." Pearl concludes.
Marina understands, leading her to pick herself up and head by the door.
No words but just a nod from an octoling and then the door closes.
"Sheldon. Tell me." Pearl speaks out in a serious tone.
"Hm?"
"Am I inferior to Iida?" Pearl asks.
"Why do you ask?" Sheldon is curious to know why.
"Well, Callie and Marie are well loved by the fans. Not sure the same could be said about us. Despite being her senior, Iida has a lot of fans compared to me. Sure they love my rock and rap, but sometimes, I get weird looks because of who I am. Marina, that Iida's idol name was, had the same reaction due to being an octoling, but what about me?"
Sheldon gets the impression that Pearl hadn't had a positive first impression ever since Off the Hook took over the Squid Sisters.
"Well, you sometimes look like a weird midget, pardon my speech, you're also rude, loud and sometimes a bit obnoxious, also pardon because I miss the Squid Sisters, but knowing who you and DJ Hyperfresh are, you're actually kindhearted. I mean no offence!"
"Nah. I get what you mean." Pearl laughs.
"But there's some charm inside you like everyone else here. I was told by Annie that my fixation in weapons is what makes me special." Said Sheldon.
Afterwards, Pearl can feel her chest after remembering that her charm is what makes her popular like Marina.
Then she smiles.
"Thanks, Sheldon."
"No problem. Let's go. Mirai will be okay with Ahato."
"Yeah." Pearl nods and leaves the room before Mirai weeps in her sleep.
Pearl wanted to know why she's feeling strange.
Then the door closes, leaving Dedf1sh watching Mirai and pat her head.
"B- Big brother… Please… Don't go…" Mirai cries.
Dedf1sh lowers her head after trying to help Mirai and then wipes her tears.
"Mirai… Your brother… There… For you… Always…" Dedf1sh whispers.
