Dylan's POV

I woke up in my room, with the sun shining into my face. Yesterday, felt like a dream. I jumped out of bed and got changed into new clothes. I wanted to see my friends again. It was kinda uncomfortable being alone here.

"My, you are up earlier today," Marigo smiled as she sipped her tea at the table.

"M-M-Marigo! How long… have you been standing there?" I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Haha, don't tell me you didn't notice me. I guess, considering you got changed right in front of me, no right?"

"Oh man… I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry about it, Kiddo. I actually have something for you. Come here a minute, okay?"

"Okay, what is it?" I sat down across from her.

"Here, you go. A modified squid phone." She took my hand and put an arrow shaped phone in my hand, "We managed to get your number system on it and your… um… is it inglish? Eenglewss? Whatever they are called, symbols despite not understanding what they mean."

I opened the phone up and it had numbers and letters that I recognized.

"Wow, this is in English"

"English, there it is… Yes, I had Verday put it together for you. I don't want you to feel trapped or alone so I figured I should let you go out freely."

"You mean it?!" I felt my heart beat faster with excitement.

"Yes, just make sure you put on the disguise ring when you go out. I don't want others to flip out. At the same time, you will only be miserable if you are trapped here. I saw how happy you were going out with everyone. So I decided to give these to you so that you can go out more. Let's call it a birthday present, since… I don't know when your birthday is."

"Marigo… Thank you…" I felt like crying from sheer joy as I hugged her, "Thank you so much"

Marigo seemed surprised at first, but she returned the hug and messed my hair.

"Be sure to not come home too late okay, kiddo?" She smiled, "Call me if there is anything you need. Go have fun, kiddo."

"I will!" I kissed her cheek and ran out the door, "Thanks, Mom!"

"M-mom?" Marigo seemed speechless, "That…. Doesn't sound so bad…"

I activated the ring and ran outside. It was a bright and beautiful day. The sea breeze was nice and cool. I felt so alive and happy that I didn't watch where I was going. The next second, I found myself on my butt with Leon sitting across from me. He seemed dazed with a red bump on his forehead.

"Wow… you have a hard head… buddy…" Leon rubbed his forehead.

"Leon?" I asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Dylan. I just wanted to hang out, so I thought I come see you. Didn't think I would bump into you outside."

"Mom gave me permission to go out and a phone!"

"Mom?" Leon seemed confused.

"Marigo. She always takes care of me soo, yeah."

"Oh, okay." Leon scratched the back of his head, "I was going to hang with you anyway, but seeing that you are outside…. What do you wanna do?"

"I wanted to hang out with with everyone"

"Ah, well, Jazzy and Chizel are helping out their families…. Char had to do something so… it's just me…" He rubbed the back of his head.

"Oh, that's… too bad… Then I have a better idea. Leon, show me around! I want to see everything!"

"Huh?" his ears perked up, "Alright, I'll show you everything in Inkopolis!"

"Come on! Let's go, Leon!"

He walked side by side with me to the train station. He excitedly showed me everything in the train station, including how to purchase tickets and tap cards. As Leon was purchasing a new tap card for me, I noticed a strange "Inkling" wearing strange soaked clothes. They seemed to be sneaking around, or at least trying to blend in. I couldn't help but stare at them.

"I got it!" Leon happily ran back to me, "Huh? What's up?"

"Hey, does that kid seem weird?" I asked, "He is completely soaked and covered up… Don't you guys pop in water?"

"Yes, if the amount of water is more than our body's, we will pop, or splat in other words. Taking showers or baths are fine too. Just not too long or we will get unhealthy."

"Well, they are acting funny… They seem to be taking magazines and muttering to themselves a lot..."

"Hey, buddy!" Leon walked up to him.

"Leon! I didn't mean confront them!"

"EEP!" the strange kid jumped up, "I'M JUST A NORMAL INKLING I SWEAR!"

"Errr… what?" Leon raised his eyebrows.

"I'm just a n-normal i-i-inkling boy…."

"Really…..?" Leon crossed his arms, "It's not every day a kid has to clarify what he is…"

"H-hey come on! E-e-everyone doesn't have to be… the same! Oh, I got to go!" He dashed away.

"Hey!" Leon shouted at the kid.

"Leon, something seems off about him…." I whispered, "I don't like how suspicious he is acting… You think he could be working for Luscas?"

"We can't take any chances, let's go, Dylan!"

"Right!" We followed after the strange kid.

-Author's Notes-

Um, hello. It's been a while... a long one. Well, I'm hoping to continue this story. I'll see if I can start update regularly again. Hopefully, I'll work on this one more than the other one. We'll see. Thank you for reading and your support for all this time.