...
... mumble... ... uh? ... w-what just happened...? Where am I…? I… I'm laying on a bed, apparently. My feet were covered only by their socks.
I could see my bag lying on the ground, my sister's shirt hanging on a chair, a small painting of my family resting on a drawer… I think to understand my location now. But how did I get here…?
My head is exploding… I gently touched my forehead multiple times, before I snorted and looked up. The mental image of my sister kept appearing in my mind. Sigh… I hugged the pillow, squeezing my eyes.
I slowly called her name, as I start looking around my room. I was alone, but I keep hearing voices coming from behind the door… they triggered so many memories. I got up only with my back: I couldn't feel my legs at all. I slap them, then I could at least roll them around.
Now it's better! Still, I couldn't lift them properly like usual. At least, I sit on the bed. Once I was fully standing still, I had to grab the corner of the closet. I was almost falling on the ground and a small yell could find its way out of my mouth.
Come on… I have to grip on the closet and move! Uff… urgh… puff, I reached the door! I opened it, getting hit by a burst of light. My eyes closed unintentionally.
"BIG BRO?!" My sister said.
"Fara…?" I could slightly open my eyes.
Suddenly, two small arms grabbed me. I smiled, carefully laid my hand on the top of my sister's head and then, I started petting it.
"Hunley…"
Huh?! I tried to open my eyes even more… and the first thing I saw were Mirii's eyes. She was near Grina and Bars. Tonna was also here, on my right. None of them were smiling.
"How are you…?" Mirii's eyebrows were raised.
"I'm fine. A bit tired though…" My legs were slightly bended down.
"Stay on the bed, Hun." Tonna grips my arm, lightly pulling me inside the room.
Fara followed me first, then the rest of my friends. The woman let me go and I quickly dived on my bed. All their eyes were pointed on me. I started seeing blue…
"Ehm… is everything all right?" I said slowly.
"Yes, Hunley." Mirii grew faintly a smile. "We were a little worried about you…"
"Oh… why?" I could see everyone smiling more than before.
Mirii looks away, sighing.
"I… I don't know how to explain this…" She grabbed her arm.
"Come on, Mirii." Grina pats her shoulder. "I'm sure Hunry will not be scared."
My stomach tights more… I felt the need for more oxygen…
Mirii inhales with her nose, loudly… then she looks at me, once more.
"Mr. Tarfo called us before… he said that you were battling to become an agent." She lays her hand on her chest. "But suddenly… you… you transformed into a monster."
… a… a monster…? Me…? …
"P-please, don't cry now…" Mirii bites her lips…
I was looking at the others… their smiles shut off.
"You are n-not a monster! You are a person, just like us…!" She points at everyone.
"… I'm sure I'm not a monster now." I took a glance at the mirror in front of me.
I could see my face, my clothes… except I was appearing a bit paler than usual.
"It all happened earlier, Hun." Tonna steps forward. "While you were fighting Giulius, suddenly you were becoming as dark as the night. Even your own ink."
I trembled.
"Ya fintd afte' winnin' aghinst 'hat guy…" Fara walks closer to me, hugging my stomach. "Ya 'urnd back as yoself, too."
"Really? I was still colored dark…?" I caressed my sister's head, stopping my trembles.
"If she's referring to your Inkling transformation… yes, you were." Tonna sighs. "But that wasn't the only thing different from you."
I gulped.
"You were much paler than now. Your eyes were black and you were saying incomprehensive words." That woman was rubbing her hands, looking away for a moment.
"Wha'? But I undirsto' his 'ords!" Fara stood up, frowning at her.
"You did?!" Tonna's jaw dropped.
I was getting confused.
"Ye'! He was callin' mi!" She points to herself multiple times.
You know… I remember something about my sister… then, nothing else. What happened to me, before…?
"Well… honestly, if I just turned black and that's it, I don't think I would be anything closer to a real monster." I was getting my hopes up.
"You behaved like one, though… you were growling like a wild animal." Tonna sank on a chair. "Everyone was left speechless and one of the agents almost ran away!"
Oh, oh… th-that doesn't sound good!
"He must have been a coward!" Mirii shouts, looking at me. "Hunley, as I said before, you are not a monster! I'm sure you have more abilities, than it meets the eyes…!"
I sighed.
"I wish I could help… but I don't remember anything." And I'm trying to do that too!
"Not even the fight?" Tonna asked.
The fight… against who? …
"I… I remember a race… and then… …"
Should I mention that memory about my sister? I remember hearing her voice… asking for my help. At the same time, that feels more like a dream than a true memory… as I was looking their faces, I felt my throat being grabbed.
"… nothing. Nothing else." I shook my head.
Grina walks slowly near me, but Fara quickly steps ahead. I couldn't see her face, but I heard a high-pitched growl.
"Fara, leave her alone." I said lowly.
She spins towards me, with her eyes expanded. My sister stood like that for a while, before jumping on the bed and covering my stomach. She was frowning at Grina, showing her small fangs at her. My friend did a slight smile, then she looks at me.
"Hunry, listen… I know this is not really an easy moment for you… and I'm sure that after our talk, you'll be brought to the medical room again."
"THE MEDICAL ROOM?!" I screamed, crawling backwards.
"Hun, no!" My sister holds my stomach. "'hey 'ill not 'urt ya!"
"I promise they will not use a syringe on you!" Tonna stands up.
"Whoa, woman! Why they should use one of them?!" Bars covers his arms.
"They will not!" Tonna looks at him. "It's just a complete check-up: they assured that a reason of your sudden transformation will be found!"
My heart was beating slower now… and gently, I slid down on my bed. Grina was biting her hand, for some reason…
"I'm so sorry, Hunry…! I-I couldn't know all this!"
"That's ok… really." I smiled.
She smiled too. My sister frowned even more and I could lightly hear her growls again…
"Anyway… Hunry, you must know something!"
Grina took my hand.
"No matter what they will found on you… remember that Inkinators will always help you! Always!"
Uh…? Inkinators…?
Bars lays his hand on the top of Grina's hand… and Mirii lays her hand on his hand!
"Wh-what's this?!" I look at each face rapidly.
"Just a confirmation of my speech…" She winks. "We truly reformed the Squad now!"
Everyone was smiling… and my sister hided her fangs too! So, this means…
"Wait a minute! You… you aren't angry anymore? I-I mean, we are friends again?"
Grina nodded.
"Hey man…! Sorry for the insults shouted last time!"
POW!
YEOUCH! MY SHOULDER! IT HURTS! I kept massaging it… meanwhile, Grina, Mirii and Fara look at Bars each with a frown. He chuckles, while scratching the back of his head.
"We'll talk about this… later." Mirii said to him.
He gulped loudly.
"It's better we go now…" Grina turns towards me, with a smile. "We'll see each other tomorrow, Hunry! Get back in shape, because we are going to eat some cheeseburgers!"
Cheeseburgers! Now we are talking!
"He can't, Grina." Mirii speaks to her. "He ate one yesterday."
"Then we'll watch a movie!" Grina grins widely.
"What's a movie?" I asked.
"It's a story! I'm sure you'll like it!" She kept nodding. "But we'll see one tomorrow evening, ok?"
"Uh… ok?" I shrugged.
"Now we must go." Mirii walks near me.
Her hand was slightly move towards my right hand… but she retreated that, blushing a lot.
"S-see you tomorrow!" She bowed down.
I don't know why she's blushing… but it was making me blush too!
"See ya!" Grina waved her hand.
Bars did the same.
"Bye…!" I saw my friends leaving my room.
Only Tonna and Fara were inside: Tonna sank on the chair again, Fara jumps out of the bed walking near the door. I… I was thinking actually… about what Mirii did just before… … suddenly, my right hand kept bending its fingers slowly.