Chapter 13

Inkopolis…

I was up and eating breakfast. Lisa and Andrea had gotten up too while Ben was still sleeping.

"So did you and Ben make up?" I decided to break the silence.

"Yeah." Lisa answered. "We had a talk."

"So does that mean I'm getting a turntable?" I wondered.

"You broke the deal by telling Benny that I was bribing you." She said. "You're lucky I'm not pinning you down and having Andrea remove your goggles."

"Wait, we aren't doing that?" Andrea asked.

"While he did break the deal, we honestly couldn't keep up the act." Lisa told her. "I barely know anything about Tim and he barely knows anything about me."

Well, at least she's somewhat reasonable.

"Aaaawww…" Andrea whined. "Now how am I supposed to satisfy my curiosity?"

"You can always tackle him and take them off." Lisa suggested.

"I'm right here eating, you know." I reminded her.

"Right." Lisa nodded. "Tackle him afterwards then."

Maybe not that reasonable…

I left as soon as I could, making sure to avoid them at all costs.

I went through the usual watching my friends play music at the canals before I decided to walk around on my usual musical venture.

At one point, I decided to eat at one of the local restaurants. Nothing fancy, but it had a TV right next to me. That was cool, I guess.

I was enjoying a burger when something on the TV caught my eye. I quickly turned the volume up.

"A couple found dead on the scene as a second double homicide took place yesterday evening." The reporter said. "Still no information regarding the motive, or the perpetrator."

It showed pictures of the victims. One was an Octoling. I knew what the motive was…

It was him…

I need to tell-

"If you tell anyone…I'll come after your mother too…"

…

I just sat back down…

After a while, I paid and left. I soon was at the park.

He…he was bluffing, right? There's no way he'd even know who or where my mother was…right?

I went over to a bench.

I…I need to sit down a sec…

…

"Hello there." His voice spoke.

"W-why are you here?" I asked. "Haven't you done enough?!"

"No…" He answered. "Not until it is done…"

"And when will that be?!" I wanted an answer. "How many people will have to die?!"

"Sshh!" He shushed me since people were near. "I only do what I have to."

"You don't have to!" I told him. "Why murder couples?!"

"Because of what they'd make." He told me as if it were common knowledge. "I can't let any like us exist in this world."

"And you tried to kill me!" I said.

"To end your suffering." He replied.

"The only person making me suffer is you!" I silently shouted at him.

"I know you think it's that way…" He sighed. "But you're in denial, now anger. I was like that once…but I soon saw the truth and accepted it. I do what I do so no others like me exist."

"…Then why did you threaten my mother?" I glared at him.

"…To keep you quiet." He told me. "I also need to make sure people won't repeat their mistakes."

"Repeat mistakes?" Wait a minute… "…I'm an Octoling! I'm not like you!"

"And I told myself over and over that I was an Inkling, nothing wrong with me, it's the others who are being cruel." He said. "I was in denial just like you are. I was lying to myself. You're lying to yourself."

"S-stay away from me!" I yelled at him before running off.

He slowly followed me, but I managed to lose him in a crowd of people.

I needed to stay away from him.

I'm not a freak.

I hide my eyes, but my mom said…I-I'm not a freak!

I just need to get my mind off of things…

I decided to go back to Inkopolis Square. I made sure to ask Crusty Sean for time off so I could prepare for the tournament. He was pretty okay with it.

I decided to play some games at the Shoal. I soon noticed a squid girl in a Moist Ghillie Suit…in an arcade. She was playing the flight simulator.

I walked over and saw she was doing pretty well. After a while, she did lose. She made number 7 in the High score list though. She then got up and noticed me.

"State your name and business, soldier!" She seemed standoff-ish.

"Uh…I'm Octim…" I told her. "And I was just watching you play since you were doing well."

"Oh, Octim?" She seemed to have heard the name before. "Hey, you're on my Tournament team!"

"I am?" I tilted my head.

"Yeah!" She pulled out her phone. "With…Sarah and…Guyver, right?"

"Yeah, I'm on their team." I told her. "And you are?"

"Sylvia Humboldt, reporting for duty!" She saluted. "I'm here to do my best to make sure we win!"

"Uh…okay…" She's a bit…much…

"I bring to the table, my Bamboozler!" She told me. "What do you bring, private?"

"Um…a Splattershot Jr." I replied.

"Still green, huh?" She asked. "No worries. I will be more than happy to help train you!"

"Really?" Wow. "Thanks!"

"Now, drop and give me 20!" She commanded me.

"Um…what?" I tilted my head.

"You heard me, private!" She said. "Push-ups!"

"Now?" I asked.

"Yes." She sounded calmer now. "Now, if you'd please…"

I then reluctantly did the push-ups as quick as I could.

"There…happy?" I looked at her.

"To be honest, I didn't think you'd do that." She admitted. "Well, now I know you'll be committed to the cause!"

"What cause?" I was confused now.

"Winning the Tournament!" She shouted. "I'll help you be the best you can be!"

"Well, Sarah said I'd get some help…" I admitted.

"And I'll give you the first step of physical training." She decided. "With me helping you, you won't need abilities to be the fastest runner or swimmer!"

"You sure?" I wondered.

"Absolutely!" She sounded confident. "Now, to Musselforge Fitness!"

This won't end well…

Later…

I dropped to the floor outside the place, completely exhausted.

"Alright, we'll call it a day." Sylvia decided.

"Good…" I was out of breath. "Was…the rock climbing…really necessary…?"

"You just needed to build up strength!" She told me. "I've gone here before and look at me now!"

"I haven't seen you in a game." I told her.

"I meant this." She showed me her Battling ID. She was an S-rank in everything.

"Oh…" She actually is good. "Well, just remember I'm just starting out…I'm nowhere near on that level yet…"

"Alright." She agreed. "Next time we'll just start with light exercises."

"Sounds good…" I agreed.

"But we'll save that for later because our Tournament training starts tomorrow!" She reminded me.

"Oh, right…" I remembered. "Well, hopefully this helped."

"I'm sure it did!" She sounded sure. "And if it didn't I take full responsibility."

"Okay then…" I slowly got up. "W-well, I'm gonna go home…I'm exhausted."

"Okay." She waved goodbye. "Happy trails!"

Right…

I started walking back to the apartment.

It's pretty late right now. My roommates are probably asleep…or at least, Ben might be. So I won't have to worry about Andrea stealing my goggles.

When I got back, I just walked into the bedroom and crashed onto the bed.

Sleep came shortly after…