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Chapter 19

Inkopolis Morning…

I was sitting on the couch…

I needed to think…

Last night…it could've gone differently, I'm sure…

I mean…did I have to kill him?

He was going to kill Guyver…

He was going to kill me…

But I still feel bad I did that…

My hands are still shaking a bit…

I don't know what to think…

"Morning, little man." George came out. "Sleep well?"

"Y-yeah…" I replied. "Sheryl's pretty nice."

"Yeah, she may not be the most responsible with herself," George remarked. "But she has a good heart and loves kids…I'll explain the first part when you're older…"

"Okay…" I was still thinking.

"You okay?" He wanted to be sure.

"I don't know…" I admitted. "I mean, I just killed someone…"

"But he was going to kill you." He pointed out. "He was going to kill Guyver too, and he probably would've killed other people too."

"He did…" I told him.

"Well, then it's good you stopped him." He said.

"B-but did I have to kill someone?!" I looked at him. "I mean, was there no other way?"

"I mean…maybe…" He wasn't sure. "If you knew about him before, why didn't you call the police?"

"He…" How do I put this? "He threatened my mom…he said he'd go after her if I told anyone…"

"Tim," He grabbed my shoulders and looked me dead in the eye. "I understand you wish there was another way, but that…whatever he was, clearly wasn't well in the head. He didn't give you a choice, he gave you an ultimatum. Kill him, or let Guyver, you most likely, and lots of other people die."

"I-I guess…" I didn't think of it that way.

"Given what you had to work with at that time and place, I believe you did the right thing." He told me. "Now, I'm not saying you should be comfortable with killing, because you should never, ever be, but you shouldn't beat yourself up for doing what you had to do."

"R-right…" I agreed. "Thanks, George."

"No sweat, little man." He got up and sat back on the couch. "…Now, something I've been wondering…why the fear on those eyes?"

"My mom just said that it'd cause trouble if people saw them…" I told him.

"What about other Octolings?" He asked.

"Even them for some reason." I added. "Not sure why…I think I'll keep my goggles on for now just in case…"

"Huh…" He took a second to think. "Well, maybe I can look into that…when I'm not trying to help you look for a music teach."

"Y-you mean…" My eyes widened.

"Yep, I've decided to help you on your quest." He told me. "I mean, Carol handles looking for our gigs, I've already written enough songs to make half an album, and Sheryl…well…she'll keep herself busy."

"With whatever you guys hint at, I'm sure." I said.

"Y-yeah…" He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I also wanted to ask you…Do you want to crash here? I mean, your roommates don't sound like the best people for you to live with."

I took a second to think.

"O-okay…" I agreed. "Sure!"

"Alright!" He fist-bumped the air. "I'll have Sheryl buy you an inflatable mattress and Carol and I will grab your stuff…when we all get a chance that is…"

What'd he mean by that? What's he doing? Oh well…

"So what are you going to do now?" He asked. "I mean, you may not want to do the tournament after what just happened."

But…

"I-I can still do the tournament!" I told him.

"You sure?" He looked concerned. "After what happened?"

"Y-yeah!" I assured him. "I mean, I can't let my team down…"

He took a second to think about it.

"Alright…" He agreed. "Just be careful."

"Right!" I said, determined.

"What's going on?" Carol asked as she and Sheryl stepped out of their room.

"Little man's still gonna do the tournament." George informed them.

"Really?" Sheryl asked, concerned. "After last night?"

"I think I'll be fine…" I said. "I mean, my team needs me…"

"Well, make sure you're okay too." She urged me.

"I will." I assured her.

"Hope you do well, kid." Carol said.

"I hope we do." I replied.

I grabbed my goggles and my Power Helmet, and ran out. "See ya!"

"Take care, little man!" George waved goodbye.

"Bye!" Carol waved.

"Come back soon!" Sheryl told me.

I put on my goggles and my helmet over it.

I rushed over to Inkopolis Square.

I could see my teammates standing outside Deca Tower.

"I'm here!" I called out.

"Tim?!" Guyver was surprised to see me. "Are you okay?!"

"Y-yeah…I think so…" That wasn't true. "Well, fine enough that I can show up. After all, I can't let my team down, can I?"

"Okay…" He clearly wasn't sure. "Just…if you need to quit, you can tell us."

I nodded in response and we walked in.

"S-so did everyone make up?" I asked.

"Yeah, Sylvia apologized." Guyver told me.

"Sarah and her music store friend Clair explained a lot of things to me." Sylvia told me. "I felt awful and apologized."

"And Sarah shared a bed with me last night." Guyver told me. "She figured I could use some company while I slept."

"Heh…Sheryl did the same with me." I chuckled.

"Huh…what a coincidence." Guyver remarked.

"I'll need to hang with you sometime, Tim." Sarah remarked. "Because I have no idea who you're talking about."

"Sure." That sounded good.

"So…who's Sheryl?" Sylvia wondered.

"She's one of my friend George's sisters." I explained. "It's George, Carol, and Sheryl. They have their own band."

"Oh, cool!" Sarah said. "They good?"

"Yeah!" I replied. "They're just getting started though…"

"You'll have to show us sometime, private." Sylvia said. "Let us see for ourselves."

I nodded in agreement.

Today was a bit different. The tournament had actual brackets this time and with lower numbers now, it should go by faster surprisingly didn't take long for us to be put in a match. The match was Rainmaker on Starfish Mainstage. The match was about to begin.

"Alright team!" Sarah shouted. "Now the real fights begin!"

"I'm always ready!" Guyver boasted.

"Me too!" Sylvia shouted.

"Oh, uh…can you not tell my mom what happened?" I asked. "She'd flip out if she found out I killed someone."

Sarah and Sylvia's eyes widened.

"Wait…" Sylvia said. "You did what?

Ready…Go!