Fireworks.
Music.
The sweet sound of splatting.

It was the 29th of August, 14115. The sweet tune of the Squid Sisters' Inkopolis Sinker rang throughout the plaza on this night. My team was in a bit of a lead…

This was the fourth Splatfest – Autobots vs Decepticons.

It was pretty nice when I heard about it. The Decepticons' color was the only reason I joined it. If anything could've made this night better – it would be Celia…

"Hey! Orbee!"

That voice…

I looked behind me and saw a pink inkling in her Red Autobots Splatfest Tee. Her red Squidvader Cap and Red Sea Slugs, along with her contrasting aqua blue eyes made me blush right beneath my 18K Aviators.

"Hey, Celia." I respond, looking at her young, cute face.

"…Team Decepticons?" she said with a tiny bit of surprise, noticing how my usually dark blue tentacles were colored dark purple, matching my Purple Decepticons Splatfest Tee.

"What? They've got a sweet shade of purple!"

"Keep telling yourself that. My red tee looks way cooler."

She was always good at making decisions. Now I'm jealous of her tee. The problem was she was pretty salty and… she always lost the Splatfests after this one (except Arts vs Science…)

"Anyway… wanna try a match with me?"

Celia looks at me with her usual gameface. It always gave me chills… "Sure." She followed in a somewhat dark, serious tone.

We played for hours. As the Squid Sisters sang Kimi Iro ni Somete, our favorite Squid Sisters' song, we had some pretty intense fights. Celia was pretty quick with the Carbon Roller, her former favorite weapon. She knocks me back with those Burst Bombs, before swiftly swinging that light, yet deadly roller upon me and my team. She wasn't the only good one though. My aim with the Stock Splatterscope can take care of her from a far, especially in Saltspray Rig. This was a feeling I never truly before. I actually had… "fun".

"Ok…" Celia said wiping the sweat beneath her tentacles. "We've been playing for hours… Come on, let's sit together for a while."

I started to blush furiously. It's like my face joined the Autobots Team… I don't believe it, she wants to sit close to me. I know she likes super jumping to me a lot – but during a Splatfest? Watching the beautiful pink and dark purple fireworks go BOOM, lighting the dark Saturday night? "Oh heck yeah I will…"

"Hm?"

…I just said that out loud, didn't I. "Oh, uh, I mean… I'd love to sit with you." Why am I saying such crazy things right now?

"Ufu~" Sh-she's giggling at me. I thought my face can't get any redder! "Come now…"

The two of us sat on the bench by the South Wall. We watched those beautiful nightlights flash in our teams' logos. This seems too much for me to handle… Should I confess…?

"Celia…?" she turned to me with a delicate smile atop her face. "Do you like, like someone?"

I watched the expression on her face as she thinks about it. She didn't answer for a minute. I could see her mouthing some words… she must be thinking in Ancient Tagalog to surprise me? I never learned that language…

Then she hit me with this answer – "I have alittle sister."

She…

"She's so kawaii~ Her yellow eyes seem perfect on her mint green squid body. Her name is Nanami. She…" Celia stopped talking when she looked at my face.

Thoughts of my "family" started resurfacing. I tried to forget about her. I hate her. I hate those words.

"Something wrong… Orbee?"

I was crying. Without warning, I take off…

A memory that has seemingly changed Orbee forever. Ever since Celia said that, she seemed to be more distant from Orbee. But still, Orbee loves Celia, and wanted absolutely no "little sister" brought up again.

Chapter 5: Crushed with Rage, or Love?

It's 9AM. The alarm clock rang in Celia's room. She hit the snooze button, not wanting to get up. All she did last night was think of Orbee. Within a minute, she fell back asleep.

All of a sudden, a huge burning sensation came upon her body, followed by a loud voice shouting out–
"WAKE UP, NEE-SAN!"

Celia immediately woke up with an earsplitting scream. She got up and found her body covered in mint green ink.

"Next time, keep your sloshers safe, nee-san~" Nanami said, putting away the slosher which was filled with mint green ink.

"You seem awfully energetic today…" Celia said, shooting the floor with her Luna Blaster and hopping into it as a squid. After a few seconds she hopped out as her humanoid self. "Weren't you bothered by… last night?" She continued, as she shudders and gives a sigh filled with sorrow.

"Oh come on, nee-san." Nanami nonchalantly said. "You should talk to Orbee-kun later~" She takes the snowglobe from Celia's desk and handed it to her. She then formed a ring with her fingers to try to get her sisterly handshake. "SLSL?"

Celia calmly accepts the snowglobe and also forms a ring with her fingers. "SLSL."

The train stopped much more smoothly today. A rather pleasant silence came from the train as it halted. Celia got off the train with a somewhat relaxed face.

She didn't stop at Inkopolis Plaza, this time. She got off at JINCS, the Jellyfish and Inklings' New Calamrian School, where she studied before turning 14 last July 25. It's been a long time since she played basketball in her own private court next to school. Celia used to be a fan of basketball. She used to want to be a member of the Calamari Calamaris, their national basketball team. When she turned 14, she wanted to buy the Home B-Ball Jersey, but had to wait until Level 7. She never switched out of it in her loadout, aside from Splatfests. Even today she wears it, only having it reprinted with a Special Saver logo and her last name written in blue Inkling text. Even if she interest in basketball today, she could still recall how to play it.

Upon arriving in her private basketball court, she saw someone already playing in the other side of the quadrangle. He was very bad at it though, but he wanted to practice, almost nonstop. He wore an Away B-Ball Jersey and Green Trainers, while a B-Ball Headband was adorned on her head below his dark blue tentacle ponytail. On a nearby bench were some 18K Aviators, Pro Trail Boots, and a backpack with a Dark Urban Vest in it.

Wait a second.

The dark blue inkling gave a throw so strong it bounced very far from where he was standing. With the aid of her quick reflexes, Celia caught it from where she was. She sprints quickly while doing a really quick dribble, and throws it just before entering the three-point line.

"Score."

"Nice shot…" the dark blue inkling said with mixed feelings.

"Orbee…" Celia said, walking towards her backpack to take something from it. "Next time…" She took the snowglobe out. Orbee gasped and started to blush. "Don't be so tsundere~"

"Celia, look." Orbee suddenly muttered. "I never wanted you to find out why Nanami was such a huge deal to me, k? I just acted like this because 'little sisters' make me lose my mind, a-and I didn't me – a serious, professional sniper – to lose my 'strong', 'badass' image, and lastly – How was I being 'tsundere'?"

Orbee blurted those words so quickly. Thankfully, Celia was a clever enough to process all of his words. She just… didn't know what to say. No… she didn't even want to know.

"Celia…" Orbee mumbled much more slowly. He took the snowglobe from Celia's hands. "Did you figure my crypt ou–"

"Yeah, I did…" Celia mumbled in response. "What if I told you… I… liked you too?"

Orbee started to smile. Not an evil smile like he always shows ever since that incident. A smile with true joy. It was always hard to tell in Inkopolis Plaza, since his 18K Aviators covered up his eyes…

His eyes…

"Your eyes…" Celia whispered to herself for a while. Her somewhat nonchalant, sentimental smile turned into a smile hiding laughter. "Your eyes… haha…" Celia then suddenly burst out with laughter. Orbee turned as red as salmon.

His eyes were pink in color. "D-deal with it!"

"Hahaha, now I see what you mean by 'protecting your badass ima–"

"Q-quit it!" Orbee retorted, quite embarrassed.

It was like old times again. The two reconciled and, after a few games of somewhat one-sided basketball, they left the school and boarded the train.

"Come on, come on! Let's go, nee-san! Orbee!"

Nanami hurriedly left the train and hopped into the mint sewers. Among the passengers getting off the train were Celia and Orbee. They were holding hands now.

"Hehe, slow down, Nanami!" Orbee said, quite playfully.

"Orbee," Celia said, tapping on his shoulder. "Why isn't Nanami calling you 'Orbee-kun'?"

"Uh…"

"Lastly, don't ever, ever call me by that stupid nickname." Those words from yesterday when he was "training" Nanami came up. Before he wanted to answer, he hopped into the dark blue sewer. Celia shrugs that shameless reaction off and hops into her pink sewer. Within half a minute, the three of them shot out of the Central Spawn Point.

"Hey…" Nanami wondered. "Where's Ethel-nee?"

"I'm here!" a voice called out as the door of Cooler Heads suddenly bursts open. Ethel came out holding an Ammo Knights bag and ran towards the three inklings.

"You look… different." Celia said as she noticed Ethel's new look. Rather than the usual Bobble Hat, she wore a Squid Nordic on her head. "Splash Goggles on your Bobble Hat? That's against the rules! You can't wear two headgear at once, Ethel!" she retorted.

"What? This is just one piece of headgear! Didn't you hear? Soooooo much new stuff appeared out of nowhere today~! Look at this!" Ethel replied in a childish, cheery, playful voice, and showed Celia the brand new Bamboozler 14 Mk II. After a tiny while, she noticed that Celia and Orbee were (still) holding hands.

"Why are you two ho–"

"Ehehe, it's a long story, E–"

"No it's not." Celia replied. "Anyway… new stuff? Like what?"

Before Ethel could answer, a large bell rang throughout the entire plaza.

"IT'S 1PM!" Ethel exclaimed.

"I-I don't get it. What's happening." Orbee said in confusion.

"Yooooou'll see~" Ethel responded. "I'm so hyyyyyyyyyyped~"

After everyone was kicked out of their games, the giant TV in the plaza switched from 14115's Zapfish Day commercial to the famous news show we all know and love–

"Hold on to your tentacles…"

"It's Inkopolis News Time!"

Immediately after the two spoke, most inklings at the bottom of the plaza started cheering. Celia, Nanami, and Orbee didn't understand what the hype was about.

"We've got some update information to share!"

"I love updates!"

"The stage rotation has been expanded!"

The screen behind them showed a live view of the new stage: Museum d'Alfonsino. There was a huge number of paintings and sculptures – and five rotating splatforms. This got everyone hyped. Even Celia.

As usual, the stage rotation has the new stage in both modes. And as the stages were finished being announced, the oh so familiar "Staaaaay fresh~!" sounded and everyone rushed into the lobby, along with Ethel.

"It's time for your first Turf War, Nanami… Are you ready?"

Nanami twirled her Splattershot Jr. around.

"Let's do this, nee-san."

Author's Notes

It's here.
Celia x Orbee is now allowed.
Nanami is having her first Turf War.
No lemons yet.

No offense, boredguy108!

What else do I put here…

Oh, right. Do you like the tilde I added? I tried to use a bit more animu- I mean... anime terms, but I feel I went overboard. I hope you still enjoy this fic!

SLSL~

- o.O