Chapter 1: Fresh Start

A cool summer breeze wafts through Inkopolis Plaza carrying with it the lofty dreams of sea folk looking to make a name for themselves, but much like the tides the path to stardom ebbs and flows there's no straight road to follow some find theirs in the throes of high stakes ink sports pushing their athleticism to the limit and beyond, others within the world of the implicit arts challenging the status quo reaching the heights of creativity or delving within the deepest recesses of the mind, while some unique visionaries turn abstract ideas to the cloth and pioneering new trends in the fashion world pushing the idea of what "goes together" in an outfit. But this curious breeze is but a precursor to the change that is soon going to take Inkopolis by storm all it needs is a bit of a push in the right direction…

Stumbling out of the train and being carried by the current of the rush hour commuters an Inkling finds himself in Inkopolis Plaza station a map in hand and a large backpack filled with his belongings weighing heavily on him he sets off towards his new home. Exiting the platform, he finds himself standing in the center of Inkopolis Plaza "where can it be exactly?" I ponder peering over the map once again "every time I look at the legend it still doesn't click with me… I'll just ask around somebody has to know something" looking around I see a couple of older inklings in suits across the street

"hey um excuse me, my name is Coral and I'm looking for the Plaza Apartments on the map it says it's around here but I'm not sure exactly where it is. Can you point me in the right direction?" I ask the suited men "The Plaza Apartments is about 15 minute walk from here or you could take the bus at the bus stop behind the tower you should be able to see it as soon as you get behind it, it's the white building with orange and blue splatters on it can't miss it" the eldest one in the group points behind him towards Inkopolis Tower "Thank you, so its behind the tower and I should be able to see it right?" I repeat to clarify to which he gives an affirmative nod "Senior advisor, please we're running short on time" pipes one of the younger inklings in the group while tapping his watch and with that we part ways

I make my way around Inkopolis Tower when the giant screen next to the tower sparks to life with a jingle catching my attention Callie and Marie are seen shortly afterwards on their respective sides

Callie: Hold on to your tentacles…

Marie: It's Inkopolis News time!

Callie: Here are the current ranked battle stages

Marie: Splatastic!

*Bluefin Depot*

Callie: Watching all the ships sail by totally floats my boat!

Marie: *sigh*

*Walleye Warehouse*

Callie: Remember working here part-time back in the day?

Marie: Yeah, and how often you broke the assembly line…

Callie: …

*quick transition*

Marie: Well that's all the time we have

Callie: Until next time…

Callie & Marie: Stay Fresh!

The screen cuts to black I continue my way around the tower and eventually I do see Plaza Apartments "ah, there it is" a sigh of relief washes over me seeing the building all that time on the train with my heavy bag on my back is killing me luckily relief isn't too far away so with renewed vigor I walk towards my new home.

Once inside the cold air conditioning in the lobby hits my skin as I make my way towards the front desk, a clownfish deeply into a book can be seen sitting at the desk "Good morning my name is Daichi Marlon, I've sent in my information for available single room apartments about 3 month ago" the front desk clownfish looks up from his book with a disinterested look on his face then begins typing on his laptop

"upon acceptance of the application and security funds we have sent out an email inside should've been a serial number that'll confirm your standing with us" he replies with a monotonous tone reaching into my pocket I pull out the printed email "992-546-558-42" I state the clownfish then picks up the phone next to him "Mr. Cras I have a Mr. Daichi Marlon here to see you… yes the confirmation serial number was correct… are you available right now? I see. I'll send him your way then"

Putting the phone down on its receiver the clownfish points towards the small staircase behind him "Mr. Cras's office is the 1st door on the left once round this corner he is waiting for you please don't keep him waiting we're busy enough as is" the clownfish then returns to his novel giving a small thank you I pass him by and head towards Mr. Cras's office.

Rounding the corner I enter the office to come face to face with a tiny crawfish with a brown tie sitting in a too large wooden desk "Mr. Marlon was it?" booms the crawfish the smooth voice of the crawfish catches me off guard leaving me little room to respond "yes I know the voice catches everyone off guard, but you'll get used to it I'm sure" Mr. Cras smirks

"Y-yes I am Daichi, but Coral is much easier if possible" I reply and Mr. Cras just nods "alright then let's get down to business 'Coral' since you've actually called in advance and send in the security funds we were able to secure you an apartment unfortunately all the singles were snatched up by earlier callers since the school year is starting up once again, but a unique circumstance has come afoot and we've had to give your room to someone who needed extra accommodations,

so I'll cut you a deal not many people apply for the two bedroom apartments, and maintaining them is starting to become a pain in the ass, so you'll get that but you'll be paying as if you had a single is that alright with you?" Mr. Cras explains sliding me the lease and a pen to sign it "I feel like this offer is too good to be true, what's the catch? no such thing as a free lunch" with a raised eyebrow I question the Crustacean to which he chuckles and walks over to close the door

"you've got a good head on your shoulders because you're right like I said a earlier maintaining upkeep of the two bedrooms is more trouble than its worth, but I'm willing to take a small financial hit if it means I don't have to pay out of pocket to keep cleaning more empty apartments." he states walking back to his seat

"I suppose that makes sense, seems like I came in at a great time and it'd be dumb to waste a great opportunity" I reply finishing up the lease "think of it this way, you're doing me a favor by taking a vacant burning a hole in my wallet off my hands so I should be thanking you" Mr. Cras retorts taking the signed lease "here's the key to your new home it's on the 3rd floor 1st door on the right number 301 I hope you enjoy your stay with us" taking the key and picking up my backpack I start to head out of the door

"also, before I forget recycling is mandatory and you'll take it to the basement it's the brown door at the end of the hall. Trash and recycling go out on the same day once a week so don't lag behind or you'll have to pay a fine trust me I'll know who it was" he finishes as I make my way out of his office looking to my left I see the brown door labeled "BASEMENT" at the end of the hallway I head towards the elevator as a bunch of younger inklings begin filling into the foyer of the building each flashing a key card of some sort "must be the high school kids" I think to myself as I enter the elevator.

Using the new key to my apartment I am greeted by an empty front room with dark brown hardwood flooring and white walls which leads into a U-shaped kitchen in which the counter also functions as a table leaving space for chairs that I'm going to need to buy. Walking from the front room area I head towards the hallway on my left is the guest bathroom which and on the right is the 2nd bedroom taking a look inside I see a wooden ceiling fan, the same hardwood floor and white walls with a gray accent wall on the right to mix it up, but more importantly I see a plastic wrapped twin sized bed on a simple black frame already set up in the corner of the room "well that's nice" on the left side of the room is a double door closet I open it to see it empty which is to be expected

Taking my fill of the 2nd bedroom I walk to the end of the hall were the 1st bedroom is and open the door, the first thing I notice is that the main bedroom is twice as large compared to the 2nd one and instead of a grey accent wall its navy blue instantly brings to mind memories of home

"…I remember it like it was yesterday, I would be out playing with my older brothers Ito and Matsu by the ocean as dad went out to sea with the other men of the village to catch fish we'd wait for them at our little hideaway under the docks for hours until the sun sank below the tides and we'd name stars and make imaginary constellations. Once it was late enough mom would call us back in while holding our youngest sister Mirin we would eat dinner as mom went back to sewing outfits for her customers. Feeding Mirin always was a challenge as we didn't know whether or not she would spit it up or not, so me and my brothers would always rock paper scissors and the loser had to feed her… I usually lost. Years later Mirin's a great kid she cried the days up to me moving out she never left my side and insisted that she'd help me pack and we went shopping together to fill my move out bag with the necessitates I even remember the little peach starfish plush 'Ann-Chan' from her favorite tv show 'The Adventures of Ann-Chan & Monique' that she got me as a going away gift..."

Taking off my bag I pull out the starfish plush and place it on the window sill, taking a look around the room taking in the navy accent I decide on the nautical theme for my bedroom. The same twin sized bed is also in this room as well but I decide on getting a king-sized bed, I mean why not right? I am living by myself now so why not expand my horizons and truly make it mine. Lying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling for a bit a wave of drowsiness washes over me taking a look at my phone shows the time "11:50 huh? I've been up early this morning to finish packing I think all this traveling has me beat I'll just shut my eyes for a few…"