Hey! First of all I wanted to apologize for my long hiatus and for the short chapter, which I posted yesterday. Yes, it was kind of rushed but I didn´t want you guys to wait any longer. So I really want to finally wrap this story up (it´s far from completion) that´s why I plan to release more chapters more often. So this is the reason why you get another chapter today as well ^^ I will try to post the next chapter tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we´ll see. But I won´t go on a hiatus that long again, promise!
Here´s a little bio for our new character Shota!
Name: Shota Masato
Age: 24
Colour: Bright blue like his younger brother Shiro (eye colour: brown)
Personality: Teasing, often overreacting but caring
Deeply in love with: Marie (One of the Squid Sisters)
His best friend: Callie (One of the Squid Sisters)
So I deeply hope that you´ll forgive my absence and enjoy this chapter :)
Chapter 19 – Childhood friends?!
First I was so surprised by the sudden bodycontact, that I just stood there, frozen in place. But after some seconds had passed, I quickly came back to my senses and lightly pushed the adult Inkling away from me.
Not trying to sound rude, I stuttered at the same time:,, Whoa, keep your tentacles to yourself, mister.."
Chuckling, the guy stepped one step back, still holding my shoulders with his hands though:,, You´re right. Sorry for my sudden outburst, little squidcake. But holy squid, you´ve grown since we´ve last met!"
I raised an eyebrow at that:,, Since we last met?"
,,Yeah, I know it has been ages since we´ve moved away. I would have never guessed that you and your family still lived here since your big daddy was more the nature guy. Speaking of which, how´s he been?"
I gulped at that, looking instantly at the floor. At the corner of my eye, I could see that even Shiro´s facial expression changed from cheery into worried.
,,Hey.. Did I say something wrong, little squidcake?", Shota said with a calmer voice while his grip on my shoulders finally had ligthen up.
Still confused about the whole situation, I still answered:,, My father died a few years ago."
It was then when Shota finally let go of my shoulders completely, being hit by shock I assumed.
,,I.. I´m sorry, squidcake.. I.. I didn´t know.. How..?"
,,Who are you anyway?", I hissed. ,,Would you finally explain what is going on here, Shiro?", I looked directly at him now.
,,I.. uh.. yeah.. Of course. You see, Shota, my parents and me lived here before, in this house, I mean.. Long before your dad had died, I guess.. Our parents were kind of befriended and that makes us three childhood friends."
,,Childhood friends..?", I repeated his words like I hadn´t quite understood what he had just said to me.
,,Wait a minute. So you´re saying, that you don´t remember us?", Shota was stunned now.
,,I don´t."
After a while, the blue, young adult chuckled again, saying:,, Well, I suppose it makes sense. You were a little, cute baby squid after all."
He practically squeeled the last sentence, using his fingers at the same time to pinch one of my cheeks.
,,H..hey! What are you..!", I cried in protest, but unfortunately that didn´t make him stop his actions right away.
,,Well, to make you feel better Suzu, I don´t remember everything as well but only tiny bits, I suppose..", Shiro scratched his head.
As Shota was finally done penetrating my poor, now red coloured cheek, he took me and Shiro in a huge embrace, which was too close for my own comfort, to be honest. In fact, Shota pulled us that close, that my red cheek and Shiro´s right cheek were practically pushed against each other, that hard that it actually hurt a bit.
,,Little squidcake, I´ve known you for soo long, man I even helped your mother to bath you once! And I can still remember clearly how much fun you had, playing with the ink!", the adult Inkling said, pushing me closer to him.
,,You did wha..!", I wanted to cry out of embarassment but was cut short by Shota who started his little speech again.
,,And you, little brother. You were always by Suzu´s side and crying everytime, when the Hoshino´s had to head home again."
It was Shiro now, who seperated us three immediately from each other out of embarassment:,, E..enough brother!"
,,Haha, I´m sorry. I´m getting quite emotional right now.", he chuckled again.
But his cheery mood became serious again, when he asked:,, So how did your father..?"
My gaze wandered towards the ground again:,, He drowned. Mom told me that it happened when he was out with a friend. They were on a trip and my dad had saved his friend who had fallen into the water. His friend made it. He didn´t..."
