Inside a dark hallway is nothing but an empty hall with echoing footsteps.
Subject 10024
Koroko Mirai
Agent 4
Zero…
Big bro… Why have I forgotten about you?
"I was asking the same thing. We forgot about each other, even Eight has forgotten us."
I see…
Big bro?
"Yeah?"
How does it feel to remember?
"It hurts. But your big brother is looking for you."
Neku? Heh. It seems he actually did care for me.
Click.
Mount Nantai
Outside under a blue and pink sky as the sun rises, Mirai is feeling something on her legs as she can see someone familiar in front of her.
"M- Mom?"
"Hotaru's asleep right now."
"Empress… Why?" Mirai grunts as she wants to know what Empress' aim was.
Empress sighs and stops walking.
"Reaper… I'm the one who should be asking why. Why did you forget who you are? That body doesn't belong to you."
"Ironic… But you're right. This girl with a similar name of mine was the host. I kinda regret taking over her life." Mirai laughs softly while lowering her head out of guilt.
"Looks like you did. But I am a hypocrite for calling you out on your forgotten past. I just… Don't want to lose Callie."
"Aori? So in other words…" Mirai gasps.
"I held myself back from trying to kill my cousin… All I want is to live my life as Marie again." Empress admits as she looks at her own hand and then turns towards Mirai by putting her down. "Shiver is gone and Big Man disappeared. Frye, or Tartar, is out on a run. I'm such a horrible person… Hotaru… Why am I driven by envy?" Empress calmly asks her host while grunting.
Mirai understands the feeling that Empress is not only guilty, but was afraid of accepting her and her cousin's death.
Before Mirai opens her mouth…
Her chest beats, leading Mirai herself to gasp.
BZZT!
"Mirai! Stop it!"
BZZT!
"Huh!?" Mirai halts as she hears Zero's voice in her memories.
It's like Zero is begging for her to stop.
Stop what?
BZZT!
"Mirai! Please! Stop this! It burns!"
BZZT!
A girl's voice is coming from the one from the future that appears to be the next Agent 3 after Zero becomes the commander.
Mirai's eyes are flashing pink which is slowly opening up her true self.
BZZT!
"Mirai! Why!? You're one of us! Why're you doing this!?"
BZZT!
"Because I'm tired of playing a goody goody hero."
BZZT!
"Big bro gets all the attention because he's player one from the first game in 2015."
BZZT!
"Shiki gets the attention for being an octoling who saves the world and avenges her brothers and sisters."
BZZT!
"But what about me?"
BZZT!
"Oh who cares. I never liked you anyway. But…"
BZZT!
"Just kidding! I loved you guys! But now's Four's time to shine! BOOM!
SPLAT!
BZZZZZZZ…
Her goals have now come to a realisation…
She wanted to overthrow Zero, kill Tartar and change the past for herself.
Her forgotten memories, like Zero, have finally returned.
"Fufu… Hehehehe! How sad, Marie. And here I thought You're better than this."
"Wha- !?" SPLAT!
To Empress' shock, Mirai is using Hotaru's Hero Charger 0 that is glowing pink all over with blue lights that are flashing to yellow.
After crashing down, Empress has witnessed what Hotaru is going through as Mirai approaches Empress with a glare and her eyes and tentacle hair are glowing pink with Mirai opening her hero jacket, revealing her sports bra and shorts.
"Now I remember… Hah! You think Zero's against you!? I'm always against you! I've been eating this body's soul from the very beginning so I can get to the Tree of Order! Tartar and big bro don't deserve a happy ending after the shit they put me through!" Mirai mockingly cackles while dancing around Empress' helpless body.
"You! Why!? I raised you! Hotaru raised you! Why're you doing this!?" Empress cried out of anger.
"Because I play by my own rules. You taught me everything and I'll teach you to shut your mouth!" Pointing to her copied Hero Charger 0, Mirai pierces a glare at Empress, only to think about the things Hotaru did for her a little in this world.
Mirai frowns as she slowly lowers her Hero Charger 0 and squats down.
"I hated my big bro. He thinks he's hot shit because he's the first modern day hero that defeated DJ Octavio. Then gives his credit to Eight. Where the hell is my credit?" Mirai asks with a calm and downright bitter tone.
Empress had come to a realisation that Mirai is actually angry on the inside, but was menacing on the outside which shows her maniacal grin.
"Oh, I also remember, after being dead in my world, I met a couple of friends that are inklings. You could say we're delighted to challenge Zero's ideal world."
"Who?" Empress grunts.
Finally…
Footsteps are coming as both inklings show themselves up as one of them is a short aqua blue tentacle hair that wears a white bandanna on his head that covers his eyebrows, nearly covering his eyes and wears a long white coat, as his name is Marcus, the leader of the trio. Another inkling who appears to have an orange hippie tentacle haircut, wears a red beanie, headphones and goggles altogether, appears in a black hooded coat and shorts, named Meggy Spletzer.
"Hey, Captain! Hey, small bean!" Mirai cheers.
"For the last time, Reaper, my name is Meggy! Get it right!" Meggy snapped.
"But it's cute!" Mirai cried.
"No it's not!"
"Unless you stop calling me by my demon's name, then I'll call you by your real name." Mirai scoffs.
To Empress' shock, she has witnessed 3 inklings in front of her that are more menacing than before.
Approaching closer to Empress, Marcus' glowing blue eyes stare into Empress' green eyes, indicating that Hotaru is still alive.
"Hello, Empress."
"Who are you? Why're you here?" Empress asks calmly.
"You know my name, since my ID is noticeable. But I am now Spade, the leader of Team Spades."
"Team Spades?" Empress halts out of confusion.
"That's right! We're a small group that lost everything. Meggy will tell you." Mirai raises her arm for Meggy to explain.
"Seriously? Ugh! At least you called me by my name… Mirai. Ahem! Anyway, not only I lost a friend of mine, but I don't wanna show my face like that to my friends, not especially to One-Shot Wren. I am Death." Meggy introduced herself.
"The hell is One-Shot Wren?" Mirai asked, cringed by the fact that Meggy is obsessed with her idol.
"I created this group because it consisted of two inkling boys and two octoling boys and I was one of the four. After the Spades disbanded, I was lost until I made a pact with Meggy Spletzer, or should I call her Death. Reaper willingly chose this as a way to prove to Zero that she's not the clown he made her out to be. I already told you my demon, Spade, as you should address me as one." Marcus, who is called Spade, bows as he remains serious in his expression.
"Our goal is to overthrow the world, especially the strongest. Now, Empress, it's time for us to leave." Meggy waves calmly as Mirai follows.
Before Team Spades, that is Spade, Meggy and Mirai, leave, footsteps appear as a voice panting.
"Huh? Big brother?" Mirai gasps.
"Mirai! What is this!?" Neku shouted while leaning on the tree.
"It's time we say our goodbye."
"What?" Neku stops and watches Mirai with her 2 'new' friends standing by her side.
"Look at you, all messed up and you can still fight. Heh, if I was in that scenario, I wouldn't have survived without my memories." Mirai chuckles.
"Yeah. Because you're a demon." Neku said as his words stopped Mirai.
"So Zero told you who we are. This brat's body was your sister, but her memories are never her's. Mirai could've survived if I hadn't eaten that newborn's soul." Mirai sounds calm while pulling a smug smile.
Neku remained silent after finding out Mirai's true nature.
He didn't know Mirai is that psychotic which Zero never told him about.
"Neku. You and Daigo took care of me ever since my memories are null. It's a fun experience living as a child again. Thank you. I love you, big brother." Mirai concluded with a warm smile while looking back at her 'big brother.'
"Mirai…" Neku whispers until…
Lights, noises and winds are blowing all over Neku as they're going past.
"The helicopters have arrived. Pearl is calling for you and Marie to go back. I'm waiting for Zero to change the past." Mirai finishes her talk and waves while marching with Spade and Meggy.
As 3 inklings vanish, Neku picks up Hotaru's injured body as Empress grunts.
Neku grunts as he realises that Mirai is never coming back as he feels even worse after Shiki's passing, opening the wound and adding salt on it.
What the duo are seeing is Pearl's agents calling for the New Squidbeak Splatoon Units to regroup and come over.
"Hotaru will be waking up soon. I'll tell her what happened." Empress lowers her head as she finally feels guilty.
"Yeah. Empress, Zero told me that you hold back earlier, is that true?" Neku asks with a depressing tone.
Empress finally pities Neku after losing the things he knows and loves as he walks forward with Empress herself.
"Yes. It's true. I just wanted to spend one more time with my cousin. That's why living as a demon is a mistake." Empress answered.
"Heh. I'm glad to see some good in you. You know you're making yourself out to be a maniac." Neku chuckles bitterly.
"I know. But I don't know whether to blame my envious nature or not."
"Envy. We're almost there." Neku points at the area that the helicopters are at.
In the end, Neku and Empress reach their destination which leads them to go back to Inkopolis.
But it doesn't end well for the group.
Tree of Order
Marching together towards the very top of the tree as many crosses are placed there as if someone's religious in this dark corridor.
At the end of the road is a glitch at the end which leads to a white world with a large door that is riddled with gears, meaning it's the next timeline to enter.
Who knows if it'll cause a time paradox.
Mirai stops as Meggy and Spade stops after.
"Hey, Mirai, what's wrong?" Meggy asked.
"We got company." Mirai answers while glancing from behind.
What the trio are seeing is Frye came back to life, but her body is filled to the brim with black metallic crystals that are all over her body.
"Tartar, you seemed to have survived Sin's attack. But you're beyond help." Spade said calmly.
"Ugh… I… Need to…"
"Change the future? Sure. But on one condition." Mirai gladly accepts Frye's desperate need to bring back humanity.
"What?"
"There is one final task you should do before going to the past. And that one task is to…"
Mirai has her eyes on Frye as her smugly smile is getting more sadistic than before.
Meggy and Spade nod as they know Mirai's ulterior motive that involves her teammates and Zero.
"Kill Zero. Wait, scratch that! Don't just kill Zero, but kill Rei as well. Finally, kill Serika. They're the ones you want." Mirai requested.
"If that's the case… Fine… Zero knows he'll hinder my work… I will not allow it!" Frye's shaky voice is now at the point that Frye is done with all this and wants it all to end in her favour.
"Good. NILS Avatar is waiting for you." Said Mirai.
Frye grunts and finally limps her way towards the exit where NILS Avatar is going to be used as a final resort.
Afterwards, Mirai follows Spade and Meggy towards the light together as the door opens.
"Mirai." Spade calls.
"What is it?" Mirai asked.
"You know a story where a hero becomes the villain and redeems themselves afterwards, only to either A: be the main character again, B: return as the protagonist, C: get sidelined and or D: meet their inevitable death." Spade explains the stories of a hero.
"How cliché. I bet Meggy is on the A side, considering her origin consists of nothing but dumbasses." Mirai said while putting her hands behind her head.
"Hey! My friends are not dumbasses! They're just… Mentally challenged." Meggy yells.
"Yeah right." Mirai mockingly calls out.
"Why you!"
"That's enough, Meggy." Spade called.
"Tch. Well, we're almost there anyway." Said Meggy.
As the trio stops and watches the road to the next life, Mirai looks away while placing her finger on her lips.
"They say a protagonist plays the hero and gets his happy ending like save the world, get the girl and be rewarded for his hard work. Sometimes a hero becomes a villain. Their morals don't matter."
"What do you mean?" Meggy asks as she and Spade are curious to hear what Mirai has to say.
"Meggy, your protagonist is dumb, fat and always has a thing for internet stupidity that are jokes and stuff." Mirai points at Meggy with a smile.
"Well, that is true, but he's the hero everybody loved." Meggy scratches her head while pointing out who the hero is.
"Captain… Who's your protagonist?" Mirai then points at Spade.
"Dunno. But I think my story is not your ordinary slice of life. Something quite… Interesting." Spade placed his pinger on his lips with a calm smile.
"And here I am, the protagonist that is already a villain to begin with, fighting fate with our reincarnation. And as the protagonist."
Mirai stops herself and raises both of her arms like a performer.
"I crave to be entertained! I don't need petty revenge or jealousy to keep me going! I want control! If I want to play by my own rules, then I'll be the definition of freedom! But right now, Captain over here is my boss."
"I like your enthusiasm, Mirai. You inspire me to follow my goal." Spade laughs softly.
"Why thank you, Captain." Mirai giggles after getting a pat on the head.
"Ugh, so creepy." Meggy cringed at Mirai's weird behaviour towards the leader Spade.
"And anyone listening to this story. I'll be back to perform with you guys. Don't worry, I'll work with the New Squidbeak Splatoon Unit after Zero changes the future. I'll play the role of a fake hero AND a villain. Anyone who replaces me will challenge me to become the one true Agent 4."
Finally, the trio are leaving together as they're now starting a new life without any amnesia.
Before they disappear.
"I hope you enjoy this tale! Frye only has one life left without any spawn points! Let us cheer for Zero! Bye-bye!"
End of Act 2: Splashing Memories