"Bye Tori!" Dahlia exclaimed, waving her arm as she stepped onto the bus. "I'll see you in the fall!"
She disappeared inside, and Tori could see her no more.
A pit of something she couldn't place formed in her stomach. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she didn't feel any tears behind her eyes. Her chest heavy, she was reminded of every time she had to leave her creations behind.
But this time was different. She wasn't leaving Dahlia behind. She wanted nothing more than to go with her. So she could see her again.
…She missed Dahlia. That's what it was. But she wasn't gone forever. She would see her again in the fall. Unlike her creations, where she was never sure if she could see them again.
But as the summer heat grew stronger and stronger, she only missed her more and more. Every day stretched on for eternity waiting for school to return, all in hopes of seeing Dahlia again.
Lady Squall and the helpers always seemed to find something for Tori to do, though. All so she could grow up. She had grown very familiar with the kitchen, though Miss Aurora wouldn't let her help make breakfast yet. Miss Swallow had Marley teach her how to do the laundry, too. She couldn't help but wonder what she would learn next.
Tori still missed playing with her toys, though. Every time an adult saw her playing with her toys, they told her to put them away. She found it harder and harder to take them out of her box, for fear the adults would scold her yet again,
They also tried to get her to play with the other children, but Tori didn't want to. They weren't Dahlia.
At least Tori could still try to make creations at the park. In the summer, it was the one place she didn't have to worry about growing up.
As August neared its end, the school year creeping closer and closer, Tori decided to make a tower using debris scattered around the park. She stacked piles upon piles of stone, reaching them as high as she possibly could. But eventually, they would all topple down.
Tori grabbed her braids as rocks laid strewn across the grassy field. There must be some way to hold them all together. The sticks she gathered weren't strong enough to handle the rocks' weight, and the ground was too dry to claw out clumps of dirt. Maybe if she tied a bunch of sticks together…?
Hearing the grass rustle behind her, she put her thoughts on hold and whipped around to look at the source of the sound. Was something watching her? Was Miss Ella watching her?
Her eyes dropped to the ground, and pointing its snout towards her was a small shark with red stripes painted down its back.
Relief washed over her. She's seen this shark before. Didn't it have a name…?
"Hey, Squalling!"
Tori jumped, snapping her head up at the sound of the new voice. An octoling, one half of their face covered by blue hair, strode towards her, flashing their white teeth. They stopped behind the shark, crossing their arms.
Schurk. Compared to the last time she saw them, their school slacks had been exchanged for worn jeans, the bottom of one pant leg torn as if something had taken a large bite out of it. A shark tooth necklace hung from their neck, but otherwise, they were exactly as she remembered them.
"It's been a while," Schurk remarked. "What've you been doing all this time?"
Tori grabbed her wrists. Schurk was still part of a gang. Hanging out with them had let her be influenced by Chaos. She shouldn't hang out with them. She shouldn't even talk to them. She should be sticking to Order as much as possible.
Even if they had a fun time together, that didn't matter. She could not let herself fall to Chaos.
She should run away, but her feet were glued to the ground. Gang or not, Schurk was still part of the Hohojiro Clan. She should listen to what they had to say.
"What? Pufferfish got your tongue?"
"No!" Her mouth was clearly empty. Why did people say things like that?
"Calm down; I was just teasing ya." Their smile fell. "But I still want to know what you've been up to."
"Um…" Thinking, her eyes began to dart around. What could she possibly say? So many things had happened since they last met! She didn't know where to start!
She decided to say what she had been told these past six months. "Lady Squall said I needed to grow up."
"'Grow up?'" Schurk frowned. "You're not even ten! You should still be a kid."
She tilted her head. "When did you have to grow up?"
They shrugged. "I don't know. I've had to practice 'proper decorum' all my life."
"Decorum?"
"Oh, yeah. It's etiquette. How you should do things." With a snort, they added, "I think it's bullfish."
"Bullfish?!" she blurted out. It wasn't a bad word, but it was close to one. If Schurk didn't want to practice 'proper decorum'…that was chaotic! It was even more proof Tori shouldn't hang out with them!
But they were still part of the Hohojiro Clan. Waving her hands in front of her, she asked again, "When did you have to grow up?" They never did answer her question.
They rolled their head back. "If I had to give an answer…probably after I changed." They held up their hands, wiggling their fingers. "Since you look closer to an adult than a kid after changing, people expect you to not act like a kid."
She lowered her head. "Oh."
"But hey, you're still a kid." Schurk stretched out their hand. "Wanna stop growing up for a while?"
Tori reeled back. "No!"
"Why not?"
"If I don't grow up, I'll fall to Chaos. I can't fall to Chaos."
A snicker escaped their lips. "This is the City of Chaos. If chaos was a bad thing, Splatsville would've died a long time ago."
"B-but it is! Lady Squall said so!"
"That's just what she thinks." They lifted a finger, its sharp tip glinting in the sunlight. "What do you think?"
She continued shaking her head. "Order will make things better!"
Schurk lowered their hand. "Tori, you know me and the gang. We wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
She paused. They did have a point. Schurk's gang never did anything to hurt her. But hanging out with them would expose her to Chaos. It was only a matter of time before something bad would happen.
And yet…Schurk was still a member of the Hohojiro Clan. It was contradictory–a member of an esteemed clan so deeply ingrained with Chaos. She couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Think of it this way," Schurk then said. "You'll be hanging out with one of the three clans. Since Lady Squall likes sucking up to them so much, she couldn't possibly be mad."
When they put it that way…perhaps she should hang out with Schurk and their gang in spite of how chaotic they are.
Deep down, she knew that's what she wanted, anyways.
"...Okay," she finally said.
"Great!" They turned towards the street, waving her forward. "Follow me. The gang's not far."
She took a look back at the tower she was making. No matter how hard she tried to stick everything together, it would always fall.
Maybe it was for the best, she told herself. That way, leaving her creation behind wouldn't hurt so much.
Schurk was already on the sidewalk, looking both ways before beginning to cross, so Tori ran after them. The soles of her shoes pattering against the pavement, she chased them across the street, into the alleyway.
Her heart began to beat faster. An alleyway? Schurk had said no one was going to hurt her, but they were still a gang. What if they were going to hurt her? All because she decided to abandon Order for just a little while?
Within the alleyway lay shadowy figures, light shining down on them from above. As their silhouettes became sharper, revealing their true colors, she found herself facing the eyes of three inkfish, pressed up against the walls inside the cramped corridor.
Otis, Ted, and Kira. Had the other members of the gang been watching the entire time?
They no longer wore their school uniforms, instead opting for gaudy, tattered clothing. Otis had gotten lip piercings, making him even more intimidating. Ted had put gauges in his ears, making them droop downwards from the weight. Kira had gotten a giant tattoo on her other arm, stretching down to her wrists and onto her chest.
Seeing them now, they were the definition of Chaos. Their very presence could taint the Order Tori held so closely. She should run, but her feet remain glued to the floor. She agreed to run off with Schurk, and she was already facing the consequences of straying from Order.
Yet the gang smiled upon seeing the return of their leader and the little inkling they brought with them.
"Squalling!" Otis exclaimed. "It's you!"
"It's been a while," Kira greeted with a thin smile.
"Yeah, it's been pretty boring lately," Ted remarked. Green eyes settled on Schurk. "Looks like you did it again, Boss."
"Don't give me all the credit." Kappa squirmed past them, staring up at the inkfish in front of her. "Kappa found her first."
Tori began to sway side to side, twiddling her thumbs. What was she supposed to say? "Um…"
"Whatever." Kira leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "So, what now?"
Schurk smiled and turned towards Tori. "Let's ask the Squalling. Where do you want to go?"
Tori grabbed her braids. "Um, um, um…"
Where did she want to go? She wanted to go back to the park or the orphanage, but she figured the gang would say no. She didn't know if they were adults or not, but they were older than her, and Schurk was also part of the Hohojiro Clan. They brought her to this alleyway; they wouldn't want to bring her back.
Then, an idea came to her. What if they could go to Dahlia's house? She could finally see her again!
She just needed to find a way to put it into words.
"...My friend," she eventually said. "Dahlia."
"'Dahlia,'" Kira repeated. "That's a unique name."
"I don't know any Dahlias." Otis looked between his friends. "Do you?"
"No." Schurk's red eye flickered towards Tori. "What's their last name?"
"Um…Granele."
"Dahlia Granele," they said. "...I'm drawing a blank on that name."
Tori tilted her head. How could they draw a blank? Wouldn't drawing a blank mean nothing?
…Now that she thought about it, perhaps that is what they meant. Why couldn't they be straightforward?
"Yeah, me too," Ted agreed.
"How 'bout we go get food instead?" Otis suggested. "Like…takoyaki!"
Kira sighed. "Never change, Otey. Never change."
"It's not a bad idea, though," Schurk mused. Then, they smacked their lips and put their hands on their hips. "So what do you say, Squalling? Want some takoyaki?"
All she could think to say was, "Yes."
Part of her was disappointed they couldn't find Dahlia, but her stomach still rumbled with the promise of food. She started to wave her hands, but she stopped as soon as she realized what she was doing.
"Great!" Otis exclaimed. He ran out of the alleyway, bouncing with pure glee written all over his face. "C'mon, let's go!"
"Hey, I'm the boss!" Schurk called, scooping up Kappa and running after him. "So I lead the way!"
Ted dipped his head and followed them without another word, while Kira nudged Tori, prompting the little inkling to shy away. "C'mon. Don't want to get left behind, do you?"
Tori shook her head.
Kira smirked. "Then let's go."
She launched into a sprint, Tori chasing after her. They turned the corner, and Tori started to huff as she ran after the rest of the gang, their shapes growing further and further away.
She ducked her head and threw her hands behind her, running as fast as she possibly could. She had to catch up with them, she had to!
Against all odds, their shapes soon began to grow larger. At long last, Tori caught up with the others, allowing herself to finally catch her breath as she slowed to an amble. Her legs were tired, but she had made it.
But as she followed the gang through the streets, Lady Squall's words rang in her head. She wouldn't let Chaos influence her any longer.
Schurk looked over their shoulder, studying the neutral expression she smoothed her face to. "Hey, lighten up. It's just us."
"But…" Her voice came out more timid than she would've liked.
"Don't worry about Lady Squall," Ted butted in. "Boss got your back if she ever shows up."
That's not why, she wanted to say. But instead, she decided to keep her mouth shut. They had long since fallen to Chaos. How could they possibly understand the importance of Order?
Luckily, Schurk and Ted had no interest in continuing the conversation, so they returned to talking among themselves. However, this let Tori's focus shift away from the gang, allowing the cacophony of sounds and the acrid smells of the bustling city to take its place. They grew louder and louder, threatening to overtake her completely.
Yet she continued to march onwards, squeezing her hands into fists as she followed the gang down the winding streets. She would let nothing lead her astray from Order.
They eventually arrived at a bundle of shops labeled with disordered signs, all contained within one small block of the city. The food stalls set up around the ground floor of the crowded mall only made it even more cramped, yet no one seemed to mind the chaos it reveled in. Wooden tables sat on the other side of the street, sea creatures of all shapes and sizes enjoying their meals underneath the rainbow of banners flapping in the wind.
With Schurk in the lead, they stepped up to one of the food stalls, headed by a longnose gar. "Five servings of takoyaki, please."
"Sure thing." As the gar moved to the stove behind him, plucking out balls of takoyaki with a metal pick, he asked, "Say, did you hear what happened in Inkopolis?"
"Why would we care about Inkopolis?" Kira asked, crossing her arms.
"Yeah," Otis agreed, his leg bouncing. "They all got their heads up their asses."
"But you've heard of the Squid Sisters, right?" He set the balls in trays and passed them down to the front counter. "The squids that sang Calamari Inkantation?"
Kira raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and?"
"One of them went missing."
Ted leaned past Schurk, slamming his fist down on the counter. "What?"
Schurk waved him back. "You're acting like this is our problem."
"Hey, I wanna hear this."
The gar groaned. "I'm being serious." He leaned forward, a smile growing on his face. "Besides, you're a Hohojiro, aren't you? Maybe if you get your family to help out, they'll recognize the Splatlands!"
They closed their fist. "Again, this isn't our problem."
"But wouldn't it–"
They slammed some cash down on the table, making Tori flinch. "Can we have our food now?"
He shrank back, grabbing the money and pushing the trays forward. "Y-yeah, here."
The rest of the gang stepped forward to take their trays of takoyaki, except for Tori. Schurk turned around holding two trays, creases set in their pale face, and offered one to the little inkling. She took it, staring down at the takoyaki within. The mere sight of it made her mouth water, and she couldn't help but stuff one into her mouth.
That proved to be a mistake. As soon as she bit down, gooey batter spilled out from underneath the crust, scorching her tongue. Mouth hanging open, she held the tray underneath her chin, saliva and sauce dripping down into it. As steam puffed out her mouth, she couldn't think of anything but searing pain.
"Squalling!" Schurk called, already halfway across the street. "Over here!"
Tori slowly walked after them, the pain slowly replaced by the sensation of liquid trickling down her chin. Noise beat against her eardrums, smells wrapping her in its grasp. As the world threatened to suffocate her, merely crossing the street proved to be a chore.
She couldn't break down here. She couldn't. She promised she wouldn't.
But somehow, she made it across. She joined Schurk and their gang at the table they gathered around, wisps of steam lapping their faces.
"Took you long enough," Kira commented.
Otis spun a ball around with the pick. "I was 'bout to eat this without you."
She snickered. "I'm surprised you didn't eat one already."
"After seeing her face? No way I was going to eat it right away."
Schurk patted the space next to them. "Now sit down, will ya?"
Tori stumbled over to the table and set the tray down, chewing the takoyaki and allowing her to embrace the bursting flavor at last. As soon as she swallowed, she wiped the drool off her face, staining her hand brown. She forgot how hot fresh takoyaki could be far too often.
The rest of the gang began to eat the takoyaki, but Tori simply stared at her tray. She grabbed the pick and stabbed it into another ball, though she did not put it into her mouth, remembering the searing pain that came mere minutes before.
Besides, the vendor's words still lingered in her mind. If one of the Squid Sisters was missing, did that mean she wouldn't be able to hear Calamari Inkantation anymore? Why didn't Schurk and the gang want to do anything? Was anyone in Inkopolis doing anything?
She shook her head and lifted the ball of takoyaki. She shouldn't be thinking about Calamari Inkantation or the Squid Sisters. Like Lady Squall said, following them would only lead her to Chaos. She couldn't take any more chances.
Tori closed her eyes and put the takoyaki in her mouth. Now that it wasn't searing hot, she found it absolutely delicious. She ate more and more, and before she knew it, it was all gone.
"Mmm…"
Ted laughed. "I knew you would like it!"
"Well, yeah, who doesn't like takoyaki?" Kira agreed.
Tori opened her eyes to the smiles of the gang. Despite it all, she found a smile creeping up her face, too.
She liked being with the gang. They liked being with her, too. Could Schurk's gang be her friends, too?
But at the thought, her expression morphed into one of horror. She shouldn't be thinking of Schurk's gang as her friends. If she was, then it was a sign she was falling to Chaos. When surrounded by the terrible influence of Chaos, she needed to stick to Order at all costs.
"Squalling?" Ted frowned. "What's wrong? Is it the Squid Sisters?"
Tori shook her head and set her hands on her lap. "I need to go back to the park."
"'Need?'" Otis groaned. "C'mon, we just got here."
"And I'm not finished eating," said Schurk. Looking over at them, there were only two balls of takoyaki left on their plate. "Almost, though."
Her eyebrows knitting together, she repeated, "I need to go back to the park."
Kira put an elbow on the table, cupping her cheek. "And what will that Squall do if you don't go back to the park?"
"Punish me."
Ted winced. "Punish you how?"
"Um…" There were a lot of ways Lady Squall could punish her. But how could she possibly explain it to them?
She dropped the thought, smoothing out her expression. They didn't need to know, anyways. They had fallen to Chaos, after all.
Ted waved his hands in front of him. "Let's change the subject." With the gang's attention, he said, "Where do you want to go after this?"
Tori opened her mouth, but Schurk held up their hand before she could speak. "We're not going back."
She closed it again, eyes falling to the ground. Of course they would say no. She shouldn't have asked.
"I think we should see what's in those shops," Kira suggested, stretching her arms over her head. "Like…" She lifted her chin, straining her neck. "...The candy shop."
"Good idea," Ted agreed. He glanced over at Tori. "You like candy, right?"
"Of course she does," Schurk interjected, sliding a toothpick out of their mouth. "Every kid likes candy."
"Yeah." He leaned towards her. "Right?"
Tori squeaked and shrank back, furiously nodding her head. "Yes!" she blurted out. "I like candy!"
Schurk smirked. "See?"
Ted swung his head towards them. "Wasn't like I was doubting you, Boss."
"Then it's settled." They slid their tray over towards Tori. "Want the last takoyaki?"
Otis leaned further in, slapping his hand on the table. "I think we should split it."
"You just want more takoyaki," Kira remarked, her expression falling.
"Yeah, let Tori have it," Ted agreed.
He leaned back, pouting. "Fine."
Tori stared down at the piece of takoyaki Schurk gave her. She should eat it, but Otis wanted another piece of takoyaki, too. But how would they split it? Takoyaki tasted better when eaten whole.
"Aren't you hungry?" Ted asked. "You gobbled the other pieces right up."
"Just eat it," Otis muttered. "If you won't let me have any."
Tori grabbed the toothpick, lifting the ball out of the tray. If Otis wanted her to eat it, then she shall.
She shoved it into her mouth, relishing the burst of flavor dancing across her tongue. But it didn't taste as good as before. She didn't know why.
As she swallowed, Schurk cleared their throat. "Anyways… I'll pay for anything we get up there."
Her eyes widened, any prior apprehension melting away. "Really?"
"Yes, really." They pulled out a golden coin from their pocket. "You have my word."
"We're lucky they're rich," Kira whispered in her ear. "We'd be thieves otherwise. Not like that's a bad thing or anything."
She reeled back, surprise taking its place in her body once more. But stealing is bad! How could Kira be so calm about stealing? She could get in trouble!
Her excitement only dampened even more as her brain caught up with her thoughts. Of course Kira didn't care about stealing; she embraced Chaos. Only those who had fallen to Chaos would resort to stealing. She truly was an abhorrent person, as Lady Squall would say.
An abhorrent person she stood next to right now, with no way to escape. She had to keep her guard up at all times. She could not let herself be influenced by Chaos.
Kira let out a sigh and turned back towards Schurk. "Let's just go."
With a nod, they began to cross the street, Tori and the gang not far behind. Passerbys turned their heads at the sight of the octoling, but they turned away just as quickly, giving them no mind at all. Schurk's gang soon overtook Tori, and they began to climb the spiraling stairs, the wooden boards creaking with their weight as Tori ran her hand across the railing.
And the higher they climbed, the bigger her smile grew. Who knew climbing stairs could be fun?
As they ascended, she snuck a glance at the shops, now that she was able to discern them clearly from one another. All the signs were different colors and said different things on them. Some shops had display racks showcasing what they offered, while other shops merely had standees sitting outside their gates.
They were disorderly, each shop clashing against one another, and yet...
Tori's smile fell. Chaos wasn't a good thing. She should know this by now. Yet she had to keep reminding herself over and over again. She wished Lady Squall or one of the helpers were here to set her straight.
Eventually, they reached the top floor of the strip mall, allowing her to overlook the streets down below. Buildings stretched into the distance, the sun casting its shadows on the land down below. Somewhere out there lied Squall Orphanage, and somewhere else lied Ray Elementary School. And even farther out lied the desert.
Yet from here, she could not possibly make out any of those places. Not even the park seemed visible—her whole world only consisted of the strip mall at this very moment.
"Squalling, c'mon!" Otis called, snapping her head towards the sound of his voice. He stood in the doorway of a shop lined with pink ribbons and pictures of sweets, sharply contrasting his imposing figure. "We don't have all day!"
"Y-yes!" she called back, scrambling over to him. He stepped out of the way to allow her to enter a world full of color.
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the rainbow wall covering the opposite end of the store. Her eyes raced across the display, making note of each bump and shimmer that composed it. She wanted nothing more than to race her hands across it, reveling in the texture she seldom found elsewhere.
It took her a few more moments to realize the display was not glued to the wall. Rather, they were mountains of candy, dispensed from tubes based on color. She couldn't just touch it; she could sink into it.
So, without another thought, she darted across the store and leaped into the pile of candy, flailing her arms as the pieces of candy rolled down her skin. Who knew so much candy could be gathered in one place? Who knew she could have so much fun in a store?
"Oy!"
Tori scrambled to her feet, candy flying up into the air. She swung her head to meet the sunken gaze of an urchin sitting at the counter. Her eyes immediately darted up to the red beanie he was wearing, white stitches holding it together. Yet from the corner of her eyes, she could still see his furrowed brows.
"Don't play in the candy," he barked. "You're messing it all up."
Tori's hands went to her braids, pulling down on them as hard as she could. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
The urchin only groaned, lifting his feet onto the counter and sticking a lollipop into his mouth. "I don't get paid enough for this..."
Tori let go of her braids, staring down at the pile of candy at her feet. She should put them back to the way it was before, but with how much candy there was, it was impossible to put it back perfectly.
She shouldn't have dove into the candy. Then the candy wouldn't have gotten everywhere, and that adult wouldn't have yelled at her.
Lady Squall would've stopped her. By diving into the candy, she was straying from Order. She was falling closer and closer to Chaos.
If nothing else, she had to try and put the candy back. So, she began picking up the pieces, sorting them back into each pile by color. The longer she sorted them, the more futile it seemed, but she had to keep going.
Besides, sorting kind of made her feel better. It was like sorting out her toys or wooden blocks—she could decide exactly where everything went.
Ted eventually kneeled down next to her, shoving piles of candy away. In a panic, she tried to get them back, but Ted merely cleared his throat and held up his hand.
"It's easier this way," he explained. "And faster."
Tori's cheeks flushed with heat. "But—"
"Tori, we're like, ten years older than you. Trust me, I know this stuff."
Tori huffed and returned her attention to the pile of candy in front of her. Schurk and their gang were older than her, but they had still fallen to Chaos. Why should she listen to them?
But Ted had a point, she realized as he scooped away more of the candy. If she could move multiple pieces of candy at once, she would be able to sort them faster. She just liked the feeling of sorting them one by one. Was that because something was wrong with her?
She gulped and began scooping up handfuls of candy, tossing them opposite of Ted. It was messy, but soon enough, not a single stray candy was in the wrong place. It was like the display had never been touched.
Ted cheered and held out his fist. "We did it!"
Tori tilted her head. Was she supposed to shake his hand? But if he was, his hand would be open. Was he going to punch her? But if he was, he would've done so already. Neither option made any sense.
Ted's face fell. "You don't know what a fist-bump is?"
Mouth open with realization, she closed her fist and bumped it into Ted's. The touch of bare skin made her tense, but Ted seemed as happy as ever as he drew back his hand, wiggling his fingers as he lifted it through the air.
"Hey, Ted!" Otis called from the other side of the store. "Want some chocolate?"
He lifted his head, taking his eyes off of Tori. "What kind?"
"I dunno, come over here and pick!"
Tori stood on the tips of her toes, opening her mouth to speak, but Ted seemed to ignore her, a sigh escaping his lips. "Fine."
He began to walk to the other side of the store, Tori lolloping behind him. She wanted to see what chocolate this store had, too. They had to have milk chocolate at least, right? Dark chocolate she found to be too bitter, and white chocolate she found to be too sweet. Milk chocolate struck the perfect balance between bitter and sweet!
Soon enough, they reached a row of shelves nestled against the furthermost wall from the entrance, hosting all kinds of chocolate from everywhere in the world. Tori stepped up to the shelves and began running her eyes across the labels, absorbing all the information about the chocolate she could.
Though there were the standard flavors—dark, milk, and white—there were also flavors of chocolate she had never heard of, like hazelnut, caramel, raspberry, et cetera. Consequently, those flavors were more expensive, but she knew Schurk would pay for her if she wanted any of them.
She really was lucky they were from the Hohojiro Clan. Otherwise, she wouldn't get anything from the candy store.
"Ooh..." Ted picked up a fancy blue bag off the shelf. "They have chocolate-covered pretzels here!"
"Yeah." Otis put his hands in his pockets, craning his neck down towards Tori. "What about you, Squalling?"
Tori tilted her head, puzzled. What did he want to know?
"What chocolate do you like?" he added after a brief pause.
"Milk!" she answered immediately, sticking her arms out. Feeling the movement, though, she slapped them down, forcing her mouth into a thin line.
A wry smile touched his lips. "Me too."
"But why not try something new?" Ted suggested. He grabbed another fancy bag, this one green. "This one's..." He glanced down at the text, then back to Tori. "Sea salt almond."
She gulped, imagining dry chunks of almond rolling down her throat instead of pure chocolate. "N-no." Remembering her manners, she quickly tacked on, "Thank you. No thank you."
"...Okay." He set the bag down, a frown set in his face.
"Well, if you just want milk chocolate..." Otis's face split into a grin as he picked up a red bag depicting balls of chocolate drizzled in a lighter color. "Why not try some truffles? I bet it's better than any chocolate you've ever eaten."
"Really, Otey?" a new voice sounded. He jumped and shouted out a curse, whipping around to face the golden stare of Kira. In her hands were boxes of toffee. "That's the best you can do?"
"H-how long have you been listening?!" he snapped, eyes bulging out of his head.
"Long enough." She pushed past him and leaned towards Tori. "If you really want chocolate, I bet you've never had fudge."
She shook her head, frantically stringing together the words leaving her mouth. "I-I had fudge at school once." Mrs. Oculifer brought some the last week of school, but Tori only got one piece. Everyone else got more fudge before she could.
If they heard her now, they would definitely think she was a robot. Something she spent so much time trying to prove to them otherwise.
"Huh. That's a surprise." Kira straightened and pursed her lips. "I didn't think they had the funds for that." She shook her head. "Do you want fudge or not?"
"Um…" There were so many options that Tori didn't know what to pick. What if there was something else in the store that she wanted more? Schurk would pay for everything she wanted, but she couldn't eat everything she wanted. Nor could she bring everything she wanted back to the orphanage.
Kira sighed and turned around. "I'll take that as a no."
Tori stepped forward, eyes wide. "B-but…"
Kira looked over her shoulder. "But what?"
Tori grabbed her wrists. Why didn't Kira let her answer? She didn't understand.
She dropped her head. "...Am I doing something wrong?"
"What?" She turned to face her, surprised. "No, no, you haven't done anything wrong."
She glanced back up at her. "You're not mad?"
"No." She patted her head. "Sorry, Squalling."
Tori gulped. "I-it's okay."
"We're all outcasts," Ted remarked. "We stick together, no matter what."
Kira nodded. "Exactly."
"So..." Otis held the bag of chocolates back out in front of him. "Truffles?"
She lifted her head and studied the bag for a few moments. If they wanted her to eat the truffles, she should take it. She didn't know what else to eat, anyways.
She lifted her hand, but before she could take the bag from Otis, another thought came to mind. What kind of candy did Dahlia like? She couldn't remember if Dahlia ever ate candy, but if all kids like candy, like Schurk said, then surely she must like candy too. Right?
If only Dahlia were here. Then she could ask her. Once she knew what kind of candy Dahlia liked, she could eat that candy, too.
Unless Dahlia's favorite candy had nuts in it. Then she wouldn't eat it unless one of the adults told her to.
A bell chimed, and Tori's head snapped towards the door. What if that was Dahlia?
Yet, the newcomer revealed themself to be only a jellyfish. Whatever hope Tori had mustered quickly deflated, a frown forming on her face. Of course it wasn't Dahlia. She was only one person amongst hundreds of thousands in the City of Chaos.
"...You waiting for someone?"
Ted's voice made her shrink away, face flushed with heat as she turned to look at him. "N-no."
"Ted…" Kira put a hand on hip. "Who would she be waiting for here?"
"...Yeah, you got a point." Ted stood on the tips of his toes, wobbling as he stretched his body. "Maybe she's looking for Boss?"
Tori grabbed her wrists. "I was…" How was she supposed to word it?
"You were what?" Kira echoed, voice suddenly sharp.
Tori squeaked and shook her head. "Never mind."
Dahlia wasn't going to show up. She shouldn't get her hopes up any further.
Otis cleared his throat. "Let's find Boss."
Ted smiled. "You think they want chocolate?"
"Probably not." Otis moved his hand to a deep blue bag of dark chocolate. "Maybe Shiver wants some though."
"I'll eat it if she doesn't, Otey," Kira offered.
He huffed. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
"You're already buying a bunch of chocolate. Isn't that enough?"
"You can never have too much chocolate!"
Ted stepped between them, lips pulled into a grimace. "Let's just go."
Kira rolled her head back, tilting it towards Ted. "Alright, alright."
The gang turned the corner and headed towards the entrance, Tori not far behind. Before, she was too focused on the wall of candy to look at anything else, but as she scanned the store for Schurk's whereabouts, it seemed more crowded than ever before. She took notice of all the papers plastered on the wall, scribbles drawn over them, and all the tall racks scattered through the lobby, bags full of candy hanging from them. With how many displays there were, finding Schurk seemed impossible.
Yet, near the checkout stood Schurk, examining bags full of shark gummies resting underneath the counter. Ted called out their name, and they whipped around at the sound, snatching a bag as they spun to face the approaching inkfish.
"Hey," they greeted, putting their free hand on their hip. "Found everything you wanted?"
Tori gave a curt nod, but Kira was the one that spoke. "I hope we did."
Ted's eyes fell to the bag Schurk held. "Is that all you're getting?"
"Yeah." Kappa wiggled up to them, nuzzling their leg. "I can share these with Kappa."
"What about Shiver?" Otis asked.
They sighed. "She likes spicy stuff more than sweets nowadays. And this store doesn't sell spicy candy."
He offered the bag of dark chocolate. "She'll eat this though, right?"
Schurk took the bag from them, staring at it briefly before remarking, "Probably." A thin red eye glanced up from the package, settling on Tori. "Say, what kind of candy do you like, Squalling?"
"C-chocolate!" she squeaked out.
Ted held up Otis's arm, pointing to the bag of truffles he held. "We're getting her this."
"Truffles," Schurk said. They dipped their head. "The best kind of chocolate out there."
Tori blinked. If Schurk liked truffles too, then they must truly be amazing.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kira rolled her head to the side. "Let's check out."
She grabbed her hands, unable to contain the smile growing on her face. She was finally going to eat the truffles!
Check-out only took a few minutes, so before long, they stepped outside the candy store, the sun still high in the sky. If they went back to the park now, Miss Ella would still be there. And now that they already went to one store, perhaps the gang would let her go back to the park.
Though Tori also wanted to eat the chocolate before she went back to the park, and now was the perfect opportunity to do so. She couldn't wait any longer!
Rehearsing the question in her head first, she looked up towards Otis and asked, "Can I have the truffles?" The words came out smoothly. Not like a robot.
"Sure thing." He handed her the bag of truffles, and Tori proceeded to rip it open, staring down at the chocolate delicacies inside. She hoped they were worth the wait.
Without hesitation, she reached into the bag and stuffed one into her mouth, biting down on the gooey truffle and letting the rich flavor explode on her tongue.
She closed her eyes, allowing herself to indulge in the taste. This was delicious! It was the best chocolate she had ever eaten! She had to have more!
Before she knew it, the bag of truffles was empty, and Tori's hands were stained like mud. With a frown, she tossed the empty bag into a trash can leaning against the railing, the truffles' aftertaste already fleeting. She wanted to go back inside to buy more truffles, but Schurk and their gang were already halfway down the walkway.
While Ted, Kira, and Otis dove into a grungy clothing store, Schurk lingered outside the entrance, a red eye settling on the little inkling.
"Hey, Squalling," they called, a hand on their hip. "We're not done just yet. There's still plenty of stores to explore."
Tori stared at them, processing their words. She wouldn't get to go back to the park yet. Back to Order. She still had to follow Schurk and their gang around the mall. Closer to Chaos.
She didn't want her braids to get dirty, so she reached over to bite down on her braid. She knew she shouldn't put her braids into her mouth, but she needed to do something. With her hands dirty, what else could she do?
They sighed. "Don't worry about Lady Squall. Just focus on the now."
Her braid dropped from her mouth. Focus on the now.
In the past, focusing on the now had only gotten her into trouble. She had already gotten into trouble today when the candy store's cashier yelled at her for playing in the candy wall. Focusing on the now had only let her forget about the importance of Order.
However, she didn't have the choice to leave. She had to follow Schurk.
Deep down, she would like to follow Schurk some more. She liked them, and she liked the gang, too. But at the same time, she could not let herself be influenced by Chaos.
All she was able to do was nod. "O-okay."
She ran up to Schurk, thuds resonating through the platform with every step she took, and together, they dove into the clothing store, eager to discover what was within.
Before long, they stepped out to meet the sight of the setting sun, the sky a warm orange.
Tori's eyes widened, hugging the lobster plush she bought close to her chest. She bought it because it reminded her of Bobby the Lobster, the stuffed animal that had been destroyed many years ago. She hoped Lady Squall would let her keep it.
"I need to go home!" she blurted out.
"You mean the orphanage?" Ted corrected.
She nodded.
He scratched the back of his head, laughing. "I guess we lost track of time."
Kira glanced towards Schurk. "Then let's take her home."
They only nodded and gestured for Tori and the gang to follow them. Just like before, Tori lagged behind them as they crawled through the streets, her legs too short to match the pace of adults. She could not let them out of her sight, or else she would be lost in the streets of the City of Chaos forever.
They passed the park, Tori's gaze drawn to the greenery as she searched for Miss Ella. Of course, with the sun dipping deeper and deeper below the horizon, she couldn't see that crab at all. At this time of day, the park was practically empty.
At the very least, since they passed the park, Tori would soon arrive back at the orphanage, back to safety. She could finally escape the grasps of Chaos and return to Order.
Eventually, they turned the corner onto the street Squall Orphanage stood on, familiar white stairs poking out between rows of buildings. Schurk came to a stop, prompting four pairs of eyes to turn onto Tori. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and her hands went to her wrists.
"I guess this is goodbye," Kira announced. She stepped forward and kneeled down, her jewelry twinkling. "Let's hope we see each other again, Squalling."
"I know you don't want to leave the orphanage," continued Ted, "but we'll be with you in spirit."
She took a step back, aghast. "But if you'll be with me in spirit, y-you'll…" She didn't want to say it.
"Calm down, it's just a saying," Schurk interjected. "It means you'll always remember us, and we'll always remember you, even if we're apart."
Otis crossed his arms, grinning. "Outcasts gotta stick together, after all."
They smiled back. "You get it now, Squalling?"
Tori nodded, but she still felt a pit settling in her stomach. Should she remember them? They had fallen to Chaos, after all. If she didn't want to stray from Order, she should forget about them.
But she still liked the memories they had together. In those moments, the prospect of falling to Chaos didn't seem so frightening. She had fun with them, and she got to experience things she never would have otherwise. She didn't want to forget them, no matter what Lady Squall said.
Otis grinned and patted Tori on the shoulder. "Well, see ya later, Squalling."
Ted patted her shoulder too. "Same here."
Kira let out a sigh. "Since we're all doing this…" She rubbed the top of her head, prompting her face to scrunch up. "See ya."
Tori grabbed her wrists as her body tensed, eyebrows knitting together. She wished they would stop touching her.
None of them seemed to notice her distress, though. She turned around to see the three inkfish beginning to cross the street, looking over their shoulders and waving goodbye. Gingerly, Tori lifted her and began to wave goodbye, too, despite everything.
"And, remember, Tori," Ted called, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Stay true to yourself, no matter what!"
And then, they finally stepped on the pavement on the other side of the road, growing further and further away, until she couldn't see them at all. Only then did she turn back around, facing the orphanage.
She took a deep breath, tears welling behind her eyes. Why did she want to cry?
Deep down, she did know. She wished she could be with them longer. Even though they had fallen to Chaos long ago.
Just like how she hoped she would see Vic again.
Schurk picked up Kappa and tipped their head to the side with a grunt. "Let's go."
No words were spoken as they made the final trek to the orphanage. They ascended the stairs, and with Schurk's hands full, Tori was the one to ring the doorbell. As footsteps grew nearer, she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, ready to face the punishment the adults would have for her.
Miss Ella was the one to answer the door, beady eyes focused on Schurk for a few brief moments before falling to the little inkling standing next to them. Only then did her eyes widen, mouth agape.
"T-Tori!" she sputtered out. She glanced between the two inkfish. "Where were you? We've been worried sick!"
Tori opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came to her tongue. She closed it again, setting her jaw as she felt her eyes grow wet.
Thus, Schurk spoke for her. "She was with me," they answered. "We didn't mean to be gone for so long."
Miss Ella tapped her claws together. "You still went with them, though. You had the choice to stay."
Tori hugged the lobster plush even tighter. "B-b-but…"
"I'll take you to Lady Squall," the spindly crab concluded. "She'll say what to do next."
She threw her hands down, deflated. "Okay…"
Miss Ella offered her hand, though her eyes did not leave Schurk. "Have a nice evening."
Tori took it and stumbled inside, prompting Miss Ella to close the door, cutting Schurk off from Squall Orphanage, and Tori off from the rest of the world. Then, she guided her towards Lady Squall's office, the cries of children ringing through the halls. At the thought of punishment, the green-and-tan walls seemed suffocating.
Before long, they reached a door made from polished wood, Lady Squall's name hanging from the center. Miss Ella tapped her claw on the door, knocking the only sound this deep into the orphanage.
Lady Squall opened the door as soon as she knocked, holding a pipe in her hand. Puffy smoke wafted from its end, its smell enough to make Tori grimace.
Their eyes soon met, and Lady Squall clenched her fist, lips pulling into a frown. "Tori."
She gulped. "L-Lady Squall."
"Where were you?"
Just like Schurk had minutes before, Miss Ella spoke for her. "She was with one of the younger Hohojiros," she explained. "I don't know his name."
Lady Squall bounced the pipe in her hand. "What did he look like?"
Tori wanted to correct her, to say Schurk wasn't a boy, but she shouldn't speak while the adults were speaking. So, she let Miss Ella continue.
"Like most Hohojiros," she said. She lifted her claw behind her head. "He, uh, didn't wear a shirt. I don't think–"
She took another puff of her pipe, smoke escaping from her lips. "I've heard enough." Her golden glare fell back towards Tori. "Must you run off again, Tori?"
She squeaked, digging her face into the lobster plush. "I won't do it again! I won't do it again!"
"Look at me."
She lowered her hands, forcing herself to look into Lady Squall's eyes. Something she had done so many times before, yet she could never get used to it.
"The more you run off, the more you fall into Chaos. How many times do I have to tell you the importance of Order?"
"I won't do it again," Tori repeated, her voice cracking as the tears returned.
"Tsk, tsk." Lady Squall glanced back up at Miss Ella. "I'm sure she ate on her escapade. Take her to the time-out room. And take that stuffed animal somewhere else." Briefly, she glanced at Tori. "A young lady shouldn't be playing with toys."
The crab bowed. "Y-yes, Lady Squall."
Lady Squall closed the door, and Tori could only stare back with watery eyes as Miss Ella led her further and further into the darkness.
A/N: At long last, Chapter 23 of Speak No Evil is finally here! Sorry for the impromptu hiatus; this chapter was pretty hard to write. And it ended up being pretty long, too! The first draft was even longer, but I managed to cut it down some. Not ultimately by much, but after many revisions, I'm finally happy with how it came out. I wanted to get the rest of Act II out before the new year, but I'll have to settle for just this chapter. Anyways, hopefully the next chapter won't take as long as this one. I don't expect it to be as long, at least, even though it's an important one. I think I'm back into the writing groove now. "Speak No Evil" will hopefully be finished in 2025! And "The Rainbow Squids" too, I hope. Well, have a happy new year, and Branchwing, out!