Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Months had passed since the world was almost covered in Fuzzy Ooze. Captain Three still couldn’t believe that the world as they knew it had almost ended. They had aided Neo Agent Three as much as they could, offering advice and encouragement, clearing out the abundant Fuzzy Ooze with the treasures Neo Three had collected, and quietly joining the Squid Sisters and Deep Cut in singing Calamari Inkantation, spurring Neo Three on as they battled with Mr. Grizz in outer space. Ultimately, the world was saved from “hairmaggedon”, and Captain Three was at peace. The Splatlands, Inkadia, and the whole world could continue to prosper with Inklings and Octolings alike enjoying life, engaging in friendly matches, participating in Splatfests, and generally staying fresh.

But now there was a new threat looming on the horizon.

Captain Three sighed as they looked out the window of the research station in Alterna. The fake blue sky was calming to see, yet they couldn’t quell the anxious torrent in their mind. It had bothered them ever since they and the Squid Sisters had discovered this new threat. Their amber and aqua eyes swirled with continuous worry.

Captain Three looked across the small table. While they had barely touched their food, Neo Three was almost done with her meal. The mashed potato on their mouth stood out against their tan skin, but she seemed to finally notice it as she swirled her tongue around her mouth, licking it off.

“Three,” Captain Three started. It still felt weird to call someone else the name that they had practically owned for years. “Do you know the agenda for today?”

Neo Three nodded as she swallowed her food. “Yup. We’re going to the city to meet Agents Four and Eight who will be arriving by train.” Her yellow eyes which complemented her hero suit gleamed. “I’m so excited to meet them! I’ve heard so much about Agent Four from Agents One and Two, and you have only spoken fondly of Agent Eight.”

Captain Three couldn’t help smiling out of embarrassment; they may even be blushing somewhat. Right, they remembered how much they vocally admired Eight when telling about her to Neo Three. “That’s right. They should arrive in about 30 minutes, so we better get going soon. But also, we have important New Squidbeak Splatoon matters once we meet them.”

“I know, Captain. You have something important to tell us agents.” Neo Three rubbed her arm. “I’m…honestly kind of worried of what you have to share, but I’m sure it’s nothing us agents can’t handle. Surely it can’t be worse than what we all had already gone through.”

Captain Three hoped that the agents would handle the news well, especially Eight. Oh, how worried they were for Eight. They hoped that they wouldn’t be reopening old wounds with what they had to say. It had been years since the incident, but…

They shook their head. They’ll worry about it when the time comes. For now, they should focus on not being late for the meeting with the agents. They picked up their sandwich and began munching on it, pushing aside all thoughts of the New Squidbeak Splatoon discussion later.

Minutes later, Neo Three had already left the research station. Captain Three had just finished their sandwich. They got up from their seat and stretched. They could leave now, but they couldn’t help going to the bathroom. They looked at themselves in the mirror. Their captain’s hat sat comfortably on their head, and their headset protruded where their ears would be. They wore the somewhat tattered clothes that Cuttlefish had handed them when he assigned them as the new captain of the New Squidbeak Splatoon. They thought of wearing something more presentable, like their old hero suit, but they couldn’t be bothered to go to their apartment and scour their closet. Though, these weren’t what they wanted to look at at.

The scar on the right side of their face, mainly around their eye, was a grim reminder of what they went through years ago in the Deepsea Metro. It was awful, hideous, horrifying. There was even a bit of teal remaining on their skin, so it was impossible to think of it as just a regular battle scar. Not only that, but their right eye had changed, turning from its original amber color to aqua, and darkness crept at the corner of their sclera. Lastly, a part of their right tentacle had changed color as well. The area that had been affected had permanently turned teal with spots and rings of faded yellow. Looking at it positively, it complemented their yellow tentacles and the bluish tips. However, that was where the positivity stopped.

Captain Three slammed a fist on the sink. They shut their eyes and dipped their head. They hated it so much, what they had to experience and what they did to Eight. The Octoling was so scared. Captain Three splatted her so many times—so many times she hurt and terrified her. In the end, they were glad that Eight had finally bested them in spite of all odds, but it wouldn’t stop the guilt from flowing. Despite Eight forgiving them, telling them it’s not their fault, they wished they didn’t have to make her suffer at all.

What more, Captain Three was weaker ever since they were free from Sanitization. It took almost a year to recover from it, and they had to train every day just to get close to returning to their peak form.

Captain Three took a deep breath. “The past is the past,” they told themselves. They took one last glance at themselves and exited the bathroom, heading for the research station’s entrance.

Outside, Neo Three was chatting with Agents One and Two and Cuttlefish. Callie waved at Captain Three as she spotted them descending the stairs of the research station. “Captain! Feeling excited to meet your old pals?”

“Very,” Captain Three responded briefly.

Marie said, “It’s nearly 8 o’clock. You two better get going. You wouldn’t want Agents Four and Eight to wander the city by themselves, would you?”

“Though that wouldn’t really be the worst thing in the world,” Cuttlefish said. “That would just mean you two have to search the city for them.”

Captain Three nodded. “We’ll be in the station on time, don’t worry.” They looked at Neo Three, and with a roll of the shoulder, signaled for her to follow them to the grate which led to the city. The two of them waved the Squid Sisters and Cuttlefish goodbye before going into their squid forms and passing through the grate. As they traversed swiftly through the dark passageway, heading upward to the city, there was only one thought in Captain Three’s mind:

Today’s going to be a long day.

Chapter Text

Captain Three and Neo Three emerged from the manhole and were now in Splatsville. They looked around, aware that there were some Inklings and Octolings nearby, but none of them seemed to notice them exiting the manhole. Thankfully so—Captain Three couldn’t imagine what would happen if a curious citizen followed them through the manhole and ended up in Alterna, finding the Squid Sisters Camp and seeing the different islands.

Most shops around them were opening up. Some people were eagerly standing before the front doors, waiting for them to be opened. By the time the agents arrive, every shop should be open, so they’ll have the chance to visit them all if they wanted. Knowing Eight, she’d most likely be interested in the new stringers and splatanas in Ammo Knights, even if only to admire their uniqueness and the craft of making them. Meanwhile, Four would probably be looking for places to fill her stomach with grub.

As Captain Three and Neo Three climbed the flight of stairs, making their way to the train station, Neo Three said, “I hope Agents Four and Eight didn’t get too bored sitting in the train with nothing to do for hours.”

“They probably slept through the entire trip, since they got on board in the middle of the night,” Captain Three replied. A thought crossed their mind, something that had been bothering them ever since the two agents agreed to come to Splatsville. “Something I neglected to mention and really regret, I…haven’t actually properly introduced the two agents to one another.”

“Huh? How come?”

“There wasn’t really a chance for the two to meet. Agent Eight hadn’t been in many missions ever since she saved Inkopolis from doom. With what she went through, I knew she needed a break, so I managed to convince Cuttlefish to give her a year to properly rest and integrate into Inkling society. Even after the year, Agent Four took on most of the missions, and the two of them would be sent to different places. Somehow their schedules never lined up, and it never crossed Cuttlefish’s mind to have a Splatoon meeting for them to get to know each other. At the very least, they’ve heard of each other and chatted on their phones.”

“Oh. Well, then maybe they got to get better acquainted on the train, and they’ll definitely get to know each other better once we get to Alterna.”

“Mhmm. That’s what I’m hoping for.” Captain Three didn’t know about Four since she was more focused on her missions, but Eight definitely would be the one to approach her. They wouldn’t be too surprised if Eight managed to befriend Four already, letting her get more comfortable and revealing more of her laid-back side.

Before Captain Three and Neo Three made it to the escalator leading down to the train station, Captain Three caught a glimpse of Deep Cut presenting the news to their right. That was a good indication that 8 o’clock had struck. They couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they saw on the screen that the Turf War maps were Mahi Mahi Resort and Makomart. As for the Anarchy Battles, series battles were Rainmaker in Undertow Spillway and Wahoo World, while open battles were Tower Control in Inkblot Art Academy and Hagglefish Market. That was all Captain Three could see before they and Neo Three were descending the escalator.

Maybe the agents will want to play some matches, they thought to themselves. It would be a great way for them to bond and see how each of them fair in a fight individually and as a team. They already knew how proficient Neo Three was as they’d joined her for some Turf War and Anarchy Battles—the Hero Shot and Tri-Stringer were definitely her best weapons. As for Agents Four and Eight, they wanted to know how much they’d improved in battle.

Secretly, Captain Three just wanted to spend time with the agents. It had been years since they’d been together in person. This would be the perfect way to catch up with each other.

They reached the platform, and the train hadn’t arrived yet. Captain Three wouldn’t get too impatient as the trains didn’t tend to be that late. They leaned against a pillar with their arms crossed while Neo Three stood beside them, browsing her phone. Her Smallfry jumped out of her backpack and circled her feet, occasionally eyeing the nearby bystanders.

A minute later, they could hear the rumbling of the train approaching. The noise seemed to frighten Smallfry as they went and hopped back into Neo Three’s backpack. The train slowed down to a stop, and the doors of each train car opened. As people exited the train, Captain Three scanned the crowd in search of the agents. They should stand out, and agent Four definitely did as Captain Three spotted her. She was wearing her Hero Suit, which for her was a yellow windbreaker jacket, black shorts, and a headset similar to Captain Three’s. It seemed she also kept wearing a single glove on her right hand.

On her hips were her Hero Dualies, and just behind one of them, on her right hip, Captain Three could just make out her favorite balisong in its sheath. As Cuttlefish had mandated just a couple years ago, agents were allowed to bring blades as an emergency sidearm, only to be used in dire situations. It should never be used to kill out of spite. Captain Three couldn’t tell if Four was currently carrying her real blade or the trainer that they had gifted her, since they didn’t want her to keep toying and flipping a real blade (though that didn’t stop her from doing so, which would explain her wearing a glove on her right hand).

The Captain waved at her, and a smile crested her face as she ran toward them. Behind her, she was dragging an orange luggage bag.

She squealed as she gave the Captain a hug. “It’s great to see you again, Captain.” She turned to Neo Three, who grinned and gave a wave. “And I’m guessing you’re the new Agent Three. Sup!”

“It’s a pleasure getting to meet you, Agent Four!”

“Oh, please, you can just call me Lily. No need for formality yet with the code names, we’re not on a mission after all.” Agent Four, or rather, Lily, looked back at Captain Three. “It’s so nice to see you again, Rei. I hope you’re doing well as the new captain.”

“Rei?” Neo Three echoed, tilting her head at the Captain with curious eyes.

“Um, yeah, Rei.” The Captain rubbed their arm, a bit embarrassed. “I suppose I never did tell you my real name.”

Neo Three smiled. “That’s all right. I guess since we’re on a first name basis,” she extended her hand to Lily, “the name’s Willow.” Lily accepted her hand and shook, and they exchanged grins. Willow turned around and pointed at her backpack, where her Smallfry sat on. “And this is Little Buddy! He's just as much of an agent as I am.”

“Aww, he's adorable! I've never seen anyone tame a Salmonid before.” Lily petted Little Buddy, who made a sound equivalent to a Smallfry purring. She then looked at Rei. “So, where’s Agent Eight? Or rather…Vienna, right? That’s her name? I don’t think I saw her on the train. I didn’t even meet her on the train station back in Inkopolis.”

That was strange to hear. Rei received a message from Eight—or Vienna, Lily got the name right—that she got on board all right. Were they just in different train cars and never looked for each other? But Rei assumed that Vienna would’ve messaged Lily so they could meet up and sit together, and before that she would’ve messaged her to meet at the station.

Oh, please don’ t tell me you got on the wrong train.

As though defying their thoughts, Rei saw Vienna in the distance, looking around with a nervous expression. What a relief, she was just searching for them. She was wearing her usual leather crop top with a single sleeve, matching skirt, and heels, and by her side was her purple luggage bag. It seemed she also kept her Golden Toothpick as it rested atop her left ear.

Rei cupped her mouth with a hand and called out, “Vienna! We’re over here!”

Vienna turned, and relief washed over her olive face. She dragged her luggage bag as she walked toward the group. Willow excitedly waved both hands at her, while Lily stared at her with wide eyes, her mouth agape. Lily must’ve expected her to look different, Rei thought.

“Oh my days, for a moment I thought I got on the wrong ride.” Vienna cocked her head and grinned. “I’m so happy to be here with you all.”

“I’m glad you're here too.” Rei stepped forward and held their arms out, offering a hug. Vienna looked hesitant. She knew what Rei was doing, yet she didn’t immediately act. Rei noticed that she was looking them in the eyes—no, rather, straight at their right eye and scar. Rei would feel frustrated, but they understood what she was feeling. Four years would not be enough to wash away what they both went through. Their scar was much of a reminder to Vienna as it was to them.

Eventually, though, Vienna stepped closer and let herself be pulled into a hug. She whispered, “I’m glad to be able to see you again, Three.”

“Likewise,” Rei whispered back. “And be at ease, Vienna. No need to call each other our code names. Save it for when we're in New Squidbeak Splatoon matters.”

Vienna chuckled. “Sorry, I’m more used to it.” She pulled back from the hug, much to Rei's disappointment. She looked at Willow and Lily, and her eyes widened at the latter. “Oh, you’re Agent Four. I had a feeling when I saw you on the train, but I thought you looked troubled when you looked at me, so I was afraid to approach.” She offered a handshake. “A pleasure to finally meet you.”

Disgust riddled Lily’s face as she looked down at Vienna’s hand. She swatted it away and took several steps back, shocking everyone and scaring Vienna as she whimpered.

Vienna rubbed her hand and looked at Lily, her gray eyes filled with fright. “F-four? What was that for?”

Lily looked at the Captain. “Rei, you can't be serious, right? Agent Eight is a filthy Octarian this whole time? To think that I was actually looking forward to meeting her!”

Rei scowled, their right eye looking scarier. Their entire being burned with fury. At the corner of their eye, they saw Willow ushering Vienna to step away from the ensuing fight, and some bystanders turned to look at them. Rei tried to speak calmly as they questioned, “What do you mean by that, Lily?”

“You know what I mean! The Octarians are our enemy, we’ve been trained to fight them since the beginning, and the Splatoon let one of their kind join our ranks as an agent? Whose idea was it?”

“It was my and Cuttlefish’s decision when he was still the captain.” Rei's brow furrowed further. “I don’t know how you haven’t noticed, but not all Octarians are evil. Octolings have been living in peace with us Inklings for years now. You may not watch TV, but you’ve heard of Marina and how much people love her. Hell, need I remind you that she and Agent Eight saved Inkopolis from being blown into bits?”

Lily groaned, rubbing her forehead. “You don’t know me at all, Rei, but you should know that I despise any and all Octarians. Send Agent Eight home and kick her out of the New Squidbeak Splatoon or I’m catching the next train back to Inkopolis.”

Rei stared her down, challenging her glare. “There’s no way I’m doing that, and even still, you don’t want to miss out on this new mission I have for you all. No one is going home until everyone listens to what I have to say.” Rei walked forward and stopped as they passed Lily. “And Four, if you don’t fix your attitude toward Eight, it’s you who I'll consider kicking out.” They continued forward until they met up with Willow and Vienna.

“Everything’s fine, Vienna,” reassured Willow. “It’s not your fault. Maybe it’s just some misunderstanding. I’m sure Lily will apologize anytime soon.”

Vienna’s eyes wouldn’t leave the floor. She looked to be on the verge of tears as her lips quivered, and that only prompted Rei to get closer and place a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, it’s okay, we’re here for you. Let it out if you have to.”

Vienna finally looked at them. She wiped her eyes and said, “I’m fine. I’m just…taken aback by what happened.” She sniffled. “It’s not the first time someone reacted like that at me being an Octoling.”

“That doesn’t make it any less unfair for you,” Willow said. She offered a smile. “I’ve heard of what you did as an agent, I know you’re nowhere near to being evil.”

The corners of Vienna’s lips lifted somewhat. “Thanks.”

Rei patted her back. They wanted to give her another hug, but they felt awkward to do it again in front of Willow and a few other people still watching them. “Let’s get going. Our apartments are a bit far, so we’ll be walking for a while. You’ll feel better by the time we get there.”

Vienna flinched. She glanced at Lily, who was leaning against a pillar and flipping her balisong, which turned out to be the trainer. “I’m not sharing an apartment with her, right?”

“You won’t, thankfully,” Rei said. “You’re staying with me. There happens to be a guest room at my place for you to stay in. Lily will be staying with Willow.”

“That bunk bed turned out to be useful after all,” Willow added with a chuckle.

Vienna let out a sigh to compose herself. “Okay, let’s go.”

Rei kept Vienna by her side as they walked toward Lily. “We’re heading to the apartments. You’ll drop off your belongings before we head into Alterna, our meeting place.”

“Sure.” Lily still sounded disgruntled. She flipped her balisong closed and sheathed it. Dragging her luggage bag behind her, she stayed beside Willow, the complete opposite side of where Vienna was. She wasn’t even going to apologize to the Octoling for making her cry.

I need to find a way for them to get closer, Rei thought.

They made their way out of the train station, going up the escalator and then seeing the buildings around them. The two agents new to the city took in the sight of it all. If only they hadn’t quarreled, they probably would be kids in a candy shop by now, running to every building and checking out what they’re for.

Lily and Vienna looked to their left, and there they saw the building where Deep Cut was. The three idols were done with the news as they were now chatting among themselves, laughing every now and then.

“I can’t believe there’s another Octarian idol here,” Lily grumbled with a sigh.

Vienna, on the other hand, had more positive things to say. “They both look really pretty, and I’ve never seen an Octoling and Inkling like them before. I wonder what their songs are like.”

“That Octoling’s named Shiver, and the yellow Inkling is Frye,” Rei said. “Their songs are nice to listen to; different from what the Squid Sisters and Off the Hook make.”

“Don’t forget Big Man!” Willow chimed in. “And I agree, their music is so great. I can’t get their song from the Splatfest out of my head.”

Descending the stairs, Lily and Vienna went slow, careful to not let their luggage tumble down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, an Octoling girl spotted the group and waved at them, calling out a greeting.

“Um, Rei?” Lily said, glancing at the Captain. “Why is that girl waving at us like she knows us?”

“She’s a…friend, and she’s actually imperative to the news I'll share later.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “Is she another agent that I don’t know about?”

Rei returned her glare. “No, she’s not an agent. There’s only one Octoling in the New Squidbeak Splatoon.”

Lily looked away, and under her breath, muttered, “That’s already one too many.”

Rei couldn’t help looking at Vienna. She didn’t seem to react at all. Either she didn’t hear or pretended to not hear. Regardless, Rei wanted to smack Lily for her comment.

When the group got near the Octoling girl, she put her hands on her hips and said, “I see that the Captain is with their crew now. Is it time for that meeting?”

Rei replied, “Not yet. These two will drop off their things first.” They gestured at the Octoling girl. “Agents, this is Maya. You’ll get to hear from her soon.”

Willow and Vienna smiled and greeted the Octoling. “You have pretty eyes. I've never seen anyone with two different eye colors before,” Vienna said, regarding Maya’s red and yellow eyes. She then gasped as she noticed something else peculiar about her. “Whoa, wait, your hand! Is that…metal?”

“Yup.” Maya pulled up the sleeve of her hoodie, revealing the bionic appendage replacing her right arm. “I made it myself with an old friend. Had my arm replaced some time before I defected from the Octarian army. Maybe y’all can guess how I lost it in the first place.”

Lily looked like she was about to yell at her for mentioning the Octarian army, but Rei clicked their tongue before any sound came out of her mouth. She glared at them, and in a low voice, said to Maya, “That’s…cool, I guess.”

“Thanks!” Maya rolled down her sleeve and adjusted her pilot goggles.

Lily’s eyes wandered down and noticed the Octoling Goggles hanging from her hips. She scowled at this. “Why do you have that still if you’ve defected?” she asked, pointing at it.

“Oh, just for memories and how practical it is. I’ve modified it so it doesn’t have the whole mind-altering effects anymore while still having the boost that it gives to your body.” Maya patted the goggles, its purple eyeholes glinting in the sunlight. “I guess I’ll be waiting here until you all are ready for the meeting.”

“We won’t take long. Come on.” Rolling their shoulder, Rei walked forward and went down the street.

The entire walk, everyone was silent. Vienna and Lily would peer at the different shops and buildings around them, curious as to whether they could find something interesting in them. A few times their eyes would cross, prompting Lily to shoot a glare and causing Vienna to look away with a squeak. Rei glowered at Lily each time, which she would pout at. Meanwhile, Willow just awkwardly smiled in the middle of the tension between the two agents.

Eventually, they reached the apartment complex. They made their way to the elevator, but after a few seconds of waiting, Lily said, “Actually, I think I’m fine to carry my bag up the stairs.”

“Are you sure?” asked Willow. “My place is on the fifth floor. It’d be less trouble to—”

“It’s fine by me.” Lily put her hands on her hips and grinned. “You think I’m not strong enough to carry one measly bag up the stairs?”

“That’s not what I…” Willow sighed. “Can I at least help you carry your bag?” When Lily nodded, she looked at Rei. “Well, I guess see you in Alterna?”

Rei nodded, and Willow and Lily began their ascent up the nearby stairs. Rei knew exactly why Lily opted for the stairs—not because she was impatient about waiting for the elevator to arrive and bring them up, but because it meant she would be in an enclosed space with Vienna.

The elevator arrived with a ding, and the two entered. Rei pressed the button for the third floor, and the elevator doors closed. They looked at Vienna, whose eyes were downcast. They inched closer and whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I mean…not really. I wasn’t expecting Agent Four to be so hostile. She sounded like a laid-back squid, and she came off that way when we chatted on our phones.” Her frown deepened. “I guess I’ll just have to deal with her hating me for who I am.”

Rei opened their mouth to reassure her, but they didn’t know what to say. They didn’t know exactly why Lily had such prejudice against Octolings who have clearly reformed and wanted to live in peace, but they knew that would be hard to change. Where do they even begin to change that sort of mentality?

This team dynamic is going to be more complicated than I thought.

They arrived at their floor and stepped out of the elevator. Rei guided Vienna to their place, and after unlocking the door, they entered inside and into the living room. Vienna observed the room, looking amused. “It’s tidier than I thought it was going to be.”

“Are you implying that I’m a slob?”

“Maybe,” Vienna said, and they both laughed.

Rei pointed at one of the three doors at one end of the room. “Your room’s on the right. You can get to organizing your things later once we come back. We better not keep Maya waiting.”

Vienna nodded and made her way to her room. Rei sighed once she was out of sight. As the seconds passed, they grew more and more nervous. The agents were going to hear the information Rei had to share, and they feared how they will handle it. Seeing how Vienna was already having a rough time with Lily, they worried that her mood and mentality will only worsen after the New Squidbeak Splatoon meeting.

When Vienna returned to the living room, carrying her Octo Shot, she smiled at Rei and said, “I’m ready to go.”

Rei nodded. “Hey, um…What I’m going to share later might be alarming for you. I just want to warn you because I feel it’s not going to sit well with you and it might…bring back old memories.” They could see curiosity and worry settle in Vienna’s beautiful gray eyes, but the warning didn’t wipe the smile off her face.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the warning.”

Rei’s arm twitched as they thought about an action twice, and eventually they held a hand out. “Shall we?”

Vienna looked at their hand, considering for a moment, before gently reaching out holding it. The smile she had made Rei’s stomach do flips, and they could feel their face reddening. As they walked out of the apartment and headed for the initial meeting place, all Rei could think of was protecting Vienna from Lily.

Chapter Text

Rei and Vienna made their way to the square. There they found Maya, tapping a foot and humming as she waited by the manhole. She waved at them as they got near. “You two can go on ahead. I’ll wait for Agents Three and Four to come after.”

“All right, we’ll be seeing you in the research station.” Still holding her hand, Rei led Vienna to the manhole. They turned into their squid and octopus forms and entered through the grate, passing through the passageway leading downward.

It was dark the entire way. Thankfully there was enough room for them to swim side-by-side, allowing them to hold tentacles still while in their current form.

A few turns later, they eventually saw light in the distance, and upon reaching it, they emerged from the grate and into Alterna. They turned back into their humanoid form. Vienna was in awe as she took in her surroundings. “Whoa,” she whispered. “This is not what I expected at all when I read Agent Three’s logs, and it really is snowing! I’ve only read about snow from history books.” She giggled as she reached down to pick up a handful of snow and letting it fall from her palm. The more she looked at the sky, she eventually tilted her head. “How is the sky visible here, by the way? It felt like we were going underground the entire time.”

Rei hoped she wouldn’t ask that, but it seems she wasn’t dumb to think there would be a clear blue sky underground. “It’s not actually the sky.” They pointed at the part of the ceiling where Neo Three had fallen from, revealing the imperfections. “From what Willow gathered, the entire ‘sky’ is made of crystals that project the sky. It apparently comes from the thoughts of the extinct humans.”

“Oh…” Vienna frowned. “That reminds me of the screens back in Octo Valley, where they would mimic the surface for us Octarians.” She looked at the sky once more, and her lips curved upward somewhat. “But crystals, though, and from an extinct species. That’s interesting.”

The two of them looked when they were hollered by Callie, who was energetically waving at them with a wide smile. They walked over, and Callie said, “Hey, Agent Eight! I’m glad you could make it here. First time experiencing the snow, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s a lot chillier than I expected, but I’ll be fine. I’m glad to be here with you, Agents One and Two.” Vienna looked at the agents, and her eyes landed on Cuttlefish, who was idly floating behind Callie. “Oh, Cuttlefish. I still can’t believe that you turned into what you are now.” She squinted her eyes. “And you look…smaller than what I thought when I saw a picture of you.”

“Are you calling me puny, Agent Eight?” Cuttlefish laughed when Vienna flinched. “I suppose it wouldn’t be wrong to say that I’ve shrunk. I do feel a lot lighter this way.”

“And Gramps is pretty easy to carry, so long as he doesn’t float away from your grasp,” Marie said. “How is your first time being here, Agent Eight? Not just in Alterna, but in Splatsville too.”

“It’s, um…been interesting so far. It didn’t go as how I originally imagined it would go, but I do want to visit the shops in the city. I thought I saw some new weapons on display in Ammo Knights.”

“Agent Four is not getting along with her for being an Octoling,” Rei said bluntly, crossing their arms.

“Oh no! Really?” Callie exclaimed. “Did you two get into a fight?”

“They were about to but I intervened.”

“Three,” Vienna said, frowning. “Er, Captain Three, you didn’t have to say it.”

“But I do. This is a huge problem, and I don’t want it getting in the way for when you two work together.”

Marie put a hand on her chin in thought. “Hm. That does sound like something Agent Four would do. She does tend to be more aggressive in missions than other agents when it comes to fighting Octarians, but I never expected her to hate a fellow agent as well.”

“It is a natural reaction for agents,” Cuttlefish said. “You did fight Agent Eight when we first met her in Octo Valley. You even almost splatted her if memory serves me right.”

“I…That’s right.” Rei glanced at Vienna and squeezed her hand. “But I regretted it a lot afterward. We didn’t know she truly defected from the Octarian army.”

“And I take it that Agent Four is unconvinced that she’s good, even after hearing her merits?” Marie asked. Rei and Vienna nodded, and she sighed. “Then I suppose there might be one way to convince Agent Four. You remember what happened months ago, right? How one particular individual helped prevent the world from being covered in Fuzzy Ooze?”

Rei’s eyes widened. That’s right! Octavio was integral in saving the world from hairmaggedon. If Lily hears the story of how he, the leader of the Octarians, helped save the world from destruction by banding together with Inklings, then surely she’ll be convinced that even the baddest Octarian can change.

Though, that did raise a question in their mind. Did Lily not read Willow’s logs? If they recalled correctly, Ocatavio was clearly mentioned as being a vital part in saving the world. They would have to grill Lily in a way to know, but regardless, they were going to bring up Octavio later.

They looked over their shoulder when they heard the familiar voice of Lily exclaiming, “Wow! This place is as beautiful as your logs make it out to be, Willow!” It sounded like she slipped back into her more carefree self after being alone with Willow for a short while. With her hero shot in one hand, she was carrying Little Buddy on the other, and she let him jump off to run around in the snow. She was even smiling, but that brightness in her face disappeared as soon as she looked at the group and caught sight of Vienna. The two of them walked toward the group. Behind them, Maya emerged from the grate, carrying a satchel strapped over her shoulder, and began heading for the group as well.

“Let’s hope this meeting will go well,” Marie said. When the other agents and guest got into earshot, she said, “It’s good to see you again, Agent Four. I hope you’ve been doing well.”

“I’m still kicking butt, so I’d say I’m doing well.” Lily shot a quick glare at Vienna. “I kinda wish I was out on a mission, though. I haven’t splatted any nasty Octarians in a while.”

Vienna let out a soft whimper. Rei immediately squeezed her hand again. They whispered, “It’s okay, Vienna. Don’t think too much about what she says.” They gave a small smile, and she nodded.

Marie said, “It’s nice to hear that your enthusiasm remains, but we’re unsure if your next mission will involve any Octarians. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll put that energy to good use.”

With everyone now here, Rei said, “Right. Let’s all head inside so we can get on with the meeting.” They reluctantly let go of Vienna's hand and patted her shoulder. With Rei and the Squid Sisters leading, they went up the metal stairs and entered the research station.

Inside, past the couches for lounging and the table where Rei and Willow ate earlier, there was a long table with several seats. Perfect for holding meetings.

Rei sat on one of the wide ends with Callie and Marie to their left and Cuttlefish floating to their right. Vienna, Willow, and Maya sat opposite them, while Lily sat at the end, far from them—far from the Octolings. She pulled out her balisong, her real blade this time, and started flipping it. At the very least, she wasn’t risking cutting anyone nearby.

Rei looked at each one of them before dipping their head. “Okay, now that we’re all here, we can commence the New Squidbeak Splatoon. Before I share the main news, there’s something I want to be brought up.” They looked at Willow. “Agent Three, it’s been months since you saved the world, and we greatly appreciate your efforts. This is the first time the whole Splatoon has been gathered, so care to share your journey with us? You may have already put up your logs for us to read, but I figured it’d be a great moment for you to voice it out. Our guest here will also be able to hear it for the first time too, so she’ll better know what the Splatoon stands for.”

“Oh, sure!”

Willow would go on to retell her adventure, starting from when Cuttlefish recruited them to be Agent Three moments after she arrived in Splatsville. At the mention of her defeating DJ Octavio in the Crater, Rei glanced at Lily and caught her mumbling, “Serves him right.”

Willow then continued with their discovery of Alterna, passing through the missions in the kettles, hopping from island to island, and fighting each Deep Cut member to take a treasure. Her voice was as lively as her adventures, and Maya, who’s hearing these stories for the first, was awe-struck, her heterochromatic eyes gleaming with glee.

Everyone looked at Rei when Willow shared the part about them using the collected treasures to clear out the Fuzzy Ooze around the rocket and launchpad. Vienna looked especially in admiration of them. They would say that it wasn't much, that they were just doing what needed to be done, but she would definitely argue how vital they were in saving the world.

Eventually, Willow neared the end of her story. Rei kept their eyes on Lily, who was eagerly listening to the story as well. "...There was this huge explosion on the rocket and then I was left floating helplessly in space. I thought me and Little Buddy were done for! But then, out of nowhere, something caught me, and next thing I know I was on a huge robot. I thought it was one of the New Squidbeak Splatoon or Deep Cut coming to rescue me, but wouldn’t you believe it, it was DJ Octavio that saved me! Then Agents One and Two and Deep Cut started singing with Octavio—”

“Wait, wait, wait, pause.” Lily leaned forward and flipped her balisong closed, placing her arm on the table. “Did you say Octavio, the same menace who we’ve all fought, helped you?” When Willow nodded vigorously, she looked at Captain Three. “Captain, did you see this for yourself?”

“Why do you sound so surprised, Agent Four? Did you not read Agent Three’s logs where she detailed the climactic battle for the world’s fate? DJ Octavio was clearly mentioned in assisting,” Rei countered. They could see the disbelief in her orange eyes, and with that, something they were hoping for—cracks in her defenses.

“Okay, maybe I skimmed through most of the logs! But, but…” Lily was going to get desperate, and as Rei had read her, she looked at Cuttlefish and questioned, “Cuttlefish, you’re great enemies with Octavio. Surely you don’t see him as a hero in this situation?”

“Ah, but I do! While I’ve had my many quarrels with him, I can’t deny that he was the only one who could’ve helped Agent Three at that moment. His Octobot King was just the right machine to defeat that dastardly Mr. Grizz.” Cuttlefish elevated a little as he thought for a moment, putting a tentacle to where his chin would be. “In a way, it was him and Agent Three to avenge me for that bear turning me into this.”

“Oh, and we took a group picture after they all flew back to Alterna!” Callie added. “Agent Three, show it to her. It’s undeniable proof that he was there that day.”

Willow pulled out her phone and scrolled through it for a bit before walking to Lily to show the screen. As Callie said, it was undeniable. Octavio was with the New Squidbeak Splatoon and Deep Cut in front of the research station, in the center beside Willow and Cuttlefish. In the background of the picture was his Octobot King robot.

Lily laid back in her chair, her jaw dropped and eyes wide. She took a deep breath, and after a moment, glanced at Vienna and Maya. Despite hearing of Octavio’s deeds, there was still venom in her stare, but…was there something else in her eyes? Rei couldn’t tell. But now that she knew, she had to think of Octarians, and especially Octolings, differently. Rei hoped that this would lead to her making it up to Vienna for antagonizing her.

When the silence in the room lingered for too long, Rei announced, “Okay, I suppose we can end it there. Ultimately, the world was saved from being turned into a giant hairball. Thank you again, Agent Three and to your Little Buddy. Agent Four, you can read the log in its entirety after the meeting; see for yourself that Octavio helped.”

Vienna clapped, and the others soon followed in applauding Willow. Willow rubbed the back of her head, grinning. “Just doing my job as an agent.”

Rei smiled. Cuttlefish really had a good eye for recruiting agents. Rei thought they were only good at seeing the potential in younglings, considering that they were only 14 when he recruited them, but Cuttlefish was good at recruiting someone older too, with Lily and Willow being 18 when they were recruited. They wondered if they’ll be as good at picking out Inklings and Octolings in a crowd too regardless of age.

It was now time, however, to move on to more pressing matters. Rei took a deep breath. “Now that we have finished praising Agent Three, let us move on to the main reason I called you here. Agents Four and Eight, I’ve been pretty aloof with why I called you here to Splatsville. While I did want the two of you to meet each other in person,” they squinted, “even if that didn’t go well, there is a reason I needed all the agents to be present.”

Marie continued, “We discovered something potentially dangerous in the Splatlands. Or rather, someone brought a substance into Splatsville that caught the New Squidbeak Splatoon’s attention. The Captain was especially worried when they found out about it. Maya, if you would please reveal the substance.”

Maya reached for their satchel and produced a sealed glass jar filled with a colorful ooze. She placed it in the center of the table for all to observe. It had a familiar aqua color, but blending with it was a cosmic-like violet and blue color with sparkles of white and gold, and streaks of black swirled in the jar like tendrils. Vienna’s eyes widened with fear, and Rei’s fear was coming to fruition.

 “Vienna—” Rei bit their lip. “I mean, Agent Eight, don’t panic. I know it looks like what you think it is, but we haven’t confirmed anything yet.”

“A-are you sure? It really looks like that and I just can’t help…” Vienna shook her head and shut her eyes, not wanting to look at the ooze any longer.

Lily cocked her head as she looked at the ooze. She asked, “What even is that? It looks like a mixture of ink used in Splatfests.”

“That’s what I thought as well,” Maya said. “I found it spread across the sands in the middle of nowhere when I was out exploring the Splatlands. I thought, ‘Oh cool, I’ve never seen this kind of beautiful ink before. Must be some leftover from a Splatfest.’ Then I touched and it…started burning my hand. My metal hand, by the way, not my fleshy hand. The metal just started sizzling the moment I touched it, and I realized how much thicker it was. I knew it wasn’t any regular ink. So as quickly as I could, I scooped up all of the ooze in the sand and kept it in this jar and brought it home.”

“And that’s when Agent One, I, and the Captain noticed Maya looking suspicious when she entered the city. We caught her pulling out the jar at some point, and the Captain recognized the substance as the sanitizing ooze that they and Agent Eight encountered in the Deepsea Metro—at least, they assume it’s related to the sanitizing ooze.”

“It does share the color as that evil ooze,” Cuttlefish said. “Although, we don’t have any way to confirm whether it does have the same properties.”

“Exactly,” Rei continued. “There is no ethical and safe way to test if this will have the same effects on Inklings and Octolings, but just to err on the side of caution, I requested Maya to avoid any and all forms of physical contact with it and to keep it in the jar until we need it.”

Willow glanced at Vienna, who still refused to look at the jar of ooze. She looked back at the Captain and asked, “So…what exactly is this sanitizing ooze you mentioned?”

“It’s an ooze that controls a person’s mind, stripping them of their free will and, from what we can tell, their memories too.”

“It also kills the person that’s been Sanitized,” Vienna muttered, barely audible to everyone. “We couldn’t sense any pulse in the Sanitized Octarians that I had to fight in the Metro.”

Rei nodded. “And that too.” They pointed at their facial scar and discolored eye and tentacle. “This is the aftereffect of the ooze getting on me. I was lucky enough to not have my memory entirely erased and that I’m still breathing. Agent Eight has my gratitude for that.”

Lily stared at Vienna. It was hard to tell if she was starting to gain sympathy for the Octoling, but she certainly wasn’t planning on making it up to her in this meeting. “What do you want us agents to do about this new ooze that we discovered?”

“We observe it,” Rei answered. “See if it does anything out of the ordinary even if it doesn’t get on anyone, and if possible, we track down where it came from.”

“Agent Two and I will be taking care of that,” Callie said. “There has to be a source for this ooze, so we’ll do our best to find any traces of it. You can definitely count on us!”

“We’ll call for another meeting when we find potent evidence,” Marie added.

There was a slam against the front door, catching the attention of the group. There was faint mumbling coming from the other side, and then another slam against the door before it burst open, revealing Shiver with her leg extended forward. She put her foot down and let out a satisfied huff. “Second time’s a charm, I told you.”

She, Frye, and Big Man let themselves into the research station, with the last having to duck under the door frame. Rei and Marie shook their heads as they knew exactly why they were here.

Shiver hummed as she looked at each member of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, the tip of her fan on her chin. “I see that there’s more members in your little posse. That just means more people for us to fight.”

Frye put her hands on her hips. “We suspected that you’ve been hiding some sort of treasure from us, and our suspicions are right!” She pointed at the jar of colorful ooze. “If that belongs in the Splatlands, then it belongs to us!”

“If you don’t hand it over,” Shiver opened her fan and widened her visible eye, “then you’re all in for trouble.”

“Ay! (That ink does look very pretty.),” Big Man said lastly.

Rei pinched the bridge of their nose as she let out a groan. “Guys, we’ve told you a million times, this is not treasure, and it’s definitely not something you want. This is potentially hazardous substance that can kill hundreds of Inklings and Octolings if it’s not kept under scrutiny.”

“Oh? But what makes it so hazardous?” Shiver asked.

Frye added, “Yeah, what about it is so dangerous? It looks just like a container of sparkly ink.”

Rei had to point at their scar and discoloration for the second time. They really wished they didn’t have to bring attention to it, but if people needed a warning, it was definitely a good warning. “You don’t want to perform on stage looking like this, do you?”

Shiver and Frye looked at each other for a moment before looking back at them. “No one would really notice the different eye color for my case,” Shiver mused aloud. “But having scars, though? That would be…” She shuddered. “No thank you.”

“Hm, all right, you make a fair point as to why we shouldn’t have it,” Frye said. “But! We’ll just be using it as decoration! Maybe put it in the studio, spruce the place up a little. So…?” She gestured with both hands to hand the jar over.

Rei furrowed their brow. “No. No matter how much you beg, we are not handing it over.” They paused, a thought crossing their mind. They wanted to brush it off with how stupid it sounded, but the more they considered it, the more they wanted to voice it out. Eventually, they asked, “I want to know, how good are you three at finding specific things in the Splatlands?”

“Very good!” Frye answered. “We’re not bandits for nothing.”

“We can hunt treasure down like sharks smelling ink in the water,” Shiver added. Her eye gleamed with curiosity. “Is there something in particular you want us to track down?”

Rei was probably going to regret this, but it was worth a shot. “If you want to have your own jar of this… ‘sparkly ink’, then you’ll have to find it on your own. If you can cooperate with us in locating where it comes from, then maybe we’ll let you keep a jar or bottle of it. It’s somewhere out in the Splatlands. You’ll keep the ooze that you can find, but don’t, and I repeat, don’t touch it with your bare hands. We’re going to have Maya collect it for you.”

Shiver and Frye exchanged devious grins, and they looked at Big Man for a moment, who nodded in response. “We accept this partnership.”

“We’ll find the source of the ooze in no time!” Frye chimed in.

“Ay! (Just tell us if we need to do anything special, bosses!)”

Callie clapped her hands together, a bright smile on her face. “Great! You three will be working alongside me, Agent Two, and Maya. We’ll keep you posted on what we discover, and we’ll have regular meetings at least once a week.”

“Well, you know where to find us if you ever need to contact us,” Shiver said.

“Oh, and don’t tell another soul about this,” Marie warned. “The people of Splatsville don’t need to know any of this. We do not want to incite panic and for them to get curious about finding the ooze for themselves.”

“Our lips are sealed.” Frye gestured zipping her mouth and winked.

Rei nodded. “Right. Good. Well, you’re free to leave now. Like Agent One said, we’ll be in touch with you.”

Shiver said, “Be seeing you. We’ll be eagerly anticipating our own jar of sparkly ink.” The members of Deep Cut made their way to the front door and exited, closing the door behind them. The New Squidbeak Splatoon members stared at it before looking back at Rei.

“Can we really rely on them to help?” Lily asked. “I mean, I’ve read the part where they helped Agent Three, but still. I got the impression that they can be a little…unreliable.”

“I just thought we need all the help that we can get,” Rei replied. “While I do think that they aren’t the wisest bunch, they can still be useful.”

They let out a sigh. They still felt unsure about acquiring the help of Deep Cut, but as they’ve said, more helping hands couldn’t hurt. They did technically already agree to have Agent Two as their boss, or girl boss as they affectionately called her, even if it was months ago. Though, Big Man did refer to the New Squidbeak Splatoon as their bosses as well.

“Anyway,” they continued, “I suppose that is all I have to announce to you all. Maya, if you don’t mind, we’ll hold on to the jar of ooze for now. I want it far from Splatsville for now, and it’ll make it more convenient for Agents One and Two to observe it. You’re free to visit here anytime, however.”

Maya gave a thumbs up with their metal hand. “I understand. Knowing what it can possibly do makes me scared to keep it in my place anyway.”

Lily got up from her seat and sheathed her balisong. “If there isn’t anything else that needs to be discussed, I’m out of here. I’ll be back in Splatsville to get some grub if you need to scold me more, Captain. Come on, Three. You gotta show me the best place to eat.” She walked off with Willow following her and waving the Captain and the rest goodbye. She shot Vienna a glare as she passed her.

“She’s never going to see Octolings in a good light, will she?” Rei muttered.

Marie seemed to have heard them as she commented, “Just give her time. Everything will sink in for her, and she’ll eventually learn to cooperate with Agent Eight.”

Rei hoped so. Lily was one of the hardest workers they knew, but they wished she could use that determination more than just splatting Octarians. They feared that she would splat Vienna out of spite if she ever thought she was getting in her way. Looking at Vienna now, a part of her wished Lily was too busy in Octo Canyon to come to Splatsville.

The other members and Maya got up and either left the research station or, in Maya’s case, retreated to lounge on one of the couches. Vienna remained in her seat, staring at the jar of ooze that sat on the table. Rei got up from their seat and made their way to the downcast Octoling. “Hey, are you okay?”

“No,” Vienna answered bluntly. “That ooze…I never thought I would have to see it again. I didn’t think there was still any trace of it. How did it even get here in the Splatlands?”

Rei sat next to her. “Vienna, we still don’t know if it’s the same sanitizing ooze. This could be an entirely different thing.”

“But you suspected it to be it.” Vienna tore her gaze away from the jar, and her eyes were glossy. “You’re also scared that a repeat of the Metro will happen on a much larger scale, aren’t you?”

“I…” Rei dipped their head and closed their eyes for a moment. “Yes, I am scared. I know you are too. But…we have to get through this somehow.” They subconsciously reached for their scar. “I know the years can’t make us forget, but we’re stronger compared to then. If we really don’t want others to suffer like we did, then we have to stay strong.”

Vienna’s eyes lowered. She stayed silent, and Rei let her stay like that for as long as she needed. At some point she let out a brief chuckle, a bit dry. “Being captain really does suit you.” She returned her gaze to Rei, a small smile on her beautiful face. “Let’s go get something to eat too. Then I want to explore the city afterward.”

Rei can sense the pain behind her smile. She was trying her hardest to not think about the sanitizing ooze, to not think about the long, grueling fight that they had. Regardless, they mimicked her smile. “I’ll be sure to take you to Ammo Knights the moment we finish eating.”

Chapter Text

Rei and Vienna returned to Splatsville through the manhole. Throughout the trip back, Rei agreed to let Vienna peruse Ammo Knights first before they look for someplace to eat. The shop was a quick walk away from the manhole that they emerged from.

Entering the shop, they saw Sheldon organizing a rack of .52 and .96 Gals. He turned around upon hearing the two’s footsteps. “Ah, welcome! I see that you’ve also come here all the way from Inkopolis, Agent 8.”

“Hi, Sheldon,” Vienna greeted back. “Yeah, I’m here on important agent duties. And Vienna is fine, no need to call me by my agent name.” Her eyes wandered over the collection of weapons in the shop, and her eyes glittered upon spotting a few Tri-Stringers hanging from the ceiling. “I see that you do have new weapons in stock.”

“Indeed! We have the new Tri-Stringer as you have already noticed. Its design is based on the primitive bow and arrow, but don’t underestimate its capabilities because of its origin alone! It’s quite versatile, being able to shoot it horizontally and vertically, and arcing your shots over cover will surely catch your foes by surprise. And the explosive arrows from a charged shot can deliver a deadly blow!”

Vienna’s eyes were gleaming with joy as she had a wide grin. “How curious! What sub weapon and special is it paired with normally?”

“Normally the Tri-Stringer is paired with the Toxic Mist to slow down your foes and the Killer Wail 5.1 to make them scurry about, making them easy targets for your deadly aim.”

“Ooh, the Killer Wail 5.1, that’s a new special for me! Tell me more about it.”

Rei smiled. They enjoyed hearing Vienna get so enthusiastic about weapons, but they didn’t wanna listen too much for any longer—hearing Sheldon’s rambling would eventually give them a headache.

They pulled out their phone and scrolled through their messages, tapping their chat history with Willow. They messaged:

Rei: Hey. We ’re in the city now too. Vienna’s gushing over the new weapons in Ammo Knights. Where are you two at?

Willow: Oh hey! We ’re still looking for a place to eat

Willow: I was thinking of showing them how Splatsville serves clam mochi because you mentioned it ’s different from Inkopolis, right?

Rei: Yeah. Also Lily likes deep-fried shrimp, like tempura, so maybe find a place that serves that? The place we usually eat at works if you two aren ’t far from it. We might eat there too in a bit.

Willow: Gotcha! We can walk to it, I ’m sure Lily won’t complain

Willow: Oh, we found a food stall she wants to try, gotta go!

Rei looked away from their phone to see Vienna wielding a Splatana Stamper. She was testing its weight in her hands, doing a few swings and generally admiring the craftsmanship of the weapon.

Would it be wise for Vienna to eat at the same table as Lily? The two of them couldn’t avoid each other forever. They had to work together at some point, so it might be best to get them to spend time together now. If Lily did anything to spoil Vienna’s appetite, Rei would just have to scold her and kick her legs under the table. Lily probably wouldn’t want to cause too much of a scene in public.

Rei leaned against the wall by the entrance, waiting for Vienna to finish admiring the new weapons and chatting with Sheldon. It probably took about 30 minutes until she walked up to them, a sheepish smile on her face.

“Sorry for taking so long. I forgot that we were going to eat.”

“Your tummy rumbled, didn’t it?”

“Maybe.” Vienna chuckled, and Rei laughed too.

“Well, I know just the place for us to eat at. They make some pretty good sushi and ramen.”

“Oh, I would love some ramen! Do they have takoyaki too?”

“They do, actually. It also tastes pretty good.”

With the two of them saying their farewells to Sheldon, they exited the shop and walked down the street. The place they’ll eat at was a bit far, near where their apartments were, but that just meant more alone time with Vienna for Rei.

They looked at her, whose eyes were spying the different shops. They glanced down, feeling a bit awkward and hesitant, but ultimately they reached over and gingerly held her hand. They felt her tense up, which made them purse their lips, and she looked over with a look of surprise. Those were quickly washed away, however, when she relaxed and gave a warm smile. Rei smiled in return.

They didn’t know why they felt the need to keep holding her hand. They just…do. It was instinct, a desire to protect her, and holding her hand like this felt like a form of protection. What exactly were they protecting her from? They didn’t know, but they still did it.

With how long they took at Ammo Knights, they thought Willow and Lily would be eating inside by now or even close to finishing, but that wasn’t the case. As they reached the restaurant, they spotted Willow and Lily nearing the place.

Willow was laughing, and Lily looked lax, having both her hands on the back of her head. Again, a moment where Lily was like her usual self, the person that Rei knew her to be. Her eyes met theirs, and they were bright as she waved. But the moment she spotted Vienna, all the bitterness and resentment returned to her face. She rolled her eyes and lowered her hands.

Willow, on the other hand, took notice of Rei and Vienna holding hands. She tilted her head a little, eyes curious, but she didn’t openly question it as she looked back at Rei’s eyes.

“I thought we were gonna arrive just as you guys were leaving,” Rei joked.

Willow laughed. “Ah, no, Lily found a lot of food stalls in the streets, and she just had to try every one of them.”

“They were good though!” Lily said, pouting somewhat. “You can’t blame me for returning to some of them for seconds.”

“Are you still gonna be able to eat here? Aren’t you full already?”

“Of course. There’s always room in my stomach for shrimp.”

Willow entered the restaurant, and Rei followed behind her. Lily glared at Vienna before following, and Vienna entered last, trying to not frown with how she was glared at.

The restaurant was a simple, casual eatery. There were no fancy decorations, but there was a relatively unknown jazz band playing on a stage in the corner of the wide room, adding to the atmosphere. Several tables and booths were around them, some of them taken up by patrons having their early lunch. Later there’d be more customers occupying the tables, so they’re lucky to have arrived early.

“I’ll go order food for us,” Willow offered. “What do you all want?”

“A platter of tempura for me,” Lily said.

“Sushi for me, any kind is fine,” Rei added.

“A bowl of ramen and a serving of takoyaki for me,” Vienna whispered.

Willow nodded. “Got it. You three go seat someplace comfy.” She walked off to the counter to order, and the remaining three proceeded to one of the booths.

Rei and Vienna sat together while Lily sat on the other side, saving space beside her for Willow. Vienna squeezed her Octo Shot beside her leg and the wall to her right, and Lily had her Hero Shot set on her lap. Up to now, Rei and Vienna were still holding hands, and they continued to hold hands under the table. Rei wondered who would be the first to let go, but they certainly weren’t going to be the one, and they weren’t complaining. The warmth from Vienna’s hand was…comforting, to say the least.

Lily, as Rei expected, pulled out her balisong and started flipping it. Rei narrowed their eyes. “Lily, we’re in a public space. Use your trainer instead of your real blade.”

“Well, I didn’t bring my trainer. I left it at Willow’s place ‘cause I thought we were already gonna be going out on a mission.” Lily shrugged. “It’s not like I’m gonna cut anyone playing with it here, and I’m wearing my glove like you want me to.”

“Hm. I guess you are already pretty trained with it.” Rei sighed. “Fine, but please bring your trainer with you next time. I’m going to say beforehand if we’re going on a mission so you can be ready with your actual blade.”

“Noted, Captain.” Lily would occasionally glance in Vienna’s direction, and the Octoling was well aware whenever her eyes were on her. “So, Vienna. DJ Octavio helping Willow. What do you make of that, considering you used to serve him?”

Vienna flinched at the question. “Um…Well, when I read Willow’s logs about what transpired, I also couldn’t believe that Octavio helped. Never would I imagine him helping the Inklings, but there he was, helping the New Squidbeak Splatoon in saving the world.” She frowned. “And I did use to serve him as a soldier, but I greatly regret those days, even before I heard the Squid Sisters sing. I never liked it at all.”

“But after hearing what he’s done, would you consider returning to serving him? You know, since he’s supposedly not as bad as he was previously.”

Vienna shook her head. “I don’t ever want to return to living in Octo Valley. I much prefer living here on the surface, where I get to see the real sky, feel the breeze, and be surrounded by lively people instead of robotic followers. Octavio being a good guy for once isn’t going to change that.”

Lily set her open balisong on the table. She studied Vienna for a moment, squinting her eyes, while Vienna just sat there looking slightly uncomfortable. “Interesting…” she muttered. Was she beginning to understand her more? Rei noticed she didn’t look entirely hostile, but her eyes held no friendliness either. It’d be a miracle if she turned over a new leaf from that brief interaction alone, but of course, that wasn’t going to be the case.

There were no further inquiries from Lily, and the three sat in silence, awkwardly looking at each until Willow arrived with two trays of their food. Rei’s stomach twisted from hunger at smelling the delicacies as each of them grabbed their order. They assumed that Willow would order a clam mochi like she mentioned previously, but she instead ordered a simple fish burger, something she ate whenever she wanted comfort. There was also a smaller platter of tempura for her Little Buddy to eat. It all looked so appetizing.

As they took their chopsticks and began eating, Vienna initiated a conversation with Willow minutes after, wanting to talk about their time battling through the kettles. “Reading your logs stuck with me,” she said. “You being offered a choice of weapons at the start in a tube, paying a fee to go through some of the kettles, and an outside force splatting you if you failed the objective—it…brought back memories of what I went through in the Deepsea Metro.”

“Really?” Willow’s eyes widened. “That reminds me, I haven’t actually gotten to reading your old logs! Rei only mentioned them about a week ago when they talked about you two visiting Splatsville.” She turned to Lily. “And I also haven’t read yours either, Lily.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Vienna said with a chuckle. “My logs are pretty…somber, I would say. I’d understand if you didn’t read through all of it, but Rei has probably already told you the important details.”

Rei added, “And Lily’s logs are pretty messy anyway. Although, I guess that’s pretty fitting for her.” They smirked at seeing Lily pout at them.

Vienna chuckled at the comment, earning a glare from Lily. “If you have any questions about me, Willow, I’d be happy to answer them. I’m sure you have loads of them since you haven’t really gotten to know me and Lily well yet.”

“I guess I do have some questions, but there’s this one question that I’ve been wondering since you and Lily arrived in Splatsville, and it’s, um…” Willow’s eyes darted between Vienna and Rei. “Are you and Rei…together?”

Rei dropped their sushi onto their plate just before they put it in their mouth. They stared at her, mouth still agape, their cheeks burning.

Vienna’s eyes widened, their cheeks barely reddening under her olive skin. She tilted her head a little, a confused and sheepish smile on her face. “U-um, excuse me? Together in what way?”

“Like…a couple. I just noticed how especially close you two were when you met, and I keep seeing you two hold hands, and speaking of—” Willow looked under the table, seeing that even now the two of them were holding hands. “—yeah, you two are still holding hands while eating. And I didn’t know that you’re left-handed, Rei.”

“I’m not,” Rei said, focusing on that part more. “I just know how to use chopsticks with my left hand. But—” They shook their head. “We’re not a couple. We just…worry about each other a lot, so we hold hands. Right, Vienna?”

“Y-yeah,” Vienna stammered, her voice soft. “I feel safer when someone holds my hand, that’s all.”

“Rei,” Lily said, an edge to her voice, “you aren’t actually dating an Octarian, are you?”

Rei furrowed their brow, their face now also burning with anger. “And what if I was? Would you have a problem with that?” They quickly added, “Not that I am, of course.”

“Yes, there’s clearly a huge problem with it. That’s two different species, Rei, they can’t ever be together.”

“Tell that to Pearl and Marina,” Rei muttered. They squeezed Vienna’s hand.

Were they…no, they weren’t. They weren’t dating. There was never a time when they mutually agreed that they were in a relationship, and there was never a time when they even suggested it. Besides, Vienna probably wouldn’t even be interested in them. For one, they’re a girl, Vienna would probably be interested in dating a guy instead. Second, she probably wouldn’t want to be with the person who caused her a lot of suffering in the Deepsea Metro. Sure, there were so many other factors that scarred her, but their long, grueling fight when they were Sanitized? Even if they weren’t in control, it was still their power and skills that hurt her greatly.

As for if they would consider dating her…they didn’t know. At the moment, they just felt taken aback by the question. Were they interested in her? Did they have feelings for her? They had the instinct to hold her hands to protect her, but were they confusing protection for affection? They didn’t want to reflect on any of this lest their entire face goes red and they want to disappear out of embarrassment. They’ll think about it when they get back home, with…Vienna in another room.

Lily crossed her arms. “If there’s one thing I know about you, Rei, is that you insist on holding hands with people you love and admire. I swear, by the end of the week the two of you are going to profess your love for each other and share it to everyone else.”

Willow looked at her, curious. “How do you know that they like to hold people’s hands?”

“Lily,” Rei hissed under their breath. Please don’t tell everyone about it, they silently pleaded.

Lily narrowed her eyes, challenging Rei’s gaze. She smirked, and for a moment Rei thought she was going to spill it. “I’ve just observed Rei a lot when I got to see them in Cuttelefish Cabin. They used to date someone before but they broke up about two years ago. It's honestly pretty sad.”

Rei let out a relieved sigh. They weren’t too bothered by Willow and Vienna knowing who they used to date, but now felt like an awkward time to reveal it. Maybe another time, but they didn’t find a need to ever share it.

Willow frowned as she glanced at Rei and Vienna, who both looked so flustered. “Sorry for asking that. I just assumed wrong, I didn’t mean to make you two uncomfortable.”

Lily let out a deep sigh. “Well, Willow, how about me? Do you have any questions about me that you haven’t asked me in private already?”

“Oh, let me think.” Willow hummed, then said, “Okay, it’s related to Vienna again. Sorry in advance for this one, but I just wanna know: why do you hate Vienna even if she’s a fellow agent that saved Inkopolis?”

Lily groaned and reclined her head even before Willow finished her question. “She’s an Octarian, plain and simple. You all may get buddy-buddy with Octolings, but I have my reasons for hating them all the same. I joined the New Squidbeak Splatoon to fight the Octarians, and that’s not going to change. Ever. Thinking about getting close to an Octarian is just so… Blegh.” She let her yellow tongue out in disgust, revealing its freakishly long length that reached way past her chin.

Willow jumped in her seat upon seeing it. “Whoa! What the heck, your tongue!”

Lily, with her tongue still out, asked, “What? You’ve never seen anyone with a tongue like this before?”

“Obviously not!” Willow leaned closer to inspect Lily’s tongue. She was in total awe.

Lily laughed as her tongue retreated into her mouth. “It can get much longer than that if I wanted it to.” She nodded toward Rei. “Rei’s got one too, but they’re always too shy to show it.”

Rei gritted their teeth, seeing her smirk like that and revealing one of her insecurities so casually. “Tell the whole world about it, why don’t you?”

Willow looked over to Rei, her eyes beaming with curiosity. “Really? Do you mind showing it?”

Rei shifted in their seat. They debated whether they should just hide it and let Willow imagine, but they supposed it wouldn’t hurt to satisfy her curiosity. They slipped their yellow tongue out of their mouth, matching the primary color of their tentacles, and let it extend up to their chin. After a second of Willow looking at it, they pulled their tongue back into their mouth.

“That’s so cool! Why is it like that?”

“It’s a genetic thing most likely,” Rei said, their voice low. “I’ve tried cutting it off before because I hate how it looks, but it just grows back no matter how many times I cut it. So I’m stuck with having this freakish tongue.”

This time, Vienna was the one to squeeze their hand. Did they not like hearing their attempts of cutting their tongue? They should be the one squeezing her hand after Lily talked about hating Octarians again.

“Oh, that’s…sorry to hear that.”

Rei shook their head. “It’s fine. I just don’t want people judging me for it.” They picked up a piece of sushi with their chopsticks. “Let’s go back to eating before we start talking about something that will spoil all our appetites.”

As they suggested, the group returned to eating their food. There was still the occasional chatter, but nothing huge that made them drop their food and stop eating. Eventually they all finished their meals and were left satiated.

Vienna let out a content sigh. “The food was pretty good like you said, Rei.”

“I’m glad you liked it. This might be where we go to eat while you guys are staying here, and it’s near our apartments too.”

Lily belched. “Okay, I can definitely say that I’m full. Now I want to do something else than eat food.” Her eyes twinkled. “How about we play some matches? I’m itching to splat some people.”

“Oh, yes please!” Willow agreed with a wide smile. “I’ve been excited to be in a team with you all.”

Perfect, Rei thought. This will be the first time they’ll see what the team dynamic will be like. It wasn’t going to be life or death, but playing a match as a team will show how well they worked together and what areas they needed improving on. They’d also get to see how Lily and Vienna would work together.

And I’ll get to see Vienna in action again. They always admired how skillful and dexterous she was. They haven’t played in a match together in years, ever since Rei moved to Splatsville for New Squidbeak Splatoon duties, so they’d be sure to cherish this moment. Of course, they’d be playing more matches in the future for practice, so that was something Rei looked forward to.

Oh, to be spending more time with Vienna…