Great Turf War

Day 15

The four converged at the cafeteria for breakfast. Today was the day. Shio spotted some other teams that were going to compete in the tournament as well. The Enforcers, the Skirmishers, the Overseers, and other curious teams.

They started lining up for the breakfast buffet. Shio convinced Sairento to try the Sea Star Soup, while Marie and Callie hurried off to another section. When they met again at their table, Sairento eyed his bowl suspiciously. He tried a spoonful of it.

Sairento started shaking his head, his breaths becoming light wheezes. He shut his eyes tightly, desperately trying to blot out the world around him. He covered his face in a futile attempt to conceal his sorrow. Painful moments--eternities to him--passed without any solace or rest. When he finally spoke, only faint whimpers escaped evincing his lamenting.

"This thing is trash," Sairento grieved. He could barely get out the final word before a wave of despair washed over him again, plunging him deeper into an ever-darkening abyss.

Shio looked at him, unamused.

"Fine, I'll throw away your sea star soup."

"Thank you," Sairento said shakily. Those were... real tears in his eyes.

"The man can't even survive some warm meat water," Marie commented.

"Is it really that bad?" asked a horrified Callie.

"Definitely not," Shio objected. He was clearly being bribed by the sea star soup.

To this, Sairento was instantly lively again and ready to argue.

"On the contrary, I'd like to liberate this universe from Shio's favorite dish."

"Do you hear this, guys?" Shio inquired the others. "This is the very man who faked his depression to get clout!"

"Maybe," Sairento responded. He didn't resign just yet.

"You know what? I'll try the soup," Marie announced. Sairento's expression morphed in disgust. Shio brought over a fresh bowl of soup and a clean spoon.

Sairento observed Marie's reaction to trying the Sea Star Soup intently. Alarmingly, she was indifferent. Sairento cringed.

"It's fine," Marie concluded. She didn't think it was that great but didn't think it was bad, either.

With this reaction, Sairento resigned to the might of sea star soup. He dedicated his entire being to exiling this horrid soup from reality, yet in a single moment, his progress had reduced to shambles. Suddenly, an announcement blared from the speakers above.

"Hello, Inklings! Today, we are starting the long-awaited Special Forces Tournament! Groups of recruits will battle it out for the chance to become an elite unit of the army! This only happens once a year, so be ready and give it your all!" the head general Cuttlefish announced.

Shio felt a jolt of adrenaline coursing through his body. Squids left and right started standing up and leaving the cafeteria. Three out of the four finished their food, and Marie spared Sairento by giving him a piece of her shwaffle. He looked at it with a distant gaze, unsure if he wanted to continue anymore.

The four followed other soldiers out of the cafeteria and into an uncommonly traversed underground path. When they saw the sun again, they were in a stadium-like arena, with sectioned off areas for various teams to prepare before the battle.

"Alright, please go to your assigned spots and wait for further instructions," Cuttlefish said into the microphone. There was an awkward bustle in the tournament grounds as hordes of anxious Inklings roamed about. Meanwhile, the Squidbeak Splatoon decided to discuss their plan of action.