Candle: Splatoon Manga AU:

Chapter #11

...

"Aloha...? Is that- you?" 

"Hey Y/N, welcome back, it's been... 6 months?" 

"6 WHAT?"

Aloha chuckled, "Just kidding cutie! It's only been 6 hours, you must've hit your head hard." 

"I... oh, now I remember..." You sighed, taking your gaze up to Aloha, he looked down at you with both a worried and playful expression, he probably cared a lot, but decided to be playful about it instead? Probably something Aloha would do after all. 

"Hah, yeah, you were out for quite a bit! Thought I'd lose you..." Aloha chuckled. 

"...Aloha?" 

"Yeah, Y/N?" 

"What happened to Army...?" 

"Well... I think he's okay, but he banged on the door a few hours ago while you were passed out..." Aloha just smirked, but didn't seem as joyful. 

"Oh, okay..." You mumbled, slightly worried. 

The truth was, you felt bad. 

Really bad. 

But there wasn't much you could do, you, already screwed up, and now you were stuck with Aloha. 

Hmm. 

The weekend was coming for a close, meaning you should get back to campus, but how? 

Guess things had to play out. 

You and Aloha had chattered for a while, until he had to run out, apparently to "grab some supplies from a store nearby," stranding you by yourself. 

Oh well, there he goes skipping down the street. 

After you watched him leave, you couldn't help but regret your decisions. 

'Man, I must be madly reflecting now? Character development? Nah... maybe just the fact that I hit your head.' You thought. 

But then you paused, the door opened, but it wasn't Aloha. 

"Y/N, we need to talk..." Army stated worryingly. 

"..." You just stayed quiet, there wasn't anything you could do about this. 

It was unavoidable, wasn't it? 

Army stepped inside and closed the door, taking a seat next to you, he stayed quiet, it seemed like he was thinking. 

You looked around, and Army just sighed, "Y/N, I'm sorry.-"

"I'm not having it." You lashed out, sheesh, you didn't mean it like that, but it was too late now. 

Army's expression turned from apologetic, to stern. He wanted to forgive, but your attitude pushed that away, now he didn't seem very forgiving to you either, and that just pained you. 

You couldn't help but feel guilty after that, especially after Army just stopped speaking to you, and just sat there, taking some notes in his manual, like he would on a regular basis. 

You thought you made the right choice, but you strayed away from who cared. 

And now you had to pay the price. 

.

You couldn't take it anymore, your eyes fell too heavy to handle the clear liquid which spilt down your face like a waterfall. 

You felt too vulnerable. But was there even a point to avoiding it? 

Endless sweat and tears rushed down your face, you started to rub your eyes so much they started to hurt. 

You tried to scream out in pain and agony, but nothing would come out. Your vision blurred, and you felt so weak. 

You went to look beside you, but Army wasn't there for you. Then, the negative thoughts started to knot their way into your brain. 

'What if he never cared. Did he ever care? Perhaps you were too weak for him. You made him upset, it's fair for him to do the same thing, huh? '

.

'You made him leave. Didn't you?' 

...

.

"Shh... it's okay, everything is going to be okay. I'm not mad, I'm just concerned." Army soothed and comforted you with his reassuring words. 

You just sat there confused, with your eyes pouring out, Army wiped away your tears and put his hands on your shoulders. "Y/N, just because you messed up a few times, doesn't mean that you are a failure. We all learn somehow, and everyone works differently, it's okay, and it's part of your growth in your studies, and yourself as an individual." 

"..." Your eyes twinkled, tears fell down more lightly and less, Army putting his hands on your shoulders. 

"Y/N... even if you are just an "ordinary" student, I think you are very special, especially to me, and the rest of my team. You try your best for everything, and that's inspiring." Army's ears laid low when you didn't respond, "So please Y/N, come back with me to the school, and I'll help you." 

"..." You were a bit quiet, but Army seemed to had understand now, you were just shocked. 

Before Army could further continue, Aloha returned, with nothing? You looked confused, and Aloha smiled, "Looks like my plan worked! ♪" Aloha said in a singsong tone. 

"W-What plan...?" You asked, tilting your head to the side, looking at Aloha. 

"I know that you have been stressing a lot, so I thought maybe this would help you!~" Aloha twirled in joy, seemingly happy that he could help you somehow. 

"...well I guess that worked..." You sighed, looking back at Army, who was straightening his barret. 

"Y/N, isn't there something you need to say to me still?" Army glared back at you, with a small smirk. 

"...I'm sorry." You took a deep breath and sighed. Army put one of his hands on your shoulder. 

"I forgive you, I get how hard it must be to be separated from your family." Army nodded, giving you a smile of reassurance. 

"Thank you..." You smiled, Army gave you a light pat on the head, and watched the sun set through the window. 

"Just remember that you'll be rinsing a lot of plates when you get back..." Army chuckled in a teasing tone. 

"...ok." You sighed lightly, looking down, but Army immediately lifted your chin up again. 

"Y/N, I was joking, don't worry about it, I get how much you struggle with basic things, and that's okay. As long as you try your best, you're succeeding in my books." Army gave you another smile, and then got up, giving you a hand. 

You took his hand and stood up, "Thanks Aloha, for stopping me from getting- my head cracked like an egg?"

"Heh, it's chill! Stay safe out there!~" Aloha waved, and you and Army headed towards the door. 

"Thanks." Army chuckled, waving lightly to Aloha and heading out into the taxi with you, taking you both back to the school. 

.

Maybe things aren't so bad after all? I just needed to trust the right people. 

Words: 1058