Salmon Run: Last Stand (A Splatoon 3 story)

Chapter 5: Day Out with Saunni

I woke up, exhausted. My temples ached as I got up. I rubbed them in circular motions, hoping I could calm them. I groaned in a twisted mixture of vertigo and dizziness that clouded my cloud.

Saunni walked into the room just after I woke up. She sat down by me and asked if I felt okay. I said, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep right, is all."

"Well, with what you told me last night, I was just concerned about you."

"I know you are. I'm glad you understand."

"You sure you want to continue? If it's true that the salmonoids have gone savage, it's better to stop here."

"You know why I can't do that, Saunni." Small Fry walked into the room towards me. I picked him up and stroked his hair. "I have too much to lose right now."

"And I don't want to lose you, Hook Line. You inspired me to train to play in the Splat Games. Losing you would really hurt me." She wraps her arms around my bust. "Please don't leave. I have so much to prove to you."

I returned a hug back. "No one is leaving you, Saunni. I'll make sure of that."

A tear landed on my arm. "Promise me that whatever danger threatens you, you run back here."

I sensed her distress in her voice. I stroked her hair and made my promise. We embraced each other for a few minutes. I said, "You know? How about you show me what you can do?"

She looked up at me. "What do you mean?"

"I have a few days to calm down. Maybe you show me how you handle your weapons."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Thank you. That would mean a lot."

"Yeah, it would be nice to get some fresh air. Plus, Small Fry could join us." I looked down at him as he bounced around. "Wouldn't you like that, boy?"

She giggled. "He seems happy. Give me a minute to change." She ran to her room and locked the door. She didn't shout it aloud, but I could feel her excitement seeping through the wooden door. I figured I should change, too. This was going to be a big day for all of us. But I remembered my clothes were in the bedroom, so I had to wait till she was finished.

She came out with a look that I could have sworn she stole from me. She wore a large headset, a yellow shirt, and baggy tracksuit trousers, and walked around in white runner shoes. I was almost astonished that she replicated my style with every detail in their place.

She peered at me before bashfully asking for my thoughts. I struggled to process my thoughts into words. I only said, "You look amazing. How did you-"

"I watched all your games, remember? I searched everywhere for everything that you had. Every time I trained; I wore them. Something about them just felt right, you know?"

"You sure that you aren't in love with me?" I jokingly asked her.

"Don't push yourself, wise guy." "If I loved you, I would've kissed you the moment I met you in the alleyway."

"Well, since I took you there, you would have fallen to your knees, begging me to take you in my arms."

She laughed as she tackled me. "That's not what would happen, you jerk."

"You keep telling yourself that, it'll come true."

We fell down as we laughed hard. "Shut up, idiot. You don't know anything about me." She began throwing playful punches at me.

I covered my face from her punches. "Really? What do you call this, then?"

"This is me telling you to mind your own business. Now hold still, will you?"