Better Eight Than Never

Chapter 6: Springboard Spyke

Monday; Inkopolis plaza; 11:58 AM

"You see them?" Bato asked as he and Toda exited the train station at the south end of the plaza.

"Nope..." Toda replied, standing on tiptoe to look over the heads of a taller group of inklings.

The plaza was crowded, but not so full as it was hard to move around. Many squids were hopping from group to group, looking for squads to join so they wouldn't be alone. Nobody could blame them, this terrorism stuff was frightening...

"Maybe they're not here yet..." Bato said quietly, glancing at his best friend. Toda had been awfully quiet on the train ride over, and seemed a little spaced out. "... Everything alright?"

"Huh?" Toda asked as he glanced at him. "Oh, yeah, everything's fine. Hey, I think I see them." He said, nodding in the direction of a low wall where Simon and Jill were leaning casually, and then beginning to walk off before Bato could ask any further questions.

Bato frowned slightly as Toda most likely lied to his face, sighing and following.

"Hey, Simon, there they are~!" Jill said, waving and trotting up to Toda. "Gooood morning~!"

"Hey guys." Toda replied, giving a little wave himself.

"Did you guys sleep well?" Jill asked with a smile. "Ready to get some T-shirts?"

Bato nodded. "Ready when you two are."

Simon and Toda nodded, the former avoiding eye contact with the latter.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Jill asked. "Let's goooo~!" She started to trot ahead, weaving her way through the crowd. "I think I'm gonna change into my shirt right away! I love getting new splatfest shirts!"

Toda chuckled a little bit. "I might change too; I didn't realize how hot it was gonna be today." He glanced back briefly at Simon, but then forced himself to focus on Jill.

Bato caught Toda's glance, and looked back at Simon himself. They were hanging behind a bit, and staring at the ground. He slowed his pace so he could walk beside them. "Is... everything going okay?" He asked quietly.

"I just didn't sleep well." Simon replied, not looking up.

"Okay then." Bato said quietly, giving them a little more space again.

Jill was still rambling on and on about her splatfest shirt. "I could wear my coat over it, but I'm already wearing another shirt, and so overwarm!"

Toda chuckled. "It hasn't exactly been coat weather lately." He agreed.

"It's like, my signature look!" Jill continued. "I'm nothing without my coat! The sleek black leather reflects–" She stopped dead in her tracks.

Toda almost ran into her, expression becoming concerned. "Jill?" He asked.

Bato frowned and briskly stepped up to her. "What's going on?"

"... It's her." Jill said softly.

"What? Who?" Toda asked, looking around.

Bato followed Jill's gaze, stiffening. "... Oh..."

Hachi was leaning against a bike rack, sunglasses making it hard to tell where she was looking, although her head was turning slowly, she was likely surveying the plaza as a whole.

"It's Hachi!" Jill hissed, looking away from her.

"I take it you see her too?" Simon asked, stepping in close to the rest of their squad.