Better Eight Than Never

Chapter 25: Cup runnith over

"-and that's why I think there should be a word for a deceptively deep puddle!" Jill said to Toda, Bato, and Hachi as she stepped out of the train station and into the wide open plaza. "It's hazardous to people's pants and shoes, and it would be a fun word, like 'Zerple'. On the plus side, we'd finally have something that rhymes with 'purple'!"

"Yeah that's cool..." Toda mumbled.

Jill glanced at him, trying to keep her ears from drooping. She felt so... off, so wrong. She couldn't keep doing this, she wanted them all to be happy, but with every passing second it seemed less and less possible. "... Okay!" She said in her chipper fashion. "It's not raining, let's go up to the balcony and wave at the squid sisters! C'mon!" She led the way across the plaza, hand instinctively reaching for her Splattershot Pro. Octolings seemed to have a habit of showing up here... what if there was one there now? 'No.' She told herself. 'They wouldn't come out with this much threat of rain. But Hachi hadn't known what rain was, had she? Why not? How could she not have known? It was one of the most dangerous things up here. No no, focus! Foooocuuuussss Jill, you are a shining star of radiance, and even the opinions of others cannot quench your beautiful light!'

It was right about then that she stepped in a puddle and soaked halfway up her boots. "Crap!" She yelped, stepping backward. "I just stepped in a Zerple!"

Bato snorted. "Looks like you're getting good use out of that word already."

She shrugged. "Eh, it could use a little work..."

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be fine?" She replied.

He paused. "Well, um... I was talking about your boot, but if you're not okay, we can talk–"

"I'm fine~" Jill sang, then turned and briskly began to walk up the ramp to the balcony.

She was halfway up when she finally remembered that she was going to video call Simon. "Oh please pick up..." She murmured, pulling out her phone and bringing up the call feature. It rang for a moment, but nobody picked up. "Simon..." She groaned, sending them a few brief texts.

J: S plz
J: were almost 2 C&M

"Not answering?" Bato asked.

"Yeah..." Jill said, glancing up at the squid sister's window. Callie and Marie looked... exhausted, and Callie was wearing an excessive amount of makeup. Jill cringed as she came to the conclusion that while busy with their double lives, Callie had taken a few hits yesterday. Meanwhile Marie's image was composed as ever, though her posture was not. She looked like she was half asleep while slouched in that chair, however she was becoming more and more alert as she looked them over.

It looked like Marie was saying 'There's only three of them.'

'Four' Callie probably corrected.

Jill glanced down at her phone as the screen changed. Simon had called her back. "Finally!" She said, answering the video call. "Hey Simon!"

Simon's lips moved, but no sound came out. Something about 'Make it quick' though.

"Whoops!" Jill said. "You're muted, hold on..." She turned up the volume, then turned her phone toward the studio and began to point rapidly at the call.

Callie and Marie squinted at the phone, then Marie held up a piece of paper to cover up what she was saying.

Jill's heart sank. "I... I have a feeling this isn't good enough..." She said.

"Are you talking to me?" Simon asked. "You have to speak up."

Bato leaned a bit toward the phone. "She said this might not be enough."