Splatoon Manga: CybeRun

Chapter 4: Back To The Darkness

⭐Chapter 4: Back To The Darkness

The next day, as promised, the squidbeak studied. Rider took a look at his notes from the idol 4's lessons, and called the others to talk about it too. Nana and Hachi worked on their octarian army skills with Pony and Afro, but kept the squidbeak splatoon a secret. Emperor surprisingly did nothing, but told his house mechanics that they should prepare to fix any kind of machine tomorrow. He then proceded to do nothing but listen to Rider ramble about the notes while sitting on the sofa.

Prince on the other hand, actually took some notes from Rider's calls. He didn't really agree with his brother's laziness, and he couldn't bring himself to follow him. Ever since blue team had changed the yellow team entirely, he saw things from a different point of view. He sighed, as there really wasn't anything he could do to change his brother's mind. Speaking of Goggles, he was busy doing turf with team blue.

He was more of a visual learner than a listening and writing kind of learner. Rider's rambles went right through his head, and he found himself practicing for combat by actually doing it. He didn't see anyone else out in the turf lobby surprisingly. Gloves was trying to take notes from Rider with Flip, but Flip also found herself going to Octo Canyon to train. She'd taken her charger with her too, just because none of the other squidbeak could watch her use it. Not even the idol 4, as she ran off to further away areas to use it.

Flip still found herself unsure of using this weapon, but shook off her feelings. She was determined to support the squidbeak as best she could. She was considering bringing it anyway, since the pins the idol 4 face the group could store turf weapons. She'd use her roller for the most part, but still. Maybe the group wouldn't even need a charger.

Around the afternoon, Flip went back into Inkopolis Square to get a lunch break. She was surprised to find Goggles and blue team already by the tables at Crusty Sean's. Well, talking to them wouldn't hurt, right? She'd hidden her turf weapons in her pin, anyway. Slowly, she walked over.

"Oh! Hey Flip!" Goggles said with a smile, waving.

Wow, he'd already noticed her.

"Hey guys...how's uh...how's turf war?" Flip asked nervously.

"Good! We've been thinking of strategies for...just in general!" Goggles said.

It was obvious he was trying to hide the fact that he was doing it for another reason. Perhaps he'd told his teammates this too, but was secretly preparing for any troubles during the mission? Could Goggles even lie like that? Flip had never seen him pull off a successful one...

"Yeah. Some work, some don't. Simple as that," Specs shrugged.

"Oh, well uh...that's great to hear!" Flip replied, putting on her best smile.

She wasn't about to tell them how she was doing.

"How are you doing, by the way?" Headphones asked.

Oh.

Well, there went that.

"Eh. I'm alright. Been doing the usual, y'know?" Flip replied, doing her best to sound smooth and casual.

"The usual?" Bobble asked.

"It's uh...complicated," Flip sighed.

"She's just been training hard!" Goggles answered.

"Yeah, like you guys!" Flip added, trying to make herself seem less suspicious.

"Ah. I see. Well, good luck to your training!" Headphones smiled.

"Yeah, you guys too!" Flip replied.

Flip turned around and started to walk back to her house by going through Inkopolis Square. She didn't need any more awkward tension, especially with one of her teammates there. She hoped a walk would get her mind off things, at least. Unfortunately, Flip couldn't help but think about the upcoming exam. It was practically the only thing on her mind.

What if she messed up during a big part of the exam? What if the charger caused her to make a mistake? Was learning the charger even a mistake to begin with? It all hurt to think about, especially since it seemed like she needed to come up with answers before the test.

Well.

Tommorrow was coming.

She couldn't afford to mess this up.

-----

Soon, the next day was upon the whole group. Despite being nervous, they began packing up to go down to the deepsea metro anyway. All of them had texted one another to make sure they were all on time today. Flip was just now making her way out of the door, and closing it behind her. Her parents were off at work at the moment, but she'd texted them to let them know where she was going.

As she walked by the same area she had yesterday, Flip noticed the old inkling was gone. The hat and whatever else had been there was also gone, with absolutely no trace whatsoever. She hoped he was doing alright, but shook the feeling out of her head. She needed to focus, not worry about small things. She kept walking past his spot and onto Inkopolis Square, looking around at the buildings to distract herself from her previous thoughts.

As she arrived, her heart sank as she saw everyone else was already standing by the entrance to a staircase leading underground. Even Goggles wasn't late, and that was saying something. Nonetheless, Flip kept up a happy facade as she made her way over. Rider quickly did a role call of everyone and a double check of supplies before the group went down the stairs. It kept getting darker and darker as they went down, but it was only for a little bit. After walking in darkness for what was probably 5 minutes, the group could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

As they got out into the open, they got onto a platform to their left. Flip looked around, and noticed several things. A broken blender, with its pieces covering the middle of the platform, a hole in the ceiling, a few dark teal stains in the ground, and then something past the blender pieces that she couldn't make out.

At last, the squidbeak had arrived.

At the Underground Deepsea Metro.