Out of touch (human reader in splatoon)

6: A friend in a strange land

The day after meeting Jessica, y/n's existence was revealed to the public, with a picture of him facing away from the camera to prove he was real. Jessica told him there were a few news headlines, and their suspicions were correct in that the heat would die down.

Over the next few weeks, nothing much happened. The staff was pleased to make his acquaintance, as y/n was getting used to being around inklings. He helped get various machines working, such as vacuum cleaners, game consoles, and computers, while also doing fitness routines. He was even allowed a phone from them to keep, just so he could help arrange himself into the new society. Surprisingly, the only inklings he saw were Jessica and the staff, he assumed because no one cared much for history.

Some other news was floating about though: Callie and the Great zapfish both went missing, and some speculated it was him. After all, he had not been seen in public, and his existence was revealed around the same time. H

As he was eating breakfast that Jessica gave him that morning, his phone got a text.

I didn't know I could receive texts... How did anyone even get my number anyway?

The text read:

???: n/n. Go to Inkopolis square. Right now.

u/n: How do you know my name.

???: The number was hard to find. Let's just say I was one of the people you met at sea. Do you understand? Get over here now. Keep it secret.

u/n: I'll be on my way.

y/n was looking for an excuse to leave, at least visit some places. It reminded him of being in quarantine back at home.

y/n: "Hey Jess, I'm heading out for a while. I should be back by midnight. If not, something happened and you will see it in a news headline."

Jessica: "Alright then, I suppose I shouldn't babysit you anymore. Stay safe."

y/n: "You too."

After walking out of the building, y/n realized he hadn't been outside ever since he arrived, much less in his normal clothing, of dark gray sweatpants and an orange shirt. He took the moment to look at the view, which was breathtaking but also alien, as the buildings rose far into the sky in the distance, with unknown symbols plastered onto them. The architecture was somewhat familiar as well. y/n had also realized he didn't know where Inkopolis square was, or how to get there, so he did a quick search on his phone, and knew his route. He needed to catch a train that left in 30 minutes, so he quickly made his way over to the station.

As y/n walked, more and more sea life was appearing around him. Most didn't give a glance, but when he arrived at the station, lots of eyes were focused on him. Being the antisocial being he is, y/n took out his phone and started to casually do... anything. To not draw too much attention. As the train stopped, the conductor, (surprisingly, but not so surprisingly a sea cucumber), took the tickets of the people on the train.

Of course you need a ticket. What was I thinking?

Conductor: "Hey! Aren't you that human? Well, I'm glad to meet you. The name's C. Q. Cumber. Ticket please."

Knowing the situation would just be awkward, he decided to admit it.

y/n: "I'm sorry, I made the mistake of not bringing any money with me. That's my fault."

C.Q.C.: "I'm sorry too, lad. No ticket, no ride. Well, I'll come back, and if you don't have a ticket, then I can't let you stay here."

y/n: "Understood."

All y/n could do was sit there.

I definitely can't steal anything... I would never do that anyways... I could try to pick up some coins off the ground, that might cover it... No, I would make a fool of myself...

Before he knew it, C.Q.C. was back. As soon as y/n stood up and was about to head to the door, C.Q.C. said

C.Q.C: "Take it easy, there. A yellow squid in the back paid for your ticket, no worries."

y/n: "I'll go see him, then."

And as the train started to move, y/n went to sit next to him, and found him in an empty car.

He was an inkling boy with yellow tentacles, wrapped into a ponytail. He was staring down at the floor, not noticing y/n.

y/n: "Hi... thanks for that."

???: "I was in the same position once, I felt bad. Plus I'm new here, and I assume you are too."

He still hadn't looked up to face y/n, so he assumed he was another inkling.

y/n: "Is there any way I can repay you? I just feel like I'm leeching money off my friends, and I don't want that to happen again."

???: "Maybe you could help me in turf wars Mr..."

y/n: "You can just call me n/n. And yes, I'd love to."

???: "Call me Nate."

Nate looks up at y/n, who then gets a shock of surprise in seeing that it was a human he'd been talking to the entire time.

Nate: "You're the human?"

y/n: "Yes... what did you hear about me to make you react like that?"

Nate: "A lot of people think you're evil... just because of the time that you showed up."

y/n: "Why do they think I would do that?"

Nate: "Because humans are viewed as barbaric, uncivilized creatures.

y/n: "Some are yes, but that's a little insulting to a race that created about everything you have now."

Nate: "Nope."

y/n: "I'll have to show you some old photos sometime, if I can find them."

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They had talked all the way until their stop.