You're a Skwidd Now

Chapter 1: Sundaes

What a horrible day.

That was it. It was just a horrible day for Simon Grace. They and their twin sister Jill's squad had fallen apart four days ago, leaving them without teammates, without a schedule... and what seemed most important of all at the moment; single. They'd been dating Roderick for close to five months, and it all ended so quickly... It wasn't until now that they realized how much of a jerk he'd been.

They stood in Inkopolis Plaza after having completely flopped their way through the last few battles. They thought it would help clear their head, but they just felt even more jumbled and hurt then before. Even their favorite outfit wasn't helping. Squid-stitch cap, berry ski jacket, pink scarf, and a custom pair of pink slip-ons they'd specially ordered... Expensive little things, and they loved them... With their rosy skin and light dusting of freckles across their cheeks, they could be best described as a beacon of pink.

They let out a sigh and glanced around. The marvelously clear weather and the chit-chat of a near hundred inklings seemed to rub in the hurt and loneliness. All these inklings in groups of four, chatting about how the battles went that day, about Shrimp Kicks getting in a new shipment of some shoe or other... It just made jealousy boil within them.

They gripped at their Slosher and started walking, glaring at the ground with each step. Just keep walking to the train station, then you can go home, sit down, and sob into a bowl of ice cream... provided Jill hadn't eaten it all... she probably had. When it came to sweets, she turned into a black hole. Nothing could escape her. A squad giggling and laughing snapped them from their thoughts, and they couldn't help but glare in their direction. That very same bench, not a week ago they'd been laughing with Rodie... That dumping son of a-

"Ow!" They yelped as they walked right into someone. "Hey! Watch where you're-" They straightened their hat and froze, looking this figure over.

"I... mean sorry..."

He was very slightly taller than them, and wore a squidvader cap. It looked a bit worn around the edges, like it had seen some adventures. His shirt was a layered anchor LS, and he had a Splattershot Jr. holstered at his hip. Finishing off the look were a pair of white arrows, still slightly tinged from his most recent battle. But what drew their gaze were his eyes, light brown irises that seemed to sparkle out as they saw them, framed by black inkling markings, and then skin light and soft as cream. "It's alright, kid." He said, voice light and optimistic. "I should've been paying more attention." He flashed them a slight smile as he straightened his hat.

"That makes two of us." They muttered, looking away, though this left them looking back at the squad again. They grimaced and turned a bit so they could more casually look in the other direction. "After you, I'm in no rush..." They mumbled awkwardly.

"Alright, thanks." The other inkling said, starting to walk away. After two steps however, he paused and then turned back to them. "Is everything alright? You seem a little on-edge."

"Hm?" They glanced at him, a little surprised he'd stopped. "Ah, yeah. It's just been a difficult three, ah, four days is all... Not that bad, really." Their eye twitched a little. Yeah right, not that bad, like when they once threw a splash wall up-side down at a critical part of a match. That had been the last time they'd used their Slosher Deco.