Numi woke up rather late. She stretched, yawning as she did and rubbed her eyes, before jumping out of her bed. She faceplanted the floor and got covered by her quilt. "Owie..." she muttered quietly and remained her position for a few minutes, before finally getting up and from under the quilt. She made her bed, went to the bathroom, and got dressed in a few minutes, after which she went downstairs. She found Pumi in the kitchen, her face buried in a bowl of cereals and snoring loudly. She noticed that there was another bowl of cereals on the table, presumably for her. She sat down at the table and began to eat vigorously.

Minutes later she was done, putting the empty bowl into the sink when she heard the door open. She walked into the living room and peeked at the door in the corridor. Kumi walked inside and closed the door behind her. "Kumi!" Numi beamed and ran up to her older sister, jumping into a hug.

"Woah!" Kumi exclaimed, taking a step back to not fall over.

"Why didn't you come home yesterday?" Numi demanded.

"I had a lot of work to do." Kumi said, hugging Numi back. Snoring could be heard from the kitchen. "Did Pumi fall asleep again?"

"Yup! She's sleeping on her cereals!" Numi confirmed.

Kumi took a deep breath and yelled "Space Commando 5 got cancelled!" across the house. Pumi yelled "WHAT?!" back moment later. "Don't sleep on your food!" Kumi yelled, and turned to Numi. "I'm taking you somewhere." she said mysteriously.

"Where? Where?" Numi beamed excitedly and started guessing. "Wahoo World? Museum? Popo's muffin shop?"

"It's a surprise."

"Tell me!"

"If I tell you, it won't be a surprise. Get your beanie and let's go find out."

"Ok!" Numi exclaimed and rushed for her short beanie, returning not even a minute later. "I'm ready! Let's go!" she beamed. Kumi smiled under her mask and opened the door. Numi skipped out happily, skipping her way to the gate. Kumi followed right behind.

"See that lamp over there?" Kumi asked after closing the gate, pointing at a lamp at the very end of the street.

"Yes...?" Numi said, confused.

"Wanna race?"

Numi's eyes shined. "Yes!"

"Alright. Get ready. On the count of three." Kumi said, getting into a better stance, standing on the side closer to the road. Numi did the same. "One. Two. Three. Go!" Kumi counted and bolted to the lamp. Numi dashed ahead, easily taking the lead, but not for long as Kumi caught up in no time. Numi sped up, running even faster, but Kumi still caught up. The lamp was getting close and closer, but the two sisters were head to head, neither one being truly able to get a lead. Just moments before reaching the lamp, putting her all into it, Numi managed to take the lead, her scarf waving like banners in the wind.

"I win! I win!" she exclaimed happily as she reached the lamp, with Kumi reaching it just seconds later. Numi was slightly out of breath.

"Indeed you have." Kumi said, patting Numi's head. "Want another race?"

"Not now. Maybe later?"

"Ok. We've got quite a bit to walk."

"How long?"

"Over an hour."

"What?!"

"I can give you a piggyback ride if you want."

"No, thank you."

"If you change your mind just tell me. Anyway, let's go. Kumi said and started to walk with Numi in tow, who was skipping happily.

They passed a few streets of houses, reaching a corner shop after about seven minutes. This was as far as Numi was allowed to go without taking her backpack when not with anyone, and it was ingrained into her brain. "Will we get anything from here?" Numi asked.

"Nope." Kumi answered. They continued to walk past the shop, taking a turn left. The two sisters continued to walk, passing several streets and taking strange turns. It continued for just over twenty minutes, during which Numi thought that they were going in circles, but she was proven wrong when she saw a construction site, something that wasn't anywhere prior. She watched the busy workers as they passed them. When she looked back where she was going she jumped to the side as she almost walked into a jellyfish, walking right under a ladder which she didn't even notice. She continued to skip happily beside Kumi, with not a single worry on her mind. Not too long afterwards she stopped skipping, as it has made her legs tired. "Are you tired?" Kumi asked a few minutes later when Numi started dragging her feet.

"A bit." Numi replied.

"Doesn't look like just 'a bit' to me." Kumi said. "Do you want a piggyback ride?" she offered.

"Yes please." Numi said. Kumi stopped, turned to her sister, picked her up and moments later Numi was getting a piggyback ride. "I am now the tallest inkling ever!" Numi beamed cheerfully.

"You're taller than me now." Kumi chuckled. "Hold on tight."

"Ok...?" Numi did as told. Kumi took a stance and bolted forward. "Woah!" Numi exclaimed in surprise. Kumi was speeding ahead, skilfully dodging objects and people alike. Numi's scarf was once again waving like banners in the wind. "Why are you running?"

"To get to the surprise faster!"

"Oh!"

---

Kumi let Numi get off once they reached the surprise. "A clinic?" Numi asked, tilting her head.

"Yes. We're here to get you some super powers." Kumi said in a convincing way.

Numi gasped. "Really?!"

"Really." Kumi assured. Numi exploded with joy and happiness.

"I will be Super Numi!" she beamed energetically. She followed Kumi into the clinic, skipping happily as she imagined what super powers she would get. The clinic was rather large. It was relatively spacious inside, with the walls being painted a soothing shade of light blue. There were many potted plants in the corners and on walls, with some scentless flowers growing in some pots, giving the clinic a much more welcoming feel to it. Numi was't paying much attention to anything that was going on around her, resulting in her not hearing when Kumi mentioned blood test to a nurse behind the counter.

"Numi." Kumi said to get Numi's attention. Numi looked at her sister and followed her to a waiting room. There were a few inkling and octoling children playing with some toys with their parents sitting nearby, a pair of urchins, a group of jellyfish and some other oceanics.

"How long will we wait?" Numi asked.

"It shouldn't be too long." Kumi replied. Hearing this, Numi sat patiently and watched her surroundings. The walls of the waiting room had a few clouds painted on them, with a few colourful birds accompanying them. The floor had a strange pattern of yellow, orange and red shapes on a light green base, with some stickers of cartoon squids and octopuses plastered randomly here and there. There were some medical posters, but they didn't interest Numi at all. She got bored after a few minutes and decided to busy herself with one of the photo heavy magazines, with this particular magazine being about birds. She spent about twenty minutes reading it and looking at the different bird photos, when out of nowhere she heard her name being called out. "Our turn." Kumi said, standing up. Numi closed the magazine, put it back on the pile and followed Kumi.

"Hello." an elderly inkling man said.

"Hi!" Numi beamed cheerfully.

"Greetings." Kumi said as she closed the door. She gave a nod to the doctor.

"The last time I've seen you, you still didn't have your fingers properly formed. How are you today?" the doctor said to Numi.

"I'm good, thank you!"

"Would you mind taking a seat?" the doctor asked and pointed at a chair. Without a word, Numi sat on the chair.

"What super powers will you give me?" Numi asked excitedly with a spark in her eyes.

"You'll see." the doctor replied, and started to strap Numi to the chair. "This is for your own safety, in case the... uh, super powers are too strong."

"Ok..." Numi said, not liking the straps in the slightest. The doctor fastened a strange belt around Numi's lower stomach area.

"Can you try and turn to your basic form, please?" the doctor asked politely. Numi tried a few times but couldn't, so she shook her head. "Alright, the belt is working." Kumi sat down by Numi and moved her right sleeve up, much to Numi's confusion. The doctor tied a rubber band to Numi's arm and washed a particular spot on it with something that Numi thought smelled funny.

"Numi, how was yesterday?" Kumi asked, trying to get Numi to look away. The doctor put on ear protection and took something from a cabinet.

"It was strange! It snowed!" Numi beamed, looking at both Kumi and the doctor.

"I know. I've almost got caught by it." Kumi said, acting normal. The doctor turned around and tried to conceal a syringe, but Numi found it odd.

"What is that?" Numi asked.

"Uh... super powers?" the doctor said awkwardly.

"Numi, did you eat breakfast?" Kumi asked.

"Yes! Pumi made a bowl of cereals for me, before I woke up!" Numi beamed, turning to face Kumi. The doctor took the chance and walked over to Numi with the syringe, when out of nowhere Numi looked back at him.

"What super pow-" Numi didn't finish, paling when she noticed the syringe and more importantly, the needle. Kumi covered her ears moments before Numi let out an ear piercing, high pitched scream, screaming as loud as if she was being skinned alive, breaking into tears. She tried to get up and run away, but the straps weren't allowing her to even budge the tiniest bit, and the belt prevented her from turning to her squid form. "NEEDLE! TAKE IT AWAY! PLEASE, TAKE IT AWAY!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, shaking, crying and completely pale.

"I'm sorry Numi, but I can't." the doctor said and approached Numi, checking if the rubber band was on properly.

"PLEASE! I DON'T WANT THAT AGAIN!" Numi cried, as one of her worst memories came to live.

---

10 years ago.

"Mommy, what's a blood test?" Numi asked.

"It's a thing a doctor does to make sure that you're all healthy." Nanata explained to her daughter. "It's a quick poke, which might sting a little. It looks scary, but it isn't."

"Okie!" Numi beamed. The doctor has finished preparing Numi's arm and was getting the needle. The first needle from a new batch.

"Ok Numi, if you're scared look away or hold your mom's hand." the doctor said as he approached Numi with the syringe.

"I'm brave!" Numi puffed.

"Indeed you are. This might sting a little." the doctor warned, with the syringe ready. "Are you ready?" he asked. Numi took a deep breath and nodded. She winced a little once the needle entered her arm, but remained calm. She watched curiously as the container at the end of the needle filled with her blue blood.

"I thought my blood is red..." Numi said, tilting her head slightly.

"It's because of your skin Numi. It's pink, so it makes your veins look reddish." the doctor explained. When the container was almost half full, Numi's arm twitched and she winced more than earlier.

"It hurts!" Numi said in a pained tone.

"Oh dear." the doctor said. "The needle isn't in the vessel anymore. I'll have to do another jab." he added and started to slowly remove the needle. To everyone's shock and Numi's horror, the needle snapped at a low point, leaving only a tiny, barely visible bit sticking out.

"W-what?! Y-you d-didn't tell m-me about t-this!" Numi exclaimed, starting to hyperventilate.

"Please, remain calm so that I can remove it." the doctor urged, starting to sweat as this happened only once before and it wasn't as bad.

"Numi, please calm down. Everything's going to be ok." Nanata calmed Numi, hugging her.

"It hurts!" Numi exclaimed, tearing up. The doctor attempted to grab and pull out the needle with tweezers, but it wasn't sticking out enough for it to be possible. Numi moved her arm slightly at the worst moment possible, and the needle slid slightly deeper, disappearing under her skin. The doctor dropped the tweezers, not believing his eyes. He immediately tightened the rubber band and ran over to his desk, picking up his desk phone.

"Keep her arm steady! It can't move in the slightest!" the doctor ordered.

"Mommy. I'm scared." Numi sobbed. "It hurts!"

---

"Shhh. Everything's ok. It's over." Kumi calmed Numi, who was still sobbing. The two were in a hug, with Kumi holding a small piece of cotton where Numi was jabbed.

"W-why did y-you lie to me?" Numi sobbed.

"You wouldn't come otherwise. We'll go get you something nice."

"R-really?"

"Really."

"B-but you lied..."

"I'm not lying this time." Kumi assured and stood up with Numi. "Goodbye." she said to the doctor.

"Bye." the doctor replied. Kumi left with Numi by her side, passing a wide eyed crowd and a group of terrified children. Numi's screams have made quite an affect on everyone in the clinic. Another name was called out.

"Our turn." a female inkling said to a young inkling girl.

"Noooo!" the girl exclaimed, terrified because of Numi's screams.

Once outside, Numi wiped her final tears and looked Kumi straight in the eyes. "Where do we go now?" she asked quietly. Kumi picked Numi up and gave her a piggyback ride.

"To MakoMart, to get you something nice." Kumi replied and started to walk. MakoMart was only a 20 minute walk from the clinic, and on that day the streets were pretty empty, which made the walk that much better. Kumi set Numi back down and walked into the supermarket with Numi by her side.

"Will we buy an inkmelon?"

"If you want one."

"I want the largest one!"

"Then we'll take the largest one."

"And will we also buy blueberries?"

"Of course we will."

"Yay!" Numi beamed, starting to skip ahead of Kumi. She tried to ignore the many sweets that were on practically every step, but ended up running down the candy aisle with Kumi chasing her. She slowed down a bit to get a better look at the candy, because of which Kumi was able to catch and stop her. "I want some candy!"

"No Numi, no candy. I don't want you to have another one of your sugar rushes." Kumi said sternly and lead Numi out of the aisle by hand, and Numi could do nothing but puff her cheeks in annoyance. They went to the fruit aisle and after getting the blueberries, began the search for inkmelons. They found them right after a new batch has been placed, meaning that the inkmelons were extra fresh. Kumi took the largest inkmelon and asked "Do you want anything else?"

"Fizzy crabapple juice!" Numi beamed, almost dropping the blueberry packet.

"Alright, calm down. And give me that before you drop it." Kumi said, taking the packet away from Numi. Almost immediately Numi took off running to the drink aisle, but this time Kumi couldn't run after her. Numi ran with her arms wide open, pretending to be a plane with a bright smile on and with her scarf waving behind her like banners in the wind. She flew across the store, dodging people and trolleys with a surprising grace until she reached the drink aisle. She took a sharp turn into it, and ran straight into someone. She recoiled backwards, falling on her butt, while the person who she ran into took several steps back and dropped a can of soda.

Numi rubbed her head and looked up. "Sorry!" she exclaimed. She saw an inkling boy of a slightly above average height, with orange eyes and blue slick style tentacles. He was wearing moto boots, cargo pants, dark urban vest and had squidfin hook cans resting on his neck.

"Are you ok?" he asked after a moment, reaching his hand out to help Numi get up.

"Yup! I am absolutely ok!" Numi beamed and took the hand. She got up and thanked the boy. The boy picked up the soda can he dropped, chuckled that Numi shouldn't speed so fast and walked away. Numi found and took a bottle of fizzy crabapple juice, and just then Kumi caught up to her with the inkmelon and blueberries.

"Do you want anything else?" Kumi asked.

"Nope. That's all." Numi replied, satisfied with her choices. They went to checkouts, payed and left MakoMart. They took longer to return home due to the inkmelon, which was very awkward to carry around. Kumi opened the doors and lo and behold, Pumi fell asleep while getting her shoes on, and was most likely sleeping for over an hour like that. Kumi couldn't believe what she was seeing, so she closed the door and opened it again in hope that she was just seeing things, but Pumi was still there and asleep. Numi walked up to Pumi and said "Space Commando 5 got cancelled." Pumi woke up almost immediately.

"Don't tell me." Pumi said.

"You fell asleep!" Numi beamed.

"We've been gone for over two hours." Kumi added.

"Oh, carp... I'm definitely late now." Pumi murmured and ran out of the house with her duffel bag.

Numi turned to Kumi and asked "Can I eat a bit of the inkmelon?" with puppy eyes.

"Of course." Kumi said as she walked in, closing the door behind her.

---

A ship was approaching Grizzco port. It was heavily damaged, so badly that it was barely afloat. It didn't respond to any attempts of communications, as if it was a ghost ship. After a few minutes it hit the port, damaging it and the bow in the process. The workers were quick in securing the ship, and a few boarded the ship several minutes later. Parts of the ship were missing. There were holes and scorch marks everywhere and some parts of the ship, including part of the heavy armour, have been completely melted down. The main deck was completely clear, say for some debris. The workers moved to the structure and opened a door, which fell apart moment later. What they saw horrified them. The crew was inside, as piles bodies and dismembered parts, blood and guts everywhere. Some turned around and walked away gagging, a few threw up. A single female worker was brave enough, or foolish enough, to walk inside. The stench was unbelievable, and aside from a few flickering lights the interior was completely dark. The worker took out a flashlight and shone down a corridor, which was filled with more bodies. She stepped over an arm and walked down the corridor, which seemed to be covered in ashes. As she walked down the the corridor, she was getting more and more unsettled. She thought that this looked felt like something straight out of a horror movie, and just then she heard a faint noise come from one of the doors. She froze, paling slightly. A moment of silence followed, and the noise could be heard again, coming from the med bay. "T-that's just wind... yeah! Just wind." she said to herself. Part of her wanted to run, but she had a growing curiosity within her that was stopping her from doing so.

She didn't move for what felt to her like ages, even though it were mere minutes, but in the end, she finally decided to check inside the med bay. She crept towards the door and carefully opened it, ready to run if need be. She dropped her flashlight in shock, the light falling upon the figure of a crewman. The crewman was sitting in a fetal position, rocking bag and forth and clutching onto what seemed to be a few metal sheets. "H-hey, are you alright?" she asked the crewman.

"T-t-t-t-t-t-they're d-d-d-dead... they're a-a-all d-d-dead!" the crewman stuttered quietly and started mumbling something.

"What happened?!"

"S-s-s-s-s-s-salm-m-m-mons a-a-and... t-t-t-them! T-t-t-t-t-hey s-s-s-s-laught-t-t-ter-red u-u-us! B-b-b-b-b-butchered u-us l-l-l-li-ke a-a-ani-animals!"

"What? Who are 'they'?" the worker asked, wildly disturbed. The crewman started mumbling again, disturbing the worker even more. After a minute passed she picked up her flashlight, approached the crewman and softly said "You can't stay here, come with me."

"N-no! I-it's safe h-here... safe..."

"It's safe outside too!"

"N-no! T-t-t-they're t-t-t-the-re! O-o-o-out-s-s-s-side!"

"Close your eyes if you don't want to look, but you really can't stay here. I'll lead you out, you don't have to look. You're safe, I promise."

"R-r-r-r-really?"

"Really. Now let's get out of here." the worker said and reached her hand out to help the crewman up. After a moment the crewman reluctantly grabbed the hand and got up with help, although he was trembling and shivering in fear of 'them'. He kept on clutching the few metal sheets as if his very life depended on it. "You have nothing to worry about. You're safe now."

---

Numi ate some inkmelon and blueberries, and headed for Inkopolis Square afterwards. She was currently hopping excitedly in the lobby, holding her mini splat roller. She has decided to play a match of turf war while waiting for her friends. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, and after being sent, was surprised that the stage was Walleye warehouse. Instead of rolling out in her typical manner, Numi rolled out like a normal roller would. She decided to keep to the left, because she hasn't seen it yet as so far she kept on only going to the middle. She rolled at a fast pace, dropping down to the area below and sticking to the left. She rolled over the grate and turned left, running down the path behind her trusty mini roller. She ran till the very end of the path, took a turn to the right and then another one and jumped down onto the lower level. She looked around and started inking the area. She stopped and stood behind a few boxes, watching the battle for the centre. Numi's team was being pushed back hard by the opposing team. She found it strange that the third teammate was nowhere to be found.

A plan started hatching in Numi's head, a plan on how to win the match. All of a sudden a hand covered her mouth, and she felt her feet losing ground underneath her as she was lifted up. She dropped her roller and grabbed the unknown hand. It took her a moment, but she realised what was happening and her first thought was to scream for help, but her mouth was covered. She was carried backwards up a ramp going to the opposing team's side. "Hello again worm." the voice of Karo hissed. The situation was a serious one and Numi knew it, but she also knew that she was essentially powerless. Tears started to form in her eyes as Karo took her to the side of his team where Pak was waiting. Karo threw Numi at a wall with a great force, and Numi fell onto a puddle of opposing team's ink. She could barely withstand the stinging.

"We've weren't quite finished last time." Pak grinned, terrifying Numi even more.

"Your expression is priceless." Karo chuckled and kicked Numi's legs.

"Owie!" Numi yelped. "W-what did I d-do to you? Why a-a-are you s-so mean?" she stuttered.

"Why not? Not like you can or want to fight back." Pak scoffed. "And you are beyond annoying." he added.

"H-how am-" Numi began.

"Magic this, magic that, friendship and flowers. Ugh. Either grow the fuck up or keep quiet." Pak cut Numi off.

"I've got a better idea. Let's chop her tongue. That'll keep her quiet." Karo grinned and took out a pocket knife. Numi paled and began to shake, beyond terrified.

"What's that sound?" Pak asked.

"What sou- shit!" Karo exclaimed as a curl bomb primed. He and Pak got splatted by the explosion, leaving behind the pocket knife. An inkling emerged from the trail of ink left by the curling bomb. Numi looked up and saw that it was the same inkling that she ran into at MakoMart.

"Are you ok?" the inkling asked, visibly worried. He inked the ground with his .52 gal deco so that Numi could get up. Numi jumped up and hugged the inkling, causing the two to fall over. "Whoa!"

"Thank you!" Numi exclaimed, still shaking.

"Uh... you're welcome." the inkling said standing up and at the same time helping Numi get back up. "Your roller is back there." he added a moment later, pointing at the boxes by which Numi was standing by earlier.

"Thank you again!" Numi exclaimed, turned to her tiny squid form and swam away in the ink trail left by the curling bomb. The inkling boy noticed the knife that Karo dropped. He picked it up, broke it and threw it away. Numi emerged in her humanoid form by her roller a moment later and proceeded to grab it and rolled out to the centre. She rolled over Kerlo and another inkling. "Sorry!" she exclaimed and started inking the centre as her two teammates respawned. By the time she had to refill her ink tank her teammates started advancing to the opposing side while the .52 gal deco user wiped the floor with the opposing team, ending up spawn camping the opposing team's S.P.A.W.N pad. The match ended not long after, with Numi's team emerging victorious, having inked 87.9% of the stage. Numi has inked the most turf and was third in terms of splats, as she had only two. The .52 gal deco user has inked the least turf but had the most splats. Numi quietly left the lobby, stealthily taking her backpack and sneaking past the bullies and out of the room, but she stopped when she heard Karo call out the inkling that saved her. She peeked from around the door and saw the bullies surround the inkling. She looked away because she knew what was going to happen.

Not even a minute later a very intense fight could be heard and everyone uninvolved ran out and continued to run past Numi. Numi stayed where she was out of curiosity, but was too scared to take a peek. Minutes passed by and the fight seemed to be calming down. Another minute passed and to Numi's surprise the inkling walks out as if nothing happened, no signs that the fight ever happened. "What?" the inkling asked when he noticed Numi's expression. Without a word Numi looked to the lobby room and saw that Karo and Pak were both unconscious, while Kerlo was severely beaten up. Numi gazed at the sight for a long moment before looking back at the inkling.

"How..." was the only thing Numi managed to get out.

"Oh, that." the inkling realised. "Let's just say I know how to fight. Now let's get away from here." he said. Numi nodded and hastily followed him to outside of the Deca Tower.

"They're still not here..." Numi murmured to herself.

"Hmm?"

"My friends are still not here..."

"I'm pretty sure that they'll be here in a few minutes." the inkling said. "Anyway, I'm going to the tables." he added and started walkin, leaving Numi alone. Numi stood still for a minute before running behind the inkling, not wanting to get caught by the bullies again.

"Wait for me!" she exclaimed and caught up with the inkling in moments, greatly surprising him. "Can I sit at the same table? Please?" she asked energetically, yet politely.

"Uh... ok." the inkling replied and sat down, taking out his squidphone the very moment he did while Numi took the opposite seat. She put her backpack, roller and ink tank under the table so that they wouldn't be in anyone's way.

"I'm Numi." Numi said after a minute of kicking her legs.

"That's a nice name. I'm Benio." Benio replied.

"Your name is nice too!" Numi beamed cheerfully. They both remained quiet for the next few minutes. "What is taking so long..." Numi thought to herself.

---

At the same time far away from Inkopolis Square.

"This is the last time I trusted your 'shortcuts' Coco..." Tal muttered angrily. He, Coco and Arlie were in part of Inkopolis that neither of them ever was at, and to make things worse they couldn't come back the way they came from.

"I said sorry already!" Coco spat. "How about you finally suggest something instead of complaining?" he added.

"Can you two finally shut up." Arlie groaned. "Isn't it weird how we all forgot our phones?"

"Yeah." Tal and Coco said in unison.

"If Numi was with us, we'd find our way in no time." Arlie said to herself.

"How would Numi help in any way?" Coco asked.

"You see, Numi somehow always finds a way. I don't know how, I don't why, she just does." Arlie replied. "Either her luck or maybe a sixth sense." she shrugged.

"Yeah, sure."

"She's telling truth." Tal said.

"I won't believe it until I see that for myself." Coco declared, earning groans from Tal and Arlie.

---

Numi chatted with Benio for nearly half an hour. She learned that he was two years older than her, spent most his time playing turf wars and that he had similar taste in music. Numi on the other hand has made it more than clear that she was childish. Benio was currently listening to music while looking at something on his phone, so he didn't hear or notice that Numi started playing on her flute. Numi liked to play with her eyes closed, so she didn't see that a small crowd gathered around the table, silently listening to her melodies, with some people in the crowd recording with their phones. Benio took his eyes off the phone, intending to stretch, and noticed the crowd. He looked around in surprise, completely wide eyed and confused. He scratched the back of his head, knocking his squid fin hook cans off. He now could hear Numi's melodies and it clicked to him why the crowd was gathered around the table. He remained quiet like the rest of the crowd until Numi finished playing 12 minutes later.

Numi opened her eyes and was beyond surprised by what she saw. She looked around energetically, her jaw dropped and her eyes wide. She turned to her tiny squid form and covered her eyes with her tentacles, both shy and slightly embarrassed. To her surprise the crowd applauded her. She uncovered her eyes slightly to see if the crowd was really applauding her and after looking around for a moment at the applauding crowd she reverted back to her humanoid form. The crowd exploded with compliments directed at Numi. "That was beautiful!" someone in the crowd exclaimed, "You're very talented!" someone else exclaimed.

"T-thank you..." Numi said shyly, blushing slightly. She tried to cover the blush with her scarf, which only made it more obvious that she was blushing.

"That's a beautiful scarf." someone complimented.

"Thanks..." Numi replied. She packed her flute back into her backpack and put it on, flung her ink tank over her shoulder, picked up her roller. "Uh... I have to go!" she exclaimed and ran off to Deca Tower with her scarf waving behind her. She was lucky that a few people in the crowd let her through.

The crowd turned to Benio and barraged him with questions. "Hey you. Who was she? Do you know her? Is she your friend?"

"Uh... I have to go too!" Benio exclaimed and ran off after getting through the crowd, also heading for Deca Tower. The crowd was left confused and somewhat disappointed, and it soon dispersed. A few of the inkling and octolings that recorded Numi play on her flute were uploading their recordings to the internet, and some others were talking about her. An inkling girl walked up to Murch.

"Hi Murch." the girl said.

"Hey, chum." Murch replied and got up, pausing and putting his game aside.

"Uh, would you be able to find a scarf like this?" the girl asked and showed a photo she took of Numi on her phone.

"You want it? It on the list of gear with ability chips."

"I do want it. Can you get a scarf like that?"

"All right. I can only get one item a day, so come through tomorrow."

"Ok. Thanks!" the girl said and walked away.

...

Status report - 2:

Scouter drone Charlie has malfunctioned during a flash blizzard, and later has been destroyed by an unidentified cause. All systems online and undamaged. Low frequency signals have been identified as a combination of enemy's universal language and an unknown language. Scouting operation is at a high risk of failure. Due to loss of assisting drones the operation may last for over two standard weeks. The This report will experience a delay of 12 standard hours to reach the home base.

Scouter drone Alpha, end of transmission.