Chapter Text
“You messed the arpeggio up again, Mantaro. We’ve been WEEKS on this damn Choctopin. FOCUS!”
Cod damn it. He can’t focus if this idiot keeps screaming at him.
“I’m trying, prof…prof-essor.” He hated speaking Inklish. Why can’t he just speak his own language? Because these idiot squids didn’t understand it? It wasn’t his problem.
“At least you’re getting better at Inklish.” His professor commented. “Repeat.”
“Ay…” Mantaro grumbled under his breath.
“If you wanna mumble insults at me do it in Inklish, Mantaro. Now repeat.”
This was stressful. He just wanted to learn on his own. But of course, this was school, professors ‘knew better’! They always knew better.
Mantaro was what could be described as a ‘Straight A student who was tired of school’. He was the tallest amongst all the middle schoolers, and he was only 12. He was bullied pretty often due to his shy nature, his large size, his vitiligo and his chronic acne, he was often nicknamed ‘Big Man’. He was actually a Stingray, but for the obligatory trimming of his stinger he was mistaken as a Manta Ray. Better that way, he thought. It would only generate more bullying, he figured. Regardless, his clawed fingers kept tapping on the piano’s keys, his gentle melody bouncing off those four walls. His humanoid form was useful in this kind of thing, as his swim form was…a bit of an obstacle to his learning. His uniform wore tight, but that wasn’t the issue right now. The issue now was getting this codforsaken song right. Why even play songs from other people when HE could compose them? They’re dead anyway, who cares?! He wants to play his own songs, and be famous for his songs! He wants to prove all these stupid cephalopods WRONG. Stingrays aren’t evil, aren’t sadistic and aren’t bloodthirsty, and he will—
“Great job, Mantaro!” His professor clapped with a delighted expression on his face. “You finally got it!”
…and he will prove that to everyone.
Mantaro heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, this song was over. “Thank you Professor. Can I go now?”
“Yes, you can go now Mantaro. This lesson is over. Have a nice day.” The teacher concluded, grabbing his paper binder, and leaving.
“…ay… (…cod…)”
“Hello Class, This is…”
Great, she was gonna space out again. Shiver looked towards Frydah, who was just about to fall asleep. Shaking her a little, the Octoling managed to get her Inkling friend back to attention.
“Huh- whah-“ Frydah rubbed her eye, looking at Shiver with a half-awake expression.
“Listen to the lesson, you idio—“
“Onaga and Mega?” The teacher called the two girls, who whipped their heads towards her. “Care to tell the class about your little chat, since it’s way more important than my subject?”
What a bitch, Frydah thought.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Flander, Frydah was sleeping in class and I brought her back to attention.” Shiver said the truth, a smug expression on her face.
“Frydah…” Ms. Flander looked at the Inkling with a displeased expression. “This is the third time I catch you…”
“I’m sorry, Ms…” Frydah looked down in shame. Damn it, this was so annoying. And Shiver didn’t even back her up! The teacher started explaining again, and Frydah took that opportunity to slap Shiver’s shoulder. “You told off on me!”
Shiver flinched. “Yeah, because you keep on sleeping in class!” They snarled back, slapping Frydah on the arm.
“You two!” The teacher called them again. “I JUST catched you chatting and now you’re slapping yourselves?!”
“But—“ Shiver tried to object.
“No buts! To the office, now!” The teacher yelled, pointing at the door as the two cephalopods got up in shame and left the classroom.
“This is all your damn fault, Shiver.” Frydah told her friend in frustration, but they chuckled it off.
“I needed an excuse to get out of that class. Hate that teacher, so, thanks Frydah.” They replied, still chuckling and ignoring the cephalopods who started talking about how ‘the freak and her vampire friend were back’. Walking through the alleys of the school, they heard something.
“Is that a piano I’m hearing?” Shiver looked back at their friend with surprise. Frydah confirmed her doubts with a nod. She started to advance in the direction of the sound, followed by Shiver. Stopping near a room, the two watched through the window.
“Dude, is that an Inkling?” Frydah whispered.
“Doesn’t look like one, but it doesn’t look like an Octoling eith—woah, look, he has a tail!!” They pointed at the weird kid’s tail.
“Duuuude…He’s pretty damn good at piano. What if we ask him to make some tracks for our songs? You know, we don’t know jack about music, so…” Upon seeing Shiver’s unsure expression, she started jumping up and down. “C’mon c’mon let’s go ask him let’s go!!!”
“No Frydah wait! He’s still playing in there we can’t go in!” Shiver objected, grabbing the Inkling’s arm. “Be patient…oh hey, look, he’s coming out!-“
“Urgh…” Mantaro rubbed his face, tired and metaphorically beaten up by the lesson he underwent. Turning his head, he then saw…
Two girls.
Oh no,
People.
“A-Ah!-“ Mantaro yelped, alarmed.
“…” The two cephalopods bursted into laughter. “Dude, we don’t bite!” Frydah reassured him, and Shiver continued. “You’re way taller than us and you’re a scaredy catfish!”
“U-Uh, yeah heh…I-I’m uh…” Mantaro fumbled with his words and fingers, looking around.
“Hey, I saw ya somewhere.” Frydah put a finger on her chin. “Like once or twice…”
“Yeah, I think I saw you somewhere as well.” Shiver commented.
“U-Um I…Maybe you mistook me for somebody else! Okay, bye!!” He turned to run away, but Frydah grabbed his arm. He grimaced.
“Come on man, don’t be such a wet towel!”
How could he not be a wet towel when they just made fun of his insecurity? He didn’t understand.
“Okay, okay, fine…we’re sorry for calling you a scaredy catfish…” The blue Octoling crossed their arms, huffing. “Happy now?”
“I-I guess…” Mantaro replied meekly. “I-I’m Mantaro…who are you?”
“I’m Frydah! And they are Shiver!!!” Frydah excitedly waved her hands towards Shiver. “And since you’re really good at piano, we wanted to ask you something!”
They just made fun of him and now they want music made? For FREE possibly?? Okay, rude.
“…What do you want to…ask me?”
“If you’d like to work with us! Sometimes we like to sing on the rooftop of the school, but we can’t do much with just acapella, so…we need a soundtrack! If you’re willing to help us…maybe you can join our band!” Frydah explained to him, tugging at his shirt. “Come on come ooonnn join uuuusss!!!!”
“Uh…”
Mantaro didn’t know about this. They DID just make fun of him…but, they said sorry…even though it was a little forced. They genuinely seemed nice. So…maybe, he could give it a try.
“…Okay, I’ll join you.”
“YAYYYY!!!!!” Frydah jumped all around him, laughing. “NEW BANDMAAATEEE!!!!”
“Shush shush!!” Mantaro put a claw over her mouth. “You’re still at school remember??”
“Yeah Fryfry, he’s right.” Shiver chimed in, crossing their arms. “What are you, anyway?”
“I-I’m uh…A Manta Ray.” Mantaro almost told them he was a Stingray, but for now it wasn’t worth the risk. He earned the two’s awe either way.
“That’s so cool…” The two said in unison.
Cool…he’s been called a compliment, for once.
“…Ay…I guess it is cool.”