#【👤】✦✧✦【ＡＲＴＥＭＩＳ】

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[Ruby and her father hang around Dion's apartment for a while, and after they leave, Dion sighs.]

"Thought they'd never leave..."

[Artemis' brow furrows a little, before she starts signing to him.]

【You weren't happy to see your friend? Even after the nice gift she brought?】

【Not that I don't appreciate it, but... I don't think she or any of the others really see me as a friend.】

【I'm more like the annoying coworker who always gets into trouble.】

[There's a short pause, before she frowns.]

【Why would you say that?】

【Because they don't really care. All they ever do is scold me when I screw up or get hurt on the job, and tease me because my parents are rich.】

【I'm pretty sure people who didn't care wouldn't have helped you they way they did!】

[Dion starts to sign something, but Artemis stops him with a light slap to his hands.]

【Did you ever stop to think that they're being so harsh because they care about you? You've never liked listening to anyone's advice, so how else are they supposed to get through to you? And, if they didn't care, do you actually think they would say anything when you got hurt instead of just ignoring you like your parents did?】

[He stops, a shocked look flashing on his face before he lets out an annoyed huff.]

【If that's really the case, it's a stupid way to show it.】

[Aretmis sighs.]

【A stupid way for a stupid boy...】

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[Dion leads everyone to his fifth-floor apartment. When he opens the door it becomes abundantly clear that somehow it's hotter in there than it is in the hall, and maybe even outside...]

"You can just put that box on the couch..."

[Ruby's father nods and does just that, wiping the sweat off his forehead afterward.]

"You live in this heat?"

"Yeah, I guess. I’ve been hoarding ice packs and using those to keep cool, but…"

[Artemis tugs on Dion's sleeve to get his attention, then writes a message in her notebook.]

❛You don't have an air conditioner, or even just a fan?❜

"They all broke about a month ago. I just... Haven't gotten around to replacing them."

[Suddenly, Ruby hits the box on the couch, a wide grin on her face.]

"And that's exactly why we brought you this!"

"And 'this' is... what, exactly?"

[Ruby tears off the tape holding the box closed, revealing what appears to be a window air conditioner. It looks brand new...]

"Don't worry, we tested it before we came here, and it works really well!"

"Okaaaay... How much do I owe you for this? No one just gives away something like this for--"

[Ruby playfully punches Dion's shoulder.]

"Don't you worry your pretty little head! It's a gift! No debt required!"

[Artemis smiles a little as she writes down what she wants to say again.]

❛Thank you for looking after my cousin, Ruby.❜

"Don't mention it! He started complaining about the heat sometime last week, so we all chipped in and bought this for him!"

"To get me to stop complaining, right?"

[Insert a short silence here.]

"What? No! The four of us were worried about you... We figured if it's hot as hell in Inkopolis, it was probably even worse here..."

[Artemis' smile widens as she writes another message.]

❛Looks like your friends were more concerned about your health than you were, Dion.❜

"A-Art--! Did you really have to write that so everyone could see??"

❛Yes.❜

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[A lone girl stands by a bench near the Splatsville Turf War lobby, her light brown eyes occasionally shifting to look at her phone. She was sure this was the spot where they agreed to meet up...]

[...Suddenly, she feels a soft tap on her right shoulder. She looks over, but there's no one there. Then, after a few seconds, she looks to her left.]

"Hey there, cousin!"

"!!!"

[The girl briefly wears a shocked expression, after which an excited smile covers her face as she pulls Dion into a tight hug. He happily returns it, and a few moments pass before they pull away and she begins signing to him.]

【Dion! I'm so happy to see you!!】

[Dion laughs a little, then starts signing back.]

【Same to you! It's been way too long!】

【Seven years... Though, I bet it would have been a little less time if you hadn't suddenly left Inkopolis...】

【Come on, Artemis. You can't blame me for wanting to get out of that place.】

【You still should have told me, or my mom or dad! We were all worried about you!】

[Dion sighs, then continues signing.]

【But what about you? You were weirdly stubborn about coming here instead of just meeting me at the station in Inkopolis.】

【What do you mean? It was pretty obvious you didn't want to come back, so I just thought I'd make it easier for you.】

【You haven't changed, Art...】

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[Dion is laying on his couch, an ice pack resting on his forehead as an attempt to combat the sweltering heat both outside and inside his apartment. He's about to doze off... when suddenly, a loud ping from his phone snaps him awake, causing his body to jerk in surprise and fall onto the floor.]

"Uggghh... What now?"

[He looks at his phone and opens his text messages.]

"No way..."

[He stares at his phone for a moment, before breaking out into a bright grin.]

"Haha... Holy shit!"

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[Outside Dion's apartment, Ruby is leaning against the trunk of her car, waiting for the Inkling to arrive...]

"Hm... He hasn't responded to my text... Maybe it didn't go through?"

[Soon enough Dion and Artemis arrive, with Dion panting a bit as he comes to a stop in front of Ruby.]

"Couldn't you have warned me before you just. Showed up like that??"

"Nope! My phone didn't have good service until we were basically here anyway!"

"Uh... 'We'?"

[As if on cue, Ruby's father gets out her car. He then opens the back door of the car, grunting as he takes a large, heavy-looking, taped-up box out.]

"Oh, Mr. Aroz..."

"Don't mind me, just playing delivery man."

[There's a short pause, before Artemis taps Dion on the shoulder.]

【Is she your girlfriend? She's really tall...】

【What? No! We're just coworkers!】

[Ruby notices the two signing to each other, a surprised look covering her face.]

"Hey, since when do you know sign language, Dion??"

"Since I was a kid? Artemis is mute, so I learned to make things easier for her."

[Artemis stops to take a notebook and pen out of her bag, quickly writing down a message to Ruby before giving the taller girl a smile.]

❛Hi! I'm Artemis. Dion's my cousin.❜

[Ruby returns Artemis' smile with one of her own.]

"Hiya! My name's Ruby! And this is my dad!"

"Akihiko. Now, I hate to cut this introduction short, but this box is a little heavy, so I'd like to get it inside before I drop it, or the heat just melts me entirely..."

"Uh... Right. Follow me."

[orbitaldeathwoomy]

[Dion and Artemis are heading to his apartment, silently chatting as they go. After a few minutes, however, their conversation is interrupted by a ping from his phone.]

"Ugh, what now...?"

[Dion stops to check his messages...]

【Is something wrong?】

[Dion sighs.]

"No, no. Just... Give me a second."

"Ruby, what the fu--"

[Artemis tugs on his shirt sleeve, effectively snapping him from his moment of shock. When he looks toward her, she starts signing again.]

【Did something happen?】

"Not really? But I guess there's someone waiting for me at my apartment, so we might have to hurry..."

[Artemis smiles, before gently pushing Dion forward a little.]

【Well, we should get going, then. We wouldn't want to keep your friend waiting, right?】

[He pauses for a moment, then gestures for her to continue following him. As they walk, he mutters under his breath...]

"Yeah, my... My friend..."