This is the story of the idol group known as InterTidal, created by our talented voice actress and singer, ChipsNDip.
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
It was a bright, sunny Monday afternoon at Tidal Zone Private School and 16-year-old Viri was rushing through the halls to find her next class, hoping to stumble across it since she lost her school itinerary. When suddenly, she accidentally ran into someone head first when she turned a corner.
“Oh, my gosh-! I am SO sorry about that. Are you okay?” Viri asked as she struggled to get her vision to stop being so blurry.
“Don’t worry. I’m alright…but you look a bit dizzy. Why are you in such a rush?” A soft voice asked her.
When Viri’s vision was clear again, she noticed a pink Octoling girl sitting on the ground, looking at her curiously.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?” The girl asked and she chuckled lightly before getting up and off of the floor. She held her hand out for Viri to help her up.
“Thanks, and yes, I am. Could you happen to tell me where math class is?” Viri asked as the girl helped her up and off of the floor and she straightened her uniform up.
“Oh, yeah, it’s actually a couple doors down behind me.” The girl replied as she pointed the way. Viri listened, but she also eyed the girl up and down, thinking that she looked familiar.
“Anyways, I have to go. You have a good day, now.” The girl said as she began to walk away. Viri spun around quickly as the girl was walking.
“Wait! What’s your name?” She asked curiously.
“Oh, it’s Iris. And you?” Iris replied with a happy glint in her eyes.
“I’m Viri.” Viri answered back with a friendly smirk.
“Well, Viri, I hope we run into each other after school. I’d love to get to know you more and show you around the place. But until then, I’ll see you!” Iris exclaimed as she waved goodbye to Viri.
Viri felt a rush of excitement go through her. ‘I just accidentally ran into someone, and instead of getting mad at me, she wants to be friends! This is awesome! …But where have I seen her before? She looks awfully familiar…’ Viri thought to herself, but was soon snapped out of her thoughts as the school bell rang, and she went to her next class…
Chapter 2: The Start of Something More
During the middle of math class, Viri tried to stay focused on her work, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult. Her mind kept wandering to Iris. She seemed familiar in a way and held this air of elegance to her that was both sweet and poised to experience.
“Miss Yari.” The teacher, Mr. Harris, spoke, snapping Viri out of her haze. “You seem to be daydreaming. Did you hear anything of what I just said?”
Viri paused anxiously, her mind now drawing a complete blank. “Ummmm… Not exactly.”
He huffed in annoyance towards Viri’s lack of attention span. “I will only reiterate this one time…”
But by that time, she was daydreaming again. All of her thoughts were focused on Iris. She wanted to know her more, be friends with her, understand why the other was so intriguing to her.
After the bell rang and class was dismissed, Viri ran to her locker and to her surprise, Iris was right next to it, looking in her own locker. She turned and smiled.
“Hey! It’s you again. I guess we’re locker buddies?” Viri’s excitement grew exponentially at that. She was locker buddies with Iris? Yes!
“I… I guess we are. I’m Viri by the way.” She held out her hand for a handshake.
“Umm… You told me that earlier, remember?” Iris giggled but shook Viri’s hand anyway.
Viri went silent and looked extremely embarrassed at that. “Oh…yeah, that’s right… I did.” She chuckled awkwardly.
“Anyways, where were you originally from, if not from here?”
Viri froze again, her mind not wanting to remember anything in this moment of anxiety. “I… I well… I just…”
She stammered, mentally facepalming. Why was she acting like this? Why was the mere presence of Iris getting to her?
“Take your time.” Iris gave a soft smile that just alluded to absolute sweetness and Viri froze again.
“From…a…I…” Iris chuckled and put a hand on Viri’s shoulder.
“There’s no need to panic. Why do you sound so anxious anyways?”
Viri looked like she was about to vomit now. Her anxiety shooting through the roof as she looked at the other who seemed to not understand the depth of her struggles.
“I… I need some air.” Viri stammered out quietly, her voice slightly strained.
Iris noticed how Viri started to panic and gently grabbed her hands and dragged the Inkling girl outside for some fresh air.
“Here. Just breathe. There’s nothing to be scared of, Viri…” She spoke softly, the concern in her expression speaking louder than her calm words.
Viri paused and took a deep breath. She had to get herself under control. She couldn’t understand why her anxiety was so much worse than it normally was.
“I’m… I’m okay now. Thank you.” Her voice was still a bit strained as she tried to regain her bearings. Iris kept a gentle hold on Viri’s hands all the while.
“I… I came from a small town called Piscesisle.”
Iris’s expression shifted to surprise. “Piscesisle? Isn’t that the place where…”
Her voice trailed off however. She had heard of Piscesisle before, but many people there were generally less fortunate. There was also a lot of crime there.
“I know, it’s not the best place in the world.” Viri huffed a sigh out.
“I also came here on a scholarship, so go ahead, make fun of me for that.” She was expecting the crushing defeat from the other to hit harder than a dodgeball to the face, but instead…
“Why would I make fun of you? In fact, it’s very commendable that you’re so smart that you were offered a scholarship here.”
Her warm smile seemed to throw Viri off-guard. “You…you think so?”
Her voice was quiet and obviously skeptical of anything so nice being said to her.
“Of course! In fact, I think we’re going to be great friends. You seem more…down-to-earth than others here. Most people here are just rich and snobby. It disgusts me.”
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, making Viri chuckle a bit.
“Despite the fact that I’m…technically from more of a high-class family, I try to actually be nice to people.”
“Wait…technically more high-class? What do you mean by that?”
“Well, I… Me and my family have a royal bloodline. My brother is the ruler of the Eledone kingdom.”
Viri’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re royalty?! Woah!! The closest I’ve come to meeting royalty is the mattress king at our town’s local mattress store!”
Iris giggled at that, finding Viri’s simplistic explanation sweet. “But, you know, despite all that, I think we’ll get along very well.”
Iris smiled again and held Viri’s hands. Viri looked up at her with a newfound sense of comfort and familiarity. “I think you’re right. I’m glad to call you a friend.”
The end for now