The night of the final Splatfest had just ended.
    It was a beautiful night; the city glimmered with colorful lights, Inklings were scattered around in the fun, and I danced with my cousin until the very end. Under the exploding fireworks raining above us, we both packed our stuff, ready to go home after a long night full of fun. The crowd outside in the center of Inkopolis was beginning to separate and grow smaller with each Inkling doing the same as us two.
    I let my mind reflect on the past memories before pushing the metal door open. Although I had lost, deep inside, I truly didn't care, despite my act when we announced the results. I was proud of Marie and knew her fans were too. In the end, our time together was more important than competition or getting a good profit.
    We both walked out of the studio, the steps of our shoes inaudible under the sounds of giggles and bright chatter pouring from our smiles. The closing of our monthly festivals would never be able to change a thing in neither of our lives.
    Fireworks burst and dissolved into tiny sparks among the thick smoke that hovered between them. It was somehow fascinating watching them shoot into the black void, over and over again..
   Next to Marie, hand in hand, we both stared up at the glittering sky and lanterns hanging all around the alive city of Inkopolis. Feeling the world falling silent, I focused my sight beyond the bright explosions in search of any signs of stars that could spark any new wave of hope for my paranoid heart. I searched the giant black hole above for any tiny, brimming, white lanterns floating in the sky, shining a thousand times brighter than the colorful flames that filled this city and our hearts with life...
   But all I could see was emptiness.