Chapter Text
*(Present day, Sunny's backyard, Faraway Town)
"And that was the last time I had a true heart to heart conversation with her..." Sunny sighs, fidgeting with his hands. "We all know after the recital more and more investors were interested in Mari's potential. Then one day she made it big time and ever since then she grew distant until she just left...." He explained while wiping the tears forming in his eyes with his sleeve.
"It really sucks it turned out like this, bu- OWWHATWASTHAT?!" Aubrey exclaims, quickly relieving the tension lingering in the air. Basil bursts into a fit of giggling as Kel approaches the group trying to conceal his own laughter. "Ahaha, whoops, could I have that back?" "YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK IN YOUR FACE!" Aubrey picks up the basketball and threateningly lifts it up before shoving it in Kel's arms.
"Hehe, it's been 5 years but you two still haven't changed!" Basil chimed in, beaming with delight. Kel walks over to Sunny and takes a seat beside him on the grass, Aubrey sits down shortly after. "So what were we talkin about, Sun?" Kel gently nudged Sunny, before ruffling up his hair with his signature grin plastered onto his face. "Oh, we were....talking about her."
"Ah." The group struggled to make eye contact with each other, especially after mentioning her name brings up some bad memories.
"Must have come at the wrong time, sorry for being oblivious" Kel muttered, his goofy personality suddenly somber.
"Oh nono, it's fine Kel! You came at the perfect time actually!" Basil reassured "I was just about to show some of my new photos! Took them at my new job, you somehow get to see all sorts of people in Fix-It!" He quickly flipped through the pages of a familiar green book before stopping at one. "Tadaaaa"
The group huddled into a pile in front of Basil displaying all sorts of pictures from people with eccentric clothing to flowers that the shop decided to carry in stock. A small photo fell out of the album as Basil was explaining his new experiences, he tries to quickly grab the photo before anyone notices but Sunny was sharp enough to get a glance.................
It was him and Mari, right after their recital, right before it all went downhill. "I'll be the best big sister in the world!" the words echoed in his ears....
.
..
...
"Sunnyyyy.....SUNNYYYY....SUNNY SNAP OUT OF IT!" "Dude what's wrong?" "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, I'm good, just zoned out that's all!" Sunny assured with a false sense of glee in his voice. "You sure? You've been quite off this afternooon...Is it cause we asked you about Mari?" Aubrey replied. "No no, it's fine, don't worry.." He mumbled, some of the words incoherent
"Sun, we care about you okay? You know what could cheer you up?" she glances at Kel and Basil, "How bout we all go to Gino's, I bet that could take your mind of things!" she smiles
"It'll be on me!" Basil offered, shoving his items into a little messenger bag. Sunny gives a curt nod to Aubrey, who nods back before picking up her things and running off.
"WAIT GUYS REMEMBER I NEED TO TELL MY MOM BECAUSE OF SALLY OKAY?" Kel cried out to the group who were already making their way to the entrance of the Suzuki family's house.
*BEEEP BEEP*
"Hm?" A tall young woman with flowing black hair mumbled "Hero?"
She picks up the cell phone laying on the table, the screen glowed bright with a message notification.
[ FROM: HERO <3 ]
[Mari! Happy 7 year anniversary!]
She unlocked her phone and began typing, "Herooooo! Happy 7 years! How was culinary school?", she typed back.
[It's great, just doing some studying for our next project]
[Actually, I got you a special surprise for our anniversary.]
"What is it?"
[TADA!]
[Image of a plane ticket to California]
"Why would we go to California?"
[Mari, it's been so long, don't you want to visit our family and friends?]
"I'm way too busy with album releases and tours..."
[Just think about it, okay? Love you, gtg!]
"Love you too..."
"Way too much work to do, especially with a countrywide tour coming up soon." Mari sighs, laying back into a chair. "At least I got you and Hero, Mewo!" She tries to cheer herself up by picking up the cat, Mewo doesn't struggle and instead purrs and lays down on Mari.
The pile of paperwork on the desk is always growing but one little sheet sticks out. Curious, Mari pulls it out with slight struggle and finds out it's the cities she's touring in, low and behold on the exact date Hero booked for the tickets, "California - XX XX-XX".