Chapter Text
The first thing Sunny remembered was his anger. Mari was yelling at him. He had broken his violin. He regretted doing it, but he had a reason. He couldn't take it anymore. Mari wanted everything to be perfect, but he wasn't like her. For him, it was already enough. He just wanted to spend time with his sister. Why couldn't she see that? He did it all for her.
The second thing Sunny remembered was his pain. His fingers swollen and trembling from all the practice. His joints overworked and aching. His hands hurt so much that he could barely make a fist, much less perform the delicate movements needed to play the violin. Why didn't she understand? He was in so much pain, and Mari just kept pushing him. He just wanted to take a break, that's all.
The third thing Sunny remembered was trying to get away. He hated seeing his sister upset, but he hated even more her being upset at him. She didn't even try to understand. Maybe if they just took a break, everything would go back to normal. Sunny tried to run down the stairs, but Mari blocked his path. "I'm not done talking to you yet, Sunny."
He tried to get around her, but she grabbed his arms, stopping him. "Sunny, stop trying to run away!"
Sunny screamed something, but he didn't understand what it was. He grabbed her arms and shoved her off of him. Then, time seemed to slow down. Mari's face of confusion as she lost her balance and teetered her way off the stairwell's landing was all Sunny could see. His gaze shifted to Mari's still outstretched arm. The desperation in her sprawled out fingers obvious. Sunny knew what was about to happen. He knew all of what was about to happen.
Do you want to save her?
Sunny dove for her hand, trying to pull her back up; Instead, he went right down with her, tumbling down the stairs. The world tossed and turned around him as he and his sister fell, the vivid colors of his house being turned into a blur. Sunny closed his eyes. He heard a crack, but didn't feel anything.
The last thing Sunny remembered was blacking out.
One week later.
When Sunny opened his eyes, all he saw at first were the fluorescent lights. Then his eyes drifted around to the other people in the room. His mother, Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Mari sat in the room talking to each other. They all seemed a bit deflated, and they had solemn looks on their faces. They were talking about something, too, but Sunny couldn't figure out what. Were they talking about him?
Kel looked over and saw that Sunny's eyes were awake. Pointing, he shouted, "Guys, look! He's finally awake!"
Hero reached the boy first, stopping Aubrey and Kel from jumping on the now conscious but bedridden Sunny. What did Kel mean by, "finally?" Had he really been out for a long time? How long had it been? A day? A week? Months?
Before everyone stood up, Sunny hadn't realized that Mari was sitting in a wheelchair. Why would she be sitting in a wheelchair?
Then he remembered everything that happened. Did he do this to her? Guilt sunk his stomach like a lead weight. He was angry, but if he hadn't grabbed her hand, then...
"We talked about this, guys," Mari said, and everyone stopped in their tracks. "I need a moment alone with him. Just a few minutes, okay?"
Everyone sighed in disappointment, and Sunny's mother kissed him on the cheek. Everyone but Mari then left the room, leaving the siblings all alone. Mari wheeled her way to Sunny's side, but Sunny was scared. Was she angry? Was she going to yell at him again? Mari raised her hand, and Sunny flinched. He was surprised when instead of hitting him, she grabbed his hand.
"I'm sorry, Sunny," she said. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have yelled. I-" Her voice broke, and Sunny looked over to see tears dripping out of his sister's eyes.
He was confused. Why was she apologizing? He pushed her down the stairs. Shouldn't she be angry? She was hurt, he broke his violin, and they were yelling at each other. "Why aren't you angry?" Sunny asked, confused.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "I pushed you too hard. If I hadn't been so demanding, none of this would have happened. I should have understood. I should have paid more attention. The doctor said your fingers had popped blisters on them..." She squeezed his hand tighter and looked at him with an intense look in her eye, tears still dripping down her face. "Never again, Sunny. I will never treat you like that ever again. If you don't want to play the violin anymore, I understand."
Sunny just stared at her, awestruck and unsure of what to say. She looked like a huge burden had been taken off of her shoulders, like the weight of the universe was finally resting on a pedestal instead of on her back. She still looked pained, though, as if there was more she was waiting to say and hear. Mari smiled warmly and reached up to touch her younger brother's face. "They said I might have died if you hadn't caught me. My lower back was broken on the higher steps, so I couldn't have stopped myself from falling. I know you pushed me, and that must be eating you up inside, but I forgive you. I know you didn't want to hurt me."
Sunny felt tears well in his eyes. "Mari..." He started sobbing, mumbling, "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..." over and over again. All he wanted was for Mari to stand up and hug him like she used to when they were younger. All he had ever wanted was to spend more time with her. He was so lonely without her, and he knew she was going to be leaving for good soon. When he got the violin, he was so happy, but it caused this.
Mari smiled and rubbed her brother's head. "I know it might take a while, but I hope you can forgive me." She paused for a moment, then continued, "I want you to forgive yourself, too, Sunny. It wasn't your fault. It was mine."
She really did blame herself for what happened. Sunny hated himself for that. How could it have been her fault? He was the one who pushed her.
"There's one more thing that we need to talk about though, Sunny," Mari said. "Basil told the others that I fell on accident and you tried to catch me, but you fell down too. We both know that's not what happened, but..." Her glance shifted to the door. "Do you want to tell them what really happened?"
His mind flashed back to the moment where he grabbed her hand at the stairwell. Something had spoken to him at that moment, but he didn't know what. Something told him to grab his sister's hand to stop her from falling. He somehow knew exactly what would have happened if she had fallen on her own. Images had flashed in his mind: A noose, Basil's terrified expression, himself with only one eye.
Omori.
"Do you want to save her?" it had asked, as if knowing from experience what would have happened if he hadn't.
A new set of images flashed in his mind. Aubrey leading a gang. Hero crying alone in the piano room. Kel sobbing as his brother screamed at him.
Omori.
Again, time slowed down. He saw Mari's genuine, loving features and all he could think about was how he still had his sister. Anything he could do to protect her, to make sure she was still around tomorrow, he would do. He heard the voice again.
Do you want to lie?
"What do you think, Mari?" he asked, deferring to his sister's opinion. He didn't know whether or not he should. Sunny was scared of how his friends would react, but if Mari was there to tell them it was okay, then it would all turn out fine.
"I don't think we should..." Mari sighed. "I don't think we should tell our parents. I think Mom would understand, but she can't keep a secret, and Dad... Well, you know how he is. I think we should at least tell our friends, though. They all deserve to know."
Sunny didn't respond, only nodding in agreement. Mari tilted her head slightly and smiled at him again. "Sunny, it'll be okay. I'll tell everyone what happened, and that it was just an accident. Don't worry too much, okay? You need to focus on getting better."
Sunny nodded again, and Mari wheeled over to the door and opened it up for their friends. Kel and Aubrey quickly ran in, trying to make sure their friend was okay. "You're not fair, Mari!" Aubrey said, pouting. "We wanted to talk to Sunny too."
Mari laughed, then rolled back to Sunny's bedside. "You'll have plenty of time to talk to him. You guys are in the same grade, after all. I have to go to college in a couple years, and Sunny is going to miss me the most," she countered, sticking her tongue out at Hero.
"Hey, I've got a brother who'll miss me more, I'm just saying," Hero retorted, ruffling Kel's hair, much to his younger brother's annoyance. He then turned his attention to Sunny. "How are you feeling? You've been out for almost a week. The doctor said you had a concussion, and you had that cut on your back, so we were all worried."
Sunny raised both thumbs in reply, smiling weakly. That was one question answered, after all. At least he was only unconscious for a few days. Sunny didn't actually feel very well, but he was more than well enough to handle everyone in the room at once. He missed his friends, even though to him it barely seemed like any time passed at all. Hero breathed a sigh of relief.
Sunny's mother nudged through the gathered children to examine her son. "I was so worried, sweetheart. Once your father hears you're alright, I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
Mari and Sunny exchanged a quick glance, but said nothing. Suddenly, Kel pointed out the clock. "Woah! It's almost eight! Mom would never let us stay out this late before, right Hero?"
Everyone's eyes shifted to the clock, and Sunny's mom yelped. "Crap! I told your mother I would have you guys back by now!" She quickly kissed Sunny and Mari on the cheek before taking the other kids away. "Goodnight, you two! Mari, make sure to get back to your room before ten so the the nurse can help you get into bed."
"I know, mom," Mari replied, rolling her eyes. "I'm gonna stay in here for a bit longer to keep Sunny company, though. You guys have a safe trip back home."
"Thank you sweetie," her mom said, turning and expecting the kids to follow. Mari then blew a kiss to Hero, Kel, and Aubrey before they turned and walked out the door.
"Bye Sunny! See you tomorrow!" Kel said, waving.
"Take care, Sunny," Hero advised. "You too, Mari. Don't stay up too late."
"We'll play a lot once you get better, okay Sunny?" Aubrey suggested. "We can play by ourselves too, if you want."
Then they all left.
"Sunny..." Mari said, breaking the silence. "You know how I said earlier that my lower back broke?"
Sunny nodded. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but the fact that she brought it up dramatically increased his anxiety.
"I won't be able to walk again," she said, scratching her eyebrow idly and laughing as her facial features morphed into discomfort. "Probably for the rest of my life."