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This was the exam season, and like every other teens his age, Sunny despised it. It was his first exam season (outside of the house) ever since his isolation while in Faraway Town. Today was the last day before the first of the finals was to lay judgement over his hardworking year to be in the same grades as his friends. Even his inner Omori was looking at his bunch of papers to study with pure disgust.
To put it very simply; he wasn’t feeling it.
His mother was not home today, she left early. He wished he could procrastinate, but he was kind of forced into a study group on a phone call with Kel, Aubrey and Basil. Thank you, Basil.
It’s soon time, Sunny thought as he looked at the clock. 1:55 PM. It was at that exact moment he heard a knock on the door. That’s strange. He wasn’t waiting for somebody, and never in his first year in Nearside City her mother invited her friends and coworkers here. Maybe she was waiting for a delivery, but if that was the case, she would tell him first hand before leaving.
Maybe the delivery person mistook the address, and that happens, and it’s okay! All he had to do was to tell them that it was the wrong address. He was getting better at communicating lately, he can do it!
He opened the door, still cliff-faced…
Which turned into a slight frown upon seeing who was at the door.
Sunny’s computer and his phone were both set up for the session. He sighed and turned to Hero who sat down at the bed. “You and mom should stop being in cahoots, you’re risking my sanity.” His tone clearly insinuated that it was not the first time they pulled that crap on him.
Henry smiled sheepishly at this accusation. “I’m sorry, but she made me promise to keep it a secret, and even then, Kel invited me to help you all.”
From the end of the phone, they could hear Kel apologizing, and also some laughs from Aubrey who was in the same room as him and Basil.
“You’re good. I’m happy to see you.. just…” Sunny pinched the bridge of his nose, hesitant to say it so bluntly. A little bit more and he would’ve thought that he was just a hallucination. “Just tell me beforehand. Also, I don’t necessarily need help. Wasn’t the consensus that Kel needed it more than any of us?”
“Excuse you,” Kel loudly spoke on the phone.
“Sick burn, let’s go!!” Aubrey was having the day of her life having to hear Sunny’s roasts once again after so many years.
“You shut up, you keep on skipping school!” He accused her. It was the truth, though.
“You have 30 seconds before I ruin your face right here, right now.”
“Ah sweet, here we go again,” Basil nervously commented, suddenly thankful Aubrey didn’t have the bat with her.
Sunny’s face showed no emotion as usual, but Hero could see a glint of amusement in his eye. He decided to speak up. “By the way, where are you guys? It doesn’t look like Kel and Hero’s bedroom.”
“O-oh, we’re in my living room,” Basil explained with a little smile that Sunny couldn't see. “Kel’s parents told us we shouldn’t make noises because of Sally, and Aubrey’s house…. is Aubrey’s house, so we ended up here.”
“I don’t feel like this is going to end well,” Sunny predicted. In terms of control, Kel’s house would be the best as they would be serious in studying under the glare of his parents. Since they would make sure that Sally has her naptime, it would be quiet and serious.
And damn, he was right on the money. Aubrey and Kel quickly gave up on studying, having stupid arguments left and right. Basil was stuck as the mediator, and at this point Hero was just this close to end the phone call again. It has only been an hour. Sunny’s mother did well to ask for Hero’s supervision, even though it didn’t do much... Sunny was the one actually serious about ignoring all noises and finishing his revision sheets. Hero was surprised, but he always knew that Sunny was a hard worker in school at least…
He suddenly shook his head, shaking away a thought.
“They’re noisy,” Sunny commented while the conversation on the phone was still on fire. “I don’t think I can concentrate any longer.”
Hero eyed down on the corner of his paper. There were little drawings of what seemed to be… self-portraits? In any case, he already lost his concentration at this point. There was a little smile on his grin, then a question popped out.
“You know, you can always take a break, why don’t you enjoy messing around?”
It took a few seconds for Sunny to register what he just asked him. He kept his eye on the paper, his voice almost feeling robotic.
“I need my grades to be perfect.”
It was all it needed for Henry’s heart to shatter, because he had the feeling he knows exactly where this conversation will lead. But for his sake, he let him talk. In fact, everyone suddenly went quiet.
“Back then, I couldn’t even do a proper song perfectly on the violin, even though I practiced for hours. And now…. and now I’m older than…” He couldn’t bear even saying her name. His vision was getting blank. More specifically, darker. Flashbacks of his time stuck at the piano room, playing the violin again, and again, and again, and again kept repeating in his mind. He remembered his blood on his hand, the blisters on his fingers... “So maybe… if I do it perfectly…”
“Hey Hero,” Aubrey interrupted loud enough in an attempt to knock Sunny out of his mind. “Hit him for me please.”
“W-what’s with you and thinking I would hit someone," Henry responded, a bit offended. "It’s the third time this year!”
Sunny frowned while still looking down. He knew of the first time, but who thought about that for the second time?
“In all cases,” started Hero by already patting Sunny on the head. “I do not think Mari would be happy with you overworking it. Taking pauses is important. And you’ll do great, you’ve always been doing good in school.”
“Unlike Kel.” Immediate jab from Aubrey.
Kel put his hands on his ears, not wishing to listen to Aubrey. “Oh my god, shut up!”
“Okay, children, we’re in a serious conversation,” Sunny almost choked from hearing Basil of all people say that. Under another circumstance, he would have been obliterated. “Sunny, I’m sure Mari would be proud of you as long as you do your best.”
Hero nodded at that and turned to Sunny, who averted his eye.
“I… I guess I could take a break, then,” he finally admitted and closed the manual book next to his papers.
“Great,” Kel’s presence would shine through the cell phone. “Now we gotta finally get to decide which drink is the best!”
“No, shut up Kel, Orange Joe is not the answer,” Aubrey and Sunny simultaneously responded. They were NOT having that conversation, they would prefer having a discourse over Sweetheart and Space Boyfriend.
“Oh, come on!!” Kel whined loudly.
A month went by for Hero. He was the first one to be back in Faraway for summer vacations. He got his own finals result in. He sighed in relief; his grades went higher compared to the past few years. He also heard from Kel; still average as usual, but he did his best, and of course his best grades were in sports. Apparently, Aubrey and Basil did well. Sunny…
Well, outside of the few rambles from Kel, he didn’t hear from Sunny’s grades or health and such. He was still discreet and he knew that it was because he didn’t want to bother them with his problem. He was certain he did well, but he still wanted to contact him. Yes, despite their conversations still being awkward after the bombshell dropped.
Sudden knock on the door. It was barely 7 AM, maybe a friend of Kel still too early. He opened the door to a clearly went-out-of-bed Sunny, who still had his bed hair. Looking behind him was his mother’s car. They just came back for a visit. Looks like seeing him of all people (everyone and their moms should know Kel is not the morning bird) was his first priority for the day.
His face stayed neutral, but his voice was filled with positive emotions. The first time in goddamn forever. “I aced them! I’m graduating at the same time as everyone!”