Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

5 months...

It had been 5 months since Mari had told everyone the truth...

4 years ago Sunny died after an argument Mari and him got into after Sunny had destroyed the violin everyone had worked hard to get him, Hero arrived and sent Sunny off to a hospital where he was announced dead, he decided to keep Mari safe by lying to everyone about what she had done.

He fell down the stairs, suffering multiple injuries before falling onto his own violin, the woods shards cutting through him, destroying an eye and making several other wounds on his body.

The girl remembered how everyone felt that day...

Kel was in complete disbelief with his brother, he couldn’t believe Hero had lied about what Mari did and even helped to cover up her actions from the rest of the group.

Basil screamed at them both for taking away his best friend, he had lost so much and now wouldn’t even dare to look either of them in the face if they were to even think about crossing by him on the streets today. He looked like he had wanted to punch Mari and honestly, Aubrey doubts she and Kel would’ve stopped him.

and Aubrey... she lost so much too... she lost the boy she loved so much, she remembered shouting at Mari, holding back her tears that threatened to spill from her eyes as she asked, no, begged her for the reasons for why she did it...

Mari began talking about Sunny… about how they got into arguments as Sunny continued to mess up notes on his violin, how she had called him names as if it could help him do better or how she had ignored any sign of injuries in hopes that it was showing him why he needed to be better.

Mari had told Aubrey that in their final argument Mari had brought up how Aubrey would never love him if he couldn’t get the notes right. Used Aubrey as if she was some kind of ammo on Sunny, using his feelings to force him into being his best.

Aubrey remembered how much the words said had broke her. Sunny... loved her too? The realisation broke her as she imagined all the situations they’d never get to be through together. She never got to say that she loved him, she never got hear the words “I love you” come from his lips... Aubrey stormed out of the building as soon as her trance was over, tears forcing themselves from her eyes.

So now here Aubrey was... exiting her trash heap of a home at night to go to their familiar place.

The swingset... Aubrey walked over and sat down... thinking back to all the times that he would just sit there as she talked about her family life, comforting her as she cried.

Everything flooded her senses, the day he gave her Mr. Plantegg, the day he held her in his arms after a particularly bad fight between her parents, the day he had snuck out of his house to spend time with her.

Fuck... she really missed him, she just didn’t know how... how to love without him.

Could she even feel love for anyone who wasn’t him? She had tried to find love over the past four years but it never had success, she could never trust anyone enough and any feelings she thought she had would dissipate all too quick.

The tears began to fall, letting go of the cold metal of the swings as she brings her hands up to her eyes, brushing her own waterworks away. They just wouldn’t stop. Why’d it have to be him?

“A-Aubrey? Why is your hair not dyed?” A familiar voice calls out to her as she cries.

She tries to look up at the person in front of her but her own tears cloud her vision.

The familiar voice crouches down, putting his hands on her cheeks and bringing his thumbs up to wipe her tears away...

She didn’t even know who this boy was, he sounded so familiar but so different at the same time.

Why? Why was the thing he was doing so comforting to her? It reminded her of better days that were no longer in her grasp.

“Just take a deep breath with me, okay?”

She steadies her breathing alongside them, a deep breath in... and out...

As her vision began to clear she could roughly make out the figure.

A person with a soft face and black hair and black eye with a slight white glow to them, an eye patch covers their right eye. To Aubrey this person feels almost ethereal.

“Wh-who are you?” She can’t make him out too well but what she’s seeing is real than she really must be going insane...

“Aubrey, don’t you remember me? Its me, Sunny.” She can feel her own blood boil as her heart sinks deeper, the tears threatened to come back.

“W-what kind of twisted joke is this!? Sunny... Sunny’s been dead for a while now.” It hurt so much to say those words even when she didn’t know the story behind what had happened. Yet here this person is twisting a knife deeper into her chest.

“Aubrey, what are you talking about? I’m right here, just look in front of you...”

Aubrey hesitantly looks their way, she lets her vision come back and it is filled by the sight of him... he looks her age now...

“Sunny? No, no... I don’t believe this... you aren’t real.” Aubrey had nightmares like this, hell, she had hallucinations like this once or twice but she must’ve lost it now... his touch feels so real.

“Aubrey I’m as real as can be, we saw eachother about five months ago... you even asked me to come back and visit you even after everything I did...” ‘Sunny’ sounded so upset, like what she was saying really hurt him. It made her want to sink into the swing seat.

“God must be playing some stupid joke on me... he must think this is fucking funny, making me see the person I love most right in front of me as if he’s always been there, as if we got the chance to grow together!”

“You... You’re in love with me too?” The hallucination responds.

“Of course I love Sunny! He meant everything to me before Mari took him away...”

“Aubrey, listen to me. I don’t know what happened or what you’re going through but I’m really here, I’m really Sunny!”

“If... If you’re really Sunny then prove it to me.”

“If I weren’t real... If I weren’t here right now would I be able to do this.” He leans in kissing her on her lips, moving his hands around her to keep her close, she quickly reciprocates the action.

“S-Sunny, I don’t understand how you’re here.” She curses at herself for not having much strength to speak from how damn hard she’s blushing, tears still pricking at her eyes.

“I’m here because you wanted me to be.” Something about the way he said it sounds so dreamy but also cheesy at the same time, like all those romance movies she used to watch. It felt like him to his core.

“I missed you so much Sunny... I swear I’ll always protect you from now on!” She won’t let this second chance slip through her fingers so easily, she’s so happy she can finally love him again. She pulls him into the tightest hug she can muster, hoping to keep him in her arms for as long as she can. She won’t let this chance slip away.

“I missed you too Aubrey...”

Chapter Text

Aubrey’s grasp loosens as she moves back to stare the black haired boy in the face.
“I don’t understand, how are you… here?”

“I took the bus here?” The teenage boy looks back at her in confusion.

“No Sunny… I mean, how are you alive?”

“I took up exercising and healthy eating habits??”

“How. Are. You. Not. Dead.”

“Sorry… I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”

“Four years ago, Mari pushed you down the stairs and landed on your broken violin… you died.”

“No?? Four years ago I pushed Mari down the stairs and she landed on my violin, she’s the one who died.”

“But Mari is alive, I saw her around town yesterday walking towards the church.” Aubrey lets out a sigh. “It’d probably just be quicker to show you she’s alive, no matter how much I don’t want to pay her a visit.”

Aubrey takes Sunny by the hand, leading him away from the swing set and down the streets before turning right, Sunny seems to be taking in the surroundings as they pass Kel and Hero’s house.

“Aubrey, you know I moved out five months ago, right?”

“Nope. Mari is living there with your father.”

“Then where’s mom?”

“She moved away when you- y’know.”

“Mhm…”

The duo approach the door and Aubrey knocks on it, holding onto his hand tightly, she really wishes she didn’t have to do this.

Aubrey can make out the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs before stopping at the door, opening it up. Being greeted by a man in his late 40’s with glasses poking his head out the slightly ajar door. Sunny quickly left Aubrey’s had and moved to the side to evade his fathers vision.

“Hello, how may I help you?” Sunny’s dad says deeply, slight anger due to the unexpected late night visit.

“I’m here to say something to Mari.”

Aubrey didn’t really know Sunny’s dad too well but from what she did know the teen didn’t really have any urge to have a conversation with him.

“MARI, SOMEONES HERE TO TALK TO YOU.” The father figure turns his head before shouting up the stairs, soon walking off as another pair of footsteps approach.

Aubrey is met by a purple haired girl who’s smile fades as soon as she sees the charcoal haired girl.

“Hey Aubrey…”

“Hey…”

“I see that you stopped dying your hair…”

“Mhm. Well. I have something I want to show you Mari.”

“Go ahead.” Mari responds with a slight bit of worry in her voice, expecting the worst from this interaction.

Aubrey turns her head to Sunny and looks at him.
“Come over here.”

The onyx haired boy moves back to where he is visible, still moving behind Aubrey before looking up at his older sister.

As soon as the siblings lock eyes the atmosphere of the night seems to get even colder, if you tried to slice the tension with a knife the sharp object would shatter on impact.

“S-Sunny…?”

“Hey Mari…”

Mari backs away slowly with a terrified look on her face before shutting the door. Aubrey turns to look at Sunny who isn’t holding up much better, it seems even with the preparation to meet Mari again his face is still painted with fear.

“Mari, wait!” The girl knocks on the door again hoping to get a response.

“How Aubrey? How is he here?”

“I-I don’t know, I was sitting at the park and there he was, he’s alive… he’s okay.”

“No he isn’t.”

“Yes he is, you just saw him.”

“THAT ISN’T WHAT I MEANT!”

The two move back upon hearing Mari shout through the white wooden door. Sunny covers up his ears in response, he isn’t holding up too well.

“What do you mean?”

“Aubrey, our Sunny is dead, he has been for a while now… you know that just as well as I, so why would you bring him here.”

“I just thought you might be happy to see him ag-“

“That isn’t my brother and that isn’t yours or anyone’s friend. It’s hopeless for one of us to think otherwise, now please leave…”

“Okay… let’s go Sunny.”

Sunny is shaking as the two walk off down the stone path, hearing his own sister treat him that way must’ve been pretty bad for him. A huge pit has opened up inside of him, brought out by seeing her again.

“I don’t understand Sunny, how could she just say something like that!?”

“No… Mari- she’s probably right…” Sunny responds, everything Mari said held some truth.

“H-huh?”

“I don’t think I’m your Sunny either, that would explain the slight inconsistencies… I don’t know how I’m here but I assume that this isn’t the same Faraway I was planning on visiting this morning.” The way Mari had reacted hurt him but he just didn’t want to talk about it right now, instead choosing the bring up the differences over the pain he’s still trying to swallow.

“So what she said was correct about you not being our Sunny.”

“Mhm. I don’t think you’re my Aubrey either.”

Aubrey comes to a halt and takes a deep breath.

“So then… how did you end up here Sunny.”

“I just- I don’t know, all I did was take the bus here to see you, you had said you wanted me to visit the weekend so that you could tell me something.”

“I see…”

“Maybe my Aubrey is still there at the swingset waiting for me, maybe she’s given up… maybe she wanted to tell me what we said to each other earlier… and now she may never get to.”

Sunny begins to tear up a little, Aubrey rushes to his side and places her hands on either side of his shoulders before the two hug each other. Aubrey’s hold had felt warm and accepting, thank god that hasn’t changed…

“Take a deep breath Sunny, try to calm down.” Aubrey tightly holds onto the boy, hoping that he’s listening to her voice.

Sunny inhales and then exhales, holding onto Aubrey as his tears soak her clothes. He didn’t mean to slip up and begin crying like that but he couldn’t stop himself.

“You must really miss her...”

“I miss all of my friends… I miss my Kel, my Hero and my Aubrey but you are also my friend and I don’t want to leave you alone either…” It was so much more than just that but how could he even begin to put it into words…

“Sunny…”

“I may never be able to get back to them again, I may never be able to see them again, but I want to be here for you and Mari and for this worlds Kel, Hero and Basil too. You all must’ve missed me so much…”

“We do miss you, we haven’t stopped missing you since we heard the news about what had happened to you four years ago… I know you have to try and get back to your own world and everyone else in it but… can I at least keep you company until you get home?”

“That sounds nice... I’ll try and make sure that all our friends here see me and can make the most of their time with me before I leave too…”

“Do you think you’ll actually be able to get back to your friends?”

“I don’t know but… I’ve got to hold out some hope don't I?”

“Yeah, you’re right Sunny.”

“Right now I just need to find a place to sleep…” Sunny’s eyes feel heavy, he just wants to close them right now.

“Then you should probably come to my house for the night, I can’t guarantee it’ll be the best sleep you have but it’s something.”

“I’m ready when you are Aubrey.”

The pair of teenagers continue off down the street, unsure of what will happen next with one unsure of how well he could handle it.

Chapter Text

Sunny and Aubrey walk together, the night beginning to shine down on the two as they leave the street of Kel, Hero and… Mari.

“It’s gonna feel so weird to be at your house for the night Aubrey, even in my world I’ve never had a sleepover at yours.” Sunny takes deep breaths to reassure himself as he talks, he’s managed to push away the tears for now. The cold air assists his breathing.

“Really? Well- I mean that isn’t surprising, I’m sure you’ve probably seen what my house is like by now.”

Sunny nods in response, he’s seen what Aubrey’s house was like, even before then he had a good grasp on it due to the stories she told him about the place.

Sunny looks at the cats as he and Aubrey continue on their walk to hers, Faraway was oddly synonymous with how many cats hung around their little town at the nighttime, it’s something Sunny dearly missed. The thought of petting their warm and fluffy bodies managed to calm him down a little more.

Before Sunny can lose himself to the thoughts of cats he and Aubrey stopped at her house. It looks pretty much the same as what he was used to. The trash, the cracked concrete below and a shattered window. Sunny found it surprising how no one had taken notice of the rundown house.

“Well… welcome to my house Sunny. It feels so embarrassing to bring you into it when it’s all trashed.”

Sunny places a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder and reassures his friend. “Don’t worry about it, your room is clean enough so I don’t mind at all.”

Aubrey chuckles a little. “That’s such a you thing to say, always so considerate.” She elbows his shoulder gently, giving a small smile towards him.

The duo walk in and enter up the ladder into Aubrey’s room, Aubrey closes the hatch as Sunny enters.

“Does my room feel familiar to you Sunny?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of the same as the last time I came here-” Sunny pauses…

Aubrey walks over and sits down on her bed as Sunny looks around the room, looking around at the similarities.

“There is one difference though.”

Sunny walks over to a letter on Aubrey’s draw, a pink heart is on the letter. Sunny reaches for it before-

“DON’T TOUCH THAT.”

Aubrey seems to move at mach 10 to reach the letter before Sunny can pick it up, quickly putting it in her drawer.

“Sorry… was I not supposed to go near that?”

“It’s fine- I probably shouldn’t have had it out in the first place, next time ask me before you inspect something though.”

Sunny can’t help but laugh a little. “Sure, next time I’ll make sure to ask.”

————————

After a little bit of hanging around together Aubrey says something to Sunny.

“Hey Sunny. Come here, your hair looks all messy.” She says while reaching for a comb, patting her bed as if to call him over.

Sunny can only nod as he walks over to Aubrey by the bed, sitting down next to her.

“You know I can comb my own hair right.” The onyx hair boy replies to his friend.

“Don’t be silly, just let me do it. I’ve always wanted to comb your hair anyways.” Aubrey’s face turns a little red, getting embarrassed by her slip up.

Sunny (choosing to ignore what was just said for fear his ears with turn scarlet) sits back and lets Aubrey comb away at his hair, laying in silence until she strikes up a conversation.

“Your hair is longer than I remember it from way back when.”

“Yeah? I grew it out a little for winter, I think I’ve slowly come to like it this way however.” He chuckles a little.

“I see…” Aubrey pauses before continuing. “What are the little marks on the back of head about…?”

Sunny stops speaking for a second.

“Sorry, was that a sensitive topic?”

“No… don’t worry about it, I’ll tell you.” Sunny takes a deep breath. “Um- so… back when I was younger, when I used to shut myself out from the world I didn’t want to let my own hair grow out because… because everytime it got long it reminded me of her… so- when I didn’t want to go out to get it cut I took the scissors from the kitchen and tried to cut it myself-“ Sunny can feel his own heart tighten, releasing its hold as he exhaled to finish his sentence.

“Sunny…”

“It’s fine now, I don’t feel afraid of seeing her whenever I look at myself in the mirror anymore.”

“While we’re on heavy topics… mind if I ask why you’re wearing an eyepatch too?”

“I got it because of Basil…”

“Basil did that to you?!”

“Yeah, me and him got into a little fight and he ended up slashing my eye with his shears, it used to sting a lot but now it isn’t as painful, if it starts to itch I need eye drop however.”

“So your eye is completely gone?”

“Nah, it’s still there, just can’t see too well from it. I honestly don’t think it’s too bad though, it’s stopped me from getting bullied once or twice in my new school due to some school rumour about how I got it.”

“The eye and hair aren't the only thing different from you, I can see a bit of muscle on you.”

“Pffft. I only have it due to Kel, after I moved he called me constantly so that we could hangout while he was on runs, after a bit he coaxed me into doing morning runs too, he also suggested to me balanced meals and Hero taught me how to make them.”

“Wow, sounds like they really helped you huh? Can you turn around for me so I can brush the front of your hair btw.”

Sunny turns around, now facing Aubrey on the bed. He takes a deep breath.

“You helped me too, y'know? Your words to me before I moved away inspired me to do it in the first place.”

Sunny notices Aubrey’s face turn a little red as they make eye contact before she quickly looks up to focus on his hair. Sunny’s own ears turn a little red but he chooses not to move his head out of fear he’d mess up her process.

“It’s… it’s good to know my words inspired you so much. I can only imagine how hard it must’ve been to do something like that after what you did to your Mari…”

“It was… but it got easier over time. If not for Basil, Kel, Hero and especially you I may never have had the will to do any of it.”

Aubrey looks towards Sunny.

“You know Sunny… things got really hard here after you died, after so many years of thinking about you I really came to understand your thought process, that entire time you must have felt like you were in the background of our group right?”

Sunny doesn’t say anything except giving a silent nod.

“You must have never thought you were important to us but in the end you were the glue that kept us all together, I feel like with you here maybe things can go back to the way they were…”

That last sentence moved through Sunny’s mind and struck a chord, those words so familiar to him. He can’t stop himself as he begins to tear up.

“W-what is it Sunny? Did I say something wrong?!”

Sunny wipes his tears as he smiles.

“No. No actually, as always Aubrey, you’ve said everything right.”

Sunny is unable to stop himself as he moves in and hugs his friend, the two now caught in a warm embrace as Sunny tries to dry his tears.

“Thanks Sunny… I think your hair is combed enough for now.”

After a bit longer the two leave the hug and Sunny sits against the wall as Aubrey lays back in her bed, looking up at the ceiling.

“Even if you may have seen this before I want to apologise again for the state of this house.”

“Don’t worry Aubrey, it’s out of your control. I personally think it’s fine, at least in your room. It smells oddly like peaches…”

Aubrey laughs a little in response, covering her mouth as she laughs.

“You don’t go around smelling peoples rooms like that Sunny, you goofball.”

“H-huh, but I went around Faraway checking everyone’s beds once.”

Aubrey’s laughter gets a little louder.

“Pffft. I can’t tell if you're being sarcastic or not.”

Sunny can’t help but get caught up in Aubrey’s infectious laughter, joining in with her. It felt nice…

After the two hang out for a little more Aubrey speaks up.

“We should probably head to sleep right now before it gets too late.”

“Good idea but uh- Aubrey?”

“Yeah?”

“Where do I sleep?”

Aubrey seems to be left in stunned silence as she tries to process the info before facepalming.

“Oh my godddd, I forgot we don’t have any extra sleeping bags.”

“That’s fine, don’t worry, I’ve slept on harder surfaces before.”

“Nooooo, Sunny you’re my guest, I can’t just let you sleep on the floor, take my bed.”

“But then I’d feel bad about you sleeping on the floor.”

Aubrey pauses for a bit before her cheeks turn a little red.

“…Who says one of us has to sleep on the floor?”

Next thing you know Aubrey and Sunny are sharing the minimal space in Aubrey’s bed. The duo getting increasingly more flushed the closer they get to eachother.

“Umm- You know, when I was younger I never thought I’d see the day where me and you are about the same height.” The brunette says, looking for something to say in the current situation.

“Well, you have Kel to thank for that too. If not for him I’d be shorter than you right now. Turns out four years of mostly sleeping really stunts growth.”

“No way am I going to thank Kel for that, he’d just make an entire thing out of it.”

Sunny chuckles a little in response. “I know he would. Well either way, I think we should probably try to sleep now and figure out what to do in the morning.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Goodnight Sunny.”

“Goodnight Aubrey…”

In the end the bed was a little rough and it’s probably had better days but in the end it didn’t matter. Why? Because it was… Aubrey’s bed.

Chapter Text

Sunny wakes up as the light soaks through the ceiling, it seems he was the first to wake up out of the two. Sunny didn’t expect to be in Faraway for more than a day so he didn’t pack a spare change of clothes, only having his wallet on him.

Sunny walks over to Bunbun, placing a little bit of lettuce inside for the small rabbit, watching it nibble away at its food without a care in the world.

The boy doesn’t really know how he’ll get home, if he will ever be able to get home at all. Maybe he could try to take the early bus back home? That mightn’t work though…

The bus Sunny took had no one on it, he didn’t find it too weird originally but now he’s wondering why it was just him brought here, for what reason?

Pulling out his phone he sends a text to his mom, watching as the message gets denied, he can’t even tell her what happened to him, she could be worried sick right now.

Standing up Sunny walks over to Aubrey and taps her on the shoulder in an attempt to wake the girl up but she doesn’t seem to budge. The boy just sits down on the bed and waits for her, he doesn’t want to make Aubrey think he just vanished out of nowhere.

Placing his hand next to the girl he looks down at her, she looks so peaceful in her sleep. Given everything in her life, Sunny's happy she can still sleep well… he should really try to help her… he should try and help everyone of his friends here.

Maybe if he can fix their friendship like he did his own then Sunny can go home, he can’t guarantee the safety of this friend group when he leaves though, if Aubrey considered him the glue that kept everyone together then what would happen if he were to leave this world, he can feel his heartbeat tense as he thinks about this weight.

As if she could read his mind the sleeping Aubrey holds onto his hand as if she were still a little girl holding onto Mr. Plantegg, this calms Sunny enough so that he can take a deep breath.

“Hey Aubrey… wake up.” Sunny says while poking the black haired girl's cheek, hoping to get a reaction out of her.

“…Hey Aubrey, will you miss me if I leave again? If you start to hurt, if you start to feel sad, is that… is it my fault?”

No response…

Sunny gazes off as he falls deep into his mind, thinking to himself as time starts to pass. Eventually he starts to feel movement from the bed as Aubrey shuffles awake.

“Morning Aubrey…”

“Sorry if I kept you waiting, Sunny. I hope you didn’t get bored sitting around.”

“Nah, it’s all fine. You seemed to be sleeping well.” Sunny replies while pointing to her holding onto his hand tightly, causing her to quickly let go of her hold and move upwards quickly.

“O-oops, I didn’t mean to.”

“Hey hey, it’s all good… I didn’t mind it to be honest.”

The two sit in silence for a bit until Aubrey decides to move and pull herself out of bed.

“So… what do you want to do today, Sunny?”

“Well, I think maybe we should go shopping. I didn’t think I’d be in Faraway for more than a day and I don’t have any extra pair of clothes nor do I have an extra eyepatch so…”

“I get it, I think that sounds like a good idea. I can use this opportunity to increase your sense of fashion.”

Sunny seems stunned for a second giving a small ‘huh?’ in response.

“Sunny, your clothes look practically the same as when you used to be a child. You’ve been wearing black and white for as long as I can remember. Hell, didn’t you used to own black and white pajamas?”

Sunny gives a small chuckle in response as he gets up from the bed, confirming Aubrey’s line of thought.

“That’s it, today I’m taking you out to a clothing store and picking out the clothes you should wear!” She excitedly says, as if she’s been preparing for a moment like this for eons.

————————

The bus ride was pretty uneventful, Sunny was looking at the window to see if anything would happen during their trip there but alas it was nothing, Sunny was also pretty sure the bus driver wasn’t the same one he had seen yesterday.

The duo touchdown in Somewhere City, this is the place Sunny and his mom moved after…

“What’re you looking at Sunny?” Aubrey says, pulling him out of the vast nothingness he was staring into.

“Oh, nothing. Sorry, I was just spacing out like usual.” Sunny turns his head and begins to walk up next to Aubrey.

“How do we get to the Supermarket again? I haven’t been here in so long that I can barely remember the way there.” Aubrey sounds almost confused on where to go from the bus stop.

“Don’t worry, I know my way around here.” Sunny says before taking the lead on their trip already knowing where to go and which turns to take to get there the fastest, on the way there he gives one of the houses a quick side glance before continuing his journey.

“I wasn’t expecting you to take the lead on this Sunny, I thought you’d get the most lost out of the two of us.” Aubrey smirks a little as she speaks, liking this confident side to Sunny.

“Well, where I came from this is where I moved with my mother. I’ve lived here for a few months now so I know this place pretty well.”

“So… do you think that means we’re in your world now?” Aubrey replies.

“No. If we were, my notifications would've been updated but so far they haven’t. I think that means we’re still in your world.”

Aubrey pauses a second before she continues to speak. “Then do you think that means Mari’s mother is here? If this is where you and she moved to then do you think this is where she is now?”

That question causes Sunny to halt, that could be the case.
“…We can check on our way back, we’ve already passed her house so right now we should just get those clothes.”

“If you say so Sunny…”

The two enter the supermarket, looking around at a bunch of different things. This place is nothing like anything Faraway has to offer, having so much more to it.

“I almost forgot how big it is compared to anything in Faraway, the last time I was here was probably with Kel’s family getting ready for the recital.”

Moving past all the other stores Aubrey and Sunny come across the clothing shop, walking inside to look at all the things on offer, unaware of the presence of someone else nearby.

Aubrey and Sunny look at the clothes on offer, Aubrey picking out some questionable clothes for the raven haired teen.

“What do you think of this cool jacket, Sunny?”

“It’s way too colourful, I’d stand out too much.”

“What about these pants?”

“Whoever created leather pants should get punched in the gut.”

“C’mon Sunny, you have to stop being such a baby and pick something out.”

Sunny walks over and finds some light blue ripped jeans, a black shirt, a red hoodie and a black eyepatch instead of his usual white.”

“How’s this?” The boy says towards Aubrey, trying to get her attention by holding the clothes up.

“If that’s what you wanna wear Sunny then that’s fine by me.” Sunny nods in response and walks over to reception to pay for the clothes before heading to a changing room to put them on.

“Just tell me when you're done Sunny.” Aubrey says while leaning up against the changing room.

“Sure. Just gimmie a minute.”

“Oki!” Aubrey moves back a little.

…
…

“Why does it sound like footsteps are getting closer to me?”

“YO AUBREY!”

Startled by the sudden loud sound Aubrey turns around, walking up to at an impressive speed in a brown haired boy standing at roughly 6 feet.

“Out of all the people I thought I may see here I didn’t expect to see you, it’s been so long!”

“Hey Kellllll, what’re you doing here?”

“Oh right, I suppose you don’t know. Hero’s coming back soon due to winter break so mom dragged me out here to get food and other random things. You know how it is. What’re you doing out here around the changing rooms?”

“Oh you know… just looking at clothes and stuff.”

“That’s such a girly thing to do. I just meant what're you out here alone, normally Kim would be around right?”

“Well you know, I can do things by myself sometimes Kel.” Aubrey sounds almost angry, of course nothing close to the pink haired delinquent but Kel may get hit all the same.

“I know you can. I just think maybe you’re out here for some reason, visiting a boy or something? That’s very scandalous of you.”

“Tch. As if you’d know anything about that.”

As if like clockwork Sunny walks out of the changing room in his new clothes. “Do you think these clothes suit me Aubr-“ Sunny says before halting, looking at the two in front of him. Kel looks over at this stranger and then back at Aubrey with a smile on his face.

“I KNEW IT!” Kel shouts, being way too loud for his own good. “Hello stranger, my name is Kel! I’m Aubrey’s best friend!”

Sunny can’t help but laugh a little, it seems no matter how things change Kel will always stay the same, he finds comfort in that familiarity.

“Huh- did I say something funny?”

“No, he just thinks you’re a doofus Kel.”

“Hey, I’m not a doofus!”

Sunny walks over to the two, looking his friend in the eyes.

“Hmmm, something about you seems familiar, have we met before? I’m pretty sure I’ve never met a kid with an eyepatch on though.”

“Kel, do you really want to know that badly who he is?”

“I mean, yeah.”

“Well, you might wanna prepare yourself for this one.”

Aubrey takes Kel and Sunny by the hand, dragging them to one of the mall's benches where she proceeds to explain everything to Kel.

Kel takes a deep breath as if in deep thought.

“So what you’re telling me is right here, in front of me is Sunny?”

“Yeah, basically. It isn’t our Sunny but instead one from a world where Mari died instead, I met him yesterday out by the swings.”

“I don’t get it, how could something like that happen?”

“Sunny doesn’t know either.”

Sunny cuts in.

“I think I’m here for some sort of reason, I just don’t know why that is.”

“…I see, it’s kind of hard to process but just knowing there’s a world out there where you exist makes me a bit happier.”

It seems it was Aubrey’s turn to interrupt.
“Do you two wanna talk alone for a bit?”

“Yeah, I think that’d be good…” Sunny replies, watching as Aubrey stands up and begins to look around at the stores as if to distract herself.

Kel is the first to speak up.
“So man, how do you feel being here?”

“It feels different and yet it feels the same.”

“I get it, I think I’d feel similarly if I ended up in your world without reason. It must be confusing.”

“Yeah… it is.”

“Mind if I talk to you about something?”

“Sure?”

Kel takes a deep breath before beginning.

“So… back when you died things changed so much so quickly. I’m sure you heard a little from Aubrey but everyone was super affected by it. Mari shut herself out, ignoring everyone and whenever she did come outside she would never speak to anyone, especially if it was Hero. Hero himself became so closed off that not even our family could get through to him until suddenly one day he just got up and left for college, only coming back a few years later when I told him Mari had come outside and began talking to us all. Basil had dyed his hair black and became really angry at the world like it had done something to wrong him, it took quite a while for him to start opening up to me and Aubrey but he seemed deeply affected by your death.”

“and what about you and Aubrey?”

“When I heard you died I almost shut myself away from everything… but then I started to see what that was doing to Hero, what it was doing to everyone around him. It was due to that I decided to try and keep my family happy, I picked up a few extra curricular classes to keep my parents happy, and Aubrey… well- I don’t think there was a day in school where I didn’t see her so sad, she looked broken. She lost a piece of herself when she lost you. I think that was the moment I realised your importance as our friend. One day me and Aubrey had a little argument and she ended up breaking down, she looked like a complete mess… and so I thought of Hero reprimanding me for it, it led me to quickly run to her and say sorry… and then she just cried… and she cried more. After that I started talking to her more and then we started to try and help Basil too. That’s most of it anyways.”

“I can’t believe that happened because of me dying, it feels so weird.”

“You were our friend Sunny, you were… a brother to me.”

“You’re a brother to me Kel.”

Kel and Sunny embrace each other for a few seconds, separating as Aubrey walks towards them.

“You two okay…?”

“Yeah, we’re fine now.” Kel responds. “You two wanna come home with me and mom?”

“Yeah, you think she’d allow us to make a quick stop though? I think I have someone I need to see…”

“Sure, I don’t think she’d mind at all Sunny.”

“I’ll see you soon mom, I hope you’re there.”

Chapter Text

Hopping into the car with Kel and Aubrey, Kel’s mom soon gets in and drives off, heading towards where Sunny’s mother moved with him after the incident.

“This should be it, thanks for agreeing to take a quick stop!” Sunny says happily towards Kel’s mom as he gets out of the car, heading to the house door and knocking on it a little.

Sunny’s mom shouldn’t be at work right now, she had a lot more free time after moving due to not having to drive as far and getting a raise.

Waiting at the door Sunny feels a little tense, turning back to his friends in the car. Kel gives him a little thumbs up and as he turns back the door opens.

“Hello?” The woman opens the door, expecting to come face to face with someone before looking down a little bit. Sunny noticed some greys in her hair but otherwise his mother didn’t look too worse for wear.

“Uh… hi?” Sunny finds words leaving his mouth.

“Are you looking for someone dearie?”

“Oh uh, I was… I was ju-“
Before Sunny can finish speaking someone else comes to the door, putting his arms around his mom who turns to face him.

“Hey sweetie, do you know who this kid is?”

“No, can’t say I do.”

Sunny steps back a little, this was very and he means very unexpected.

“Uhm so sorry for intruding on your day, I should really go now.”

“Hope you can find who you’re looking for dearie.” His mother gives him a wave before slowly closing the door.

Turning back to the car Sunny holds his own head low and gets inside, his friends instantly picking up on his mood and placing a hand on him.

The drive back felt silent for Sunny, he couldn’t hear voices, only a grating ringing in his ear that was louder than the voices surrounding him.

Why? Why did his mom not even recognise him? Was he that different from when he was younger? Was he just so insignificant in her mind that she was unable to see her own Sunny in the reflection of his eyes?

Sunny can’t help but grasp at his own head as he can feel tears leave his eyes, his left one stings as it soaks through the eyepatch guarding his right iris.

He can now feel two people's arms surrounding him as little sounds leave his mouth from crying.

Arriving back at Faraway Sunny pulls himself together, remembering that he must stay strong if he wants to bring his friends back together. He takes a deep breath as his eyes begin to clear up. He’s got to at least try to keep things together as he attempts to bring yope back to this friend group… at least that’s what he tells himself.

Exiting outside the car with his friends beside him Kel begins to speak.

“Are you feeling better now, Sunny?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine Kel. Thanks for the concern.”

“No problem man…” Kel gives Sunny a smile but behind it Sunny can feel the worry that Kel is trying to show him.

“So uh, what do you two plan to do for the rest of the day?” Kel asks his two friends who both give him a shrug. “How about we go to Gino’s together!”

“I don’t see why not.” Aubrey replies as Sunny nods in response.

It had been quite a while since Sunny had tried some of Gino’s pizza so onward they went. Aubrey and Kel are talking to each other as Sunny listens in on the idle chatter of the two, somehow the two had managed to get all the way to Gino’s without throwing hands with each other, a welcomed surprise to Sunny.

“I’m surprised to see you two not arguing.” Sunny turns his head back to look at his two friends as he speaks.

“Kel and I can actually get along pretty fine, a while after Mari had told the truth Kel, Basil and I ended up becoming closer friends than ever.”

“Wow, you two became so close you can have a conversation without arguing? If only Hero was here-o to see this.” Sunny watched as his two friends' faces quickly turn to disgust as he made a pun.

“Wow, rough crowd. Last time I ever make a pun I guess.”

His friends nod as if to reconfirm his sentence, leaving him to sigh as he opens up the door to Gino’s

The place looks super similar to what he’s used to, same old same old and all that.

Looking over at the counter he sees a certain someone staring at him, Aubrey beating him to the punch as he tried to open his mouth.

“MARI’S HERE!?”

“Yeah? I thought you guys knew she works shifts here sometimes?”

“NO?”

Aubrey quickly takes Kel and Sunny to the side, filling Kel in on Sunny’s last encounter with her and Aubrey’s own personal feelings about Mari.

“Look guys, I know you probably didn’t want to deal with Mari right now but you’ll have to eventually… we all will. Why not get it out of the way at least.”

“Kel, you know exactly why we can’t forgive her. You know that just as well as I do, especially after how you reacted to what Hero said too.”

“Look I-“ Kel takes a deep breath. “I know I didn’t react the best to what Mari and my brother said but… I don’t know, Sunny’s here now so I thought maybe things could go back to how they used to be…”

Wow. Kel putting up a convincing rebuttal to Aubrey, that was almost unheard of, even more unheard of was that Aubrey actually seemed to be processing what he’s saying.

“Fine… I guess we can give it a shot, just know that I’m still not ready to forgive her yet.”

Kel seems okay with this and nods in agreement.

The trio walk up to the counter and talk to Mari who has been staring at them for the past two minutes.

“Hello, welcome to Gino’s. How can we help you?”

“When does your shift end Mari?” Kel replies.

“Like… a minute?”

“Good, come sit with us when you’re done! Also we’d like a half pepperoni half cheese pizza!”

“Okay?”

and so the group of friends move over to a four person table as they wait for Mari to come out with the pizza.

“See, that wasn’t so bad was it?” Kel happily says while looking at Aubrey and Sunny who both seem a little tense, Kel takes a deep breath in response to their reactions.

“Look Aubrey… I’m going to be honest with you as your friend when I say that I do not think you will be able to house Sunny for much longer, you know what your own living space is like…”

“You’re right Kel but if he needed a room why couldn’t we talk to Basil first, you could’ve probably housed him if you wanted too.”

“Firstly, Hero is coming back tomorrow and I don’t know how well he’d react to seeing the kid he… we just don’t know how he’d handle seeing Sunny first thing tomorrow and the same goes for Basil. You two have had a past interaction with Mari and that means it’s the easiest option right now, I doubt Mari would refuse her little brother housing right?”

Aubrey seems a little stunned at Kel’s response.
“Damn Kel, when did you go ahead and get so smart.”

“When I started picking up like six extra curricular classes I guess?” Kel chuckles as he gives a response. “Anyway, if we can get Mari to agree then that makes it easier for us to get Basil and Hero to accept Sunny showing up too.”

Sunny nods in agreement, showing he’s okay with this plan, he’d have to face this eventually and he’s done running away so why not face it now.

Aubrey still doesn’t seem completely on board until looking over at Sunny’s face, seemingly calming her into agreeing with Kel.

Soon Mari brings the trio the pizza and sits down with them.

“Here’s your order, now what did you three need me for?”
Sunny stares at Mari as she speaks, looking at her body language it’s obvious she feels a little nervous.

“Well…” Aubrey pauses. “We were hoping you could keep Sunny at your house for a while, y’know? While he tries to find a way to return home.”

Mari seems to pause for a second as she stares back her little brother in the eyes, Sunny doesn’t find this encounter as bad as yesterday’s but he can still feel the air leave his lungs a little as she keeps her eyes on him

“Fine, I don’t see why not.”

Sunny can feel a smile grow on his face before Mari continues to speak.

“If and only if Sunny will tell me everything that happened in his world.”

Sunny seems to comply as he begins to open his mouth, feeling familiar words flow out of his mouth.

“I have to tell you something…”

Chapter Text

Sunny finishes talking about his world, feeling a little worn down from talking about it all. Sunny had omitted a little bit but not anything that held too much weight.

His friends fall silent, seemingly piecing the truth that felt both familiar and different then what they were used to. Kel and Aubrey didn’t know the complete story about Sunny’s world so they have a little to think about too.

Kel is the first to speak up.
“Wow… I did not expect some of that. I never thought you’d be the one to shut yourself off from the world like that.”

Aubrey agrees before continuing.
“Yeah… the way you described how pale and weak you became, I have a hard time imagining you like that.”

All Sunny can do is nod in agreement, the last few months he’s tried his hardest to improve himself and the thought of what he used to feel and how he used to look made him a little dizzy at the thought.

“I did something similar too but I made sure to keep myself at least a little healthy and active.” Mari adds on.

“Yeah… at first I wanted to have a slow painful death but my mother made sure I ate at least once a week, I have her to thank for why I’m even… around.”

Sunny can’t help but sink into his own shirt a little as he talks about the past, bringing it all up like this has never gotten easier for him, even after therapy.

Kel speaks up again.
“Well, I’m really happy you’re here now Sunny. We’ve all missed you a lot.”

“Thanks Kel.” Sunny smiles faintly in response, lifting himself out of his own shirt a little more.

“…I think I need to head home now, mom will get mad at me if I don’t help set up for Hero’s return.”

Sunny, Mari and Aubrey wave Kel off as he exits Gino, soon after the trio get up and walk off themselves, stopping at the crossroads.

“Hey Mari?”

“Yeah Aubrey?”

“Mind if I talk to you for a second.”

“Sure.”

Aubrey and Mari walk off to the side, leaving Sunny alone with a cat soon running up to accompany him.

“Thanks for giving Sunny a place to stay, I wish he could just stay at mine but you know what my situation is like.”

“Yeah, listen to what I said yesterday, just know I still stand by it… you know this isn’t our Sunny but we should look after him all the same until he goes home.”

“Why don’t you want to get attached? You’re treating him like a lost puppy.” Aubrey says, a little bit annoyed at the way Mari acts.

“Because my little brother has been dead for a while now, no matter how similar I am, I just don’t want to risk getting attached just to lose him again.”

“I see how it is… thanks anyway Mari.”

“Yeah… bye Aubrey.”

Aubrey heads off on her own, down the block and then taking a right to her own house as Mari returns to Sunny.

Sunny sees Mari begin to walk towards their house, bidding the cat goodbye and following after her.

…The walk is silent, Sunny feels like she doesn’t really want to speak.

Mari opens the door to the old house, letting Sunny in.
“Dad shouldn’t be back until later tonight and he’ll be gone by breakfast tomorrow.”

Sunny nods in response and heads up the stairs.
It’s been 5 months since he’s been back in his own house, everything is where he remembers it being.

Heading up the steps everything feels familiar to him, the house seemingly guiding him to his- er, Mari’s room.

This room seems to be the only thing different from what he’s used to, the room now contains all the stuff Mari owned.

Somehow, Sunny begins to feel a little sad, seeing all her things laid out in front of him felt like a mini punch to his stomach.

His guilt wasn’t as strong as it used to be but even still, these items remind him of what he took away from his world. Sometimes he dragged deep into the abyss of his mind, feeling only the worst, that’s what he expected when he went to visit his Aubrey, he expected the worst but ended up here instead.

What will happen when he returns…?

“You okay Sunny?”

Mari’s voice pulls him out of his sinking feelings.

“Mhm… I’m fine.”

Sunny watches as Mari reacts to his words, being his sister she can already tell he’s lying but even so she decides not to speak up about it.

Soon it had gotten late and Mari and Sunny had decided to sleep. Sunny had gotten a blow out bed with a spare pillow and blanket handed to him.

Turning over to face Mari the moonlight seemed to glow against her purple hair, Mari always seemed to emit some natural radiance. Maybe that’s why people always seemed drawn to her.

“Hey Mari, are you still awake?”

“Yeah, I am…”

“…Earlier today I didn’t tell you everything…”

Mari turns around to face Sunny from her bed.

“What?”

“I didn’t tell you that I met mom earlier, the one in this world.”

“Really, where is she?”

“She’s where we moved in my world… She lives in Nearby City. When I met her today I found out she’s living with someone new… I was hoping she’d recognise me but she didn’t, I felt so pathetic…”

“You aren’t pathetic Sunny…”

“I know… I’ve just heard it so much it’s become a part of me. During our practice dad used to say a lot of things about me… about how I was going to let you down. It all built up over time until the accident.”

Sunny could swear he hears Mari sniffling as he speaks.

“He never acted that way when you or mom were nearby but when it was just us he used to tell me all these things about how I was weighing you down, it made me try harder until everything started to hurt… and on that day you hurt me too, after what I did everything became blurry and felt like a dream, to me, it wasn’t real.”

Sunny can begin to hear Mari cry.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have talked about it.”

“No no, it’s okay Sunny, you have every right to. I just never knew what you were thinking or feeling and I never even knew the kind of pressure you were under until it was too late… I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, I’ve accepted the truth and even today I’m still trying to continue moving, sometimes it’s hard but everyday it’s gotten a little easier.”

Sunny sits up from the makeshift bed to look at Mari.

“I’m sorry about so much Sunny, today I accepted to let you stay with me only because I thought it would be a way to atone for what I did to my brother but now I just see how selfish it was to think that all I did would be forgiven by letting my brother from a different world sleep in my house. I’m such a terrible older sister am I not?”

Wordlessly Sunny gets out of his bed and stands next to Mari, making her sit up from her own bed and without saying anything else Sunny just stood there and hugged her as she cried. That night the two were reminded of what being a sibling was like again.

Chapter Text

The third day had arrived, Sunny was the second to wake up, pulling a new eyepatch out of his pocket and putting it on.

Opening the door Sunny makes his way down the stairs and into the living room, searching around for his sister before arriving at the kitchen door, looking in at her putting food onto a plate.

“Hey Sunny… good morning, there’s some extra food here if you want it.”

Sunny walks over and picks up a plate, placing food still warm onto it before taking it over to a table and sitting down on a chair, his sister sitting down across from him.

The room is silent, but not deafening. Things aren’t the same between them, but it could come close given time so for now Sunny will take the silence, just happy to see her live again.

Finishing his food Sunny walks over and puts the plate in the sink, making sure to wash it before putting it back in its usual place.

…Today is the day Hero comes back… will talking to him be as easy as Sunny hopes however?

Mari watches Sunny stare down at the bottom of the sink, swearing she could see visible sweat run down his face as he’s lost deep within his own thoughts.

“You okay Sunny?”

The black haired boy gives a nod in response as he lifts his head up.

The duo wrap things up in the house and leave together.

“Hero comes back in a bit. I have to get something at Othermart, we can meet up back here later and I’ll have a talk with Hero, okay Sunny?”

“Yeah, see you soon Mari.”

Sunny watches as his sister leaves before going on his own way, Kel is probably far too busy and Sunny doesn’t want to risk running into Basil right now so going to Aubrey’s it is.

This Faraway Sunny finds himself in, sometimes he can’t help but think it to be the same one he had planned on visiting but it feels similar, from the air to everything around him, it’s like an exact replica from the ground up. A few people inside it may have changed but it’s home.

How is everyone in his own Faraway…? Has he been missing for three days now? …Does… Does it even exist now? The last thought sticks in his head but he manages to bury it, he’ll figure it out… hopefully.

His train of thought has led him to Aubrey’s house, just barely stopping himself from walking past it he makes his way up to its door, giving it a knock before remembering that Aubrey probably wouldn’t hear and that her mom wouldn’t answer he walks in anyway.

The ‘home’ is slightly cleaner than last time but not by much and Sunny doubts it will be that clean for long.

His Aubrey had decided to stay at Kel’s house on some days and with Kim’s family on others, at least that’s what he had heard of her situation from Kel himself.

Finding his way up the steps he lifts up the trapdoor and crawls into her room before shutting it behind him, Aubrey turns around as he stands up.

“Hey Sunny, I didn’t know you were coming here.”

“Yeah, Mari had to go to Othermart and Kel’s probably busy so I came to see you again.”

“How was Mari’s… was she okay towards you?”

“Yeah, I think it’s all okay now. What are you doing?”

“I’m preparing to visit your grave?”

Sunny opens his mouth, slightly agape from shock. Hearing someone say they’re going to visit your own grave is quite the unexpected sentence. Aubrey soon realises what she said and adds to her comment.
“The 12 year old Sunny, not you.” She chuckles a little.

Sunny can only nod in response.

“Do you… wanna come with me?”

“Mhm.” Is all he can say in response.

and so the two head out, leaving Aubrey’s house and making their short walk to the church, entering the big white building.

Passing the pews Aubrey speaks, albeit silently.

“I uh- I used to come here every day with Basil when I was younger, back when my parents were around… I used to talk to you like I used to do but it never really felt like the swings. Sometimes I would end up crying by your grave, wishing you would show up as Basil tried his best to comfort me… and now you’re finally here.”

Aubrey comes to a halt, Sunny stopping beside her.

“Before I know it you may leave me again and it hurts so much Sunny, it’s like an old wound finally healing and then someone pours lemon on it, y’know? It’s starting to sting so much now.”

Aubrey walks closer to Sunny and pulls him into a tight hug, Sunny reciprocating.

“When I got older I couldn’t bare being around your grave and stopped visiting you for long periods of time. That's when Basil started to get angry at me… before I knew it he started hanging around with the hooligans and ignored me every time I tried to speak to him. I just didn’t understand…”

Aubrey unwraps her arms from Sunny as the boy drops his own, letting go of his hold on her soft hair. The last bit of the walk towards the grave has a depressing grip to it.

Aubrey sits down by 12 year old Sunny’s grave, Sunny sitting down next to her, taking time to stare at it.

“Sunny, age 12. The weather felt better with him around.” The black haired boy says aloud.

“Yeah, I remember your funeral too well… that look on everyone’s faces still appear to me in my nightmares sometimes. I remember hearing that Hero and Mari had refused to say any words, I thought they were taking your funeral way worse than they were letting on but…”

Sunny stares to the side, avoiding to look at his own grave as he thinks about where Aubrey’s sentence was going. He was unsure on how to feel, he thought he had been getting better at feeling emotions again but sometimes he doesn’t feel as whole as he wanted to be.

Sunny does the only thing he can think of at that moment and places a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder as she continues to stare onwards at the flowers surrounding his grave, white tulips and egret orchids.

The air feels calm and collected around the two, warmer than it was a moment ago, as if the sun were shining down around them.

“Thanks for coming here Sunny, I’m sure this must feel strange for you.”

Sunny simply raises his hand up as if to say it wasn't an issue at all.

Sunny and Aubrey both get up, brushing themselves off as they walk back into church as the sun begins to set, for only a second Aubrey reaches her hand out to Sunny, retracting it before they can meet.

Now to push forward and say hello to Hero.

Chapter Text

The sun had set by Kel’s house, Aubrey and Sunny had met up with Mari on their way back.
As Mari knocks on the door the three speak.

“How are we gonna handle telling Hero? If you rejected Sunny when you first met him then how well could Hero really handle it Mari?” Aubrey speaks up, trying to get a good look at Mari’s face which is blocked by her purple hair.

“I don’t really know. I don’t expect Hero to handle this well, I just expect him to handle it better than I think Basil would…”

The door into Kel’s house opens up, Kel’s father greeting the trio, giving an especially warm hello to Mari. Of course when Sunny came along Kel’s dad looked at him weirdly until Aubrey stated that he was a friend the group had met recently which Kel’s dad seemed to have believed in the current moment.

Kel overhearing the speaking runs down the steps breaking the inside voice limiter as usual when he speaks.
“Hey guys! I’m so glad you could all get here! You’re probably wondering where Hero is right?”

The group just nods in response.

“He’s just in the kitchen right now cooking, I can get him to come out if you need him so soon.”

Mari replies. “We can wait around for Hero to come out on our own time, until then…” Mari takes a seat down on the couch, Sunny and Aubrey soon sitting down next to her.

Sunny takes this chance to speak to his sister, Aubrey taking the chance to listen in on a story she hadn’t heard before. “Did something happen between you and Hero after the incident Mari?”

“Yeah, after what happened me and Hero became closed off in our own ways. I don’t know what happened to him too well afterwards but after what we did our relationship fell apart…”

Sunny is a little upset to hear that. Mari and Hero had never declared outright they were together but it was practically official, they were their own power couple.

“Sorry to hear that…”

“No, don’t be. A relationship wouldn’t be built to last after something like what we did… It was so irresponsible of the both of us.” Sunny can hear as Mari’s voice becomes more depressed, no doubt sinking deep into her own thoughts Sunny does his best to comfort her.

“Just know that I forgive you for what you did and I’m one hundred percent sure your Sunny would too.”

Mari puts an arm around her younger brother, her body feeling as soft and warm as it used to feel all the way back when Sunny was younger. Mari was comforting in the same way Sunny was, Mari uses her voice but her actions give the greatest warmth one could ever experience.

Kel’s mother walks into the living room. “Dinner is ready if you want some, Hero likes to make a lot of food for Kel as I’m sure you know.”

With that the three decide to take their chance to walk into the kitchen, Sunny delaying walking in until Aubrey turns around and places a hand on him.

“Hey Sunny, we may not have gotten the chance to speak to Hero straight away but after dinner I’m sure you’ll be able to explain yourself to him. Don’t worry, I’ll sit next to you the entire time.”

Sunny takes a deep breath and walks in behind Aubrey, sitting down next to the girl as he looks at all the food placed on the table.

Like clockwork, Hero walks in with the last of the food. “Here’s the last bit of it, hope you all en-“ Hero quickly cuts himself short as he stares towards the black haired teen, Sunny could’ve sworn the adults eyes turned white as they stared at each other, Sunny can feel his own breathing to falter until he can feel Aubrey place a hand on his leg in an attempt to calm him.

Hero placed the food down and took a seat with his family, Kel looking at his brother while gobbling food.

As Sunny ate he could feel daggers hitting against him, the boy was aware it was Hero but even so he just continued to eat, daring not to stare up at the brown haired adult across the table.

Once the food was finished Hero had excused himself and went to his room, Mari soon following his action in an attempt to go after him as Sunny and Aubrey stayed behind to help put away dishes.

Putting the last of the dishes away Sunny walks back to the living room, staring down the hall towards the stairs.

“Are you feeling worried, Sunny?” Aubrey speaks to him.

Giving a nod back Sunny speaks. “Yeah… last time I was left alone with Basil wasn’t the best experience so I hope Mari is okay right now.”

“They’ll be fine, I’m sure they’re just talking things out as adults do. They’ll both come down soon.”

“Mhm.” Sunny, still feeling a bit worried, holds his hand out, trying to have his digits meet Aubrey’s when.

“DON'T WORRY SUNNY, EVERYTHING’LL BE OKAY BRO!” Kel says, putting an arm around Sunny’s in an attempt to comfort him, this causes Sunny to chuckle although closing one of his eyes from the recoil of Kel’s loud voice.

Aubrey scoffs. “Kel, did you ever learn to keep it down a little, jeez. What if your parents heard you call Sunny’s name all of a sudden huh?”

“Wow, yeah… I didn’t think of that.”

“As if that wasn’t obvious already…”

Before Aubrey and Kel can continue bickering, Sunny hears someone coming down the steps, soon revealing themselves to be Mari.

“Hey Mari, did Hero say anything?”

“Yeah he did… he wants to talk to you and just you Sunny.”

Sunny was a bit taken aback but nodded anyway, a slight bit of worry on his face.

Heading up the stairs Sunny rears his head back, looking at Mari lean against the door frame looking up at him.

Sunny opens the door into Kel and Hero’s room before closing it behind him, looking at Hero sitting down on his bed, the brown haired adult lifting his head to meet Sunny as the door shuts.

“Hey Sunny… Mari tried to fill me in on some things just before this…”

“and?”

“She explained it as best she could and I grasped it… kind of anyway.”

Sunny looks at Hero’s side of the room more in-depth, lacking a majority of the medals and trophy’s his Hero was known for, those instead going towards Kel’s side of the room.

“I wanted to say sorry for looking at you that way at dinner, I didn’t know how to handle what I was seeing… I’m betting I scared you a lot.”

“You did, it’s fine now though.”

“Mhm.”

Hero looks a lot more aged than the one from Sunny’s Faraway, having more stubble and looser ends in his hair, it almost looks like he hasn’t slept a wink all in one day.

“If Mari explained everything to you then why did you call me up here?”

“Because I needed some time to properly grasp this, I thought looking at you would help it set in.”

“And how’re you feeling now?”

“Like I want to throw up honestly…” Hero gives a faint chuckle at his own words, placing his hands on his head to brush his hair back a little before standing up and walking closer to Sunny.

“I also called you up here because I have one thing I need to say to you…”

“And that is?”

“I’m sorry for ruining your life, I took everything away from not just you but everyone I cared about that day… I’m sure Mari feels the same deep down.”

“It’s okay…”

“No Sunny, it isn’t… I took away my Sunny’s future and so I’m using you as a way to say the words I need to say. Four long years and I haven’t been able to bring myself to see your grave and now I’m seeing you… what a goddamn wake up call huh?” Hero was facing the abject truth, coming face to face with the person who he saw in his nightmares laying cold and dead on the floor, a grim reminder of what he chose to hide from people just to protect his girlfriend.

All Sunny can do is react in silence, only able to look at Hero as he talks. It made him think about himself, about how that one moment ruined him and Basil. Sunny knows what his Hero is like, seeing this one just makes him think about what he and Basil could’ve been like if things turned out brighter.

“Just know that I’m sorry for what I did to my own Sunny. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on it, you don’t have to accept this apology; especially since you aren’t him, but I feel you just deserve to know that.”

Sunny nods. “Don’t worry, I’m sure your Sunny would forgive you and so will I. It’s okay now Hero.”

“Thanks Sunny…” Hero pulled the onyx-haired boy into a short, momentary hug. Admittedly he felt nervous and afraid to a degree, but giving Sunny a hug reminded him of better days and not… all of that.

Sunny opens the door and walks downstairs with Hero who walks off to talk to his brother and Mari while Aubrey walks up to Sunny.

“So how did things go?”

“Everything is okay now.” Sunny lets out a deep breath, thankful for things not turning out so bad.
“I’m really lucky that Hero was so understanding… I have Mari to thank for talking to him beforehand.”

“So all we need is for Basil to meet you and for him to be okay with Hero and Mari.” Aubrey replies.

“I don’t know how this Basil would take it though, you said Basil tended to avoid the other two. Me being around is already taking a big chance but with them…”

“Hey… don’t worry Sunny, I’ll be right by your side the entire time.” Finally Aubrey reaches her hand out and takes a hold of Sunny’s hand, holding it firmly as she blushes a little.

“Thank you so much Aubrey, I really wouldn’t have been able to do any of this if not for you.”

For now the group spends time reconnecting, tomorrow it’ll be time to meet Sunny’s best friend.

Chapter Text

The fourth day had come since Sunny had found himself in this new Faraway, his mind still stuck in the unknown on the topic of his voyage home.

Tugging himself out of bed he rubs his eye, looking outside the window.

“Snow…” he had absentmindedly said to himself. There wasn’t much his red hoodie could do to protect him from the cold, and yet he couldn’t help but think of all the fun memories he’s had outside on days like this.

He wasn’t even sure of the last time he had seen snow fall like this, maybe back when he was eleven building snowmen in the backyard with all of his friends. He missed that wooly hat, those pink gloves and that dark blue sleeveless jacket he used to wear.

As if to answer his issues Mari had opened up the door into the bedroom.

“Hey Sunny, I was just about to come wake you up. Are you looking at the snow outside?”

Her brother nods in response, Sunny can feel himself enamoured by the snow falling, the pieces meeting up with their brothers and sisters on the ground.

“If we plan on going outside today to talk to Basil you might want to put on a scarf, luckily for you I just so happen to have a spare.”

Sunny watches Mari walk over to her wardrobe and open it up, pulling out two scarfs, one black and one purple.

“Which one do you want?”

Sunny hovers his hand on the purple scarf, taking it delicately from his sister's hand.

Mari smiles towards him. “Aww, did you pick it so we can match better?” Mari speaks while pointing to the purple strands of her hair, Sunny nodding in response.

“I knew it! We better go have breakfast soon if we plan to meet up with everyone.”

“She sounds really happy.” Sunny thinks to himself. Walking down the stairs behind her he drapes the purple scarf around his neck.

Sunny eats his assortment of food while watching Mari send a message on her phone before she walks over to sit down next to him.

“There we go, I told everyone to meet us at Faraway Park and then afterwards we can all walk down to Basil’s.”

“Why don’t we just meet up at the intersection? It’d be closer to Basil’s house wouldn’t it?” Sunny quizzically asks his sister.

“Well, I just thought we could all have a little more fun together and to be honest… I’m worried how Basil will react, aren’t you Sunny?”

“Why should I be?”

“Basil already can’t stand me or Hero after I opened up to everyone about the truth, he cares about you so much… I can’t imagine the kind of reaction he’d have.” Mari lets out a heavy breath. “You’re his best friend and from your own stories he reacted badly to you in your own Faraway did he not? I’m just trying to make sure everyone’s at their best going into this…”

Sunny nods, thinking back to his own encounter with Basil before the truth and how long it took for them to be okay around each other even after that. If Aubrey and Mari reacted strongly to him appearing then Basil may react more… violently, especially if he’s anything like the others have described him.
“Yeah, you’re right.”

Soon Sunny had finished up his food and exited outside the house alongside his sister, the two beginning their walk to Faraway park. Along the way Sunny holds out his hand, trying to catch snowflakes in his hand as he listens to the snow crunching underneath his feet.

With only a moment more the duo had arrived at Faraway park, now frosty and coated in a thick sheet of white. Sunny looked toward the basketball court which was now rendered unusable by some icey ground, although the boy doubted that’d stop Kel. Looking next at the swingset Sunny had sworn he saw the cloudy figure of a pi-

Before he could finish staring, Sunny had been caught off guard by a cold snowball to his face, turning quickly to see his sister as she tossed a second one at him, quickly dodging the chilly circle as it flew outwards behind him.

In one swift movement Sunny moved down, grabbing as much snow in his hand as he could, rapidly moulding its shape as he dodged his sisters onslaught, all of the exercise his Kel made him do paying off.

“Just stand still Sunny! Let big sis get in a few hits!”

H-huh… did this Mari just refer to herself as his big siste-
Taken off guard Sunny gets pummelled by another snowball, hitting his right arm.

“I’ll get you back for that!” He replies, letting a cocky demeanour overrun his body as he tossed his snowball towards his sister.

Before she can react he already began making his next and then his next, his sister overwhelmed by his onslaught.

After a few more minutes of back and forth Sunny and Mari are both left panting, taking deep breaths from the freezing air, watching as their own breath becomes visible to them as they see their friends approach.

“Alright, alright, it’s over Sunny. We can end this on a tie.”

“Heh, a tie? You were getting decimated sis!”
It had been a long time since Sunny had let his competitive side out, normally only being drawn forth in the most heated of games sessions with Kel.

“Alright you two, take deep breaths. I want there to be snow problems between you two.” Hero says, trying to mediate the siblings, a terrible pun everyone ignored included.

“Fine, I guess we can call it a tie.” Sunny huffs a little, watching as Kel and Aubrey walk up closer to him.

“I’m happy to see you and Mari getting along so well now Sunny.” Aubrey says, just happy for her friend being on good terms with his sister.

“Me and Hero talked things out last night so we’re doing slightly better now too, the healing process will take a while but we’re getting there.” Kel adds on.

Sunny can feel a slight smile creep on his face, with everyone here like this he finally feels full again but… but this isn’t his world. His friends must be worried sick about him right now, he still has a job to do and he needs to do it.

As Sunny brings his fuzzy feeling down another begins to rise within him, a slight clenching to his heart. Taking a deep breath he shrugs it off, he’s sure he’ll see them all soon… they just need to wait for him a little longer.

Sunny tunes into Hero poking at his shoulder, turning his head to look at his brown haired friend.
“Do you want some hot chocolate Sunny? I brought some cups and have the drink in a flask.”

Sunny nods in response, hot chocolate sounds really nice right now.

After filling up his cup Sunny walks over to the swingset, sitting against its sidebars as he looks up at the falling snow.

“It looks really nice doesn’t it?” Aubrey says, walking up next to Sunny.

“Yeah… it does. I just hope we can get Basil to see this.”

“Yeah, I do too…” Aubrey blows on her hot chocolate for a second before taking a small sip.

Sunny glances over at the secret hideout, looking at black hair retracting itself to hide into the bushes.
“There’s no way that’s…”

“Hey Aubrey, I’m gonna go look at the secret hideout for a second, I’ll be back in a bit.”

Aubrey pokes her head up at Sunny’s sudden choice. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Uh- No thanks, I’ll be fine.”

“If you say so Sunny…” Aubrey’s sad tone comes off strong but Sunny moves through the snow anyways.

Through the brambles and branches Sunny enters the secret hideout, looking forward to a black haired boy wearing a green jacket.

“Great, I thought I managed to sneak by you guys but it seems you saw me anyway.”

Sunny tilts his head a little in confusion, walking forward towards the familiar voice of an old friend.

“I really wanted to talk to Kel and Aubrey too but of course you two had to be there…” the voice says, turning around as Sunny opens his mouth.

“…Basil?”

Basil’s eyes meet Sunny’s, the gardener looking forward to the ghost of an old friend.

“Oh… it’s you, you’re that person I saw hanging out with Aubrey by Sunny’s grave yesterday… I wanted to say hi to her but then I saw you and decided to just say hi some other time.”

“He was watching me and Aubrey yesterday?” Sunny guesses he never saw him due to being so focused on his own gravestone.

“So, anyway. Who’re you and how’d you know about the secret hideout spot?” Basil quizzically asks, his guard lowered for the time being.

“You might find it hard to believe but I’m Sunny, you see I came here from-“

“No. Don’t say that, Sunny’s been dead for a long time. I don’t care who you are but don’t you dare bring his fucking name into this. You. Are. Not. Him.”

“B-but I am, if you’d just let me expl-“ Sunny tries to speak but is soon cut off by his black haired friend.

“Shut up. I get to speak right now. I don’t know who Kel and Aubrey think they are, trying to replace Sunny with some knockoff like you.”

“I am Sunny. Just not yours, I’m from another-“ Sunny was quickly losing his patience, why couldn’t Basil just please hear him out.

“I don’t care, either way you aren’t him…” Basil scowls towards Sunny, getting more pissed at some fake playing pretend. “It doesn’t matter where the hell you may be from, you’re just a fake.”

“I’M FROM ANOTHER FARAWAY BASIL, PLEASE BELIEVE ME!” Sunny shouts, trying not to get cut off again.

“You expect me to believe that shit? This isn’t some fairytale, I don’t know what lies you’re trying to get Kel and Aubrey believe but just know I won’t allow it!” Basil steps forward, Sunny observes the gardener placing his hand on an object in his jacket.
“I won’t let you toy with my friends anymore.”
Basil pulls out his shears… this feels all too familiar.

Sunny steps back.
“Please Basil, I don’t want to fight you.” Even if Sunny got fitter over the past few months there was no way he could win against Basil who’s part of the hooligans, not even counting the gardening shears.

“I wouldn’t want to fight me either.” Basil scoffs “If you leave my friends alone maybe I’ll consider letting you leave now.”

“Sorry Basil, but I can’t do that. They need me.” Sunny plants his foot and gets ready, there seems to be no backing out now.

“Fine… have it your way.”

Basil moves forward, trying to get an overhead swing on Sunny, who takes Basil’s arm and deflects the swing, moving away from the clearing as Basil goes for a second swing causing Sunny to jump backwards.

“Please listen to me Basil, we’re friends. Would Sunny be accepting of what you’re doing right now?”

“Stop saying his name! Who cares what Sunny thinks right now, time moves on without him!”

Another slash, grazing Sunny’s coat.
Sunny backs up further, now standing on the wood of the pier.

Basil making an X motion as he swings causes Sunny to step back a little more, he can feel his heart beating out of his chest by the worst kind of nostalgia, he’s panicking…

“B-Basil wait, please… just let me explain myself.”

“Fine… but try absolutely anything and I won’t be afraid to take another swing.”

“Look, I really am Sunny. You just have to believe me, I took a bus here four days ago now and whatever I expected wasn’t this.”

“As if some bus ride could take you to somewhere else entirely different, this isn’t some silly fairytale ‘Sunny’” Basil accentuates the quotation marks on his friends name.

“I know I know, but you just have to believe it’s really me. We’re best friends and I-“

“We are NOT best friends, let me make that clear to you stranger.”

“Look, just know we grew up together, even if I’m not the Sunny you knew can’t you at least accept that I may be him?”

“No. You will never be him. Let's say hypothetically you are telling the truth huh? What if you did end up here somehow, how’re you gonna get back?”

“I don’t know I ju-“

“What if you can never get back? What if the people you once knew aren’t even around anymore huh? What then?”

“I never thought I ju-“ Sunny’s breathing was beginning to falter, what if Basil was right? What if he will never see them again, previous thoughts shoved down begin to emerge.

“That’s right, you didn’t think. And what about everyone here? If you do somehow magically get back then what about Aubrey, Kel, Hero, Mari. You will destroy them by leaving. It’s your fault if they get upset about you again.”

“It- it is my fault I know but I just-“ his own breathing quickens, his own heart threatening to tear itself out of his chest, Sunny watches his breath dissipate and become one with the cold air around him. Sunny has to fix them, Sunny has to make everything right but how could he return to make sure they’re all okay and how can he return to his friends knowing how things could turn out here? His mind is quickly becoming hazy as he steps back.

Coming through the clearing Sunny can make out the faded look of his friends coming closer.

“Go on ‘Sunny’! Tell them how you plan to leave them all behind after this, you’re just using them all to feel better aren’t you!”

“No I’m not, I'm just trying to-“ Sunny reaches his hand out to Basil, reaching out to his friend as he feels his knees begin to fail.

“DON'T TOUCH ME!” Basil smacks his hand away, the sudden touch making Sunny step back again when suddenly.

slip

Sunny slips and begins to barrel downwards as he attempts to inhale some fresh air, clutching at his heart as he crashes against the cold pond's ice.

Chapter Text

Cold… it felt cold.
Sunny had crashed through the ice, sadly it was only dense enough to break his fall for a second.

Sunny turns in the cold water, inhaling some of it as he attempts to breathe, letting go of his own shattered heart as he attempts his swim upward to try and reach the pier. It felt cold… so cold.

What if Basil was right? What if he was just setting up everyone for failure by interfering with what had naturally happened here?
They tried, they did their best to fix their friendship but they couldn’t take Mari and Hero’s truth. Was he just trying to force everyone together despite the damage they all felt? His mind felt too frozen to process these questions… It felt cold.

Rising upwards Sunny reaches a hand out, trying desperately to hold onto the pier, and his hold is reciprocated.
Pulled up to the docks, from the freezing waters now below him Sunny was fine… he was not fine.

Sunny shaked as he was embraced by countless people trying to quell his frosted body.

“I’m sorry…” was the last thing he could say before the cold had claimed him, passing out.

When he awoke he was back home, covered in blankets and by the fireplace, Aubrey was the first to notice his awakening as she had been watching him intently.

“Sunny’s awake guys!” She shouts out, Sunny’s ears still trying to acclimate to the sounds.

All Sunny can do is take a few breaths and try to think, his otherworldly friends coming close to check on his safety.

“You okay Sunny?” Hero says out in his calm and soft voice, trying not to startle him.

“Yeah… I’m okay.” Sunny could feel his own mind blanking on what to say, his heart still ached as he tried to fill up his lungs with fresh air instead of water.

Turning his head from the warm fire Sunny looks towards his group of friends, half his vision was blurred but he could make them out just fine… even if all they were was shapes.

“We’re lucky we got to you in time bro.” Kel says, just happy that Sunny was okay again, unaware of the rope around his lungs and the chains around his brain.

“Thanks guys…”

“Sunny, I was so worried when you walked off like that and didn’t come back! What were you thinking trying to face Basil alone!?” This anger of Aubrey’s felt normal, it felt expected, it felt deserved, Sunny deserved it.

“I’m sorry Aubrey…” Despondency was all Sunny could give, he was drained.

“You should be, you huge idiot.” Aubrey leans down and holds onto him, what did he do to deserve her? What did he do to deserve any of them? All he could do was take a deep breath and try to calm down, he could feel something coming from his eyes.

“Sunny- Sunny listen to me, are you okay?” His big sister moves closer and sits down beside him, using her arm to make him rest on her shoulder.

“Can I… Can I speak to you alone Mari? Please.” This was desperation, Sunny needed to hear something from her.

“That’s okay, don't worry.” Mari looks up at the others, watching as they all exit to another room of the house, Sunny can feel his throat becoming tighter as he chokes out the words.

“Mari… am I a bad person?”

Silence, no response. Sunny holds his own head low for only a second until Mari speaks up.

“What makes you think that?”

“Earlier when me and Basil were fighting he told me that if I ended up leaving somehow after helping you all that it’d just become undone anyways… he told me I’d destroy you all by leaving.”

“What Basil said isn’t true Sunny, you were and have been doing your best to help us. Only because of you we managed to progress to this point.”

“But I’m so selfish, I’m trying to force you all to be friends when you may not even be anywhere close to ready yet, Basil was proof of that…”

“Basil might not be ready but you have been a wake up call to all of us, I’ve never seen Aubrey or Kel so happy and Hero is doing his best to keep his head up too.”

“And what about you? When we first met you said that I’m not your Sunny and you’re right, I’ll never be him…”

Mari rubs Sunny’s back as he wipes away his own tears.

“What I said that day to you I really regret and every moment I’ve been spending around you I begin to regret it a little more, you might not be him but you also are him, you are Sunny and you are my brother, that’s what matters. You’re pushing yourself to be like the person we lost and that’s been destroying you, you just need to be you.”

Sunny can feel a faint smile rise on his face, Mari had always known what to say and now because of her Sunny knew what he needs to do.
“I still want to help Basil, no matter what. I think he needs you guys now more than ever.”

“If there’s one person that I know who could bring everyone together then it’s you little bro.” Mari places a hand on his hair and messes with it, Sunny was so thankful to have her around again.

————————

Everyone had come back into the sitting room, Sunny watching as they talked about random things like they all used to, before he could get caught up in nostalgia Aubrey taps his shoulder.

“Hey Sunny, can you come with me?”

Sunny nods and follows his friend upstairs, listening to the idle chatter as Aubrey opens the door to Mari’s room and walks inside with him.

“What did you need to talk to me about Aubrey?”

“I just wanted to spend some time with you alone, even though I tried to talk to you earlier you went off after Basil and I just… I really miss talking to you y’know?”

Sunny realised how he was acting with Aubrey earlier, pushing her away and refusing her help when he went to see Basil, he was really being such a jerk.

“I’m sorry Aub-“

“Sorry won’t cut it Sunny. Seeing you fall into the pond earlier I started to feel sick, I couldn't help but think I was going to lose you again. When we were bringing you back I kept thinking to myself about how I shouldn’t have listened to you, how if you died it would’ve been my fault for not ignoring what you said.”

Sunny approaches Aubrey and places his hands on her cheeks as she begins to cry, wiping any tears running down her cheeks away.

“I just- I just love you, you idiot, never scare me like that again!” Aubrey embraces Sunny in a hug, holding him tightly as if he may slip away any second, today was just a grim reminder that he could.

Sunny places a hand in her hair and another on her wolly clothes. “I-I love you too, I’m sorry Aubrey.” Sunny keeps her close to him once again, closer than he had before, his cold ears feeling a little warmer than they were moments ago.

“Next time you try to talk to Basil, let's do it together, okay?” Aubrey brings a hand down from Sunny’s back to hold onto his hand, squeezing it rhythmically.

“I promise.” Sunny and Aubrey stayed where they were together, it just felt nice to hold hands, even if they spent the time in silence, it felt nice.

Mari’s father had called to say he wouldn’t be home that night due to work and so Aubrey decided she would have a sleepover, Sunny brought his blow out bed downstairs and Aubrey laid claim to the couch the two talking together for a bit.

“Do you truly think you can get home to all your friends Sunny?”

“I don’t know, what if Basil was right and they don’t exist anymore?”

“I’m sure they do exist, afterall, you’re here so maybe that means they’re alive too.”

“I hope that you’re right.” Sunny shuffles in his blow out bed to look up at the ceiling, no matter how much time has passed Sunny still has no clue on how to get back, it evades him as always.

“Hey Sunny?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m trying really hard…”

“Trying hard for what?”

“Trying hard to get used to the thought of having to live in a world without you again.”

Sunny pauses, Aubrey was right. By going back to his world he would leave everything in this one, either way one world will end up without him and both worlds will end up hurting…

“Sometimes I try to tell myself to not feel the way I do around you… I try to tell myself that you have your Aubrey and that she must miss you so much… that my Sunny is already long gone and that I should let this feeling in my heart die out but I just can’t… Why is it so damn hard to make myself stop feeling this way?” Aubrey brushes away a few stray tears that were pricking at her eyes.

Sunny sits up from his blow out bed, he knew all too well what trying to distance yourself from your emotions can do and he knew that he didn’t want Aubrey to experience what he did.

“Aubrey… forcing your feelings down won’t help you… trust me when I say I’ve tried my hardest, in the end I learned what a truly big mistake that was. Trying to lock away my sorrow and my guilt, in the end it manifested into something so much worse.” The thought of his monochrome look-a-like came to mind. “I can’t guarantee that I may be able to see you again after all this is over, in the same way I can’t guarantee that I can get home. Just know that I am here for you now and I think that’s what matters most.”

Aubrey just nods, trying her best to quell her sorrow. “Do you think maybe… I can cuddle with you again, like we did two nights ago?”
Sunny gives a thumbs up, watching as Aubrey lifts up the blanket from the couch and walks to Sunny’s blow out bed before clamouring in, putting her arms around him as she tries to get used to the contact.

“Sunny?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you didn’t ask to come here but thank you so much for being here.” Even if Sunny disappears tomorrow she’s happy to be with him now, this chance she was stricken from was granted by him. They both went through so much and it meant something more than she could ever put into words that he was here for now.

“I think in the end… I’m happy to be here too.” Sunny puts his arms around Aubrey, holding onto her soft black hair, messing around with it as she cuddled deeper into his chest. He had never really realised how starved he was for affection until now. In the end, the both of them would make sure to look out for one another from here on out. Whether it be a universe apart or not.

Chapter Text

Sunny found himself in the centre of nothingness, slowly drifting like a body in the sea. Looking up as the substance ripples below his feet he makes sure to take in every inch of the space around him.

There was Omori, no wacky shenanigans to face with his friends… this certainly wasn’t like any dream he had before, at least he was still able to move around. Not much left to do but sit around…

After a while (Sunny didn’t really know the time here), a person appeared on the horizon. Sunny can recognise the colours of the person making their way towards him, watching as the small ripples get closer.

Sunny looks at the girl now in front of him, her pink hair against her clothes and her trademarked baseball bat in hand.

Sunny found himself unable to speak, just looking at the girl in front of him as her mouth opened. “Sunny…” her voice calls out, three other figures appearing from behind her, Hero, Kel and Basil. “Return to us.” They all speak in unison.

As he tried to step towards his friends a giant wave appeared from behind them, Sunny tried to run towards them, speak to them, warn them. But before he knew it the wave came crashing down, pulling him into the depths.

—————

Sunny woke up suddenly, shaking away his weird dream. Looking in front of him he sees Aubrey, clinging onto him tightly. All Sunny can do is place a hand on her hair, watching as Aubrey’s face softens. Taking small breaths Sunny decides to stay still and bask in this moment, albeit with his cheeks slightly reddened.

That’s when he hears the sound of a picture being taken, turning his head he gets a good look at Mari, continuing to hold her phone towards the two with a smug grin plastered on her face.

“I knew you liked her Sunny but I thought you at least wouldn’t have skipped the small stuff before sleeping together.” Mari says while brushing some loose purple hairs away from her eyes, Sunny’s ears just begin to heat up the more his sister speaks.

Sunny dares not to give back a retort, he doesn’t want to wake Aubrey up right now after all, just staying in silence as Aubrey cuddles against his chest.

“It would be a real shame if you couldn’t move and I just so happened to take more pictures of you two together.” Mari grins, already trying to find more angles.

Sunny speaks silently “Mariiii…” his body already warmer than the blankets he and Aubrey are encased in.

“Fine, fine. I’ll stop for now.” His big sister says, sliding her phone into her pocket slowly, surely already after taking too many photos for Sunny’s face to not be as red as a tomato.

Walking off to the kitchen Sunny looks back down at Aubrey who appeared to be waking up. Sunny only watches as Aubrey opens her eyes, bringing one hand up to try and fix her morning vision.

“Hey Sunny…” Aubrey says groggily, her hair looking like a mess that causes Sunny to smile a little. It looked so cute when it was all messed up, Aubrey always took such great care of her hair so it was a rarity to see it like this.

“Morning bedhead, did you sleep okay?”

Aubrey must have now realised the position he and her were in, making sure to move her hand and body slightly away. “Mhm…”

“That’s good.” Sunny makes sure to give Aubrey his best smile as he turns over before taking himself out of his blow up bed, Aubrey soon following.

“Do you think Mari has a spare hairbrush, I don’t have mine on me and want to fix up my hair.”

“I’m sure she does, I’ll go ask right now.” Without further adieu Sunny makes his way towards the kitchen, getting slightly scared as he turns the corner and sees Mari who he assumes was listening in the entire time.

“Don’t worry Aubrey.” She says, acting none the wiser. “A spare hairbrush should be in the bathroom!” and so Aubrey heads up the stairs, leaving Mari to look down at Sunny.

“So little brother, when’s your first date?” She stares towards him, causing Sunny to turn his own head away from the purple haired girl's incessant teasing, his silence being the only way to get in edgewise.

“Are you trying to say you don’t like the idea of that little brother?” Mari adds on due to her brother's reaction, placing a hand on her face and making a shocked reaction.

Sunny would agree to go on a date with her, in a heartbeat he’s sure of that. He just doesn’t know the kind of repercussions it would have if he were to ever leave. “Mari, you obviously know I like her. I just… you know what I’m thinking right?”

“I have a gist of what you’re thinking at least but listen to me brother, I can see that you care about her and she really cares about you, that much is clear. If you want to spend the next few days or maybe even years thinking you may go home soon and how that could upset her then you’re just setting yourself up for so many issues…” Mari places a hand on Sunny’s shoulder. “You should’ve seen how worried she was yesterday, you owe not only her but yourself to have a little fun together or in the end you’ll end up hurting more than just yourself.”

Mari was right, Sunny couldn’t deny that. Giving his sister a nod he now has an idea of what he should do. “I'm gonna go check on Aubrey real quick!”

Mari gives him a smile and a “good luck little brother.” as he makes his way upstairs, knocking on the bathroom door.

“Hey Aubrey, it’s Sunny. Do you mind if I come in?”

“I don’t mind.” and with that Sunny opens the bathroom door watching Aubrey open a cabinet or two. “Do you know where Mari’s spare hairbrush is?” Sunny gives a simple nod and looks inside the cabinet, reaching into the back to pull out a spare hairbrush.

“Um… do you mind if I brush your hair Aubrey?” Sunny’s ears heat up a little as he looks at her, watching her face do the same.

“S-sure I don’t mind at all! It’ll be just like a few days ago when I combed your hair.”

Sunny stands behind Aubrey as they both look at the bathroom mirror, Sunny taking the hairbrush to Aubrey’s hair and delicately brushing it. Sunny holds the hair in his hand softly as he moves the brush through it, it just felt so nice in his hand… Aubrey wasn’t holding up much better, revelling in the tenderness of his action.

“So…” he finds himself saying, trying to find the perfect time to bring up the idea of a date.

“So…?” Aubrey tilts her head a little, watching in the mirror as Sunny works his magic.

“I was thinking… Maybe after breakfast you and I can hang out… alone for a little. I know we’ve technically hung out alone before too hell that’s what we’re doing right now. but I just wondered if maybe this time the way we hung out was a bit more… special to say the least.” Sunny really hoped Aubrey was catching on and just via once glance in the mirror it seems that she was.

“Y-yeah sure, that sounds nice. What are you thinking?”

“Well, maybe you and I can go and find somewhere to just sit down together and talk, we can bring the picnic basket and blanket… augh I’m so sorry if this all sounds so basic, I don’t know how dates work…” Sunny feels so embarrassed, his idea of a date was just to do what they had done before for years! “So stupid.” the boy thinks to himself.

“I think that sounds nice… it’s a first for me too so I’m not much better.” The girl shyly admits, Aubrey was just happy to do something like that with Sunny, even something like what they were doing right now was something Aubrey thought she’d never get to experience with him.

Putting the hairbrush down to signify he had completed his work, Sunny had moved to Aubrey’s side, giving her a smile visible in the mirror. “So, what do you say to breakfast right now?” He turns to her.

“That sounds great” she smiles towards him too, taking his hand in hers. “Let's go!”

Chapter Text

Breakfast wasn’t too much, mainly just small conversation between the three as they ate. During breakfast Sunny could feel Aubrey’s hand grab hold of his under the table as he ate, it was really nice…

Sunny and Aubrey exit outside, wearing their own warm clothes to combat the cold, Aubrey holding onto the picnic blanket and Sunny holding the basket.

“I never imagined I’d get the chance to do something like this with you, I always thought it would stay a childish dream… I’m really happy you wanted to do this with me.”

Sunny just gives Aubrey a smile, he just feels happy that Aubrey was experiencing the same thing he is.

Faraway Park was silent at this time of day, the snow having long since turned into water that returned to the ground. Sunny made sure to take in the calmness around him, taking a mental picture of this scene in his brain.

Aubrey brought Sunny to the secret hangout, making sure to check that Basil wasn’t around before signaling him to join her as she places the blanket down in the usual place.

Sunny took a good look at the area around him, seeing all the things laid out across the grass from years gone by.

“You’re really cute when you observe the things around you.” The black haired girl says, taking pride in seeing Sunny’s cheeks turn slightly red as he tries to hide his face.

“Well… you’re really pretty so I guess I should start observing you instead.” The boy mumbles out, confidence not being his strongest feature.

Even so it seems his compliment worked all the same, watching Aubrey get flustered was so cute…

“Y-you act like I’m the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen Sunny.” Aubrey had always found the way Sunny acts to be the most charming thing ever to her, he wasn’t super model handsome but handsome in a way that Aubrey could find attractive.

Sunny had a soft face that matched his body, his comfortable looking messy hair and his delicate hands that she wanted to hold forever. He was like a pillow.

“I’d be right too, you are so pretty Aubrey. Even when we were kids it was always something I could see plainly. No matter who you feel you are or what you think you’ve become, I love you all the same… which is a lot.”

Sunny brings his hand out and intertwines his finger with Aubrey, he could get used to this kind of warmth in his body that clashes against the cold air of winter.

“GOD I WANT TO KISS HIM.” Aubrey thinks, her embarrassment continuing to grow from his honey sweet words.

Sunny just stares at Aubrey, cherishing the ability to do something like this with her, her hair flowing in the wind with only the warmth of her clothes to protect her.

Sunny watches as Aubrey moves a little closer to her, moving her head to rest against him, listening as the trees rustle with the wind.

“You want some food?” Sunny suggests, taking a hand to the picnic basket and opening up, pulling out two drinks and some sandwiches. “I know it isn’t much in terms of a date-“ Sunny gets cut off by Aubrey.

“Don’t be silly Sunny, it’s really nice either way.” Aubrey begins to eat away at her food, leaning into his neck. Preparing herself for what she’s about to say. “Hey Sunny?”

“Yeah Aubrey?”

“Would you mind if we uh… kissed?” Aubrey instantly gets embarrassed by her own words, backing down from what she said almost instantly. “I mean nevermind, aughhh this is so embarrassing.”

Sunny’s own ears heat up as a small smile grows on his face. “I-I don’t mind Aubrey, if that’s what you want.”

“But is it what you want though?” Aubrey doesn’t want to feel like she’s using Sunny to get what she wants, she needs to know that it’s what he wants too.

and so Sunny thinks for just a second before nodding, they already kissed when they first met, so this shouldn’t be too hard right?“I want it too Aubrey…”

and so Aubrey lifts herself up and turns her face towards Sunny’s with both of their faces getting more and more red as Aubrey begins slowly leaning in, pressing her lips against his. She could barely tell that her hold on his hand had tightened, getting lost in his taste.

After what felt like too little time they pulled apart, the shade of pink on their cheeks standing out in the midst of the winter season. They both felt very happy. It didn’t take much longer until Sunny began to lean in again, bringing his other hand up to Aubrey’s cheek.

Getting lost and then finding themselves in each other it didn’t take too long for the sun to begin its fall, getting up Sunny grabs the picnic basket and watches Aubrey roll up the blanket, holding it against her body the two begin to walk back.

Stopping at the crossroads, Aubrey turns to Sunny. “I have to go home and feed Bun-Bun so I guess this is it for today…” Sunny only responds with a nod and takes the picnic blanket from her hand.

“Thank you for taking me on a date Sunny… it was really nice and I hope we can have another one again in future.”

“It’s no problem, I think I really needed this Aubrey. Thank you so much for everything.”

Before Sunny can go on his way Aubrey leans in for one last kiss before running down the street towards the direction of her own house, leaving Sunny in silence before he sighs. He has never felt more content in his life with this huge geeky smile plastered on his face.

Tomorrow will be the day Basil hears him out and then everyone in this world can go back to being friends again, he just knows they will!

As he continues his journey back to Mari’s Sunny can swear he hears the sound of a bus but when he turns around he sees nothing at all, the sound having faded from his ear.

“What was that…?” he wondered.

Chapter Text

It was early in the morning, the sun hadn’t begun to rise yet but Sunny, Sunny was wide awake.

Sunny could tell the group needed Basil and likewise Basil needed them. Only then can Sunny feel fulfilled.

Sunny made his way downstairs, making some pancakes as he thought about how to confront his friend without a fight breaking out. He needed to do this good and he needed to do this right, of course this time he’d have his friends with him.

Sunny feels a hand on his shoulder, turning around almost shocked before seeing it was just Mari, not some demon taking her form or some monochrome lookalike here to haunt him.

“Morning Sunny, since when did you know how to make anything?”

“Hero taught me soon after I moved… well more like I begged him to teach me and he kindly agreed. After my four years I decided I needed to adapt and grow quickly and so I did.”

“Well, whatever your reasoning may be, I think they smell very great. I’m very proud of you Sunny.”

“Thanks…” Sunny could feel himself tear up a little at his sister's praise, it was something he valued highly when he was younger… something he missed when he failed. It’s all in the past now but he can’t help the thoughts from reaching him sometimes.

After the early breakfast Sunny wrapped up warm. Today it wasn’t snowing but it was cold enough that you couldn’t go wrong with a scarf.

Sunny was thankful for this world, it may not be his world but it gave him the chance to talk to Mari again, it gave him the chance to act more childish at times and less like his guilt ridden self, even if they all forgave him he could never stop a thought or three when he spent time with all his friends, it got easier to rely on and talk to them over time at least.

No matter how thankful Sunny is to be here he still needs to get home, he still needs to say sorry for worrying his friends, for worrying his mom.

As Sunny walks alongside Mari he could swear he heard the sound of a bus horn, a sound that only just reached his ears before vanishing, replaced by the sounds of others just waking up to busy streets and roads.

“Kel, Hero and Aubrey messaged me to say they would catch up later. It looks like you’re stuck with me right now little brother.” Mari speaks, pulling Sunny out of his daze as he nods.

“Wanna head to the plaza?” Sunny asks his purple haired sister.

“Any reason why?”

“I just wanted to go there, could be a nice spot to wait at before we head to Basil’s is all…” Sunny tried to hide his ulterior motive, knowing a lot of cats tend to show up at this time of day.

“Uh-huh, well if you say so little brother.”

——————

Once the two reached Faraway plaza Sunny slowly moved to approach the cats, sitting down next to them as they began to walk next to him, purring as he petted them all with a smile on his face.

“I see, so that’s what you came here for.” Mari begins to chuckle a little, her little brother was always a cat person and they seemed to magnetise towards him wherever he went.

Sunny watches as the cats rub against his body, letting out meows for his attention. In his world Sunny had named every single one of these cats in his head definitely out of love and not some cat based obsession mind you.

He named the orange cat Kel… until he found out it was apparently called Clause. He called the black and orange cat Tiger and so on and so forth, basically, he was obsessed with them all. He loved them and they loved him.

Sunny laid against the building wall being surrounded by cats from every direction, truly paradise to him.

“You look really happy there, Sunny, are you enjoying it?” Mari covers her mouth a little, trying not to let her laughing get through as she looks at Sunny's face. “It’s very similar to when he got buried in sand.” she thinks to herself.

It didn’t take too much longer for familiar faces to show up, Kel being the first with his brother trailing behind. Kel tried to pet one of the cats close to Sunny but instead got hissed at, Sunny would have to reprimand the cat for that later.

“Hey Sunny, how are you doing bro?”

“Just dandy…” he replied to his friend, clearly covered in soft cat bliss.

“Happy to hear it man.” Kel takes a spot down next to Sunny, Sunny listening in as Kel talks about the recent things he likes.

Hero made sure to check on Mari, the two making some small talk that Sunny couldn’t make out properly. He was just happy that they seemed to be talking just fine. Hopefully they can fix the problems between them and be happy together again one day. he thought.

Last to arrive was Aubrey, Sunny felt his cheeks heat up a little remembering the other day.

Sunny talks to the cats around him, warning them that he has to get up before lifting himself from the concrete, waving the cats off as they head off on their own before trying to clean some of the fur off himself. “Hey Aubrey…”

“Hey Sunny…” both of them were feeling pretty shy it seemed.

Sunny watches as his friends speak about how to approach Basil today, especially since he’s more than likely at his house at the moment. Before Sunny could think up his own idea he gets distracted by a ringing in his head, turning to the loud sound.

Sunny feels confused as he looks forward at a bus parked by the sidewalk, the ringing stopping as he lays his eyes on it. Sunny begins to walk forward…

“Hey Sunny, you okay man? You’re lookin kinda zoned out there.” Sunny gets pulled back to earth as he looks towards Kel’s arm on his shoulder.

“Hm? Yeah I’m fine, just… looking at something I guess.”

“Looking at what? There’s nothing there.”

Sunny turns his head back, Kel in fact being correct, it was almost as if the bus that was calling him had vanished. “This isn’t normal…”

Sunny was used to seeing things but this was a little absurd, and that hadn’t even happened for a while now, could that have been the same bus that brought him here?

Pulled back to his friends, Sunny decides to just follow behind them as they make their way towards Basil, Hero sees this and steps back to talk to him as they walk.

“Hey Sunny… you okay?”

“I’m feeling a bit uneasy, Hero.”

“Is it because of Basil and what he did to you last time?”

“Maybe a little…” it was a bit more than just that but Sunny didn’t want to start coming across insane just yet.

“Keep your chin up Sunny, me and everyone else here have your back. We’re all here for you!” Sunny takes in Hero’s reassuring smile, thankful to have an older brother figure like him to rely on.

Giving Hero a thumbs up back the two walk closer to the group as they stop outside Basil, Sunny walking up to knock on the door.

After a few seconds Basil’s caretaker, Polly opens up the door. Greeting everyone and welcoming them inside, walking away to go grab Basil. The group decided to sit around and wait for him to come out.

It didn’t take long for Basil to walk in, making sure to keep an eye on Sunny as he looked for a spot to take.

“H-hey Basil.” Sunny says, attempting not to sound a little afraid of the black haired flower boy staring daggers at him.

“Hey. What did you guys need more for?” Basil made sure to make his hostility known as he spoke.

“We just wanted to talk to you Basil. It’s been a while since Mari and I last saw you.” Hero says.

“And for good reason.”

Aubrey intervenes. “Look Basil, we just want to be friends again. You must miss us as much as the rest of us miss you.”

“You had no problem replacing Sunny, why don’t you just do the same with me?” Basil respondes, slightly irritated.

“Basil, we never tried to replace Sunny.” Mari tries to calm the boy's anger by speaking calmly but it doesn’t seem to work.

“Then why is he here! Who is he if not Sunny?”

“I am Sunny but I’m not yours, and they aren’t trying to replace their Sunny.”

“Whatever keeps you awake at night buddy… look if you all want to be friends again then that Sunny needs to go.”

“Basil, you know we can’t do that bro. Sunny ended up here on accident. He doesn’t even know how to get home!” Kel replies.

“Then I’m afraid I can’t be around any of you.”

Aubrey stands up. “Why is that!? Why do you hate this Sunny so much?”

Sunny reaches out to Aubrey, grabbing her arm as he shakes his head. “Don’t worry Basil, they agree. I ruin your old friendship with your Sunny by being here, that’s why you don’t want me around right?”

Basil gives a nod in response, Sunny always did have a pretty good read on Basil, even if his characteristics have changed.

…and so Sunny stands up, letting go of Aubrey’s arm before attempting to walk away, soon being pulled back by a sea of arms. Bringing the onyx haired boy into the center of them with no escape.

“Sorry Basil, but you’re going to have to put up with this Sunny. He’s become our friends and he’s helped us so much, we absolutely can’t let him leave.” Hero spoke, Sunny being held tightly in everyone’s arms.

“My bro is right Basil, Sunny is our friend as much as you are. We need you both, surely you’ve missed having someone to sit around with, right Basil?”

“Why… Why are you guys doing this for me…? You all barely know me.” Sunny feels remorse even when wrapped in a blanket of warmth.

“Because we all love you Sunny, we love you just as much as we love him.” Aubrey says while leaning into Sunny more, holding him as close as she possibly can. “Basil, we can’t convince you to like this Sunny but we all care about you… at least think about it a little, k?”

“Thanks guys…” Sunny looks towards Basil who is looking forward to everyone, Sunny reaches a hand out to Basil, but to no avail.

Once Sunny was released from the hug he walked over to Basil again, speaking quietly to this person he’s known for years, one last heart to heart to his best friend.

“Look Basil… they all really care about you, I do too. If you and I are anything close to similar I know that during those three days where you saw everyone you felt happy to be around them all, right?”

Basil looks down and silently nods, Sunny assumes he must have a lot on his mind.

“I’ll leave you alone if that’s really what you want, but don’t hurt your friendship with them just for the sake of hating me… I’d be really happy to call you my friend Basil, see you around.”

Basil watches as Sunny walks back to everyone, watches Sunny talk to Basil’s friends, Basil’s only family…

The flower boy watches as they close the door behind them, looking at Kel giving him one last glance before walking away.

Basil feels sad, empty, so there he is, sitting in this corridor lacking the voices of friends when suddenly he feels a tap on his shoulder.

“You want to go after them don’t you?” Basil looks up at his caretaker, the only person he’s had left since Sunny had his friends the last 5 days.

“I can take care of everything here until the morning Basil, I know you miss spending time with them.” Polly reassured him, being as gentle and sweet as always.

All Basil can do is nod as he walks towards the green door and opens it, slowly walking outside. Seeing all his friends in the same way as he did back when they were all 12, happy.

Basil runs forward, stopping as his friends turn around. He barely even noticed the tears filling his eyes.

“Got room for one more?”

Chapter Text

It was late at night, or maybe early in the morning, Basil couldn’t really tell.

Everyone had decided to stay over at Mari’s to spend more time together, Basil had been missing things like this.

Looking over to his left was Aubrey and to his right was Kel and Hero, on her own bed was Mari and Sunny… Sunny wasn’t there.

Basil had pulled himself from his sleeping bag, standing up he slipped his shoes on and made his way quietly down the stairs, reaching the living room Basil can see that the sliding door was unlocked and slightly opened, the moonlight shining through the glass.

Heading outside Basil made his way to the treehouse, crossing through some trees he made his way to the opening where he looked up at the sky. Seeing Sunny with his head sticking out, looking towards the stars.

It didn’t take long for Sunny to notice his old friend, waving him up. Basil climbs up the ladder and steps inside the treehouse, the place looked a little more refined since the last time he had come inside.

“Come here Basil.” Sunny asks, watching the black haired delinquent slowly walk over before standing next to him, putting his head out to feel the gentle breeze on his face.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Yeah…” Basil responds, taking in the skies different hues of purple and black brought forward by the white and yellow stars above them.

“Even here all the stars look the same…” Sunny’s voice is quiet, calm, a radiant tranquility emanating from his body.

“Are you thinking of home?”

“A little, it’s been five almost six days after all…” Sunny lets out a sigh, his own breath disappearing into the air. “I think I know how to get back now…”

“You do?”

“Yeah… I keep hearing the sounds of a bus calling me, even now it echoes through my ears.” The sound of the bus provided Sunny odd warmth, like being welcomed back home for the first time in forever.

“So when do you plan to leave?”

“The day after tomorrow, early in the morning.”

“Do you plan to tell anyone?”

“Maybe… maybe not.”

“You know they’ll probably hate you if you don’t right?”

“Maybe that’s for the best, I can’t be the good guy every time.” Sunny pauses, letting the world pass by him for just a moment longer. “You still have your old camera right?”

“Yeah I do. Any reason why?” Basil asks, moving his hands across the countertop to relax himself.

“Maybe you should bring it tomorrow and we can take some pictures together.”

“I’ll think about it.” Basil turns around and sits on the counter, resting his back against the wooden walls. “You know either way you’re gonna hurt someone, whether you leave or stay.”

“So I’ve realised, but we both know I can’t stay here forever.”

“I guess you’re correct, although I’m sure the others wouldn’t mind you being here.”

“They wouldn’t, but I can’t stay forever. Mari’s father is gonna be around one morning eventually.” Sunny turns his head towards Basil. “You know… after the incident I wanted to come out and see them all again… but I didn’t, I thought I didn’t deserve their friendship. If I went out maybe I could’ve changed so much…” Sunny places a hand on his eyepatch, sliding his hand down against its texture.

Basil looked upwards at the ceiling. “…That’s what we all liked about you, your ability to just give a shit about others, but you can’t keep living in the past.”

“Mhm.” Sunny nods, accepting what Basil says.

“After you got the truth out how did you manage it?” Basil’s curiosity was getting the better of him, he had slightly heard about Sunny’s world after he caught up with everyone.

“Some days I don’t feel much of anything you know? I feel empty… I barely even feel like getting out of bed, I just want to sleep. It was only thanks to my friends that I was able to pull myself together on those days and why I’m as good as I am now. It’s why I owe it then to return and why I feel like I owe it to you guys to stay.”

“That’s rough buddy… I think you should do what you want to but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.”

Sunny can only nod, continuing to listen to the sounds of the world ever spinning.

“Welp, either way we better go back inside to sleep.” Basil speaks up, patting Sunny on the shoulder before walking away.

Sunny takes one last gaze at the stars before going down the ladder. “I’m sorry… everyone.” “Hey Basil, wait up!”

Sunny catches up to his old friend and walks alongside him as they both enter the house again.

As they walk up the stairs Sunny thinks about how nice it is to see this house the way it is again, here it all felt so complete. Maybe when he’s older he can buy the house back and live in the nice and welcoming town of Faraway again.

Getting close to all his friends again Sunny gets onto his blow up bed and lays his head down, watching Basil get back into his sleeping bag. Facing the wall above him, Sunny closes his eyes as he falls into sleep once more.

Oyasumi.

Chapter Text

The final day had arrived, Sunny was going to make this last day with everyone his very best before he left.

Heading downstairs Sunny could already see everyone together in the kitchen, waiting around as Hero and Mari cooked. Basil, Kel and Aubrey notice him and give hellos as he walks over to them all.

“Hey dude, you got here just in time. You and Basil slept in pretty late!” Kel sounds very happy, speaking a little loud for it being so early in the morning but it was something Sunny had long since gotten used to.

Instead of claiming his spot next to the four, Sunny gave a simple wave before walking over to Hero and Mari, who noticed him and he stood beside them.

“Hey little brother, are you feeling okay?”

“Mhm… I was just wondering if I could help you and Hero make breakfast.”

“That’s a wonderful idea Sunny but I think it’d be best for you to sit down and relax as Mari and I make the food.” Hero is being as caring as ever it seems, with not much choice Sunny moves back over and sits down next to his friends, resting his head on his arms as he looks over at Mari and Hero.

Aubrey reaches over and places a hand on his back, rubbing him as Sunny closes his eyes to think. “Should I tell them all I’m leaving tomorrow?” he wonders, feeling his warm breath brush against his arms.

It didn’t take much longer for food to be made and it took even less time for it to be eaten. Sunny had zoned out as he ate away at his food, stuck into staring at his plate like it were a mystical object.

Sunny is only sucked out by a concerned tap on his shoulder by Aubrey, turning his head to look at her in her eyes. She looks so pretty… that’s what Sunny thinks to himself at least before turning his head away, slightly flustered.

It wouldn’t be that hard to tell them he’s leaving right? He’d definitely be able to tell them easily. And so he opens his mouth but no words come out. “Why am I finding this so difficult?”

All Sunny can do is turn back to Aubrey and give her his best smile, hoping she’ll be able to handle that as a response for now, he should probably start speaking soon, it doesn’t look good for him to be reverting back into a shell at the current moment.

Taking slowly, steady, concise breaths Sunny calms down. Ready to propose his idea as he lifts his head up.

“Do you guys wanna go somewhere today and just hang out? I just think it’d be nice for us all to go through Faraway and spend some time together like that, if it’s okay with you guys…”

It didn’t take long for them all to agree to Sunny’s idea, all happy to spend time together.

“I’ve gotta go home real quick, Polly will probably need me for a bit. We can meet up at the park if that works out?” Basil suggests.

“Sure, I don’t see why not.” Mari responds, the whole group now watching Basil lift himself up and leave.

After everyone helped clean up they had picked up their stuff for the day and headed out towards Faraway Park, Sunny can’t stop himself from recalling every memory it had brought him. All those times listening to Aubrey or eating Ice-Creams with Kel, gazing at flowers with Basil. This was what brought it all together.

It didn’t take long for things to pick up, Kel challenging Sunny to a basketball game.

“Are you ready to lose Sunny?”

“I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be.” Sunny focussed himself as Hero began a countdown.

3.2.1.
Go!

——————

The match had only lasted 10 minutes, during that time Sunny put up his best fight, spurred on by the cheers of Aubrey and Mari.

Despite all that Kel had still come out on top, Sunny only managed to score twice compared to what felt like Kel’s personal best.

“Good job man! You put up quite the fight.”

“You humour me…” Sunny wipes the sweat from his head as he pants, even with the last few months Sunny still wasn’t as active as he’d like to be. It wasn’t the best but he was much better than previously.

“I’m being serious Sunny, you did amazing. Even if you’re short you did surprisingly good in basketball.” Kel snickers a little, prompting Sunny to give him a light jab in response.

“Now you’re just being cocky.” The black haired boy replies. “You’re only calling me short because you’re freakishly tall, 5”10 isn’t that short…”

“Whatever you say.” Kel responds as he walks up to a tree to rest his back against it, Mari handing an Orange Joe that is most definitely expired to him with Hero who had been cheering him on the entire game, patting his younger brother on the back.

“Hey guys.” Basil says, walking up to the group just as Sunny lets himself sit down on the asphalt of the basketball court. “I was watching you two play, I’m glad I managed to get a nice picture.” Basil adds on, showing a picture of Kel moving almost gracefully around Sunny in his attempt to snag the ball.

“Talk about an embarrassing picture for me.” Sunny thinks while staring at it, not even noticing how pink Aubrey’s cheeks have become from staring at the picture of him.

“Wow Basil! I don’t think your photography skills have dulled after all these years.” Mari says, invelopped in how beautifully Basil managed to capture the moment at a great angle.

“Yeah, it’s no biggie… I kinda took pictures when I was with the hooligans so it’s only normal I’d get better at it.” Basil’s tough facade crumbling from the compliments the group is showering him in.

Sunny smiles at the peacefulness between his friends. Hero walks over to Sunny and hands him a nice drink as Sunny pulls himself up from the cold asphalt, lucky that there was no ice.

“I can’t believe you managed to bring everyone back together in five days, you’re truly something special Sunny.” Hero whispers to him as Sunny shyly turns his head. “I don’t believe it’s all that special, you guys are my friends…” The teen simply replies, taking a few sips from his drink as he regains his breath.

——————

After regaining his breath Sunny is taken by Aubrey towards the swings, everyone does their best to give them space as they talk.

“You remember five days ago when you came to me while I was at the swingset?” Aubrey asks, Sunny nods, he has a good memory so it wasn’t like he could forget something like that after all.

“I was at my lowest moment and you came and helped me. It’s amazing how you’ve always gone out of your way for me. I think that’s why I came to love you so much.” The girl says, unable to hide her slightly red face as she speaks. “It’s like someway, somehow you heard me and did your very best to find me.”

“That’s not entirely untrue. I did hear you crying.”

“I’m sorry for what I said to you when we met, it must’ve startled you a lot. To calm me down you even had to…” the last word was a bit embarrassing to get out so Aubrey chose not to say it before her face turns a bright crimson.

“Spending these days with you has been really nice Aubrey, I missed this in truth.”

Aubrey gets up from her spot on the swing and crouches to hold him, her embrace as warm and welcoming to him as it has been since they were kids. “I missed you too.”

Sunny stands up with Aubrey, reciprocating the hug as they both get up. He wanted to kiss her so badly, before the thought could fully crystallise Sunny and Aubrey hear a click sound, quickly turning to face Basil.

“This is goin’ in my photo album for sure.”

“God… damnit.” Sunny thought as his ears began to heat up, his hand outstretched across his face in embarrassment.

“BASIL, GIVE ME THAT PHOTO RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR.” Aubrey squeals as she makes an attempt to chase him down, her pure embarrassment fueling her as she reaches him and snatched the still processing photo, trying not to rough Basil up in the process.

——————

The very last part of the day was being spent at the secret hideout with everyone sitting down on the picnic blanket as they used to.

Hero was talking to Kel as Mari talked to Aubrey who was leaning up against Sunny, Basil trying to take the perfect picture.

“He’s really leaving tomorrow.” Basil thought to himself as he snapped his new picture, the satisfying sound always calming his soul a little.

Basil planned to tell them at some point when Sunny wasn’t around, Basil understood all his friends and knew that none of them should be left without a goodbye… especially considering everything that led up to this.

Why did Sunny not want to tell anyone tomorrow? Was he afraid of the guilt? Maybe…

Walking back over to the blanket Basil sits down with all his friends as he takes out his photo album, slotting the two new pictures he took into place. (Aubrey still refused to give him his third.)

Sunny speaks up. “There’s no new photos today that were taken of you Basil, maybe we should get one just in case.” Sunny smiles towards his friend, Basil never wanted to punch Sunny in the shoulder more than he did now however. What kinda form of payback is this anyways?

Everyone seems to agree with Sunny apart from Basil himself, next thing he knew Basil was resting by one of the trees with his hands in his pocket, being made to pose by Sunny for an amazing shot. Basil can hear Sunny laughing a little.

“C’mon Sunny, you know I only like natural pictures…” Basil says, slightly embarrassed as Sunny takes his picture.

“I know I know, but we should take a picture of you too. You belong in this album just as much as any of us.” Sunny responds.

“I hate you.”

“I love you too Basil.”

Basil forgot how much of a snarky asshole Sunny can be when he feels like it, for someone who prefers to be silent he sure can be a powerful disruption when he wants to be.

Basil decides it best to just take it as it comes, sitting down at the picnic basket and snatching a cookie to deal with his grumpy mood. He’ll figure out how to get his revenge lat- actually he thinks he has a good idea now. Assuming everything goes right his revenge will be assured.

——————

The end of a long day had come, Basil suggested the friend group sleepover at his, knowing it would be Sunny’s last night. Thankfully everyone agreed to the plan.

Basil had told everyone he had spare sleeping bags so they didn’t have to go home for any, pulling out the sleeping bags he counted.

One for Mari. One for Hero. One for Kel. One for Sunny. One for…

“Oh noooooo, Aubrey I’m afraid I don’t have a spare sleeping bag for you. I must’ve miscounted. I guess you and Sunny will have to share, what a shame.” Basil has a smug grin on his face as he stares at Sunny, the ultimate revenge is here. He cackle’s to himself as he sees his two friends turn red.

Although Sunny and Aubrey had done this stuff twice before now doing that sort of thing with everyone around is so embarrassing, Sunny is regretting his earlier toying with Basil.

Biting the bullet all Sunny can do is go to the living room with everyone and lay the sleeping bag on the ground. Watching Basil walk in with his blanket as he lays on the couch, glaring down on Sunny like some kind of king on a throne.

Getting in his sleeping bag and opening it up to make room for Aubrey Sunny stares down, trying to avoid Basil’s stare.

As Aubrey gets in beside him Sunny can swear he hears a click. Aubrey herself isn’t doing much better than Sunny is as the sleeping bag forces them close together, her head against his chest as Sunny tries to lay down and avoid looking at anyone out of embarrassment.

Tonight was going to be a long night…

and soon to be the morning Sunny leaves…

As everyone falls asleep after telling stories, Sunny and Aubrey are the only ones left awake. Aubrey admires his face, its glow being amplified by the moonlight she leans in and gives him a kiss on the lips before turning around in the sleeping blanket, Aubrey can feel as Sunny’s hand reaches around to hold her close, his head resting against her hair as their bodies pressed together.

Tonight was going to be a really long night…

Chapter Text

It was still early in the morning, Sunny woke up holding his head. He can hear the sound of a bus, it’s loud and invades his ears. He can hear the horn, it’s a signal that he’s delayed this long enough.

Sunny pulls himself out of the sleeping bag slowly, trying not to wake or startle Aubrey as he clenches his head harder.

Slipping on his shoes, Sunny slowly opens the door of Basil’s house and walks out, looking to his left and right. The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon, he can see some light through the trees, surely a new dawn on Faraway.

Following his senses he arrives at the crossroads, looking at the streets to his left and right. He’s really going to leave them all behind isn’t he? The sounds in his head get louder, it’s a reminder that he doesn’t belong. This home will never be his to have, it saddens him a little, driving a few tears down his eye as he crosses the street.

As he gets closer to his destination he can feel the pain in his head dying down, he stops clenching his teeth. It seems Faraway Plaza is his final stop, it’s been a fun five days hasn’t it?

When he leaves will they all come to hate him for not giving a goodbye? He doesn’t have the time to reflect as he stares at the bus now in front of him, its engine on. Sunny supposes it’s time to leave.

Walking down the concrete pathway he passes the fountain, no sign of life, what he wouldn’t do to hear Mikheal failing to flirt with girls.

Staring at the mass of steel in front of him Sunny prepares to walk up closer to it when voices call out to him.

“SUNNY!!” Kel shouts towards him, catching Sunny off guard. Next thing he knew Kel was followed by everyone else, Aubrey, Basil and shortly after Hero walking alongside Mari.

As Sunny turns his body completely towards everyone Aubrey tackles him, catching Sunny off guard as he tries not to fall over with her in his hands.

“Basil woke us all up and told us you were planning to leave, we weren’t going to let you leave without a goodbye!” Aubrey says, keeping Sunny in her arms as he looks around at everyone.

“Sorry Sunny, just couldn’t let you go n’ leave everyone without anything being unsaid between us y’know?” Basil adds on, putting his hand against his neck, his camera in the other hand.

“Thank the gods we got here on time little brother! I would’ve been upset if we got here late.” Mari sounds pouty but Sunny can see slight tears in her eyes. Mari really was telling the truth when she said that, stark contrast to how she was acting to him just five days ago.

Sunny feels some more tears fall from his still tired eyes. “I-I’m sorry everyone. I just couldn’t bring myself t-“ before Sunny could finish he was embraced by everyone, the forgiveness getting across to Sunny in the same warm, welcoming way he’s been used to.

“You don’t have to apologise for anything Sunny, we can all understand why you wouldn’t be able to tell us about something like this.” Hero replies, holding the teen that he deemed to be like a second little brother to him close.

“Yeah! You’re our friend Sunny. It must’ve been very difficult for you to try and talk about how you may be leaving forever, we all understand you completely!” Kel responds, reassuring his friend as best he can.

“Though it won’t save you from this!” Mari adds on, noogying her little brother as he begs her to stop while laughing a little to himself.

“So this is it huh?” Basil says, grabbing everyone’s attention as they release from the hug. The raven haired flower boy is staring at the bus. “I couldn’t see it before this…”

“Now that you mention it Basil… This is what you were staring at a few days ago, right Sunny?”

Sunny gives a simple “Mhm.” in response. It seems that everyone can now perceive the bus in front of them. Why is that?

Before Sunny gets more of a chance to speculate, the bus doors open themselves to him, welcoming him inside. “I think it’s telling me to enter inside…”

“Really? What does a bus even sound like?” Kel sounds a little confused, causing everyone to laugh a little.

“So… I guess you better get going huh?” Aubrey solemnly looks towards Sunny, it’s easy to tell how hard this will be on her.

“I’m sorry that I can’t stay any longer, it’s just that this… is getting too loud for me to ignore anymore.”

“No need to worry little brother, I think we all understand that this time we got with you was an impossibility and even so here you are. Thank you from all of us for staying here for as long as you could, I’m sure your Mari would be proud!” A genuine smile from Mari calms Sunny’s beating heart, now he’s finally sure everything will be okay.

“Maybe someday I might be able to return… who knows.” Sunny couldn’t promise that but he wanted to hope for it all the same, putting a foot on the bus he turned around as Aubrey grabs hold of his arm.

“If you ever do manage to get back… you owe me a date okay?”

“…Of course Aubrey.”

Aubrey quickly moves in for a kiss on his cheek before moving back, Basil is upset that he couldn’t capture that moment but he’s sure everyone will remember it either way.

Sunny sighs and then produces a big smile for all his friends to see as he walks in the bus, completely empty he finds the perfect place to sit, staring outside at all of his friends.

They all wave towards them and Aubrey and Kel chase after the bus as it pulls out. He waves towards them too before they all move out of view… he can feel his eyepatch getting wet.

—————

As Faraway becomes less and less visible Sunny can hear footsteps walking towards him. A foggy man Sunny can’t see properly.

“Hello…” the misty figure says. “You’re probably wondering how you ended up in this world right?”

Sunny nods as the voice continues. “A few days ago an accident happened that caused you to pass to a different universe. It took a while to find you but we managed to track you to here.”

“How do you know me?” Sunny responds.

“Simply put, I know a lot of you… I’ve seen the good and the bad, there’s many worlds and many different things that have happened in all of them.”

Sunny supposes if a world exists when Mari lives then there must’ve been other ones but he never thought about it too deeply until now, just choosing to accept it.

“We can’t take away your memories of what happened and we certainly can’t do that to two universes or else things would get muddled and so we’re choosing to let you keep them. When you get back to your world no one will have known what had happened to you and five days will have passed as they have in the world you were just in, understand?”

Sunny nods, it might be a bit difficult to explain all of this to everyone though…

“Over many different worlds I’ve come to like you quite a bit, kid. You may not know me but my kind knows you.”

Sunny looks down and thinks for a second. “Will I ever be able to see all of them again?”

“Normally not, the chances of that sort of incident happening again would be very very unlikely, unless you can live a billion years it’d be considered impossible otherwise.”

Ah… Sunny felt like that’d happen but at least he asked. The figure gazes at him, looking deep in thought for only a second.

“…Look, you’ve already caused quite the divergence and what happened wasn’t meant to be at all but that was only due to a fault of ours… since that world has already shifted so much I might see to it that you can maybe visit it again… someday.”

Sunny beams up instantly, he feels so happy. “Thank you!”

“Yeah yeah, no problem. Just know it won’t be too often. On this day every year I will allow you to pay them a visit, you will hear the sounds of a bus and I will take you there. It will only be for a day so make the most of it, if you try to stay for longer I am not against taking you back by force.”

Sunny still smiles even with a threat lingering in the air, as long as he can see them again then that’s fine by him. Suddenly he begins to feel sleepy.

“Looks like that’s the end of our talk… see you soon Sunny.”

—————

Waking up Sunny shakes his head, he watches a bus drive away as he gets up from a bench. Even if he left he’s back in a town made to look the same.

The sun has come up now and Sunny takes a visit to the park, he can feel something calling him.

Pulling out his phone he sees several missed calls and messages from all his friends and his mom. Putting his phone back in his pocket he continues walking towards the Park, passing a missing poster with his name on it.

Through the bushes Sunny comes to a familiar place, he sees four people sitting together on a blanket. They all look a little sad… maybe he can cheer them all up.

Walking forwards he looks towards these familiar people… the friends he’s known for so so long, the people always by his side, the people he loves with all his heart and it appears that they’ve now noticed him too.

“Hey everyone, did you miss me…?”