Chapter Text
Sunny and basil had been having fun the past 9 days. Ever since Mari has been practicing the piano, they’ve been getting to know each other more as best friends. Playing video games, drawing out their feelings, planting flowers, visiting and hanging out with friends. But their friendship wasn’t sibling-esque with Kel and Aubrey or with subtle puppy love like Hero and Mari. It’s somewhere in between; The two have been like birds of a feather, following each other nearly everywhere. Sunny seemed to want to have some space and though they regularly converse, Basil has been the one starting the majority of their conversations. Chatting and accidentally flirting with each other while they pick up trash or just get philosophical under the stars alone, while at the same time learning each others unseen fears, dreams, and hopes, their opinions on their friends. They’ve been through alot of good times and uncomfortable times, but Sunny and Basil held each other's loyalty as carefully as they're able to.
Sunny and Basil’s relationship had been more platonic than romantic, though it didn’t mean there wasn’t any undertones of the former. Sunny didn’t know how to describe it until Mari pointed it out during her piano session.
“Yeah! You guys seemed to be more into each other since Spring Break. Basil doesn’t even go a day without mentioning how perfect and such a good listener-” She quickly transitioned into her BASIL impression. “ ‘Oooh Sunny’s so quiet and non-judgmental' and ‘Mari, look what I made for Sunny. Can you give it to him for me?’. He seems to like being with you a bit more since i've been prepping for college.”
“Mhm…” Sunny said. He dismissively glanced at the piano.
“It’s pretty adorable. If only Hero was as chill with affection beyond flirting as you, we would’ve been smooching up a storm. Heh heh…” She gave quite the devious smirk to herself, then frowned. "I... haven’t been with our friends as often as I like to, big brother."
Sunny shuffles his feet in response, if only she knew how Basil is when he’s really affectionate.
“What’s wrong, little brother? Mewo got your tongue? ”
Sunny quickly shook his head, the air making whipping sounds. Why does he look so restless at the mere idea of being nervous?
“Somebody’s nervous~~ Wellll as much as I would entertain the thought of you and him, I gotta work on this stupid piano. The thing doesn’t move by itself, and I have a session to make up.” She sighed melancholy at the piano, placing her fingers on it and pressing the keys so lazily the piano made no sound .
Sunny tugged on her short sleeve. Repeatedly. Mari kept ignoring his persistence until she shouted him:
“SUNNY. DO N-”
The mentioned boy jumped from her expression and scurried out of the piano room, their pet following suit. Sunny's face expressed dissatisfaction with Mari's conversation before pacing his way to their room.
Mari’s patience seemed to wear thin and thinner since taking those damn piano lessons. Their mom was always complaining and their dad would take a chance to jab at Sunny, annoyedly teasing and mocking him for not being better than his sister. Dad says he means well, but Sunny’s reaction says otherwise. But today, Sunny won’t rag about the piano playing, he had other tireless thoughts to work out.
So Basil.
Basil. Basil. Basil.
The little guy who won’t stop playing in Sunnys mindhole swirling and sneaking his way into his thoughts. What does he find so compelling that Sunny’s been thinking of him for 3 days straight? Is it his appearance? His sweet nature? The appreciation of his plants? His kindness? The fact that he’s pretty charming in a less overwhelming way? Maybe it’s all of those things, maybe it’s just that they are really cuddly with each other. At the time when they ere still in Sunny mentioned these hints to Mari, but she told him that is what people do when they fall in love.
Love.
But Sunny… doesn’t really look like he wanted love. The romantic kind. The kind of ‘love’ when he was pressured to do something, but the guilt was stronger than his actual well thought-out answer. Hugging his supposed 'best friend' is one thing, but getting married as more than a possibility felt impossible for him. Love was just ‘too much work’ for Sunny, he saw and heard it from his father so it might not even be worth it. Well I mean it’s not like he only wanted surface level bonds with even his own friends and sister to keep himself safe, but he didn’t say no to any of his friends requests seemingly out of reluctance. He did almost every request out of reluctance, even he told his sister that, how he kind felt out of the group. It didn't make any sense that before spring break, Sunny just avoided Basil for 3 days after holding his hand and started hand out with Aubrey and Kel instead.
It was weird.
Basil had to apologize, even he wasn't even sure of what he did wrong. Sunny starting hanging out with him again, but still.
And Mari said nothing about it.
Why does he keep pushing away when he's nervous?
...
What do I know, i'm not even him!
Going back to Sunny, he is still in his room but now his scratching his cats back. Mewo trills and purrs on his lap, nuzzling his belly.
“Mewo is a good kitty. Good ol kitty.”
Mewo meowed, as cats do.
“...Soft…” Sunny picked up Mewo and puts her in the air. “If only you can talk… Maybe Mari would listen to you more. And me, too.” He pouted, stretching his legs like Mewo.
And then he fell asleep.