Chapter Text

PROLOGUE

In front of SUNNY, a white door cast a faint shadow. Through it lay his best friend, bruised and bedridden, and at his side, three others. Considering everything he just went through, and what he knew lay ahead, he felt oddly calm. He stepped through the door, ready to confess the truth.

His best friends, KEL, AUBREY, and HERO, turned to face him. But before any of them could voice any of their concerns, SUNNY spoke up.

"I have to tell you something."

He found himself unable to continue. He quickly realized that he hadn't thought this out very well. His friends were clearly expecting some kind of explanation... after all, he had almost died... but how would he even begin to describe the real truth? How MARI really died? How she ended up on the tree? Where he was all those years? His thoughts threatened to overwhelm him like they had mere hours ago, but he tried his best to FOCUS.

"SUNNY?" HERO's voice brought him back to reality. "What were you going to tell us?"

He froze up. There was so much to explain...

"You don't have to tell us everything right now," he said calmly. "We just want to know what happened last night."

This was a good starting point. He began to mumble an explanation. He woke up in the middle of the night, he said... he knew BASIL would do something to himself... he went into his room... they started to hallucinate... BASIL was attacking him, he wanted to save him from something behind him... he tried to calm down couldn't handle it all... he struggled against him... he couldn't remember what happened very well after that, but he knew that... BASIL panicked and stabbed him, and then he fell unconscious.

But for them to fully understand, they'd need the big picture... He'd need to start from the very beginning, the day of the recital. They questioned him, of course... he shouldn't blame himself for what happened to MARI, they said, but that only made his heart ache even harder, knowing the reality of her death... He had to say it clearly, state the truth...

"M-MARI... didn't... kill herself." The words awkwardly stuttered out of him, like a drain being unclogged. After this, it all painfully rushed out of him, the truth free at last... he broke the violin... MARI tried to stop him... he pushed her from the top of the staircase... BASIL had an idea... SUNNY didn't know what was happening... he took the jump rope... they hid the violin in the toy box... his friends were hesitant to believe him at first, but as he explained, their disbelief turned to shock and horror...

They looked as if they had seen MARI die all over again. AUBREY's fists were clenched, KEL wouldn't meet his eyes... HERO was the worst of all. He looked sick, almost nauseated... he must have been disgusted with SUNNY, even more than he was himself.

SUNNY knew what he did. He had lain four years of trauma in front of them and spat on it. All of their questions, all of their guilt, it was because of a lie... their lie... The MARI they knew had died in a senseless accident, murdered on impulse by an angry twelve year-old, and as if that wasn't enough, he had helped frame her death as a suicide, fearing for himself. There was nothing more to say.

The first of them to break the silence was HERO. He said he needed a moment, then left. Eventually, KEL joined him, then AUBREY, until SUNNY was left alone in the room with no one but his accomplice, who was still sound asleep. 

Eventually, after what must have been hours, BASIL started to stir, and with him, a familiar presence... something lurking behind them. It weighed heavy on SUNNY's back, cold and terrifying. The boy in the bed wouldn't meet his eyes--or rather, his eye. But despite everything, SUNNY smiled at him, the burden of the truth off his shoulders. BASIL must have understood. He smiled back. And with that, the presence on SUNNY's back got lighter and lighter, until they were freed of something forever.

~

SUNNY's last days in FARAWAY TOWN were not at all what he was expecting. He'd learned from his mom that he was supposed to stay in the hospital for a few more days until his wound healed enough to return to normal life. He wouldn't see his new home for about a week. 

Strangely, being stuck here was even lonelier than the years he spent isolated in his home. Normally he would spend his time dreaming, but on the off chance he could even fall asleep, he didn't dream about anything, not even WHITE SPACE. Combine that with all the restrictions placed on a fragile medical patient, and hospital life ended up pretty dull... that was, when it wasn't just plain depressing.

In the time being, instead of laying in bed and sulking, he could at least try to adjust to the loss of his eye. Basic tasks normally thought mundane or thoughtless now took difficult coordination, like pouring a glass of water or even walking in a straight line. He could always call for a nurse, but... that was too embarrassing.

At least there was still BASIL. He would be staying here a little longer, until they could get him into a mental hospital, where he'd be for the next few weeks. After all, he did stab his eye. But SUNNY was lonely, and he was decent company. He got him out of his head. The doctors were hesitant to leave them alone in the same room, but they were at least allowed to be together for a few hours and watch TV. 

The atmosphere between them still felt a little tense and awkward, but honestly, he was just glad to have his best friend back. During their conversations, they were able to reconnect somewhat, bridging the gap SUNNY had tried so hard to build for those four years. Even KEL stopped by from time to time, and it was kind of nice, even if he was obviously forcing himself.

But soon enough, his stay at the hospital came to an end, and he was in the parking lot, about to leave FARAWAY TOWN at last. He had known this day was coming for a long time. But he had never expected it to look like this. SUNNY, surrounded by his friends, wearing an eyepatch , just outside a hospital . He could barely keep his breathing steady. He'd spent a week longer here than he was supposed to, and yet he still wasn't ready to say goodbye.

BASIL... BASIL didn't look quite ready yet either.

"SUNNY... We'll stay in touch, right?" he said.

"Yeah." SUNNY felt his pockets, checking to see if he still had their numbers.

"I'll call you," KEL said. "And you should call us too! Friends are supposed to be there for each other... right, guys? Even if we're far away..."

"Yeah," AUBREY mumbled. She... didn't look too happy about it, though.

"HERO? You're going to be there for them, right?" KEL said.

"Y-yeah," HERO said. This was the first time SUNNY had heard him speak since the truth... His expression was impossible to read. Almost confused. 

He stepped forward, towards SUNNY, but wouldn't meet his eye. "SUNNY... I'm still not sure if I can forgive you for what you did." SUNNY winced. He was expecting this.

"But I want you to know that even if I don't forgive you... I'm still your friend, alright? We won't leave each other... not this time." He gave him a weak smile. 

"Yeah! That's the kind of stuff I want to hear," KEL said. "You know what? I think now is a good time for a group hug!"

SUNNY wasn't sure if AUBREY and HERO thought the same, but they obliged anyway. He'd forgotten what a hug felt like. The warm embrace of his friends made his chest feel lighter, like he could finally breathe again. When they pulled away, they suddenly looked very blurry. He wiped his tears and smiled.

"Bye, SUNNY! Tell us what the city's like, okay?" He heard KEL say. "I'll call you every week!" 

"Don't harass him," AUBREY said suddenly. 

"I won't harass him! I'll just make sure he doesn't forget about me..."

They kept on bickering, even as he reached his mom's car... everything after that was a blur to him. He saw HERO trying to keep them on task... they all waved goodbye, and he waved back... they got smaller and smaller as he drove away... and eventually, they were gone, impossible to see past the trees. 

"Don't worry, SUNNY," said his mom as they drove. "I know you'll miss your old home, but I think it will be a good fresh start for the both of us."

He steadied his breathing and listened to the sound of the radio. An old song was playing, one MARI used to tell him to listen to whenever he felt down. It was a little cheesy, but optimistic. He liked the message. Carry on, no matter what. Gradually, it began to blend with the sound of the road, and his eye started to droop... Before he knew it, the long car ride lulled him to sleep...

He awoke hours later, no longer on the highway. The buildings around him were taller than he could've ever imagined. This must have been the city. SUNNY took a deep breath... and began his life anew.

Chapter Text

ONE YEAR LATER

It's a beautiful summer day, and one absolutely perfect for watching clouds. As SUNNY rests on a soft picnic blanket, he watches them aimlessly float across the sky, some white and puffy, a few thin and wispy. One looks like a bunny, another like a table, some like a book. The sun glitters on the murky water, sparkling and dancing... the breeze rustles through the forest... a bird sits atop an aging monument in the center of the lake. This is his favorite spot in the entire town, and it's not hard for him to see why.

Here, his thoughts easily wander into his own worlds, his own stories, his own adventures... On days like these, he could explore them to his heart's content. Sometimes they got too small, but that didn't matter to him. He could always just make up more. Once, it could get lonely, but that was long ago now. Because, on occasion... he could always just bring his friends along.

His friends... where are they? He should probably find them... They might be wondering where he is... Perhaps they went somewhere and he didn't notice... But that's not like them... They know he hates being alone... He snaps out of his reverie. He doesn't want to worry his friends.

He pulls himself off the comfortable picnic blanket and onto his feet. He stretches and yawns. The sun seems lower in the sky now... Did he really spend hours just cloud-watching? He walks over through the closed road into the park. It's completely deserted.

He starts to worry... What if something happened to them, he thinks? What if they got lost, or kidnapped, or hurt, or left, or- A voice in his head reminds him to focus. It's MARI's voice, as always... She's probably really worried about him... He ought to find her soon... He really wishes she were here...

The asphalt crosswalk feels burning hot under his bare feet. He probably should have put on his shoes... Almost like magic, just as he thinks of them, he notices one, abandoned on the sidewalk. It's not even close to his size, and... not really something he'd wear. It's tiny and pink, like a shoe for a little girl... Funny, he thinks. Maybe it's the one AUBREY lost all those years ago... He reaches out to grab it, and... before he knows it... he's in a... church?

His heart starts to race... They're in the middle of a sermon, and he doesn't want to interrupt, but... he can't even think. It feels as if there's a thick fog over his head, like nothing here really registers. Everyone is staring at him, even as he slowly creeps toward the exit... Did he do something wrong? Yes, he thinks... He definitely did something wrong. He got into a fight here... four years in the future... or a year ago? He feels as if his legs are going to give out... It just doesn't make sense, he thinks... who would get into a fight in a church...?

His question is answered for him. A girl is suddenly standing in front of him. The evening sunlight shines directly onto her, exposing her every feature like a spotlight, every little insecurity and flaw... she looks like she's holding back tears... she breaks into a run, brushing past him on her way out. The churchgoers' eyes turn to him. His face feels hot... shame bears down on him like the burning heat of the sun. Why these memories, he thinks? I've done so much... and this, of all things? Why won't they stop coming back?

SUNNY remembers that this is just a nightmare... He'll wake up eventually. He can will it to, he thinks. He's strong enough...

He feels something appear in his hands... something smooth and wooden. The world changes. He can see the whole city, every last skyscraper or apartment or tower, all glowing in the night. He grabs his bow and gets into proper position. He plays a short melody... It feels like his ears are on fire... They're ringing. Wait... No, that's not his ears... That's his...

He wakes up. The phone is ringing, but he doesn't feel like getting out of bed... It could be important, he thinks... maybe just 5 more minutes... or 10... but he doesn't want to fall asleep again... he reluctantly crawls out of bed and answers the phone. Somehow, they haven't hung up yet.

"Hey, SUNNY!" It's KEL's voice. Of course. "I thought you'd never pick up, heh heh! Hope I didn't wake you up..."

SUNNY groans and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. He doesn't want to talk. Not this early.

"Man, how long has it been since I last called you?" KEL says. "Feels like it's been forever already!"

SUNNY tries to think, but he's still so groggy. "I think a week."

"Huh... felt like longer," KEL says. "Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask you about something... You still have most of July off, right?"

Why's KEL asking about this...? "Yes," he replies.

"Okay, sweet..." KEL pauses for a moment, like he just stopped himself. "Well... it's just... I had an idea!"

"Mm?" SUNNY says. He thinks he knows where this is going...

"Well..." KEL says. "I think you should come visit! It's been way too long, don't you think?"

KEL has tried this idea many, many times... but it's never worked out. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter... Something always got in the way... SUNNY's awake now. Even though he's not expecting anything... this has got his attention.

"I mean..." KEL says. "I worked it out with my parents and everything! You can come over tomorrow and stay the whole week. We've been planning this for a while, actually! My parents really want you to come over! I know you're shy about seeing AUBREY and HERO again, but I think it'd be good for you. We all really miss you, you know..."

After a few silent seconds, KEL clears his throat. Oh, wait. SUNNY should really say something... He mumbles a thanks.

"So you'll think about it?" KEL says.

"Yeah." SUNNY knows what he has to do next. "I'll ask my mom."

"Woo-hoo! Call me back soon, okay?"

"Okay. I will."

"See you later, SUNNY!" Click.

SUNNY puts the phone back into the receiver, then... just stares at it blankly, before it all hits him. This is his chance. He thinks he knows why this never worked out in the past. HERO probably doesn't want to see him, and neither does AUBREY. He remembers their faces the last time he saw them, during that forced group hug. But now... it's been just over a year since he moved. Everything heals with time, right? So maybe... after so long... they'll at least be able to tolerate him.

SUNNY knows he needs to go back to his hometown. He needs it like he needs food or water. Something in his conscience is dying to see them again, unable to just leave his old life behind. Whether he needs closure, or he's just stuck in the past, SUNNY doesn't know. 

Things would be complicated if he ever came back, that's for sure. The last time they had all seen each other, he had just confessed the horrible truth, kept hidden from them for four agonizing years. He remembers their reactions--angry and horrified. But... a year was a long time. Maybe they had forgiven him in the time being. Or maybe in his absence, their resentment only festered and grew. He has so many questions... and he needs them answered, more than anything else. But... if things keep going this way... he might never see them again. And that terrifies him.

So he goes to look for his mom. It's never hard, since their apartment isn't a big place. It's a far cry from their spacious, suburban home. The lack of space is a shame, but... they don't really need that kind of room anymore. Not after their family was cut in half. Just one big room, with the kitchen, the couch, the dining table, most stuff... and then the rest, the two bedrooms and the bathroom. At least they've still got all that old stuff from home, like the photos or the couch.

It'll never be the same, though. It's smaller, more humble, but more noisy with those paper thin walls. Instead of a backyard, they have to walk to the park. Instead of driving a car, they have a subway. Their neighbors are right across the hallway instead of right across the street. Life in CLOSEBY CITY differs from life in the suburbs in nearly every aspect, but it only makes sense. They came here to start a new life, didn't they?

Soon enough, SUNNY finds a cold plate of breakfast in the kitchen and an attached sticky note. He yanks it off and holds it up to his eye.

Hi, SUNNY! This is a note from MOMMY. I tried to wake you up before I left for work, but you just wouldn't open your eyes! You looked like you were having a bad dream, so I made you breakfast. 

BTW, I don't want you to ever forget, so please remember to take your pills! Love you, XOXO.

He looks at the bottom of the note. There's another message. 

P.S. If you go outside, remember to lock the door! Always bring your phone and your keys!

So he missed her. Again. She won't be coming home until noon for her lunch break, so until then, he'll have to find ways to entertain himself on his own. Usually, he likes to kill time on his computer, but that gets old pretty fast, since there's never much to do. It's a beautiful day outside, though. He should head to the park and get some fresh air for once in a while.

His stomach rumbles. He remembers that he has to eat breakfast first. It's the same as always. Some bacon, a fried egg, a piece of toast, and a glass of orange juice. It all feels cold and mushy in his mouth... must have been out here for hours. Once he's done with breakfast, he swallows some pills with the rest of the orange juice, then grabs his keychain and checks to see if he's missing anything. Cell phone, key, dangling yellow cat... that's everything. He places it in his pocket.

After quickly getting dressed, he fetches a sketchbook and a pencil, slips on his shoes, and heads into the dimly lit hallway. He takes the elevator, as always. It's a little cramped, especially when there's pretty much always a few other people inside. He makes his way out of the elevator, into the lobby, past all the houseplants and desks, and out onto the street. It's early enough in the morning for the heat to be tolerable, but the asphalt still makes it feel relatively warm.

He remembers the way to the park by heart. He takes a left, then a right, then another left. It's not a very long walk, since everything here is pretty close together. He's lucky to be this close to a park, though. There are only a few in CLOSEBY CITY, and it's a nice escape from the noisy, blacktop streets... like a small pocket of home.

A long network of brick paths stretches through the green, twisting along benches and picnic tables. SUNNY wanders across the grass and the trees, looking for his new favorite spot, a comfortable little bench by a gleaming fountain. There it is... thankfully empty, aside from a few birds. He takes a seat... breathes in... and watches the water sparkle in the sunlight, shooting out of that old bronze fountain. He's not sure what it means, with all the mermaids and things... but at least it's pretty. He listens to the birds chirping... the traffic roaring and honking in the distance... and stares into the clouds.

He immerses himself in the atmosphere of this moment. Every little detail, every last sound, it gives him inspiration. He's ready to take out his sketchbook. He finds himself possessed by his pencil, channeling a jumble of abstract thoughts onto the page. He had tried this years ago, during his time as a shut-in, but it always left him feeling even worse than when he started. Now that he's begun to readjust to normal life, it feels less like a painful reminder of pent-up emotion and more like a nice release. He has to thank BASIL for giving him the idea.

Eventually, he finishes scribbling and stares at the page. His drawings have always had a way of being almost indecipherable, more than a little offputting, and never very professional. But... like BASIL said once... they mean something to him... so that's enough, isn't it?

He checks his phone. 12:30 PM. Wow... It's been two whole hours. He's getting hungry already, so he should get home soon if he wants to catch his mom. He stands up from the bench... a little too fast, actually. He's kind of dizzy after sitting down so long. He makes his way back down the brick paths, past a kid riding his bike, past a family playing with their dog, until he's back to the street. The temperature seems to climb as soon as he steps onto the asphalt. No wonder the city's just hotter in general.

He makes his way back home, through the glass doors, into the relief of the cool apartment lobby, the sweat evaporating off his back. He heads into the elevator, presses the button for the fifth floor, and goes up to the door. When he opens it up, someone jumps. His mom. He must have surprised her.

"SUNNY! There you are!" She runs up to him, frowning concernedly. Like usual. "Are you okay? You didn't respond to any of my texts... Did you get distracted again? You really need to check your phone more often..."

SUNNY mumbles an apology. "I was... busy."

"Oh?" she says. She sounds curious. "With what?"

"Drawing..." he says, shrugging a little. Ugh... so embarrassing...

"That's good," she assures him. "Just remember to check your phone..."

SUNNY feels a little ashamed. He has a habit of doing this. Getting his head lost in the clouds, then forgetting about his responsibilities in the process. But he can apologize some more later--he needs to ask his mom about visiting FARAWAY, and sooner rather than later. KEL would hate to be kept waiting... He thinks for a moment, of... how to even word it. Probably best to be short and to the point.

He shifts a little, awkwardly. She's finishing her salad. No time left.

"M-MOM...?" he says.

"Yes, honey?" She turns to him.

He freezes up. A strange anxiety builds inside him. What's he even afraid of? He's not sure. If he goes to FARAWAY, he'll see his friends again. But... he'll have to face them. He'll have to face everything he did. He's paralyzed. But this might be his only chance. He has to make a choice.

He takes a deep breath. "Can I... go to... FARAWAY?"

"Well, hm..." his mom says. "I'll give it some thought... We'd have to pay for it, you know... We don't have as much money as we used to, remember?" She's said this so many times before, and still sounds skeptical, but he can't stop now.

"KEL and HERO's family, um... invited me," he adds.

"Well, if they're fine with it... I'll call them, okay, honey? I need to go now, but I'll tell you what they say in the evening! Bye, honey! I love you!"

She kisses him on the cheek, then rushes outside. Just like that, he's alone again. It seems like the July heat is only going to get worse from here on out. Maybe he'll stay indoors for the rest of the day. He kicks off his shoes, then microwaves some leftovers for lunch. Looks like it's going to be another afternoon spent on his own. Before he goes to his room, he stops a moment, in the hallway. Staring at... something. Wooden and tall.

A grandfather clock. One of two. It stopped working forever ago. Why do they still have it? Why was he staring at that, actually? Maybe he just spaced out. He shrugs it off and heads into his room.

Dull days like this remind him of all those years he wasted hiding. Time tends to melt into itself, feeling painfully slow one moment, then overwhelmingly fast the next. He's not really enjoying himself... he didn't back then... he just existed mindlessly, never leaving his house, never doing anything worthwhile... The only thing he really enjoyed was escaping to HEADSPACE, but that never lasted, and besides, he still felt so empty. He's come a long way since then... but sometimes... the isolation gets to him, and he can't help but feel like he's going nowhere.

It almost always starts with the same thing. His eye drifts to BASIL's PHOTO ALBUM, lying on his desk, just off to the side. He's lonely. He wants to remember the good times. Staring at these photos, the ones he's looked over a million times, it's so easy to get lost in them. To dream of those days, of being so young and carefree. But then the thoughts start to creep in.

"They haven't called you. You'll never see them again."

KEL has, he retorts, desperate not to go down another spiral. So does BASIL. They still call all the time.

It always says the same thing. They're just the only ones who pity you enough to keep calling.

That's not true, he says. KEL doesn't lie to his friends. He's honest.

Why is KEL so nice to you? it says. He's so unfailingly kind, but you never give anything back. You're a burden.

I'm his best friend, he tries to say. He would never give up on me.

Why do you deserve their kindness?

All you've ever done is hurt them and make things worse.

I saved BASIL.

You put him in the hospital. You left him to die for four years. You deserved to lose your eye.

I saved his life. He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me.

If you didn't kill her, none of this would ever have happened.

Can't you see all of this is your fault?

That they'd be better off without you?

It was just an accident. I never meant to hurt her.

You abandoned them.

I came back. I told them the truth. Besides... Why does this matter now?

I can't erase my mistakes, but I can at least try to make up for them.

You tell yourself that you're making up for your mistakes... but deep down, you know the truth. You're irredeemable.

You killed MARI. She loved you and you killed her. How are you supposed to redeem yourself for that?

I saved BASIL. I told them the truth. I'm redeeming myself right now.

You say you care about him, but really, you just pity him.

You've never done anything good because you "care." You just want to feel better about yourself.

Stop it. None of this is true.

It would be better to just stop trying.

Stop it!

It would be better to just stop trying.

I just need to focus. Remember what MARI said to me.

You know that won't work. You can't stop this. Just give in.

SUNNY tries to steady himself. To focus on his breathing. What did she say to him...? Whenever he got overwhelmed...? 

This is getting nowhere fast, huh, SUNNY? Right.

You should just give up. 

Take a deep breath. It's not as scary as you think. Yeah... Yeah, it's not that scary... there's nothing to fear.

This won't erase your mistakes. Just stop trying.

It seems like there's a lot going on... but you just need to block out the little things... and figure out what's important!

In, and out... in, and out. Like that.

After minutes of just breathing, SUNNY finally feels like he's back to reality. Back in his room. What was he doing again?

Oh, right. He was looking at some forum... DEEPSEA.NET, or... something. He was reading something, and it reminded him of the album, and... he wanted to remnisce. But... it didn't turn out that way, did it? He wipes the tears off his cheek... blows into a tissue... and climbs into his bed. He buries his head in his pillow, crying weakly. He's just so... pathetic.

SUNNY doesn't need to go back to FARAWAY just to tie up loose ends, or to get closure. He needs his friends. KEL and BASIL still call him, and he always has the PHOTO ALBUM, but... it's never been the same. SUNNY has never been strong enough to fight all this pain on his own. He misses the feeling of even having them around. When was the last time he saw their faces? Or they played a game together? Shared food? Heck, since they were even in the same room? Not since last year.

If he never sees them again... it'll just continue to eat at him. This is the only way to resolve things. Maybe SUNNY needs to move on... but he can't forget his friends, either.

~

As always, SUNNY's mom gets home just after 5 PM, right after she gets out of work. As soon as he hears the door shut, he turns off the computer, darts out of his room, and goes to meet her in the kitchen.

"Hi, SUNNY!" she says warmly. There's a big smile on her face... a good sign. "How was your afternoon?"

"Fine," he mumbles. "What did KEL's family say...?"

"Oh, right! I almost forgot to tell you! I checked with them, and it seems like they got everything in order. I can drive you over in the morning and pick you up Saturday."

The reality takes a second to hit him, but... as soon as he comes back to his senses... SUNNY feels a tidal wave of excitement surge through him. He can't even speak. Finally, he's going back to FARAWAY? After so long!

This is exactly the kind of news he needs... or at least he thinks so. He hasn't felt like this in such a long time... so excited, but also so anxious... KEL will be happy to hear this, won't he? SUNNY heads back into his room and dials his number. He picks up almost instantly.

"Yo!" KEL chirps. "Is that you, SUNNY?"

"Mhm," he says. "I'm coming over tomorrow. The 16th."

"THAT'S AWESOME!!" KEL's enthusiasm is great, but... ouch... Maybe SUNNY shouldn't hold the phone right up to his ear. "I can't wait! We're all going to be so happy to see you!"

On the other end, SUNNY faintly hears KEL's mom... strange to think he's going to see her soon. Somehow, he finds himself... smiling?

"Okay, I have to go eat dinner now, but I'll see you tomorrow, buddy! Bye!" Click.

The rest of the evening creeps by so slowly. He eats a quick dinner, then packs a few things. His sketchbook, his pills, some clothes... maybe that seashell necklace, too... and... BASIL's PHOTO ALBUM. After that, he can barely sit still, giddy with anticipation. What is he even going to do...? That weird anxiety still sits inside him the whole rest of the evening, the same one he felt when he tried to bring this up to his mom.

But finally, an hour or so after the sun's set, he lies in bed awake. Normally he would be reading right now.. but he feels too restless. He has an entire week to spend in FARAWAY TOWN... but even that doesn't feel like enough. There's so much he has to do, so many conversations he has to have and people he has to see. Maybe he'll just try to make the most of it. Five days left...

Chapter Text

SIX DAYS LEFT...

DREAMER...

A big yellow cat stares into someone's eyes.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

DID YOU FORGET ABOUT US?

WELL... IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE NEVER FORGOT YOU.

Dust floats through the room, shining in the moonlight. It looks to SUNNY like this place hasn't been touched for a while. Suddenly, he coughs, then again. The bed itself must be dusty, but... it still feels so comfortable, for whatever reason. He tries to fall back asleep, but he just can't sit still. So he climbs out of bed and tries to pat it all off his vest. It's probably best to have a look in the mirror before he starts his night.

The door creaks when he opens it. The hallway outside his room looks just as dilapidated. The moldy carpet is illuminated by cracks in the ceiling, the pictures hung on the wall are on the floor, and the houseplants are long dead. The tiles in the bathroom even show some cracks. Unsurprisingly, the light doesn't work, so he has to just go off of what he can see in the dim light of the moon. He wipes the dusty mirror with a cloth, and stares at his reflection.

Wow... He doesn't look too good. Even worse than usual. His hair is a mess, and there are huge bags under his eyes. The best he can do is pat the dust off his head and pick the lint off his vest. There. He meets his tired eyes. Good... he's still got both of them.

After cleaning himself up a little, SUNNY heads back out into the hallway. He should head down the stairs, but... he lingers there for a while, unable to take one step downward. The staircase is somehow in even worse condition than the rest of the house. When he finally forces himself forward, the stair groans, as if in agony. He steadies himself with the brittle railing, and carefully descends to the first floor.

When he gets to the bottom, he looks around. The door to the closet is still hanging open, but there's no way he can go in there. He wouldn't be able to see a thing. What about the piano room, though...? 

He takes a quick look inside and stares at the grand piano, illuminated by the open curtain. Through the window, he can see a beautiful night. The stars are shining over a rolling meadow, and the moon is full. As for the piano, it looks... aged. The word "OMORI" is still etched across the center, but it's hard to make out the lettering through all the dust. The ivories look kind of filthy... but it couldn't hurt just to tap it. He flinches when he hears the sound... it's horribly out of tune. Maybe it's best to stay away from it... just looking makes him too sad.

So he heads back into the hallway and into the living room. It doesn't look much better. The glass door is shattered, and the family portrait... ...best not to think about it. But when he takes a seat on the old, moldy couch, he feels a strange sense of comfort. He likes being here. He wishes he could be here forever, but... it's a beautiful night outside. It would be nice to stargaze, at least. So he gets up... stands in front of the door... and creaks it open.

Soft grass tickles his ankles. He looks around, now in that gorgeous meadow. Dew coats the grass, glimmering in the dim light of the moon, which illuminates the tops of the trees in pale white. A few fireflies float from daisy to daisy, and owls hoot from the branches. It's beautiful, SUNNY thinks. He could stay here forever. It's serene... but... lonely, too. It feels empty. He wants to find anything, or anyone.

So he starts to walk, letting his feet carry him wherever. For a while, he sees nothing of much interest... but eventually, he starts to make out something in the distance. Five shapes... or maybe four? Yes, four. The longer he walks, the bigger they grow, the more distinct... A bunch of kids, gathered around a picnic blanket, looking around worriedly. 

"Oh, BASIL..." one says. "Where could he have gone?"

"Wait..." another says. "I think I see SUNNY!"

A black-haired girl gets up from her picnic table and squeezes SUNNY in a hug. Oh no. He cringes. Not this again... he waits for her to grow twenty eyes or strangle him or eat him with her hair, but nothing happens. So... it's one of those dreams, then. A kind of nightmare.

She lets go of him, and frowns. "What's wrong, SUNNY?" MARI says. "Did something happen while I was gone?"

He ignores her. He can't even meet her eyes. This isn't real. There's no point to this. It'll only make him miss her even more. He starts to walk away, but he feels a hand on his arm.

"Where are you going?" MARI says. "Aren't you happy to see us?"

SUNNY turns to face her. "No," he says firmly. "This is wrong."

"Wrong...?" MARI says. She sounds... hurt... "SUNNY, is everything okay? You're... kind of scaring me..."

"You're..." He can't bring himself to say it. He can't tell her... that she's dead. "Gone," he finishes. "You're g-gone, MARI. And... I-I have to accept that."

MARI backs away. He feels a little guilty, but it's for the best. This is all just a fantasy.

"Gone?" KEL says. "MARI isn't gone! She's right here! SUNNY... you're acting weird... Something really crazy must have happened to you."

"SUNNY?" AUBREY says. "Do you need to talk? We're here if you ever need us..."

SUNNY focuses on his breathing, on that sensation of the air going in and out of his chest. He has to think. He doesn't want to go backwards. But... he can't leave her side. He can't bear to see how that hurts her. So maybe... he'll just entertain it. Until he can find a good time to wake up.

"Er... Are you... done now?" KEL says. SUNNY gives a begrudging nod. "Sweet, now you can tell us where BASIL went!"

"Give him time, KEL," HERO says firmly. "He's probably been through a lot already. We don't want to overwhelm him."

"Fine..." KEL whines. "But I'm just worried about BASIL..."

"You know what, SUNNY?" MARI says. "I think you could use a picnic! Those always cheer you up when you're feeling down."

SUNNY nods his head in grudging agreement. He drags himself onto the picnic blanket, next to all his friends. MARI smiles and pulls something out of her basket. Fresh fruit, something MARI was adamant about always having. It tastes ripe and delicious... or at least, it's supposed to. There's a hollow, dry feeling to it all, like biting into cardboard or styrofoam. He looks around, at the faces of his young friends. They don't notice a thing. Innocent as always. Just as they were made to be.

His body feels heavy, weighed down by shame. He can't believe how he lived like this for so long. But thankfully, the picnic's soon over, and MARI's by his side again.

"Feeling any better now, SUNNY?" MARI asks. He forces himself to nod. He knows she can tell he's lying, but... she forces a smile anyway, knowing he doesn't want to talk. "That's good!" she says. "I'm glad I could help."

"So..." KEL says, scratching his chin. "What now?"

"Look for BASIL, duh!" AUBREY shouts. "It's already been so long... What if something happened to him? We need to get moving!"

"You make a good point, AUBREY," HERO says. "There's no time to relax... Maybe he's somewhere in this meadow! Let's have a look around."

The five of them pull themselves onto their feet and start to walk through the fields. There's not much around here. Just plants... some grasses, some flowers, a few patches of trees. The night is still young, and the sky is nearly cloudless. All SUNNY can hear is their occasional chatter... not even the ambience of nature. They must be completely alone now. He wonders where the butterflies went, or the breeze.

Eventually, after what feels like hours of aimless wandering, they find something. It's not much, but it's... something. A lone stump. A pink pinwheel blows freely in the silent breeze, jammed into the hole in the center, and a bouquet lies at its side, joined by a potted cactus and a few wild lilies. Whispers emanate from inside a small hole. Curiosity gets the better of him, and SUNNY crouches down and looks inside. A dark room... bathed in red light. He'd better not look again.

"What'cha lookin' at, SUNNY?" KEL chirps. "I wanna see!" He squats down and looks into the hole, then sticks his finger inside. It doesn't even go all the way in, like there's something solid in the way. "Aww... there's nothing there..."

"You shouldn't stick your fingers in weird holes, KEL!" AUBREY says. "Who knows what could be in there? There's probably all kinds of gross stuff in that stump."

"Relax, AUBREY!" KEL says. "Live a little! It's just like I always say... Life's all about the little adventures."

"You don't always say that!" AUBREY says.

"Calm down, guys..." HERO says exasperatedly. "We need to focus on finding BASIL, remember? We don't have time to slack off."

"Oh, yeah... Why don't we just call his name?" KEL says. "OH, BAAASIL!! WHERE ARE YOU?!" His shout echoes through the field. No response.

"BASIL!" AUBREY yells. "BAAAASIL!! We're really worried about you!"

"Hmm..." HERO says. "Maybe he just can't hear us?" 

"But it's so quiet here..." MARI says. "Well... I'm sure he's out here somewhere. Keep looking, everyone! Don't give up!"

They do as MARI orders and continue to roam through the grass. AUBREY and KEL are getting restless now, so they start to walk a little faster. After a little while, they come to a clearing in the grass. There's a lot of cleared dirt here... but it looks like nature's starting to take it back. The smell of rust is heavy in the air. There's old swingsets, monkey bars, slides, old toys, even rotten bananas or eggs... this was a playground, once. People used to have fun here.

It's eerily empty. The way everything's just been... abandoned, like whoever was here dropped everything in the middle of play. Not just in the playground, but all over. Is this what became of the world he made in his mind, the one he left to rot? He hasn't been here in a long time. The whole place was hollow, a jumble of real memories and imagination haphazardly cobbled together to hide from reality. An old shame of the past. He's glad to see it go.

"I wonder what this used to be," MARI says. "It looks like it used to be a playground..."

"Who would make a playground all the way out here?" AUBREY wonders. "It's kinda creepy..."

"Huh..." HERO says. "It's strange, but... it actually feels kind of nostalgic here."

"You're right," MARI says. "I think we've been here before."

"Maybe..." HERO says. He sounds a lot less sure than her. "I feel like we have... but I can't remember anything specific. Just... that we were here once."

"Isn't there a word for that?" KEL says. "Like... veja du, or something."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "Deja vu."

"Whatever..." KEL says. "Let's keep going. This place gives me the creeps..."

As they walk, SUNNY stares into the stars. His friends keep talking and searching, but it's so hard to care... He just keeps moving. All he wants to find is a way out of here.

They come into a forest. The shade of the trees makes it look darker in here than outside... but they can still make out a garden. There's old, mossy fences around the patches of soil, but it looks like they never stopped the pests and the weeds. Surprisingly, somehow, BASIL's plants are still intact. They look a little damaged, but otherwise healthy.

"Oh, BASIL..." AUBREY whines. "Where could he be? This place is so big, I feel like we'll never find him..."

"Don't worry, AUBREY!" HERO says. "This is a garden, isn't it? BASIL likes plants... Maybe he's around here somewhere."

Yeah... a garden. SUNNY's gaze turns to the sunflower patch. Something is starting to grow. He watches the golden petals turn into blond hair, the fuzzy center turn into skin and flesh, blue eyes growing out of the fresh head. He takes a startled step backward.

"These are sunflowers," BASIL's head says. "They're called that because they always face towards the sun."

"What's that flower, SUNNY?" KEL says. "Why are you looking at it like that?"

The BASIL head continues to speak, even over the sound of KEL's voice."That's how I want to be like... someone who always sees the bright side of things." It repeats its words dully, like a computer reading a script. 

SUNNY slowly backs away. It seems like only he sees this, so it's on him to keep them moving. He walks past another garden patch, filled with weeds. This one is really overgrown. They start to stretch out and turn fleshy. The lilies turn to hanging heads. He turns around and keeps walking, but SUNNY can still hear the sound of BASIL's voice... and now MARI's, too.

"These flowers are called lily of the valley. It's said that they're able to ward off evil spirits and help people see a brighter future... I guess that's why they remind me of MARI. I can always count on her to help me stay positive."

They pass another patch. His friends don't notice a thing. 

"Roses come in many different colors and have their own unique meanings," HERO chants. "Pink roses symbolize admiration... orange roses symbolize passion... yellow roses symbolize friendship... and the list goes on. HERO doesn't remind me of any rose in particular. I think HERO is like all roses, because he's versatile and universally loved."

"These are a type of flower called the gladiolus, also known as the 'sword flower.' As you might guess, they represent strength of character. Someone who is honest, with strong moral values... Someone who stands by their convictions... The gladiolus reminds me of AUBREY, because she's always true to herself."

"Cacti are very sturdy and resilient plants by nature. They don't need much care and can survive even in seemingly impossible conditions. I guess what I'm saying... is that even you could take care of a cactus, KEL..."

Voices fill SUNNY's ears, until they all blend into an incoherent, indecipherable cacophony of sounds and syllables. At last, he comes to the end of the garden and runs even deeper into the woods. He finds BASIL's house, overgrown, covered in white tulips. KEL says something, but he doesn't care. He sprints forward. As he opens the door, he hears a familiar, quiet monotone. The sound of his own voice.

"And these... These are white tulips. Tulips aren't very flashy plants. They're not too big or small, not too elaborate or flamboyant. If I could put it in another way... I guess I would say that... they're comfortable. Simple, modest, and perfect. Just like SUNNY."

Blinding light pours from the entrance. SUNNY scrambles inside, and finds sprawling white halls. It's finally quiet now. Nothing but hospital noise. The steady beep of a heart monitor, the faint chatter through the walls. He ought to be in his room... he wanders through the stainless halls until he finds a white door.

Through it is a familiar room... the one he woke up in almost a year ago. There are two beds, but only one of them is in use right now. It's surrounded by flowers. He sits on his hospital bed, his head aching around his lost eye, and waits for BASIL to come.

Where is he? He passes the time by staring at the ceiling, bored. He looks at the clock. It's been ten minutes. Finally, he hears shuffling to his right. He turns and sees a blond, skinny boy in a hospital gown, a bruise still covering his eye. By his side is a doctor, carefully monitoring his every move.

"Hi, SUNNY..." BASIL says weakly. "How are you?"

SUNNY has to at least respond. "Fine..." he says stiffly.

"Where do you want me to sit..?" BASIL asks. His voice is still so shaky.

SUNNY points to the chair to his right, too tired to talk. BASIL takes a seat. The doctor remains, wordlessly looming over them like a bodyguard. He seems to sense their uneasiness.

"Mr. SUZUKI?" the doctor says. SUNNY turns to look at him. "I can tell I'm not wanted here, so... if anything happens, just call for the nurse, okay? Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. I'm going to give you two some space now, but I won't be far."

"Okay," he answers. Then the doctor leaves, leaving him and BASIL alone for the first time since the truth. SUNNY stares into the distance, unable to look at his friend.

"So, um..." BASIL says. SUNNY hears him shift in his seat. "SUNNY..."

SUNNY turns to face him. BASIL's trying to find somewhere to look that isn't his eye.

"I don't know if I've ever said this properly, but... I feel like I should apologize to you," BASIL says. "No... I don't feel like that. I know I should. I've caused you so much trouble these past few years... and I'm sorry."

SUNNY's not sure what to say. He hasn't seen BASIL say anything genuine and calmly in so long... This must be their first chance for an honest conversation. There's a lot SUNNY should say. Where does he even start...? Well... hm. BASIL definitely deserves an apology, too, doesn't he? Start there.

"I'm sorry too..." he says. "But... this... is our life now."

"I wish I could all take it back. But I just... can't..." His voice breaks. "And now your eye's..."

SUNNY takes a deep breath. "I forgive you," he says. "I... I think I had this a long time coming. It... it makes sense."

"How does it make sense?" BASIL says defensively. "We've already suffered so much..."

SUNNY stops. He can't really think of a response. BASIL's... probably right. "Maybe... it doesn't. I don't think any of it makes sense. But we can't change the fact that it happened... so... I think we have to accept that, now. Move on."

BASIL stares at his hands. "I guess you're right. It's... It's our only choice, isn't it?"

SUNNY gives a solemn nod. "Yeah."

There's a long silence after that. SUNNY doesn't really know what to say, and he guesses BASIL doesn't either. There isn't much to do, here in the hospital... Eventually, they end up turning on the television, looking for something to watch. Not the news... not reality shows... not sports... Hospital TV is never any good. But at least some of it is amusing. It's a nice way to pass the time for a little while, and it lightens the atmosphere somewhat.

Eventually, the sun starts to set outside, and BASIL's forced back into his room on doctor's orders. SUNNY has nothing to do. He tries to fall asleep... but his thoughts keep him occupied. He wishes he had his other eye back, but he can't wish or dream an organ back into existence, no matter how hard he tries. He stares at the ceiling. A pale white, illuminated only by those harsh, cheap lights, dimmed so he can rest. He closes his eye--no, his eyes.

When he opens them up again, he's surrounded by trees. The sky is cloudy and dim, making the colorful park look a little muted. As he aimlessly wanders, he feels the dry crunch of leaves under his shoes. He hears the branches rustling... he's hit with a cold gust of wind. If only he had a jacket. But his back feels strangely warm... he turns around.

Two pairs of siblings are sitting at a wooden picnic table, set with paper plates and plastic cups. They're all smiling, all except one, but SUNNY can still tell that he's happy... it fills him with a warm kind of joy. Then the adults arrive... they look a lot like the kids. They must be their parents. A brown-haired woman sets a cake down in the middle of the table. There are so many candles... SUNNY counts seventeen.

The shortest boy tries his best to blow out his candles. After his big brother gives him a little help, he makes his wish. Apparently, he turns six today... he asks if that means he's old enough to watch scary movies with his parents. His mom laughs, and replies no... his dad says maybe when he's older. The girl asks how old, then. He says older than her, then chuckles.

"But I'm really smart," she says. "I'm basically a grownup already!"

SUNNY winces. He's not sure why, but something about that little girl... S-She never-

SUNNY's standing over a grave. Looks like the dream is over. He takes out his violin... readies himself to play... and wakes himself up.

Chapter Text

FIVE DAYS LEFT...

By the time SUNNY arrives in FARAWAY, it's almost noon. After a busy morning of packing and driving, he's finally here. He takes a few hesitant steps out into the sunlight, PHOTO ALBUM by his side.

"Bye, honey!" his mom calls out from the car. "See you on Saturday!"

She drives off, and he's left alone to take in the scenery. FARAWAY TOWN looks just as he left it. Bright houses, neatly arranged into rows, each glowing with their own little personality. White fences and green trees. A basketball hoop sitting in the road, HECTOR's doghouse lying out front. It gives him an almost surreal feeling, being back home for the first time in a year. He knew this would happen sooner or later... but it never really registered in his head that he was going to physically be here .

He stands there for a moment, paralyzed by the strangeness of it all, but soon remembers what he's here for. KEL and HERO's family are expecting him right around now, so he'd better knock on their door. Almost instantly, he's greeted by that familiar, enthusiastic smile.

"SUNNY! IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!!" KEL shouts, energetic as always. He looks just as he remembers him... maybe a little taller and more muscular, but roughly the same, smiling from ear to ear and wearing a bright orange jersey. He really hasn't changed a bit.

SUNNY can't even imagine a response. He hasn't had a face to face conversation with a friend in so long... what does he even say...? He stands there for a moment, just frozen up, but KEL doesn't seem to mind.

"Come on in!" he says. "It'll be quick. Just set down your stuff so we can hang out!"

SUNNY steps inside, sets his bag down, and immediately his eye is darting from place to place, stunned by the surreality of it all. The living room looks basically the same, doesn't it? Peach wallpapers, paintings everywhere, awards and photos hanging over the fireplace. Well... there are some more baby toys on the floor, actually. They must be SALLY's.

"Yeah, this place hasn't really changed that much since you left," KEL says. "You can check it out more later, though. You're staying here all week! Let me just tell my parents where I'm going first..." KEL turns to face the dining room and cups his hands around his mouth like a megaphone. "MOM! DAD! I'M GONNA GO HANG OUT WITH SUNNY! SEE YOU LATER! BYE!"

"What?!" KEL's mom calls from across the house. "But he just got here! We have so much to ask him!"

"WE CAN DO THAT AT DINNER!" 

"Okay, fine!" she yells. "But don't take too long! I don't want you being late again!"

"BYE!" KEL leads SUNNY outside again and shuts the door, all in the blink of an eye.

"Sorry I rushed you out of there so fast," he adds. "It's just a little hectic in there, you know? I love SALLY and all, but I'm a little sick of babysitting!" KEL puts his hand on his chin. "Hm... Why don't we go to BASIL's? He's been waiting all morning to see you."

SUNNY nods. BASIL's... that'd be a good first destination. They make their way down the fenced sidewalk, down the familiar route to BASIL's house. Straight, then two rights. Looks like another beautiful day outside... the sun is shining bright, and there's not a cloud in the sky. Perfect for a day in the park with friends. SUNNY's hit by a wave of nostalgia... whether it's for five years ago or one, he doesn't know.

Here they are. BASIL's house looks humble as ever... small, green, and surrounded by plants. They knock on his door. After a short wait, a woman comes out to meet them, surprising SUNNY a little. He was so ready to see BASIL, he almost forgot about POLLY. 

Her gaze immediately drifts to at his patched eye. She winces a little, but then forces a smile. SUNNY realizes... she hasn't seen him since that night. He can only imagine what she must be thinking, having seen him in that state. He breathes in deeply. The last time he was here... 

"Oh, hi, KEL! Is that SUNNY with you?" she says warmly. "BASIL told me you were coming to visit for the week. You should come in!"

For some reason, SUNNY feels himself tense up a little. He wants to see BASIL, right? He should be happy. So why is he so... tense? Maybe he's just a little nervous, since it's been so long.

KEL peeks out the door. "SUNNY? You coming?"

Oh. He zoned out. SUNNY quickly follows KEL inside. BASIL's house looks just as he remembers it--flowers off to the side, plants hanging from the ceiling, the kitchen on the left and couch on the right, all surrounded by that green floral wallpaper and smelling like spring. Small and humble, but down to earth... just like BASIL. It's nostalgic... but for whatever reason, he's still on edge.

"Hi, SUNNY!" BASIL says from across the room. "It's so good to see you!" 

He walks up and... hugs him? SUNNY freezes up for a second, then awkwardly returns the hug. He hasn't been hugged in a while... well, not by anyone but his mom. His mouth hangs open in shock, just a tiny bit.

BASIL's face gets a little red. "S-Sorry..." he says. "Was that too much?"

SUNNY shakes his head reassuringly. He's just... surprised.

"Alright, I just..." BASIL stammers. "Sorry. I missed you a lot, but... it's kind of strange seeing you again, after so long."

"Aww..." KEL says. "Look at you guys... What a happy reunion!"

BASIL smiles. He's trembling a little, but... he looks happy. "Yeah... So... What were you guys thinking we could do?"

"I was thinking we could just... walk around town and hang out," KEL suggests. "Show SUNNY around a little."

"That sounds good," BASIL says. "But... let me grab something first, okay?"

BASIL heads down the hall for a moment, and comes back holding something in his hands. It's... is that his old camera? It looks so dusty... like he hasn't touched it in years. SUNNY realizes he probably hasn't.

"Woah! Is that your camera, BASIL?" KEL asks. "I haven't seen it in forever!"

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "I was thinking... we never did get to use all the film MARI gave me. Maybe we could now. SUNNY, you brought my PHOTO ALBUM with you, right?"

"Yes," SUNNY answers. He holds it out.

"Great!" BASIL says. "It's so nice to see it again..."

"We should get going, shouldn't we?" KEL says. "Better take as many photos as we can."

"Hm... I guess you're right, KEL..." BASIL says. "I'm going now, okay, POLLY? I'll be back later!"

The three of them go outside into the sunlight and immediately, SUNNY feels his chest relax, as if he just remembered how to breathe. This is gonna be great... even if it's just the three of them. Three is already so much after all that time spent alone.

"Man, it's totally perfect out today," KEL says. Suddenly, something flashes, and everyone turns. "BASIL...? Did you... take a photo?"

"Mm-hm..." BASIL says. He lets SUNNY take a look. It's a pretty simple picture... just him and KEL walking down the street... but just looking at a newly-printed photo gives SUNNY such a strange feeling. They really haven't done that since they were kids... not in five years.

"This looks great!" KEL says. "I'm starving, though. Do you guys mind if we go eat real quick? There's this new diner in the plaza and I think you'd like it!"

"Not at all," BASIL says. "I'm kind of hungry myself..."

They walk past the park into the plaza. The first thing SUNNY sees is the fountain, still shining in the sunlight, clear as glass. He notices the coins still on the bottom. I could use some good luck, he thinks. He's never been very superstitious, but it couldn't hurt. He grabs one out of his pocket and tosses one in.

"Oh, good idea, SUNNY!" KEL says. "Let me grab my wallet..."

KEL fishes a brown wallet out of his pocket and searches through it for a little bit, then scoops out a handful of change. He walks over to the fountain and dumps them all in, pouring what must have been another twenty dollars down the drain. BASIL laughs nervously.

"What's with that look?" KEL says. "If you toss one in, you get to make a wish... so I just made like a hundred wishes!"

"I... I guess?" BASIL says apprehensively. "How much money was that...?"

"Oh, probably like... a dollar? Who knows," KEL says. "I've still got plenty in here. You'll never have to spot me again, SUNNY! I promise!"

As they walk past the old shops, SUNNY can't help but stare at them. The bee on top of HOBBEEZ, the papers pinned to GINO'S, the little mailbox in front of OTHERMART... that stuff's still the same, but the plaza feels different, with an entirely new addition off to the right. Just looking at it feels weird... it looks out of place, or alien. Almost wrong. MAMA SUSAN'S ALL-AMERICAN DINER, the sign says.

"Here we are," KEL says. "This place is pretty new... it's only been here for like, a month, I think? They've been trying to grow our town's... economy or something, I think? So they added a few places to the plaza."

"Have you ever been before, KEL?" BASIL says.

"No, I don't think so..." he says. "GINO'S is more our style. I just wanted to show SUNNY a new place!"

There's something next to it, but KEL beckons him inside and he doesn't have time to look. The cool, ventilated air relieves them from the summer heat, and the loud sound of lunchtime chatter fills SUNNY's ears. The place looks like a pretty average 50's-style American diner. Nothing he hasn't seen before. Checkered floors, red leather booth seats, a long counter with a bunch of stools. 

They manage to find an empty table and sit down, then wait for someone to take their order. Pretty soon, a waitress comes over, asking about drinks. BASIL and SUNNY get water, while KEL somehow gets his hands on Orange Joe. After she brings them their refreshments, they order their meal, and they're left to wait again.

"So, um..." BASIL says. "Where are AUBREY and HERO?"

"Oh, I almost forgot," KEL says. "AUBREY said she couldn't come today. Apparently she's busy with her other friends... and HERO... HERO's helping my parents take care of SALLY. We can hang out with them tomorrow, though!"

"Oh..." BASIL says. "Okay."

A familiar thought pops into SUNNY's mind. Are they avoiding me?  

Well... it seemed like they could at least tolerate him for a few minutes after the truth, right before he moved. 

They'll never trust you again.

And either way, he'll still see HERO when he goes back to KEL's house in the evening...

You don't deserve to see them again.

He'll get to find out later. He can talk to them then.

Calm down, he thinks. He takes a deep breath.

"You must miss them a lot, SUNNY..." KEL says, kicking him back into reality. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you get to see them as soon as possible!"

He nods. He hopes KEL can keep his promise.

"Here you are," someone says suddenly. It's the waitress again. Finally, they have their meal. A cheeseburger, a salad, and an egg sandwich. SUNNY's stomach growls. His worries can wait. He needs lunch.

"Mmm, this is good," KEL says. There's little bits of food falling out of his mouth... "Reminds me of that time we went to GINO'S... and I ate the whole pizza while you guys were talking... Remember, SUNNY?"

"You... what?" BASIL says. "How does that even fit in your stomach...?"

"I was hungry!" KEL says. "Plus I've got a big appetite, unlike you guys."

SUNNY grabs his sandwich while they talk and bites off a piece... egg yolk, ham, and cheese, all at once. He takes another bite. He hasn't eaten since he left for FARAWAY, which must've been three or four hours ago... It feels good to eat like this. There weren't a lot of restaurants like this in the city... more food trucks and ethnic stuff. They probably tasted better, but even if this place is new, it tastes like the suburbs.

"Wow, SUNNY. You're really scarfing that down, huh?" KEL says. "Last year, you barely ate anything at all! No wonder you look so much better."

SUNNY can't really think of a response... he just sort of looks at the ground awkwardly. BASIL looks like he wants to say something, but doesn't.

"Anyway..." KEL says, changing the subject. "What do you guys want to do next? There's some new stuff here in the plaza, but I think I'd prefer to go to the park. Do you, SUNNY?"

SUNNY nods yes. Park, definitely.

"Sweet!" KEL says. "We could even go to the hangout spot, if you want."

"Oh..." BASIL says. "Um, sure..." He doesn't sound like he means it, he doesn't protest.

After KEL pays, they get up from their seats and head back through the door. Seems like it's gotten a little hotter while they ate lunch. It's pretty warm out... but not unbearably warm. SUNNY takes a quick peek across the plaza... looks like there's a new building or two, but they'll have to check that out later. He just wants to go back to the park. The bright sun helps the verdant greens of the park shine.

It's pretty much just as he left it... kids playing by the tetherball pole, the apple juice salesman always jogging in place, the big yellow cat in the sandpit. Even the old environmental lady was still there, handing out pamphlets about recycling. He missed this town so much... Not just his friends, but the little things, like the people in this park or the shops in the plaza. They were what he'd grown up knowing.

"So what do you guys want to do?" KEL asks. "We have the whole afternoon! We could play basketball... or sit on the swings... there's a lot of stuff to do here. Your choice, SUNNY!"

SUNNY looks at him. "Can we just... go to the hangout spot?"

"Whaaat?" KEL says. "That's so boring..."

"I think it'd be nice to sit down..." BASIL says. "We could look at the PHOTO ALBUM!"

They walk over to the edge of the park and look for the path through the bushes. To anyone else, it would be difficult, but to them, it's so familiar that it only takes a second. SUNNY follows the other two through the trees and past the old road signs and traffic cones... they look so worn down. He has to wonder how they got here. AUBREY's friends, probably...

Their hangout spot looks beautiful as always, though a little overgrown... Trees scattered through the longish grass, toys left here years ago, and that strange statue, watching over the little lake, the one he learned about in elementary school. It's a miracle it's all still clean... just as he remembers it. SUNNY leaves the album on the blanket and puts up his knees, resting his hands on them.

"Ah..." BASIL says. "It's nice to be alone like this... just the three of us."

"Yeah," KEL says. "We haven't had time like this in forever... I hope you're enjoying being back, SUNNY."

SUNNY closes his eye, just enjoying the moment. Hanging out with his friends... for the first time in a year.

"Why don't you show us the album now?" KEL says, breaking him out of his reverie. "It's been so long."

SUNNY nods his head. He has to. He actually hasn't looked at the album in a while himself... But they haven't seen it since he moved. He shifts onto his knees, then opens up the album for them all to see. KEL and BASIL's eyes look fondly over their memories. 

KEL covered in party hats, HERO having an arm wrestle, BASIL smiling with a flower crown, or AUBREY posing with her new pink raincoat. A picnic at the lake spot, KEL ready to pounce on a bug, SUNNY buried in the sand, or the faded one of the day they finished the treehouse.

When they make it to the last photo, of recital practice, SUNNY turns to the next, a blank page, and puts in the last two photos they just took. They look kind of strange with all the others. BASIL's smiling at his album, but... he looks a little sad, too... and kind of guilty. SUNNY can't help but feel the same way...

"Man..." KEL says. "We had the best times back then..."

"Yeah..." BASIL says wistfully. "We really did."

KEL turns to BASIL. He looks concerned.

"Hey, BASIL..." he says. "You alright?"

"Y-Yeah..." BASIL says. "It's just... I really miss those days. And sometimes... it feels like... we'll never have anything like that again."

"Hey, don't worry, BASIL!" KEL says. "You'll get to see HERO and AUBREY soon enough, right? We're all going to get to be friends again... I promise."

"Well... I know, but..." BASIL frowns, staring at the lake. "I can't help but worry... that they're avoiding me."

"Who? AUBREY and HERO?" KEL says. "Nah, they're just busy. Don't worry. I know AUBREY'd like to see you."

"...How do you know?" BASIL says.

"Trust me, BASIL," KEL says. "I know AUBREY better than anyone else."

"But... but you guys fight so much," BASIL protests.

"We might bicker sometimes, but... that I think that's a good thing," KEL says. "It means we don't really have to care what we say to each other. To be honest, I don't know if there's anyone who understands me more than AUBREY... or AUBREY more than me!"

"You really think so?" BASIL says. "I... Hm."

"Yeah..." KEL says. "That kind of connection is pretty special, don't you think?"

Neither SUNNY or BASIL speak for a moment, lingering on KEL's words.

"Yeah... I think I know what you mean," BASIL says. "I'm sorry... I think I'm just afraid they'll leave me."

"Really?" KEL says. "We'd never leave you, BASIL. We made a promise."

"I know..." BASIL says. "It's dumb, isn't it? I just don't want to lose anyone else."

"You won't," KEL says confidently. "I won't let us ever drift apart again."

"Thank you..." BASIL says. "You know, KEL... You've been saying a lot of wise things lately. You sound kind of like HERO..."

"Aww, thanks!" KEL says. "I guess he's just rubbing off on me, heh heh... He is my big brother, after all."

SUNNY decides to interrupt them. "KEL?"

"Yeah?"

SUNNY hesitates. They're having a nice moment, and he doesn't want to ruin it... but he has to ask. "Do you... think AUBREY will forgive me?"

KEL pauses, considering the question. "Yeah... I think she will. She talks about you a lot, actually."

She does? SUNNY can't help but be curious. He hasn't heard from her in a year, after all. "What... does she say?"

"Hm... She says a lot of things. I think she wants to talk to you... but I could never get her to call you," KEL says. "I think she wishes she could be there for you, but... it's hard for her, you know? We just have to be patient."

SUNNY's not sure what to say. He hesitates again... but... he has to know. This is why he had to come here, isn't it? He'd never know if they forgave him just with calls.

"Hey, SUNNY..." KEL says. "You know I forgive you, right? At first, it was a little hard... I think that I was just shocked. But... honestly... I think I've known you for so long that... I can't imagine my life without you, SUNNY. I don't know I could not forgive you."

SUNNY can't even think of a response. He's kind of shocked... KEL can't imagine his life without him? He mumbles a thanks, but... that's not enough. He should tell KEL just how much this means to him... but the words die in his throat. Hopefully... just thanks is enough for him.

"You're welcome!" KEL says. "I think they're all thinking what I am, too... it's just harder for them. But you guys were just kids, you know. It was all just an accident, wasn't it? You can't hold an accident against people forever."

SUNNY can barely speak. Against his will, he... smiles.

"Woah..." KEL says. "SUNNY, are you smiling? I haven't seen you do that in forever! BASIL, you should take his picture!"

"Huh?" BASIL says. "O-Okay!"

SUNNY feels his face flush. He tries to look away from the camera, but KEL pulls him into the shot. BASIL's camera flashes, then prints the photo. He holds it out for them to see... KEL is flashing a smile straight into the camera, while he tries to look off to the side... he looks a little dumb. He was never very photogenic...

"This looks great, doesn't it?" BASIL says. "It feels so strange to take a photo again... I guess it feels nostalgic."

"Man, it's almost like old times..." KEL says. "We just need HERO and AUBREY here, too..."

"But at least we have each other, right?" BASIL says.

"Yeah." KEL says. "I think we always will..." 

After KEL's words, it gets quiet, but it doesn't seem like anybody minds. They're all silently appreciating the moment. SUNNY watches the sun slowly drift across the sky, getting lower and lower... He's seen this sight before, two times. When he dove into the lake to save BASIL... and when MARI saved him. BASIL's staring at the lake, too. He must be thinking of the same thing.

"What'cha guys thinking about?" KEL asks.

BASIL stares off into the distance. Looks like he doesn't want to talk.

"Uh... Okay..." KEL says. "Maybe later, then..."

"Sorry..." BASIL says. "It's- it's just... do you remember what happened last time we were all here? When I... fell?"

"Hmm..." KEL frowns. "Oh, yeah. I can't believe I forgot about that..."

"It's okay," BASIL says. "It's been a long year. It's just... ever since then..." He stops.

"Yeah?" KEL says.

"I know this is dumb, but..." BASIL stares at his hands. "I've been so terrified of water. I just can't stop thinking about it. I could have drowned... I didn't, b-but I could have. And so... I feel like I might."

SUNNY looks at BASIL. "I... I've felt like that before."

"Y...You did?" BASIL says. "When?"

"After, um..." SUNNY fiddles with his hands. "After MARI saved me."

"Oh, no... you did?" KEL says pensively. "And I made you jump in the lake... I'm so sorry, SUNNY. I had no idea."

"It's okay..." he says. "I think... because I jumped in... I'm not scared of water anymore."

"I wish I could do something like that..." BASIL says wistfully. "Something brave... to save my friends."

"Sure you can, BASIL!" KEL says. "You've got us to support you. You can do anything."

"Yeah, I know, but... I wish I could do something on my own," BASIL says. "I'm just so... dependent. All this time, I've been letting you guys take care of me... even when all I do is burden you. Why would you do that...?" He looks at SUNNY's eye and winces. "Even after I... hurt your eye?"

SUNNY stares at the sky. He can't think of anything to say... maybe he doesn't have a good reason to keep helping BASIL. But... does that really matter? BASIL is still his best friend, someone he will always have an irreplaceable connection with. He is the only person who truly always knows how he's feeling. And he needs him, too.

"B...Because..." he mumbles. "You're my friend. And... I think you're a good person."

BASIL looks away, off into the distance. "H-How do you know?" he says. It looks like this only made him feel worse...

"You're a good guy, BASIL," KEL says. "You might have done some bad things... but that doesn't make you a bad person. As long as you're still trying to fix your mistakes, I think that makes you good. Everything bad you did, you did because you cared about us... so I don't really think you're bad at all, deep down."

BASIL pauses for a second... then smiles. He looks touched. "Thank you, KEL. You're a really good friend... You know that, right?"

"Yeah... you too," KEL says. "You'll get more confident, BASIL. You just need to step outside your comfort zone a little. Besides, you already have! Remember when you stood up to that guy at school? You've been sticking up for yourself some more lately."

"Yeah," BASIL says. "Maybe... When you put it that way..."

"Wait," KEL says abruptly. "Um... Do you guys know what time it is?"

SUNNY feels through his pocket and pulls out his phone. 17:02, it says.

"Five PM."

"Oh geez," KEL says. "Already? Maybe we should get home... dinner's probably going to be ready soon. Do you wanna come with us, BASIL?"

"Oh, um..." BASIL says. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah! You haven't been over to my house in a while. My parents would probably be happy to see you."

"Maybe... it's just that... with HERO and everything..." BASIL pauses. "Maybe later..."

"Oh," KEL says solemnly. "That's okay! Maybe tomorrow, I guess. At least let us walk you home, though."

"I'd be fine with that," BASIL says, getting up from the blanket. 

"Wait," SUNNY says. "BASIL... C-Can I have your camera?"

"Sure," BASIL says. He hands it over. SUNNY wipes a little dust off the lens with his shirt and walks over to the pier. He watches their old pinwheels, a few still spinning in the breeze... the shadows slowly getting a little longer... and the sun glimmering on the surface of the lake. He makes sure to turn off the flash, then snaps a picture. He hands the camera back to BASIL and puts the photo into the album.

"What were you taking a picture of, SUNNY?" KEL says.

"Just the lake," he says. It's a nice way to say goodbye to the lake for now, with a photo. They make their way through the trees again and emerge in the park. The sun is a lot lower in the sky now... the grass takes on a little bit of a yellow hue in the setting sunlight. Nobody speaks on the walk home. They've already said enough. Pretty soon, they reach BASIL's house and wave him goodbye.

"Bye, guys!" he says. "I'll see you tomorrow!" BASIL turns and heads back into his house. He shuts the door, leaving SUNNY and KEL in silence. The walk back to the house is short and quiet... SUNNY feels something hanging over him. A sense of dread.

KEL opens the door for his friend. SUNNY reluctantly enters, and he's hit again by that strange, surreal feeling, really being in KEL's living room again. A nostalgic smell fills his nose--HECTOR's, always heavy in this room. He almost forgot about it.

Suddenly, someone calls from the kitchen. He sets his album down on the couch.

"Dinner's ready!" KEL's mom's voice... wow... he hasn't heard it in a while. He almost forgot what she sounded like.

KEL runs into the dining room. He must be hungry... SUNNY is too. He takes his seat at the dining table and quietly waits for his dinner. He takes in the scenery... The photos everywhere... the little bamboo plant in the corner... that weird talking fish hanging from the wall... he never forgot it, but it's still odd. KEL's mom brings him back to reality when she enters from the kitchen, holding an enormous plate of food. She sets it down on the table, then perks up once she sees SUNNY.

"Oh, there you are!" she says. "You came back just in time for dinner. It's so good to see you again, SUNNY... Have as much as you'd like! This is a special occasion, so HERO made you extra."

He nods politely. Their hospitality is nice, but it feels... off. Like he doesn't deserve it.

"Where is he, by the way?" KEL asks. "HERO, I mean."

"He's busy helping your dad take care of SALLY," she says. "He should be down any minute now."

True to what she says, HERO enters from the living room with his dad, carrying his baby sister, and takes a seat. His sudden entrance takes SUNNY by surprise. He hadn't prepared for this reunion. Just being around him feels... strange... he hasn't seen him in over a year. HERO himself doesn't look different much. Maybe a little more tired... there's subtle bags under his eyes. He might even see earrings, actually... But he's acting the same, isn't he? Friendly and hospitable.

SUNNY's heart is beating out of its chest, though... his breathing almost picks up. But it's not like he can escape dinnertime, so he'll just have to bear with it for now. HERO's gaze quickly turns to the boy, and his eyes widen for just a second, so short SUNNY's not sure if he imagined it or not. He can't meet them.

"There you are, SUNNY!" HERO says. Just hearing his voice feels odd... maybe it's because it's been so long. "I've been waiting all day to see you."

SUNNY wasn't really ready for a conversation so soon... He hasn't seen or talked to him in an entire year. The sensation he gets from him is still... offputting. Like a kind of... gut feeling that this is wrong. His friendliness quiets some of SUNNY's anxieties... but it doesn't mute them entirely. He can't even bear to look at him.

"Hey, I'm curious..." their dad says. "What's it like living in the city, SUNNY?"

SUNNY pauses a moment. He doesn't really want to make small talk, but... it's nice to at least catch up. "Really different," he states.

"It has to be," KEL's dad says. "The difference between the suburbs and the city is like night and day. It's kind of... chaotic, isn't it?"

"Chaotic? It's not chaotic," KEL says, forking a piece of food into his mouth. "I'ts paradise! I've always wanted to live in a city. There's so many people... so many things to do... so many places to see..."

KEL's mom cuts him off. "Swallow your food before you speak," she says. "You're much too old to be chewing while you talk."

"Sorry..." KEL takes a second to swallow. "Anyway, HERO, your college is in the city! What's it like?"

"It's like you said!" HERO says. "It's a little hectic sometimes... but there's a lot to see. Rent is expensive, though... So you have to keep that in mind."

"Oh, yeah..." KEL thinks for a second. "Didn't you have to take jobs sometimes, SUNNY? So that's not good..."

SUNNY nods. They weren't too bad... he liked having something to do.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that..." HERO says. "That didn't interfere with school, did it?"

"Nah," KEL says. "I think SUNNY worked it out with his tutor."

"You have a tutor?" HERO says. "I guess it makes sense... I had one once, I think. Right, KEL?"

"Yeah! I remember your tutor," KEL says. "They came here for a few hours every day. SUNNY's is like that. He doesn't get a lot of days off, though..."

"Well, at least you're catching up with school," HERO says encouragingly. "You missed out on a lot, so it's important to stay up to date with things."

SUNNY nods in agreement. He can't think of much else to say... he's kind of drained from a whole conversation. He hasn't done this in a long time. Suddenly, SALLY starts to wail, thankfully filling the awkward lull in the chit-chat.

"Oh, please don't cry, SALLY!" her mother says. "Honey, will you help me figure out what's wrong?"

Her parents take the wailing toddler upstairs, leaving the three boys to catch up on their own. Looks like dinner's over. That was kind of abrupt, but KEL and HERO don't seem fazed... SUNNY guesses this happens pretty often.

"That was nice, wasn't it?" KEL says. "All courtesy of my big brother HERO!"

"Aww, it was nothing..." HERO says. "I just thought we ought to celebrate. We haven't seen SUNNY in so long!"

"Yeah!" KEL says. "Why don't we show you your room, actually?" 

They scrape the scraps off their plates in the kitchen, then leave some dishes in the sink. SUNNY grabs his bag from the living room and heads up the staircase with the two brothers into their room, past the table of photos and candles. Once they're inside, KEL puts on some loud music to drown out SALLY's crying. It works well enough.

"So we got you an inflatable mattress," HERO says. "It's a little firm, but it should do the job! If it's too much, though, you can sleep on the couch. I know you hate sleeping alone, though..."

It's tucked off to the side of the room, by KEL's laundry basket. The room itself looks mostly like SUNNY remembers it--KEL's side messy as always, HERO's kept perfectly clean, the SPACEBOY poster, HERO's little alarm clock, the TV by KEL's boombox. But there's some new additions, too. New textbooks on HERO's desk, and on KEL's side--basketball awards!

"Looking at my medals, SUNNY?" KEL says. "My team finally won some games this year. Pretty cool, right?"

SUNNY nods sleepily. Like KEL didn't tell him that already... He yawns. It's been a long day... now seems like a good time to wrap it up. 

"Wow, you look like you're ready to nod off already," KEL says. "It's only 8! You should stay up a little longer."

"Let him rest, KEL," HERO says. "The drive here was probably pretty long."

SUNNY groans. "Sleep at... 9?"

"How about 10?" KEL says. "Come on, you can do it!"

"Fine..." he murmurs, setting down his bag.

He takes out some toiletries and a book, which he sets on the bed for later. The rest of the evening flies by pretty quickly. He ends up alone with KEL, playing video games. HERO leaves to watch TV with his parents. SUNNY can't help but worry that he's being avoided again, but the games keep his mind off it. They're a good way to pass the time.

But soon enough, it's dark outside, and he can barely keep his eye open. He climbs into bed, book in hand. The mattress feels too firm for his liking... he would rate it a 4 out of 10. He starts to read... none of it really registers to him. Something about shoplifting from a chocolate factory run by an evil witch? At least it passes the time. Just as he's about to turn off the light, he squints at HERO's bed.

Hmm... he's still gone. Maybe he'll join them later... Slowly, it gets harder and harder to stay conscious, even despite KEL's snoring... he turns off the lamp on KEL's desk and shuts his eye. Four days left...

Chapter Text

FIVE DAYS LEFT...

IN THE FEW MONTHS AFTER MARI DIED...

EVERYTHING CHANGED SO FAST.

I WAS SO ANGRY AT HOW LIFE KEPT MOVING ON.

A girl sits alone in an attic, ignoring the shouts from downstairs.

ALL OF OUR MEMORIES TOGETHER...

IT FELT LIKE HE HAD DESTROYED THEM!

A boy cowers on the ground. A girl hits him, over and over again. Something judges her from above.

I FEEL LIKE SCUM FOR THAT NOW.

Light engulfs them both. The girl screams.

SUNNY sits up in bed and wipes the sleep out of his eyes. Looks like he's back home again. Somehow, it's in even worse condition than before, but he doesn't mind. It might be old and rotting, but it's comfortable here... especially in bed. He doesn't want to get up... but he's too awake to fall back asleep. So he reluctantly crawls out of bed, stumbles into the hallway, and takes a moment to think.

He wonders what lies ahead. Last time he woke up here, he had a strange kind of... nightmare? He's not really sure what he could call it. Maybe he should just stay in his house... He could wake himself up, but he wouldn't have anything to do. For some reason, he feels like... exploring some more. It would be nice to see HERO or AUBREY again, wouldn't it? It's wrong, though. Right? He's not really sure.

He tightly grasps the railings, careful not to trip. They feel pretty shaky, so if he falls... No. He can't think about that. Thankfully, after a long descent, he makes it downstairs safe and sound. He puts on his shoes in the living room, then goes out the door, onto what should be the dark streets of Faraway.

Good... The meadow's gone. He can tell, even without looking. That smell of fresh flowers is gone. But... it's replaced by some other, pungent stench. Garbage. A wave of nausea rolls over SUNNY, and he plugs his nose almost immediately. Gross... This isn't much better... no, it's not better at all. It's a giant landfill... no, more like a junkyard. Huge containers of trash are stacked high around him.

Maybe he's changed his mind. He turns around to his house, but there's nothing there. All he can make out in the dark gap between the crates is... three kids?

Three kids huddled around a picnic blanket. His face hardens.

"SUNNY!" MARI calls. "Stop disappearing like that. You know my heart can't take it." She tries to run up to him, but stumbles a little. Her knee... 

"Woah! Are you okay, MARI?" HERO says. "You should take it easy. You did a lot of walking back in that meadow... you might hurt your knee again."

"I'm fine, HERO," she says. "Don't worry about me... We have better things to worry about right now! BASIL has gone missing... and now KEL has, too!"

"Where do you think they are, MARI?" AUBREY says. She sniffles. "What if something happened to them? Or maybe they got hurt? They'd believe anything anyone tells them... what if they got tricked?"

"Don't you worry, AUBREY..." MARI says. "KEL and BASIL are probably together, aren't they? As long as they have each other, they should be fine! We just have to believe in them."

"Yeah, AUBREY," HERO says. He puts his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "We'll find them soon enough. We can start by looking in this junkyard."

AUBREY sniffles again. "I guess you're right... I'll try to believe in them some more, MARI."

"Aww, look at you being worried about KEL," MARI says. "Maybe when we find him, you can give him a big hug!"

"What!" AUBREY shouts. "Hug KEL... Eww... I would never!"

"Sure, AUBREY," MARI says. "Maybe you can just give him a handshake."

"That's even worse!" AUBREY says. "He never washes his hands... They're so gross and sticky."

"But he has BASIL to remind him!" MARI says.

"I guess you're right..." AUBREY says. "But he's still gross!"

HERO sighs. "Oh, AUBREY... You'll miss him soon enough."

MARI puts her hand on his shoulder. "Oh, HERO... You must miss him so much."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "I'm mostly just worried. I hope he hasn't gotten himself into any trouble."

"Don't worry," MARI says. "I'm sure BASIL will keep him in check."

"Haha... I guess you're right," HERO says. "Thank you, MARI..."

"You're welcome, handsome..." MARI pecks him on the cheek. SUNNY shifts uncomfortably. He takes a step backward, but he doesn't see any way out. He'll just have to... bear with it.

"Come on, MARI..." HERO says, red in the face. "Not now..."

"But, HERO..." MARI says. "You're so adorable when you get all flustered!"

AUBREY gives SUNNY a look. He doesn't know what to do with himself either.

"Um... Guys..." AUBREY says. "This is cool and all... But... We need to find KEL and BASIL, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah..." MARI says. "Sorry, AUBREY... I just couldn't resist."

"Alright..." HERO says. "Let's go find KEL and BASIL!"

Everyone pulls themselves off the picnic blanket and starts to walk. This is a pretty big place. The big shipping containers of trash seem to stretch on forever, keeping them confined into the dim gaps of dead grass inbetween. SUNNY doubts they'll be able to find anyone in this mess, but he doesn't care enough to tell them. Not like this is real anyway.

"This place is such a maze..." AUBREY whines. "Where are we even going?"

"Don't worry, AUBREY. I have a solution. See that?" MARI says. "We can use that to keep track of where we are." She points to something in the distance--a church, looming over the entire junkyard, sitting precariously on a giant hill of garbage. Or, what used to be a church. Seems like all the crosses have been switched out for... recycling symbols? A bright yellow glove sits perched on the top. 

"Huh..." HERO says. "What even is that...?"

"I'm not sure..." MARI says. "But at least it will help!"

"Attention, attention!" Everyone jumps. That voice isn't familiar at all... it sounds like it's coming from the church. "There has been a non-biodegradable material detected in sector 84b. A correctional squad will be dispatched to recycle the offenders."

"What are they talking about?" AUBREY says. "Something about... recycling?"

"Sounds like it," HERO says. "Maybe someone is trying to clean up this junkyard."

"Well, that's good, I guess..." AUBREY says. "But why are they being so weird about it...?"

"Maybe they're just passionate about the environment!" MARI suggests.

"I guess..." AUBREY says. "Do you think they'd know something about KEL and BASIL?"

"Maybe," HERO says. "I think KEL would go to a place like this. He always liked to dig through trash... If we find anyone, we can ask them."

SUNNY can't help but wonder... what are the RECYCULTISTS doing here? It seems like there's nobody here, besides them... but as they turn a corner, he notices something, just out of the corner of his eye. A light, one not coming from the stars or the moon, like a lamp. He starts to approach it, just out of curiosity. It looks... like a person? Not someone he recognizes.

"Hey..." HERO says. "Is that a person? Let's go ask them if they've seen KEL or BASIL!"

They start to walk towards the stranger, though apprehensively. SUNNY looks a little closer... Looks like he's wearing a... recycling bin? On his head? He's scrounging through garbage, tossing some things into one bin and others into one in his arm. SUNNY stares at him. 

"Er... hello?" HERO says. "Sir...?"

The RECYCULTIST jumps. He spins around and drops his recycling bin, causing a few stray cans to clatter on the ground.

"INTRUDERS!" the cultist cries. "You are not followers of the HOLY BIN! How did you get in here?"

"Uh..." HERO says, backing away. "What?"

"Bah! It doesn't matter," the cultist says. "However you got in here... I must cleanse the world of trash like you!" 

Frantically, he begins to gather garbage, then squishes it into a ball in his hands. It drips a little with ooze. Everyone backs away even further. This guy is weird... SUNNY feels MARI's protective hand on his shoulder. Maybe they'll just... leave.

"In the biodegradable fork's name... reduce, reuse, and recycle!" The cultist hurls the trash ball, and- Ouch... It hits HERO right in the back of his head.

"HERO!" MARI says, running to his side. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine..." HERO says. "Let's just keep going! We need to get away from this guy."

"I won't let you get away!" the cultist says, hastily lobbing an aluminum can at them. It misses. "You have yet to be recycled, intruders!"

"You're crazy!" AUBREY shouts, grabbing something off the ground. Looks like a... plastic baseball bat? "Go awa-" A piece of cardboard stops her mid-sentence. Ow... it hit right in the nose. She drops her bat, and it clatters on the ground. MARI's mouth hangs open.

"Oh, now you've done it!" she shouts. She snatches the bat off the grass, along with a moldy old tennis ball and runs at the cultist in a rage.

"Now hold on, MARI-" HERO says, but he's too late. MARI hits the ball straight into the RECYCULTIST's head. CLANG. He falls over like a rag doll.

"Grr..." he says. "Our... our leader will know about this..." AUBREY blows a raspberry at him, and he falls silent.

"There." MARI wipes some sweat off her forehead. "We should be safe now."

"MARI..." HERO says dreamily. "That was amazing... H-How'd you even... do that?"

"Oh, it was nothing..." she says. "Just keeping you all safe!"

"Thank you so much..." HERO says. "You shouldn't do that again, though... You might hurt yourself."

"I know..." MARI says. "But if we run into another one of those guys... who will protect you?"

"I can," HERO says. "Besides, we should be fine. Maybe I can just... convince them not to fight!"

"You sure, HERO?" AUBREY says. "I don't know if you'll be able to talk your way out of this one..."

"I'm sure it'll be fine, AUBREY-" HERO stops dead. "Oh..."

SUNNY turns. The whole place is lighting up. An alarm blares in their ears. The starry sky begins to fill with... something. Little propeller things? He's not sure what they are. Looks like they're starting to gather... troops?

"Guys... I-I'm... scared..." AUBREY says. "What's happening?!"

"Don't worry, AUBREY," HERO says reassuringly. "It's gonna be alright. We just need to find a way out of here."

"Do you think this is why KEL and BASIL went missing?" AUBREY says. "What if they did something to them?!"

"Don't be scared, AUBREY," MARI says. "Steady your heartbeat. It's not as scary as you think." She takes her hand. "I need you to breathe, okay? In... and out. In... and out."

AUBREY takes a deep breath. In... and out. "L-Like that?" she says.

"Yes!" MARI says. "You're doing great." 

"Okay," AUBREY says. "I'm good now. Thank you, MARI..."

"You're welcome!" MARI says. "Now let's get out of here."

"But your knee, MARI..." HERO says.

"Don't worry about me!" she says. "I'll catch up."

"But-" HERO says. MARI kisses him, and he goes quiet.

"Run!" she says. 

The three of them scram, while MARI stays at a steady jog. She clutches her knee a little, but she never stops moving. Adrenaline keeps them running fast. In the dim night, they happen to spot a nearly empty shipping container and dive in. MARI shuts the door behind them. They can't see a thing, but at least they're out of sight.

"HELLO." 

AUBREY yelps. Blue light bounds into their eyes. They turn, and come face to face with a... moving heap of scrap? It's a bizarre mish-mash of lost relics of technology and recyclables, aluminum cans and dial-up computers. MARI and HERO stand protectively in front of the kids. 

"Hello!" HERO says, walking out in front. "How are you doing today?"

"SCANNING," the robot replies. It doesn't seem much for conversation. "SUBJECTS BIODEGRADABLE. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED."

"Er..." HERO says. "Thank you, Mr. Robot!"

"WAIT," the robot says. "SCANNING..." lines of blue light pass over MARI. They come to her plastic wiffle bat, and turn bright red. "SUBJECT NOT BIODEGRADABLE. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED."

"What's that supposed to mean?" AUBREY says. The robot gives her her answer--with a laser to MARI's chest. Just in the nick of time, she jumps and swerves off to the side, but it leaves a little burn on her skirt. Everyone goes into battle mode. AUBREY immediately scrounges around for a weapon, and HERO follows suit. MARI slams her bat into the bot's makeshift head, but it snaps in two on the hard computer. HERO comes out swinging with a wooden spoon, and AUBREY with a table leg.

It's a pretty cramped fight. Everyone's back is almost to the wall. MARI's been able to avoid the lasers so far, and HERO and AUBREY are still hammering away at any weak spots, but it's clear they're getting tired. They need help... but what would SUNNY even do?

"Come on, SUNNY!" AUBREY cries. "Do something!" Her words jerk SUNNY's brain into motion. He's almost on autopilot now, searching the filthy metal floor for something that'll do real damage. There. A rusty old chef's knife. He grabs it by the hilt and waits for the moment to strike. Any second now, he thinks... everyone's in a safe position. He jams the blade straight into the robot's heart. He hears it crinkling through a paper bag and right into the power source. Its eyes go dull.

"ALERT. ALERT. recyclebot7201984 HAS SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. PREPARING FOR SELF-DESTRUCT MODE. GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD." It starts to beep. It takes a second before it dawns on everyone what's going to happen. There's no time to hide, so everyone just covers their head and hopes for the best. Boom. SUNNY's ears ring... When he opens his eyes, in the robot's place is nothing but a pile of burnt trash. HERO sighs.

"Whew," he says. "You really saved us there, SUNNY. I thought we were done for."

"Good job, little brother!" MARI says. "I'm so proud of you. You seemed so scared, but you saved the day in the end."

SUNNY feels something tugging on the sides of his mouth. He tries to fight it, but he can't help but smile. Look at what he just did! He brandishes his knife with pride, then sticks it in his pocket. Nothing can stop him now.

Nothing... except... what is that? His eyes drift to something strange on the floor. A photograph. It's hard to make out the details through all the black scribbles, but he's pretty sure that... there's a lake? Someone fell into a lake. No, not someone. BASIL fell into a lake.

Reality hits him like a punch to the stomach. He pulls the knife out of his pocket and lets it drop to the floor. This is wrong. He shouldn't be doing this. How could he?

"What are you looking at, SUNNY?" MARI says. "Are you hurt?"

"N-No," he stammers. The nausea fades a little. "Never mind."

"Okay..." MARI says. "But if something's wrong, don't hesitate to tell me- Ow!" MARI suddenly grabs onto her knee. She leans her back heavily into the wall, gritting her teeth.

"Woah!" HERO says. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," MARI says. "J-Just my knee..."

"I told you you should take it easy!" HERO says.

"I know..." MARI says. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to help."

"It's fine," HERO says. "You did great. But I think you should let us do the fighting from here on out, okay? You'll hurt your knee again if you keep this up."

"Fine..." MARI says. "But you need to take care of yourself too, HERO!"

"Sure I will," HERO says. "We'll be fine... I promise."

"Are you sure, HERO?" AUBREY says. "I don't see a way out of here..."

"Well, maybe we should just wait in here for now," HERO says. "They should forget about us eventually."

"I don't know..." AUBREY says. "Those guys seemed pretty dedicated..."

"Well, AUBREY..." MARI says. "Even if they don't let go of us... I'm sure we can take them! Especially with SUNNY here to protect us."

SUNNY stares at his dirtied hands. What is he even doing? 

"But we can't hide forever..." AUBREY says. "We still need to find our friends!"

"Oh, yeah!" HERO says. "I can't believe we forgot... Maybe these cultists have them! We can't waste any time... who knows what they might do?"

"You're right," MARI says. "Let's go."

Before they leave, MARI grabs something off the floor. A rolling pin and a volleyball, to fight with. HERO pulls the door open, and light pours into their container. It's gotten a lot brighter out here, but as long as they stick to the dark alleyways and keep quiet, they should stay undetected.

Something crinkles under SUNNY's shoe, and he stops. Looks like... another photograph? It's covered in the same ugly black marks, but he can still make out what's happening. A black-haired boy holds a marker over a green book. He holds a marker over a green book... No, held.

SUNNY's legs shudder. He needs to leave, now. He doesn't care about RECYCULTISTS, or finding KEL, or even BASIL. MARI is dead, and none of this is real. He feels paralyzed, but even still, he finds the will to move. He starts to walk faster than everyone else. He hears MARI's voice, but ignores it. Just keep moving, he tells himself. Just keep moving.

Before, this place had seemed like a maze, but now, it seems almost straightforward. He takes a right. Another photograph. He takes a right again. Another photograph. He picks them both off the ground and stuffs them in his pockets with the others. Soon enough, the church stands before him.

A strange man kneels on the steps, wearing a filthy green jacket and a peculiar rubber glove on his head. He seems deep in prayer, but the sound of SUNNY's shoes on the ground seems to rouse him. He stands and looks SUNNY in the eye. Some moonlight glints off his sunglasses.

"Ah, you must be the intruder," he says cordially. "I knew you would come here. Welcome to our place of worship. I'm sure my followers have given you a hard time, but I'm not that barbaric. I will give you one last chance. Listen to me... and make your decision."

SUNNY stares at him blankly.

"Uh... okay..." he says. "Well, anyway, I had a dream, a long time ago... after we crossed paths. You remember this, do you not?"

SUNNY continues to stare at him blankly.

"Not much of a talker, are you?" he says. "No matter. I will tell you my story anyway. The tale... of the great RECYCLEPATH."

SUNNY continues to continue to stare at him blankly.

"After I defeated you... you and your friends... I continued to build," he explains. "But soon, the rubber glove told me that measly park was not enough. There was not enough room. We needed somewhere large, expansive, empty. A blank slate. It commanded our movement to search for such a place... not on Earth, but in the sky! We flew here, on our biodegradable rocket, but that was not enough. We had to get even closer. So for a year, we have steadily built, ever closer to the trashless world, where humans and biodegradable materials can coexist in- Are you even listening?"

SUNNY continues to continue to continue to stare at him blankly.

"Very well, then!" the RECYCLEPATH says. "If you insist on ignoring my message... and refuse to repent... you must be recycled!" 

SUNNY rolls his eyes. It's not like he can- Oh . The RECYCLEPATH's taking something out of his jacket. Some kind of strange, long, gun-like thing made of scrap metal. A little black smoke seeps out a crack. SUNNY takes a step backward, and- something goes flying straight at him, hits him right in the chest and sends him catapulting backwards with an enormous explosion. His body bursts into agony. Dark spots dance in his eyes. Is that some kind of... recycling bazooka?

"Huzzah!" the RECYCLEPATH exclaims. "The power of the HOLY BIN has recycled another sinner!"

SUNNY hears the roar of another shot and frantically rolls over on his side. What on earth is happening? Shot after shot fires after him. He's barely managing to escape. It hurts too much to even stand.

"Hey!" Who was that? He can barely hear a thing... He hears some muffled shouts. The rapid booms of the bazooka seem to stop, just for a second. Someone's warm hand grabs the back of his shirt.

"SUNNY?" a girl says. "SUNNY! Get up!"

"O-Okay," SUNNY murmurs. He staggers onto his feet. Someone's holding him up... looks like MARI... He can't see much, but he's pretty sure his friends are back... and there's a fight going on? Didn't take them very long to catch up. AUBREY and HERO keep swinging away, but they don't seem to be getting anywhere.

"Where are KEL and BASIL?!" AUBREY hollers.

"What?" the RECYCLEPATH says. "The HOLY BIN is all-knowing, but... I don't know anything about that!"

AUBREY dances past a rocket and goes for a swing. "You're lying!" 

"Do you need some help, great leader?" someone calls. Looks like his followers.

"Yes, please!" The RECYCLEPATH dodges to the side, and aims straight for AUBREY. A few RECYCULTISTS scramble into the scene. "Wait- darn it!" His bazooka makes a clicking noise, and he throws it aside. Seems like it's out of ammo. "I never needed that rocket launcher anyway! I'll fight you myself!"

"Sorry, but we can't let you do that," HERO says. He swings his spoon forward, but the RECYCLEPATH holds up a paper bag and returns with a punch, landing with a weak hit on HERO's arm, but it doesn't seem to faze him. HERO hits him hard in the chest, and he tumbles backward, onto the remains of his bazooka.

"Just give up already!" AUBREY says.

"Heh..." he says. "You don't know what you're talking about, little girl. Watch this!" He jumps to his feet, grabs a few pieces of scrap, and shoves them together into some kind of... sword? "Behold the power of recycling!" 

He takes an unwiedly swing at HERO's side, but AUBREY blocks it with her table leg. She shoves it forward and pushes the man onto his back, then swerves to dodge a glass bottle flying through the air. A stray cultist runs up to her, carrying a spear of scrap metal, but she hits him in the head and he crumples to the ground. A few more join the fray and aim for HERO, but AUBREY keeps them on the offensive and scrambles back at the RECYCLEPATH.

He kicks at AUBREY's feet, and she stumbles a little, but it's enough time to get him standing again. They trade blows, meeting scrap metal with splintered wood, over and over. 

While AUBREY has him distracted, HERO takes a swing at his back, knocking him forward, and AUBREY hits him again with her leg. The RECYCLEPATH dodges to the side, out of their grasp, but he's at the edge of the hill. They have him on the defensive.

Out of nowhere, MARI joins the fray. The RECYCLEPATH grits his teeth. SUNNY barely even noticed that she left him. She tosses her volleyball high into the air, then as soon as it's in range, swings her rolling pin hard, sending it flying into the man's face. It sends him onto his back, and he tumbles down the trash hill, crashing down on all sorts of junk and dropping his sword. Seems like the fight's done... or not?

They've managed to fend off every mook that crawls up the hill so far... but they're attacking from the air now. A drone whizzes through the air, made of scrap, plastic, glass, and paper propellers. It make an awful noise as it charges, but MARI smashes it out of the sky with her volleyball, and it sinks to the ground. Another comes flying in, flourishing a razor blade. MARI sends the volleyball soaring again, and the drone crashes, but the ball's been cut. It quickly deflates, and MARI's left with just a rolling pin.

There should be more minions coming... but they're all standing at the bottom of the hill, just standing still. The RECYCLEPATH shouts commands, but no one's listening. They're all just... staring, transfixed by the battle. Even despite the enemy's cowardice, though, SUNNY and his friends are getting tired. They're on the defensive now. They can't keep fighting off drones forever, not without SUNNY's help, but he's unarmed.

Drones are starting to come for him. He tries to dodge, but after that bazooka hit him, he's totally drained. One's heading right towards him... he tries to hit it, but he misses, and he stumbles backward into HERO, disorienting them both. MARI tries to cover for them, but she's too exhausted. She holds her knee and groans in pain. AUBREY's still standing, but even she's not invincible. Eventually, the robots start to overwhelm her... and she falls too. The RECYCULTISTS see their opportunity and charge back up the hill.

SUNNY's ears begin to ring again. His vision dims. It's over for them... he can feel it. Garbage hits his back, over and over, but the pain feels dull. The ringing is so loud, he can't even hear himself think. He needs a weapon... something to defend himself with, something to give himself strength.

His hands land on something. Something smooth... something wooden. It makes him feel warm inside. He pries his eyes open and looks at the blurry shape. My violin.

SUNNY's hands dart to his bow. He pulls himself to his feet and steadies himself into position. He plays a simple note--a G, and the entire world turns white. It's the loudest note he's ever heard. He can't see or hear a thing. When he comes to...

Everyone is gone. He looks around. No one. Not AUBREY, not HERO, not MARI, not even the RECYCULTISTS. Every light's gone out in the empty junkyard, but somehow, it's even brighter than before. SUNNY looks into the starry night sky. High at the top of the world, at the zenith, is a hanging white lightbulb. It shines onto something like a spotlight... something right under his feet.

Another photograph, still marred by black marker. A boy cowers on the ground. A girl hits him, over and over again. The light shifts. It shines on the church doors, and they creep open, groaning and creaking. He feels drawn inside. Almost automatically, he begins to walk through the doors...

A long red carpet stretches past the empty pews. Evening light shines through the stained glass, and the chandeliers give the building a warm glow. SUNNY wanders through the desolate church to the altar. Vines curl out from the table, then wither and die, leaving only a photo album, and one stray photograph. SUNNY pulls the wrinkled photos out of his pocket, then opens the album and places them in proper order.

A black-haired boy holds a marker over a green book. His best friend stares at his precious album in horror. A girl discovers his crime. The girl beats the blond boy onto the ground. The black-haired boy slashes the girl with a knife. And the blond boy falls into a lake.

SUNNY turns his gaze ahead. The wall of the church dissolves, turns into empty air and trees. A sandpit lies under SUNNY's feet, and in front of him, a swingset. The marks on his album disappear. He feels different now... smaller, more innocent. He takes a seat on the swing and faces his old friend.

"So, um... SUNNY..." AUBREY says meekly. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Um," he stammers. He always got nervous whenever they were alone together... But it can't be that hard just to let her talk. "Sure..." he says.

"Okay... thank you," she says. "Sorry I've been venting to you so much... it's just... there's a lot on my mind, you know?" He nods. "Because... well..." her voice goes into a whisper. "Mom and Dad just won't stop fighting... and... they said..." She sniffles, and he tries his best to look reassuring. "They said they might get a divorce."

SUNNY blinks. He knew AUBREY's parents fought, but... A divorce? Should he... say something? That... that's really bad, isn't it?

"And- and I know it's probably going to happen, but I'm still so scared... if they did that, then- then I'd just have my mom... and I love her, but she's kind of mean sometimes, you know? And I'd miss my dad a lot..."

Kind of mean? SUNNY thinks. This is all so strange... 

"Sometimes he's strict, but... I know he cares," she says. "S-sorry... I mean, I should be grateful, right? She's my mom, after all... Maybe I'm just a bad kid. I should probably just listen to her more..." she trails off. 

"You're not a bad kid," SUNNY mumbles, almost without thinking.

"Oh, um... Thank you, SUNNY." AUBREY smiles. "I mean, that's why I like going to your house so much. Your family is so nice to me... and it's always clean there... D-don't tell anyone I said this, but..." AUBREY leans in close, to SUNNY's ear. He feels his face flush. "I kind of see MARI as... the big sister I never had, you know? She's so kind... and graceful... and wise... She always knows what to do. I wish I could be like her..."

Without thinking, SUNNY cringes. Wouldn't that make AUBREY his sister...?

"Sorry... Is that weird?" she says.

"N-no..." he stammers. Oops... He probably shouldn't have done that. "I think it's nice," he adds. There's a little bit of an awkward pause.

"A-Anyway, thanks for letting me talk again, SUNNY," AUBREY says abruptly. "You're a good listener."

"Um..." SUNNY's face feels warm all of a sudden... He hopes she doesn't notice. Maybe he should thank her too, for spending time with him like this... or tell her that she isn't a bad kid, that she's always true to herself and tries to do the right thing. It's never been like him to talk, but... maybe he should... He spends a while waiting, trying to work up the confidence to even say anything, but he waits too long. He watches AUBREY's hair turn pink, her blue dress into a varsity jacket and short denim skirt. She pulls herself off the swing, turns her back to him, and walks away, until she's nothing but a mirage in the distance.

The world changes. SUNNY's somewhere else now, in the same town but standing over a different spot. A single headstone. He takes out his violin and starts to play.

Chapter Text

FOUR DAYS LEFT...

"Oh, SUNNY... Earth to SUNNY..."

SUNNY sluggishly opens his eye to see KEL standing over him. He rolls over in bed and puts his hand over his face, groaning. "Five more minutes..."

"Wake up!" KEL says. "Breakfast is going to get cold..."

"Fine..." he pushes himself up from the hard air mattress and onto the floor. His socks land on KEL's dirty laundry... ew. He grabs a toothbrush, a black shirt, a purple pair of shorts, and some black socks, then heads into the bathroom to change. KEL's toothpaste leaves an unpleasant flavor in his mouth, but at least it gets rid of that gross morning taste.

He heads down the staircase with KEL and into the dining room, where he finds a warm plate of pancakes waiting for him. Wow... they made breakfast already? He takes a seat, pours some syrup over his breakfast, then cuts it up and takes a bite. It tastes wonderful... he hasn't had good syrup in months. The best kinds were always too expensive...

"Mmm... This is great!" KEL says through his food. "HERO made it for us, actually. He went with Mom and Dad to go shopping, which'll probably take forever... so it's just gonna be the two of us this morning. That okay with you?"

"Yeah," he says. A familiar anxiety boils inside him, but he tries his best to put it aside. 

HERO probably just couldn't say no. You know how his mom is.

"I sorted things out with AUBREY, though, so we'll be hanging out with her and BASIL all day. I was thinking that we could go exploring in the woods, like old times." KEL closes his eyes, lost in memories. "Remember when we went beetle-catching with everyone? And HERO got all scared..."

He'll be hanging out with AUBREY today? SUNNY abruptly puts down his fork. 

I kind of see MARI as... the big sister I never had, you know?  

In his head, he sees a girl being slashed with a knife, a girl being brought to tears in her place of worship, but also of a girl sitting on the swingset, trying to reconnect... his chest wells up with anxiety. What will he even... do?

"SUNNY? You okay?" KEL's words rescue him from his thoughts. 

He tries to nod.

"You sure? You looked like you were really spacing out there."

"Yes," he lies. "Just... had a bad dream."

"A bad dream?" KEL says. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," he lies. There's no way to describe this in a way that makes sense. "Just... AUBREY."

"AUBREY?" KEL says confusedly. "You had a dream about her? Why? Did something happen between you guys?"

"No... it's just..." SUNNY says. "Nevermind..."

"You know she wants to see you, right?" KEL says. "You have so much to catch up on!"

"B-but... the knife..."

"Oh..." KEL says. He looks shocked, as if somehow, he forgot that even happened. "Yeah... I almost forgot about that. What... What was up with that? Why were you carrying around a steak knife back then?"

SUNNY tenses up. "I... I think I was scared. Of... things that weren't there."

"Things that weren't there? Were you, like..." KEL trails off.

SUNNY gives a shaky nod. Bad memories, but... at least he doesn't hallucinate anymore. "I'm... on medication."

KEL's expression is surprisingly somber. "I remember when HERO had to take stuff like that," he says. "Not 'cause he saw things... but still. He didn't forget often, but when he did... things got... tough." They both seem to swallow down the memories with a piece of pancake.

"Anyway..." KEL says, getting up from his seat. "Let's go grab BASIL and AUBREY! You don't want to keep them waiting, do you?"

They clear their plates and put them in the sink for later, then put on their shoes and go out the door into a cool-ish summer morning. It's another beautiful day outside--the sky is a brilliant blue and hazy, pale clouds are drifting overhead. First, they'll head to BASIL's. They stroll down the street, over to his house, and knock on the door. He quickly comes out to greet them, old camera in hand.

"Top of the morning to you, BASIL!" KEL says.

"Hi, KEL!" BASIL says, smiling. "It's good to see you guys again."

"Ready to head to AUBREY's?" KEL says eagerly.

"Oh, right..." BASIL says. "I can't believe I almost forgot. B-But, yes, I'm ready."

"Sweet!" KEL says. "Let's go, then!"

Though the walk to AUBREY's is short, to SUNNY, it feels much longer. He feels his heart thumping... this is the first time he's talking to her in an entire year. Her house looks a lot like he left it... filthy and falling apart at the seams. At least all those stray traffic signs are gone, but... it's still a sobering sight. He can't imagine what it's like having to sleep and live here. KEL knocks on her door. The wait feels like an eternity... his eye is wide open. Finally, the door opens, and a girl steps out. 

She seems almost like... someone else. The contrast between the AUBREY he knew a year ago and the AUBREY he sees today almost gives SUNNY vertigo. Sure, she looks different, but it's not just that her hair is in a ponytail, or that she's wearing different makeup, or even that she's wearing new clothes. There's kind of a difference in how she... feels. Gone is the constant frustration that he saw in her eyes, replaced by a kind of... cautious optimism, maybe? Distant coldness? Even still, he finds it hard to figure her out. But she looks... better.

"SUNNY?" she says, startling him. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

He freezes up for a moment. "Oh. Um, it's nothing." Wow. Only two seconds in, and he's already screwed things up.

"Is... Is there, um..." AUBREY says. "Something on me?"

He shakes his head. "No... you just... look... different."

"Does she?" KEL says. "I think she looks like regular old AUBREY."

"Well, he hasn't seen me for a while," she says. "You've done nothing but see me for the past year. Of course you think I look the same." 

"Not true!" KEL says. "He had the PHOTO ALBUM... so he could see you there!"

"Oh yeah, the album..." she says, her tone of voice changing. "Do you still have that with you, SUNNY?

He nods. "Right here."

"Can I take a look?" she says. "It's been a while since I've seen it..."

He holds it out to her. She takes it and quickly flips through it for a few seconds, smiling at it like an old friend. 

"Wow... you took really good care of it," she says. She holds out the album and points to the new photographs. "Are those... new photos?"

"Yep," KEL says. "We took some yesterday with BASIL! Do you like 'em?"

"Huh," she says. "It really has been a while, huh, SUNNY?" She gives him a faint smile. "It's good to see you again. You haven't changed a bit."

Her words placate some of his fears... At least he knows she doesn't hate him... she sounds sincere enough.

"Anyway..." she says. "What do you guys want to do for the day?"

"Okay, I know this sounds crazy, but hear me out," KEL says.

"What is it, KEL?" AUBREY says exasperatedly.

"Why don't we go exploring in the woods?" he suggests. "I know a trail near here we can go to. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"That sounds kind of gross," she says. "There's so many bugs out there."

"I-I, um..." BASIL mumbles. "I think it sounds like a good idea. I mean, I have bug spray at my house, AUBREY. You can put it on if you want to."

"Well, okay..." she says. "But bug spray never works."

"You sure?" KEL says. "I put it on all the time whenever I go outside, and I never get bug bites! Maybe you're just not using the right kind."

"Fine, you know what?" AUBREY says. "If SUNNY wants to go, I'll go. This is his visit, after all... so I think he should decide."

SUNNY weighs his decision. He hates bugs... but it sounds kind of fun, exploring there again, like they did when they were young. Maybe he'll give it a chance... besides, more of his friends are for it than against it... 

"So?" she asks. "What's your decision?"

"Sorry..." he says. "I want to go."

She sighs. "It's fine... It can't be that bad, anyway."

"Yes!" KEL says. "I knew you'd make the right choice. Now let's go!"

"Wait," BASIL says. "Won't we need supplies? Like, food and drinks?"

"Oh yeah, you're right..." KEL says. "We can grab some stuff at my house. It'll be really quick. Thanks for keeping me on track, BASIL!"

"You're welcome..." he says. He smiles.

As they walk back to KEL's, the four of them start to chat. It feels good to have AUBREY back, even if she seems a little distant towards him. They just feel more... lively, with AUBREY and KEL together to carry most of the conversations. Their dynamic seems kind of different, more comfortable and less hostile. Like... good friends. Well, they were still pretty candid when SUNNY came out again for the first time, but now they almost seem like best friends. Like they used to feel at school, whenever it was just the four of them. He notices that she seems somewhat comfortable with BASIL, too. Maybe she and SUNNY have just been separated for too long?

They head inside KEL's house and grab whatever they think they'll need... water bottles, snacks, bug spray, band-aids, even cans of ORANGE JOE. They put their supplies in a backpack for the four of them to share. KEL volunteers to shoulder the load. Once they're packed, they set out for their adventure.

"Where is this trail anyway, KEL?" AUBREY asks.

"Just to the left of the park," KEL says. "We went there once, when we were kids. We went beetle-catching there, remember? The road was closed for a while because of construction, but I think they finally finished last summer."

"Yeah... I think I remember," AUBREY says. "But we don't have butterfly nets."

"We're not going bug-catching," KEL says. "We're just going to... explore! There's so much to find in the woods. We could spend all day in there."

"Do... do you think we could get lost?" BASIL says. "It's a big forest out there..."

"We won't get lost," KEL says dismissively. "SUNNY has a great sense of direction, so he'll keep us on track... Here we are!" KEL says, stopping on the sidewalk by a sign. Past it is a shady trail, hidden in the trees, and a thin stream, winding parallel to the footpath.

"REMOTE CREEK NATURE TRAIL," AUBREY reads. "Huh."

SUNNY sees a flash out of the corner of his eye. They turn and see BASIL holding his camera. Looks like he took another photograph.

"Did you take our picture, BASIL?" AUBREY asks. "I haven't seen you do that in so long... Do you still have enough film?"

"Yeah," he says. "I have plenty still left from when MARI gave it to me. I was thinking we could add to our PHOTO ALBUM... for old times' sake. Here, take it, SUNNY..."

SUNNY takes the photo from BASIL's hand and places it in the album, right below the ones they took yesterday. Two images flash in his head. A boy scrawling over the album with black marker, terrified and bitter... and a girl tormenting someone, pushing him into a lake. Guilt slowly squeezes his lungs. 

I never told them about the album, he realizes. That he was the one who destroyed it. He almost destroyed BASIL and AUBREY's friendship forever... and she doesn't even know.

BASIL looks at him and frowns. "SUNNY?" he says shakily. "Is... is something wrong?"

"N-no," he says. Not now... later. Not when they're here.

"I... I think I understand," BASIL says. "We can talk about it later, okay?"

SUNNY nods in agreement. He takes a calming breath. To steady himself. KEL and AUBREY are looking right at them. He realizes they're concerned. 

"Let's... let's just go," he says.

"Okay, then..." KEL says. "Let's go explore this place!"

The woods are shady and humid. It's early enough in the day for it to still be relatively cool, especially in the shadows of the trees. SUNNY listens to the quiet, steady flow of the creek as they tread on the soft ground, and the crunch of the old leaves, scattered across the forest floor. Bugs flitter from plant to plant, and he spots a few spiderwebs hidden in tree stumps. It's been a while since he's been in nature like this... it's calming, and a little creepy, in a fun way. But the guilt still lingers in the back of his mind, festering more and more as they walk.

"Look at that!" KEL says, pointing to a huge boulder across the creek. "I wonder how that ended up here... look at all the weird scratches on it! Isn't nature so interesting? BASIL, you should take a picture!"

"Okay!" BASIL says. "Say cheese..."

BASIL's camera flashes. Another photo prints out. 

"How'd it turn out?" AUBREY says.

"Pretty good," BASIL says, showing it to her. "Have a look."

"Yeah..." AUBREY says. "BASIL... you know a lot about nature, right? Do you know about that boulder?"

"Hm..." he says. "Not really... Glaciers, maybe?"

"Glaciers?" KEL says. "Like those giant pieces of ice? It's way too warm for that here."

"It wasn't always warm here, KEL..." AUBREY says. "Didn't you ever pay attention in science class?"

"Sure I did!" KEL says. "I know all about science."

"Prove it," she says.

"Um... well... photosynthesis," KEL says.

AUBREY snorts. Even BASIL has to stifle a snicker. 

"Hey! Don't laugh at me..." KEL says. "It's not like you're a science expert either, AUBREY..."

"I never said I was," she responds. "Hold on a second, I need a drink."

"Okay!" KEL says, taking off his backpack. "It's been a while. Maybe we should stop for a snack break."

They stop and rest on a few rocks. KEL pulls out a plastic water bottle and hands it to AUBREY, then grabs a granola bar for himself. KEL and AUBREY continue to banter. During their downtime, BASIL places his new photos into their album. SUNNY looks around. Sooner or later, he's going to have to confess the truth. He frantically tries to signal to BASIL, to show that he needs to talk. BASIL meets his eye. 

"SUNNY?" he says quietly. "Do you need something?"

He nods his head. "Can we... talk?"

"Um, sure..." BASIL says. "Um... alone?"

"Yes," SUNNY says firmly. "We... we need to be."

"Alright... Guys?" BASIL says to the other two. "Me and SUNNY are going on a walk... Is that okay?

AUBREY and KEL give them a confused look, but they don't seem to mind much. "Sure," KEL says. "Have fun!"

"We'll be back soon!" BASIL says. SUNNY leads them off another path, where the trail divulges, until he's sure they're completely alone. He stops. 

"So..." BASIL says. "What did you want to talk about?"

SUNNY stares at the ground and watches some ants carry leaves into their nest. He has to talk about this eventually, doesn't he? Otherwise, it'll just keep eating away at him. It'll only get worse.

"The PHOTO ALBUM," he says finally.

"What about it?" BASIL looks kind of confused.

"W...well... do you remember... what I did to it?"

BASIL winces. He turns to the ground and stares. "Yeah," he says. "I do."

SUNNY turns to BASIL. "Did you tell them?" 

"No... I'm sorry." BASIL looks away. "I wanted to wait until you came back... so you would know."

"You don't have to keep protecting me."

"I'm sorry, SUNNY..." BASIL's voice trembles. "I just..."

"It's... it's okay," SUNNY assures him. He takes a deep breath to calm himself and meets BASIL's eye. They can't keep hiding things... but BASIL knows that already. He takes his hand. 

"You know what, SUNNY?" BASIL says. "No... no more secrets. From now on... we're going to stop hiding things."

SUNNY nods. "Yes... No more secrets."

BASIL lets go of his hand, and they start to walk back where they came, in solemn silence. SUNNY tries to pay attention to the birds chirping in the trees, the insects buzzing in the air, the buzz of the cicadas, even the deer sleeping in the brush. It's a tranquil sight. He tries to appreciate it while he can... to give him the strength he needs.

When they arrive back at the rocks, KEL and AUBREY are looking around aimlessly. They seem bored, but they're still engrossed in conversation. He feels bad interrupting this... but he has to. He carefully chooses his choice of words.

"I have to tell you something."

They turn their heads to the pair. SUNNY doesn't need to ask to know what day that phrase sent them back to. It gets their attention easily.

"W-What is it, SUNNY?" KEL says, a little startled.

"BASIL..." he takes a deep breath. "BASIL didn't ruin the PHOTO ALBUM. I did."

"What?" AUBREY says. She gets up and stares him in the eye. "You... you tried to destroy it? You lied to us again ?"

"Woah, calm down, AUBREY!" KEL says. "Can everyone calm down, please? I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding. If we would just sort things out-"

AUBREY's gaze turns to BASIL. He takes a step backward, trembling.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she says.

"AUBREY-" KEL interrupts.

"Was... was all of that really over nothing?" she says. Suddenly, she slumps back down and puts her head in her hands. "Something you didn't even do?"

"I-I'm sorry, AUBREY!" BASIL says. "I-I don't know. I think I still wanted to protect him... a-and... I guess I didn't even want to... to believe he could do that, either."

"Ugh..." she grits her teeth and groans.

"AUBREY, it's okay," KEL says. "You had no idea."

"Y-Yeah, but..." she mumbles.

"That was a year ago. You're not the person you were back then, right?" KEL assures her. "You've made a lot of progress."

She sighs. "Okay... I'm sorry, SUNNY. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

SUNNY can't bring himself to say anything. He looks over to her. "I deserve it," he manages.

"No, y-you..." she trails off. "I forgave BASIL, so... I can forgive you. I want to. It's just... hard. To trust you again."

KEL looks at AUBREY, then SUNNY. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

"I'm- I've been trying to control my anger," she says finally. "I think I've come a long way. I feel a lot calmer than I did last year... but it's tough sometimes. A-And whenever I mess up, I get so mad at myself."

"I..." SUNNY says. "I know that feeling."

"You do?" she says. "You don't seem that angry to me."

"N-No, I just mean..." he says. "I know how it feels to keep making mistakes... even when you try your hardest not to."

"Like you're... going backwards?" she says.

"Yeah."

AUBREY looks away uncomfortably. She seems to think for a moment.

"You know, SUNNY..." she says. "Ever since you moved away, I've been wondering... What did you do all that time that you spent in your house? Four years is a pretty long time..."

SUNNY looks at the dirt. "I slept," he says. "I ran away... from everything."

"I... I don't blame you," she says. "If I was in your situation... I think I would have gone crazy. I don't know how you stayed sane for so long. I've done some pretty bad things... but I can't imagine how guilty you felt." 

SUNNY hesitates for a second. "T...that's why I..."

"What? Why you what?" she says.

"Why I attacked you... with the knife," he finishes.

"I... I almost forgot about that," she admits. "Do... do you really think I'm still mad about that ?" She laughs. "SUNNY... I had a bat with nails in it. We've all done some pretty weird things.

He forces a nod.. He guesses she's right. AUBREY pauses and closes her eyes.

"I think I forgive you, SUNNY," she says. "Sometimes, I think about it, and I still feel a little mad... but... I'm even worse than you, aren't I? I pushed BASIL into the lake... and I was even older. So... I guess I know how easy it is to hurt someone you care about by accident... when you're angry."

SUNNY sighs. "I... I accept your decision."

"What do you mean, 'I accept your decision?'"

"Ultimately, it's up to you," he mumbles. "I won't try to change your mind."

"Hmm," she says. "That's... really mature of you, SUNNY. Thank you."

They look into each others' eyes for just a second. For whatever reason... something about it makes him nervous, and he has to look away. SUNNY notices her teal contacts are gone... her eyes are brown again, like they were when she was a child. He takes a deep breath.

"Hey, SUNNY..." she says suddenly. "Are we still friends?"

SUNNY pauses a moment. "Yes. If... you want to be."

She smiles. "Yeah, I do. So... I guess we're friends again, then." SUNNY's not sure what she means by that, but she's smiling, so... he's happy. "By the way, um... I know I should have said this before, but I'm sorry for never calling. I know I should have, but... you know how it is."

"Well... we're here now," SUNNY says. "So it's okay."

KEL looks at them, then grins. "It's so nice to see you two make up," he says. "See, AUBREY? I knew you could do it! I told you it was easier than you thought!"

"Yeah..." she says. "I guess you're right..." There's a long pause. None of them look like they really know what to do with themselves.

"Anyway..." KEL finally says. "That was a long snack break, huh? We should probably get this show on the road."

"Yeah, you're right..." she says. "Let's go."

They pull themselves onto their feet and begin to walk again. KEL and BASIL point out all kinds of things none of them had even noticed. Chipmunks, woodpeckers, cicada shells, even just weird-looking rocks... Meanwhile, BASIL picks out and identifies some plants for them on the way as he takes pictures of the scenery. He gives the names of flowers, bushes, trees, even weeds... apparently he learned them from an almanac. They spend hours doing this... just enjoying the forest. SUNNY really missed this feeling... the kind of wonder that he feels discovering the outdoors. It was hard to find stuff like this in the city. MARI... MARI would have loved this, wouldn't she?

Eventually, as the day progresses into the afternoon, the bugs start to come for them. Their spray must be wearing off. AUBREY's saved by her leggings, but the other three aren't so lucky. Mosquitos keep landing on SUNNY's legs, but he can never hit them. He tries a few times with the PHOTO ALBUM, but BASIL figures that might damage it, so he stops.

"Maybe we should turn back," BASIL says after a while. "I don't think the bug spray is working..."

"We've been out here a while, yeah," KEL admits. "I kinda wanna go home. That okay with you, SUNNY?"

"Yes," he says. "Let's go."

The trail feels much shorter than SUNNY remembers. When they follow a straight path backwards, it takes what must be a half hour of walking. When they finally arrive back on the sidewalk, they come out to a setting sun, bathing the whole of FARAWAY in yellow light. The shadows are so long now, but it's almost blinding after so long in the dark woods. It's hard to believe this day went by so quickly.

"So that was fun, huh?" KEL says. "We haven't been on adventures like that since we were kids. Gotta love that nature!"

"Yeah..." AUBREY says, smiling a little. "What do you guys want to do now?"

"I dunno," KEL says. "We should get inside, though. These bugs are eating me alive!"

"It is getting pretty late..." BASIL says. "Hey, actually..." He seems to get an idea. "Why, um... why don't you guys come over to my house for dinner...? It's been a while, so..." 

"I'd love to!" KEL says. "You cool with that, guys?"

"Sure," AUBREY says. SUNNY nods. 

"Great! Let's go," KEL says. 

They walk past the park and down the street to BASIL's house, then enter without knocking and set their things on the floor. SUNNY settles into the couch with KEL. He's tired and sweaty... BASIL's house never had air conditioning, but at least there's fans, so it's decent enough.

"Where's your, um... caretaker, BASIL?" AUBREY asks, looking around. "I don't see her anywhere."

"Oh, she's probably getting groceries..." he says. "We'll have to wait for her... Actually..."

"Hm?" KEL says.

"Do you guys want to see my room?" BASIL offers. "It's pretty different now... I wanted to show you guys."

"Sure," KEL says, almost mindlessly, picking himself off the couch.

"Alright... follow me," BASIL says.

SUNNY gets up from the couch and follows BASIL's lead down the hallway before he can protest. His breathing starts to get shaky... his fingers tremble uncontrollably. But he's ready, he assures himself. He's ready to face this. He needs to.

He forces himself to keep putting one foot in front of the other, until he finds himself trapped again. His eye frantically darts around the room. The floral wallpaper. The single window. The bookshelf. It's all there again. Something is watching him.

An incoherent cacophony of voices fills his ears. BASIL, AUBREY and KEL won't stop talking. BASIL redecorated... he bought flowers... or something. SUNNY's not sure. His ears won't stop ringing. The cavity under his eyepatch tingles. He wants to run. He slowly backs towards the door, his legs shaking. He tries to calm down, but his lungs just won't hold steady.

"Hey, SUNNY... Are you okay?" KEL. It's KEL. He can't answer. Memories flood his mind so fast, he can't even hear himself think.

His best friend staring at the full moon. His best friend being devoured by the shadows. His best friend with a shattered nose. His best friend being beaten to a bloody pulp. His best friend wrestling him to the hard floor, his best friend clutching a filthy pair of garden shears, his best friend plunging the blades into his eye, his best friend the agony makes him so sick he can't stand his best friend blood trails down his chin his best friend is this it his best friend distant sirens his best friend his best friend his best friend

"SUNNY?" KEL. "SUNNY!"

"Are you okay?" BASIL. "Please, answer us!"

SUNNY groans and leans on the wall. Something falls over. His best friend takes his hand and leads him into a corridor. The world is dim. Sights blend into each other. Voices become indistinguishable. He's resting on something soft now. He doesn't want to open his eyes. But it feels safe now. He's safe now. He opens his one eye, meeting his friends'. It's blindingly bright... but he's not there anymore. He's on the couch now. He can breathe again. He's safe.

"Don't scare us like that," AUBREY says. "Please."

SUNNY stares vacantly into the distance. "I-I'm sorry..." he murmurs.

"It's fine..." she says. "Just... if you don't like something we're doing... can you please tell us? I don't want to have to see you like that... again."

"SUNNY..." KEL says. "You don't have to be sorry for anything. I'm just glad you're okay."

"Thank you," he says hoarsely. He can barely speak...

"You don't have to be sorry, SUNNY," BASIL says. "I think I should be. I shouldn't have dragged you in there again... I... I forgot. That you haven't been in there since..." He stops, and his eyes sink to the floor.

"No... i-it's my fault," SUNNY says. "I-I thought I... I could do it. I couldn't." Almost immediately, his eye starts to water. He mops up his tears and tries to hide his face with his hands. He knows it's stupid, but he can't believe he let it happen, that it happened so fast. He's ashamed. Why did he even go in there?

"No, SUNNY..." BASIL says. "It's... it's my fault this even happened." He sniffles. "I can't believe how much I've hurt you."

"You guys..." KEL says. "BASIL... you weren't yourself that night. You were under a lot of stress... with your grandma and everything... and SUNNY... you just had a hard time. That's not your fault, okay? Let's get you two some dinner soon. Eating'll make you feel better."

"O-Okay," SUNNY says. He gets up from the couch, grabs a tissue, and wipes his face. He feels much calmer now... he's out of the worst of it. Steadily, he starts to try to pull himself together. He hears the door open and turns. POLLY's back now, holding a large paper bag.

"Hey, everyone..." she says. "I didn't know your friends would be coming over again, BASIL. Would you like to join us for dinner?"

"'Course!" KEL says. "That's actually what BASIL invited us over here for."

"Okay, then! It's nice to see you being so social, BASIL..." she says. "Can you help me with the groceries, though? There's a lot..."

She places the bag on the table and starts to put things into the fridge. SUNNY and his friends walk over to the table and begin to help out. With the five of them together, it doesn't take long to get everything into its proper place. Now, they can start to make dinner. They all work on it together. He remembers doing this before... with MARI and HERO by his side, guiding them every step of the way. If only they were here.

They're making chicken and vegetable soup... BASIL's GRANDMA's recipe. SUNNY's never been good in a kitchen, though. The most he trusts himself to do is watch the pot. They offered to let him cut the vegetables, but he quickly declined. He didn't need to tell them why. So he watches the broth begin to boil. The sides of the pot start to turn foggy. Looks about ready.

KEL comes over, holding a bowl of chicken, and dumps it in. AUBREY follows with the vegetables. SUNNY's stomach growls... it's growing impatient. A proverb inexplicably rises to mind. A watched pot never boils, maybe? He can't remember who he heard it from. But it's not like he has a choice, so he continues to keep watch, until finally, their food is ready.

BASIL sets the table while POLLY scoops the pot's contents into their bowls. She sets them down, taking care not to spill anything, and begins the meal. Their hard work's paid off. Their soup has a simple texture and flavor. It feels kind of... humble, if a food could have a personality. They spend a long time chatting and savoring the meal, but it all passes by relatively quickly to SUNNY. Soon enough, dinner is over, and they're thanking BASIL, about to leave for home.

"Mind if we walk you home, AUBREY?" KEL asks.

"No, not at all..." she says. "I didn't plan on walking home alone anyway."

It doesn't take them long to reach her house, but the sun's already set. AUBREY walks halfway through the dilapidated door, but then turns to face them.

"It was nice to hang out with you again, SUNNY," she says. "It's been a while, but you're still just as good a friend as always. Thanks for having me."

SUNNY turns to look at her. "Y-You're welcome, AUBREY."

"Oh, before I forget..." KEL says. "I know I mentioned this during dinner, but do you want to go to the beach with us tomorrow, AUBREY? We could have everybody over... even HERO!"

"Sure," she says. "Call me when you want to pick us up. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She almost shuts the door, but stops. "Oh, and... SUNNY, take care of yourself, alright?" She smiles and shuts the door, leaving him alone with KEL again. They start to walk back home.

"So what do you think?" KEL says. "AUBREY's pretty much the same old AUBREY, right? Even after all this time..."

SUNNY shrugs. "Maybe..."

"I mean, she's changed a lot," KEL admits. "For the better, definitely... I think she's a lot happier now. She's been working really hard this past year to make herself a better person... and I'd say it's paid off! But at heart, she'll always be AUBREY to me. She's caring... strong... true to herself... none of that's really changed about her."

"Hmm," SUNNY says. He guesses so... As they walk back to KEL's, he has to think on his words. Maybe they'll always stay the same people, deep down... It's a comforting thought. They open the front door to see HERO in the living room. At first, he looks startled, almost caught off guard... but he goes back to normal pretty quickly. Or at least SUNNY hopes so...

"Hey, you two!" HERO says. "Where've you guys been all day? You look... sweaty."

"We went exploring in the woods," KEL says. "Then we had dinner at BASIL's! A lot happened today."

"You're both covered in bug bites," he says. "This is why I never liked the woods... By the way, can you tell us when you're having dinner somewhere next time? We made some for you, but you never came..."

"Sorry..." KEL says. "I guess we can always eat it tomorrow, right? Heh heh... Anyways... HERO, I was thinking... Maybe tomorrow, we could go to the beach. Could you drive us?"

"Hmm..." HERO says. "I don't know... Probably, but we'll have to check with Mom first. It's a pretty long drive."

"Sweet!" KEL says. "Anyway, I'm about ready to turn in. Let's go upstairs, SUNNY."

"Wait, but Mom-" HERO says.

"We'll deal with her in the morning!" 

KEL runs past HERO across the house into his bedroom, and SUNNY follows. He takes a seat on his hard mattress and scoops some pajamas out of his bag. They're both still really sweaty, so KEL heads off to shower, then SUNNY. The warm water refreshes him, but it makes him drowsy too... around 10, he sets his PHOTO ALBUM back in his bag, takes out his book, and tries to read himself to sleep. 

Just like last night, he still doesn't see HERO in here. 

He's trying to avoid you.

He breathes, feeling his stomach rise. He knows what will happen if he tries to battle his thoughts, so maybe he should just... think back on this day instead. Everything AUBREY said to him... he's not sure how to feel. But he thinks that it makes him happy, to know that she at least still cares for him enough to talk to him after that panic attack... he hasn't felt that terrified in a long time.

He's not sure how much time passes by like this. For a while, he keeps tossing and turning in bed, unable to let go of his worries just for the night. Finally, he has no idea when, his sleepiness overtakes his anxieties at last and he shuts his eye. Three days left...

Chapter Text

FOUR DAYS LEFT...

A boy stands in front of a car. He moves over the road, from suburbs to deep into the city. For a moment, he's alone, but not anymore. Three friends are by his side now... all but the oldest. They wait and they wait, but he never comes.

Light beams into SUNNY's eyes. He holds his hand over his face... it's too bright. But he has to get out of bed eventually... so, he pulls off the worn blankets and climbs out of bed. It's unusually bright over his pillow... he looks up. Looks like a piece of the roof's broken off, so the moon shines straight onto his bed. What a nuisance.

There's not much to do in here. Maybe he'll go into the living room. He carefully steps down the groaning staircase, holding onto the railings with both hands. Feels like there's splinters digging into his fingers, but he doesn't really care. It's all just a dream... so he can't really hurt himself here. He fumbles through the ratty couch cushions for the remote, then takes a seat. 

He can't go outside. He knows what will happen. Maybe he can at least watch TV. He hits the power button... doesn't work. Ugh... at least there's that old gaming console, lying on the shelf. He gives it a try, but it doesn't turn on either. 

He takes a look out the window. He can't make out much in the darkness. Nothing but fog and trees. Whatever it is, he's not interested. He's not going back into HEADSPACE. He can't.

"Why?!" SUNNY jumps. What was that..? "Why won't you stop?!" 

Out of nowhere, his heart starts to beat out of his chest. He gets off the couch, trembling, and the light fading in from outside dims. All he can see is... eyes. Eyes, everywhere around him. Black tendrils start to curl around him, making his skin crawl. SUNNY slowly tries to back into the wall, where he can see everything, where there's nothing behind him. He feels smooth glass on his back. 

He can see someone in the darkness, just barely. A blond boy, eyes red from crying, clutching a pair of garden shears. SUNNY backs away even further. The boy inches towards him, trembling. Terror rises in SUNNY's chest. He has to go, now. He swings open the door and tries to run through, but he trips on something and falls hard onto the damp ground. His ribs aching, he tries to pull himself back to his feet, back into his house, but it's already gone. He's stuck here. SUNNY groans in frustration.

Well, there is always another option... the violin. He tries to summon it into his hands, but his eye throbs with sharp agony. He tries to concentrate, but the pain deafens his mind, drowning out his thoughts.

"SUNNY!" someone says. "There you are! Thank goodness you're okay." He turns around. It's MARI... again, and HERO behind her, sitting on a picnic blanket. His chest feels heavy, but at least his eye doesn't hurt anymore. "I was so worried... AUBREY's gone missing too... it's only us three now, so we need to stick together!"

"I'm not sure where we are now," HERO says. "The last thing I remember was being in that junkyard... And then the next thing I knew, we were here! Now that you're here, we should probably look for everyone."

"Hmm..." MARI says. "Why don't we have a picnic first?"

"I'm not sure..." HERO says. "Now just doesn't seem like the right time."

"You need to rest, HERO..." MARI says. "We went through a lot yesterday."

"Hmm... maybe," HERO says. " There is your knee, though. If you push yourself any harder, you might hurt it again..."

"Don't worry about me," MARI says. "You need to relax too, HERO! You must be so stressed out."

"I guess..." he says. "I'm just really worried about everyone."

"You must really miss KEL..." she says.

"Yeah..." HERO says. "Sniff... Do you think he's okay?"

"Of course!" MARI says. "KEL has always been so resilient... We should be like him! He always stays positive, no matter how bad things are."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "Yeah! We just have to stay positive."

"I know what will make you feel better..." MARI says. "Have a cookie!" She reaches into her picnic basket and pulls out a plate of chocolate chip cookies. SUNNY feels himself start to salivate... maybe one wouldn't hurt. He grabs one and takes a bite. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside... the treat of his dreams. It feels a little hollow, but... he still wants more.

"MARI's cookies are the best, huh SUNNY?" HERO says.

"Oh HERO, don't be so humble," MARI says. "You know your cookies are way better than mine!"

"Hey, that's subjective!" HERO says. "MARI's cookies... MARI's cookies have much more love baked into them. I could eat them forever!"

"Oh, stop it, HERO!" MARI says. "You're embarrassing me..."

"Well, good thing there's no one around to see us," he says. "Besides SUNNY, of course."

"Hmm... are you sure?" she says. "I think I see some people..."

"Huh?" HERO says. "Oh..."

SUNNY squints, trying to make out the fuzzy shapes in the distance. Through the foggy woods, he sees what looks like... families? Parents, leading their children down a pink, polka-dotted street into these tall gates made of lollipops. It looks like some sort of candy-themed... complex? Like those giant malls he's seen on TV.

"What is that..?" HERO says.

"I don't know," MARI says. "Do you think we should check it out?"

"Maybe..." HERO says. "I think AUBREY and KEL would go to a place like this. We might be able to find her here."

"Good point," MARI says. "Alright, everyone! Let's go!"

SUNNY wipes the crumbs off his face and gets to his feet. As they approach, the details become clearer. Lit by shining streetlights, a long road stretches off through the forest, deep into the woods, past where SUNNY can see. In the other direction, it goes past the lollipop gates and into a giant, pink-striped mall. An enormous neon sign hangs from the walls, depicting a smiling woman with pigtails holding a wrapped piece of candy over her heart. In barely legible cursive, it reads MISS CANDICE'S CANDY CONFECTIONERY. Seems a bit much.

"Huh," HERO says. "Maybe we could find them here... I don't know..."

"It can't hurt to look," MARI says. "Besides, who doesn't want candy?"

"That's true..." HERO says. "Maybe we can ask around."

While they make their way through the crowd, HERO and MARI try to ask a few strangers about their friends, but they all seem too distracted with their own kids to pay any attention. As they enter the blindingly pink labyrinth of the mall, SUNNY's head starts to ache.

 The obnoxious pop music playing at full blast, the incoherent mess of voices from the giant crowd, and the bright, garish pastels of the halls are like an endless assault on his senses. The endless array of candy stores are like a maze. Each sector hosts a different kind of sweet--one chocolates, one gummies, one caramels, and so on, but it's impossible to keep track of them when they all look almost the same.

MARI doesn't seem to mind. She seems... entranced by it.

"Do you think we could buy something, HERO?" she says.

"Maybe later," he says. "We should stay focused on finding AUBREY, KEL and BASIL for now."

"Aww, you're no fun," she says. "We're going to be here a long time, aren't we? We can afford to buy a little candy while we look around, to keep our spirits up!"

"Alright..." he says. "Just don't take too long."

MARI leads the three of them off into a small chocolate shop. Huge racks of the stuff cover the rosy walls. There's everything from regular old chocolate bars to even hot cocoa. What really catches everyone's eyes is the huge fountain in the center of the room, dripping with delicious brown goodness. A few kids stick skewered marshmallows into it, and MARI eyes it hungrily.

She sets down her picnic basket and searches for a little while, then pulls out a bowl of strawberries and some forks.

"Here," she says to SUNNY and HERO. "Let's get a taste of that chocolate fountain!"

SUNNY pokes a strawberry onto his fork, then holds it out onto the fountain. HERO and MARI do the same, spinning it into the sugary waterfall so they cover every side. After drowning his in chocolate, SUNNY grabs it off the fork and takes a big bite. Tastes like heaven...

"FREEZE!" SUNNY almost chokes. What...? Everyone in the room turns to see the source of the commotion. Three stern-looking police officers march into the room carrying guns, standing protectively around a strange woman with pigtails.

"YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR THAT!" one shouts through a megaphone. "PUT YOUR HANDS UP! YOU KIDS!" He points at... them?

"W...What?" MARI says. She takes a shaky step backward.

"Hey now..." HERO says. "This is all just a misunderstanding. These are our strawberries! We didn't take a thing, officer. You have my guarantee."

"SHUT UP!" he says. SUNNY's ears are ringing... "I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CHOCOLATE!"

"Oh," HERO says. "My apologies. We had no idea you had to pay to use the fountain. As you can see here, there isn't a sign, so-"

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" he says. He puts his gun in HERO's face. HERO gulps. "YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!"

"O-Okay," HERO says. Seems like he's given up. The cops step forward and grab everyone by the arms. One with an ugly mustache and awful breath puts SUNNY into stiff, janky handcuffs. He tries to wiggle his hands around, but they're useless when they're stuck in this position. He sighs in frustration.

"Hi-hi!" the pigtailed woman steps forward and turns to the stunned crowd. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. "It's me! The happy and cheery MISS CANDICE! Let this be a lesson to you, customers! This is what happens when you cross me! Smiley, smiley!"

A green floor tile shoots up, revealing a ladder underneath. The cops drag SUNNY and his friends into the trapdoor, and it shuts, blocking out the bright lights of the mall and trapping them in a dark, musty pit. The damp rocks shine in the dim light. They've been released from their cuffs so they can climb, but it's not like they have any way to escape. SUNNY doesn't dare look down to find out what lurks below. They might as well be hovering over an endless abyss.

SUNNY's arms ache. The rusty ladder cuts his hands, and they burn every time he grabs onto another rung. It feels like they've been climbing forever. He starts to count the number of lights they've passed, to track their progress. What are they at now... fifteen? Sixteen? At the last light, someone hops off onto solid ground. SUNNY turns his head and looks around, then steps off. He stumbles a little. It's disorienting, being back on the ground.

He takes a look around. It's not as dark as he was expecting. The sun is setting, no longer visible past the trees. The cool autumn breeze sends a chill down SUNNY's spine. The paramedics file into his house, then police. His head feels fuzzy. Sirens flash in his eyes. Red and blue. For criminals.

Look at what you've done.

His legs are going to give out. He can't even feel his limbs. He can barely keep from collapsing in the driveway and falling on the hard asphalt. Where is he?

There's a hand on his shoulder. He jerks. His breathing feels labored. Where... where is he?

"SUNNY?" MARI says. "Are you okay...?"

He nods desperately, then shudders. What... was that? He's in some kind of prison cell. Right. MISS CANDICE arrested him for "stealing" her chocolate. HERO sits by the wall, looking dejected. SUNNY can't make out much through the bars, but there are a lot of other kids in here, some even younger than them. All there is in their cells is a toilet, a bench, and a disgusting mattress. Just by looking, SUNNY can tell it's an obvious 1/10. There are no sheets, no blankets, no pillows, and worst of all, a strange yellow stain.

"I'm sorry, everyone..." MARI says. "It's my fault that we're in this mess."

"Hey, it's okay, MARI..." HERO says. "We had no idea that was going to happen."

"Sigh..." she says. "I hope AUBREY, KEL and BASIL are okay. They must be so scared..."

"Maybe they're somewhere in here too?" HERO says. "I bet KEL would get himself into this kind of trouble."

"Maybe," MARI says. "But how are we going to get out of here?"

HERO doesn't respond. Hours pass. Without much to do, SUNNY's eyes drift around the prison cell. He notices something carved into the stone walls... looks like... tally marks? They're each pretty small, but there must be over a thousand. How do you keep track of time down here?

"Dinner," a voice says. Everyone turns to look. Seems like some guards are coming down the hall. Finally... without MARI's picnic basket, they had nothing to eat. They march down the hallway, haphazardly tossing food into the cells. When they come to SUNNY's, they slide a few spoons through a slot in the door, then drop in a bowl of soup. MARI barely catches it, and it sloshes all over her shirt.

"Huh..." she says. "I guess we're supposed to eat this." She hands a wooden spoon to everyone. SUNNY takes a look at his "dinner." Looks like green sludge. He's not interested. He sits back on the hard floor, next to a patch of loose dirt. Hmm... he wonders why that area isn't covered... or what lies under it. He takes his spoon and starts to dig.

"SUNNY?" MARI says. "Aren't you going to eat? I know this looks gross, but you have to eat, you know."

He doesn't respond. MARI stifles a giggle.

"S-SUNNY... Are you trying to dig your way out of our cell?" MARI says. "I-I think that only works in movies."

"I mean..." HERO says, suppressing his laughter. "It's not like we have any other options, is it?"

"Okay..." MARI says. "You know what? I'll help you out, little brother..." she giggles a little, then joins him. At first, it seems like she's just humoring him, but eventually, she starts to get into it too. HERO reluctantly sets down his bowl of soup and decides to help them dig. SUNNY's stomach rumbles. They've been digging for what might as well be days... but they still haven't found anythi-

SUNNY's spoon clanks against something. Something metallic. He sticks his hand into the hole and feels around. There it is... a key. He yanks it out and shows it off with pride.

"Oh?" MARI says. "Did you find something? Looks like you found a key. Why don't we try it?"

SUNNY hands over the key to his sister, and she twists her hand through the bars, then jams the key through the hole. It looks a little painful, but it works, just barely. The door makes a click and she slides it open. Free at last...

"Nice work, SUNNY!" she says. "You got us out of here!"

"Yeah," HERO says. "That was some good thinking on your part. I honestly can't believe that worked."

"When we get out of here, I'll bake you a whole batch of cookies!" MARI says. "Or maybe I could take you someplace you'd like...  the decision is yours, little brother!"

"Hey, aren't you going to free us too?" someone says. Another kid, trapped in a cell like theirs.

"Oh, yeah..." HERO says. "Of course." He takes the key, then heads to the cell opposite them, and tries to unlock it, but nothing happens. "Oh..." he says. "I guess this only works for ours. Don't worry. We'll free you all later!"

"Where do you think we'll find AUBREY, KEL and BASIL?" MARI says.

"Maybe just keep going down this hallway," HERO says. "We should keep it down, though. We might get caught."

They do as HERO says and continue down the long, dark corridor, water dripping onto their heads. No sign of their friends... just more kids they don't recognize. Eventually, they come to a fork in the halls, each path labeled with a grimy old sign. Where they came from seems to be the cells. To the left is surface access, and to the right is the staff lounge.

"We should go to the surface," HERO says. "It doesn't seem like AUBREY, KEL or BASIL are down here, but maybe they're still somewhere in the mall."

"What about those poor kids?" MARI says. "Someone needs to save them."

"Hmm..." he says. "I'm not sure how we would... Maybe we could... bribe a guard with candy from upstairs?"

"Good idea," MARI says. "Let's go."

HERO leads them down the left corridor. They tip-toe, careful not to make a sound, until they start to make out a light. Seems brighter than the dim fluorescents... it must be the surface. Eventually, they start to see the ladder. SUNNY's surprised they made it out here so quickly, and so easily, too. He's so tired of jail, he starts to speedwalk to the ladder... but then, the light dims, and he looks up.

"Uh oh," HERO says. "There's more prisoners coming down the ladder. Act natural!"

Everyone puts on their best poker face. SUNNY's sure his is excellent. The others, not so much. When the cops finally reach the end of the ladder, they take out their guns and give everyone a suspicious stare.

"Hey, who're you kids?" one says. "What's with that look?"

"Oh, um..." HERO says. "We're just... guards?"

"No you're not," another says. "I just arrested you!"

"What?" HERO says. "Why would we ever be arrested? Just look at us! We're so innocent... r-right, MARI?"

"Yeah... sure," she says unconvincingly. "Never... been arrested in my life! Haha!"

"That's nonsense," the cop says. "Put your hands up. We're arresting you... again, since once wasn't enough, apparently!"

They do as the cops command. SUNNY prepares for the worst... but suddenly, one of them falls over, out of nowhere. The others freak out and fire, but they miss by a long shot. The other prisoners... they tackle the remaining cops, then push them to the hard ground, knocking away their guns and pressing them down with their shoes.

"Hey!" one says. "We were arresting you!" One of the prisoners kicks him in the face, and he goes quiet. Seems like they won. There's a boy and a girl, one small, one big. There's something stuck to their shirt... candy wrappers? Tons of them. Ew...

The girl cackles. "They didn't stand a chance, did they, VANCE?"

"Nope," he says. "Think they have any taffy left?"

"Nah," she says. "But we can get some upstairs."

"Uh..." HERO says. "Hey... Who are you two, again? You seem familiar..."

"You don't recognize us?" the girl says. "We're KIM and VANCE, remember?"

"Oh, yeah..." he says. "You were the kids who would always headbutt the tetherball at the playground, I think... I don't know. I don't remember very well."

"Yeah, we were the best at that," KIM says. "Anyway, we wanted some candy, so we came here, but VANCE forgot our wallet and I tried to... er... take some for free... Didn't go so well."

"Well, why don't we team up?" MARI says. "We'll be stronger together."

"Sure," KIM says. "Just promise you won't snitch on us!"

"We'd never!" MARI says. "By the way... have you seen our friends AUBREY, KEL or BASIL around? We've looked all over, but we can't find them anywhere."

"Hmm..." KIM says. "Nope. Haven't seen AUBREY or anyone like that yet. What about you, big bro?"

"Oh, er..." VANCE says. "Hmm... Let me think... No, I don't think so. Sorry..."

"Oh..." MARI says. "Well... there is something else you could help us with." 

"What is it?" KIM says.

"There are so many kids trapped down here..." MARI says. "We need to free them!"

"Nuh-uh!" KIM says. "There's no way we can do that. We should just get the heck out of dodge before they catch us again!"

"Oh, have a heart, won't you, KIM?" MARI says. "These kids are even younger than us... they must be so scared."

KIM grumbles. "Fine... But you'd better get us some taffy on the way!"

"If you say so," MARI says. "Now... hey, officer!" She turns to one of the cops on the floor, stuck under KIM's shoe, and pokes him.

"What?" he croaks.

"Can you give us a key to the cells?" she says, putting on her best charming voice. "Pretty please?"

"I refuse," he says. "And even if I wanted to, I couldn't, because only MISS CANDICE has that power! If you want to release the prisoners, take it up with her!"

"Oh..." MARI says. "Where is she?"

"I'm not telling you!" he says. "But she's definitely not at the top floor of the mall!"

"Hmm..." she says. "Thanks for cooperating!"

"I didn't-" he starts to say, but MARI's already on the ladder.

"Come on!" she says. "We don't want to keep anyone waiting!"

"What about the fuzz?" KIM says.

"I could try to hold them down," VANCE suggests.

"But..." KIM says.

"Don't worry, sis," he says. "I'm a strong guy. I'll stay safe. Besides, if I get caught, you'll free me, right?"

"Yeah..." she says. "Yeah! Let's go."

Everyone hops onto the rusty ladder with MARI. First HERO, then SUNNY, then KIM. It's a shorter climb than SUNNY remembers. Soon enough, they're at the hatch to the surface. MARI pushes it open, bathing them in blinding light. This isn't the same place as before. Somehow, no one in the mall seems to see the four kids climbing out of the floor... maybe it's so crowded that nobody noticed? 

"HEY!" someone yells. Another cop. Of course. He's holding out his gun, pointing it right at them. "PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"

"Run!" KIM says. Everyone breaks into a sprint, but MARI stops.

"I-I can't," MARI says. "My knee..."

"What are you, chicken or something?" KIM says. "We gotta go!"

"Shoot..." HERO says. "She can't run, KIM. She has a bad knee. Looks like we're gonna have to fight our way out of this one."

"You know what?" KIM says. "Sure!" She charges into the cop headfirst, like a rampaging bull. She hits him hard in the stomach, and he stumbles backward into a shelf of peppermints. The crowd gasps. Another officer runs into the scene, flourishing a gun, but KIM doesn't look the least bit afraid. She plows into him, spits on his shoe, and snaps his sunglasses in two. 

"Attention!" an obnoxious voice starts to talk on the loudspeaker. "We have some rogue customers in sector 4, location B. If you are a police officer, please head to the site and deal with them immediately. Otherwise, remain calm and keep shopping! Smiley, smiley!"

"Wow," HERO says. "Does she even... need our help?"

"Probably not," MARI says. SUNNY's inclined to agree. The more officers they send, the bolder KIM gets. She's like a one-man army, taking out every bad guy in sight.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA!" KIM bellows. "I told you size wasn't everything!"

SUNNY hears some shuffling from behind him. He turns to see someone coming up the ladder. Looks like VANCE.

"Do you need some help, sis?" he says. 

"Of course not!" she says. "B-But it would be appreciated!"

"All right!" VANCE roars. "You three go on ahead! We've got this covered."

"O...Okay?" HERO says. "Stay safe!"

"Is there an elevator here?" MARI says. "I don't think I can stand any more walking."

"Let's find one," HERO says. There's an escalator, but that won't keep them safe from the cops' gunshots. SUNNY scans the area... there's one. To the right of the bubblegum section.

"There!" HERO says. "Let's go." They rush to the elevator, smash the button, and scramble inside, the sound of gunfire still ringing in SUNNY's ears. Looks like there's five floors to this place. The top one says "5F (OFFICES)"... that must be it. HERO hits the button and takes MARI by the arm. Some elevator music plays dimly in the background. With that and the mural of MISS CANDICE's face painted on the walls, SUNNY can't wait to get out of here. This sure is taking a while. Then again, the place looked pretty tall from the outside. 

Ding. Looks like they reached the top. The doors slide open, and they walk into an obnoxiously bright room. A long corridor stretches on, the tiled floor carpeted with polka dots in the center. Some giant lollipops decorate the path. At the end lies a bland brown desk and past it, a tired-looking girl in a pink schoolgirl outfit.

"Welcome to MISS CANDICE'S CANDY CONFECTIONERY, LLC," she mumbles robotically. "How can I help you?"

"Uh..." HERO says. "Do you know where MISS CANDICE is? We'd like to meet with her."

"Why?" she says.

"We're, um..." he says.

"Investors!" MARI finishes. "We'd like to... invest in her company."

"You sure?" the girl says. "You look like kids to me."

"No no," she says. "You have it all wrong. We're business... veterans!"

"Listen," the girl says. "I'm just her secretary, okay? I don't really care for her, but I don't want to get sent to the dungeon. So I'll have to deny you entry."

"Please?" MARI says. "We're on the run from her dungeon too! We just want to save the kids down there."

"Hmm..." the girl seems to consider it. "How are you going to convince her?"

"Our friend here is really good with words!" MARI says. "Show her, HERO!"

"Um..." HERO says. "Greetings, MISS CANDICE's secretary! We don't mean to bother you, but me and my companions require your aid in reaching the much admired MISS CANDICE for our business ventures. Would you please let us into her office?"

The girl stares at HERO. She doesn't look too amused. "Fine," she says. "Just... take these first. They'll help." She hands HERO a bottle of something... looks like painkillers? "She gets a lot of headaches," she explains. "Her office is to the right. Just take another right and you'll be there. Can't miss it."

"Thank you!" HERO says. He leads them down the halls, following the secretary's directions, until they come to an ornate set of gates. They seem to be made out of all kinds of sweets--nuts, chocolate, gummies, hard candy, everything. HERO uses the brass knocker. No response. Guess they'll just... walk in?

The office they find inside is so bright, SUNNY has to squint. In front of an ornate candy throne is a wall of monitors, each connected to a security camera somewhere in the mall. On one, SUNNY can make out KIM and VANCE, still fending off the cops. They look tired. Everything else looks normal, but there's such an abundance of monitors, SUNNY wonders how no one's caught up to them yet. There's one in every room, for every angle. Not a single blind spot, anywhere.

Seems like there's no one here. Just an empty throne. SUNNY stares back at the camera on KIM and VANCE... oh. Looks like MISS CANDICE took care of them. A few cops drag them back down a ladder, and she marches off, surrounded by her own set of guards. Right under all the monitors is a microphone and a giant red button, surrounded by a glass cage. 

PRESS TO RELEASE ALL PRISONERS, a note says. P.S. DO NOT EVER PRESS! EVER ! SMILEY, SMILEY!

"She'll probably be coming up soon, so we have to act fast!" HERO says. 

"How are we going to break the glass, though?" MARI says.

"Hmm..." HERO says. "MARI, try that lollipop."

"Sure," she says. She pulls a big lollipop out of its stand. Seems pretty heavy. She takes a firm grasp of the stick... and slams it down at full force. The glass shatters to pieces and the button gets squashed. An alarm starts to sound.

"ALERT. ALERT. NOW RELEASING ALL CAPTIVE PRISONERS. ALERT." 

The gates swing open. MISS CANDICE. She's a sweaty, disheveled mess. She's still smiling as usual, but her eyes look crueler than ever. Two cops stand behind her, pointing their guns, but even they look afraid.

"YOU THREE AGAIN?!" she shrieks. "How did you get in here?!"

"It's too late, CANDICE," MARI says. "There's no way you can arrest all of them!"

"Whatever," she says. "I'll get rid of you myself! No one will ever shoplift again! Not on my watch!" She snatches a gun from one of her guards and points it at MARI. She puts her hands up, but HERO looks like he's had enough. He grabs another lollipop from its stand and takes a swing. It only grazes her arm, but she's still knocked off balance. MARI jabs hers into her chest, and she falls backward, but she has quick reflexes. She gets to her feet and lets loose on the trigger.

Everyone jumps behind her throne. Her bullets bounce off harmlessly. Well, they're not bullets. They're... little pez candies? She's shooting a pez gun. What?

"Help me, you stupid pigs!" she screams.

"B-But I thought you said-"

"I take that back! Any more protests, and you're going to JAIL!" 

"O-Okay!" the officers spring into action, still shivering. It's three on three now. Knowing that they're only shooting pez, they're a lot less intimidating. SUNNY grabs another lollipop and joins the fray. MARI climbs over the throne and slams her weapon onto an officer's head. He slams into the tile floor, apparently unconscious. But she's vulnerable now--HERO leaps in front and holds out his lollipop as a shield. The spray of bullets cracks it to pieces.

They flinch, expecting more bullets, but they've run out of ammo. While CANDICE flails for another candy cartridge, SUNNY takes his chance and swings his lollipop hard into her face, sending her careening into the wall. 

"Ow! You-" she says, but SUNNY hits her again before she can finish her sentence. SUNNY swings again, but something hits him and he drops his lollipop, his arm stinging. CANDICE's dropped her gun, though, and he reaches for it with his working arm. Another bullet hits him in the back and he shudders. CANDICE grabs her gun again, but she can't aim at all. He must've hit her pretty hard.

The only real threat left now is the other officer, but MARI and HERO are taking swift care of him. After seeing his boss so thoroughly pummeled, he seems to have given up. He drops his gun and puts his hands in the air.

"I surrender!" he says.

"You coward! What are you doing?!" CANDICE howls. 

"It's three on one," HERO says. "You can't win."

"I'll never give up!" she cries. "I'll keep fighting until-" SUNNY hits her in the head again, by her temple, and she flops onto the ground. She looks... dazed. Like she's barely even conscious. He must have hit her right in the heart. Huh. That was... kind of an anticlimax?

"Nice work, little brother!" MARI says. "You've been saving us a lot today."

"Yeah, whew..." HERO says. "That was intense. We should get out of here before they send more reinforcements."

"It's too bad we didn't find our friends..." MARI says. "I hope they're okay."

"Yeah, me too," HERO says. "Let's just get going... I never want to see candy again in my life."

The three of them walk out of the office, lollipops in hand. It's strangely quiet now, after the loud scuffle. When they come to the hallway with the elevator, the secretary is there waiting for them.

"Hey... you actually did it," she says. "I ought to thank you guys! CANDICE was the worst boss I've ever had. Maybe I'll leave this place and start my own store."

"Aww, you're welcome!" HERO says. "If you want, we can escort you out."

"Hmm... but..." the girl says. "I do like the free candy... Hmm. I'll decide later. You guys just go on ahead. Have a nice day!"

They stroll down the candied hallway and into the elevator. It's been a long night... SUNNY takes a seat on the floor and closes his eyes. The faint music starts to fade. This is taking an awfully long time... even longer than before. SUNNY opens his eyes again. The elevator looks... different. Black boards lie underneath his feet, and around him, grey, floral wallpaper. He is not sure where he is.

The elevator door opens. He steps outside, and it disappears. From this high platform of wood, he can see a dark ocean, one that stretches out forever. Black waves lap against black trees, glinting in the glow of the moon. Not the moon. The lightbulb, at the top of the sky, beaming onto everything, bathing the world in shining white light. There are no shadows here.

SUNNY can't help but let an immense dread wash over him. Everything about this place is offputting. The clouds, bizarrely both dark and bright. The angel hovering over the bed, the way it all looks so... unfinished. 

Where is it better to go, though... up or down? He tries to gaze past the steel girders and wood, to see what lies at the top of this place. There's a treehouse. Comfort. He climbs onto the rough, bent ladder, careful not to slip, then onto another platform of wood, then onto another ladder. He doesn't dare look down.

There. He's finally at the top. There's only one ladder left--the small one to the treehouse. He quickly scales it and eagerly pulls himself inside.

Static. Nothing but static. Toy. Toast. Cat. TV. Game. Book. All static. His ears fill with an awful buzzing. There is only one thing here still intact. A man. With tousled brown hair. Broad shoulders. Kind eyes. He stares at SUNNY in horror.

The sunlight seems to shine directly onto something. A well-kept headstone. 

"OUR DEAREST MARI"

"THE SUN SHINED BRIGHTER WHEN SHE WAS HERE."

SUNNY summons his violin and plays a short melody.

Chapter Text

THREE DAYS LEFT...

When SUNNY gets up, KEL is fast asleep and HERO gone, so he's left to start his day alone. He quickly gets out of bed, grabs some toiletries, a change of clothes, and a bottle of pills from his bag, then takes them to the bathroom. He swallows his medication with a cup of water and brushes his teeth, then strolls down the stairs and into the kitchen, looking for breakfast. He hears some conversation from the dining room and takes a look.

"Well, it's in two days, see..."

"I'm sure we can afford to- Good morning, SUNNY!" KEL's mom says suddenly. He notices she's sitting in there with the rest of her family, aside from KEL. What were they talking about...? "What would you like for breakfast? We have eggs, pancakes, bacon, french toast... but we're all out of orange juice."

SUNNY thinks for a second. "Bacon and eggs, please..."

"Okay! Let me get that started!" she says. She hands SALLY off to her husband, then goes to begin breakfast. He hears a fridge opening in the kitchen.

"Is KEL awake yet, SUNNY?" HERO asks. SUNNY jolts a little. He startled him.

He shakes his head. "He was asleep when I woke up."

"Oh. That makes sense. He's always liked to sleep in..." HERO says. "So we were going to the beach today, right? What time were you guys thinking?"

SUNNY shrugs his shoulders. "Ask KEL."

"I'll do that, then," he says. "We have a lot of time, so there's no rush. It's only 7:30 in the morning, after all!"

SUNNY doesn't respond. Something about HERO makes him uneasy. Maybe he's being paranoid... HERO seems perfectly friendly. Maybe he doesn't resent him at all. But then why does he act so strange whenever he sees him? Why has he been so absent the past two days? His anxieties eat away at him while he waits for breakfast, but a hot plate of bacon and eggs gets his mind off them for a little while.

"Here you are!" KEL's mom says. "You were so thin last year, SUNNY. Make sure to eat up!"

"Good morning, everyone!" KEL says, announcing his presence to the dining room. He takes a seat by his brother. "How'd you sleep, SUNNY? You're up earlier than usual!"

"Good..." he says automatically. He shoves a piece of egg into his mouth.

"That's good..." KEL says. "So, Mom... Do you think..."

"Yes?" she says skeptically, cutting him off.

"...that the three of us could go to the beach today?" KEL finishes. "HERO could drive us!"

"The beach?" She says skeptically. "That's so far... Well, I suppose it is a vacation. Just make sure to supervise them, alright, HERO? You know how big groups of teenagers are!"

Their dad laughs. "I'm sure they'll be fine, honey," he says. "They're all good kids."

"Yeah, yeah..." HERO says. "You know I won't let anything get out of hand..."

"That's my HERO!" she says. "You make us so proud." ...Is KEL frowning?

"Okay, enough of that," KEL says suddenly. "We need to start packing for the beach!"

They spend a while searching for everything they'll need. Sunscreen, swim trunks, drinks, beach towels, bags, watermelon... All they need now is a bathing suit for SUNNY, but he can buy those on the way. This is good for now. After KEL gives BASIL and AUBREY a quick call, they head out to the car, HERO in the driver's seat and their stuff in the trunk.

KEL gets to sit in the front. SUNNY has to sit in the back, but he doesn't mind. Honestly, he'd prefer it over sitting next to HERO for so long...

It takes mere seconds to reach BASIL's house by car. BASIL and AUBREY are waiting out front, each carrying a load of their beach stuff. They quickly set their things in the trunk, then climb into the car. SUNNY shifts to the right to make room. BASIL sits in the middle, at his side, and AUBREY on the other end. It's a little cramped, but not too bad. They should be ready to hit the road now.

It's a bit of a weird feeling... this is the first time the five of them have been together in an entire year. It's great, but... there's this subtle feeling he can't ignore, boiling under his deep excitement. Like it's... wrong. Incomplete. The car starts to move.

"Hey, HERO," AUBREY says casually. "Nice to see you again."

"You too, AUBREY," HERO says as he drives. "Man, it really has been too long. You look so different! How've you been?"

"Good enough," she says. "It's been a little hard sometimes, but I think I'm doing a lot better than I was last time I saw you..." She pauses for a second. "What about you?"

"That's good! You seem a lot happier right now, too. About me, though... hmm..." HERO says. "College is pretty stressful sometimes, but it's not too bad. It can be a lot of fun... When I get any free time, that is."

"Sounds like a lot of work," AUBREY says.

"It is, but it's not too bad," HERO says. "It's nothing compared to medical school... I'm really dreading that. What do you think you'll study in college, though, AUBREY?"

"Hmm..." she says. "I don't know. I guess I haven't really thought about college yet... it seems so far off."

"Well, you guys will be seniors in the fall, won't you?" HERO says. "So it's best to start thinking about it sooner rather than later."

"Probably..." she says. "I don't even know if my grades are good enough... I skipped so much of tenth grade that I almost failed."

"Well, you're doing pretty good now, aren't you?" KEL says. "You got like a 90 in Chemistry!"

"Only because the teacher was a total pushover..." she says.

"Not true! You're plenty smart, AUBREY," KEL says. "You just need to believe in yourself some more."

"I guess..." she mumbles. Doesn't sound like she means it.

"I don't know if you need to be smart to do well, though, KEL," HERO says. "You just need to work hard and study hard, and you'll do fine."

"I study a ton, though," KEL says. "And I still get bad grades..."

"Well, you're great at sports, aren't you?" HERO says. "Have some positivity! Some colleges like that!"

"Yeah, that's true..." KEL says. "That was the plan... if I get an athletic scholarship, I'm practically set for life!"

"How will I pay for it, though?" AUBREY asks. "Scholarships aren't really an option with my... record."

"Well, doctors make a ton of money, right?" KEL says. "So HERO could just... give you the money!"

HERO cracks up a little. "I don't think that's how it works, KEL... But... if you guys are ever struggling to make ends meet, I can-"

"I'm not going to make HERO pay for my tuition," she says. "You're a doctor. You should keep it."

"O-Okay..." HERO says. "I'm just saying..."

"What about you guys?" KEL asks, turning around in his seat. "Do you think you'll go to college, BASIL?"

"Oh, um... Yeah, I think so... m-maybe..." he says. "I-I could study horticulture... or something..."

HERO makes a strange expression when he hears BASIL's voice... like when he saw SUNNY again for the first time. SUNNY's breathing feels shallow... something about this conversation topic fills him with dread... but he shouldn't interrupt. Everyone seems like they're enjoying themselves.

"What's horticulture?" KEL asks. "Is that like... flower agriculture?"

"Um, it's... like gardening," BASIL says. "Professional gardening, basically."

"Oh! Yeah, you'd be great at that," KEL says. "Maybe you could join an FFA program or something."

"FFA program?" AUBREY says. "BASIL's not a farmer."

"Farming, gardening... same thing," he says. "They're both plants."

"Farmers grow things you can eat," she says. "You can't eat a garden..."

"How do you know that?" KEL says.

AUBREY's mouth hangs open. "Do you eat flowers ?"

"Well, a-actually..." BASIL says. "There are a few you can eat... like sunflowers, or honeysuckle. Th-they're mostly used for garnish, though."

"But that's not farming," she says. "Farming is stuff like fruits and vegetables."

"Yeah, um... I don't grow any crops, really..." BASIL says, "Maybe I could, though... like strawberries. The climate here is perfect for them, and they're easy to grow..."

"Ooh, good idea," KEL says. "Strawberries are your favorite, aren't they, BASIL?"

"Yeah, they are..." he says. "H-How'd you remember?"

"I don't know..." he says. "Just did, I guess."

A picture pops into SUNNY's mind. BASIL, smiling over a cake, his friends all trying to get into the photo. "Your 12th birthday," he says suddenly. "They were on your cake."

"Oh, right!" KEL says. "Man, that feels forever ago... How do you remember things like that, SUNNY?"

"Some people just have a really good memory," HERO says. "We don't, but SUNNY does. Maybe it's genetic."

"Um," BASIL says. "I think it was in the photo album, too..."

"Oh, yeah..." HERO says. "I forgot about the photo album. I haven't seen it in so long. Do you still have that with you, SUNNY?"

"Yes," he says. He'd show them, but... too bad it's in his bag right now.

"We've actually been adding to it, HERO!" KEL says. "BASIL's been using his camera again. We took a ton in the woods yesterday. Probably like... four or five, I think? I could take a look..." He starts to shuffle around in his seat.

"Stay in your seat, KEL," HERO says. "Not while I'm driving."

"Aww, man... it's so cramped in here anyway..." KEL says. "How much longer 'till we get there?"

"I'd say... 20 minutes?" HERO says. "We'll probably get there at 10:30 or so."

SUNNY stares out the window, curious how close they are right now. All he can see is open highway. It looks a little cloudy this morning, but there's some sunshine still... pockets of blue occasionally peek through a blanket of light gray. Hopefully it clears up by the time they reach the beach. 

"Man, I wish I could drive," KEL says. "How long is it gonna take me to get a license...?"

"You just have to work at it, KEL!" HERO says. "Plus, you've come a long way since you first started. Remember when you used to always knock over the mailbox when you backed into our driveway? That never happens now!"

"Driving, huh?" AUBREY says. "I wish I could drive, but it's not like my mom is ever going to get me a car... It's always my friends that take me places."

"Don't worry, AUBREY," HERO says. "You can try to save up enough. Or you could move to the city... you don't really need a car there."

"I guess..." AUBREY says. "By the way... do you guys mind if we hang out with my new friends for a bit? They're at the beach already, so... maybe we could see them for a few hours."

"Fine by me," KEL says. "What about you, SUNNY? This is your vacation, after all..."

He shrugs. "Sure," he says half-heartedly. He doesn't feel like telling AUBREY no... even if a few of her new friends are a little annoying.

"What about you, BASIL?" AUBREY says. "You're being really quiet..."

"O-oh, um, sure," he says. "I don't really mind."

"Okay," she says. "I'll call them when we get there."

"You guys won't do anything crazy, will you?" HERO says sternly. "I don't want anybody getting hurt."

"Of course we won't, HERO..." she says. "Not in front of you, at least." She smirks.

"Hey now, AUBREY..." he says.

"You don't want to make him angry," KEL says. "Nobody wants to see HERO when he gets mad."

"Hey, there's nothing to be afraid of..." HERO says. "Your friends can be a little out of control sometimes, so I'm just keeping everyone in line."

"Oh hey, we're almost here!" KEL says. "Look! You guys remember this place, don't you?"

"Yeah..." AUBREY says. "We went here when we were kids. SUNNY's mom drove us."

"I've always wanted to live in a place like this," KEL says. "You've got the ocean... the shops... the amusement parks... it seems like so much fun!"

"Really?" AUBREY says. "Look at all the tourists. This place is so crowded."

"Well, that's the beach for ya," KEL says. "Quiet most of the year, then full of tourists in the summer."

"How are we going to find a good spot..?" BASIL asks.

"Well, we're here kinda early," KEL says. "So we need to take a spot, fast. Then we can go shopping for all the other stuff we need to get."

"Alright," HERO says. "Let me just find a good place to park..."

After a few minutes of searching, HERO squeezes the car into a packed parking lot and opens up the trunk. They each grab their bags and carry them over to the beach. It's a long walk and a heavy load... SUNNY wishes his arms weren't so weak. BASIL looks like he's having the same struggle. Finally, they set down their bags on the sand, far enough from the ocean that they won't get wet. They each take out a beach towel and an umbrella, then set them down for later. 

There's not too many people around, but there's still a lot to take in. The beach stretches far into the distance, winding along the ocean. There's sunbathers... kids making sandcastles... seagulls trying to steal scraps of food... shells exposed by the tides... foamy white waves crashing on the shore... Their earlier conversations about college tuition or driver's licenses seem so FARAWAY now. It's almost like he's a kid again. Almost...

"Looks like the tide is pretty low right now," HERO says. "Our stuff should be fine for now. Now let's go shopping!"

They leave their things on the beach and head for town. They're sort of on the outskirts, but it's still a pretty crowded place. The town itself is a patchwork of food trucks, paved pathways, and small shops, each colorfully decorated and selling everything from cotton candy to drinks to t-shirts. He eyes a ferris wheel far in the distance. They could spend the whole day just exploring if they wanted to.

It takes them a little while, but eventually they find a department store. SUNNY and BASIL head into the clothes section, looking for swimsuits. SUNNY dully looks around for a pair of swim trunks and settles on a gray one, while BASIL gets a green pair and a white tank top to protect him from sunburns. After they all regroup at the checkout, they head off to change.

SUNNY decides to keep his shirt on until later. His chest is so pale, he'd get a sunburn in minutes... Besides, next to KEL and HERO with their shirts off, he'd seem so scrawny... But put together, the five of them look ready to hit the beach. They head out of the department store and into the humid seaside air. Looks like the clouds have passed by now.

"Man, I'm hungry," KEL says. "Can we get lunch real quick?"

"Yeah, I was thinking we should eat soon," HERO says. "There should be something good at the boardwalk. Let's go there."

"You sure?" AUBREY says. "That place is so crowded... we'll be waiting in line forever."

"That's true," he says. "But it'd be worth the wait-"

"Who cares how good it is?" KEL says. "I'm hungry! Let's get something from one of the food trucks here."

"Okay, KEL..." HERO says. "I-I'll just go there later..."

"What do you guys want?" KEL asks. He gestures to a menu beside a food truck. SUNNY looks over his options... He was never big on seafood. Fish and chips sounds good enough... whatever it is. A few minutes later, their order number is called, and KEL takes a full paper bag to one of the few empty picnic tables. BASIL takes a few photos, and SUNNY stares at his meal. He double checks the bag, to make sure he's not missing something. Where are the chips?

"Where are the chips?" KEL asks. SUNNY jumps a little. Did he read his mind or something? AUBREY snorts, and his face flushes. Is... is that  a dumb question?

"O-Oh," HERO says, trying not to snicker. "There are no potato chips, KEL. The chips are the french fries."

"That's weird," KEL says. "Why would you call it 'fish and chips' if there's no chips? It just doesn't make sense!"

"That's how they say it in England," HERO explains. "That's where the dish is from."

"Well, this isn't England... This is America!" KEL says. "They should use the American word for it."

HERO laughs nervously. Somehow, KEL's left him speechless.

"You're so stupid sometimes..." AUBREY says, smirking.

"Hey!" KEL says. "It's true..."

"Anyway," HERO says. "I'm going to go get some food at the boardwalk. KEL's in charge until I come back, okay?"

"Okay! See you later!" KEL says. HERO walks off, leaving the teenagers alone.

"Why do we need someone in charge?" AUBREY says. "We're seventeen years old. We can take care of ourselves."

We're seventeen years old... SUNNY can't explain why, but his heart starts to race at her words. He takes a deep breath to cool off, but a feeling of dread looms over him still, one that's been with him since the car ride.

"SUNNY...?" KEL brings him back to reality. "You alright?" 

He nods automatically.

"Okay..." KEL says. "You just started staring off into the distance for a second there. If there's something on your mind, don't be afraid to talk about it, okay? I don't want things to end up like last night..."

"I-I'm fine," SUNNY says suddenly.

"Alright then..." KEL says. "Just tell us if you need anything! We're here for you if you ever need us."

He nods again. He's really fine, isn't he? There's a silent pause. His friends are all wearing faces of concern. He looks away from their gaze, trying to calm himself. He tries to focus on what he sees right now... a seagull stealing some scraps... a white cloud passing over the sun... an upset child, only a few feet away, holding his mother's hand, pointing... at... him? Oh no...

"MOMMY!" he wails loudly. "What happened to that boy's eye?"

SUNNY sighs. He's learned to shut it out, to mute the gossiping and the loud children. It might have been worse with the fake eye... maybe not. Frankly, his friends look more upset than he is. He hears BASIL taking deep breaths. If only this would just blow over. He hates having all this attention drawn to him and making scenes, but it's an inevitable part of having an obvious eyepatch. He sticks out like a sore thumb.

He tries to look for HERO, something to get him out of this situation. Thankfully, soon enough he sees him, out of the corner of his eye. He's walking with someone... a girl SUNNY doesn't recognize? They're engrossed in conversation. He seems... happy, like SUNNY hasn't seen him in a while.

"Yeah, I'm planning on CLOSEBY MEDICAL, but-" his eyes drift to their table, and he stops.

"...Is something wrong?" the girl says.

"No, it's just..." HERO says. "Those are my friends over there. Do you mind if I join them?"

"Not at all," she says. "It was nice to meet you, though..."

"Yeah, you too! Bye!" he says. He starts to walk toward them.

"Wait, HENRY!" the girl says. "Did I get your number?"

"Yeah, I think so," he says. "I gave it to you on a piece of paper, remember?"

"Oh, yeah..." she says. "Bye, HENRY! I'll call you!"

"Bye..." HERO says. Everyone looks up at him.  

"Hey, guys..." he says. "Did I miss anything?"

"Yeah," AUBREY says angrily. "This little tyke wouldn't stop crying 'cause of SUNNY's eyepatch! His mom wouldn't do anything until it was way too late, and-"

"AUBREY, calm down," KEL says. "We're getting stared at..."

"Sorry..." she says. "I'll... I'll quiet down for now."

"What..?" HERO says, seemingly surprised. "Are you alright, SUNNY? That sounds stressful. I'm sorry."

"Yes," SUNNY says. "Let's just go."

"Okay, then..." KEL says. He seems to read SUNNY's mood. "Time to hit the beach, guys!"

"Oh yeah," AUBREY says. "I should probably call my friends..." She takes out her cell phone and dials someone's number as they walk. She exchanges a few words with someone, then hangs up. Probably KIM.

"By the way, HERO..." KEL says. "Who was that girl you were talking to?" 

"Oh, um..." HERO says. "No one, really. Just someone I met at the boardwalk."

"Seemed like she liked you..." KEL says. "Are you gonna like... date her?"

"I...I don't know," HERO says. He stares off into the distance. SUNNY thinks he sees his eyes watering... or maybe he just imagined it. AUBREY whispers something to KEL, and he drops the subject. As they walk, HERO seems sort of... off, or sullen. He won't look at any of them, and he keeps staring at nothing. Guilt digs into SUNNY... but he tries his best to disregard it. This is a vacation. He's trying to get away from that for now.

Soon enough, they arrive at the beach. It's only around noon, but the place is already a sea of people. Embarrassingly, his eye quickly begins to drift to a few girls in bikinis, or, as much as he wishes it didn't... even shirtless guys? He doesn't really understand why. Miraculously, though, their spot remains untouched. SUNNY takes off his shirt and feels the hot summer sun beat down on his chest. 

"Make sure you put on sunscreen, everyone..." HERO says. He pulls a bottle out of the bag and they pass it around. SUNNY squeezes some into the palm of his hand, then tries his best to cover his whole body, but it's impossible to get all of his back. Especially with his kind of short arms.

"Need some help with that, SUNNY?" KEL says.

"Y-yes, please," he says. KEL rubs some along SUNNY's back. He remembers when MARI used to do this for him... and then he'd try to do it for her, even though he was a lot shorter... the memory fills him with nostalgia.

"There," KEL says. "You should be good now!"

"Hey, guys?" AUBREY says. "I think I see my friends." 

SUNNY turns to see a group of kids running to meet them. A small girl with glasses, a big, hairy guy, a young kid, a tall girl, and a guy with an obviously fake blond wig. The hooligans.

"HEY, NERDS!" KIM yells. KEL rolls his eyes. "Good to see you guys."

"Hey, KIM..." AUBREY says. "How's it hanging?"

"Pretty good, pretty good," she says. "Is that the SUNNY guy with you- woah." She stops and stares at his eyepatch. "I, uh, forgot about that." AUBREY glares at her. Looks like just a look is enough. "Okay, okay... Geez, I was just surprised! Anyway, what'cha you guys up to?"

"AUBREY, AUBREY!" ANGEL says. "We brought rocks to skip!"

"I told you they won't work on the ocean, ANGEL!" KIM says. "It's too... wavey. The water needs to be calm."

"I'll prove you wrong," he says. "Right, Master?!" He pokes THE MAVERICK on the shoulder. "Master?"

"What?" he murmurs.

"What are you staring at, MIKHAEL?" KIM says.

"Oh, er..." he says. "Do you see that fine lady over there? I saw her and I was simply awestruck. Love at first sight... I'm going to go chat her up."

KIM laughs obnoxiously. "Like you have a chance with her!" she says.

They keep bickering, but SUNNY soon tunes out of the conversation and returns to his other friends by their towels. They seem a lot more interesting.

"Hey, guys," KEL says. "You ready to go swimming or what? It's been forever!"

"Yeah," AUBREY calls. "Give me a second, guys... I'll be back soon."

AUBREY leaves her other friends at their spot, and the five of them start to walk down the warm sand. SUNNY remembers something... he turns to look at BASIL. 

He's shaking... right. He's terrified of drowning. SUNNY offers his hand, and BASIL takes it. It feels cold... and sweaty, too. He looks like a deer caught in the headlights... as helpless as he was a year ago. When he fell into the lake.

KEL seems to take notice. "Hey, BASIL..." he says. "You alright?"

"Y-Yeah," BASIL sputters. "J-Just nervous... haha..."

"It's okay if you want to stay back," KEL says. "You don't have to go in the water if it's too much."

"No," BASIL says defiantly. "I have to do this. Alone."

"Okay... but call for us if you need help!" KEL says. 

BASIL lets go of SUNNY's hand and walks out to shore. The further he walks into the crowd, the harder it becomes to make him out. He sees BASIL take a deep breath. The waves crash relentlessly against him, but he keeps wading further out to sea. He's ankle deep now. Knee deep. Waist deep. A wave crashes against him, obscuring him for a moment. Another envelops him and he shivers, but BASIL persists. SUNNY feels his heart beating.

The further he wades out, the harder he trembles and the slower he walks. Eventually, he stops, when the water is up to his abdomen. He pauses a moment and wraps his arms around his chest, shaking... SUNNY can see it in his head, the black tendrils wrapping around him, the dark water dragging him down. What BASIL must be seeing.

BASIL stands there for a moment, staring back at the beach, before slowly, he begins to wade back through the surf. Slowly, over time, he makes it back to dry land. He's trembling a little, but he doesn't look afraid. Just... ashamed.

"Hey, BASIL..." KEL says. "Welcome back. How are you doin'?"

"I'm fine," he says. He looks at the ground. "I'm sorry... That's the farthest I could get myself to go."

"That's okay!" KEL assures him. "You did your best. That's something to be proud of!"

"Yeah... I guess so..." BASIL says, rubbing the back of his head. "It was scary, but... I think it's less scary now. I'm not really in any danger... so I don't need to be afraid."

"That's the spirit!" KEL says. "Maybe you can go in deeper later. It just takes time. The more you do it, the easier it'll get."

"Maybe..." BASIL mumbles.

"We'll see later," KEL says. His eyes drift to AUBREY. She's staring at the ground... "Hey, AUBREY... is something wrong?"

"N-no, it's just..." she says. Her voice cracks. "This is all my fault, isn't it? That BASIL's afraid of water. If I never pushed you into the lake, then... we this wouldn't happen."

SUNNY should speak up, shouldn't he? This is his fault... because of the album... "No," he says. "I ruined the photos. It's my fault."

"Come on, you two..." KEL says. "Remember what I said. You're not that person you were when you pushed him anymore, AUBREY. You've making up for your mistakes... Both of you. All that matters is the here and now!"

"Yeah," HERO says shakily. "B-Blame... doesn't accomplish anything." 

They all turn to look at him, startled by his sudden speaking. He seems... off, still, like he has been ever since his encounter with that girl at the boardwalk. SUNNY's chest feels tight again... like his breathing is getting shallow. This... this is his fault. It all is. He took her away from him.

"HERO...?" AUBREY says. "Are you okay? You've been acting kind of strange..."

"Y-Yeah," HERO says. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me too much, okay? You guys are just kids... you don't have to look after me."

"But we're your friends, too..." AUBREY says.

"Thank you, AUBREY," he says. "I appreciate it, really. But I-I'm fine."

"Okay," AUBREY says, though she seems skeptical. "Maybe later..."

"Anyway," HERO says hastily. "I think you need some rest, BASIL. Let's get back to our spot."

"Yeah..." BASIL says, pulling himself off the sand. "I'd be fine with that..."

They take BASIL back across the beach, over to their beach towels. He sits down, soaking the ground, and SUNNY takes a seat next to him. AUBREY's hooligans seem to have run off, leaving the five of them alone. 

"Hey, everyone," HERO says hoaresly. He seems like he's barely keeping it together. "I-I'm going to the bathroom. I'll... see you in a bit, okay?"

SUNNY's reminded of what BASIL used to do... what he did three days before he moved. He feels another stab of guilt... but... AUBREY takes his mind off it for a moment when she opens the cooler. He can just focus on getting a drink for now.

"Do you guys want something to drink?" she says.

"Sure," KEL says. "Is there any ORANGE JOE in there?"

"Yes, there is..." AUBREY says begrudgingly. She hands him a can. "I have no idea how you still drink that trash."

"Because it's great!" KEL says. "It's like two amazing flavors... but mixed together. And there's caffeine! I really need that for games."

"Why not just drink coffee instead?" AUBREY says. "It tastes less disgusting."

"Eww... it's so bitter," KEL says. "How are you supposed to even drink it?"

"Put sugar in it?" she says. "It's not that hard..."

"Er," BASIL says awkwardly. "Could I have some water... please?"

"Sure." AUBREY hands a bottle to him. He takes a gulp... must be thirsty.

"We have some watermelon, too," AUBREY says. "You guys want any?"

SUNNY nods eagerly. AUBREY takes a seat by him and hands over a big slice. He enthusiastically takes a bite, and sweet, refreshing water and juicy chunks of fruit fill his mouth. Tastes like heaven...

 "You know, SUNNY..." AUBREY says. "You look a lot better than when I last saw you. You were so thin last time... Did you start going outside more?"

He feels kind of sweaty. He gives an awkward nod.

"Haha... thanks for keeping your promise," she says. He's not sure why, but his face feels really hot with her sitting next to him... An indescribable, fond feeling bubbles up inside him, one he thinks he hasn't felt since he was a kid, but it feels... different this time, like he's seeing her in a new light, one he's never seen her in before. He's not sure. 

"Sorry..." she says. "Didn't mean to make you flustered."

"What'cha guys talking about?" KEL says. He sits down by AUBREY, ORANGE JOE in hand.

"Nothing really," she says, changing the subject. "What's MIKHAEL doing over there?"

"I don't know," KEL says. "You'd have to ask him yourself. Probably trying to talk to 'the ladies'... or something." 

"Yeah, there are a lot of 'ladies' here he'd probably want to talk to..." AUBREY says. 

"Guess so..." KEL says.

"What?" AUBREY says. "There's a lot of girls in bikinis. It's a beach."

"Oh," KEL says. He looks confused, but if he is, he doesn't mention it.

"You know..." AUBREY says. "You guys never seemed to care much about that stuff. I wonder why."

"What do you mean?" KEL says.

"Like... girls," she says. "Typical... manly stuff. Normally, being the only girl in the group would kind of suck... but with you guys, it's... different."

"Huh..." KEL says. "I guess you're right. I never really thought about it like that."

"Yeah..." she says. "I mean, it was always different with you, BASIL... you always seemed to like 'girl things' more." She laughs a little, kind of wistfully. "Haha... KEL... do you remember when we came here as kids?"

"Yeah," he says. "Haha, I remember now! I spat watermelon seeds all over your face."

"Yeah, and you thought I was going to give you cooties," she says. "Then HERO tried to make us stop..."

"Haha..." KEL says. "Man... those were really good times. That reminds me... we took a lot of photos that day... BASIL, you should take a picture!"

"Oh yeah, you're right!" BASIL says. He reaches over to his bag and pulls out his camera and album. "Say cheese..." 

A flash. Then the photo prints, and BASIL hands it to SUNNY. Three friends, relaxing in the shade, eating watermelon on the beach... it turned out pretty nice. SUNNY stows it away in the album. He can't help but look at the old photos... the ones they took here all that time ago. His eye naturally drifts to one in particular...

" (6/22): We're about to head home, but I managed to catch one last photo with MARI and HERO! They look so happy. A match made in heaven! "

His heart sags with guilt. A match made in heaven...

"Hey, SUNNY..." KEL says. "What're you thinking about?"

SUNNY looks around. Looks like they're alone. "Nothing..."

"What is it?" KEL says.

"Never mind," SUNNY says firmly.

"Is... is it HERO?" AUBREY says. BASIL grimaces. "I've been thinking about him too. I... I can't imagine how he's feeling," she adds. "I wish he would... just talk about it for once. I mean... why would he need to hide that from us?"

"I...I don't know," KEL says. "Ever since SUNNY moved... he's been more closed off than ever. I can hardly get him to talk about anything."

SUNNY looks over at BASIL. He sees guilt in his eyes, nearly the same guilt that always claws at him whenever he's reminded what he did to HERO... but... somehow... it looks even worse. He looks almost like he did... when something swallowed him.

"Hey, BASIL..." AUBREY says. "Is everything okay?"

"Y-yes," BASIL lies. "It's just... can we... not talk about HERO, please?"

"Oh yeah..." KEL says. "I'm sorry, BASIL. I totally forgot..."

"It's okay," BASIL says. "Why don't we do something else?"

"We could go swimming again," KEL suggests.

"Haha... I'm not sure if I'm really in the mood for that," BASIL says. 

"That's okay!" KEL says. "Maybe later. There's always the lake at the old hangout spot if you want to try."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "Maybe."

"What about you two?" KEL says. "Do you wanna go?"

"Sure," AUBREY says. "SUNNY?"

SUNNY's eye turns to BASIL. He doesn't want to leave him alone here... maybe he'll stick around for a little while. "Later," he says.

"Okay..." KEL says. "You guys are missing out, though... I'll come back for you!"

"Alright..." BASIL says. "Have fun, you guys!" 

"We will!" KEL says. He then races down the beach, AUBREY in tow. SUNNY watches the two of them head into the waves with AUBREY's other friends. Swimming sounds nice, but he never really liked doing it in the ocean... The salty water always made his eyes hurt, and the waves were too forceful for his liking... but they seem calm enough right now.

"Hey, guys." SUNNY's heart jumps. He turns around. It's just HERO... nothing to worry about. "Sorry... didn't mean to startle you. Anyway, do you know where KEL and AUBREY went?"

"Y-Yes," BASIL stammers. "They went into the water. Just now."

"Okay, thanks!" he says. "I'm going to go join them, if you don't mind. See you later!" HERO heads off, and they're left alone again. BASIL lets out a deep sigh.

For a while, SUNNY and BASIL sit together in silence, enjoying the calm of the beach. But it doesn't take much time for SUNNY to get tired of just relaxing... looking at his friends makes him wish he was with the rest of them, splashing in the waves and having fun.

"It's okay if you want to join them," BASIL says. "I'll be fine... I can just watch."

SUNNY pulls himself off the sand and takes off his eyepatch. BASIL looks terrified at first, but once he sees the blank plastic ball that now occupies SUNNY's eyesocket, he just seems... sad. The eyepatch might be a little unpleasant, but at least it covers... this. There's an ugly scar around his eye, one that's even harder to ignore than the patch. At least they'll probably be too busy to notice in the water.

Then they walk down the beach, out towards the foamy ocean. SUNNY's feet burn a little on the hot sand. He finds everyone locked in an intense game of... something. He's not sure what. There's a beach ball, and everyone is competing fiercely to grab it. Seems like there's teams. The only one not playing is HERO, who looks like he's sitting this one out. He looks... better. Later, they let SUNNY join, but he's far from any good. BASIL looks comfortable sitting on the sand and taking photos, though his nose is a little red.

Eventually, KEL bumps the ball way out to sea, where the current carries it away, putting their games to an end. BASIL takes another photo, to KEL's chagrin. They pass the hours enjoying the waves, the sand, the sunshine... the weather is perfect for a day at the beach. As the day passes into the afternoon, though, everyone starts to get tired, and they head back to their spot in the shade. It really does feel like he's a kid again... having a blast with his friends, without a care in the world.

SUNNY lies down and watches some dim clouds float over the ocean, far in the distance. It looks like they're coming towards the shore... and pretty fast, too. People are starting to leave the beach.

"Hmm," HERO says. "Looks like it's gonna rain soon. We should probably start to wrap things up."

"Yeah, I'm pretty tuckered out already," KEL says. "When do you guys wanna go home?"

"Can we stay another hour?" AUBREY says. "We haven't been here long enough..."

"Sorry, guys, but we should really get going," HERO says. "It looks like the storm is moving pretty fast."

"Fine..." she says. "I'll start packing up, then."

With the help of AUBREY's friends, getting everything into the car is a lot easier than it was this morning. Once everyone is done loading stuff into the trunk, the two groups of friends part ways, and they set off on the highway, beginning the long ride home. AUBREY was right... it didn't feel like they spent nearly enough time there. But it was a nice enough day trip... As they drive, the sky darkens, and it begins to rain. SUNNY listens to the gentle patter of raindrops on the roof... it calms him.

KEL's already dozed off, and it looks like AUBREY's getting pretty tired, too. He's reminded of something... a day like this, years ago. The sun setting over the freeway, the tingling of a sunburn on his nose. He looks at AUBREY for a moment, but for whatever reason, his nerves surge and he turns back to the window. It's a strange feeling. Like he's nervous, but also oddly happy... He's still not sure.

A thought comes to mind. It's not a very smart one, but he can't help but wonder. Should he explore these feelings? What if he told her about them? What would that even... look like? What would they even... do together? It's so... intimidating. He tries to imagine... people in love. The first thing to come to mind is... two kids smiling on the beach, their faces in each others' hands. A match made in heaven. Those two always seemed like they were made for each other... like they were going to get married, or something. But it didn't work out that way... how does a relationship even work ? He realizes he really doesn't know.

There's no way he can tell AUBREY... it's probably best to just let it all blow over until he stops feeling this way. There's no way she returns his feelings... and... it's kind of hard to even see her in that way, after everything. It'll go away at some point, won't it? So he closes his eyes and listens to the sound of the road, trying to pretend nothing even happened, until finally, they arrive back at FARAWAY.

It's pouring outside. If they weren't in swimsuits still, their clothes would be completely soaked. When they get to BASIL's house, he and AUBREY thank HERO for driving them and sprint inside with their bags. Thankfully, the remaining three are saved by KEL and HERO's garage. 

The rest of the evening is uneventful. It's been a long day at the beach, everyone is too tired to do anything, and there's a rainstorm keeping them indoors. After a dull few hours, before they know it, it's time to go to sleep again, and SUNNY lies in bed, reading himself to sleep. The lamp's still on, but his eye can't keep itself open... he puts the book down and settles his head into the pillow to block out the light... the gentle sound of rain on the window puts him to sleep almost instantly. Two days left...

Chapter Text

THREE DAYS LEFT...

YOU KNOW...

WHEN MARI PASSED AWAY...

HERO... HERO REALLY STOPPED CARING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

A boy sits alone in his bed. An old plate of dinner lies on his nightstand.

IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

A man stands over a gravestone, offering a bouquet. A black void of eyes consume him.

HEY, MARI...

I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T VISITED YOU YET.

I WAS BEING SELFISH, I THINK...

IT'S BEEN SO LONG, BUT I STILL MISS YOU MORE THAN EVER.

I'M SORRY I WASN'T THERE...

The man curls into himself. He holds in tears.

I'M JUST... REALLY SORRY...

SUNNY jerks awake. He stumbles out of bed, onto the creaking, moonlit floorboards. Boxes are haphazardly scattered across the house, sealed with tape. He limps down the stairs and into the living room. This place is barely holding itself together... He's not sure how much longer he can stay here. He doesn't want to leave, but... he has to. Besides... why not explore a little? It... can't hurt too much.

He twists the doorknob and pushes the door open, then steps outside. His shoes land on sandy ground, and a cool breeze blows onto his back. He gazes off into the sea, watching the waves crash on the dark shore. There's not much else here. Just two other kids, resting on a picnic blanket, enjoying not only the ocean, but each other. Should he interrupt this? Probably not, he thinks.

So he waits, and he listens. It seemed so lively before, but now... it's so calm. Nothing but the sound of waves and a hushed conversation, one he wouldn't dare eavesdrop on... right? MARI would be so mad... but... it's not like there's much else to do here, is there? He shouldn't be doing this, he thinks... but his curiosity gets the better of him, and SUNNY sits down on the sand, straining his ears to listen.

"Hey, MARI..."

"Yeah?"

"This is nice and all... but..." HERO stops. "Never mind."

"What is it, HERO? Don't worry. You're not ruining the moment, I promise."

"Okay... Sorry..." he says. "It's just... don't you think we should be looking for them? It's been so long... I'm getting really worried."

"Maybe you're right..." MARI says. "SUNNY should be somewhere on this beach. He always shows up pretty quickly, doesn't he?"

"Actually... I-Is that him?" HERO points in SUNNY's direction. "Over there."

"Oh... oh, I think it is!" MARI picks herself off the picnic blanket and runs over to him, limping. "There you are, little brother! I knew we'd find you around here somewhere... Let's go looking for our friends."

SUNNY stands up, then pats the sand off his shorts. Maybe he never should have sat down. He can feel it chafing on his skin as they walk. There's sand in his socks, too... SUNNY takes off his shoes and feels the cool sand under his feet.

"This place seems totally deserted," HERO says. "I don't know if we're going to find anything here."

"Hmm..." MARI says. "Where do we go, then?"

"We could try going inland," HERO says.

"I don't think there is an inland..." MARI says. "We might be stranded on an island. All I see is just sand and water."

"Maybe we could try to look for airplanes?" HERO says. "Someone might see us."

"Maybe..." MARI says. "Hey... do you see that?"

A faint white light begins to spread over the beach. There's something in the distance... lamp posts, almost invisible save for their light. A pier begins to emerge from under the sea, dripping with ocean, and with it, a well. SUNNY feels strangely drawn to it.

"I wonder what that is," MARI says. "Let's have a look."

MARI limps over to the pier, and they join her. Their feet patter on the wet wood... feels easy to slip here. Oddly enough, there's not much in the well... no bucket, no rope, nothing but a... ladder? Guess they don't have much choice but to climb in. SUNNY pulls himself onto it and into the shadowy bowels of the deep well. MARI follows, then HERO. As they climb, the light starts to fade...

SUNNY can barely see where he's going... he stumbles on the rungs and loses his footing. His heart lurches, but he tightens his hands' grip, sets his feet back down, and keeps himself steady.

"Woah!" MARI says. "Are you okay, SUNNY?"

"Y-Yes," he says hastily.

"Alright..." she says. "Just stay safe, okay?"

It must be a long way down. He can't even see the bottom. A thought pops into his head--himself, watching the world blur by, plummeting faster than he can even think, his body cracking open on the hard cement. His hands tremble a little, but he doesn't dare let go. Just keep climbing, he tells himself. Even though it's so dark... and the walls are closing in on him... and there's no end... just keep climbing.

There's something. Water, sloshing around in the tiny well, and below it... a floor? A grimy, rotting floor of rocks, and in front, a hole. A bright light shines from outside. That must be the exit.

"Hold your breath, everyone," MARI says. The cold water chills the soles of SUNNY's feet... then his ankles... then his knees... then his hips... then his chest... his pulse slows. It feels like his very heart is submerged. He's neck deep now... they shouldn't need to climb. They can just swim. SUNNY takes a deep breath... and pushes himself down the slimy ladder.

His feet meet hard rock, and he tries to swim towards the light. He can't see much... but he thinks there's a cave. At the other end is something... metallic. He swims a little closer, his lungs tightening, and runs his hand across it... some kind of door, maybe? He reaches for the handle and yanks it open. Water rushes past him, pushing him inside. His vision starts to clear up.

MARI follows him in, then HERO, and they shut the door as fast as they can. The water's up to their ankles, but it quickly starts to drain. Seems like they found some sort of... metallic, underwater hallway? There's some diving equipment lying on the floor... oxygen tanks, and a mask... feels kind of clunky, but it's functional. They pry open the other door and walk through, into the dark seafloor.

A long highway stretches on in front of them, seemingly infinite. Some of the street lamps work. Others don't. A school of fish wanders overhead, barely visible in the feeble moonlight. There is only one car here. It is barely moving.

"Where are we...?" HERO says. "I... don't think we'd find anyone here."

"I don't know," MARI says. "I think that car is moving... so if there's people down here... maybe it's worth a shot. We could try hitchhiking."

"Are you sure that's safe, MARI?" HERO says.

"Well, it's not really like we have a choice, do we?" she says. "There's no way we can walk this entire highway..."

MARI holds out her thumb. The black car seems to take notice. As it approaches them, it starts to slow down. A man grins at them from inside and swings the door open.

"Come on in!" he says. His voice is disgustingly raspy. SUNNY's heart beats a little faster. MARI's the first one to step in. SUNNY follows her lead, then HERO. Without HERO even touching it, the door shuts. SUNNY really doesn't like this car... it's so dim... and cramped... there aren't even any windows... he can only see out the windshield.

"You kids want to see something cool?" the man says. No one responds, but it seems like he takes that as a yes. The car starts to rattle. It must be moving. SUNNY feels so trapped. He reaches for MARI's hand. Her touch is freezing cold... he doesn't feel steadied at all.

"Hey..." HERO says. "Guys, do you see that?"

There's something bright in the distance... far brighter than the dying street lamps. Shining lights, shooting into the sky... getting bigger and bigger... a city, completely underwater... the buildings around them are taller than SUNNY could ever imagine.

"Wow..." MARI says. "Isn't this amazing?"

"Yeah..." HERO says. "I wonder how they built all this underwater."

The car seems to have stopped moving. SUNNY can't see much, but he's sure they're on a busy road, deep in the city. They don't need a car any more.

"Do you think we should get off here?" MARI says.

"Probably," HERO says. "You okay with that, SUNNY?"

SUNNY nods. He wants to get out of this car as soon as possible.

"Alright, um..." MARI says. "We're going to get off now! Thanks for driving us! Bye!"

"You're welcome," the driver groans. He starts to say something else, but MARI rushes them out of the car before he can get another word in, and he drives off. They're left to take in the city alone. It's so enormous, it almost makes SUNNY's head spin... nothing but constant lights and loud noises and things to look at. Bright street lights shaped like jellyfish, bustling submarine traffic, vendors selling all kinds of seafood. A wonderful place he could never even imagine. Despite that, though... he can't help the feeling that it's all familiar to him. 

"This place is so big..." HERO says. "How are we ever going to find anyone here?"

"Let's just ask around," MARI says. "There's so many people here. Someone is bound to have seen them! Hey, mister..."

MARI tries to get someone's attention, but he doesn't even look up from his waterlogged newspaper. She tries again, on a haggard-looking woman crossing the street, but she doesn't even seem to notice. HERO tries another woman walking her dog, but not even he can make her take her eyes off her pet.

"Why can't we get anyone's attention?" MARI says. "It's like we're invisible to them."

"I guess this is just what it's like in the city..." HERO says pensively. "Everyone is so busy, they don't even have the time for a conversation! Like that guy."

HERO points at someone in the street, trying desperately to catch anyone's attention. He's coming this way...

"HEY!" he says rudely. "YOU KIDS! You wanna go somewhere COOL, right? You should go to the CYBER RETREAT! It's the hottest, trendiest place to be these days! I'll even guide you there, free of charge."

"Um... I'm sorry, but we're not really interested..." HERO says. "We're kind of busy looking for someone."

"Looking for someone, huh?" he says, scratching his wet stubble. "I might've seen them... What do they look like?"

"Well, it's actually a few people..." HERO says. "There's my little brother, KEL... he's short, energetic, and has kind of long hair... our friend AUBREY, she has long, dark hair and a pink bow, and our friend BASIL, who's blond and usually has a flower in his hair. They're all about twelve. Does any of that sound familiar?"

"Yeah..." the man says. "Yeah, it does. I think I've seen some kids like that. Follow me."

MARI and HERO exchange a quick glance, but seem to set aside whatever they're thinking for now. This is the best lead they've got, so... it's not like they can really complain. The man leads them down the street, and then down an underground staircase, into some kind of... subway station? There aren't many lights here... or people. All SUNNY can hear is just the distant screeches of train wheels.

He leads them further into the metro, all the way to a station. A train grinds to a halt, and its doors slowly slide open. SUNNY's heart starts to beat a little faster. Something about it puts him on edge... but... they have to go in. They don't want to miss the train.

SUNNY steps inside. The doors slam shut behind him, and the train starts to move. Through the windows is nothing but dark. They are all alone in here... well... aside from all the staring eyes. SUNNY wants to run. He bangs on the door, but no one hears. No one even notices. Shadows crawl in through the windows, grabbing onto the poles and taking their seats on the cushions. 

"This train ride is taking a while..." HERO says. "Does it normally take this long?"

"I'll show you a cool place," their guide says. Suddenly, the doors begin to peel open, and darkness pours out from the train. Things seem to return to normal... maybe SUNNY was just seeing things. As they follow the strange man up onto the street, SUNNY tries to reach for his sister's hand, but... remember what happened last time? It was freezing cold...

"We're here," the man says. "The CYBER RETREAT." 

SUNNY can't help but be amazed. A huge glass dome, all the way in the middle of the ocean. Inside it is two central buildings, both tall blocks of steel and glass, stretching high above the water. The wider one holds a giant screen, covered in all kinds of wonderful advertisements. Shampoo, skin lotion, high quality lobster, all sorts of knick-knacks... and most enticing of all, a high-end laptop! This place looks like the resort of the future!

"Is this where you saw our friends?" HERO says.

"Yeah," the man says. "Sure. Just keep following my lead!"

"All right...?" MARI says.

"You know..." he says. "Let me tell ya... This place was a dump before our boss found it. Like some kind of... pirate-themed casino. Must've been a sunken ship, 'cause there was no one there. But we really turned it around!"

"That's... cool, I guess?" HERO says. "But I don't see how that's relevant."

"Relaaax!" he says. "I'm just trying to keep you entertained. Come inside."

The man presses a button, and a huge door opens. Another airlock. Seems to lead straight to the main building, the one with the giant screen. It feels so strange to be back on dry land, even if they're deep underwater... it's kind of cold. MARI seems to stifle a grunt of pain.

"Hey, MARI..." HERO says. "How's your knee feeling?"

"Fine," she says, gritting her teeth. "It's just... it was better in the water. I could swim."

"Take it easy, okay?" HERO says. "You've really been pushing it lately. Here, you can lean on me if you need to."

"Haha... sure, HERO," she says. "I really should thank you... you've been so patient with me lately."

"Aww, you're welcome!" he says. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Oh, I'll be fine!" MARI says. "You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself!"

"Hey, you two," the man says. "Quit getting all cuddly. Don't you want to find your friends?"

"Of course," HERO says. "We're just... uh... Sorry?"

"It's all good," the man says. "Just... keep following me."

"Okay...?" HERO says. The man presses another button, and the other side of the airlock opens, leading them into the shiny inside of the resort. SUNNY's feet beat against a metallic floor. His clothes feel heavy... his dress shirt is sticking to his chest. Their breathing apparatus is even heavier... SUNNY wishes he could just put it down somewhere. A receptionist greets them all with a wave. 

"Hey, now that you're in here..." the man says. "Can you sign this, real quick?" He pulls a strange sheet of paper off the receptionists' desk, then hands HERO a pen. HERO looks it over for a moment, then raises his eyebrows.

"Um... sir?" he says. "It says here that I have to give you unrestrained access to my bank account? I don't see how this will help us find our friends-"

"Oh, that's nonsense!" the man says. "Just a... printing error. This is just legal stuff, it's nothing, really."

"Can you just show us where our friends are?" HERO says. "This place is nice, but... we don't really have time to stay here."

"Yeah yeah, I'm getting to that!" the man says. "All I need you to do is sign the contract, and then you're golden! Geez, aren't you impatient?"

HERO and MARI glance at each other. This is definitely shady... but, again... this is still the only lead they have, so... SUNNY realizes they don't really have a choice. HERO takes the pen and signs the paper, holding it down to the desk with his wet fingers. MARI does the same, then SUNNY. Ink creeps across the paper, smeared by the water, until it swallows it whole.

"There!" the man says. "Now come with me."

Doesn't seem like the contract did much of anything... they're being led towards an elevator. There's so many computers in here, running all kinds of games, though no one's playing them. They'd better not get anything wet... then they'd probably have to sign another contract.

"Where are we going?" HERO says as they walk into the elevator.

"Oh, nowhere," the man says. "You'll see soon enough."

After a short ride, the door slides open, and they come to a gleaming room of metal. Through the windows, SUNNY can see the waves, lapping against the sides of the hotel. There's no furniture... just a filthy man sitting hunched over a computer on his desk, typing away furiously. SUNNY can smell him from all the way across the room...

"Boss!" the man shouts.

"What is it?" a gravelly voice groans. "I'm busy."

"I got you some customers..." he says. "Have a look!"

"Hey, this isn't-" HERO says.

"Oh. Huh." The grimy man swivels around in his chair, and his ugly, grotesque face contorts. Maybe he's... frustrated? Wow... He can't be any younger than thirty. "Did you get them to sign the contracts?"

"Yeah," their former guide says. "They walked right into it! I told them I'd help them find their missing friends... haha! What a bunch of chumps..."

"What?!" HERO says. "You lied to us?!"

"We're scammers," the grimy man says. "That's what we do. Now... give us all your money. Every last dollar."

"We're not going to just hand that over!" MARI says. "Who do you think you are, stealing from vulnerable kids like this?"

"You're the ones who walked into this," he says. "Just hand it over and we won't hurt'cha."

"We don't have any money, though..." HERO says. 

"I know you're lying!" he says. The windows start to blacken. SUNNY feels an eye on his back.

"We're not, I promise!" HERO cries. He reaches into his pockets and pulls them out. "See?"

"What about the girl?" he says. MARI frantically reaches for her pockets, but quickly realizes she doesn't have any. "Huh... Are you really that broke? Well, then."

"Er..." HERO says. "We're very sorry... but... since we don't have any money... why don't you just let us go? You have nothing to gain from keeping us here."

The boss man bursts into laughter. "What?! That's ridiculous! Don't you know what I could do with you? I've always needed more workers!"

"W...What?" HERO says. "Workers? We're not going to work for you!"

"Oh, really?" he says. "Then I guess you'd like me to break your girlfriend's other leg."

HERO's eyes widen. He goes silent. The room starts to darken even more.

"So... do you three agree... to work for me, without pay, for the rest of your lives?"

HERO hesitates for a moment, still in shock. He takes a deep breath... then mumbles "Yes."

"And you two?" the man turns to MARI and SUNNY.

MARI leers at the scammers... Seeing how fierce she is, they don't seem so scary now. She still says yes, but defiantly. Even with all the eyes staring SUNNY down, it makes him feel a little stronger. He begrudgingly nods his head yes.

"Alright," their new boss grunts. "Your first job--deliver this letter for me."

"O-Okay, sir," HERO says.

"Don't call me sir," their boss snaps. "Call me... MR. NOBODY. Got it?"

"Y-Yes, MR. NOBODY," HERO says.

"Good," MR. NOBODY says. He shoves an envelope into HERO's hands. "Now go. Shoo." He points to the exit, and HERO leads his friends into the dim elevator. The door slides shut behind SUNNY, leaving them all trapped. He wants to run. HERO glances at the letter, then hits the button for the second floor. It doesn't feel safe in here... water leaks through the moldy wallpaper.

"Hey, everyone..." MARI says, breaking the eerie silence. "I know things are looking grim right now, but we have to stay positive. I'll get us out of here, don't you worry."

"Are you sure, MARI?" HERO says. "We don't even have a plan..."

"Well..." MARI says. "Why don't we just... swim away? Here, let me use the elevator." MARI limps over to the buttons and hits one right below MR. NOBODY's office, labeled with a sticky note. "It says this floor is under construction. We should be able to escape from there."

"Hmm..." HERO says. "I guess... but... is that even safe?"

"We've fought our way out of a lot of sticky situations before!" MARI says. "We can do this, HERO. We just have to believe in ourselves!"

The door groans open, and a cold breeze chills SUNNY's skin. He shoves on his oxygen mask and forces himself into the night. They carefully navigate the maze of rotting wood and rusting iron, until they come to the edge. A lone plank stretches over the ocean. The water should cushion their fall... but... it's still a long way down. SUNNY's legs tremble... they feel like they'll give out and send him tumbling into the abyss. He can barely even make out the water... the darkness feels oppressive. What happened to the moon, or the stars? In the sky is nothing but eyes.

"HEY!" a gravelly voice says. SUNNY jumps. He flails his arms and reaches out for something, anything to catch him, but he manages to catch his balance before he falls. MARI, though... She didn't. She's barely hanging on. Her hand clings desperately onto the old wood.

"MARI!" HERO says.

"HERO!" she says. There's terror in her eyes. SUNNY has never seen her like this before. "Please... Help me up!"

"Heh..." SUNNY turns. A large, filthy man looms over them, a cruel grin plastered onto his hideous face. "You tried to escape, didn't you? You lazy, good-for-nothing..."

HERO's got MARI's arm now. She's on her way back up.

"Cowards! I'll show you what kids like you get!" MR. NOBODY roars. Something flashes in front of HERO. He recoils his arm in agony. SUNNY hears MARI scream as she falls. He hears a sickening crunch.

"MARI!" HERO cries. His mouth hangs open in shock. The light fades from his eyes, and he stares vacantly into the distance, devoid of... anything, in total shock. SUNNY stares too, for just a second, before the worst pain shoots into him, the feeling of his flesh being torn, of something being wrenched from his body. He shuts his eyes, his vision goes black, but when he comes to, a single eyeball falls freely into the abyss. Something dark trails down his neck... his head feels... not all there. Everything sounds dull and muffled. He barely manages to stand.

It hurts so much, he shouldn't be able to see. But somehow, he senses something, something light and warm and loving. He steps forward, onto polished wood. Lower and lower he gets, as he descends the shining staircase. He's not alone... not anymore. Another set of feet, close behind him... and something in front, something he has to follow.

"SUNNY..." A voice... A girl's voice... soft and graceful. Like... the sound of her piano. "You've been here before, haven't you?" SUNNY feels... drawn to it. He keeps going down the stairs... the frigid water shocks his skin... but he isn't getting any closer...

"It might look different now... but it's still the same place," she says... "You know what I'm talking about, don't you, SUNNY?" He nods... his ears begin to ring... "You've come a long way since that time... but you can't keep hiding here. You know that, right?"

"And... HERO..." The light shines even brighter... SUNNY's not cold anymore... "We all make mistakes... it's hard to let go of them sometimes, but you'll forgive my little brother, won't you?

"You can do this," she says. It's so warm... "You've both worked really hard to get to this point... don't give up now, okay?"

The light fades. The world comes back into focus. The water drains, until it's only up to SUNNY's ankles, and he's alone again, shivering in the night breeze. He stops and takes a moment to breathe. His violin... he needs his violin. There. Now... he can have a look around. 

A pink skeleton floats in the endless sea of murky water, stretching out in every direction. An enormous bridge looms in the distance, made pale by the faint moonlight. Suddenly, the ground slides out from under him. SUNNY flails his limbs, trying to tread water, until he gets a hold of himself and breathes. He just needs to persist... to keep going until he can find dry land.

He won't last long out here, but the water seems shallower by the bridge. He pushes himself onward, battling the freezing waves, until he makes it into the shadow of the bridge, and his shoes find ground on the silty bottom. He wades under the bridge for shelter. It's cold... so cold... and so dark, too... but there's still light... strange corals and creatures, glowing in the murk as he shivers.

You have come again to this world.

SUNNY freezes. What... what is that voice? It's not coming from anything... it's inside his head... but it's a voice other than his own. One he's heard before.

What do you have to hide from?

As SUNNY wades forward, the voice continues to speak to him. He's not sure where he's going... just that he has to keep moving forward.

You have accepted the truth... you broke the cycle. Your friends are by your side... you should have no need for replacements.

It's right... why is he back here?

But... even now, there is another truth you run from still.

What? What truth? That... they didn't forgive him? That they're angry he killed MARI? He... accepted that already.

Yet you cannot run forever. There is no way to outrun the inevitable. This is a lesson you have learned, time and time again. Why do you continue to run?

This world... nearly everything it pretends to offer you... the real world will offer you in its true form.

Love. Joy. Friendship.

What is that voice saying..? SUNNY keeps swimming, through the red water of the dark cavern. The pressure is crushing, this deep under the ocean. Black hands now run across the mushy walls. He keeps listening...

But... not everything. Not youth... and certainly not your dear sister. These two things... They are the only that you have forever lost. Perhaps, friendship, too... or at least it seemed that way, when isolation obscured reality.

You wish for a world where they do not resent you. And day by day, your wish has been granted... Your friends have "forgiven" you... save for one.

As your need for that world dissipates, they dissipate, too. Not banished from this prison... but freed. Only he remains now.

Perhaps he will never forgive you. 

Only time will tell.

When this night meets its end, DREAMER... you will have only one day left. Make use of it while you still can.

SUNNY has found the end of the cavern. In front of him, a black door casts a heavy shadow. Through it lays a dreary day, late in the autumn.

Light clouds filter out the sun. Despite the lack of rain, the crowd is a sea of black umbrellas. A priest says something, but SUNNY can't hear. The ringing in his ears is too loud. All he can hear is sobs. If only he knew what was going on. What are they doing here, he thinks? Why is MARI... so pale? Why is everyone so... sad? His head feels foggy. He wants to be asleep. He wants to be in his bed. But... somehow, he knows that there's no way out of this.

The priest shuffles off to the side. SUNNY's heart sinks into his stomach. They start to lower his sleeping sister into the ground. Where is she going? When will she be back? He opens his mouth to ask, but something wraps itself around his throat. He chokes. Something... behind him. Sweat pours down his forehead. Something seizes his head... and forces it to turn... a boy. He's looking at a boy.

He can't be any older than fifteen... maybe sixteen. His empty eyes and disheveled hair age his face. Tears stream down his cheeks, but he doesn't even look sad. He looks... hollow. Like he can't bring himself to feel anything at all. SUNNY barely notices something behind him, something wrapping him in strands of long, disheveled black hair. Her loving embrace seems to strangle him, choking him like-like a... noose?

SUNNY remembers who he is. He instinctively reaches for his violin. The cold touch of something leaves him, repulsed by his inner warmth, but HERO doesn't move. SUNNY gets into proper position and plays a single note. HERO's scream blots out the sound. SUNNY stumbles backward, dropping his bow. HERO stares into him. SUNNY tries to meet his gaze... but... a wave of fear rolls over him when he sees HERO's hand.

A steak knife. HERO plunges it into SUNNY's stomach.

Chapter Text

TWO DAYS LEFT...

The house is strangely quiet. All that breaks the silence is KEL's steady snoring. It must be early... so early the sun hasn't come up yet, but not early enough for it to be completely dark. SUNNY should probably just go back to bed... but... something makes him feel restless. Maybe it's that... HERO isn't here? Why isn't he asleep? SUNNY gets out of bed and heads down the staircase without getting dressed.

HERO's not in the living room either. Not the kitchen, or the dining room. He could be in the bathroom, but... if he was, then wouldn't SUNNY hear him? He's not anywhere in his entire house. It's still so early, but... maybe SUNNY should be... worried? 

Well, he thinks, doesn't he go for walks in the morning now? HERO's old enough to take care of himself... But... without even thinking, a horrible idea crosses his mind. HERO, holding a steak knife, plunging it into his own chest. Hanging from a tree. SUNNY takes a deep breath. Calm down, he thinks. That would never happen.

Maybe, though... maybe it can't hurt to look. He walks out the door, into KEL and HERO's driveway. Nothing here... the grass is still covered in dew. He makes his way onto the sidewalk and looks around. It's too dark... he can barely make anything out. The sky is almost navy... light is starting to dawn on the wispy clouds, blotting out all but a few stars.

"Woah, is that you, SUNNY?" SUNNY's heart lurches... there's HERO. Nothing to worry about. "Sorry... Didn't mean to scare you. I... just wasn't expecting to see you up this early." SUNNY finds it hard to believe him. His voice sounds... strained.

HERO pauses, staring at him. SUNNY feels goosebumps crawling down his back. "You seem tired," HERO says. "What... What are you doing up right now, anyway?"

SUNNY's silent. What... what does he even say? 

He shrugs awkwardly. "...bad dream."

"Oh... I'm sorry," HERO says. He looks away. "I-It's... kind of funny. I... I had the strangest dream, actually..." He goes silent again, and his face hardens for a moment. "Actually... nevermind."

"HERO..." SUNNY mumbles.

"Yeah? What is it, SUNNY?"

No. He can't ask that. Not yet. He shakes his head. "Nevermind."

"Okay, then..." HERO says. He tenses up a little more, just for a second, but SUNNY gets the message. HERO doesn't want to talk. Not with him.

"Well..." HERO says. "You should really get some rest. I'll be with you in a bit."

"I..." SUNNY says. "I can't fall back asleep."

"Well, it can't hurt to try, can it?" HERO says. "Come on, SUNNY. You need your rest."

SUNNY hesitates for a second, then nods. HERO's trying to be polite, but that sounded more like an order, not a request. Maybe it's best to wait until they're with the others... So he heads back into the house, up the stairs, and into bed again. The mattress is so hard, and the blankets are so hot... he just can't fall asleep. His thoughts keep him awake, weighing him down while the hours pass by. Still no sign of HERO.

The atmosphere between the two of them is more than just awkward, he thinks. It's... tense. Strained. SUNNY remembers a time when they used to be comfortable around each other, when he felt like HERO would always try to be there for him. But HERO can't even bear to be alone with him for a few minutes. 

He's always been hospitable and kind... but the facade is so obvious. Each time he tears up or his voice cracks... he can tell that he's trying to suppress how he really feels. And SUNNY wishes he could bridge that distance, that there was some way to reconnect with him... but maybe that's impossible. 

He took away the love of HERO's life. This is what he deserves, isn't it?

~

The sun's been up for a long time now. Even KEL is finally starting to wake up. SUNNY guesses this means he'd better get up now. It's a relief. Anything to get him away from his thoughts. He pulls himself out of bed, his back still aching, and does his usual routine in the bathroom. Changing clothes, brushing his teeth, and taking his pills. As soon as he's finished, he heads back out into the hallway.

"Morning, SUNNY..." KEL says sleepily. SUNNY follows him down the stairs, into the living room, where they find the rest of KEL's family sitting on the couch and watching TV. SALLY crawls around on the floor, playing with Hector and a ball, while KEL's mother drinks from a fresh cup of coffee.

"Good morning, you two!" HERO says warmly. "How'd you sleep?"

"Mmmh," KEL mumbles. "Is breakfast ready yet?"

"Oh, I almost forgot..." HERO says. "Let me get that started." He starts to get up, but his dad interrupts him.

"Hey, wait, son..." KEL's dad says.

"Hm?" HERO says. 

"I have an idea..." his dad says. "Why don't you show SUNNY around the new parts of the plaza? You could eat breakfast there, at the diner."

"Hmm," KEL says. He yawns. "We did that already... plus I wanna wake up first. We should go to the plaza later, though..."

"Yeah, there's a music store there, isn't there?" HERO says. "I think you'd be into that, SUNNY."

"Would you like some coffee, KEL?" KEL's mom asks.

"No thank you," he says. "I'd prefer a nice can of ORANGE JOE."

"You have got to stop drinking that awful stuff," she says. "I'm telling you, it's bad for your growth."

"Oh, really?" KEL pouts. "Then... how did I get taller than HERO, Mom? Answer me that!"

"Oh, never mind," she says exasperatedly. "Drink what you want..."

KEL quickly heads into the kitchen to retrieve some of his favorite soda, and SUNNY starts to hear sizzling. Soon enough, breakfast is ready. They quickly scarf it down on the couch as KEL's parents watch the news on TV. After putting away their dishes, KEL goes to put on his shoes.

"You guys ready?" he says.

"Of course," HERO says. SUNNY nods.

"Sweet!" KEL says. "What are you waiting for, then? Let's go!"

After HERO and SUNNY slip on some shoes, the three of them head out the door. Looks like another nice morning... the rain must have cleared out all the clouds, so the sky is a bright, clear blue, but it left the air feeling all humid. SUNNY feels sweat collecting on his back.

"Let's grab AUBREY and BASIL first," HERO says. He leads them to AUBREY's first, and KEL knocks on the door. It takes a second, but she comes out pretty quickly, looking ready for another day. SUNNY feels kind of strange when he sees her, but tries his best to not think about it.

"Hey, guys," AUBREY says. "What did you wanna do today?"

"We were thinking we'd show SUNNY around the plaza," HERO says. "Is that okay with you?"

"Sure," she says. "Sounds nice."

"Alright," HERO says. "We have to grab BASIL first, though." With AUBREY in tow, they walk over to BASIL's house and give his door a knock. They hear a little chatter from inside, but BASIL comes out almost instantly, carrying his camera as always.

"Hi, everyone..." he says. "What did you guys have in mind today?"

"Hey, BASIL!" KEL says. "We were thinking of bringing SUNNY to that new music store. Wanna come?"

"Um, sure..." he says. "What's it called again? I don't think I've ever been."

"Oh, er..." KEL says. "I don't remember either. They only finished it a month ago, so..."

"SOUND OF THE SUBURBS, I think?" AUBREY says. "I went there with my friends when it opened."

"Huh..." KEL says. "That's a neat name. What was it like?"

"Pretty quiet..." AUBREY says. "There wasn't a lot going on, but I guess that sounds like your kind of thing, SUNNY..."

"Yeah," KEL says. "Anyway, let's go!" The five of them start to walk down the street, up towards the park. After a short walk, they're past the fountain and at the edge of the plaza, where it cuts off into the trees.

A small shop stands in front of them. SUNNY caught a glimpse of it a few days ago, when they ate at the diner, but he never got to see much. He pushes open the door, steps inside, and waits for his friends to join him. It's surprisingly quiet in here. He can even hear their shoes clacking on the hard floor. All sorts of instruments line the wooden walls. Guitars, drumsets, saxophones, keyboards... the whole place is fairly small, about the size of HOBBEEZ. Maybe he would have preferred something like a craft store, but... this place is kind of nice, too.

The obvious starts to hang heavy over their heads. HERO seems to feel it the worst. The look in his eyes is distant, like he's somewhere else, somewhere he doesn't want to be.

"MARI..." he says. "MARI would have liked it here."

"Yeah," AUBREY says wistfully. "She really would..." 

HERO pauses a second, before his eyes turn to SUNNY. SUNNY's chest tightens up a little, just barely.

"Hey, SUNNY..." HERO says.

He turns his head to him expectantly.

"Actually..." HERO looks away. "Nevermind."

"Hey, look at this, guys..." KEL says. "It says they're looking for a part-time job. Why don't you take it, SUNNY?"

"Why would SUNNY want to work on a vacation?" AUBREY says. 

"Well, um..." KEL says. "Extra money? I don't know! He did this last time!"

SUNNY stares at the "HELP WANTED" sign... says he can get $20 if he just helps sort the shelves for a little while. Like the job at FIX-IT. It's not like they're doing much this morning... why doesn't he just take it? He nods. I'll do it.

"Oh, alright, then..." HERO says. "Work hard!"

"Hey, guys..." KEL says awkwardly. He gives his brother a strange look. "Don't we have some errands to run too?"

Some sort of realization seems to dawn on HERO. "Oh, yeah!" he says, his eyes lighting up. "We have some shopping to do. Do you guys mind helping out while SUNNY works?"

"Not at all..." BASIL says. "Where are we going?"

"Oh, just to OTHERMART..." HERO says. "Follow me!" The other four follow HERO out the door, and SUNNY's left alone inside the shop.

"Hey, um..." A teenage cashier waves to SUNNY awkwardly. "You're taking the part-time job, right?" SUNNY nods yes. "Okay..." she says, nodding. "We just need you to..." She points to the instruments hanging on the wall. On closer inspection, they seem a little messy. "Sort those? See how there's some on the floor, or a ukelele where the guitars should be?" SUNNY looks over his shoulder, to where she's pointing. "Yeah, we need you to clean that up..." she says. "I hope I explained that well enough... now, um, get started, I guess..."

SUNNY begins by picking up the floor. There's not much, just a few stray guitars or flutes. This isn't nearly as hard as FIX-IT... seems a lot more organized. He counts only a dozen or so instruments out of place. He wonders why they even need someone to do this, but then again... OTHERMART needed someone to swat a few flies. Maybe they're just lazy. After only half an hour, he's finished.

"Oh, you're done already?" the cashier says. "Wow... Uh, here's your money." She pulls $20 out of the register and hands it to SUNNY. He stuffs it in his wallet, then looks around the store. No sign of his friends still. He guesses he'll wait in here for now. Naturally, as he aimlessly paces the music store, his eye starts to drift towards something in particular...

SUNNY looks at the pricetag. $700. There's no way he can afford that... but... almost by instinct, he reaches out, and...

The smooth feeling of the polished wood... the firm strings under his fingers... all in his hand again at last. He doesn't know what to think. He's held his violin before, in his dreams, but... this... this is so different. He pulls it into position, his hand on the fingerboard and chin on the rest... even without the bow, it's.. 

It's too much. SUNNY puts the violin back where it belongs.  

"Hey, SUNNY..." A voice startles him, and he turns. Is that BASIL? Oh. Right. They were out shopping. SUNNY rubs at his eye and waves to him. "Are you finished with your job?"

"Yeah," he murmurs.

"Oh... um... that's good..." BASIL says. "HERO wanted me to check on you, since you've been alone for a while. He said they shouldn't be done shopping until 1 or so, but I can keep you company if you want. I know you hate being alone..."

SUNNY nods. "I'd appreciate that."

"Thanks," BASIL says. "What do you want to do, then, SUNNY?"

He pauses to think. Some busy work would help take the violin off his mind. Delivering for GINO'S is easy, and it's outside... "Maybe another job."

"Where were you thinking? All the shops here always have part-time jobs available..."

"GINO'S," SUNNY says. "We'll deliver pizzas."

"Sure," BASIL says. "Let's get going, then..."

SUNNY starts to follow BASIL back outside, through the door, but he can't help but turn back for a second, to catch one last glimpse of that violin, but BASIL is waiting for him, and he has to go.

It doesn't take them long to reach GINO'S. The door still jingles when they open it. The restaurant is same as always, though a little more crowded. Brick walls, checkered everything, that strangely tall drink cooler, hot, dry, air. The jukebox might even be playing the same obscure songs. SUNNY can't help but be reminded of the city... It always felt like there was a pizza parlor on every block.

There's that "HELP WANTED" sign again. SUNNY stares at it, hoping to catch the cashier's attention. 

"Hey, you two..." the pizza man says. "I see you peeking at that poster there. Are you looking for a job?"

"Yes," SUNNY says. BASIL squirms a little. 

"Cooooool," the man says. "Let me help you get started. Come over here."

"Okay..." BASIL says hesitantly, walking over to the counter.

"So, good news is... Wait, do you want the good news or the bad news?" He grabs a few pizza boxes and places them on the counter.BASIL's too bewildered to respond, so he keeps going. "Eh, I guess it doesn't matter. The good news is that we got five different pizza orders today. But... our delivery boy suddenly called in sick... again... Does he have the flu or something? It's been weeks... I'm starting to wonder if he's even alive." The man stops for a second, seeming to think. 

"I-I don't know, sir-" BASIL starts, but the man cuts him off.

"Problem is, these customers are all our regulars, so we stopped recording their addresses forever ago," he says. Doesn't seem like he even heard BASIL. "I can't remember their addresses off the top of my head, but I do remember what their houses look like... You know what?" He grabs something out of his pocket, a crumpled piece of paper and a pencil. He scribbles on it for a second, then hands it to them. "Here! Just take this note and you'll be fine."

"O...Okay?" BASIL says. He holds the note up to his face, then stares at it for a second. "Um, sir? I'm not sure I can read th-"

"Here's your uniform!" the man says. He hands them two yellow aprons and red hats. BASIL opens his mouth to protest, but he just slips it on without a word and gives SUNNY a confused look. "Now remember, you have five pizzas to deliver," the man says. "When you're done, just bike your way back to the shop. I'm counting on you two!"

"Um..." BASIL says. "O-Okay, then." He and SUNNY grab their pizza boxes, carry them outside, and place them onto the two red bikes lying out front. SUNNY doesn't know when they got there, but at least they're coming in useful now. He climbs onto his bike and waits for BASIL. It takes him a second to get back into the rhythm of biking, but he gets it pretty quickly.

"So, um..." BASIL says. "Do you think you can read this?"

"Mm," SUNNY says. They stop for a second so BASIL can hand him the crumpled note. 

It's total chickenscratch... almost. It's not like his handwriting is much better. There's a street written, but he can barely make it out... OAK LANE, maybe? That's the one all the way to the east of his house.

"OAK LANE," he says. "There."

"Is that where we have to go?" BASIL says.

SUNNY nods. He starts to pedal his bike and keeps at a steady pace, careful not to drop the food. They ride out of the plaza, past the park and the crossroads, past all the big houses and the cars, into an unfamiliar part of town. Nothing but houses here, so there's not much reason to visit. SUNNY keeps his eye on the street signs, until he finally spots OAK LANE and turns. They leave their bikes on the sidewalk, then carry the five pizzas into their arms.

SUNNY pulls out the note from his pocket. He'll start with the first line.

Can you find the... what? Moose? No, house. Can you find the house with the... red... okay, that's just indecipherable. RucE? Maybe he'll just move on. The purple flowers... Rj... the yellow window.

"We need to find a house with..." he looks back at the note. "Purple flowers in a yellow window."

"Okay!" BASIL says. "This... isn't a very... orthodox way of delivering pizza, is it? I hope we aren't late..."

SUNNY's eye scans the street, paying close attention to every window... no flowers in the first one... that one's red, not yellow... 

"There!" BASIL says. "I think it's that one." He points to the third house down the street, the one with the red roof. Matches the description. SUNNY carries his pizza stack all the way over to the door, then knocks.

"PIZZA DELIVERY!" he says. Did BASIL just flinch? An unfamiliar woman opens the door.

"Hey! Wow, you guys came sooner than I thought," she says. "Thank you, delivery boy!"

"There," BASIL says. "We only have four to go now." SUNNY looks at the note again. It's a pain as always, but he manages to make out some kind of coherent clue. A house with a blue brick chimney and a basketball hoop in the lawn. It's right to their left, actually. SUNNY points to it.

"That one?" BASIL says. SUNNY nods yes, and BASIL stands still for a second, looking at him, then the house, then the bike.

He knows BASIL's shy. "It's more efficient," he explains.

"Okay..." BASIL sighs. He walks over to the door, takes a deep breath, and knocks. SUNNY grabs another pizza while he waits. "Pizza delivery..." BASIL says meekly. A large, hairy man opens the door. SUNNY thinks he sees a weird tattoo.

"What?" he says. "I didn't order no darn pizza! Who do you think I am?"

"I-I'm sorry!" BASIL says. "I, um, I think this is the wrong house! Bye!" He shuts the door in the man's face.

"HEY!" he says, but BASIL ignores him. He wipes the sweat off his forehead.

"I guess that was the wrong house...?" BASIL says. "M-Maybe there's another one that fits the description..."

SUNNY leads him further down the street, carefully searching for any blue chimneys or basketball hoops. No, that one has a purple chimney... no, there's nothing in the lawn there... after about four houses, he thinks he sees the right one. He takes the pizza off BASIL's hands and knocks on the door.

"PIZZA DELIVERY!"

"There you are..." a customer says. SUNNY hands over the pizza and closes the door, but not before he hears him mumble something about GINO'S PIZZA... slipping these days? Hey, they did fine! Onto the next house, though. They take a look at the note. It says something about... a green pickup truck and an orange door? After a few tedious minutes, they find it, just at the end of the street.

"PIZZA DELIVERY!"

Another one down, two to go. Then one. Then zero. That must have taken an hour or so... way longer than it should have, but they're finally done delivering pizzas... that didn't go at all like SUNNY imagined, but at least they'll both have twenty dollars to spare. 

"Haha..." BASIL says as they walk back to their bikes. "That was fun, wasn't it? It's nice to have time like this again... just the two of us."

SUNNY nods. He's reminded of how things used to be... BASIL reading books to him, watching him play video games over his shoulder, sitting next to him in the sand... they really were best friends. He wishes it didn't have to turn out like this, but... it's still nice.

"Do... do you think things are going back to the way they were before?" BASIL says. 

SUNNY shrugs. He wants to hope, but... the truth is, they probably won't. "I'm not sure."

"Yeah, I... I don't know," BASIL says. "I wish they could, but..." he glances at SUNNY's eye as he talks. "I don't think they can... not completely. But... This is still nice, right?" he adds. "Even if things aren't like they were before... it's still nice to spend time together."

SUNNY nods. It is.

"Hey, SUNNY..." BASIL has a strangely sly grin on his face. "You know... you've been looking kind of funny at AUBREY lately... Do I maybe... still sense a little crush?"

SUNNY feels his ears turning red... More like his whole face, actually. BASIL giggles a little.

"It's okay... I won't say a thing!" he says. "My lips are sealed."

"Is-Is it obvious?" SUNNY says. He must sound kind of dumb.

"Hmm..." BASIL says. "No... Not unless you're paying attention."

SUNNY's face feels even hotter. Hopefully she's not paying attention... Just try not to look at her, right? It's not like it'd be a good idea to pursue her anyway. So... just try not to think about it too much, he thinks.

"Anyway..." BASIL says, changing the topic. "Do you know what time it is?" SUNNY checks his phone.

"12:30."

"Ahh, what?!" BASIL says. "I really need to keep better track of time... It's been so long already... we'd better get back to GINO'S! What if he thinks we ran off?!"

They hop back onto their bikes and hurry back down through FARAWAY until they arrive back at GINO'S. They leave the two bikes outside and walk through the door to find a familiar set of faces. AUBREY and KEL are seated at a table, digging into a fresh pizza, while HERO stands by the counter.

"...tomorrow by noon, okay?" he hears HERO say. "Yeah. Thank you, sir!" He takes a sandwich and sits down next to AUBREY.

"Oh, hey, guys! There you are!" KEL says. "We're waiting for lunch right now. Have a seat!"

"Oh, okay!" BASIL says. He sits down at their table. "Sorry we took so long... We were trying to deliver pizzas." SUNNY quickly collects their reward, then joins his friends.

"Why are you working on vacation so much, SUNNY?" AUBREY says, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it can't hurt to have a little extra money, can it?" KEL says. 

"I guess so..." she says. "But why now instead of later?"

"I don't know," KEL says. "You'd have to ask SUNNY."

"Well, either way..." HERO says. "Look at you two, taking jobs now! You've become such hard workers."

"Haha..." BASIL says. "Thank you, HERO... I was just going along with SUNNY, really..."

"Well, I think you deserve some credit, too." HERO pauses on that, like he can't think of anything else to say. KEL takes an awkwardly loud bite out of the pizza.

"Man..." KEL sighs, breaking the silence. "It's been a while since we've been able to do this, huh?"

"Do what?" AUBREY says.

"Just... walk around town, I guess," he says. "All five of us... it was nice last time, but... we didn't have BASIL with us. This is really the first time we've all been together since..."

"Since SUNNY moved," AUBREY finishes. "I... I guess I didn't really think about that."

"It was cool to go to the beach yesterday, but there's nothing like a nice day in FARAWAY TOWN!" KEL says.

"Yeah!" HERO says. "I missed doing things like this. With college and everything, I'm getting less and less time to make friends, so... this is pretty nice."

"Well..." AUBREY says. "At least you've always got us, right?"

"Aww, thanks, AUBREY," HERO says. "You know you've always got me too."

"Um... You're welcome, I guess..." she says awkwardly. "Actually... Can I ask you a question, HERO?"

"Sure," he says. "Go ahead!"

"Is... is it weird?" she says. "Being friends with a bunch of teenagers."

"Hmm..." HERO says. "No, I wouldn't say it is. It probably would be under other circumstances, but... you guys are different. I've known all of you since I was a kid." He stops a second to think, putting his hand on his chin. "It's kind of like having little brothers and sisters, if that makes sense."

"Huh." AUBREY stares at the tablecloth, deep in thought. "Yeah... I think I know what you mean."

"Oh, yeah!" KEL says. "That's just like what you said, AUBREY! About us being your-"

"Shh!" she says, suddenly red in the face. 

KEL stops, then rubs the back of his head. "Sorry..." he says. HERO seems to decide not to comment.

"S-Sorry," AUBREY adds awkwardly.

"Well, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it," HERO says. "But we're always ready to listen if you need us."

"It's nothing, really..." she says. "Just... maybe it's kind of weird. It's just that... I always kind of wished I had siblings."

"Aww, there's nothing weird about that, AUBREY," BASIL says. "I've felt like that before. I remember I was always really jealous of SUNNY and MARI growing up."

"Yeah... but... sometimes, with you guys, it feels like..." Her face gets a little redder. "Maybe you are my siblings. Is that weird?"

"Hm... no, not at all," HERO says. "We've known each other since we were really little. It makes sense to me."

"I think it's sweet, AUBREY," BASIL says.

"Haha... thanks, guys," she says. "Normally, I don't like being cheesy and stuff... but with you guys, it's not so bad."

"Heh, heh..." KEL says. "You guys are such big softies... always have been."

"Hmph..." AUBREY says. She can't seem to think of a good retort.

"So what do you all want to do now?" HERO says. "We've got the whole rest of the afternoon free."

"Why don't we go to the park?" KEL says. "It's been a while since we've all been there together."

"I don't know..." AUBREY says. "It's really humid. Why don't we go outside later, after it cools down? It's so gross out right now."

"Hmm, I guess it is a little hot..." HERO says. "In the meantime, we could go to our house and watch TV."

"Hmm..." KEL says. "I guess..."

"Well?" HERO says. "Why don't we get going?"

After cleaning up their scraps, everyone heads out the door, back into the plaza. It's a beautiful day, but pretty sticky, as AUBREY said. It's gotten a lot hotter since the morning. Only a few clouds float lazily overhead in the baby blue sky. If only there was a breeze, too. With the air so still and the sun so high, he gets sweaty in seconds. 

After a little bit, they make it back to KEL and HERO's and head through the door, into the living room. The air conditioning is a real relief. SUNNY notices that BASIL looks like he must have three days ago, wide-eyed and eyes poring over everything.

"Actually, when was the last time you were here, BASIL?" KEL says, taking notice.

"Hm..." BASIL says. "Not since the fall, I think..."

"Wow," KEL says. "Time really flies, huh?"

"Yeah..." AUBREY says. "I guess it does."

Everyone keeps chatting idly, but as they do so, HERO takes a seat on the couch and grabs the remote. KEL joins him, then everyone else. It's kind of a squeeze now, though, since they're so much bigger... KEL ends up sitting on the floor instead, while everyone else crams themselves onto the cushions. The couch smells like HECTOR.

"Oh, by the way..." KEL says. "My parents aren't home, so we've got the whole afternoon to ourselves!"

"Yeah... why don't we look for something to watch?" HERO says. "We've got so much time."

"Hm... I don't know," AUBREY says. "There's nothing good airing anymore."

"It can't hurt to look," HERO says. "Maybe you'll find something you like! You never know."

They sift through all kinds of channels as the afternoon goes by, absently chatting about whatever. They look at the news for a little while, but only HERO has any interest in that... no, they're too old for that... what even is that? A soap opera? Eventually, they settle on an old show. SWEETHEART'S QUEST FOR HEARTS: THE TV SHOW. She got her own live action reality show after her movies, somehow. Even though she was an animated character... from Japan... It's pretty awful, but at least they can make fun of it... pretty soon, though, it starts to lose their attention.

"Hey, SUNNY..." AUBREY says suddenly. He turns to face her. "I know I've already asked this before, but... I've been thinking. What did you do those four years? I know you said you slept, but... that can't be it, right? A lot happened in that time."

SUNNY's silent. He needs to think. Maybe he could start with WHITE SPACE... or HEADSPACE, or... how does he even begin to explain this? The worst time in his life, the most cowardly thing he's ever done? He'll sound crazy...

"Sorry, that was kind of out of nowhere, wasn't it?"

"I dreamed a lot," he says finally, just as she finishes her sentence.

"Really?" KEL says. "Do you mean, like... dream dream, in your sleep?"

SUNNY nods.

"What did you dream about?"

His face flushes with shame. "I made up... entire worlds, in my head. Where... where everything was like it used to be."

"Entire worlds?" KEL says. He's piqued their interest now. "What do you mean?"

"It's... hard to explain."

"I think I know what you're talking about, SUNNY," BASIL says. "You told me about this, I think... Before you got that sketchbook, remember?"

"Can you, um..." SUNNY murmurs. "Explain it...?"

"Um, sure..." BASIL says. "But I'm not sure if I really know how to put it..."

"It's okay," SUNNY says. "Just... tell them."

"Okay... I'll try my best..." Everyone's looking at BASIL now, and he knows it. He blushes a little. "A few months ago... I was talking to SUNNY, and he told me how... sometimes, when he fell asleep, he went to this place in his head... Actually, why don't you show them your sketchbook instead?"

"I, um..." His face feels even hotter now... "I don't have it right now."

"Is it in your bag?" HERO says. He nods. "Aww, don't be shy, SUNNY! We'd all love to see your drawings."

He imagines his friends poring over his crummy drawings... His face starts to heat up. They'd probably just be creeped out... "M-Maybe later," he mumbles.

"Aww, but you've got me curious now..." KEL says. "Tomorrow?"

SUNNY forces himself to nod. He'll show them eventually... at least BASIL might like them...

"Alright!" KEL says. "Just don't forget..."

They drop the topic after that... As they keep watching TV, his eyelids start to droop... probably because he woke up so early... before he knows it, he's tuning out his friends' chat, and he's on the verge of a nap...

"Hey..." he hears HERO's voice, dimly. "You know what this reminds me of? All of us, sitting on the couch together and watching TV..."

"What?" AUBREY says.

"Well, do you remember when we were kids..." he says. "And we'd all go over to SUNNY's every weekend to watch Saturday morning cartoons?"

"Yeah, I remember..." she says. "Why?"

"I don't know... I guess I just thought of it."

"Man..." KEL says. "We had so much fun at SUNNY's, didn't we? I wish he never had to move away..."

"Well, it's not like we can never go back," HERO says. "We'd just have to ask our new neighbors if we could come over."

"Your new neighbors, huh..." AUBREY says. "I... kind of forgot about them. I guess I never really realized that someone would have moved in there eventually."

"Yeah, it's just another family," KEL says. "They love me, though. I'm sure we could hang out there for a little bit. We could even show BASIL the treehouse, since we didn't get to last year."

"You guys... went to the treehouse?" BASIL says, almost in shock.

"Yeah, just before SUNNY left," KEL says. "It's still up in his old backyard. Did you want us to show you?"

"Sure..." BASIL says. "That... sounds nice. I... almost forgot about it, to be honest."

"Alright, then!" HERO says. "Why don't we head over to our next door neighbors'?"

SUNNY opens his eye, pulls himself to his feet, and yawns. If this is what his friends are doing... he guesses he'll have to nap later. He never realized that someone new would move into his old house, either... it's... a very strange feeling, knowing that it belongs to someone else now. Like he's been robbed of something... and he... wants it back. 

As he follows his friends out the door and down the street, a dread builds in his chest. Why, though? There's nothing to fear, right? It's just his old house. Just... calm down.

Chapter Text

TWO DAYS LEFT...

They're past his mailbox, his white fences, now in his driveway. No, not his driveway. His old driveway, with the wrong cars parked in his old garage.

KEL knocks on his door. No, their door. Whoever this is.

A woman opens it for him, one in her thirties. She seems kind of familiar, actually... yes, he's definitely seen her before.

"Yes?" she says.

"Hey, MRS. ROBERTS!" KEL says. "Um, this is kind of awkward, but... I've got my old friend SUNNY here with me, the one who used to live here... and all our other friends, too. Do you think we could stay here for a little bit... just for old times' sake, y'know?"

"Oh, sure..." she says. Her eyes drift to SUNNY. If she's surprised by the eyepatch, she doesn't show it. "Hey, I think I've seen you before! I met with your mother before you moved. SUZUKI, right? She was so kind... Anyway, please come in! I'd love to show you around."

SUNNY has no interest in being seen around. He doesn't want to see what this woman's done to his home. But there's no way he's going to say that out loud. So, without a word, he follows everyone inside.

It's like standing over the edge of a cliff. The sheer sense of vertigo he gets from being here is enough to make him sick. The fireplace... it's still lit... but his couch is gone, and so are his houseplants... His relatives, his baby pictures, his floor lamp... replaced with something else. Even the wallpaper is different. In place of vines is some kind of... flowery thing. The rug is red now, with this weird... pattern, the TV is wider. There's a coffee table in front of the couch, and a few magazines he doesn't recognize on top. His entire home is just... unrecognizable.

All of it had a story. How his dad would get mad when they lost the remote, or his mom would drag him along to flower arranging classes, or how their bookshelves just collected dust, or how MARI took the fall when he broke one of the vases... So much of what he loved, just... gone. Well, not truly gone... much of it is still with him, in his apartment, lying in a box somewhere... but... he will never see those things where they belong ever again. He feels... angry. Like he hasn't in a while. He forces himself to take a deep breath. He has to work on his temper.

SUNNY feels a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, SUNNY..." KEL says. "You must miss this place a lot, huh?"

"Y-Yeah." His voice feels shaky.

"Oh, you poor boy..." the woman says. "It's always hard having to move away from where you grew up. This is such a nice house... I can't imagine why your mother wanted to get rid of it so badly."

Yes, you can't, he wants to say, but... he has to hold himself back. He shouldn't be mad. It made them a lot of money. And there are more jobs in the city. And being in this old house was just too painful for her, always surrounded by those awful memories, and... well, it was for him, too. But he just... can't help but feel bitter. That things had to turn out this way. That he had to leave it all behind.

"You know what?" KEL says. "Maybe we should just go to the treehouse. Do you mind if we have a look in your backyard, MRS. ROBERTS? Just the five of us."

"No, not at all..." she says. "Feel free to look." She walks into the kitchen. SUNNY hears her doing something, but he's not sure what. As he looks over the room, his eye drifts to BASIL. Yes, that's right... He hasn't been in his backyard, either... not in five years. The last time they were here together...

"I'm sorry..." BASIL says. "I don't know if I'm ready for this yet.." his voice breaks, and he stops.

"It's okay, BASIL," KEL says. "There's a lot we still haven't really talked about yet, right? That's why we're all here now... so we can face this together."

"Yeah..." HERO says. He clears his throat. "Let's... let's do this. Together."

"I'll go first," KEL says. He pulls open the glass sliding door and walks through. First, AUBREY follows him. HERO looks at SUNNY and BASIL... then the door... and follows her lead. It's just him and BASIL now, alone in his living room. He takes his hand... and steps out into the evening light. 

SUNNY's shoes come to meet soft grass. It's well-trimmed, not like the last time they were here. The whole backyard... glowing with signs of life. A soccer ball, a net, a little garden...  All aside from the very back. The stump. Each pinwheel still remains, as if this place's new owners must have known their significance.

His lungs start to tighten up. A million times he's been back here, and yet it still scares him. BASIL's hand squeezes his a little. His heart jumps. No, he thinks. No no no no no no no no. He jerks his hand away.

"S-SUNNY?" BASIL says. "O... Oh." He realizes, and he takes a step backward.

SUNNY takes a deep breath, then another, and another. His heartbeat starts to steady a little. His friends are here now, looking at him, concern in their eyes. All of them except HERO. Staring past him. "I-I'm okay," he assures them. "It's hard, but... I... I can do this."

AUBREY stares into him for a second, making his skin crawl. Her eyes are so... skeptical. Then she stares back into the distance, in the direction of... that stump.

"Being here again..." she says. "I don't... I don't know how to feel." She tries to breathe in, though it sounds shaky. "I'm glad she didn't do it, but... I can't believe... how did you even..." She turns back to them. "How did you even do that? SUNNY, you didn't look like this last time. Is it because BASIL's here? Or because..."

SUNNY's gaze shifts away uncomfortably, like he'd rather look at anything but his friends. "I..." Maybe he'll tell the truth. No more secrets, right? "I forgot... what happened. The truth of that day. Until..."

"What?" AUBREY cuts him off. She lets out a bitter laugh, as if in disbelief. "You forgot ? What the hell does that mean?" Her words hit him hard, like a blow to the chest, but he doesn't dare stop.

"I-I'm sorry. What I mean is... I tried to make myself forget. I-It was just so... terrifying... that I-I repressed it all... until I couldn't remember what happened that day. Or... much of anything."

Her face hardens. "Coward." SUNNY cringes.

"AUBREY!" KEL snaps. "Watch it. That was really uncalled for. Do you really want to push him away again?"

"I..." She covers her face. "Why did I say that...?"

"No..." SUNNY mumbles. She shouldn't even be ashamed... he should be. "You're right. I... I'm a coward. I always have been."

"But..." BASIL says. "You're not now, right?"

SUNNY pauses. What has he been doing every night? He can't speak.

"SUNNY..." BASIL turns to face his best friend. He puts his hand on his shoulder. SUNNY tries to squirm away, but BASIL's grip is oddly firm. "You saved my life. A coward wouldn't do that, okay?"

"O...Okay," he says. "I... I know."

KEL gives them both a wistful look. Normally, SUNNY'd expect him to say something cheerful, something so over-the-top and goofy yet genuine he couldn't help but smile. But it seems like not even he can think of anything to say.

"Hey..." HERO says, his voice shaky. "Let's... let's just go to the treehouse, okay?"

"Yeah," AUBREY says. "Let's."

They walk past the old stump, solemnly making their way through the little patch of forest. There it is, yellow in the evening light. Their old treehouse, that they all built together. It's only been one year, but it looks older than ever. KEL hops onto the ladder and gestures for everyone else to come. BASIL joins him, then AUBREY, then SUNNY, and finally, HERO.

Here they are. His most precious room, abandoned and overgrown. Only one pot remains in the windowsill. The others must have fallen. BASIL's eyes take it all in--that toaster KEL brought in, the clock, forever stuck at half past nine, the yo-yo lying in the corner, HERO's old cookbooks. It's just even more dusty and worn. BASIL smiles a little. It's a hesitant smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"Haha, wow..." BASIL says. "This place... is pretty old now, isn't it?"

"Yeah," KEL says. "It is."

"Everything's right where we left it, though..." BASIL says. "I think."

"Hmm..." KEL says. "It looks like kind of off to me. Maybe there's a few things out of place, actually. Why's MR. PLANTEGG in that corner?"

"He is?" AUBREY says. "Oh... Well, it's not like it makes much of a difference."

"Didn't you bring this TV up here, KEL?" BASIL says. "And that toaster..."

"Um... yeah, I think so!" KEL says. "Haha... I was such a weird kid, wasn't I, guys?"

"Oh, and these little paper plants!" BASIL says. "We made them together, AUBREY! Remember?"

"Yeah..." she says. "With MARI, too."

"Oh, yeah..." BASIL says. "She couldn't help out much with building because of her knee, so she helped us with that instead..."

"Man..." KEL says. "We had such a good time here... It's a shame that this is probably the last time we're all going to be together here in this treehouse. Hey, wait... BASIL, you should take a picture!"

"You know what?" BASIL says. "Sure! Everyone say cheese..." Everyone huddles together and tries their best to pose. BASIL's camera flashes, and the photo prints. SUNNY takes out his album and slides it in. Wow... they've taken so many, they're almost at the end of this album. BASIL takes a little green pen out of his pocket and writes a short little paragraph, next to all the others.

(7/19)

"It's all of us in our old treehouse again! It's been so long it's kind of falling apart, but it's still so nostalgic... Sigh... this place really was the best. If only we got to spend more time here..."

"There..." BASIL says. "All done."

"You know what?" KEL says, his eyes lighting up. "Since this is probably the last time we'll ever be in this treehouse together... why don't we look through your whole PHOTO ALBUM, BASIL? For old time's sake."

"O-Oh, hm..." BASIL says. "Sure."

KEL flips to the beginning of the album, and they start to look over the whole thing. SUNNY's done this so many times before, but... not with all these new memories. SUNNY and KEL sitting by the lake, AUBREY and BASIL looking at a plant in the forest, everyone playing in the sea, and then the treehouse. And that first Christmas, BASIL's 12th birthday. Everyone trying on flower crowns, eating popsicles, their shoes in a circle, HERO sleeping on MARI, SUNNY giving his sister a hug. 

They're happy, but... there's such a stark contrast between then and now. Really, next to each other, it only makes it stick out even more. How they're so much bigger and older. How the innocence is gone from their eyes. How SUNNY doesn't even have an eye anymore. And... more than anything... her absence. 

The way she leaves such a void in the photos, without her smiles or winks or cookies. The way she just... without any warning... disappears from the photos completely. They were all so happy... they had no idea what would happen, there's no way they could. The pictures just feel less... whole. Like them.

As they make it to the last page, BASIL sighs. "We... we really made so many good memories together. They're a little sad now, but... I'm just glad they happened at all."

"Yeah..." KEL says. "That's the spirit! Why the long faces, guys? We should be happy that any of this even happened in the first place!"

"Yeah..." HERO says shakily. "W-We should, right? I should be happy th-that this happened in the first place. I'm so happy to have you guys... you know that, right?" Something about his tone... It makes SUNNY's chest tighten up, like something's slowly squeezing him to death... What... what is he doing? This isn't HERO, not the HERO he knows. He doesn't sound like himself at all.

"Um..." AUBREY says. "Y-Yeah?" She pauses a moment, and takes a deep breath. "HERO, are you okay? You've been acting kind of... weird lately."

"Yeah..." BASIL says, his voice somber again. "HERO... you can talk to us."

"O-Okay," HERO says. He breathes, or at least... it sounds like he's trying to. He keeps trying, over and over, but he only gets more and more frantic. "Yeah. Yeah, I can talk to you guys. I can talk to you guys!"

"Um... HERO?" KEL says. "You're... scaring me..."

"OF COURSE I CAN TALK TO YOU!" HERO jumps to his feet. SUNNY's heart leaps into his throat. What... what is he... "You know what I'm just sick of hearing? 'You can talk to us, HERO. We're here for you.' From you. " He points a trembling finger at BASIL. BASIL backs into the wall. He looks absolutely terrified. SUNNY can't even move his legs. "If you were really here for me, you wouldn't have lied to me! Four years, B-BASIL."

He starts to pace around the treehouse. "For four years, I thought there was something I could've done!" He lets out a hollow laugh. "I thought it was my fault! That I just wasn't there for her, that we just didn't love her enough, that I just didn't love her enough! But no, that... That was all a lie, wasn't it?" He's starting to cry. Why won't he calm down? "Because you, SUNNY, you-" SUNNY can't breathe. He really can't breathe. "You killed her. But, but y-you never meant to hurt her, and you were just a kid-" 

HERO lets out a sob. Why can't he breathe? "God damn it, you were twelve! What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?!" He slumps back onto the wall. His face falls into his hands. HERO sobs, over and over and over and over. Everything is so fuzzy. He can't hear a thing in his own head.

"H-HERO." KEL takes a step forward. He looks so tired. "That's enough. Please."

"I..." HERO looks up. "I..."

"I'm so sorry," BASIL murmurs through his hands. "I'm so sorry, HERO... Please... forgive me..."

"N-No." HERO gets to his feet. He stares at his hands. He doesn't look entirely there. "What... what did I just..."

"I'm so sorry..." BASIL apologizes over and over again, like there is nothing else he knows how to do. "Please forgive me..."

HERO stands up again and rubs his eyes. "N-No..." he mumbles. "No, stop it..." He takes a shaky step forward, toward SUNNY and BASIL. SUNNY's heart jumps into another frenzy, and he flinches, he waits for HERO to hurt him, to scream at him again, but-

He hugs them. What?

"I'm so sorry," he sobs. "I'm so sorry... please, say something, just please."

"HERO..." BASIL says. "W-Why did it end up like this?"

"I-I don't know, BASIL," HERO says. "I don't know. I just..."

SUNNY's eye starts to water. He lets out a sob. 

"SUNNY... come on, don't cry," he says. "It's okay..."

"I-I'm so sorry," SUNNY begs. "I killed her. It's all my fault."

"No, SUNNY, ugh..." HERO says. "You didn't... Listen to me, okay?"

HERO lets go of them and comes face to face with SUNNY. What... what is he doing? Why is he frustrated that SUNNY... thinks he... what?

"You need to forgive yourself," he says. "It-What happened that day... you can't keep blaming yourself for it. Accidents happen, and... sometimes, we just... lose control, and... we make mistakes we wouldn't normally make. Maybe you shouldn't have broken your violin, or tried to leave... a-and I wish... that I knew how hard she pushed you. Because maybe if I'd known, we wouldn't- Never mind. I'm getting off track. It was just an accident, okay? You never meant to hurt her. It was just... a senseless accident, really. That doesn't make you unforgivable."

"B-But-" SUNNY says.

"SUNNY..." HERO says. "You've already suffered so much. You loved her even more than I did. And... and I'm just... so sorry that I ever..."

"No," SUNNY says. "You shouldn't-"

"I'm so sorry that I avoided you, SUNNY," he finishes. "It was... cowardly. And really... immature of me. And I hope you can forgive me for it."

"O-Oh." SUNNY nods.

"Y-You too, BASIL," he says. "I've... I've been a terrible friend. And a terrible person. You don't have to forgive me, but..." He rubs at his eyes. "Please try."

"I f-forgive you," SUNNY says. "HERO."

"Why..." BASIL sniffles. "Why are you asking for my forgiveness? I... I deserve this, don't I?"

"No," HERO says sternly. "No, BASIL. You didn't deserve what I just... what I just did to you. None of you did."

"HERO..." AUBREY croaks. She clears her throat. "I-It's okay. Sometimes, we make mistakes we wouldn't normally make, right? Especially when we're... When we're going through something hard."

"I..." HERO says. "I know what you're talking about, AUBREY. But you... you're all just kids. I'm... I'm an adult. I'm twenty years old... and I just... U-Ugh. I'm so... pathetic."

"HERO, you're..." She wipes at her cheek. "You're grieving. We all are."

"I know, but..." he stops. "N-Nevermind. SUNNY..." He puts his hand on SUNNY's shoulder and looks him in the eye. SUNNY's tempted to look away, to squirm out of his grip, but... he stays put. "You've suffered so much. I can't... I can't imagine what you've been through. It's funny." He gives a weak smile. "For so long... even if I hated myself for it... I was angry at you. But seeing you now... even after yelling at you like that... it's like I can't even remember why. Haha... That must sound pretty silly, right? I yelled at you and now, all of a sudden, I'm not as angry."

"I..." AUBREY says. "I think it makes sense. You've been holding that all in for a while, HERO. Maybe you just needed some kind of... release."

"Yeah..." KEL says. "If I'm being honest, HERO... I'm just glad to have you back. I... I don't want you to keep repeating what happened... after MARI died."

"I'm... I'm so sorry, KEL," HERO says. "I didn't mean to... to put you through that. Again"

"No, it's okay..." KEL says, his voice cracking. "Just... don't do that again, please."

"I... I'll try," HERO says. "It... feels kind of nice to get it out. I think I need to." He takes his hand off SUNNY and turns to BASIL, but there's none of the same affection or warmth in his eyes he had for SUNNY just a moment before. "But, um... BASIL."

"Y-Yes?" BASIL stumbles backward. His eyes are still red from crying. 

"I..." HERO stares at the ground. "I know this is going to be really hard for you. And I wish it didn't have to be this way. But..." He awkwardly shifts his hands a little, like he's trying to find anything to do but this. He takes a deep breath. "I don't know if I can ever forgive you for what you've done. I just... I can't imagine how terrified you were that day. But... why... why did you do that? Why didn't you... call an ambulance? Wait for us? Or... something, anything? Why was that what you thought of? And why did you wait so long to tell us?"

BASIL takes a deep breath too. "I-I wish I knew," he says. "Every day, I ask myself the same thing. I... I think I was just... I was so terrified of what would happen to SUNNY. I was so scared, I... I couldn't think straight." He sighs and rubs at his eyes, barely holding back tears. 

"If I called the ambulance, then we'd have to tell them what happened... and... well... I was scared that... they'd do something to him. I refused to believe he could do something like that. What if they thought he was a murderer? I came up with all this nonsense that... that made it okay. That blamed something else. Looking back now..." His face hardens. "That's the dumbest, most idiotic... thing I've ever thought. None of those crazy things would have happened, and something didn't kill MARI. But... no matter how much I wish I could take it all back... I can't change what happened that day. I just have to accept it... I'm sorry."

HERO stares at him. "Okay," he says solemnly. "I... I accept your apology." His face gets stern again. "T-That doesn't mean I can forgive you. But... no matter what... I can't hate you, BASIL. If I did, I'd never forgive myself. Even after everything, you're still a good kid. S-So... don't think that this means... we can't still be friends."

"Th..." BASIL's voice cracks. "Thank you, HERO."

"Don't worry about it," he says. "Friends are supposed to be there for each other, right? So... I... I'll never leave you again. Any of you. That's a promise."

"Yeah!" KEL says. "We'll never leave each other again... We should all promise."

AUBREY sighs. "I promise," she says. "Do you?"

"Of course! I promise to always be there for you guys," KEL says.

"I promise!" BASIL says. "SUNNY?"

SUNNY looks at his friends' smiling faces. Even if he's never liked to smile, he has to smile too. "I promise."

"YEAH!!!" KEL says. "That's what I like to see!"

"You know what?" HERO says. "I think now is the perfect time for a..."

"Group hug?!" KEL says. "Count me in!"

AUBREY groans. "Are we really doing this again?"

"You know it!" KEL says. "C'mere!" SUNNY feels a warm arm wrap around him. KEL and HERO push everyone inside, and he wraps his arms around them, too. He doesn't want to ever stop feeling like this... all warm and light inside, feeling so loved and understood. After a few seconds, they all pull away, but the feeling sticks with him. He holds it close to his heart, so it won't ever leave him again.

"Wow... we really spent a long time in this treehouse, huh?" KEL says. "It looks like the sun's about to set outside."

"Yeah, it does..." AUBREY says. "That family must be worried about us. We should probably get back inside."

"Do you still want to look around your old house, SUNNY?" HERO says.

SUNNY takes a moment to think. "No," he says. "Let's go."

"All right!" KEL says. Everyone pulls themselves to their feet, and they start to climb out of the treehouse, down into SUNNY's old backyard. "What do you guys want to do for the rest of the night, though?"

"I don't know," AUBREY says. "Do you think we... we could stay the night at your house, HERO?"

"Of course!" HERO says. "You're always welcome at our house, AUBREY."

"We'll have to check with our parents, though..." KEL says. "And you'll have to deal with SALLY crying a lot. Is that okay with you guys?"

"Um... sure..." AUBREY says.

"Yeah, sure!" BASIL says. "Now that I think about it... I... I don't think I've ever slept over at your house before, actually."

"Really?" KEL says. "Huh. Now that I think about it... I guess you're right."

"You're going to stay the night tomorrow, too, right?" HERO says. "Before SUNNY has to leave."

"Yeah, of course..." AUBREY says. She stops for a second, by the stump, staring at her old pinwheel. "Actually... you guys go on ahead. I want to talk to you for a second... SUNNY. And BASIL, too."

"Oh, okay!" KEL says. "We'll wait inside."

KEL opens that glass sliding door, and HERO follows him. Without the brothers, it's just the three of them together, alone in this backyard.

"I've been thinking..." she says. "About what HERO said. That... That MARI's death was really just an accident... and that you're still both good people. And... I think I should say... that I forgive you guys. Both of you."

SUNNY stands still. His face feels hot, but not like it did yesterday evening. He just can't think of anything to say, even if this means so much to him... Maybe just a thanks is enough.

"Thank you, AUBREY," he says solemnly.

"Y-Yeah," BASIL says. "Thank you. Really."

"We've all done a lot of pretty awful things..." she says. "But... when I think about it... everything you've done... no matter how selfish it was... you never really meant to hurt anyone."

"Y...Yeah..." BASIL says. "I guess so."

"I... I don't know if I can say the same." She stares off into the trees. "I've said and done so many awful things to both of you, even when I know how much you're hurting... and... I feel like such an idiot."

"But, AUBREY..." BASIL says. "You're still trying to make up for all those things. I don't know if this means much to you, but... I've already forgiven you, myself."

"Y-Yeah," she says. "Thanks, BASIL. You're a good guy, even after everything. And, SUNNY... um..." She looks away uncomfortably. "Sorry for snapping at you earlier. I know this is kind of late, but... I really should've apologized."

"It's fine," SUNNY says. "You were right about me. I've... I've always been a coward at times."

"No, SUNNY..." She sounds frustrated. "Maybe you were running away from your problems, but... you have a pretty good excuse. You don't deserve my... my garbage, okay? J-Just because... I feel bad... doesn't mean you have to feel bad."

SUNNY nods. "I... I forgive you, AUBREY..." He pauses. "And I think... that you have a pretty good excuse, too." He sighs. "After... After I moved away... I-I realized something."

"Hm?" she says. "What did you realize?"

He hesitates a while, thinking. He's... never been one for saying much, or giving advice. But he thinks he should. 

"That... we... we can't erase our mistakes, no matter how much we wish we could," he says. "And even if we keep making them... we always have to... to face them." He thinks again, of how to put this. "But also... we can't let them define us, either. I think... that we're more than them. So we as long as we stay good people... we can forgive ourselves. We're..." He finds sudden resolve in his voice. "We're more than just mistakes, AUBREY."

"A-Alright," she says. She laughs a little. "I-I'm kind of surprised. That was... really wise of you, SUNNY." He feels his face flush. He'd never thought of himself as wise, but... he guesses that is. She steadies herself a little. "Anyway, um... we should probably get going, right?"

SUNNY nods. AUBREY starts to walk back to the house, but she stops for a second.

"BASIL, can I have your camera for a second?" He hands it over, and she takes it. She holds it out, fiddles with the controls for a second, and snaps a picture. SUNNY hands her the album, and she slips it in. She seems to hesitate for a second, then hands it back to SUNNY, album closed. With another new memory made, they walk back to the door, back into what should be SUNNY's living room. There's a few more people in there now, a husband and a little kid.

"Oh, are you going already?" the husband says to SUNNY. "But I didn't even get to meet you!"

"It's okay, honey..." his wife says to him. "It's pretty late already, isn't it? Maybe another day..."

"Yeah, maybe another day..." he says. "You can always come and visit whenever you want, though, kid! This place used to be yours, after all!"

SUNNY doesn't respond. But as he walks out the door, he realizes he's not coming back here. Not for a while, at least. It's a melancholy realization, one that sticks with him as they walk to KEL and HERO's. He will never truly be able to go home again. But there's a silver lining, isn't there? Even if his home is gone, he'll always be able to come back here, to FARAWAY TOWN. Or to KEL and HERO's.

Once they're back in the living room, SUNNY feels like letting himself collapse on the floor. Maybe it's only around 8 PM, but he's so exhausted for some reason... he could go to sleep right now. He lies on the couch while his friends sort everything out. BASIL calls home, AUBREY doesn't... They have to be really quiet after 10 PM so they don't wake up SALLY... AUBREY and BASIL can sleep in some old quilts, in KEL and HERO's room.

After wrapping up his evening in the bathroom, SUNNY heads back to their room. They all chat for a little while, and it's nice to sleep over like this after so long, but he doesn't say much--even less than usual. He's too tired from such a difficult day. He grabs his book and tries to read himself to sleep, but... for whatever reason... he's unsettled. Disturbing images still sit in his mind, of that moment in the treehouse, when he was so terrified he couldn't hear himself think or breathe or move.

He has never seen HERO like that before. He's heard about that side of him, from KEL a long time ago, but he has never, ever seen it firsthand. And he hopes he'll never have to see it again. Someone so kind and loving, someone who always tried his best for him, who saved him from drowning or used to make him cookies, just... falling apart completely and screaming at him, showing all of his raw grief and agony. It's haunting. SUNNY has to wonder if he can ever see him the same way again.

"Hey, SUNNY..." he turns to the sound of KEL's voice. "You know what's tomorrow, right?"

"Yes," he says. "My last day."

"Well, yeah, but..." he trails off. "Never mind, actually. I guess you'll have to see in the morning!"

"Hey, guys, do you think we could keep it down...?" BASIL murmurs. "I'm trying to sleep..."

"Yeah, sure..." KEL says. "Good night, SUNNY."

Huh? What's KEL talking about? What was tomorrow? SUNNY was so busy today, he nearly forgot...

Oh, right. Tomorrow is the day he turns seventeen.

Chapter Text

TWO DAYS LEFT...

Everything is falling apart. The roof, the walls, the bookshelf, the desk, the bed. Bright moonlight shines onto it all, brighter than moonlight should ever be, purging all the shadows. SUNNY pushes himself onto his feet and out into the hallway, down the stairs, past the closet and the piano, into the living room. He has to find an exit.

The living room is nothing like he remembers it. The flowers on the walls, the coffee table, the red rug... what is this? This isn't home. He wants to go home. But he doesn't dare head to the door. The floorboards themselves feel unsteady. He feels something under them, ripping them apart, trying to devour them.

There is only one other person in this room. Her pale white flesh and gown gleam against her black hair. His big sister, hovering just above the floor.

"SUNNY..." she says. "You know you can't stay here." She sounds... sad. SUNNY feels guilty already. He didn't mean to disappoint her... he just...

"I know you're scared," she says. "But you can't keep running away from this. No matter how hard you try... it'll catch up with you at some point."

His throat feels tight. He nods.

"You must feel so overwhelmed..." she says. "It feels like so much, doesn't it?"

He nods again and again.

"But you're not a kid anymore, SUNNY," she says. "You've grown so much. You're not that little kid I used to dote on. I know it's hard to accept that fact... but I promise it's worth it."

"B-But I'm so tired, MARI." His voice cracks. He steps closer to her. "I just want to go back. I... I don't want to keep... feeling this way."

"I know..." she says. "I wish I could go back, too. HERO... AUBREY... KEL... BASIL... I miss them all so much."

"I'm sorry..." he says. "I-It's all my fault, MARI."

"No, SUNNY... You know what HERO said, right?" she says. "You have to forgive yourself... It was my fault, really. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard... But... it all just kind of... happened." He nods, wiping at his tears. "SUNNY... I'm so proud of you. Wherever you choose to go... I will always be proud of you. Never forget that, okay?"

"N-No," he says. He edges closer to her. He's getting desperate now. He tries to think of something, anything. Anywhere they haven't been. A new place to explore. A big snowy mountain, full of ice and snow cones and penguins and pine trees and wonder. Who cares if BASIL's not with them, or KEL, or AUBREY, or HERO. It can be just the two of them. Like old times.

"No, SUNNY..." her voice breaks. "I can't go with you. I love you so much, little brother, but..." A familiar window appears behind her. Through it, SUNNY can't see a thing. "I... I can't keep letting you do this."

"NO!" he says. The volume in his voice shocks him. "I-I'll come with you."

"You can't come with me," she says sternly. "You've come so far already. You are not going to give it all up! SUNNY..." she starts to float towards the curtain. The floor cracks wide open. "If you can't do this for yourself, please... do it for me. You have to keep going. All of you... you have to live your life. Even... even if it's without me."

The abyss widens. A hand rises out of it and reaches for SUNNY, but he doesn't care. He leaps towards his sister, knocking over what little remains of his home, holding out his hand, trying, begging for her--but it's not enough.

MARI floats through the window. He falls.

"Goodbye, little brother. You can do this. Know that I'll always be watching over you okay? As long as you remember me... I'll be right there with you."

~

SUNNY is falling. Fast. All he can see is light. Bright, white light, coming from... somewhere. He starts to hear something... voices, a jumble of them, bubbling up from the depths.

What the fuck am I supposed to think of that?!

Coward.

If you were really there for me, you wouldn't have lied to me!

Each time they say something, it makes him fall faster. Their words seem to drag him down, further into the abyss. He'd look down, but-

He hits something. It feels like his entire body cracks open. He writhes in the freezing water, trying to find some way to numb the pain, until eventually, the sting starts to subside and he can see again. The water is almost pitch black, but it shimmers a little in that distant light. There's something else in here, too... a cloud of red, floating around SUNNY and dissolving into the deep.

He looks at his body. Oh. There's thick, crimson blood dripping onto his shoulder, staining his dress shirt and bleeding into the water. He retches, barely keeping down his vomit. He has to get out of this water, fast. It's so bitter cold, it feels like his heartbeat is slowing. He's never been a strong swimmer, but the adrenaline forces him forward, pushes him sloppily through the harsh waves. His toe slams against something and starts to throb. Sand.

He drags himself onto the dim beach. His body tries to shiver, but even lifting a finger makes it all sting with agony. He groans. Blood still soaks into the wet sand. It almost feels warm. Yes. Warm. He needs anything warm. The land is warm. He pushes himself again. Up the beach. Grass. Roots of trees. Something sticky. Spiderwebs? He can't keep crawling. It hurts. Too much.

Up to his feet. Everything dims. Feels like there's something in his ears. Almost falls. Grabs onto a tree. There. He's steadier now. His body stops aching. He can see that light much clearer now. It's up the staircase. He forces his bloodied body up the stairs, onto the stage, up to the music stand. He's surrounded by flowers, white egret orchids. A violin lies on the ground, and by its side, a white eyepatch.

He picks them off the dusty floor, placing the eyepatch where it belongs, then clutching the violin to his chest. Everything else disappears. Only one thing remains.

A black door, casting a heavy shadow. Dread builds in his body. He stands in front of it, stunned, barely able to move. After so long, he forces himself forward... turns the handle... and finds an endless abyss. A sea of doors, all turned to face the lightbulb, the only source of light in this maze. SUNNY forces his feet ahead. When he touches the ground, his entire body shakes, trying to force him backward. Anywhere but here. Why is he here again? He hasn't been to this place in so long. Every awful thought he tries to push past, every horrific memory he's moved on from. All here.

But he backs into empty space. The door is gone. Only one option now. His violin. He plays a short melody, the one he always used to wake himself up, but he doesn't feel anything, not even a tiny change. He tries to remember MARI's words.

You can do this. As long as you remember me, I'll be right there with you.

What did that mean? He tries to dream her back into existence, but his will has no power here. He's not OMORI. This is his mind, though, isn't it? He's never truly powerless here.

But he realizes... his mind is a horrible place to be. Left vulnerable like this, his thoughts start to scream at him from the shades, reaching for him like cold hands.

Your entire life, you've done nothing but burden them.

Why can't you talk to anybody? Why can't you just be like them?

You killed her. Deep down, you know you're a freak.

There's just something wrong with you. You're sick.

This is what you deserve.

He reaches for his violin with trembling hands. He plays a few notes, something simple. Just the beginning of their duet together. Something comforting, he thinks. Something real, that will hold them off. What they said to him.

I think I've known you for so long that... I can't imagine my life without you, SUNNY. I don't think I could not forgive you.

I've been thinking... about what HERO said. I think I should say that... I forgive you guys. Both of you.

What happened that day... you can't keep blaming yourself for it. It was just a mistake, really. That doesn't make you unforgivable.

Yes... they've forgiven him! All of them! This is what he's wanted for so long! It didn't come easy... It took AUBREY a long time, and HERO... he'll never be able to see him the same way again, and he might never forgive BASIL, too. But at least they have forgiven him. He remembers the feeling of that group hug, of finally regaining their trust, of their promise . They'll always be there for each other!

He feels stronger now. He's still sweaty, and bloody, and trembling, and terrified. But he's not alone. Right now, his friends are by his side, sleeping in the same room. So he'll find an exit, no matter what it takes. But he needs a key.

There. On the blanket, glinting in the blinding light of the truth. The lightbulb... it's almost magnetic. Like he can't look away from it. He turns his head to the bulb, watching it dangle on that endless string. 

The dead eye of MARI's corpse, boring into his soul. His mother, holding him in her arms. Slashing at nothing with his steak knife. A bonsai tree his dad used to own. AUBREY and KEL arguing from the pews. MARI's pale body lying in her casket. BASIL showing him a book. Getting a bad haircut. MARI collapsing onto his shattered violin. Watching FARAWAY get smaller and smaller on the highway. Boarding a big yellow bus. Older kids, making fun of him in the park. The city shining in the night.

Every real memory he's ever made, every emotion he's ever felt, all in that lightbulb, visible in the blink of an eye. The truth. He tears his eye off it. It's... beyond overwhelming. His entire life flashing before him. It makes his head spin, just like the rest of this place. But he'll find an exit.

He picks the key off the floor and walks to the door closest to him. As he unlocks the door, he feels the key disappear from his hand and pulls it open. He takes a deep breath, feeling his chest rise and sink, the flow of air through his lungs. He can do this. He just needs to keep moving.

His feet find themselves on soft grass. A forest stands before him, teal-green and lush, its colors flat and dull. The woods are too dense--he can't see a thing outside of the thin clearing. Snoring. There is something snoring. As he walks through the glade, he begins to spot animals, made of pencil and scribble. A squirrel sleeping soundly. A rabbit resting under a bush. A bear that could snap his neck in an instant.

A fox. A deer. All asleep. Not moving. More and more pile up the further he goes. He starts to hear the whoosh of tires. A road. None of the cars are moving, they are all pulled over, but there is still noise. Not just driving. Complaining. Mumbling. Shock. More sleeping animals, sprawled out on the asphalt. Something smells horrible. SUNNY pinches his nose. What is that?

He keeps walking. No sign of a key. The road stretches far into infinity. There are no more clearings. All he can do is walk. The scent gets stronger, even with his nose squeezed shut. Stronger and stronger. Where are the animals? There is one. A raccoon. Not moving. Something bright and red spills onto the road, oozing out of its crushed, twisted body like water does from a leaky faucet. Where did it get such a large cut? Shouldn't it know not to walk in the road? That's dangerous. Everyone knows that. Is it asleep? He's not sure.

Something glints by its carcass. Something small and metallic-a key. There. SUNNY sticks it in his pocket. Where to, now? It's not like he has the red hands to save him anymore. Well, he has his own power. His violin. He reaches for it and plays that same short melody, the one he uses to force himself awake. 

All in a single moment, the black sky bleeds into the forest, swallowing it whole, until the ground under his feet is gone, replaced by a blanket. The sea of doors is back, but short only one. Maybe it wasn't that door, but it has to be one of them, right? He unlocks and opens another, then forces his trembling body inside.

A long network of brick paths stretches through the green, twisting along benches and picnic tables. Past the scattered trees, tall buildings scrape on the sky. The sky... A twisting, shifting collage of warped pictures, pictures of smiling children. A boy showing a younger boy how to cut vegetables. Two girls putting on their Halloween costumes. A boy and a girl fighting over the last slice of cake. All sliding and bending through the sky like fluid.

The park looks dim and desolate, like nobody has been here in a long time. But, no... there are people here. A boy with a tank top and a girl with pink hair and a boy with a flower and a man with short hair. They're familiar. Friends. KEL. AUBREY. HERO. BASIL. He walks up to KEL to say hi, but KEL does not turn to him. He taps him on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember who you are," KEL says. Lines start to grow on his face. His hair thins and greys. His eyes cloud over. His spine crackles into a hunch. He is unrecognizable.

BASIL, then. Same response. He turns into an aged, wrinkled husk, the skin worn loosely on his face. AUBREY? HERO? BASIL? Every time he tries to talk to them, it's the same. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember who you are." They age until he can't recognize them, either. Each one that remains simply runs around aimlessly, not even seeming to notice him.

He tries to reach every last one, each time in vain, until they have completely disappeared. A key, where AUBREY used to be. He is all alone.

He steadies himself and plays his violin. Another room down. When he finds himself back by the lightbulb, it's the same routine. Unlock the door, open it, push yourself inside. 

An alleyway, devoid of vegetation. Rain pours into the gutters. Filth and stink oozes out from the bricks. Graffiti on every wall, difficult to read but spelling out the same message. Trash strewn across the ground, broken glass and burning barrels and rotten meat. It's too small. Nowhere to run. Whispers emanate from the low windows. Cruel things, things he does not understand, things no one should be saying to each other. Why?

A mass of snakes lays on the grimy pavement, soaking in the storm. It sobs and sobs. 

"I am hungry..."

"I am thirsty..."

"I do not have anything to wear..."

SUNNY looks through his pockets. No food. No drink. No money. Nothing to say. Nothing for it to wear. Can't move his body. So weak.

The mass of snakes shivers again, and disappears, leaving only two things. A key, and a flower. SUNNY takes the key into his rain-soaked pocket and readies his violin to play. The same melody. The same blanket, the same set of doors. He's only been through three so far, but it's already starting to feel draining, each room worse than the last.

Another door. This place is formless. Another void with no horizon, repeating itself over and over. Clouds drift overhead, their mouths opening and closing to regurgitate the same message.

"Buy, buy, buy, buy!" SUNNY looks around. The floor is littered with soda cans, coins, dollars. All falling out of vending machines and shelves. Lined on the shelves is all kinds of cool toys, games, candies. A sports car sits in a pile of gold. He reaches out to touch it, but it drives off before he can get close enough. There is more money spewing aimlessly out of a large bank. 

"We have come to collect," a bank man says. "Not enough."

What? Too confusing. SUNNY heads back to the shelves. His hand drifts towards a shiny new video game, but the bank man is back. 

"Not enough." He tries to grab a candy. "Not enough." Why? SUNNY pulls some stray dollars off the vague floor and tries to hand them to him. "Not enough." There has to be something on the shelves he can afford. "Not enough." He looks around for more money. There, inside the fountain. Crystal clear water shimmers from a fountain as tall as a skyscraper. Millions of coins seem to have gathered on the bottom. He puts his hand inside, but the water is boiling hot. He recoils his arm in pain.

A magic carpet zooms on overhead. An airplane flies into a cloud and crashes. If it wasn't all so overwhelming, it might be almost comical. What even is there here? As he wanders, he comes to a set of blue footprints. He follows them to something glinting in the distant lightbulb's shine. Another key, another door.

Through the next is a hospital, blue and black in the darkness. Long hallways wind off in random directions. Like a maze. An eerie red glow filters in from outside, the sky only visible through a glass door. It seems to lead out to an enormous balcony, lethally high above the ground. 

The hospital is busy right now. Patients are being wheeled in left and right, their bodies mangled and crushed. Ratty strands of black hair dangle off the stretchers. Sisters line the operating tables. Their faces are stiff and emotionless. Not breathing.

Surgeons begin to reach for their tools. Scalpels. Needles. Saws. They plunge them into their patients' bodies, ripping them open, illuminating their insides. Blood spills onto their teal scrubs. Dissection. What are they removing? What are they doing? SUNNY runs through the halls, trying to look anywhere but there. Everywhere he turns, more gruesome scenes, of surgeries and accidents and carnage. 

There. A door, next to some chairs. He pushes it open and hides inside. Oh... no . This room is occupied. More girls laying on the beds, being twisted and cut apart at off-putting angles. A bin of limbs lays by their IVs, dripping with blood, soaking in formaldehyde. The wet sounds of operation, the stench of bodies. SUNNY's stomach is turning. He turns to the sink, but sees only a mirror.

He has no eyes. Only empty sockets. Nothing inside. Vomit heaves its way out of his mouth, impossible to stop. His throat burns. He has to leave, now. Why did he think he was strong enough for this? How did he let MARI go? He should have gone deeper with her. This is a nightmare. 

But he couldn't stop her, could he? This world would've eaten up the other no matter what. He tries to think of something, anything, anything pleasant and real and happy. Sitting on the beach and enjoying a delicious watermelon with his friends. KEL pointing to a huge, mossy boulder. BASIL delivering a pizza. HERO making a flower crown. Him and AUBREY sitting on the swings. Seeing KEL after coming out of his house for the first time. They seem to ground him, bring him back down to earth.

He gets a handle on his breathing. He just has to keep finding the keys. There's another, by the faucet. He takes it, plays his violin, finds another door. Somewhere in here, he'll find an exit, whatever he's being led to.

The same bathroom, repeating over and over again. There should be more here. A toilet, a bathtub, an exit. But there is only the sink, the shelf. And the mirror. A little light always shines in from outside, through the small, stained windows. Lime green, then yellow, then pink. Shifting like a kaleidoscope. 

By second nature, he checks his reflection. Filthy, matted black hair, hanging off his face. Everywhere. An eye peeks open from within. It feels like there's something crawling on his skin. He reaches for the stray razor on the shelf. Some blood drips off the edge, so he turns on the tap to rinse it off. A spider falls out and he jerks backward. You are afraid . He pushes the hot side instead, trying to drown it, but no water comes out. Splinters and woodchips. They crush the poor spider into bits.

He tries another sink. A cold breeze blows out from the faucet. Another? Tangled seaweed and strands of hair start to ooze from the drain. In the mirror, the hair on his face thickens and deepens until he is nothing but a black mass. There. A pair of rusty scissors. He hacks at his face, trying to close those eyes, but something on his face stings. He injured himself.

He needs to wash the cuts. He tries to turn on another faucet. Water starts to bubble up from the drain and shoot out like a fountain. Something's jammed in the faucet... he bangs on it with his fist, and it falls out. Another key. Time to play the violin. Time to open another door.

A black tree, growing from the center of a giant glass disk. All around them, strange metal walls, full of holes and lines, and a big door, made of plastic. Hanging from the tree is a rotting chunk of meat. A single steak, dangling in the electric air. A key falls from the branches. It seems lonely.

It's okay, the steak says. They won't ever find out. I... I made sure. We'll protect you. Your father and MEWO are gone, but we don't need them. He abandoned this family. We'll never see him again. I can't lose you as well.

Why won't you get out of bed? Oh, please, just come out of your room, just this once. Please, just talk to the doctor, please. It's okay, we don't have to do school anymore. It's okay, you don't have to go outside anymore. Yes... yes, it's okay, you don't have to talk to me. Whatever keeps you alive.

"Where were you?" 

It was away, away for money. We don't have as much money as we used to, remember? Mommy is so busy taking care of you... You'll be a good boy, won't you? You'll eat... You won't... hurt yourself. 

Look at what you've done.

You are afraid.

Oh... Oh, dear, y-your eye... 

You are afraid.

What... What happened to you? You didn't...

You are afraid.

That boy, BASIL... He was always a little strange... Of course it was him...

You are afraid. SUNNY searches the branches, looks for something, anything. There. A key, hanging on a weak string. He grabs it and desperately plays his violin. Another door. 

It's cold. It's so cold. He struggles to stand, up to his knees in biting snow. The wind is so strong. It screams in his ears. So dark. The clouds blanket the sky, always streaming forward, barely even visible. He hears the baying of wolves in the distance. Every exposed part of his body stings in sharp, piercing pain. Everything under his knees... numb. Tingling. He holds his hands to his face, trying to shield it from that freezing, body-chilling wind, but they only get colder.

Suddenly, he's falling. His entire body in snow. It all stings and bites and pricks and numbs. For a moment, he cannot move his body. But then he shivers hard, trembling like his life is going to end. He tries to push himself to his feet, but his raw hands find only shifting snow. No. Something else. Something small. Another key. Right, he remembers. His fingers burn just trying to hold it. But he has it. He stuffs it into his wet pocket and tries to reach for his violin.

His raw, chafed fingers can barely manage to play a note, but it's enough. Time for another door. 

An endless field, under a navy sky. The lime grass blows in the gentle breeze. He can see the prairie stretch out all the way to the horizon. All that disrupts its serenity is a long network of dirt paths, each fork in the road labeled with a sign.

REALITY. DELUSION.

REALITY, he thinks. He chooses to walk that path, and the breeze blows a little stronger. A worm makes its way across the ground. He can see something in the distance, just barely over the horizon. It glows a little.

AWAKE. ASLEEP.

AWAKE. The breeze blows a little stronger. 

HATRED. LOVE.

LOVE. The breeze blows a little stronger. 

WHITE SPACE. BLACK SPACE.

Hm. He's not sure. BLACK SPACE, he decides. The breeze blows a little stronger.

OCEAN. MOUNTAIN.

OCEAN?

LIFE. DEATH.

LIFE.

ISLAND. FARAWAY TOWN. ORANGE OASIS.

FARAWAY TOWN! He immediately follows that path. Suddenly, so fast it gives him whiplash, he's somewhere else. In the heart of a city, surrounded by concrete and lights. He takes a step backward, then finds himself back in the prairie. With every step he takes, it gets closer, brighter, clearer. He tries to walk back to his last choice. ORANGE OASIS, maybe.

FAITH. THE LAKE. HEAVEN.

THE LAKE. The city again, all around him. He hears the hard clatter of something on the sidewalk. Another black key. He plays the violin and opens another door.

Mumbles. Whispers. So much noise. So much talking. An incoherent jumble of words and sounds. Masses of mouths make their way across the busy streets. Sky-high buildings tower around him, stretching and bending their way into arches against the red sky, leaving them in the darkness below. There used to be things here. Shops. Trucks. Too warped. Can't be used anymore. Something rumbles below them, too, below a hole, from winding, black tunnels.

"Pitter, patter..." He jumps. A person behind him, faceless and freakishly tall. He tries to back away, but more surround him. "Have you when is I can't." "Place inside on of why SUNNY." He tries to open his mouth, but it feels like they're squeezing his chest. Suffocating him. Choking him. The air dies in his throat. 

"Wrong what is boy that what you see?" He backs away. "Eyepatch." He looks at a pane of glass. A bright grin is painted onto the window. He can see his reflection. Their voices are all so loud. He covers his ears. The shadows. He tries to stick to the shadows, but he feels something prickling his legs and jerks back into the light. The dim, dying red light.

Even through his hands, he can still hear their voices. None of it is coherent. None of it makes any sense... but somehow... it sounds like they're talking about him. 

His head feels cluttered, like it's full to bursting. This place should feel big. But it's so crowded... it's just so crowded... there must be an exit. The tunnels. There's an entrance. It's so dark, but... he runs into the entrance anyway.

In the darkness, he sees a screen. The train is not here right now. When is the train coming? A key dangles from the ceiling. He grabs it off of the string, puts it in his pocket, then reaches for his violin.

Only two doors left. He has to be close. He heads into another.

Sirens are wailing. Gray grass stretches out through the clearing. Dead trees, everywhere. Little eyes, wriggling in place. A few grasses made of snakes. Twisted, bony, sketch-like creatures, their mouths contorted into a permanent scream. Long hands stretch out from the trees.

He begins to walk, aimlessly. Only one direction to go. This entire place fills him with dread. The ground begins to break apart in chunks, like little tiles, revealing an endless void. Images blending into each other, of happy families and sisters and homes. Eyes. A giant, twisted grin. He starts to see people on the grass. A giant wall divides the trees. The only way through is a small glass door. His stomach churns. He tenses up, as if expecting something. This isn't...

"MARI... that's not..." HERO's mouth hangs open, just barely. He swings open the door and runs through. 

"HERO! Where are you going?" KEL shouts. He doesn't get a response.

"KEL... I'm..." AUBREY says, her voice trembling. "I'm scared."

Two adults come into the room. 

"SUNNY!" the woman says. "Where is your sister? It's time for the recital!" KEL starts to push open the door. "Where are you going, KEL?" she says, but he ignores her. His gaze drifts into the backyard, and... he sees it. He stands there a moment, then weakly pulls the door shut, his eyes watering. 

"What- What is that?" he says shakily. AUBREY sees it next. She immediately averts her eyes, but... after a moment, she begins to cry. The adults see it, too. They refuse to let the children into the backyard, telling them they shouldn't be seeing this, they have to stay put, but-but it's too... it's too late, isn't it? HERO's still in the backyard. SUNNY hears shouting. Where's the key? He has to find the key. Just remember, he has to find the key. None of this is real. Just a memory.

He forces himself to open the door. He sees it. Blurry. A girl in a nightgown. Black hair blowing in the wind. No. Don't look. He shoves his gaze to the ground. But... but HERO... he hears HERO. It sounds muffled, as if he's hearing it from inside.

"MARI! MARI, w-what happened, you didn't- no, no, you wouldn't, you wouldn't..." SUNNY's life is in danger. "MARI, please- please, don't leave me like this..."

His breathing is so fast. It's dizzy. "W-We have to get her down!" He's dizzy. He buries his head further into himself, trying to make it stop. Calm down, he thinks. It feels like his life is ending. Persist. Persist, persist, persist. Focus. Anything. Anything. They forgave him. They forgave him. They forgave him. He's seen it so many times, and each time, he's always okay. But his heart won't stop pounding.

A good memory. A good memory, please. Their hug. Yes. Yes, their hug together. Feeling warm and loved and cared for. It's less cold now. His heartbeat starts to steady. His breathing starts to steady. There. He's... alive. MARI's body... he's alive, remember? There's a key on the ground, on the dead grass. He shoves it into his pocket. He needs his violin.

He plays the same melody, that one he was going to play. It works. Only one door left. Glowing with red light. Dread builds in SUNNY's chest, unbearable, mortal dread, from the very core of his being. Violin in hand, he starts to walk, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. He can't put it off anymore. He pulls the door open.

Snow. Small flakes of snow fall gently from the sky. The air is cold, but completely still. A few pine trees stand in the white, frozen over, icicles hanging off their sides. The lifeless cliffs jut upward, towards... something. It's so tall, that... he can't see what's at the top... or at the bottom, either. In the sky is nothing, a mess of incomprehensible patterns. Spirals, blurs, static, all twisting out from one point, where two hands stick out in seemingly random directions.

He has no choice but to go up. As he climbs, that sense of dread does, too. The soft snow. The still air. The distant, but steady tune of that ominous piano. It feels like it should be calming. It's beautiful, in a foreboding, awful, disconcerting way. He only gets higher and higher as he walks up those pale steps. He's close to the top now. He can feel it. The last set of stairs.

With every step, the world around him changes. That bleak, off-putting tangle of shapes, it becomes clearer and clearer. A real sky starts to show. The light doesn't shine from a bulb, but a moon. A few stars twinkle in the blackness, but not many. But it's not dark. Colorful lights shine from the city, a glow on the horizon. Every skyscraper, every apartment, every alleyway or marketplace, all shining.

The ground changes. In front of him is a ledge. A cliff of solid concrete. All that remains is a door. One final door, wide open.

His knees buckle. He feels like he could throw up. Like he's going to pass out, let his weak body crumple onto the floor. But he only clutches his violin tighter. He has to keep going. No matter what. He forces his feet forward, one step at a time. Left. Right. Left. Right. There.

Another void. Completely empty. Not just black. Empty. Nothing. He can sense it. Nothing but him and that sound. The steady rhythm of... something. Like something being hit, over and over. One tone, then another. Constantly repeating. He begins to wander. It doesn't stop. His entire body feels weak. That dread turns to paralyzing terror. He can't move his body. Barely. But he sees it now, in his dim, strained vision. The source of that horrible sound.

A lone clock. Tall, wooden, shaped like a rectangle. The insides encased in glass. The pendulum keeps swinging, over and over and over and over.

What an... annoying noise. Is this really what he was being led to? The obnoxious sound of something ticking and tocking, over and over into infinity.  Second by second, second by second, second by second, second by second. How... stupid.

But if it's stupid... then why... does it terrify him so much? He feels like he can't even move his body. Sweat pours down his forehead. It feels like his stomach is falling. His knees buckle again, leaving his legs numb and weak. He wants to run. His breathing starts to speed up. It gets faster and faster. His heart starts to speed up. His heart, beating over and over and over, so fast, so fast, so fast. He can't think. He can't hear himself think. Too loud. Where is he? What? Shut up.

That noise. Tick. Shut up! Tock. Shut up! Tick. Stop! Tock. Just stop!

"I SAID STOP!"

SUNNY slams his trembling fist into the clock face. His knuckles crack in agony. He hits it again, again with the other hand, banging his fists on the glass, over and over and over. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Every thought. College. No thoughts. Tick, tock, tick, tick, tock, tock, tock. Tick. Tick. 

He picks his violin off the ground. His body shaking, his heart throbbing. He'd give everything, everything just to make that stop. Drive. He swings the violin at the pendulum, all of his strength, all of it, just make it stop! MARI. Again. The violin just... bounces off harmlessly. A job. Again, it just slides off the side! He tries to crash his body onto it, over and over until his arms are limp from exhaustion and his knuckles are raw and cracked and bleeding and his legs are broken and his head is broken.

Money. AUBREY. Seventeen. Not twelve. Moving away. Can't go home again. What? What? Why? I don't understand. You don't understand. He doesn't understand. Seventeen. How? Stop it! Just stop it! Just one second, let me breathe, please, let me breathe.

" Why?! Why won't you stop?! " His bleeding, bruised, cracked body lies on the ground. Swinging his limp fists at its legs, barely lifting his arms off the floor. Seventeen. Why seventeen?

You cannot not be seventeen. You must be seventeen.

What is seventeen?

They are seventeen. All of them are seventeen.

I'm not seventeen.

Today, you turn seventeen.

Not sixteen. Not fifteen. Not fourteen. Not thirteen. Not twelve.

Seventeen.

Do you know what that means?

No, I don't know what that means.

You are older than her.

MARI is gone, yet you are older than her.

The clock strikes five.

Chapter Text

ONE DAY LEFT...

No. No. SUNNY jerks up in bed, on that awful air mattress. Covered in sweat. Everywhere, on the sheets, on his face. But he's alive, isn't he? Look, he thinks. Look... look at them again. Look at your friends... they've forgiven you. He sits up. Trying to get a handle on himself. Leaning on the wall. Calm down.

Breathe. He tries to breathe, feeling the rise of his stomach, feeling his chest rise and sink. There. He can breathe again. He can think again. He's having a sleepover with his best friends. It's all going to be okay. This is his birthday, right? A happy day, a holiday, a special occasion. He has every reason to be excited.

Tick. Tock. Oh. No. No, no, no. It's still there. In the back of his head. That awful sound, going on and on and on forever. Well, he doesn't really hear it, does he? But he can still remember. It didn't go away. It won't go away.

He tries to breathe. He tries so hard to breathe. But it only gets louder and louder. He can't turn seventeen. He just can't. If he stays up, he'll have to celebrate his birthday. He'll have to acknowledge it all. Face it. No. It's too terrifying, the weight and dread of it all crushing his head and drowning out every noise, every thought, everything he can see. He hugs his blankets to his chest.

Only one place to go. Back to bed.

~

An endless, blank void. A place to survive, but not to live.

WELCOME TO WHITE SPACE.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A LONG TIME.

No blanket. No laptop. No tissues. No sketchbook. No MEWO. No lightbulb. Absolutely nothing. Except for him.

It rises out of his body, dust reforming into pale flesh. A young boy, about twelve, clutching a steak knife, an empty look in his black eyes.

No.  

I'm not doing this again.

"You're lying to yourself."

SUNNY summons it--smooth wood, back in his hand. He pulls himself into position, taut as the bow's strings. He plays the first note, the first one to their duet. OMORI's never been one to emote, but somehow, a hint of pain shows on his dead face. His body starts to waver again, but he doesn't succumb.

"You're nothing but a coward," he says. "You'll never be able to face it. Each time you try, you'll just fall apart again... and when you fall apart... you know what you'll do. You'll kill yourself." That clock keeps ticking. Fear builds in SUNNY's chest again. OMORI summons something--a red hand, a path of them. All the way to a door. A white door, casting a faint shadow. The clock sounds muted now, quieter but not destroyed.

"Come inside," he says. "You have no other choice. This is the only way to survive."

No. I won't. I'm better than this.

The red hands drag something to them. The ticking's so much louder now, so loud it pounds into SUNNY's chest. The clock. He shivers over and over, his body quaking with terror. On the clock face, he sees it all--MARI hanging from the tree. MARI's grave. MARI not being there to save him from the lake. MARI not being there. His knees give out. He drops his violin.

Dimly, he sees OMORI walking over to him. He offers his hand.

SUNNY stares at him a moment. His body quakes again. His stomach heaves.

He takes it.

Clock is quieter now.

OMORI's leading him somewhere.

Where?

That door.

It opens for them. A little blood trails on the white ground.

What's inside?

Purple walls. A pink, messy floor. Paper leaves. A set of giant eyes, keeping them under its careful watch. Three kids, their hair all a deep purple. Smiling faces. A hollow place.

One of them opens his mouth. The shorter one, with the checkered tank top.

"Oh, SUNNY..." he says. "Wake up, please..."

SUNNY jerks awake. White ceiling. Blue walls. Air mattress. It all changes in the blink of an eye, instantly from one place to the next. KEL stands over him. The real KEL. Seventeen year-old KEL.

"There you are!" he says. "I knew you'd wake up eventually."

Tick. Tock. Not as loud now. Quieter than in the NEIGHBOR'S ROOM. He knows he needs to get up. He knows he needs to start this day. But he tries to act tired, tries to act like he's not restless and terrified. He puts his pillow over his head, tries to push out the light.

"Oh, come on..." KEL says. "It's nine in the morning! Don't you want to start your day?"

Okay. Fine. SUNNY forces himself upward, his heart still pounding. Now that he's on his feet, it seems... he doesn't know. More... grounding. This is a normal day like any other. What was he thinking, anyway? Did he really just almost... go back to HEADSPACE? Did he just see OMORI? And... and listen to him? That was insane. After making so much progress? After his friends forgave him? He can't.

 Yes. He'll start this day like normal. Change clothes. Brush his teeth. Take his pills. Things are starting to feel ordinary. Less claustrophobic. KEL's gone downstairs already, so he heads down the stairs alone. He has to wonder what they've planned for him. For... the clock gets louder. He wants to give up. He wants to sit down on the ground, stop moving, keep hiding.

You are older than her. MARI is gone, yet you are older than her.

He forces himself to move, to keep walking. Surprisingly, there's nothing in the living room. He takes a right, into the kitchen. Nothing there either. The house is oddly quiet, eerily so. Only one place left to check... the dining room. He wonders if maybe they left him. Maybe they decided to go somewhere else. But he walks inside, and-

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUNNY! SURPRISE!"

SUNNY stares a moment. He blinks. Is this even real? Balloons, red, yellow, blue, green. The flash of a camera. Colorful streamers on the walls, all of his friends in party hats. KEL and HERO's parents, holding SALLY in their arms. Big balloon letters, almost floating to the ceiling, spelling out his name. Slices of steak, cut out onto paper plates. Just in front of him, a vanilla cake, covered in candles. Seventeen of them.

Happy Birthday, SUNNY! it says. Everyone gives him a warm smile. 

His lip wobbles. No. Not after everything they've done for him. He tries to bite his lip, he tries to rub his eye, he sniffles, but... there's no way he can hold it all in.

"Woah, SUNNY!" KEL says. "What's wrong?!" He feels hands on his shoulders. Everyone taking him into their arms. Trying to comfort him as he breaks down and cries. He tries to mumble something, but he can't even piece together words.

"Are you okay, dear?!" KEL's mom says. "Is it something we said..?"

He shakes his head. He doesn't want to talk.

"SUNNY..." AUBREY says. Why do they have to sound so worried?

"I'm s-sorry," he manages. "I just..."

"You can talk to us," BASIL says. "You don't have to keep it all inside."

"Please..." AUBREY says. "Just tell us what's wrong."

"N-No," he says. He heaves a sob. He wants to keep bottling it up, to ignore it, but even through all that fear and dread, it's dying to escape him, something he's suppressed so long. "I..."

"You can't keep holding it all in," BASIL says. "You have to let it out, SUNNY. Please...?"

"Fine," SUNNY snaps. "It's... it's stupid... I just..." He chokes back snot. "I don't want... to be seventeen, okay?"

"You don't... want to be seventeen?" KEL says. He sounds confused.

"It's okay..." BASIL says reassuringly. "I... I don't think any of us did."

"I-I just-" His voice keeps cracking. He sniffles again, swallowing back more phelgm. He can barely even talk, he's sobbing so much. It's hard to breathe. "I-I don't want to be older... th-than she was, and... it's so... hard."

"Oh, SUNNY..." HERO says. "You must miss her so much."

"Y-Yeah," he blubbers. "I wish... she was here. With us. With me."

"Oh..." HERO rubs at his eyes. He takes SUNNY into his arms. They all do.

"It-It just... It's not right." He's supposed to be the youngest. He's supposed to be everyone's baby brother. This isn't how it's supposed to go. He never realized this day would have to come. "I-I'm not supposed t-to be this old."

"SUNNY..." HERO's voice breaks. "I'm sorry."

SUNNY sinks his head into HERO's chest. He sobs, over and over again, almost bawling. They told him to stop keeping it inside... so... that's what he'll do. The way it hurts... the loneliness, the longing, the fatigue, the fear... He lets it all out, onto his friend's soft sweatshirt. He doesn't know how long he spends like that, just weeping and gasping for air. But eventually, after so long, he pulls his head back out. He steadies himself. He looks at his friends, at his party. Everyone's eyes are a little red, but they continue to smile at him. 

"C-Can..." he sputters. "Can I have some cake?"

"Of course," KEL's mom says. "No need to ask." She begins to reach for the knife, but he stops her.

"I-I want to cut it," he says.

"Oh!" she says. "Yes, of course. You're more than old enough."

He grabs the knife. It feels strange in his hand, like something he's not allowed to hold. MARI always did this for him. But she's gone now, isn't she? He tries his best to make a clean cut, but it ends up at an awkward angle. He doesn't mind, though. He cuts out the other side and slides out his slice.

"Your friend BASIL told us steak was your favorite, so we made some of that too," KEL's dad says. "Feel free to help yourself. Don't forget you need a real breakfast, too!"

He grabs a paper plate, putting his dessert next to his breakfast. They remembered his favorite... he feels like crying still, but he's so exhausted he can't even get out a single tear. Everyone else starts to sit down and serve themselves. HERO comes bringing a big pitcher of lemonade. SUNNY starts to cut up his steak and cake. He's getting hungry now, so he takes a bite of the steak first.

Savory and juicy, yet tender... it's not perfect, he likes it more well-done, but somehow, it tastes even better than his mom's cooking. It's so good, he could eat it forever. He washes it all down with a cool glass of sugary lemonade.

"How do you like it, SUNNY?" KEL says. 

"Mmm..." he says. If he's being honest... it's the best breakfast he's ever had.

"That's good," KEL says. "We worked really hard today and yesterday to make this, so... I'm glad you like it!"

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "We weren't sure if you remembered... but we decided to make it a surprise, just in case!"

"It's kind of funny," AUBREY says. "KEL never remembers birthdays, but he was kind of the one who brought this all together."

"Yeah, KEL..." HERO says. "Honestly, I'm really impressed. I've seen you grow up so much."

"Aww, it was nothing..." KEL says. "I couldn't have done it without your help!"

"Well..." BASIL says. "I-I think it's more than that, KEL. You've always been the one who makes us get back together... even if we try to push against it. I... I think that's something you deserve to be admired for."

"Aww, come on, guys..." KEL says. "You're making me blush!"

"S-Sorry..." BASIL says. "I just think you should be proud of yourself!"

"Alright, fine..." KEL says. "Thank you guys. You're the best. But shouldn't we be keeping the focus on SUNNY? It's his birthday, after all!"

"Oh, yeah, of course..." HERO says. "This is your day, SUNNY. We'll do whatever you want. You just have to say the word."

"N-No, it's..." SUNNY mumbles. "It's fine." he feels his face flushing. "I think just this is okay."

"Oh, that reminds me..." KEL says. "Weren't you going to show us your sketchbook? Come on! It's your day, so you should show us your stuff!"

"U-Um..." SUNNY feels all sweaty. In front of their parents? "L-Later?"

"But, SUNNY..." KEL says. "This is your last day! We don't have forever..."

SUNNY squirms a little in his seat. KEL's right. It's embarrassing, but KEL's right. Maybe they would think it's... interesting? 

"O-Okay," he says reluctantly.

"Do you want me to go get it?" KEL says.

"N-No," SUNNY says. "I'll do it." He gets up from his chair.

"Alright!" KEL says. "We'll be waiting for you in the living room."

SUNNY heads back upstairs, into their room, and searches through his bag. There it is. A sketchbook, bound with a blank black cover. He takes a look inside. The first few pages... no, that's too weird. Too creepy. Hm... that one's okay, actually. He can show the places he went to, those fantastical worlds in his dreams. He flips it to the front, then walks downstairs, still sweaty as ever. He finds his friends on the couch, staring at him expectantly. The adults are nowhere to be seen, thankfully.

"All right!" KEL says. "Show us, SUNNY!"

"O...Okay..." SUNNY says. He gets down on his knees and lays his sketchbook on the rug. Everyone stares at his drawing--A pastel pink planet, covered in radio towers and leaves. A big yellow moon shines overhead, a little spider creeping down the side. Constellations surround it, bright against a purple sky. Under it, a few kids scale a ladder, all in pajamas. The colors are sketchy, done with cheap color pencil, and the pencil lines look a little messy, but... it's vivid nonetheless. He looks at his friends' faces anxiously. They look... impressed, maybe...? Or kind of confused...

"Is... is this what you were telling us about yesterday?" AUBREY says. "How you would make up entire worlds to dream about..."

"Y...Yeah." He nods.

"Wow," KEL says. "This... is pretty cool! You have an impressive imagination, SUNNY."

"Yeah! I've always admired your imagination," HERO says. "Is that us down there? Er... is there a reason our hair's purple?"

SUNNY nods. "You guys... were always there. I don't know about your hair. That's just... how I imagined it."

"What were we doing here?" HERO says curiously. "On this planet."

"We were, um..." SUNNY says. "Looking for BASIL. There was a big ladder that went to space... so we went there."

"Looking for BASIL?" AUBREY says. "Why?"

"Well..." SUNNY says. "He was always missing... so we'd go looking for him together. And that would take us all over the world."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. He sounds a little bitter. "Where else did you go, SUNNY? You should show us."

"Oh..." SUNNY says. He turns the page. "Sure..." The next drawing is of a picnic, five kids eating together in a playground, surrounded by teal-green trees. MARI serves them some fruit and sandwiches, with cookies for dessert. Everyone seems happy. Everyone except for the kid in the black and white. He just stares at them all blankly, like he's somewhere else in his head. Maybe their proportions are a little weird, actually...

"This is neat..." HERO says. "Are we... having a picnic?"

"Y-Yeah," SUNNY says. "We... did that a lot. No matter where we were... she always had a picnic ready... To make us feel better."

Everyone gives the drawing a pensive look. Maybe they don't really know what to say. Maybe he should say more. It's his sketchbook, after all...

"It felt nice for a while..." he says. "But it never... made me really happy. All of this... it was just so I could... keep running away. But no matter what..." He turns the page. "The truth always came back."

This one is of an underwater trench, deep below the sea. Jellyfish float through the depths, and some corals, sponges, and lamps glow in the dark. Above it all, something lingers, an obscured memory. His friends stare at the page, seemingly not sure if to be disturbed or impressed.

"Wow..." KEL says. He sounds like he's in awe... why? "SUNNY, this is some really good stuff! You should, like... show MINCY, or something. Remember her? Maybe you could even put it in a gallery!"

"I don't know..." SUNNY says. "It's not very good..."

"What do you mean, it's not very good?!" KEL says. "I could never do this, SUNNY!"

"Well, it's just-" SUNNY's a little frustrated. There's just so many flaws.

"I promise it's a lot better than you think it is," HERO says.

"Maybe it's not, like... professional..." AUBREY says. "But I still think it's pretty cool, at least. It's really... I don't know... surreal? I think there's a lot of people who'd be interested in seeing that."

"T-Thanks..." he says. "I'll... I'll think about it."

He turns the page and begins to show them even faster than before. The LAST RESORT, PYREFLY FOREST, the LOST LIBRARY. He begins to show the more disturbing things, too--a forest full of spiders and pink trees, with strange, orange centipedes floating through the air. A pink beach, covered in plastic balls and coral and giant heads of fish. A boy sitting on a throne of cupped hands, surrounded by red hands and arms--their eyes linger on that one for a moment, wide and unsettled. He was kind of proud of that one, even if it dredged up a pretty horrific memory.

But they seem to at least... approve of it. SUNNY feels a little pride swell inside his chest. It's nice to feel talented... for once. After that, he shows them a couple more drawings, these ones of reality. He'd drawn the fountain in his favorite spot in the city, or the view of the park, or even his memory of KEL and AUBREY chatting by the lake spot. Too bad he didn't have time to finish that one.

"Hm..." KEL says after a while. "I know you said that all this dream stuff was bad, SUNNY, but... I mean... does it really have to be that way?" He turns the sketchbook back a few pages, to a picture of the LAST RESORT.

"Yes," SUNNY says firmly. "The truth always comes back."

"Well, I don't mean, like... keep hiding in it," KEL explains. "But maybe... there's nothing wrong with exploring it?"

"I think I know what you mean," BASIL says. "Maybe you could just... look to your dreams for inspiration. You could write about it! You could turn all these places into something... There's nothing wrong with a little fun, right? People escape into stories all the time."

"Yeah," HERO says. "You've always been so creative, SUNNY. I don't think it could hurt to put that to use."

SUNNY pauses to think. Well, as long as it doesn't overtake his entire life... as long as he has real ways of surviving... maybe it'd be interesting to keep looking through his dreams, to find ideas and inspire himself to make more art. "Maybe," he says.

"Well, the choice is yours, really," HERO says. "I think you should just go with whatever you think is best for yourself."

"Yeah," KEL says. "Hey, wait... what are we doing!? We haven't even gotten to the presents!"

"Oh, yeah!" HERO says. "I can't believe we forgot... Give us a second, guys. We'll have them out in a moment."

KEL and HERO head into the kitchen. After a short while, they come back, carefully wrapped gift boxes and bags in hand. They set them down on the floor. There's a few more than SUNNY was expecting... instead of four, it looks more like... seven or eight. Huh?

"Sorry," KEL says. "We got you a ton!"

"We had to go all over town..." AUBREY says. "Before you came here, KEL went crazy asking everyone you helped out last year to get you something."

"Not everyone pitched in, but I'm still pretty happy with how it turned out," KEL says. "What do you want to start with, SUNNY?"

"Um..." SUNNY says. He points to theirs. Wow. He's feeling kind of overwhelmed... they did this... all for him? Why? He didn't even do anything... how did they really get so many people to buy stuff... and for someone like him... 

"All right!" KEL says. He grabs something kinda small, wrapped in orange-ish paper. "This thing cost a lot, so you'd better like it, heh heh!"

The handwriting is messy, but still legible. From: KEL To: SUNNY!!! He pulls off the ribbons and the wrapping, and... woah! Something purple, small enough to fit in his hands... a little handheld gaming console! A GameDude Advance. There's a little cartridge with it, for... CAPT. SPACEBOY'S SPACE ADVENTURE DXX?

"Do you like it, SUNNY?" KEL says.

SUNNY... sniffles? He gives a shaky nod. "Yeah." This is so much...

"AWESOME!" KEL says. "This is a pretty new edition, actually... so you should show us soon!"

"O-Okay," SUNNY says, nodding. He leaves the game on the table for later. Hm... next, his eye drifts to a green bag, filled with tissue paper. On the side, it says, in neat handwriting, To: SUNNY, From: BASIL. He sticks his hand inside and carefully pulls out the contents--something metallic, like some kind of container. A... deluxe colored pencil set? Huh... did BASIL really remember that? How?

"Do you like it?" BASIL says. "I remembered when I called you a few weeks ago... and you were wishing you had better art supplies, so I decided to get you some!"

SUNNY nods. He looks over the set... all kinds of colors. Baby blues, calming violets, passionate reds, verdant greens... He thinks of the things he could draw with this, the things he could make... he's tempted to try them out right now, to just doodle something with them, but that'll have to wait till later, after he messes around with the game system. "Thank you, BASIL," he adds.

"Aww, you're welcome!" BASIL says. "I just thought, um... you've done so much for me... so I should repay the favor." He gives SUNNY a warm smile.

"Aww..." KEL says. "Hey, AUBREY, are you next?"

"Oh," she says. Her face seems to start to flush. "Um..." she grabs a small envelope out of the pile and hands it to him. "Sorry," she says. "This was really last minute... I couldn't really think of anything to get you, so I just got a card. I hope that's alright."

"It's... it's okay," he says. He thinks of saying something else, but... no. That would be too weird. He'll keep it simple. "It's enough just having you as my friend. For me."

"Aww..." she says. She laughs nervously. Oh. Was that weird...? "That's kind of sweet of you, SUNNY. Thanks." Oh. She's smiling. "Sorry..." she says again. "It's just... you don't really say stuff like that often, so I-I guess I didn't really know what to say." 

"I-It's okay," he mumbles. SUNNY barely notices the way BASIL's looking at him, giving him an encouraging little smile. Wow... he's kind of nervous for some reason... He should really just open the envelope. He peels off the flap and takes out her card. It's one of those store-bought cards, the ones with little patterns and balloons on them, but the inside is blank except for her handwriting in pink marker. Wow, she almost filled the whole page. He starts to read, but AUBREY suddenly speaks up.

"Actually, um..." AUBREY says. "Do you think you could read that... later? Maybe when we're not so busy."

"Oh," he says. "S-Sure..."

"Thanks," AUBREY says. "Don't worry... it's nothing weird or anything. It's just... I don't know. Kind of private, I guess."

"That's okay, AUBREY," HERO says. "I understand... I think we all need to talk to SUNNY one-on-one at some point."

"Actually, now that I think about it..." AUBREY says. "Didn't you guys get him cards too?"

"Oh, yeah..." KEL says. He takes a few more envelopes off the floor. SUNNY recognizes them by the handwriting--KEL's the messiest, BASIL's neatish, HERO's surprisingly poor. He leaves them with AUBREY's for later. Next is HERO's... something neatly wrapped and wide, labeled in black marker. Looks kind of like a book... hm... why would he be getting him a book?

"This actually used to be mine before I went off to college," HERO says. "I never got to use it, though, so I thought I might hand it down to you!"

SUNNY pulls off the tape to find... some sort of notebook thing? On the front is HERO's name, crossed out with black pen, and just above it, SUNNY's. He opens it up... inside is schedules for every day of the week, filled with boxes for every hour and little detail. It still looks brand new, as if HERO hasn't touched it since the day he bought it.

"A planner?" KEL says. "But... that's so boring..."

"Hey, it's practical!" HERO says. "Aww, don't look so disappointed, SUNNY! I know it might seem boring, but you're 17 now, aren't you? I think now is as good a time as ever to get more organized."

SUNNY considers it for a moment. He guesses HERO's right... he's always been a little messy. He ought to be more responsible sometimes...

"I know the future seems intimidating..." HERO says. "But stuff like this will make it a lot easier, I promise. If you just stay organized and keep track of things, you can take it all one step at a time."

SUNNY gives a pensive nod. HERO's right as always... it's not as scary as he thinks.

"Alright!" KEL says. "If you're done with our stuff, you should move onto the others'!"

SUNNY nods again, setting the planner down on the couch with the others. Wow... there's still four left. It feels like so many... where does he even start?

"Here, start with this," KEL says. He hands a big bag to SUNNY, full of candy. The names are all kind of squeezed together, but still legible, just barely. To: SUNNY, From: VANCE, KIM, CHARLIE, ANGEL, THE MAVERICK. There's a little note attached.

Hey nerd!! AUBREY told us it was your 17fh today, so we got you something. You'd better like this... or clse!

Huh... that's a lot of spelling errors for a birthday note. There's all kinds of stuff inside, though... taffy, chocolate, mints, butterscotch, bubblegum... this could last him weeks. He has to wonder if they got this legally or not... well, it doesn't matter. It looks good. He thanks AUBREY as he opens up the bag.

"Oh, um, you're welcome..." she says. "You should thank my friends, though... It was their idea."

SUNNY nods again. He'll thank them later, next time he sees them. He takes a bite out of one of the chocolates and moves onto the next present. A little blue box. From: CRIS, To: SUNNY. Huh... from that girl? He opens it up and finds another seashell. It's this kind of neat, white one, with all these bands and spirals. Under it is another note... and a tiny bit of sand.

Dear SUNNY,

I heard it was your birthday today, so I decided I had to give this to you! I know it's nothing special, really, but I remember when you gave me all those seashells and thought I'd return the favor after I found one last summer. I know I don't know you very well, but it seemed like you were doing better on Monday, so I'm glad. I hope this helps remind you of your time here.

Aww... that girl was always sweet. He can see why KEL's such good friends with her. If only he got to see her more this week. 

Only two presents left now. An envelope and a package of bread. He can guess who the latter is from. There's a little note attached. 

To celebrate your anniversary, we offer you fresh bread. There is always more... if you get to know our baby brother, that is.

- DAPHNE AND BOWEN

"Yeah, I asked them for something cool, but they just gave me bread..." KEL says. "At least it looks really good, right?"

"Yeah, it does..." HERO says. "I remember when I worked for their parents once. They were so sweet... Hey, look! There's only one present left now." He hands SUNNY the last present--that envelope. SUNNY opens it up to find another store-bought birthday card--the outside is pretty bland, but the inside is full of signatures and little messages, all kinds of different handwriting, the names of people all over town. W...Wow... he doesn't even recognize a lot of these... they really did this, all for him? Talked to all these people? He just can't believe it. It... it almost feels too good to be true. He pinches himself... nope. He's not dreaming.

He's starting to tear up again. He manages to keep his composure, but his eye still feels a little wet. He gives them all a weak smile.

He mumbles "Thank you," trying to think of something, some way to thank them for all this, but he... he can't. There's no way for him to say it. He never liked saying things out loud, anyway. So he just... gives KEL a hug. It feels awkward... and strange... but KEL laughs a little and hugs him back.

"Aww, you're welcome, SUNNY!" he says. "What are friends for, right?"

"Haha, look at you guys..." HERO says. "You're still big on hugs, huh? Though, I'm really glad to see you enjoying yourself so much, SUNNY. I'm happy we could make such a nice day for you."

"T-Thanks..." SUNNY mumbles. It's nice to see them enjoying themselves, too, he thinks, even if he can't get himself to say it.

"Er... Actually..." KEL says. "What time is it?"

"Let me check..." HERO glances at his wristwatch. "Just past noon."

"Do you think we should have lunch?" AUBREY says. "I'm getting kind of hungry..."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "We ordered something from GINO'S, right?"

"Yep," KEL says. "They should be here any minute now..."

There's a knock at the door. KEL answers it and comes face to face with a teenage-looking delivery boy covered in acne.

"Uh, pizza delivery..." he murmurs.

"SWEET! Thank you!" KEL says. He takes the box out of his hand and into the dining room. They follow him inside, and start to cut up the pizza. SUNNY has to wonder where KEL and HERO's parents are... hopefully relaxing in their room. While everyone starts to dig into lunch and cake, KEL heads off into the living room and comes back with SUNNY's little game console in hand. He puts it down on the table, by SUNNY's paper plate.

"Hey, SUNNY!" he says. "Why don't you try out that game now?"

"Mm," SUNNY says. He takes the thing into his hands and slides in the cartridge. A game boots up--he's on the title screen now. Wow... this is really something! It completely blows the old GameDude out of the water. Behind the title is a starry nebula, rendered in all kinds of vibrant colors. He begins a new game. The screen goes black, then turns into a starry backdrop in outer space. Text begins to scroll down the screen.

IN THE YEAR 22XX...

THERE LIVED A FEARLESS CAPTAIN OF SPACE PIRATES.

HE COMMANDED ALL THE PLANETS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM... SAVE FOR ONE.

PLUTO, THE ROGUE PLANET.

YOU ARE A YOUNG SPACE PIRATE WHO WISHES TO SAIL THE GALAXY, FIND GREAT TREASURE, AND IN THE PROCESS, ASCEND BEYOND THE LOWLY RANK OF SPACE PIRATE PAL.

HELP CAPT. SPACEBOY FIND HIS ROGUE PLANET. PRESS ARROWS TO MOVE, A TO SHOOT, B TO DEFEND.

Suddenly, SUNNY's in a little ship, shooting up a bunch of bad guys. He's got companions, but they don't seem very smart. They slowly advance forward, past asteroids and comets and planets. Everyone watches over his shoulder. KEL cheers him on when the going gets rough. BASIL, AUBREY and HERO seem at least intrigued. 

After clearing the first stage, SUNNY's space pirate stops to rest on the planet Mercury. This isn't much like the last game he played in the series. He has to say it's an improvement... though that was five years ago. He stocks up on items and powerups, then sets off for Venus. The level background is different this time--full of weird green aliens and clouds. He repeats the process with Earth, then Mars, but it's been a while, and he's getting tired now. He'll pick it up again at another time. There's more to check out.

Next, they head into the living room so SUNNY can try out BASIL's colored pencils. He draws for a while, letting them watch him. Now that he's already shown them all his weird drawings, it feels... easier. Inspired by the game he just played, he draws a boy standing on the deck of a space ship, staring off into the stars, dwarfed by the sheer scale of outer space. Now that he's using a more professional set, the colors are rich and vibrant, rather than sketchy and inconsistent. There. He's done now. It looks good. He's proud.

 They spend a while just messing around with his gifts, hanging out and doing whatever. They sit outside for a little while, sipping lemonade, having some more cake in the front yard and playing with Hector. It's certainly a nice enough day, but even still, it's kinda sticky and a little too hot, so they head back inside pretty quickly. It's strange how fast the hours pass by when he's just enjoying himself with his friends. 

Without him even noticing, the shadows start to lengthen outside, and the light takes on a yellow hue. Already, it's so late in the afternoon. It almost shocks him, how fast it all went by. They're all sitting on the couch now still, but he feels strangely restless.

"It looks like the sun is starting to set..." HERO says. "I can't believe it. The afternoon flew by so fast. It's so strange to think this is your last day here."

"It... it feels so unfair," BASIL says. "Just after we all finally made up... you have to go again."

"Well, it's not like the day is over just yet, is it?" KEL says. "It's only around 5 or so. We've still got tons of time!" 

"Hm..." BASIL says. "That's true. We have a few hours left."

"SUNNY..." AUBREY says. "I don't know about you, but... if this is your last evening here... I feel like if there's anything you still want to do, we should do it now."

"Hm... yeah," he says. She's right... they're running out of time. He tries to think of something--anything he still needs to do. Go to the park one last time? Shop at HOBBEEZ? Sit by the fountain in the plaza? Thank the townsfolk for their gifts? Swim in the hangout spot?

No... no, he still wants to do those things, but there's something so much more important than everything else, something begging him to not forget. The place he's been led every night, just before he wakes up.

Her grave.

Chapter Text

ONE DAY LEFT...

The church door creaks open into an empty cemetery. It's quiet here, just as silent and solemn as them. The air is hot, sticky, and still. They make their way through the gravestones, past their town's signature statue.

Something... something here looks different. There's another grave. A new addition.

"Hey..." BASIL says. "D-Do you mind if... before we see MARI..."

"Yeah," AUBREY says. "It's okay."

BASIL clutches his flowers close to his chest. He walks up to her headstone.

ELEANOR DELANEY

192X-200X

"KIND AND GENTLE, SHE WAS THE SUNSHINE MANY OF US TRULY NEEDED IN OUR LIVES. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE."

"Hey, GRANDMA..." he says. He lays them down by her grave, next to all the others. There's a pot of something, too, by the bouquets on the ground--a white egret orchid, well-maintained and cared for. After laying them down, he kneels in front of her tombstone, eyes down on the flowers.

"It's me again... I hope you don't mind that I've been visiting you so much lately. I'm here with all my friends now... you remember them, right?" He shifts a little, dirtying his knees. "I can't believe it's been a whole year already. There are so many things I wish I could tell you... I think I've made it really far, but there's still so much to go." He pauses for a second, and his eyes turn to the ground again. "I'm sorry..." 

He takes a deep breath, though it's shaky. "You know... The day you died..." He stops for a second, collecting himself. "I thought... I thought I had lost everything I had to live for. But now... being here with my friends... I feel like such an idiot. It's almost hard to see how I could even think that way. I still have so much to be thankful for. So... I think..." He gets to his feet. "I'll keep going, no matter what. That's what you would want... right?"

BASIL takes a few steps backward. He lets a few tears out, but he stays silent. AUBREY walks forward, before anyone else. He leans into her arms. They hug for a moment, completely quiet.

"I'm sorry, BASIL..." AUBREY says. "I never knew her that well, but... I know how much she meant to you."

"I-It's okay..." BASIL says. "I still miss her, but... I still have POLLY. S-So we're okay."

AUBREY steps back from BASIL, hands on his shoulders, giving him a sad smile. "I... I'm glad you're in a better place now, BASIL."

"Me too," BASIL says. He smiles back... then takes her hands off him and turns to SUNNY. Suddenly, SUNNY feels someone's hand on his shoulder. He turns. AUBREY.

"Hey, SUNNY..." she says. "Do... Do you want me to go first?"

SUNNY stares at her. She probably has so much to say too, doesn't she? He should let her get it off her chest. He nods... and she turns to MARI's grave.

"Hey, MARI..." she says. "It's me again... Everyone else is here now, too." She closes her eyes. "I... know it's been a while, but... I still miss you a lot, you know. I... I think I've come a long way. It doesn't hurt as much as it used to, and... I'm not as... angry. At myself... or them... or you." She breathes, and takes a step back. "So... I hope you're proud of me... MARI." 

"Oh, and, um... There are some things SUNNY wanted to say to you, before he goes away again. That's okay, right? I... I know you would probably really want to see him, so... I'll let you."

AUBREY takes a step backward. They all turn to SUNNY. Everyone's eyes, all on him, waiting for him. He steps forward... and turns to face her grave.

OUR DEAREST MARI

THE SUN SHINED BRIGHTER WHEN SHE WAS HERE.

He sets down a flower, kept in a little pot, just by the other. The dying sunlight shines onto her grave, and behind it, an aging stump. The lilies sway just a little, in the tiny breeze, calming his nerves.

So this is where she's resting, then. MARI SUZUKI. This is where she will always be, forever. His big sister, sleeping in the dirt. He will never, ever see her again. His lip wobbles. He let it out this morning, didn't he? But this is what he has to do. He's seventeen now, and she was fifteen. Even without her, he will continue to grow. That's a good thing, right? But... why does it have to be without her? Why couldn't they just grow up together, like he wanted? Like she wanted?

"SUNNY..." Someone puts their hand on his shoulder. It's BASIL. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He just stands there and stares, eye fixed on her grave. It's all dying to get out of him, a mess of thoughts and pain and longing, something he can barely put into words. Maybe it doesn't have to be coherent. He's supposed to have accepted it all... like he did in their final recital. But that didn't make it stop hurting. It was only a dream. She's not on stage with him, effortlessly playing the piano, but buried under their feet, never to come back.

"I just..." He starts to cry, again. He doesn't even try to hold back. He can't, not here. "I have to. To her."

"That's okay," BASIL says. "Try to say it... Whatever you need to tell her."

"O-Okay," he stutters. Where... How does he even begin? "H-Hi, MARI." Even just saying hi to her... he can barely bring himself to speak. "l, um... I said goodbye to you already... but..." He tries to think. "I still miss you. I know I'm seventeen now, but... I wish I could be seventeen with you, MARI. I don't want to grow up... without you."

He sits down, hugging his knees. "Y-You would tell me what to do... I think. And then... it'd be easier." He sniffles, trying to clear out his nose. "T-There's so much I don't know how to do, MARI. A-And... it scares me. I... I don't like thinking about it. I get so terrified. I-I don't know how to... to drive. Or make friends on my own. Or... or what I even want to do with myself. You would help me, MARI. But you... can't, now." 

"Oh, SUNNY..." HERO says, putting a hand on SUNNY's back. "It'll be okay... I promise. You're not alone in struggling with this, you know."

"B-but..." SUNNY says. "I-I just... I missed so much. When I locked myself away. A-And now, I have so much catching up to do."

"But you know we'll help you with it, right?" KEL says. "Whenever it gets hard, you can always call us."

SUNNY nods. He wipes at his face, trying to find his composure. There's more he needs to give... an apology. For breaking the violin. For doing that to her body. "I... I'm sorry, too, MARI. I... I think I've forgiven myself. B-But... I... I don't know if I ever won't be sorry." He doesn't have to hate himself for it, right...? But even still... he killed her. Even if it was an accident, even if he truly loved her, he killed her. He can't help but just sob into his hands. He wipes the snot and tears on his shirt.

"I can't... try to run away," he says. "B-But it all just hurts so much. I wish... I always wish... that there was a way I could go back. Back to when we were all younger... back to when you were alive. But... we can't. So I wish there was... a way for it to just stop hurting. A way that didn't..." he stops himself there. He can't burden them like that. He can't tell them. 

He feels BASIL by his side again. "SUNNY..." BASIL says. "You know we can't do that. We have to keep going. Always."

"I-I know." SUNNY takes a deep breath, even through his snot. "I-I stopped thinking that way a long time ago. B-But... on my sixteenth..." He stops again. That's too much. He can't think about it. He can't even acknowledge it. But...

"It's okay," BASIL says. "You don't have to get into it if you don't want to."

"N-No," SUNNY says. "I think... I should."

Nobody's able to speak, until AUBREY breaks the silence, her voice shaky. "What..." she says. "What happened on your sixteenth?"

He can still see it, if he concentrates hard enough. The sweat rolling down his back. The way his legs could barely stand. That sinking feeling of nausea, that feeling that what he was doing was wrong, but that he just couldn't stop himself. The distant roar of traffic, still busy so late at night. So, so much of the city, all glowing in the dark. Skyscrapers, streets, other apartments, what little he could see of the horizon sixty feet off the ground. It was an almost... indescribable experience.

"I..." He breathes through his stomach. "I went to the roof of my apartment building. And I..." His breathing gets shaky for a second. "I thought about..." He can't bring himself to finish. His head feels tight. Why did he make himself relive that? Each time the thought pops into his head, it only brings darkness.

But there was more to it, wasn't there? That night... what really happened? He's sure he must've blocked some of it out. He tries to remember. That night... he was tired. He just wanted it all to end. No one had called him, he knew they never would. The hallucinations had been torturing him all day. He knew this would happen. He was an idiot to think there was any hope for him. He didn't deserve to live. He didn't want to live. The thought had been there in his head ever since he moved, and he'd been planning it all week, but no matter what... he just couldn't bring himself to go up the staircase. But this time, he'd thought, he was finally going to do it. He just couldn't take it anymore. Feeling so awful, day in, day out. He'd finally end his miserable, pathetic life, and everyone would be so glad to see MARI's killer dead.

But he didn't. For him to still be here... he had to decide that he wanted to live. Because... when he finally got to the edge of that rooftop... he saw so much. At first, the sky was a bright, blood red, eyes whispering to him from the shadows. But just then, somehow, it began to fade, and... he saw CLOSEBY at night, millions of people going about their evening, shining lights and dim stars and cars rolling by on the highways and planes flying overhead... And it made him realize something. He's still not sure exactly what... but it was something hopeful. Like that there was more for him to see. That he didn't want to leave. That he had a reason to persist. That didn't mean it stopped hurting, or even that he stopped being suicidal. But he held on.

And it paid off, didn't it? Just the next day, KEL called, wishing him a happy birthday. Then BASIL. Their calls got more and more frequent. He started going outside again, his mother finally started spending time with him, he got medicated, the hallucinations went away, and... he stopped wanting to die. At least actively.

He looks back at his friends. They still look so worried. They must still think he wants to... no. He can't let them think that.

"Seeing it all..." he says. "My whole city... it was... amazing. I realized, on that rooftop... that... MARI would have wanted me to keep living. To see more of life."

"Yeah... she would," HERO says. "I think that's wonderful, SUNNY. And... I'm glad you trust us enough to share that. I... I understand how it feels."

"Y... You do?" KEL says shakily. "HERO... SUNNY... I..." Suddenly, KEL's walking up to SUNNY, fear on his face, and- he hugs him? He hears KEL trying to steady himself through his sniffles, feels his shaky arms. Is KEL... crying? It sounds like he's trying not to, but...

"S-Sorry," he says. He takes his arms off SUNNY and turns to face the others. "I know I'm being embarrassing, but... I... I'm really glad you're all still here. I... don't want to lose you again."

"Hey, it's okay, KEL..." HERO says. "You're not going to lose any of us."

"I know," KEL says. "It's just... I don't know. I think I was just... afraid of us leaving each other again." He rubs at his red eyes. "After SUNNY moved away... that week or so... it was... scary."

"Yeah... it was," AUBREY says. "If I'm being honest..." Her face hardens, but she steadies herself. "I was so angry... I thought I was an idiot for letting myself trust you guys again. If it weren't for you, KEL... I... I don't know what I would have done. I-I'm just glad you didn't leave me again. You've always been working so hard to bring us all together... and I should thank you for that."

"Aww, you're welcome," KEL says. "It's nothing, rea-"

"No," she says. "It wasn't nothing. You're an amazing friend, KEL. Better than I could ever deserve."

"O-Oh," KEL says. "You too, AUBREY. Thank you."

"You're welcome..." she says, her face a little red. "You too, everyone. I..." She starts to tear up. "I don't think I could handle it... if I lost any of you, too."

"I-I'm sorry," BASIL says. "The night before SUNNY was supposed to move away... I'm so sorry. I can't believe that I... put you all through that."

"No, BASIL..." HERO says. "It's okay. I'm just..." His voice chokes up, and he swallows. "It might've been scary, but... you were both alright. And I'm so grateful for that."

"Thank you," BASIL says. "I... Yeah. I'm so happy... to still be alive. We all should be."

SUNNY thinks on his words for a moment. "If I..." he says, his voice still shaky. "If any of us had... done it... then we wouldn't be here. Together. I wouldn't have had that birthday party. There's... so much I would miss."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "There is." There's a long, serene silence. It's strange, but he feels almost lighter now, filled with new resolve to keep living. But... he still feels that emptiness inside him, standing here before her grave.

She will never again hug him, tell him everything's going to be okay, give him space when he's upset, ask to hear him play the violin, set up a picnic for him, not even smile at him. He was supposed to have accepted that fact. But... that never really made it stop hurting. He accepted it as a reality, but that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt, having to keep existing without someone he loved so much.

But standing there, feeling the humid air on his skin, he feels okay. Not because she's still with him in spirit. She very well might not be. He's okay because he will keep moving. Because he knows he is strong enough to live. Because, after such a good day, he knows it's worth it. And because he knows that, no matter how hard it gets, he will always have them to help.

He takes a step back. Then another.

"Are you ready to go, SUNNY?" HERO says.

He gives a solemn nod. He stares at her tombstone, then clears his throat. He can't leave. Why does he always have to leave her? But... the sun's about to set, and his friends are waiting for him. So he starts to step backward, through the grass... and murmurs, barely loud enough to hear...

"Goodbye... MARI." 

SUNNY takes a deep breath and keeps walking. Just as they near the doors to the church, HERO stops.

"Hey, guys..." HERO says. "Do you mind if I... stay back here for a bit? There are some things... I think I need to say to her. Alone."

"Yeah, sure," KEL says. "We're here for you if you ever need us, though."

"Thanks," HERO says. "I'll... see you in a bit. I'll try not to be too long."

They stand in the church a while, as the sun slowly sets through those stained glass windows. The golden light, beaming through intricate panes of glass, filtering into all different colors on the pews. It's mesmerizing, watching dust dance in the empty church like that, just sitting and soaking in the atmosphere. But soon enough, someone comes through the door. HERO. His eyes are red and puffy, and his face is a mess, but he manages a smile.

"Hey, everyone..." he says. "Are... Are we ready to go home?"

SUNNY shakes his head. "N... Not yet."

"What do you want to do, then?" AUBREY says. She pulls out a cell phone and checks it. "It's 7 PM. We only have a few hours left, so..."

SUNNY thinks for a moment. If this really is the last evening he'll spend here... at least for a long time... he wants to just... walk around town. Go to the hangout spot, or GINO'S, or the park. Enjoy his time while it lasts. 

"Could... could we have a picnic?" he asks.

"Ooh, good idea! Sure, SUNNY!" KEL says. "We need dinner soon anyway. But... where? Maybe at the hangout spot?"

SUNNY nods in agreement. That... would be... really nice. The five of them together again, having a picnic.

"That sounds good..." BASIL says. "I have a spare picnic basket in my house. We can use that if you want."

So SUNNY pulls open the door to the church... and hesitantly steps out into the sunlight. A few cicadas buzz around him still. All the sun still reaches is the top of the church. As they walk to BASIL's house, SUNNY's reminded of the last day like this. Leaving the church to go to BASIL's... AUBREY throwing the photo album in the trash... Seeing something in the bathroom mirror... even coming home to a house full of spiders. They've improved so much since then, haven't they? He's grateful for it.

They spend a little bit in BASIL's, but they have to act fast, because each second they're in here, the sun gets a little closer and closer to the horizon. POLLY helps them stuff some things from the fridge into their picnic basket, and after that, they're off. Down the street, past the crossroads, past the stop sign, into the park. A vibrant sky hovers above the trees, vivid orange clouds against a sea of purple.

A gentle breeze starts to pick up, taking the sweat off their backs. They make their way through the overgrown path and the traffic cones, over towards the lake. There's still that old blue blanket, lying on the ground, and the old toys they never bothered to clean up, weathered by time. They set their things down by the blanket and start to eat.

They didn't pack much, just snacks. Some cheese, crackers, ham, and a little salad. Truth be told, it's not the most filling dinner, but it's enough for him. Just... eating with his friends on a calm evening... after talking it all out, having an amazing birthday... he watches a bird land on the top of the statue... sees the flash of BASIL's camera... a few leaves drifting in the murky water. From this spot, he can watch as the sun sets, barely glimmering past the gaps in the trees. He can even see a few stars coming out now. It feels... calm, for once.

"Hey, AUBREY..." HERO says, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" she says. "What is it?"

"You and your new friends come here a lot, right?" HERO says. "I'm curious... do you still have picnics like this?"

"Hm..." AUBREY says. "Well, yeah, usually... sometimes we go swimming, or skip rocks... we don't really come here as often now, though..." Her expression turns solemn.

"Oh, yeah..." HERO says. "I almost forgot... About the last time we were all here together."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "It's hard to believe that we've almost drowned here... twice. Sometimes, it feels like this lake is... cursed."

"It's kind of a shame," KEL says. "This is a really great spot! All tucked away in nature and stuff... and it's just by the park!"

"It's okay," AUBREY says. "We'll find a new spot."

"There was a pretty nice creek back in the woods," KEL says.

"Eh..." AUBREY says. "Too far. And there's so many bugs."

"Maybe so, maybe so..." KEL says. "I don't know. It's nice to relax here once in a while, though."

"Yeah..." AUBREY sighs.

SUNNY wishes they could sit like this forever... just eating, chatting, feeling the cooling air on their backs. But all too soon, sunset turns to dusk, and they're packing up, stuffing everything in the picnic basket and heading for home. As they walk through the park, SUNNY tries to savor every last moment, every last sight. That fruit cart, the sandpit, the monkey bars, the girls playing on the basketball court, the hobos lying in the grass, the smell of fresh, clean, suburban air. This is the last time that he'll be seeing this... for a long time. Hopefully not forever. So he has to appreciate it while he still can.

They're standing in front of KEL and HERO's door now. SUNNY follows everyone inside. It's nice to be back home. KEL's parents are sitting on the couch, watching the news again as SALLY plays with some toys on the floor.

"Welcome back, everyone!" KEL's mom says. "It's gotten so late... Did you all eat?"

"Yeah, of course!" KEL says. "We had a picnic in the park."

"Oh, I see..." KEL's mom says. "Make yourselves at home, though! We want SUNNY to enjoy his last night here as best he can."

"You know we will!" HERO says. "What do you want to do now, though, SUNNY? We've got the whole rest of the night."

SUNNY doesn't really have any ideas. He shrugs his shoulders.

"Hmm... I think I have an idea..." KEL says. "We should totally watch a movie!"

"Oh, good idea, KEL!" HERO says. "That sounds great... it'd be just like when we were kids. Which one, though? There's a lot to choose from..."

"Why don't we watch one of those old SWEETHEART movies?" KEL says. "We used to watch them all the time."

"Ugh... really?" AUBREY says. "They're so... predictable. They just keep getting worse and worse."

"That's the fun part!" KEL says. "You don't have to think. You can just watch them. They're pretty funny sometimes, too... right, guys?"

"I don't think you're supposed to take them seriously, AUBREY," BASIL says. "I think that's what makes them fun to watch."

"Fine..." AUBREY says. "But next time, we're watching something better."

"Alright," KEL says. "Next summer, I'll make sure to remember."

KEL searches through the cabinets under his TV for a little bit and pulls out a DVD. SWEETHEART'S QUEST FOR HEARTS 4: ATTACK OF THE KING CARNIVORE. On the front of the box is a woman in a white bridal gown, embracing a handsome man in a tuxedo, fending off some poorly-rendered CGI creature on a bad greenscreen. Even though it's an animated movie, they chose to make the box have real people on it. SUNNY still doesn't understand why.

They take the DVD up to KEL and HERO's room, get comfortable on the floor, and begin the movie. The first thing they see is that warning-- The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Then those big, golden letters, with all the spotlights shining around them. 

The opening credits feel like they last forever. It's kind of hard for the movie to hold their attention--it's kind of confusing, keeping track of all of SWEETHEART's suitors... each bland, handsome guy blends into the next, but they're all just as easy for AUBREY to make fun of. It really only gets interesting once the big monster comes in. It was so scary to SUNNY as a kid... but now, it's just kind of goofy-looking. The CGI is so laughably bad.

As the movie goes on, it only gets darker and darker outside. They end up turning it down for SALLY's sake, but it still makes good background noise...

SUNNY's starting to get sleepy now... they've turned off the lights, so it's just them, curled up on their beds and quilts, and the dull sound of the movie... he gave up actually watching half an hour ago... but... even through his sleepiness, he realizes... This is your last day here... and it's almost over.

He sits up on his air mattress. He can't fall asleep just yet. The movie's far from over, but it doesn't seem like anyone else is paying attention, either.

HERO turns to him. "Hey, SUNNY..." he says. "I just want to know... how'd you like your birthday today?"

SUNNY pauses a moment... "I... really liked it."

"I'm glad to hear it," HERO says. "By the way, now that we have some downtime... I'd just like to say... I know that we didn't start out our week on the best of terms. A-And I made a lot of bad choices. But I'm really happy that... even after everything... we could become friends again."

"Me... me too," AUBREY says. "It was really nice to see you again, SUNNY. No... not just SUNNY." She shifts a little in her quilt. "You too, BASIL. I know we've seen more of each other than SUNNY, but... I don't think I really saw you enough. Oh, and you too, HERO."

"Thank you, AUBREY..." BASIL says. "I... I feel the same way. It was so nice to see you, SUNNY, but... I really missed spending time with all of you. Like this. I just wish... that it didn't have to be over so soon."

"Well, at least you have the photo album, right?" KEL says.

"Oh... well... no," BASIL says. "It's with SUNNY, remember?"

"Oh, yeah..." KEL says. "Sorry... I can't believe I forgot about that."

"It's okay..." BASIL says. "I think SUNNY needs it more. I can always just ask to hang out with you guys, but... he won't see us nearly as often."

"We'll really miss you, SUNNY," KEL says. "You know that, right?"

SUNNY nods. He's starting to feel choked up...

"Hey, it's okay..." BASIL says. "We can always call... and you'll come and visit again, right?"

"Yeah," SUNNY says. "I will."

"Thank you," BASIL says. "And, um... HERO..." He squirms a little. "I know how this must sound coming from me, but... do you think... you could call us, too?"

"Of course!" HERO says. "Just because I'm away at college doesn't mean I'm gone. You guys can call me whenever you want, okay? Well, actually..." He frowns. "I might be busy a lot of the time. But... I'll make sure to visit for the holidays! You could, too, right, SUNNY?"

SUNNY thinks for a second. Well... with vacations... he probably could, if his mom is able to. He gives an unsure nod.

"Haha..." AUBREY says wistfully. "Imagine if we all got to have Christmas together..."

"Or Thanksgiving..." HERO says. "You guys are always welcome here for the holidays. Or even if you just want to stop by! Think of it like... being a part of our family."

"You'd have way too many relatives," AUBREY says. 

HERO laughs. "Um... maybe?"

"I-I just wish SUNNY didn't have to move away..." BASIL says. "O-Or HERO didn't have to go off to college. I wish... we could stay in FARAWAY forever."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "I think we all do. It's too bad we can't be kids forever."

"I want to hope that... one day... things could go back to the way they were before," BASIL says. "But... the truth is... that just can't really happen. Life will move on anyway... and... MARI will always be gone." SUNNY winces. He knows that feeling.

"But... that doesn't mean life's not worth living, right?" HERO says. "I know it sucks that we'll never get to be kids again, but... being an adult is nice, too. There's so many opportunities. And..." He smiles. "I think that... no matter what... we'll stick together."

"Ugh..." AUBREY says. "That's... kind of cheesy, HERO."

"What?!" HERO says. "I'm just saying what I'm thinking..."

"Sorry..." she says. "I think... you're probably right. I hope..."

"Maybe we won't always have this kind of time for each other..." HERO says. "But we'll keep in touch. We have to."

"Yeah!" KEL says. "I'll always keep calling all of you... even if you ignore me!"

"What... do you think we'll even do?" AUBREY says. "As adults."

"I don't know," KEL says. "Maybe I'll become a big basketball star... or even a millionaire! We'll just have to find out."

"Sure, KEL... We will..." HERO turns to face AUBREY. "What about you, though, AUBREY? Do you know what you want to do?"

"I..." She thinks for a moment. "Don't think I do."

"I, um..." SUNNY mumbles. "...don't think I do, either."

"Well... I get that, but..." AUBREY sighs. "It seems like all of you have something you like doing. SUNNY, you can draw... KEL, you can play sports... BASIL, you can garden... and HERO, you can... you can do a lot. But I... don't know what I want to do. Or what I'm good at."

"Well, you like animals a lot, don't you?" KEL says. "Like rabbits... You could be... hm... a veterinarian? Or work at a pet shelter... or an adoption center, like the one in the mall..."

"I guess... but..." AUBREY says. "Hm. There's something else I'm thinking about doing."

"What is it, AUBREY?" HERO says.

"Don't laugh, but..." she says. "I think I might want to become some kind of... counselor."

"Like the one at school?" KEL says. "Why would we laugh at that?"

"I don't know..." AUBREY says. "It's just... kind of sappy, I guess." She pauses. "I think that I just... look back on everything that happened to me... and how I acted... and I think... I don't want another kid to have to go through that, and... be so confused. Or even hurt someone they care about."

"I think that's wonderful, AUBREY," HERO says. "To be honest, I... I've been thinking about a career like that, too. I do want to be a cook, but... I think I have to be a doctor. So I might as well be a psychiatrist or something."

"I think you'd be good at that," AUBREY says. "You're... smart... empathetic... wise. Me... not so much." She sniffles. "Maybe I'm just better off taking care of bunnies."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with doing that if you want to," HERO says. "Don't worry about it too much, AUBREY. You'll figure it out eventually. I promise."

"What about you guys?" KEL says. "SUNNY... BASIL... I'm curious."

"O-Oh," BASIL says. "I-I'm not sure, either... Definitely something related to gardening. I... I think that's really my passion. Maybe I could... try opening up a shop."

"Well, you're great at that," KEL says. "People would love buying your flowers, for sure! I know I would."

"Yeah!" BASIL says. "I... think I know what I want to do. I'm not sure how I'll get there, but... I'm pretty sure I can do it."

"That's the spirit!" KEL says. "It's so nice to see you believe in yourself again, BASIL... You seemed so unsure of yourself before."

"Thank you, KEL." BASIL says. He smiles. "You're a good friend. And, um, SUNNY... What... What about you? What do you think you'll do?"

SUNNY closes his eye, deep in thought. He can only think of a few things... AUBREY said he was good at drawing. He could always do that, but... hm... he's also liked writing. Maybe he could write books. He's creative. But there's something else, something he wants to learn still...

"I... I think I know," he says solemnly.

"W...What is it?" BASIL says. "Tell us!"

SUNNY hesitates. It's kind of a stupid idea, isn't it? He was never that good at it... and it'd cost so much... "Never mind," he says. "Later."

"Aww..." BASIL says. "Come on, I'm curious now!"

"It's okay if SUNNY doesn't want to share," HERO says. "Take it at your own pace, SUNNY. We'd love to hear it when you're ready."

SUNNY nods. "Alright."

KEL yawns. "Man..." he says. "We stayed up really late, didn't we?"

"I... guess we did," HERO says. "The movie finished a while ago..."

"Maybe we should call it a night," KEL says sleepily. He turns over in his bed. "G'night, guys..." He starts to snore already...

"Is... is he asleep already...?" BASIL says.

"Yup," HERO says. "That's KEL for you..."

"It's funny..." BASIL says. "He's always so energetic... but he's a really fast sleeper. Maybe he burns off all his energy being like that."

"Haha!" HERO says. "I guess you're right. Never thought of it that way."

"Go to sleep, guys..." KEL mumbles. "We have to get up early tomorrow, remember...?"

"Oh, yeah..." HERO says. He gets up off the floor and climbs into bed. "Good night, everyone. See you all in the morning..."

AUBREY follows suit, settling into her quilt. "G'night, HERO..." SUNNY lies down on the air mattress, pulls his blanket over himself, and stares at the ceiling. With everyone else asleep... it's just him and BASIL now.

"Today was pretty nice, huh, SUNNY?" BASIL says.

SUNNY yawns. He nods.

"It feels like..." BASIL stops, as if to think. "I don't want today to end."

SUNNY nods. Me neither.

"I mean, after today... you'll have to leave again," BASIL says. "And... we probably won't have another day like this... for a long time."

"It'll be okay," SUNNY assures him. "You're still... here."

"But you..." BASIL trails off.

"I have the album," SUNNY says. "That's... enough."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "The photos in our album... They're not just photos, right? They're real memories." His voice hardens. "Our memories."

SUNNY turns to BASIL, then nods at him in the dark. "Proof... of our friendship."

"Yeah..." BASIL says wistfully. "Exactly." His smile fades a little, and he looks at SUNNY again. "A-Anyway... You look pretty tired, SUNNY. Sorry for keeping you up... we should probably go to bed, huh?"

"Mm-hm." SUNNY turns back to the ceiling.

"Good night, SUNNY."

"Good night."

SUNNY lays in bed for a while, listening to KEL snore in the almost silent room. He's ready to go to sleep now, isn't he? After a wonderful day with his friends... he hears it distantly, the sound of that clock, and it makes him squirm, but-

Wait. He reaches for something on the floor. Three birthday cards. He reads through each of them, then finally lies back down in bed. He's ready to face it now, to be seventeen. No matter what happens.

Chapter Text

ONE DAY LEFT...

A sunlit street. SUNNY picks himself up off the damp pavement and looks around. Past the railings, grass stretches endlessly into the distance, golden in the morning light, and behind him, the road goes far, for seventeen years, all the way to his mother, lying on a hospital bed. He's inclined to go that way, but... he can't. Something is animating his feet, forcing them forward.

So he looks to his front. A clock ticks and tocks in the distance, barely visible past the fog, towering high above the end of the road. Below it, it's near-impossible to make anything out. Blurry ideas and shapes wander in the mist. 

A boy playing the violin before a crowded auditorium--one moment, they applaud, the other, they jeer at him. A man putting his pen to paper, struggling to think, or, no, effortlessly writing pages upon pages. A man watching fireworks with someone, holding their hand or squirming away. Endless possibilities, some disastrous and some wondrous, but all filled with hope.

He keeps walking forward. The fog starts to clear. A few pieces of paper drift down from the sky like leaves. He catches them with his hands. No, they're not pieces of paper... they're photos. He stares at them, letting them bring back the memories.

Him and KEL, strolling down the sidewalk on a beautiful day. Even if it had been a long year, he was finally with his best friends again, and back home.

Him and AUBREY crouching over a colorful plant, listening to BASIL talk about it. Even after everything, AUBREY might not have been perfect, but she was still his friend... and BASIL's, too. 

Him, AUBREY and KEL, relaxing in the shade of a big beach umbrella, helping themselves to slices of a big watermelon. He was grateful that, even despite how distant HERO was, a sudden vacation brought them all back together.

The five of them, standing in an aging treehouse. Even if they never got to use this treehouse again as kids, even if it was weathered to pieces... it was a miracle that it was still standing.

Himself, his hair messy and his face in shock, standing over a delicious birthday cake. Even if the future was terrifying... his friends would always be there for him, no matter what.

He's ready now. A brick wall stands in front of him, the clock still looming high above, a door hanging open between two lanterns. He's brought through, and...

Ladders, girders, boxes, and stools are scattered across the backstage. He feels himself come to a stop. He can control his feet again. Past the stairs, a lone music stand sits in front of the empty audience. 

He feels his violin in his hands, eager to play, but he can't yet. Three people stand before him. His best friends, each a year younger than they are now. HERO still taller than KEL, AUBREY's eyes still a bright teal. She takes a step forward.

"SUNNY..." she says. "You're finally here." She closes her eyes.. "Whatever happens next is going to be your call." She pauses a second or two, deep in thought. "Hey, do..." she says. "Do you remember when we were kids? I used to ramble to you about everything. School, KEL, my dumb parents... whatever it was, you'd let me listen."

She takes a breath. "I trusted you, SUNNY. I really trusted you, and... when you told me the truth... you broke that trust." Her eyes seem to well up, but she wipes at them. "In the few months after you moved, it... it was so hard to let myself trust you again. I think, deep down, I was just scared you'd hurt me again."

KEL steps forward, too. He looks down at the floor. "I was so scared, too. I'd worked so hard to bring us all back together, and... it felt like we'd just drift apart all over again. I didn't know what to think, SUNNY. You were my oldest friend, but... I could hardly believe you when you told me what happened."

HERO joins them next, clearing his throat.. "SUNNY... W-When you told us what really happened to MARI, I... I was horrified. I wondered how the innocent kid I knew could even... do something like that. And it..." He can barely keep his composure. "It felt like the whole world was falling apart. I had no idea what to even think or do. Should I have been relieved, or angry, or..." He stops, letting himself breathe. "I don't know. And that scared me. Being around you scared me, SUNNY."

"But..." AUBREY says. A smile gently forms on her face. "You came back, SUNNY."

"You didn't ignore my calls," KEL says. "You visited when I asked you to! You stayed in touch with us. Honestly, if it wasn't for your birthday..."

"I think we would've drifted apart again," HERO says. "But we didn't." He finally smiles. "I know you're not someone who likes to think about the future, SUNNY... but you can't keep being a kid forever."

"We all wish we could still be kids, and that MARI was still alive..." AUBREY says. "But, unfortunately... that's not going to happen."

"But that doesn't mean that life isn't worth living," KEL says. "There's plenty to be happy about in the here and now. Sure, we're not as innocent, but there's still so much to love!"

"Trust me," HERO says. "Everything is really confusing at your age, even if... even if you haven't suffered like us. I know that it might be easier to want to blame someone for what happened to MARI... and that you wish you could've acted differently that day, or these past five years. We all do."

"But..." AUBREY says. "I don't think... holding onto all that blame and resentment will really make us any happier."

"We just have to move on," KEL says. "I know how tough that is... but..."

Everyone starts to change. KEL grows just a little bit taller, HERO gets earrings, AUBREY's hair ties itself into a ponytail.

"You have to," AUBREY finishes.

"And that doesn't mean forgetting about us, either," HERO adds. "We'll always be here for you, SUNNY. As long as you want us to be."

"Just know this isn't goodbye forever," KEL says. "We'll see you soon, SUNNY."

KEL starts to walk. He brushes past SUNNY, through the door. AUBREY follows his lead. Just before HERO goes through, too, he turns. He looks SUNNY in the eye... gives him a smile... and turns back to the door, leaving SUNNY alone.

The backstage turns black. There's something left in his friends' place, something on the floor. He crouches down for a closer look, then realizes. Birthday cards. Three of them, all addressed to him. Each of them has different handwriting, in a different color. Which one does he pick up first?

The one in pink, he thinks. It's only natural. He picks it off the floor, opens it up, and starts to read.

Dear SUNNY,

I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday... and also apologize for everything. I know we've had a pretty rocky relationship these past five years... we weren't there for each other when we needed each other the most, and... I've said so many awful things to you. But I don't want it to stay that way, and I'm sure you don't, either. I miss when we were kids... and you'd let me rant to you for hours and hours. No matter how stupid it was, you'd let me talk about it. Your friendship means a ton to me, SUNNY, and I don't want to lose you again. So please... after you go back to the city... stay in touch with us, okay? If things are tough... I'm always here to call... and I hope you'll be there to call, too.

- Your friend, AUBREY

P.S. Sorry, I didn't mean to write so much... I guess I just wanted to get this off my chest. Happy birthday, SUNNY.

He smiles. A funny feeling tingles in his chest, but he knows she doesn't feel that way about him. After reading the note, he realizes, after everything that's happened... he can't even really see her in that way anymore, as that cute girl he used to know. She's deeply flawed, and... emotionally driven. But she's still his friend, and a really good one, too. Someone who's still trying her best to do the right thing, no matter how many mistakes she makes... she has the kind of bravery, strength of character, and determination he wishes he could have.

He's not done yet. Two more. He picks up the one in orange. The handwriting is pretty messy and smudged, but he can still read from years of practice.

Hey, SUNNY! Happy birthday! Ok, I'm gonna try to be pretty brief, but there are a few things I wanna get off my chest before you go tomorrow. Normally I'd just say this to your face, but I don't know how much time we have, so... here goes!

Ok. SUNNY. You're my best friend. I know we don't get to see each other as often now, and I've got newer friends from sports and stuff... but you've always been my best friend... and my very first! We used to do everything together... It sucks that we don't really have time for that anymore, but I just want you to know that... no matter what happens... I promise to stick with you until the very end! Even if you try to push us away, I'll always come back for ya. I know I'm kinda dense sometimes, or I don't think things through. But I'm really grateful that you're okay with that. So, SUNNY... even if I mess up sometimes, I'll always try my best to be a good friend to you! And I know you will, too.

Anyway, I'll cya later, SUNNY! Happy birthday.

- KEL :)

It's hard to describe, but... it feels like... every second, he feels more and more whole. KEL... KEL is probably the best friend he'll ever have. Not necessarily because he's his closest... but because he will always, always try his best to make him happy. He will never abandon him. Above all else, he is steadfast, staying positive and uplifting, even in spite of how much he's had to suffer. He is the safety net that they can always fall back on, someone who will never let them drift apart again. He... doesn't deserve a friend like him. No one does, really. But KEL doesn't mind.

Only one card left now. He picks up the blue one.

Dear SUNNY,

Hey, happy birthday! I hope you enjoyed your seventeenth as much as we did. It was actually KEL's idea to have you over this week, just in time for your birthday... At first, I was so nervous about seeing you again, but in hindsight... I'm really glad I did. There's so much I need to say to you, SUNNY. A lot of it came out yesterday, but... not in the way I would've preferred, so... I'm really sorry about that. Lately, I really haven't been treating you in the way I should. If I'm being honest... I've been acting kind of childish.

You've suffered more than any of us, SUNNY. You loved her even more than I did... That's why I was so nervous about seeing you again. I felt like it was wrong to be mad at you, when... you've already been through so much. I know you think you took her away from us. And maybe you did. Even if it was a totally senseless accident... I can't deny what you did that day. But accidents happen, okay?

If anything, I'm more angry at the accident itself than you. There wasn't really any sense to it... MARI was just taken away from us. Ever since you told us the truth, I've wished I could have done something. I wish I knew how much pressure she put on you... or that I got there sooner. But... I can't change things, and... we have to live with that. We have to accept she's gone. I'm kind of struggling to do that myself... but I hope you can make your peace with it.

I think we're more similar than you realize, SUNNY. I know how it feels to want to push it all down... But even if it's easier to ignore your problems... it's okay to cry about them, too. Life will get better. For both of us. We just have to stick together.

I'm so proud of you, SUNNY. Never forget that, okay?

SUNNY should be happy. HERO is one of the best people he's ever met. But he feels like crying. He doesn't deserve this. His kindness, his patience, his empathy. Virtues he all wishes he could have more of. He was like the big brother he never had--a role model, someone who seemed so perfect, who always knew how to get everyone to get along. He even owes him his life from the time he rescued him from the lake. Maybe he's not really that person anymore, or maybe he never was, but... HERO is proud of him. And he will always be there for him... because SUNNY wants him to be.

They believe in him. So he has to believe in himself, too.

SUNNY puts each card in his pocket, feeling more whole than he's ever been. He walks up to the stage. A crowd sits before him, staring him down. Waiting for something to happen. His legs feel like lead, and his shoes clack so loudly on the floor. But he keeps going. He walks up to the music stand. The sheet music is already there.

He takes out his violin, his heart pounding. Pulls himself into proper position, his hand on the strings and the chinrest under his head. His chest feels heavy, like it's aching. The recital they never got to play. That they will never play. But he has to try. Even if he's... alone. Without her. Five years later.

His violin rings out. A short, simple melody. The strings sound like they're crying out, moaning with sorrow and longing, but after an eternity, it's finally done. The audience breaks into applause. He clutches his violin by his side. Last time, it hurt so much. He couldn't stop sobbing. But now, what would've felt soul-crushing feels... it feels like a hard blow to the chest, but... it's tolerable, just barely. It doesn't force him onto the ground crying.

He's ready.

The audience vanishes. The whole stage vanishes, all turns to white. He can hear the clock ticking now, louder than a gunshot. It is all that is here. Besides himself... and him. Staring at the clock, steak knife in hand.

The other boy turns, moving like a zombie. He stares SUNNY in the eye with his two. 

OMORI waves his knife to the side. The message is clear. Another duel.

"I won't fight you," SUNNY says. "It would be pointless."

OMORI walks up to SUNNY and stares at him for a second, as if considering his words. Then he slashes SUNNY across the chest, ripping his vest and making his skin sting. Blood seeps from the wound, but it's a shallow enough cut. SUNNY takes a deep breath. Calm down. The slash heals in seconds.

"You've caused so much suffering," OMORI spits. "After everything you've done... how can you say you deserve a second chance?"

"They forgave me," SUNNY says. His resolve weakens for a moment, but he remembers his violin, and his heart gets a little more whole. "I can't take back what I did, but I can make up for it."

"You ruined their lives," OMORI says. "They never should have forgiven you. You'll just hurt them all over again."

"It doesn't matter what happened in the past," SUNNY says fiercely. "We're new people. We're healing. We can't let MARI's death make us who we are."

OMORI sees it's not working. Not after those five days. But he doesn't even flinch. His body warps, the edges covered in red static and distortion.

"They've done so much for you..." OMORI says. He slashes SUNNY again. "But you never do anything for them. All you do is bring them down."

SUNNY looks for a memory. Saving BASIL from the lake. Losing his eye for BASIL's life. The way KEL sounded happy just to talk to him on the phone. Giving AUBREY his advice in his old backyard. OMORI lunges forward, trying to plunge his knife into SUNNY's abdomen, but he only leaves a shallow scrape.

"You depend on them so much," OMORI says. "You can't do anything on your own. Not without MARI. You're pathetic."

SUNNY grits his teeth. "I can work on that."

"What are you even going to do with yourself once you grow up?" OMORI spits. "You haven't thought about anything. You never think anything through. You can't do anything. Everything you try, you just give up on and fail at. When will you commit to something? When will you stop being so lazy?"

"I don't know," SUNNY says firmly. "But that's okay. I have time. I'm getting more and more responsible every day."

OMORI stares him down, his eyes piercing. The world changes around them as they fight. The clock roars in SUNNY's ears, getting louder and louder. OMORI stands strong in front of his throne. He summons his entire domain, other planets and deep oceans and dark forests.

"You killed MARI," OMORI says. "No matter what you do, you can't change that fact. Because of you, they will never see her again."

"I know." SUNNY's voice is breaking. "I accept that."

"The only way is to dream her back," OMORI says. "It would be easier to just stop fighting."

"No," SUNNY says, his heart still pounding. "It's not. The truth will always catch up with me."

"You're too weak," OMORI says. "Every time you try to face it, you run away... you'll always break down eventually. You're just not strong enough. It would be easier to just die."

"I've faced it for an entire year," SUNNY says weakly. "Maybe it's been difficult sometimes. I even wanted to die! But look at what I've done. After everything... How can you really say I'm not strong enough?"

OMORI's eyebrows furrow. "You have no idea what you're doing," he spits. "You can't get a good job. You can't talk. You can't make new friends. You're useless."

"I know that," SUNNY says decisively. "You don't need to remind me. And I'm not useless. I'm only seventeen. I'm figuring it out. "

OMORI's breathing gets shallow, just for a second. He looks... hurt. He slashes at SUNNY in a frenzy, summons everything he has, every awful vision from the depths of SUNNY's mind, red hands, black hair, twisted MARIs with broken necks, bleeding eyes.

"MARI will be fifteen forever," OMORI reminds him. SUNNY tries to catch his breath. "Because of you, she will never get to grow up. Why should you? Why should you be alive when she's not?"

SUNNY has to stay focused. His chest feels tighter and tighter, but he just manages to stay calm. It's agonizing, even standing here at all, his entire body stinging and burning, his head feeling like it's about to be crushed, but he persists. He has to. For her sake.

"It's what she would want," SUNNY says, blinking back tears. He tries to find something, some memory, something to give him strength.  "I took her life away from her, but... I can't take another life, too. I can't take away another future."

OMORI grimaces, clenching his teeth. His posture shifts, like he's trying to cover himself up. He blinks, as if trying to get something out of his eyes.

"You don't deserve to live," he says. "You should j-just die."

SUNNY stares at him. What... what's happening? To him? To the both of them? This isn't how OMORI's supposed to act. Missing every swing, his legs trembling, real emotion on his face. Summoning everything in HEADSPACE, everything from his mind. He's never been desperate before.

"By living, I'm making it right," SUNNY says. Maybe it'll bring OMORI some hope, make him stop fighting, but... OMORI only looks more terrified.

"N-No," he pleads. "Please. J-Just stop..." 

SUNNY tries to inch a little closer. He shakes his head. "I won't."

"It's so scary, SUNNY," OMORI says. "It's... so t-terrifying, SUNNY." A red hand tries to grab at SUNNY, but he stays strong. He plays a short note on his violin. OMORI winces in pain, then tries to summon something--no, someone. Warped versions of his old friends, AUBREY, KEL, HERO, MARI, BASIL, all squirming and twisting, but they fade to nothing, before they can even get in a single attack.

"I'm so scared, SUNNY."

SUNNY's forced to his knees. Everything is on him, trying desperately to destroy him, pricking and smashing and slicing at his back, but he tries to hold on. He tries to persist. Each time they try to break him down, he remembers something, the photos, their cards, the recital . Their recital. What he means to everyone. He tries to reach out to OMORI, to himself.

"I-I don't want it to end, SUNNY."

"I don't, either," he says. "But it has to."

"N-No," OMORI sobs. "Stop it. This isn't how it's supposed to go."

OMORI snivels and weeps, curling into himself. SUNNY feels his eye getting wet. OMORI looks so small and weak. SUNNY realizes something. He's... still only twelve, isn't he? OMORI.

"It's so scary," OMORI says. "Why won't you just run away with me? Why are you making it hurt so much?"

"Because we can't." SUNNY tries to get a little closer.

"I d-don't want..." OMORI stops. "I don't want to be seventeen."

"I didn't, either..." SUNNY says hoarsely. "But she's gone now. You should be gone, too."

"Why does it have to be so hard?! " OMORI wails. "No one said it was going to be like this! No one said we'd have to do it without her!"

"I know." SUNNY can't hold back, either. His breathing turns choppy. He sniffles. He wants to cry. OMORI's world still tries to beat him down and the clock still ticks.

"I don't want to accept it!" OMORI screams. "It's all so- so stupid!"

"I know." SUNNY makes his way through all the red hands, all the knives and horrors of his mind. He makes it just close enough... to get his hand on OMORI's shoulder. 

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

OMORI makes a sudden motion with his knife. It takes a second for SUNNY to realize--a horrible pain shoots into his stomach, blood pouring out of the empty wound. SUNNY sees everything--MARI's scream as she fell, her lifeless, hanging body swaying in the wind, BASIL plunging his shears into his eye, HERO's terrifying fury, the clock looming over him, warped, twisted versions of his sister, their mouths gaping and full of teeth, tangled mounds of black hair staring into his soul, mannequins with broken necks. He's losing his grip, his heart is pounding, throbbing, impossible to control.

Come on. SUNNY takes a breath, sharp and unsteady, then another. Get a hold of yourself. Calm down. It's not as scary as I think. The wound starts to close, his vest starts to mend itself again. OMORI wants him to get away? He won't let him. His resolve returns to him.

"No," SUNNY murmurs. "You're a part of me."

"I don't want to be!" OMORI says. " You don't want to be!"

"But we don't have a choice." 

SUNNY puts his hand back on OMORI's shoulder, expecting another attack, but somehow... OMORI only squirms a little, barely able to resist. So SUNNY can keep going. He puts his other hand on him... OMORI feels so cold. He's so exhausted. But he's getting warmer. SUNNY wraps his arms around him, around this crying child. OMORI gets warmer... and warmer. Color returns to his skin. He drops his knife. Light returns to his eyes. SUNNY feels lighter. Everything trying to destroy him has faded. It's just the two of them now. Alone, on that rooftop, their new city shining below.

"I-I'm sorry." The younger SUNNY shifts a little. He returns SUNNY's embrace.

"I'm sorry, too."

"I wish..." he stops for a moment, sniffling. "I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"We all do."

"Why are you doing this?"

SUNNY pauses, to think. Why... is he doing this? Why is he comforting his worst enemy?

"Because you're a part of me."

"I know that."

"I..." SUNNY stops again. "I want to call you selfish. I want to call you childish. But... even though you are... that would... only make things worse."

"I'm a part of who you are," the younger SUNNY says. "You can't change that."

"Well..." SUNNY frowns. "No. I think I can."

The younger SUNNY sniffles. "Why? How can someone like you... change yourself?"

He thinks for a moment, and smiles. "AUBREY. BASIL. KEL. HERO. All of them... I know they have this part of themselves, too. But they're working to fight it... and... I think... they've changed."

"You... really think so?" the younger SUNNY says, almost in disbelief.

"Yes." SUNNY sighs. "I'm sorry. I... I wish you didn't have to go. But... I'm seventeen now. Not twelve."

OMORI... no, SUNNY... he leans a little more into SUNNY's embrace. And then, as they hug, SUNNY begins to see it all. All of those happy memories... sleeping with MARI as a baby, meeting KEL for the first time, sneaking out with him to HOBBEEZ, watching HERO and MARI learn how to cook, finding AUBREY crying on the sidewalk, becoming friends with BASIL, growing flowers, doing his first chore, getting his first crush. 

MARI heading off for her first job at the bakery, BASIL selling lemonade, unwrapping a special gift at Christmas, finding a secret lake, having a picnic, building a treehouse. The way she'd just barely get him to talk and make friends, the fresh fruit she always had in her basket, the soothing feeling of her hugs, how warm she felt, soaked and sobbing over his chest, and finally, himself, alone, standing before his best friends in the hospital. The memories cascade past the two of them, sixteen years condensed into mere moments.

As he watches it all go by, SUNNY feels lighter and lighter. Like his very soul is being emptied... he leans deeper into the younger SUNNY's embrace. All of his innocence is slipping away. If only it didn't have to be this way. But so soon already... he sees it. The curtain, sliding open. The window, shining its blinding light onto them. 

He can barely tell what's happening, but... he can feel it. That twelve year-old in his arms is fading. He's turning to nothing... slowly disappearing into the curtain... past the brink. Until, finally, he's gone. 

SUNNY should feel proud of himself, right? He overcame his worst self. But... he just stares at the floor, a few tears dripping down his face. He has lost a part of himself. So is it any wonder he's sad?

He sits on the ground for a while, unable to move. But he can't mourn his innocence forever, can he? There's still so much to do. A door still stands in front of him. The door that should go back to the apartments' staircase. He has no idea what's through. But... he pushes himself forward anyway.

SUNNY takes a bow... and heads into the unknown.

Chapter Text

Golden sunlight shines through the windows. Outside, SUNNY can hear some birds chirping... a little breeze gently rustling the leaves... a car whizzing by on the street. His friends are still sleeping, resting under their quilts. His last morning in FARAWAY TOWN. As much as he doesn't want it to end... he's ready. To go back to the city. Maybe it's not home, but... it's nice enough, sometimes, isn't it?

He lets himself cry. Just for a little while. He's cried so much these past few days already... but... it does hurt, doesn't it? He needs to let it out, what little of it was still trapped inside after yesterday. If anything, he's not... sad. He feels more of a sense of release, having finally let go of who he used to be. So it's okay. Once he's done... he pulls himself to his feet at last and climbs out of bed.

He heads to the bathroom, with his pills, toothbrush, and change of clothes. Like any other day. HERO's in there, actually, rinsing off a toothbrush.

"Oh, hey, SUNNY," he says. It's nice to hear his voice after such a long night. "Good morning! How'd you sleep?"

"Mm," SUNNY mumbles. "Fine..." He turns on the faucet to wet his toothbrush, grabs some toothpaste, and starts to brush.

"Just so you know..." HERO says. "Your mom said she would pick you up at 9:30." He takes a quick look at his watch. "It's 7 right now, so you've got two and a half more hours before you leave, alright?"

SUNNY spits into the sink, then rinses out his mouth with some water. He nods at HERO in understanding, then swallows his pills.

"Oh, do you need to change?" he says. "Sorry. I'll give you some privacy."

After HERO leaves, SUNNY changes into his new clothes. A white shirt, a pair of khaki shorts, and a gray pair of socks. He's done with his morning routine now, so... what now? Well, he's kind of hungry. He heads back into KEL and HERO's room, puts everything into his bag, then goes down the stairs, into the kitchen. HERO's cracking some eggs over a bowl, chatting with his parents.

"Good morning, SUNNY!" HERO's mom says. "We've just started making french toast... Would you like some?"

He nods at her. He is a little hungry...

"So..." HERO's dad says, SALLY in his arms. "Today's the day, huh?"

SUNNY doesn't respond, but HERO's dad doesn't seem to mind. SUNNY just nods.

"Yeah..." HERO's dad says. "We'll miss you, kid. Won't we, honey?"

"Yes, I suppose we will..." HERO's mom says. "Well... I just want you to know, SUNNY... that..." She sniffles. "No matter what happens... you'll always have a home here."

SUNNY can't speak for a moment. "Thank you," he says. He's touched... but he doesn't say anything else. KEL and HERO's family always understood. He never needed to force himself to talk around them. He'll really miss them, too, won't he...?

Soon enough, AUBREY comes into the room, followed by BASIL. They both look like they just got out of bed... their hair's all messy, and there's bags under BASIL's eyes. They did stay up pretty late last night...

"Morning, SUNNY..." AUBREY says. "Oh... What'cha making, HERO?"

"Hey, guys," HERO says. "I'm just making some french toast. Do you want some?"

"Sure..." she says. "That sounds good. What about you, BASIL?"

"Yes, please," BASIL says.

"Where's KEL?" HERO's mom says. "Is he still asleep? Sigh..."

"Um... yeah," AUBREY says. "I tried waking him up, but... he just kept snoring."

"Oh well," she says. "He'll be up soon enough."

SUNNY doesn't really know what to do with himself. It doesn't look like AUBREY or BASIL do, either. So they just sit down at the dining table and wait, sitting in silence. Soon enough, HERO comes into the room, carrying a fresh, steaming plate of french toast. KEL soon joins them, yawning as he walks up to the table.

"Morning, guys..." he says. "Oh geez, you made breakfast already..?"

"Morning, KEL!" HERO says. "Yeah, we did just now, actually. Feel free to help yourself!"

"Sweet," KEL says. Everyone starts to serve themselves--SUNNY gets the first plate, since they want to make sure he eats before he hits the road in two hours or so. It tastes great, of course... fluffy and sweet, rich with syrup. But it feels strange... having such a mundane breakfast before he goes. 

SUNNY can't really describe the sensation hanging in the air. Apprehension, maybe? That odd feeling he always got the last day of a vacation, like he could sense it coming to an end. But also a kind of relief. He was so intimidated when he first came here... it seemed so impossible to untangle, all that lingering resentment and hurt. They were scared, too, weren't they? But even if it wasn't perfect... even if he had to relive losing his eye, or endure HERO's outburst... He's glad he did it. He came out the other side, all the better for it.

Once they're finished with cleaning up breakfast, nobody seems to know what to do. They don't really have the time to go anywhere... they only have an hour and a half left before they have to say goodbye. They end up playing video games together for a little while--just SUNNY and KEL, like they used to. AUBREY, BASIL and HERO join in a few times, but they're not much good at it. KEL's actually beating SUNNY--he's never played this version of SPROUT MOLE EATER before. Maybe it's a boring way to spend his last morning, but... it's been a long week. Is it so bad for SUNNY to just want to relax, he thinks?

But all too soon, it's nine already, and it's time for SUNNY to start packing up. He looks all over the house--for anything he might've missed. He finds a stray sock here and there, but not much else. Seems like he packed everything. The sketchbook, the PHOTO ALBUM, the seashell necklace he never wore, sticks of deodorant, a toothbrush, the bottle of pills, all his clothes. He really didn't bring all that much. Oh, but there's the birthday presents, too... he tries to stuff everything into the bag, but the color pencils won't fit... should he even take the bread?

Well, he can carry those. With nearly everything on his back, SUNNY's ready to head outside. To wait for his mom. Something builds in his stomach. A sort of... anxiety. Apprehensiveness. Is this really the end? With his friends by his side, standing on the sidewalk, the sun climbing higher and higher in the clear blue sky. He thought he was ready earlier, but... it feels... too fast. He's not ready to have to say goodbye again.

"Hey, SUNNY..." he feels someone's hand on his shoulder. HERO's. "How are you feeling?"

SUNNY pauses for a moment, not wanting to respond. "...I don't know."

"Hm... Me neither..." HERO says. "It... feels like it's all happening so fast, doesn't it?"

"Aww, cheer up, guys..." KEL says. "It's not like SUNNY's gone forever. There's always next summer, isn't there? And the holidays... he can visit on Thanksgiving! Or Christmas!"

"Yeah..." HERO says. "Yeah! You're right! And, SUNNY... if I get to the medical school I'm hoping for, I'll be right in your city!"

"Really?" AUBREY says. "W...Where?"

"CLOSEBY MEDICAL SCHOOL, remember? I thought I told you guys..." he says. "I'll probably be pretty busy, though... but... you can still come and visit on holidays."

"Huh," AUBREY says. She stares off into the distance for a while. "You know... I've been thinking."

"What is it, AUBREY?" KEL says.

"What... What if..." She frowns. "Nevermind. It's... it's a dumb idea."

"Nah, tell us!" KEL says. "We only have so long..."

She sighs. "You're right. We don't have that much time left together... and... I just thought... well... what if we never..." All of a sudden, she's tearing up again... "What if we never see each other again?"

"Don't say that, AUBREY!" KEL says. "You know we will."

"I know," she says. "It's just... l-last time, it seemed... like everything was going to be okay. But then... S-SUNNY lost his eye, and... we found out the truth, and nothing made any sense again. I... I'm just scared we'll keep leaving each other."

KEL tenses up. He looks like he's about to say something, but BASIL speaks up first.

"I... I feel the same way, AUBREY." Everyone turns to BASIL. He stops for a second, with everyone's eyes on him, but then seems to remember himself. "I want to believe that everything will be okay after this, but... I don't know that things ever really will be."

"How can you say that?" AUBREY says. "Do... do you really think we're just going to be miserable forever?"

"N-No, AUBREY, I mean..." BASIL says. "I'm sorry. T-That's not what I'm trying to say. It's just that... well, there are some things we just can't see coming. It's not like we'll never hurt again, but... that doesn't mean we can't have hope. Things will still get better, right? Like they have now."

"Oh..." AUBREY says. "I guess that makes sense."

"It's okay," BASIL says. "I... I understand."

"Sorry..." AUBREY says. "I know what you mean, BASIL, but... it's- it's not just that. It's just that... when MARI died in such a sudden accident... I... I guess I'm kind of paranoid."

"O-Oh." BASIL pauses. He takes a deep breath. "Well... the thing is... I think that... life is kind of fragile, you know? With taking care of plants and all, I've realized... sometimes they just... wilt, and for no real reason, too. But... maybe that means... that you have to appreciate every little moment... even more?"

BASIL leaves them all in silence. SUNNY's kind of shocked, too see such wisdom coming from him. He doesn't want to accept what he's saying, but... he's right.

"I'm surprised, BASIL," HERO says suddenly. "That was... really good advice. You've grown a lot from that shy kid I used to know."

BASIL's face seems to light up a little, though hesitantly. HERO's praise sounds strained, but... genuine. "T-Thank you, HERO," BASIL says. "That means a lot."

"You're welcome," HERO says. His face hardens again, and he stares out at the trees. "You know... maybe... if life is fragile... then if there's anything we still haven't gotten off our chests... we should say it now."

"What do you mean?" AUBREY says.

"Like... anything!" HERO says. "Secrets, stuff we've wanted to tell each other for a while... I don't know, really."

"Hm..." AUBREY says. "I-I think I get what you mean." She pauses, lost in thought. "There were a lot of things I wanted to tell SUNNY... b-but I think they're all in that card."

"Same here," KEL says. "What about you, HERO?"

"Hmm..." HERO says. "No, I think I put most of it in my card, too. And, well, BASIL..." His eyes turn to the ground. "I think... I told you most of what I wanted to. In the treehouse. On Thursday."

"Well, I've still got a few things I want to tell you guys..." AUBREY says. "Um, maybe I should... thank you. All of you. For being such good friends."

"Yeah, me too..." HERO says. "I know you guys are just kids, but... you're really mature for your age. Other seventeen year-olds... usually aren't like this, haha. You're not adults, but... most high schoolers are a lot less... uh, self-aware? I guess what I'm trying to say... is that I'm proud of all of you."

"Aww, thanks," KEL says. "I think we should all be proud of ourselves! We've come so far."

"Yeah..." AUBREY says. She smiles. "I guess I'm a little proud of myself. Um, though... SUNNY..." SUNNY turns to her. She looks away from his gaze. "Is there anything... you want to say? You've been kind of quiet."

"O-Oh..." he says. He's not sure.

"Sorry," she says. "Didn't mean to put you on the spot."

"N-No, it's okay..." he says. He should say something, right? He... does appreciate them a lot. No, he loves them. But... standing there, he realizes... he's never really told them. The depth of how much they mean to him. It was always easier to hug them, or hold their hand, or... something. Words were difficult, and... intimidating. But he's... not twelve anymore. He doesn't have MARI to translate his emotions for him. Sure, they understand him, but they can't read his mind.

"SUNNY?" AUBREY says. "Um... Why are you looking at us like that?"

"S-Sorry..." he says. "It's just... it's hard. To put it into words."

"That's okay," HERO says. "Take your time if you need to."

SUNNY pauses a moment. His face feels all red. Who does he even start with? How about KEL? He's known him the longest, so... it only makes sense.

"Um..." he says. "KEL, I... should thank you." KEL stares at him, like he's expecting him to keep going. "You've... always been there for me. Even when I tried to leave you. A-And... you've..." he tries to think. "You've always wanted to make us happy. So... Thank you. I don't... deserve a friend like you."

KEL gives him a big, cheesy grin. "Sure you do, SUNNY! I know you won't agree with me, but I think I should thank you too..." He rubs the back of his head a little, like he's made him flustered. "You've stayed there for us! Even though it was so hard for you, you opened the door when I knocked... and you came back to FARAWAY TOWN! And it's not just that, too... I like that you're always there to listen. You never judge, even when I say really dumb stuff! So... thank you, SUNNY."

SUNNY's face feels all hot... Oh, right... He should thank him, too. "Y...You're welcome..."

"No worries!" KEL says. "Just trying my best..."

That felt nice, but... he still has a lot more to say. To AUBREY. To HERO. To BASIL. He'll talk to AUBREY second. With HERO and BASIL... there's too much. 

"And, AUBREY..." he starts. Feels like he can't even talk... after only that...

"Yeah?" she says. 

"Well..." he says. "I... I just want to say that... you're a good friend. And person. I-I know you have a hard time believing that, but... you always try so hard to do the right thing, and... you don't really care what anyone thinks. I know I can't really see you like I used to, but... I still wish I could be as strong as you are. Or bold."

"Thank you, SUNNY." There's a bittersweet smile on her face. "I know you think you're not strong, but... when I think about it... after everything you've been through... knowing that you kept persisting and told us the truth... you might be one of the strongest people I know."

His face feels all hot... he can't stand so much praise so fast. "T-Thank you," he sputters.

"You're welcome," AUBREY says. "You... you don't have to thank me. I think I should've said that a while ago."

SUNNY nods. It's hard to even respond to a compliment like that... but... it might be even harder to talk to HERO, he thinks. To say everything he should say. SUNNY turns to face him, and HERO meets his eye, but uncomfortably, like he wishes he didn't have to do this.

"HERO..." SUNNY starts. He tries to say something, but... the words won't come out. "Sorry," he says. Almost against his will, he just... leans forward, wraps his arms around him, and... suddenly, he's crying? Why? He's happy... but... they've been through so much. He thought HERO hated him. Maybe he wasn't as close to him as KEL or AUBREY or BASIL, but...

"SUNNY..." HERO says. "If I'm being honest... you've always been like a little brother to me, SUNNY. I know we weren't as close, but... it always made me happy... to see how happy you made MARI. You were always a really great kid... and... I missed you."

"T-Thank you," SUNNY sobs. "I-I... I missed you too." He pulls away from HERO's embrace... and looks him in the eye again. There's a lot he should say. "HERO... You... you always... put us first. And you're... capable. You can do a lot of things. You're... reliable. Even to a fault. I hope I can... grow up like you."

HERO gives a warm smile. A genuine one. "Thank you, too, SUNNY. Sometimes... it feels like a lot of pressure... having you guys look up to me so much. And I might feel like I'll never meet those expectations... but... I can at least try."

"HERO..." AUBREY says. "We're not expecting you to be perfect. Nobody is. But that doesn't mean that you're not... still a pretty amazing guy. You saved SUNNY and BASIL's lives... twice."

"Yeah..." HERO says. "Yeah! I'll... try to have some faith in myself. Thanks, guys..."

"Hey, do you see that..?" KEL says. "It looks kind of like..."

Everyone turns. Oh... no, is that... It can't be. A white car in the distance, getting closer and closer every second. Is it... over already? At least... he got to savor this moment. He got some kind of... closure. But... there's still one more thing he has to say, one more conversation he has to have. As his mom's car approaches, he turns to BASIL.

"SUNNY..." BASIL says. "Promise me that you'll visit again, okay?"

SUNNY nods. "I promise."

BASIL turns to the others. "Can... can you give us a moment?"

The other three look kind of confused... but if they have their doubts, they keep them to themselves. They nod and head back into the house. BASIL turns back to SUNNY. They meet each others' eyes. Well... eye, really.

"It's hard to believe you're really going away again, isn't it?" BASIL says. "This was a pretty long week... but looking back on it all, it sort of blurs together. It doesn't feel like we had enough time."

SUNNY nods. He feels the same way.

"I know how this sounds, but... I wish I could have you here forever," BASIL says weakly. "No, not just you... Everyone. HERO... even AUBREY and KEL if they move out. ... and MARI."

SUNNY closes his eye to think. "I do too." He'll miss BASIL, won't he? No matter how much they hurt each other... he'll miss hearing him go on and on about his plants, or him recommending books, or venting to him, or... just... being together. Enjoying each others' company. The kind of connection they had. Understanding each other, inside and out.

"But..." BASIL says. "Things don't work that way." He huffs out a sigh. "Well... even if they don't... we have to stay optimistic, right?"

SUNNY nods. "Yeah." He takes BASIL's hand.

"I mean... look at everything we've done!" A warm smile starts to form on his face. "Maybe HERO doesn't forgive me, but... that's okay. They forgive you, SUNNY! We're starting to redeem ourselves! We're finally friends again! All of us!"

SUNNY gets that same feeling... like his very heart is getting warmer. He looks at BASIL... and smiles, the most ecstatic smile he can manage. 

"We've come so far, SUNNY," BASIL says. "And... I really hope that... no matter what happens... we can stay together."

"Me too." SUNNY pauses a moment. "I think we will. No..." He feels a new resolve, a kind of determination building inside him. "I know we will."

"Yeah..." BASIL says. "SUNNY... I'm kind of tempted to think you have it all together. It seems like... you've been leading the way the whole time. But... I know you don't." He squeezes SUNNY's hand a little tighter. "It's tempting to just try and follow whatever you're doing... but... I have to find my own path. Maybe it's kind of hard to think right now, but... I know I'm getting somewhere, at least. With going in the water... and confronting everyone again... I feel stronger now." 

BASIL pauses. He seems to realize something. "Haha... sorry, it seems like I'm burdening you again. I've been talking so much about myself, but... I never stopped to ask... how do you feel, SUNNY?"

SUNNY's eye widens a little. How... how does he feel? He tries to assess himself. Looking back... since the truth... since MARI died... he's come so far. He remembered the truth. He can go outside again. He's friends with them again. He forgave himself, or at least he's started to. He likes himself again, even if only slightly.

"Better," he says. "A lot better. I... feel like I can finally love myself again."

"I'm glad," BASIL says. "Me... me too. It's... a big step forward." BASIL seems like he notices something. His eyes widen. "Hey, um... SUNNY?"

"Hm?"

"Your mom's... right there..." BASIL steps back a little, as if by instinct. He lets go of SUNNY's hand. His mom is right there, standing by her car... oops. How long did he keep her waiting? She's giving BASIL a bit of a cold look, but it seems like she's trying her best to look welcoming. He can't help but feel nervous. This is the end. He can't put it off anymore.

KEL, AUBREY and HERO come back through the door. Looks like they noticed what's going on. They're all looking right at him, their eyes pensive but forcing a look of optimism. His friends... his best friends. He'll miss them all so much. Without even thinking, SUNNY just runs up, and...

"Woah, SUNNY!" HERO says. "Geez! You've been hugging us so much lately..."

"Don't startle us like that!" AUBREY says, her whole face red.

"Is this..." KEL says. "ANOTHER GROUP HUG?!"

"Ready or not, here we come!" HERO says. 

"Come on, BASIL!" KEL says. "You're not getting out of this one!"

"A-Ah, what?!" BASIL says. SUNNY hears some shuffling behind him, and... he feels their warm arms around him, and suddenly, just for a moment, it finally feels like... everything might be okay. Not perfect, but okay. He remembers their promise.

The road ahead will be long and painful, he's sure of it. But knowing that... no matter what happens... they'll always be there for each other... it feels so much less intimidating. After every horrible thing that's happened to him, every terrifying trauma or crushing loss, he's... healing. With their help, he's ready. He can stop running away.

Of course, their embrace has to end eventually. His mom is still there, staring intently at her son and his friends. For a moment, everything looks blurry. As SUNNY walks to the car, bag in hand, time feels like it's slowing down. His legs feel like they're made of lead. But he turns to the friends he loves... wipes away his tears... and gives them one last smile.

As the car rolls forward, he watches his friends get smaller and smaller in the distance, all waving and shouting goodbye. His friends who he won't see until Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even next summer. But... who'll make sure to call him, who he'll never forget, who are all inside a precious album of photos he'll always have by his side. Just as they're disappearing past the trees, he realizes something. Something obvious, that he should've realized so long ago...

I am glad to be alive.

Chapter Text

As SUNNY walks down the quiet streets of CLOSEBY CITY, snow begins to fall from the dreary clouds. A frigid January breeze forces him to stuff his hands even deeper into his sweatshirt. Dirt, salt and slush line the slippery sidewalks. It's not exactly the best day outside... but he doesn't have much of a choice. He'd better do this sooner rather than later. 

He should've gotten to this a long time ago. Back in FARAWAY, on the anniversary, or on Christmas, with his friends by his side. But only now, after months of part-time work and saving up, does he have enough to even afford it. Lessons will be something else entirely, but... maybe he doesn't need them? He always hated meeting with tutors anyway.

There. Just across the street. MIKE'S MUSIC. He waits for the traffic lights to turn, then heads down the crosswalk, up to the glass door. He glances through the foggy windows. Guitars are lined up on the displays, but past them, if he just squints, he can see it. Violins, some shinier than others. His heart feels strangely... fluttery. He just stands in front of the door for a while, unable to move.

He has to force himself inside eventually. He puts one foot in front of the other, until soon, he's inside, warm air on his face. There aren't too many people here, thankfully. The few customers who bothered to show up give him that familiar stare, but he pushes that aside. He just has to focus on the violin. 

He scans the rack, looking for one he can afford. $500... no, definitely not. $400... no, still too much... Not $350... There. $230. It looks a little cheap, and it's obviously been used before. But last he remembers, he's got $271 in total, so it's his only choice. He picks it off the rack, feeling the smooth, polished wood on his hands... the taut strings under his fingers... the chinrest, the thin neck, the bridge... 

Memories start to surge through him. Practicing for hours and hours... the painful calluses on his fingers... MARI's constant criticism, watching her get more and more frustrated with herself each time they made a mistake... Her smile the first time they made it through the whole song... the way she put her hand in front of BASIL's camera, embarrassed when she messed up...

The crack of his precious violin as he hurled it down the staircase... MARI's angry shouts, her screams as she fell, the thuds she made against each step. Her lifeless body, lying in her bed, limp, not breathing. BASIL's desperate whispers. The scuffing sounds their feet made as they tried to carry her outside. The roll of that glass sliding door, BASIL's terrified face in its reflection. The dreamlike feeling the dying leaves gave him, the nauseating, cold shock of her eye staring into his soul-

Stop. Get a hold of yourself, SUNNY. Remember where you are. SUNNY takes a shaky breath. The violin slips a little in his sweaty palms. He breathes with his stomach, grounding himself, looking at the fluorescent lights on the ceiling, or the foggy windows, covered in melting snow, or the smell of the clean air.

"Hey, kid, are you gonna buy that thing...?" someone says. He turns. The cashier, a young man, probably in his twenties. Wearing a beanie and a shaggy beard.

"Y-Yes," he says. "Sorry." He walks up to the counter, everyone's eyes on him, then pulls his wallet out of his pocket. He's got nothing but cash... he takes out twenty after twenty, fifty after fifty, until finally, he's got the right amount. Two hundred and thirty dollars.

"Wow..." the cashier says. "You must've been saving up a lot for this thing." He hands the violin back to SUNNY. "I hope you enjoy it, kid."

SUNNY manages a nod. He puts the violin and its bow back into their case, then turns his back to the counter. As he walks to the door, a funny feeling builds in his chest. Not the fear or guilt or grief from what happened that day... but a kind of hope. 

He has to remind himself why he's doing this, like he's done a million times before. What the violin means to him. A symbol of their love for him, of her love for him, of his love for her . He'll never get to play at that recital with her, but... this is like a memorial to her, a tribute to the person she was, a way to make up for what he did. By turning all that senseless pain into something beautiful and meaningful.

 SUNNY heads back outside, into the cold. While he was inside, the light snowfall got heavier. It's starting to build up on the sidewalk, so he'd better get home fast. 

He puts one foot in front of the other, careful not to slip, forcing himself not to look back. After a long walk, he's back at his apartment block, past the park and downtown. He beats the snow off his boots on the welcome mat, soaking in the warm air, then heads up the elevator, through the hallway, to his door.

He takes a deep breath... and begins his life anew.