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The Sonic Fan Club has come a long way since its formation all those years ago by a lovestruck little girl. Back then, Amy was so sure she’d woo Sonic and eventually marry him. Now those feelings have waned, instead replaced with awe and adoration. She knows now that wasn’t the way to go about it, knows now that this is better/healthier/fine—whichever you prefer—joining with other like-minded people to talk about the greatness of a blue-haired freckle-faced speed junkie. Whatever. Amy’s always been known as the weird girl with her affinity for tarot cards, baking, softball bats, hammers, and other blunt instruments. Might as well lay into it.
She started the club and was the sole member for the longest, seeing as she couldn’t exactly make it a school-sponsored organization. Alone, Amy remembers wearing homemade buttons on her backpack and flashy blue headbands in her hair to catch anyone’s attention. Sometimes it would work, Tails often did stop to chat with her about something cool Sonic had recently done. Knuckles thought it was stupid, said he’d done cooler things than Sonic ever had but no one started a fan club for him. Talking was one thing, joining the club was a whole nother beast, and neither of them ever stayed long. Nothing concrete.
It wasn’t until Sonic’s punk phase in middle school that Amy met someone as dedicated as she was to all things Sonic. Momoka Nishimoto, better known as Lah. A fellow Sonic fangirl. It was like she’d found her missing half. A kindred spirit. Someone who understood what it was like.
Of course, Lah was obsessed with this Sonic, burly and a bit curt with a weird gravelly voice, not the Nice Guy Sonic that Amy had known forever. Now, Lah has come to appreciate this Sonic too, though Amy will occasionally catch her staring at a photo of junior high Sonic with a longing look on her face. Still, no one makes killer Sonic merch like Lah, no one takes amazing pictures of Sonic at his track meets like her. Amy might be developing a bit of a crush.
With someone there, it didn’t seem so lonely. And the club only grew from there, thanks to Lah’s excellent advertising. They never had a set location, sometimes in the library, sometimes outside in the courtyard. Always meeting every Wednesday after school.
Membership has been kinda crazy too. People Amy wouldn’t expect. Zazz once read some morbid fanfic, and then there was Jet’s rather violent fanart. Hey, Amy didn’t judge.
Yes, the Sonic Fan Club has gone through many changes. Several proposed name changes—We Hate Sonic’s Guts was Jet’s suggestion, Lah’s was really cute, the Sonikku Otakus—and many guest speakers. But it’s always been comforting. Something Amy’s enjoyed.
Another thing, since the club’s conception, the object of their fixation has never shown his face. Until now.
Sonic is returning a library book at the circulation desk, not looking in their direction at all. That quickly changes, however, when Lah utters a disbelieving, “S-Sonikku is here!”
His head snaps in their direction, and it’s a chain reaction.
“It’s Sonic!”
“Sonic-senpai, are you here to see us?”
“Hi, Mister Sonic!”
Always a people person, Sonic waves hello, and sensing that everyone’s eager to see him, he starts towards his awaiting group of followers.
“Alright, guys!” Amy wrangles the rowdy bunch after an annoyed look from the librarian. “Let’s not overwhelm the star.”
Said star observes the sea of Sonic Club t-shirts, gives a toothy grin, “Nice shirts.”
This does nothing but set off more shouting and frantic waving. Seriously. Amy swears she hears the click of several cameras too.
“Can you stay for this meeting?” Lah asks shamelessly. “Please say yes!”
Amy shakes her head, though she envies her friend’s chutzpah. “Hey, only if you have time, Sonic. We know you’re a busy guy.”
There have been those who say it’s weird to obsess over a boy, but they just don’t know this boy. A genuine fellow with a heart of gold, so insanely cool, and always fights for what’s right. Some people have sports teams, they have Sonic. It’s really not that different when you think about it.
Still, this has to be somewhat jarring. Coming upon your peers worshiping your very existence with photographs, writing, and art you know nothing about. Amy must admit even she’d be a bit baffled.
Then again, Sonic’s just that easygoing that he’s likely to agree, which he promptly does. “Sure.”
He greets everyone, doling out fist bumps before sitting by Cream at the table beside Amy’s. He’s all smiles, cool as a cucumber, looking genuinely pleased to be here. Truly courteous and down-to-Earth. Not one bit vain, even in the presence of a fan club for himself.
Deciding she’s internally fangirled enough, Amy brings everyone back to order. “Okay! Let’s pick back up with show-and-tell. Chip, d’you wanna go next?”
“Sure!” Chip all but bounds up front to present, sorting through a hefty scrapbook of photos. While he prepares, Amy scans the two round tables of members. Today’s turnout is a bit scant, no other seniors either. Three juniors, Lah and her friends Su and Uh, though they don’t look happy to be here. Mainly underclassmen.
Anyway, Chip begins, explaining each of the pictures he shows. Some recent ones he took of Sonic at work, but he says that his favorite is one he took back in junior high when he moved to Windy Hill.
“Sonic was my first friend here,” He tells them. “The only one who helped me when I couldn’t find my way. That’s why he’s the best! He always lends a hand!”
Chip receives a fierce wave of finger snaps, looking positively ecstatic returning to his seat. Even more so when Sonic gives him a high five.
Sonic listens intently to the remaining members present, even when Lah runs long during her turn, singing various covers of songs, all of them an ode to Maurice Griffith’s eminence. In return, they garner just as many peeved looks from the librarian. Amy knows next week’s meeting will have to be elsewhere. But this is them. This is what they do.
And Sonic, ever the model audience member, claps after each performance, signs everyone’s t-shirts, looks like he has a pretty good time too. Then once it’s all over and everyone’s packing up to go, he chats with Amy.
“This’s seriously dope! Flattering too. I mean, I knew about the fan club, I just. Never saw it. I had no idea you had this many members.”
“Eh, this was a mild meeting. You shoulda been here for the one Eggman spoke at! We even got Manic and Sonia to one.”
“Man. That’s serious dedication.”
“Such is the life of a fangirl.”
“This really is impressive, Ames,” He says. “I mean it.”
She snorts. “Oh yeah, I should put it on my resume. Use it on college applications.”
“Why don’t you? You started a club, kept it up and running. Not to mention you’re club president. Leadership! College bigwigs eat that stuff up.”
Sincerity. Honesty. Would it kill him to not be so perfect all the time? Probably wouldn’t. Bet he’s got an immunity or something.
“You’re just saying that,” Amy brushes some hair from her face. “No one takes this club seriously,” Or me for that matter, she wants to add, but decides against it. “It’s just something we do for fun! It’s not important.”
“I’m serious. And if it means that much to you, it is important. So go for it! Don’t sell yourself short just because you think it’s not worth it to someone else.”
“Alright, I will! Geez, when’d you get so smart?”
He just laughs. In the past, Amy would have held onto this moment for forever, replayed it in her head over and over. She made Sonic laugh! Her life’s true purpose. It’s different now. Just as fulfilling and warming. But different now that she sees him for what he’s always been. A friend. A really good friend.
“Hey, you wanna grab somethin’ta eat?” He asks.
“Of course! As long as you invite the rest of the club.”
“Sure thing! ‘Sides, you never shared anything. I wanna hear it.”
“It’s just poetry,” She looks away, a bit unnerved by the thought. It was something she wrote a long while ago that she never felt brave enough to share. What’s changed? Why now?
“I mad dig poetry,” Sonic says. “You know that! I just returned a book of Romantic poems.”
“Okay, Smarty. Maybe you can recite some to us.”
He smiles. “Maybe I will.”