Chapter Text
WELCOME TO WHITE SPACE
YOU’VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME
...
..
.
Sunny was reclined on the thin yet soft white carpet. He moved his fingers and adjusted his sight by blinking and letting clarity slowly wash over him. The view in front of him greeted him with security as it always had; it comforted him. Ahead of him, a solitary black lightbulb glowed faintly, offering a familiar sense of security and comfort. This view had granted him immunity from his daytime work for years, and the lightbulb's gentle glow served as a message that he was safe where he was.
For a while, he remained lying down, not yet ready to rise. Eventually, he gathered the motivation to sit up, crossing his legs and taking in the emptiness of the room.
WHITE SPACE still had the same nature of emptiness. Not the negative kind of emptiness- but more of the comforting kind. It was a comforting emptiness, one that had always protected him from harm and served as his escape.
The items that brought him joy were still scattered around on the carpet just as he remembered.
At the far-right corner, a messy pile of documents and his beloved sketchbook laid untouched. Sunny quickly stood up and attempted to organize the pile, pushing it closer together to its core, but it refused to stay still and tidy. Some papers inevitably slipped out of the stack.
Oh well. There was nothing he could do about it now.
His laptop, located north of the carpet, was already booted up and ready to be used. The desktop wallpaper featured a photo of six young children, huddled together with beaming smiles. Although their faces were blurry, Sunny didn't need to guess who they were. The sight of their cloudy smiles was enough to brighten his mood and inspire him to start a new adventure.
Sunny heard soft purring and glanced behind him.
Mewo, his faithful cat, was still seated in the same spot after all these years, despite cats being well known to move into lots of spaces… Well, no matter. He loved her just the way his beloved cat was. Sunny gave Mewo a gentle pat on the head, eliciting a delightful purr from his furry friend.
WHITE SPACE around him was still the same as he remembered.
As Sunny basked in the familiar comfort of the empty space, he couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of unease. It was as if an aura of unfamiliarity and uncertainty had infiltrated his safe haven.
Turning his head to inspect the area behind him, where Mewo always laid, he noticed something different.
There were two pillows.
Two pillows laid there, one black and one white. He distinctly remembered only ever having one pillow on the carpet, and certainly not two. He had never needed two pillows before, always sitting on one. Though he couldn't recall which color he had favored.
This expansive space was Sunny's escape from the perils of work and the fun of adventuring. It was his home, a place to relax. It was his sanctuary, a place to unwind and relax. Despite not remembering how he came to be in this space, he had long accepted it as his new home. And with no interruptions over the years, he saw no reason to question it - at least, not until now.
A feeling of unease crept over him as he realized that something was off.
A shiver ran down Sunny's spine, and he felt a sudden chill, as though a gust of wind had swept past him. Something was different, and he lowered his head to survey his attire.
To his surprise, he was not dressed in his usual pajamas - no black top, no shorts - but in his formal work outfit. A black vest over a white long-sleeved dress shirt, a black tie, slightly dark grey pants, and plain black socks.
This realization was unsettling; there was no other place where he dressed this formally.
He was in his work outfit.
What was going on?
The outfit he currently wore was the same one he had been too exhausted to change out of before succumbing to tiredness and the soft mattress. This attire was reserved for only the closest associates of the Capo, the boss he currently worked under. The emblem on his right chest confirmed his title as the ‘top dog’ of Capo Captain.
But that was beside that point.
It was the fact that he wasn't wearing his usual black top and striped pajama pants, the attire he was most accustomed to wearing when venturing into the dream realm with his friends. Perhaps his dream or subconscious had prompted a change in appearance? While his looks wouldn't affect his adventure much since the citizens hardly ever commented on them, the association that came with this work outfit unsettled him.
But it was not his attire that changed.
Realization suddenly kicked in, filling Sunny with a mix of curiosity and fear. He gazed down at his hands, and his eyes grew wide with shock. These were not the hands of a child, but those of a full-grown adult. He shook both his hands in disbelief, hoping that it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. He then proceeded to check his legs and other body parts to confirm his uncertainty, but the result was the same.
He couldn’t believe it.
He was in the body of a 19-year-old. His hands were not those of a 12-year-old, and neither were his legs, which were too tall for a child's height. None of his current appearance spoke child-like.
What was going on?
Why was he not a child here? Where was his old body?
Sunny noticed something else. His skin was surprisingly colorful compared to his usual appearance. It had a pale but strong tawny color with a hint of pink. This was odd since he was always known as the monochrome boy of the group. Wasn’t he always grey-ish? He couldn't understand why he had colors now.
As confusion turned to panic, Sunny reflected on his longing to stay a child forever. Despite his job, he wanted to separate his adventures from his work life. He yearned to be the child he once was before the cruel world and cruel fate intervened. This world was his only escape.
But now he was no longer a child. Why?
Panic set in, but Sunny knew he needed to snap out of it. He hoped this was just a rare, weird dream or a nightmare in disguise that would pass once he’d wake up soon. He couldn't let himself succumb to fear and uncertainty. He needed to find a way out of this situation.
‘Try to remain calm use logical reasoning to ease any uncertainties.’, he reminded himself, recalling the advice he had received from someone he deeply respected.
After all, Sunny trained hell to get where he was today. He knew he had the ability to keep a level head in challenging situations, as he had trained himself to do so through sheer determination and hard work. Sunny reminded himself that he would find a solution to this problem, no matter how strange or inexplicable it may seem. He understood that dreams could be bizarre and unpredictable, but he hoped that this would be a fleeting experience that would soon pass.
As he tried to focus on his breathing and maintain his composure, he suddenly heard another voice, which made him jump in surprise.
“You woke up.”
The unknown voice startled Sunny out of his thoughts, causing him to jump up and swiftly scan his surroundings in an attempt to detect the source of the voice. He couldn't believe it. He didn’t want to believe it.
There was something or someone in his home, his sanctuary, his territory.
He was so sure that nothing could possibly touch this place, considering nothing happened all these past years.
Sunny also felt slightly jealous at the possibility of losing his home. He was just minding his business, waking up in his current body he didn’t want to be in and now there was an unknown predator somewhere near him! He had always felt safe here, and the possibility of losing it made him feel jealous and protective. After all, what was the point of having a WHITE SPACE if it couldn't provide him with peace and solitude?
He won’t allow this. He decided he will stay regardless of any anomalies interfering into his property. Sunny will face whoever was invading his place of comfort and he’ll make sure whoever that was, they would leave him alone. He would not allow anyone to disturb his peace of mind.
Determined to defend his territory, Sunny gritted his teeth and decided to confront the invader head-on.
As he turned around to face the perpetrator, however, he almost choked on his own spit at the sight before him. How that ever worked in dreams.
"Relax, I'm not here to harm your home, or rather, my home."
And before Sunny stood another entity.
Was that… himself?
A version of himself, but with striking differences.
Sunny backed off a few steps behind to properly soak in the perpetrator’s appearance.
That was him, but ...
He was like an exact replica of Sunny, though partly different. The most obvious difference was its entirely black and white appearance, with skin as white as paper, as if it had been drained of all color. Sunny was slightly paler than the average person, but surely he was not that pale as a ghost.
Then would be its overall height. Too tall to be a child, as well. The entity looked like he was nearly as tall as Sunny himself and appeared to be around the same age.
His attires were party different from Sunny’s work clothes. The clothes this stranger wore were also distinct from Sunny's work clothes, consisting of a black button-up with the sleeves pushed to the elbows, a loose white tie, white pants, black socks, and bandages wrapped around the waist, entirely covering his hand.
“I have been waiting for you, Sunny. It’s been a long time since we've met face to face like this. We… have a lot to discuss today."
Sunny was left in awe, his mouth unable to form any intelligible words. He was completely overwhelmed with bewilderment and unable to process any of his surroundings. The entity in front of him, standing just outside the soft white carpet that separated them, tilted his head in response to Sunny's state of confusion. Sunny couldn't hear or feel anything, his mind entirely consumed by unanswered questions.
Who or what was this entity? Was it his consciousness, now separate from his body? Was this really his reflection, acting like a separate person?
And then it dawned on him.
This entity was himself.
His reflection.
He… did he just separate “himself”?
Despite Sunny's inability to comprehend the situation, the entity continued to speak:
“Sunny, you seem absent-minded. Maybe it's because you just woke up, but has it really been this long since we last met?”
Sunny couldn't believe what he was hearing. What was this person talking about? Since when? How was any of this possible?
What is going on?
“You… Do you not remember me?” the man in black and white asked, tilting his head in apparent curiosity. Sunny shook his head again, still unable to grasp the full extent of the situation. He was thankful for at least being able to give an answer through non-verbal means.
The entity let out a sigh, then spoke again. "I… see… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After all, it has been a long time since we… last interacted in this way. But yes, you could say that I am sentient. As for the separation… Well, it's a bit more complicated than that.”
Sunny felt like he was in a dream, or rather a nightmare. He couldn't believe that he was standing face to face with a representation of his own mind. But at the same time, he couldn't deny that the entity in front of him felt all too real.
They both stood there silent for a while, the one staring intensely at the other.
Until Sunny finally mustered enough courage to ask his first question.
“Why… are you… me?”
This stranger was silent for a while. Sunny felt the continued silence almost unbearable.
“You already have an idea of what I am, do you not?”
Sunny nodded slow, albeit still a bit reluctant: “You are me, as in… my…” was all Sunny could muster, but he understood the implication.
“The word “vessel” is what you’re looking for. But yes, I am- or… was your vessel to use for your joyous adventures”, the entity added. He supposed vessel is about correct but doesn’t fully answer the perplexity of this situation.
Sunny's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "I... I don't know what to say," was all he managed to stammer out.
Wasn’t Sunny supposed to be in this vessel?
Since when were there two of them?
And what did he meant by ‘since last we met’?
“So, you truly do not remember me?”
Was the last thing this strange being said, before another bout of silence ensued. Well great, Sunny thought. Sunny couldn't help but feel frustrated with the lack of communication. As if no living beings wanted to add another word in this empty space. Until the so-called 'perpetrator' finally broke the silence.
“Omori. The name is Omori. Can you recall it?”
As soon as the name left Omori's lips, a sharp pain shot through Sunny's head. Memories flooded his mind, causing him to groan and clutch his head as he battled against a deluge of thoughts and images from bygone days. He waited for the migraine to subside, still struggling to recall the details of his past.
Omori.
Omori.
He remembered giving the vessel a name, a name that separated him from ‘himself’, metaphorically to say.
That name was Omori.
But he didn't remember them being literally separate entities, let alone Omori being… sentient?
Memories flitted in and out of his mind, but he couldn't grasp onto any of them. Sunny concentrated on a particular memory, but it vanished before he could fully recollect it. He struggled to remember more about Omori, but his brain refused to provide any concrete results.
No matter how much he tried to remember more about Omori, his brain wouldn’t give him any results.
“You’re me…? No, you’re Omori. Is this-”
Before Sunny could finish, Omori made a gesture of dissent, a nod to stop him further rambling: “Yes, yes, that’d be about correct. Save for few contradictions, but we’ll tackle these issues later.” The monochrome man took a step forward into the domain of the white carpet, towards the black cushion next to the white one. He inspected the black cushion, before ultimately seating himself comfortably on it, with his legs crossed.
Stretching and resting both his arms front of his knee, he continued: “… We have a lot to discuss, Sunny. But first… Your mind is in a state of array. Have a seat, next to me.”
Omori kept his eyes on Sunny, patting the white cushion next to him as a signal of invitation. A very assuring invitation, nothing of suspicion at all… Though it wasn’t like there’s really anything else Sunny could do, could he?
At first, Sunny was hesitant to move from his spot. But he needed answers to his questions first. Of course, he hadn't even started preparing them yet. There had been enough going on to prevent Sunny's brain from forming any inquiries about all these new changes. He hoped that he would be able to ask his questions naturally and receive clear answers in return.
After all, one does not embark on a journey without first seeking clarity and making preparations. His friends on the other side can wait for a little bit more. They had always been patient, at least until Sunny stepped into their shared roof.
Without further delay, Sunny made his way towards the white cushion, which was the only available spot to sit. Omori withdrew his hand and waited for Sunny to settle in comfortably. Taking a deep breath, Sunny exhaled slowly, trying to calm his nerves.
He stood quietly, pondering for a while.
And then shot his first and most obvious question, stuttering a bit as he pointed a finger towards Omori:
"Why? Was this my doing... my mind's doing?" He made a circular motion with his index finger towards Omori, gesturing a ‘how the hell are you here’ question.
Omori chuckled and responded, "I see you still retain the knowledge of how changes in your mindscape occur. But yes, you are correct to assume that your inner consciousness had a role in our current situation. It's complicated, far more complicated. Let… me figure out a way to start this conversation properly..."
Great, what else was there he needed to hear?
He wished he could just leave and forget everything that had happened behind the white door.
The monochromatic lad continued, "When your body falls asleep at nighttime, you enter your own mindscape to rest. Your inner psyche prepares dreams for you based on your experiences in the waking world. Every modification, every shift, every transformation in your dreams finds its inspiration from the real world. That's essentially how dreams work, something you should at least already be acquainted with."
Psht, obviously. Dreams are weird phenomenon that transpires when elements from the real world get mixed up into some crazy hallucinations. Sunny was long familiar with this concept, that was his forte after all! But he couldn't see the connection to their current situation.
"Are you saying… that what's happening to us now is…. a result of something that… happened in the real world?" he asked.
Omori stood up from his seat and made his way to the far-right corner messy pile of documents. He rummaged through the stacks while continuing the conversation. "Can you recall what happened today?" he asked Sunny.
“Well…”
“WHITE SPACE might be soft blocking your memories. Try to focus of what happened today.”
Sunny was confused what Omori meant by this, but nonetheless obliged. He was still, meditating and trying to focus on the hours before he went to bed.
Remember, remember…
…
…?
…!
Sunny was in a fancy and expensive restaurant, but it was also a seclusive place he could always escape to. Despite not being an outdoor diner, this restaurant was an exception for him.
He ordered a medium rare steak, which was also quite pricey compared to the average restaurant's cuisines. But with the money he earned from his unpleasant job, the price hardly mattered to him. Moreover, he didn't know what to do with all the earned money, so he might as well spend it on a good steak.
He felt he deserved it, at least.
Sunny had always loved steaks, and this cuisine had yet to lose its place as his most favorite dish of all time. He savored the precisely grilled and spiced up steak, enjoying every bite. The way the steak was precisely grilled, spiced up and-
“Don’t focus on the obvious details. Focus on the next moment.” Omori called out to him.
And Sunny tried focusing more.
He- … wasn’t alone.
There was another man, someone familiar. It was his co-worker and the consigliere of his boss. They had known each other for years. The man, despite his high position, had an energetic and outgoing personality that reminded Sunny of an old friend.
Suddenly something clicked in Sunny's mind.
Omori shuffled through the pile of documents before finally recognizing something amidst the mess of stacking papers. He grabbed onto the underside and pulled it out. When he verified it was the thing he was looking for, Omori went back to his seat, holding what seemed to be a stack of document papers.
"You were eating alone in a restaurant before someone else arrived. You two were discussing a new mission handed out by Capo Capi. Recall the conversations," Omori said.
Sunny's attention was drawn back to the conversation between him and his co-worker.
“Thank the stars, I found you here. I had a hunch I’d find you in this restaurant… Listen, Sunny, this is an emergency-”
His co-worker came to find him.
It was regarding a new mission. From orders of his Capo.
They were discussing recent events in the country, and Sunny listened intently as his co-worker spoke about the mission's details. An incident had occurred, and despite their peace offer, the situation in their neighboring counties had become dire.
Sunny's colleague sat across from him at the table and called for a waiter, ordering an espresso before continuing. “Have you heard? One of our supporting manufacturing companies, Enchanted Manufacturing Corporation, was caught in a crossfire,” he said, taking a sip from his coffee. “Unfortunately, the previous CEO died in the fire. It’s assumed his death was not accidental and someone might be behind this. Reparations and investigations have already begun. In the meanwhile, we … … …"
“You’re closer, Sunny.”
The conversation between the two men went on for a while. Despite the delicious taste of the expensive steak still lingering in his mouth, Sunny knew that it was not where his focus should be.
He listened.
“You got a new mission, Sunny. Our Capo wants you to protect someone. The new appointed boss of the company, … … … Hm, the files? I have them here, take a look.”
He remembered his co-worker handing him something, a record of sort.
He remembered opening the documents.
He… remembered…
He remembered … opening the pages …
He…
Remembered…
Him.
Him. His face. It’s him.
“… Sunny …”
He re-
Why that face of all-
Sunny felt sick.
More photos slipped out of the record file, and amid a panic attack, Sunny glanced down at the pictures and saw-
He saw-
Them.
He almost vomited upon seeing familiar pictures on the paper.
Their faces.
He remembered the expression of worry on his co-worker's face, and the stares from the bystanders.
So many stares.
“… Sunny …?”
Cutlery clattered to the floor, and the diners fell silent. All eyes turned to the source of the commotion: Sunny, who was close to vomiting. He felt as though every gaze was fixed on him, and the urge to flee was overwhelming. But he was frozen in place, unable to move.
The room was hushed, and then the whispers began. His co-worker called out to him with a worried look, but Sunny couldn't comprehend anything anymore. He pushed back his chair and stumbled to his feet, his vision swimming as he gasped for air.
And then his view faded to black.
“… Sunny …!”
Without hesitation, Omori gently placed the documents on the soft carpet and hurried towards Sunny. He grasped both of Sunny's trembling wrists, his fierce gaze locking onto Sunny's unfocused eyes. "Sunny, can you hear me? Focus on me, right now. Breathe with me," Omori urgently spoke, his tone calm but firm.
As Sunny gradually regained consciousness, he found himself back in the surreal landscape of WHITE SPACE. A wave of relief washed over him as he took a deep breath, reassuring himself that he was safe, at least for now. Omori's voice cut through the silence, "Sunny, are you there? Can you say something?”
Sunny slowly turned his gaze towards Omori, grateful for his presence in this overwhelming moment. "I'm...fine…! Thank you", he replied, his voice shaky but sincere.
Omori sighed sadly, slumping back to his seat with a dejected expression. "Well, that was not a pleasant experience. I am so sorry for subjecting you to that. Perhaps I was too hasty in attempting to recall a memory so soon… How careless of me...!"
"It's fine, really! I remember what happened now. But that's in the past!" Sunny tried to cheer up Omori, but the man in black and white remained slumped in his seat. Why was Omori so saddened by something that affected Sunny specifically? He wondered if it generally had to do with them being technically almost the same people, and if they shared the same experiences as well. It was quite odd why Omori felt the need to apologize so profusely.
Despite having just met him today, Sunny felt bad for scaring him.
Sunny eyed his other half in his sorry state and thought of anything he could do to cheer him up. However, caring for another being wasn't Sunny's best forte, if at all. He hadn't been in any relationships, whether close platonic or romantic, for years. How could he know how to lift someone's mood?
He pondered for a while until his hand began to move out of instinct, guiding him closer to Omori, ultimately landing on his head. He didn't know why he was touching his partner's head, but the instinct stirred in him to do something.
So, he patted Omori.
He didn’t know why he did that, but from the chuckling noises coming from Omori, it seemed to work. Is this how Mewo always felt like when he patted her?
Although it was a small gesture, it was just what Omori needed as he rose back to his straight posture and any sorrows he had in his eyes vanished. He even seemed to smile a little. That's good.
“Ah, forgive me… I did not mean to let you keep waiting. We… should continue where we left of. You now know remember what we are here for, right?”
Ah, yes.
The documents.
He lowkey wished he didn’t remind him of that.
Because he now remembered what happened that caused his panic attack back at the restaurant.
It was about the documents.
His monochromatic reflection grabbed the documents from the floor and offered it over Sunny, which the latter cautiously grabbed on. Sunny felt a tug from trying to take the document and looked over to see Omori still clutching on the document.
“Omori?”
“What you’re about to see inside might… potentially upset you, but-”
“I already know.” Sunny interrupted, “It’s alright. I can handle it.” He tried to assure him.
Omori exhaled some of his fear out of his system, but not entirely. After a few seconds, he finally let go of the documents for Sunny to take.
Sunny opened the folder and quickly searched for the page containing the mission's specifications. He scanned through pages of unimportant instructions and transcripts until he found the section he was looking for. The words’ "objective" and "protection" immediately caught his eye, causing him to halt his page turning.
As he read through the page, all the vital information he needed was clearly laid out in front of him. The mission objective was presented in bold font, with the conditions and requirements highlighted with a bright red marker. The document contained all the necessary details to carry out the mission.
Finally, he found what he was looking for:
‘Mission objective: Protect the client.’
Sunny had only caught a brief glimpse of the genuine document before succumbing to a panic attack at back the restaurant. Yet, his brain was capable of retaining all the necessary information with just one look at a sheet. It took Sunny one glance at the paper to scan and store the essential specifications. That was just how fast he was at storing information, enabling him to manage his workplace more efficiently than the average person. Sunny felt grateful to his mind for its exceptional and extraordinary memorization ability.
In the center of the page was a photograph of the client he was tasked with protecting. The face bore a striking resemblance to a man in his forties. Sunny recognized the man’s identity just from the facial structure and those damned glasses alone. Remarkably, the man looked as if he had not aged a day, although some white strands were visible at the core of his hair, indicating signs of aging.
The client’s information wasn’t needed to know who that individual was.
Because it was the face of someone he knew all too well.
The face of someone he wished he never had to see in his entire life.
“Genkei Suzuki – Currently Acting CEO of EMC, Husband, Father”
His father.
Omori grimaced.
Sunny wanted to throw up (again).
Sunny felt like the world had played a cruel joke on him. Out of all the possible people on this forsaken earth his Capo could've assigned him to protect, it just had to be his own dad. And when did his father become the leader of a company? Acting CEO and actual CEO are not much different, aren’t they? Questions raced through Sunny's mind. He would have to ask his superior, his co-workers or literally anyone who had more knowledge of the mission.
The anger and frustration inside him boiled, and he wanted to let it all out. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs and curse any deity responsible for his twisted fate. But he couldn't. Sunny knew he was never the type to overreact, to scream and shout with a high decibel out of nowhere. He valued his dignity too much to destroy it, even if it was just within his own mindscape.
Omori cleared his throat and gazed at Sunny with a sense of sympathy before speaking:
"As you're aware, the relationships between various nations aren't exactly ideal. Despite our warnings, certain companies have decided to sever their ties with us. Luckily, it was only a minor financial setback since their contribution to our stocks was at around… say, about five percent, hopefully less. They weren’t in the top list of our organization’s top patrons.” Omori explained while absentmindedly occupied with scratching Mewo's belly, “But as the saying goes, a small hole can sink a big ship. If we lose even more patrons, the entire organization may crumble little by little, giving the neighboring counties the upper hand against us. Our partner branches are doing everything in their power to boost interest rates to prevent any further damage."
The black kitten purred for more scratches, which the monochromic man happily obliged. He then continued to speak: "In the meantime, it falls upon our peer associates, the security and reliability force, to ensure the safety of the state's top-valued capital benefactors. Your workplace and the state are now relying on you to protect their esteemed member of society. It's just a shame and an enigma that one of the patrons is… Well, your father.”
Sunny finally tore his eyes away from the documents and glanced over at Omori, who was contentedly playing with their beloved cat. Despite the weight of their conversation, the sight brought a smile to Sunny's face. He longed to be as carefree as his reflection, simply enjoying the moment.
However, Sunny couldn't help but wonder how Omori knew so much about his mission and the current state of the nation, including his dubious work job. Even the citizens of HEADSPACE were never aware of his real identity and occupation. Perhaps Omori's knowledge was due to the fact that he and Sunny were technically similar, and thus shared the same information.
Sunny made a mental note to inquire about it later.
Omori continued speaking, his tone serious despite the playful nature of his actions with Mewo. " Now, I am just as lost as you on how our- your father even attained a position this high. It's not something that just happens overnight. After all, if I recall, the fire incident happened just little less than… two weeks ago, I’d wager. The only other explanation is he was already in a class close to the previous CEO and became one of the candidates for a replacement."
Sunny listened carefully, trying to make sense of the situation. He was still processing the fact that his father was involved in something so dangerous and secretive. Did his dad knew what he had gotten himself into?
"If we don't receive all the required information during the interrogation, you can count on me to take over. I have a feeling I could extract more details from anyone than you could," Omori said confidently.
Omori's suggestion of taking over the interrogation made Sunny uneasy. He didn't know Omori well enough to trust him with something as important as this. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle it myself," Sunny replied, trying to sound confident.
Omori shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing with Mewo. It was clear that he wasn't taking the situation as seriously as Sunny was.
As Sunny watched Omori interact with Mewo, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about the monochromatic man. It was as if they had known each other in a past life. But that was impossible, wasn't it? They had just met, after all.
Sunny pushed the thought to the back of his mind and focused on the task at hand. He had to find out what his father was involved in and how it was connected to the current state of the nation. And he had to do it before he’d be sent to the post.
He combed through the documents, searching for any clues about his father's involvement in the current state of the nation. As he flipped through the pages, his heart raced with anticipation and anxiety. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but he couldn't afford to back down now.
Finally, he stumbled upon a list of the client's family and friends. With trembling hands, he extended the page, revealing pictures of his father's loved ones. Seeing their faces, even in this dream world, almost made him lose consciousness.
Next to Genkei's profile was a picture of a woman, presumably his wife or fiancée.
“Masako Suzuki – Wife, Mother”
His mother.
It’s her.
His mother.
His mother!
It’s really her!
Sunny couldn’t believe it. Something about seeing his mother's warm smile put all his troubles and fears at ease. Her golden blonde hair still shone brightly from the picture, and although her core also seemed a little greyed out, that didn't matter to him. His mother was still doing well, and that was all that mattered.
He was glad, really glad to see her again.
“You’ve only seen her face once… or twice just today and you already feel this giddily?” Omori joked, but Sunny didn't let the comment affect him. He meant it when he said he was happy about seeing his mum’s face. Even if it had been a really long time, the times he spent his childhood with her were irreplaceable.
He longed to see her again, to hug her, to cry on her shoulders like he did when he was just a little boy. He remembered when she comforted him about his knee injuries or when he lost his favorite plushy. And he also recalled her being there for him when his dad was a tad too strict. His mum was always there for him, and he loved her, like a child loved their parents.
Sunny finally let his guard down and spoke the truth: “I miss her.”
The monochromatic man placed a hand on his Dreamer’s shoulder as a form of comfort, despite his distaste for comforting people: “I know you do. But you may want to continue. Look below.”
And he did. Sunny followed Omori's advice and looked at the pictures below. Two more pictures stood next to the profiles of their parents, implying that they were the children of the couple. One picture showed the face of a young woman, presumably in her early 20s. She had long, coal-black hair, slightly curled, with a mix of purple on the lower half. Her hairstyle was braided on one side. Her facial expression conveyed kindness; however, Sunny could detect a hint of exhaustion from her tired and worn-out smile.
It couldn’t be-
“Mari Suzuki – Daughter”
Mari.
Mari.
It’s Mari.
Is it Mari?
That’s her.
Was that really her?
That was undoubtedly Mari.
It had to be.
Sunny felt his surroundings blur. The area around him became wobbly and blurry, and the text on the page was barely legible. He couldn't believe it. His eyes must be deceiving him.
They weren’t.
It was really her, in the flesh.
Sunny was at loss for words. He didn’t dare think he’d get to meet her so soon. It has been such a long time since he last saw her or anyone in his family for that matter.
Sunny's heart swelled with nostalgia as he thought back to the countless memories he shared with Mari, just like his mother. From sharing toys to little secrets, they were practically glued to each other's side. The day Sunny was born, Mari held onto his tiny chubby hands, swearing to protect him with all her might. It was an oath she took seriously since that day. She out of everyone was most delighted of the idea that she became the big sister.
The two siblings were always together, doing everything together, sharing, caring, playing, and laughing.
They were a package deal, inseparable in every way.
They shared the same bathtub, making silly bubble hats and beards while their mother, Masako, watched over them. They loved to play pretend, with Sunny pretending to be an old, bearded man and Mari as a gentleman with a strange top hat. They played until their fingers were pruney, and even then, Sunny would plead with his mother to let him stay in the tub just a little longer. Masako found it hard to resist his puppy eyes and made an exception once. With the extra time, Sunny created little foam ducklings and watched them float on the water. It was a heartwarming sight that his mother and sister cherished.
They shared the same meals, sometimes to the point they swapped their plates for the other to dine the rest of the food. When Sunny didn’t feel like eating his green, he would push them aside for Mari to take. As a picky eater, he struggled to digest vegetables due to their hardy and soggy textures. Mari often stepped in to eat his remaining greens. Of course, she knew doing so would stud his development; he needed his green and their mother would’ve certainly not been happy finding out why Sunny lacked his vitamins. Eventually Mari had to stop him from handing his greens over to her (and it hurt her inner heart seeing Sunny’s betrayed look), but it had to be done for his sake.
The siblings shared the same room, as Sunny found it easier to fall asleep knowing his sister was right beside him. At some point, their parents discussed separating them, so that each could have a room of their own. The plan was for one to stay in the same space they once owned together, and the other to occupy either the left or right room on the ground floor. However, this idea never came to fruition as the deeply bonded siblings couldn't bear the thought of being separated. Sunny relied on Mari when he had trouble sleeping, and she would sing him an old fairy tale tune to soothe his fears and promise to watch over him until he fell asleep. On rare occasions, she would even let him sleep on her bed when the nightmares got worse.
Everything they did, they did together.
Sunny couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for his sister. As ironic as Sunny's name, Mari was the true shining star in his life. He always felt safe around her, sharing his worries and other secrets he usually kept to himself.
Mari. His sister.
Now she was all grown up into a fine adult. Judging by the appearance, she probably must already be studying in college now. What field of study had she chosen? What kind of career did she dream of pursuing? He could only imagine how excited and motivated she must be, having worked so hard to prepare for her college entrance exams.
As he reflected on their shared memories, he realized that Mari had played an instrumental role in shaping the person he had become
"She really has grown up, hasn't she?" Sunny whispered.
The young man carefully caressed the picture of his sister. It wasn't long before tear drops began to fall and stain the print, marking his sorrow.
Sunny tried to hold back his tears, but it was futile. The more he tried to control his emotions, the more they overwhelmed him. He choked and bit his lips, trying to keep his sobs quiet, but it was no use. At last, he succumbed to his grief, putting his head on his forearm to muffle his whimpers.
Omori was at a loss for words on how to comfort him. Even Mewo, who had stopped her purring just moments ago, was now staring at the weeping man. Sunny kept sobbing quietly, not caring about the witnesses around him anymore. He had reached his limit and needed to let it all out.
He missed her. He missed them all so much.
Both Omori and Mewo allowed Sunny to cry out his feelings until the man in black and white picked up Mewo and placed her on Sunny's lap, signaling the cat to help comfort him. The black cat understood Omori's message and meowed to get Sunny's attention, curling up comfortably around his hips. Sunny noticed Mewo's presence and began to calm down.
After some time, Sunny's sobbing slowly subsided, and Omori offered him tissues to wipe away his tears. Mewo continued to comfort him by patting his hips with her tiny paws, which made Sunny chuckle at how adorable she was.
"Thank you, both..." Sunny wiped his face clean and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
"You miss her a lot," Omori said sympathetically.
"I do. I really do. I can't..." Sunny's voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words to express his sorrow.
It was a nostalgic sight, seeing their faces again. Sunny knew he had to be more prepared when he met them face to face in real life for the sake of the mission. It would be an odd sight if a bodyguard broke down crying in front of their clients. Would they even recognize him? If so, did they miss him? Would they want him back, despite the nature of his job? He couldn't fathom their reaction upon seeing a young, innocent boy turned into a soldier of the state and the organization he currently worked for. His mother might even faint on the spot, given her sometimes-dramatic tendencies.
“Well, going back to the mission. The mission does, of course, not revolve around Genkei’s safety, but also the safety of those in his family. Numerous bodyguards are stationed all around the company’s building when Genkei is preset. As for at home… You’ll be living close to them and keep an eye of anything suspicious around them, alone.” Omori explained, “It was apparently a request of the patron to keep the number of bodyguards strictly to one in his home, which our Captain obliged. I’d wager he must be wary of keeping more than one bodyguard in his house.”
Sunny understood, why a client like him would rather keep the amount of security at a minimum. This can be to avoid possible traitorous acts, as well as generally keep the client’s profile low as possible. On the more personal side, his father had always been a cautious man, making sure everything was accounted for. So, this decision wasn’t really surprising, honestly.
“The family is composed of three people: Genkei, Masako, and Mari. These are the individuals you need to keep an eye on. This means actually living in close proximity with them. Your assignment will involve either being stationed close to their residence or literally living in their home, depending on the severity of the situation and the client's wishes.”
Sunny nodded in understanding. "Understood. And what about their daily routine?" he asked, wanting to be as prepared as possible.
"We've already looked into that. They all have fairly regular schedules, with Genkei and Masako going to work during the day and Mari going to school. They usually come home around the same time each day, and there aren't any major events or trips planned for the near future," Omori commented. "As for potential threats, there haven't been any major incidents reported, fortunately. Of course, that is no reason to slack off, but I am sure you already know that. Knowing you, you'd take this mission as seriously as possible, seeing these people are literally your family."
Sunny nodded, taking mental notes: "You said the Suzuki family is composed of three people. What does that mean for me?" He knew he was no longer part of the family for certain reasons. What piqued his curiosity was where his status currently stood on legal papers. Until now, he was never sought and found by his family, given he was still here years after.
He may very well be out of the picture by now.
“Mari is documented as the only daughter of Genkei Suzuki and Masako Suzuki that is in active state. Have a look at the picture next to her.”
Omori placed his finger on the paper's surface, trailing away from Mari's picture. Sunny followed his index until it stopped at a certain spot, or rather another photo.
The photo depicted a very young boy with straight black hair, slightly covering his eyes. The boy didn't show much expression, and his facial expression showed more of a neutral looking face. What set him apart from the others was the fact that his picture was entirely old and greyed out, whereas the other family's profile pictures were colored and taken just months ago in accordance with the sources.
It didn't take a genius or two in this vast white emptiness to guess who that was.
“Sunny Suzuki – Son (STATUS: MISSING/TBA)”
Yeah, makes sense, he supposed. That was the last picture they had of him before he dipped off the face of the earth.
“Their son… well, you, of course, are still documented as missing to the state. Not much has changed, as I don’t remember us ever coming back to this forsaken home,” Omori said as he cupped Mewo from Sunny's lap back into his arm. The black cat showed little to no resistance and, as soon as she felt the softness of the monochromatic man’s arm, closed her eyes to rest. “In accordance with the law, the missing status stays up until a maximum of 7 years. And well, we haven’t seen them for almost 7 years as well… In other words, just a few months from now, if the state still can’t find the missing person or obtain any leads to their whereabouts, then-”
“…They'll be declared officially deceased by the state.” Sunny finished for him.
“…Yes.”
“…”
“…”
The Dreamer murmured for a while before shooting another question: “Omori, can I be honest with you?”
“I think you and I both know what you’re trying to say.” Omori gave Sunny a side-eye, though he meant no malice or anger towards him for what he was trying to express. “Something deep within you desires to meet them again. I understand completely. But-”
“I can’t help it! I really miss them, despite the ups and downs we had, they’re still my family. Despite everything, I still want to see them badly… Apologize to them and everything...” Sunny finally cried out, “I mean, gods, what would Mari think? Actually, do they miss me? How would they respond? How would I respond?!” When he felt like breaking down again, he took a sharp breath and slapped himself to keep his emotions under control, “But despite my yearning for my family, I cannot allow myself to do so.”
“Knowing you, you’d say something about ‘for the sake of their safety’, but the truth is… you’re not ready, not ready to see them yet.” Omori chipped in. “Your feelings are completely understandable. The last six, almost seven, years can’t really undo the bond you felt you had with your family. But for now, we should best keep a low profile. You'll want to check out the next pages for any close associates of Genkei’s family.”
His friends?
Oh, his friends!
They surely must be on the list of close association, right?
That was everything the paper had to offer about Genkei's family circle after all, so they decided to turn to the next page to see the list of all potential close friends and acquaintances related to the Suzuki family.
Of course, the first thing Sunny did was look for four certain names he was most interested in.
Kel.
Hero.
Aubrey.
And Basil.
All five of his former friends were still active, according to their sources which had confirmed their status just days ago. This brought good news to Sunny, as he had been rather eager to reconnect with them. As he scrolled through their profiles, he noticed that they had all grown into young adults already, just like Mari's sudden change in her appearance.
Kel seemed to be the most affected by puberty, his sudden mature appearance smacking Sunny in the face with just how different he looked now compared to his childish and bratty personality at the age of twelve. From baby cheeks to growing hair on his chin, it was as if his body was preparing for hair all over him. Overall, Kel hadn’t changed too much to be unrecognizable. Judging by his body width, Sunny suspected Kel was surely tall enough to rival Hero’s height by now. The two were very fond of racing to see who would become the tallest brother in their family, though it was less of a race and more of a teasing game from Hero to Kel. Despite his hyper-energetic behavior, Sunny was quite fond of having Kel around. In fact, Kel was Sunny’s first friend he ever had, despite his reclusive personality. It was also thanks to Kel’s energetic behavior that Sunny became more open about himself.
Hero, despite signs of aging, still seemed to retain most of his features. His weirdly shaped spiky hair was still present, as well as that charming smile that always prompted a blush from Mari. Sunny wondered how his and Mari's relationship was going. They were the dream couple of the group, so he couldn't fathom the two of them breaking up ever. As a match made in heaven, and with the same dream of attending the same college, there was no way they'd ever separate. They still must be dating after all this time, right? That aside, Hero was the closest thing Sunny had to an older brother. That's not to say he didn't like Mari as an older sibling; quite the contrary, he loved them both. But it didn't hurt to have another older figure of the same gender and interests watching over him. Both Mari and Hero were protectors of the other four kids in the group.
Aubrey’s new look was both surprising and unsurprising to Sunny. While he was not surprised by the usual growth she had undergone like the rest of the group, what stood out the most was her puffy pink hair rolled into a low tail with a turquoise-colored ribbon. Sunny clearly remembered the promise between the two girls to dye their hair and become sisters bound by soul by coloring their hairs with matching hues. He had no issues with this idea, given Aubrey’s background at her home, and was very accepting of it. Although he won’t deny he once had a crush on Aubrey back then, but a lot has happened in his life since his departure, making it difficult for him to say how he feels about her now.
And finally, there was Basil. Sunny was baffled by how Basil still maintained his adorable, shy smile even as an adult. His hair looked more frizzled and almost messy enough that he had to bind them into a tail as well. From the right side of his bangs hung a lone daisy flower, probably to show his love for flowers. His friend was a lover of flowers and anything plants. In fact, one could describe his brain as an encyclopedia for any fun facts about plant life. Basil was the closest to Sunny in terms of their introverted nature. They were fairly close, from venting to each other to cuddling close with one another. To Sunny, everyone from the friend group was dear to him, but Basil was the closest to knowing his true self, aside from Mari.
Though, something about looking at Basil’s picture made Sunny flinch in suspicion, but he couldn’t guess why. Well, it was another minor problem the Dreamer would shove aside and resolve when it became a bigger issue.
As Sunny finished looking at the paper, he couldn't help but feel a surge of nostalgia and longing for those simpler times. He wondered if his old friends ever thought of him as much as he thought of them.
Everyone was alive and well, happy even. Judging from the close connection between the group members, they must still be friends after all this time, despite his circumstances. He was glad to see that the friend group hadn't fallen apart since his "departure" and had stuck together like glue over the years. However, part of him felt a strong sense of jealousy and sadness because he couldn't be part of the group anymore.
His mind urged him to return to them, but he wasn't ready yet. He had changed, and he didn't believe they would let him sit next to them on the picnic blanket after all this time. Did he have a chance at redemption, even as the person he had become? Since the day he was bestowed the emblem by the Capo's consigliere, he had sworn loyalty to his boss and vowed to protect those deemed in need by his superior.
Would there be a day he’d have to choose which side he’d rather take? His loyalty for Capo Captain or his love for his friends and family?
Speaking of his departure… Why did he run away from home back then? He tried to remember, but no clear, cohesive memories would come to mind. When he attempted to use the focus method to delve into memories from years ago, he could only discern emotions akin to anger, sadness and fear that resulted in his permanent departure from the house. One part of his mind wanted him to return home, but the other part warned him from ever going back, as if something terrible happened that prompted him to leave his home in the first place. Was this another one of WHITE SPACE's shenanigans of blocking his memories? Did Omori perhaps know more about the incident six years ago?
Sunny was about to ask questions regarding these matters, until Omori stood up from his seat and walked towards the white door, pointing at its entrance.
“Let’s go.”
“Go… where?”
“To the other side. Our friends are waiting for us. You want to go to adventures, do you not, Sunny?”
Yes, adventures. He wanted to go. That was what the other side of WHITE SPACE was here for, wasn't it? He woke up in his dreams to play, not be reminded of the mission, or anything about his job's nature at all. Sunny believed he had worried about his problems enough for now. Right now, he wanted to go have fun.
The young, pale man left his comfortable seat and strolled towards the door as well. Just as he was about to reach for the door handle, his greyscale other half stopped him with a simple yet important question:
"Do you have your weapon with you?"
Sunny checked around his area, reaching for his pockets, his sides, anywhere, but no weapon was in sight. He glanced over at Omori, slowly and shyly shaking his head. Without a weapon, he couldn't really go outside with cute bunnies and annoying sprout moles tending to attack anyone on sight.
"Then take mine."
Omori reached behind his back and, with a swift motion, unsheathed a long coal black sword and handed it over to Sunny.
It was a katana, a traditional Japanese sword with a curved, slender, and single-edged blade.
Sunny's eyes widened as he accepted the katana from Omori, marveling at its intricate design and feeling its weight in his hands. Despite its length, the sword was surprisingly light and perfectly balanced, making it an ideal weapon for Sunny to wield with ease.
As he gripped the katana, a sense of familiarity washed over him. This was not just any sword - he knew it intimately, having trained rigorously with a blade very similar to this one during his time as a security bodyguard.
In fact, he even owned a blade like this in the real world, which he had used on numerous occasions. He was well-versed in the art of wielding such a tool, and his expertise was evident as he examined the katana with a trained eye.
As he examined the sword closely, he couldn't help but notice its unique features. The katana had a dark color, almost black, from the cord shell to the handle, with a splash of red at the core. He observed that the handle looked almost as if it were broken in half, adding to the sword's mysterious allure. The overall design of the handle and handguard resembled patterns of eyes staring back at him. He was intrigued by the intricate details etched into the hilt. The grip of the sword was covered in a soft, black leather, which allowed Sunny to hold it comfortably.
Curiosity overtook Sunny as he withdrew the katana from its sheath, eager to examine it more closely.
As he gazed upon the blade, he was struck by its beauty and power. The metal gleamed with a dark, almost black color that seemed to absorb the light around it. But as he inspected it more closely, he noticed something unusual. Near the base of the blade, he could see a series of cracks forming, almost as if they were trying to coalesce into a distinct shape.
As he tentatively touched the razor-sharp edge of the blade, Sunny felt a wave of dread wash over him. The metal was cold to the touch, sending a shiver down his spine, and he could sense an ominous energy emanating from the sword. It was as if the blade itself was alive, pulsing with a sinister power that threatened to overwhelm him.
Despite his fear, he couldn't resist the urge to test the sword's strength. He swung it around a few times, marveling at its sturdiness and balance. Despite the sword's ominous energy, he found himself feeling strangely drawn to it, almost as if it were calling out to him. With a satisfied smile, he carefully sheathed the sword, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Omori then offered a holster for Sunny to keep the sword bound to his belt, allowing him to immediately draw it out in case of danger. Sunny gladly accepted the holster and strapped it to his belt, feeling a sense of security with a weapon by his side.
After he finished preparing himself, Sunny took a quick glance at Omori and noticed something near his belt.
It was another katana, but it looked completely different from Sunny's sword.
But… The blade was entirely covered with red ribbons, making it almost unrecognizable. The only way Sunny could tell that it was the same weapon as his was from the handle, which stood out despite the coverage, and the slight crook in the blade.
“Why is your sword… covered in red ribbons? Is this sword also yours?” Sunny just had to ask.
“No, but it is still a sword very important to me. As for the reason it’s covered… I plan not to use it.”
“Then… how do intent to fight?”
“You’ll see soon... Are you ready to go?”
“… Yes.”
“Then there is just one last thing I must warn you about,” said Omori, placing the palms of his hand on the door’s solid surface. “You remember what I said about dreams being a manifestation of real life?”
Sunny nodded, his grip on the katana tightening.
“Before you woke up… something shifted within the dream world, and I suspect it has loads to do with today’s event. It may be very possible that our separation isn’t the only thing that changed. I implore you to be careful, just in case.” Omori retraced his hands from the door's surface back to himself, “I’ll ask once more: Are you ready?”
“I’m ready to go.” Sunny replied confidently, feeling a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension.
And so, they opened the door and ventured off into the other side, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
A new adventure had begun.