Chapter Text
“Mari.”
“Huh? Oh Kel, what are you doing here–” Not letting her finish her greeting, Kelsey ‘Kel’ Rodriguez held out a small stack of papers right in her face, “First off, that’s rude. Second off, what is that?”
“Have you read this?”
“... Clearly not since I asked what it was.”
“It’s from Sunny. It says it’s the Mari Pa… pampe.”
Mari took a quick glance at the front of the papers, “The Mari Pamphlet.”
“Yeah that! Anyway it’s about you and it was in our mailbox. So I wanted to know if you have read it.”
“... No.” Well now she’s curious so she took the stack of papers from him, “Want me to read it to you?”
“Yes please– No wait, we should bring Aubrey and Basil for this.”
*Click* *Creeeak*
“Want us for what?” Speak of the young children named Aubergine ‘Aubrey’ Smith and Basil Natura shall appear.
“Sunny wrote something and Mari’s gonna read it.” Kel said, before realizing something, “Where’s Hero?”
“I’ve been here the whole time Kel.” Oh hey Henry ‘Hero’ Rodriguez is here, “You just didn’t let me talk.”
“Hehe, oops.”
“Anyway, now that everyone’s here. I’m going to start reading.” Mari then turned the cover and glanced at the first page. She had to admit that her little brother’s penmanship has always been nice, and when he fully committed she would dare say it was better than hers!
So while it annoyed her a bit that he took time to write a rather sizable pamphlet in perfect cursive instead of practicing for the recital she gave credit where credit was due–
“Mari. Why aren’t you reading?” Oh right she was supposed to read the thing.
“S-Sorry, I’m going to read it now.”
…
The Mari Pamphlet
I. Am Sunny Suzuki. Son of Halley and Yamaha Suzuki, brother of Mari Suzuki. Friend of hopefully many. I am here to detail… the truth. The truth on what is truly happening behind closed doors in hopes of restoring faith in my character.
“Mari, what is he talking about?” Aubrey asked.
“Don’t interrupt and you’ll find out.”
“S-Sorry.”
The charges against me in connection with one violin and one recital. For purposes of sloth and shall I say ‘laziness’. However, that cannot be further from the truth. My real crimes are staying up past the hours of bedrest to practice more for said recital. In hopes of perfecting the craft to satisfy my dear sister.
“Mari. Is what he’s saying true?” That last paragraph caught Hero’s attention.
“I… I don’t know.” She decided to keep reading to find out more.
What I had hoped to gain was progress. To make strides in my abilities to play that instrument… but what has met me was fatigue so much that I would struggle to stay standing on certain nights. My fingers would also become stiff with it becoming worse and worse with each passing night, the strings would cause blisters on my fingertips and in extreme cases… bleeding. I am ever thankful that Mr. Reed gave me a book on how to apply bandages properly.
“Mari, is Sunny okay?” Mari ignored Basil’s question, she needed to know more.
It would be remiss if I didn’t bring to attention the tree house that we all wished to build. I wanted to put more effort into it, I wished I was able to assist in a meaningful way… but that day I was exposed to an extreme case of drowsiness that it was a challenge to even keep my eyes open. There are times I look at the structure and think ‘It doesn’t deserve to be in my backyard’.
“Mari?” She didn’t hear Kel and continued reading in a daze.
Just a few nights ago Mari had stated she was going to Kel and Hero’s house for a sleepover. Without me. She stated that I needed to work on my part of the recital. I couldn’t respond. I didn’t know how to. I acknowledge that I wasn’t the best friend I could be to them, but I hope that they’re at least thinking of me in some capacity.
Mari felt tears running down her face, as the realization of what she had been doing to her brother came crashing in.
I love my sister. I love my friends. I love Mewo. I love them more than anything on this planet. So when I was told that I need to stop being ‘lazy’ and to ‘put more effort into my recital’, suffice to say it hurt. A lot. But I quickly realized that this is all for Mari. If this recital goes perfectly then a lot of things will happen. Scholarships for college, exposure to the music world, a lot of other things that in all honesty I don’t truly understand.
But I know how important this is. So I will make sure everything goes right, even if everything isn’t the same afterwards. For better or worse.
I just. I just hope she’ll remember me. And… hopefully be proud of me.
Mari has read enough.
*Flap* *SLAM*
“Mari?!” She threw the pamphlet down and took off running. Not caring about the pain that’s shooting up her leg in the slightest.
She wanted to fix the mess she made.
…
*thud* *Thud* *THUD* *SLAM*
“SUNNY!”
“GAH!”
*Thudthud*
The sibling duo were too stunned to move. Sunny because his sister barged into their room unannounced, and Mari because she noticed the bandages he was wrapping around his hands.
…
…
Sunny snapped out of it first and hid his hands behind his back, “H-Hi Mari, h-how are you?”
Mari saw through Sunny’s attempts at deflection, “How long?”
“W-What are you talking about–”
“You staying up late to practice, your fingers hurting and bleeding, how long has this been happening?”
Sunny’s eyes widened, “I’m not–”
“Don’t try to–” She took a deep breath, “Don’t lie to me. Please.”
He noticed the pain and guilt swimming in her eyes, “... Two weeks.”
“Two– Why didn’t you say anything?!”
“I-I tried at first.”
“Huh?”
“I said that we should take a day off a month ago, and I even mentioned something about my hands hurting. You said that your hands hurt too, but we had to practice more. I never asked again since.”
Another coil wrapped around Mari’s heart, tightening it even more. “Sunny I–”
“But it’s fine!”
“W-What do you mean ‘it’s fine’?”
“Because I’m so close to getting it right! I know I am!” With renewed vigor, Sunny dug into his nightstand and pulled out a booklet. A booklet Mari was all too familiar with, “Look!” He opened it up to reveal numerous notes and scribbles, and a few dark brown spots “I almost got it perfect, I know I can do it!”
“Sunny…”
“So now that you’re here, let's go practice. I know I can do it.”
“I-It’s okay Sunny. You don’t have to.”
“I DO HAVE TO! Don’t you see?! If I get it right. If I perfect the song. Then. Then everything will be fine!” Sunny stood up from bed and began walking towards her, as if in a trance, “We can all hang out together again! Have sleepovers together! And and-and I won’t be alone anymore!” Sunny clasped his hands on her shoulders, they felt cold and wet. “So we have to practice!”
“Please… please stop…”
“And everyone will be happy! Kel, Hero, Aubrey, Basil, Mewo, Mom and Dad, and you will be proud of me!” Sunny started to stumble, his eyes started to droop, “You… will be proud… right?”
*Thud*
Sunny collapsed. All of his anguish, pain, and exhaustion caught up to him at once. He shut down.
As for Mari… she didn’t know what to say, think, or even do anymore. She usually had the answers… but not this time. All she could do was stand there. Stand there and watch her unconscious brother, hoping, praying to whatever God was out there to make her brother wake up… so she can tell him the words she never willed herself to say.
‘ I’ve always been proud of you. And I’m so sorry… ’