Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It is a beautiful day in Faraway Town. The sky is a bright, pretty blue, with fluffy clouds drifting lazily by, and the weather feels like no other. With the cool light breeze combined with the warmth of the sun, why would anyone stay inside? Wanting to make the most of this nice day, the group decides to hang out at their hideout spot. “We’re here!” Mari announced. “Hero and I will make the food. Set up the blanket and go play in the meantime, okay?” They all bask in the wind while it sways around them. The grass and the flowers danced together, something Basil appreciated. It really is a great day to be out.  

Aubrey, Basil, Kel, and Sunny lay out the big picnic blanket and settled down. Aubrey clutched her plushie, Mr. PlantEgg, while Basil pulled out a book to read—mostly for himself and Sunny. The other two were lying down basking in the breeze. There was a sense of comfort in the air, making it all the more peaceful. 

“This was a great idea, Mari. I know I usually make the food before coming to our spot, but it feels nice to just make it here with you,” Hero said cheerfully. He was cleaning the table they were using, so the ingredients wouldn’t get dirty. “Well, the weather is too beautiful to be stuck inside! I know Sunny needed to go out, and it’s nice to have the others, don’t you agree, my Hero?” Mari closed her eyes, smiling at Hero. 

“Of course, sweetie~”

While Hero preps their food, he looks over to see what the younger ones are doing. He hears the patter of feet and the laughter of his younger brother as Aubrey chases Kel around the blanket, trying to get back her stolen plushie. “Kel, give it back!”

“I didn’t hear a please, Aubreyy!” Kel said mockingly, sticking his tongue out. ‘ Nothing out of the ordinary ’, Hero thinks to himself. Then he sees Sunny and Basil. Sunny’s head is resting comfortably on Basil’s thighs as he reads the book Basil brought, while Basil sits on his legs, carefully adding flowers to his best friend’s hair. Once he was finished, he wrapped his arms around Sunny. He doesn’t think too much of it. Those two are inseparable. However, when he looks closer, he sees a small blush across Sunny’s face. 

This was too cute for his lover to miss out on seeing. He softly taps on her shoulder, “Yes, my love?” Mari asks tenderly, looking up from the sandwiches she was making. Hero points to the two boys, and she turns in the direction of his finger. Her eyes widen, and her heart melts. She wants to squeal with giddiness but knows it would cause a scene. Her little brother is very reserved and keeps to himself, but when it comes to a certain blonde, that shyness goes out the window. She understands that being social isn’t his strong suit, so showing affection can be difficult for him. However, he expresses himself through physical touch. Seeing that makes her feel lighthearted. To others, it’s nothing extraordinary; he’s simply laying his head on Basil’s lap. But to her, he has a million thoughts in his head. 

“Cute right? I knew Sunny and Basil were close, but I didn’t think they were that close! They’re such good friends,” Hero remarked. 

“Nah, I don’t think that’s the case!” Mari replied. She looks back at the two boys again. Sunny started to speak through signs, something he does when his voice starts to wear out or whenever he doesn’t feel like talking. She sees Basil sign something back, shocking both Sunny and Mari. ‘Since when did he learn how to sign?’, she thought. Sunny’s face filled with blush. He started to laugh, which made Basil join in too. She lets out a soft sigh, her heart melting at the scene.

“What do you mean? You don’t think they’re close enough friends?” Hero asked, all puzzled. Mari side-eyes her boyfriend, her mouth slightly open. She loves him, but sometimes he can be a little oblivious. “Hero, you really don’t see it? I swear you can be such a himbo sometimes!” she says playfully, sticking her tongue out. “Mari!!” he whines. But he looks back and forth between the two boys. “I don’t see anything…” Mari glares at her boyfriend again and whispers, “Sunny likes Basil! You know, as in ‘like, like!’”

“Huh–ohhhhhhhh! Wait, really? How do you know? Did he tell you? I thought he liked Aubrey?” Hero’s expression is puzzled as he wonders how his girlfriend came up with that idea. But the more he thinks about it, he’s not as confused anymore; he finds it very charming.

“Call it a sister’s intuition! It’s not that out of the question either. Look at how they are with each other! He also hasn’t shown interest in Aubrey in a while, but maybe you should have that conversation with Kel instead!” Mari giggles.

They both turned around to see Kel extending his arms, holding Aubrey’s plushie out to her. His face was clearly flushed.

“Stop taking my stuff away, Kel! I’m tired of chasing after you!” Aubrey exclaimed, catching her breath with an annoyed look on her face.

“I’m sorry; here, take it… I don’t like that face you make when I make you mad…” Kel murmured, still blushing. She grabbed Mr. PlantEgg back and hugged the plush tightly. Her expression slowly changed to a gentler one, still annoyed but gentle.

“Thank you, Kel. I’m sick of running… If you want me to chase you, just say so,” she said, blowing a raspberry right after. Kel stuttered before blowing a raspberry back.

“W-whatever, Aubs.” He looked away while crossing his arms.

Hero smiles softly at the scene, “Ha- well, I never thought Kel would have a soft spot for Aubrey, given how they act with each other.”

Well, I guess not anymore after seeing that, he thought to himself.

“That’s how kids usually show their crushes, you know? I find it charming,” Mari replies. “I was like that with you when we were their age, you know~” Mari smirked. Hero’s face reddens, “Ah- don’t remind me haha.”

Suddenly, she gasps. “Why don’t we set them up on a double date? I can talk to Sunny about Basil, and you can talk to Kel about Aubrey!” 

“A double date? By themselves…? They’re only eleven…I don’t know, Mari. Won’t Sunny be too shy for something like that? And I feel like Aubrey will attack my brother before he even finishes his sentence,” Hero chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Hmmm, you’re right…” Mari hums. “…Which is why we’ll be watching them from afar, in disguise!”

Hero stares at her, agape. He didn’t know what to say. He’s worried that Sunny is too shy to admit his feelings, the same goes for Basil. He knows how socially awkward Sunny is. But he was more worried about Aubrey not liking his younger brother in that way, but knowing his girlfriend, he knew she wouldn’t back down. “Okay, sure, that’s one problem out of the way. But what about Aubrey? Do you think Kel has a chance?” he asks, his tone filled with uncertainty.

“Come on Hero! It’ll be okay, it’s just a cute little double date. Don’t worry about Aubrey, I’ll talk to her separately. We can work it out. Just talk to him tonight, okay? I’ll do the same with Sunsun,” Mari said with a calm demeanor. 

“Okay, if you say so, I’ll text yo—”

“HEY! Are you guys done yet?? We’re soooo hungryyyy!” Kel shouted, cutting Hero off.

“Almost!” Mari replies. She looks at Hero again, “I think it’ll go great! Like I said, don’t worry too much about the Aubrey part! Don’t forget she’s family to me. I have a strong feeling she may like him too,” she said cheerfully.

“Let me guess, a sister’s intuition?”

“You know it!” she said with a laugh. Oh, how much he truly loves Mari, but in the back of his mind, he’s still worried. Yes, he trusts his girlfriend, but there are still problems to think about. But it’s still nice out and he wants to make the most of it. This could be another day’s problem.

After they finished eating, Mari called Aubrey and Basil over, gesturing for Aubrey to sit in front of her and Basil to sit beside her. She wanted the blonde’s help adding flowers to Aubrey’s hair while she braided. Sunny frowns, not wanting Basil to leave. “Awh Sunny! Don’t worry, I just need him for a second!” Mari said whimsically. “He’ll be back in a minute.” Sunny signed something to her before heading over to Kel and Hero, sitting on the dock.

“Okay, you both know the drill, Basil do you have any flowers on you?” Mari asked.

“Is that even a question Mari?” Aubrey teased, letting her hair be taken care of.

“Actually- I don’t have some with me. Let me go get some around the lake!” Basil stood up with a grin, leaving the girls to themselves. 

“Soooooo, is there anything new going on with you Aubrey?” Mari chimed.

“What do you mean? Everything feels the same. Nothing new at home either.. just same old same old” Aubrey said with a little gloom. 

Mari hummed softly. She was aware of her little friend’s familial situation. She felt a twinge of guilt. She didn’t mean to bring that up.

Though Aubrey didn’t seem too bothered by it. “I don’t think there’s anything new, why what’s up?”

“Oh you knowww, maybe anything new with boys?” Mari teased with a big grin. 

“Mari! Why do you always ask me that?” Aubrey exclaimed, her cheeks all flustered as she glanced around to make sure no one else was listening.

“Oh come on! You’re like my little sister, I just want to know.”

“Well…,” Aubrey paused. “I guess there is this dork I think he’s cute, but he’s so annoying!” 

“Hmmmm, you mean Sunny?” Mari asked jokingly.

“What? No!” Aubrey blurted out. “I did think he was cute, but I’m not really into him like that. Besides I’m pretty sure he and Basil are practically like ‘soulmates’.” she laughed sarcastically. Mari joined in too, but both of them knew there was a bit of truth in that statement. They looked over at Basil, who was still collecting flowers. Mari sensed she should wrap this up before he returned, wanting to spare Aubrey any further embarrassment.

“Okay well, can you tell me who it is?”

“Mmm, I don’t know Mari… it’s kinda embarrassing,” Aubrey said as she gazed at the ground. Mari felt bad for pressing her, but she knew Aubrey had nothing to worry about.

“I’m sorry for making you feel that way. Having a crush on someone isn’t embarrassing, even if you find them annoying! But hey, can I tell you something?” Mari said warmly. Aubrey turned to face her and nodded.

Mari leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I think Kel has a crush on you too.”

Before Aubrey could react to what her older friend had just told her, Basil returned with a handful of flowers.

“I’m back! Sorry it took so long—I wanted to find the nicest ones for Aubrey!” Basil smiled. He noticed the sheepish expression on Aubrey’s face but decided not to press further. Sitting closely beside Mari, he began helping to weave the flowers into Aubrey’s hair. 

“Wow, I look so pretty! Thank you guys!” Aubrey exclaimed in awe. Mari laughed as Aubrey began to twirl. “Anytime! Now help me with Basil’s hair.”

“Wait m-me?” Basil stammered. “I thought we were just doing Aubrey’s.”

“Yes, but I like doing your hair too! Come on now.” Mari said gesturing for him to sit in front of her.

“Yeah dude, it’s not like you don’t have flowers in your hair already!” Aubrey added with a teasing grin.

Basil hesitantly sat down in front of Mari, allowing her to do his hair.

“Hey, Baze, where did you learn sign language?” Mari asked, starting to do tiny braids in his hair.

“I found a book about ASL at the library in Nearby town,” Basil replied, his cheeks warming with a light blush. “I know Sunny uses it for different reasons, but I wanted to learn so I could make him feel more comfortable.”

“Comfortable with what? For you two to secretly sign kissing faces?” Aubrey teased, pinching her fingers together, making them kiss. Mari giggled at the scene.

“Aubrey, nooo!” Basil exclaimed, covering his face in embarrassment, his cheeks turning a deep red.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough now,” Mari said, still giggling. “But seriously Basil, I’m touched you care so much about my little brother. I’m glad you’re his best friend,” she smiled, playfully rubbing his hair softly, careful not to ruin her work. “Also, let me know when you want to learn more. I know quite a bit of ASL now!”

“Ah—sure thing, and thank you.” Basil replied, glancing at the ground, still embarrassed but with a small grin on his face.

The three went back to where the remaining boys were. Basil was still red while Aubrey was jumping with excitement, in love with her new hairdo. Kel blushed at the sight of her, but quickly shook his head before anyone could notice.

“Heyyyy- I want flowers in my hair tooooo! Sunny already has some in his hair. I want to be a part of the flower club toooo!” Kel whined. Hero and Mari laughed. 

“Okay goofball, follow me. Hero you too! You won't be left out eitherrrr~”

“Yes dear~” Hero looked back at the other three. “You guys want to come and help too?”

“Sure! I’ll get more flowers! Come on Basil!” Aubrey started to walk where Basil was picking flowers earlier.

“I’ll be right there!” He turned to Sunny. “Well what do you think?” he laughed nervously scratching the back of his neck. 

 Sunny stared in awe. ‘You look really cute Basil'  Sunny turned away to hide his coyness. Basil started to chuckle, which made Sunny’s heart burst.

“Thank you Sunsun. I’m going to start heading towards Aubrey, you want to come?”

Sunny nodded, grabbing Basil's hand and leading him to their friend.

Chapter Text

When the eldest noticed the twilight sky, they decided to pack up and leave before it got too dark. The youngest were reluctant to go, but it started to get cold out. The thought of catching a cold didn’t seem fun, so they caved in. 

Though the town was generally safe and they could have walked alone, they walked Basil and Aubrey home first. Mari wanted to keep an eye on them and besides, it gave the younger ones an excuse to spend more time together. It also gave her the excuse to watch the exchanges that were taking place in front of her. Kel trailed behind Aubrey, poking her shoulder every few steps, making Aubrey tighten her hold on Mr. PlantEgg in frustration. Each poke was met with a grumble.

Mari then turned to Sunny and his little crush. Basil had looped his arm through Sunny’s, his voice soft as he pointed out the different types of flowers they passed along the way. Sunny walked with a slight blush on his cheeks, nodding at everything Basil said, though his attention seemed more on Basil than the flowers. Mari couldn’t help but smile at the quiet affection between them.

Once they reached Aubrey’s and Basil’s houses, the rest waved them off with tired smiles. The fun of their hangout was finally catching up with them. Aubrey clutched her plush as she said goodbye. Basil gave them a tired smile before disappearing through his door. With a gentle hum, the rest of the group started to walk to their street as the night grew darker. When they reached the outside of their homes,  Mari gave Hero a final look—the ‘you better talk to Kel’ look. He smiled and nodded in response. “Well, goodnight, you guys! Say goodbye, Sunny.” Mari said. Sunny signed goodnight, and both he and Mari headed inside.

The two Suzuki siblings walked into their shared room. Mari was trying to figure out the best way to bring up her idea to Sunny, but she knew she had to be subtle about it. After a moment of thought, she decided to ease into a conversation. “Hey Sunny, let’s get these flowers out of your hair so you can shower, okay?” Mari suggested.

Sunny didn’t want to take the flowers out yet—he liked the way he looked, especially since his best friend had arranged them. But he complied anyway. He sat down in front of Mari’s vanity table with a sigh, watching as she gently began removing some of the flowers.

“How did you like today, Sunny?” Mari started, glancing at the mirror to see Sunny’s hand signing.

‘Good. It was good. Flowers are nice’.

“Yeah, they really are. Basil knows his stuff, huh?”

“Mhm”

“Speaking of Basil, you guys were really close todayyy,” Mari teased, watching her younger brother’s face turn pink.

“Nothing wrong with it, it’s totally cute. I know Basil loved it too.”

‘You think so?’ he signed, his face softening with a shy, hopeful expression.

“I think anyone with working eyes knows so!… well maybe not Hero” she giggled, remembering the interaction with her boyfriend earlier. 

Sunny blinked, giving her a confused look, ‘Hero?’

“Oh it’s nothing~. Anyway, I’ve noticed how close you and Basil have gotten over the years. I’m glad you have a friend like that, Sunsun.”

‘Yeah... friend’. He had an uneasy look on his face. His gaze dropped, and his fingers toyed with the hem of his sleeve. 

Mari paused her, hands still in Sunny’s hair as she noticed his change in expression. “Is everything okay?” she asked gently.

‘It’s embarrassing...’

“Sunnyyy, I’m your older sister. You know I’ll always listen to you, no matter what,”she said, her voice soft but insistent. She placed her hands on his shoulders, offering him the reassurance that it was okay to open up.

Sunny’s face tensed with hesitation, his fingers twisted the hem of his sleeve, nails pressing into the fabric as if searching for something to hold onto. A million thoughts raced through his mind—none of them clear enough to sign. But then..

“…what do I do if I have a crush on my best friend?”, Sunny whispered.

 His voice was barely above a whisper, almost drowned out by the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. The silence stretched, and his heart thudded harder in his chest.

Mari was taken aback Sunny had used his voice, even if it was a whisper. She could tell this had been weighing on his mind for a while. Smiling softly, she wrapped her arms around him from behind,  resting her chin on his shoulder. “Oh, Sunny~”

Sunny was a bit startled— he hadn’t expected this reaction from his sister. He spoke again “You’re not mad?” 

Mari glanced at the vanity, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to read her brother’s expression. “Why would I be mad?”

Sunny’s hands trembled as he began to sign again. ‘The town.. family… religious.. church..’

Mari’s breath hitched, her heart tightening at the sight of him. The way he trembled was more than just his usual nervousness. There was a heaviness in his shoulders, a kind of burden he was carrying. Her little brother was scared, not just because of the uncertainty of his feelings, but because he feared the town wouldn’t accept him for them. Scared his family wouldn’t accept him, that she wouldn’t accept him.

 Though their town was generally friendly, it was also quite religious. While the church and town were not deeply associated with homophobic beliefs, it wasn’t hard to imagine the uproar if the town found out. The town had been pretty accepting as far as she knew but she empathized with her brother nonetheless. She understood where the fear came from. 

She turned the chair so Sunny could face her. “Sunny, I don’t care what the town or church has to say. Heck, I know the rest of the group won’t care either. If what you feel is genuine, don’t ever have any regret. Do you like Basil?”

Sunny nodded.

“Then enjoy and savor those feelings. Don’t let anyone tell you what or who you should be. That’s up to you. And if anyone tries to mess with you, I’ll give them a beatdown! Just know I’ll always be there for you, okay?” Mari said earnestly. “It’s okay to have feelings for Basil. Who you like doesn’t change who you are. Your feelings are real, and that’s what matters.”

Sunny stared at her in astonishment, his heart swelling with emotions he wasn’t sure how to process. Despite having these feelings for Basil for a while now, they still felt new and overwhelming in moments like this. Tears welled up in his eyes as he hugged her tightly.

“...what about mom?” he mumbled against her shoulder. Mari sighed softly, thinking about her parents. 

Their parents had divorced after years of tension. The constant high expectations placed on Mari and the lack of affection their father showed Sunny had driven a wedge between them, creating a rift within the family. Eventually, their mother had reached her breaking point and decided to separate.

“You know Mom is way more accepting than Dad,”  Mari said tenderly. She really loves Basil too. We don’t have to tell her anything, whenever you’re comfortable okay?”

She held him close, gently rubbing his hair, still adorned with a few flowers. Tears started to form underneath her eyes after hearing his confession, but she wanted to stay strong and be the shoulder he needed. Not allowing any tears to shead, they stayed like this until Sunny carefully moved back. His eyes still had a few tears. 

“How long have you known about your feelings?” Mari asked softly.

‘Few months after knowing Basil’ 

“Wasn’t it around the time you had a crush on Aubrey?” Mari asked. She remembered how her brother was around the little girl–letting her head rest on his shoulder, having long discussions on the swings. She wondered what changed… well, she did know- at least a part of it. 

‘It was a small crush, but something changed. She’s cute but Basil… is something more.’ He paused to give his hands a break.

‘I thought it was only her, but with Baze… I feel so different. Good different. He means a lot to me, Mari.’

Now it was Mari’s turn to let herself cry–this was getting too cute and emotional. “Aww, Sunny, that’s incredibly sweet. Have you thought about telling Basil how you feel?”

‘No.. scared he won’t feel the same’

Mari hummed thoughtfully. “Well little brother, do you wanna know what I think?”

‘No’

“Hey!”, Mari huffed. Sunny smirked but nodded for her to continue.

“I think he feels the same way as you do. I know he loves you, Sunny, and I bet it’s in that way too.”

Sunny’s lips curled into a small smile.

‘Thank you, Mari’ 

“Also, I’m not going to lie… it was pretty obvious that something was going on”, Mari giggled. Sunny’s mouth dropped open. 

‘So you already knew??’

“Partly. I just had a feeling. But I wanted you to tell me first.”

“Thank you…” Sunny mumbled.

“Of course Sunsun!” Mari cheered. She returned to removing the flowers from his hair and placing them inside a cup.

“You know, why don’t you ask him on a date? It doesn’t have to be something big; you’ll never know how he feels unless you try.”

“A date!?” Sunny exclaimed, his voice hushed in surprise. 

Mari giggled at his reaction. “Yes silly, a date!”

“Like, by ourselves?” he whispered again. 

“Wel,l not necessarily. Maybe Kel can ask Aubrey, and they can go with you as a double date!”, Mari said, with a twinkle in her eye.

‘Wait, you know about Kel‘s crush on Aubrey?’ He was surprised that his older sister knew. Kel had told Sunny about his crush on Aubrey a while back. Sunny never minded when people told him secrets; his quiet nature made him a trusted confidant. After Kel’s confession, Sunny realized Kel’s feelings were sincere, while his feelings were merely a crush. He was fine stepping aside. He had someone else in his thoughts now.

“It’s a secret! But how does a double date sound to you?”, she asked, almost done with his hair.

Sunny smirked. ‘Less embarrassing if Kel is there to embarrass himself.’

“Awhh don’t be mean!”, she giggled at her brother's comment. “All done! Go shower.”

Sunny turned to face his sister. ‘Thanks…’ He paused, blush spreading across his cheeks. ‘..can you help me with the date?”

“Of course, little brother! You’ve got me and Hero on your side.”

Sunny’s face turned pink with a slight shock. ‘Hero knows too!?’

Mari simply laughed. “Of course he does, he’s helping out Kel too, you know.”

Sunny groaned as he headed toward the bathroom. Once she heard the door close, Mari pulled out her phone.

Hero💙

                                                                  Spoke with Sunny, went very well! He’s down for the date! How is everything on your end?

While all of this was happening at the Suzuki household, a similar conversation was unfolding at the Garcia household, right next door.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After making sure that both the Suzukis had safely made it inside, Hero and his younger brother walked back to their own home, just a few steps away.

“¡Ya llegamos Mamá!”, the brothers shouted before entering their shared room. Kel flopped himself onto his bed, while Hero settled onto his own. 

“Hey Kel, shouldn’t you take those flowers off?” Hero asked. I don’t want your bed to get dirty or ruin the poor flowers.” Kel’s side of the room was already messy, and he didn’t need anything else for his parents to yell about. 

“Ughhh- I don’t want tooooo! I just wanna lay here!” Kel pouted.

“Here, let’s just go to the bathroom and I’ll take them off for you, okay? Go grab a chair.”

“Fineeeee.”

Kel grabbed a small stool and sat in front of the bathroom mirror. Hero stood behind him, carefully removing the flowers from the brunette’s hair. 

“So how did you like today?” the eldest asked.

“It was fun! Your sandwiches made it better!” Kel beamed.

Hero raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile forming on his lips. “Even if they were simple sandwiches?”

Kel playfully rolled his eyes. “Hero, I can eat the most disgusting thing and still enjoy it. I don’t care if it was simple.” Kel wasn’t lying. Over the years, Hero had seen his brother devour some pretty questionable things, but Kel’s positive attitude never wavered.

“Haha– glad that you enjoyed them.”

Hero started to think about how to bring up the Aubrey situation. He isn’t as smooth as his girlfriend but he did say he’ll talk to Kel, so he needed to give it a shot. 

“I noticed you’ve been hanging out with Aubrey more lately, you guys had fun?” Hero asked, hoping the conversation could last.

Kel’s face turned a bit pink. “Um- yeah, we had fun. She was chasing me around like always.”

“Yeah, because you took her plushie.” Hero smirked.

Kel huffed, “I don’t know why I always do it. Something about her chasing me just… makes me feel nice.” He murmured that last part, and realizing what he said, he winced, his face turning redder. 

“Oh does it now?~”

“ Shut up, Hero! ” Kel exclaimed, his embarrassment now obvious. 

Hero smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Kel’s shoulder. “Hey I’m not making fun of you Kel, I think it’s sweet. You can talk to me, you know?”

Kel turned to look at his brother and then back to the mirror. He sighed. “Well, I guess… y-yeah. I do like Aubrey, but who wouldn’t you know? She’s sweet, but feisty. Cute, but she can still put you in your place. There’s so much I like about her” He paused, his voice dropping with doubt “But I don’t know if she likes me back. I mean, I understand why. I’m always annoying her, I eat loudly in front of her face, I’m always sweaty— I’m just… this weird kid she knows. She wants this Prince Charming type of guy and I’m nowhere near that. I’m just..Kel.”

With his single hand still removing the flowers, Hero stopped, focusing on Kel. His eyes widened in disbelief. A pang of worry tightened in Hero's chest. His brother, who’s always so joyful, was feeling so down. Yes, Hero had wondered about Aubrey's feelings for Kel, but not like this.

“What does being Kel mean to you?”, Hero asked. His heart beating with anticipation. Kel didn’t respond right away, and that silence stretched between them like a thick fog.

Kel shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “I dunno, man... what I said. Just an annoying, gross kid.” He forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow. “I, uh... I don’t really think about it much. I just kinda... you know, ignore the bad stuff. Pretend it’s all good or something.” His voice trailed off, eyes darting away as if avoiding the weight of his own words.

“Oh, Kel,” Hero said, wrapping an arm around his brother’s shoulders “Is that how you feel about yourself?”

No response

“You’re not just some annoying kid. You’re good, even if you don’t see it."

Kel clicked his tongue, “Yeah right, you’re just saying that because you’re my brother...”

“No Kel, I’m not. You want to know why I think so?”  Kel stayed quiet as Hero put both hands on his shoulders. The younger brother flinched at the touch, his muscles stiffening under Hero’s hands. His eyes, hidden under his messy bangs, trying to avoid looking at Hero. 

“Hermano,” Hero said softly, trying to reassure him. “You’re the funniest kid I know.  You always try to look at the positive side of things and people! You put others first—your selfless Kel. There are so many reasons for Aubrey to like you back. It hurts me that you don’t think you’re good enough…”

No response. Hero’s gaze softened, wishing he could take away his brother’s sadness. “I know what it’s like to feel that way.”

Kel hesitantly lifted his gaze to meet his older brother’s, absorbing Hero’s words. After a deep, almost inaudible sigh, Kel finally spoke, his voice quiet but sincere. “You’ve felt that way with Mari?”

Hero smiled faintly, the memory of his early days with Mari resurfacing. Of course, he felt that way when he first met her. No matter how hard he tried to impress her, he felt like that was never enough—that he was never enough. 

“Yeah… I did. A lot, actually.” He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “But when I realized Mari was the one for me, I stopped focusing on what I wasn’t and started embracing the things that make me, me. I didn’t ignore the bad parts—I learned to accept them, too. Even if she hadn’t been the one, I knew I had to accept those parts of myself. They’re a part of who I am. But what’s important is that I realized I am good enough. Not just for Mari, but for me too. And I think that’s something you need to realize.”

Hero gently ran his hand through Kel’s hair, causing a few flowers to tumble to the floor.

Kel blinked rapidly, his throat tightening as his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He shifted in place, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt before nudging Hero’s arm with a shaky smile.

 “I’m trying to believe that...” His voice wavered slightly but cleared his throat to continue. “Thanks big bro.”

“Anytime little bro.” Hero said with a soft smile, feeling a warmth in his chest. He watched Kel, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly, and the faintest curve of his lips forming. Even if it wasn’t a full-on grin, it was a start.

There was a brief silence covering the air before Hero spoke again.

“Why not ask Aubrey on a date?”

Kel stared at Hero dumbfounded, completely taken aback.  “Hey bro, did you like— not hear anything that we just talked about?”

“Yes, I heard everything. I just think it’s worth giving it a shot. You don’t have to do it right away, but maybe... just think about it. You’re not alone in this, but I can help you okay?”

Kel’s brow furrowed in doubt. He shifted uncomfortably on his spot, twirling a piece of his bangs. “Mmm, can I... think about it? I mean, I’m not even sure if I’m ready for something like that. What if it goes wrong?”

“Hero took a step closer, his voice calm but firm. “Of course, you can. Take your time. But just know this: no matter what, I’m here for you. Even if it feels overwhelming or uncertain. You’ve got more courage than you give yourself.” 

Kel smiled at Hero, his expression softening, but the uncertainty still lingered in his eyes.

“Thanks, bro.. but if I do ask her, won’t it be weird if we went by ourselves?”

Hero grinned, grateful for the opening Kel had just given to him. “Why not have Sunny and Basil go with you? You know, as a double date?”

Kel stared at him again, “Sunny and Basil? On a date?… you’re funny, big brother.”

Hero crossed his arms together, a serious expression settling on his face, “Two things. One, won’t it make you feel less uncomfortable? And two, you really don’t think those two wouldn’t go on a date?”

 “Ah-” Kel paused. “You know what, yeah okay. I see your point now.”

“So, are you feeling okay?” Hero asked.

Kel simply shrugged, “Yeah a bit better. Thanks again. Imma go shower now.”

Hero glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “Wait, Kel—you still have flowers in your hair!” He called after his brother, but Kel just waved him off.

“It’s cool, dude. I’ll cover the drain so they won’t fall in.” the youngest said, flashing a playful grin.

Hero sighed, shaking his head. “If you say so,” he muttered. He left the bathroom and made his way to their room. Once he heard the shower start, he noticed there was a notification on his phone.

  Mari 💜

Spoke with Sunny, went very well! He’s down for the date! How is everything on your end?

 He smiled as he started to type.

   Mari 💜

Spoke with Sunny went very well! He’s down for the date! How is everything on your end?        

       It was okay. Kel said he’ll think about it, but Mari…

 I feel bad for him, the way he opened up to me. He has a lot of insecurities

    and I barely scratched the surface.

Mari 💜 is typing…

Poor Kel :(. Don’t worry, I think once I talk to him, he’ll feel

a bit better. Sunny had something similar,

 but he seems confident about it now!

Should the four of us meet in the treehouse tomorrow? 

Mari 💜 is typing…

Sounds like a plan <3.

Chapter Text

After last night’s text discussion, Mari woke up with a surge of excitement, heading straight for the “date ideas” box tucked away in her closet. Inside, she had stacks of binders filled with handwritten notes, gift ideas, and pastry recipes—little pieces of her thoughtfulness collected over the years. But her favorite item was a scrapbook, its velvet cover slightly worn from all the times it’s been used.

On her tenth birthday, her parents gave her a scrapbook stationery set. She’d always loved making posters and crafts, so getting her own scrapbook felt perfect. Half of it was used up by the end of the day, as she spent hours gluing and sticking, with Sunny being her little helper, passing her stickers and sharing her excitement. 

When she met Hero, she decided to start a section of “first date” ideas, and soon enough, it had grown into a whole scrapbook of romantic plans. Some of the ideas were hers, but Sunny had added a few of his own, shyly suggesting things like stargazing or picking wildflowers. Seeing her little brother’s quiet, thoughtful side had warmed her heart—it was sweet to see his own romantic ideas.

Maybe it was a bit silly to get so excited about her little brother and friend's double date, but she didn’t mind. As their big sister, it warmed her heart to help plan it all out.

Once it was high noon, the Garcia brothers made it to the Suzuki household, and both pairs of siblings started to walk towards the treehouse. Passing through the shrubs, the youngest stayed behind while the eldest led. Having his arms behind his head, Kel turned to Sunny. 

“Hey, so… did Mari mention anything weird to you last night?” Kel’s voice dropped a bit like he didn’t want anyone else to hear. He kicked a stray pebble, eyeing Sunny with curiosity. 

Sunny tilted his head slightly, brows furrowing as his eyes flicked to Kel. He raised one eyebrow, his lips pressing into a thin line as he silently asked, What do you mean?

Kel looked at the bright sky, recalling last night's conversation. “Hero mentioned how we should go on a double date with our “crushes” or whatever” Kel paused continuing to kick stray pebbles. “Did Mari mention anything like that?”. Sunny nodded.

“Figureeed”. With Sunny’s nod, Kel had a good idea of what was coming today.

“I can hear you, Kel!” Mari giggled. She turned to the younger boys behind her. “I’ll explain when we get in the treehouse.” Once they arrived, Mari passed the box to Hero as she began to climb the ladder. When everyone made it inside, Hero set the box on the table while Mari propped a mini whiteboard on the wall.

“Okay, so I think we all know why we’re here without the other two, correct?” Mari gave a little smirk as she scanned their faces, tapping the marker against her palm. When everyone nodded, she turned to the whiteboard and wrote in bold letters: DATE IDEAS.

“Man, this is so silly” Kel crossed his arms, a small pout on his face as he stared at the words on the board. Sunny glanced over, eyebrows furrowed in mild concern. 

“Come on, brother, it could be fun! You never know unless you give it a try,” Hero said with an assuring smile.  He caught Sunny’s eye and continued, “What do you think Sunny?” 

Somewhat startled by Hero, Sunny glanced away in embarrassment as he signed, ‘It’s not that bad of an idea’

Kel looked over at Mari, eyebrows raised and head tilted, clearly puzzled. He attempted to mimic Sunny’s hand signs, fumbling through the gestures with a concentrated frown. “Um- Mari what did he say? All I got was the word bad.”

Mari couldn’t help but giggle at her friend’s attempt at sign language. “He said it’s not a bad idea! Right, Sunny?” she said while signing. Sunny gave a small thumbs-up in response. 

Kel widened his eyes at Sunny. “Really, dude? Funny how it feels like it should be you not wanting to do this, not me,” he said with a chuckle, a hint of nervousness slipping into his laugh.

Mari’s brows knitted softly as she turned to Kel. She knew Kel wasn’t fully on board yet, but she made a mental note to talk to him about it later. Her voice softened as she asked, “Do you not want to, Kel? I don’t want to make you do anything that feels uncomfortable.”

Kel’s demeanor shifted as he crossed his arms again, a big smile appearing on his face.  “Hmm… I guess I’ll hear you out first.”

This didn’t go unnoticed by Mari, but she chose not to bring it up in front of the others. Clapping her hands together, a grin spread across her face. “Great! So, I have a box filled with date ideas, but before we take a look, let’s hear any ideas you guys might have.” She uncapped the marker and looked around at the boys. 

Silence hung in the room. Anxiety flickered in the boys’ eyes as they avoided Mari’s gaze. “Nothing?”

More dead silence.

Mari turned to the older Garcia sibling. “Well, what do you think, my Hero? Maybe you can start it off for them!” 

“Of course! Let’s see…” Hero tapped a finger onto his chin, reminiscing about the small dates he and Mari had shared. “How about a picnic underneath the stars? Or, going to Gino’s?” he suggested.

Admiration twinkled in Mari’s eyes as she smiled gratefully at Hero. “Nice ideas, Hero!” she exclaimed, jotting the ideas down on the board.

An exhale echoed across the room. “We already go to Gino’s all the time. Won’t it be just like a regular hang-out? The other idea doesn’t sound so bad” Kel said. 

Mari turned to Kel with a small smile, “Just because you go somewhere often doesn’t mean you can’t make a date out of it, Hero and I do it all the time!” 

Hero’s face flushed as he began to stammer, “T-that’s right. You can still make the most out of any place, even if you’ve been there before. But it’s your guy's date, so it’s really up to you.”

“Yup!,” Mari added. “It’s up to you guys! But you also have to consider what Basil and Aubrey would want too, so keep that in mind” she said, observing the boy's faces. She walked toward the table and grabbed her scrapbook. “Here you two, Sunny and I have put our date ideas in this book. Look through it and shout out whatever sounds interesting,” Mari turned to Hero, “But not you Hero, no peeking!” She winked, sticking her tongue out playfully.

As the two boys flipped through the scrapbook, they—mainly Kel– shouted out ideas as Mari wrote on the board. After a while, they came up with a few contenders: movie date, picnic under the stars, arcade date, and Gino’s with a big question mark next to it. 

“Well, this is what we have so far. Is there anything else you guys can think of?” Mari asked, turning to the boys.

...

"...theme park"

Hero blinked in surprise. "Oh wow, a theme park, Sunny?" he asked, a bit shocked that Sunny had used his voice and even suggested such an idea.

Mari gasped, a smile spreading across her face. "Yes, Sunny!" she exclaimed as she quickly wrote the idea on the board. "Themee park.... there!"

“Mannnn, they all sound like pretty good ideas,” Kel said, still looking through the scrapbook. “It’d be cool if we did it all at the same time, right Sunny? Eating pizza, playing arcade games, while watching movies AT a theme park!?"

The small noirette gave a simple nod. 

Hero let out an amused laugh, “That’d be too much for the first date, Kel. And you’d have to go from place to place—won’t that be tiring?” 

The youngest pointed a finger at Hero, “Not your date bro. Back me up, Sunny!”

As this little silly banter went back and forth, Mari found herself staring at the whiteboard. All at the same time… all in one place?… Maybe what Kel said was possible? She suddenly remembered reading a newspaper clipping about this pizza place that had everything a kid would want. She saved it in her scrapbook, knowing it would be a good place for her and her friends to visit.

She walked across the room, where the book was tucked under her brother’s arm. “Mari, is everything okay?” Hero asked, his voice laced with concern.

Mari stared at the book as she spoke. “Yeah, I was just thinking… maybe what Kel said isn’t so far off.”

“HA- eat it, Hero!” Kel said triumphantly, a smug grin spread across his face.

Hero ignored Kel’s gloating and turned to Mari. “There’s a place like that near here?” He cupped his chin thoughtfully. “I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised, but those kinds of places are usually in bigger cities, which are pretty far away.”

“You’d be right, but I remember reading about this new place opening in Nearby Town in the newspaper. I think I saw a commercial, too? Anyway, I saved it in the scrapbook so we can all go one day. But what Kel said about doing everything at once reminded me about it.” She grabbed the scrapbook from Sunny and started flipping through the pages. 

“It should beee… here!” She tilted the page so everyone could see.

“Where Food & Family Fun Come Together!

Johnkee’s Fantastical Pizza Co. is a fun-loaded multi-activity joint near you that also hosts memorable birthday parties. In addition to the crowd-pleasing menu loved by all generations, you can find endless fun playing arcade games in the Fun Zone!

Are you looking for the ultimate family entertainment destination? Jump to Johnkee’s arcade pizza near you!

Our arcade pizza restaurant will make every visit an experience that the kids won’t soon forget. Here, not only can parents and children alike enjoy scrumptious dishes from our delicious menu, but they can partake in hours of entertainment as well.”

“It may not be a theme park, but they have rides here too. Not only do they have an arcade, I read there’s also laser tag, bowling, and indoor golf!” Mari said as her finger skimmed over the newspaper clipping. “I know there’s more, but I forgot where I placed the rest of the newspaper. And I think I remember reading that there are different dining rooms where they show cartoons or movies while you eat.”

Everyone looked at Mari with surprised faces.

“Oh wow—uh, that sounds... “ Hero trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

They all sat in silence, taking in the information about the pizzeria. In a small town like Faraway, a place like that seemed almost too good to be true. Sure, there was Gino’s and Hobbeez, but the way this place was advertised sounded like a combination of both— but only bigger and better.

Fidgets of excitement started to emanate from a certain someone, causing the silence in the room to dwindle. Then, with a burst of energy, a booming voice filled the space. 

“HOLYCRAPTHISPLACESOUNDSSOCOOOLWENEEDTOGOOOO!”

“Langua-“

“SHUT IT, HERO!” Kel then frantically grabbed Sunny’s shoulders, shaking the boy as if he were a snow globe.

“ SUNNYY!” *shake* “WE” *shake* “NEED” *shake shake* “TO GOOO!” 

“Kel, stop shaking him! You’re going to give Sunny a headache” Hero frantically exclaimed. However, Sunny seemed unfazed, his neutral expression remaining unchanged.

Kel stopped shaking the monotone-faced boy. “Sorry, dude! But all this sounds so exciting!” Worried that he’d shaken him too much, Kel didn’t notice Sunny placing his hands on his shoulders. A slight grin began forming on Sunny's face as he started shaking the other boy in return. Stars lit up in the brunette’s eyes as both boys excitedly shook each other.

Mari couldn’t help but giggle at the adorable scene, while Hero just sat there, completely dumbfounded. “Let them have their fun,” she said with a smile. “They’re just excited!” She walked back to the whiteboard, crossed out their previous ideas, and wrote JOHNKEE’S, with a big circle over it.