Chapter Text
A Picnic Between Stars.
The sky above was brushed in hues of lavender and apricot, stars peeking shyly through the fading daylight. They were all there — Kel, bouncing a juice box in his hand like it was a basketball; Aubrey, pretending not to smile as Hero laid out a fresh sandwich for her; Basil, gently rearranging a flower crown that had slipped sideways on Omori’s head.
Omori didn’t say much. He never did. But he was watching — and more importantly, he was there. Present. Safe.
“Here,” Basil said softly, adjusting the tiny daisy near Omori’s bangs. “You always look good in white.”
Omori blinked, slowly. Then, like a blink that lasted a little too long, he gave a small nod. That was enough.
“Yo!” Kel shouted, nearly knocking over the lemonade pitcher. “Let’s play tag after this! I bet even Hero can’t catch me.”
“Challenge accepted,” Hero said with a chuckle, his eyes warm.
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “You’re all ridiculous.”
Still, as the last rays of sunlight dipped beneath the hills, she leaned her head gently against Basil’s shoulder.
For a moment, there were no worries. No shadows. Just laughter, the soft rustle of grass, and the kind of silence that only comes when everyone already understands each other.