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Sonic’s everyone’s favorite hero.
He always forces his own sense of “right” onto others—boldly, recklessly—but somehow does it with that breezy grin that makes everyone forgive him in the end. And even stranger, they end up saved by him, too.
But I’ve realized something.
Sonic never seems to think of anyone as special.
So I decided to run an experiment.
I wanted to see if Sonic was capable of giving someone that special feeling—and if he ever did, what kind of face he’d make, what kind of actions he’d take.
One chilly afternoon, while Sonic was hanging out in my lab, I asked him straight out:
“Sonic, have you ever made someone feel special before?”
“What? Tails, what’s that supposed to mean?”
He was playing with a hamster-wheel-shaped gadget I’d been testing, but his feet stopped mid-spin as he turned toward me.
“I mean… have you ever felt someone was special? Or done something special for them?”
“Oh, that’s all? Everyone’s special, buddy! I act different with each person, and that’s what makes it special, right?”
He jumped off the wheel, placed a hand on my shoulder, and gave me that cocky half-smile of his.
“Wait… you askin’ ‘cause you wanna be my special someone, Tails?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just curious whether you’ve ever thought that way about someone.”
His answer was exactly what I’d expected.
In other words, Sonic’s never truly thought of anyone as special.
I already knew we were both about to get busy soon, but curiosity tingled inside me, and my heart started to race. Sonic let out a light sigh when he saw that look on my face, then tugged my hand and pulled me outside.
“Sonic?”
“This machine’s fun and all, but nothin’ beats a change of scenery!”
And before I could respond, he bolted off.
The sudden acceleration made my vision blur. My feet tangled, and I nearly tripped trying to keep up.
“Whoa! Be careful, Tails!”
He stopped on a dime, caught me before I fell—and then threw me into the air.
I yelped, flailing for a second before my twin tails spun on instinct. I managed to catch myself midair, and Sonic grabbed my hand as we took off again, faster than before.
My feet didn’t stumble this time… but I don’t think I’ll ever really get used to that speed.
Still—Sonic’s laughter made it all worth it.
The wind sliced past my cheeks, colors smeared into streaks of motion, and I found myself laughing too.
October had wrapped the world in Halloween colors.
Pumpkins, cobwebs, costumes—everywhere we went, the air shimmered with festivity. The streets, the forests, the plains, even the lakes glimmering in eerie hues… we dashed through it all. I didn’t even try to make sense of where we were anymore. It didn’t matter.
That moment—this moment—felt special enough.
“Tails! Ready?!”
“Huh—wait, what!?”
Before I knew it, Sonic leapt straight off a cliff without slowing down. My heart jumped into my throat—but I understood his plan right away. I caught his other hand, spread my tails, and we soared into the air together.
“Thanks!”
“Geez, Sonic! Don’t do that out of nowhere…”
He just laughed, that free and fearless laugh of his, and soon we touched down on a sturdy tree branch.
“Knew you’d land around here,” he said, grinning.
Truth is, I’d just picked the first safe spot I saw.
“Look, Tails—check it out.”
I followed his gaze—and gasped.
In the distance, a giant jack-o’-lantern glowed orange at the heart of the town. Lights began to flicker on all around it, one by one, like candles spreading from a single flame.
“Wow…”
It was beautiful.
The world was shifting from dusk to night, and Halloween was just beginning. Sonic chuckled low in his throat, like a kid who’d just pulled off a perfect trick.
“Only showed you this spot, Tails.”
“Really? Thanks!”
It was too dark to see his face clearly now, but I could feel his presence—bright, alive, unshakably here.
For a while, we just sat together on that branch, watching the lights below melt into the night.
I held both of Sonic’s hands and slowly lowered him back to the ground.
Unlike our trip here, we walked home side by side this time. It turned out the place wasn’t that far after all—we reached the house in no time.
“Sonic, if you ever need me, just call! After all, I’m the hero, and you’re my buddy!”
For a second, I thought I saw a quiet smile flicker across his face.
Not his usual cocky grin—something softer, almost tender.
It caught me off guard. I froze for a moment, wondering if I’d imagined it.
Then he flashed his typical hero’s smile, waved, and dashed off into the night.
Maybe I did imagine it.
Still, something about that fleeting smile lingered in my chest.
“I’m the hero, and you’re my buddy,” huh…
Would a real hero ever call himself that?
The thought made me chuckle under my breath—but deep down, I knew.
No matter what he says, Sonic really is a hero.
My heart always figures it out before my head does.
“Alright!”
I said it out loud to fire myself up, pushing open the lab door.
If I wanted to see Sonic’s “special,” I’d have to work for it.
And I was ready.
I started sketching blueprints right away.
The design came together quickly—a machine that could momentarily tune brainwaves through a focused laser electrode.
But there was a catch.
The success of the device would depend entirely on what kind of emotion I infused into the beam.
So I sat there, thinking.
What kind of bond could be called “special”?
Hmm… to me, Sonic is special—because he’s someone I look up to.
Wait… that’s it!
If I could become Sonic’s object of admiration, maybe I could observe the expression and actions that come with his sense of “special.”
With that thought, I got to work.
I analyzed videos of Sonic, moments we’d shared together, every laugh and every glance.
I measured my own brainwaves as I watched, recording the emotional responses that pulsed through me.
On the monitor, lines began to dance—graphs, visible traces of feeling.
If I could just reproduce this pattern…
then maybe, just maybe, I could complete it.
A few days later, I stood before the finished device, admiring it.
To avoid suspicion, I’d disguised it as a cute witch’s wand.
It looked harmless—almost playful—but the thought that it could draw out Sonic’s “special” side made my chest tighten with guilt.
Still, no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, my curiosity kept fluttering like wings inside me.
I called Sonic to the lab.
As usual, he arrived within minutes—his lightness on his feet never failed to amaze and exasperate me at once.
“Sonic, I made this chili-dog flavored pumpkin pie for you…”
The pie had a tiny bit of sleeping agent mixed in. Just enough to make him doze off for a few minutes.
“It’s great! Can’t believe you called me over for food, Tails.”
“Yeah, I thought maybe it could work for the Halloween party, so I wanted your opinion—”
Before I could finish, he’d already grabbed the pie with both hands and stuffed it into his mouth.
I sighed quietly. That was so Sonic.
“Wow! Didn’t know you could bake something this good!”
“…I’m glad you like it.”
His smile hit me right in the chest. My lips twitched—half in guilt, half in affection.
Then, suddenly, the pie slipped from his hand.
Sonic blinked, trying to joke even as his eyelids began to droop.
“Guess… the pie didn’t wanna stay with me…”
And before the punchline could finish, he slumped forward.
I caught him before his head hit the floor and gently laid him on the sofa.
He looked so peaceful like that—it was hard to believe I only had a few minutes.
I grabbed the wand-like device and waved it over him.
The beam shot straight toward Sonic, like a streak of cold light—less like magic, more like science pretending to be magic.
When he woke up… what kind of face would he make?
My heart pounded at the thought.
But then, a chill crept up my spine.
Wait. What if he gets angry? What if he hates me for this?
I swallowed hard.
No… The device only makes him feel toward me what I feel toward him.
I could never hate Sonic for something like this… right?
Still, the fear of losing him was suddenly unbearable.
My hands trembled as I reached toward his cheek—almost touched him—
Then his eyelids fluttered open.
I jerked my hand back.
“...Tails?”
Sonic blinked sleepily, rubbing his eyes. His focus returned fast, like it always did.
I watched him from the corner of my eye, torn between curiosity and dread.
“Sorry… guess I got sleepy all of a sudden.”
He yawned, then gave me his usual easy smile.
No strange expression. No anger. No… special.
“Y-you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He smiled again, bright as ever.
Something inside me deflated.
Had it failed? After all that risk, all that guilt… was it all for nothing?
Before I could say more, Sonic turned toward the table.
“Speaking of which, I was still eating that pie! Don’t mind if I—”
“Wait!”
I grabbed the nearest gadget—a mechanical arm—and smacked the table by accident.
It clattered to the floor with a loud crash. I winced.
Sonic stared at me, half-lidded, suspicious.
“Tails?”
“Ah—haha, sorry! My bad. The pie’s ruined anyway, so… next time, okay?”
“What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You sure?”
He tilted his head, studying me like he could see straight through the circuits of my brain.
“Yeah… really.”
I averted my eyes—and suddenly, his hand was on my cheek.
Warm. Firm. Startling.
He leaned forward until our foreheads touched, a gentle bump that sent a spark through my chest.
“…No fever,” he murmured.
My heart exploded.
“I-I’m fine! Don’t scare me like that!”
“Relax, buddy. Just checking—you’re acting weird, you know? Not like yourself.”
His words hit harder than I expected.
He didn’t know how close he was to the truth.
For a second, shame flooded me—thick and cold.
“…Yeah. Sorry. I’ll be more careful.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look at Sonic. When I finally glanced up, he was standing by the sofa, holding something in his hand.
“…What’s this?”
My heart nearly stopped. He was holding the witch’s wand—the one I’d made.
“Ah!! That thing’s gonna explode! Sonic, drop it right now!”
Why did I forget to hide it?! I had to get it back—fast.
“Heh? Really? Doesn’t look like it,”
he said, clearly amused, curiosity lighting up his face as he turned it over in his hand.
“I mean it! It’s dangerous!”
I reached toward him, trying to snatch it away, but he lifted it high above his head with a teasing grin.
“You don’t look like someone whose life’s in danger, Tails.”
Every time I tried to grab it, he’d move it just out of reach—swift, effortless, playful.
“Still, this thing looks just like a magic wand. Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! …ha—!”
“Wait, no—!!”
Before I could stop him, Sonic gave it a casual flick—and a beam shot out. His eyes widened in shock.
Luckily, the beam only altered brainwaves; hitting objects didn’t do anything. Still, that meant he knew—it wasn’t just decoration anymore.
Silence fell between us for a few long seconds before Sonic finally spoke.
“…Didn’t explode, though.”
He wasn’t wrong.
I sighed inwardly. There was no point hiding it now.
“Yeah… it’s, uh, a Halloween wand I’ve been working on in secret. I thought it’d be fun if it could actually shoot beams. But they don’t really do anything—it’s just for show. So, um… can I have it back?”
“Whoa, that’s awesome! Can I swing it again?”
His eyes sparkled, like a kid with a new toy.
“No—! …well, okay. Just… that way, please.”
If I didn’t let him play a bit, he’d only pout—and besides, it was harmless after all.
Sonic laughed and fired off a few more harmless beams before finally handing it back to me.
When the wand was back in my hands, I studied it again.
Nothing. No effect at all.
The disappointment stung—another failure in the field of mechanics. I let out a small sigh.
“This thing’s amazing! You really can make anything, huh? So you’re gonna wear a wizard costume for Halloween, right?”
He grinned, eyes shining with excitement.
Wait—since when was I dressing up?
“Oh, uh… yeah. Sure.”
I had no plans to wear a costume, but I’d already said it was a Halloween wand, so… I had to go with it.
Honestly, I’d wanted more time to figure out a safer way to explore Sonic’s “special” feelings, but now I’d just made myself another chore.
“Nice! Then let’s hit the mall sometime! We gotta get stuff for the party, right?”
“Yeah… but do we really need to go together?”
I wanted to fix the machine before that—wanted to try again.
“What, not excited?”
He shrugged, half-smiling.
How could I be?
I wasn’t thinking about Halloween at all. What I really wanted to see were the faces Sonic made—the ways he acted—around someone he thought was special.
What did he see when he looked at others…?
“Ah.”
An idea struck me.
Maybe I could ask him for a little help with that.
“Oh? Changed your mind? You do wanna go out together, huh?”
He grinned, clearly amused.
“Yeah. But… if it’s okay, could you help me with something first?”
“Sure! You got it!”
He agreed without a hint of suspicion—not even asking what for.
That’s just like him.
And maybe that’s exactly why… I can’t stop wondering how he reacts to someone special.
“So I just… wear this and look at the screen?”
“Yeah! It won’t take more than ten minutes.”
To recreate how I felt toward Sonic, I had him wear a neural-measuring device I’d made.
If this worked, I’d finally get a glimpse of how he saw other people.
“Okay. Ready when you are.”
I dimmed the lights and started projecting random images and clips of our friends:
Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Cream, Eggman, the Chaotix, Silver, Blaze…
everyone I could think of—and, at the very end, myself.
As I monitored the data in real time, the readings shifted distinctly from one person to another.
It was startling.
Sonic truly did see each person as special in their own way.
I couldn’t tell what those emotions meant for him, exactly—but still, it was clear.
“Thanks, Sonic,” I said as I removed the device from his head.
“Heh, sure thing. Felt like watching one of those fun home videos—everyone showing up on screen and all.”
He grinned, bright as ever.
But inside, something in my chest felt… tangled.
If everyone was special to Sonic, then that meant the expressions or reactions he gave to someone special… didn’t really exist. Not the way I’d hoped.
“So, when’re we going?”
“Huh?”
“The shopping mall. We’re goin’, right?”
Oh—right. I’d completely forgotten.
I wanted more time—to analyze the data, to think.
“Uh… how about the day before Halloween?”
“That’s cuttin’ it close, isn’t it? What about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow!?” I stammered. “Uh, that… might be tough. I’ve got a backlog of commissions to finish.
And, y’know, if we’re going shopping for the party, I’ll need to earn a few extra rings first.”
I forced a small smile, hoping it sounded convincing.
Sonic frowned for a second, then shrugged.
“Guess you’ve got a point—can’t party without rings.”
Even though I was the one who made the mess, Sonic helped me clean up the overturned desk and the fallen pie in my lab.
When he lent a hand, everything just… went faster. It always did. I was honestly grateful for that.
“Thanks for today, Sonic. I’ll see you later.”
“No problem. And don’t forget—the thirtieth, all right? You asked me for that weird favor, remember?”
He grinned as he said it before heading off.
I thought, maybe that’s just his way of being kind—never asking why I act strange or what my sudden requests are really for.
Probably the same feeling as an older brother keeping an eye on his little brother.
The thought made my chest ache, just a little.
“...Thanks. But you were having fun too, weren’t you?”
“Well, yeah. But I only agreed because you’re special, Tails.”
That word made my heart flutter for a second… and then sink.
Because everyone was special to Sonic.
If everyone was equally special, maybe that meant everyone was just another face in the crowd.
“Yeah. Maybe you’re the only one for me, though.”
Maybe he really was—the only one who could make me feel this confused.
Even though I knew it was amazing how sincerely he treated everyone as special, my chest still tightened with something restless and selfish.
“Heh, that makes me real happy!”
Sonic laughed, even brighter than usual, and suddenly ruffled my hair.
“Hey—Sonic!”
“What? Can’t help it when you say something that cute!”
His grin turned mischievous, like a kid playing a prank, and somehow that made my heart feel warm and uneasy at the same time.
“Stop it! You’ll mess up the three tufts on my forehead!”
I said it half-jokingly, half to stop the feeling bubbling inside me.
Then Sonic’s touch gentled. He carefully smoothed down the fur between my bangs.
“There. Better?”
He looked at me with a tenderness I wasn’t ready for.
Why that face?
That gentle smile I thought I’d imagined before—had it been real all along?
He’d only ever smiled like that when I did something really important… like after I saved Station Square and he told me, “Nice work, Tails.”
My chest thumped painfully. My face grew hot.
“Sonic… I’m not a kid anymore.”
I placed my hand on his arm, quietly asking him to stop.
“Yeah. I know. See ya, buddy.”
He dropped his hand, gave a casual wave, and left the lab.
I watched him go until his silhouette vanished, then closed the door.
Even though he was gone, the air still felt like it held a trace of his warmth—like fading afterglow.
If everyone’s special to Sonic… what am I to him?
I sat back down and replayed the footage, comparing his brainwave data to the images I’d shown.
The waves shifted in so many patterns—it was almost fascinating.
But when my own picture came up, the signal spiked sharply for a second, then settled into a soft, rhythmic pulse.
I found myself touching the monitor without thinking.
What did Sonic see when he looked at me?
The curiosity wouldn’t let go.
So I decided to recreate that waveform, convert it into a laser pulse… and try it on myself.
I’d always wanted to understand him more.
As I worked, my eyes drifted to the old CD player sitting nearby.
Next to it was the rock album Sonic had left behind.
On impulse, I set the disc in and pressed play.
The sharp hits of the drums, the buzzing bassline, the wild guitar riffs, the high, clear vocals—
I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound, and suddenly Sonic’s smile appeared in the darkness behind my eyelids.
Then more flashes came rushing in—like a flood I couldn’t stop.
Sonic running ahead of me.
Sonic glaring down Eggman.
Sonic falling from the sky, grabbing my hand and saying, “Sorry about that.”
Sonic’s teasing grin when he provoked an enemy.
He was always so cool—everything I wanted to be.
But I knew just chasing his back wasn’t enough.
If I wanted to stand beside him, I had to find something that only I could do.
For a while, I let myself drift in those memories and feelings.
By the time the last track started playing, one image lingered:
that quiet, uncharacteristically gentle smile he’d shown me.
Even now, just remembering it made my chest flutter and twist.
That smile—it felt like if I looked too closely, I’d realize something I wasn’t ready to face.
And that’s when it hit me.
Of course I cared about what Sonic thought of me.
But what I really wanted to know was—
what was he thinking when he smiled like that?
When the song ended, the room fell silent again.
This time, I had to make sure the machine wouldn’t fail.
If I could uncover the truth, maybe I’d finally understand why my heart felt this way whenever I thought of him.
I put the CD back, popped a mint candy into my mouth, and returned to my work.
On the early morning of October 30th, I was in a panic. No matter how many times I checked, I couldn’t find any malfunction in the wand that emitted the recreated brainwave beam. If there wasn’t a problem, then why hadn’t anything changed when I tested it on Sonic that day?
I had finished the beam itself fairly early, and I figured that checking and fine-tuning the wand would take no time at all—so I took a break. I wanted to perfect the pumpkin pie Sonic had loved so much, and I spent the day before yesterday baking and relaxing. That was my mistake.
I’d wanted to fix it before meeting Sonic, but now there was less than an hour left before our meetup. After getting ready to go out, I hesitated until the very last minute. And then I thought—if nothing’s wrong, I might as well use it. I lifted the wand and aimed it at myself. A glittering beam of light poured straight down on me.
This would let me see the “me” that Sonic sees—or so I believed.
My heart started racing. I was scared, but even more than that, I wanted to know. Because it was Sonic.
When I checked the time again, it was already time to leave. Carrying that restless excitement, I stepped outside.
Just before eleven, the Colorful Mall came into view. The light at the crosswalk turned red, and I stopped. On the mall’s exterior screen, a cackling skeleton and a pale vampire were toasting with a bright-red Halloween soda. Even though I wasn’t great with spooky things, this much didn’t scare me. The sudden loud laughter just startled me a little—it was early, and I hadn’t slept much.
People in costumes had been filling the streets lately, making it feel like Halloween Day had already arrived. Women dressed as witches, men as zombies, and all sorts of others headed toward the mall.
When the light turned green, I started walking—and there, in front of one of the mall pillars, stood Sonic.
My heart leapt. I smiled and waved, but Sonic frowned slightly when our eyes met and turned away.
It felt like something stabbed in my chest. Why… why did he look at me like a stranger?
Then, suddenly, a warm hand came down on my head, and I froze.
“Yo, Tails! See someone you know?”
I turned around, and there he was—Sonic, smiling like always. Relief washed over me, and the tension drained from my body. His hand felt unusually warm. Standing there with the real Sonic behind me made my heart flutter all over again. But when I glanced back toward the pillar, that Sonic-like figure was still there. And yet… thinking about how he’d looked at me earlier, I knew he couldn’t be the real one.
It must’ve been someone dressed as Sonic.
“I thought it was someone I knew, but… I guess not. You doing okay, Sonic?”
“’Course I am! Especially today—tomorrow’s Halloween, after all!”
“That’s good to hear.”
I smiled. Still, it amazed me—someone had managed to make a Sonic costume so realistic that even I, his buddy, couldn’t tell the difference.
…Would Sonic ever mistake me for someone else, I wondered?
That thought made my chest tighten. But no, Sonic always saw everyone as someone special—that much I’d confirmed myself. He’d never mix people up like that.
So that meant… I was the only one who’d failed to tell the difference.
I couldn’t help feeling disappointed in myself.
“Well, you are pretty popular, Sonic…”
“Heh, yeah. But hey, I’d say you’re pretty popular too, Tails—maybe not as much as me, but still.”
“Heh… thanks.”
It made sense that people would want to dress up as someone as cool as Sonic—but still, it was kind of a problem when the imitation was that good.
Not that I could tell anyone to stop. It wasn’t something I had any control over.
I followed Sonic into the Colorful Mall. The place was overflowing with Halloween colors—orange and purple everywhere. The big Wisps balloons that were usually on display had been replaced with ghosts and pumpkins.
“So, where are we going?”
When I asked, Sonic led me over to a directory and pointed.
“Right here!”
“Uh—wha—wait!”
Before I could even see where he was pointing, Sonic grabbed my hand and started pulling me along. I had no idea where we were headed, but he clearly had something in mind, so I decided to just go along with it.
The mall wasn’t so crowded that we couldn’t walk, but there were enough people that we had to stay close. Watching Sonic’s back as he led the way, I noticed something—his hand was covering mine completely.
…Wait. When was the last time we held hands like this? Usually it was only when we had to, during adventures or emergencies.
Realizing that made my heartbeat quicken.
“Sonic, I—I can keep up! You don’t have to hold my hand,” I stammered, afraid he might hear my heart pounding through our joined hands.
“Can’t risk losing you in this crowd! And c’mon, we do this all the time, don’t we?”
“Well… maybe, but still…”
He wasn’t wrong, and he clearly wasn’t planning to let go. I stared down at his feet as we walked, trying to figure out how to calm my racing heart.
“Here we are!”
I lifted my head—and found myself standing in the Halloween special event area.
Rows of costumes and decorations filled the space, and even though I hadn’t had a second to think about Halloween this morning, the festive energy of the place made my heart skip with excitement.
“Wow! What about this pumpkin for the lab decorations?”
Just as I reached out to grab the pumpkin that caught my eye, Sonic caught my hand instead.
“Not so fast. First things first—this way.”
He pointed his thumb toward the costume section.
Costumes? Oh—right! So that’s what he wanted to do.
While I was busy wondering what kind of costume would suit him best, Sonic grinned and said,
“Don’t worry, buddy! I’ll make you the coolest wizard around.”
With that confident smile, he disappeared deeper into the costume aisle. His words jogged my memory—oh no, I had agreed to dress up as a wizard, hadn’t I? The next thing I knew, he’d handed me a pile of outfits and pushed me straight into the fitting booth.
He’s still impossibly fast at everything…
“Tails, I’ll check how it looks once you’re dressed.”
“…Okay.”
He was being pushy as usual, but really, I was the one who’d said I’d dress up. And besides, showing up tomorrow without a costume would’ve been weirder. Maybe he’d just saved me from that.
The first outfit I tried was a long black cloak with a pointy hat. Star-shaped buttons ran down the front. I slipped it on and pulled the curtain open.
“Oh! Not bad at all.”
“Thanks!”
His praise made my tails twitch with a tiny burst of excitement.
“So… maybe I’ll go with this one?”
“Nope. We gotta see all of ’em first!”
He said it with that teasing grin, which could only mean one thing—I was going to have to try on every single one.
Sighing, I closed the curtain again and started changing. Every outfit earned the same reaction from him: “Looks good!” I wasn’t even sure he could tell the difference. They all looked kind of similar to me—maybe the colors were a little different, that’s all.
Then I unfolded the last one.
Wait… what? This had to be a mistake. It had frilled sleeves, a tiny cape over the shoulders, and a skirt that puffed out in a circle.
This wasn’t a wizard—it was a witch.
“Sonic, do I really have to try all of them? Are you sure you didn’t grab the wrong one?”
I stuck my head out through the curtain to question him.
“Of course I didn’t, buddy!”
He grinned in that way that didn’t allow any argument—and promptly shut the curtain again.
He’s not letting me out until I wear it, is he…?
I groaned but reluctantly put it on. When I looked in the mirror, my face instantly flushed. This was way more embarrassing than I’d imagined. Okay, I just had to tell him no—
“Got it on yet?”
“Yeah, but—wait!!”
Before I could finish, Sonic yanked the curtain open.
Aahh—he saw me! I could die right here! My face was burning so hot it hurt.
Sonic’s eyes widened for a moment, then that familiar smirk spread across his face.
“Wow, look at you. Kinda cute, actually. It suits you.”
His words made my heart flare with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
“T-that’s not funny! Why’d you open it all of a sudden!? We’re done here, okay!?”
I reached for the curtain, but before I could close it, Sonic slipped inside the booth.
I froze. Then—click!
He’d taken a selfie of the two of us.
“Hey—!”
Before I could protest, he pressed a finger gently against my lips. That simple gesture sent a jolt through me, and I fell completely silent.
“I know I shouldn’t have,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “but keep it a secret, yeah, buddy?”
There was something unusually grown-up in that mischievous smile—enough to make my breath catch and my face burn all over again.
Then, just as suddenly, he grinned the way he always did—bright and easy.
“Consider that an early trick. Enjoy it?”
That familiar lightness in his voice finally snapped me back to reality.
“Geez! Just—get out already!”
I pushed him out of the booth. From the other side of the curtain, I could hear him laughing.
That slightly mature smile of his—and the heat on my cheeks—refused to fade for a long time.
“I thought that last outfit looked the best, though.”
“No way.”
After that, I was wearing the first wizard costume I had tried on. Sonic, meanwhile, had somehow ended up with a vampire-inspired cape. Apparently, on the day before and the day of Halloween, wearing a costume gave you discounts or allowed you to join special events. Since we’d just bought the costumes, we decided to walk around in them.
No wonder there were so many people in costume. Oh, that person’s dressed like Sonic too… I think I’ve seen at least ten people like that today. And they all looked indistinguishable from the real Sonic. I wonder if Sonic even notices when people dress up as him… He used to call Shadow a “faker” before…
"Sonic… you don’t mind people dressing up, do you?"
“Huh? Oh, not at all. Doesn’t it look fun?”
He made a brief, puzzled face, but nodded as if it didn’t bother him.
“I see…”
If it’s just a costume, I guess it really doesn’t matter to him. It’s all about respect for the real person, after all.
By the way, Sonic tried to hold my hand because of the crowd, but I avoided it by saying, “Thanks, but I can tell who’s who with the costumes, right?” He looked a little annoyed, but I didn’t want to get flustered again.
“Alright, lunch is decided for today,” Sonic said, pointing.
I looked in the direction he indicated and saw the Halloween-special chili dog sign at a hot dog stand. Black buns, black sausages, and ketchup slathered on a little too generously. A note on the menu read: “※Squid ink”.
“I’ll go get it. Stay put and behave,” Sonic said, plopping me into a nearby seat before I could say anything, and then heading straight for the line.
“…Even on Halloween, a chili dog, huh? That’s so Sonic.”
I thought there should be other options since it’s Halloween, but I was secretly happy—it’s just like usual, and I get to eat what Sonic likes with him. I fiddled with my wizard costume, feeling like… I am the wizard, or rather, that I’m enchanted somehow. After all, my brainwaves were being copied along with Sonic’s visual information, so I was literally seeing everything through his eyes.
Still, my feelings toward Sonic didn’t feel much different than usual.
Sonic returned with the chili dogs—but he sat at a table slightly behind and to the side of me. Wait… I thought he said to stay here? I felt confused by how Sonic was acting like a stranger.
“Tail—here you go.”
“Huh?”
I looked up and saw Sonic placing the tray with two chili dogs and drinks on the table. Strange. I turned to glance behind me. Yep… it still looked like Sonic.
“Tail?”
“Ah… yeah! Uh, they look delicious.”
“Right? Let’s dig in.”
…Two Sonics? But the one talking to me is clearly the real Sonic.
Looking around the food court, I saw even more people dressed like him at other tables. I’d already noticed how many were wearing Sonic costumes when we first arrived, but now it seemed like the number was increasing. I began to feel like something was really off.
“Tail, aren’t you eating? You’ve been acting weird.”
Sonic chewed his own chili dog and looked at me suspiciously.
“I… I’m eating. It’s just that… there are so many people dressed like Sonic—”
“What are you talking about? Nobody’s dressed like me, not a single one.”
“…What are you saying?”
Because no matter how I looked, there were people dressed like him. They were just behind me, surely in his line of sight, and if I looked around, I could spot a few more.
“Tail, you okay?… What exactly are you seeing? Don’t tell me you’re seeing my… ghost or something?”
“Seeing…? Uh…”
I tried to argue, but Sonic’s “What are you seeing?” made me remember: I was seeing everything through his visual information, mirrored by the brainwave link. But…
“Sorry. I guess my eyes were just tired.”
I said that to cover up. Sonic stared at my awkward behavior for a moment, then let out a soft, resigned sigh.
“Don’t push yourself. Well, chili dogs are better hot, so let’s eat.”
He smiled like usual and started eating.
“Yeah.”
I picked up my black chili dog and began eating quietly, making sure not to raise any suspicion. At the same time, a thin layer of cold sweat began forming. That beam from the staff—come to think of it, I hadn’t designed it to determine whose “me” Sonic would actually see. If this keeps up, it could go wrong. I’d better stay as close to Sonic as possible. I tried to think of something to say to keep him nearby.
“I… I really love you, Sonic.”
“Pfft!”
Sonic burst out laughing at my sudden confession. Huh, usually he’d just brush off words like that, right? Oh well. As I wiped up the lemonade he’d spilled, I decided to just get it out—tell him what I wanted as quickly as possible.
“Thanks. Tails… that’s… ”
“That’s why… I want to be with you as much as possible. I want to hold your hand, and… if possible, even go to the bathroom together.”
“What?”
Sonic froze, clearly caught off guard. Did I say something that weird? I looked at his face and tried to figure out what I’d actually just said.
“I love you”—well, that’s definitely embarrassing when I think rationally, but it can’t be helped now. “I want to be with you as much as possible”—that’s fine too. “I want to hold your hand”—yeah, that’s honestly unavoidable. “Even the bathroom…”!!!
Wait, now I sound like a pervert! But… getting separated after the bathroom is a real risk, so maybe it’s justified… right? What do I do…
“N-No, that’s not it! Sonic, I really just want to be with you.”
Ahhhh, what am I even saying right now!?!
“Tails, you…”
Sonic started to say something. Oh no, I’m scared of his reaction now. Even if I was confused, if he loses interest, it’s over.
“How much of a fan are you, anyway? Geez, you’re hopeless, buddy. Really, you just saw a scary costume and got freaked out, right?”
Sonic laughed at me with that look of mock exasperation.
“!”
I decided to roll with it, grateful that he misunderstood in a… convenient way.
“Yes! That’s it! Hahaha, you got me all flustered!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be with you, so relax.”
Sonic winked with a sly grin.
“Yeah! Thanks.”
Phew… I let out a sigh of relief.
After that, Sonic finished his chili dog first. He’s not good at waiting, so I hurried through mine as best I could. When Sonic noticed, he gently rested his hand on my head.
“Tails, it’s fine to savor your food, you know? Sure, I want to move on to the next fun thing with someone important, but I’m not so impatient that I can’t enjoy a meal. Besides… seeing you munching away is just like watching a kid—I never get tired of it.”
“I’m not a kid!”
I protested, but my heart started racing for some reason as I thought about what he said. Someone important? Does he mean a friend? …Wait, is this Sonic in front of me really Sonic? He’s acting so… unlike himself.
“Why’re you giving me that suspicious look? Well, you’ll be done eating soon, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
Before I could take my last bite, Sonic averted his gaze somewhere I couldn’t see. Watching him chew, I wondered what he was up to, when he suddenly called me over with a slightly serious expression.
“Tails, come here for a sec, will you?”
“What?”
He gestured for me to come closer, like he wanted to speak quietly or something. I stepped forward, and then—
“Boo!”
“Waaah!!”
Sonic suddenly opened his mouth wide. My heart jumped so hard it hurt.
Inside his mouth—fangs, like a vampire’s.
“Hahaha! Gotcha! Scared?”
“The chili dog I just ate… I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my chest…”
I took a slow, deep breath to calm my racing heart.
Sonic was still laughing, basking in the afterglow of his prank.
If it weren’t for how tense things were right now, I probably would’ve laughed too.
But I just didn’t have the room for that kind of feeling anymore.
I opened my mouth to complain, but stopped.
Because… this kind of prank was so him.
Honestly, I’d take this over his gentle or serious side any day—it felt much more like the Sonic I knew.
After laughing his fill, Sonic quickly cleared the tray and held out his hand to me.
I walked holding Sonic’s hand. Around us, the number of people dressed like Sonic was increasing, and it felt like there was always at least one Sonic no matter where I looked. I wondered when the effect of the beam would wear off. I think it was supposed to last about half a day, so there should be around six hours left.
Even though I made the device myself and knew the effect would eventually end, I felt a little scared, and my grip on Sonic’s hand tightened. Then, his hand squeezed back firmly. Huh…? My heart jumped.
I couldn’t help but look up at Sonic’s face. He didn’t look at me, just smiled faintly while keeping his eyes forward. I couldn’t look away. My chest fluttered again.
Why… is Sonic so unbelievably cool?
What… am I feeling right now?
This is my own feeling, right?
Maybe the beam didn’t fully capture Sonic’s feelings…
Maybe it only reflected the visual information…
If not… that would be impossible. Sonic feeling something so soft and warm for me… there’s no way.
Even though my mind was full of questions, I still couldn’t take my eyes off Sonic’s profile.
“Ooh, Tails! This looks kinda fun, doesn’t it?”
Suddenly, Sonic turned toward me. I flinched and looked away, but then remembered he wanted me to look at something, so I lifted my gaze again.
There it was—a haunted house. Oh, right, this place usually hosts events in the hall, with all kinds of little setups. They’d built a small haunted house. It was impressive.
“Yeah. Oh! Over there, there’s an indoor stand selling candy! That looks interesting~”
“OK! Let’s go there after we check this out!”
“Oh! And there’s chili dogs over there too…”
Yeah, I just ate a chili dog, but surely Sonic could manage one more, right?
“Yes! Sounds good. But only after we go in here and work up a little appetite!”
Sonic tugged my hand. I… I don’t want to go…
I tried to distract him from the haunted house, but Sonic didn’t care at all.
“Uh…”
“Tails, you’re scared, huh?”
“Um…”
Yeah. I was really scared. I’d used the excuse about the scary costume earlier, but I hadn’t actually felt any ghostly fear. As I hesitated, Sonic squeezed my hand again.
“Even with me like this… are you still scared?”
Ah… Why does he always say things like that, so slyly? But even as he said it, I felt a strange sense of relief, and that was me, too.
“I—I can’t do this!!!”
While we were waiting in line for the haunted house, I started panicking and tried to run. But Sonic just smiled, tugged gently on my hand, and that tiny pull kept me frozen in place. I mean… come on. He knows I’m scared, and he’s still dragging me in there? That’s so him… but still!
Of course, I know it’s not real. The ghosts aren’t real, it’s all just props—safe, harmless. But the fear I feel when they jump out at me? That’s definitely real.
Before I knew it, our little back-and-forth had led us straight inside. There was no turning back now. I took a deep breath and braced myself.
“Sonic, don’t… don’t let go of my hand, okay…?”
“Yeah. I won’t. Promise.”
His words eased my heart a little as we stepped inside. After a brief explanation from the staff, we crossed the threshold—and the air instantly turned cold.
It was way more elaborate than I’d imagined. A Japanese-style horror setting—shadows on paper screens, distant screams, a long-haired woman in a white dress drifting through the dark.
A hundred times scarier than King Boom Boo ever was!
My heart pounded so hard it hurt. Every time a sudden gust of wind blew from some hidden vent, I shrieked out loud. Each time I flinched, Sonic tightened his hold on my hand. But I knew he was quietly chuckling at me under his breath. Oh, I’ll get him for that once we’re out of here…
“I-Is it over yet…?”
“C’mon, we’re almost at the end! Might as well enjoy the ride.”
“No way I can enjoy this…”
“Really? ’Cause from where I’m standing, you look like you’re having tons of fun.”
Right. For people who can actually enjoy this kind of thing, I probably look like the ideal scaredy-cat customer. But for me, every second was agony—and my frustration toward Sonic was starting to bubble up. I opened my mouth to complain—
“Sonic, I—hyaaaaaaahhhh!!”
“Tails!”
Something cold brushed against my neck, and I instinctively yanked my hand away from Sonic’s. Panic surged through me, and I bolted down the narrow corridor. There was a light up ahead—an exit! And in front of it, I saw Sonic’s back. Without thinking, I ran straight toward him.
“Sonic!”
I threw my arms around him. He jolted in surprise.
“…You all right, kiddo?”
“Huh…?”
I looked up. It was Sonic—but the voice, the reaction, the expression—none of it matched.
“Tails, don’t go letting go of my hand like that.”
“Ah…”
Sonic’s voice came from behind me. My stomach dropped. So I had hugged the wrong person. Mortified, I jumped back.
“I—I’m sorry! I mistook you for someone else!”
My face burned with embarrassment.
“It’s fine, kid. Must’ve been scary, huh?”
The man smiled kindly. He wasn’t upset at all.
“Yeah, sorry about that. My buddy here’s been a handful,” Sonic said, pulling me gently back by the shoulder until I was right beside him again.
The faint scent of him hit me—and my heart started pounding so hard it echoed in my ears. I couldn’t move. I just stood there, feeling the heat spread through my whole body.
“Tails.”
His voice sounded… tense. Like something was pressing on his chest. I started to look up, and—
“Mm…!”
Sonic’s face was right there. A soft pressure brushed my lips—warm, fleeting—and then, with a small pop, it was gone.
“Sorry. But don’t go hugging any other guys by mistake again, got it?”
He said it like a joke, then took my hand and started walking toward the exit.
Wait. Did we… just kiss…?
The thought hit me like lightning. My face grew so hot I could barely tell if I was walking straight. I only managed to move because Sonic was leading me by the hand.
When we stepped outside, the brightness hit me so hard I had to squint. After my eyes adjusted, I glanced at Sonic’s face—and saw his cheeks tinged red. That was… rare. I’d never seen him look like that.
“Sonic, um…”
I didn’t know what to say, but silence felt impossible.
“Tails. Ever since you asked me what ‘special’ means, I’ve been thinking about it,” he said, still holding my hands as we walked. The mall should’ve been crowded, yet somehow the hallway around us was empty.
He turned, clasping both my hands firmly in his. I looked up, startled—and saw that his face was completely serious.
“After that day, I kinda caught myself hoping you’d wanna be my special.”
What… does that mean? His green eyes looked heated, his mouth uncertain—like I was seeing him for the first time.
“My ‘special,’ Tails… is you.”
The words pierced right through me. Then warmth flooded my chest, spreading until it filled everything. I wanted to stay with him. For a long, long time. Just the two of us.
“Sonic, I’m tired. I wanna go home now. The haunted house was really scary… I don’t think I can sleep alone tonight. So… will you come to the lab with me?”
When I said that, Sonic simply nodded. “Yeah.”
He walked me all the way back to the lab.
And our hands never let go—not even once.
When we got back to the lab, I must’ve been more tired than I realized. I still wanted to spend more time with Sonic, but he told me to lie down and rest, so before I knew it, I’d drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, it was already past ten. The beam’s effect had definitely worn off. I felt the blanket shift and glanced beside me—Sonic was there, fast asleep, his upper body resting against the bed.
Oh, right. I’d begged him to come here with me.
Looking at him brought back his words from earlier: “My special one… is you, Tails.”
Just remembering it made me feel all warm and floaty inside. But at the same time, I didn’t really understand why I’d been so happy… or why I’d said something so impulsive back there.
Maybe the answer lay in what I’d created.
I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him, pulled a blanket over his shoulders, and went over to my workbench.
After rechecking the mech, I found out that the duplicates had appeared because of a combination of visual data copying and emotional amplification. That much made sense.
But what didn’t make sense was why Sonic and I, who’d also been hit by the beam, had barely changed at all.
I decided to look back at the original brainwave data. Comparing Sonic’s and mine, I noticed a strange similarity: first, a sharp spike in hertz, followed by gentle waves rising and falling.
I dug through emotion-based brainwave studies and compared our results to the reference images—anger? No. Sadness? Not quite. Joy? Close, but not it. Happiness? Closer, but still…
And then I saw it—the chart labeled “In love.”
A sudden surge, followed by slow, steady waves.
Oh.
So Sonic and I… were in love.
That’s why I’d wanted to know what his “special” meant.
That’s why he had wanted to become mine.
I thought back to every moment that made my heart race around him.
I’d always wanted to stand beside him, always tried to be good enough. But somewhere along the way, that wasn’t enough anymore. I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to be the only one who could.
Then I remembered his face—the gentle one when he patted my head, the mischievous grin, the flush on his cheeks. Every one of them was special.
Just as I realized that, I heard footsteps approaching.
“Tails.”
That voice—warm and sweet, like melted sugar. How had I not recognized it sooner?
“You could’ve told me you were awake, you know?” Sonic said with a half-sigh, half-laugh.
“Sonic… you’re special to me too.”
For a second, surprise flashed across his face—then joy bloomed, bright and unstoppable. I must’ve been smiling the same way.
That was the look of two people whose “special” had finally connected.
“Mind if I kiss you again?” he murmured, pulling me into his arms.
“Yeah… I want you to.”
I closed my eyes. A soft warmth brushed my lips. My heart thudded so hard I couldn’t feel my hands anymore—then suddenly, something small and sweet was pushed into my mouth.
Huh…? Sweet? Is this… candy?
“Happy Halloween, Tails,” Sonic grinned. “Sorry—couldn’t resist a little trick and a treat.”
That’s when I realized—he’d just slipped me the candy through a kiss.
My whole face burned. After everything, after our first real kiss, he’d—!
But when I looked up at him, his eyes had that same gentle sparkle that always made my heart flutter.
“Geez, Sonic! …Happy Halloween.”
Somehow, I felt like being swept up in Sonic’s ridiculousness—and in his way of showing affection—was going to be something I’d come to cherish.
So, this was my return gift.
I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
He froze, and even though my face was hot too, I couldn’t help feeling a little triumphant.
“Did you enjoy my trick?” I said, grinning.
He laughed softly and pulled me into a tight hug—so tight it almost hurt. I wrapped my arms around him too.
When I closed my eyes, I could still see the jack-o’-lanterns—lights spreading across the city like candles born from a single flame.
Happy Halloween. The End.