Chapter Text
MARCH
The past couple months since moving back to Hollow Bastion has been… well, terrible. Being reunited with your parents and younger sister was great for exactly one week. After that, it quickly turned torturous. The rules, the fighting, the drama… You found yourself continually daydreaming about life on Destiny Islands. The place is filled with some of the weirdest people you’ve ever met, but damn it you had really grown to love those weirdoes.
“… So then, Mr. Burke literally split his pants open in front of the whole class!” Hayner exclaims, wiping away a tear as he devolves into laughter.
You laugh quietly, though without humor. The entire walk home Hayner had been laughing and joking about the entire day of school, and you were only half paying attention. Each story just made you miss Destiny High even more. Saix calling you an idiot, Vexen calling you promiscuous, Kairi trying to hit you in the face with basketballs…
“And Roxas sent me this text I think you’d appreciate.”
Your face lights up as you glance at your brother, all but ripping his phone from his hands and staring down at picture plastered the screen. Vexen is writing on the blackboard, a sign taped to his back that says, “I love Mansex.” Sora is pointing excitedly to the sign, flashing a thumbs-up while Riku’s clearly facepalming beside him. Naminé, Olette, and Xion are seated at the table next to theirs, waving with wide grins at the camera.
“Aw man… I miss that,” you laugh, shaking your head as you hand Hayner his phone.
“You miss VEXEN?” Hayner asks with a chuckle.
“Yeah, actually,” you agree, nodding a few times. “It was just nice being treated like a normal person for once.”
“I call you an idiot every day,” Hayner points out.
You roll your eyes, shoving his shoulder with yours.
“It’s not the same, moron.”
While life in Hollow Bastion was lavish and overall pleasant, you missed the simplicities of the island. No one here called you out when you were being annoying (besides Hayner), and everyone was so scared of you they refused to even crack jokes with you. It was like living in a bubble, only exacerbated by the fact that your parents had refused to allow anyone to visit you and Hayner since [he] popped in all those months ago. Your brother’s death had made your sheltered life even more sheltered.
Hayner comes to a stop, grabbing your wrist as he forces you to stop with him. You glance up at him out of the corner of your eyes, continuing to sulk in silence. He smirks, raising a hand in the air and putting on a falsely serious expression.
“[Name], I promise that, until the day I die, I will do everything in my power to make you feel stupid and worthless.”
You roll your eyes and playfully push him aside before you continue your walk home. He chuckles, jogging after you and loosely placing an arm around your shoulders, enjoying the comfortable silence.
[♥]
“Hey you two,” your mother’s voice calls out as you walk past her bedroom. You stop, glancing at your brother before looking over your shoulder as she pops a head out. “Something came in the mail for you. Big envelopes.”
“From where?” you ask.
Your mother merely shrugs before smiling slightly, placing a hand on the door frame.
“No idea. They’re on your beds. I think it’s from a college?”
Your and Hayner’s gazes snap to each other like magnets.
“Destiny University,” you both mutter before tearing down the hallway.
Your heart is pounding in your chest as you push Hayner out of your way, darting into your room. Sure enough, a manila envelope is sitting atop your pillow, looking a bit like a beacon of hope. You giggle excitedly as you hurry forward, picking up the envelope and ripping it open. Carefully, you pull out the top page, scanning it quickly.
“Dear [Name] [Last Name]:
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you of your admittance to Destiny University –“
“[Name]!!”
You tear your eyes from the paper, a wide grin on your face as you glance up at your brother. He, too, is holding up an identical letter.
“You in?” he asks quickly.
“Yeah,” you agree with an excited nod. “You?”
He nods too, a happy smile on his face.
“Looks like we’re heading home.”
“Yeah,” you laugh, looking down at the letter gripped in your hand. “Home.”
A hand clasps onto your shoulder, and you peer up at your beaming brother.
“You gonna let him know?” he asks earnestly.
Your eyes narrow.
“Since when are you endorsing contact?” you retort with a scoff.
“Oh, c’mon,” Hayner argues, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m… adjusting to the idea of you liking someone.”
“Wow, almost two years later and after endless complaining. Congrats,” you reply sarcastically, rolling your eyes. “And yeah, of course I will. We talk every night –”
“Shut up.”
“… for hours –”
“That’s disgusting.”
“… he tells me he misses me –”
“My ears are bleeding.”
“… and I tell him how much I want to make out with him –”
“Okay,” Hayner interjects, placing his hand over your mouth as he gets a pained look on his face. “I get it. You’re together. Good for you.”
His slowly removes his hand, and your lips curl up in a small smile.
“Not together,” you correct, raising a pointer finger in the air. “No point while we’re living so far apart.”
“I literally don’t care,” Hayner responds, patting the top of your head condescendingly before turning around and heading out of your room. “And by the way,” he adds, pausing in the doorway as he looks over his shoulder, “Olette and I talk about making out, too.”
“Ew!” you exclaim, covering your ears as he laughs loudly and heads down the hallway to his room. “No one wants to hear that, Hayner!” you call out after him.
With a look of disgust at his words you pull your phone out of your bag, sending out two quick texts: one to [him], and one to everyone else. Before you can even toss your phone on the bed, it begins to buzz loudly. You glance down, smiling a bit when you’re greeted with Yuffie’s grinning face.
“Hey, Yuff,” you answer with a small laugh.
You’re greeted with screams so loud you have to hold your phone out a bit. After a few seconds, the screams turned into excited ramblings.
“… I just cannot believe you guys are coming back!!” she finishes as you place the phone by your ear.
“Ignore her, she’s on a sugar high,” Paine adds, and you smile when you realize you must be on speakerphone.
“So, when are you moving here?” Naminé asks.
“September,” Olette answers for you, and you narrow your eyes as she starts to laugh quietly. “Sorry, [Name]. Hayner already told me.”
“Damn, he’s fast,” you mutter, shaking your head. “But yeah! September.”
“Too far away!!” Rikku complains.
“Aw, you guys. It’ll be here before we know it!” you point out.
“That’s true,” Yuna agrees.
“Yeah, what’s six months in the scheme of things,” Tidus adds, and you glance in surprise at your phone. “I got dragged on their shopping trip,” he grumbles, somehow picking up on your confusion.
“It wasn’t our idea,” Xion whispers with a giggle.
“Yeah, thank God we just have one annoying couple in this group. For now,” Paine mutters.
“Hey,” you, Olette, Yuna, and Tidus complain.
“I guess I should let you guys go. Don’t want to keep you too long,” you tell them, forcing a smile. If it were up to you, you’d stay on the line forever. It never got old speaking to them. “Talk to you later?”
“Yes!” Yuffie agrees, and you can practically see her hopping around as she says it. “Thanks for telling us, though!”
“Congrats!” you hear everyone else call out before the call ends.
A text pops up the moment Yuffie’s call disappears, and your grin only grows when you read its contents.
[RESULTS]
Sora ♥
No way?? I got my admission letter today too! Leon keeps telling me how hard it’s gonna be but with us reunited I don’t think it’ll be THAT bad ;D I can’t wait to see you, [Name]. September isn’t that far away, but… it kind of sucks without you here. By the way, I pulled off that prank you suggested on Vexen today. I’ll tell you over the phone tonight but… it backfired. Really badly.
Leon ♥
Congrats! Looks like we’re finally going to be attending the same school. I can already see all of the trouble you’re going to get into. Were you behind that prank Sora pulled today on Vexen, by the way? He’s been suspended for a week. Now I have to babysit him for the next few days. I guess I’ll need to think of a way for you to make it up to me…
Roxas ♥
Hey! Hayner already told me, actually. Sorry. But it doesn’t make me less excited! I got my letter too, so it looks like we’re going to be stuck together for four whole years. How will we pass the time, though? ;)
Axel ♥
Yes! I knew you’d get in! Omg, we’re going to have so much fun. Unless Hayner got in, too… Then I’ll have to be on my best behavior. But it’s okay, I know all the good hiding places here. I’ll be sure to show you them in due time, because once you’re back, there’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight. Got it memorized?
Reno ♥
AHHHHH, yes [Name]! I’m so happy right now! Not just for you, but for me too! Because I hate not having you around, you know? Goofing on these idiots isn’t as fun without you by my side. Plus, Axel’s been getting a little cocky lately. It’ll be nice to knock him down a peg or two, and force him to watch us go at it like crazy. Wait… Hayner’s not coming, is he?
Cloud ♥
I’m so proud of you, [Name]! I knew you’d get in, but it’s a relief knowing we’ll be attending the same school for once. This place is definitely a little less fun without you around. On the bright side, if you live in the dorms we can finally have some alone time. Unless your roommates end up being even more intrusive than Hayner…
Genesis ♥
See? I told you not to worry! They’d be fools to not accept you. I have to say, I’m pretty thrilled at the thought you having you back here. It’s going to wreak havoc on my studies, but I really do miss you [Name]. Only six more months, and all of this just becomes a bad dream.
Noctis ♥
This better not be some kind of a sick joke, because I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that! It feels pretty unnatural, being here while you’re stuck at home. But now, with you coming back… I’m just really excited to see you, [Name]. It’s not the same without you.
Zack ♥
I’m grinning like an idiot right now and getting a lot of weird looks, but yes! I can’t believe you’re coming back! Now we can make out all the time and get weird looks together! Kidding… kind of. Anyway, I’m SO happy to hear that you got in and you’re moving back here. I miss you like crazy, [Name]. Long distance sucks, doesn’t it?
Riku ♥
Hey! That’s awesome, [Name]. I actually got in too (no surprise), so looks like you’re stuck with me. Not that I’m complaining – I hate not having you here. The fangirls have gotten pretty ballsy in your absence, I think they might need a dose of reality. Oh, also… You got Sora suspended today. Congrats.