Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

An indigo field.

Winged violets cascaded throughout the air.

Vines and nettles grappled against weathering stones, leaves scattered under the catch of the teeming wind like discordant fishes thrown erratic under a sudden intrusion, and the sun’s rays assiduously severed the clouds to let light shine through.

The entourage had arrived, welcomed by the first light of the morning. Yet, although they all wandered throughout the scene, the light paid close attention to a curious little girl.

It pecked against the girl’s hair, then brushed against her face, then laughed at her expression of pure dumbfoundment after she winced and looked around. Four-year-olds could be rather daft at times, and the hues were thoroughly enjoying it. They loved her.

Upon looking into the light, the girl was enraptured. The sight was beautiful.

A soft pitter patter began to echo in her ear, before revealing its true form: her brother, following closely behind with a spring in his step. His gaze was taken aback; awe and wonder had incited him.

“Woah…”

The little girl turned her head, and nodded to herself slowly with the tiniest smile. She never was one for animated gushing cues of excitement, or vibrant zeal. Everyone around her, therefore, knew that if something was able to make her crack a smile- even subtly- that something was fallacious, phantasmal.

Her brother soon caught sight of her expression. As if on cue, he looked around to see the butterflies she had seen, and was soon gawking at once: stars were beaming in his eyes.

“T-That’s so cool, isn’t it?” he breathed.

In benign agreement, his younger sister grabbed onto her brother’s hand, and squeezed it almost by instinct. Her brother seemed shocked. Although, he truly didn’t mind, tightening the grip.

Butterflies fluttered around them. They nested into the boy’s hair, causing him to giggle at that funny feeling- and they teemed all over his younger sibling, pecking her arms, hair, shoulders… causing her brother to laugh at her. She didn’t mind, though- the butterflies were really pretty.

For a moment, it was only the two of them. The younger girl, clutching onto her older brother; and her brother: the one who allowed his little sister to tug his hand.

The two of them stared at the many butterflies that streamed around the graveyard. They were aghast.

---

The girl from that scene had dreamt up half the butterflies as a result of the thresholds of childhood amnesia, because- back then- she was four, her brother eight. Now, the memory had ruminated in her head, amplified, and was now more and more distorted from the years that went on. One thing remained clear, however: that day, there were siblings, butterflies… and the setting: Faraway Cemetery.

---

Waking up early just sucked. Honestly, screw that notion.

Her brother was an early bird, however… he’d always be up at stupid hours for whatever reason: reading something, studying, or texting Abbi at stupid o’ clock in the morning (She wasn’t that big of a fan of the lovey dovey nonsense that her brother liked… but it wasn’t her that wanted to rip her hair out at the sight: it was Mari. Since her brother’s relationship was a match made in heaven, her opinion was wrong. Bite the bullet, Mari).

However, there was a much more pressing problem in the present than her brother’s whimsical love life.

Ambrosia Smith rolled over in her bed. She was 11, with thick, chestnut-brown hair that usually fell just below her shoulders, yet presently sprawled about her pillow. Her eyes were also a soft amber colour- but she was named before she was born, so it was all a coincidence that her eyes matched her name.

Furthermore, the sheer unwillingness to wake up which played around in her head was just beautiful, iridescent, yearning... the power was too strong. The dream she had had was based around one of her fondest memories, too- the one where butterflies shrouded her and fluttered about as she stood with her brother in the cemetery, bewitched by excitement and awe…

It was a complete juxtaposition to those hands trying to shake her awake. Those were imprudent and foolhardy.

“Come on, little sister…” the voice whispered, lacklustre of any ill-advised brashness and lacklustre of unnecessarily gentle qualms, so it hadn't snapped yet, “I made everyone tofu this morning… I’ve saved you some, but it’s getting cold!”

Tofu was an irresistible temptation: it was her favourite food ever. Furthermore, it wasn’t Kim or Basil yelling at her for once, so the inclination was even stronger. She was also slightly hungry… so that plea did seem to be a good decoy…

Yet, her dream…

“Amber!” came a shrilled sternness, one that knocked her out of her thoughts at once, “You know, Basil’s been waiting for you to water the flowers with him since the morning… You don’t want him mad, do you?”

No, of course not.

“-and, don’t forget the guests we’ve got later! We’re going to need all the hands we can get, e-even if you don’t like helping out.”

An energetic sternness followed through every word as the voice spoke. Then, it’s breathing hitched as it let out a sigh, tiredly. But it was after this where it was enlightened.

“...Oh? Hey, I think they’ve just arrived!”

A muffled groan came from the girl, followed by the clap of hands- tight breathing- and the excited voice of the one who was way too energetic for 10 in the morning.

“That’s amazing! I missed them so much, Amber! Let’s head out then, yeah? You wouldn’t want to leave Mari waiting at the door!”

This response caused Amber to groggily raise her upper body, before whipping her pillow straight into her lap and burying her face in it. The voice, however, stifled a chuckle.

“Well c’mon then- they haven’t travelled all this distance just to recline in the living room and then leave, let’s get up and greet them!”

They ran up to the end of the room.

“Ya coming?”

“...Mmm…”

A bright smile embellished the receiver’s face, after which they strode through the door with a relieved, self-satisfied grin, simpering to themselves as they headed right off into the kitchen with a spring in their step as they paced around.

As for Amber…

---

Amber hated her brother, Lucerne Smith. He had straight up lied to her about Mari and Abbi arriving earlier just for the sake of fulfilling his own goals, i.e. yanking his sister out of bed without his sister knowing what she was doing. The horror of his actions was tenfold.

However, Amber’s tiredness was more pressing than her anger. She had initially trudged into the kitchen with sheer reluctance to do anything after responding to that terrible lie. Yet, her spirits were calmed after she’d earnestly finished her brother’s homemade tofu (the sort of stuff with that crispy exterior, soft and sweet interior… absolutely incredible taste).

Amber- who loved tofu more than her brother- had hence been completely defeated, as she was finally awake.

Upon seeing this, her brother had reminded her about how she was forced to help around the house and prepare for her friends’ arrivals, bleh. But it wasn’t as bad as it seemed.

There was a positive side to the onus, thankfully: her first responsibility was gardening. Catharsis. Bliss. Relief. The good part!

Amber loved gardening so much! Her dextrous, nimble fingers worked wonders with plant care, and her father was thrilled every time he caught sight of her craft, as she- according to him- was ‘So gentle with every flower! Oh Amber, i-if only your mother was able to grasp this as quick as you did… heh…’.

Well- his reactions were always a bit over the top. Still, her father was praising her, and it was a terrific boost to her motivation.

The flowers were also so beautiful, too- a kaleidoscope of colour. Sunflowers scattered predominantly in their family’s arrangement, but violets, lucernes, egrets, gladioli, cacti, roses of various colours and lilies of the valley harboured the rows just like it. Ambrosias lingered in the corners, too. Those were said to sprout in the next two months.

However…

“Tch,” he grimaced, “These were supposed to b-bloom by now… you’re a little troublemaker, aren’t you?”

The incoming voice was none other than Amber’s man-child father, Basil Smith. At 38 years, he found himself draped in a white button-up and light-blue jeans, currently covered by his green apron. Falling over his soft blue eyes was thick blonde hair, coming up to just above his shoulders, commonly held in a ponytail. Furthermore, a predominantly sunflower-based flower crown ran through the strands of his hair.

Unfortunately, he was consumed by frustration as he spoke: the future presence of guests had almost certainly thrown his nerves right off the roof.

Basil was miserable.

“See, Amber, I put this one here to optimise sunlight…” he sulked, pondering over a batch of white tulips, “... but it must have been stunted by something else, h-huh?”

His expression changed from sadness to anger.

“Good riddance!” he groaned, “The temperature, pH, and Carbon Dioxide levels have been constant, give or take a few d-degrees on the temperature, b-but light intensity being messed up? It m-must’ve been that massive van that gets here in the middle of the afternoon that put shadows on my tulips! Honestly!”

Basil massaged the sides of the pot in an obvious attempt to smother his anger, much to Amber’s dismay. At this, therefore, she slowly petted against her father’s back.

However, Basil’s frustration was inept, as he began to ponder alternatives to the bothering issue.

“I guess… I-I could run down to Fix-It now, they might have a spare batch… I-It’s not my batch though- it’s Charlie’s! B-But, it’s still tulips… no, of course not! I need to get my own batch! It’s a gift, too! What sort of florist can’t get their hands on the right…”

His response was a string of washed out frustration, dead ends lying everywhere…

He let out a deep sigh.

“Fine,” Basil mumbled, before sneaking a contented smile at his daughter, “C-Come on, Amber. Let’s get this batch prepared… I’ll put these tulips somewhere else…”

“...Yep…”

Amber petted her father’s back again, worriedly. It had been clear for years that her father was the more- ‘uneasy’ parent between him and her mother, so Amber wasn’t too stressed out when her father started to lose his composure, but it was always scary, as he was the one with all the authority. She stroked his back with an unwillingness to let go.

“Ambrosia, I’m alright, thank you…” Basil smiled again, much more cheerily than before. Amber glanced up, nodding at him. Basil gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

Now calmer, the pair took their opportunity to return to their original tangents.

Maintenance work was all that was needed in preparation for the guests’ arrival, Amber had the quick job of watering the batch, while Basil… After storing the tulips in a healthier position, he had to do the ‘just in case’ tasks, as he was calling it: checking for spiders, checking the carbon dioxide levels, and checking the pots were in suitable positions in order to maximise sunlight.

Father and daughter had different styles when it came to gardening, too. Basil- at a greater level of ease- would usually be mumbling under his breath, his words usually this and that from his experiences at work… while Amber would simply stay quiet. Even though she usually gave her father her tranquil, fullest attention… that was just who she was.

It was peaceful. Truth be told, sure- he may’ve been the most overbearing fuss-bucket out of all the people she knew- but Basil’s care for flowers had easily struck a chord with his daughter: Basil was always there to help Amber out whenever she struggled with a technique, or wanted guidance on where to store a plant, or wanted help on deducting the meaning of a plant, or anything else that would’ve bothered her. Her father was a walking plant encyclopaedia, truthfully. It was really nice to be around him.

Amber let out a tiny smirk.

Man, she loved gardening. And her father, too- but mostly gardening.

---

The Smith family’s house was a flourishing spectacle: plants and flowers were scattered about in hanging baskets, pots, and vases; the kitchen was abuzz with salads, fast food, and usually soups or noodles; photographs were decorating the walls, a timeline of many- many years; and the walls were that colour that Basil was uncannily attached to, tying the whole greeness together.

However, it still needed a good brush-up for the guests. Therefore, that was Amber’s begrudging, pitiful next task.

Amber was now wiping their television down: that thing was pretty dusty. None of the Smiths were TV enjoyers, anyway: Basil hated technology in general; their mother only wanted dinosaur documentaries- but was usually too tired to grab the remote in the first place; dinosaur documentaries didn’t catch Luke’s fancy, neither did the CD stash from his uncle Sunny’s leftovers; and… Amber was already glued to her much more efficient phone, so the TV was pointless in comparison.

Yet, the Suzukis- their future guests- were very different. Her aunt and uncle liked to crash after a long day and play something on the screen, and her friends were all into specific genres: Mari liked silly banter and Abbi liked romance. Therefore, Amber had to do what she had to do: if they wanted a movie, they shouldn’t be confronting some obscure dust allergy in the background.

Her brother, however, was hoovering right beside her, shining light on that incessantly loud hum that came with it, like the static of a broken television- the irony! Although- even though the noise was definitely calming, leaving Amber with a sense of peace… It was too loud. Too flipping loud. It took everything in Amber’s willpower to keep her hands away from her ears.

Her brother was startlingly unfazed.

“Amber!” Luke yelled, “Take this!”

Amber felt a jab in her side. Then, a remote was thrust into her hands.

“It was on the floor! Leave it somewhere safe, okay?”

Short blonde hair, amber eyes, and an almost entirely relenting smile. He was 15. Everyone called him Luke as opposed to Lucerne, just like how his younger sister was Amber as opposed to Ambrosia. Only their immediate family would call them by their real names.

As of now, her brother had become energy incarnate. Amber started to question her blood relation to this guy as he pushed and toyed with the handle on the hoover, with such an invigoration to the task that it was almost scary to look at him.

When Luke was driven, he was driven. Whether it was hoovering, or tofu making, he’d try his hardest, because that’s who he was. With so much energy.

He was…

…Actually, the most tolerable out of Amber’s family by a long shot, because of his attitude. He wasn’t a fuss-bucket, nor was he that strict. He was cool, and loved to do things that cool big brothers do.

For example…

“Hey! Amber! I’m talking to you!”

Fingers clicked right in front of Amber’s periphery. She jolted at once.

“Rise and shine, little sister!” came her brother’s voice, yelling over the whirring of the hoover, yet still trying to pertain optimism, “I told you to leave the remote somewhere safe, didn’t I?”

Amber was sulking at the sudden perusal, but Luke only pleasurably nodded back, cool as a cucumber, juxtaposing his yelling state. How in the world did he do it?

“...Shut up,” Amber muttered, quietly. That dang noise…

“The floor isn't gonna clean itself, you know!-...”

A pause. Amber’s breathing developed an awry composition.

“...Ambrosia, is everything alright?” came her brother’s voice, laced in worry, immediately freeing the air from those haggard whirrs of the hoover, turning it off at once.

Relieved, slightly, Amber let out a deep exhale.

“...It’s too loud.”

Her brother tensed slightly, his mouth forming a thin line as he ruminated the all-too-obvious realisation that had slipped his thoughts, imprudently. His gaze was downcast… before his eyes were incited.

“You’re right…” he mumbled, “Um, if what I’m doing is bothering you… How about… since Mari and Abbi are going to be staying in our bedroom, why don’t I go and touch that one up while you stay here in the living room finishing off the dusting? Then, we could swap round, and I could finish the hoovering in this room while you’re dusting the other one. Is that okay?”

Her brother’s responses were all quickfire and gushy-gushy. His sister knew his behaviour was slightly off because he was seeing Abbi later, so she couldn’t blame him. Still, affection was weird…

Amber just nodded. It worked like a charm.

“Nice! Well, I’ll see you around then, little sister!” Luke added, smiling, “Getting tons of spots cleaned does wonders. You know what Uncle Sunny would say about it otherwise…”

Amber tilted her head.

“You know-” he mumbled, “He’ll find the CD stash covered in dust and be like, ‘Basil. How on earth could you neglect the oh-so-precious Sweetheart Chronicles 3? What do you do with your life?’”

Okay, yeah, that was funny. Amber rolled her eyes.

Luke’s smile tensed up, becoming sheepish, before he let out that exhale he was holding back in order to scoop the hover, and take it with him to wherever he was going. Amber only watched him, but calmed down at the sight because thank goodness the sound was gone! Then it hit her.

“Wait, Luke.”

“Hm?”

The ends of Amber’s mouth began to twitch. A hint of mischievousness slipped into the wrath between her subdued, dimly-lit eyes.

“You know- the polaroid stash. The one that Adrian took for you. The one with all the Abbi photos. Don’t bother hiding it- it’s already hidden.”

Amber was sly. Her brother was usually calm and composed, and because those emotions he presented that day were so out of character- she really wanted to mess with him as a result.

His face could only morph from excited to panicked. Then, a tensed-up, uneasy apparition took control of his remaining features. Then, strangled chuckles came right after.

“Ha… er-... D-Dont show that to Mari, please… or Kim… or- anyone, really…”

His expression was gold, pure gold. Amber was having a field day as Luke tried to hide the ever-developing, love-stained bafflement that played at the edges of his smile, which eagerly tried to tear the face he bore to let (in Amber’s assumption) the weariness of excitement and passion he had for the one he loved.

True, it was hilarious to her… but she took pity on him, answering his query, “I’m not dumb. Why would I...”

Luke was pitiful, anyway, “Ha… ha…”

Her brother was out of the room in seconds. Therefore, he was a cool big brother.

Amber was left with a spark of contentment, but also subtle cheeriness.

She then proceeded through the task a lot more valiantly than before. She was already done scrubbing the TV by this point; so she bent down to scrub the various boxes that surrounded the main exhibit. She didn’t know what they were, but they seemed to get the TV up and running, so they must’ve been important for some reason or another.

She also decided to leave the Sweetheart Chronicles to scrub last, because Luke’s impression of her uncle was genuinely funny, and she therefore decided to use it as a parting gift of some sort.

Then, she was left with her company: a mind far from splitting static. As time passed, it slowly began to trail off.

What if… her friends were here with her?

Her brain animated the beckoning room.

Mari gritting her teeth, glaring at the dirt-addled window frame… Abbi frowning because of Amber’s parents’ food choices... Luke nodding on the receiving end of Abbi’s complaints, trying his hardest to calm her down… Sal laughing as she listened to her nephew become a waffler… and Adrian- the waffler- trying to connect the plants at their front with the birds in his encyclopaedia, deducting which would be attracted to what…

Amber shook her head. Alas, it was all thought.

---

As mentioned previously, Amber’s father- Basil- was a right worrywart when it came to guests. However, since Basil was also the most competent in their family with housekeeping, uplifting others, and cooking… to have him overwhelmed by his fears on important days was a travesty in itself, because his family needed him in order to function. He was the man of the house for heaven’s sake!

Amber’s mother, therefore, decided to leave her shift earlier than usual, with the intention of helping her husband to reduce his worrywart tendencies. It was easy for her, anyway: Amber’s mother literally owned her own workplace.

The grunting of the door was her greeting. Short brown hair, amber eyes, pale skin, and red glasses- with a brooch that resembled a violet. She was 38. Her eyelids were lowered- complementary to her harried expression, with her posture and swift strides both poignant, but also relaxed- as this was her normal. Yet… today, she was moderately tired, sighing as she entered the house and absent-mindedly draped her knee-length coat upon the coathanger.

All these thoughts went through Amber’s head as she stared at her mother with keen attention, watching her as she greeted her lively- definitely trembling- older brother, pleased due to his efforts in keeping the house afloat.

She then paced about, taking a quick scan of the living room and the adjacent kitchen, accessing the efforts of the home-bound members. On instinct, she first had a deadpan frown- because she always seemed miserable in some way- but soon began to tilt her head, nodding.

After this, she was standing before Amber. Relief filled her features upon meeting that familiar, stoically judging glare.

“Afternoon to you, Amber,” she droned, before grabbing her daughter’s shoulder to give it a nice squeeze, “The living room looks real stellar. Nice work.”

Amber was startled- no- definitely overwhelmed by her mother’s praises. Luke gave some hushed claps for his sister.

“And… Luke…” their mother sighed, turning to face her son with an amused look, “Nice work with the hoover, too- the floor feels… nice… and- breakfast was brilliant! I bet you made my colleagues jealous. They don’t say, but…” She then nudged his shoulder with a smirk. “Good job!”

…

“C’mon! Do I not get any thank yous now?” she groaned, whipping her head round to read her son’s face like a book. She stifled a laugh.

“...Someone’s nervous, are we?”

“O-Oh, no… I… I’m fine! Everything’s in tip-top shape around here…”

Luke was somewhat fretting, snapped out of his tracks. To their mother, it was peak amusement.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” she snorted, waving her vacant hand in the air, “You're nervous, aren't ya? Nothing to be ashamed about. Even I'm a bit worried about seeing your aunt's face again; she'll see my face for a second and psychoanalyse me to death. Me and Basil both.”

Their mother grimaced slightly, rolling her eyes, causing Amber to stifle a laugh. Luke, however, looked away with some sheepishness, unwilling to accept his mother's words as a possible truth.

“You know…” she hummed, continuing, “I ain't mad at you- just amused… Hmm… Did you know you were pulling a goldfish expression?”

Now he was talking. “H-Huh? G-Goldfish?”

“Mhm!” she sang with an unamused air, “Make sure you get that look fixed before your girlfriend sees it.”

“G-G...?”

And this was the turning point. Luke proceeded to shrivel up, cupping his face from the embarrassment. Their mother simply gave her son a shrug, before sneakily leaning towards her daughter.

“Your brother’s in love with your aunt’s kid, isn’t he…” she simpered, hushed, “If I were him… I don’t know how I could keep it together. People always say how thoughts of a loved one wreck your mental space. Wacky as ‘eck, I’d reckon…”

Yet, Luke had recovered, smiling at them with a peaceful expression, completely fine with their mother’s bullying. The literal mick was being taken out of him! How on earth was he still smiling? Amber didn't know what to say. Were they really related?

It seemed her mother was indifferent too, emotions dwindling upon meeting her son’s unchanged smile- despite her trembling, emoting daughter stood beside her.

Therefore… Kimberly Smith came back to her senses.

“Fine, fine, have it your way,” Kim droned, “I’m like this because work went real well. Like, look, client had a super upbeat personality- and we had a real chill conversation. I mean- it was definitely mood-lifting!... even though her hair was another story… but I like challenges. Definitely a good experience.”

She sighed. Then, she smiled again.

“Anyway… I'm here for your dad. Where'd he go?”

Amber raised a brow at the statement, before murmuring the answer, “Master bedroom…”

“...Look at you, being so responsible! Thanks,” Kim chirped, almost immediately ruffling her daughter’s hair upon hearing her voice. Amber only shivered uncomfortably. Luke- again- gave Amber a gesture to console her, this time winking.

Yet, the atmosphere was served so soon, as the future events overrode Kim’s countenance.

She began to reunite with her initial traits, that sweeping glare of condescendance overtaking her as she pushed her glasses up and glanced down at her two children. It wasn’t anger, it was ‘work mode’.

“Alright, I'm off,” she announced, firmly, “Your job is to get ready, but I’m really asking for you to get changed. Your uncle Sunny rang me up earlier because he didn’t want to bother Basil, and he’s been telling me that he’ll be here in an hour or two. Leave the house alone, okay? All you need to do is get ready… not only physically, but mentally- too. Abbi and Mari are rough ones.”

She was shrugging as she added her last words, her attempt at humouring the conversation by referencing her kids’ friends not exactly averting the way she’d hoped, as neither of her kids were finding her funny. Even so, Luke nodded his head, swallowing a breath- and all the anger trailed away from Amber’s eyes as she received relief: thank God the work was over!

Satisfied, their mother gave them a smirk again, because it’s just what she does.

“See you in a bit,” she quipped, and then she was gone to her shared bedroom.

Amber had initially glanced at the hallway, and then her brother, sniggering. Luke’s responses to a great portion of the conversation was ridden in cheesy undertones which majorly referred to Abbi, so she was in a teasing mood as opposed to a cold-blooded one. Luke gave her that haphazard, sheepish smile again once he caught her glance.

“An hour, huh…” he mumbled, lost in his own thoughts- yet feeling compelled to make a conversation.

However, his next words were entirely contradictory, falling under the archetype where Amber would question if her brother shared her blood group, as Luke proceeded to speak as if he had been brought to life, saying, “Alright! C’mon, little sister, let’s go and get changed. Then we can both rest, and get that mental preparation kicking in.”

Why oh why was he like this? Amber straight up groaned at him.

“I-I’m not wrong…” he shrugged, smiling, trying to understand his sister.

Yet… “Can it,” Amber muttered, “Goldfish face. It’s still there.”

“G-Grk- still?”

Luke immediately placed a fist to his mouth which caused his blush to deepen. His little sister was now holding back very out of character bouts of laughter.

She gave him a grin, “You look happy.”

“Heh, yeah, I mean… Of course!” he tittered, “Abbi’s coming, obviously… but so is Mari! Er- Don’t you miss their antics? I miss Mari’s passion, and all that energy- and for Abbi… I miss… the way she listens is one thing, maybe…”

It was splittingly obvious that Luke was trying to divert his feelings, as he spoke to Amber in a language she understood. He knew Amber always rambled to Abbi about plants, anyway. Therefore, what he was currently saying was comedy gold, because that wasn’t the way he saw her, that was how his sister did.

“So-... What about you? Excited?”

Already diverting the conversation. Wow.

Amber had then realised that she had to talk back, so pondered:

For the most part, both Abbi and Mari were friend material. Abbi was like an older sister- who Amber admired thoroughly for her appearance, and talents in cooking- charming- listening (to her plant rambles) and playing piano… whereas Mari was silliness incarnate, loud- cunning- and very well-dressed, who owned that brilliant sketchbook with all that art of Luke’s flustered face which made him look stupid. One thing of many.

All in all, there was certainly a degree of longing for her friends hidden somewhere along the lines…

“...Amber?”

Right. Do not be a whole sap. She mumbled, “Yeah...”

Her brother started consoling her.

“Embrace it, Amber,” he droned, immediately punching her shoulder, “Look, they’ll be here soon. Kim said an hour, didn’t she?”

“An hour ‘til you see Abbi again,” she spouted, not impressed at all, moreso jaded. She wanted him to talk to her without his head in the clouds. Why? Because his dead obvious attempt at concealing his emotions was actually hilarious.

“Yeah, of course!” he responded, twisted with zeal, “We’re both going to see her. We're going to be able to sit with Abbi and watch a movie with her, maybe. I'm sure you'd enjoy that, right?”

“Dinosaur documentaries aren’t…” she trailed off. When considering movies, it came to their stash at home: all of them were bad. Either some Sweetheart-Spaceboy romcom- er- adventure- or something about a decayed fossil. She hadn’t a clue how it interested either of their parents.

“C’mon… it’s still a movie…” Luke whined.

His little sister raised a brow at his optimism, before attempting to provoke him from a different angle rather than the hopeless one.

“…Mari will be watching too. You cannot…” she deadpanned, before shuddering with a whisper, “...k-kiss.”

Not the angle she particularly liked, but it seemed to change her brother a bit.

“H-Hey!” Luke snapped, screwing his face, “I wasn’t even thinking about it! It’s supposed to be a fun-filled movie night, not some sort of romantic occasion! Amber!”

His little sister nodded furiously. Thank the lord she and Luke were sharing the same blood group at last. Until she doubted it again. Which was very soon after his previous outburst.

A smugness began to dance in Luke’s tone that Amber wished she hadn’t seen.

“Although… Mari won’t be there for the entire night… or you, for that matter…”

“...Ugh.” Amber had quite literally had enough of this guy.

“Heh, what can I say?” Luke sighed, “Thank me later when you feel the same about your crush.”

Wait, crushes? “I-I don’t-”

“It’s a hypothetical, little sister,” he shrugged, paying close attention to how uncomfortable Amber was becoming, before immediately shaking the topic off, “Anyway! Come on, time’s ticking. The hour’s already becoming less than an hour.”

Amber winced, downcast. Her enjoyment of messing with her brother had subsequently alluded to time-blindness, and now she looked like an idiot. Dang it.

He had already strode to the living room’s entrance, tilting his head enthusiastically as he spouted, “Coming?”

And his sister just had to succumb, because life’s a big nuisance. She ultimately decided to save the pestering for another time, but didn’t want to forget what she’d started…

Screw time. Amber irritatedly stomped out of the room.

---

Neither sibling had much to do after Kim told them to just chill. Amber was elated, so she ended up scrolling and scrolling for goodness knows how long, while Luke tried to get an assignment done, unable to knock the apprehensions out of his head.

They’d also changed into their casual looks: Luke was wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and beige cargo trousers, whereas Amber was in dark-green overalls above a black-and-white striped shirt. Both had also added their flower pins: Amber’s was of a single ambrosia flower, whereas Luke has the same of a lucerne. Basil and Kim even had ones of a sunflower and a violet- it was a nice thing that connected their whole family.

After this, the siblings stayed quiet, worn out from the morning chores, so the only sounds that lingered in the air for a short while were the muffled conversations of their parents in the adjacent room.

This only lasted until it didn’t, not very long after.

Knocking was the culprit. It pulsated around the house. Then, it moved from a few taps to all out rattering, as if a human-sized woodpecker had materialised at their front door. It was dead obvious there was a kid somewhere. That kid being Mari, probably.

Luke started up at once, shaking before forcefully righting himself. Amber mainly just tilted her head, unamused after she’d scrolled her phone for so long. The realisation dawned on her straight after. Dear God.

Amber’s head started to throw a fit, but…

“Hey… do you think that it’s-?” came her big brother, quietly.

She gave him a tiny nod. Her eyes had become studded with gleaming stars. Luke gave her a smile.

He then grabbed onto her arm.

They were wordless as they raced into the hallway, before meeting their parents strapped to the door. One was nervousness incarnate, and the other was worn out.

“Kim… c’mon… You know how Aubrey gets when she’s…” Basil ushered, peering at the door before wincing to glance at his wife. The door was just banging and banging. Again, it was dead obvious that neither of the adults were knocking it, but Basil was still that dang worrywart nonetheless.

“I-I’m… trying,” Kim grumbled, “I just- I’m not the one who double-bolts the doors! Why would you even bother with this sort of thing?”

“Eh, because-”

His wife raised a hand, dismissing him to give herself full focus. Therefore, Basil just shook his head, worriedly pressing a hand to his chest.

Luke was in the open, whereas Amber held back, clutching to the archway that separated the living room and the hallway. Her brother seemed to be delighted, but she herself was just waiting for the rattering to stop. Then she could be happy.

Then, Kim stood back with relief, wiping her brow, a self-satisfied smirk following into her expression.

Basil took the hint. He reached for the door handle, letting the chilly rush of brittle air seep right in.

Then he finally let out a relaxed smile.

There they were.

Chapter Text

Packing was an arduous task. Heck- it was so arduous that this usually lively, upbeat household had simmered down into silent murmurings that echoed throughout the walls, and muffled shuffling of various objects to and fro. As a result, zealous chirping of the outside birds was the loudest thing one could hear from a room.

Therefore, a certain rustle within the air’s mundane thickness had had enough. She could not stand this ignorance any longer.

What had henceforth run into the taciturn air was something swift, something sly, something passionate. Her footfalls were loud, her smile was bright and excitable, and her hands were fervid: clenched tightly to her homemade gift- a card filled with sketches and small notes- as she raced into the room where she hoped she’d find her occupants.

She slammed the door open.

…Gosh dangit- there wasn’t anyone there! That room was definitely loaded when it came to all that packing jazz, but not loaded when it came to people.

Huffing, the girl turned on her heel. To her, finding people in her home was almost like navigating a labyrinth: clothes here- there- everywhere she looked; messes spread about over every table-top; the kitchen being an unwashed dishes’ purgatory; and nobody seemed to be having fun.

It was a tragedy.

…However, the girl didn’t care. She was blinded to the ‘tip that her home was’ (not her words, her mother’s) at the present moment. Why? That drawing she was working on had had to get done, and that absolutely could not have waited!

Although, in comparison to the house… her room ended up indifferent. Her suitcase was wide open, waiting to get used- and her clothes were scattered all over the floor because of all that previous throwing she’d done the previous night while deciding what clothes to wear at Amber’s house as per her mother’s irritated nagging.

…

Eh. That sketchbook didn’t care about the clothes on the floor, it cared about getting a card made as a super cool surprise gift. A much, much better use of time.

Now, that same gift was clutched in the grasp of her hands, and not only had it come out looking brilliant, but she was also incredibly proud of it.

…Who cared about the tip, then! Her surprise card was made, and Mari wanted nothing more than to show it all off!

Grinning from ear-to-ear, she immediately caught sight of a distant door… and smirked. If her sister was anywhere, she was there.

She could not make haste.

Giddiness traversed her whole being with every step of her feet; long black hair- caught in the wind- tangled even more by the second. Mari pushed her elbow into the door and threw it open with such force that she was panting by the end of it, but the deed was done.

She looked up.

---

That morning- at 8 AM- Abbi was already awake. The curious, piano-loving girl was eager to peruse the piece she had been waiting to try out for so long, and the excitement of it all had shaken her from her tiredness. Upon coming to her senses she had entered the living room, eager to place her thoughts into action and satisfy that childlike dream that she’d had for ever so long.

‘WHITE SPACE’ was a piece she had wanted to play for years. Sure, there were a few flats- but nothing too bothersome for her escapade at the first light of the morning.

Therefore… It was fun! She decided to face it all with a bright smile, eager to discover the true nature of the piece that lay before her.

Once again, she took a deep breath.

Eb, Db, C...

The melody was a pitter-patter, as rhythmic as a heartbeat.

…Db.

Until it wasn’t. Alarmed, she once again began to scrutinise that pesky sheet music, a look of arousement severing her momentary bliss due to her surprise at the sudden turn of events. Yet, she wasn’t about to dawdle: the whole piece was only a repetitive 8 bars, after all- so she had plenty of time to practise that part later! C’mon, Abbi!

…D... Db… F…

Was that it? Her eyes immediately lit up, evoking certainty in her fingers’ precisions. Then, she read again.

Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab...

Immediately, Abbi grinned. It’d taken her a while, but she was positive that her efforts had finally paid off.

One more time, now.

Eb, Db, C... Eb, Db, C... Eb, Db, C... Eb, Db, C...

Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab... Db, F, Ab...

…

The right hand of ‘WHITE SPACE’ was complete.

It had always been a curious little thing. She’d found it in the old toy box in the loft…something that had piqued her interest for as long as she could remember; it was- according to her grandma- an alleged time capsule of her parents’ memories, said to hold plethoras of mystery about the past of her mom and dad. Then, after a younger version of herself had snooped about on a home-alone day… ‘WHITE SPACE’ was now hers.

In the present, she was 14- not 8… but since she had always wanted to play that piece she had give in to her inner child. After all, ‘WHITE SPACE’ was the mystery gift of the interesting toy box…

Abbi had already shrilled her eureka. But that was far from the completion she wanted!

The successive, simple rhythm of ‘WHITE SPACE’ was soothing, albeit only the right hand (the left hand looked tricky, and she was only a beginner, anyway, so she forgave herself for leaving it out…) and she wasn’t willing to stop at all. Not when it had all just begun. No way.

Her mind trailed off as she listened to the peaceful harmony, reflecting on the piece’s simplicity, repetitiveness, and calm. Her heart had been racing earlier on because of how excited she was to face the keys, but now… the apprehensions were all beginning to mellow down.

Relief tripped upon her face as she processed it.

…

A lower frequency simmered in. The new pitch was coordinated perfectly with what Abbi had already mastered, uplifting the piece at once; successive symphonies began to intertwine bit by bit, closing in one a serene melodiousness, and Abbi’s eyelids grew heavier as she marvelled at the mantra-

…Woah woah woah… what? Abbi was on her own!

She whipped her head behind her back, and a dumbstruck expression embraced her as someone she really, really did not expect met eyes with her own.

Her dad glanced over.

Since when was he a pianist?

But it couldn’t be denied. Dark brown hair, a weary smile, and that familiar glass eye stared into her, so it couldn’t be anyone else. Abbi's expression of pure astonishment mellowed into pure dread as she peered at him, then looked at the sheet music, then pulled her fingers into a fist as she tried to keep herself together, completely and utterly baffled.

Dear God.

“W-Wait…”

Does he…?

“Piano… You know?” Abbi shot, whispering quietly.

Hope pulsated within her. If her deductions were right… she’d be beyond thrilled.

…

Her father was rather quick to shake his head.

“Not exactly, no…” he mumbled, absent-mindedly stroking the piano keys with a tired expression, before sighing, “Your aunt did. She was the one who taught me everything I know.”

“Aunt…?” she murmured. There were a lot of people in her life with that title, so Abbi wanted to corner the specifics.

“Mm. It was…” he mumbled, tentatively, massaging his thumbs together as he touched upon the topic, “Aunt Mari… a piano prodigy. She was brilliant, Abbi.”

Abbi’s surprise shifted into wonder at once, as she gawked. Aunt Mari- a piano prodigy? She played music? From this family?

It all started to fall into place. Initially, her father was entirely disapproving when it came to Abbi wanting to take piano lessons, but now it was clear why: her aunt Mari had been the girl who Abbi wanted to be.

She admired him. It must’ve taken gut to allow her to do lessons.

“Actually, about your surname… er- family name…” her father continued, mumbling, lost in an otherworldly stare, “...Suzuki was a lineage of musicians. Your aunt, Mari Suzuki… and you, Abbi Suzuki- have musicians’ blood.”

“You… joking!”

“Hm. No.”

Abbi still wanted to keep her spirits up in front of her father, despite the slightly pained expression on both their faces. Smiles always seemed to cheer him up, so she gave him one. In return, he ruffled his daughter’s hair…

Yet…

His face fell. Despondence overtook him.

“Abbi… Stay out of the toy box,” he muttered, “Don’t bother with it again. It’s for your own good.”

Abbi fidgeted with her fingers, her head hung low as she embraced the weight of that pit in her stomach. Even if she’d prepared herself for her father’s scolding, it still hurt all the same.

“Sorry…”

“S’alright.” he shrugged off, petting his daughter’s back. Then, he took a breath.

“Well… come on. We’ve got a good drive ahead of us.”

“Yeah…” she mumbled, trailing off at her father’s words.

---

Mari pushed her elbow into the door and threw it open with such force that she was panting by the end of it, but the deed was done.

The words came out before her sight did.

“Abbi! Abbi! Abbi!” she called out, “Look! I finished m-”

Oh.

“H-Hi, Dad…”

“Mari,” her dad mumbled, smiling slightly at his incredibly baffled, youngest daughter, “G’morning.”

Abbi giggled at his reaction. She sauntered up to her younger sister with a spring in her step, and spoke with a gleeful aura.

“That is… card… I am right?”

“Card?”

Sunny wandered towards them, too, curiously.

“Uh… yeah… it’s a card…” Mari replied, mumbling. Then, she shook her head, “Abbi needs to check it first- though! Dad! No peeking!”

“I wasn’t about to,” he shrugged.

Yet, Mari already felt guilty. She slowly began to warble, “I’ll… show you later…”

“Do as you wish,” her father reassured her, thankfully, giving a small shrug before peering over his watch to catch the time. That action was noticed by her older sister.

“Now… I see?” Abbi whispered.

“Later. Shhh,” Mari retorted, placing her index finger to her lips as she warily treaded around her father’s gaze.

She did want him to see the gift soon, but in her head- having Abbi’s approval before anyone else's was always more right. Abbi and herself were close, and the high degree of trust between the two of them always made Abbi the first point of conduct. It was all the sibling effect.

Then, there was Sunny: imminently fatigued. As much as he wanted to see Mari’s lovely gift for whoever it may be, his biggest concern was the day’s obligations, and engaging in the piano invoked a bitter feeling within him despite how beautiful and positive his daughter was as she played alongside him. He decided to hold his tongue, diverting his thoughts to time’s wishes.

“Girls,” Sunny perused, “I… will make breakfast. Do you want anything in particular?”

“-Pancakes!... Heh…”

The older sister had spoken so fast that the younger sister was only gaping, unable to get a sound out.

“Sorry- er- I don’t have much time- nor your culinary talent, Abbi,” Sunny sighed, sheepishly dismissing the suggestion, before facing his youngest daughter.

“Say, Mari,” Sunny asked again, “Any suggestions?’

Abbi had already shrivelled up on herself from the embarrassment (She was the older one! She should’ve kept her trap shut!), but Mari’s attention lay elsewhere. Mari, like her sister, also had priorities- but she was much more prone to speaking before thinking.

“Oh! Can we have… Weetabix? Please?” Mari pleaded, pointedly with excitement, “With extra honey? And warm milk? And 4 bars?”

“Your alertness is scaring me.”

“Ple-eeee-ase?”

…

“...Why not. The thought’s nice.”

Mari threw her fists in the air and exclaimed from her victory; Abbi clapped her hands in amusement- too. Sunny endearingly quipped his daughters a small smile.

The deal was done. He gave them a wave before he wandered off to clear his head.

---

Once he was out, Mari worked swiftly. Therefore- above the closed piano- the fabled gift was laid down in seconds.

The older sister gasped with an incredulous attitude.

“No way. Uncle Basil?”

“Mhm!” the artist affirmed, proudly, “I had to include him- so there he is!”

Mari’s gift was not only directed at her friends, but also their parents, as she wanted nothing but to flex her improving drawing skills (and thank them for housing herself and her sister… that was the foil that she was planning to tell her parents). Therefore… Uncle Basil and Aunt Kim were in the flipping corner of Mari’s hard-worked drawing.

Good lord.

Aside from this, Abbi had also made the cut, smiling with her (circular) hands in the air, drawn into a line with Amber, her other friend Adrian, and the artist herself, all with raised hands, all with befitting expressions (Abbi in particular had sparkles around her face, similar in shape to her diamond earrings; she really loved it!).

In addition, Sal was drawn in the opposite corner to Luke’s parents. She looked angry: definitely Mari’s drawing, Abbi thought.

She then began to chuckle to herself, mulling over the clothing choices Mari had used: Abbi was wearing her dark blue skirt, white dress-shirt (with that diamond pattern coming from the top down), blue ribbons (her hair accessory), and diamond earrings- the ones she wore in the present- resembling the sparkles that surrounded her.

Abbi's eyes traced her whole figure, amazed at how much detail her little sister had done with the shading and clothing folds and hands… but as she came to her feet, she frowned.

“Why, is Luke…” Abbi pondered, pointing to his depiction, “...away from us?”

Luke was positioned away from the others. He was found just below Abbi’s and Amber’s feet. Even so, he was smiling with a thumbs-up.

Mari sulked.

“No he isn’t- he’s close!” she whined, pointing at him, “I… ran out of room… b-but he’s close enough, right?”

Mari seemed so pressed about the little details, so Abbi’s adoration took over, as she began fretting.

“He is close, don’t worry!” she smiled, “Luke will… happy. Great art, so… future… Luke love… he definitely will!”

“Y-You mean it?”

“Yeah!”

The older sister began to give Mari some praise-filled headpats. Yet, she stopped her, and wasted no time in tackling Abbi into a side hug instead.

Her eyes glimmered with excitement.

“Let’s go! Sister approval!”

“...Ah…”

---

Sunny ended up passing from the living room to the hallway with lethargy. Upon gazing about, his setting was mostly sparse- give or take a few misplaced objects- so he didn’t feel that much restraint when working his way from one end to the other, with his ultimate goal being to reach the kitchen.

Therefore, he allowed himself some leeway to breathe. Furthermore, he squeezed his left hand in an attempt to ground himself: Abbi’s piano playing was still echoing in his ears.

His thoughts were halted by a voice.

“Sunny?”

With bleary eyes, he glanced upwards, and the sight which met him was very pleasing to see.

“G’morning.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it.

“Morning…”

“Good sleep?” he asked her. He was tired himself, but he was always perceptive regardless of his own circumstances- especially when that perception concerned his beautiful wife. He could see her locking eyes with him, but it wasn’t hard for him to stay oblivious to the drowsy undertones in her voice, an out of character characteristic for someone as upbeat as her.

She faltered, “Eh, could be better…”

It pained him upon realising he’d guessed right about her state. His gaze lowered, and a frown replaced his half-jovial, worn-out expression from the second before.

His wife caught on. After all, she was a therapist.

“Pssh. Sunny- I’m fine, it ain’t a bother,” she waved off, rolling her eyes before shaking her head with a smirk, “I’ll get a proper rest in the car or something, but at least I woke up this morning feeling alert. I’ve got a lot of things to do today, so I’m glad I woke up when I did!”

He admired her attitude, but…

“...Don’t overdo it.”

Sunny knew that she was knackered from the previous day. That day, she’d gone to bed hours earlier than she usually would, and she was avoiding contact in general. To not get enough rest in the turnout of waking up early would’ve taken a toll on her mood, in his guess.

“Aubrey,” Sunny deadpanned, staring directly at her, “I told you: don’t overdo it. You’re doing enough already.”

He glanced back.

“I’m in the kitchen. Call me if you need me.”

---

The woman in the study was fed up.

First, she needed to make this call; then, she needed to brush up on errands; last, she needed to get the car loaded. Breakfast was already made, too, and on top of everything else she was doing in the room there were voices banging and banging down the hallway, calling her name because they thought it was right and they wanted their mother to be with them.

She had to tune them out. Because- this…

The woman- Aubrey Suzuki- clutched her phone even tighter. Aubrey was the mother to the voices that yelled her name, and the wife to the man who was kind enough to prepare breakfast that morning. She loved them, and appreciated them, and knew the truth: she wanted to join them at the table because she was hungry- even if she didn’t want to accept the fact there were hunger pangs fiddling about in the background.

Yet…

Aubrey mulled her head back before glaring at that contact again.

“Pick up! Pick up for God’s sake!”

Those triple dots dancing about with their little loading animation was driving her mad. Sure, Aubrey was knackered already, and Aubrey knew that Sunny wanted her to take a rest due to how long her consultation was the previous day instead of sitting around with a phone in her hands, and listening to her husband was a way of being kind to herself, but…

Aubrey groaned.

She was where she was because she wanted to do something great for everyone once her family arrived in Faraway. Everyone, and one person. Aubrey was determined. It was her responsibility to bring it to fruition and she’d already made measures to get it done, and now- the rest needed finalisation. It was all worth it in the end. There was light at the end of that tunnel, and that was her one motivation.

…

The voices in the background were now silent, and only shuffling could be heard from the hallway in their one-storey home. Therefore, she was left to herself, the phone, some stray pens on the desk, the ruler, some pencils, a stapler, coloured pens, rubber shavings, her laptop, the rubber itself, and…

“...Hello?”

Flipping finally.

“Kel?” came a shaky exhale.

“Aubrey!” his voice rang out, way too cheerily for the time of day, “Hey, man! It’s been a while!”

“Yeah…” she rasped, “You’re right…”

She stopped herself. Aubrey placed her ear to her phone at once, clutching it so tightly that her hand was quivering, and an uneasy smile reached her face before her words did, and then the words came out.

“Where were you, Kel?” she spat, “Do you even know how many missed calls you’ve got? I- I’ve been trying for ages- w-what was so important that you had to leave me hanging for this long?”

She leant back, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Living with Sunny for 16 years and working as a therapist to help other people were those rocks that helped her ground herself whenever it was needed, but having a bad day after a bad day was enough to send Aubrey into her tipping point all over again, even after all that time she had spent trying to restrain herself. Even at 37… anger was still her easiest emotion to evoke.

Kel knew. Kel had been her friend for as long as she could remember.

“Aubrey?” he countered instead, “Are you okay? Did something happen?”

“...Get to the point,” she groaned.

“…”

“Where were you?”

Dead silence.

“Er… We were all watching Cris’s race…” Kel mumbled, half laughing, “Sh-She won! Sally and I have been popping streamers and- this place is a mess ‘nd… I was so caught up in celebrating that I forgot that I’d left my-”

Aubrey could hear some shuffling on the other side. Then, an exhale.

“Shouldn't've been on silent. Sorry, Aubrey.”

“It’s fine,” she muttered back, “Tell Cris I’m happy for her; I really am happy for her.”

“Oh… Sure.”

“Thanks,” Aubrey smiled, easing her grip on the sides gently, her anger having dimmed down after hearing about something which wasn’t about her own day, and it was a great device in clearing her own head.

She opened her mouth.

“So, Kel, I’ve called you today because we need to talk.”

“What about?”

Seriously, did nobody give him a gist? Aubrey groaned a little, but came back with energy because she was already worked up, “Our lot’s going to Faraway today, and we’re staying for a few days.”

…Kel could be heard gasping over the phone, amazed. Good lord, she was right.

“That’s great!” he replied cheerily, “Even Hero’s coming tomorrow! It all ties up!”

“It ties up ‘cause Sal told me he was coming, you dunce. We all wanted to see him too,” Aubrey deadpanned, rolling her eyes.

“Aw- Sal knew?”

“-and that's the first matter, us coming,” Aubrey continued, persevering to get to the point, “There’s two… so listen up. It's only you who's working for me if you decide to help out. Hopefully you’re up for it.”

A huff.

“I’m interested,” Kel replied, thoughtfully, “Go on…”

Aubrey nodded at her phone.

“Alright, so…”

---

The call had ended very soon after, and Aubrey had had her breakfast. The rest of the day was spent packing, running around, and preparing clothes for the later arrival at their destination. Thankfully, everyone managed to pull through.

Together at last, they were off. Sunny took the wheel as the family of four headed from Closeby City to Faraway Town.

…Temporarily. Because Aubrey had cravings for a coffee, and Mari had cravings for generalised food, the Suzukis decided to pull over midway at a service station. This had led to Aubrey bartering with Sunny for not only a coffee, but also a desired flavour (alongside Abbi making irrational food decisions, because- even though she didn’t say it- she was definitely hungrier than her sister).

In the turnout, Aubrey eventually found herself in the driver’s seat while Sunny dozed off in the passenger seat. She had a coffee, so Sunny forced her to drive. Darn it.

Unfortunately, Abbi- knackered from the morning- couldn’t sleep, as Abbi had already put her silver contacts in. Therefore, to pass time, her sister had created many eye spy games with herself and her parents, but after Mari became drained herself and pulled out her tablet to draw… Abbi just philosophically analysed the passing scenery, until her grades came up in her subconscious. After this, she was really awake.

They continued on.

---

The family of four arrived at Basil and Kim’s house as the sun began to set. Aubrey was bubbling with excitement, but masked this with her usual irritation and straightforwardness; Mari was bubbling with excitement, and was definitely not masking at all; Abbi was- once again- knackered; and Sunny was groggy, yet alert enough to drag himself out the car and walk three steps, so it was good enough.

Sunny got started on the boot, so Aubrey knocked on the door…

…Even Mari took her fists and hammered like a woodpecker- not before Aubrey grabbed her hands and hushedly scolded her…

…Eventually, the door opened to a small degre-

“What took you so long? I was this close to asking Kel if he’d let me stay over!” Aubrey snapped, pushing Basil- the door opener- towards the wall with her elbow, causing Kim to snort beside them.

Mari slipped through, racing between her mother and her aunt into the open area, where Luke- in the centre- immediately caught her eye. In an instant she latched onto him, throwing her arms around him with glee.

“Luke!”

“Mari!” he cheered, returning her hug before spinning her in circles, and Mari squealed from the effect. The combination of the two of them was energy upon energy, and them being together was utterly scary.

Amber clutched to the frame of the hallway’s entrance, trembling. It was because of this that she was very quickly taken aback when a new voice suddenly perked up beside her.

“After car journey- tired, I am… very much!” it whined, “But energetic is sis, always… how…”

Amber jumped, turning her head with caution to see… What? When on earth did she walk through the door? How on earth did she miss a whole person!

“...Abbi?”

The older girl perked up in amusement, glancing back, “Amber! Nice seeing you!”

Amber timidly returned her with awe, staring with wide eyes. When it came to Abbi, Amber could feel nothing but bouts of admiration because Abbi was so talented, so smart, so elegant…

…That moment was only short-lived. Just the mention of Amber’s name was enough to divert the frenetic Mari who- after wrangling herself from Luke’s grasp- raced towards Amber and snatched her hand, squeezing it.

“Amber, Amber!” she gasped, “I have a really really cool art thing I wanna show you! Let’s go! Come on!”

Mari did just that. She swept the both of them off their feet: Amber with an expression of stupefied bafflement, and Mari with the brightest smile she had had in days. It wasn’t long before they were nagging the adults, prying for suitcases from a boot that had barely been opened.

11-year-olds, Abbi remarked, sighing. She glanced on with a colourful gaze at the vibrance of her sister and good friend after all those months of their separation. Abbi was 14, and it had been a while since she was comfortable with being as enthusiastic as those two. She sighed.

Until-

“Hey.”

Luke’s voice came forward. Now, his smile was inept- something else playing its way through as he glanced over, misshapen golden locks scattered through his face after playing with her sister yet- his stare was cool and cordial, eyes subdued, glance fixed.

“Luke…” Abbi whispered. Just the sight in itself was enough to make Abbi start praying for that ugly smile on her face to disappear at that very instant because dear God, why was her crush making her feel things?

Luke himself looked none the wiser, simply grinning at her wordlessly and nodding at the mention of his name. Therefore, to prevent the conversation from sizzling out because she really wanted to talk to him, Abbi took a deep breath in.

“How… you are?” Good enough.

“I’m alright…” he smiled, “The house was a tricky task to prepare for your arrival… but we persevered in the end! Even my little sister was determined to help out the best she could, so I’m grateful!”

“Nice!” Abbi cheered, clapping for him.

“Haha, d-don’t mention it…” Luke stammered, sheepishly- and Abbi noticed how- while she kept darting her eyes away- his gaze was directly onto her. Why…

“Whoops! Forgot… I did…” she laughed, before coming back, “Look! In my eyes… new contacts, white!”

He gasped.

“That’s what it was!” Luke exclaimed, “I knew there was something off about you, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.”

Abbi was thrilled that he’d noticed the change, “You like it?”

“Of course- they look wonderful!” he beamed, “Silver always suited you, Abbi.”

“Heh, to know- I’m glad!” she grinned, absentmindedly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. That fuzzy feeling that came with him was already starting to overwhelm her, but she persisted, adamant to stand tall against the nonsense in her head.

Amber watched them with a keen eye. With Mari still clutching to her hand, Amber’s thoughts were already ridden over by Mari this, Mari that… but her brother was not-so-subtly hiding that stupid pink blush by the hallway, so she couldn’t just ignore it: it was jackpot teasing material.

…Anyway.

“Mom!” Mari whined, glancing up at her aunt who was devolved into a coughing-laughing fit (Amber could hear her parents yelling at something outdoors, so she guessed it must’ve been that), “Where’s my stuff? I wanna show Amber all my cool art!”

“O-Oh, right,” Mari’s mother, Aunt Aubrey, coughed out, “Your dad’s getting that. It m-may be a while though- ‘cause he’s created himself a ruckus down there.”

“What happened?” Amber’s voice.

“God knows!” her aunt spat out, chuckling, “Come over here and see for yourself!”

On cue, she pushed the door open wider, letting both girls get a view.

Uncle Sunny was being scolded by Basil in his slippers: something about ‘soil’ and ‘idiocracy’... and Basil clutched onto what seemed to be a large compost bag that was sticking out of the Suzuki’s boot. To their side, Kim was astounded, occasionally butting in to call words at Uncle Sunny herself. The man in the middle could do nothing but glare at the both of them.

“...Oh.”

“Yep,” Aunt Aubrey shrugged, “It’ll mellow down eventually, but we’ve got to cross the beginning hurdles before that.”

“Hurdles?”

“Mhm…”

“I think I understand!” Mari chimed in, “Dad was fast asleep in the car- he still hasn’t woken up yet, and still needs to! That’s a hurdle, right Mom?”

Oh, sweet relief. With her dignity saved by her daughter not spouting any nonsense, Aubrey beamed at her before admitting,“Suppose so. That’s one.”

Then Mari grinned, placing her hands on her hips…

‘One’? Amber thought, paying inquisitive attention to her aunt’s words.

Mari didn’t seem interested in prying- easily distracted- as she seemed more interested in basking in affection. As a result, Amber left it to herself to muse over the possibilities of what those words meant…

…But she didn’t get far. Luke was now calling their attention, holding in his hands… Goodness’s sake, the Sweetheart Chronicles... as well as some other stray discs, beckoning at the two of them to make their selection for what she assumed was a movie night ‘to help them wind down’ (his words, not hers).

It looked fun. Amber decided to leave the thought.

Mari was awakened, and sauntered to the discs, her cunningness becoming more and more prominent by the second because Mari was a living breathing terror when she was passionate, and Amber stayed far, far away from her periphery. To make matters worse, Mari was up against Luke, also a living breathing terror when he was passionate.

…

Abbi- from the sofa- had a subtle gaze of tired eyes. To avoid the others, Amber wandered over to her and smiled a little in her direction. Then, Abbi chirped in delight.

She tried to make conversation… but it was hard for Amber to reply back, as much as she wanted to. Loud noises were working away and pitching higher and higher, so- for Amber- concentration became a form of labour.

She began to space out.

---

And Aubrey watched from behind. Out the door, she watched Basil sighing at the drowsy love of her life, and Kim scowling as she pulled a suitcase behind them with obvious irritation. Then, looking within, she saw Mari yelling at her nephew, her nephew bartering with a challenging smirk, Abbi watching them both with a worryful gaze, and her niece leaning into the couch.

Abbi seemed to have things under control, so she let them be. She hoped that Mari's excitement would mellow down soon, too. Honestly, Aubrey was proud of Luke for putting up with her so well, and proud of Amber for not fuelling the fire any further. Amber was like a cat when she was tired, too. Aw.

…Hence, she decided to go to bed. The car didn’t cut it, unfortunately, and she was still tired from her today and yesterday. Sunny would be grateful if she did so as well, so it was tempting.

Aubrey decided to sleep after dinner. As in- immediately. That was a nice thought.

---

His hands were on the wheel.

---

The night had settled in, and the preparations were already made- thankfully.

Kel’s brother would be arriving in the morning, so his parents- as always- had made sure to be ready in advance. Sally and himself had helped around too… but the excitement that came with his wife’s victory in her game had definitely derailed them, and it did earn his sister a lamentable scolding from his mom.

…Ah well, that time had passed. Now, his parents were upstairs, Adrian was asleep, and Sally had to study- so Kel occupied the living room, much too alert to consider beds. The TV was off, and he was relaxed, anyway: leaning against the couch’s armrest while scrolling his phone for headers, and the whole room was clean. It was a peaceful night in his eyes.

The knocking came after that.

Sunny and Aubrey were staying at Basil’s place, so they weren’t on the other side of his front door. Besides, it was too late for any of them to be driving anywhere- Sunny wasn’t able to see well in the dark, so those two always had to make sure to arrive at places in daylight hours.

It couldn’t be Basil, either. Basil was housing guests.

Then…

Kel got up, and walked over to the door. Faraway was a safe town, so he had somewhat trust that there wasn’t a burglar on the other side or something so absurd, but he didn’t order anything, or ask a neighbour to come visit, or even plan to have a visitor in the first place…

“Who’s this?” he called out. He had to make sure his family was safe.

“....I- don’t have my keys…”

That voice. The stable, calm tone. That slight unease from an anticipation for bouts of affection, overcoating his inner sheepishness. It was low, yet comforting- and it suited his profession well. It couldn’t be anyone else.

For his arrival, it was too early, and too late at night. Kel opened the door with alarm.

And his heart dropped when he realised that he’d made the right assumption.

Chapter Text

A young boy wiped his eyes open.

The morning light strewed through as a glittering beam, bouncing through the walls around him. Then, as his eyes grew wider- pictures and polaroids, medallions, books, and trophies- sparkled from their locations as if they were light upon light. It was an iridescent sight- reminiscent of people who were full of laughter, energy, and victories- which served as a stark reminder of who the boy’s great family was.

He arched his back, curling in on himself as his grogginess fought to get the better of him even after he pushed on. After all, because of yesterday, he’d had this amazing dream where his mom was smiling and cheering with him after her victory in her game, after which he visited the nature reserve where he didn’t tremble- but blathered incessantly, excitedly telling her about all the birds he had sighted in early spring.

It was so enticing that he didn’t want to wake up. It was a makeup of almost everything he enjoyed, after all.

Yet, he couldn’t waste his head on this. His mom wasn’t home, and his dream was impossible, and… he was so willing to let the day have a great start that he couldn’t keep thinking about something this trivial.

He sighed as he swung his legs around the bed and glanced up in exhaustion, before blinking twice. He was met with a familiar sight: his aunt and uncle’s beds, so he wasn’t befuddled by the actual arrangement.

His aunt’s bed was rather odd, though.

Why was nobody there? His uncle was in the city, so he couldn’t have touched his bed, but his aunt- well, ‘Sal’- had left her bed perfect, well-made, and spotless, laid out in a way that mirrored her older brother’s bed.

He was usually awake before her. How did…?

In the midst of his confusion, the boy shifted his glance onto his dad’s bed. This bed was an unkempt, ragged arrangement, incredibly different to his dad’s siblings’ beds due to the duvet being curled up on itself, the pillow falling off, and a stray shirt being tangled between the covers.

The juxtaposition was astounding- but to him, it brought him relief. At least something was still normal around here.

…

For as long as he could remember, the boy’s dad was never one for order and organisation- but his personality covered it up: his smile was bright and cheerful; his energy was unrivalled by those around him; and his stories about working were awe-striking, complementing his animated, jovial face quite well when he explained them.

Yet, before his retirement, his talent was almost phantasmal.

Tall and zealous, with a fire in his eyes, he would run across the basketball court swiftly, and dribble quickly, and even though he wasn’t the best at scoring, he would always pass the ball to the people who he knew would maximise how fast a score could happen, as his dad knew the court. Back then, when he was an athlete, he was one of the best on their state’s team.

Seeing his brilliant dad playing so swiftly, cheerfully, and passionately, was one of the happiest times in the boy’s life, too. He could still remember his graduation day fondly- as he traced his fingers along the ice-cold curve of his dad’s tumultuous trophy. It glittered under the sun.

Yet, the athletic pool wasn’t just his dad’s frontline of excellence: his mom was also a sublime, shining athlete- and she was still active and reeling on a get-go.

His mom used knife hands in her front-crawl, and skulleyed with so much energy, flawlessly conquering a pool’s length as quick as the lowest timed possibility. She was a mermaid to his dad, and- although it was cheesy- he was right. Whether it was the ocean, a pool, or a lake- she was so strong, so fast, and so delighted in the water, even though she was this close to being in her forties…

His dad was brilliant, but she triumphed even greater. They were strength, speed, and all-smiles. Stars in the sporting world.

…Despite them being so awe-striking to their 12-year-old son, sports were never Adrian Rodriguez’s strong suit.

Solo sports were his liking. Swimming, for example, was enjoyable to him, as it was him and him alone who contributed to a game’s victory.

Yet… competition was the problem.

When it came to running, those people with long legs would prance around like rabbits; when there was a ball, it would be passed at such a speeds that any interception injury would hurt really badly; and when there was a bat, someone would send the ball flying, so the fielding team would be jeered for not being able to run like shell-shocked hares.

Even the mere concept of competition brought unfair advantages, easily getting hurt, and a delighted crowd that cowered his head and stifled his breathing as they widened his eyes with their mocking-

It was his fear.

…Sal- being that straightforward, busybody aunt, was convinced that her nephew’s feelings were ridiculous. She’d been telling him for years how strange it was that he was different from his parents- those stars- who were above the flaws that he had, despite the fact that the two of them shared DNA with him. She, therefore, was led to believe that Adrian not only lacked a competitive spirit, but also passion.

However, that analogy was the one that was flawed.

Adrian Rodriguez wasn’t sport-smart, but he was passionate, and his passion made him the same as his parents to the point where he needn’t the gut to prove it.

Why?

He loved birdwatching!

Adrian was convinced that his adoration turned thorough understanding of birds was almost as weighted as his dad’s enthusiasm for basketball (nothing could compare to his mom’s enthusiasm for the ocean, so his dad was his best bet by a mile). Every day he would wake up, look at the window, record the birds, and take pictures if there were new breeds, and then he would log all his findings into a diary that he carried wherever he went, just in case he was out of his house and that bird he was looking for had finally appeared in front of him.

He’d already jumped out of bed, so the next step was lying in wait. Adrian was rearing to see this species he’d read about over a month ago, named ‘Allen's Hummingbird’, that was migrating to Faraway for the last few weeks- and since he wasn’t able to get a photo of the revered species yet, and probably won’t get many chances once his friends come back from the city, he knew he just had to get it now.

In his eyes, it was passion: he did have the same passion as his family!

He latched onto the ice-cold windowsill and looked out, eyes ablaze.

He could see the magpie from the previous day, some stray robins, and… and…

Yes!

Adrian reached into that satchel stashed under his bed and whipped out his camera immediately, determined to not miss the opportunity again. After all, these Allen’s hummingbirds had a gorgeous reddish-orange neck, almost radiating in the sun- and he had to make sure to get a picture of it! It was so beautiful!

One thought began to lead to another. According to Adrian’s research, male variants of the Allen’s Hummingbird would only flash their (luminescent) neck to attract a female, before diving in, and letting out a sharp, metallic whine from their tails. Adrian had only seen one, and the chance of any female- let alone the female that would attract the male- appearing in his garden, was a rather slim gamble. But he was buzzing so much that he could wait all day. Any second now, it could happen. He just had to wait a bit longe-

“Oh, Adrian.”

Kelsey Rodriguez, or simply Kel- his father, and the amazing ex-basketball player- stood in the doorway while Adrian let out a startled yelp.

“Good sleep, champ?” he asked him, his expression shifting to a smile.

His son waved his vacant hand in a so-so gesture. Admittedly, he was still overwhelmed by how he’d gotten his Allen's Hummingbird picture, so he trembled a little as his dad began to scrutinise him.

He ruffled his hair, chuckling to himself, while Adrian winced and coiled away.

“W-Well…” his dad addressed, now scratching the back of his neck, “Uncle Hero’s already here. If you go downstairs, you’d see him.”

What?

“I-It’s 12?” his son spat out. The previous day, Adrian’s dad had told him that his uncle was coming to visit, but he also mentioned how his uncle would arrive at noon... did Adrian just sleep until-?

“Pssh,” his dad snorted, “It’s not 12, Adrian… it’s 10! And your uncle arrived last night, regardless. No need to sweat it.”

Adrian was still beyond shocked. He woke up at 10?

“Besides, yesterday’s celebration knocked you out, didn’t it?” his father sighed, prodding his back, but Adrian’s thoughts wouldn’t stray.

Apologise.

“I-I’m sorry…” he muttered, despondently, “I w-woke up too late…”

His dad pulled back, before biting his lip with a frown.

“You think so?” he returned, somewhat challenging him.

“Mhm…” Adrian pouted, mumbling under his breath. His gaze was fixed to the floor, with any emotions of excitement and awe waning away ever so slowly.

To salvage the situation, his father bent down and looked his son in the eyes.

“Tell you what, then,” he started, “Yesterday you were tired, but you’re fully awake now! Fully awake and ready to see your uncle. Let’s just forget about all this and head downstairs, we don’t want to keep him waiting.”

He held a palm out, and the sort of entrancing grin that radiated when he cheered with his team in the basketball court was everywhere in his face, causing Adrian to gasp on instinct. He adored his dad, and when he pulled out those tricks he used on the screen-

“Coming?”

He didn’t even respond. The words were stolen from his mouth, and eyes were wide.

He gripped his father’s hand, and his father tightened the grip.

---

Uncle Hero was a stark contrast to the rest of Adrian’s family.

His hair was dishevelled, with a glance that seemed listless, consumed by something else as he looked- almost languidly- at the person who spoke before him. It was betraying in a way to his washed- clean clothes, well-lit home- and lively younger sister who accompanied him. His uncle’s back was also slightly arched, and thumbs were massaging his already clenched hands, so on top of everything else he was quivering, unsettled by the room around him.

…

It was because of his uncle’s emotions that Adrian was so scared of him: one day Uncle Hero would have the brightest, warmest smile, just like everyone else- and then another day he’d be nervous, maybe anguished, maybe dreary, maybe sharp-tongued- his head in a daze with unfocussed glances and quips towards everyone around him.

It scared him to realise upon looking at his face that that day didn’t seem to be a good one. His uncle wouldn’t meet his gaze, nor his father’s, and barely met the gaze of his sister, so Adrian was clutching to his dad before even walking a foot in his uncle’s direction.

His dad perked up like he always did and greeted the other individual, “Sal!”

Sal, or Sally, was his father and his uncle’s younger sister. At 23, she was energetic for the most part, while also somewhat sly, and perpetually under some degree of irritation. She was also one of his closest friends due to how similar they were in age, so Adrian was filled with trust and admiration for the girl who meant so much to him.

She tilted her head towards the voice, “You’re back.”

“Back, and with Adrian, too.” his father smiled in relief.

Kel squeezed Adrian’s hand as he spoke, seemingly trying to encourage him over as he craned around his father.

Sally tilted her head to meet him. Then, her eyes widened in surprise.

“No way…” she started up, somewhat dumbstruck from the sight, “Addy, you woke up at 10?”

Now, ‘Addy’ was the worst word in the entire godforsaken lexicon, but Sal- his mom- and his grandfather- were betrothed to using it, continually prodding him with that anguished nickname whenever he’d least expect it.

He winced, therefore, not only from his aunt’s jab at his waking time, but also her choice of words.

…Sally shrugged with a light sigh.

“Leave it, I’m just messing with you,” she droned, before petting down the vacant sofa area beside her, “Sit here, Adrian! Come talk to this miserable hag of your uncle, I’m sure he’d really appreciate-”

“Sal, what…?”

Uncle Hero started up in consequence. His expression morphed into an archetype of dismayed mirth as he winced, querying his sister.

And Adrian froze.

“You can’t argue with common sense, Hero,” Sally deadpanned, “But whatever. I’m not in the mood to argue with you.”

His uncle only nodded, wordlessly.

---

After some time, after Adrian’s father got him up to speed with his siblings’ conversation, his father took his leave to the dining room, as he sheepishly murmured how he hadn’t had his breakfast yet. Although Adrian was the same, Sally was reluctant to let him leave… and he himself was reluctant, too: fear had stamped him into place.

“Hey, Adrian,” Sally began, smirking with the slightest edge of greater life in her eyes, clearly amused by the fact that there was a third person in the room, “D’you wanna know what’s up with him?”

His aunt swallowed her aggrieved composure as Adrian began to fidget in unease. Sally then spoke again with a lighter tone.

“He’s sick. The common cold’s got hold of his neck,” she sighed, “Right, Bro?”

“...Yeah,” he murmured, smiling softly at his nephew as he spoke, clearly, “I’m sorry, Adrian, this… for lack of a better wording- ‘miserable hag’- caught the common cold, and isn’t the uncle you’re used to.”

“I-I understand…” his nephew mumbled, sheepishly.

Uncle Hero chuckled under his breath.

“Hero got sick because he went outside without a coat in the freezing weather, too,” Sally prattled on, crossing her arms and leaning backward, “Going outside with no coat, no scarf, no hat- and coming home with the common cold. Cherry on the top that was, Bro.”

…

Fixed and unbothered eyes met swift hand gestures as she spoke to her older brother with a fervid, ill-tempered alertness. Uncle Hero couldn’t even react to her before he’d be shot down.

It was obvious: Sally was mad.

“You need to take better care of yourself.”

“I’m sorry, Sal,” Uncle Hero returned back, without skipping a beat- every syllable enunciated clearly. It was as if he’d rehearsed his response, rolling off his tongue like a memory.

…The truth was in Uncle Hero’s eyes. Adrian could see that woeful, longing stare without much effort, which was so- so different to what he’d initially seen.

It was a weighted stare. Disarrayed emotions coiling together.

Adrian pressed his hands to his chest.

“I don’t need to hear your deadweight apology,” Sally shot back, clearly not satisfied, eyes flickering between both of them- yet, then- she let out a sigh.

Sally wandered to her brother with a thermometer in hand. She must’ve wanted to check up on him.

“Er…Adrian,” his uncle murmured, compelled to speak again, making an effort to ease the room’s tension, “How has your birdwatching been? Did you see any cool species recently?”

“Hold still,” she muttered, regardless. It was clear that she wasn’t as irate from the way her eyebrow creased, though.

Adrian had to speak up.

“I saw… They c-call it ‘Allen's Hummingbird’...” he enunciated, with a voice as steady as he could make it, “It migrated here. It spends its winter in M-Mexico.”

Uncle Hero’s eyes widened, even just a little, “When was this?”

His nephew raised his head. The ends of his mouth twitched up as the memory of his victory came back to him.

“Just earlier… t-this morning…”

Sally began to tap her lip, glancing thoughtfully between her brother and her nephew.

“That’s nice,” his uncle hummed, “All the birds back at my house aren’t as brilliant as what you can find, I guess. There’s crows, bluebirds, robins… and I’d love to see a new bird. You can only put up with a view for so long, anyway.”

He chuckled.

“Don’t forget to show me your diary soon, okay?”

Adrian massaged one hand with his thumb in the catch of a nervous grip he didn’t even realise he’d mounted. A very different emotion played up in his eyes as he glanced at his uncle’s stare of familiarity- animated and amicable- and he was bespoken as nothing but bafflement ran through his head as he glanced and-

…

An intensity of feelings and longings began to churn in his stomach as the memories poured in. After all- his uncle, his uncle, who he had missed for all those months due to him living in the city, who mounted a subdued, near-catatonic state, with a glaze in his eyes as he looked around…

Smiled at him.

Adrian didn’t expect any of this- but that moment left him enthralled. Lacklustre of the reality that Uncle Hero walked into the room with lower spirits, that smile that Adrian was so familiar with from the years he had spent with his uncle in his childhood was right there- plastered in his uncle’s face. It was bright, it was charming, it was genuine.

“-Addy!”

He shuddered. Snapped into reality by a completely different atmosphere.

“Earth to Adrian? Hello-ooo?”

Adrian broke into an uneasy titter as he gradually met the eyes of his aunt.

“...H-Hi.”

“Good morning,” Sally teased, poking Adrian in the face as he blinked a few times to clear his view, “You zoned out on Hero, my man. He’s not doing that great of a job of getting your attention back either, so I’m helping him out.”

Her cheerfulness faltered to a grimace as her words gave out, just like before. Her brother caught the hint.

“Thanks, Sal,” Uncle Hero addressed briefly, before turning to face his nephew, “I asked you, Adrian… will you be able to show me your diary before I leave?”

The proposal for a chance to spend more time with his uncle. Not the man who was speaking to him earlier, but the man who was speaking to him now.

His reaction was innate.

“Of course!” he rebounded, with his apprehension having not been resolved entirely- but he really missed his uncle, and that feeling of longing took over his words, as he warbled, “I’d like that. I c-could show you today, after b-breakfast!”

Uncle Hero nodded, affirmatively.

“I’ll look forward to it, then.”

“M-Me too!”

---

Adrian’s breakfast was only a small ordeal. After she’d ushered him to the dining room, within minutes- Sally could hear her mother’s delightful cries as her nephew tucked into the special meal that she’d dished up for Hero’s arrival, and Kel’s contagious laughter at whatever the joke in the other room was, probably on the lines of how big of an eater Adrian was when he wanted to be.

Heh.

“Hey, Hero,” she remarked, “Even if they aren’t showing it to you directly, all of them are happy that you’re home again.”

“Mhm…” her brother murmured, before clearing his throat, “Mom was always like this, after all.”

“How does it make you feel?” Sally pushed, inquisitively.

“Relieved… in a way…” he sighed, “I’m glad that I’m a positive influence at home. That has always been something I’ve wished to maintain, after all.”

“Despite lying.”

“I’m not a liar, Sally,” Hero retorted. A certain spark entered his eyes when he spoke about the topic, and Sally had never been able to find the root of it. Someday, she hoped, it would become clearer to her.

“...Well, fine,” she muttered, folding her arms again as she gazed up into the ceiling that was filled with those spiral patterns, letting out a deep sigh, “Hero, you should probably get over your illness first. It would be better if you had a clearer head, and hence- be able to breathe properly… if… you wanted...”

Sally stopped, and looked away. Hero furrowed his brows.

“If I wanted?”

She grimaced.

“...A small chat. You and me. One to one.”

…

“If that’s what you want…” Hero muttered, returning her conviction with a despondent smile, “I missed you, Sal. It will be nice to have a chat with you again.”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘nice’...”

…

“A few days ago, Aubrey and I were on a call. She was keen on coming here- from what I remember.”

“Aubrey arrived last night,” Sally mumbled, perking up in the slightest when he mentioned one of the closest people to her, “I rang her in the evening-... but Sunny picked up for her. He told me that his family went to Basil’s, and were hoping to visit us soon. They could even show up today.”

She frowned.

“Hero, who told you that Aubrey would be in Faraway?”

“...It was a while ag-g-go,” Hero started, before coughing abruptly. He then took a breath, and continued, “Aubrey said it herself. She was making plans, hoping to fix a Faraway visit when all 6 of us would be able to see each other again.”

“What?” she perused, with a hint of quiet excitement. Her eyes began to widen undoubtedly. It had been so long since she, her brothers, Aubrey, Sunny, and Basil- were doing one of those long-awaited, in-person catch ups. As a kid, those sorts of days meant everything to her; as an adult, the memories still brought joy.

Her brother peered to his right.

“The Easter break was coming up, after all,” he offered, with a half-chuckle at Sally’s expression, which could only be deciphered by the most subtle twitch in her lips, subtle because she didn’t want to let that feeling show.

She immediately stopped herself when her brother started smiling.

“That’s handy,” she deadpanned, with a knowing stare.

“Definitely,” he continued on, “We’re going to have to make them feel welcome, Sal. Although… with how clean the house is, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Be happy that we make a rampant fuss over you.”

“Which is also handy,” he returned, the smile dropping from his face and the energy fizzling out as he glanced at his sister and mouthed, “Of course.”, with the slightest hint of a whisper, weighted by a brother’s love.

---

On the other side of town, there was a very different emotion in someone’s face.

Mari Suzuki- a great friend, no doubt, had an excitement and passion for everything around her and that could never be dispelled- because, after all- this girl had a way of twisting everything around to something that made her happy. Angering Mari was a challenge, and upsetting Mari was a fallacy. Therefore… Amber Smith had grown to like her.

Although younger- and living quite the distance from her friend due to how Amber was in Faraway, and Mari was in Closeby- Mari visited frequently enough for them to latch onto each other whenever they’d be reunited. It had been like this since they had met: as little kids, Mari always dragged Amber by the arm and ran everywhere, for whatever the reason.

Today was no exception. Not at all.

Amber jittered as she tightened her grip on that fervid, quick-tempered girl’s hasty one, while the two of them ran to God knows where.

The two of them looked like headless chickens- scattered like free birds under reckless supervision- and truthfully, it wasn’t that much of a bother to be as rash as Mari, but it led to some arrhythmic, discordant breathing.

It hurt more than she thought it would, too.

“Mari!” Amber rasped, almost stumbling into her as she released the grip they both had, shaking from how worked up she was, “S-Slow down… idiot!”

“Yeah, but…” Mari pouted, seemingly flipping unfazed by that feat of energy, just how much stamina did this girl have? “The quicker we get there, the more time we have for fun stuff! Pros outweigh the cons. I win!”

Amber only laboured a reply through her breathing. She coughed out, dizzy from how she’d suddenly stopped out of nowhere to the point she almost fell, but retained her balance by stumbling until she was upright.

“...Amber?”

She grunted. That seemed to change Mari, thank goodness, as her eyes widened in the slightest with the stains of worry. Amber found herself close to smiling.

The others caught up right after.

“W-What rush, Mari?”

Mari’s sister, panting- but not entirely physically defunct like the other girl, came first, while Amber’s brother stayed close behind, grabbing onto his coat as he jogged forth. Within seconds, Abbi had grabbed her sister’s shoulders with a face that was sparked in weariness before taking a breath and looking down, before she began to spit at her.

“Slow down! Why-?”

“We need to get there before Adrian and his grandparents leave, though!” her sister returned, loudly, “We don’t have much time, Abbi!”

“How long… shopping… you… t-think it is?” Abbi coughed, with a weary stare yet defiant, angered tone.

Mari began challenging her, “Not long enough!”

“No!” Abbi rebounded, wincing with agitation, “Uncalled!”

“Uncalled and right!”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that…” Luke hummed, flicking Mari on her forehead before walking before all of them, causing everyone to follow him at a slower- yet moving pace.

’Oh, he’s the leader,’ Amber thought, as her weary composure and blurry vision dissipated into sheer relief. Abbi let out a deep sigh just beside her.

“Why not?” Mari questioned, perking up with an inquisitive glance towards Luke.

“If I was to go shopping for a week’s worth of groceries… I’d take a while, Mari,” Luke muttered, thoughtfully, “After all- stores are full of all kinds of trinkets, offers, and brands… you need to think carefully before you choose one, and keep a keen eye out for any others which might interest you. Buying more than one item would help, too, if it’s the week’s groceries… it’s silly to not, don’t you think?”

He was smiling with his hands in his pockets as he headed forward in relaxed strides, headstrong, so calm, and almost free.

Although…

“When do you ever go shopping…?” Amber muttered with a deadpan.

“I-I would like to go more someday… It’s fun, Amber,” her brother murmured, his voice beginning to unsteady as he warbled. Amber raised a brow, but Luke’s cheerful, confident aura came back, as if he had never faltered in the first place.

Abbi then began tapping her lip.

“Consider this… start,” she murmured, quietly, “It’s over there, see? Othermart… All 6 friends… big shopping trip! Maybe? Soon?”

“Only if Adrian wants to.”

“Truly!” she beamed, skipping forward before leaning towards him, her silver hair almost glowing in the afternoon’s rays, “On the topic… you know… how Othermart has food? I am… needing his choices of food, you know? Difficulty arises when Adrian refers that. Everything is his liking, but… particularly? His favourite? I need it to cook!”

“Adrian with food is scary…” Mari drawled, gradually mounting a grimace with every word, “He eats re-eee-ally fast. Faster than Uncle Kel.”

“Don’t worry,” Abbi rebounded, squeezing her little sister’s shoulder, “I only cook what makes you happy. Pizza… your favourite, right? I am cooking that… then…”

Abbi’s words led Mari to light up in glee, as she hence began to barrage her sister in praises, and long winded ramblings about how much she hated eating- but loved food- and Luke’s eyes were on them. Amber stayed focussed on the route to their side, and paid attention to the pathways to see if any money had somehow been left in between the litter.

Eventually, her uncharacteristically low voice cut through the conversation, “We’re here.”

“Great!” Luke appraised, glancing back at his friends as they made their way through the entrance. Mari strode forth and placed her hands on her hips, while Abbi glanced around as the scene began to set in. Neither of them had been to Othermart in a long while.

“Let’s look around!” Mari grinned, “How about we all split up? That way, it would be quicker to find him-”

“W-Wait…”

Abbi almost collapsed. She’d paused for a minute, because she was exhausted: the jog they undertook just to arrive where they were, the happiness that she would reunite with Adrian at some point later, and the pure fear she had for Mari if she were to run off on her own into such a great shop- pummelled down on her head with an increasing intensity as she walked, but now it had almost done her in.

She then grabbed her sister and tugged at her arm.

“M-Mari! Not- alone,” she groaned, which caused Mari to glance at the floor, uneasily.

Amber turned her head towards her surrogate older sister. The sight of Abbi being so worked up was rare- but the morning was taxing, so it all made sense to her. This eventually led to Abbi- harried as she was- catching sight of Amber despite her vexation.

“You- with her?” Abbi offered, and Amber gave her a polite nod on instinct.

This seemed to resolve everything. Abbi gave her a relieved smile.

“Alright, can you two go to Vance’s store?” Luke offered, “Ask your uncle if he or Miss Candice have seen Adrian anywhere, okay? Can you do that for me?”

Mari nodded, and Amber raised her head up in determination. However, as Mari kept spinning with happiness as to how she had been granted such a task- her grasp escaping Abbi’s- Amber grabbed her hand when she could and lightly dragged her away into the candy store.

“W-Wait!” Luke called out, “Come back here in 10 minutes, right here, okay?”

Mari turned around and nodded, which was evidence that at least one of them had heard him.

He sighed.

“That settles it, then…” Abbi agreed, “10 minutes… here…”

Luke scratched his neck, “Well, I panicked! Amber was running off and we hadn’t decided on a regroup! She’s very determined, sometimes…” he sighed, “But that’s what I like about my little sister, I suppose. She’s so willing to be any help she can when she’s driven.”

Luke took Abbi’s vacant hand in his, and squeezed it.

“Your call, Abbi. Is there anywhere you’d like to look at first?”

Abbi had already stumbled from the sudden appreciation, but responded in the most level tone she could manage, “W-Well… Bakery?”

“Good idea!”

---

Bright pinks, yellows, and oranges, decorated the walls of Miss Candice’s candy store. The sugary-sweet scent of artificial flavourings decorated the air, and rows upon rows of chocolates, taffies and lollipops adorned each waking aisle. At the counter, Amber’s uncle by blood- Kim’s older brother- rested with his arms folded as the two girls wandered in.

A started yelp escaped his throat when he saw who had entered.

“Oh- it’s Amber!” he remarked, “It ain’t common to see you down here- is it?”

His loud voice was startling. Amber squeezed Mari’s palm tighter.

“H-Hi.”

“Hey, kid,” he smiled, before meeting eyes with the girl beside her, “Morning to you too, Mari! It’s nice to know that Kim was bein’ honest when she mentioned how Aubrey was visiting one of these days, it really is great to see you.”

“Good morning, Uncle Vance!” Mari waved, in a much more sprightly tone than her quivering companion, “We’re looking for our friend Adrian. Have you seen him anywhere?”

With a wince (out of habit) at the name Mari had given him, he cupped his palm- lost in thought, “Adrian… That’s Kel’s kid, right?”

“Yep! His parents are Uncle Kel and Aunt Cris!” Mari nodded. Amber nodded just beside her, but less vigorously than Mari.

Then,

“...Sorry, I haven’t seen ‘im,” he grumbled, tilting his head to meet the girls’ eyes with a smile, “Tch… I almost forgot his name. Kel’s family’s made of quite infrequent customers; I ‘aven’t seen the majority of them here in weeks.”

“Do you know where we could look?” came Amber’s quiet voice. Mari was sulking beside her, but Amber only frowned in curiosity. Just like her brother had gathered: Amber was determined, and was fixed on attaining her goal.

“Did he come to Othermart?”

Mari mumbled in reply, “That’s what Mom told me…”

…

The reason for that epic race her friends hassled with in the morning was an earlier phone call. Mari’s parents and Uncle Basil had left Luke’s home in the morning before Amber even woke up, saying they were keen on visiting their own friend: Uncle Hero, who Mari didn’t know much about.

All of a sudden, she realised something: why would her parents leave her in Luke’s house when Sal and Adrian were literally in the house they were going to? She hadn’t seen them in ages, so she felt ridiculed, and instantly gained the need to ask questions.

She then took Luke’s phone and called her mom.

The result of the call was as follows: Sal was busy, so she couldn’t ‘play’ with her- and Adrian had gone out with his grandparents to go shopping before her mom had even arrived at his grandparents’ place.

Her mom had something important she needed to tell Uncle Kel without Mari knowing, too. Just to sour her luck…

…

Amber jabbed her in the arm. Mari blinked a few times, before looking up- and winced at how her uncle and her friend were looking at her funny.

“Wh- huh?”

“There she is. Thought we lost you there, Mari,” Uncle Vance snorted, before speaking up with a grin, “Anyway, your best bet would probably be headin’ to Mikhael’s store. That place is a bustling customer attraction, I’d say.”

Mari gasped in intrigue. However, Amber picked up a scowl.

“...Huh?” Mari quizzed, looking over.

“Luke, Abbi,” Amber muttered with dismay, “Obviously, they’d go to Mikhael because they know him better.”

That older lot just had to get in the way of her master plan, didn’t they?

Uncle Vance, listening keenly, furrowed his brows, “In that case… have ya looked at the pharmacy? Assuming Luke and Abbi headed to Mikhael’s store, without success, they’d ask the fishmonger, correct?”

Mari gawked, but Amber gave him a tiny, “Sure.”

“Right,” he continued, “Then head to the pharmacy- that should work out if what Amber’s sayin’ is reasonable. Head to produce if you’re stuck in the aftermath.”

“Why?”

“With no luck, your sister and Luke would continue going left, don’t’cha think?” Uncle Vance hummed, reaching over to pet Mari on the head, which she returned with an all-knowing smile. Amber only nodded in thanks.

Then, Mari pulled her arm, waved at her uncle, and ran-... while Amber groaned. Not only was she running again, but this time- Amber wanted to stay with her uncle: she hadn’t seen him so long, not nearly as often as her brother did. But what could one do when the one she was being towed by was none other than Mari herself?

…

On the other side of the store, Abbi and Luke were in a deep discussion.

They’d arrived at the bakery. This was a very different environment to the environment it was over two decades ago. Back then, a pair of twins- more commonly known as the ‘Baker Twins’- would stand in the front of the store to advertise their bread in unison, while their parents were joint managers- soft and friendly as ever- hoping that one day, their children would continue their tradition and take over the bakery themselves.

Things had changed since back then. For starters: one of the twins, Daphne- the more vocal of the two- had travelled elsewhere to become a scholar for her religion after excelling in school and opting out of the family business, shockingly enough. Her twin brother- Bowen- was therefore left to take his parents’ place, and became their shop’s manager on his own accord.

Then there was the twins' brother. In Mikhael’s teenage years, he was driven by a desire for rebellion, flaunting his looks, flaunting his charm, and flaunting his knowledge- which left him penniless- and stupid- and unattractive- and he wasn’t in a good place mentally either.

At that point, he turned to his siblings who still adored him as their ‘dear little brother’, and taught him everything they knew about bread and breadmaking regardless of the time passed since he had last taken an interest in it… and he treasured it. That feeling of being loved for what he thought was the worst part of himself was eye-opening to him. It was enough to get him back on his feet.

Mikhael worked in the bakery just after he turned 18. He never quit. After 21 years, he still took pride in what he did.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t him who received the older pair, it was-

“Searching?” a woman gasped, her age near the end of her thirties, “Oh! For who? We had a fair share of customers this morning, I assure you.”

This woman was Bebe: Mikhael’s wife.

“Our friend… Adrian!” Abbi smiled sweetly, while Luke glanced over to her in awe, “Luke… me also… for him we’re both looking!”

Bebe wasn’t there initially. When Luke and Abbi had arrived, they confronted Bowen, the manager, stoic and impassive as ever. However, when it became clear that he wasn’t at the front in the time that Adrian had supposedly visited, he began yelling, and called Bebe out to the front.

Bebe, unfortunately, was a bit of an airhead.

“…Who’s Adrian…?”

He muttered his grave response out of earshot, “Oho-oooo… the love child of the neighbours.”

“Cris’s son?”

“Who else?”

“Right…” she affirmed, leaning forward to face the customers, who- honestly, were unfamiliar to her too due to how conflicted her brain was, but she appreciated them anyway when they asked for help, “Are you talking about the son of Cris… and Kel?”

“Yeah! Did you see him this morning at all?” Luke pushed with a smile. Abbi nodded beside him.

“Hmm…” she pondered, she clicked her tongue, “Ah, right! I did see Cris’s son earlier… Kel’s parents bought some of the breads behind you if I’m not mistaken. He was with them.”

Luke perked up, as with Abbi, who took over, “A-After… where… which aisle…?”

“You want to know where they went after?” Bebe smiled, and Abbi returned it. Then she mumbled, “Well… I was busy with another order after I checked them out, but… they left in this direction.”

Bebe was leaning out towards the entrance to the bakery, and pointed an arm to her right, which led to the produce area of the main store. That, therefore, was the answer that they needed.

Abbi beamed in gratitude, and Luke nudged her in the arm while stifling a laugh, so Abbi found herself mellowing her emotions.

“Thank you,” Luke replied, leaning over to shake her hand, which Bebe returned with optimism…

Bowen shook his head, and began to wave her off as she stumbled back, and glanced up at her superior.

“Oh, sorry… this is your shift, isn’t it?” she murmured, before righting her stance, “Well, children, I’m glad I was a help to you, you’re always welcome to ask the bakery for help…”

Bowen’s glare deadpanned her again, so she swiftly saw herself out. He then turned to face Luke and Abbi’s eager expressions, with both hiding underlying relief.

“You need anything?” he proposed, and Luke shook his head, while Abbi sighed, “Thank you…”

And they were off.

…

Mari and Amber were no longer running after entering the coruscating area. The lingering smell of antiseptics, walls that were whiter than white, and dashes of colour within boxes and creams and tubes which decorated each waking aisle… was the setting. However, that wasn’t the thing which caught Amber's eye.

Within those aisles, was someone familiar.

Ms Polly, Amber’s grandmother (not by blood, but by law) and surrogate caretaker, was perusing the pharmacy when the duo had run in- she had no doubt about it! Ms Polly’s features were hard to miss- after all, she was getting old.

“-Aww…” Mari mumbled, despondently. Mari had been asking their question to the pharmacist, and it seemed that the endeavour was in vain. However…

Amber nudged her friend in the arm, and thanked the pharmacist for his help- with Mari holding back a squawk, mellowing to an unsettling grin… which Amber raised a brow at, before grabbing her friend’s hand (herself, this time!) and heading to the back of that store, before glancing up at the very occupant who she’d seen!

Mari was stumbling over her protesting words in confusion, but it all came to an end when she saw her.

She gasped, “Ms Polly!”

“O-Oh… wh-?” the woman stuttered, before her eyes lit up in surprise, and she broke into a generous smile, “Why, hello Mari! I didn’t expect to see you around Faraway… and Amber’s here too, wow!”

Ms Polly began to caress Amber’s cheek with her fingers.

“Are you alright, Amber?” she whispered, “Oh, you’re still getting thinner and thinner, I keep asking Basil to add more variety into your meals but he never seems to do it enough,” she grumbled.

…These comments were coming out of nowhere. Amber began to meekly look away from how upfront her grandmother was, while Mari looked like she was holding back a laughing fit from how constipated that stare was… Good riddance. Still, Amber was happy regardless to see Ms Polly, and a faint blush slipped into her cheeks when she worried over her.

Mari, on the other hand, was also receiving Ms Polly’s strange remarks.

“If you’re here, I’m guessing Aubrey came back with your dad… Basil must’ve relayed the wrong date?”

“We came early…” Mari mumbled, massaging her thumbs…

She didn’t know where they went early, to be completely frank:

...

“You lot, guess what?” Mari’s mom announced, sauntering over to the dinner table with a passion, “I’ve been speaking with Uncle Basil and Uncle Kel this time, so I think we might have a chance to head to Faraway a little earlier!”

It was as if time had slowed down for that very moment. Abbi just gasped, and their dad had a hint of bewilderment in his expression, but looked away in defeat before continuing to finish his food, strange as ever.

Mari was the only one who gawked and cried out in surprise, “Really? Why?”

“Well…” her mom mumbled, clearly lost in thought while she decided on how to word it, “...Uncle Kel told me a certain something… and plans changed, Mari.”

“What plans?”

She hummed, dismissing her, before taking her seat. Her dad raised his brows.

“You too, Sunburn,” she chuckled, “You’ll all find out soon. Wait a bit longer, ‘kay?”

Her dad tilted his head slightly upward- but said nothing, refusing to argue. Abbi and Mari, therefore, were the ones who barraged their mother with their many, many questions.

Yet, she wouldn’t budge at all.

...

“Mom wouldn’t tell me why, Ms Polly!” Mari whined, in sudden irritation, “You know what happened? Whenever I asked her, she’d just say that ‘plans had changed’, with no explanation as to what the plan even was!”

Ms Polly began chuckling.

“It’s okay, Mari. I’m glad to see you earlier. I’m sure Amber thinks the same, too,” she smiled- as Amber let out a deep exhale in embarrassed frustration, “Although… I wish Basil had told me the right thing.”

Ms Polly sighed.

“Anyway…” she hummed, her glance generous, “...Do the two of you need my help?”

“We’re looking for Adrian…” Amber muttered, in a low voice, “Ms Polly, have you seen him?”

Ms Polly’s eyes widened in alarm, “...Is he lost?”

“What, no!” Mari chuckled- the weight of her anger now entirely fizzled out, “He’s in Othermart- Mom told me! We’re just trying to find him so we can all hang out with him sooner!”

“...I-I see…” she murmured, “Well… I… don’t exactly recall-...”

---

Ms Polly was fruitless. She didn’t know where Adrian was, either. Just like all the rest.

Mari and Amber weren’t running as they left the pharmacy. Mari slouched, and Amber was almost dragging her. She really did lose hope very easily.

“Guys! Any luck?” Abbi cried out. Surprisingly, the four of them had reunited in the Produce section- as Luke and Abbi happened to be searching it while Mari and Amber were entering the main store. Abbi was onto their heels as soon as she saw them.

Amber shook her head to the question, and Mari’s eyes began to fill with exhaustion as she listened- on wits end- and lowered her head.

Amber still hadn’t given up, however. She began to quiz them, “Bakery?”

Luke shook his head, and Abbi frowned.

“Fishmonger?”

Luke winced with a smile, “Sorry Amber, we haven’t looked there yet.”

“No, no, no, no… not the aisles…” she muttered, counting on her fingers as she announced every location, before announcing, “He’s at the back. Either the butchery, or the fishmonger.”

“...Really?” Mari whispered, her voice in disbelief- as there was still a chance, so her eyes began to widen as she held firmly to that chance, “Well, should we all go together? Since there aren't that many locations left.”

Both Abbi and Luke nodded, and Mari’s hand slipped into Amber’s.

---

And then he wheezed.

Adrian was holding onto his grandmother’s hand as his grandfather made a deal with the butcher. He was ordering patty- if he’d heard correctly- as he intended to take the grill out later that day and make some signature burgers. His grandmother mentioned wanting to buy some fish, too, as she wanted to make a fish pie.

All these thoughts about shopping lists and future events were all he could think about as he stood there, taking in that signature scent of poultry.

…Which made the orange coloured blur that ran into his side completely unexpected.

“Adrian! Hi!” Mari called out, brimming with enthusiasm and ecstasy, hugging him tightly, “I’m back! Did you miss me?”

“Wh-?”

Mari didn’t answer, as she continued to squeeze him while chortling at herself. She was beyond happy to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever Abbi was whining in the background about not tripping over her own shoelaces didn’t matter, because he was there and he was receptive.

“W-Wait… Since when?” he cried out, just about managing.

“Since yesterday,” Amber spoke up, coming over to their side, and shrugging… before opening her mouth, “Abbi came too. She’s-”

Mari yoinked Amber into the hug as well, cutting her off-... but Mari didn’t care. Adrian, obviously, was happy about seeing her, but everything about Mari’s actions were so fast that he’d barely any time to comment. He just… hugged…

“Well… what’s all this?”

Luke’s smug little attitude was so annoying; Amber fought her way out of the hug immediately, keen to stop appeasing him so she could deadpan him grimly instead. He winced, obviously…

“Hi, Adrian!” Abbi perked up, cheerfully, ruffling his hair as Mari broke the hug, just holding onto the tips of his fingers instead, “It’s been… too long!”

“A-Ab…”

On the other hand, Adrian’s grandmother was taking the interlude to scold all of them for interrupting her husband while he was literally paying for their items, before breaking into a sudden smile. Seeing Mari and Abbi was a startling, yet pleasant surprise.

“Abbi and Mari! It’s a pleasure to see you again!”

“Likewise, Mrs Rodriguez…” Abbi murmured, taken aback. Mari, on the other hand, nodded with a gleam.

She stood there, surveying them. Mari was as bubbly and enthusiastic as ever, and Abbi seemed cheerful, and pleased to be with everyone around her… but outside of this, the boy to her right looked slightly uneasy.

Adrian’s grandmother turned to face Luke, “Is something bothering you?”

“Y-You don’t need to worry about me,” Luke chuckled in an instant, calming down… and then looking her straight in the eye, “I was curious… Would you be so kind as to let Adrian stay with us for the day? With Mari and Abbi coming back, I was considering spending the day all together- nothing too excessive! Just maybe… we’d play in the park, or stop by Hobbeez.”

The woman sighed, glancing over- as his grandfather turned back, and grinned at him, “That’s fine by me! You kids always make Adrian smile, so that’s definitely a solid plan, we’ve been needing some smiles around here ever since Hero came back last night.”

Luke’s smile didn’t falter- his cheerfulness mellowing into sympathy instead. All the while, he still murmured, “My parents haven’t mentioned anything about it.”

His friend’s grandma placed a hand on his shoulder.

“If you haven’t heard… It isn’t my place to say,” she hummed, “Nonetheless, I’m happy with you heading out with Adrian. Just make sure to bring him home by 6.”

“-Thank you, Mrs Rodriguez!” Luke beamed, without skipping a beat, “We’ll make sure of it.”

She squeezed his shoulder, and left it.

---

Adrian knew he was happy. Chuffed, as Amber’s dad would say.

He’d been treading on eggshells since the morning. Listening to his father’s trying tone; juxtaposed by Sal’s obvious frustration, hidden behind satirical remarks, teasing, and her own level voice; then both of his grandparents making efforts to lower the flames; and his uncle, Uncle Hero, looking through his diary with him.

He proposed it at first, and they did go through it. He was called out for shopping just after he’d turned the last page.

His friends all being there was something he never could’ve anticipated within all of this, but it was real: Abbi was there, and Mari was there.

Amber, Luke, Abbi, and Mari, were all there, and they had searched for him, when they could've all waited until he went home, but they didn’t.

He was so, so thankful.

“W-Wow."

Before he came to his senses.

"I-I missed you… everyone…"

And in the end, all of them gave him a hug.

Chapter Text

Hi, WCIHT? fans, and anyone else who comes across this,

Ha… I’ve had enough. I can’t sit week after week while feeling more and more guilty over how my fanfiction’s update schedule is literally close to stagnant, and so, after 10 months, I think it’s time that I should come clean about what’s actually going on in my life, rather than keep hiding under the guise of ‘I’m busy… sorry’. You guys deserve a proper apology rather than excuses after excuses on every single chapter. So, this is what this chapter is going to be about.

I haven’t lost interest in OMORI, or any of WCIHT?’s ships (Sunny/Aubrey, Basil/Kim and Cris/Kel). Far from it. I think I touched on this in the end notes of the previous chapter, but I don’t exactly remember 🫠. Anyway, the problem with my uploading is not a lack of motivation, or a lack of interest and enthusiasm… ‘cause the problem is actually in my personal life.

…‘Personal life’...

Heh… Here we go, lol.

I haven’t been updating my fanfic, because I am currently studying to be a doctor. I live in the UK, and I’m 17 years old, so I’m not currently in medical school, but that is my main career aspiration. Over the last year, I’ve been engaging in multiple extracurriculars to build up a statement, of what you could call a ‘CV’, to showcase to universities that I do have the potential to exhibit the skills required of a doctor. Some of these included writing a 5000 word research project, sitting an entrance exam, and volunteering at a care home. Last month, I had to submit that collative ‘CV’ to 4 medical schools of my choosing, and now, I’m currently waiting to hear back from them. All the paperwork is done now. Er… Yay?

…Therefore, what’s left for me to do is to prepare for university interviews (which are required for medicine, so I have to do 4 interviews) and sit my A-levels, but it’s a lot less than I had to do through 2024, which is slightly nicer. I also want to focus on learning to drive 😭.

So yeah… although I think it’s not as bad as the work I’d have to do next year, if I- if God willling- end up in medical school, it’s still a lot of work to do now 🫠, and it’s new, too. I’m not in uni, have never been to uni, and I don’t know the demands of the workload in uni from personal experience- so this is the most work I’ve ever had to do in my life. And that’s why I’d like to say that I’m sorry. Since this is new, I don’t know how to handle my fic as well as my personal life at the same time, yet. I’m sure I’ll get better at balancing the two eventually, but… you’re going to have to wait.

I know it sucks. If you’re like me, and obsessed with next generation OMORI content, you’d know that it’s as clear as day that there aren’t that many of us in this fandom. Children of characters is a very liked concept, but it’s not a popular one when it comes to having content made for it; that’s how I see the trope after sitting around on the fankid loving side of the community for nearly 2 years. So, if you’re fankid starved, WCIHT? is one of the only fics to go to… which updates after 2+ months with a new chapter, which is frustrating. I get it, and I’m really really sorry. It hurts me too not to write anything, and to look back on my writing over the last 2 years and see just how little this darned story has actually progressed from my initial plan. 2 years, and 100k words, and hundreds of hours of brainrot. Being me is really something 🫠.

Yet… I’m not letting this go. I still love writing OMORI fanfiction, and- God- speaking with the people I’ve met from it is the most rewarding thing, especially the people who ended up telling me that they knew me after reading my fic. And the people who made fanart. I… don’t think I’d ever be able to fully express how much I appreciate those people specifically.. If any of you are reading this, thank you so much, again. The core reasons for continuing to write- for reaching the conclusions I want to reach someday- are also very fun to work to. All of these benefits makes continuing this hobby so worth it :>>

Sorry for making this apology so lengthy- God, it’s a lot more than I thought I was holding back. Still, there’s no excuse for me not being frank enough with you, and those people who still have it out for me even now. I hope you can forgive me, again.

With regards to the next chapter… sorry, it’ll have to be next month. I have mock exams and art deadlines and have only just turned my ‘CV’ in, so I haven’t really been writing at all 🫠. Yet! I will now! ‘Cause I miss my boy Luke who I still need to elaborate a lot more on, and my lovely mystery man Hero- who’s still a mystery B).

When I post the next chapter, I’ll be deleting this and moving this to the ‘WCIHT? EXTRA’ fanfiction, since my situation will probably be the same then, as it is now. God willing, again; here's to hoping that the medical schools would actually select me to take those interviews- they still haven't done this, eheh.

That’s all I’ve got for now.

Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end,
Fai.

Chapter Text

A man looked over at 5 rapturous friends, hugging and laughing with one another.

…

His eyes were on the blonde.

Luke was now given the responsibility to watch over Adrian. It wasn’t hard; after all, the boy’s nature was this loving, good-natured kid, and everyone adored him for the zeal he carried. Not only that- but it was also quite handy that he always watched out for his friends. The man had no shortcoming in his confidence that Adrian would be home by 6 PM.

The knots in his chest began easing as he watched them. Luke waved over when his group of friends barrelled out of the store. Mari Suzuki was lively and jittery, her older sister was awe-stricken and fully at ease- Amber Smith looked amused- and the onlooker sighed with a small smirk. He was certain; being with them was the exposition to a day full of fun.

Adrian would be happy.

…

Argh. He reached his hand into his groceries, feeling for this paper that had slipped through his fingers like an animal. Darn it, he was such a distracted fool.

He picked up his shopping list from the floor, eyes peering to his wife absentmindedly. Focussed, and swift- speaking naught- she sorted what they had in their shopping trolley into something less hazardous. Her hands went across everything that they’d bought in swift tandem, which led the man to scratch his head a little. He was honestly a bit stumped at the passing load.

“Is that it?”

His wife tensed, holding the meat they had purchased. Then, she bit her lip.

“No… Mijo is temperamental,” she murmured, “Quickly, now. We don’t have all the time in the world.”

The man knew that mijo was their eldest son. The distress in her tone was an undercut to a fretful desire to care for him, too.

…The thought of that quirked a smile at the ends of his lips.

This is why he loved his wife. Hero's mom was so earnest to support and nurture the family she loved- as he was- so he grinned to himself as he pushed his cart through the aisles. At times, that care may convey as something strict or overbearing, but underneath- she really was a good woman.

“What more is there, then?”

“...Mm… fish?”

And thus, his gaze returned to his shopping.

---

A boy was shocked- no- gobsmacked.

“No way…”

“Yes way!” gleamed a girl who bubbled with excitement, “Amber's never wrong about dates, y’know? And she told me!”

She dramatically puffed out her chest, as if boasting her confidence. This caused that gobsmacked boy- benighted-to-cool-things Adrian Rodriguez- to tilt his head. Then, his gaze affronted Amber… who shrugged.

“Mari, on the other hand-”

“Wh- hey!”

Amber, Adrian, and Mari, prattled around aisles while lost in conversation. As a result of Luke’s intuition to head into Hobbeez first, the trio were berating one another by the doorway over the comic they were buying, and their knowledge of the brand.

…Which was also Amber’s muse: Captain Spaceboy’s Space Adventure.

(Which was- by Amber’s standards- one billion times better than the TV show. That Sweetheart-Spaceboy romcom was awful. The comic was a lifesaver, though).

Yet, Adrian hadn’t noticed the newest edition. Mari did attempt to debrief him, hyping him up with her hands in fists and a chatterbox mouth… but-

“Mari,” Amber snipped, “You fake fan. It updates on the 22nd. Every month.”

Mari wouldn’t have it, “Hey! I was close!”

“The m-middle of the month is pretty far from the start-” Adrian tentatively murmured- words stifled by a jab in the arm.

Mari was still discontented. She tilted her head as she scrutinised her friends’ expressions, flipping over thoughts with a goal in mind. And when she had it-

“In that case…” the girl drawled, the smirk on her lips teasing like the Cheshire Cat, “Quiz me. I’ll show you that I’m not a fake fan!”

“-Carpe diem,” Amber quipped back. And Mari blinked.

…

“You don't even know how it starts!” Amber whined, her eyebrows creasing in frustration as Adrian stifled a laugh, “‘Carpe diem. Captain of the Space Pirates, Captain Spaceboy, was the rightful ruler of Otherworld.’ You don’t even know the first line?”

She was never emotive. But… It wasn't romance, per se, that sparked her brother’s little sister’s weak side. It was more… people nattering about something she loved… wrongly.

And anger was a synonym for passion.

“It introduces Captain Spaceboy, and goes on and on about his glory and grace and the romance; Sweetheart was introduced as the same as him: graceful, and elegant. And then, it leads to their background- the trauma- their lifestyle with acclimatising to raising their nations of Space Pirates and Sprout Moles, and then they drop the literal bombshell that-”

“Nerd.”

Mari flicked her in the cheek. Amber responded with her tongue stuck out.

“G-Guys…” their third friend winced, desperate to actually have fun, “...D-Do we take it?”

He pointed to that Spaceboy edition that started the ridiculous hubbub.

Mari swiped the first comic off the pile-

-Amber snatched it back.

Mari exclaimed, “Why’d you do that?”

“Your hands are too grubby,” she muttered, picking a new comic that was several comics down in the pile, and replacing the one that Mari took.

“I-I… I wash my hands!”

She pushed her palms in the open… which didn't buy Amber at all. She quirked up a brow before rolling her eyes and walking the till.

…

Adrian swiped Amber's comic.

“Handwashing, huh?” the eldest chided, humming to himself as Amber blinked at him, “T-That won’t count… You spend all your t-time in your garden, right?”

As she stood there- aside Mari, whose jaw was dropped- Adrian swapped Amber’s comic for one of his own. He was smiling at the three with a hint of smug…

“I'll pay, okay?”

Amber gave him a thumbs-up, while Mari proceeded to jeer Amber with the snide little upturn in the corners of her lip, secretly happy that neither of them won.

…

“I’ll tell Basil about how you almost broke our TV if you keep this up-”

“Wah!”

Amber threw a hand on Mari’s mouth to muffle her squeaking, ending whatever the heck that Mari was about to say.

---

“My sister… soon: it’s her birthday.”

On the opposite side of the store, Abbi was perusing through rows of CDs, brushing her fingers against multitudes of plastic covers- deep in thought. Luke stood aside.

“What… good…?”

Luke was entirely focussed, and Abbi could tell. She watched as his bright amber eyes peeked between labels, not obscured by his blonde hair. It was a rare sight from this angle.

“You know what I think?” the boy began murmuring, “You’re picking this gift, Abbi. And Mari would love anything that was picked out by you.”

She tilted her head in uncertainty- to which Luke smirked.

“After all, you’re a genius…!”

“Only!... I am… beginner!” Abbi creased up, fretfully, “In piano- only!”

“It’s not just piano,” the boy frowned, before flicking the girl’s forehead. His smile returned after, with more colour than before.

Abbi was ignorant. She bit her lower lip as she surveyed the choices. Dismally, she muttered, “What… it was… it-”

“Is something wrong?” he asked her.

“Ah…” she chirped up, a little wistfully, “I am… cannot remember, Luke.”

“Remember what?”

His expression was sturdy. It was as if his teases on her weren’t embarrassing for him whatsoever.

“Mari's liking… a song title,” Abbi sighed- straying her head to the aisles again, “She would not say… but I am thinking… her favourite, that. Yes.”

“Aw.”

She perked up, “Hm?”

“It's just…” the boy hummed back, “I just think it's sweet that you paid close attention to Mari's interests, you know?”

She did wince in satirised confusion… with a slight nod to his words because Luke wasn't wrong. Yet, Abbi's silver eyes grew more and more wistful, as she reflected on the day that it happened.

“It was-... when shopping,” she mumbled, “In Hobbeez-like store… with music…”

For emphasis, Abbi made fists near her ears, and opened and closed them, as if mimicking speakers.

“Loud, loud music!” she grinned, “Dad teasing Mom… ‘ambience… when teenage years… the similar music’... T-That was it!”

“...Was it punk rock?” Luke queried, “Aunt Aubrey was a delinquent. Am I right?”

“It… ‘The dark age’… says Mom,” she drawled, shrugging, “But… You're right. It's… like-”

…

“Du-du-du-du-du da-da-da da-da-da da-da-da…”

…

“Not helping you silly!” Abbi pouted at a cordial Luke who had been clapping his hands like the lunatic he was, “Song… you know? Something… that?”

He smiled with an apology that Abbi received only with a straight face. Then… Luke tapped his lip, stealing his glance from his friend before meeting the CDs. His direction was poised, and rapt. Although it was the same genial Luke- with that smile of his that could light up a room-

His gaze strayed. Fingers brushed against the kaleidoscope of rows. She could hear hushed repeated murmurings of the same tones she'd sang, constantly, incessantly, until he stopped himself.

“Luke?”

Luke came to his feet. Creases reached his eyelids.

“‘Swirly 1000x’?” the boy proposed, “It’s very familiar to your du-du-du-du-du da-da-da. We actually have it at home too.”

“Shush,” Abbi cut in on instinct, and Luke smirked… but her breathing hitched as the words clocked in.

“CD… your home?”

“You know we have a lot,” Luke chided back, with a hint of exasperation in his tone, gradually vexing his smile, “It’s all bits and pieces from other people. And when you look through… Hah…”

Abbi chuckled, “That daunting, you?”

“Well…” Luke shakily began, tilting his head as he pondered, “Back in the day, Basil collected them mainly from Uncle Sunny. Pop, to rock, to classical-... it’s really intriguing!... Although…”

He faced her directly. Abbi saw wear etch into his brows.

“I-I wish-... I wish we p-played them a little more. All they do is collect dust. They’re… Expensive, Abbi! Practically relics! It’s such a shame!”

“And you’re mad?”

Abbi tilted her head in amusement. She found Luke’s angry self rather funny.

“...Not mad.”

Or, rarer than she thought.

“I’m more so impressed…” he admitted, his lips twitching to a genuine smile, “Uncle Sunny had so many CDs; to let them all go must be difficult, right? It’s something to admire.”

She blinked.

…Yet, as the words settled in, she then grinned, “You… lots of wisdom!”

But she was lost. Reading people was usually in her strengths, especially the people she’d known from the brink of her birth… or rather, it was the conclusion that made the most sense, given how those who surrounded her would respond to her.

Years of understanding the demeanour of others’ lexical patterns had shaped her into knowing what to say and how best to say it. It wasn’t something she did consciously, but something that grew over time. Her head was a God-given blessing.

So… What happened?

Abbi sighed, as she peered at Luke’s answering smile. Maybe today wasn’t one of her best days. Sleeping on a pillow that she wasn’t that familiar with had caused it, perhaps?

At least Mari would have a nice present. That was a nice thought. She was grateful to Luke.

They walked on.

---

She kept things simple. Sporting a white dress which went to her knees, tied with a belt at her waist, with a yellow cardigan draping her shoulders… ribbon too, yellow… her eyes met the doorframe.

Aubrey turned to Sunny. Sunny nodded in return, and rapped at the door with the back of his hand.

Today, Sunny wore a black eyepatch, white shirt, and black jeans- the colour being the one change that assaulted his outfit that whole week (his jeans were grey on the other days)- with black shoes. Sunny’s style was… adequate. Aubrey did hazard an attempt at tampering his normal a decade or so back, but Sunny’s own liberty at handling his closet left whatever colour she’d try to throw on him disregarded. Why? It was initially funny to their kids- which at the time, Aubrey might add, were 4 and 2.

“What’s that eyepatch for?”

It was Basil who perked up.

“Uh… Fashion?” Sunny muttered back, pointing to his eyepatch, then to his jeans. The simplicity was amusing: Basil thought, as he snorted to himself.

The three had gone out to visit Kel- and only them, as Kim… to her utter dismay… mixed up her schedules despite knowing that Sunny and Aubrey would come earlier (and it was rare for her to be this disorganised- the cherry on top- as if fate had hit her right in the face), and their kids were more interested in regrouping with Kel’s kid. Had one of the adults mentioned that Hero was sick, that might’ve caused more stress than needed for them. Plus, they hadn’t seen each other in a while- so Basil, Sunny, and Aubrey, kept it within.

This was what Basil was thinking. Their kids were free to hunt Faraway Town as they wished; Faraway was safe, as safe as it was when he was their age.

…

He peered away. Sometimes he forgets just how much time has now passed, and what ages they all were. A 15-year-old, a 14-year-old, a 12-year-old, and two 11-year-olds… should be fine… should be fine…

“Oh? You’re here already?”

Well, so be it.

Basil looked back over. His smile brightened… as there she was. Tall, relaxed, and well-kept as ever- Kel and Hero’s younger sister grinned towards the party, ushering them in… not without stealing an awe-struck glance at Aubrey.

It went without saying that her favourite was her. After all, Aubrey’s cyan-coloured ribbon… no, Mari’s cyan-coloured ribbon… hung to her strawberry-blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail. She wore a red denim dress to complement it.

However, Aubrey was occupied.

“Hey, Sal,” she started, eyes frenetic, “Where’s your brother? We brought food over and it’s gonna get cold if we delay this any longer.”

Straight to the point, from the moment she walked in, she was striding about with her hands clutched to her plastic box. It was actually Abbi who was responsible for that; Abbi had helped out with breakfast that morning, which luckily surmounted to a bit too much.

“Upstairs-”

Aubrey showed a grin in her thanks. She then headed on, leaving Sally’s mouth parted.

Sunny gave Sally a quick ‘Sorry for coming so early’, and then followed suit. And… Basil apologised on behalf of the couple for their speed, his eyes unsteady, as he admitted to Sally how not only were they evidently stressed, but were carrying this demeanour all morning.

She frowned, “Why?”

Although Basil averted his eyes, “I know why… but this is something one of them needs to say.”

“He’s gone cryptic again,” she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms before speaking upfront, “Basil, answer me this. Who told them that Hero got sick?”

“...To my knowledge, it was you?”

“Me?”

There was seriously something that she hadn’t been seeing- that part was obvious. She couldn’t fathom the idea that something so silly could create this much upset; were they seriously this worried because Hero walked in with the common cold?

God, how much more pampering did he need?

Sally winced, letting out a heavy sigh. Then, she trailed closely behind Basil.

---

After Adrian and their parents went out, Hero and Kel retreated to the shared bedroom, and true to his nature- despite whatever age he was, and whatever he was going through-... just as Sunny walked in…

“Hey! Sunny!” he cheered, getting up from the bedside to Sunny at the door, who was awkwardly standing beside Sally. Sunny’s smile in return seemed to amplify Kel’s enthusiasm. Kel pulled him into a tight hug.

“I missed you man!”

“What?” Aubrey spat out, an eyebrow raised in amusement, “Am I irrelevant now, Kel?”

Kel broke the hug. Like the dad he was, he mimicked Aubrey’s expression, and then offered her a hand. Aubrey just groaned and shook it back.

Basil came in behind both of them. He gave Kel a small greeting, to which Kel reciprocated with a shoulder pat and a wide grin. But the sight of who was beside him made him stumble.

He was forty-two. The years had done nothing to make Hero anything less than his most responsible, generous, kind-hearted friend, whose name had been so difficult to say over the years, due to how infrequent the meetings between him and the rest of their friends had become as time spun its wheel. Although, daresay, Hero’s white hair was growing prominent.

His greeting was quaint, “Hey.”

(Nobody then noticed Kel’s sharp intake of breath).

Hero’s gaze intended to begin searching: to make note of his friends’ complexions and clothes, and how they carried themselves in the months of his absence. It was a usual pastime for him.

Although-

“Hero- you idiot! What did you do to yourself now?” Aubrey panted, glancing at the man with her facial features strained. She was angry. Basil took a step back as his friend pushed past.

Hero grew reassuring and apologetic in seconds, “It’s nothing serious, I just got a little cold…”

“And?” his friend’s tone sharpened, “Hero, you’re a flipping doctor! It’s serious when a doctor can’t treat himself for the common cold!”

Sally’s breathing hitched. Aubrey's prime worry wasn’t Hero’s physical health at all. Sally had been wrong… Thank God.

“I had to reschedule like- three people’s appointments because I was rushing here!” she prattled on, with a blind eye to anyone as she held upon her ground, “Hero, ‘little cold’ doesn’t cut it! Can you apologise? Tell me why it’s serious to the point that Kel has to sit here and care for you!”

Kel wasn’t happy. He frowned at Aubrey, and muttered, “Don’t say that…”

Aubrey rolled her eyes, and Hero sniffled, letting out a hefty, wary, sigh. His gaze fell to his hands, then hinted toward Sally, and then…

“I’m sorry for making you worry,” he murmured, marking up a doctor's smile, “You… and also Kel. And the rest of you.”

“Don’t think I asked you to play dumb.”

Hero could see Sunny at Aubrey’s side. Sunny hadn’t strayed as much as a glance towards him- instead making for his wife, taking up her hand and clutching it tightly. Aubrey’s features slightly relaxed at the notion, but her trajectory was finite. She wasn’t distracted.

It said enough that Aubrey wouldn’t listen unless Hero dropped the professionalism that he held to his chest like his armour.

“I understand,” Hero murmured, “Fine… It's best I tell you before things get any worse.”

He needed Kel to be okay with this before speaking. So, he peered over- and was the first person to notice his brother’s eyes wide with melancholy at the tense environment, but gaze focussing nowhere, as if lost in his thoughts, perturbation seizing the way his back was hunched. But Hero controlled himself by silencing himself, straightening his gaze.

Nausea overwhelmed him, and a ragged exhale slipped out of his throat, prompting… Ah, Basil was here too… to shake Kel.

Kel looked up. Their eyes met, and Kel frustratedly muttered in a low, quieter voice, “Say it.”

And that was his answer.

---

It was a frigid, bitter night.

Ice-cold trickles and rivulets seethed across the roads and clattered onto the stones. Evergreens haggardly swayed in the wind. Water lay innate. Aged leaves were trampled upon, disregarded by March’s sudden influx of fresh greenery- too high to reach, too far to see.

He shivered, and sneezed, cupping his hands to his mouth to numb the pain.

In and out, he breathed. It was dark, too- the night blinded, starless and overcast. Fragments of luminescence carving their vivacity into the concrete pavement was the only source of respite. But he focussed, trailing through the rustling thicket, ushering past homes that were lit with the glimmer of peace-

Whatever. Synesthesia overwhelmed him, turning his head towards frigid water and screeches of tires and blares of headlights and the shuffling of his feet that were cold, cold.

He sneezed again, and raised his arm to meet his nose but that didn’t matter. The boreal yet subdued highlights of the sky had to calm him down. Blue is provocative of freedom, so what was best was to bolster his desires into something as sturdy as iron, and embrace them. Never to forget what he’d come for, and never to stop until he had it.

It became darker with time: once passing cars were increasing in sparsity, and once glittering streetlamps were shuttering one by one. Shadows unjustly lowered on his face, arresting his eyes, blackening his stare-

To focus, he had to stay alive.

After all, the reminiscent yet lucid facade of love, affection, generosity and arduous joy was promised to him on her deathbed, and for all these years, it shackled his neck. Dark, and cold, and the gradual ache in his throat, were frivolous in comparison. His God-given gifts had an arrest on his mind, despite everything. Too bad he was an idiot.

The gate that laid forth was in cobblestone, weathered by age, with greenery clambered in the ridges. The rugged edge was uneasy.

The pain screamed when a breeze came after- no- it was a conciliating, gentle, and welcoming breeze. The crisp echo of chill caused the evergreens to sway, but not break, so this was fine. It drained colour in his face.

He couldn’t feel his damned legs, but they took him where he wanted, where his heart would be content- and he crippled over. Spikes wrapped around his knees, blinding in white orchids, white tulips, and pink roses. He cursed an apology at the foot of her grave to his parents, brother, and sister, when he saw this.

There was a newly planted sunflower beside her. The intense yellow was like a light.

He cupped his hands, and breathed- rasping shaky, coarse breaths, as if his hands were never warmed and his ardency was futile- but benign eyes and cold hands distracted him.

Benign eyes… cold hands…

He whispered, “Oh… Mari…”

She had grown tired years ago, but his shackle had never faltered. His arms broke, and wrapped around him to warm him.

The piano keys that came to his mind at the passing of her were thundering and banging against dirt and heavy fingers. She didn’t deserve that.

"I-I've been busy... sorry," he chuckled dryly, “Visiting was bound to get tougher after this decision. Haha… Imagine how c-consultancy would’ve been in comparison. Easier…? Flexible hours would b-be great, right?”

…

"Ah... whatever, I'm here now," he warbled, before coughing into his sleeve and wincing from the inch in his throat, "Sorry… Mari, I’m-... cold.”

His hands traced on the creases of the headstone. Call it grounding.

“But that doesn’t matter anymore.”

He was sifting his hands together, kneeling and clenching his teeth- but the piercing bitterness quivered. It was as if heating himself was a senseless endeavour. As if the glacial wretchedness of nature was far too controlling. As if… Mari’s cold, biting hands were gripping him harder than his efforts back. Her hands weren’t warm. The discomfort in his chest made that clear to him.

"A-Anyways..." he stuttered, shivering.

He shuffled, and the trees followed.

“I-”

Tears began to fall. And with it, the rivulets waved. The chilling rain fell- and hit him, and each hit was throbbing, that cataclysmic tundra threatening to swallow his words whole.

"I'm so cold... because I can't have your smile, your laugh, your hugs, your cheering, your praise, late into the night when I can’t hold a sturdy disposition.”

The pain, and the aching, and the tears, and the memories, and the flickers of glowing light which were muted by fallacy, wrapped up his thoughts and numbed out his mouth, as he forced out bitter prayers.

"...How long must I wait? How long must I wait for the clouds to spiral around my knees? How long must I wait for the second sunrise?"

He trembled.

"Mari… Why aren't you allowed to be in the cold? Why do I have to suffocate for you? Why can't we suffocate together-?"

The man stammered. Saying this nonsense after however many times that everyone around him had yelled at him to stop. That was rude… very rude…

The distress and the anguish were hammering and throbbing, his lexical strings hazy-... How dare he let Mari see him like this?

He took hold of her grave, trying to get a footing, clutching with struggle onto its ever crumbling foundations, spasms breaking out through his lungs.

He hunched in on himself. The wind howled past his ears.

"I'm so sorry… making you hear that…”

A strand of white was on his eyes, amidst chestnut-brown.

"Everything recently… It made me miss you. So much.”

His words seemed to take a sharp turn for the better. The coldness of the night still trembled- but a warmth began flooding in his chest. His hot tears doubled, and stifled his mouth. Every word was nothing but bitter honestly.

“That…” he winced, “...took things off from my chest. So, thank you.”

He ushered away from the grappling vines and sorrowful cobblestone in weeping. He untangled his arms, made fists, and hardened his stare.

Yet, his smile was still left with a tinge of sorrow, as he whispered, “See you again, Mari.”

---

“...And then you came home,” Kel sighed, holding his heavy head as he smiled weakly at his brother, “Could’ve been worse had it been- I dunno- December or something. G-Good thing you didn’t get knocked out, right?”

Hero narrowed his brows, “Kel… It’s March.”

“You never know what could happen,” his brother muttered back, gaze stern, “You’re 42-years-old, Bro. I’m younger than that, and I can’t play on the courts ‘cause my body got weaker. Get it through your head that you’re aging, too!”

Hero’s eyes fell. He didn’t want to bother Kel any further. Kel had already won over his thoughts.

…

Kel was different to the Kel that Hero had grown up with. Kel had a background in being a father- but for longer than Adrian was alive, Kel had played the role as a second father to their sister. Hero being in college meant less frequent visits to his home when their sister was growing up, leading Sally to view Kel with more trust. Kel, therefore, with responsibilities ever growing, became more selfless than he was in his youth, and boundlessly caring, with a fire in his stomach when it came to things going wrong- things he characterised as his responsibility to maintain… like Hero getting sick because he thought he had no living person to reach out to.

Kel had never lost his ability to put others’ needs first- but how he differed from his 16-year-old self was simple: if the bright side wasn’t the best way to voice his care, he wouldn’t say it.

(It started when his best friend, wrapped in bandages, longings, tears, and frustration, spoke out of his heart with more animosity than Kel ever had).

Otherwise, no-one would listen to him.

“Just…” Kel trailed back in, “...Why? Why now, Hero? I-I…”

Ultimately, he wasn’t tough. He was still scared. This could’ve ended so badly for his brother.

Hero’s lethargy from his early cold was overwhelming, and pulverising his thoughts- but seeing his brother coughing over his words with a wavering happiness sparked him alert. Hero swung his legs, and-

“-Hero, go alone another time,” Sunny cursed in, gradually, “What’s stopping you?”

This caught Kel right off guard, his eyes wide as he poised his lip. This brought attention to the rest of the room: Sally with her head full of bricks leaning on the wall; Basil trembling as he stared over his hands; Aubrey standing with Sunny, her face warm and coloured for a reason that wasn’t at all clear; and Sunny was vexed. Sunny couldn’t see Aubrey’s view, so frowned, and gave her no weight.

(His train of thought was resolute).

“N-Nothing was,” Hero warbled, before coughing- and ending succinctly, “I’m sorry, Sunny.”

Hero’s face was hapless and worried, mouth gaped and then closed, as if searching for the right words but hiccupping on them, as if saying what they willed for was against Hero’s better judgement.

Someone saw it. A glare was shot in Sunny’s direction.

Yet, Sunny didn’t care, “Then, why…?”

“Give me a moment.”

Aubrey came out. She pulled him aside.

“Sunbun, think about it!” Aubrey hissed over, meeting her own frustrated eyes with his agitated ones, “Hero doesn’t visit like we do. Hero has such a pressing job- something might’ve triggered him there. Some patient, colleague, or- I don’t know- something about the time of year? The house that he lives in? Bugs in his room? You don’t know all that!”

As it seems, the colour in her face was rooted by assumptions. Sunny decided quickly that the approach would get them nowhere. Sunny gripped her hand and pushed her behind him.

“Don’t do that again,” the man pleaded with Hero, breathing in spasms, “Don’t hurt yourself for Mari-...”

“Sunny, enough.”

There was more on the edge of his tongue- whys, hows- that much was certain. However, Aubrey’s frustration- whether he liked it or not- was conquering his mind. It wasn’t because Aubrey was a therapist, nor the therapist that Sunny used to visit after speaking that conciliated truth confession, but because of the years they’d lived together: Aubrey knew when Sunny was pushing himself to worser, darker memories.

‘Don’t hurt yourself for Mari’. Said as if Sunny hadn’t done it before.

Except… Now, his life was far better. He had an affably supportive friend group, two good-natured daughters, Aubrey at his side, and a job that worked his hands dry- but was something he enjoyed. With such a pleasant life at his God-given disposal, Aubrey made sure that Sunny would never forget its weight.

That was enough to placate him. His shoulders slumped in respect of her judgement.

…Aubrey was also thinking further. She understood above all that Hero was disconcerted. She understood that Kel grew forlorn. Whatever they were hiding- it was far too fresh for the both of them to discuss it in the present. It was because she had noticed this that she pushed her husband away. Sunny was making it worse.

She decided to round up everything.

“You can go and brood some other time…” Aubrey grumbled, appropriating her words to be resemblant of the typical her, “I’m sorry for pushing you.”

Hero’s thoughts waned- and she could see it in the weight of his consequential sigh, the way his eyes widened, and the way his eyebrows retracted. But, Kel didn’t change. It wasn’t like Kel to be snippy like this, either. Aubrey wouldn’t be content until she heard him.

“Er… A different topic won’t hurt?” she sheepishly tethered in, lifting the plastic box she’d held before, “I… got breakfast? Abbi was cooking pancakes with-”

She looked over. Praise be to God, she had Kel’s attention- as the man’s glance had switched from Hero to her. She thought she’d probe him again.

“C’mon, you dunce. Think I’d come unprepared?”

Aubrey waved the box in his face as she snarked. Kel blinked, and teetered, “Heh heh… No.”

“We brought them from home,” Basil added on, “I-I hope it didn’t get too cold. It’s in these firmly locked boxes,” he continued, taking Aubrey’s box from her (which she scoffed at), “These supposedly act as insulators, but haven’t always worked well. Still, there’s a chance that the food is still warm. Cross your fingers!”

Basil was strangely quiet until Hero’s sickness was filtered away from their talk. Aubrey kept a mental note.

Yet, the environment was improving.

Sally mentioned something about plates and utensils before making for the kitchen. Kel shuffled to the end of his sister’s bed (which he sat on because it was closest to Hero’s) to make space for his friends. Basil obliged with a grin, keen to show Kel the… box… and Kel pulled an arm over his shoulders.

Then came the inner-children bickering with one another.

“Dibs on Hero.”

“I’m sorry, but why?” Hero winced, chuckling weakly, as he lifted the tissue box on the bedside table as Aubrey sat at his side, “I’m sick, Aubrey.”

“Better than Kel who doesn’t wash his hands before eating,” she scoffed, brash, as she sifted her hands together… but then blinked, as if a lightbulb went off in her head, “And hello? I’m convinced your stupidity has spread. If I don’t prompt Mari, she won't wash her hands either!”

Sunny actually raised a brow at that, before sitting next to Aubrey.

Kel’s mouth hung agape, “But Adrian doesn’t…”

“We’re talking about Mari!”

“I didn’t raise Mari,” Kel shrugged back, hopping off his seat, “Well, I’ll head to the bathroom and wash my hands for a knife and fork meal. Capiche?”

“It’s 10 times more efficient when you eat with your hands,” Aubrey drawled, getting up on her feet too, “You’d know if you’d eaten a pancake before.”

“Eugh…” Kel shuddered, “Aubrey likes getting slimy honey all over her hands.”

“You don’t need to eat it with-!”

Sally came back as Kel and Aubrey pushed past her. Basil waved at her briefly, Sunny gave a nod, and Hero didn’t notice- busying himself with his thoughts, if that smile on his face wasn’t telling enough.

She handed around the plates and… some of the cutlery. Then they came back, and a few others left in succession. After this, the second breakfast was passed around. What started as silence became more and more lively. Idle chatter filled the room: amusing because it was a while since the friends had last caught up.

Yet,

Hero looked around. Hero spoke quaintly, lest his coughs become more frequent. Hero catered to his sickness. Hero never once spoke to Kel…

This was happening amongst other things, but Sally kept her eyes on his actions. She couldn’t bring herself to calm down until the frustration eating her insides was all gone- which hadn’t faltered, despite her relief when she saw Kel, Sunny, and Aubrey reacting to the news. Although… her frustration wasn’t able to be quelled. It was wrong to address Hero when he was sick, and couldn’t think straight. That was the conclusion they had come to.

‘It would be better if you had a clearer head, and hence- be able to breathe properly… if… you wanted…’

‘If I wanted?’

‘...A small chat. You and me. One to one.’

She hadn’t forgotten what they’d spoken just earlier. Its memory was the only thing that could kill her frustration. The only thing keeping her together.

Sally looked around. Sally spoke quaintly, lest her thoughts become disarrayed. Sally catered to Hero when he needed it. And Sally never once spoke to Kel.

…

She wanted to, and didn’t know whether Hero would like that, but that didn’t matter.

The reason she’d left Kel alone was an inference on her sight that she didn’t really understand. Kel spoke jovially to Sunny. Kel spoke jovially to Aubrey and Basil. Kel smiled, and eventually grew more into the brother she always knew. But for Sally, and Hero?

Kel never looked at them once.

---

“Kel, where in this house will they not hear us?”

“Hm… downstairs?”

There was still a little more on Aubrey’s mind. Nothing to do with Hero, and nothing about the food. Something very different. It had to be addressed now.

“Alright, come on… since when were you this buff?”

Kel couldn’t get a word in to reply. Aubrey hooked Kel as she dragged him down the stairs, with Kel grunting and grabbing the handlebar for dear life. Something about Kel not coming fast enough.

Eventually, Aubrey pulled him to the living room. Visions that she’d contrived for weeks upon weeks poured forth into her eyes. Plus, the phone calls.

“Hey!” she muttered, “I had a plan for this visit, remember? Did it slip your head? Is it forgotten? Wasted?”

“...Can you let go of me first?”

Aubrey took back her arm and teetered uneasily. Kel rubbed his arm, but a spark lay in his eyes.

“It was a sick idea, and- my memory isn’t that terrible,” he grinned, “Nothing to worry about.”

“…”

Aubrey let out a strangled exhale from her relief and latched onto both of Kel’s shoulders in relief. Kel raised a brow, but went along with it. She seemed happy.

“Thank God…” Aubrey smirked back, “So… Where’s the stuff I asked you to buy? Is it around here?”

…

“Kel?”

Kel opened his mouth… but that sheepishness in his lips wasn’t subtle. And definitely wasn’t getting past the therapist.

Aubrey clutched onto Kel’s neck, and slammed him against the wall.

“Where’s the stuff?”

She had his throat, so Kel attempted to twist his fingers in between Aubrey’s grip, clutched onto her hand, and upon release, gasped, “I can explain!”

“What is there to explain? You haven’t done the singular task I instructed you with! What’s there to argue?” she hissed at him back.

Kel up-took a sharp inhale, and then coughed, “B-Basil- I gave him some of my job.”

“You gave your job to Basil?”

"No! I said some- not all…" Kel replied, while he unsteadily began to smile again. Aubrey lulled her head back.

“Kel! Kel- you dumbbutt…!” she groaned, her eyes spinning with vile, “I didn’t want Basil because then Kim gets involved in this! There’s a reason I gave you this job, don’t you see it?”

“You wanted to impress Kim?”

…

“Wh- No! I-I-I wanted- I wanted-”

She wallowed. Her words fell from her mouth, emotions heightening.

“...Dang, I got it right?”

Kel wasn’t exactly right. What heralded her thoughts was how Aubrey wished for her plan to be an opportunity to give, rather than be given, and Kim, along with Sunny, were the biggest examples she could think of for those who just gave, and gave, and gave to her.

She wanted change. She had always been an ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind of person, and was caring at heart: not a facade, given how her daughters turned out. However, this time, she wanted to go bigger than before.

Neither Sunny nor Kim should have known of this storm. But now?

"F-Forget it," she muttered, averting her gaze.

“Is that a yes?”

“No,” Aubrey curtly threw back, “You’re wrong… not wrong, sorry. Uh-... not entirely right. There’s some elements…”

Aubrey slurred her speech as her emotions took over. So, she muttered out the best words she could manage, skipping the long-winded explanation.

“I’m mad that you told Basil, because Basil is going to tell Kim. You don’t need to know why I don’t want Kim to know, Kel.”

“But then…” he shallowly continued, “In that case, that would be a secret. Why are you trying to keep a secret from me?”

…

“I-... I don’t want to say,” she whispered, “This crap is sappy-”

Kel frowned, and Aubrey… hated how she even tried to defend herself at all in the first instance. Her thoughts were welling with a vortex of thoughtless frustrations.

‘You damned puppeteer! You think death is a flipping joke, S-’

Kel, too, had an unsteady grasp on his heartbeat.

‘Please, don’t you dare hold back another secret… I-I can’t do this again.’

Aubrey trembled.

“I just wanted to give back to Kim ‘cause she’s always cutting corners for my sake. I want it to be big, Kel. That’s why Basil can’t know. Are you happy now?”

…

“What if B-Basil never actually told Kim the plan?” Kel warbled, as an answer, “W-What if Basil kept it a secret from her?”

He was uneasy. As it seemed, Kel probably caught on too. She didn’t want that memory in this conversation. Basil had changed. Sunny had changed.

Everything was okay.

“I highly doubt it.”

Yet, the fog wouldn’t dwindle.

“But it’s still a possibility?” Kel pushed on, “We could go and grab Basil now, and question him. Besides… Basil… is amazing at keeping secrets.”

…

Or-

“If only you weren’t right…” Aubrey murmured. A misshapen smile worked up in her steed. It seems Kel was trying to humour the thoughts in their heads, spinning them around to their benefit.

“Am I dreaming-?” he followed right up, with a similar half-smile, “Woah… Did my good friend Aubrey just give me a compliment?”

Then, he got elbowed, but that didn’t matter. Who knew frivolous banter could be cathartic in times like this.

---

Steadying their breathing took a few afterward laughs.

But it came. Peace.

---

Now they could make haste.

---

“You knew…” she remarked, tapping her foot as she tested the waters. Basil furrowed his brows. Kel had run upstairs to grab him promptly, lest Aubrey become more frustrated.

“About what?”

“My plan- hasn’t Kel relayed over information about a certain plan I had for mine and Sunny’s reunion with all of you?”

The man smiled, benighted to how wrong his reaction truly was, “He has! He asked me to get you some flowe-”

“Does Kim know? I-I mean, did you tell Kim about it?” Aubrey retaliated without missing a single beat, agitated beyond description, yet, hesitating slightly from how rash her behaviours were. Basil seemed very lost.

“N-No…?”

Aubrey breathed out.

“Kel said only you and him knew about it, Aubrey!” Basil tethered on, “W-Why would I ruin your surprise?”

…

Her eyes immersed with exhilaration.

…

Glory be to God. Kel’s brain was still in there.

“I-It was a struggle, though!” he ignorantly trailed on with enthusiasm, “I went early for my shift yesterday morning just to ‘ave all of the flowers purchased, and got home b-before Kim’s shift ended so she wouldn’t notice the masses… she doesn’t know anything.”

“Basil…” she breathed, releasing her grip and holding onto his hands, “Who knew you being a genius secret-keeper would be helpful in times like this?”

“Er…”

Basil’s smile fell for a moment at that outlandish, colourful statement. Although he gradually added a wary, “...You’re welcome?”

“And where did you hide them?” Kel curiously probed.

“H-Hide?... Oh, right,” Basil murmured, out of it somewhat, but open to their questions, “I gave them to the neighbours; Jesse and his dad, remember?”

“Under the alibi of…?” came Aubrey. It was hard to keep silent.

“I told them I needed some temporary storage; not the first time I asked them, anyway,” he murmured, before… lacing his lips with a teasing grin, “Connections do wonders.”

Everything was going well. The visions had come back; tomorrow would make use of them. There was nothing that was stopping her from pushing in her way. Her hands were now trembling. The spark in her eyes burned.

Kel called out toward Basil in his awe, “That’s genius!”

Basil remained courteous. Kel and Aubrey locked gazes.

…

Aubrey couldn’t wait.