Chapter Text
The waves fell against the shore as gently as ever.
The moon was hidden behind layers upon layers of thick, dark clouds. The night sky wasn't quite pitch black, but it wasn't far off. The black sand under her feet was uncomfortable—as was the complete lack of that familiar sea smell.
He'll be here soon, Mari thought. He always appeared after a while. After she was left alone to stew with her thoughts for whatever time he deemed appropriate. Sometimes it would be hours, sometimes minutes, but he always appeared eventually.
For now though, she was well and truly alone. Like always. Like she deserved.
Her knees were up near her head, her arms wrapped around her ankles. She wasn't cold, but she was tired. So, so tired. She never got much sleep anymore. She didn't deserve that comfort either.
Her hands picked up a clump of cold, damp sand. It slipped through her fingers and joined the beach once more. Sometimes she wondered why her mind brought her here. She used to love the beach—but now it had lost all its colour, its vibrancy, its life. Just like him.
She looked out to the horizon. If she squinted hard enough, she could make out a tiny light in the distance, flickering against the darkness. It wasn't her first time noticing it. She could try to swim out to it, she supposed, but then she might miss his appearance. That had never happened before. She knew he couldn't swim, so it's not like he could follow her, and even though she had a bad knee she might be able to reach the light before she drowned.
An idea for another time. Not tonight. She was far, far too tired…
Seeing as there wasn't much else to do, Mari thought of today's events. She went to school, talked to a few of her friends, did her best to pay attention in class and went home. Nothing out of the ordinary there. She took the bus to visit Sunny in the evening. Two or three hours later, she came home and soon after went to bed. It felt like every day had just become that cycle, repeating over and over. Sleep, school, Sunny. The weekends had her studying most of the day since school was closed, and she spent more time with Sunny, but it wasn't very different.
When was the last time she had left the house to play with her friends? She didn't know. She saw them sometimes when they came to visit Sunny, though recently it seemed to happen less and less. Hero had tried to invite her out dozens of times since it happened, but she never joined him. He should just give up on her—they all should.
He said nothing when he finally showed up. Emerging from the darkness behind her, coming from wherever he went when she wasn't here. In her dreams, he always had both of his eyes. They pierced through her, seeming as though they were looking at her soul itself. From the looks of it, he did not seem pleased with whatever he saw.
"Sunny…" Mari greeted. She didn't even try to smile—she knew that only made him angry. He preferred to see her miserable, small frown instead.
The boy said nothing. His gaze broke from her, turning instead to the horizon. He walked towards the shore, slowly. Like each step hurt more than the last. His feet left prints in the dark sand, so small and so few.
"I visited you again today."
Sunny didn't seem to care much. He rarely ever responded to her, but that didn't mean Mari would stop trying.
"Mom and Dad have been talking about how I shouldn't spend so much of my spare time visiting you. Saying that I should go out more, spend time with my friends… B-But I didn't let them stop me, I promise!" Mari insisted, a bit of fear creeping into her tone. "I'd never abandon you like that."
Sunny reached the shore and sat down, letting the waves settle against his open hand. He liked the feeling, even if it was a bit cold. It wasn't as though his body had any heat to lose in the first place.
Mari couldn't think of much else to say. "Aubrey seems really lonely without you."
The boy's eyes seemed to flicker for just a moment. "And whose fault is that?" Finally, a response. That's all Mari wanted—even if his hateful tone was so clear. Anything… she just wanted anything from him.
"M-mine…" Mari barely squeaked out. "I'm so sorry, Sunny."
Again. She says that every single time, without fail. "What good does that do anyone?" Sunny's hand plunged deeper into the water now. It was freezing. He was glad he at least had that sense left to him. His others were all so dulled. His fingers brushed against something hard in the sand, a shell or a pebble.
"I-I know… I just want you to know how sorry I am."
"You say it every time." Sunny turned. His expression was still neutral, but Mari would have to be blind not to see that spiteful look in his eyes. "You only say it to make yourself feel better. It won't help him."
"Then what can I do to help you, Sunny!?" Mari stood. "Please—I'll do anything!"
Sunny turned back to the sea. He stood as well, his hand dripping with seawater. His silence was only filled by the sounds of the waves hitting the shore, harder now. The tide must be coming in.
"Please…"
Sunny found it pathetic. He hated her so much—he wished she would just leave him alone. But no, she always wanted him to come here so she could apologise over and over and beg for his forgiveness. So, so pathetic. What ill fate did he have to be born the brother to someone like her? Someone who would berate him over every little mistake in his playing, someone who treated him like he was a failure just for trying to spend more time with her, someone who puts their own brother into a coma and blinds him in one eye.
The boy turned away from the shore and sank back into the darkness, leaving Mari alone once more. He couldn't stand to be in her presence any longer, she knew. "I'm so sorry…" She said to no one. Her hands covered her face, and she wept into the night. The waves continued to crash against the shore, loud and grating to the girl's ears.
Through the corner of her eye, blinded mostly by tears, she could swear she saw the light in the distance dim just a little bit.
Sunny opened his eyes. Here again, he noted. Perhaps this was his new normal. It felt it had been… a while since he first woke up here. At least a few months, maybe more.
The boy pulled himself up. Everything was where it always was—Mewo, the laptop, the tissue box, the lightbulb, the young boy staring at him.
Omori's eyes followed him around the room. He was being quiet today, more than usual. Then again, it wasn't like he ever talked much. Quite rich, coming from Sunny, but even he wished his imaginary friend would talk more.
"Hi," Sunny greeted.
Omori gave a slight nod. Lethargic, almost.
"Want to go?" Sunny pointed to the door. Adventure awaited. And food. Friends too.
Omori, once more, nodded. He stood and followed Sunny out.
"—Then Aubrey said that I was being annoying, even though she was the only annoying one!" Kel explained. Sunny nodded, listening intently. "After a bit, Hero told us to break it up even though it was all her fault… Well, that's all that happened while you were gone, I think."
Sunny was always grateful for Kel's concise and surprisingly detailed recollections. "Hm," He said simply.
"Dreamer," Omori called. The boy in question turned. It was odd, but that's what Omori always called Sunny.
Omori was holding his knife in one hand—which quickly became a not-so-frightening thing after Sunny got used to it—and a picnic basket in the other. He handed the non-deadly weapon to Sunny.
It seems it was his duty to set it up today. Whatever. It wasn't like he was tired or anything. In fact, he always felt well-rested while he was here. Kel had already run off to go annoy Aubrey again. Hero followed to make sure they didn't get into too much trouble, and Mari—
Oh, right.
Sunny finished setting up the picnic. Omori joined him as they watched the rest play (Aubrey was chasing Kel around with Mr. Plantegg while Hero tried and failed to stop them). "Why don't you join them?" Sunny asked. It was unusual for him to start a conversation, but with Omori, there was really no other option.
Omori gave the slightest shrug. "I want to talk."
"To me?" Sunny asked, a bit surprised.
Omori faced him and nodded.
"About?" Sunny's normally neutral expression had a hint of worry.
The monochrome boy went silent for a bit, but his eyes never left Sunny's face. Eventually, he found the words. "Mari."
This again…
Sunny pursed his mouth into a thin line. "Go on…"
"You should talk to her," Omori suggested, though his tone made it sound more like a demand. "She's lonely."
"She knows what she did." Was all Sunny said. Omori knew the conversation was already over. Still, he pressed on.
"But… that was the other Mari. The bad Mari." Omori explained. "My Mari never did any of that… stuff."
Sunny wasn't listening.
Aubrey eventually caught Kel and gave him a fair whack across the shoulder with her weapon of choice. Hero was far too many steps behind to stop them now. He looked like he might keel over if he was pushed any further.
Part of Sunny wanted to join them, but he wasn't sure if it was to have fun or to get away from Omori. The monochromatic child was always bringing Mari up if he found the right opening. It was really starting to get on his nerves.
Eventually Sunny made his way over, Omori trailing behind leisurely. Hero was the first to notice them. "Oh, hey you two!" He wasn't as winded as before. "Wanna play?"
Hero gestured towards Kel and Aubrey, who had still yet to run out of energy. Now they were chasing each other around all the things in the park—the tether pole, the swings, the slide.
Omori nodded. Sunny watched as he ran over. He was about to join him, but Hero's voice stopped him. "Sunny, I was wondering…"
Sunny turned to him.
"Would it be alright if… Mari joined us today?"
Again? Omori had just been asking him this. Hero was the most insistent (Besides Omori) among his friends that Mari join them, even when Sunny assured him that she was fine, just off resting by herself.
Sunny would never hurt Mari. She didn't deserve that. He just… didn't want to be near her anymore. Was that so much to ask…? And it wasn't like he didn't let Mari come back and play with the others when he was sleeping.
She was lucky she got that much, an especially spiteful part of Sunny's mind bitterly croaked out. The boy pushed that thought down.
In truth, Sunny didn't know when he started feeling so bitter towards this version of his sister. So uncomfortable around her. He had flinched when she tried to hug him at least a dozen times before Sunny decided it was best if they didn't hang around each other. Whenever he looked at her, he'd just remember the things she said to him on the stairs...
Hero looked at the younger boy closely, awaiting an answer. He hoped with all his heart that just this one time, Sunny would say yes. That all seven of them could hang out. That included Basil, of course, though he was probably away watering his plants and whatnot right now.
Sunny sighed. "...She can join you guys, but I'm going to go elsewhere in the meantime."
Hero frowned. "Are you sure? Do you really not want to join us?"
Sunny nodded. He started wandering off somewhere north, away from the park. Hero was still frowning, but a part of him was happy that at least Mari could hang with them. He wished Sunny could join them too but…
Omori's eyes widened when Hero told him the news. His gaze lingered on Sunny as he walked away.
…Hm…
Sunny could see everything from up here. Everyone in Headspace looked like ants crawling in the grass. Headspace—that's what he had been calling this place ever since he woke up here. At first he was really, really confused. But for some reason, he was never scared. He just knew that this place wouldn't hurt him. And it was better than being stuck in Whitespace all the time with nothing to do but pet Mewo and wander around.
Whitespace was where he always woke up, though he didn't ever remember going to sleep. He didn't remember any dreams he had either. Sometimes, his adventures with his friends would just end, and then he'd wake up again some time later, better rested and in Whitespace with Omori.
He tried to reach further back in his mind, but it was all so foggy… It hurt to try and think about it. Really, all he could remember was that day on the stairs and waking up in Headspace. He didn't need anything else.
But he did know one thing for sure. He was just dreaming. Omori had even said so himself. There were only two things that could explain how he was dreaming for this long: He was in a coma in the real world, or time works differently here, runs slower.
To be honest, he didn't really know if he wanted to ever wake up. All he could remember of the real world was the argument and the fall. And the pain—so intense, even if brief.
Headspace was cool and all, but Sunny couldn't help but feel a slight bit of melancholy today. Maybe he should've stayed with the others… They always cheered him up. But after he thought about it some more, he knew he had made the right choice. They deserve to have fun with Mari, even if he can't be there for it. His happiness shouldn't be prioritised over theirs.
The wind rustled softly. Otherworld didn't get much wind, though Sunny was more surprised there was air up here at all. He had read somewhere that the air is supposed to get thinner as you get higher in the sky, but here he is, well into the stratosphere, and he can breathe just fine.
Hm. Maybe those books were wrong.
A sound startled Sunny. He whipped his head back to see what caused it. In the bushes behind him, out stepped Omori, still as pale as milk. "Omori?" Sunny questioned. "Shouldn't you be with the others?"
Omori sat down next to him, letting his feet dangle over the edge. The boy was more than a touch younger than Sunny himself, but no more than three years. And he looked an awful lot like him, except for the monochromatic skin and his signature tank top. He wondered if he didn't have those features, if they would look like twins. The thought made him giggle a little. Omori would make for a much better sibling than…
…I need to stop thinking about that so much. It's exhausting to be so angry all the time.
Omori tilted his head. "Funny?"
"Nothing…" Sunny looked over the rest of Headspace once more. Forget what he said earlier, this place really was awesome. So lively and full of colour.
"Hm," Omori said nothing for a long time. Sunny didn't bother to say anything. He didn't mind the silence. It was comfortable.
"Mari said thank you."
Sunny didn't seem to acknowledge his words, though if Omori looked closely, he could see him nod slightly in approval.
"Kel and Aubrey were wondering where you went."
Again, nothing but a tiny nod.
"..." Omori failed to think of something to say. Then, he felt something. An odd sensation. "That's… new."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Weird…" Omori stood. "Something's happening."
Sunny looked a bit more worried. "What? What's going on?"
"I think…"
He's waking up… That has to be it…
Why? He's… I didn't think he'd wake up so soon… No, he shouldn't be waking up. Something happened.
"I… don't know." Omori sat back down. "Nevermind."
Sunny didn't seem convinced. "What happened?"
Omori's expression was as flat as ever. His face gave away nothing. And people think I'm hard to read, Sunny thought. …Wait, who thought that? I can't… remember.
"Soon… you might have to leave this place." Omori barely more than whispered. Sunny still caught it, though. His heart sank. "I don't… I didn't expect this but… It might be okay."
"What do you mean?" Sunny's worry returned in full. "I-I don't want to go! I want to stay here…!"
"Go… You shouldn't keep them waiting. They're probably worried sick. No, they definitely are." Omori said, a matter of fact.
Sunny couldn't accept this. He stood swiftly. "W-Will I be able to come back!?"
That seemed to surprise Omori. His brows furrowed for a moment. "I… don't know. Maybe. I hope so."
Omori stood beside Sunny. "The others will be sad if you don't come back." He said. "...So will I."
"Omori, can't you stop it? Is there anything we can do?"
He shook his head. A lie. There was something he could do… If Sunny really, really wanted to stay, his young counterpart could take over his body and let Sunny live in Headspace in his stead. But Omori knew he shouldn't—couldn't. He had promised Mari…
…It was a long time ago that he made that promise.
"He's another sibling?" Omori questioned.
Mari's smile stretched all the way across her face. It'd be adorable if they considered each other as such. "Pretty much! Don't worry, you'll both get plenty of attention from me!"
"But… I don't want another sibling." Omori pouted.
"Don't be like that," Mari scolded. "He… Sunny needs our help. Right now, he's been hurt by… by me. We have to do what we can to help him, and maybe we can even mend their relationship!"
Omori looked up inquisitively.
Mari thought for a moment. "It'd be like if you hurt me and I never wanted to see you again. Of course, I'd never think that, but… if something like that were to happen, it'd just be too sad, wouldn't it? Siblings should stick together."
Omori nodded. "So… how do we help him?"
Sunny was away playing with Kel and Hero. Mari was watching with a thin smile. "By letting him enjoy himself… for now. But one day, he might have to leave. When he does, we have to make sure we give him a great sendoff! You'll help me out with that, right, Omori?"
Again, Omori nodded.
"Promise?"
"Promise," Omori said, his face still neutral as his sister wrapped him up in a hug.
Sunny was shocked when Omori suddenly hugged him tightly. Omori had never been one to initiate anything, much less physical affection. This was… unprecedented.
But Sunny couldn't be distracted! He needed to do something! Anything! It wasn't his time to go yet. He still had things to do… Right?
"Don't be scared," Omori muttered into his shoulder. "And… try to make up with Mari. She loves you, and you still love her. I know you do. Siblings should stick together."
Sunny's eyes widened. "W-What…?"
"Make up with her, for us," Omori said. "Otherwise, it's just… too sad."
"Omori, what are you—" But it was too late—it was time. Sunny's form disappeared, leaving Omori hugging the air. He wiped his eyes before any tears could fall. It would be alright.
…
Maybe.