OUTRUN THE TRUTH {OMORI AU} (OLD)

Meeting The Echoes

TW: Foul Language.

Kicking his feet, BASIL remained seated on the couch. His gaze wandered first to SUNNY, who sat beside him, and then to AUBREY and KEL, who, as usual, were engaged in a playful argument.

 MARI, with her warm smile and friendly demeanor, entered the room, catching everyone's attention. 'Hey, everyone. What's going on?' she greeted cheerfully. Her eyes locked onto AUBREY and KEL, and she couldn't help but chuckle at their ongoing debate.

KEL flashed MARI a grin. 'MARI, you've gotta settle this for us. AUBREY thinks pineapple on pizza is a crime, but I say it's a masterpiece. What do you think?'

MARI decided to playfully fan the flames of their argument, her eyes sparkling mischievously. 'You know, pineapple on pizza might just be the most controversial topic of our time,' she teased. 'But you both have valid points. How about we do a little taste test later and settle this once and for all?'

AUBREY and KEL exchanged glances and then broke into laughter, nodding in agreement. 'That sounds like a plan,' AUBREY replied, her stubborn personality softening as she appreciated MARI's diplomatic approach.

BASIL watched the interaction from the sidelines, still feeling a bit detached from the group's lively discussion. He sighed and cast his eyes downward, lost in thought.

SUNNY, sensing BASIL's distraction, leaned in closer to him and whispered, '....You seem a bit distant today, BASIL... Is everything okay?'

BASIL turned his head to meet SUNNY's concerned gaze, appreciating his sensitivity. 'Yeah, I'm.. uhm.. I'm alright.' he replied with a faint smile.

SUNNY leaned even closer to BASIL, his voice barely above a whisper. 'It's MARI, isn't it? That dumb facade she's playing is throwing me off too...'

BASIL looked into his eyes and sighed softly. 'Kind of? I don't really know anymore with her...' His uncertainty about MARI's behavior weighed on him, leaving him feeling uneasy.

SUNNY nodded in understanding and decided to return to a more subdued state, respecting BASIL's need for quiet reflection. He gave his hand a gentle squeeze, letting him know that he was there for him whenever he was ready to talk.

As BASIL and SUNNY remained in their quiet moment, HERO entered the room with a fresh batch of cookies. He held the tray high, displaying the delicious treats for everyone to see.

'Hey, everyone!' HERO greeted, a bright smile on his face. 'I come bearing gifts. Freshly baked cookies, anyone?'

MARI, always quick to tease, couldn't resist poking fun at HERO. 'Oh, HERO, you and your cookies,' she said with a playful roll of her eyes. 'Are you sure you didn't just buy these at the store and put them on a tray?'

HERO's smile didn't waver, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes as he responded to MARI's playful jab. 'Well, you sure figured me out, MARI,' he admitted, chuckling. 'But I promise, these are my own special recipe.'