TxW: Never Alone, Forever Together

Chapter 7: What Friends Are For

Tari POV-

I waited a few hours for Whimpu to return, thinking about what he said to me. "I'd always thought that being strong was about never showing weakness and always being what the other person needs", I thought to myself, "but the more I think about it... is that truly what it means to be strong? To let myself be vulnerable around the right people?"

I heard a knock on my door. I opened, and what I saw next could only be described as a pleasant surprise

It was Whimpu, standing alongside Saiko, Mario, Meggy, Bob, and Kaizo, all giving the look of readiness

"Whimpu...", I said in awe, "what is this?"

"This, my dear friend, is what friends are for!", Whimpu said in readiness

"Yeah, Whimpu told us about this Evelyn girl that keeps bugging you", Meggy said, "and we're here to help!"

"Yeah. If someone's causing you some real emotional problems, we wanna help help you in any way we can!", Saiko said

"Mario's come for dat *ss", Mario said, as he held a shotgun

"But...", I said, "Whimpu, I told you-"

"I know, Tari, you didn't want help for any of this", Whimpu said, "but just because you don't 'want' our help doesn't mean you shouldn't have it."

"Tari, you have some incredible friends who will care and support you no matter what.", Whimpu said, as he began to step a bit closer, "It's only logical to let them help!"

"Needing someone else's help sometimes doesn't make you 'weak' at all, it makes you human.", Whimpu said, "and sometimes the strongest thing you can do is accept the help of others when you need it!"

I stood there at awe, as I watched him offer me his hand

"Now come on, let's help you win this tournament!", he said in excitement

Whimpu POV-

Tari's look of awe turned into a bright smile, as she grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug

"*sniff*... thank you so much", she said, visibly happy with my help, "I really needed this..."

I looked at her in surprise for a moment, before deciding to hug her back. I could feel people behind me taking a step back, probably the rest of the gang doing so in shock of this moment

"Alright guys...", Tari said, breaking the hug, "let's get started!"

We all sat down at the living room, either on or near the couch. Mario was on the ground in front of the couch while Tari, Saiko and myself were on the couch, with Tari on the left and Saiko on the right, as I sat in the middle. Bob, Kaizo and Meggy were standing above us. I could see Bob and Meggy giving smirks to me and Tari respectively, causing me to blush a bit

"So", Tari asked, "how are we gonna do this?

"I don't know anything about gaming", Saiko said, "but this'll be important no matter how you're fighting someone."

"Does this girl make you angry?", she asked

"Is... that supposed to be a question?", Tari asked, giving a sort of 'I'm offended you had to ask' kind of look

"Use it!", Saiko said, Use your anger, and turn what makes her so annoying against her!"

"But every time I try that, it just gets me unfocused and gives Evelyn the advantage", Tari says, "It's like her main strat against me!"

"Then just don't get unfocused.", Kaizo interjected, "Me and Saiko get angry all the time while we're making music, but don't let control us!"

"He harness it, sharpen it, we give it the form we want...", he said, "and then we send that beat SIX FEET DEEP!"