Aphmau MyStreet: Searching Hearts

Ep 5: Homecoming

A few days later, Aphmau and Travis were in front of the airport waiting for Melissa to pick them up. They were given back their phones when they left the Guardian Forces, and Melissa called saying she'd pick them up. 

Aphmau was having a hard time staying still. She was pacing back and forth, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Aph, you should probably sit down." Travis said. 

"How am I supposed to sit down, Travis?" Aphmau freaked out, "I'm surprised you're freaking out right now!"

"I am, but I'm at least trying to be calm." 

"Don't rub it in."

Travis kept an eye out for Melissa since Aphmau was too nervous. She asked Travis if she saw any sign of Melissa every five minutes.

"Do you see Melissa yet?" She asked.

Before Travis would answer no for the 40th time, he saw a familiar car coming, "I see her!"

"Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! OH, MY GOSH!" Aphmau freaked out. 

Melissa pulled over near them. The moment she stepped out of her car, Aphmau tackled Melissa in a hug, "I'm so happy to see you, Melissa!"

"I'm happy to see you too, Aphmau." Melissa squeaked, hugging her back. 

"Um, Aph." Travis said, "Can I have a turn now?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." Aphmau said, letting go of Melissa.

"Great to see you too, Travis." Melissa said, hugging Travis.

"You have no idea." Travis said with a smile. After a moment, they pulled away, "So, how's everyone back home?"

Melissa's face turned playful, "You just want to know about Katelyn, don't you?"

Travis's face turned bright red, "I-I just want to know how everyone's doing! Is there anything wrong with that? Ask Aphmau!"

"Hey! Don't point fingers at me!" Aphmau said.

Melissa's face turned deadpan, "To answer both of your questions, everyone is doing fine and they all miss you. And Aphmau, there's something you need to know. It's about Aaron."

"W-What is it?" Aphmau asked, nervously. 

Melissa took a deep breath, "He's starting to remember minor things, his vision is coming back slowly, and he's starting to remember you a little."

Aphmau's heart nearly exploded. Aaron was remembering her? His vision was coming back? It was too much to take in.

"W-what?!" Travis and Aphmau asked.

"There's something else; Aaron also remembered a friend he's never told me about. He's only ever talked to her online. Her name is Shu?"

Aphmau's eyes grew wide in realization, "I'm Shu!" She said.

"What?" Melissa and Travis freaked out.

"Aaron and I first met on an online game. He was FC and I was Shu! He really does remember me! Melissa, what else does he remember about me?"

Melissa hesitated. She didn't know how to tell Aphmau that no one was supposed to tell Aaron about her. But she was relieved that Aaron remembered something about Aphmau after all.

"A-Aaron dreamed about you." She finally explained, "When he described the girl in the dream, she sounded exactly like you. But in the dream, you told him he had to remember by himself."

Aphmau and Travis were beyond confused.

"What do you mean 'remember on his own'?" Travis asked.

"Oh! Before I explain, I forgot that Lucinda went out of town to study magic again. I called her about the dream. She said Aaron's memories of you are reaching out to him through dreams. She said it's best to let things happen on their own."

"I-I don't t-think I understand." Aphmau said.

"We're helping Aaron with everything else, but... we can't tell him about you."

Aphmau eye's grew wide in shock and hurt, "W-What?"

"You can't tell Aaron who you are, Aph. I'm sorry."

Aphmau was in shock. She didn't know how to process any of this. She silently sobbed as Travis hugged her.

Travis didn't know how to feel about this either. Aphmau and Aaron loved each other, this silence would be torture. 

"H-How is Aphmau going to talk to Aaron if she can't say who she is?" Travis asked.

"Ugh. I never thought of that." Melissa said.

Travis's face lit up. "I got it!"

"What?" Aphmau and Melissa asked.

"Why not introduce yourself as Shu?" 

"What are you taking about?" Melissa said. 

"Aaron remembers Aphmau as Shu, right?"

"Right."

"And we can't tell Aaron about Aphmau, right?"

"Yeah?"

"So, since Aphmau can't tell Aaron who she is, how about she talks to Aaron as Shu? They're the same person, anyway."

It took a minute for Melissa and Aphmau to understand Travis's plan.

"Travis, that's actually one of the smartest things I've heard you say." Melissa said. 

"I know ri- Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" Travis asked.

"That's actually not a bad idea." Aphmau said.

"Who knows?! Maybe this will help Aaron remember you faster." Melissa said. 

"You're both right! And there's really nothing special about Shu, so it's not like I'm lying!"

While Melissa and Travis were happy for Aphmau, they were also a little worried for her. 

Melissa put her hands on Aphmau's shoulders and said, "Aphmau, are you sure you're able to keep up with this? You're still hiding who you are."

Aphmau took a breath and was silent for a moment. Aaron didn't remember Aphmau, but he remembered Shu. This would be able to let her re introduce herself. And if his memories were really reaching out to him and she had to be silent, then she'd comply if it was the best thing to do. 

"It won't be easy, but I'm going to try." Aphmau said. 

"I'll do my best, too." Travis said, "Unless someone slips and tells Aaron, ruining everything." 

Melissa and Aphmau looked at Travis with deadpan faces. 

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Travis said. 

"Just get in the car." Melissa said.