Chapter Text
Mari sat criss-cross on her picnic blanket, the one she’s had as long as she can remember. Her eyes were fixated on the sky, studying the stars and all the shapes they could make. Her eyes drifted from constellation to constellation.
Basil sat next to her, fiddling with the flower in his hands, staring at the people on the playground. Berly and Van were playing tetherball, as usual. In fact, everything was usual, as it always was.
Mari was still lost in the stars, when, FLASH! She cocked her head to Basil, who let out a small laugh, holding his camera.
“Hey, give me some warning next time, will you?”
“Never!”
Mari bounced onto her knees, reaching out for Basil. He dodged her, taking another picture as he did.
“Basil, stop!” She giggled.
She reached out again, successfully catching him this time. She brought him into a tight hug, both of them giggling uncontrollably at this point.
“Oh hey, Mari, do you wanna look through my photo album with me?” “
Of course!”
Their attention was diverted when they heard their names called.
“MARI! BASIL!”
Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Omori made their way over to the picnic.
“Oh, hello Aubrey! Hello, everyone! How are you all doing today?”
“Kel’s being mean to me again,” Aubrey whined.
This was not out of the ordinary. Aubrey and Kel fought all the time. But it was all out of love.
“Oh, no! Not again… How could he?” Mari replied sarcastically.
“Pshh, I’m not being mean! Aubrey’s just being all whiney.” Kel complained.
“Well, Kel! You’ve just made a very convincing point. Now I don’t know who to believe.”
They bickered some more until Basil brought up the photo album. He pulled it out again and they went through it as a group this time. Looking through the photos brought back memories. Memories are a funny thing. The fact you can look at something and it could just bring you back to a different time? That interested Mari.
Looking at the pictures, she was reminded of how fun making flower crowns was. Sure, Kel and Omori gave up, but that just made the memory stronger.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Basil said, pulling Mari out of the memory. “Did you all want to come hang out at my house?”
The rest agreed, but Mari shook her head.
“Hmm… I think I’ll sit this one out.” Mari’s knee wasn’t in great condition, so walking long distances and keeping up with the group’s speed was kind of out of the picture for her. “You all go on and enjoy yourselves.”
The rest of the group was about to exit the playground when Berly screeched their names to invite force them to play hide and seek with her. Despite their best efforts to avoid hide and seek, they still got roped in.
As Berly was handing out straws, Mari decided to start packing up to move forward. If she couldn’t make it all the way to Basil’s, she could make it halfway. If they needed her, she would be much closer. Plus, she got to look at Basil’s pretty flowers on the way.
Mari made the slow walk through the forest until her knee started to give her trouble. She set her picnic back up, pulling out a bowl of fruit and setting it neatly on the edge of the blanket.
After everything had been organized on the gingham blanket, Mari took the time to relax and look at the nature surrounding her. After all, it would probably be a while until the rest of the group came by.
Critters roamed through the forest. Mari watched squirrels scurry up trees. She watched birds flutter from branch to branch. At one point she made eye contact with a rabbit. It froze in its place, with its big eyes staring right at Mari. Mari reached into her picnic basket and pulled out a carrot. She broke off the tip and tossed it over to the rabbit. The rabbit hesitantly grabbed it. Its eyes lit up and then began chewing on the crooked carrot tip. It soon hopped away and Mari felt satisfied. Funny how you could make a friend with a simple gesture of kindness.
Mari stared at the spot where the rabbit once stood, smiling. She then heard voices and turned her head to see her friends.
“Hi, everyone! You all came just in time for a lovely picnic! Feel free to rest here! Everything is already all set up, and I even brought some fruit!”
“Thank you, Mari!”
“No problem, Aubrey,” Mari beamed. “So, how’s it going?”
“Eh, it’s been okay,” Hero said.
“We’ve already got in like, four fights!” Kell said, attempting to hold up four fingers.
After resting (and giving Mari a bit of a confidence boost), the group continued on to Basil’s house.
God, she loved all of them so much.
—
The next morning, Mari set up a picnic in the playground again. Mari made sure everything was in order, waiting for Basil. Time went by, more time than Mari ever remembers waiting for Basil, and Mari was getting increasingly more concerned. Hm. Basil is usually here by now. I hope he’s okay. She waited and waited, but alas, Basil did not appear. In fact, Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Omori all showed up before Basil, which is something that never happens.
And Omori. He needs to stop disappearing like that, she thinks. Her big sister heart just can’t take it.
“Where’s Basil? He’s not with you, Omori?”
Omori shook his head.
“No… I’m afraid not. The last thing i remember was sorting photos with Basil in his house… And next thing I know… I’m waking up in Neighbor’s Room with Aubrey and Kel.” Hero said.
Mari’s eyes looked at him with an amount of worry that Hero had never before seen.
“At least we found you, Omori… but I hope Basil is okay. Who’s going to protect him if we’re not there?”
“Don’t be such a downer, Aubrey! We’ll find Basil for sure!” Kel grinned.
“You’re absolutely right, Kel. It’s at times like these when we gotta stay positive!” Mari chimed, trying her best to take her own advice.
Everyone but Mari made their way back down to Basil’s house. They thought that it could be a good place to start in case there was any evidence there.
Mari’s bad knee tended to set her back. She couldn’t walk long and fast enough to keep up with all of her friends. She had to stay back. She had to take it slow. Mari wasn’t going to be the one to find Basil, she knew that. But her job was just as important. She had to keep everyone fed! Food would help them stay on their feet, allowing them to search for Basil, instead of passing out. And plus, she would get to hang out with her friends by doing her favorite thing, picnics.
Mari didn’t have to be front and center. She could take it slow and help find Basil in her own way.
Anything for Basil.