File D : "Dig-Deep-Dreaming"

As the night settled in, and Kel's rhythmic snores filled the living room, Basil and Sunny moved to adjust their sleeping bags near the living room. The flicker of the dim lights cast a warm glow, contrasting with the cool shadows dancing across the room.

Sunny's curiosity bubbled to the surface as he observed Basil's hands, weathered and marked by the passage of time. With a gentle tone, he asked, "Wait, Basil, I noticed just now when you took off your gardening gloves for us to sleep... it's not my place to say yet... when did you get so many scars, cuts, small bandages, and some burns? Did Aubrey and the Hooligans do that to you when I was still cooped up in my home for the past 3-4ish years?"

Basil's hands paused in their task, the memories etched into his skin echoing the unspoken turmoil of the past. He met Sunny's gaze with a mix of sadness and resilience, his voice carrying a weight of experiences untold. "Some of these scars are from tending to the garden, a few from accidents in the kitchen... but yes, some were from those days when things were... complicated with Aubrey and the Hooligans."

The small traces of light seemed to cast shadows that seemed to dance around Basil, emphasizing the gravity of his words. Sunny's expression shifted, a mixture of concern and understanding. "I'm sorry, Basil. I didn't realize... I mean, I wasn't there to help or even know what was happening."

Basil offered a small smile, a silent reassurance passing between them. "It's in the past now, Sunny. We've both been through our struggles, in different ways. What matters is that we're here for each other now, trying to navigate through everything together."

The crackle of the fire provided a backdrop to their quiet conversation, weaving a sense of camaraderie and shared resilience. As they settled into their makeshift beds for the night, the echoes of the past mingled with hopes for a brighter tomorrow, intertwined in the fabric of their deepening friendship.

As he nudges Sunny "Besides, I promised since that DAY that I protect you right? We can do this!!! And now you're finally out umm…" blushes "It's nice despite being a Hikkimori you still you Sunny-" As Sunny laughs awkwardly scratching his head as he finish setting up his sleeping bag by the living room where Kel is asleep by the couch drooling "Yeah…wait what does that even mean?"

Basil smiled warmly as he finished setting up his sleeping bag near Sunny, arranging their blankets and pillows for the night. "It means," he began, his voice soft and reassuring, "that despite everything, you're still the same Sunny we've always known. Your strength, kindness, and resilience haven't changed."

He paused for a moment, looking at Sunny with genuine appreciation. "Being a Hikkimori doesn't define you completely. It's a part of you, yes, but it's not all there is to you. You've grown, faced challenges, and here you are, stepping out and facing the world again."

Sunny's expression softened, touched by Basil's words. "Thanks, Basil. That means a lot," he replied, feeling a sense of comfort and understanding in their shared space.

As he frowns a bit "But.." grips his arm that is neatly wrapped in bandages up until the palms of his hands and he fixes his neck brace under his clothes "i-I still am not kind…not anymore....I became detached from reality and every one for about this. Everyone, Basil except you a bit…and with Aubrey…Can she forgive me? I hu-hurt her…"

Basil's expression softened further, his gaze filled with empathy as he listened to Sunny's heartfelt words. "Sunny, forgiveness is a journey, both for you and for Aubrey," he said gently, placing a comforting hand on Sunny's arm. "It takes time and effort to heal wounds, especially the ones we inflict upon ourselves and others."

He looked directly into Sunny's eyes, his voice sincere. "You're not detached or unkind. You're grappling with your struggles, and that's okay. It's part of your journey, part of growing and learning. Aubrey cares about you, and I believe she understands more than you think."

Basil paused, giving Sunny a reassuring smile. "We'll navigate through this together, support each other, and find our way. And remember, you're not alone in this."

Sunny hugs Basil as he whispers "You too Basil, I need to return to favor to Make up for you always covering and shielding me yet…I am not technically a baby of our group anymore like Kel said earlier today…"

Basil returned the hug warmly, understanding the weight of Sunny's words. "We all have our roles in this group, Sunny," he murmured softly. "And yours is just as important as anyone else's. You've shown strength in your own way, and that's something to be proud of."

He pulled back slightly to look at Sunny, a reassuring smile on his face. "We'll support each other, lean on each other when needed, and grow together. You've always been there for me, and I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Then they yawn and lie down together holding hands, as Sunny whispers to him "Although too bad we can't return to my house a bit…will that be okay tonight? I'm always close to Mari…and well you weren't able to visit her today as you told me last night…"

As they settled down, Basil's voice was a (quiet) murmur in the dimly lit room. "It's alright, Sunny. We can stay here tonight; it's not like we're far away. And Mari understands I'm sure she does," he reassured, squeezing Sunny's hand gently.

"We'll visit her soon, together," Basil added, his tone soft and comforting. "For now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow's a new day, and we'll face it together, just like always."

Sunny then slowly closed his eyes and said "Thanks, for everything Basil…and also for Kel despite being unaware of our struggles and secrets…I also care for him…who knew he had grown taller than both of us?"

Basil smiled faintly in the darkness. "Kel's a good friend, even if he doesn't always see everything. We'll make sure he understands too, in time," he replied, his voice filled with a sense of determination and camaraderie. "Now, get to sleep Sunny-" chuckles to add "and only you were more in shock how Kel had a spurt of growth.."

Sunny nodded with a mild smile before they both slept. Suddenly, back in white space. Omori woke up a gasp before sighing in relief as he had another diary to prepare for his laptop saying "I left Headspace for a while as long as I remember to let my Sister be the leader of our group for now, other than that I don't remember besides only for a different method to Leave incase I grew tired of the USUAL way out…"

Omori's thoughts raced as he contemplated his actions in Headspace. He opened his laptop and began typing in his diary, reflecting on his decision to temporarily step back and allow his sister to take the lead. "It's crucial to let others lead at times," he mused to himself, acknowledging the importance of sharing responsibility and trusting in his companions. As he continued writing, Omori couldn't shake off a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead, wondering about the different paths and exits he could explore in white space.

Omori chuckled softly as he petted Mewo's belly, enjoying the comforting presence of his feline companion in the otherwise serene white space. "Looks like you missed me, Mewo," he remarked with a smile, appreciating the simple yet meaningful bond he shared with the cat.

Mewo's purrs and meows seemed almost like a response to Omori's words (Never recall what the world outside Headspace is like?). Omori smiled gently, understanding the unspoken question. "No, Mewo, I don't remember what the world outside Headspace is like," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia and curiosity.

Then as he carried the black kitten to his lap, he finally ended his diary with an unknown date. As he ask closing his laptop aside "So, tell me how is Dreamworld doing when I left for a while for my sister to lead our group?"

Mewo, nestled comfortably in Omori's lap, responded with a playful meow. (Dreamspace is as lively as ever! Mari did a fantastic job leading our friends in the hide-and-seek game. Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Basil were all so excited and had a great time playing with the playground inhabitants. They're quite the team, you know!).

Omori blinked as he smiled a bit before going stoic again dropping Mewo down as he walked ahead to look at the white door as he spoke bringing out his knife "Guess it's time to meet them again hmm…are they still at a playgrounf or in the interior of the STUMP (bushy treehouse on the outside and colorful inside with a big cat, colorful stairs and personal hub)", twirling his knife thoughtfully. He then made a decision and opened the door, stepping through to reunite with his friends in Dreamworld. 

As Omori entered Dreamworld's first area, the interior of the Stump welcomed him with its colorful and cozy atmosphere. The big cat lounged lazily in a sunlit patch, and the colorful stairs led to different levels of the treehouse. Omori navigated through the familiar space, noticing the personal hub where his friends often gathered.

Inside, Aubrey, Kel, Hero, and Basil were chatting animatedly about their recent game of hide and seek. Aubrey was recounting her clever hiding spot, while Kel chimed in with his excitement about finding Hero quickly. Hero chuckled and shared some funny moments from the game, making everyone laugh.

Basil, sitting quietly, looked up as Omori entered. "Omori, you're back," he said with a warm smile. "We were just talking about our game. How was your time away?"

Omori nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It was necessary, but I'm glad to be back. How's Mari doing as the leader?"

Aubrey grinned. "She's doing great. She's got a knack for strategy and keeping us organized."

Kel added enthusiastically, "Yeah, and she's pretty great at coming up with fun activities for us."

Omori's gaze softened as he listened to them talk about Mari. "I'm glad she's doing well," he said quietly.

As they continued chatting and sharing stories, Omori felt a sense of comfort and belonging wash over him. Dreamspace, with its colorful and lively essence, was a place where they could be together, supporting each other through their adventures and challenges.

Basil got confused "Of course!!! She's always doing well!!!" As Hero added "If you were curious where she is now, she said she is busy preparing a picnic for us…" blushes "even though I was the better cook for all of us"

Basil's confusion was evident as he tried to process Hero's comment about Mari's cooking skills. "Wait, Mari's cooking now? Since when did she start doing that?"

Hero chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well, she said she wanted to try something new and surprise us. You know how Mari is, always full of surprises."

Aubrey nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Mari's been determined lately. It's like she's taking on new challenges and excelling at them."

Kel chimed in with a grin. "I can't wait to taste Mari's cooking! She's gonna blow us all away with her skills."

Omori observed the exchange with a sense of pride and happiness. "It's great to see Mari trying new things and stepping up as a leader," he remarked. "I'm looking forward to the picnic."

The group continued chatting excitedly about Mari's upcoming picnic, filled with anticipation and camaraderie. In Dreamspace, they found joy in each other's company and supported one another in their endeavors.

Then, he blinks and thoughts as a gaze of SOMETHING flickers behind him before he turns and it fades. He gripped his knife and set it aside to join them sitting down as his thoughts pondered (why did I feel it's not out of character for my sister to try to cook like our best Hero did?) as he glanced at Hero before turning to Aubrey who is happily beaming at him. As he said in his usual monotone manner "So Guys, what was the small issue that Mari helped handle? I guess you could say…there's no enemies or small trouble right?" 

Next , Kel shouted, "Oh my gosh Omori even when you're not around it's so cool it's like you can predict things hmm…." As he glance at Basil "Should we share with him how one time you got taken by BOSS despite you winning Hide and Seek as Mari made a passive-aggressive approach to beat him?"

Omori listened to Kel's excitement and Basil's hesitant expression, contemplating the situation. "Hmm, it sounds like Mari's been quite proactive," he mused. "As for BOSS, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to share the story. It might shed some light on Mari's recent actions."

Basil nodded, a bit reluctant but willing to share. "Yeah, so there was this incident where I got taken by BOSS during our hide-and-seek game. Mari wasn't too happy about it, so she came up with a clever plan to outsmart him without directly confronting him."

Aubrey chimed in, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It was hilarious! Mari pretended to be calm and collected, but you could tell she was determined to win. And she did, using her wit and strategic thinking."

Hero grinned proudly. "That's our Mari for you. Always finding creative solutions to challenges."

Omori nodded in agreement, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's good to hear that Mari's been handling things well in Dreamspace. She's a natural leader, even in unexpected situations."

The group continued reminiscing about past adventures and Mari's leadership skills, enjoying each other's company in Dreamspace. Despite the challenges they faced, they found strength and unity in their friendship and shared experiences.

Hero spoke, "Although she mentioned it won't be the same as how you USUALLY lead us, Omori!!!"

Omori nodded, understanding Mari's perspective. "I trust Mari's judgment. If she feels a different approach is needed, then I'm sure it's for the best. We all have our unique strengths, and sometimes a change in leadership style can bring new insights and solutions."

Kel nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! It's like mixing things up in a game to keep it interesting and challenging."

Basil added, "And Mari always considers everyone's strengths and preferences. She's thoughtful like that."

Aubrey smiled warmly. "It's great to see how well we work together as a team, adapting to different situations while staying true to our friendship."

Omori glanced around at his friends, feeling a sense of camaraderie and trust. "Whatever challenges come our way, I know we can handle them together. Mari's leadership, along with everyone's contributions, makes our group stronger."

With that, they continued their conversation, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company in headspace.

Then, suddenly he noticed how the rest cheered when Mari walked down the colorful stairs from the above-white corridor lining. As she spoke "Woah what did I miss oof —" Dreamworld Mari almost tumbled with her picnic basket as Dreamworld Hero saved her and spoke "Ohh careful M'Lady" he said with a bit of flirt. As Mari kisses his cheek when he helps her down saying with a wink "Thanks my Charming gentleman~"

The group chuckled at Dreamworld Mari's playful interaction with Dreamworld Hero. Omori smiled, appreciating the lightheartedness of their friendship in Dreamspace. "Looks like we're all ready for a fun picnic," he remarked.

Kel grinned. "Yeah, let's dig in! Mari's 'personal' cooking is always the best."

Basil nodded in agreement. "It's nice to relax and enjoy each other's company."

Aubrey added, "And the room here looks beautiful today. Perfect weather for a picnic!!!!!"

They settled down for their picnic, enjoying the food and each other's company in the colorful interior of the STUMP. Dreamworld Mari's leadership and the bond between the friends were evident in their interactions, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.

Then, Omori tease monotonously "Dear sister you and Hero are getting even more chummy even after one time of my recent absence?" 

Omori's teasing drew laughter from the group as Dreamworld Mari playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Omori. Hero's just being his charming self," she replied with a grin.

Hero chuckled and nudged Omori. "Can't blame a guy for trying, right?"

Kel chimed in, "Yeah, Mari and Hero are like the dream team!"

The atmosphere was light and cheerful as they enjoyed their picnic, sharing stories and laughter.

Basil took a picture with his camera again, as he murmured "Another shot for memory.." Aubrey jumped and spoke "Heheh Basil!!!! This time, how about a premade photo? Wonder why you always take pictures in the 'moment' again?"

Basil chuckled at Aubrey's playful remark and adjusted his camera. "Sure, Aubrey. Let's capture this 'moment' together," he said with a smile, snapping a photo of the group enjoying their picnic.

Aubrey grinned as she looked at the picture on Basil's camera screen. "See, now we have an instant memory to cherish," she remarked, her smile reflecting the happiness of the moment.

Kel says "What? Basil!!! Back before the hide-and-seek game when Omori is absent, you can't take pictures when some others request a PIC? Any personal reason—-" As Dreamworld Hero spoke "Now now Kel, you also remember Basil already told us many times he wants to take the picture of the moment!!! The reason he accepted Aubrey was—" He glanced at Mari and how she could explain why recently Dreamworld Aubrey's request is an exception

Dreamworld Mari chimed in with a grin, "Aubrey's request was special because she knows how to capture the essence of a moment that's worth remembering. Sometimes, it's not just about the picture but the feeling behind it. Right, Basil?"

Basil nodded, adjusting his camera settings. "Exactly, Mari. Aubrey has a way of making each moment unique and meaningful. That's why her request was an exception," he explained, focusing his lens on the group again.

Kel giggles with a bleh on Aubrey Bleh's back. As Kel huffs "Fine fine, what does OMORI think since he's back?!!"

Omori, with his usual stoic expression, commented, "I think capturing moments is important, whether through pictures or memories. Each moment holds significance in its way, and preserving them allows us to cherish those experiences later on."

Mari claps as she fixes the picnic blanket for everyone. Hero set up plates as they ate her cooking and the drinks he made for everyone. As Omori notices Aubrey clinging to him as he asks calmly "Aubrey why did you always seem excited seeing me so much?"

Aubrey, with a bright smile, replied, "Because you're like the anchor that keeps us together, Omori. Your presence and calm demeanor make everything feel more stable and enjoyable. Plus, your knack for predicting things is just uncanny and intriguing!"

Basil nods as he fixes his photo album with new photos he has as he eats and drinks as everyone else. Until Mari spoke "Well Omori is INTUITIVE. Why else is he always the LEADER in our adventures speaking of which…Omori based on what I assume they share stories hmm…about my first time being the leader of our party? If I'd done well thanks!!! Yet…" As Hero added, "She wants to let Omori lead again…" As Omori asks "What? Why?"

Mari explained, "Well, I thought it would be a nice change of pace, Omori. Plus, your leadership style is unique and inspiring. It gives us a sense of direction and purpose in our adventures."

Omori then cutely pouts as he eats "so you didn't feel you're fit for being our leader Mari? Yet everyone here said you're so good at it!!! You even SAVED Basil during that first adventure!!! (Hide and seek) against Boss!!!"

Omori's pout softened into a smile as he continued, "But if you want me to lead again, Mari, I'll do my best. It's just surprising since you've been doing such a great job."

Mari nods, as everyone eats and drinks. As Aubrey said "Plus, maybe you can follow Mari's new plan since Basil and her can join our adventures!!! Not just me, Kel, and Hero!!!" As Omori nods drinking juice "Okay…Let's hear it" Mari spoke eating and drinking with them on the picnic blanket "Basically , since there's so many of us now…and usually you Omori use the EMOTION system right? And a PARTY system of four? What if…we got the NEW TAG method? Rather we call this a SWITCH tag!!!! Meaning if you want a specific member for us to switch places to fit the 4 party members still.. the other 2 remaining are support or standby for backup!!!" As Omori nodded as he ate and smiled with the snacks "Nice cooking hmm….Mari then, anything else to slightly change? Like hmm….right what sort of weapon or item you and Basil can use? Due to me I had my knife, Hero any sort of cooking utensils but for now is his fave frying pan , Kel his Beach Ball, Aubrey her Umbrella so…Just a thought"

Mari smiled as she considered Omori's suggestion. "For me and Basil, we can use his cameras as weapons or tools for puzzles! Since Basil loves photography and I enjoy taking pictures too, it fits our personalities and skills." She glanced at Basil, who nodded in agreement.

Aubrey chimed in, "That's a cool idea! It adds variety to our team's abilities and makes each of us more versatile in different situations."

Omori nodded, pleased with the idea. "Great suggestion, Mari. Let's incorporate the SWITCH tag method and our new weapon/items into our next adventure. It'll make things more interesting and strategic."

As Basil spoke "Although Mari I notice when you manage to save me from Boss you're good at giving insight!!! Maybe you can use either your strength to give us hints about any enemy. Then, Maybe—" As Omori adds, "I think your basket fits as an item too…it can store extra other items we can use…is that okay? It fits my flexible amazing sister…"

Mari grinned at the suggestions. "I like those ideas! My basket can be a useful item for storing extra items or even providing hints during our adventures. And Basil, I'll make sure to use my insight to help the team out whenever possible."

Hero nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds like a solid plan! We'll have more tools and strategies at our disposal for whatever challenges come our way."

Kel, munching on some snacks, added with a smile, "Yeah, Mari's always got good ideas. I'm excited to see how this new SWITCH tag method and our upgraded items will work in our next adventure!"

With everyone on board, the group continued to enjoy their picnic and discuss their plans for future adventures in the Dreamworld.

Aubrey's excitement was palpable as she hugged Mari. "Mari, I can't wait for you and Basil to join our team officially! I've always been curious about how you'll fight alongside us in battles. Your strategic thinking and quick reflexes will be a game-changer for us!"

Mari returned the hug with a smile. "Thanks, Aubrey! I'm looking forward to it too. With all of us working together and using our strengths, I'm sure we'll overcome any challenge that comes our way."

The group continued their lively conversation, filled with anticipation for their upcoming adventures with Mari and Basil as part of the team.

Omori knelt beside Basil, curious about the progress of the photo album. "How's the photo album coming along, Basil?"

He spoke with a smile "Doing great!!! So many new photos of our memorable time even when you were absent for a bit to place here…although….something's missing here…and I don't know why it's missing…" Omori, feeling a slight nervousness, asked Basil to explain what was missing from the photo album. "Okay, what's the issue?" he asked as he scooted closer to Basil.

Basil looked up at Omori with a thoughtful expression. "It's Mari's pictures. Some of them are missing," he said quietly, his gaze shifting back to the photo album. "I don't know why or when they disappeared, but it's like they were removed intentionally." He paused, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Do you think Aubrey might have taken them?" he asked, looking at Omori for any insight.

Then, it paused and flickered as Omori's thoughts spiraled like a bit of Sunny's Memory of the events today surfaced as he shook Basil that has a scared red eyes expression for both of them "What do you mean accusing Aubrey….... Mari isn't gone—"

Then, cut off as he woke up to get sunk in a deep alone end. Which was Blackspace. He freaked out asking to call out where everyone was. Except Mewo is there and nudging him to see his sketchbook where he doodles other drawings of his time here to recognize the place. With dark lightbulbs. Walls full of endless doors. He felt this was familiar which was also uncanny when a voice echoed "Over here" It sounded like Basil but this DOPPLEGANGER silhouette he assumed was a STRANGER tried. As he protects himself with a knife he has by hand.

It vanished for a moment before he turned to hug Mewo "You're still here with me….Now why did you want me to check my drawings now?"

Omori's doodles in his sketchbook depict various scenes and elements from Blackspace. These doodles include Dark lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows. Endless doors lined up against the walls, each door leading to unknown places. Shadows and silhouettes of figures, including the doppelganger or stranger resembling Basil that he encountered. Symbols or marks that resemble the voice he heard calling out to him. Sketches of Mewo, his loyal companion in this unfamiliar place, serve as a reminder of familiarity amidst the unknown.

As he groans "Why did I feel like I have been here before?" Facepalm before he gasps, he feels an echo of Mari's voice to one of the black doors saying "Omori (Sunny) where are you?"

Omori's heart skips a beat as he hears Mari's voice echoing from one of the black doors. Startled yet hopeful, he rushes towards the door, calling out, "Mari? Mari, is that you?" He reaches for the handle, hesitating for a moment before opening it cautiously, hoping to find Mari on the other side.

Then as it opened, it wasn't Mari it flickered into a jump scare of a morbid silhouette of that same SOMETHING gazing at him. 

The sudden jump scare and the appearance of the morbid silhouette startle Omori, causing him to quickly shut the door. As the black door flickers, it transitions into a rare sight—a shadow from Basil's past, casting over the real-life Basil from Faraway Town. In this vision, Basil's silhouette appears distressed, reaching out for help and calling out to Sunny saying "Sunny…Help…me…"

The moment is haunting and leaves Omori with a sense of unease and concern. He summoned his red hands subconsciously to corner this BASIL he sees as it fades that the one he caught was none other than the stranger/doppelganger that looks and sounds like him. 

Before he can ask this stranger it fades from his red hands. Omori's realization hits him as he notices the distance between himself and his blanket, where Mewo was last seen. This distance is significant, suggesting that Omori has wandered quite far within Blackspace, possibly losing his way in this eerie and unfamiliar environment.

Omori tries to retrace his steps and calls out for Mewo "Mewo!!! Meow for me kitty!!!", hoping the black cat will respond with a reassuring meow to guide him back to safety within Blackspace.

As Omori called out for Mewo, the black cat appeared from the shadows, meowing softly to signal its presence. Relieved, Omori followed Mewo's lead, walking back toward where he had left his blanket and sketchbook. Along the way, he kept a cautious eye on the shifting shadows and flickering doors of Blackspace, feeling a sense of unease and urgency to find his way out of this unsettling place.

Then, suddenly the SOMETHING whispers with Mari's voice "Why are you running away? Sunny—" As it flicks and cuts off again when Omori tries to slash away something violently and finally. He wakes up back in white space groaning. As he felt so uncomfortable about what happened.

He hugged Mewo and asked, "I should MAKE sure nothing goes wrong in Headspace…." Mewo snuggles near him until Omori exhales and decides to use his knife again to stab himself in white space. The scene flickers to a white-out blackout. Fading to a line of Basil's young voice telling Sunny who is crying in this vague memory "She is still okay, we're both okay. We'll get through this"