Chapter Text
The sunlight in VAST FOREST always seemed to fall in little golden squares.
It slipped between the leaves, bounced off the grass, and made the whole place look like it had been colored in with crayons. Somewhere nearby, a bird chirped a tune that sounded suspiciously like it was making fun of KEL.
"BERLY’S ball has gotta be around here somewhere!" KEL announced, marching ahead with his basketball tucked proudly under one arm. "Probably rolled into a super-secret forest cave full of treasure."
HERO smiled patiently. "Or it rolled behind a tree."
"Or," AUBREY said, gripping her stuffed toy bat, "BERLY kicked it too hard because she doesn’t know her own strength."
OMORI blinked, straight faced as usual.
That was enough agreement for everyone.
The four friends pushed deeper into the forest, stepping over roots and weaving between bushes. Every so often, they stopped to check behind mushrooms, under leaves, and inside suspiciously ball-shaped holes.
They found many things.
A shiny rock.
A suspiciously damp sock.
A very tiny hat.
Even some life jam, that REALLY WORKS!
They did not find BERLY’S ball.
What they did find were SPROUT MOLES.
One popped out of a bush wearing a leafy little helmet, waving its arms like it had been waiting all day to be inconvenient.
"SPROUT MOLE!" KEL shouted. "Prepare to be defeated by teamwork, friendship, and probably AUBREY hitting you really hard!"
AUBREY lifted her bat, giving Kel a look of annoyance "Probably?"
"Definitely," HERO corrected.
OMORI stepped forward silently, knife in hand.
The SPROUT MOLE squeaked.
The battle was over quickly. OMORI slashed. AUBREY swung. KEL threw. HERO smiled supportively and made sure nobody got too scuffed up.
When the SPROUT MOLE finally tumbled backward into a pile of leaves and disappeared, KEL puffed out his chest.
"Another victory for team… uh…"
"Don’t name the team," AUBREY said.
"Too late. Team KEL!"
"No." AUBREY said as she facepalmed at KEL's stupidity
"Team HERO?"
HERO laughed. "Please don’t drag me into this."
OMORI blinked again.
AUBREY would normally have laughed. Or yelled. Or chased KEL around a tree until he apologized. But right now, she only gave a small huff and kept walking.
At first, nobody noticed. They were too busy searching for the missing ball, fighting off SPROUT MOLES, and listening to KEL explain why he could totally beat a bear in basketball if the bear understood the rules.
But AUBREY noticed. She noticed every single step.
She noticed every little bounce of her shoes on the forest path. She noticed the way her stomach felt tight, and the way her bladder kept reminding her that she had drunk quite a lot at the picnic with MARI.
Not that she was complaining, It was a really good picnic.
MARI had packed juice, sandwiches, fruit, and little snacks that KEL kept trying to steal when HERO wasn’t looking. AUBREY had sat close to MARI, kicking her feet and trying to act like she hadn’t taken the last cookie.
She had been cheerful then.
Now she was quiet.
Not desperate. Not yet. She could still hold it in. But the need was growing faster than she liked, and the forest felt much bigger than it had earlier. Now, it was possible for her to take care of her need at any time. The VAST FOREST did have plenty of trees, but there was one glaring issue.
She glanced at OMORI, KEL, and HERO.
She was the only girl in the group.
That made it worse somehow.
She didn’t want to make a big deal about it. She didn’t want KEL to tease her. She didn’t want HERO to worry. She definitely didn’t want OMORI to stare at her in that silent way that somehow made everything feel ten times more embarrassing. And asking the group if they could stop so she could relieve herself would most likely result in those 3 events happening.
So AUBREY gripped her bat tighter and focused on the quest.
Find BERLY’S ball.
Return it.
Then bathroom.
Easy, or at least she hoped it would be.
"Hey!" KEL shouted suddenly. "I see something!"
He darted ahead, nearly tripping over a root. HERO reached out to catch him, missed, and watched him recover with the confidence of someone who had absolutely meant to do that.
There, stuck in a bush, was BERLY’S LOST BALL.
It was round, scuffed, and somehow looked annoyed.
"Found it!" KEL cheered, yanking it free.
AUBREY smiled despite her predictament. "Finally."
"Great work, everyone," HERO said. "Let’s bring it back."
The walk back felt longer.
AUBREY tried not to think about her need. She tried to focus on the leaves. The sunlight. KEL spinning the ball on one finger and immediately dropping it. HERO asking if everyone was okay. OMORI walking quietly beside them.
She was okay.
She just needed to hurry.
When they returned to the playground, BERLY and VAN were waiting.
"YOU FOUND MY LOST BALL!" BERLY shouted, snatching it from KEL with both hands. "I knew sending you guys into danger would work!"
"Danger?" HERO repeated.
"Remember the Sprout Moles," KEL said, nodding gravely. "Several of them. Very scary. Very leafy. But no match for TEAM KEL!"
"Not our name!" AUBREY groaned.
BERLY grinned. "As thanks, I shall teach one of you a powerful skill!"
AUBREY blinked. "A skill?"
"Yes!" BERLY pointed dramatically at her. "You! Pink one! You’ve got the spirit. The power. The forehead."
AUBREY’s eyes narrowed. "The what?"
BERLY dragged VAN over and patted him on the chest, before ramming his head into his stomache. VAN stood there, cheerful and unbothered, as if being used for training purposes was a normal part of his day.
"The skill is called HEADBUTT!" BERLY announced. "To learn it, you must headbutt VAN!"
AUBREY stared.
KEL gasped. "That’s amazing."
"It's stupid!" AUBREY snapped.
HERO held up his hands. "You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to."
BERLY leaned forward. "But then you won’t get a certificate!"
AUBREY paused.
KEL’s grin widened. "A certificate, AUBREY. You can't turn that down!"
AUBREY’s pride, unfortunately, was very easy to challenge.
She swallowed, stepped back, and lowered her head.
"This is stupid," she muttered.
Then she charged.
BONK.
VAN barely moved.
AUBREY stumbled backward, dizzy stars circling her head. She wobbled, dropped her bat, and landed on the grass with a soft thump.
BERLY proudly handed her a piece of paper that read:
BUTT CERTIFICATE
"Congratulations!" BERLY shouted. "You are now officially certified!"
KEL laughed so hard he nearly folded in half. HERO helped AUBREY sit up, trying very hard not to laugh too.
OMORI looked at the certificate.
Then at AUBREY.
Then at the certificate.
AUBREY’s face turned pinker than her hair.
"Not. A. Word."
KEL opened his mouth.
HERO elbowed him.
KEL closed his mouth.
AUBREY tried to stand with dignity, but the dizziness from the headbutt made the world tilt. Worse, the sudden jolt had made the pressure in her bladder spike sharply. Using HEADBUTT like that really made her bladder act funny.
Her smile faded.
She pressed her knees together for half a second before forcing herself to stand normally.
Nope.
That was enough waiting.
"I…" AUBREY looked away, cheeks burning. "I need a bathroom break."
HERO’s expression softened immediately. "Oh. Sure. Let’s go."
KEL scratched his head. "Yeah, okay. The bathrooms are by the park, right?"
HERO nodded.
The four of them headed over. AUBREY walked quickly now, trying not to look like she was walking quickly. Her bat dragged behind her in the grass.
Just a little longer.
Just a little longer.
When they reached the park bathrooms, AUBREY almost smiled with relief.
Then she saw the sign.
CLOSED DUE TO SPROUT MOLE INFESTATION
A tiny SPROUT MOLE poked its head out from under the door, squeaked, and vanished.
AUBREY stared.
For one long moment, nobody said anything.
Then her knees buckled.
She sank onto the grass, hands clenched in front of her, eyes wide with disbelief.
"No…" she whispered.
KEL and HERO looked at each other nervously.
"Oh no," KEL said, quieter than usual.
HERO crouched beside her. "AUBREY? Hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out."
AUBREY didn’t answer. Her eyes were shiny, and she looked like she was trying very, very hard not to cry.
That scared KEL more than any SPROUT MOLE ever could.
He shifted from foot to foot. "Uh… maybe we can fight the bathroom moles?"
HERO glanced at the door, where several tiny angry squeaks came from inside.
“I don’t think that’s going to be fast enough, AUBREY looks pretty desperate.”
AUBREY squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep her pride intact.
HERO looked toward the picnic area. "Let’s ask MARI. She’ll know what to do."
At the mention of MARI, AUBREY opened her eyes.
She nodded, just once.
The walk back was quiet.
Even KEL didn’t joke.
MARI was sitting beside her picnic basket under the shade of a tree. She looked up as the group approached, her soft smile ready as always.
"Welcome back, everyone!" she said. Then her smile faded slightly. "AUBREY? What’s wrong? You always look so cheerful."
AUBREY stood there for a moment, staring at the ground.
Then, in the smallest voice the others had ever heard from her, she said, "I need to go to the bathroom… and the park bathrooms are closed. I've been holding it in since we started looking for BERLEY'S BALL."
MARI’s face filled with sympathy. She got up at once and knelt in front of AUBREY.
"Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry."
KEL looked down, unusually serious. "Yeah… it’s not fair!"
HERO folded his arms, worried. "Do you have any ideas, MARI?"
MARI looked at AUBREY gently. "Can you wait until we find another bathroom?"
AUBREY looked up at her.
She didn’t say anything.
She didn’t have to.
MARI understood right away.
She gave AUBREY a small, reassuring smile. "Then you shouldn’t struggle anymore. It’s an emergency."
AUBREY’s eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
MARI nodded toward a thick cluster of bushes nearby. "You can go outside. Just this once."
AUBREY’s face burned. "I can’t!"
A sharp, uncomfortable pang made her flinch. She bent forward slightly, gripping her bat.
MARI placed a hand on her shoulder.
“It can't be helped AUBREY! When you gotta go,” MARI said softly, “you gotta go.”
AUBREY looked miserable.
MARI turned to the others. "HERO, KEL, OMORI, guard the area for her, okay? Make sure nobody comes near. And don’t peek."
HERO nodded immediately. "Of course."
OMORI nodded too.
KEL saluted. "Nobody gets past us!"
AUBREY shot him a nervous look.
HERO guided AUBREY toward the bushes, keeping his eyes respectfully ahead. Mari waved to them as she watched the four head behind the bushes. The cluster was thick enough to hide her from the path. Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze.
AUBREY stood at the edge, clutching her bat.
She looked back at the three boys.
"Promise," she said. Her voice trembled. "Promise you will make sure that nobody will see. And promise you won’t look either."
HERO’s face was kind. "We promise."
OMORI nodded.
KEL scratched his cheek, trying to lighten the mood. "Why should I do that? I think it would be pretty funny if."
HERO elbowed him instantly.
"Ow!"
AUBREY glared at KEL with the full force of her annoyance
KEL winced. "Kidding! Kidding. Bad timing. Sorry."
AUBREY looked at her friends. “Thanks."
Then, flustered and trying to hold onto whatever dignity she had left, she mumbled, "Hero I go."
She disappeared behind the bushes so she could finally handle her buisness.
For a few moments, the three boys stood guard.
KEL kicked at a pebble. "I feel bad."
HERO sighed. "Me too, what a brutal situation to be in."
OMORI stared into the forest.
The trees were quiet.
KEL hugged his basketball closer. "Do you think BASIL is okay?"
HERO looked at him.
KEL’s usual grin was gone. "I mean… we keep looking, but the forest is huge. What if he’s scared? You know how BASIL is!"
HERO rested a hand on KEL’s shoulder. "BASIL is going to be fine. We’ll find him. As long as we have each other and MARI, we’ll figure it out."
KEL nodded, but still looked worried.
OMORI said nothing.
The forest held its breath.
Then a roar split the air.
It came from behind the bushes.
AUBREY screamed.
HERO, KEL, and OMORI spun around and ran.
Behind the cluster, the peaceful shade had turned terrifying. A huge RARE BEAR loomed over AUBREY, its eyes fierce, its claws digging into the dirt. AUBREY was on the ground, clutching her bat with both hands, frozen between fear and panic.
“AUBREY!” HERO shouted.
“I’m on it!” KEL yelled. “Hang on, AUBREY!”
OMORI stepped forward, calm and pale as ever.
The RARE BEAR roared again.
The battle began.
OMORI opened his notebook and read a sad poem in his quiet, steady way. The words drifted through the air like gray clouds. The RARE BEAR’s angry glare wavered. Its shoulders drooped.
It became SAD.
KEL bounced his basketball hard against the ground. "HERO! Combo time!"
HERO caught the ball, spun once, and passed it back with perfect timing.
KEL launched it with everything he had.
The ball struck the ground near the RARE BEAR with a loud BOOM, startling it backward.
AUBREY scrambled away, dragging her bat with her.
"Stay behind us!" HERO called.
The RARE BEAR gave one last frustrated roar, then turned and crashed away into the trees, leaving only shaking leaves and a few tufts of red fur behind.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Then they heard crying.
AUBREY had curled in on herself near the bushes, her bat lying beside her. Her whole body shook. Her face was hidden behind her arms.
"DON’T LOOK!" she screamed.
The three boys froze.
HERO immediately turned around. KEL spun so quickly he almost tripped. OMORI looked away too, his expression unreadable but gentle in his stillness.
AUBREY sobbed behind them. She had lost control of her bladder.
HERO’s voice was soft. "AUBREY… are you hurt?"
She didn’t answer right away.
Then she cried harder.
The fear, the surprise, the bear, the closed bathroom, the waiting too long—it had all been too much. Her body had given up before she could stop it.
KEL swallowed. "AUBREY…"
"Don’t," HERO whispered to him.
KEL shut his mouth, looking guilty.
Footsteps hurried through the grass.
"AUBREY?" MARI called.
She appeared beside them, eyes wide with worry. "What happened?"
HERO quietly explained, keeping his voice low and careful. "A RED BEAR came out. We scared it away, but… she...."
MARI’s face softened with sadness.
She walked past the boys, who kept their backs turned, and knelt beside AUBREY.
"Oh, AUBREY…"
AUBREY shook her head, still hiding her face. "I’m sorry."
MARI reached out and wrapped her arms around her.
AUBREY stiffened at first.
Then she crumbled into the hug.
"I’m sorry," AUBREY cried. "I caused so much trouble. I should’ve gone earlier. I should’ve said something. I’m sorry I had an accident."
MARI held her tighter.
"You didn’t cause trouble," she said. "You were trying your best."
AUBREY sniffled. "But I was trying.... I ended up peeing myself."
"I know." MARI brushed a hand gently over AUBREY’s hair. "But you don’t always have to act like an adult. You’re allowed to need help. You’re allowed to be scared. Nobody is perfect."
AUBREY wiped at her face, but more tears came.
MARI smiled sadly. "I’m proud of you for trying to be brave, and for trying to do something outside of your comfort zone. But you don’t have to be brave all by yourself."
AUBREY looked up at her with watery eyes.
"This could’ve happened to anyone," MARI continued. "And it doesn’t make you any less strong. It doesn’t make you any less AUBREY."
KEL, still facing away, rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and pretended he wasn’t.
HERO noticed, but said nothing, instead quietly dismissing himself.
MARI wiped the tears from AUBREY’s cheeks with her thumb.
"I’ll always be here for you," MARI said. "Always."
AUBREY’s lip trembled.
"Thanks, MARI."
MARI smiled again, warmer this time. "Of course. All it costs is your love."
AUBREY gave a tiny, broken laugh.
MARI helped her stand, keeping close so she wouldn’t feel alone.
Meanwhile HERO returned, whispering into MARI's ear his reasoning for leaving the group.
"Good news," MARI said gently. "The bathrooms opened back up. HERO scared off the SPROUT MOLES by being too polite."
HERO glanced over his shoulder, still not looking directly at AUBREY. "I asked them nicely to leave."
KEL muttered, "Show Off."
OMORI blinked.
"That helped," KEL added.
AUBREY sniffled again, but her shoulders relaxed.
MARI guided her toward the park. "Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and find you something fresh to wear."
Before they left, AUBREY looked back at the boys.
Her face was still red.
KEL quickly raised one hand. "I didn’t see anything. Promise."
HERO nodded. "None of us did, what happened in the bushes stays in the bushes!"
OMORI blinked in agreement.
AUBREY looked at them for a long moment.
Then she gave the tiniest smile.
"Good."
The forest breeze moved through the leaves.
For that moment, everything felt safe again.
Like no matter what happened, they would always have each other.
Like MARI would always be there.
Always.