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Snowy: hello?

Augs: woah who invited the pony

Kana: I did dumbass

Kana: after we went to the studio to get her phone back

Kana: thought she might need it

Snowy: thanks girl! And yeah I do

Snowy: Is Connor available? I need him to take me and Sammy to the store

Hal: he’s busy i think

Hal: @Connor you on your way to Covey’s?

Augs: how much more shit do you girls need?????

Snowy: it’s none of your business;)

Ken: I can take you

Connor: yeah i’m heading out now

Kana: btw

Kana: has anyone heard from Robin lately?

Hal: nah dude not since the meeting

Augs: sucks to suck i’m back in charge

Ken: …. were you ever in charge?

***

Pale morning light washed through the Vanquish’s windshield as Jun pulled onto the road.

A month ago, he wouldn’t have volunteered for any of this. He would have stayed in his room, controller in hand, curtains drawn. But these people—Kana’s stubbornness, Hal’s quiet steadiness, Ken’s firm leadership, Alex’s reckless loyalty—had pulled him out of the dark without asking permission.

He wasn’t just doing this for Ruki anymore.

He was doing it for them.

Jun was about to merge onto the freeway when the car’s display lit up with an incoming call. Robin. Something warm flickered in his chest, then tightened. After how the garage conversation ended, he wasn’t sure which version of Robin he was about to get. A couple of seconds passed after he accepted the call. He finally spoke when the car went up the ramp.

“Hello?”

“Hey!” Robin’s cheery modulated voice rang through the car’s speakers. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going alright,” said Jun. The silence after that sat heavier than it should have. “How about you?”

“I’m good,” said Robin. A pause. Jun merged left, letting the traffic carry him forward. “Are you on your way to the house now?”

“Yes,” Jun answered. When Robin didn’t respond again, he asked, “Did you need something?”

Robin’s sigh crackled. “Not really.”