Looking at this small bus stop made her feel like she was already home. Even if she had told her parents she was coming back today, and they had agreed to pick her up.
She shrugged it off, and walked out of the bus station. From behind her, a man who was only one year older than her walked out with her, smiling a little bit in the brisk air.
"So, this is Possum Springs? Nice and cool, I like it. You ready to see your home after so long?"
She looked up at the sky. Was she ready?
She nodded. She was ready. "C'mon. I think you'll like my folks. Hopefully the guest room is cleared out."
The two began walking into the woods surrounding the town. Mae was happy for the familiarity, and her companion was happily examining the trees and enjoying the cool air.
At least, until they had to climb over a fence and ended up being picked up by Molly. They are dropped off at Mae's house, to the surprise of her parents, who had both thought Mae would be back tomorrow.
As well as being surprised that she'd brought home a friend. After introductions, and a playful warning from Mrs. Borowski, they went up to Mae's room.
"So, Vaan, what do you want to do first tomorrow?" Mae asked into the darkness as she lay on her bed.
From the floor next to her bed, she heard a chuckle from the arctic fox. "...Probably go meet your friends. Make sure they're as cool as you say. And make sure that you're doing the homework. Just because it's online doesn't mean you can slack off. Alright?"
Mae sighs quietly. "I know. And… thank you so much…"
Vaan chuckles softly. "Like I said at college. No matter what, we're siblings now. Our blood runs through each other's veins. And that means we protect each other."
Mae smiled slightly as her eyes closed, the last image in her mind being that of Vaan's green and red heterochromatic eyes looking at the ceiling with a smile evident within them.