Oh look. It's me again. Almost precisely one week later. Hm. (That's how often I will update, of course).

I think I forgot to mention that these are actually the humanized versions of Sonic characters. Oops, I suppose?

And no, not all chapters are this short. The next one is quite a doozy, to be completely honest. Very long. And has our first yaoi pairing.

For the delight of all, there are in fact footnotes! And the crowd goes wild…

CHAPTER WARNING: Drinking

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1991

VICTORY

July 13th

Lights shone in Sonic's face as he pushed through the crowd, wincing as he almost slipped in the cheap sake covering the floor. He had to get to Naka (1), to thank him for everything.

The roar of the party seemed distant yet deafening. Sonic could see him now. In the corner. The ten-year-old boy squeezed his way through the edge and approached Naka. The older man seemed a bit surprised to see him, but patted Sonic's head nevertheless.

"Thanks, Naka-san…" Sonic mumbled, uncertain whether Naka could actually hear him. It didn't matter, as long as he got the point.

Naka crouched down, knees cracking as he got on the eye level of the young boy. "You're very welcome, Sonic. There's something I want to ask you about…" Naka trailed off, eyeing the crowd warily (2). "But not here. Later. For now, let us celebrate." Naka straightened up, clutching Sonic's arm and hoisting the boy onto his shoulders.

"Please, ladies and gentlemen, let us celebrate the new face of gaming – Sonic the Hedgehog!"

A screaming cheer rose up from the crowd, making Sonic blush, a huge smile spreading across his face. He felt it proper to make some sort of speech, about how he couldn't have done it without them, but all the words were piling up in his throat and making a big lump so he kept quiet in case something stupid spilled out.

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(1) Yuji Naka is the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog. He and fifteen other people were asked to create designs for characters to rival Mario himself, and Yuji Naka submitted "Mr. Needlemouse" – later to be re-named Sonic the Hedgehog.

(2) After Sonic 1 was released and pronounced a success, Yuji Naka grew dissatisfied with SEGA's company policies, and decided to move Sonic to America.