Background information:
Amidst Us: an online multiplayer social deduction game in which players assigned the role of Crewmate must complete tasks in a space-themed setting and determine which player(s) are the Impostor(s) sabotaging and killing other Crewmates. Otherwise known as Among Us in our universe.
A/N: On May 24, 2010, fourteen-year-old Kyorii released the first chapter of the original Teenage Wasteland on FF. On May 24, 2015, nineteen-year-old Kyorii released the first chapter of Project: Teenage Wasteland. Today, on May 24, 2021, twenty-five-year-old Kyorii finishes it. It's been a long time coming, but we made it. Onward to the finale!
PROJECT: TEENAGE WASTELAND
XXXIV | curtain call
Seven months later
"Attention passengers, we have just landed at the Destiny Islands Airport. It is now approximately 5:45PM. Please remember to unload any excess baggage from the plane before leaving. Your luggages can be found at conveyor belt six inside the airport. Thank you for flying with Radiant Garden Airlines and have a great day. We hope to fly with you soon!"
After retrieving her luggage from the designated conveyor belt, Kairi Hart hastily wheels it to Area C and steps onto the escalator. As she slowly descends on the moving staircase, she does a quick scan of the crowd waiting below. Much like when she visited for Christmas, she tries to locate her parents amidst the locals but finds no such luck. When she reaches the bottom, her eyes wander from person to person like a lost puppy, but just when she considers giving her mom a call, her eyes land on a spiky-haired and handsome teenage boy standing a few feet away with a sign that messily reads Kairi Hart in permanent marker.
At the sight of her boyfriend in person, Kairi squeals and runs towards him, her luggage long forgotten and abandoned. She crashes into his chest, wraps her arms around his neck, and loses herself in the clouds as he effortlessly spins her around and wastes no time kissing her lips: lips that he'd craved every day since he'd last kissed them on New Year's Day.
"What are you doing here?" she asks with an excited grin gracing her lips. She lovingly cups his face in her hands, the face she'd seen on video chat more times than she could count, and relishes in the fact that she could physically do so.
"I couldn't wait to see you," Sora answers while gently running a hand through her hair, which now flows past her shoulders. "So I offered to pick you up instead. Hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," Kairi whispers before kissing him again.
Outside, Sora leads Kairi to a white convertible and packs her luggage inside.
"What, no scooter?" his girlfriend teases.
"I sincerely doubt my scooter could hold your stuff," Sora says while shutting the trunk, "so I borrowed mom's car." He then notices Kairi's hand hovering over the handle of the passenger side door, but he beats her to it and opens it for her like a true gentleman. She acknowledges his kindness with a kiss on the cheek and smiles to herself giddily as he gets into the driver's seat.
The drive to the mayor's house is short, but it's the little things, like holding Sora's hand, the sea-scented breeze flowing through her hair, and the blur of an all too familiar tropical landscape that make it sweet. It was spring, so that meant paopu trees were just beginning to bear fruit, and the whole island was probably preparing for the annual Festival of Destiny held at the end of March in celebration of the island being founded over a century ago. Unfortunately she'd be back in Radiant Garden by then (which was unfortunate since she'd also be missing Sora's official eighteenth birthday), but previous memories of performing and enjoying the festivities with Sora and Riku bring a smile to Kairi's face.
In no time at all, Sora pulls into the driveway of the mansion, and apart from her parents' cars, Kairi notices a third vehicle parked there as well.
"Are Master Aqua and Ventus here?" she asks as Sora puts the car in park, but before her boyfriend can answer, his master comes bounding down the front steps with her master in tow.
"Kairi!" Ventus greets. When she gets out of the car, he hugs her as if it's been forever as opposed to two and a half months. "We've missed you!"
"I missed you too," Kairi returns, squirming under his grip.
"Careful Ven, you're going to crush her," Aqua jokes. After Ven releases her apologetically, Aqua comes to a halt just before her pupil and looks at her with admiration. "Look at you. You're maturing so beautifully, Kairi."
Aqua jumps when her student suddenly wraps her arms around her, but she softens and returns the gesture.
"Thank you, Aqua," she says. From the sidelines of the affectionate moment, Ventus and his student share a look, and after a mutual and playful nod, they run over and sandwich the two ladies into a group hug.
Inside, after reuniting with her parents and Sora's mother, Kairi helps set the table for dinner, and the seven of them enjoy a locally sourced meal prepared by both Sora and Kairi's moms.
"This salmon is amazing, Mrs. Takeuchi," Kairi compliments as the herb-encrusted dish enlivens her taste buds.
Her boyfriend's mom smiles at the flattery and daintily wipes the edge of her mouth with a napkin before responding. "Thank you, Kairi. Sora and Ventus actually caught it this morning."
Kairi turns to her boyfriend sitting beside her with her jaw agape. "You actually went fishing?"
"More like he fell asleep with the rod in his hands," Ventus corrects with a chuckle.
Kairi snickers. Knowing Sora with his impatience with excitement, that sounded about right. "Well, it still tastes great. Too bad Riku couldn't be here to try it."
"Yeah, where is Riku?" Kairi's mother asks when she notices the empty seat on Sora's right.
"Couldn't make it home for spring break," Sora answers dismally. "Poor guy's buried in textbooks and said he really needed the extra week to study."
"Oh, speaking of Riku," Ventus interjects. "Did you hear, Kairi? He and Sora are the same rank now! Tier three gold belt. Issued him the rank just last month, so now he's only one step away from Master."
Sora blushes and respectfully bows his head at the praise he receives from all around the table, but Kairi grins knowingly.
"Oh he told me," she says. "He wouldn't shut up about it for a full week. I had to put up with him and Riku bickering over who's technique was better for hours."
"Sounds like business as usual with the boys," Kairi's father comments, and all the adults at the table agree with a chuckle; Sora, however, crosses his arms with a childish huff.
"I thought you'd be proud of me," he mutters to his girlfriend.
"Oh I am," Kairi assures while booping his nose affectionately.
"You know Kairi, you and Sora performed admirably at the Underdrome Tournament last year," Aqua comments. Beside her, Ventus nods enthusiastically in agreement. "You should consider going for your tier two gold belt examination. I'm confident that with a bit more practice, you could pass with flying colours."
"You should totally do it!" Sora encourages. "I'll even help you train."
Kairi turns to everyone at the table and finds herself touched by the supportive looks she receives in response.
"You know what?" she starts. "I think I might."
After helping clear the table after dinner, Kairi and Sora say farewell to their masters and watch as they pull out of the driveway.
"So," Sora starts when the sound of the engine fades in the distance. "Are you up for dessert, or are you too jet lagged?"
Kairi turns to him with an arched eyebrow. Upon arriving, she did feel a bit fatigued, but after reuniting with her beloved boyfriend, she'd felt nothing but excitement and adrenaline coursing through her veins.
"Do you really have to ask?" she says, and Sora's eyes light up.
A short drive later, Sora and Kairi find themselves sitting across from each other at a booth in the Inside Scoop diner, just like old times. On their table rests their usual order: a cookies and cream milkshake, a strawberry milkshake, and a plate of fries with ketchup and spicy mayo on the side. The only thing missing was an iced coffee alongside the presence of the third pea in their pod, but he was currently miles away, likely hunched over another textbook.
But as he'd mentioned at the Kingdom Hearts Resort airport seven months ago, if everything went according to plan, they'd all be attending the same university that upcoming fall.
"You ready?" Sora asks with his phone in hand. Across from him, Kairi anxiously bites her lip. They'd both received updates on their application status to Twilight Town University (their first choice) last week, but they'd agreed not to check until they were together for spring break. With a deep intake of breath, Kairi prepares to open the application portal on her phone and nods.
"On three," she says. "One… two… three!"
Both hit the 'check status' button on their phones, the button that would decide their future for the next four years, and begin to read. After a few lines, Kairi can't help but gasp.
"I… I got in," she whispers with disbelief. She looks up and tries to read Sora's face, but it's inscrutable. His eyebrows are furrowed together in concentration, but when the silence grows far too long for Kairi's liking, she takes one of his tanned hands in hers. "Well?"
"I…" Sora starts. "I didn't."
Kairi's heart plummets. With those two words alone, their original plan is violently thrown out the window. How could this have happened? True, his grades weren't the greatest, but he'd worked hard to get them up over the course of the school year, and his entrance essay was surprisingly well written and thought out. Was that not enough?
Kairi's posture crumples. This was supposed to be the trio's chance to spend the next chapter of their lives together, to be reunited again after two years of separation, but now that Sora was rejected, only she and Riku would be attending their first choice…
Suddenly the hopes of her and Sora attending events on campus in matching hoodies and shushing each other in the library come crashing down, but Sora catches her before she can fall too far in her disappointment. He tightens his grip on his girlfriend's hand and offers her some words of reassurance.
"Hey, I know this isn't what we'd hoped for," he starts, "but I actually applied to New Twilight University, and I recently got in. Their culinary arts program is fairly new, but it shows promise, and it's only a two-hour train ride from Twilight Town."
Hope flickers across Kairi's indigo eyes at the news. True, it wasn't what they'd hoped for, but it was close enough.
"Well then it'll be up to chefs like you to give them a good reputation," Kairi compliments, and an endearing blush dusts Sora's cheeks at her faith in him.
"We're going to make it work," he then assures while gliding his thumb across the back of her hand comfortingly. Kairi squeezes his hand in return.
For the past seven months, they'd survived three-thousand miles and a six hour difference apart and were still going strong. A two-hour train ride apart in the same city and time zone? It would be a cinch in comparison.
"Yeah," Kairi agrees with confidence, certain that by his side, they could overcome anything. "I know we will."
Twilight Town
At the Sunset Hill Hospital, Riku and Axel sit in one of the hallways of the Geostigma Treatment department, anxiously waiting for Xion to finish her latest scan with her doctor.
As promised, after the clinical trials of the Department of Geostigma Research were proven successful, Xion's family doctor had reached out to her on behalf of Dr. Invi Kobura. For her generosity, Xion was listed as one of the first patients to be treated at no charge, and her treatments, which began last fall and were supposed to be four times more efficient than previous methods, ended a month ago. She had been in remission doing weekly scans ever since, and today's final scan would determine whether the treatments had been completely successful or not.
"She's going to be fine," Riku assures when he notices Axel's knees nervously bouncing up and down next to him. Axel tries to nod, but watching Xion undergo her treatments had been tough. She looked much better now, but in the beginning, it had been difficult to watch. She'd suffered through so much before and during the treatments, and he just hoped that her bravery and perseverance would be rewarded with some good news.
Twenty agonizing minutes later, the door next to them opens, and Xion emerges sporting one of Riku's university hoodies and a blank look on her face. The two boys immediately stand up when they see her.
"Well?" her boyfriend asks eagerly.
"It… it's gone," she whispers as if she can't believe the words herself.
"Wh-what?" Axel stammers, unsure if he heard her right.
"It's gone," Xion repeats, firmer this time. "The treatments worked. I still have to come back for checkups every few months, but the most recent scan… it showed no trace of the stigma. I'm in complete remission."
Overcome by emotion, Riku lets out a choked, relieved sob before taking her into his arms, and tears of joy shamelessly begin to spill down Axel's face. The redhead immediately begins to call someone on his phone, and Roxas shows up on his screen after a few rings.
"Everything okay, Ax?" he asks when he notices the tears streaming down his best friend's face. In the background, they hear a muffled announcement about a flight to San Fransokyo boarding rows one through ten. As Roxas had been touring with Yuna Riel as her opening act for the past few months, hearing from Roxas at a hotel or airport had become a normal occurrence.
"The treatments worked," Axel manages to say through his sniffles. "Xi's confirmed to be stigma-free."
Roxas claps a hand over his mouth at the news, and tears of his own begin welling up in his eyes. Axel turns the camera to face Xion and Riku, and while Roxas embraces her virtually, Axel physically joins in on the group hug, and Xion shares in their tears of triumph as they look towards the bright future that she'd once wished for on a lantern.
The worlds were full of countless possibilities, possibilities that extended far past a teenage bucket list, and now that it was confirmed that she was going to be around for a long time, she was going to explore them all.
Radiant Garden
In the heart of Radiant Garden's central district, the sheer opulence of Radiant Garden Academy gleams under the sunlight. On the second floor of the girls' dormitories, Kairi's ears perk upward when she hears someone knocking on their door.
"Lette, do you mind getting that?" she asks as she fixes the collar of her dress shirt. The girls uniforms, which were enforced on weekdays, consisted of a white dress shirt, grey tie, and plaid kilt, all topped with a boysenberry-coloured blazer with grey lining. Knee-high socks or leggings were encouraged in colder seasons, but in warmer months (like the current one), ankle-high socks were permitted so long as appropriate dress shoes adorned their feet. To the naked eye it was a fairly formal uniform, but one fitting for the grandeur of the prestigious boarding school.
"Sure thing," Olette, who had just finished tying her hair into her signature braids, answers. As Kairi neatly rolls up the sleeves of her blazer to her elbows, she hears her roommate squeal when she sees who's on the other side of the door.
"Hayner!" she shrieks. Kairi spins around, just as surprised as she is, and watches as the familiar face of her roommate's boyfriend comes into view with a hand discreetly placed behind his back.
"Hey Kairi," the gamer greets casually after quickly pecking Olette on the lips. Kairi waves at him with both excitement and confusion in her features. It was one thing seeing him livestream online with Olette, but seeing him live and in person was pleasantly unexpected.
"What are you doing here?" Olette asks.
It's then that he brings his other hand into view and presents what looks like a bouquet of meatballs to his girlfriend with a bow.
"Olette, my tasty meatball, will you let me take you to prom?" he asks formally. Olette's jaw drops in shock. As touched as she is by the sweet gesture, she respectfully turns to her roommate and looks into her eyes pleadingly. As prom was this upcoming weekend and they'd assumed for a while that their boyfriends wouldn't be able to make it given the distance, they'd agreed to attend together, but now that Hayner was physically here, that changed things a bit.
Although Kairi can't help but feel a small spike of jealousy towards the couple before her, she nods, and Olette happily accepts Hayner's promposal.
"Oh, Kairi," Hayner starts after Olette finishes peppering his face with thankful kisses. "There's a delivery for you, by the way. Just outside the window."
Kairi raises her eyebrows. Deliveries were always screened and picked up by the dean's office. What was he getting at? Her heart thumps as she walks past the bunk bed and approaches the window with suspicion, but what she sees in the quad below makes it beat out of her chest entirely.
Outside, Sora, who she wasn't expecting to see until the official start of summer vacation, was standing on the roof of a sleek black car dressed in a simple dress shirt and dark jeans. In his left hand, he holds a bouquet of pink roses, and in his right, a megaphone. Below him stands the other members of the Oathkeepers and Pence (all of which she also didn't expect to see until a month later), all wearing plain white shirts with large letters printed overtop. Together in a straight line, they spell PROM?
"Kairi Hart!" Sora yells into the megaphone, and Kairi covers her mouth in both flattery and embarrassment when a few of the other students turn to look in their general direction. "Will you go to prom with me—again?"
Amidst the shouts of encouragement and whispers of confusion from the other students, Sora makes out a 'yes' from his girlfriend's lips, and she hastily disappears from the window. Sora knowingly slides off the car (undoubtedly one of Roxas'), and not a moment later, Kairi comes running out of the front doors and into his arms.
"Surprise," he whispers after settling his lips on hers.
"I can't believe you did this!" Kairi gushes as her boyfriend sets her back down. "How did you get here?" she starts hastily. "When did you get here? Where are you staying? How long are you here for?" Her sights then turn to Sora's partners in crime. "Why are all of you here? Not that I'm complaining, but our dean is going to get very suspicious."
"Actually he isn't," Roxas corrects with a small grin, "because I'm the one performing at your prom, and I requested to fly in the Oathkeepers as my band."
Kairi's jaw drops even further. "You're the mystery star performer that the prom committee has been keeping all hushed up?"
Roxas nods proudly, and a few nearby students begin snapping pictures and talking animatedly amongst themselves at the very sight of superstar Roxas Akiyama on their campus.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kairi asks.
"Kind of negates the purpose of a mystery if he told you," Riku teases. Kairi runs over just to playfully punch his shoulder, but because she hasn't seen him since Christmas, it transitions into a one armed hug.
"Wait, aren't you on tour though?" Kairi then asks Roxas.
"I always knew that Yuna's tour would end here in Radiant Garden," Roxas explains, "so I thought I'd show up a week early with the Oathkeepers. But I extended the invitation to Pence, Xion, and Naminé as well for a full reunion. The girls are arriving tomorrow."
"So let me get this straight," Olette says when she and Hayner rejoin the group hand-in-hand. "You guys ditched your own proms to join ours?"
As Riku and Axel had already experienced prom and Roxas no longer attended school formally, her question is directed more towards Sora, Hayner, and Pence in particular, and by extension, Naminé (as Xion's school no longer threw proms).
"Well apart from your prom, I wanted to come here to take a tour of Radiant Garden University," Pence confesses. "I got into the digital media program and start this fall."
"Congratulations!" Kairi and Olette exclaim simultaneously.
"And why go to our own proms when we can attend one hosted by a prestigious boarding school with our real friends?" Hayner answers as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"It also doesn't hurt that our girlfriends attend said prestigious boarding school," Sora adds while squeezing Kairi's hips.
"Guess we all just couldn't wait to see each other at the resort, huh?" Olette teases.
"Consider it like pre-gaming before we all meet up again this summer," Riku offers.
"Except for Axel," Roxas reminds with a snicker. "Given that he's twenty, his ass is too old to be at the resort now."
The redhead huffs indignantly, keeping his fomo at bay.
"Okay, all fair points," Kairi says, "but that still doesn't explain where you're staying and how long you're all here for."
"Just for the weekend," Riku answers.
"And we're staying at the same hotel as your prom venue," Sora adds. "Roxas here scored us all the penthouse."
Olette whistles. "Wow. Really doesn't hurt to be Roxas Akiyama, does it?"
The superstar in question smiles in response, but it's not as smug as someone in his position should be. It's modest but also incomplete, as if he was still missing something, but they don't press.
"Well this just turned into the best weekend ever," Kairi comments. Minutes ago, she had been expecting a fun-filled night with Olette, but with the arrival of Sora and all their friends, it was undoubtedly going to be one for the books.
"Hey guys, check it out," comes the familiar voice of Axel, putting an end to the moment.
Everyone turns to look at the redhead and nearly slaps their foreheads at his latest antics. In red marker, he had changed the letter on his shirt from an M to an N and had rearranged the boys to now read PORN? instead of PROM?
"Seriously?" Roxas asks incredulously. "Dude, go change before we get kicked out. I want to at least check out the cafeteria before we're asked to leave."
"Oh, good call," Sora comments. "Is it true that you guys have a dessert bar?"
"Yes, next to the pasta bar," Olette answers.
"There's a pasta bar?" Pence asks, surprised.
"Across from the crepe station," Kairi adds. All the non-residents of the academy blink twice in a shocked silence.
"Last one there's a rotten egg!" Sora teases as he releases his girlfriend and begins running towards the main building. Riku and Kairi only shake their heads as they watch their third musketeer run towards the promise of a good meal.
"Ax, you coming?" Roxas asks when he notices his best friend lingering in place.
"I think I'm going to check if they really have butlers in the bathrooms first," Axel responds.
Kairi and Olette only giggle amongst themselves, none of which want to disappoint Axel by telling him that there were never actually any butlers on campus.
Prom arrives swiftly on the balmiest and most magical of nights.
At the bottom of the staircase in the girls' dormitories, Sora and Hayner, both dressed in crisp suits that accentuate their figures, wait for the arrival of their dates, both of which had spent most of the day getting pampered with Naminé and Xion (who, as guests of the hotel, were already at the venue). In their hands, both boys carry fresh corsages and matching black masks per the night's masquerade ball theme.
"Okay, we're ready!" Olette's perky voice announces from the top of the staircase.
"Finally," Hayner says, exasperated. "It's been like half an ho—"
But Hayner never gets to finish his complaint. When the two girls come into view, his words catch in his throat at the sight of his girlfriend in a floor-length and flowy orange dress that falls off one shoulder, making her look the very picture of glamorous. Instead of being in their two classic braids, her hair is tied into one elegant side braid that falls over her bare shoulder, and on a stick she holds an elaborate orange mask with gold accents overtop her enigmatic green eyes.
"Holy shit," Hayner can't help but say.
Beside him, Sora's chest heaves, almost as if he's forgotten how to breathe. Kairi gracefully descends the steps looking impeccably chic and ravishing in a dusty rose dress with a high slit that gives a teasing but classy view of one of her legs. Her bodice is intricately lined with silver jewels that match that of her mask, which rests comfortably over her bright indigo eyes, and her hair is fashioned into a half-updo, much like on the night of her sixteenth birthday; this time, however, she seems to have gotten the hang of walking in heels.
"Kairi, you're stunning," Sora whispers in awe. He outstretches his hand and helps her down the last few steps, still in complete disbelief that the goddess before him was all his.
"And you look so dashing!" she compliments while grabbing the lapels of his blazer. Her eyes then land on the dusty rose bowtie secured around his neck. "So did you tie that all by yourself or did Riku have to help you out in your mom's absence?"
Kairi feels her boyfriend sigh beneath her. "Wow, you really have to call me out like that, huh?"
She chuckles knowingly but kisses his cheek appreciatively after he secures a fresh corsage (much unlike the origami one from their fake prom last year) around her wrist.
"Ladies, your carriage awaits," Hayner announces dramatically while bowing before them. Both girls raise their eyebrows.
"The venue is five minutes away," Olette points out, "and the school already arranged transportation for the students."
Her boyfriend scoffs. "Why ride in some fancy car when you can travel in style?"
"I sincerely hope that you two didn't spend your munny on something unnecessarily extravagant," Kairi says with crossed arms.
"Baby, this was totally necessary," Sora assures.
The boys then open the doors, and Kairi and Olette burst out laughing at the golf cart they have waiting for them outside. It was a practical and charming choice, reminiscent of their days on Kingdom Hearts Resort. While Sora and Kairi hop into the front, Hayner and Olette take the seats in the back, and Sora turns around to face them all.
"You guys ready for prom night?" he asks excitedly, hyping them up. While Kairi and Olette cheer, Hayner enthusiastically yells "hell yeah!", and Sora hits the gas pedal, speeding off into the night.
An entertaining five minute drive full of laughter later, Sora pulls up to the hotel and drops the girls off at the front while he secretly parks the cart he and Hayner had stolen at the back. After successfully leaving the cart exactly where they'd found it, they rejoin their dates and walk inside.
Upon signing in and entering the grand ballroom, it becomes abundantly clear that Radiant Garden Academy spared no expense for its students. With its vibrant art deco style complete with richly embellished designs, gleaming metal accents, and crystal chandeliers, their prom is a scene of true luxury. Students all around are dressed to the nines with their Venetian-inspired masks, exuberant string curtains and candelabras give the hall a dramatic edge and theatrical flair, and the energetic atmosphere exudes both class and sophistication.
Sora feels Kairi squeeze his hand and he turns to find her looking up at him with admiration in her eyes. Without the need for words, he squeezes back, because he knows exactly what she's thinking. Ever since they'd started high school, they'd always somehow known that they'd wind up at prom together, whether as best friends or, preferably, lovers, but they'd always pictured it in the gym of Destiny Islands High School. None of them ever expected to be here, miles from home in Radiant Garden, but this was far better than any of them had ever dreamed of, and despite going the distance for the last few months, they'd never felt closer.
They enthusiastically meet up with their friends, and given that they and everyone around them were disguised in masks, they blend right in, feeling awkward or left out amongst the academy students the least of their concerns.
"See, I knew we'd all meet again," Sora says optimistically when they all form a familiar circle by the entrance.
"Technically we did meet virtually multiple times," Pence points out matter-of-factly with his trusty camera in hand. "But yes, in-person is much more satisfying."
"And this time you guys can't eject me like you did in Amidst Us," Sora teases.
"You were being awfully suspicious," Xion reminds with skittish eyes.
"For the last time, I was just minding my own business in electrical!" Sora argues.
"Yeah, yeah," Hayner says off-handedly. "Now what are we waiting for? Let's get this prom started!"
They all head for the photo booth and take a series of photos, classic and silly with props, and when Riku and Xion have had their turn, they admire their polaroids together, just as they did at fake prom.
"Look at you," Riku comments as he throws an arm over his girlfriend. "Xion Shidehara, attending a second prom. Not that you don't deserve to have another night of fun, but some would be considered lucky to experience more than one."
Xion hugs Riku's arm in response. "If I'm lucky, it's because you're my date again."
"Stop, you're going to make me blush," her boyfriend jokes.
"Oh, so I should just keep showering you with insults then."
"With this face? Good luck with that."
Xion rolls her eyes. "Always so modest."
"That's why we're still dating, right?" Riku asks teasingly.
"Yes," Xion answers with a chuckle. "I keep you around purely because you're hot."
Despite her sarcasm, Riku smiles and relishes in it, grateful to know that he'd be hearing it for a long time. He pockets their polaroids, the height of their youth suspended in film, and eagerly steps into a future where they'd make it their goal to collect more.
When Naminé finishes doing some playful poses with Kairi, she gets ready to make her way to their table, but she's stopped by a mysterious teen dressed in a maroon-coloured blazer and matching mask.
"Mind if I get one with you?" an all too familiar voice asks.
Naminé looks into the masked teen's eyes and feels her cheeks heat up. It had been a while since she'd heard it in person, but she'd know that velvety rasp anywhere, and she could still recall the way that his unkempt blond hair felt beneath her hands. But the question wasn't if she recognized him (although she seemed to be one of the few who did, given his disguise). Did he recognize who he was talking to? She was all dolled up with a silver mask covering half her face, after all.
"Just one photo, Naminé," he says as if reading her mind.
The artist's lips part slightly in shock. "How did you know it was me?"
Roxas chuckles—the best kind of music in Naminé's ears. "How could I not? Your eyes… I'd know them anywhere."
Flattered, Naminé feels little tingles flutter all over her skin. She herself would be lying if she said that she hadn't been inspired to use a particular shade of cobalt in her works lately.
"Okay," she agrees. "One photo."
The two of them walk towards the backdrop, a bashful distance apart, but the photographer urges them to stand closer together.
"Closer," the photographer repeats when they still aren't close enough for her liking.
Beside Naminé, Roxas clears his throat.
"May I?" he asks, his arm close to her waist.
"Oh," Naminé says when she picks up what he's putting down. She tucks some flaxen hair behind her left ear, something she often does when she blushes, and nods. "Sure."
Roxas' hand effortlessly snakes around her waist, just as it used to, and both of their hearts begin to race when their sides touch.
"It's nice to see you again, Naminé," he whispers when they eventually welcome the close proximity.
She smiles as she looks up at him. "It's nice to see you too, Roxas."
The camera flashes, but his eyes are on her.
After thoroughly enjoying a flavorful gourmet dinner, the Oathkeepers are called to perform, and once they hit the stage, it's as if they'd never left the resort in the first place. Despite having only a few days to practice, they play with the same addictive charm, unfaltering tenacity, and infectious playfulness as they used to, and Roxas Akiyama has everyone hooked with his iconic vocals. For hours they have the senior class of Radiant Garden Academy clapping and dancing the night away with fan favourites from their days in Battle of the Bands and the #fightgeostigma campaign, as well as treats from Roxas Akiyama's recent tour with Yuna Riel.
When the girls eventually need a breather, they meet up at the punch fountain for refreshments.
"Something wrong, Kairi?" Naminé asks when the redhead looks at her drink with suspicion. Beside her, Olette giggles to herself, recalling what happened the last time her roommate had too much to drink at a punch fountain.
"Don't worry," the brunette assures. "I've had like four cups, so you'd be able to tell if Axel had spiked these a while back."
"Although I wouldn't put it past him to try," Xion chuckles, knowing that her older brother had a knack for wreaking havoc at proms. The four of them sit together at their assigned table and kick their heels off, sighing in content at the freeing feeling that follows.
"So are you excited for your tour of Radiant Garden University tomorrow, Naminé?" Olette asks, knowing that she'd rightfully gotten into their distinguished visual arts program.
The flaxen-haired artist nods after taking a sip of her drink. "Pence and I are doing our tour together and are equally pumped."
"We're so proud of you, Nam," Kairi voices on behalf of the other three girls. "Not just because you got into the program—which, by the way, we all saw coming because of your talent—but also because you've chosen to go to a school far from home."
"Yeah, you've really overcome your agoraphobia," Xion adds proudly.
Naminé beams at the three girls. "Thanks guys. I feel like taking on this next chapter in a new place is going to help me grow not just as a person, but as an artist, too."
"For sure," Olette agrees. "And if you ever want to know all the good spots to hit up, you can always message Kairi and I!"
"I may just take you up on that offer," Naminé says gratefully. "What about you, Olette? When do you and Hayner move to San Fransokyo Tech?"
"A week before the semester starts in the fall," the brunette starts dreamily. Beside her, Kairi can't help but feel that spike of jealousy again as both Hayner and Olette had gotten into the same university, but her happiness for them easily outweighs it. The San Fransokyo Institute of Technology was their first choice and they deserved to get in with all their hard work.
"Are you excited?" Xion asks.
"Yes, but I'm definitely going to miss having Kairi as a roommate," Olette confesses. Her redheaded roommate (at least for the time being) places a hand over her heart and lets out a sincere 'aww' before pulling her in for a half-hug.
"I'm going to miss you, too," Kairi whimpers, the finality of prom beginning to dawn upon her. Soon enough they'd be throwing their graduation hats into the air and starting their new chapters in different places, but not before another fun-filled summer together.
"Speaking of roommates," Naminé starts when she senses that the two girls are awfully close to tears, "Xion, were you able to find one for this upcoming semester? I know your university housing application was put on hold because of your treatments, but now that you're officially in complete remission…"
Xion excitedly sets her drink down before responding. "Yes, actually! At first all the girls' dorms were fully occupied, but one of the single dorms in Cornerstone Hall offered to increase their unit occupancy to two, so I got in!"
Olette and Naminé cheer happily for their friend, but Kairi just smiles into the rim of her cup.
"Do you know who it is?" Naminé questions.
Xion twiddles her thumbs nervously. "No, but I just hope that we get along considering that they were supposed to have that room all to themselves."
"Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that," Kairi assures. The girls turn to look at her questioningly, Xion in particular looking especially suspicious.
"Kairi..." she starts. Among all the girls, she was the only other one who would be attending Twilight Town University in the fall, so if she'd put the pieces together correctly…
"Yes," Kairi answers, confirming her suspicions. "I'm your roommate."
Xion jumps out of her seat with a squeal and pulls the redhead into a grateful hug.
"Oh Kairi, thank you thank you!" she gushes. "I may not be as brainy or as great as Olette in Alliance of the Ancients, but I can kick ass at Kingdom Karts!"
"Oh stop, you'll be a wonderful roommate," Olette insists.
Kairi nods in agreement but feels the need to flag one thing for good measure. "So long as I don't catch you and Riku doing anything inappropriate when I'm around. The guy's like an older brother to me, so it'll be all sorts of awkward."
"Same goes for you and Sora," Xion counters with a teasing edge to her voice.
"Speaking of Sora, he got into New Twilight University, right?" Naminé asks. Kairi nods. "Still going the distance, huh?" the artist, who was well aware of the two-hour train ride apart, asks.
"Yeah, but we'll make it work," Kairi assures with all the confidence in the world.
Onstage, the Oathkeepers announce that they're doing their last song of the evening before the DJ takes over, so the girls throw on their heels to join the rest of the chanting crowd.
"For our final performance, how would you guys like to hear a new song I've been working on?" Roxas asks into the mic. As expected, the crowd responds with enthusiasm, so Roxas asks his cousin to retrieve his guitar, and Naminé's lips part in pleasant surprise when he straps on the guitar she'd gifted him for their anniversary last summer.
Axel cues them in with his drumsticks, and from the getgo it's clear that the song isn't like the others they'd performed. It's still bouncy with an upbeat tempo, but Roxas' voice, real and raw, is full of emotion. To affirm their approval of the song, the students clap along to the beat and wave their phones from side to side with the flashlight on, setting the atmosphere, and was Naminé mistaken, or was Roxas singing directly to her during that last chorus?
The Oathkeepers end their final performance to deafening applause, and before the DJ takes over for the night, they join hands and bow to the crowd that showers them with praise. Kairi's eyes land on Sora, who immediately begins to make his way towards her despite some masked girls trying to get the band's attention. He kindly apologizes to them and outstretches his hand towards his date when he reaches her.
"Care to dance, my princess?" he asks, maskless since the start of their performance. "Or are you already all danced out from earlier?"
The DJ begins to play one of their favourite upbeat Dance Party songs in the background, and an excited grin makes its way onto Kairi's lips.
"For you? Never," she answers while taking his hand.
With a giggle, she allows him to lead her onto the dance floor, which is ablaze with colourful lights, and proceed with effortlessly stealing the spotlight with their synchronized and energetic dance moves. All eyes are on them as they tear up the dance floor, but as far as they're concerned, all Sora sees is Kairi, and all Kairi sees is Sora. They're three thousand miles away in Sora's basement, losing themselves in the music and each other, dancing like nobody else is watching. After coming to their senses, they encourage everyone to form a dance circle, giving them their chance in the limelight, and cheer on both their friends and the other students from the academy.
Eventually the DJ goes for a change in pace and begins to play slow songs, changing the atmosphere from one of dramatic energy to twinkling romance. Couples flood the dance floor, and those who attended with their friends fall back to the refreshment and dessert table for a breather. Naminé makes her way to the punch fountain again, but just before she can reach for another cup, a hand outstretches towards her—a hand connected to none other than Roxas Akiyama.
"May I have this dance, Naminé?" he asks sweetly, swoon-worthy under the sparkly, dreamlike lights. Around them, some students begin whispering amongst themselves as they wait for Naminé to make a decision. "Don't worry about them," Roxas assures. "This is your choice."
"Are you sure you want to?" she whispers. "Aren't you tired from all your performances? Don't you want to rest?"
Roxas shakes his head. "There isn't anything I want to do more than this."
Unable to help the smile that graces her lips, she takes his hand and allows him to lead her onto the dance floor. While Roxas rests his hands comfortably on her waist, Naminé rests hers on his shoulders, and for a split second a fresh wave of pain washes over them both as they recall the last time they were in this position, but not before they remember that a year had passed since their heart wrenching breakup. Much had happened since then, and much like the prom, there was nothing fake about the way Roxas carried himself now.
No, Naminé thinks. This Roxas, the one in front of her now, knew his faults, accepted them, and now that his mask was off, she can see a hint of maturity and promise in his eyes that she hadn't been able to notice earlier.
"So," Roxas starts as they sway gently from side to side, "Radiant Garden University, huh?"
Naminé arches an eyebrow at him, silently asking him how he knew. Last she recalled, she'd mentioned that she'd gotten in during a video chat on MoogleTalk with everyone, but Roxas wasn't present at the time.
"Axel and Xion told me," Roxas explains. Then, with a bashful grin he adds, "And I may have cyber stalked your Quickgram story to confirm."
Naminé giggles at the confession.
"Congratulations, Naminé. That program is lucky to have you," Roxas praises. "I always knew you'd get in."
"Thank you, Roxas," Naminé says, appreciative of his support.
"And I'm not going to lie, I was really impressed that you'd travelled here all by yourself from New Twilight," Roxas admits. "You've really shown your agoraphobia who's boss, Nam. That's no small feat."
"Neither is touring with Yuna Riel," Naminé returns, though with an endearing blush dusting her cheeks at his compliment. "How is it being superstar Roxas Akiyama?"
Roxas sucks in a breath. "Busy. It never stops moving fast, and it's constantly just go go go."
Naminé nods, believing him wholeheartedly. Given that he was on tour for most of the time they'd been apart, their online interactions had been very few and limited to whenever the group chatted together. Those were already a rare treat, but Roxas actually making it was even moreso. Kairi had warned her that a breakup would make things inevitably awkward between them, which meant less communication, but she hadn't expected to miss him so much.
Before they started dating, she and Roxas were friends at the very least, and she missed being able to share things with him. On some occasions she'd taken the train to visit her friends in Twilight Town, and while those had been a nice breath of fresh air, her thoughts constantly kept drifting onto the vacant spot atop the clock tower and the boy that was missing from it—the boy she shared a special connection with.
"Don't get me wrong, living my dream has been grander and more thrilling than I'd imagined," Roxas assures when she tunes back into their conversation, "but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't glad to be settling down for a bit."
"Settling down?" Naminé repeats with raised eyebrows. "Oh, you mean summer vacation at Kingdom Hearts Resort," she then says knowingly.
Roxas shakes his head. "Not just then. Even after that."
"Okay, you lost me," Naminé admits. Roxas smiles, and there's something about it that makes a familiar shiver run down her spine.
"After this summer, I plan to record most of my music in Radiant Garden," he explains. "It's where Gullwing Studios is based."
Naminé's heart leaps at what his words entail. "Oh… so you'll be around then?"
"Yes," he confirms, "and I'd like to visit you on campus, if that's okay."
Naminé's eyes sparkle like the stars that they both are at the prospect of Roxas making time for her and being able to see him on a regular basis again.
"I'd really like that," she confesses, and as the music swells, Roxas feels as if they're both floating through air.
On the other side of the dance floor, Sora holds Kairi close by the waist, mesmerized by the way the twinkling lights flutter across her bright indigo eyes looking up at him appreciatively.
"I still can't believe you came all the way here to take me to a high school dance," she voices.
"Okay first of all, it's not just a high school dance," Sora starts. "It's prom, so I'd like to think that it holds more weight. And second of all, of course I did! I wouldn't miss this for the world."
"I'm sure it didn't hurt to have your flight paid for though," Kairi teases.
Sora grins. "Yeah, that was pretty sweet. But for the record, I would've come even if Roxas hadn't flown us in."
"I know you would have," Kairi says, always knowing in her heart that somehow, some way, they'd be together for another big milestone moment in their lives. That's just how they worked. True, she originally thought that she'd be attending with Olette, but whenever she'd caught herself daydreaming about prom in class, it was Sora she imagined in the pictures.
"It's probably best that he flew you in though," Kairi continues when she breaks out of her reverie. "We do have university classes and housing we need to save up for this fall."
At the mention of the next chapter in their lives, Sora can't help but smile.
"And a whole future after that," he adds.
Kairi beams. The future held a lot of uncertain things, things that would test and define them, but the one part that soothes her nerves, the one part that makes her look forward to it, the one part that she was absolutely certain about was that Sora and her friends would be there.
"Yeah," she muses with a giddy smile. A future with Sora. Now that was something to be grateful and excited about.
"So I know it's super cliché, but can I kiss you?" he asks when the couples around them start to get awfully touchy. "I've been dying to all night."
Kairi chuckles at his choice of words. Cliché as it may be, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him at that very moment, so she tilts her head to the side and leans in. He closes the gap between them and the kiss is slow, sweet, and all-consuming, but when they pull away, Sora's eyes are a deep, mysterious shade of blue, and the look he gives her is full of heat and something else. Out of respect he doesn't verbalize it, so she does it for him, but what she says completely derails him.
"So do you still keep that emergency condom in your wallet?" she asks.
Sora's mouth goes slack and his cheeks burn bright red. "Um, I was actually kidding about that. B-but I have some in my bag upstairs. Why?"
She leans in closer, whispering directly into his ear. "Because in order for us to do what I'm thinking, you're going to need it."
Sora finds himself caught between shivering and falling over, but luckily he's able to stand his ground.
"Are you sure?" he asks, his eyes searching hers for certainty.
She's never been more sure of anything in her life. "Yes."
Over the past year and even the years before that, Sora had convinced her that no one could possibly love her more. He loved every part of her, even her flaws, and made her feel like the most special girl in the world just by the way he looked at her alone. Of course she loved every fibre of his being in return, sometimes still unable to believe that she had someone so sweet and charming but simultaneously wild and electric at the same time, and because she knows deep down that he'll take the utmost care of her, the words leave her mouth easily.
"I want all of you, Sora."
He breathes deeply, shuts his eyes, and presses his forehead against hers.
"You've always had all of me," he whispers. When he reopens his eyes, he catches her giving him a look that says 'you know what I mean', so he caresses her cheek with one hand and nods in understanding. "Okay."
He threads his free hand with hers and leads her past the sea of tuxes and dresses, past the elaborately decorated tables and photo booth, and out into the lobby. On the edge of the dance floor, Riku and Xion dance their way closer to Olette and Hayner.
"It's happening," Riku tells Hayner discreetly. The gamer's eyes flicker towards the entrance, where Sora and Kairi's retreating figures just disappear around the corner. "Cough it up," Riku says while raising an expectant hand.
While Xion and Olette roll their eyes at the boys' antics, Hayner reaches into his pocket with a grumble and places twenty munny into Riku's awaiting hand.
Back in the lobby, Sora and Kairi enter the elevator, and after the former selects their floor, he lovingly cups his girlfriend's face in his warm hands and runs a thumb over her lips. His touch is featherlight, but the emotion behind it weighs Kairi's whole world. As the doors close, he kisses her so fiercely and passionately that every nerve in her body sparks to life, and she sighs into his lips while clinging onto him.
The elevator shoots upward towards the penthouse, but little did they know that they'd soon find themselves soaring far higher.
The following morning at Radiant Garden's historic and sumptuous Keyblade Arts facility, Terra raises his head from his desk when he hears a knock on his office door.
"Terra, there's someone here to see you," a fellow wielder informs him. "Says you used to teach him?"
Terra's eyes widen at the news. He immediately gets up, shuts his latest volume of Overcoming the Dark Arts, and leaves the large book on the table.
"Thanks Gula," he says before heading out.
With his heart pounding in his ears, he hastily makes his way to the courtyard, and surely enough, he stops dead in his tracks when his eyes land on his former student waiting by the intricate fountain of the Master of Masters. He stands before him taller than ever with his hair shorter, arms broader, and eyes tireder, but also lighter. His posture, which used to be rigid with the insecurities that came with teen angst, is now relaxed, almost as if he is much more self-aware and at peace with himself.
In his hands, he wears his Braveheart keybangle and holds a letter: the same letter where Terra himself disclosed his whereabouts and purpose of being there nearly two years ago. He knew it would take some time to be forgiven, that Riku would despise him at first, but he knew that when the time was right, his pupil would eventually understand.
That time, it seemed, was now.
"Riku," Terra says, unable to hide the surprise in his tone.
"Master Terra," Riku greets civilly.
His former student respectfully bows, but before he can lower himself all the way, he finds himself being pulled into a hug: something his master rarely ever did. Shocked by the gesture, he tenses at first, but eventually finds himself raising his arms to return it. When Terra pulls away, he keeps a hand on Riku's shoulder, noting that as they were practically the same height now, he no longer needs to train his eyes downward to address him.
"Look at you," he says while taking in the young man before him. "All grown up." His wide eyes then land on Riku's forearm. "Is that a tattoo?"
Riku glances down at the small but permanent sankofa heart on his arm, the one he and Xion had both gotten the day after she was confirmed to be in complete remission.
"Yeah," he answers with a distant grin.
Terra arches an eyebrow at him, albeit with a smile. "You've had quite the journey, haven't you?"
Riku can't help but release a breathy laugh at the loaded question. Between reuniting with his best friends, making new ones, falling in love, taking up a keyblade again, starting his first year of university, holding Xion's hand through her treatments and everything in between, it had been one heck of a year.
"You have no idea," he finally responds. Then, while running a hand through his hair he asks, "Want to hear about it?"
Terra eagerly throws an arm over Riku's shoulders in response and begins to lead him inside. "Tell me everything."
Twilight Town
At the airport, Riku and Axel unload luggages from the latter's newly purchased car at the terminal for international flights.
"Thanks for dropping us off again, Ax," Xion says while strapping on her backpack and pulling her luggage to her side. "I honestly thought you'd be too bitter to, but I stand corrected. I'm actually kind of impressed."
"Oh trust me, I'm bitter on the inside," the redhead confesses through gritted teeth. "But I'll live."
Being twenty meant that he no longer had 'teen' in his age, which, much to his chagrin, also meant that he was too old to vacation at Kingdom Hearts Resort.
"You going to be okay?" Riku asks while shutting the trunk. "I know things with you and Larxene haven't been exactly smooth sailing, so..." He thinks back to their recent (and infrequent) double dates, which usually consisted of radio silence from the other couple involved.
"Ah, right," Axel says while awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "We, uh... haven't exactly been together for a while now."
"Sorry bro," Riku says, his tone expressing all sorts of sympathy.
"Thanks, but it was for the best," the redhead insists.
"Oh Ax," Xion says while placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. You've gone a long time without committing, so it's not like you would've gotten the hang of it on the first try."
Axel shakes his head. "Nah, commitment wasn't exactly the issue. After doing some… exploring, we just kind of grew apart and decided to move on," he explains carefully.
Riku arches an eyebrow at the vague response, but when his eyes discreetly land on his girlfriend, she surreptitiously mouths 'Isa', who the redhead had been with rather frequently.
"Oh," Riku says, eyes wide in surprise upon learning that the redhead now played for both teams. Thankfully Axel doesn't notice, so Riku pretends not to have a clue. "Well that's great. Hope you find what you're looking for, Axel."
"Thanks," he says with a slight grin. "Now you two get going. I don't want you to miss your flight."
"Right. Ready, Xi?" Riku asks while outstretching his hand towards her.
"Yeah," she says while taking it. "See you, Ax."
"Have fun," he says while saluting them both. Then, with his eyes playfully narrowed at Riku, "but not too much fun."
His little sister's boyfriend rolls his eyes, used to the joke by now, but nods nonetheless. As they begin to walk away, Xion then looks over her shoulder to grace her honorary older brother with one more wave, which he happily returns while leaning against the side of his car.
As he watches their retreating figures with crossed arms, Axel can't help but recall that a year ago, it had been him accompanying Xion (whose fate had been uncertain) to the airport; now, she walked with vitality, with purpose, and hand-in-hand with her boyfriend that he trusted more than anyone to take good care of her.
When their figures eventually disappear behind their assigned gate, Axel re-enters his car and drives away, confident that the once small bird, the one that had been flying far from her cage for quite some time now, could handle whatever came her way.
Kingdom Hearts Resort
When their shuttle stops and lets them out into their assigned villa, Sora, Kairi, Olette, and Hayner, the first of their friends to arrive, nearly drop their bags at the three-storey architectural masterpiece that greets them. It isn't the Disney castle that they had the pleasure of staying at last year, but it's just as luxurious and is the perfect mix of tropical and contemporary. Through the glass walls they can make out breathtakingly high ceilings, polished and functional furniture, and vibrant walls. On the left hand side, a black convertible sits in the driveway, and to the left of that, a small gate leads to the backyard which more than likely had direct beach access given its proximity to the edge of the resort.
"Are you sure we're at the right place?" Olette asks while elbowing her boyfriend who still appears to be in complete awe.
"He gave the driver the right address," Sora assures, but much like Olette and Kairi, he too looks confused.
"This looks nothing like the house we booked online," Kairi comments. "We should call the shuttle back."
But just before any of them can take action, their ears perk upward at the sound of the front door opening. Much to their surprise, Roxas steps out, followed by Naminé.
"Hey guys!" Naminé greets with an enthusiastic wave.
When the four look even more confused than ever, Roxas throws on his sunglasses with a chuckle while heading out. "Sorry guys, did I forget to tell you that I've upgraded our housing for the summer? My treat."
"No way," Sora voices with his jaw agape. Beside him, Hayner goes for a less classy approach.
"Oh fuck yeah!" the gamer cheers with a fist raised into the air. "Lavish living, here we come!"
"Roxas, this is amazing," Olette says breathily.
"Thank you!" Kairi gushes.
"It's my pleasure, really," Roxas says while walking up to them. "Tidus offered it to me as a gift for finishing my tour with Yuna, but I thought it would be a waste to have it all to myself. What good is all this if you don't have the right people to share it with?"
Beside him, Naminé's lips turn upward at the positive sentiment. They all prepare to head inside, but just before they can, another shuttle pulls up to drop off Riku and Xion. Much like the first four, they marvel at the dazzlingly built villa but raise their eyebrows when they find their friends standing in front of it. Roxas explains himself again, and the couple's mouths part in shock.
"I know I've said this multiple times in the past," Xion starts, "but thank goodness we're friends."
Roxas playfully places his hands on his hips. "Oh, so you're only in it for the money?"
"Yeah, wasn't that obvious?" Xion teases.
"Well if it isn't Master Riku in the flesh!" Sora praises when he walks up to his best friend and pulls him into a bro hug. Riku can't help but turn red, flattered at the mention of his newly acquired rank, but returns the hug nonetheless.
"It's great to see you again, Riku," Kairi says while turning the bro hug into a three-way group hug.
"Man I cannot wait til I pass my Mark of Mastery exam," Sora raves. "Master Sora has a nice ring to it, and I'll make sure you address me only as such when it happens."
While Kairi chuckles, admiring her boyfriend's ambition, Riku chooses to tease him instead.
"Well good luck with that, 'cause the only place that's going to happen is in your dreams," the eldest of the Destiny Islands trio jeers. He narrowly dodges the slap aimed for his head from both of his besties.
"Remind me to turn the wave pool all the way up when you're cleaning it," Sora grumbles. Riku chuckles. The three of them would be working part-time that summer as lifeguards at the Atlantica water park, and while it wasn't the Funtertainer position Sora and Riku had last year, at least they'd be under the sun together again.
"Hey, where's Pence?" Naminé asks when she notices the absence of the only other member attending Radiant Garden University with her in the fall.
"He's the new editor for Teenage Wasteland now," Hayner answers. "Officially got the job last week, so he's staying at the castle."
"Good for him," Naminé comments, happy that a fellow artist would be capturing all sorts of moments and doing what he loved all summer long. She herself would be working at the Pier as a caricature artist, so that made two of them.
"Probably for the best, too," Hayner continues. "If I were him, I wouldn't want to stay in a house full of couples, either." Everyone's eyes then land on a blushing Roxas and Naminé, the only two who weren't officially in a relationship.
"Well we may not all be couples just yet," Sora says with a hopeful wink, "but maybe we can still bring back the OTP competition this summer!"
Roxas scoffs. "Oh please. For your sake, I wouldn't. Team RokuNami would whoop your asses." Beside him, Naminé giggles into her hand.
"We'll just have to see then," Hayner challenges while punching a fist into his open palm.
Sora then turns to his girlfriend, who appears to be in deep thought while looking at the lavish abode.
"What are you thinking of?" he asks while coming up behind her and threading his arms around her waist.
"Hmm," Kairi hums as he rests his chin on her shoulder. "Nothing much. Just of my nefarious plans for you."
Sora raises his eyebrows. "Oh? Like what?"
She turns to him with a naughty twinkle in her eye. "Like repeating what we did in the penthouse during prom night. Multiple times."
Sora flushes. What they'd shared that night was their unique connection—the one built on mutual trust, respect, and understanding over the years—in physical form, and it could only be described as magic. It was both sweet and sensual, transcendent in its nature, and he could still recall holding her in his arms afterwards, deliriously spent from the immense pleasure that had just wracked through their bodies. Their summers, particularly the last two, had gotten better and better every year, but if that was on the table daily, then this was easily going to be the best summer yet.
"What?" Kairi asks amidst Sora's stunned silence. "Did you think you were the only one thinking about it?"
"Yes," Sora answers honestly, "but I've never been happier to be wrong."
Kairi chuckles and leans into him, relieved and delighted to be in his arms every day for the next two or so months after all their time apart.
"You know, I have to say I really prefer this to how we reunited last year," Sora confesses, recalling how she'd accidentally pushed him into the moat of the Disney castle the year before.
Kairi can't help but laugh at the memory and playfully pinches his cheek. "You know, that can still be arranged."
"Please no," Sora pleads.
"So are we just going to stand here all day, or are we going to check this place out?" Hayner asks, getting antsy for some excitement.
They all look forward, the sun and sea-scented breeze welcoming them with the promise of more shenanigans, adventure, and self-discovery on the horizon.
"Yeah," Sora answers on behalf of them all. "Let's get this summer started!"
the end
Chapter inspirations: The song leading up to prom was Shot At The Night by The Killers, the new song Roxas wrote and performed at the prom was Somebody To You by The Vamps (which I find kind of cute considering that Roxas and Naminé are introduced as 'nobodies' in the game, and this song really shows how he much he now values his feelings for Naminé more than fame), the song Sora and Kairi were tearing up the dance floor to was Levitating by Dua Lipa, and the song everyone was slow dancing to was Lost in You by Walk Off the Earth (this song is so underrated!). The ending at the resort was inspired by Good Time by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, which I think wraps things up nicely on a fun note.
Fun fact: I stopped writing the original Teenage Wasteland at 34 chapters. I think it's only right that this one ends at 34 as well.
Fun fact 2: The prom theme was a subtle nod to the very first multi-chapter Kingdom Hearts fic I ever wrote called 'Masquerade'.
A/N: I never thought I'd ever write the words 'the end' for this story, but alas, here we are. For those of you who have asked, yes, I was extremely emotional writing this, and I am extremely emotional right now! I think fourteen-year-old Kyorii, who started the original Teenage Wasteland, would've been very pleased with how twenty-five-year-old Kyorii handled and ended things off. It honestly feels like I'm parting with my first summer love, so full of youthful fun under the sun, but like this ending, that just means there's more to come!
To my friends at FF, it has been one of my greatest pleasures sharing my vision with you all these years. Thank you for staying with me despite my wild ideas and sporadic updates and for helping me grow both as a person and as a writer. To my newer friends at AO3, thank you for giving this story a chance in your community! I sincerely do hope that all of you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it. Thank you for staying with these crazy teenagers until the very end.
As I'd mentioned previously, I plan on transitioning to original works, so this is my last lengthy multi-chapter fanfiction, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm opposed to dropping a one-shot or short story in the future! This next phase of my writing admittedly makes me a bit nervous, like starting at a new school, but I am hoping it will be a good learning experience, no matter the outcome. Once I get going on original works, I'll be sure to post where you can find me on my profile. Considering that I really like to flesh things out before I write, it may take a while, but I'm hoping I'll get there sooner than later. As bittersweet as this is, this isn't the end of my writing, but the start of a new chapter!
Special thanks to thepenishellamightier257, RE (!), Caelum, Tyjet Ansatsu, Mr. Spinner, MusicalSage, skysailz and Aundielen for reviewing the last chapter! I apologize if I missed or misspelled any pen names.
I hope you all enjoyed the final installment of Project: Teenage Wasteland! Please kindly leave a review to share your thoughts and/or feels, I apologize for any grammar errors I might have missed, and wherever the writing winds take me, I hope to see you there! Take care everyone!
xoKyorii