"Let's see, two children, a Kingdom getting burned to the ground, this doesn't make sense!" Olly stopped. "Wait, getting burned to the ground...just like my last school!" Olly drew some connecting lines with a red marker. "The children got adopted by some Toad rescuers." More lines. "Wait, one of them looks like the Origami Craftsman..." More and more lines. "Twins..." More. "Does that mean..." They all connected to one person, Olly's father. "He has the answers."
He ran downstairs. "Dad! Dad! Da-" He tripped. He got off the floor. "Dad? Where are you?"
"Yes, yes. They're going to be 17 in a few weeks! Almost a whole month though..." He was on the phone somebody.
Olly waited patiently for him to finish.
"Yup! Tell her I said Happy birthday too!" He sighed. "I wish Olly could meet her, I really do. But if they were to be together, they'll be in danger for sure!" He nodded. "You're right. I don't want a repeat of what happened that day. Olly's last school already got attacked! Hopefully Mushroom City is big enough to hide in for a while; but that means more targets for him to attack. If Olly starts making friends again...they'll get killed if they stay around him." He sighed. "Good bye, I'll talk to you soon." He stopped the call. "Olly, did you call-" He looked where Olly was standing, but Olly was gone. "...he must've changed his mind."
"L-Larry?"
"Hey, Ols! It's been a while! How's Mushroom High treating you?"
"I-I'm fine...it's just..."
"Hey, you okay? You sound upset." His best friend asked.
"I think my dad knows something about...THAT."
"OOooh, THAT. Does he now?"
"...he was calling somebody. He doesn't want me to make anymore friends for 'safety reasons'!" Olly's eyes filled with tears. "How do I tell him I already have?"
"Oof...uh, I don't think I can help you there, bud. Just tell him, I guess. Sometimes, the truth hurts, Ols."
"He said my friends will get killed if I hang around them for too long! I don't know what to do! I don't want to be the lonely kid anymore!" Tears streamed down his face. "I do-o-on't know what to do-o-o-o, Larry...Please help me."
"Sorry, my dad wants me. Talk to you tomorrow?"
"...talk to you tomorrow..." The line clicked. Olly hugged his legs. "Nobody will help me, not even my best friend...how worthless am I?"
There was a knock on Olly's bedroom door. "Olly? Dinner's ready if you want to come down." He put his ear against the door and heard Olly crying. "Olly? Are you okay?"
"Leave me alone!"
"You heard what I said, didn't you?"
"...yeah."
"Look, I'm sorry okay? It's personal business. I want to tell you the truth, but I'm afraid that'll put you in danger! I really am sorry, son."
"I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow." Olly lied down in bed and covered himself with the blanket.
"...See you tomorrow for school, Olly."
