The next morning, Sonic and Tails repeated their same routine as the day prior.
Whilst eating breakfast, Tails saw a determination in Sonic's eyes that wasn't there before. And he noticed Sonic was being particularly quiet. It was unlike him.
"Everything okay?" Tails asked Sonic, biting into a blueberry muffin.
"Yeah, I'm fine," responded Sonic. But his body language suggested otherwise. Plus, he barely even touched his food.
"What is it, Sonic?" Tails implored. "C'mon. You can tell me."
"It's nothing…" responded Sonic.
"Bad dream?" said Tails.
Sonic stared straight ahead into space and let out a long sigh.
"Something like that," he finally responded, taking a sip of coffee.
"Want to tell me about it?" said Tails.
"Not particularly," said Sonic, "I'd prefer not to have to relive such a bitter memory."
"Well, if you change your mind… I'm here for you pal," said Tails.
"Thanks," said Sonic, "You know, Tails, I'm lucky to have a guy like you on my team."
"Of course!" said Tails, "Speaking of which… have you heard anything from Knuckles?"
"I haven't talked to that guy in years!" replied Sonic, "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing…" responded Tails, "Forget I asked. He was fun. That's all."
This seemed to strike a nerve in Sonic.
"What?" said Sonic, "I'm no fun?! Is that what you're getting at?"
"It's not that…" said Tails, "It's just that, you know, sometimes I feel like you take yourself too seriously. Knuckles wasn't like that. That's all."
"…You know what?" said Sonic, "Fuck you, Tails."
He got up from the table, knocked over the cup of coffee, and walked away,
"I don't need you!" shouted Sonic, "I'll find the black hedgehog myself."
And with that, Sonic headed out the door and into the heart of San Juan.
Tails spent the rest of the day binge watching Stranger Things in the hotel room.
Sonic didn't come back until late at night, exhausted. He had spent the entire day running around the entire island, looking for any clues as to Shadow's whereabouts. But he had no luck.
As he sat at the bar, chugging down Bacardí like there was no tommorow, he was starting to suspect this was another trap set up by Dr. Robotnik. He wouldn't put it past him. But if this was just another trap, wouldn't it have been evident by now? Unless of course, he was just trying to buy time…
He thought about what Tails had said earlier. Maybe he was taking things too seriously. But he kind of had to. He was Sonic: the leader, the main character of the story. The one who always ended up having to save the world.
"Maybe I should give Knuckles a call," he thought, "For old times' sake."
He looked up "Knuckles" in his cell phone directory. He was getting ready to place the call, but, at the last second, he decided against it.
"I hope Knuckles is out there living his best life," thought Sonic, "I don't want to be a burden."
And with that, Sonic headed back up to the hotel room.
"Hey," he said as he opened the door and saw Tails finishing up an episode of Stranger Things, "I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier."
"Any luck?" said Tails, dodging Sonic's apology.
"No…" said Sonic as he took off his shoes and got in the bed, "But I have an idea."