“Solid!”

  “Stop calling my name… I’m sleeping…”

  “Solid!”

  “…”

  “SOLID, WAKE UP!!! IT’S ALMOST TIME FOR LUNCH!!!”

  “L-Lunch!?” Solid instantly wakes up and spots the clock, reading it as 11:40 A.M. “Oh god… They’re gonna kill me.” “I’m coming, Mom!” He gets out of bed and proceeds to fall to the floor, groaning from the pain on his forehead. He quickly recovers and immediately neatens up his bed in less than a second. Flashing his way to the kitchen, he sees both his step-brother and step-mom waiting for him. “Sorry about the inconvenience!” He immediately sits down and eats his lunch. “I-I was very sleepy after school, and… it was at midnight when I started sleeping.” He gives a long yawn before looking at his food. “Hmm… Mac N’ Cheese?” He takes one bite, immediately liking the taste and the texture, before giving some clarification. “Did you make this, Mom?”

  Mom giggles before she shakes her head, “No, dear. Tricky made this. He’s getting better at replicating my cooking style.” She also takes a bite of one of the many dishes that Tricky has been cooking.

  “I could replicate as many dishes as mom makes, and you’ll have no idea what the comparison is between the two.” Tricky continues to eat his own masterpiece, proud of how far he’s come. “Mom and I will teach you how to replicate our cooking once you graduate from college this month. Alright?”

  Solid smirks and rolls his eyes in amusement, “Yeah. Yeah. By then, I’ll get a job and work at the same company as you. What’s the building called again…? It’s like Haven City… Umm…?”

  “Finances.” Tricky points a fork at him, “You already know the way there, so after graduating, just carry me and flash your way to work.” Both brothers laugh it off; the mention of his idea is arguably weird from their perspective.

  “Hell nah. I’m not doing that for you- well, actually…? Maybe I can. It’s not a bad idea, it’s faster than the rush hour by train or road, but it depends on the shift I’ve been given.” He shrugs the whole idea off while the brothers still calm themselves down from their laughter. It’s not until Solid gives hypothetical ‘what if’ questions, “Who knows? What if I have a shift earlier than you? What if I have a shift later than you? What if we work on different floors? Do you get where I’m at?”

  “Yes, I understand where you’re at right now. However, if you do manage to get the same job as me, expect something different; you know damn well that can’t be in the same stance.” Tricky says while chewing his food with his mouth open wide.

  “Tricky. Manners, alright?” Their mom politely, yet straightforwardly says.

  “Sorry…”

  Solid takes more bites of the food, still enjoying the rich flavor of the macaroni, while appreciating the toppings and the cheese. ‘Oh yeah!” He quickly swallows his food to reveal something, “Woofa is also interested in working in the same building as us. Except she’s going to take the title of receptionist. I told her, ‘Isn’t that job stressful, especially dealing with customers as bad as they are?’, and she said, ‘Don’t worry about it…’” He pauses and takes a deep breath, regretting saying this to the family, but he continues.

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  “‘... orange furball…’”

  Tricky almost spits out the food, holding in his laughter while covering his mouth with his hands. “Oh. My. God.” His voice is muffled, while tears of laughter are coming out of his eyes. “You two are best friends…”

  Solid sighs in disappointment, now fully regretting adding that part. But he continues with the conversation. “... Anyways… she continued, saying that ‘I’m pretty good at managing customers. Either bad or good, it’s always about keeping your composure.’”

  Tricky takes a sly grin, not caring about her getting employed, but rather their relationship. “You and Woofa… should just date. You two have known each other since you were in middle school, and now you have the potential to work in the same building, let alone the same shift. I feel like it’s time to snap and move in with her.”

  Solid playfully glares at his brother, scooping up the remaining Mac N’ Cheese on his bowl before setting the empty bowl on the table. “One. We’re never going to be dating. Two, yes. I’ve heard many stories of people dating after working in the same company and building, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re still childhood friends.” He gets up and puts his dish into the sink.

  “Oh, come on…!” Tricky groans as he gives him his dish. “I guarantee you that you two will date. I bet more money on that than the Night Watchers winning their first title!”

  “Alright? How much do you want to bet? And it must be more than 100 Lunars.” Solid pokes at his forehead.

  Tricky takes out his wallet and disposes of the remaining money. “500 Lunars!” He slams the paper money onto the table. “I don’t care what 500 Lunars can get you, but I’m betting it. Y’all wait n’ see.” He crosses his arms and looks away at Solid, winking at his mom for a brotherly rival.

  “Okay. Okay.” Their mom stands up and snatches away the 500 Lunars, “I don’t care what you boys are doing, but just remember that I’ll be keeping this until one of these bets is made. Understood?”

  The brothers nod and respectively say in unison, “Yes, Mom. I understand.”

  “But… I do have some Lunars to make up.” She hands out 200 Lunars. “Whoever does all of the chores in the house, I’ll pay you 200 Lunars. Got it?”

  Tricky grins and stares at his brother with a look. “Really!?” Before he rushes to the sink, the dishes are immediately washed, and the sink is cleared. “Come on, Solid! I don’t care if your-!” The place is immediately dusted for a few seconds, “Solid! Stop using your-!” He emerges with a vacuum, and the dust and debris on the floor are immediately cleared out. “Stop using your…” The clothes are put into the dryer to be dried. “... Speed…”

  The orange hedgehog smirks and leans on the table. “Too bad.” He snatches the 200 Lunar off the table. “Sometimes… you have to be faster than me. But, hey…” He pats Tricky’s shoulder and hands him his 200 Lunar. “... You can take this. It’s not like I have anything to do… with it.”

  “Come on…” Tricky appreciatively declines the 200 Lunar, “Don’t do this for pity. You’ve got to see the amount of money. It’s a lot not to give away for someone like you… right?”

  Solid shakes his head and extends his arm. “Tricky…” He grabs his hand and puts the 200 Lunar onto his palm. “I’m not the guy who would accept this much money. You know how much I care about you… and mom… … and Woofa- but what matters? I’ll be happy to be a homeless man rather than stay in a rich apartment or house.” He says something that arguably differs from the opinions around this neighborhood. Almost everyone around here wants to move away from the crime-ridden area, but he’s a different person. He doesn’t care about the environment he’s living in; all he cares about is the strong community surrounding him. Nothing stops him from going his way; despite the unorthodox path his future compared to everyone else, he remains optimistic nevertheless. “So please… just keep it. And hey, you’ll eventually win the bet… which will never happen.”

  Tricky lets out a small laugh, still amused by his brother’s antics. “Solid… You’ll get Woofa one day. Just-”

  “Shut up, Tricky! Oh my god!” Solid puts his head down on the table, no longer handling the embarrassment.

  Tricky grabs his quills, hugs him, and ruffles his fur. “That’s what my young bro is talking about! Seriously, though. Thank you… You humble…” He sighs before hugging him tightly. “... hedgehog…”

  “Aww, my sons hugging each other?” Their mom eventually joins in and hugs both of her sons, full of love as a family. “I love my boys.”

  Tricky smiles and closes his eyes, still having bits of laughter in his voice. “I love you, Mom… and you too… Solid.”

  Solid eventually gives in and closes his eyes.

  Despite debates and arguments, along with being embarrassed about Woofa in his mind, he smiles in unison.

  “I love you… Mom… Tricky…”