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Chapter 24 - File O.5: "Omori"

As the group reached the final obstacle in the Junkyard, Kel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Hey, guys, look at that!" he exclaimed, pointing to an unused, slightly worn-out couch nestled in the corner of the Junkyard. "We can chill there and stargaze! The dreamworld sky looks amazing tonight."

Aubrey's face lit up with a smile. "That's a great idea, Kel!" she agreed. "We've been so focused on puzzles and obstacles. A little break under the dreamworld stars sounds perfect."

Basil nodded in agreement. "It's been quite a journey so far. A moment to relax and enjoy the view would be nice," he remarked, Basil adjusted his floral straw hat and straightened his pastel-colored cloak made of hay-like fabric.

Hero chimed in, "Plus, it's a good chance for Omori to do some stargazing. I heard it can be quite calming."

Omori, as usual, remained stoic but nodded in silent agreement. The group then made their way to the couch, each taking a turn to solve the final puzzle and overcome the last obstacle before settling down to stargaze under the dreamworld's serene night sky.

Dreamworld Mari enthusiastically climbed over the stacked buildings in the junkyard to reach the spot where Kel had pointed out the couch. "Come on, let's go!" she exclaimed, urging everyone to join her.

As Dreamworld Mari led the charge, the rest of the group followed suit. Kel and Hero dashed ahead, excited about the prospect of stargazing. Aubrey skipped along, her umbrella twirling lightly in the air. Basil adjusted his hat and cloak, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any hidden dangers.

Meanwhile, Omori effortlessly navigated through the obstacles, his knife expertly slicing away anything that blocked their path. Despite the challenges of the junkyard, his movements were smooth and calculated, reflecting his growing confidence and skill in the dreamworld.

Together, they made their way to the vacant couch under the dreamworld sky, ready to enjoy a peaceful moment of stargazing amidst their adventures.

As they finally reached it , Omori was surprised when Mari pulled him close to sat by her lap to give enough space for the others in their sitting Spots to stargaze. Kel was the one that sits on the higher part of the couch , while the rest sits properly on their sitting spots.

Omori then felt something is about to manifest at the sky of its pretty sunset like color of a moon it seems. Until , he was headpat by Dreamworld Mari that calms him down as she spoke "It's fun right little brother? Joining us in our adventures than standing by the picnic like previous ones?"

Omori, still caught up in the beauty of the dreamworld sky, felt a sense of calm wash over him with Dreamworld Mari's comforting gesture. He nodded in agreement with a faint smile, a rare expression for him. "Yes, it's... different. But in a good way."

Dreamworld Mari's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned closer to him. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, Omori. We're all in this together, exploring and experiencing new things."

As the sky above them continued its mesmerizing display, Omori couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie and warmth among his friends. It was moments like these that reminded him of the bonds they shared, both in the dream world and in reality.

As they stargaze, Kel frowns "wait out of the planets in the sky….why is Pluto missing?"

Kel's observation about Pluto's absence in the dreamworld sky caught everyone's attention. Omori, always keen on details, furrowed his brows slightly as he scanned the celestial display. "You're right, Kel. Pluto should be there."

Dreamworld Mari tilted her head curiously. "Maybe it's part of the dreamworld's design? Or perhaps there's a hidden meaning behind its absence."

Basil, who had been quietly enjoying the view, chimed in, "Could be a clue for a future puzzle or quest?"

Aubrey, ever perceptive, added, "Or it could represent something missing or overlooked, like a piece of the puzzle we haven't discovered yet."

Hero, always ready with a joke, joked, "Maybe Pluto's on vacation, taking a break from being a planet."

Their discussion about Pluto's absence added an intriguing layer to their stargazing session, sparking curiosity and speculation among the group about what it could signify in their dreamworld adventures.

As they finish , Hero kiss Dream world Mari's cheek and says charmingly "Let's continue looking for Rosa yeah? I think we can finally spot that annoying Sproutmole…"

Hero's charming comment and gesture earned him a playful eye roll from Dreamworld Mari, who teased back, "Sure thing, Hero. Let's see if we can finally catch Rosa and retrieve that mixtape."

Omori, while not showing much outward reaction, internally noted the group's continued determination and camaraderie. He nodded in agreement, acknowledging the shared goal and the importance of their unity in facing challenges within the dreamworld.

Aubrey beams "Still guys!!! It's nice we found this spot!!! Even Basil took a picture of us vibing to Stargaze by this couch together as always!!! Carrying the Memories…."

As Basil blows the photo out of his camera he nods and blush "Sometimes Aubrey you exaggerate how I do my photography….."

As they descended from the stacked buildings of the junkyard, Kel, Hero, and the rest of the group chimed in, reassuring Basil that Aubrey's praise wasn't exaggerated. They admired the photo for capturing their unity and the serenity of their stargazing moment.

Kel added, "It's a great shot, Basil! Shows the bond we share in exploring these dreamworld adventures together."

Hero nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and it's nice to have these memories to look back on, especially as we face more challenges ahead."

Mari, with a gentle smile, expressed, "I'm glad we took this time to relax and enjoy each other's company. It's moments like these that make our journeys meaningful."

Omori, usually reserved, quietly nodded, appreciating the camaraderie and the sense of belonging they all shared during their dreamworld escapades.

The group paused at the corner, drawn by the cheerful tune of a mixtape playing on an old record player. They spotted Rosa, the Sproutmole with a pink bow, chuckling to herself as she listened to the music.

Kel whispered, "That must be the mixtape we've been searching for!"

Hero nodded, "Looks like our luck is turning around. Let's approach her calmly and try to reason with her."

Aubrey added, "We should explain our situation and see if she's willing to let us borrow the mixtape temporarily."

Basil, with a hopeful expression, said, "Maybe we can strike a deal or offer something in return for her cooperation."

Mari, always diplomatic, suggested, "Let's try to be friendly and understanding. We don't want to escalate the situation unnecessarily."

Omori, observing silently, prepared himself for whatever interaction would unfold, ready to support his friends in their quest to retrieve the mixtape.

Basil nudges Omori "since your the leader again Omori..I-u.uhh…p-please don't act aggressive okay? Can you try your Uhh recent new smile to seem approachable?"

Omori was taken aback by Basil's request. "What? But isn't my neutral face already less threatening?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

Basil chuckled nervously. "Well, it's not about being threatening, just... a bit more welcoming, you know?"

Omori nodded slowly, trying to process the idea of altering his expression. "I'll try," he promised, though the concept of smiling felt foreign to him.

As they approached Rosa, Omori attempted a slight smile, which came off more as a small, awkward twitch of his lips. He hoped it conveyed some level of friendliness without seeming forced.

Mari whispered smugly to Aubrey, "Hey Aubrey... did you see that rare photo and how we witnessed a genuine smile from Omori? Maybe try getting his attention more; lately, he seems to enjoy paying attention to you."

Aubrey blushed, trying to play it off coolly. "Oh, that's just Omori being friendly. But yeah, it's nice to see him open up a bit more."

Meanwhile, Omori was still adjusting to the idea of intentionally expressing emotions, finding it a bit awkward but also strangely liberating.

Then he blush when Aubrey slowly hug his arm as he ask (conflicted inside why his heart is racing in a strange good butterflies feeling) "Uhh Aubrey…what are you doing—"

As Aubrey hugged his arm, Omori felt a mix of confusion and warmth. "Uhh Aubrey... what are you doing?" he asked, his internal conflict evident in his voice.

Aubrey chuckled softly, her cheeks tinted pink. "Just enjoying the moment, Omori. We're all here together, right?"

Omori nodded slowly, his stoic facade cracking slightly under Aubrey's gentle touch. "Yeah, we are," he replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

The group continued on their quest, but Omori couldn't shake the strange fluttering feeling in his chest whenever Aubrey was near. It was a new sensation for him, one that he couldn't quite understand but was starting to appreciate.

Then as he blushes, he also smiles as cutely familiar, and even his eyes dilate with more life as he nods "Ahh thanks…" Before clearing his throat to focus Rosa is conflicted if this is the same Omori who passively interrogation wants the mixtape she has been carrying with her to ask "Hey…. you the same leader of this party right? So wh-why is your vibe suddenly.."

As Rosa questioned Omori's sudden change in demeanor, Dreamworld Kel chimed in with a teasing remark. "Adorable? Omori is adorable now, right?" he joked, earning a chuckle from the rest of the group.

Omori blushed slightly at the attention but remained composed. "I'm just trying something different," he replied, his voice calm yet slightly flustered.

Aubrey smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It suits you, Omori," she remarked, giving his arm a playful squeeze.

With a newfound confidence, Omori turned back to Rosa. "We're here to talk about that mixtape," he said, his tone more assertive yet still friendly. "We need it for our mission, and we promise to return it afterward. Can we work something out?"

Rosa huffs "and what's in it for me straight-face knife-wielding kid?"

Hero, being charismatic and charming, stepped in to negotiate with Rosa. "Hey there, Rosa," he began with a charming smile. "We understand you found something valuable, and we're not here to take it away from you permanently. How about a fair trade? We can offer you something in return for the mixtape, something that you'd find just as valuable."

Rosa crossed her arms, looking skeptical but intrigued. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"

Hero glanced at the rest of the group before turning back to Rosa. "We have some rare items and even some cool gadgets from our adventures. Plus, we're skilled in many areas and can help you out with anything you might need. It's a win-win situation!"

Rosa pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, show me what you've got," she said, gesturing for them to present their offerings.

They all nod and let Mari do her thing as she brings out something from their inventory through her picnic basket to show Rosa.

Mari reached into her picnic basket and pulled out a shiny, colorful crystal. "Check this out," she said, holding it up for Rosa to see. "It's a rare crystal from a distant realm. It has unique properties and can be quite valuable."

Rosa's eyes widened with interest as she examined the crystal. "That's... impressive," she admitted, a hint of excitement in her voice. "But is it enough for the mixtape?"

Hero stepped in again, flashing his charming smile. "We can sweeten the deal," he added. "In addition to the crystal, how about we offer our services? Need anything fixed, scouted, or even some protection? We've got your back."

Rosa considered their offer, weighing the options carefully. After a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded. "Alright, deal. Crystal and your services for the mixtape," she agreed, extending her hand for a handshake.

The group exchanged glances, pleased with the outcome. They handed over the crystal, and Rosa handed them the mixtape. With the trade done, they thanked Rosa and continued on their adventure, satisfied with their negotiation skills and teamwork.

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