Cover





1

"I don't think he is as cruel as even he believes."



2

He raised the flower up towards me a little, like he was offering it to me. His gaze shifted to the side.



I was... stunned. Eventually, the words left my mouth: "Are you trying to... give this to me?"



3

… I've never seen him look so… defeated. I wondered what he was thinking about. Or maybe he was trying to think about nothing.



4

"I got bad news for you, Metal," she huffed, kicking a nearby tree. It completely split apart and collapsed to the ground. "I'm not in the mood to play today."



5

Was I really considering talking to a killer robot? A killer robot that knew how to tend to a garden, at least. For... several years. The writing was also a lot more eloquent than I expected...



6

Of course I know what it means! It's torture!



7

Big!!! My favorite cat in the whole wide world!



8

"Does it look familiar to you?" I asked. He relaxed his arms to his sides and kept studying the flower. I knew what his answer would be. "… It's the same one. The very first flower I received."



9

"Why are you getting such strong cards?!" she shouted. I enjoyed her reactions more than whatever the cards were saying to her.



10

I was giggling over time... it was pretty fun. We went past so many parts of the world in an instant... So much to see, so many memories.



11

"Oh, you're my favorite!" she airily sighed.

...!

"I am?" I asked. "Out of everyone?"



12

"I know you are manipulating me," I said in a low tone. She dunked her head back underwater and swam around the ocean floor. I loosely followed her from above, my arms crossed. The worst part was that her tactic was working. I couldn't bear the thought of him having something more special with her.





13

"Metal...!" She repeated my name, but this time she sounded a lot happier. I glanced at her and I could swear she had tears in the corners of her eyes. "I view you like a sibling, too."



14

Oh, my tail was wagging. Luckily, he couldn't see it. I needed to calm down!



15

I replayed Amy Rose's voice over and over in my head. I love you too, Metal. Her voice was beautiful. She had a perfect way of arranging her words to construct the perfect sentence. Amy Rose loved me too...



16

He picked a flower from one of the tree branches and showed it to me. I leaned in to get a better look, but then he put it behind one of my ears.



17

She twirled the quills near her face, shyly looking away. "You asking means a lot to me..."



18

Metal raised his middle finger at her. Damn.



19

I allowed myself to twirl around, feel the air, touch the clouds beneath us. I wondered when it would next rain. Amy Rose enjoyed rain when she had nothing to do outside... I wondered what she was doing at all.



20

I didn't want to make him do anything he didn't want to do... I just wanted him to know I was there for him.



21

What would I wish for? I watched the star shoot across the sky, then vanish completely. I wished to fully express my love to Amy Rose without worry and to give her a long, fulfilling life.



22

The baby, still with a heart above their head, gently placed something at Metal's feet. He picked it up; it was a small, smooth rock.



23

I took my good luck charm out of my arm and dangled it beside the one Amy held up. Her face immediately turned red.

"O-okay, there's a reason they're similar," she stammered a little.



24

"Stay cold tonight."



25

With his free hand, he gently touched one of the petals. He looked back to where Amy ran off to, but she was already gone.



26

"Well, that depends on you, Amy Rose... if that is your real name."



27

"Lots of love is in this cake... Are you sure it's for me?"



28

"You're so good at decorating, Amy... You always have the prettiest flowers!"



29

I looked back at the chao-- they had ears. They were incredibly tiny, but the shape was clear; they were hedgehog ears.

"Are you mocking me?" I sneered.



30

The chao stared at Metal as if deciding what to do. Eventually, the chao slobbered whatever was in their mouth out onto Metal's hand; looked like some kind of seed.



31

She was very pretty. She always was... but she looked different here, in a unique way. It felt special. Did she... look like that for me? I felt incredibly warm...



32

Sonic pulled me up by one of my arms, but I didn't support myself. "Ames, come on...!"



33

"I hope to get that kind of connection with Father... and with you, too, Metal Sonic."



34

That was enough for me to know my reality.



35

His turbine started up and he flew into the air, the streaks of his engine blending in to the warm and cool colors of the sky.



36

Rouge laughed. "Why do you look so confused? I'm even more interested if you're dating a gem."



37

"Amy," he said, hushed. "Look."



38

"Now I find you more interesting. You look so grumpy, love!"



39

As I brought my focus back to the lake, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open, too...



40

I quickly stopped. Taste was more addicting than I expected...



41

"How do I look?" I asked with a goofy grin.



42

Her intention here was to destroy me. She mentioned her intention with her letter, but not with this photo. It was a sneak attack. I was unprepared.



43

"Hey! ... Whoa, hey..." She approached me. I realized I was clawing into her door and let go. "What's wrong? Try to take slower breaths."



44

Amy rubbed the side of my head. I enjoyed her praise very much. "I think I've been spoiling you too much," she said with a grin.

"No."



45

"I don't think many people could understand my relationship with him, but I don't care. I understand, he understands, and that's all that matters to me."



46

I bit his arm with my appropriately sharp chao teeth and he dropped me with a scowl.



47

Cream giggled excitedly. "Nice to meet you too, Nova!" she said, clapping her hands together. "Nova looks just like you, Mr. Kai!"



48

That was my favorite photo I ever took.



49

He laughed aloud, a mix between joyful laughter and cackling. I stood defensively away from him, but exhaustion was catching up to me. I didn't know how long we did this for. It could've been hours.



50

I checked her head... She was burning, yet her body was shivering. Her eyes were struggling to stay open the whole way.



51

She put a mask over the bottom half of her face, black like her dress. I liked it as a style, but I didn't like that it prevented me from kissing her more.



52

I glanced at Sage, who, despite sporting a neutral expression, did not seem fond that my Master was putting more faith in me in the moment. I found it amusing... She knew how it felt, then.



53

"You're lying to me," he emphasized, much more firm. I was kinda really into his tone? Was something wrong with me?



54

The hall's lights were totally off. That... didn't seem right. I could barely see anything except for a very, very small shape waddling into the darkness.



55

She hit me pretty hard... I was feeling a lot of feelings, all of them thrilling.



56

The sooner I understood the cards, the better I could comprehend my life.



57

He kept running his mouth: "Is that what you are?" he asked with a scoff.



58

My hands were shaking. I clenched my fists tighter. Be nice. I couldn't. I wanted to kill him. Be nice. No.



59

I put Nova down in front of Metal's face. Nova got close-- really close-- their eyes practically touching each other's.



60

The barrier began to obscure them, hiding them behind a cloak of cyan and yellow. I didn't know what it was.



61

I was briefly unable to look at her. "I, uh... I... I think I prefer your taste-- t-tea. Your tea."



62

"... Oh! Uh!" I fixed my quills-- did they need to be fixed??-- and re-settled in my seat. I was overthinking it!



63

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses."



64

Cheese bared their sharp teeth at me. I did the same back.



65

He stared at me. I knew this kid was reading me! He was gauging how far he could push it.



66

I collapsed again and clasped my hands over my face. I wanted to cry, but I was just so... tired.



67

"A little funny you still named me Sonic, isn't it?"



68

He graced his palm to my cheek as he watched me. His thumb touched my lips, lingered there. He stared for a while longer... then slumped again.



69

It was, quite possibly, one of the only images of Sonic that brought me pure joy.



70

"The only way someone could love me back is if it was fake, right?"



71

"Why think about those things, when we can blame a robot who can't talk?"



72

"I have no doubt it's you in there," she teased.



73

"I get Amy time AND Knuckles?!"



74

Her body felt right against mine. I would keep her there. She belonged with me.



75

He laughed. I wanted to be mad, but I couldn't be! I-I was feeling a lot!



76

Belle groaned and let her face fall to the desk again. Her nose let out a cute honk!



77

"Well, what does a life with me mean to you?"



78

"Are you as strong as the legends say?" he asked with a joking tone.





79

"He will always know the proper thing to do."





80

"I will bring you flowers," I said to Amy.





81

"Here's your chance to show off."



82

Maybe this would never have happened. I wouldn't have been in this situation.



83

I had a weird dream. No, maybe it wasn't a dream. It still felt like one.



84

It wasn't his to bargain! He was disgusting! Despicable! I hated him!



85

There was something on the windowsill. I carefully got out of bed and slowly walked over to it... And it was just what I thought. A beautiful white flower with a gentle pink stem...



86

"I need you to hold onto this for me."



87

Neo Metal didn't say anything, and simply averted his eyes.



88

"Rosy, what I'm giving you has great significance to me."