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[center][i]Earlier in the morning...[/i][/center]

[color=#82F2FC]"Are you sure you really want me to go? I swear I can handle the commute, Ma."[/color] Varis tried to reason out but to no avail. His bags were full of his clothes and other necessities, all packed and ready to go, although it seemed that the only one who wasn't ready was their owner.

His mother, Winona shook her head and wagged her finger at him. "Nuh uh. We talked about this, dear. You're always waking up so early in the morning and coming home very late at night. You barely have time for rest and recreation especially when you're studying and doing your assignments. You almost caught the flu back then and this time, I refuse to see my son getting sick."

"Your Ma's right, kiddo." Markus said, nodding in agreement with arms crossed against his chest. "Besides, it's always school and home, school and home for you. Maybe living independently will help you meet other kinds of people, y'know? Gain new friends! Be a part of something! You're still a teen, V. Leave the adulting to the adults." Varis's stepfather added as he gave the young carbuncle a pat on the back.

Amity stood by the living room, glaring at her brother while grasping her teddy bear tightly. By her constant request (moreso nagging), Winona helped dye her hair black. Being naturally white-haired, whenever the color of her root hair's showing again, it made her look like either a skunk folk or a nine-year-old grandma so their mother-daughter time consisted of mostly hair-dying. The little girl ran up to her brother and gave him a tight hug. "Message me all the time, dum-dum." She said, her voice muffled against his shirt. Varis giggled and hugged his little sister too. "I promise I will come visit you whenever I can, Ames." He softly said, patting her head as she fought back tears.

Winona wiped a tear from her eye as she and Markus joined in on the family hug. Amity usually didn't like sweet, sappy acts of affection, but she just let it pass this time. Varis promised himself he will never cry in front of his mother as he claimed himself for being her rock but like his sister, he just let it pass this time.



[center][i]Present time[/i][/center]

"Here we are. The owner said the rooms are up top." Markus said as he parked their rented car in front of a bookshop. Varis looked at it through the glass. His parents did mention they found him an affordable room to stay at during his studies but they never mentioned it was at this place. He would pass by this same bookshop almost all the time whenever he commuted. Who would've thought fate would bring him back here again?

[color=#82F2FC]"I'll get my stu-"[/color] He started saying while he removed his seatbelt, but his stepfather was already on it. He chuckled and got out of the car as Markus brought out the last of his stuff. "Now, if anything happens, message us. Call us. Your ma insists." Markus reminded Varis, the latter smiling and nodding. [color=#82F2FC]"Okay, okay, I promise."[/color]

"We mean it, kiddo. We can't be there for you all the time, so this is the chance for you to find out what it looks like to be independent, to be making your decisions. We know you are capable of doing a lot of things, V. We just hope that you also realize that you don't [i]need[/i] to do everything. Understand?"

Varis sighed and nodded again, this time more earnestly. [color=#82F2FC]"Yes... Yes, I do. I'll message you guys whenever I can, I'll eat at the proper times, and I'll take care of my health. I won't make you, Ames, and Ma worry. Again."[/color] He sheepishly said before the two hugged. 

[color=#82F2FC]"Take care of them, Pa."[/color] Varis said as Markus chuckled. "Already on it, kiddo."

Markus then ruffled Varis's hair and got in the car. "Oh, and don't forget, V! Have fun!" He said with a smile and a wink as he drove down the road. Varis looked back at the bookshop with a signage that said [i]'Cunningham's Bookshop and Binders'[/i]. 

[color=#82F2FC]"Okay, Varis. You got this."[/color] The young carbuncle said to himself, steeling his resolve and fixing his bangs to cover the red gem on his forehead. Breathing deeply, he grabbed his bags and entered the bookshop. He was surprised to find out he was beginning to like this place just from the get-go. The interior felt warm and cozy, like a soft hug from a friend or two. No one's here, though. There must be not a lot of people going to bookshops nowadays.

[color=#82F2FC]"Uh... H-Hello? Miss Cunningham? Is anyone there?"[/color]