Categories > Games > Sonic the Hedgehog > Grown Apart
Manic, Sonic, and Sonia got ready for their first day of middle school.
Sonia was hogging the bathroom yet again while Manic was putting his books in his backpack.
Sonic slid on his new Animaniacs T-shirt.
Manic did a double take at Sonic. “Change shirts, bro.” He said. “I was gonna wear mine.”
“Wear your- fine.” Sonic replied. He changed his shirts, putting on a John Wick shirt instead.
Manic put on his Animaniacs shirt, then grabbed his backpack. “Okay, I- great. I never should’ve opened my mouth.”
Sonic laughed.
The two brothers left the room.
Sonia finally came out of the bathroom. “Change shirts, Manic.”
Manic and Sonic gave Sonia puzzled looks. “Why?”
“We’re in middle school now.” Sonia said. “You’re gonna be laughed at.”
“It’s not like it’s a kids show.” Manic replied. “I didn’t get over half the jokes until recently.”
“Fine, whatever.” Sonia said, throwing her hands up. “Oh, and don’t tell anyone you read comics, Manic.”
Manic slid his backpack (that was loaded down with button pins and keychains) over his shoulders. “Where’s this coming from?” He asked. “You didn’t complain yesterday.”
“We’re starting middle school today.” Sonia said, grabbing her backpack off the floor.
“So?” Manic asked. “Is there a law that says I have to quit reading comics and all now because I’m starting middle school? I’m pretty sure most of the people who write the comics I buy are adults.”
Sonia rolled her eyes as she left the room.
Manic and Sonic exchanged glances.
“Don’t listen to her, but try to act professional or something about your interests.” Sonic said.
Manic gave Sonic a blank stare. “You mean act like I always do?”
Sonic sighed. “I guess so.”
*
During the ride to school, Sonic and Manic talked amongst themselves while Sonia texted her friends.
Finally Aleena pulled the car in front of the school.
The triplets groaned.
“Oh, come on.” Aleena said. “The windows are tinted and your classmates can’t drive yet either. Have a good day, love you.”
“Love you too.” The triplets said.
The triplets climbed out of the car and hurried to the school.
Manic tried to walk alongside Sonic, but the latter raced into school.
Manic sighed and turned to Sonia. “So-”
Sonia picked up her pace and left Manic behind, eventually catching up to her friends Mindy and Rouge.
Manic finally walked in and realized why Sonia told him to change his shirt. Everyone was giving him dirty looks and making comments about his “childish” shirt.
Everyone except Shadow, who was always quiet, and Amy who was now fawning over Sonic more so than she did last semester.
Sticks and Bunnie walked by Manic and gave him a thumbs up.
“Cool shirt.” Sticks said.
“It’s as adorable as you, Sugar hog.” Bunnie said.
Sonic and Sally noticed Manic, then rushed over to him. They walked Manic away to an alcove.
“I like the shirt, but you probably shouldn’t wear it to school again.” Sally said. “Go change really quick.”
Sonic grabbed Manic’s hand and raced out.
Manic changed into his Matrix shirt, then Sonic ran them back to the school.
For the rest of the day, the other students left Manic alone.
*
~a few weeks later~
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic came home after a rough day (for Manic) at school.
Manic was the last one to shuffle in the door while his siblings tried to decide what to have for dinner since Aleena was working. He closed the door behind him and slid his old backpack off of his shoulders.
Sonia looked at Manic and shook her head. “What did you expect?” She asked. “I told you not to tell Rouge or any girl you read comics.”
“She asked me what I read.” Manic replied. “Was I supposed to lie?”
“You could stop being such a weirdo.” Sonia said, walking away. “You’re too old for that junk.”
Manic glared at Sonia.
Sonic put his hand on Manic’s shoulder. “She’s being harsh, but you may not want to mention comics right away, bro.” He said. “You need to make sure a girl is really interested in it before you bring it up.”
Manic eased away from Sonic. “Thanks.” He said. He stalked off to his and Sonic’s room.
Sonic walked to his room and set his backpack on his bed.
Manic was laying on his bed with his headphones on, listening to his favorite song.
Sonia stepped into the boys’ room. “Turn it down, Manic.” She ordered. “You know your emo music doesn’t help your case, right?”
Manic paused his music. “Sonia, I get this from school, can’t you at least tolerate me?”
“I am.” Sonia replied. “I never threw out your comics and CDs. I just said you don’t need to announce any of that.”
“Whatever.” Manic muttered.
Sonic pulled his books out of his backpack. “Leave him alone, sis.”
“Do you ever want to date anyone or are you trying to keep everyone off of your back, Manic?” Sonia asked.
“I kinda liked Rouge, but I thought we could be friends and see if it ever headed that way later on.” Manic said. “I’m not ready for a girlfriend yet.”
Sonia motioned to the drum set. “Why don’t you just bring up playing the drums instead of the other stuff?”
“I did, but everyone asks me about my other interests.” Manic replied. “People obviously make comics and cartoons and there’s plenty that buys it, so why does everyone treat me like I’m worthless because I want to do this for a living?”
“You’re weird about it.” Sonia said.
“I’m actually pretty normal about it, sis.” Manic muttered. He unpaused his music.
“He is.” Sonic replied. “You’re not on the sites he’s on to see the weird stuff.”
“If you say so.” Sonia muttered. “Mother said we can order takeout. Do you all want pizza?”
“Yeah.” Manic and Sonic replied.
Sonia left the room.
“Finally.” Manic muttered.
Sonic opened his notebook. “Why don’t you date Sticks if she accepts your comics?”
“She’s not interested in romantic relationships and she’s not my type.” Manic replied. “She’s just a friend anyway.”
Sonic snickered. “You have a type?”
Manic tossed a pillow at Sonic. “Shut up, bro.”
“Hey, you can listen to music while you do homework.” Sonic said, sitting at his desk. “I wouldn’t waste my time moping over one of Sonia’s snobby friends.”
Manic got up, got his books, then sat down beside Sonic.
“There ya go.” Sonic said, patting Manic on the back. “You’ll find someone who’ll appreciate ya.”
“Thanks, bro.” Manic replied.
Sonia was hogging the bathroom yet again while Manic was putting his books in his backpack.
Sonic slid on his new Animaniacs T-shirt.
Manic did a double take at Sonic. “Change shirts, bro.” He said. “I was gonna wear mine.”
“Wear your- fine.” Sonic replied. He changed his shirts, putting on a John Wick shirt instead.
Manic put on his Animaniacs shirt, then grabbed his backpack. “Okay, I- great. I never should’ve opened my mouth.”
Sonic laughed.
The two brothers left the room.
Sonia finally came out of the bathroom. “Change shirts, Manic.”
Manic and Sonic gave Sonia puzzled looks. “Why?”
“We’re in middle school now.” Sonia said. “You’re gonna be laughed at.”
“It’s not like it’s a kids show.” Manic replied. “I didn’t get over half the jokes until recently.”
“Fine, whatever.” Sonia said, throwing her hands up. “Oh, and don’t tell anyone you read comics, Manic.”
Manic slid his backpack (that was loaded down with button pins and keychains) over his shoulders. “Where’s this coming from?” He asked. “You didn’t complain yesterday.”
“We’re starting middle school today.” Sonia said, grabbing her backpack off the floor.
“So?” Manic asked. “Is there a law that says I have to quit reading comics and all now because I’m starting middle school? I’m pretty sure most of the people who write the comics I buy are adults.”
Sonia rolled her eyes as she left the room.
Manic and Sonic exchanged glances.
“Don’t listen to her, but try to act professional or something about your interests.” Sonic said.
Manic gave Sonic a blank stare. “You mean act like I always do?”
Sonic sighed. “I guess so.”
*
During the ride to school, Sonic and Manic talked amongst themselves while Sonia texted her friends.
Finally Aleena pulled the car in front of the school.
The triplets groaned.
“Oh, come on.” Aleena said. “The windows are tinted and your classmates can’t drive yet either. Have a good day, love you.”
“Love you too.” The triplets said.
The triplets climbed out of the car and hurried to the school.
Manic tried to walk alongside Sonic, but the latter raced into school.
Manic sighed and turned to Sonia. “So-”
Sonia picked up her pace and left Manic behind, eventually catching up to her friends Mindy and Rouge.
Manic finally walked in and realized why Sonia told him to change his shirt. Everyone was giving him dirty looks and making comments about his “childish” shirt.
Everyone except Shadow, who was always quiet, and Amy who was now fawning over Sonic more so than she did last semester.
Sticks and Bunnie walked by Manic and gave him a thumbs up.
“Cool shirt.” Sticks said.
“It’s as adorable as you, Sugar hog.” Bunnie said.
Sonic and Sally noticed Manic, then rushed over to him. They walked Manic away to an alcove.
“I like the shirt, but you probably shouldn’t wear it to school again.” Sally said. “Go change really quick.”
Sonic grabbed Manic’s hand and raced out.
Manic changed into his Matrix shirt, then Sonic ran them back to the school.
For the rest of the day, the other students left Manic alone.
*
~a few weeks later~
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic came home after a rough day (for Manic) at school.
Manic was the last one to shuffle in the door while his siblings tried to decide what to have for dinner since Aleena was working. He closed the door behind him and slid his old backpack off of his shoulders.
Sonia looked at Manic and shook her head. “What did you expect?” She asked. “I told you not to tell Rouge or any girl you read comics.”
“She asked me what I read.” Manic replied. “Was I supposed to lie?”
“You could stop being such a weirdo.” Sonia said, walking away. “You’re too old for that junk.”
Manic glared at Sonia.
Sonic put his hand on Manic’s shoulder. “She’s being harsh, but you may not want to mention comics right away, bro.” He said. “You need to make sure a girl is really interested in it before you bring it up.”
Manic eased away from Sonic. “Thanks.” He said. He stalked off to his and Sonic’s room.
Sonic walked to his room and set his backpack on his bed.
Manic was laying on his bed with his headphones on, listening to his favorite song.
Sonia stepped into the boys’ room. “Turn it down, Manic.” She ordered. “You know your emo music doesn’t help your case, right?”
Manic paused his music. “Sonia, I get this from school, can’t you at least tolerate me?”
“I am.” Sonia replied. “I never threw out your comics and CDs. I just said you don’t need to announce any of that.”
“Whatever.” Manic muttered.
Sonic pulled his books out of his backpack. “Leave him alone, sis.”
“Do you ever want to date anyone or are you trying to keep everyone off of your back, Manic?” Sonia asked.
“I kinda liked Rouge, but I thought we could be friends and see if it ever headed that way later on.” Manic said. “I’m not ready for a girlfriend yet.”
Sonia motioned to the drum set. “Why don’t you just bring up playing the drums instead of the other stuff?”
“I did, but everyone asks me about my other interests.” Manic replied. “People obviously make comics and cartoons and there’s plenty that buys it, so why does everyone treat me like I’m worthless because I want to do this for a living?”
“You’re weird about it.” Sonia said.
“I’m actually pretty normal about it, sis.” Manic muttered. He unpaused his music.
“He is.” Sonic replied. “You’re not on the sites he’s on to see the weird stuff.”
“If you say so.” Sonia muttered. “Mother said we can order takeout. Do you all want pizza?”
“Yeah.” Manic and Sonic replied.
Sonia left the room.
“Finally.” Manic muttered.
Sonic opened his notebook. “Why don’t you date Sticks if she accepts your comics?”
“She’s not interested in romantic relationships and she’s not my type.” Manic replied. “She’s just a friend anyway.”
Sonic snickered. “You have a type?”
Manic tossed a pillow at Sonic. “Shut up, bro.”
“Hey, you can listen to music while you do homework.” Sonic said, sitting at his desk. “I wouldn’t waste my time moping over one of Sonia’s snobby friends.”
Manic got up, got his books, then sat down beside Sonic.
“There ya go.” Sonic said, patting Manic on the back. “You’ll find someone who’ll appreciate ya.”
“Thanks, bro.” Manic replied.
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