STR9CH

After what happened in the 4th reality Tick was promptly homeschooled by a worried, apparently ex-realitant, mom and Dr. Chu. He was given a lot of books on Quantum Physics and whatnot. Usually he would be stoked to be learning about science, especially one that could act like magic in his hands. Unfortunately he was still thinking about his friends. Realizing he could just text them, he reached out to his Karmunicator and turned it on. The Karmunicator, karnicator in short is basically a smaller more efficient laptop that you can carry anywhere. You usually need a hotspot of Chi'karda to send a message but since Tick is full of it he can send messages anytime and anywhere.

MasterTick: Hey guys, is anyone on their karnicator? Tick sent one message to see if his friends are online. After a good 10 minutes he concluded that nobody was on their karnicator. Resting his head on the table, he stared at the small computer in his hands. Tick was ready to put it away and actually email them on the family computer before he got interrupted by a message in the group chat. Yamakun: hello.

Ticks heart pounded uncontrollably seeing that message, he immediately sat upright. Even though Sato isn't that close with Paul and especially Sophia, Tick convinced them to add him anyways because they were a team. Which to his surprise the others agreed and then subsequentially added him. The brown haired boy briefly wonders how Sato is able to message him but remembered he was staying at the headquarters, where theres a lot of Chi'Karda

MasterTick: hI sato!! MasterTick: Whatt are you doing right now ? Seeing the typing mistakes he made on his messages, Tick felt like throwing his communicator through his window like Rutger did with that rock. Screaming internally he waited patiently for the next message.

Yamakun: Realitant paperwork, something about the 3rd reality's nuclear power plant and how to transfer or copy the technology to other reality's. Tick read the message in fascination, Sato really does work hard and complicated stuff. Unlike Tick whos just goes on adventures and mess everything up.

MasterTick: That sounds fun.. It isn't. MasterTick:I hope you get to finish it soon.

When Tick sent that last message he felt something nudge at his arm. Curious and confused he looked to his right, only to see his books- in fact all of his trinkets in his room is now floating five centimetres off their respective places. The room was misty with a slight orange tint to it if you squint and Tick coughed out of embarrassment before focusing on bringing them down. After he calmed down he checked the karnicator and found that Paul had gotten online and started rambling about a problem he was dealing with in his family. SurferBoyz: seriously i dont get why my big sister is so hung up about this SurferBoyz: . SurferBoyz: was i interrupting the conversation? my bad Yamakun: I think it was partially your fault but the way she handled it was pretty explosive. SurferBoyz: thats what im saying!!

Tick sighed and planted his forehead on his table.

-------

Tick was getting taken care of by Sato again in the medical wing after a mission that left him badly injured. Sato had been studying under Hillenstat for awhile now and when he's busy with other patients, the Japanese boy helps as much as he can. Right now he's helping by treating Tick personally. Tick is sitting upright with bandages all over him as he silently watches Sato change his bandages. "So, did you get anymore new missions?" Tick asked, trying to start a conversation. "Well, I've been off the field ever since the plague incident... Mothball made sure of that," Sato hummed. He was done with Ticks arm and is putting away his medical tools. Tick remembered the scars of what was the aftermath of his containment. He wasn't there when Sato was still infected but Paul and Sophia was, safe to say they didn't want to talk about it. Tick could only guess through leftover scars and haunted eyes that it wasn't a pretty sight. "That must've been horrible.." Tick murmured. His eyes traced along the long scar from his hand up to Sato's forearm and his heart ached to see how he was in pain at that time. That scar solidified his hatred for Reginald Chu, the evil corporate scientist Reginald.

Sato put his hands on the edge of the bed and leaned in, he was slightly smiling which was dangerous for Ticks heart. "It's okay, you cured me remember?" Sato's smile widened and Tick's heart momentarily stopped as he froze at the sight. He can't help but think about how beautiful Sato's smile is.

Suddenly, his vision was clouded with leaves and petals in flying in his face. Both of the boys blinked, Sato leaned back for a bit, Tick mourned the loss of closeness.

Sato looked around for the source of the sudden greenery but Tick catched on early, because there were flowers and branches growing on Sato's head. Which Sato can't really see unless he has a mirror.

The brunette boy stuttered and immediately apologized, when asked by the black haired boy as to why, Tick grabbed a mirror from the bedside table and pointed it at Sato.

The Japanese boy blinked and Tick profusely apologized then with both of his hands started ruffling Sato's hair, hoping it would get rid of it. He can't help but notice that Sato's hair is soft.

It removed large chunks of the flowers but it also messed up Sato's hair, Tick stared at the unusual hairstyle on Sato. It made him look softer and a tad bit cuter. Then more flowers popped up on the Japanese boy's head.

Sato laughed, feeling the weight of the sudden influx of flowers and Tick was panicking.

Eventually Sato had to go to a realitant meeting and was chastised by Master George on his unusual unkempt appearance, Mothball tamed his hair a bit but ultimately it was too messy to tidy up. It literally looked like a birds nest. If it was filled to the brim with flower petals.

Dude imagine the angst if Tick's, Sato's, Paul's mom +MJ were all buddies back then n they all researched + found the 13th reality together.

Then bcs of MJ's want for Georges approval she begged and even threatened the girls to not tell George.

Paul's mom called MJ crazy for wanting a random white mans approval so she transferred divisions, Lorraine stopped going onto the field, n Sato's mom still supported MJ.

On the day of them showing the 13th reality, George ws a mysoginist bitch and doubted MJ saying stuff like "r u sure u didnt find a fractured timeline XD" n that made MJ show too much stuff n made her cocky which hit George's ego then he tried looking at it so he could look smart and pushed buttons randomly.

MJ ws like "dude wtf" and her and Sato's parents tried to stop him which caused an explosion, then Sato became an orphan and MJ ws super guilty she gave him to an orphanage and became his anonymous rich donor who would give him stuff.

4. his mom worked on karma, n because of its dangerous properties and MG's lack of knowledge and care about it, the research put his mom in a dangerous situation and she got sucked into the nonex. this could open up to Paul being attracted to the karma box and having visions of karma before; which leads me into Paul having karma powers and controlling karma dont get me wrong I love Sofia, but can we get one power or moment thats just for Paul? Tick has chi'karda, Sofia is badass and carries most scenes, Sato is a war frickin general! Get my boy Paul his own special power/scene please!! also, imagine Reginald, MJ, Tick, and Pauls mom in the nonex, she probably helped them bcs she researches the nonex. I imagine her house + work stuff got transported too.

Ever since Ticks stayed at the temporary grand canyon medical ward his mind has been spinning, replaying the last time he was on his mission. Aside from the joyous fact that he's now a first class realitant, he kept replaying the time Sato took care of him when he was incapacitated.

He knew more about Sato now ever since their trip together to the 12th reality and he has been looking at him in a different light. Sato was someone who has been a victim of all the politics of the multiverse, causing the death of both his parents. It's no wonder he turned out as cold as he is, but the way he looked at him during his recovery..

The black haired boy was considerably gentle even with his stoic face. Sometimes Tick wants to know what he was thinking when he replaced his bandages, he put his pen down to look at his arms that were still wrapped. Even though Sato looks like he should be the one on the bed with all the new scars he had on his arms, he still treats Tick as if he's the one that's on the verge of death. Well, he was on the verge of death from his unwanted chi’karda explosion in the Chu facility, but he was better now.

One thing that Tick kept thinking about was the way Sato called out his name and lightly scolded him for saving him again, a tiny smile gracing the other boys face.

“You okay there buddy?” His dads voice made him snap out of his stupor. He hasn’t realized that he's been staring at his realitant books for a while now, turns out he was on a page that was filled with pictures with no text in sight.

“Huh- i- yeah im okay” Tick said, blinking a few times. His dad, Edgar Higinbottom, the person who knew him best, looked at him like he didn't believe him.

“I’m serious! look i was just looking at uh-“Tick looks down at the book he was looking at, “Quantum wormholes, yeah.” Tick spoke with barely any confidence. Edgar huffed a laugh and sat next to him at the dining table, his weight made the chair creak a little bit.

“Look, I'm a man who's seen a lot of stuff, I know that look a boy has when they're thinking of their crush” his dad laughed and hit his son's back.

Tick sputtered “I- What! no- no i dont. agh, dad.”, he covered his face in an attempt to hide it from his dad as red embarrassment spread on his face.

“So! Who's the lucky girl huh?” Edgar eagerly grinned.

“It's uh, a realitant.” Tick muttered.

His dad looked at him thinking for a bit, “That one Italian girl is it?”

Tick slammed his hands down, looked at his dad in bewilderment shouting a "No!!” as if he would rather eat mulch than hold hands with Sofia in that way.

His bewildered scream made his dad move away, “Dear lord, that was loud! no worries i hear you son” he chuckled lightheartedly while clutching his ear.

"Sorry” Tick muttered and sat down again, feeling bad for shouting in his dads ear.

"No worries little man, so I reckon it's someone your mother and I haven't met yet?” Edgar steered the conversation away from his bad guess of Tick's crush.

Tick nodded, “we have went on some missions together, but I don't know how to approach hi- er. I don’t know how to approach her.” he coughed, hoping his dad didn’t catch his slip of tongue.

Tick knew that his family loved him a lot, but he knows from how people at school treat boys liking other boys. Theyre weird, its not normal. Hes already a freak and a nerd, now he likes other boys too?

Edgar hummed a bit before snapping his fingers, “Flowers.” he said confidently.

Tick looked at his dad, confused “what?”

Edgar smiled, “You see son, any girl or person matter of fact would like flowers. Gee that was the gift i gave your mother on our first date! And she smiled at me which made me feel like i’ve won the whole world..” he hummed, reminiscing the old times with his wife.

Tick thought about it for a second, “Yeah, that could work, but what kind of flowers?”

---

"Dude, whats with the flowers" Paul poked at his shoulder, looking at Tick whos carrying a bouquet of colourful flowers. Dark red branches with pink small flowers sprout out of the bouquet.

They just got off from a boring realitant meeting, Master George holds these every two weeks or so. Paul loudly exclaim how boring he thinks it is while the other three teens doesn't say anything but you can tell they just want to sleep on the table.

Personally, Tick is half excited for these because he could get to see his friends and Sato.

"Yeah, back in Lajatico bouquets are only used for funerals" Sofia said with a deadpan look, which made both Americans look at her. The Italian looked back at them.

"...Of course we use it for other stuff too! Aih americans, idiocy is always present" Sofia facepalmed.

"Look at her trying to sound fancy to make us look dumb" Paul whispered as he bent down enough for his head to be at the same level as Ticks.

Tick shrugged, usually he would disagree with Paul but this time he actually does make a point, "Sofia, you sound like my english teacher."

"That means you Americanese boys are supposed to be learning from me" Sofia crossed her arms and blew a raspberry, which got Paul to do the same to her.

Tick moved away to try and get out of the spit crossfire, when suddenly the door creaks open. Tick turns around and sees the thing that has been plaguing his mind all night and day.

Sato.

He was wearing a white coat, with a creased dress shirt beneath it. Sato's eyes look almost dead, with eyebags underneath. He was holding a stack of paper.

Sato turned and made eye contact with Tick, the latter could catch that his eyes softened and he feel his heart breaking through his ribcage.

The Japanese boy walked over to where the group is, "Hello Tick, Paul, and Sofia" he said in a flat tone.

Tick squeaked then cleared his throat, "Hi! yeah, hi Sato" ending it with a chuckle.

Paul stopped fighting with Sofia and looked at Sato in annoyance, he was ready to say something but Sofia slapped his mouth. She made a shushing gesture then replied to Sato. "Hey Sato"

Paul looked at Sofia annoyed before looking at Sato, then Tick, and then Sato again.