SMUKO145

Listen, I know you’re scared and feel backed into a corner, but you’re not powerless here. If Caine manages to bring them back, remember they’ve always been more like ideas than people. And if you can forgive Ribbit, she will forgive you in return. You don’t have to stay trapped in this loneliness—there’s a way forward if you’re willing to take it.

I-I can’t. Go forward. Change. And they can’t come back.

You must. I know you can do it, Jax. I hope they return soon, and maybe you’ll find your way back to your old life, like the times you, Ribbit, and Kaufmo shared as friends. Remember what Ribbit always says: “Don’t close yourself off. Open your heart, and follow it.” Please. At least if everything’s gonna be okay.

I’ve tried. It never ended well. Will the next time really be better?

Yeah, and I have a message from Ribbit. She has something to say to you. “My dearest friend, Jax. This message will never reach you. But I hope it does before I abstract. I know you and I are never going to be friends anymore, but please, hear me out. After our argument at the snow adventure, I was kind of hanging out with you, Ragatha, Kaufmo, and Kinger, but I can see you talked to her and I knew I could never hang out with you again. Change was scary, and it was hard for me to open my heart to my parents again. But when I came along with Ragatha, Kinger, and the others including Kaufmo, then I’m glad I did. We spent our lives afraid of change, but when you came along to this place, I realized you and I can be a perfect sibling as a family for our beauty lives and family is the change. And through it all, I had such wonderful memories of you. For even though you, Kaufmo, and I are no longer together when I almost abstracted, the two of you never really left my side. In the end, my only remaining wish is that somehow, someday, my love reaches you. So I'm begging you, my dearest friend, don't close yourself off. Open your heart and follow it. With love always. Your friend, Ribbit.”

Ribbit always was too kind. Maybe it would be possible if she was still here. But I don’t even know where to start.

Jax, listen… I need to say this because I care about you. You’ve been acting like a bully lately, and it’s pushing people away. But I know you’re not really the bad guy. I believe you can turn things around. If you try to be kind, show everyone you’re the good guy you can be, they’ll start trusting you again. I already trust you. Promise me you’ll give it a try—trust others, be nice, and be a friend to Pomni. Can you do that for me?

I meant for alternate universes, Pomni.