Happy pride month!

The whole group gets out of the car, entering the convenience store.

"I hope you all brought your wallets because I don't have enough on me to buy snacks for all of us!" Kokomi announces to them.

"It would be sad if they did bring their wallets and still not have enough to buy anything." Gorou replies.

"Ugh that reminds me of someone." (Y/n) groans. The comment makes Venti and Kokomi giggle knowing who they were talking about.

Albedo moves to their side, placing his hand on their shoulder to get their attention. "Feel free to get whatever you want, I'll pay for yours. My treat." He couldn't look at them straight while speaking, glancing anxiously around the shop like he was shy.

"That too reminds me of someone." They sigh. "Albedo you don't have to."

"I want to."

"And I want to pay for my own snacks. I appreciate the thought though." (Y/n) smiles at him. The response made him seem disheartened.

It didn't take them long to finish buying their snacks, the group returns to the vehicle and Venti immediately rips open a bag of chips he bought too aggressively, spilling some.

"You knooow, I invited Sara to join us but she completely denied me! Apparently she's going to the beach with Yae and Baal, good for them. Tsk tsk!"

"Poor Kokomi. You have your amazing friends here with you anyway! Who cares about finding romantic love in others!"

"I don't want to hear that from a drunkard that gives the lousiest advice possible."

Kokomi and Venti grimace at each other.

Gorou starts the car and their roadtrip finally begins. Although (y/n) still has no idea where exactly they'd be going.

"If you want to be with Sara so bad we could go to the beach too..." They suggest.

"I have other plans for us! Waaay better plans! And I'll post so many pictures that'll make Sara wish she came with us instead!" Kokomi takes her phone out, opening the camera app and extending her arm to take a photo of all of them. "Smile! Smile like you mean it! You too Albedo!"

That gave (y/n) the idea to take photos to send to Ayato, but then they remember he deactivated all his socials and they can't even reach his number. "I guess he'll just have to see the photos when he's back."

"(Y/n) you look gloomy! Albedo too stiff!"

"Is he on your mind again?" Albedo asks them.

"Yeah. I probably shouldn't let the worry get to me too badly. I don't want to ruin our trip."

"The purpose of our trip is to help you feel better!" Kokomi finally gives up on trying to take the ideal picture. "I mean that's not the whole purpose but a big part of it is."

"Kokomi..."

"Let's sing a song!" Venti puts down the chips, his foot excitedly tapping the ground. "The wheels on the bus go round and rou-"

"We aren't elementary students on a field trip Venti!"

"Round and round, round and round! The wheels on the bus go round and round like my vision when I'm drunk!"

"Imagine if eyeballs just comically spinned around." Gorou glanced at Venti singing through the rear view mirror.

"It wouldn't look comical if it happened. It would look more like something out of a Jack Stauber animation. I think." The artist tries to picture the theme. It made his hands itch to paint something around that idea.

"True..."

"I'll just play some music from my phone... Hold on, let me connect." Kokomi turns on her phone's Bluetooth to connect to the car's speakers.

"Forsaken child of ancient times" begins to play. A soft melancholic melody.

"This is too sad! I don't like it." Venti complains. Something felt odd about him being to one to say that.

Kokomi switches the song to "Rex Incognito" (y/n) gets the chills.

"Can't you play something else?" They ask.

"Foxes at play" is the final decision of their song master. Finally everyone is at peace with the choice.

"If any of you have anymore complaints about the music then you be the one to choose the song or we'll spend the next few hours listening to Venti's version of wheel on the bus and other nursery rhymes."

"That's not such a bad idea." The animal eared friend grins. "Do you have something against nursery rhymes Kokomi?"

"Erm, no. They're just kind of lame." She twirls a strand of her hair around her finger.

"Do you have a favorite nursery rhyme (y/n)?" Albedo asks them.

"I don't think so... Do you?"

"I find the itsy bitsy spider interesting."

"I'm not surprised."

"My favorite is London bridge is falling down. I used to sing it a lot with Kokomi."

"Hmm I was wondering. How long have you two known each other?" Venti asks Gorou.

"Since we were toddlers I guess."

"Excuse me?!" (Y/n) looks at him in shock, so does Venti. "But Kokomi only ever spoke to us about you as the person that lives in the apartment beside hers!"

"I don't know why either, she keeps me secret like a hidden lover."

"Gorou?!" She shrieks. "You're going to give them the wrong idea! I'll explain this shortly though. Our parents are good friends and so are we. Gorou is like a sibling I don't talk about, that's all."

"That's all?" (Y/n) is unsatisfied with the answer.

"It's not like either of you ever asked about him anyways!"

"Fair."

---

Three hours pass. By then all except the driver have fallen asleep and it was sunset. Gorou estimates a few more hours till they reach their destination for the night.

"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down my fair lady." He hums, glancing over to the tired looking friend of his in her peaceful slumber.