(Katsuna's POV): -▶ꜰᴜɴ ꜰᴀᴄᴛ: She's turning 23 now...

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Uncle Jack emerges from the alleyway, with the last large box in hand, whereas I'm wearing black boots, black jeans, and a black turtleneck under a red blouse rolled up to my elbows, while my long hair is neatly tied into a ponytail.

"Okay, kid, that's the last one." He set the final box down. "Great, I think that's enough," I replied, smiling.

Excited, I carried the boxes to the trunk, one by one until I began organizing them to fit nicely without squishing them together like a pile of glue.

"If you need anything, Katsuna..." Uncle Jack starts but I quickly cut him off with an eye roll before placing the last of my stuff inside the orange Toyota Prius C car he had given me after my graduation which brought me back to the memories of THAT day...

The last time I ever saw my friend was...

When he left to join the Japanese army.

A/N: THIS IS HER CAR!

"...Don't start getting all sentimental on me, Uncle Jack. I'm just going to move to the side of the city, not the frickin' moon." Slamming the trunk shut, the sound echoing a little too loud in the otherwise quiet suburban street.

Seven years.

Seven freaking years HE's been gone.

His face was gone, only fragmented memories remained, like faded Polaroids. I recalled him shielding me from a skater, the fall on the ice, his first laugh I'd ever heard. That beautiful laugh, remembered from a drive-in onion ring heist, was also fading.

Tears threatened, but I forced them back, inhaling deeply for composure: 'Damn, I can't help but feel disappointed...when he didn't respond to one of my first letters after I sent them to him, not once has he responded.'

I angrily shake my head, trying to ignore the grudge behind me: 'I shouldn't think of him right now, just need to focus on the next step.'

"Besides," I say, leaning against the cool metal of the Prius car, "you know I'll come back for my favorite groceries and also for Christmas. Unless, of course, you've decided to finally sell this monstrosity."

I gesture to the bright orange car.

Honestly, orange? Did he pick this out to embarrass me?

"It's a reliable car, Katsuna," Running a hand through his thick blonde hair, Uncle Jack sighed, "Nice, practical, and eco-friendly. You'll appreciate it hauling textbooks and ramen."

My deadpan expression didn't deter Jack's beaming smile turn into a soft worried look, "Just promise me you'll be okay."

"Jack, chill." I turned and hugged him, a hesitant embrace that he returned. Breaking away, I smiled, "I'll be fine on my own now. Thanks to you, the SSSP squad is no longer needed or spying on me."

He chuckled nervously, "Yeah, that's true." A playful punch to my shoulder devolved into a wrestling match, cut short when I remembered our audience and my attire. I ended it quickly with a strike to the groin.

And he collapsed on his knees in defeat:

"Damn it."

"I'm still able to defeat you, old man." I proudly smile, "Serves you right for going easy on me."

I dusted off my jeans, trying to ignore the slightly horrified expressions of the citizens watching us while they continue on with their day. "Alright, alright," Uncle Jack wheezed, gingerly standing up, "Just... be careful, okay? The city's a different beast than this sleepy suburb."

"I know, I know. Street smarts, situational awareness, don't talk to strangers offering candy. I've heard it all before." I rolled my eyes, knowing his well-intentioned but misguided advice was as familiar as my childhood, even now as I contemplated climbing the neighbor's roof at 3 AM.

Jack then points out, "Plus, I'm not THAT old."

"True, but you act like one." I grinned, then hopped into the car. I rolled down the window as Uncle Jack leaned in, a frown etched on his face. "I'm gonna miss ya, kid. It won't be easy without you."

"Yeah...but thanks for saving me when no one else did."

We smiled, then Uncle Jack teared up, quickly wiping his eyes. "Something's in my eye," he mumbled, a denial I laughed at as I buckled up and then got ready to drive, "See ya around." "You too... Katsuna." Waving at him, I drove away.

As soon as I hit the road, I shut the window and began driving to my new home which I had purchased six days prior when a couple of minutes later, I heard the familiar Billy Joel's "Movin' Out" on the radio.