A few months later
Tails had finally passed the exam that was giving him so much trouble and continued with his studies. He was far from getting his degree but he was getting closer. He still had his obsession with wasting time and death, but was a lot more relaxed about things than before.
Sonic still hadn’t found his purpose or the work that he wanted to do. He drifted from jobs but nothing was fulfilling to him. However, Sonic wasn’t just sitting around and doing nothing, he had several new routines. Every day he jogged around the neighborhood in order to get back into shape and he quit smoking for good. During these jogs, he saw many parts of Kowareta Yume that he otherwise would’ve never gone to because of his reliance on Tails’ car.
As for Sonic’s driver’s license, he would have to wait to get it back. If he were to find a job he would still be reliant on Tails to go around. Sonic also started another routine, every day he would try to create something. Either a simple drawing or some kind of short story. He figured since there was no chance for him to get his old job as video game director back, Sonic might as well try out other mediums of art.
Despite not being required to wake up early anymore The routine of waking up early for morning Smile Burger shifts still stuck with him. He had nowhere he needed to go but both of them liked the idea of having a set time when they needed to wake up because it gave them a consistent sleep schedule. Not only was it beneficial to their health but Sonic and Tails grew quite fond of their morning routine of watching the morning show on TV together.
Right now it was morning, Sonic and Tails are in their apartment, watching ‘good morning Tokyo’ with breakfast and coffee. The mayor of Kowareta Yume was the guest and he was arguing with the reporter on the TV.
“Many residents are skeptical of the city’s new redevelopment plan.” Said the reporter to the mayor in a neutral tone. “Why are we tearing down another residential area with green spaces in order to build Hotels, casinos, and shopping malls?”
“I am glad you asked me that question.” Said the Mayor. “I have to tell you this, last year we had growth of 4%, that’s the best growth in the history of this nation has ever had for any nation in any place. Just look at China and ask yourself can they do that in China? No. of course they can. Can they do that in Korea? No. This is a moment to look at what’ve achieved and look at what our neighbors haven’t achieved and you will see exactly what I am-“
“I am sorry Mr. Mayor but that’s not the question,” the reporter cut him off. “I asked you about the redevelopment plan, not what Korea or China are doing.”
“I would answer your question if this communist television would ever let me finish what I have to say. Now, you have to consider, what are possibilities are and what we as a nation want to do. What do we want to think when our children ask us what do they do with the future? It's crystal clear to me that it's their future. We are building the future for them and it has to be for them.”
“What about the redevelopment plan” the reporter pressed on, still with a neutral tone.
“What about it?” the mayor shrugged.
“Well, citizens are concerned that yet another part of the ward of Kowareta Yume, which was a residential area with parks, will be turned into casinos and hotels. You have received criticism for the way that the land sale was conducted. No transparency was present and all of the ones that received the land got their permits by dubious means. There is even a protest organized today against this measure.”
“So what?”
“Don’t you-“
“Let me tell you something directly now. To you and the communists and the opposition politicians. I know all of you are Chinese-paid agents here to destroy our nation. You sabotage every good thing. Why? Because you hate our country. You hate your own people. As long as I am alive I won't let you communists destroy us, that has been my career since I started. LONG LIVE JAPAN!”
Tails cursed at the TV: “Fuck that old fossil. Can you believe this guy? For 30 years he’s been the undefeated mayor of Kowareta Yume and he keeps making things worse. He never answers any questions, his only ideology or belief is pure populism and he has no policies to actually improve the town. No wonder no one wants to live in Kowareta Yume.”
“Aha,” Sonic said, sounding totally absent.
“Were you even watching?” Tails threw up his arms in frustration.
“Sorry, I zoned out once I realized the mayor was the guest.”
“Yeah, I know you don’t care about politics. I am going to the protest against the redevelopment plan later today, I’d invite you to join but I know already that you would never go to something like that.” Tails remarked with an eye roll.
“I don’t care and the protest is not going to change anything” Sonic took a sip of his coffee.
“Anyways”, Tails quickly changed the subject before he got heated. “ How’s writing and drawing been going?”
“Not bad. I’ve written a few stories that I’m proud of and have managed to learn how to draw. None of what I make is that good but I understand that it takes time to get better. For the video games they kind of wrote themselves honestly, writing something from zero is very different than when I did it for the games. The biggest problem right now is that sometimes I just stare at a blank paper for hours not knowing what I’m going to do”
“I think anyone that has ever done any kind of creative work deals with blocks. I wanted to ask you what is exactly your goal with all the drawing and writing. Do you plan to post that somewhere or are you making it for yourself?”
“The idea is that once I’m good enough I can monetize it,” Sonic said. “I think living off creative work is what I would like to do. Obviously, I wish I was making video games but that’s not the only thing in the world. Hopefully, soon I will be able to write or draw well enough that people will start paying me for it. I guess I need to figure out if I want to draw or write though.” Sonic chuckled.
“Well, you’ve got time to figure it out” Tails patted Sonic’s back.
“That’s the thing. I don’t have infinite time. I finally understand your anxieties about time wasting. The money I made from the mobile game isn’t going to last me forever. At some point, if I don’t get my shit together I will have to find a regular job and it's going to be probably again something I hate. Right, I constantly fear like I’m wasting time, especially when a day passes and I haven’t done anything. Nothing I make is worth uploading to the internet and I don’t even know what kind of art I would make if I was getting paid for it.”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Don’t spiral down this train of thought you are going to make me anxious about wasting time” Tails said jokingly. “You don’t need to worry, you are not wasting time. You are practicing and that counts for something. Also, you are on this break from work because you don’t have answers to all these questions. You will find them eventually, I know it!”
“You’re right. I will figure this out. I am on a time limit, but it's not the first time I've been on one. I gotta go fast!” sonic winked.
“Haven’t heard that in a long time.“ Tails chuckled, took one final sip of his coffee, and stood up from the couch. “I better go get some studying done. Since I’m going to the protest later and that’s going to take a large chunk of the day.”
“I will stay home today, I will try to write or draw something. I will go out for my usual jog later, I can leave at the same time you go off to protest.”
With that, the two parted ways, and each went to their own room to work on their task. Tails studied and Sonic worked on a story he had been writing. The toilet broke again and Sonic fixed it like he always does. He wasn’t even bothered by the toilet braking, it became something that he figured he would just have to always do.
Later that day they left the house, Sonic for his routine jog and Tails to go the center of Kowareta Yume. What he saw there could hardly be called a protest. There were around two dozen people there, not even close enough to make an impact. The small number made Tails very depressed and hopeless. He was always someone who was optimistic about change but the people of Kowareta Yume were okay with the mayor treating the town as his personal property.
There was no pushback against him, there was no will to fight back. Everyone was content with the situation, the ward will remain an awful place to live in and he will win the next election for sure. Thirty years and with many more of the same corruption and poor management. People have resigned to the mentality of ‘things won't get better so why try’.
After the protest, a disappointed Tails returned home. Sonic was sitting on the couch holding his phone and reading an email.
“Hey, Tails we got invited to the SEGA anniversary event.”
“They still hold those? Are you sure they invited me? I haven’t been to one in a decade.”
“Well, I am invited and I can bring anyone along so that means you’re invited too.”
The two discussed going to the event, and they decided that they were going to go and that they should wear something a little bit more formal. Tails was excited, he hadn’t seen anyone from those days in over 10 years.
Sonic on the other hand felt more of an obligation to show up. In his mind, if he didn’t go, everyone will think that he wasn’t invited because he is irrelevant. Despite letting go of his dream of directing another game he still had pride in him. He wanted to show that his name still meant something to the company since he was invited.
***
It was the day of the SEGA anniversary party and Tails was driving with Sonic in his red Saab to the event, both of them were wearing suits. The event was being held at the SEGA HQ. Tails parked the car in front and the pair stared at the blue glass-covered skyscraper. Months had passed since Sonic had been here but it felt like yesterday he got the offer for the mobile game.
Tails looked at Sonic and noticed that he was getting teary-eyed. Tails said to him: “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I started thinking,” Sonic said his voice cracking and eyes full of tears, “I can't face that Kazuma Kiryu guy.”
“Why?”
“Because what if he starts treating me like I used to treat everyone. He is now the number one video game director at SEGA, I couldn’t bear it if started to make fun of me and put me down. I know what you're going to say. Well, Knuckles made fun of you too.” Soinc raised his voice an octive in an attempt to mimic Tails and then continued normally. “But that’s different. Knuckles was, and still is, a nobody. Sure, he may be vice president, but he doesn’t work on games, he just compares business cards all day and watches the stock market or something. I can't take it if someone like Kiryu would put me down because I know it's my fault that he has taken my place and I know I kind of deserve it I just don’t want to hear it” Sonic said and covered his eyes.
“Firstly, don’t let the Mexicans see you cry.” Tails said and Sonic laughed at the movie reference.
“Mexicans from MEXICO CITY”. Sonic wiped his tears and smiled.
“That’s right. Secondly, who cares what he has to say. He is at the end of the day some guy. Besides, even if he is number one now, the company would be nothing without you. You built SEGA to where it is today, you’re Sonic the fucking Hedgehog.”
“„You know what?“ Sonic looked up at Tails, „You’re right! I am Sonic the fucking Hedgehog!“ Sonic started heading towards the SEGA building, his chest puffed up in confidence.
Tails knew it was dangerous to feed Sonic’s ego but he felt in this case it was okay to do. He did want both of them to have a good time today and knew exactly what Sonic needed to hear to get him to feel better.
The pair made their way inside and as they approached the elevator they ran into Ulala from space channel 5. She was wearing an elegant red dress. Ulala asked them if they were planning to sit with anyone, since Sonic and Tails had no such plans they agreed that the three of them will share a table.
The three of them entered the elevator on floor 28 was the space which was made to be the place for the celebration. It was a wide large space, with tables arranged with Cutlery and wine glasses, a red carpet, and blue SEGA balloons. The room exuded solemnity. They sat at their table, were offered appetizers, and were asked what kind of wine they wanted to drink.
Sonic and Tails’ current modest lifestyle was in complete contrast to the extravagance of the party. They were taken aback by how expensive it felt to be here even though as guests everything was free. Tails and Ulala started making small talk, since Sonic had seen Ualala before he didn’t pay much attention to the conversation. He didn’t want to listen to the same stuff for a second time about how Ualala is married now and has two kids. He decided to leave Tails to steer the conversation.
Sonic instead began scanning the room. He checked out who exactly had come to this celebration. On one side of the room, there were many old but forgotten characters like Samba de Amigo, Beat from Jet Set Radio, Nights, Ristar, and so on. He used to look down on them but now he was just as washed up as them, all of them looked like they were having a good time.
On the other side of the room were seats for the many executives and big managers of the SEGA media group and its subsidiaries. There was the captain of SEGA of Europe, captain of SEGA of America, captain SEGA of China… There was also the president of Atlus and the captain of Atlus of America. Many others were there too, they all looked more like Italian mobsters and Japanese yakuza than businessmen.
Looking at these ‘business men’ Sonic was reminded of a documentary he watched long ago. How Polanzo instituted an amendment that allowed you to assume someone’s position if you would beat them in a fistfight. It was basically the way Polanzo gained power in the company. Sonic wondered was that amendment was still active and how many of those sitting at that part of the room have their position because they beat the previous holder up. From the way everyone looked it would be easy to assume all of them.
Finally, the center of the room was the most opulent table, and its where Kiryu was seated, along with other characters from the ‘Yakuza games’, as well as Knuckles as vice president and of course the president himself Marchiano Polanzo. Polanzo wasn’t dressed any differently than usual, he still was covered with golden accessories and wore his maroon-colored suit. Next to Polanzo were standing two guards, carrying their uzis in the open and waiting for Polanzo to pull out a cigar for them to light it. Kiryu was talking to his friends while Polanzo was discussing business-related stuff with his vice president Knuckles.
Staring at that table Sonic reminisced about how, when he was a big deal, he would sit at that table, the same way Kiryu and his friends are sitting now. It would be him, the SEGA president, and all of the ‘Sonic friends’. He remembered how those were casual hangouts at first but as the years went along and he became egotistical, how no one looked like they wanted to be there.
Kiryu and his friends look like they are all having fun and laughing. It's been so long since Sonic laughed with his former friends. Speaking of Sonic’s friends, as Sonic scanned the room he noticed none of them were there. They probably weren’t invited or if they were it's understandable why they wouldn’t want to show up. A part of Sonic hoped he would maybe run into Amy and attempt to reconcile.
Sonic zoned out in his own thoughts not realizing the whole time he was looking directly at Polanzo. He was wearing sunglasses so it was unclear which direction he was looking at. Sonic realized that Polanzo was looking back at him. He signaled his guard and whispered something into the guard’s ear. As he was whispering he pointed his index finger at Sonic.
Sonic panicked thinking he did something wrong. The guard approached Sonic and said:
“The president wishes to speak with you.”
“Be right back, I will go see what he wants,” Sonic said to Tails and walked to the President’s table.
Sonic approached Polanzo and greeted him, “How’s the blue blur?”
“Not bad, you said you wanted to speak with me?”
“Yes, yes, but first let me introduce you to our number one guy right now. I believe you two haven’t met” Polanzo turned to Kiryu and pointed at him. “Sonic meet Kiryu, Kiryu meets Sonic.”
The two of them awkwardly shook hands.
“We haven’t met but I know your work,” said Kiryu to Sonic.
“I know your work too”. Sonic began to spiral in his head, what does he mean he knows my work. Is he talking about Sonic 06, is he making fun of me. He is, right now he is going to turn to Majima and he is going to make a Sanic joke. He is probably going to mock my voice and repeat one of my cringe quotes. They are all going to laugh at me.
Sonic’s spiral was interrupted by Polanzo’s finger snap. As he snapped his fingers, he turned to Knuckles and said:
“Listen you stand up and let the blue blur sit there. I can’t have my boy standing while I discuss business”
“But where will I sit?” knuckles protested.
“You can stand. We’ve finished our conversation.”
“Sir, you can't let this washed-up loser sit here. I mean it's-“, Polanzo interrupted Knuckles and with raising his voice he said:
“Knuckles, I pay you to give me your opinion. Now tell me, did I ask for it? I did not. That means you shut up and do as you are told. Understand me? Now stand the fuck up and let the blue boy sit.”
Knuckles got up from his seat without a word and Sonic took his place. Polanzo took out a cigarette and offered it to Sonic.
“No thank you. I quit smoking.”
“Aha, I see.” Polanzo placed his hand on Sonic’s shoulder. “let me get straight down to the point. We at SEGA are planning on producing, not one, but two new Sonic games.”