(Slightly late sorry) Birthday gift for a friend.

The recital had ended in applauds, but that time had come and gone, and things had returned to a sense of normalcy. 

Mari sat on the picnic blanket, it was a nice Sunday afternoon, it was cool, Summer neared its end and the coolness of Auttum danced in the orange leaves. They fluttered in the breeze as Mari talked with her friends.

She made a joke that turned Hero into a blushing mess and chuckled. She opened her picnic basket and explained, "OK all joking aside, Sunny, you hungry?"

Sunny sat solemnly at the edge of the dock, starring at his own reflection in the water, distorted by the leaves as they landed, creating small ripples.

"Is he OK?" Aubrey asked, worry in her voice

"You guys eat," Mari requested, "I'll check on him."

Mari sat by Sunny, who remained silent as he starred into the water, not even noticing her, lost in tonight.

Mari nudged him, he jumped slightly from surprise. She asked him, gently, "You OK little bro?"

Sunny nodded, lying, and Mari could tell. She pat him on the head to comfort him, and assured him, "You can talk to me, you know that. Even if you don't wanna talk to me Aubrey or Hero-"

Sunny shook his head, and spoke timidly, "I... don't like playing the violin."

Mari froze, unsure what to say, she thought back to all the time they had spent practicing. During it, Sunny never smiled and he was always eager to quit. How could she not have seen it? She hugged her brother and assured him, "It's OK Sunny. You don't have to anymore."

Sunny nodded in understanding, he asked in a hushed, anxious tone, "You're... not mad?"

Mari smiled and assured him, "Of course not, true friends, true family, can be open with each other. It's OK Sunny. You're my baby brother, of course I'll understand, but you have to tell me, OK?"

Sunny smiled and nodded, relief spread across his face as Mari continued, "Now come on, let's go get lunch."

Sunny nodded and returned to the group with Mari to enjoy a nice picnic, now at ease with the matter resolved.