The seven of them sat outside a small seaside café, bright umbrellas overhead swaying gently in the salty breeze. Laughter spilled over their table, the remains of half-eaten sandwiches and empty smoothie cups strewn between them. Socks leaned back in his chair, spinning a spoon between his fingers.

“I’m just saying,” he said, grinning, “if we did replace Oof with a Roomba, the comedy potential is limitless.”

“Joke’s on you,” Oof retorted, deadpan. “The Roomba would probably have better pathing than me anyway.”

Blaza chuckled so hard he nearly spilled his third mango smoothie. TBhonest was already mid-rant about the economic consequences of giving a vacuum sentience, while Joocie and Meme were trying to stack french fries into a tower on Nadwe’s head.

Nadwe, however, wasn’t laughing.

He hadn’t touched his food. His usual mischievous energy was replaced with something quieter. His hands were buried in his hoodie sleeves, his gaze distant, watery.

Socks noticed first. “Hey, little green bean,” he said, nudging him lightly. “You okay?”

Nadwe flinched at the touch.

Everyone quieted.

“Did… something happen?” Meme asked, voice uncharacteristically soft.

Nadwe swallowed hard. “My grandma,” he whispered. “She passed away last night.”

The words hit the table like a meteor. The tower of fries collapsed silently.

“I didn’t want to ruin the day,” he added quickly, wiping at his eyes. “You guys were all having fun. I didn’t— I didn’t want to be a downer.”

Blaza leaned forward, reaching across the table. “Nadwe. You’re not a downer. You’re our friend.”

Oof pulled his chair closer, awkwardly but genuinely. “We’d rather cry with you than laugh without you.”

Joocie tossed the fries aside and nudged Nadwe with his elbow. “You want to go home?”

“No,” Nadwe murmured. “I want to stay. I just… needed to say it.”

Socks leaned in, pulling him into a side-hug. “Then you stay. And next round of smoothies is on me. In honor of Grandma Nadwe.”

“She hated smoothies,” Nadwe sniffled.

“Then we’ll drink them extra aggressively.”

Laughter returned—softer this time. Warmer.