Nickel guided Balloon toward their cabin, holding his boyfriend's hand and keeping him close. The situation was frightening for both of them, but someone needed to be strong, and Nickel was determined to be that person for Balloon. As they stepped into the cabin, Nickel gently rubbed the back of Balloon's hand with his thumb, offering comfort. The bright lights were in the midst of packing their bags. Test Tube was on the ground, reorganising Fan's bag. He had shoved everything in haphazardly and then complained it wouldn't fit, so she was now carefully folding everything and placing it properly.

Paintbrush and Lightbulb had nearly finished packing their bags, now just rolling up their sleeping bags and putting them back in their casings.

"Oh hey," Paintbrush greeted Balloon and Nickel as they walked in.

Test Tube turned and, glad to see they were okay, quickly got to her feet and approached them. "Are you two alright?" she asked with a worried look.

Balloon nodded, though he didn't look alright.

"We just thought we had more time before we had to go back," Nickel explained. "We aren't ready to face our friends. They have no idea about our relationship. As far as they're aware, they think we hate each other. We're worried they won't understand and might get upset because we put them through so much drama with our fighting for years. And now, suddenly, we're together. Plus, Suitcase had a crush on me a while back. Balloon is worried she might get mad at him or something. And with Baseball... Well, his two best guy friends dating might be awkward for him." Nickel explained to the bright lights.

Test Tube could see why they were so stressed. She knew she didn't have to help or offer support, but after all they had been through at camp, she had come to like these two and now saw them as her friends.

"Gee, that is a lot to deal with," she said, putting a hand to her chin in thought. "Well, if anything bad happens, you can always hang out with us at school until things settle. Besides Baseball and Suitcase, I know someone who will support you through and through." Test Tube smiled widely.

"Who?" Nickel asked.

"Bot!" Test Tube exclaimed. "They really adore you two. They'd always talk about you both. I never understood why until now. They really look up to you both." Test Tube smiled.

Balloon couldn't help but smile at that. He adored Bot like a little sibling, and it was nice to know that Bot looked up to them. "Thanks, Test Tube," Balloon said suddenly. "You've been a good friend to us." He added with a small smile.

"Do you want a hug?" Test Tube offered, opening her arms.

Balloon nodded and leaned into the embrace. Test Tube wrapped her arms around him, gently patting his head as he rested against her. "It will be okay, I promise. And if it's not, we'll be here for you," she whispered.

Nickel stood aside awkwardly with his arms crossed. He wouldn't say he was jealous... but he was. Even if it was just Test Tube. He always felt a little jealous when others got close to his boyfriend, and it showed on his face—a grumpy, jealous look in his eyes as he looked away from them. Test Tube noticed and, still smiling, rolled her eyes before yanking Nickel's arm and pulling him into the hug. Nickel yelped and grumbled but allowed it. Balloon simply smiled, glad to have such good friends.

Nickel wasn't one for affection, especially not like this. "Alright, alright! That's enough! We have to pack our bags!" he said, pushing Test Tube off him and stepping back, his face a bit flushed.

"Oh, yeah! The bus will probably be here soon!" Test Tube chuckled softly and turned back to Fan, who was struggling to fold a pair of pants the way she had shown him.

Balloon and Nickel knelt beside their bags and began packing up. Balloon carefully folded his clothes, placing them gently into his bag, while Nickel haphazardly shoved his belongings in, not having brought much to begin with. Despite Nickel's messy packing, everything fit. They both zipped up their bags and brought them to the door, still feeling nervous about heading home, but slightly more at ease thanks to their new friends.

Once everyone in the cabin had packed their bags, they finally exited, leaving the dismal place behind. While there were mixed feelings about heading back, they all agreed on one thing: they were thrilled to sleep in their own beds again and feel comfortable.

Outside the cabin, the other students stood with their bags by their sides. Knife and YinYang were casually chatting, and despite Knife's reputation as a bad influence, it was nice to see YinYang enjoying time with someone other than Candle. Candle and Silver stood by the campfire, trying to keep warm on the chilly morning. Although Candle loved the camp, she was excited to go home. As for Silver Spoon, he was ecstatic; he hated camping and, despite his efforts to impress Candle by pretending to enjoy it, his relief at leaving was obvious.

Microphone and Taco sat on the logs, huddling for warmth, while Trophy wandered around with a camera, taking photos. Photography was a hobby he loved but rarely talked about. Besides sports, he cherished capturing moments on film and had been secretly taking photos throughout the entire camp. Now, he was snapping some last shots, not just of the scenery but of the camaraderie among the camp members. Perhaps he wasn't such a bad guy after all; maybe he just really hated losing.

Nickel grabbed Balloon's hand with his free one, causing Balloon to turn and look at him. Nickel offered a supportive smile and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Balloon smiled back, feeling a bit calmer; everything would be okay as long as he had Nickel. Together, they walked over to the logs and sat down, resting their bags at their feet. Their close-knit group followed and sat beside them. Fan was on his notes app, typing up all the things he planned to share on social media the moment he got internet access again. Lightbulb, still very tired, laid her head against Paintbrush's legs as soon as they sat down. Meanwhile, Test Tube peered over Fan's shoulder, curious about what he was writing and occasionally correcting his spelling.

Lifering had been brought up to speed about why Balloon and Nickel seemed so upset about leaving camp. Candle had explained most of it. He felt terrible, wishing they could have had more time to prepare before heading back. He didn't want to rush them, but it wasn't his decision to make. He could allow them to stay another week, but without funding, the camp couldn't operate. Favouring this group of kids would also anger his boss. Without the money, there was no camp. He felt compelled to give them a proper goodbye and offer some words of encouragement.

Both Lifering and Goo approached Balloon and Nickel, who looked up at the camp coordinators.

"Hey, you two! I just want to say I am proud of you during this camp. You both did amazing, and it was a pleasure having you here. I know you were hesitant at first, but you quickly fit right in," Lifering said with a proud smile. "Also, I understand why you don't want to head back yet. I want to say this: you've got this, okay? I know it might be scary since it's the unknown, but you are both so strong. I've seen how much you've grown together in just a few days. I'm confident that whatever challenges you face when you get back, you'll face them with stride. You've got this." He added with a reassuring smile.

Goo nodded, agreeing with everything Lifering had said. "I'm not the best with words like Lifering, but he's right. You two have done amazing at this camp, and I think you can take on anything!"

Nickel chuckled softly, a smile spreading across his lips. He hadn't expected this; it was nice to have people believe in him. He looked over at Balloon, who also had a faint smile.

"Thanks, Lifering, Goo. I really enjoyed this camp," Balloon said.

"Yeah, same here. At first, I thought I'd hate it!" Nickel chuckled. "It was interesting, to say the least, but good things came out of it." He flashed a smile at his boyfriend, and Balloon smiled back, his cheeks slightly flushed.

"We're glad you enjoyed it! I promise we'll pay you a visit sometime to see how you're doing," Lifering said as the bus pulled into the camp, signalling it was time to depart.

Balloon took a deep breath before standing up and grabbing his bag. He was nervous, but the encouragement from Lifering and Goo, the reassurance from Candle, and the support from Test Tube made him feel okay, at least for now. As for Nickel, just having him there made everything easier.

The students said their goodbyes to the camp coordinators and thanked them for the camp before boarding the bus to finally head home. Unlike the first time, Nickel and Balloon sat beside each other. It felt strange being back on the same bus where it had all started. It was almost funny how much had changed from then to now. They were now boyfriends, rather than two ex-best friends tolerating each other out of necessity. It's amazing how quickly things can change.

Test Tube and Fan sat together on the bus, with Fan barely looking where he was going as he continued typing on his phone. Test Tube guided him inside and let him have the window seat, knowing he'd probably not look up from his phone for the rest of the ride, especially once the internet kicked back in. They sat right behind Balloon and Nickel. As usual, Lightbulb and Paintbrush sat beside each other, with Lightbulb by the window and Paintbrush on the aisle. They were seated directly behind Fan and Test Tube.

Microphone and Taco paired up, sitting towards the back of the bus. In front of them, YinYang and Knife sat together, which was a sweet sight. Unlike before, when YinYang sat with Balloon (until they annoyed him) and then alone, they finally had a friend to sit with. Knife let YinYang have the window seat. Trophy sat alone in front of Knife and YinYang, but he didn't mind; as soon as he had internet access, he planned to message Cheesy and tell him all about the camp. In front of Trophy were Silver Spoon and Candle, with Silver at the window seat, excitedly rambling to Candle about what he was going to do when he got back. He was definitely eager to return.

Before the bus departed, Lifering approached the front and thanked Blueberry for coming on such short notice, acknowledging the inconvenience of driving all the way out there. Fortunately for Mephone, Blueberry had been staying just two hours away, as he was visiting family.

"Yeah, it's fine, I guess," Blueberry moped tiredly.

Blueberry closed the bus doors as Lifering stepped back, smiling faintly at the students he had the honour of hosting at his camp. He was already missing them. He waved goodbye as the bus pulled away from the camp and left the premises.

And now they were off, heading back home. The bus was to stop at the school, and from there, everyone had to find their own way home. No one really minded; they were just excited to return to their normal lives, even if it had only been a few days. It was funny—they were relieved to be back after barely a week. Imagine if they had stayed the whole two weeks—would they have managed?

It wasn't long after leaving camp that everyone regained cell service and eagerly pulled out their phones. Fan, who had already been on his phone, noticed immediately and called out for everyone to hear.

"Yes! Finally! Bars!" he exclaimed, grinning ear to ear as he caught up on social media.

Trophy quickly turned on his phone upon hearing Fan, and immediately messaged Cheesy: [Heyy bitch, guess who has bars!]

Microphone and Taco casually checked their phones for messages. Microphone looked to see if any of her favourite bands had released new music, while Taco checked updates from food review channels she followed.

Lightbulb opened her phone and started watching funny animal videos, thrilled to have access to YouTube Shorts and TikTok again. Paintbrush, meanwhile, played an online Uno match on the Uno app, which they had missed dearly.

Test Tube? she was busy liking all of Fan's posts from the camp across various platforms and accounts. She tried to like and view every single one before getting tired and switching to her own activities.

YinYang, like Lightbulb, immediately opened TikTok and started catching up on the videos they had missed. Meanwhile, Knife decided to text Pickle, even though he never received a response anymore. Despite suspecting that Pickle's parents had taken away his phone, Knife always tried to reach out, especially when something interesting happened in his life. He knew Pickle probably wouldn't see the messages, but he sent them anyway. Knife highlighted some moments from camp, occasionally adding in "miss you" and "wish you were here."

Candle and Silver Spoon opted not to open their phones, content with each other's company as they chatted happily and enjoyed the peaceful moment together.

As for Balloon and Nickel, they kept their phones untouched in their pockets. Both were hesitant to check their messages, knowing Baseball and Suitcase would have likely reached out. They didn't want to hide anything from them, yet they weren't ready to reveal their relationship just yet. They planned to delay sharing that they were heading home today, but with Fan likely posting updates online, it wouldn't stay hidden for long. They anticipated Baseball and Suitcase waking up, checking their phones, and finding out about their return. Baseball and Suitcase wouldn't want to wait until tomorrow to find out about what happened at the camp, yet mentioning their relationship without outright saying it seemed impossible. So, for now, they avoided their phones. If questioned about not responding, they could claim their phones had died and they lacked portable chargers.

"You're not going to check your phone?" Balloon asked nervously.

"We both know Suitcase and Baseball are going to text us. It's probably all over Fan's socials that we're heading back. They'll figure it out and text us. How are we supposed to talk about camp without letting it slip?" Nickel huffed in frustration.

"Yeah, that's why I haven't taken mine out either. It'll be easier to explain in person. I don't want them finding out through a text," Balloon said, nervously fidgeting with his hands and starting to feel paranoid again.

"So, we agree, we won't message them today," Nickel stated more than asked.

"Yeah... I think that's best. It keeps us from having to lie to them," Balloon replied, his nervousness evident.

A part of him wanted to message them both immediately, pouring out paragraphs about everything that happened and trying to justify himself. Balloon was better with written words than spoken ones, and he feared messing up when they finally talked in person. He wished he could just type it all out now to clear his mind and have a moment to breathe. However, he also knew his friends deserved to hear this face-to-face, especially after the turmoil caused by their arguments. The anticipation was killing him, and not knowing what tomorrow would bring overwhelmed him deeply.

Nickel could sense how much it was eating away at Balloon to keep this secret, knowing he wanted to spill everything to Suitcase and Baseball immediately. But they both understood that texting them wouldn't be right after the pain they caused with their arguments. Nickel, being stronger in this regard and not much of a writer, preferred face-to-face conversations.

"Balloon, give me your phone. I'll hold onto it for you, okay? That way, you won't have to worry about messaging them," Nickel said, holding out his hand. He wasn't going to force Balloon to give it up, but he hoped Balloon would agree.

Balloon retrieved his phone from his pocket and handed it to Nickel without hesitation, placing his trust in him completely. He felt relieved that the temptation to message Suitcase and Baseball was now out of reach.

Nickel slipped Balloon's phone into his jacket pocket, then took Balloon's hand and held it gently. Balloon sighed, resting his head against Nickel's shoulder and closing his eyes, preparing to rest during the long ride ahead. Nickel glanced at Balloon, admiring how peacefully he slept. A faint smile crossed Nickel's lips as he watched his adorable boyfriend. It still felt surreal to him—this was his boyfriend now. After all the years of concealing his feelings, after their tumultuous history, a few days at camp had changed everything. It was as if the past conflicts had never existed; Balloon was no longer just a friend or an enemy but his partner. Nickel found himself marvelling at how everything had unfolded, almost as if it were a dream he feared waking from. Despite the challenges ahead—Knife's animosity, Baseball and Suitcase's reactions, and the awkward adjustment period—he wouldn't trade this newfound happiness for anything. He was willing to face it all for Balloon, willing to sacrifice whatever it took to be with him.

Part of him wondered if he should have confessed his feelings years ago, but he couldn't be sure things would have turned out the same. Perhaps this was how the universe intended it all along. Whatever the case, Nickel was grateful it had happened this way.

After a few hours on the road, Blueberry pulled over at a gas station for a pit stop, allowing everyone to stretch their legs. The students decided not to stop for lunch, eager to get home, so Candle offered to buy them snacks. Lightbulb, YinYang, and Fan requested whatever looked yummy at the gas station. Candle, caring deeply for them, didn't mind using her own card. While Blueberry filled up the bus, Candle went inside the gas station. She picked up a bag of chips and a lollipop for each student who had asked for food, and treated herself and Silver Spoon to takeout coffee. She put the snacks in a small bag that she held on her wrists and then held the takeout coffee in her hands.

A few students stepped out to stretch, including Paintbrush, Lightbulb, YinYang, and Trophy.

During the break, Trophy took the opportunity to apologise to YinYang for accusing him of cheating the day before. Despite still feeling disappointed about not getting the cabin and personally believing YinYang cheated, Trophy had reflected on it, slept on it, and even discussed it with Cheesy, who convinced him to apologise. Trophy realised YinYang was just a kid who hadn't done anything wrong and was alone without a team. It saddened Trophy that he needed convincing, but he was glad he took the time to apologise. On her way back to the bus, Candle noticed this exchange and smiled proudly at Trophy.

"Hey uh.. YinYang, I wanted to say sorry for calling you a cheater yesterday." Trophy suddenly spoke.

"Well, you should be sorry!" YinYang exclaimed. "But we are sorry too, we didn't want you to get in trouble... we– I felt really bad for you." Yin added.

"Eh, it's fine." Trophy shrugged a bit before stepping back inside the bus. It felt good to apologise.

Candle smiled warmly at the interaction as she handed YinYang his snacks.

"I'm glad you two could work things out, Trophy," she said, smiling down at him. "I'm really proud of you, YinYang. You've made some friends at this camp," she added with a gentle smile.

YinYang eagerly took the snacks, opening the bag of chips happily.

"It is whatever..." Yang answers.

"But thank you..." Yin adds.

YinYang entered the bus, and before Candle boarded, she handed Lightbulb her snacks. She gestured for Lightbulb and Paintbrush to enter first before following after them. Candle then gave Fan the snacks he had asked for before returning to her seat and handing Silver Spoon his coffee. Soon, everyone was settled again, and Blueberry had finished filling up the bus.

During this time, Balloon remained asleep, clearly exhausted, with a bit of drool dripping from the corner of his mouth as he softly snored. Nickel didn't mind; he found it endearing and even snapped a quick photo of him, deliberately avoiding checking any notifications.

Once again, they were on their way, already more than half way home. Soon enough they would be approaching the suburbs again.

As they neared home, Nickel felt the onset of paranoia creeping in. He was grateful Balloon was asleep and unaware of his inner turmoil. Resisting the urge to check his phone took all his willpower. Eventually, Nickel decided to close his eyes and try to sleep, hoping to quell the temptation. They might as well rest now because a sleepless night likely awaited them.

For the remainder of the journey back, Nickel and Balloon slept soundly, their hands still intertwined, heads resting against each other as they softly snored. It could well be the last peaceful moment they would share for quite some time—the chaos awaited them upon their return.