Expi Runs Away

Expi Runs Away is the twelfth chapter of The Two Cats and was published on March 13, 2020. It is the final chapter of Season 1.

The Journal Returns
This chapter picks up the morning after the events of The Bridge, as Expi returns to writing in her journal after so long. She writes about what had just happened, and her guilt over what Mariko had just did - feeling that she pushed her into moving and working and this just made her depression worse. Expi decides that maybe Mariko would be better off if they both went their own separate ways, and decides to go back to her aunt and uncles' house in New Yolk City, where her family still lives.

Expi Heads Out
Expi buys a one-way train ticket for New Yolk City from the Long-Distance Railroad, and begins getting ready to leave. Before she does so, she leaves Mariko a note, which she tapes onto the television screen, saying that she apologizes for pressuring her and dragging her along. After Expi leaves, Mariko wakes up, and finds the note. By then, Expi's train is about to leave the station. Mariko attempts to call her, but Expi doesn't pick up, turning her service off entirely and listening to music as the train leaves the station.

Mariko's Journey
While all this is going on, Mariko is freaking out, and doesn't know what to do in this moment of crisis as Expi continues to not pick up her phone. Mariko then decides to grab an Uber, which she pays for with her money for recycling, and goes to the Paitocan Shipping Company. Mariko storms into the manager's office and demands her not to fire Expi, which she reluctantly agrees to after Marko's long rant towards her. Mariko then asks for her paycheck, which she receives, and heads out. Mariko then decides to use a series of city buses in order to get to New Yolk City as fast as she can.

Expi's Home!
Expi arrives at New Yolk City and makes her way to her aunt and uncles' apartment, where she is greeted by her little sister, Nicki. Nicki questions why Expi is there, to which she simply replies with "I'm back." Her mom sees her and also asks why she is there, and this time Expi replies by telling her that she was right about her and Mariko moving to Anibi. Her mother asks her if something happened between them, but Expi decides not to talk about it.

Reunited
Mariko manages to get into New Yolk City towards the end of the day, and walks up to Expi's aunt and uncle's home. Nicki, again, opens the door and alerts Expi that she has a visitor. Expi is shocked to find out that Mariko had gotten all the way there on her own. Mariko tells Expi that she had nothing to do with her depression or what she did, and also tells her to check her phone. Expi looks at it, and finds a message from her manager, telling her to come back the following Monday. Expi realizes she has screwed up, but Mariko comforts her by telling her that she has also screwed up before, and that they can just be "screw ups" together. Expi laughs, and her mother walks in, greeting Mariko. Expi then tells her mother that she wants to go back to Anibi with Mariko, but asks to stay the night. Her mother agrees to that, and even offers to buy them their tickets home. The chapter ends with Expi writing in her journal one more time that day, citing that even through hard times, her and Mariko will always be a bond.

Trivia

 * This is the first chapter to use a cover created using Clip Studio Paint, as opposed to FireAlpaca or AutoDesk Sketchbook. This will be intended to be used on future chapters.
 * This is the first chapter where Expi's shirt doesn't display the "Democratic Socialist of Paitoca" text under the rose, a design choice done as a result of ExpitheCat wanting to make Expi easier to animate.