[answered on: 3/15/2022]

*drums fingers* well...! It is intrinsically a relationship that Sunny has with himself, so for starters, it is not comparable to any of his other relationships with people who are not him. First and foremost, I just want to establish that I do not think Sunny perceives Omori as entirely different from himself... Though, Omori has more harsh dissonance from himself and Sunny — but despite how Omori speaks and acts, I still wouldn't say that Omori thinks of Sunny as a completely different person...? Mmm, it's just that they (appear to) have very conflicting emotions by the point of the final confrontation, and this is tearing them apart as a result. Omori lashing out at Sunny is doing so knowing they share their mind, life, body. He just feels they are evil and deserve to die.

So, both of them understand that they share a body/mind/life by the final confrontation. At most, I think before they unlock their memories, that Omori is more clueless and thinks of Sunny as a sad boy that is in White Space sometimes mysteriously. Mm but even if Omori doesn't consciously think of themselves as the same, I think he unconsciously grasps this, which is why in hikki route he chooses to 'save' Sunny and hugs him... He is 'taking on' their burdens fully, at this point.

With all that being said... I want to backtrack to before the altercation with Mari, even. Months before the night of the recital.

I personally HC that even before Omori became a distinct identity in Sunny's brain, that he still existed, in some sort of vague, fragmented sense... Before there is a name to this aspect of Sunny, it is just a cluster of particular patterns of thoughts and feelings. At most, Sunny's self awareness of it is becoming somewhat aware that he is 'in that kind of mood'; his thoughts are distinct enough for him to pinpoint it for a moment. Mmm but Sunny isn't really good at introspection exactly, so he doesn't think too hard about it. He's just like 'ah, I'm being weird again...'

This is where I'm going to start sounding like a crazy delusional shipper so just be warned. Ok.

I feel like what defines Omori is his feelings for Mari. This is why he is named after her piano; he feels kinship with an instrument that belonged to Mari. Omori defines himself as being hers... He loves Mari dearly, more than anything! This is why when Sunny regains his memories, Omori is the one that cannot live with what Sunny has done to her. He CANNOT accept that Mari is GONE because of Sunny's selfishness. It is antithetical to their love. The final boss fight with Omori isn't Omori being evil for no reason, he's not ah, a mastermind villain, he... Is HURT, he CAN'T COPE with the loss of Mari, and feels as though it is UNJUST for Sunny to continue to live without punishment. Omori knows that committing suicide will kill them both, but he doesn't care. It feels like their only option.

Aside from feeling as though Sunny is evil for having killed Mari, Omori also goes on to say that the way Sunny is needy and distant from people is selfish and wrong. It is 'sick'; Omori resents that Sunny needs to be taken care of so much, yet 'doesn't do anything for anyone' also. I think Omori also thinks of Sunny as a liar and a coward, never voicing his true feelings, and being underhanded around the wellmeaning people around them. This of course, is an overly harsh and negative way to view everything, but if you think about what Omori does in Headspace, it kind of makes sense he would feel this...? All Omori does is essentially fetch quests, running around doing menial tasks for people, assisting them in all sorts of little ways. He also regularly spends time with HS Kel/Aubrey/Hero, which means that Omori is a good helpful boy who always hangs out with his friends. Ah, so, by comparison, Sunny is... a selfish good-for-nothing, who just waits for others to do for thinsg, and then, killed his sister in an entitled rage. The evilest thing possible. A demon, a monster.

So... in a way, I think Omori sort of ah, represents an all-or-nothing mindset... "black and white thinking", if you will.

These ways of perceiving himself are not new... These are not new trains of thought Sunny has had; these exist within him always, even as he's repressing. It's ah, almost like, a natural self-ableism, y'know, when you erase your own symptoms and reduce yourself to 'just a selfish prick'... Sunny has no way to seriously recognize himself as ill, he just FEELS like someone who doesn't try hard enough at anything. And ah. Well. He lives in his own head you know, so he CAN watch himself be purposefully unhelpful (like feeling fussy when everyone is excitedly building treehouse, hanging back and purposefully not wanting to be called to help...) — so, like. Sunny knows, to an extent, he does just wish all he did was play video games and eat pizza and be doted on kfhdfhg... It doesn't help any of this.

But ah, I reeeally don't like it when Omori is reduced to all of Sunny's negative traits, or is seen as 'evil Sunny'; I really do not think this is the case-!! Often me and Avvy are in agony about how ah, innocent... Omori is... As much as the game makes you wanna sob when you see Sunny sitting on a swing quietly and kicking his legs. Omori is also the part of Sunny that delights in things like 'ouhh.. GHOST PARTY!! !!!' *dances!* *crudely plays WS theme on keyboard* He's so. Like. Sincere. Actually? For the entirety of the game Omori isn't in persecution mode because he is without memories, so we see him at his base state. Which is like. Building sandcastles... napping on Mari's lap. I think, he has love in his heart, he isn't a monster...

If anything, I chalk up Omori's sheer intensity at the end of the game as a result of how much Sunny LOVED Mari... It is the love for Mari that propels this lashing out. The sentence "You loved her and you killed her" is meant to illustrate: you loved her, and yet, you did something SO ANTITHETICAL TO THAT LOVE! WHY!??? *stabs* ... But it's so artful the way Omori identifies with Mari's piano, it's... so haunting, I think about it constantly.

While the part of Sunny that became Omori has existed before Mari's death, I think after Mari's death, it crystalizes into Omori readily. As Sunny is sitting in front of Mari's piano and running his hands across the keys, playing notes, muttering to himself, staring into it, I think he is. Absolutely feverishly ill and delusional, and has such a visceral epiphany while staring where the word OMORI is etched onto the piano. I think it really electrifies his brain. There were murmurings of this as he gazed longingly at Mari playing piano, but it was so abstract, back then. I think even Sunny did not understand why he stared at Mari so much; he was apt to assume that he DID just want to play a duet with her. But, no, I think instead he... had itchy brain staring at Mari's fingers sinking into the ivory keys. And now, he can conclude, Ah. This... is... me. What he wanted, what he ached for. Was Mari sat before him, staring at him, running her hands along him... Making music with him, with his body...

This line of thinking runs deep, it's so sick. It goes on, like — belonging to Mari, owned by Mari, brought into the house for Mari to play with, made for Mari, only touched by Mari, sitting in the room waiting for Mari, inert without Mari, motionless without Mari, cold without Mari. Just an object, just a thing. Seeearing desire to be reduced to this... Deep aches in the chest.

When me and Avvy are referring to scenarios predating Mari's death, or in an AU where Mari lives, we refer to Sunny's intense servile emotions as his 'Omori brain' for ease of reference. You can chalk up all these strange, intense feelings as that part of him... I really enjoy the blend of traits Omori has, because he is more aloof and flat than Sunny, yet more passionate and devotional perhaps? And, in a way, more... gregarious? Going out, doing things. But I think Omori being completely stoned faced for it all is also really unique; despite being active, he doesn't bother making himself seem more pleased by anything. By comparison I imagine Sunny is more shy and flustered, and attempting to seem gracious, embarrassed to appear totally detached... He's not good at reading social cues, but makes attempts like. *feeble little gestures* 💦💦 Whereas Omori is more like. -_- *no effort.* And yet this is probably part of why Sunny seems like a liar, to him... The all-or-nothing brain is like, agitated that Sunny makes attempts yet that they are so half-hearted, it is more 'honest' to not even try, and only do as they please.

But ehm, easy for Omori to feel, when Omori is frolicking in their mind palace and not actually experiencing social pressures or expectation. Omori doesn't have to worry about what his parents will think or say. He's just like lalala. *stabbing things for fun*

Lol so in conclusion uh, their 'relationship' with one another is like.

Sunny (about Omori): This is my inner voice that says crazy things, simps for Mari, scolds me when I am being shitty. *mari dies* oOu rh ghhhhhh hnhjfkgh please god be me instead of me i can't take it
Omori (about Sunny): i have no memories this is just a sad guy i try and share my presents with sometimes. he needs help. *has memories* wow COULDN'T be me i would NEVER. hurt my sister. Die!!!! 🔪