[Yeah, so about those parallel-universe friends you were talking about, that would know him but not really share his experiences...?]

Tails? [Sonic cocks his head from a few yards away, unsure if that's the same little buddy he'd spend so much time with back home.]

[And oh dear god, Sonic's carrying books.]

...Tails! Ahah, oh wow, that really IS you, huh? Man, you look different!