an idea I've had for the longest time is that cartman moves away from the town for reasons (liane found a better job someplace else, a bigger house, better prospects for Eric, etc). Kyle is initially incredibly psyched about it, thinking that his life will finally be peaceful, joyful even, without having to deal with cartman's schemes and such. and at first, it really is great for him, he wakes up happy everyday, full of energy and enthusiasm. his grades go up, maybe girls are paying more attention to him, hanging with Stan and Kenny has never been more fun.......but then...weeks go by and everything is the same. everything is static. it's like he's stuck in a loop. there's no surprises, nothing that makes his days different from each other. everything goes right but that's it. it's predictable and it's boring and it's actually making Kyle start to lose his goddamn mind
so after a lot of pondering and existential crisis he decides.........to get cartman back. and at first because he's an emotionally constipated son of a bitch he convinces himself it's for the town because people are starting to become aware of how monotone their lives actually are. so, being kyle broflovski, he's trying to be the hero
but then when he tries to convince cartman, turns out cartman is doing well on his own and isn't really interested in coming back. he's made new friends, he's seemingly well-adjusted (mayhaps he has a crush and it's going well?). he's even started to conclude that this is for the best and it makes Kyle so angry, so fucking angry that this guy is one upping his self righteousness that...he blurts it then and there. he confesses the truth: it's not about the town, it's about Kyle. he needs cartman. he hates not having someone to fight with, someone that makes him lose his temper. but most of all he hates not feeling genuine fun anymore. he wants cartman back not for a cause, but because he's selfish and misses his frenemy. and that honesty catches cartman off guard, as he lets himself be dragged by Kyle back home. the moment they're back in South Park they start arguing again except now, for the very first time, they both know they're enjoying it.
so essentially this would be like a counter part to smug alert (and maybe even a nod to post covid with cartman becoming a better person when he leaves sp) with Kyle having the realization this time. I need it badly