They do realize the Kingdom Key still obeys Riku's call if he so calls for it even subconsciously don't they? Riku used it in Dream Drop Distance during the dive into Sora's heart. As a Keyblade Master he can for all intents and purposes summon the Kingdom Key and perform the succession ceremony for Sora with specified wording that he's bequeathing the Kingdom Key to Sora. I mean Terra performed that ceremony for Riku without having even passed his Mark of Mastery exam and Sora had long proven himself worthy of a keyblade.

Awesome! My thoughts were leading exactly to this place. The insecurities, the reactions, everything! It was really satisfying to see this written out, that someone thinks the same as me! :)

Fantastic :)

THANK YOU, OH MY GOD THANK YOU! I have been searching for these kinds of fanfic for a while. Because, hellooooooooo? All of his other friends had their paths laid out to them except Sora. Papa Nomure even said he was just a peasant boy (or something along the lines). BUT OTHER THAN THAT... THANK YOU FOR THIS MASTERPIECE!