Wise glanced toward the vintage clock ticking softly on the wall, letting out a small breath as she picked up an empty cardboard flat.
Billy lowered the TV remote, his metallic shoulders slumping in dramatic protest.
"Aw, do we really have to move right now? My show was just getting to the good part!"
"Shut up, Billy," Nicole groaned, pressing a hand to her lower back as she sank deeper into the armchair.
"My spine is still throbbing from when you rammed that shopping cart into me. You're carrying every single bag up those stairs."
Billy spun around, waving his hands frantically to defend himself.
"The wheels got stuck! I couldn't brake in time!"
"You were running at full speed down the snack aisle, you idiot!"
Nicole snapped back, before letting out a tired breath and gesturing toward the table.
"Belle, pass me the chips. I need to recover."
Belle looked at the bag of chips, then back at Nicole with a dry, knowing smile.
"Didn't you just eat, like, ten minutes ago?"
"Being a victim takes energy, Belle," Nicole answered shamelessly, holding her hand out.
Anby calmly swallowed the last bite of her sweet pastry, carefully dusting a crumb off her jacket before chiming in.
"You've already eaten four bags of snacks since we walked through the door. I genuinely wonder where all those snacks went."
Nicole immediately pointed a stern finger at the silver-haired girl.
"It's because getting hit by a metal cart burns calories, Anby. Now give me the chips before I pass out."
As if agreeing with the severity of the situation, Gible, who was sitting on the rug near Cedric's boots, gave a small, solemn grunt.
"Gyu."
Cedric looked down at the little round land shark in mild amusement.
"You too?"
"Gii."
The Pokémon nodded firmly, patting his tightly stuffed belly with both stubby claws to emphasize his point.
Wise shook her head, a bright, helpless smile breaking across her face as she watched the group.
"Okay, okay. Nobody is starving tonight, I'll order something,"
"But first of all, let's just move everything upstairs to my room. Grab the bags, guys."
Billy instantly recovered his energy, scooping up two large shopping bags with effortless robotic strength.
"Operation Sleepover is a go!"
Nicole rolled her eyes, forcing herself up from the comfortable armchair.
"We are not calling it that, Billy."
"Too late, it's already locked in my head."
Belle giggled, happily collecting the unused paper decorations and ribbons.
"I kind of like it. It sounds cozy."
Nicole shot her a look of mild betrayal as they walked toward the stairs.
"Belle, please don't encourage him."
The low-stakes bickering continued in a steady, comfortable hum as they made their way toward the back of the store.
Cedric followed closely behind, while Gible waddled faithfully right beside his boots.
The staircase gave dull, resonant clangs beneath their footsteps.
With every step they took, the bright, commercial glare of the video storefront faded away, slowly replaced by the faint, familiar electrical buzz and the steady hum of cooling fans coming from the second floor.
Wise stopped at the second door on the left side of the landing. With a light click, she unlocked it and pushed the heavy wooden door open.
"Alright. Watch your step, everyone."
Cedric stepped inside, taking a slow breath as his eyes adjusted to the new lighting.
Wise's room was an expansive space, built with exposed, weathered red brick walls that balanced perfectly against the deep navy-blue paint.
Unlike the neat, manicured order of the video store downstairs, this room felt entirely unpretentious.
There was no display to maintain here; everything simply looked like it belonged to someone who actually lived, worked, and dreamed in this space.
To the right sat a sprawling L-shaped sofa, comfortably cluttered with soft blankets and pillows.
The table in front of it was half-covered with tech magazines, loose audio cables, spare game controllers, and a ceramic mug that smelled faintly of old coffee.
Mounted against the brick wall hung Wise's bright yellow mountain bike, suspended neatly above a heavy-duty workbench littered with soldering irons and microchips.
The far end of the room belonged almost entirely to her digital setup—a massive oak desk stretching beneath three panoramic monitors, with lines of green terminal code cascading quietly down the screens.
Belle dropped the bags of games and snacks onto the table with a soft thump, immediately taking charge.
"Right. First order of business: clear some room for the games."
While Belle and Nicole cleared the table, Billy wandered over to Wise's desk, his eyes zooming in on a specific item.
"Hey Wise, what does this little blue lamp—"
"Don't touch anything on that table, Billy," Wise called out casually from the doorway, not even needing to look to know exactly what he was doing. "Especially that one."
Billy's metallic hand stopped a mere inch before touching the 'lamp'. He then slowly, carefully pulled it back.
"Got it. I was just... admiring the craftsmanship."
Nicole kicked her boots off and claimed the far corner of the sofa, resting her heels up with a satisfied sigh.
"If you break anything in here, Billy, I'm taking it directly out of your paycheck."
"You already took most of it at the mall!" Billy protested, crossing his arms.
"I can always take the rest."
While they argued, Gible had trotted over toward the table, sniffing curiously at the open shopping bags.
Cedric watched the land shark for a moment before reaching into his coat pocket. His fingers brushed against a strip of soft fabric and cold metal, and he pulled it out.
It was the small collar Belle had given him earlier at the pet boutique. The tiny silver bell attached to the dark fabric let out a soft, clear jingle.
Hearing the sound, Belle looked over, her eyes crinkling with a warm smile as she walked toward him.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about it, let's see if it fits him," she suggested softly.
Gible froze instantly, staring up at the shiny bell with wide, round eyes.
Cedric knelt down on the rug, preparing to put it on. But as Belle stood beside him, she looked at the loop of fabric, then slowly looked down at Gible.
And a look of confusion crossed her face.
"...Cedric?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't pay much attention when I bought the collar earlier, but... where exactly is his neck?"
Cedric paused. He stared quietly at the round Pokémon, analyzing the creature's unique anatomy for a few seconds.
He essentially consisted of a massive mouth attached directly to stubby legs.
"I think... he doesn't have one," Cedric concluded calmly.
"So... how do we put this on?"
"…I'll try."
"Hold still, Gible," Cedric murmured, resting a hand on the land shark's firm, finned back to steady him.
"Gii?"
With practiced, gentle care, Cedric fastened the collar around the Pokémon's body. He secured it just below his massive lower jaw, treating it as the closest biological approximation to a neck, making sure it wasn't too tight against the rough skin.
As soon as the clasp clicked into place, Gible took a tentative, cautious step forward.
Jingle-jingle.
He stopped dead in his tracks, tilting his large head slowly to the left.
Jingle.
The little Pokémon's eyes widened in genuine fascination. Testing it out, he took two quick, bouncy hops on the soft carpet.
Jingle-jingle-jingle!
A look of immense, puffed-up pride washed over Gible's face. Sticking his chest out as far as he could, he marched in a wide, deliberate circle around the table like a tiny royal guard, finally stopping to look up at Cedric with a toothy smirk.
"Gyu!"
Belle covered her mouth, a bright, quiet laugh escaping her.
"It suits him perfectly. Now we'll at least hear him coming before he tries to chew the furniture."
Cedric gently tapped the silver bell with a fingernail, producing a sharp tink.
"He'll probably just figure out how to muffle it with his claws when he wants to sneak around," Cedric noted dryly.
"Gii-ble," Gible huffed, crossing his arms and turning his head away as if deeply offended by the very accusation.
Amused, Cedric stood up and turned to unload the rest of their purchases onto the cleared table.
First came the large board game box, followed by a few smaller party card games, the wooden puzzle box, and a stack of dark chocolate bars.
Lastly, he reached into his coat pocket again, pulling out the Lorex mechanical pocket watch.
He pressed the crown, letting the spring-loaded lid pop open.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Amidst the low, overlapping chatter of the group and the background hum of the computers, that steady, patient rhythm felt incredibly grounding.
It was a small, mechanical heartbeat in a room full of noise.
Billy leaned over the back of the sofa, tracking the tiny brass balance wheel as it spun flawlessly back and forth.
"You know, for an antique, that really is a nice piece," the android noted with genuine appreciation.
"It doesn't need a signal to work," Cedric murmured, setting it near the edge of the table where he could see it clearly. "That's what I like about it."
Nicole leaned forward, eagerly pulling the board game out of its box and unfolding it across the table.
Cedric glanced down.
It was immediately recognizable as a property-trading game, but unlike the familiar Monopoly board he remembered from his previous life, this version had clearly been designed for New Eridu.
The square board depicted a stylized map of the city, its streets rendered in faded neon colors beneath a layer of glossy plastic.
The property spaces were not named after American streets.
They were places people in New Eridu actually knew.
Sixth Street.
Lumina Square.
Ballet Twins Road.
Brant Street.
Scott Outpost.
The corners of the board featured stylized Metro stations, while tiny printed Bangboo mascots advertised various shops along the edges.
Even the money had been changed.
Instead of dollars, the colorful bills carried the familiar denomination of Dennies.
Cedric slowly raised an eyebrow.
"...They really went all in on the theme."
Nicole grinned.
"Of course they did. It's New Eridu."
She tapped the center of the board.
"Welcome to Ridu Realty."
Wise picked up one of the small cardboard tokens and inspected it.
"This wasn't called Monopoly?"
"Nope."
Nicole proudly flipped over the box.
In bold retro lettering, the title read:
RIDU REALTY
Build Your Block. Own the City.
Billy leaned over the back of the sofa.
"Whoa! That actually sounds cooler than Monopoly!"
"It's basically the same game," Nicole said.
Anby was already examining the rulebook.
"Not exactly."
She turned several pages.
"The property system has been modified to represent commercial leases, district development, and transportation infrastructure."
Nicole blinked.
"...You're actually reading the whole rulebook?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because someone needs to prevent rule violations."
Anby calmly placed the rulebook beside her.
"I will manage the Bank."
She began arranging the colored stacks of Dennies into perfectly aligned piles.
"I will strictly enforce the official rules. No loans. No delayed payments. No verbal agreements outside the trading system."
Nicole stared at her.
"You're taking this way too seriously."
Anby looked up.
"But you're going to say you want to monopolize the city anyway."
Nicole's grin returned immediately.
"Exactly."
Wise laughed softly as she picked up a little cardboard figure shaped like a Bangboo.
"Well, I glad you like it. But hold on, let's wait for Ellen. She should be back soon."
Nicole groaned, falling back against the cushions.
"Fineee."
Wise only chuckled, letting Nicole sulk into the sofa while the room settled into an easy, quiet wait.
Across the rug, Gible was still proudly marching on his little patrol—until he abruptly froze mid-step.
The rhythmic jingle of his collar cut off instantly. His small dorsal fin gave a sharp, sudden twitch.
"…Gi?"
His small dorsal fin twitched sharply, picking up a sound.
Jingle.
Turning sharply toward the far, darker corner of the room, the land shark trotted directly toward Wise's desk.
Cedric followed his gaze.
There, resting inside the incubator beside the glowing monitors, was the egg.
Bathed in the warm light of the incubator, the smooth shell looked almost translucent along its ridges.
The deep ocean-blue and pale mint patterns seemed richer now, shifting subtly under the light.
Cedric walked over, his footsteps quiet against the floorboards.
Hmmmm...
The incubator emitted its soft, steady mechanical hum, regulating the internal temperature.
Cedric crouched down, resting his palm gently against the clear curved glass of the incubator.
"Hey," he said quietly.
For a couple of seconds, there was only the low hum of the cooling fans and the distant chatter from the sofa.
Then—
Tap.
Cedric didn't move.
Tap... tap.
A tiny, muffled vibration answered from inside the shell. It was weak, but distinct. It was simply a subtle, deliberate response to his presence.
Something warm and profound settled deeply in Cedric's chest.
"I'm back," he murmured softly.
Behind him, Wise glanced over from the table, watching the interaction with a soft expression.
"It's been doing that periodically since yesterday. Seems like it recognizes when you're here."
"Maybe," Cedric replied, unable to look away from the shell.
[It's been keeping track of your presence,] the System noted quietly, its voice carrying a rare tone of warmth.
[The internal metabolic indicators have been accelerating steadily all evening.]
'How close is it?'
[Closer than you think. Keep an eye on it.]
Cedric gave the glass one last gentle touch before standing back up.
Just then, the heavy room door clicked open.
Clunk.
"I'm back," a flat, tired voice called out.
Ellen stepped inside in a fresh change of clothes—a comfortable white T-shirt and dark sweatpants.
In her hands, wrapped tightly in a thick kitchen towel, was a large, heavy-duty stainless steel pot with a secure latch lid.
Billy blinked, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face.
"Uh... what is that?"
"Food," Ellen said simply, rubbing the back of her neck as she walked over to the edge of the low table and set the heavy pot down on the floor right beside their play area with a dull thud.
"When I mentioned I was coming back for a party, an acquaintance of mine insisted I bring it."
Nicole peered over the back of the sofa, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"An acquaintance? Did they make it for us?"
At that exact moment, Gible—who had been proudly jingling his bell near the desk—froze completely.
His pupils contracted until they were nothing more than microscopic dots.
The land shark slowly, stiffly turned his head toward the metal pot. Letting out a terrified squeak, he scrambled frantically across the rug and hurried to hide beneath Cedric's legs, shivering violently against his shins.
"G-Gii..."
Billy stared at the trembling Pokémon in sheer confusion.
"Why is Gible suddenly terrified of a cooking pot?"
Ellen let out a brief sigh, dropping onto the single armchair in the corner and crossing her arms.
"Because he knows better."
A brief, uneasy silence fell over the room. Belle and Billy exchanged confused glances, while Anby stared at the pot with overt suspicion. Even Nicole eyed the metal container warily, taking a cautious half-step back.
Wise chuckled softly, easily breaking the brief tension.
"Come on, guys, it's just food," Wise smiled, sliding the board toward the center of the table.
"Whatever it is, thank your acquaintance for us, Ellen. We'll dish it out later. Let's get the game running first."
Nicole pointed dramatically toward the board.
"Alright, everyone pick a token. I'm going to own every square inch of this town."
As the game began, Cedric felt a dry scratchiness in his throat.
Without taking his eyes off the board, his hand wandered across the cluttered table, reaching blindly for the tray of drinks Wise had brought up. His fingers brushed against the chilled aluminum of a sleek, silver-and-pink can sitting near a bag of potato chips.
Assuming it was one of the sweet, peach-flavored sodas Nicole had picked up at the supermarket, Cedric pulled the tab.
Pssssht.
He tipped the can back and took several long, thirsty swallows.
Gulp. Gulp.
Lowering the can, he paused.
The taste was bright and surprisingly sweet at first—a burst of crisp white peach carried on a fine, dancing fizz. But immediately behind the fruitiness came a sharp, distinct, heavy warmth.
It hit the back of his throat with a powerful burn, spreading smoothly down into his chest like a slow-burning ember.
Cedric blinked. He turned the can slightly in his hand, looking at the label.
Printed in bold, elegant lettering near the base was:
New Eridu Craft Orchard: Sparkling White Peach Imperial Cider — 14% Alc/Vol.
[...Cedric.]
Cedric looked at the can, his expression perfectly neutral.
'What?'
[That is not soda.]
'It tastes like peaches.'
[It is fourteen percent fermented alcohol. Nicole bought that for herself.]
'...Oh.'
Cedric stared at the pink can for a long moment. Then, with calm indifference, he took another small sip.
'It's actually pretty good.'
[You were discharged from intensive medical care six hours ago.]
'The doctor said no heavy lifting and no fighting. He didn't say anything about peaches.'
[I am fairly certain the omission was due to him assuming you possessed basic common sense.]
Cedric simply placed the can on the carpet beside his knee. He didn't throw it away.
As the game progressed, Cedric quickly realized that the New Eridu version had changed more than just the names.
Instead of railroads, the board featured major transit routes connecting different parts of the city.
Instead of ordinary utilities, there were infrastructure services tied to New Eridu's communication and power networks.
Even the event cards had been redesigned.
"INTER-KNOT HOT TOPIC."
"CITY ADMINISTRATION NOTICE."
"EMERGENCY HOLLOW RESPONSE."
"LOCAL BUSINESS PROMOTION."
The whole thing somehow managed to turn New Eridu's bizarre mixture of ordinary city life and Hollow-era infrastructure into a children's board game.
Cedric couldn't decide whether that was ridiculous or strangely impressive.
Over the next twenty minutes, Billy landed on the City Service Levy twice in a row, weeping dramatically over his rapidly depleting cash, while Anby ruthlessly collected fees with absolute precision.
Meanwhile, Cedric quietly finished the first 14% cider can.
His throat was still dry from the salty snacks, so when he reached for the tray again, his fingers found a darker can. He didn't bother checking the label. He just popped the tab and kept drinking.
Midnight Blackberry Craft Draft — 18% Alc/Vol.
This one was richer, far heavier. As the sweet, dark liquid slid down his throat, the effect began to powerfully and undeniably settle into his system.
Because of his newly enhanced body and accelerated metabolism, the alcohol didn't make him dizzy or uncoordinated in a clumsy way. Instead, it hit his nervous system like a heavy, relaxing, and incredibly warm wave.
The faint residual tightness in his shoulders vanished, leaving him leaning deeply and comfortably into the soft sofa cushions.
Across the table, Nicole shuffled her property cards before giving Belle a shark-like grin.
"I'll make you an offer."
Belle looked up from her token.
"What kind of offer?"
"I'll give you the Sixth Street Newsstand lease," Nicole said smoothly, sliding the card across the table.
"It completes your local-business set. A guaranteed monopoly."
Belle picked up the card, her eyes lighting up for a brief second before she paused.
"And what do you want for it?"
Nicole casually rested her chin on one hand.
"Just HIA Club."
Belle stared at her. Then, without a moment of hesitation, she slid the card straight back across the table.
"HIA Club for a newsstand?" Belle gave her a completely flat look. "No way, Nicole. I'm not that dumb."
Nicole slumped against the cushions, letting out an exaggerated groan.
"Come on! It's a full set! You have no entrepreneurial vision, Belle!"
"I have enough vision to know a scam when I see one," Belle said with a triumphant smirk.
Cedric, leaning comfortably against the sofa, watched the exchange with a relaxed, lazy smile as he quietly took another sip from his can.
By the time the game entered its late stages, Cedric had finished the second can. Reaching blindly once more, his hand closed around a sleek, black aluminum can.
Dragon-Fruit Reserve Cider — 22% Alc/Vol.
He popped the tab and drank.
The warmth in his chest flared into a pleasant, fuzzy heat. A subtle flush crept up his neck, settling across his high cheekbones and making his usually pale skin look vibrant.
When he blinked, his eyelids moved just a fraction of a second slower than usual.
His dark eyes, normally so sharp, had softened completely. They became a warm, quiet, heavy gaze that carried no edge, only a mesmerizing depth.
Late into the game, Nicole had effectively conquered most of the commercial side of the board.
Three upgraded Sixth Street properties.
Two Lumina Square properties.
Several transport routes.
On paper, she looked absurdly wealthy. In practice, most of her cash had already been poured straight back into expansion, and several of her cheaper properties were already mortgaged to keep the whole empire running.
Still, she had enough developed storefronts scattered across the board to make the colored sections look like a miniature neon city.
She slapped another stack of Dennies onto the table.
"Come on! I'm almost there!"
Billy glanced at his own pathetic pile.
"I haven't seen my money in twenty minutes."
"You shouldn't have spent it."
"I needed the metro!"
Nicole shook the dice in her hand and rolled them across the board.
They bounced across the plastic board.
Clack-clack-clack.
Her token moved across the miniature city map.
One space.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Then stopped.
Anby calmly looked down.
"Nicole."
Nicole looked up.
"What?"
"You landed on Gravity Cinema."
Nicole's confident smile remained.
"Okay?"
Anby placed one finger beside the corresponding lease card.
"It belongs to me."
Nicole's eyes dropped toward the card.
Anby had developed the property heavily, with multiple storefront upgrades already in place.
Nicole's smile slowly faded.
"...How much?"
Anby checked the lease card.
"Two thousand five hundred Dennies."
Nicole immediately looked down at her remaining cash.
There was only one thousand two hundred.
Her expression flattened.
"That's... more than I have."
Billy leaned over the back of the sofa.
"Can you pay?"
Nicole narrowed her eyes at him.
"Obviously."
She immediately began gathering the small storefront pieces from her developed properties.
"I'll sell some upgrades."
Anby nodded.
"Buildings are sold back to the Bank at half their original value."
Nicole counted rapidly, selling the buildings evenly across her developed properties.
Four storefronts.
Then six.
Then eight.
By the time she finished, the neat little city she had built on the board had been stripped bare in several places.
"Eight hundred Dennies."
The Bank paid her the money, and Nicole added it to her cash pile.
"Now I have two thousand."
Anby shook her head.
"You are still five hundred short."
Nicole's eye twitched.
"Fine. I'll mortgage the Metro routes."
She grabbed the two remaining transport cards that had not already been mortgaged.
Anby checked their mortgage values and paid Nicole three hundred Dennies from the Bank.
"That gives you three hundred."
Nicole added the money to her cash pile.
Two thousand three hundred.
She stared at the total.
Then at the lease card.
Then back at the total.
"Two hundred short..."
She looked over the board again.
The problem was that almost everything else she owned was already tied up.
Her remaining Lumina Square properties had been mortgaged earlier to finance her expansion. The three Sixth Street properties she had just stripped of their storefronts could still be mortgaged, but their low mortgage values would barely make a dent.
Nicole slowly reached for the three cards.
"I can mortgage these too."
Anby checked the printed values.
"Fifty Dennies each."
Nicole's expression twisted.
"That's all?"
"Correct."
One by one, Anby handed her the mortgage money.
Fifty.
Another fifty.
Another fifty.
Nicole added the final one hundred and fifty Dennies to her cash pile.
Two thousand four hundred and fifty.
She stared at the total.
Then at the lease card.
Then back at the total.
"...Fifty short."
She looked over the board again.
There was nothing else she could mortgage.
Her Lumina Square properties were already mortgaged.
The two Metro routes were mortgaged.
And the three Sixth Street properties now had mortgages against them as well.
Nicole stared at the board as though it had personally betrayed her.
Billy leaned closer.
"So... you can't pay?"
Nicole's shoulders slowly sank.
"I'm short fifty."
She gathered the two thousand four hundred and fifty Dennies she had managed to liquidate and pushed the entire pile across the table toward Anby.
Anby accepted the money without a word.
She then collected Nicole's remaining lease cards and property tokens, including the mortgaged properties.
"Your remaining debt is fifty Dennies. You are unable to cover it through liquidation or mortgage."
Silence.
Nicole stared at her empty side of the table.
She had technically owned almost half the board only moments ago.
And now every property she still possessed was tied up in debt.
Anby calmly gathered the last of Nicole's lease cards.
"You are officially bankrupt."
Nicole dropped backward onto the sofa.
"My entire commercial empire..."
Billy patted her shoulder sympathetically.
"At least you still have your home."
Nicole slowly turned her head toward him.
"That's not how this game works, Billy."
Billy paused.
"Oh."
He glanced at the empty space in front of Nicole.
"...Then you're really screwed."
Nicole buried her face in a cushion.
"I hate capitalism."
Wise covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Rules are rules."
Nicole groaned into the sofa.
"Fine. What's the punishment?"
Wise smiled.
"Gets the first bowl from Ellen's mystery pot."
Nicole immediately sat upright.
"...Wait."
Her expression slowly changed.
"That's the reward?"
"No."
Wise pointed toward the heavy pot sitting on the floor right beside their table.
"That's the punishment."
Nicole stared at the stainless-steel pot.
For the first time that night, she looked genuinely concerned.
Still, her pride as the boss of the Cunning Hares refused to let her back down from a lost wager.
She pushed herself up from the sofa, crouching beside the pot with a dismissive shrug.
"A punishment like this is fine," Nicole said confidently, trying to hype herself up.
"I mean, how bad can it really be? At the end of the day, it's just food. Besides, Ellen's acquaintance wouldn't have insisted on sending it over if it tasted bad."
Gible peeked out from behind Cedric's leg, watching her with deep, mourning apprehension.
Nicole cheerfully reached out and unlatched the heavy stainless steel lid.
Click.
She lifted it.
And the room went silent.
There was no rich, savory aroma. There was no comforting smell of home cooking.
Instead, a thick, faintly glowing purple vapor rolled ominously over the rim of the pot, sinking heavily onto the carpet like a creeping fog.
Inside, a neon-violet sludge bubbled violently, emitting a soft, unnatural hiss that sounded like melting plastic.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The sludge inside the pot seemed to... shift. It wasn't just bubbling; it was moving, churning on its own accord.
And then, faintly, from deep within the glowing purple abyss, a low, gurgling sound echoed out.
D̶̩̃͋̕ȩ̷̡̧̡̯̝͇̪͝ḁ̷̜̩̯͙̘͇̎̋͐̏̈̎̅̚͝͝ṯ̶̹̔͗͋͂͝h̴͉̭͚͍̽ͅ
Nicole froze. Her face drained of all color.
K̸̰̳͇͙͐̔̍͆̕ḭ̸̢̢̦̪̰́͗̍̋͒̾̍̑̄͘͠ļ̸̛̤͍̤̺̩̠̹̲̀̀̚̚̚͜͠͠͠ļ̵̱̙͙͇͙̹͈͍̲͔̿̌̈́͌̆̃̃͊̏͜͝ͅ ̸͔̻̳͕̝͈͈̫̫̩́͊̾̍̏͛͘ͅͅy̸̢̧̲̙̺̪̖͊̅̔̌̔̿͝ͅơ̴̡̹̻͕̯͇̖͗̀͋̉́͆̒̔͗̔̒͋̀̌u̶̧̡͙̤͖͖̝̬̎̈̈́͊̂s̵̡̢̭͍̗͓̖̘̓̈͆̏̅͒̑͑̆̃͒̋̕ẻ̷͇̫̞̹͎͇̬̀̓͊̓͐̆̊́͑͋͠ļ̶̨̠͛f̷̛͍̻͕̙̦̙̲̤̫̈͋̎͗́̍̌̋̚͜.
Nicole slowly raised her trembling head, looking back at the group with wide, terrified eyes.
"Uh... guys?" Nicole squeaked, her voice an octave higher than usual.
"Did... did anyone else just hear the soup tell me to kill myself? Or is that just me?"
Billy leaned over the arm of the sofa, his optics whirring as he analyzed the pot from a safe distance.
"I don't have a biological stomach. I have never eaten a single piece of food in my entire life," Billy stated with firm certainty. "But even I know that thing cannot be eaten."
Anby stepped back slightly, her posture stiffening into a defensive stance.
"It appears highly unconventional. Proceed with extreme caution."
Nicole swallowed hard. But her pride was on the line.
"Well, who knows? Maybe it only looks scary. It might actually taste completely different," Nicole muttered quietly, desperately trying to comfort herself.
With a trembling hand, she picked up a clean spoon, dipped it into the glowing violet sludge, and brought it to her lips.
From across the room, catching sight of the lifted spoon, Ellen sat up slightly in the armchair.
"Wait—"
Gulp.
Nicole squeezed her eyes shut and shoved the spoon into her mouth, swallowing in one desperate gulp before her nerve could fail her.
For exactly two seconds, nothing happened.
Then, Nicole's eyes rolled to the back of her head.
A thick stream of white foam immediately bubbled out from the corners of her mouth.
Her body went rigid before she collapsed backward onto the floorboards like a felled tree, twitching slightly.
"BOSSS!!!" Billy shrieked, scrambling over the sofa.
Ellen slumped back against the cushions, letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
"...Never mind."
Reaching casually into the canvas bag resting by her feet, Ellen pulled out a large, ordinary insulated thermos and placed it directly onto the table.
"I made my own dinner for the house yesterday and saved the extra. Eat this instead." Ellen glanced flatly at the faintly smoking pot, then down at Nicole.
"If you actually ate a whole bowl of that stuff, you'd die."
Nicole, having somehow managed to drag her twitching, half-dead body from the floor up onto the edge of the sofa cushions, weakly raised a trembling hand.
"Why..." she rasped, gasping for air as if her soul was trying to leave her body.
"Why didn't you bring that out... first...?"
Ellen gave a slight, dismissive shrug.
"I tried. You swallowed it before I could even finish the word. Don't blame me for your lack of self-preservation."
Wise quickly moved in, unscrewing the lid of the thermos before a dying woman's curse could be spoken.
This time, the rich, mouth-watering scent of slow-simmered beef, savory broth, roasted garlic, and root vegetables instantly filled the room.
Wise helped ladle steaming bowls for everyone who could eat right on the table.
Billy, lacking a mouth, simply leaned against the sofa and happily watched the group enjoy the meal, occasionally checking on Nicole's pulse to ensure she was still alive.
Cedric reached down to pick up his cider can, taking another slow sip before accepting a steaming bowl of stew from Wise.
The warm, savory broth hit his stomach, blending perfectly with the sweet, fuzzy warmth of the 22% alcohol.
A profound, heavy contentment settled over him. His guard, usually kept so high out of sheer survival instinct, was entirely gone.
He looked across the room toward Ellen, who was sitting curled up in her armchair, quietly sipping from her own bowl.
Without his usual quiet hesitation, Cedric spoke up.
"Ellen."
Ellen glanced up, her crimson eyes meeting his.
"What?"
Cedric looked right at her. His gaze was incredibly slow, warm, and stripped of any filter.
"You're actually a really kind person."
His voice lacked its usual crisp, guarded edge. It was low, quiet, and disarmingly gentle. The deep sincerity in his heavy, dark eyes was impossible to ignore.
It didn't sound like a passing compliment, it sounded like an undeniable truth he had simply decided to share.
"You act like you don't care," Cedric continued softly, his words carrying a mesmerizing, lazy rhythm, "but you came to the hospital every single day. And you brought real food tonight so nobody would be hungry."
He tilted his head just a fraction, a slow, genuine smile curving his lips.
"Thank you, Ellen. You're actually incredibly sweet."
The room went silent.
Billy froze, his eyes flaring wide in shock.
Belle paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth, staring at Cedric with wide, stunned eyes.
Even Nicole, who was currently lying on the sofa groaning in agony, stopped wheezing for a second to look over.
Ellen's pale face flushed a furious, vibrant red within a single second, the color creeping rapidly all the way to the tips of her ears.
Her shark tail gave a violent, defensive THWACK against the side of the armchair.
"W-What are you talking about?!" Ellen stammered, her voice cracking slightly as she looked away toward the floorboards, unable to hold his gaze. "It was just leftovers! Shut up and eat your food!"
"I am," Cedric replied smoothly, unfazed by her outburst. He took another bite of his stew. "It's very good."
Belle leaned toward Wise, whispering with frantic, delighted excitement.
"Wise... is Cedric tipsy?"
Wise looked from Cedric's relaxed posture to the three empty aluminum cans sitting near his knee.
She read the labels and let out a small sigh.
"Nicole."
Nicole groaned weakly from the sofa, sounding like a dying ghost.
"I bought that... for me... I didn't know he'd... chug it..."
"I didn't chug it," Cedric murmured gently, resting his chin comfortably on his palm as he looked over at the half-dead Nicole. "I drank it. It tastes like carbonated fruit."
Billy leaned in slightly, his optics blinking rapidly as he analyzed Cedric's relaxed demeanor.
"Wow. Cedric is definitely tipsy. The unshakeable Cedric has been completely disarmed by fruit cider!"
Cedric slowly turned his head and looked at Billy.
His gaze was soft, lacking any of the usual silent judgment he typically reserved for the loud android.
"You talk a lot, Billy," Cedric said quietly, his voice like smooth velvet. "But it's not annoying. It actually makes the room feel alive. I like it."
Billy gasped, dramatically clutching his metallic chest.
"I... I'm truly touched! Cedric, you are a true brother in arms!"
Belle collapsed into giggles against the cushions, unable to handle how effortlessly sincere he was being.
Wise gently gathered the empty cider cans from Cedric's reach, replacing them with a glass of cold water.
"Drink this, please."
As Cedric took the glass, his heavy, slightly hazy head tilted downward, causing a few strands of his long, dark hair to fall forward, partially covering his eyes.
Wise leaned in. Without thinking, she gently reached out, brushing the soft strands of hair away from his face and tucking them behind his ear.
"Are you feeling alright?" she asked quietly.
Before she could pull her hand back, Cedric's fingers moved with surprising, gentle speed.
He caught her hand lightly in the air.
Wise froze, her breath hitching in her throat.
Cedric didn't pull her hand down. Instead, he simply leaned his cheek into her warm palm, his thumb brushing faintly against her knuckles.
His dark, heavy eyes looked up at her through his lashes.
"It's… so warm," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm fine. Thank you, Wise."
A furious, immediate blush exploded across Wise's face.
She quickly pulled her hand back, tucking a strand of her own hair behind her ear and looking away toward the workbench, unable to formulate a coherent response.
Anby nodded thoughtfully, studying Cedric's flushed face from across the table.
"Your behavior is significantly more relaxed than usual. "
Cedric turned his slow, warm gaze to the silver-haired girl.
"You're always so observant, Anby," Cedric said softly, resting his chin back on his hand.
"It makes me feel really safe... knowing you're always watching our backs."
Anby stopped chewing.
Her eyes widened slightly, and the small cowlick of hair on forehead gave a sudden, sharp twitch.
She quickly looked away, burying her face slightly into her high collar, the tips of her ears turning faintly pink.
"It is... my job," she mumbled into her collar.
From the sofa, a weak, agonizing groan interrupted the quiet tension in the room.
Nicole weakly raised a hand, looking like a soldier dying on the battlefield.
"Wait a minute..." Nicole wheezed indignantly. "What about me...? …Where's my heartfelt compliment?"
Cedric slowly shifted his gaze to Nicole.
He looked at her with the exact same deep, sincere, gentle eyes.
"Nicole."
Nicole weakly puffed out her chest, ready to receive her well-deserved praise as she clung to life.
"Your shameless obsession with money..." Cedric said, his voice dripping with pure sincerity, "...is impressive."
Nicole gasped loudly.
She clutched her chest with both hands, twisting on the sofa in pure agony.
"ARGH!!" Nicole wailed, draping the back of her hand over her forehead.
"I know I'm exactly like that, but couldn't you have comforted me even a little bit?! The disrespect... I'm wounded..."
[You really just say whatever is on your mind right now, don't you?] the System noted, its tone soft, warm, and genuinely amused.
'She was being nice,' Cedric thought back, his inner voice sounding just as slow, heavy, and warm. 'People should say thank you. And Nicole asked.'
[I know,] the System replied warmly. [But I want you to do that when you're a bit more sober.]
…
…
…
After the stew was finished, Cedric took the Lorex pocket watch out once more, setting it on his palm.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
He watched the tiny brass balance wheel dance back and forth. The sound was steady, calm, and unfazed by the noise around it.
His eyelids grew noticeably heavier. The warmth of the room was lulling him into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Then—
BEEP.
A sharp, distinct electronic chime cut cleanly through the room.
Cedric's head turned.
BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...
The sound came from Wise's desk.
The blue-green light from the incubator was no longer steady.
It was pulsing rapidly, throwing intense ripples of sea-green and bright cyan illumination across the exposed brick wall