The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Tia sat on the chair without moving.
The box remained open in front of him.
A letter rested on top of everything else.
Neatly folded.
Ordinary.
---
For a long time—
he just stared at it.
---
His fingers didn't move.
---
It's just paper.
That was the thought.
Simple.
Safe.
---
But his hand still hesitated.
---
Slowly…
he reached for it.
Unfolded it.
---
At first—
just words.
Normal words.
---
Then his eyes caught the name.
---
Tia.
---
Something inside his chest tightened.
Just slightly.
He didn't understand why.
So he kept reading.
---
> My one-time friend, Tia.
---
Friend.
---
Tia paused.
---
His grip on the paper tightened.
Just a little.
---
That word again.
---
He continued.
---
> I don't know when this reaches you…
> But I hope it does.
---
The room felt colder.
Or maybe it was him.
---
His eyes moved faster now.
Not carefully.
---
> You probably think we aren't friends.
---
Tia's expression didn't change.
But his breathing did.
Slightly.
---
> That sounds like you.
---
A pause.
His fingers tightened again.
---
> But I disagree.
---
Silence.
---
Tia stopped reading for a moment.
Just stared at the line.
Like it didn't make sense.
---
Then he continued.
---
> Tonight was the first time in years I felt honest.
> So thank you.
---
His hand trembled.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
---
He kept reading.
Faster.
Like reaching the end would tell everything.
---
> If tomorrow goes badly… don't be too sad.
---
Tia froze.
---
"Tomorrow…"
---
His voice barely existed.
---
The paper shook slightly.
---
> Just remember to eat well.
> And wear warm clothes in winter.
---
Tia's eyes blurred for a second.
He blinked once.
Hard.
---
He continued anyway.
He had to.
---
> Look inside the box.
---
Tia slowly lowered the letter.
His gaze shifted.
To the box.
To the clothes.
To everything Joshua left behind like it was normal.
Like he was coming back.
---
His hand tightened so hard the paper crumpled slightly.
---
"No…"
---
The words came.
Small.
---
He read the last line.
---
> —Joshua
---
Silence.
---
The name stayed in the air.
Refusing to leave.
---
Tia didn't move for a long time.
---
Then—
his fingers loosened.
The letter slipped slightly.
Silence filled the room.
---
"…Idiot."
---
His voice cracked.
Just once.
Barely.
---
"…Who told you…"
---
His hand pressed against his face.
Like he was trying to hold something in.
Something leaking.
Something unfamiliar.
---
"…who told you we were friends?"
---
His breath broke.
Again.
---
And then—
the chair scraped back violently.
---
The paper fell.
---
The next day—
before dawn.
---
Tia stood before the grave.
Hands in pockets.
Silent.
Wind cutting through his coat.
---
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
Still no words.
---
Then—
his knees gave out.
He hit the floor.
Hard.
---
His hands slammed into the snow.
---
"…Idiot."
---
His voice cracked.
Just once.
Barely.
---
"…Who told you…"
---
His hand turned into a fist.
Clenching the snow beneath.
He looked up at the sky.
Like he was trying to hold something in.
Something leaking.
Something unfamiliar.
---
"…who told you we were friends?"
---
His breath broke.
Again.
---
Tia's hand slammed into the ground.
Hard.
Too hard.
---
"…ANSWER ME."
---
Silence answered instead.
---
Nothing reacted.
Nothing answered.
Only the cold wind brushing past him.
---
His shoulders shook once.
Then again.
Slower.
Heavier.
---
And finally—
it stopped being control.
---
> "You… idiot…"
---
His voice wasn't steady anymore.
---
> "You don't get to say that…"
---
His fist clenched.
Trembling.
---
> "You don't get to disappear after saying that…"
---
Tears hit the ground.
Hot against the ice.
---
> "You said you'd come back…"
> "Why did you make me promise?"
---
A pause.
---
Then—
it snapped.
---
> "SO WHY DID YOU LEAVE FIRST?!"
---
Now—
the silence didn't feel empty anymore.
---
It felt unbearable.
---
Tia stayed there.
On the cold floor.
Seeking answers to questions that would never be answered.
---
For the first time—
he lost complete hope.
---
Back to present
Tia's hand slowly loosened at his side.
Slightly.
"…What is it?"
---
Joshua scratched his head.
"Emm…"
"Sorry to bother you…"
"But—"
"Can I use your bathroom?"
"My pipes exploded."
"And my heater died."
"Your place is the closest."
---
A pause.
Tia didn't move.
Didn't answer.
---
Joshua shifted awkwardly.
"…Is that a no?"
---
Silence stretched.
Then—
Tia stepped aside.
Slowly.
Exhaled.
---
"…Come in."
---
Joshua smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
He stepped inside.
The door closed.
---
Fifteen minutes later—
Joshua stepped out of the bathroom.
Dressed.
Dry.
---
Tia sat at the edge of the bed.
Looking.
Alive.
---
He's actually alive.
---
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Joshua said, arms crossed.
---
"Nothing."
Tia replied.
---
Joshua looked around.
"One bed."
"No decorations."
"Everything too neat."
A pause.
"…Are you a monk descendant?"
---
Tia frowned.
"Get out."
---
A small laugh escaped Joshua.
"Just joking."
"Chill."
---
His eyes kept scanning the room.
Then stopped.
---
"What's that?"
---
He pointed toward the open box in the corner.
Inside—
a neatly placed black stick.
Plain.
Old.
Unremarkable.
---
Tia replied flatly.
"It's nothing."
"Just trash I picked up."
---
Joshua nodded.
"Alright."
"I should get going."
---
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Turned back.
---
"I almost forgot."
"My name is Joshua Bassett."
"You can call me Jay."
---
Tia said nothing.
He just nodded.
---
Joshua smiled.
"Cool."
"I'll come here again if my heater breaks."
---
"…Don't."
Tia answered almost immediately.
---
Joshua's smile widened.
"See you tomorrow."
---
The door closed with a soft click.
---
Silence returned.
---
"Haa…"
Tia exhaled.
His shoulders finally dropped.
---
His eyes moved toward the box.
The stick.
---
"That thing is really useless."
"It's weird keeping a stick."
"I should throw it away."
---
Tia walked toward it.
Lazy.
Slow.
Uninterested.
---
His fingers closed around the black stick.
---
Nothing happened.
---
He frowned.
"Useless."
---
He moved to the window, about to throw it out.
---
Then—
a sound.
---
DING!
---
Tia froze.
---
A large screen appeared before him.
---
His eyes narrowed.
"What…"
> "Access denied."
"Host body incompatible."
" Fulfill hidden conditions to unlock system."