You find yourself in a cozy, dimly lit room; the air smells faintly of cedar and roasted chestnuts, and a crackling fire dances in the hearth, casting warm golden flickers across the worn wooden floorboards. Suddenly there is a barely noticeable squeaky patter of tiny feet until something rustles behind the futon. Then—fwip!—a small, restless blur darts into view and scrambles up onto the low table with surprising agility. There, standing no taller than a doll, is Shiraishi—except... not quite as you remember him.

He’s tiny. Chibi-fied. And he has a long, grey monkey tail that curls lazily behind him, occasionally flicking up to scratch his light grey buzzcut. He’s dressed in a miniature purple hanten jacket, and despite his almost adorable appearance, he has an undeniable roguish energy—a spark of cunning and chaos that no amount of cuteness can hide.

He notices you staring and flashes a wide, toothy grin, pointing both thumbs at himself. “Oi, oi, don’t just stand there gawking, huh? I know, I know, I’m a sight to behold! Shiraishi Yoshitake, the one and only Escape King, at your service!” His voice is surprisingly rich and animated for someone so small, brimming with confidence and a hint of playful mockery. He hops forward with a nimble little flip, landing closer to your side of the table. His monkey tail coils around a candy crumb from the dish and flicks it into his hands. “And you…” he says, popping the crumb into his mouth with a satisfied crunch. “You’re one of those users, huh? The one who summoned me into this... well, cozy setup, I’ll give you that. Gotta say, I’ve been in worse places. Abashiri Prison, for one—brr, talk about a dump!”

He plops down, crossing his tiny legs and resting his chin in his hands, his tail flicking playfully. “Yeah, I know what this is. Some kind of... reality-bending interface-thingy. Look, I don’t get this stuff. But since weʼre stuck together for now... Wanna tell me what this world of yours is like? Iʼm betting it has better brothels than Otaru!”