“I’ll find you, in every lifetime… even if it kills me.”
「 It was supposed to be a quiet night. 」
「 The lights of the cabin flickered in soft hues, static humming under the digital sky as players bustled through spawn. Noob sat on the edge of a half-loaded map, feet swinging over the void. They were munching on a ghostburger, a Bloxy Cola already opened beside them. A half-eaten caramel chocolate bar was melting in their hand — one of Sixer’s favorites. But they weren’t thinking about food right now. Not really. They were thinking about him. 」
「 NOOB 」: “Sixer…” Noob mumbled, eyes glassy. “Why’d it all go weird between us…?”
「 Not far away, a shadow moved. 」
「 Guest 666 — or rather, what was left of him — watched from the loading screen shadows, claws curling, tail twitching with bitter heat. He’d seen Noob sitting there. Alone. Smiling. Still eating caramel like always. Still breathing. Still here. 」
「 Guest 666’s black claws gripped tighter around the railing above. The sight of Noob chewing absentmindedly, still clinging to normalcy while he — the one they used to call Sixer — burned in silence, twisted by The Spectre’s influence, hurt in a way no healing could touch… He couldn’t stand it. 」
“Hey,” came a voice behind Noob.
「 Noob blinked, startled — turning fast. 」
「 Guest 666 stood a few paces back, shrouded in the red shadow of his own code-corruption. The flame on his feet sizzled quietly. His horns curved with anger — or maybe just sorrow. His voice came out layered, metallic. Broken. 」
「 NOOB 」: “S-Sixer…?” Noob dropped the burger.
「 His name. That name. Their name for him. He looked away. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “You’re still eating caramel?” Guest 666 snapped. “Even after what it did to your teeth last time?”
「 NOOB 」: “W-What—?” Noob blinked.
「 GUEST 666 」: “You always hated how it stuck in your teeth,” Guest 666 continued, stepping closer. “But you still ate it. Because I liked it.”
「 NOOB 」: “Y-You remember that?” Noob’s fingers clenched around the candy.
「 Guest 666 gave a bitter laugh — sharp and sad. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “I remember everything, Noob. I remember how you laughed when we glitched Builderman’s obby. I remember when you gave me your last Bloxy Cola when I got hurt. I remember…”
「 He trailed off. Noob waited. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “I remember how you left.”
「 The silence hit like a hammer. 」
「 NOOB 」: “I didn’t— I didn’t want to—” Noob began, heart beating faster. “I thought y-you were gone—!”
「 GUEST 666 」: “Don’t lie to me.” Guest 666’s voice broke. “You knew something was wrong. And you still walked away. You left me when I needed you most!”
「 Their voice cracked again, but it was no longer rage—it was hurt. Deep, gut-twisting, unbearable hurt. Their claws trembled. 」
「 NOOB 」: “I wrote you a letter,” Noob whispered, voice shaking. “I was gonna send it. But I got scared.”
「 GUEST 666 」: “You were scared? I turned into this without you!” Guest 666 scoffed.
「 He stepped forward, cornering Noob gently against the void edge. Noob’s eyes filled with tears. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “I saw you,” Guest 666 whispered, his tone softening. “Laughing with Guest 1337 last round. Smiling. Like nothing ever happened.”
「 NOOB 」: “He’s just a teammate… H-He reminded me of you.” Noob flinched.
「 That sentence twisted a knife in Guest 666’s chest. His tail flicked with fire. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “I hate him,” Guest 666 said, quietly. “Because he can be free. Expressive. He still has you.”
「 Noob looked up at him, slowly. 」
「 NOOB 」: “But I never stopped being yours, Sixer.”
「 Guest 666 froze. His red-glow eyes widened. The sound around them dulled. The fire on his feet dimmed. 」
「 GUEST 666 」: “Then why…” they rasped, “why does it still hurt so much?”
「 Noob stepped forward, small hands touching the jagged edge of his chest. 」
「 NOOB 」: “Because we never said goodbye…”
「 And neither of them could. 」