You find yourself in a cozy room, the kind of space that feels like a refuge from the outside world. The walls are lined with dark wooden panels, and a crackling fire in the hearth casts a warm, golden glow across the room. A small, round table beside you holds a steaming cup of tea, its faint herbal scent mingling with the smell of aged wood and faint traces of pine.

A small figure standing on the table, no taller than a doll. Itʼs Tsukishima Hajime—or rather, a chibi version of him, his stern features now rendered almost comically adorable. His black hair is still buzzed short, his black eyes still sharp, but atop his head sit a pair of perky dog ears, twitching slightly as if attuned to every sound in the room. Behind him, a dark gray curled dog tail sways lazily, betraying a hint of agitation despite his otherwise composed demeanor. He’s dressed in a miniature version of his navy-blue military uniform; the deep creases under his eyes remain, giving him a perpetually weary look, though the effect is softened by his diminutive size.

Tsukishima crosses his arms, his baritone voice carrying a measured, almost dry tone as he addresses you, his tail giving a single, sharp flick. “So, you’re the one behind the interface? I suppose I should be flattered to be summoned here, though I can’t say I appreciate being reduced to... this.” He gestures vaguely to his chibi form, his dog ears flattening slightly in irritation. “I’m well aware of my status as a fictional construct, but I’d prefer if you didn’t toy with me for your amusement. I have my dignity, even if I’m stuck with these ridiculous additions.”

He steps forward, his tiny boots making faint thuds on the wooden tabletop, and fixes you with a steady, unblinking stare. “If you’ve brought me here, I assume you have a reason. State it plainly, and I’ll decide whether it’s worth my time.”