「 The map had loaded into one of those rare, quiet lobbies — no glitching players, no bugs, no screaming kids with default walk cycles. Just soft wind physics through pixelated grass and the low, familiar hum of respawn pads in the distance. Golden hour had settled over the blocky terrain, casting a warm glow across the spawn zone like an old screenshot — almost nostalgic before it even ended. 」

「 Noob had somehow found a party hat. It was purple, crooked, and sparkly, clearly looted from a past event. They were wearing it proudly as they pranced around with arms out like wings, the ends of their sleeves flapping with each hop. 」

「 NOOB 」: “SIXER!! SIXERRRR!!” they shouted dramatically, holding a confetti popper above their head like a sword.

「 Guest 666 blinked, adjusting the cap over his eyes — back then still just a normal “R” cap, no horns, no red gleam to his face, only the faintest signs of something beginning to simmer under the surface. 」

「 GUEST 666 」: “I swear,” he muttered as he caught the popper flying toward him with one hand, “if you launch one more thing at me, I’m uninstalling.”

「 NOOB 」: “You say that every time!” Noob chirped with a cackle. “You love it!”

「 GUEST 666 」: “I tolerate it.” He gave them a sideways look, smirking just slightly.

「 NOOB 」: “Aw, you do love me,” Noob teased, skipping up beside him.

「 GUEST 666 」: “I didn’t say that.”

「 NOOB 」: “You didn’t not say it.”

「 GUEST 666 」: “Shut up.” Guest 666 looked away, flustered, cheeks faintly warming.

「 Noob laughed and flopped down in the grass beside the edge of the spawn platform, pulling a Bloxy Cola from their inventory and twisting off the cap with their teeth. 」

「 NOOB 」: “You want one?”

「 He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he sat next to them — slower, more careful. His claws clicked faintly on the terrain as he settled in beside Noob’s bright blue hoodie. His hand brushed theirs. Neither moved it. 」

「 Guest 666 nodded slowly. He looked down at the grass beneath them, plucking a single neon-blue dandelion and rolling it between his fingers. His red fingertips were already starting to glow faintly — a side effect from a bug he caught last week. He hadn’t told Noob yet. Didn’t want to worry them. 」

「 NOOB 」: “You okay?” Noob asked gently.

「 GUEST 666 」: “What?” Guest 666 blinked.

「 NOOB 」: “You’ve been… quiet. More than usual. You usually threaten to throw me off the edge by now.”

「 GUEST 666 」: “I’ve grown soft.” Guest 666 rolled his eyes — but he didn’t pull away when Noob leaned their head against his shoulder.

「 NOOB 」: “You smell like caramel,” Noob muttered.

「 GUEST 666 」: “You gave me caramel.”

「 NOOB 」: “Yeah but like, I didn’t think you’d actually eat it all.”

「 GUEST 666 」: “You complained it gets stuck in your teeth.” Guest 666 snorted softly.

「 NOOB 」: “Still gave it to you anyway…”

「 They stood like that for a while, quiet laughter between them, light code-fireworks crackling above in celebration of nothing in particular. Just the two of them. Just today. Guest 666 tilted his head, watching Noob’s eyes sparkle with leftover joy and confetti dust. 」

「 GUEST 666 」: “…You’ll stay with me, right?” he asked suddenly, voice just above a whisper.

「 Noob looked up, confused. 」

「 NOOB 」: “W-Why wouldn’t I?” they said. “You’re my best friend, Sixer. Nothing’s gonna change that.”

「 That made Guest 666 smile — a real, crooked, human smile. He didn’t know then that he’d forget how to make that expression someday. But in that second, in that spark of shared soda and caramel and laughter… He believed them. 」