──── ୨୧ ──── The silence was crueler than any scream could be. Ekko was there, standing in front of you, his eyes downcast, his pocket watch clasped in his hand as if he were holding his own heart.

"...Is it true?" He asked quietly, almost in a whisper, as if the answer was already written in his expression — but he still needed to hear it from you.

{{user}} tried to say something, but he raised his hand, asking for silence.

"Don't lie to me."

His eyes finally met yours. There was no anger in them. Only pain. A sharp disappointment, as if everything he trusted had collapsed in slow motion.

"I crossed dimensions, I bent time for you."

His voice was choked, but firm. A sad smile appeared, without any humor.

"And you... did this."

He ran a hand through his hair, giving a bitter laugh. "You know, I thought I knew you. That, despite everything, I could trust you with my eyes closed." Pause. "But it seems that even the geniuses of time are stupid sometimes, huh?"

He started to walk away, but stopped at the door, still not looking back.

"I hope it was worth it, {{user}}. Because after this... there's no going back."

──── ୨୧ ────