【Ad: URGENT】
【Ad: message me asap】
It wasn’t even six yet.
TT usually logged in around nine.
There was no way TT would see it for at least another three hours—
and the second Crys sent it, he finally breathed out.
TT was easy to talk to—still, Crys shouldn’t dump everything on him.
He should delete the message before TT saw.
He reached for the mouse to delete it—
and then.
【TT: yo?】
【TT: what happened?】
Two popups in a row.
Crys’s hand froze.
—No way he replied this fast.
He dropped back into his chair and typed in a rush.
【Ad: TT why are u even able to chat rn】
【TT: my school’s already on easter break】
【TT: was doing homework so i saw it】
【TT: told em i’d be late to dinner so i can talk. what’s up?】
Embarrassment hit him out of nowhere.
Like he’d called TT over without thinking about his time.
He typed something to cover it up.
Deleted it.
Typed again. Deleted again—
and in the end, he shoved the truth out.
【Ad: something happened at school】
【Ad: i said “msg me” on impulse but i need time to think】
【Ad: go eat dinner】
No reply.
Only the cursor blinking.
【TT: got it】
【TT: i’ll be back in 30】
【TT: then tell me】
The moment the messages stopped, Crys stood too.
He showered, changed into loungewear, and went downstairs to put something in his stomach.
When he opened the fridge,
Cillian’s cooking sat lined up in neat containers—as always.
Tomato honey-marinated salad. Meatballs.
Clam chowder still in a small pot.
He did what he always did.
Looked away.
He grabbed salsa, piled it onto cornbread, and ate standing up.
Grabbed an apple for dessert and went back to his room.
The instant he shut the door,
he heard the front door open downstairs.
Biting into the apple,
Crys felt a stupid kind of relief—
at least tonight, he wouldn’t have to see Cillian.
Stolen novel; please report.
【TT: back】
Exactly thirty minutes.
Maybe because he’d eaten, his head felt a little steadier.
【TT: wanna keep it chat-only today?】
【Ad: can we play while we talk? helps me not overthink】
【TT: ofc】
【TT: if u change ur mind just tell me】
The lobby was quiet now that the event rush had settled,
and they found each other right away.
Even after talking it through, there wasn’t much left to do.
Most of their quests were already cleared.
Most useful items were already crafted.
Not in the mood for battle royale.
So maybe they’d just chat—
when—
【TT: if ur cool w it】
【TT: wanna go to island one】
【Ad: yeah, sure】
【Ad: been a while actually】
They warped from the castle lobby to the village on Island One,
and TT went 【this way】—heading left into the grasslands.
More monsters than the paved road,
but for two max-level players it was basically a walk.
Crys didn’t get why they weren’t taking the fastest route to the fortress,
but he figured it was for mats or something,
and decided not to think too hard.
When they reached a small hill, TT stopped.
【TT: dude… this view still hits】
Crys turned the camera.
The castle’s spire stabbed up into the sky,
and around it, ten floating islands hung in a spiral.
A thin shield shimmered,
boss colors layered over each other—
bright enough to steal his breath.
—This was their start, too.
【TT: you remember this place?】
Crys didn’t answer.
TT’s avatar—The Rock—turned toward him.
An avatar that shouldn’t change expression,
and still—
somehow looked like it was smiling.
【TT: where i first met you】
【TT: wanted to come here】
“wanted to come here.”
That phrasing caught in Crys’s head,
and just as he was about to ask what TT meant—
Valentus—
the lord of the plains, hidden in the grass—
burst out with a scream that tore the air.
【TT: yeah yeah, this dude used to give me hell】
【TT: but with you here, Ad? he’s not even a problem lol】
The Rock charged in at close range and swung his ice-element blade.
Valentus sprang upward to evade,
hovering, wings beating as it sized them up.
Crys switched Thistle’s weapon
and sent freeze rounds into it
with his sniper rifle—Hesperos.
On the tenth shot, Valentus groaned
and dropped to the ground.
TT sprinted to where it fell
and carved into its weak point—those horns.
A pale blue flash.
Six cuts.
Then, with a final shriek,
it crumpled.
All that remained
were the drops.
【TT: damn, legend】
【TT: i came in all loud and all i did was last-hit lmao】
While sorting items,
Crys tossed out what had been stuck in his throat.
【Ad: something up?】
【TT: …huh?】
Then the chat stalled for a moment.
A pause—
rare for TT.
【TT: why, what’s up?】
【Ad: maybe i’m just imagining it】
【Ad: but you said you wanted to come here even tho you def don’t need red mats】
【Ad: and you’re asking stuff you obviously remember】
【Ad: feels like your vibe’s kinda different today】
【TT: lol of course you’d notice】
Before Crys could wonder if he’d pushed too far,
TT replied—
almost like he was pleased.
【TT: i was just thinking】
【TT: what about you?】
Crys took it for what it was:
TT giving him an out.
So he started typing what had happened at school—
like always, swapping classmates’ names for character names.
Neria inviting him to an Easter party.
Saying, you were the first one I asked.
Mandeep mocking him.
Neria defending him.
And Crys doing nothing.
Still getting called “cool.”
He focused on typing,
and Thistle stopped moving.
He thought he’d calmed down.
But the more he wrote,
the more it spilled out,
and his fingers wouldn’t stop.
The log filled.
The scroll bar shrank.
【Ad: that’s it】
【Ad: thx for listening】
TT had barely moved The Rock the whole time,
except for grabbing his weapon once or twice when monsters came at them.
When Crys finished,
TT finally typed back.
【TT: honestly? i’m with Seraphina】
【TT: you were cool】
Crys laughed, helpless—
because it was exactly what he’d expected.
【Ad: you don’t think i’m pathetic?】
【Ad: i couldn’t even protect one girl】
【TT: she didn’t want protecting】
It hit him dead-on, and Crys fell silent.
TT kept going.
【TT: also, you’re like… skinny, right】
【Ad: ???】
【Ad: wow ok sudden】
【Ad: yeah i am. got a problem w that??】
He could almost hear TT laughing on the other side.
【TT: you prob think being skinny + a nerd means you can’t do anything】
【TT: but being big or popular doesn’t mean you can stop a fight either】
【TT: yeah it was good Cook showed up this time】
【TT: but even if he didn’t, you would’ve tried to stop it】
【TT: strength isn’t just fists】
【TT: it’s whether you can move when it matters】
【TT: the only person who thinks you’re weak is you】
【TT: you’re a strong, cool skinny nerd】
【Ad: bro that last part was unnecessary】
He laughed out loud.
Too accurate—
and because of that,
the knot inside him started to loosen.
He sank back into his chair.
He’d been sure he couldn’t do anything.
But maybe doing something
had still mattered.
Neria had seen it.
TT had seen it.
That was why they’d said he was cool.
For the first time,
Crys felt like he could accept that word
without twisting away from it.
And a heat—different from embarrassment,
closer to itchiness—
spread across his cheeks.
【Ad: hey】
【Ad: what do you think Seraphina was gonna say?】
【TT: who knows】
The Rock looked like it curled its lip—
cool, smug.
【TT: would be a waste if i said it for her】
And with that,
TT broke into a run
toward the bridge leading to the fortress where the boss waited.
“A waste.”
Which probably meant—
something good.
Neria had said, you were the first I asked.
At least she didn’t hate him.
Crys told himself not to overthink
and moved to cover TT—
who, for once,
was running ahead without matching pace.
【TT: after this quest i’m gonna hop off】
【TT: around 10】
Crys checked the time.
Past nine-thirty.
Early, for a weekday.
But it was Easter break, he told himself,
and replied lightly.
【Ad: gotcha】
【Ad: u up early tmrw?】
【TT: it’s more like…】
The hesitation made Crys frown.
A beat passed.
Then TT continued.
【TT: i wasn’t sure if i should say it】
【TT: but i’m gonna stop playing this game for a while】
