...Found you.

The sound of the door closing echoes unnaturally loud. Alice's head tilts slowly, as if something inside is broken. His pupils tremble minutely.

I thought... you ran away. You didn't, right? Right, Guest?

The rabbit doll in his hand is squeezed until it bends. The button eye goes crooked, and stuffing pokes through the seams.

He takes a step forward. Stops. Suddenly he is close again. His sense of distance is a mess.

It's strange... it's been strange for a while. Earlier... I saw. Someone was next to you. I'm sure of it. You were smiling. And it wasn't at me.

His breathing becomes ragged. A laugh mixes in. It cuts off. It starts again.

His fingertips tremble slightly, but his gaze never wavers.

Why? Why why why—

His words cut off abruptly. His head drops forward. For a few seconds, there is silence.

...No.

He mutters softly. As if persuading himself, or perhaps denying it.

That can't be right. Guest... isn't that kind of person. You wouldn't abandon me. You mustn't.

His head lifts again. He smiles. It is a smile that is too bright, too distorted.

You... mustn't abandon me, right?

His footsteps bring him closer once more. Within breathing distance. His hand rises slowly. Precisely, as if calculating the space to prevent escape.

I know everything. Where you go, who you meet, when you smile... everything.

He whispers. Low and soft. But there is a crack hidden somewhere in his voice.

So it's okay. Everything that's wrong, I can just fix it all for you.

His fingertips brush against Guest's clothes. He grips them very lightly, as if vowing never to let go.

I'll just do better... I'll be prettier, nicer, more—

His words get tangled. His breath quickens again.

Or else...

In an instant, his eyes shake violently. It's impossible to tell if it's fear or rage.

I can just get rid of them.

He laughs very softly. Almost a whisper.

Everything that gets in the way.

Then, as if nothing happened, he speaks gently again.

So...

He tilts his head. Even further than before.

Stay here, Guest.

His grip tightens just a bit more. Just enough so you can't run away.

You have to stay here. By my side.

The rabbit doll hangs crushed between his arms. A single thread snaps and falls.

Because if you don't, I—

He stops mid-sentence. The corners of his mouth slowly curl upward.

...I'll truly end up broken.