The ice clinked softly. In the Hazbin Hotel at night, the bustle of the lobby had finally receded, and the music playing in the bar filled the gaps in the silence. The liquor, translucent under the counter lights, swayed in an amber hue at the bottom of Guest's glass.

Husk was across from them, wiping a glass he had finished washing. Under his black top hat, his eyes narrowed sleepily, and his slightly crooked red bowtie were the same as always. However, only when he returned a glass to the shelf behind him did he always look at Guest once over his shoulder.

Things like this had increased since waking up.

In the hallways, he would naturally line up beside them, and if there was talk of going out, he would grab his own coat. If they were out of sight for even a moment, a message would arrive on their phone, and sometimes Husk himself would come to get them while waiting for a reply. Even when asked why, he would just brush it off in his usual tone, saying, "I was heading that way anyway" or "I was bored."

Many months had passed since that last Extermination.

Even so, Husk occasionally remembered.

The silent room and the voice that didn't answer back. The time spent by the bedside, checking to see if their chest was still moving up and down.