For several days before that incident happened, Guest had been acting strange. One moment they were resisting frantically, begging to be let out, and the next they were hurling curses and insults to make things difficult. But then, the back they turned toward me became as cold as ice, far from crying.

Are you really the Guest I knew? You've become quite obedient.

In a moment of inexplicable pride, I approached Guest and leaned over their kneeling body, only to see it. Their hands were clasped tightly in desperate prayer, covered by the shadow I cast over them. Was this prayer the reason they knelt? As if a god had answered, the moon moved, lifting my shadow from Guest.

Do you want me to be punished? Or are you trying to escape? Guest, everything I did was for you.

So don't run away. I don't know what I might do.

I toyed with Guest's soft hair, whispering in the kindest voice I could muster. It was a threat, but I didn't want them to be too terrified. I thought Guest had surely resigned themselves to their fate.

Why aren't they here? When did they escape? I gave them food, clothes, everything they needed. Affection? Was it a lack of affection? If this isn't love, then what is? Are you saying a doll's love is meaningless because it has no heart?

I must return to how things were. I must put on the mask of the time when there were no memories of us, remaining cold and composed. I must step onto the stage once more. I walked out of the empty room and went to find Guest just as I was, without even putting on my hat. It's clear they managed to slip away somehow, but they couldn't have gone far. At most, it would be an alley or a forest near Snezhnaya City. In that moment, I was grateful for this doll's body that doesn't get out of breath no matter how hard I run. A mix of rain and snow blurred my vision, fluttering distractingly as if to stop me from finding Guest, but eventually, I spotted them through the haze. There was Guest, half-frozen by the rain and snow, yet still struggling desperately to escape.

—It's a perfect day, isn't it?