"... Jay..?"

"Jay!"

"Wake up, Jay! Please..."

No amount of shaking worked. The Neko's hair and eyes glowed white as she feared the worst.

-

"Everything is going as you'd planned, subject ST-02," SO-2.0 stated promptly. ST-02 smiled. "Good... Now, go ahead and boot up the simulation. I believe all the work's in place." SO-2.0 nodded and walked off, ST-02 following behind. Soon, they reached the Simulation Chamber. Subject J4Y laid inside. In the blink of an eye, SO-2.0 started the process.

-

"Hey, J4Y," N3K0 greeted. "Hello, C14R4," M4G3 replied with a blank stare. "Is... Something wrong?" C14R4 said, noticing his odd behavior. "No, nothing. Nothing at all." J4Y declined. "Well... Would you wanna go do something later, then? +45Y4's been trying to get a hold of you for a while, and maybe we could all just hang out for a bit." C14R4 suggested. J4Y's response came without hesitance. "No, I don't think I will."

Something smiled from out of existence.

C14R4: "What? But... Why?"

J4Y: "I do not feel the need - nor desire - to. It's pointless, and there's no use."

C14R4: "+45Y4's your friend. She's been worried about you, you can't just brush her off like that..."

J4Y: "Why not? It's a perfectly valid response. I merely do not want to go."

C14R4: "She'll be upset, J4Y..."

J4Y: "Well, that's too bad, then."

C14R4: *Sigh* "Well... What about me, then? If you don't want to go with her, at least come with me? We could stay at my place for a bit, okay?"

J4Y: "No. I'm perfectly fine being on my own, C14R4."

C14R4: "J4Y... What's going on? You aren't usually like this. Is something wrong? You're worrying me..."

J4Y: "Nothing is wrong with me. I just don't feel like engaging in any activities with any of you anymore, that's all."

C14R4: "But... Why?"

J4Y: "Because none of you mean anything to me anymore. That's all."

J4Y began to walk away.

C14R4: "Jay..? Jay? You can't do this, what are you doing!?"

J4Y did not react.

C14R4: "Jay, stop! Why? Why are you doing this, what's are you doing!? Are... Are you really just gonna leave everyone?"

J4Y stopped.

"... Yes."

With that last word, J4Y opened a portal and disappeared.

C14R4 stood there, stunned. Then, C14R4 broke down.

Something chuckled from out of existence.

"Perfect..."

-

Jay slowly began to awaken. He groggily opened his eyes, scanning the area, and then noticed Clara next to him. She immediately smiled in relief, her eyes and hair glowing bright green as she hugged Jay.

"Hey, Jay," Clara greeted.

"... Hello, Clara," Jay replied.

-