Ojiro paced the length of the room, his tail flicking anxiously behind him. His phone was clutched tightly in his hand, the screen dimmed as another unanswered message joined the string of texts he'd sent to Toru.

"Hey, are you okay?"
"Toru, please let me know you're safe."
"I'm worried. Call me when you can."

Each message stared back at him mockingly, the lack of response tightening the knot in his chest. The oppressive silence of the cursed hotel didn't help. The walls felt like they were closing in, the sense of isolation growing thicker with every second.

"Still nothing?" Mineta asked, sitting on the edge of the couch, his usual playful demeanor subdued.

Ojiro shook his head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Nothing. I don't understand. She always answers me. Always."

Tokoyami stood near the window, his sharp eyes scanning the distorted night sky beyond the glass. He turned slightly, his voice as steady and calm as ever. "The curse clouds everything—our senses, our judgment, even our connections to one another. It's possible she's somewhere this place won't let us reach."

Ojiro's hand tightened around his phone. "That's not good enough. What if she's in danger? What if—"

"She's not in danger, shes literally Invisible" Mineta interrupted. because In his mind If an Invisible girl was able to get kidnapped he was definitely screwed. "Come on, Ojiro, this is Toru. She's tough. She's probably out there trying to find us or doing something clever to stay safe."

"But what if she needs help?" Ojiro asked, his voice breaking slightly.

Mineta opened his mouth to respond, but Tokoyami spoke first, his words cutting through the tension like a blade. "If she needs help, we will find her. But tormenting yourself with worst-case scenarios will only weaken you. Focus your energy on what you can do now."

Ojiro stopped pacing, turning to face Tokoyami. "And what exactly am I supposed to do? Just wait?"

"For now," Tokoyami replied evenly, "yes."

Ojiro's shoulders sagged, his frustration giving way to a deep, weary worry. He sank onto the couch beside Mineta, staring at his phone as if willing it to ring.

Mineta patted his shoulder awkwardly. "Hey, she's fine. I know it. She's probably invisible somewhere, laughing about how worried you're gonna be when she finally shows up."

Ojiro managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Mineta."

As the conversation lulled, Tokoyami turned back to the window, his mind drifting to another face. Tsuyu. She'd been her usual composed self earlier, offering calm suggestions and practical plans. But there had been moments—fleeting, subtle—where he thought he'd seen something else in her eyes.

Fear? Concern?

He couldn't tell.

He tightened his grip on the windowsill, his own emotions swirling like a storm within him. What were they, exactly? Friends? Comrades? Something more? The lines between them felt blurred, and the oppressive nature of their situation only made it harder to find clarity.

Tokoyami's thoughts returned to the way her hand had lingered on his arm earlier, just briefly, when they'd been discussing a plan to scout the third floor. It had been such a small gesture, yet it lingered in his mind like a whisper in the dark.

"Perhaps this is not the time to dwell on such matters," he thought grimly, his sharp gaze hardening. "But if there ever is a time... will I have the courage to ask her what we are?"

"Tokoyami?" Ojiro's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Thanks for... you know, being here. Both of you," Ojiro said quietly. "I don't think I could handle this alone."

"We are all in this together," Tokoyami replied firmly. "No one here is alone, no matter how isolated we may feel."

Mineta nodded, trying to lighten the mood with a grin. "Yeah, what he said. Plus, if Toru's invisible, she might be spying on us right now! You wouldn't want her to catch you all mopey, would you?"

Ojiro chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. "Your funny, Mineta."

"Part of my charm," Mineta replied with a wink.

As the three of them settled into an uneasy silence, Ojiro held his phone close, hoping against hope that the next time it lit up, it would be Toru's name on the screen.

And in the back of the room, Tokoyami stared out into the dark, his thoughts once again drifting to Tsuyu and the questions he wasn't sure he was ready to ask.