[ As so often, it begins with darkness. Not the kind that comes with absence of light, though, and not the /other/ kind either, known as Octiron; this is the darkness that comes when there is only light, light so bright that it blinds you no matter how hard you press your eyes shut. Amidst this indefinite stretch of whiteout is one single shape, or rather a blur, as it wavers like asphalt does on a hot summer day. ]

...

Kirei dakedo... fuka nda no.

Hai...

Let there be... shades.

[ There is no flash or any otherwise flashy, ahaha, effects. The light that has been dominating all simply dims into the background, allowing gentle greys to linger around the still translucent, bodyless flicker. ]

It would be so much easier if there was just black and white, ne, anata? Binary, digital, you-or-me...

We can't allow it.

Nn... *sighs* Suteki da no, yuki wa...

...

...

Unfortunately it interferes with the projection.

Yes. A shame, really. But it must happen.

We both know that.

Indeed we do.

However...

Nn? Doushita no?

What of her?

... Shou ga nai no.

...

Sou omowanai no? You don't think so?

I am not quite convinced just yet.

We can't do anything at this juncture. Let things take their own course. We will have him back soon enough. A tiny crack is all we need.

Sou ne...