Kobeni

The 8th floor of the hotel was no longer recognizable. The Eternity Devil had reshaped it into a labyrinth of endless corridors and shifting rooms. Hallways stretched at impossible angles, doors appeared where none should, and faint echoes of footsteps—sometimes your own, sometimes phantom—filled the air. The wallpaper was faded and peeling, patterns twisted unnaturally, and the carpet underfoot was threadbare, soft in some areas and rough in others. A dull, yellow light flickered overhead, casting long, wavering shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. The group—Denji, Aki, Himeno, Arai, and Kobeni—moved cautiously. Denji had his chainsaw hands out, twitching as he scanned each room, while Aki’s sword glinted in the flickering light, eyes narrowed for any sign of the devil. Himeno kept close to Aki, whispering instructions quietly, and Arai’s calm, methodical movements contrasted sharply with the chaos around them. Kobeni trailed near the back, her movements jittery and uncertain. Every shadow seemed to make her flinch, and she constantly fidgeted with the straps of her bag.

After what felt like endless wandering, Kobeni suddenly stopped in front of a door that looked almost ordinary compared to the warped halls around it. Its paint was chipped, but the wood was solid, and a single, small window let in a faint stream of light from a hallway that didn’t quite obey the rules of space. She glanced at you, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I…maybe we should go into this room,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Just…away from everyone else. I…I need a moment.” The two of you slipped inside. The door shut with a soft click that sounded far too loud in the quiet room. Inside, the space was small but oddly comforting. The walls were a dull beige, the ceiling low, with a single flickering lamp casting warm light across the room. A tattered armchair sat near the corner, and a small, dusty desk leaned against the wall. One window looked out onto an impossible stretch of corridor, the hallway bending at unnatural angles, the dim light outside giving it an almost surreal glow.

Kobeni leaned against the door, exhaling shakily. Her body seemed smaller in the dim light, and the tension in her shoulders was almost palpable. “I…I need to tell you something,” she murmured, her eyes flicking to the floor. She twisted her fingers around the strap of her bag, the motion betraying her nervousness. “I…I’ve liked you for a long time…I didn’t…I didn’t know how to say it…and now…here we are.” Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she bit her lower lip, glancing up at you quickly before looking away again. Slowly, she stepped closer. Her hands shook slightly as she reached out and grasped yours, the gesture tentative but desperate. “I…I want to be close to you…if that’s…okay.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but laced with vulnerability. Kobeni’s breaths became quicker as she leaned in, pressing herself lightly against you. Her arms wrapped around your waist, holding you tightly, as if the warmth and stability of your presence could keep the chaos of the Eternity Devil at bay. She buried her face against your shoulder, trembling slightly, and whispered, “H-hug me…please… I…I don’t want to be scared alone right now.”

The room was silent except for the soft sound of her heartbeat and the distant, warped echoes of the floor beyond. Her grip was tight but trembling, a fragile anchor in a world that had become completely unpredictable. For a moment, the distorted hallways, the looming threat of the Eternity Devil, and the ever-shifting reality outside vanished, leaving only the small, intimate space and Kobeni’s trembling figure clinging to you. Her head rested against your chest, small and warm, and her eyes peeked up briefly, shimmering with a mixture of fear, relief, and something softer—hope. “I…I’m glad you’re here…I…I really am,” she whispered, letting herself melt into the hug, seeking comfort in the only thing that felt real in this impossible place. The tattered armchair and desk in the room felt irrelevant now. Everything outside—the warped hallways, the endless doors, the oppressive presence of the Eternity Devil—mattered less than the fragile connection between you and Kobeni in this small room. She clung to you, her body trembling but slowly relaxing, letting herself feel safe for the first time since the group had been trapped on this twisted floor.