Chapter 2: — "Sharing a Meal With Orbi... and Maybe Even Emotions..."

I flopped onto my bed, still holding Orbi in my hands. The soft glow from the orb filled the room with a faint, comforting light. For a moment, I let myself just stare at it, mesmerized by the swirling colors inside, each one moving as if it had a life of its own. I hugged it gently, whispering, “Poor thing… no one wanted you… except me. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone leave you behind.”

The doorbell rang, startling me so much that I nearly dropped Orbi. “Oh! Right… McDelivery,” I muttered to myself, setting the orb on my desk while I shuffled to the door.

The delivery person handed me the bag, looking a little confused at the glowing sphere I had set beside me. “Uh… your total is 980 yen,” they said carefully, raising an eyebrow.

I gave a sheepish smile, fumbling with my wallet. “It’s… for a friend,” I said softly, as if explaining Orbi’s existence would make perfect sense to anyone. They didn’t comment further, and I closed the door quickly, returning to my bed.

I set the bag down and lifted Orbi, turning it over in my hands. “See, Orbi? I got us some food. McNuggets, fries, cheeseburger… and a kawaii shake. I even ordered extra nuggets for you, just in case,” I said, smiling despite the lingering sadness in my chest. The orb pulsed faintly in response, or maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt like a tiny, encouraging heartbeat against my palms.

I took a bite of the cheeseburger and sighed. “You know, Orbi, it’s kind of funny. Yesterday, I was crying my eyes out over Haruto. And now I’m… here, talking to a glowing orb and feeding it McNuggets. What does that say about me?”

I laughed quietly, shaking my head. “Probably that I’m completely insane. But that’s okay. We’re insane together, right?” I nudged Orbi lightly, pretending it had nodded in agreement.

As I ate, I couldn’t help thinking about the thrift shop. How strange it was that no one wanted Orbi before me. Something about that felt… meaningful. Like I was meant to find it, even if I didn’t fully understand why yet. I rubbed its smooth surface again. “You’re lucky, Orbi. I promise I’ll take care of you. No one else is going to leave you behind again.”

The orb glowed a little brighter, and I blinked. “Hey… are you glowing more? Or am I imagining things?” I tilted my head, scrutinizing it closely. The colors inside seemed to shift faster now, swirling almost like tiny stars were dancing inside it. My fingers tingled where I touched it, and I shivered slightly. “Hmm… okay, that’s… weird. But kind of nice. Like you’re alive, maybe.”

The warmth of the orb reminded me that for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t entirely alone. Haruto’s absence still hurt, but this little glowing thing, this new companion, made the world seem slightly less gray. I leaned back against my pillows, staring at the ceiling, imagining all the adventures Orbi and I could have together.

“Maybe you’re magic,” I whispered, still holding it gently. “I mean… no one wanted you, and now I have you. That has to mean something, right? You’re special, Orbi. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

I laughed again, sniffling, and then my stomach growled. I had forgotten about the McDelivery while bonding with my new friend. I reached over to the bag and opened it, the smell of fries and nuggets filling the room. “Okay, Orbi, time to eat!” I said with mock seriousness. I took a bite of a nugget and held one toward the orb. “Here… your share,” I said. Of course, nothing happened, but I pretended it nibbled it and made a small ‘nom’ sound.

The kawaii shake was next. I took a sip, then giggled. “You’re going to love this, I just know it. Pink and sparkly… just like you.” I laughed, holding it up to the orb as if it could drink from the cup. “Extra nuggets for later, don’t worry. We’re going to be well-fed for life.”

For a while, I just sat there, talking to Orbi like it was a real companion, muttering about random things, laughing at my own jokes, even sharing some of my lingering sadness. “Sometimes I think… maybe I’ll never stop missing Haruto,” I said quietly, staring at the glowing orb. “But at least I have you now. And that’s… okay. Maybe it’s even better than okay.”

The orb’s glow seemed to respond again, pulsing gently. I shivered slightly, feeling a small warmth spreading through my hands and up my arms. “Orbi… you’re not just cute, are you? You’re something more… I can feel it.”

Night fell outside my window, painting the room in soft shadows. I finished my food and lay back on my bed, Orbi still in my hands. My eyelids grew heavy, and I whispered softly, “We’ll figure this out together… Orbi. Tomorrow, or the next day… or the next… we’ll see what adventures are waiting for us.”

The last thing I noticed before drifting off to sleep was a faint shimmer in Orbi’s glow, brighter than before, almost like it was breathing in rhythm with me. I smiled softly through my tears and sighed. “Good night, Orbi. Sleep tight… for now.”

And for the first time in days, I felt a little hope stir in my chest.