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It would be a lie to say that Odds liked Echo only a little. They admired Echo’s ability to imitate different people, and sometimes wondered whether it might pretend to be them for a little longer than usual. They loved seeing a familiar silhouette resembling them running somewhere nearby during rounds, and when Echo imitated someone other than them for too long, Odds felt something they were too proud to call jealousy.
“Rough run?” a familiar voice spoke behind them. It sounded like their voice, though slightly distorted, trying to sound like them. Odds glanced over their shoulder, surprised that Echo had initiated the conversation first. Maybe it was imitating someone now and practicing their interpretation on them? If so, Odds didn’t like that at all. Their stomach tightened with jealousy.
But no. Echo was in their usual form—blue, translucent; Odds could see the old garage door through their torso.
“Uh… Yeah… Heh, I slowed down a bit at the start…” they mumbled, scratching their neck. Why had Echo decided to show them its true form? Did it need help? Of course, Odds wasn’t complaining—in fact, they were flattered that out of everyone else, they were the one granted the privilege of seeing Echo’s real form.
The gambler could look at it for the rest of their life.
Odds quickly pushed that thought out of their head.
“So… uh… Do you need something?”
Echo trembled at the question, not used to holding conversations with others. (Though it was its fault, after all—it was the one who initiated it.) Still, it quickly shook its head.
“I need… No! I just… noticed that you were… a little stressed…” Echo explained, its voice sometimes losing volume and fading.
“Oh? And what about it?” Odds raised a brow, their gaze seeming hostile. It didn’t take a genius to guess that the gambler was extremely confused by the blue figure’s behavior. Echo had never started conversations with other survivors before, let alone checked how they were feeling. Of course, it wasn’t that it was selfish—it simply preferred to observe everything from the sidelines, without interfering in others’ affairs.
What had changed now?
Echo trembled, letting out something that sounded like a stammered apology. Odds, however, couldn’t understand what the copycat was actually saying. In fact, they felt guilty that their reaction had made Echo feel unsure.
“Hey, sorry, listen, I didn’t mean to stress you out!”
“No, no… It’s okay…”
“Oh, this is so stupid!”
“It’s my fault…”
“I should remember that you don’t handle confrontation well!”
“I just wanted to see you…”
Pause. Odds’ eyes widened, and the sound that came from Echo’s throat could only be compared to choking on a fairly large rock. Then silence fell, giving Odds time to think—and Echo time to realize what they had just confessed to.
Echo wanted to see them? Just like that, on its own? Odds felt their head starting to spin.
Of course, they were overwhelmed with unimaginable happiness and excitement; they felt a little like they had hit the biggest jackpot—and as if that feeling had been multiplied tenfold! A wide smile appeared on their face, and their ego shot up.
“Really?” they teased slyly. “Can’t say I blame you—I am irresistible, after all!”
“N-no…!”
“So you didn’t want to see me?”
“You’re… t-taking my words out of context…”
Odds laughed at how absurd the situation was. There wasn’t a trace of hostility in their voice, only awkwardness.
“Wow, Echo, sorry, I’m not making fun of you.” they explained, holding Echo’s hands — the same hands Echo had been using to cover its face in embarrassment.
“This is… stupid… I’m sorry…” Echo squeaked pitifully, and Odds had to stop themselves from letting out a fond laugh.
“Echo, it’s okay, I’m not mad. Why would I be?”
“It’s... embarrassing…”
“No, no, really!”
For several more minutes, Odds had to reassure it that they weren’t angry and had no intention of mocking the poor copycat. Finally, Echo seemed to understand and calm down enough to stop apologizing and look at them, almost as if glowing.
Odds could look at it for the rest of their life.
This time, they didn’t want to push that thought away.
“Did you… mean it? You really just wanted to see me?”
Echo nodded stiffly.
“I like… you… close…” it admitted, turning their head to the side. Odds chuckled again. Softly.
“You flatter me… Honestly, I like seeing you nearby too.” They leaned closer to its face that had now turned dark blue. “To be more precise, I like you.”
“Odds! Water is spilling out of your room! Idiot, you forgot to turn off the sink again!”
Odds jumped at the voice coming from behind the wall. The sink—right! They had completely forgotten! Next time they just wouldn’t wash their hands after using the toilet, big deal…
“Oh, I guess I have to run.” They gave Echo an apologetic look, but not before brushing their cheek against the side of their head. A sort of hug.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” they called, leaving the poor copycat alone with its own thoughts.