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Gaty had been observant lately, particularly of everything going on around the hotel. One thing, in particular, had caught her attention were the new chefs that Two had welcomed to help run the place. It had come as quite a surprise to the entire contestants. After all, Two had quite literally stole some of Four's former contestants, so its quite a shock of bringing them over to work at the hotel.
Actually, they hadn't stolen the contestants. Two had simply made them an offer, and most of the contestants—including Gaty herself—had chosen to join voluntarily and leave Four's show. Now that she thought about it, she found herself quite fascinated by how different these Host Numbers were. They all seemed to have different skin and textures. When Four had shrunk Black Hole, they hadn't felt nearly as soft as X. They also had quite the sense of fashion. Just like Four and X, whose outfits carried accents of each other, Two had their own distinct host attire. Gaty couldn't help but ponder why that was.
"Hey Two."
"I can't help but notice the fact of Four and X having accents of each others colors.."
"Is that like.. a thing in from your home planet?"
From what Gaty could remember, Four had a tie on his wrist that has two strips that both ends with X's color and a 'X' variable shape, while X had a pin on his side that has the integer number '4', with the signature color of Four.
"Oh, those?"
"I actually don't know why they have those."
"From what I can remember—they didn't have each other colors back home."
Four and X were inseparable. Whenever you approached Four, X was never far behind, often popping up from somewhere nearby. The same went for X—if you needed them for something, Four was usually close as well. It wasn't as though they spent every second together; they were still their own people. However, the little accessories they wore always served as a subtle reminder that they were always a pair when far apart.
"However, It's no surprise to me though."
"Back on our home planet, we only had little resources to do custom fabrics of our own."
Two can vividly remember one of their fellow Integers—Zro. Zro had always been the one with the most resources, often serving as the group's supplier whenever anyone needed something. Although they could be difficult to approach due to their distant, always-on-the-go personality, they were undeniably reliable. Since Zro was almost always out traveling, the others rarely had the chance to ask them for anything in person.
"So—it's only rare for us to have accents of somebody we hold important to."
However, ever since they all went their separate ways, it became an opportunity to explore and discover what lay beyond the other planets. Exploring meant encountering things that were foreign—things rarely seen or used by their kind. It was both exciting and, for some of them, incredibly isolating at the same time. The only one who truly had a constant companion was Four; X remained by his side even after they had all left their home planet.
"It had been years of traveling outside our home planet—I suppose Four and X had found the opportunity of crafting themselves some of those trinkets before I arrived."
"That's quite interesting to say the least."
"You know, for us objects—"
"The only thing we can offer each other are simple favors for the long term."
It usually began with companionship or an alliance—two objects helping one another, gradually building the foundation of a friendship. For some, however, it didn't stay that way. What started as a healthy bond could slowly change over time, sometimes ending in something far more painful, like the collapse of a long-term friendship.
Even so, as objects, it was in their very nature to help one another through anything, no matter how small the situation may be, and to be there whenever someone needed them. After all, what else could they truly offer each other besides the unique capabilities that came with being the different kinds of objects they were?
"Hmm.."
Gaty stared off into the distance, resting a hand against her chin as she searched for a way to put her thoughts into words. She tried to come up with a comparison—something Two could easily visualize—to help them understand that, to objects like her, it wasn't just a passing thought.
"Ah-hah!"
"Like my paint for example!"
Two and Gaty were very different from one another, so whenever they spoke about their own perspectives and experiences, it always sparked curiosity more than anything else. Each found the other's point of view fascinating, and they would eagerly listen in as the other shared what it was like to simply be themselves.
"Your.. paint..?"
"Like.. Uh, what do you call it again..?"
"Ah!"
Two flicked their fingers while their mouth formed a 'o' shaped by figuring out the word, and pointed at Gaty from their realization.
"Your periwinkality?"
"Yeah! Saw was the one who painted me this color."
"Sort of like a make over from my original form."
"Woah—really?"
"What were you back then?"
Gaty was an oak-colored gate, her wooden frame a warm shade of brown with black nails that kept her structure sturdy. She had no metal or iron hinges along her right side. For the longest time, others simply called her "That Gate," as she herself didn't know exactly what kind of gate she was.
"I was practically colorless, I had no paint what so ever."
"Nor an image to introduce myself from back then."
"Since I'm wooden, that was my intended color for the mean time."
She had long been known as a gate without a clear self-image to call her own, which made it difficult for others to refer to her. Once she realized that, she found the courage to discover who she truly was—not only for everyone else, but for herself as well. She spent time reflecting, wondering what color truly felt like her. The plain oak hue she had always worn no longer matched the image she held of herself, nor did it reflect her own preferences.
"However.."
"At some point, I wanted to become something that I want for myself."
"So, I tried painting myself various colors but most didn't felt right to me."
After trying again and again, Gaty let out a groan, exhausted from getting nowhere. That was when Saw approached her and asked what was wrong. It was the first interaction between them that truly held meaning. It wasn't because of a challenge or competition—just someone who had noticed her struggle and was willing to help her through her search for her own identity.
"That is until Saw offered to help me through my struggles."
"I described to her what I couldn't clearly understand for myself."
Saw knelt until she was at eye level with the defeated Gaty, who sat slumped in frustration. She gave her a gentle pat before striking up a small conversation, eventually piecing together what Gaty had been trying to figure out. Almost instinctively, Saw reached into her pockets and pulled out a pair of iron hinges, along with a can of paint in a very specific, distinctive shade.
"After telling Saw, she immediately knew what to do."
"It was like she was knew more about me than I ever could."
She remembered the day Saw stood before her with unwavering determination, carefully attaching the iron hinges to her side before painting over the plain oak color she had worn for so long. By the time the makeover was complete, tears welled up in Gaty's eyes. Overcome with joy, she immediately threw her arms around Saw, thanking her over and over. Saw returned the embrace without hesitation. Out of everyone Gaty had met, Saw was the one who had truly stood out. She hadn't just changed how Gaty looked—she had helped her become someone she could finally recognize as herself.
Gaty learned so much from Saw, and in return, Saw came to know Gaty just as well. After the makeover they shared, their bond only continued to grow. Over time, "the Gate" gradually became "Gaty"—not just as a name others called her, but as the identity she had finally come to know.
"Thats when I found out that I really liked the color—periwinkle."
"Wow, that's amazing Gaty!"
"I never expected that you were different back then, nevertheless—you finally found out what you wanted to be!"
"That's quite impressive—It's so inspiring to hear your story of becoming something for yourself."
"Heh..I appreciate your compliment."
"But, I owe it to her really.."
Two sat in astonishment. Now that they thought about it, they couldn't help but wonder who they would become after this competition came to an end.
"It makes me think of what I want to be too."
"You'll know eventually."
"I don't know Gaty.."
"What if I never become something?"
"Wha—what if I never find what I want?"
Upon looking at Two, Gaty noticed they had lowered their gaze, repeatedly tapping their foot against the floor. It was as if they were deeply anxious about what lay ahead. Were they afraid of change? Not exactly. They were more worried that whatever they chose to do might stray them further from the image of who they wanted to become. Sensing their unease, Gaty gently rested her hand over Two's, a quiet reminder to slow down and breathe. The gesture was enough. Two gradually relaxed, lifted their attention back to her, and patiently waited for her response.
"Don't worry Two, you literally pulled yourself together and hosted a competition show with different beings."
"If you hadn't done that then we would've never met!"
Gaty fondly smiled.
"Becoming something for yourself takes decisions."
"And whatever decision leads you to, is going to be apart of you thats when your self worth builds up by time."
Upon hearing Gaty's words, Two couldn't help but think back to the day they first met her. They still couldn't find the right word to describe her—kind, thoughtful, sincere... none of them seemed to capture her completely. Yet the way she spoke, and the confidence and warmth with which she delivered her words, filled Two with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. They were thankful that Gaty had been the one to approach them first, because without that single moment, they might never have become friends.
Their very first conversation hadn't seemed particularly important at the time, yet it became the beginning of something neither of them had expected. It marked the start of a bond that would slowly grow into a friendship unlike any Two had ever known. Having a true friend was something they had never experienced before, and for Gaty, getting to know someone so entirely different from herself filled her with quiet happiness. It reminded her that there was always something new to learn from another being.
"Thanks Gaty.."
"Makes me wonder how honored I am to had met a true friend like you."
"We'll be true friends even when far apart!"
"Just don't forget about me!"
Now that Two realized it, there was something they could give Gaty—something that would remind her of them. A smile spread across Two's face as they looked at Gaty once the two of them had settled. Without another word, Two closed their eyes and snapped their fingers. The very next second, they opened them again, and the two of them had been teleported straight into Two's room.
The room was filled with Two's signature fabrics and custom-made accessories, every corner unmistakably reflecting their own sense of style. Gaty stumbled for a brief moment from the sudden teleportation, but Two had thoughtfully placed her atop the soft bed, where she landed safely among a pile of plush cushions instead.
"Woah Two!—"
"Why are we here?"
Gaty tilted her head, curiously watching as Two looked around the room before making their way to the closet. They rummaged through it with a look of complete focus, carefully searching through its contents. After a few moments, their face suddenly lit up—they had found what they were looking for. Gaty tried to catch a glimpse as Two walked back toward her, but whatever they were holding remained hidden within their hands. It wasn't until they stopped in front of her and slowly opened their palms that they finally revealed—
A green ribbon that looked like a clip!
"Tadaa!"
"A small ribbon that's green."
"A constant reminder of myself to you."
Two gently attached it to Gaty's left side, opposite her hinges. Gaty blinked in surprise and immediately looked down to inspect it. It was beautifully crafted, adorned with the integer '2', its surface polished with a soft, matte sheen that caught the light without being overly flashy. A warm smile spread across her face before she threw her arms around Two in an embrace, which they happily returned. After a moment, Gaty pulled away and reached into her pocket, shuffling around until she pulled something out—a matching hinge fitted with its own little clip.
She carefully clipped the hinge onto Two's side. Throughout the entire process, Two couldn't stop smiling, though Gaty never noticed. By the time she pulled away to admire her work, Two's expression had become unreadable. They were simply too overwhelmed to show what they were feeling. Wait... really? For Two? For them? No one had ever given them something so personal before.
"What do you think Two..?"
"I.."
Gaty was just about to apologize and retrieve the clip, worried that she had overstepped, when Two gently stopped her. Instead, they lowered their gaze and carefully inspected the little clip Gaty had given them, tracing its details with quiet admiration as a small, genuine smile returned to their face.
"Really..? for me?"
"Gaty.."
Relief washed over Gaty as the worry she had been carrying quietly melted away. The assumptions she had made about Two's reaction vanished the moment she saw them admiring the extra hinge clip. It was clear they genuinely appreciated it, and that alone was enough to put her mind at ease.
"Heh, now we have each other's colors!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Two stretched out their arms and pulled Gaty into a tight embrace. They held onto her a little longer than before, overcome by a feeling they had never truly experienced. Two had never felt so appreciated, so genuinely thought of by someone else. The small hinge clip meant far more to them than Gaty could have ever imagined.
"Thank you so much Gaty!"
A few days flew by, and eventually, Two stopped by the kitchen while Four and X were on duty. They had come looking for Gaty, needing her for something, but she was out running an errand that Four and X had sent her on just a few minutes earlier. With nothing else to do while waiting, Two decided to help Four pack the meals.
While they stood beside each other, Four noticed the yellow clip attached to Two's side. They could only assume it was from X, considering its yellow, rectangular shape. But X rarely spoke to Two...?
"Whats that on your side Two?"
"...Is that from X?"
Two placed the packed meal down before turning to answer Four's question. They hadn't expected Four to notice, but it seemed he was just as surprised as they were. After all, this was the first time Two had something that represented somebody else.
"Oh this?"
"It's from Gaty!"
"Its one of her extra hinge that has a clip behind it."
"What do you think?"
Four's expression shifted into one of obvious surprise when he realized that Two had something that he and X also had.
"Oh, that's cool."
"I guess."
Four returned their attention to packing the orders since they were in the middle of the rush hour. The hotel guests were waiting for their meals, after all. It was a good thing Two happened to stop by—it significantly cut down the extra time needed to prepare everything.
"I suggest adding some paint over it."
"Particularly Gaty's color, others might assume it's from X."
Two was surprised that Four seemed to think it was cool that they had something from another person. Even though Four didn't express it outright, Two could pick up on the faint, almost "good for you" kind of tone in his voice. Now that Four had suggested it, maybe they really should paint it Gaty's color. They'll ask Gaty about it once she comes back to the kitchen.
"Yeah.. We'll do that."
"Thanks, Four"