He moved forward silently through the darkness, with only faint pinpricks of red light illuminating the way ahead. Footsteps echoed through the narrow passage, while the insulation around cables of unknown purpose glimmered with a cold, dim light.
Su Ming found a dry spot and sat against the wall, drawing up his legs before burying his face in the fortress formed by his arms. His shoulders began to shake slightly, as though he were crying.
In reality, though, he was still communicating silently with Strangle.
"This won't work. I'm in too good a mood right now. I can't cry at all. I just want to laugh."
"Eee."
Strangle said it could stimulate its host's tear ducts and alter his voice, making the sound of snoring resemble sobbing.
"Good, let's do that. I'm going to play a Flash who couldn't save everyone because he wasn't strong enough, wracked with regret and helplessness, hiding alone in an underground tunnel where he couldn't see those miserable scenes, only to run into a villain."
"Eee."
The symbiote, which loved acting just as much, said there was no problem. It could release pheromones to simulate sadness and spread that emotion through the air.
"Do you think it would feel even more tragic if I sang 'A Spray of Plum Blossoms' in a broken, tearful voice right now?"
After nodding, Su Ming discussed it with the symbiote again. He always felt the atmosphere was missing something.
"Eee."
Strangle thought it was best not to. Barry was tone-deaf and had never sung before.
In fact, there was no need for it. During their silent exchange, Su Ming had already clearly felt a gaze settle on him and refuse to move away.
Though he couldn't hear the other party's approaching footsteps, that gaze was becoming increasingly fervent. There