After watching just a little more of Undyne's wild pursuit of Frisk—and seeing Monster Kid pop in again like a kid with a front-row seat to a superhero movie—I decided to move ahead and wait by the telescope. No point in tailing every step of the story when I already knew it beat for beat. Besides, I'd seen enough chases to last several timelines.
Eventually, Frisk showed up, panting slightly but with that same determined glint in her eye. She didn't take too long getting here, which made me wonder—how many times had she died and respawned along the way? That kind of stubbornness is rare. Or maybe it's just part of the fun in this world. Each death, each SAVE point—just another chance to learn. Even though it was technically her first time facing Undyne, her footwork was already tighter, her timing sharper. I recognized the pattern. She was adapting. Fast.
As she approached, I leaned against the wall, hands tucked into my hoodie.
"I'm thinking about getting into the telescope business," I said, grinning. "Normally 50,000G to use this premium telescope… but since I know you, you can use it for free. Howzabout it?"
She paused, eyeing me suspiciously—but curiosity got the better of her. She stepped up and leaned into the scope.
There was a beat of silence.
Then another.
Then she pulled back with a squint.
All she saw… was red.
No glimmering crystals reflecting from the ceiling. No sparkling tunnel walls or hints of secret passageways. Just one solid, blurry sea of red. It wasn't what she expected, clearly.
She blinked a few times, rubbed at her eye—only to smear something across her face. That's when she noticed.
Red paint.
Right around her eye, like an accidental war stripe.
I tried to keep a straight face, but it was impossible.
"Huh? You aren't satisfied?" I said with a mock gasp. "Don't worry—I'll give you a full refund."
She gave me this look. That mixture of deadpan irritation and barely-suppressed laughter. She didn't even say anything—just let out a small, amused huff through her nose and shook her head as she walked past me, wiping her face with her sleeve.
Honestly, it was kind of nice. That quiet moment between everything else. No fights. No puzzles. Just a dumb prank and a bit of paint. Even if she was mildly annoyed, I could tell she didn't really mind. Underneath all that Determination, there was a spark of humor—like she was starting to understand what kind of world she'd really fallen into.
A world where death could be undone. Where monsters made puns instead of war. And where someone like me could still find the time to mess with a kid—just for a laugh.
She kept walking ahead, still chuckling under her breath.
Me? I stayed behind, letting her take the lead. After all, there was more to come. A lot more. But for now, she'd earned a small break.
Just her, a red eye, and a memory she probably wouldn't forget anytime soon.