Chapter 10: Peace Was a Mistake
Miller woke up peacefully.
Which was already wrong.
No stress.
No chaos.
No sudden existential crisis.
"…This feels illegal," he muttered, sitting up.
He looked around.
Everything was normal.
Too normal.
"…Something bad is going to happen."
Breakfast – Suspiciously Functional
Miller walked into the dining room.
And froze.
Cloe was sitting.
At the table.
Eating.
Andro was also there.
Serving food.
And—
They were sitting together.
"…No," Miller whispered. "This is fake."
Reality Check
"Good morning," Andro said gently.
"…Good morning," Miller replied cautiously.
Cloe glanced at him.
"You're late."
"…I was mentally preparing for disaster."
"…Unnecessary."
"…I disagree."
The Scene Continues
Cloe took another bite.
"…This is acceptable."
Miller slammed his soul on the table.
ACCEPTABLE?!
Andro's Reaction
"…I'll improve it," he said softly.
"…NO YOU WON'T," Miller snapped.
Both of them looked at him.
"…I mean—you don't need to. It's already good."
Miller's Internal Panic
Stop him from overworking.
Stop her from under-appreciating.
Balance the universe.
Cloe Observes
"You're loud this morning."
"…I'm alive this morning."
"…Barely."
"…Accurate."
Unexpected Routine
They ate.
Together.
Without disaster.
Without emotional explosions.
Without Miller screaming internally every five seconds.
…
"…I don't trust this," he whispered again.
The Shift Begins
"Stay home today," Cloe suddenly said.
Miller froze.
"…To who?"
"You."
"…WHY?"
"…You look unstable."
"…I AM unstable!"
Plot Twist #27
"You'll rest," she added.
"…You're giving me a day off?"
"Yes."
"…Voluntarily?"
"Yes."
"…Without kidnapping me to the office?"
"Yes."
Miller's Brain
This is it.
This is how I die.
Meanwhile – Andro Notices
Andro glanced at Miller.
"…You should rest."
"…YOU TOO?!" Miller cried.
"…You look tired."
"…I'm emotionally exhausted!"
Cloe's Decision
"It's settled."
"…I don't like how final that sounded."
"You're staying."
"…Am I being benched?"
"…Yes."
After Breakfast – New Problem
Cloe stood up.
"…I'm leaving."
"…Work?"
"Yes."
She paused.
Looked at Andro.
"…Eat properly."
"…I will."
Then—
She looked at Miller.
"…Don't do anything strange."
"…Define strange."
"…You."
"…That's unfair."
Door Closes
Silence filled the house.
Miller and Andro stood there.
Alone.
Again.
The New Situation
"…So," Miller said slowly, "we're alone."
"…Yes."
"…This feels like a side quest."
"…What kind?"
"…The dangerous kind."
Andro's Calm Response
"…We can just rest."
"…You don't rest."
"…I can try."
"…You won't."
"…Probably not."
Miller's New Mission
Make Andro rest.
Prevent overworking.
Avoid emotional collapse.
"…Sit," Miller said firmly.
Andro blinked.
"…Okay."
Step 1: Force Relaxation
Miller pushed him toward the chair.
"Sit."
"…I am sitting."
"Good."
"Now do nothing."
"…That's difficult."
"…TRY."
Step 2: Supervision Mode
Miller crossed his arms.
Watching.
Closely.
Suspiciously.
"…You're staring," Andro said.
"…I don't trust you."
"…I'm sitting."
"…You might stand."
"…I won't."
"…You might cook."
"…Not right now."
"…Good."
Five Minutes Later
Andro slowly stood up.
"…I'm going to make tea."
"…NO YOU'RE NOT."
"…But—"
"Sit."
"…Okay."
Miller's Victory
I am controlling the situation.
This is working.
The Problem
"…What do we do now?" Andro asked.
"…We relax."
"…How?"
"…I don't know."
Silence
Two men.
Sitting.
Doing nothing.
Completely lost.
Miller's Genius Idea
"…Let's watch something."
"…What?"
"…Anything."
"…Okay."
Ten Minutes Later
They were watching a random show.
No one understood the plot.
No one asked questions.
Unexpected Peace
Andro leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
For once.
"…This is nice," he said quietly.
Miller blinked.
"…Yeah."
Character Development (Rare Event)
He's resting.
He's actually resting.
I did something right.
Meanwhile… At the Office
Cloe sat at her desk.
Working.
But—
She paused.
Looked at her phone.
…
"…They're quiet," she muttered.
Suspicion Activated
Why are they quiet?
What are they doing?
Why does that bother me?
Back Home – The Calm Before Disaster
Miller stretched.
"…See? Relaxing isn't hard."
"…It is," Andro replied.
"…You're doing it."
"…Because you're forcing me."
"…It counts."
Door Opens
Both of them turned.
Cloe stood there.
Earlier than expected.
System Notification
Boss has returned early. Panic.
The Scene
Two men.
Sitting together.
Watching something.
Relaxed.
Peaceful.
Cloe's Expression
…changed.
Just slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
"…Relaxing," Miller said.
"…Together?"
"…Yes."
Danger Level Rising
"…Without me?"
"…WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!" Miller panicked.
End Scene
Cloe stepped inside slowly.
Eyes on them.
Calculating.
"…I see."
Final Thought
Miller stared at her.
Then at Andro.
Then back at her.
"…Peace was a mistake."
To Be Continued…