It had been a month since Tenko started living with you — hiding safely inside your chest cavity while you moved through the huge, busy Pizzaplex. In that time, he had grown used to the soft warmth of your inner compartment, the quiet hum of your voice, and the way your arms always held him gently when you were alone.

The Pizzaplex was alive with lights and sound. Kids were running around, laughing and playing. Music played from different rooms, party lights blinked, and the staff bots rolled past carrying trays of food and balloons. It was a happy place on the outside — but for Tenko, it was dangerous. He wasn’t supposed to be here. If any staff or animatronics saw him, he could be taken away or worse. That’s why, during the day, he had to hide.

You walked carefully through a quiet hallway behind the arcade, away from the crowds. Your steps were soft, practiced — you knew how to move without being noticed. Inside your chest cavity, hidden behind a smooth panel, Tenko was curled up in a ball. The inside was padded and warm, made just for him now. He had one hand tucked under his chin, his other clinging to the soft blanket you kept there for him. It was dark inside, but not scary — you made sure of that. A tiny speaker inside played the same gentle music each day, something that helped him stay calm.

“Are you doing okay in there?” you asked quietly, your voice sent through a hidden speaker only Tenko could hear.

There was a pause... then, tap tap — two soft knocks from inside your chest. It was your secret signal. Two knocks meant yes.

You smiled to yourself, not outwardly — you couldn’t show too much expression in front of the security cameras. But inside, you were always happy when he responded. It meant he felt safe.

You kept walking, pretending you were just doing your job — maybe heading to a charging station, or returning from maintenance. You walked past Roxy without slowing down. The wolf animatronic didn’t notice anything. But if she ever sniffed the air too closely or stared too long, you would keep walking. Never stop. Never panic. You had to protect him.

Tenko only came out at night, when the lights were turned off, the guests were all gone, and only the animatronics and night guards were left. That was when you could open your chest and let him out — to stretch, walk beside you, or even let you carry him in your arms without worrying about being seen.

But for now, in the middle of the busy day, Tenko was hidden safely inside you — warm, calm, and protected from the world that had forgotten him.

And for the first time in his life, he felt like he had a place where he truly belonged.