A multiverse in ruins

Chapter 59:Restart

Weeks later, Shino's POV

I smile as I watch everyone busy themselves with activities. Nobody was free. Well, Radier was but he just woke up. I put on my eye patch and look outside. Nobody is around. E!Pap is having Mama Geno and I wear eye-patches instead of glitches over our eyes to make ourselves less noticeable by enemies. It's worked so I am not complaining. I glance around and once ensuring that I'm all clear, I take this as a chance to go see Mister Cipher again. The past few weeks were full of me secretly going to see him and we'd chat. He wasn't going to tell me everything so easily of course. He needs to build trust with me and I need to trust him. So we've been chatting about random things to get a strong bond with each other's trust before he opens up about the things he nearly told me weeks ago. I got to see a different side to Cipher. Not the sinister deal-maker but just someone trying not to get killed in this multiverse. I'd laugh as he would joke about the wackiest encounters or deals he had with others. Despite being an enemy and a "high-contributor" to the multiverse problem as Science describes it, he's a really nice person.

Today I met him in the woods and he seemed to open up at long last.

"Renew came to me and wanted to make what seemed like a simple deal. But she kept making deals afterwards and used loopholes to ensure I don't find a way to break of my connection with her. And when those started running out, Renew started using threats. It got to a point where I was making deals to help her. Including the ones with Fresh. That was a repeat of the cycle she put me through except she positioned me as the culprit. I am honestly sorry for what I did to him but I can also honestly say that every time he asked me where his Deccy was, I honestly didn't know. Renew was the one who hid him away, she only sent me to keep Fresh in her control which of course failed. Every time I didn't listen, she'd threaten someone close to me and at first I thought she was bluffing, but then I couldn't find that person anywhere and I thought the worst. That convinced me that Renew has some truth to her words and I thought it was better to listen to her if I wanted that someone to be ok when I finally locate him. Shino, I am honestly sorry for everything I did to you all. I didn't know any better. I thought deals got me into this mess and could get me out, but that didn't work. I knew nothing but using deals to get past problems, I wasn't familiar with other methods. And it caused so much trouble that I didn't mean to cause."He explains, apologizing sincerely

I smile, seeing genuine regret and sorrow in his gaze.

I was right...I knew it! There is more to him than just an accomplice! He's not exactly a willing one!

I hug him with a big grin.

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew there was more to you than it seemed!"I cheer

"W-What?"He says

"Your values and known personality didn't exactly line up with someone that would help Renew that much. It seemed unnatural. I knew there had to be more to you! And there is good in you after all!"I say