Hugo is lost in thought, reflecting on his chaotic semi-canon nightmare that was The Room of You (TROY). Nathaniel notices his unusual silence and checks in on him. Hugo reveals his lingering doubts about his place in his friend group with Kay and Pearl. He feels like he’s always caught up in problems, even when he doesn’t intend to be, and wonders if he truly belongs among his friends. Despite Nathaniel’s reassurance that his friends care about him, Hugo struggles with the fact that Kay and Pearl have been distant, leaving his messages unread or barely acknowledged.
Hugo then decides to open up further, asking Nathaniel not to judge him before retrieving a mysterious red-cased capsule from a hidden compartment in his closet. He explains that, early in his time at ERA, he had trouble sleeping and went to the Black Market to find a solution. Unable to afford traditional sleeping aids, he ended up buying this mysterious substance from a shady street vendor, a dust that promised to help with sleep and self-discovery but instead gave him nightmares. Hugo shares how the dreams transformed into a labyrinth where the people he cared about, like Kay and Pearl, were twisted into terrifying monsters feasting on his insecurities, which may have been partly why Kay and Pearl stopped talking to him.
Nathaniel helps Hugo navigate his feelings of guilt and regret. He reassures him that his friends likely helped him because they wanted to, and that they didn’t mind helping him despite the chaos. Hugo admits he still feels distant from his friends and fears they’ve avoided him, but Nathaniel encourages him to reach out and reconnect. He invites Hugo to play Sonic with him.