There was only one thing keeping Muffin tethered to this world.
Maple's happiness. The warm energy that flowed out in those moments held Muffin in place.
So for Muffin, Maple's happiness was both a mission and survival itself.
But then something strange began to happen.
Maple was getting better, little by little. She gained confidence in cooking, and the shop hummed with life. It was a good thing. It was what Muffin had wished for.
And yet, sometimes, Muffin couldn't quite find their place in Maple's eyes anymore.
The more Maple's days filled up, the more Muffin's spot inside them seemed to shift, ever so slightly. Maple was simply living.
For someone living in the present, a doll from the past naturally faded into the background.
Muffin now knew what happens when a second farewell finds a doll who broke the rules to come back.
That night, when Muffin had come down expecting nothing more than a scolding, no one could have guessed a secret like this was waiting.
The moment Maple can finally stand entirely on her own, Muffin's purpose ends.
And this time, there would be no return to the doll star. No trace, no memory. As if Muffin had never existed at all.
The happier Muffin made Maple, the less time Muffin had — and Muffin knew it.
Even so, Muffin stood by Maple's kitchen again today. Knowing exactly where it all leads, Muffin had still chosen this very moment.
