Time passed and a child emerged from the ruins. The child was dust-free, but Sands quickly read the child's LOVE. Luckily, the child's LOVE hadn't risen at all, just like the dust. Sandz finally managed to open it, thinking that maybe this time it would be okay.
But what should I do now, he hasn't promised his friend, so maybe I should kill him right away. No, I shouldn't let him know yet, he can bend time.
Secretly deliberating beneath his mask-like, unchanging face, Sands decided to wait a little longer. The risk was too great.
Sands followed the kid and shook his fart cushion hand, just like he always did. The kid responded to the handshake, but his expression didn't change. No matter what she said, he remained expressionless. He suppressed his inexplicable anxiety and bragged about his brother, advised him to hide behind a lamp, watched him solve Papyrus's puzzle, and stopped to talk to him halfway to Snowdyne. All the while Sands watches, the child hasn't killed a single monster.
Though his expressionless face was troubling, Sands was relieved when the child arrived in Snowdyne without a speck of dust on him. He entered the house to catch his breath.
* * *
Sands sat down on the living room couch and turned on the TV. A live broadcast was playing, but it was nothing new to him. He hadn't turned on the TV to watch it, so it didn't matter. His eyes were glued to the screen, but his mind was racing.
What the hell am I supposed to do, I need to find a solution, and fast, but how can I best stop it? I can't do it clumsily, or it won't work, and he can rewind time, so it's not just about stopping this one right now. I need a long-term solution, not a short-term solution, something that can be accomplished within a set time frame.
"...Could it be?"
Papyrus said in Moorish, but it was hardly audible to Sands, who was still pondering.
"Sands?"
"...Oh, sorry. I was watching some TV. What did you say?"
Sands looked at Papyrus with an apologetic expression. Papyrus was frowning.
"You didn't hear what I said, big brother! If I catch a human, I can definitely become a Royal Guard, right?"
"Of course. I've told you before, if you catch one, you're a shoo-in for the Royal Guard."
"Great! I'm going to be a Royal Guard this time!"
Sands cheerfully dried the papyrus around her scarf, not sure if she should or not. Part of her wanted to tear her sister apart, but after what she had done this time, she thought it would be better if she didn't. While she was thinking, Papyrus, who had finished getting ready, opened the door and said, "I'll be right back.
"Well, I'll be right back."
"Oh, don't push yourself too hard, have a good trip."
The door closed. Sands sighed.
I didn't know how he would react to the change in Papyrus's behavior after drying him. I wanted to stop him if I could, but he was the kind of kid who would do anything to satisfy my curiosity, so this was probably the best way to let him go. Sands rationalized to herself that she had no choice but to act as she had before.
Through the window, she could see the child heading out of Snowdene. Sands knew that in a little while, Papyrus would bring her back to the warehouse, or she would come back for a date with Papyrus, even if she didn't like it.
After Papyrus left, Sands stared blankly at the TV, thinking for a while, and decided to put the intractable problem on hold. The longer he dangled the solution, the more he couldn't see it. He looked at his watch. A lot of time had passed while he'd been thinking. From what he remembered, it was still time for Papyrus to return. It was strange. In all her memories of Papyrus gaining a human friend, it had never taken this long. She wondered if this would be the longest it had ever taken. Sands brought her hands together and drummed her fingers together.
