Self Discovery [2]

I blinked. Then I blinked again.

I thought I was imagining things, but did the Black Box just… greet me?

[The "Black Box" greets its master.]

The same message flashed again.

It wasn't an illusion. It wasn't my imagination.

The Black Box was communicating with me.

Did this mean it had a consciousness of its own?

[The 'Black Box' is looking at you.]

My thoughts stumbled over each other as I tried to process what was happening. Finally, I found my voice. "Wait… you could talk this whole time?"

「 Yes.」

"Then why didn't you say anything before?"

「 We were waiting for you to acknowledge our presence. 」

"Waiting? For me? Why?"

「 it would be no fun if we revealed ourselves unprompted. 」

I frowned at the nonchalant response.

The Black Box must have noticed my irritation because another message quickly appeared.

「 You shouldn't be upset. 」