•__________________________________________________________•

??? POV

'Hey, why are you so quiet?'

That question. No matter where I am, they always ask the same thing, and each time, I would answer—

'. . . . .'

—with silence.

•__________________________________________________________•

"Hmmm. . . . how do I do this?"

It's been a long time since I was thrown out of the room. Maybe it's been days or so and she still hasn't come out.

Not even a word.

I kept on trying to appease her anger but—

—not even a word.

And after what seemed like days, finally—

A piece of paper slid beneath the door—

'How long do you plan on staying there?'

"!!"

"I need to talk to you! I need to know how to get out here!"

I banged on the door and exclaimed.

'I won't get anywhere if I don't have information. There's no guarantee that I'll meet someone else here, and right now, she's the only one who knows something.'

Another paper slid out of the door—

'Don't shout! My head is starting to ache because you're so noisy.'

". . . . ."

After a while, a pen and paper were thrown out of the door.

'Is she asking me to be pen pals with her? I have no complaints, though. If she wants to communicate this way, it's fine with me.'

I started writing on the paper. I found it amazing that I was able to read and write in this dark space.

Now then—

I figured that if I have to say something, I should be as direct as possible. No beating around the bush and so—

'I want to know at least a bit of information. For starters, where is this place?'

—and just like that, I passed the paper through the gap below the door.

I gradually felt nervous for some reason, she got mad last time, so I feel like I have to be careful of every word that I say to her.

'I wonder why she got mad last time?'

As I was thinking of a reason—

fwp*

"!"

I was expecting a long explanation yet, the only words were—

'I can't tell you that.'

I quickly replied—

'Why?!'

Not even a minute passed, she replied with the same words that she said last time.

'Because I hate you?'

". . . . ."

I stared at the paper for a while.

'Why a question mark? Is she trying to sound cute? No, no, no, that can't be. THAT girl? Trying to be cute? No way.'

I sat on the floor while leaning at the door. I thought of something.

'Does she want me to ask more about her?'

"Hmmm. . .let's go with—"

'Then— who are you? Are you trapped in here too?'

I sent my message.

'If I'm reading her right, she's frustrated because I forgot about her, I guess?'

I thought she was going to take like a minute to reply, but after a minute or two, there's still nothing.

'She's taking a lot longer than usual. For now, let's list the facts—

First, she hates me? Put a question mark there.

She said that I killed her.

She has her own space, which either means that she belongs here or maybe, she has been here for so long that she grew accustomed to this place.

She knows where this place is.

She knows who I am and—

She doesn't like noisy people.'

"Hmm. . .killed her. She should be dead, then that only means this place is either the underworld or a place between life and death or maybe she meant killed figuratively."

I mumbled, trying to tie the strings.

And after a long time—

fwp*

'Ah, here it comes!'

What came out was, believe it or not—

A three-sentence one.

'After making me wait for so long—

—only this?'

I read every single word carefully.

'I won't tell you who I am, but I am someone who resides in this place. I was born here. I hope that answers your question.'

". . . . ."

'She wrote 'won't' not 'can't' so she just doesn't want to tell me.'

"Let's just be straightforward, then."

'I want to get to know you, even just a bit. Pretty please? (･ω<)☆'

Not bad for an emoji.

"I hope I can get a proper answer this time."

I waited patiently for her reply.

After a few minutes—

fwp*

I prepared myself for a bland response, and flipped the paper and—

'What do you want to know?'

'I honestly thought it was going to be something like an 'I don't want to' kind of sentence but—

—maybe she's tired of my persistence and just gave in.'

"I can't read her at all. But this is my chance! Well then—"

'Let's start this over then, as you know, I don't know anything about myself, so you can just give me some kind of nickname or so.

But you're different, if I want to get along with you, I need to know your name. Will you tell me?'

I have to say, props to me, that was a good start. Now—

—I pleaded to <insert any religious figure here> so hard, my only desire was to get a normal response. 

After an intense moment of praying and meditating—

fwp*

—the paper has arrived.

I breathed in and out. I have never been so nervous about a piece of paper.

'Please!!!'

I closed my eyes and peeked at what might be a negative response, surprisingly—

'I won't call you with any other name, you only have one name. I won't tell you, though. 

As for my name. . .my name—

—I have no name. 

But I am known as Naiko if you know what it means, then everything should be clear.'

I was in awe. She told me her name. Well, not her name but still—

'Naiko. . .Am I supposed to recall anything about that?'

But I was finally able to take the first step.

After what seemed like weeks, I gained an achievement.

? Got her name.

I was so satisfied. I felt my cheeks warming up.

"Naiko, huh?"

I stared at her words, specifically the last ones—

'If you know what it means, then everything should be clear.'

"It's not like I have an internet search engine at my beck and call so—

—in the end, I need to remember it on my own."

With the realization that I haven't even made a single drop in the bucket, I sighed.

"Haa. . .this will be a long one."