•__________________________________________________________•

??? POV

'. . .Why did you do such a thing?'

'I. . .'

'You're usually cheerful, not letting anyone drag you down. Why?'

'I'm just. . .really tired, is all.'

'. . . . .'

'Are you mad?'

'. . .In a way, I am.'

'Haha. . .sorry.'

'. . .'

•__________________________________________________________•

In that plain, white room, a girl was sitting on her bed. Muttering, as if talking to someone.

It wasn't the first time she did that.

At first, it was just simple. A small talk. As time passed, her 'condition' worsened.

She behaved as if someone else was there. No, she was talking to someone.

It was incredibly disturbing.

 At times, she's expressionless and cold.

At times, she's playful, yet quiet.

At times, she kept on shouting and throwing a fit,

and another time, she's just staring outside, lifelessly.

No one visited the girl.

The one in charge of her seems to be taking daily rounds, but she shows no signs of being healed.

"Just like that, another incident happened.

But that's how far I can go.

The rest? You can hear it from the other ones."

The sound of the closed book snapped me out of it. I was just speechless.

"How is it? Remembered something?"

She suddenly asked.

". . .No, not yet. But just with that story, I can imagine how scary that experience must be."

"Scary? You think it's scary?"

I was taken aback by her question.

"Wasn't it? Being in that situation?"

"Scary? Hm. . .no. It wasn't scary."

She made a pondering face and gave a direct answer.

"Really?"

"Hn. . .anyway, if you're memories are still unclear, we'll try another method."

"And that method is?"

"Well. . .I'll think of something."

She stood up and placed the book on the shelf.

"When are we going to do it?"

". . .Let's see. Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?!"

I accidentally exclaimed.

"You don't want to?"

"No, it's just. . .so sudden."

". . .Don't worry, I won't force you if you don't want to."

"No! I do want to remember, but. . ."

I hesitated. A part of me was afraid of who I'll become.

'Will I change?

How pathetic. . .

After all that bravado 'I want to get out of here.'

Why am I so afraid now?'

"If you keep being like this, we won't make it."

"Huh?"

I widened my eyes at her. She wouldn't usually say such encouraging words like this.

"A long time ago, you directed those words at me."

"I did?"

'Could it be at the time when I was still positive?'

". . .That's right. You did."

'Ah! Again, she smiled.'

She rarely smiles, so seeing her smile still surprises me. It was soothing, relaxing even.

"What's wrong? Are you sleepy?"

"Eh? No, well. . .maybe I am? I do feel a little bit dizzy."

I was getting confused, my head was all over the place.

My head started throbbing with ache.

"Ugh. . ."

". . .Sleep. You're obviously tired."

"No, I'm just━"

Before I even finished what I was saying, she already covered my eyes with her hands.

Mysteriously, like always, I fell into a deep sleep.

•__________________________________________________________•

As if time stood still, she kept on looking at the girl who was sleeping.

knock* knock*

All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door. She opened it and━

"Yaho~ See? I told you it was gonna rain."

". . .Why did you come here?"

"You're as cold as always. Even though I came here to visit you━"

"You don't need to visit━"

"I even brought you your favorite, a limited edition, handmade, luxury milk tea."

". . .Come in."

"Hehe. . ."

•__________________________________________________________•

The two of them sat casually on the dining table.

Cautious with the sound of their voices.

"So? Why the sudden visit?"

"Well, I came to say that I sent them the message."

". . .Is that so? And? How did they react?"

"As expected. One of them overreacted, and the other, completely indifferent."

". . .I see."

". . .How's it going with that?"

Kan casually glanced at the girl sleeping.

"Nothing much. . ."

"Hmm. . .is she going to meet me soon?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't really mind. She seems nice. Without her memory, that is."

". . .Indeed."

"Don't trust her yet, huh? You're truly a tough one to crack."

"Well, it's a given."

"Still not going to show her your face? Are you afraid that she'll be guilty?"

". . .Not really."

"Hmm. . .well, tomorrow's the day. Good luck~"

Kan stood up, grabbed her umbrella, and disappeared with her usual frivolous words.

"Really. . .how annoying."

She touched the other half of her face over the cloth.

With an expression as calm as always.

•__________________________________________________________•