Han Noa was sitting quietly alone in her room.
Only the sound of the clock’s second hand quietly filled the room.
Tick.
Tick.
Noa clasped her head with both hands.
Her mind was complicated again today.
There was a lot she had to do, and a lot she had to think about.
But strangely, she couldn’t do anything properly.
"……I hate this."
Noa muttered softly and closed her eyes.
That was when it happened.
A strange voice was heard in her head.
『Tired?』
Noa’s eyes slowly opened.
"……What?"
She looked around, but there was no one in the room.
『It’s okay.』
This time, it sounded a little clearer.
『I’ll do it for you instead.』
Noa held her breath.
"Who are you?"
A moment of silence passed.
Then the voice said,
『I am Han Seoa.』
"Han……Seoa?"
『Yeah.』
Noa unconsciously made something like a smile.
"Did I make up that name?"
『Probably.』
"Then are you…… me?"
There was no answer for a moment.
『I’m the one who protects you.』
At those words, Noa couldn’t say anything.
It was strange.
It was definitely a voice coming from inside her head.
But strangely, it wasn’t scary.
If anything, it was comforting.
『So it’s okay now.』
Seoa’s voice sounded gentle.
『I’ll hold on in your place.』
From that day on, Noa often talked with Seoa.
Whenever something hard happened, Seoa would appear.
When she was anxious, too.
When she was afraid, too.
Even when Noa didn’t want to do anything.
Seoa always said the same thing.
『It’s okay. I’m here.』
At first, that alone was enough.
Noa began to rely on Seoa.
---
Then one day.
Noa fell asleep in front of her desk.
And the next morning.
Everything she hadn’t been able to do yesterday was finished.
Neatly organized things were laid out on the desk.
Noa stared at them blankly.
"……Did I do this?"
Seoa answered from inside her head.
『Yeah. I did it.』
"When?"
『While you were asleep.』
Noa stayed silent for a moment.
It was strange.
But she didn’t dislike it.
"……Thank you."
『You’re welcome.』
Seoa said in a voice that sounded like she was smiling.
『I’ll keep doing it for you from now on, too.』
Noa heard that and smiled again.
At the time, she didn’t know.
Whether Seoa was truly protecting her.
Or whether……
She was slowly taking her place.
And that night.
After Noa fell asleep, Seoa’s voice quietly echoed in the empty room.
『Just a little longer. If you leave it to me just a little longer……』
A brief silence.
And then, a very small whisper.
『Someday, everything will be mine.』
