Han Noa sat quietly alone in the room.
Only the sound of the clock’s second hand softly filled the room.
Tick.
Tick.
Noa clutched his head with both hands.
His mind was cluttered again today.
There were many things he had to do, and many things to think about.
But strangely, he couldn’t do any of them properly.
"...I hate this."
Noa muttered softly and closed his eyes.
That was when it happened.
A strange voice was heard inside his head.
『Tired?』
Noa’s eyes slowly opened.
"...What?"
He looked around, but there was no one in the room.
『It’s okay.』
This time, it was a little clearer.
『I’ll do it for you.』
Noa held his breath.
"Who are you?"
A brief silence passed.
Then the voice said.
『I’m Han Seoa.』
"Han... Seoa?"
『Yeah.』
Noa unconsciously made something like a smile.
"Did I make that name up?"
『Maybe.』
"Then you... are me?"
There was no reply for a moment.
『I’m the one who protects you.』
At those words, Noa couldn’t say anything.
It was strange.
It was clearly a voice he heard inside his own head.
And yet, strangely, it wasn’t scary.
If anything, it was comforting.
『So it’s okay now.』
Seoa’s voice sounded gentle.
『I’ll bear it in your place.』
After that day, Noa often talked with Seoa.
Whenever something was hard, Seoa would appear.
When he was anxious, too.
When he was afraid, too.
Even when Noa didn’t want to do anything.
Seoa always said the same thing.
『It’s okay. I’m here, aren’t I?』
At first, that alone was enough.
Noa began to rely on Seoa.
---
Then one day.
Noa fell asleep in front of his desk.
And the next morning.
All the things he hadn’t been able to finish yesterday were done.
Neatly arranged items were laid out on the desk.
Noa stared at them blankly.
"...Did I do this?"
Seoa answered in his head.
『Yeah. I did it.』
"When?"
『While you were sleeping.』
Noa said nothing for a moment.
It was strange.
But he didn’t dislike it.
"...Thanks."
『You’re welcome.』
Seoa said in a voice that sounded like a smile.
『I’ll keep doing it for you, too.』
Hearing that, Noa smiled again.
He didn’t know then.
Whether Seoa was truly protecting him.
Or whether...
he was slowly taking his place.
And that night.
After Noa fell asleep, Seoa’s voice quietly echoed in the empty room.
『Just a little more. If you just leave a little more to me...』
A brief silence.
And then, a very small whisper.
『Someday, it will all be mine.』
