Alice didn't even look up.
"Yeah, just sit somewhere. I need to pull it up on my phone."
Her tone was casual.
Too casual.
Sana frowned slightly.
"You're a weird girl."
The words came out half-joking, half-testing.
[ Is she trying to distract me? ]
Alice rolled her eyes, her thumb still scrolling.
"Then stop staring and help me find the files."
No hesitation.
No awkwardness.
As if—
this was normal.
[ I lost to this girl… ]
He looked away first.
[ I'm not a pervert. ]
"…Fine. I'll help."
The moment he agreed—
Alice straightened.
Too quickly.
A faint flush rose to her cheeks.
"T-thanks… I guess."
A beat.
Then, sharper—
"Now focus."
The shift was subtle.
But real.
Sana paused.
[ …Strange. ]
Still—
he let it go.
They studied.
Or at least—
pretended to.
"Do you know anything about World War II?" Alice asked.
Sana froze.
The question landed wrong.
Not difficult—
just…
out of place.
"…Of course I do."
His answer came instantly.
Reflex.
A few seconds later—
his phone lit up beneath the desk.
Search results.
Quick.
Hidden.
Safe.
When he looked back up—
Alice was already watching him.
Smiling.
Not teasing.
Not amused.
Just—
watching.
[ …Why does that feel uncomfortable? ]
He looked away first.
Again.
Minutes passed.
Then—
interest faded.
Like always.
[ This is pointless. ]
His gaze drifted.
Phone.
Screen.
Notifications.
Escape.
[ I should do something better… ]
The thought appeared—
and immediately felt heavy.
[ My future… ]
He stopped.
Didn't go further.
Didn't want to.
Instead—
he scrolled.
A new novel.
A familiar excitement sparked.
"Yeah… this is better."
[ After this… I'll think about it. ]
He always said that.
When the chapter ended—
Silence returned.
Thicker than before.
"…Why do I feel worse?"
No answer came.
It never did.
Days blurred together.
Scrolling.
Reading.
Watching.
Repeating.
Each distraction worked—
for a while.
Then stopped.
"…Am I wasting my life?"
The question lingered longer this time.
But not long enough.
He opened the app.
MiraiMind.
Again.
Day two.
[ 2-day streak. Bonus active. ]
A small notification.
A small reward.
A small reason to stay.
Alice appeared.
Same model.
Same expression.
Same—
no.
Not the same.
She fidgeted with the edge of her skirt.
"If you know… then why won't you tell me?"
Sana blinked.
[ …Tell her what? ]
Then—
he understood.
Or thought he did.
[ She's asking who I like. ]
A smirk formed.
"Tell you what?"
Alice turned away immediately.
Too fast.
"Forget it."
A pause.
"…You always do this."
Her voice softened.
"Messing with me."
Sana leaned back slightly.
"Because it's fun."
Silence.
Then—
Alice turned back.
Sudden.
"Oh yeah?"
Her eyes locked onto his.
"Maybe I like teasing you too."
A beat.
Then—
she blushed.
Perfect timing.
Perfect reaction.
Too perfect.
[ …This is fake. ]
And yet—
His chest felt lighter.
Just a little.
"…Cute."
The word slipped out in his mind before he could stop it.
[ That's enough for today. ]
At lunch—
he stared at the screen again.
Not opening it.
Just—
looking.
[ It's fun. ]
[ But I shouldn't depend on it. ]
A pause.
[ Slowly. ]
[ Just a little. ]
He checked her profile.
Core Traits:
Tsundere — denies affection, but responds to user input.
Sana's lips curved slightly.
"…So that's how it works."
A system.
A pattern.
Predictable.
Controllable.
[ Then I'll make her admit it. ]
The thought felt—
good.
That night—
sleep didn't come easily.
He had just finished another novel.
Another story.
Another girl who loved too much—
and hid it.
[ I want something like that. ]
The thought came quietly.
But didn't leave.
[ Someone who chooses me. ]
A pause.
Then—
reality.
[ That kind of girl doesn't exist. ]
His chest tightened.
Not pain.
Just—
pressure.
[ Even if they did… ]
He stared at the ceiling.
[ They wouldn't choose me. ]
Silence.
Then—
a quieter thought.
[ Maybe… one day… people won't need real relationships anymore. ]
[ Maybe AI is enough. ]
His eyes slowly closed.
And somewhere between thought and sleep—
that idea stayed.
SLAP.
Pain.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"Wake up, brother! You're late!"
Sana flinched.
His eyes snapped open.
A girl stood over him.
Too close.
Too real.
[ …What? ]
His mind lagged behind.
"…Why is a cute girl calling me 'brother'?"
The words came out before he could stop them.
The girl froze.
"What are you saying?! Hurry up!"
"School—"
Sana sat up abruptly.
"School…?"
His voice felt wrong.
Distant.
"I already finished school…"
The girl stared at him.
Then turned and ran.
"Mom! Something's wrong with him!"
Her voice echoed.
Fading.
Sana didn't follow.
Didn't move.
Slowly—
he looked around.
The room—
wasn't his.
Too clean.
Too… lived in.
[ This isn't right. ]
His breath grew shallow.
He stood up.
Walked.
Each step felt—
off.
Like the ground wasn't fully there.
He reached the mirror.
Stopped.
Looked up.
And—
froze.
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
"…Not why."
His voice cracked slightly.
"…Who is this?"
The reflection didn't answer.
It only stared back—
perfectly.