"You came out because I asked you to?"

  "That's right. You were fed up with being bullied by your uncle and aunt all the time, weren't you?"

  "Yeah..."

  "You couldn't stand being treated horribly anymore. You felt like you would lose your mind if you didn't think, 'This isn't happening to me.'"

  "I" guessed everything about me correctly. As expected, she knows me well.

  "You wanted someone to spoil you. You wanted to be comforted. Especially by someone like Mom."

  "But, Mom is..."

  When I thought about Mom and felt down, "I" also looked down with a sad face.

  "She's gone, isn't she."

  "I" looked up and stared straight at me. Then, she continued.

  "Since you had no one to rely on, you created that role within yourself. To protect your own heart. Your desire to escape and your desire to be loved awakened me, a part of Yu Hoshimi."

  "I don't really get it. But anyway, you are me, right?"

  Then "I" smiled, looking a bit troubled.

  "Well, something like that."

  "I see. Even though you're a girl, you're me."

  Then, there was something I was curious about.

  "Hey. I'm properly a boy, right?"

  "Of course. I'm just like a part of your heart, after all."

  Hearing that, I was relieved.

  "Thank goodness~. I get teased a lot for looking like a girl, and I always hate it. But if I wasn't really a boy, I wouldn't be able to talk back anymore."

  "I don't feel too bad about it, though. I always think you should just let them say what they want."

  "But it's frustrating! It feels like they're making fun of me. If you're me, you understand this feeling, right?"

  "I understand it well. But with things like this, isn't it a loss if you let it get to you? Since you're a boy, you should just hold your head high confidently."

  "Is that so?"

  "It is. Even though I always guide your thoughts in that direction, you never listen. I'm amazed at you, even though you are me."

  I didn't understand the meaning of the words "guide thoughts," but since "I" said she was amazed and sighed like 'good grief,' I thought she was probably making fun of me.

  "Why do even you have to make fun of me? Geez."

  When I sulked, "I" slowly approached me and stroked my head with a gentle touch. It was a strangely warm hand, just like Mom used to do for me. But since "I" looked exactly like me, it felt weird, as if I were comforting myself.

  "Don't sulk so much. I think that part of you will fix itself when you grow up a little more. I'm supporting you properly, so it's okay."

  "Hmm."

  Like that, I continued to be comforted by "I" for a while.

  By the way, the me of that time had an honest heart that believed whatever was told. The fact that she was the splitting image of me must have been a factor that kept the me of that time from having doubts. Anyway, the me of that time accepted this story as it was, and naturally accepted this mysterious space and "I" without thinking too much about it.

  Suddenly, "I" placed her hand on her chest and said.

  "Even so, I was surprised that you went as far as creating a body for me. This body fits perfectly, so I'm gratefully using it, though."

  "I made your body?"

  "That's right. I don't know the details either, but it seems we are born with a mysterious power. I think you used that power unconsciously."

  "Power?"

  "Yeah. I've been watching that power from inside you all along. This 'World of Heart' is where that power resides. Or rather, maybe this place is the power itself."

  "I" spread her arms and indicated the surroundings. I looked around everywhere, but it was pitch black as far as I could see, and it looked like there was nothing. Getting a little scared of the dark place, I turned back to "I."

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  "I" smiled brightly and continued.

  "Our power seems to be still truly asleep. It's surely too strong, so I think it's waiting for the body to grow until it can withstand it."

  "I don't really understand, but will I be amazing when I grow up?"

  "Maybe. You weren't supposed to be able to come here yet, so that you couldn't use the power."

  "I's" story became difficult and I didn't understand well again, but I understood that I came to a place I shouldn't have come to.

  "But, I came."

  "You did. Your feelings were strong, so it seems we connected temporarily."

  "Is that okay?"

  "I don't know. But there's nothing we can do about what has already happened. For now, let's rejoice in the coincidence that we met like this. I don't know how long we can talk like this, but nice to meet you."

  "I" held out her left hand. It was obvious, but even her hand was exactly the same. I also held out my left hand and shook it.

  "Yeah. Nice to meet you. It's weird to greet someone who looks exactly like yourself."

  "Truly. Maybe we're the only ones in the world having this experience."

  It became somewhat funny, and we both laughed. Even the way we laughed and our voices were the same.

  "Hey."

  "What?"

  After calming down, I asked something I had been wondering about since a while ago.

  "You are me, but you seem much more grown-up than me. Why? You know a lot of words too."

  Then "I" immediately made a proud face.

  "Of course. Because I know everything you have experienced."

  I was surprised.

  "Everything!? You haven't forgotten a single thing?"

  "Because I'm a resident inside you. All your experiences accumulate in this vessel called the 'World of Heart'."

  "This place is a container."

  "Yeah. And you see, the information coming in from the surrounding world is much more than you think. Since I receive the benefit of that, I'm more solid compared to you."

  Benefit... Did that mean something like a blessing? Then.

  "What. So you don't remember it by your own power. I wasted my surprise."

  When I said that, "I" pouted and retorted.

  "Shut up. It's your fault for expecting something on your own."

  That attitude seemed very much like the girls in my class when they got really angry. I think adults probably wouldn't get angry like this. Maybe this person just has knowledge but isn't really that grown-up. Well, if I think about it, she grew up with me, so maybe it's natural.

  "Sorry."

  "Hmph. Well, if you apologize properly, I might forgive you."

  "I" was sulking with her lips slightly pursed.

  "Yeah. My bad."

  But when I honestly bowed my head, "I's" expression returned to normal immediately.

  "It's fine. It's true that I acted a bit too proud. Sorry about that."

  "I" also bowed her head.

  Apologizing to myself became a very weird thing. Getting angry when she thought she was made fun of, and forgiving immediately and reflecting on her own bad points when apologized to—she really is just like me.

  When "I" raised her head, suddenly another new wonder came up. It was something that made me a little anxious.

  "Hey."

  "What is it this time?"

  She tilted her head slightly and looked at me. I tried saying what I thought as it was.

  "Everything I see and hear ... uh, accumulates? ... in this container called the 'World of Heart', right?"

  "That's right. What about it?"

  "Then..."

  Feeling something restless in my chest, I voiced that anxiety.

  "What happens if the container becomes full someday?"

  Hearing that, "I" frowned, then made a face as if impressed.

  "Heeh. You ask an interesting thing."

  "Because, if you fill a cup with water, it will overflow eventually, right? I wondered what would happen. If something strange would happen."

  "Hmm. I don't know about that either."

  "I see..."

  To me, who was disappointed not getting the expected answer, "I" smiled.

  "However, I don't think you need to worry too much. Strangely enough, our container is endlessly large. Just like the universe. It's surely unlikely that this 'World of Heart' will be filled with memories. Even if we spend a lifetime."

  Being told that, my heart felt cleared.

  "I see. Then it's a relief."

  "It's just a 'probably', though."

  Like that, we talked for a while. Although it's doubtful if we can really be called 'two people'. But the form didn't matter. It was a fun time that made me forget the painful things for a while. For the first time in a long while, I could talk to someone I could tell my whole heart to.

  But this time didn't last forever. Eventually, "I" said.

  "It seems morning is coming soon."

  I was startled.

  "Eh... then, is this a dream?"

  Thinking it was a dream, I became very sad. Even though I finally found someone to talk to. As if to comfort me who was disappointed, "I" said.

  "You don't need to worry. You entered here using a dream, but this is a real place."

  "Really?"

  Nodding to that, "I" continued with a difficult face, saying "But."

  "When you wake up, I think you will forget the events here. Because we are connected by force. To prevent bad effects when you leave here and return to reality, your memories should be separated and remain here."

  "Does that mean... I'll forget about you too?"

  "I" nodded sadly.

  "I don't want that! Something like that! Do I have to go back to that place alone again? Won't you stay by my side!?"

  To me, who was about to cry from loneliness and pain, "I" didn't say anything and approached me with gentle eyes. Reaching a distance where we could feel each other's breath, "I" hugged me tightly.

  From there, a strange thing happened. When my body and "I's" body touched, "I's" body melted into my body. Then, various parts of my body became hot. I was filled with a feeling like something was being fulfilled and a comfort I couldn't describe.

  In the end, we became completely one, and only my body remained. From inside my body, "I's" voice of the heart was conveyed directly to me.

  (True, you are alone, but not alone. Even if you don't remember, I am properly inside you like this. I am supporting you. So, don't lose.)

  I felt a warmth that made me feel cozy and a comfort like being hugged from the inside throughout my body. That softened my sad feelings. Not with words, but it was conveyed with the heart. That "I" was always with me all along.

  (Yeah...)

  (Besides, it's okay. You are still connected to this place. As long as we are connected, we can meet again in a dream soon. If you come here, you should remember the events here again.)

  (Hey. Can we meet again?)

  (Yeah. Surely. So, come again.)

  From the pitch-black 'World of Heart', I was thrown out into a pure white place—.

  I woke up in the narrow storage room.

  Traces of crying were stuck to my face. I see. I cried myself to sleep yesterday. I remembered what Uncle and Aunt did to me, and felt bad. But my mood was much lighter than I thought. Maybe I felt refreshed after sleeping.

  At that moment, the sound of the door unlocking was heard, and Uncle's yelling voice came from outside.

  "Hey! It's time for school! The neighbors will be noisy if we don't send even someone like you! Get out quickly!"

  "Yes! I'm coming out now!"

  My new day began.