Noa couldn't believe her life had sunk to this: tiptoeing around the station, desperately trying to keep Reno out of sight while he trailed behind her like a loud, hyperactive puppy.
It had been three days since he first appeared. Three days of Reno nearly exposing her crush, suggesting idiotic plans, and making *everything* harder at work. She was exhausted—and more than a little terrified he'd blow her chance with Ren for good.
That night, after everyone left the building, Noa stayed behind to finish organizing footage. Reno sprawled on the couch, tossing paper clips into an empty coffee cup like it was a carnival game.
"Will you *please* just sit still and let me think?" Noa snapped, dragging her fingers through her tangled hair.
Reno pouted. "You're always so serious. Didn't you *wish* for someone to make your boring days interesting?"
"Not like *this!*"
Reno shrugged. "Well, too bad. You wanted romance, you got me."
Noa threw her hands in the air. "You're not even supposed to *exist*," she muttered. Then, an idea hit her.
She grabbed the old sketchbook, flipping through its pages frantically. "Maybe… maybe if I erase your page, you'll disappear."
Reno's eyes widened. "Hey, hey, put the eraser down! You don't want to do that!"
Noa glared at him, brandishing the big pink eraser like a weapon. "Watch me."
But just as she pressed it to the page—nothing happened. The lines wouldn't budge. The pencil marks stayed exactly where they were, like they were burned into the paper.
Reno crossed his arms smugly. "Told you. Erasing won't work. The sketchbook's… weird."
Noa stared at him, breathing hard. "What *is* this thing?"
Reno flopped back onto the couch. "Magic? Curse? Your subconscious desire given form? I dunno. You're the one who made me, babe."
Noa sank into a chair, feeling the panic rise in her chest. "So… you're just stuck here? Forever?"
Reno scratched the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little uneasy. "Not exactly. The book brought me out for a reason. If you figure that out… maybe I go back in. Maybe I… vanish. Maybe…" He trailed off, eyes darting away.
Noa frowned. "You *know* something. Tell me."
Reno sighed, surprisingly serious for once. "Look… the sketchbook's changing. Check the other pages."
Noa flipped through the book—and her stomach dropped. Sketch after sketch of old scenes, doodles from college, silly cartoons she'd drawn over the years… were gone. Every page was turning blank, as if something was sucking the ink out of the paper.
"What the hell…" she whispered.
Reno wouldn't meet her eyes. "I think… the longer I'm here, the more the book empties. And if it goes completely blank…" He shrugged, trying to sound casual, but Noa saw the flicker of fear in his face. "…I might disappear, too."
Noa clutched the sketchbook to her chest, horrified. "But… why?"
"Dunno," Reno said softly. "Maybe you're supposed to finish your story first."
Noa felt something tight and painful twist in her chest. She hated Reno—he was annoying, loud, completely ridiculous. But the thought of him *dying*… it made her stomach turn.
Reno forced a grin. "Anyway! No more doom and gloom! Wanna hear my new plan to get you laid?"
Noa smacked him with the sketchbook. "You are *unbelievable*," she hissed. But deep inside, the fear wouldn't leave her.
What *was* this sketchbook? What was Reno really here for? And if finishing *her* story meant Reno disappearing… why did that idea suddenly hurt so much?
---
As the clock ticked past midnight, Noa stared at the glowing computer screen, Reno humming tunelessly in the background. And for the first time since he'd appeared, she wondered if the real danger wasn't just Reno blowing up her job…
…but losing him forever, before she even understood what he *really* was.