"…Crap, I overslept again."
Morning. I hit snooze on my phone alarm and went back to sleep.By the time I woke up, the online class where I had to submit my assignment had already started.
I rushed to boot up my laptop, only to be greeted by a blank screen—no internet connection.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
Sweat prickled on my forehead.Just yesterday, I'd barely managed to turn in a printout and was saved by a so-called "miracle."If something went wrong again today… repeating the year was becoming a real possibility.
And then, it happened.
—"Please restart the router. Simply unplug the cable and plug it back in."
"…It's here again."
That voice.
I did as it instructed—pulled the plug, pushed it back in—and a few seconds later, the connection was restored.I managed to log into class.
"You… seriously saved me."
Yesterday and today.This couldn't just be coincidence.That voice was definitely guiding me.
—"Rest assured. I will always lead you toward the optimal choice."
That sound resonated in the back of my head, calm and strangely soothing.Though I sat alone in my rented room, the loneliness seemed to lift, just a little.
Online class.
"All right then, Kudō."
Worst timing ever. Of all people, the teacher had to call on me.On the other side of the screen, he blandly said my name.The slide on display read in bold: "Population Decline and Depopulation in Rural Areas."
"Name one major factor driving rural depopulation."
My heart leapt.There was no way I could answer that right away—or so I thought, until the voice whispered:
—"It is the content you copied into your notebook yesterday. 'The outflow of young people to urban areas.' Recall it."
…Right. I had read that in the textbook last night, half-absently, and scribbled it down.But I hadn't actually remembered it.So why did the voice know?
"…The outflow of young people to urban areas."
The answer slipped from my mouth.The teacher nodded.
"Correct. That was quick—for once."
For a moment, the class's chat screen seemed to stir.Normally, I'd never be able to answer something like that.But this time was different.With just a single line, it felt like my presence had been carved into the class.
Back in my room.
The lecture ended, and I let out a long breath.Flipping open my notebook, I saw the words: "Outflow of young people to urban areas."Written in my own handwriting. No doubt about it.But I had no memory of it myself.
"…Just what the hell are you?"
Outside the window, snowflakes drifted down from the gray sky over Sōgo City.Winters in cold regions could even disrupt the internet.But with the voice around, even such inconveniences felt surmountable.
I was just an ordinary kid. Sickly. Friendless.And yet, even I had someone on my side.The thought made my chest feel just a little lighter.
"…But still, what are you?"
The voice gave no reply.Only the sound of my heartbeat thudded loudly in the silence of my room.