The boy finally sensed that something was off.
Wait...
He stared blankly at the alarm clock he had casually picked up.
It was shaped like a strange bird.
And its even more "unique" wake-up sound...
That year, when he had said he wanted to buy this alarm clock, his parents had looked astonished and asked him repeatedly whether he was sure he wanted it.
He had nodded firmly.
He wanted this alarm clock.
It was interesting.
At first glance, it looked rather ugly.
But after looking at it for a long time, he had found the ugly bird alarm clock adorably ugly.
And with its one-of-a-kind sound...
He had really liked it.
He had felt that with this alarm clock, he would no longer have to worry about failing to get up in the morning.
As it turned out, he had been right.
Although on countless mornings, especially winter mornings, he had felt an intense urge to hurl the alarm clock away with all his strength.
"Knock knock~"
The boy rapped hard on his own head several times.
He was getting off topic.
The haze in his eyes gradually cleared.
He turned his head around in confusion.
Was he... on the bed in his own room?
He knocked on his head again.
Yesterday's memories slowly surfaced...
The boy abruptly sat upright.
His eyes widened.
His face was filled with panic and bewilderment.
How had he ended up on the bed in his own room?
Yesterday, he had clearly been waiting by the living room window for his mom to come back...
After that...
He remembered...
The boy pressed his lips together.
He had cried.
He instinctively touched his face.
Of course.
A whole night had passed.
Naturally, there was no trace left.
And then...
He had not