"The more things change, the more they are the same." Alphonse Karr, 1849.
"Master? Master, perhaps you should take a break from drawing?"
"It's okay, Ano."
"But Master-"
"Ano."
Ano moved to the top-left corner of the drawing tablet, bringing her legs up to her chest in an attempt to take up as little of the screen as possible. She knew he hated talking as her worked, but the novelty of sifting through his computer's documents had quickly worn off.
"Master?" She started in a timid voice, brushing a strand of crimson hair out of her face. "Don't you think it's time we went outside?"
He grunted in annoyance. "We're not having this conversation again, Ano." His stare was as cold as ice. She could sense his irritation, even from behind the screen of the tablet.
"Alright." Ano nodded. "I was just thinking, perhaps we could get some fresh air, maybe go to a fair or something. Today's a public holiday."
"I don't want to-"
"But Master-"
"Stop calling me that."
"Haruka, we can't stay locked in this room forever!" She banged her fist against the screen.
"Then leave." He told her. "Go."
"Alright. I'll amuse myself, okay?" A smile flashed across her face before she disappeared into a flash of scarlet.
When Ano first entered the computer of Haruka Kokonose, she was met with an indifferent, apathetic artist who had no life left in him. Now, two years later, she was struggling to keep the boy alive, acting as both his sole companion and his connection to the outside world, with which he'd lost touch. She didn't know what triggered his introverted behaviour, but that was how they worked: they didn't tell each other their backstories for the sake of privacy. Clearly, something tragic had caused him a lot of pain, and her story wasn't sweet.
They spent their days communicating when necessary. Sometimes, Ano would try and convince him to put his drawing tablet down, but he didn't. She tried to understand his artwork, but she couldn't. He drew the same person again and again, in different styles, in different colours. It was always the same person - a girl - she looked somewhat familiar, it was like Ano had seen her in a dream. She never dwelled on it too much.
Besides, she knew sometimes things were better left unsaid, and she knew sometimes the truth was better off buried. She knew too well.
Haruka had long since grown accustomed to his electronics turning themselves on and off. Since Ano's arrival, it became an almost daily occurrence, so he wasn't surprised to hear her voice coming from his computer's speaker.
"Have you finished that drawing yet?" She asked, her words muffled by static. "It's been three hours."
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, resting his drawing tablet on his lap. "Get out of there." He told her, watching as his monitor's screen lit up.
"Have you finished? Because I found a really cool website I want to show you!" Ano grinned. Haruka's computer was by far her favourite place of residence. "Look!"
Haruka sighed yet again, spinning himself around on his wheeled chair to get a better view of the cyber girl. "Hurry up." He muttered.
Ano smiled and operated Haruka's computer from the inside, loading a search engine before accessing an on screen keyboard. "Look!" She cheered after she'd finished typing. "It's an online game!"
In an instant, Haruka was up on his feet. His drawing tablet flew from his knees, landing on the wooden flooring with a clatter. "Ano!" He hissed. "Get off that website!" Launching himself at the computer, he took control for himself. "Stop it!"
She'd never seen him act so irrationally, but something stirred him. His eyes were wide and his jaw was slack. "Haruka?" She murmured.
"Stop messing around, Ano." He frowned, closing the web browser. "Can't you just- just go away?"
Ano had to admit that it hurt. "Sorry, Master." She mumbled. She moved to the bottom of the screen to sit on one of the shortcuts to some of his documents, accidentally kicking an MP3 file away as she did.
"Look, I didn't- oh no."
"Master?"
"Ano, you idiot! This can't be happening!" Haruka's hands flew up to tug at his hair. "No!"
Lying on the floor with a cracked screen was his precious drawing tablet.
"This can't be happening!" He wailed for a second time. "No, no, no, no, no!"
Yet again, he was left to pick up the pieces of Ano's messes.
Hey, won't you let me in? I just want to talk,
You need some light back in your life,
No, don't go away- Please don't shut me out!
Can't you see I'm lonely too?