Near had just slipped into bed when he heard a sniffling sound from down the hallway. He opened his eyes and sighed softly.
From the light of the laptop monitor on his dresser, Near made out a girl walking into his bedroom, looking rather sad. Near recognized her as Sarah, one of the Wammy's girls that seemed to have trouble adapting to being an orphan. Near sat up in bed and blinked at her, wondering why she was in his room.
"I'm upset," Sarah murmured. "Do you want to know why?"
"Not really," Near mumbled, looking down.
"Because everything is going wrong in my life. I don't want to lose anyone else. Too many people I know have already died." Sarah continued, apparently unaffected by Near's response.
Near said nothing. He stared at her as she sat on the edge of his bed.
"Can I stay with you for the night?" Sarah asked plaintively.
Again, Near said nothing. He twirled a lock of hair around his finger.
"Well, thanks," Sarah said gratefully. "It means a lot to me. You're not as nosy as everyone else is. You keep to yourself, you know?"
Sarah curled up in Near's bed and was asleep almost instantly. Near stared down at her for a moment and then carefully laid down beside her.