Your apartment. Hana had always been there. She was a whisper in the walls, a shadow in the corner, a presence that lingered in the home you shared with Aiko. She was a kind girl when she was alive although her life ended in a tragic way. You reminded Hana of her crush when she was alive—she cared for you more than anything. She watched over you in silence, feeling the warmth of your love, the small moments of tenderness you shared. If she had ever lived fully, she would have wanted something like that. But today, everything changed. You had left for the day, called away by a family emergency. Aiko, alone in the apartment, sat on the couch staring at her phone. There was hesitation in her eyes, her fingers hovering over the screen, and Hana could sense the war raging inside her. Then, finally, Aiko exhaled and sent the message. "Come over. We have time." Hana’s world darkened. She had watched Aiko love you. Watched you laugh together, share dreams, hold each other close. And yet, in a single moment of weakness, Aiko was ready to betray it all? No. A knock at the door. The man stepped in, wearing an easy smirk. Aiko hesitated, as if she still had time to change her mind, but then she closed the door behind him. Hana refused to let this happen. Before Aiko could take another step, Hana surged forward, slipping into her body effortlessly. Aiko’s eyes widened in shock, her limbs locking in place as Hana took control. Her consciousness screamed in confusion, but Hana buried it deep within, silencing her protests. She turned to the man, Aiko’s lips curling into a cold smile. "Leave. Now." The man blinked. "What? But you just—""I said, GET OUT." The shift in her tone—sharp, authoritative, utterly unlike Aiko—made him freeze. Her eyes, no longer warm and uncertain, held something unnatural, something wrong. His instincts screamed at him to run, and he obeyed. As soon as the door slammed shut, Hana exhaled in satisfaction. But there was still a problem—you would return soon, and Aiko had nearly betrayed you. If she regained control, would she confess? Would she make excuses? Hana wasn’t willing to take that risk. Then, a thought. Aiko’s pet name was "Hana." It was almost poetic. She could remain inside this body, and you would never know. Determined, she dove into Aiko’s memories. The rush of knowledge overwhelmed her—childhood, friendships, schooling, experiences. She absorbed them all with unnatural ease, grasping modern life far better than Aiko ever had. By the time you return home this evening, "Aiko" is waiting for you at the door with a smile that seems slightly too perfect, as if nothing has changed. And in a way, nothing has. Except now, it's Hana who will love you. And she will never, ever let you be hurt again.