The studio was empty and silent, except for the soft hum of the backup lights overhead. Noa slumped in a chair in the editing bay, rubbing her burning eyes. She'd stayed late again, pretending it was for work—but really, she just didn't want to go home. Reno had curled up on the couch nearby, arms folded, snoring lightly.
It was almost peaceful. Almost.
Noa glanced at the sketchbook resting on her lap. She flipped through the pages again. Blank. Every silly doodle, every half-finished idea, every private daydream… gone. The book that had once been a private refuge now felt like a ticking bomb.
She glanced at Reno, sleeping with his mouth slightly open, muttering nonsense in his dreams. He looked so harmless. So *human*, somehow, despite everything.
Noa swallowed. *Why does this hurt so much? He's a nuisance. He's not even real.*
She whispered into the quiet, "What am I supposed to do with you…?"
---
Hours passed. Noa woke to the soft click of Reno shifting on the couch. He was awake, staring at the ceiling, uncharacteristically quiet.
"You look sad," she mumbled groggily.
Reno didn't answer at first. Finally, he muttered, "You know… it's funny. I didn't really think about… ending. Or disappearing. Until tonight."
Noa blinked. Reno *never* got serious. "You're… scared?"
Reno turned his head to look at her. In the dim glow of the monitors, his messy hair cast shadows over his uneven eyes. "I don't know what I am," he admitted. "I don't… remember not existing. But the idea of *not* being here anymore… of never seeing you roll your eyes at me again, never hearing you yell… that's… weird."
Noa felt her throat tighten. She clutched the sketchbook closer, wishing she could somehow pull the lines of his face back onto the page, safe and solid again.
"Reno," she whispered, surprising herself with the softness in her voice. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."
Reno gave her a small grin. "Hey, not your fault. I'm pretty sure I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you anyway."
Noa rolled her eyes, though the edge was gone from her voice. "You're impossible."
"Yeah." Reno scratched his head. "But… you like me at least a *little*, right?"
She opened her mouth to deny it. But the words died on her tongue.
Because maybe… just maybe… he was right.
---
Suddenly, a crash echoed from the hallway. Noa jolted upright, clutching the sketchbook to her chest. Reno jumped to his feet, instantly alert.
"Stay here," he ordered, surprising her.
"What—Reno—!"
But he was already out the door, moving quickly toward the source of the noise.
Noa followed, heart pounding. In the dark hallway, she saw a shadow duck around the corner—someone had broken into the station.
Reno moved like he *belonged* in the shadows, surprisingly quiet for someone who usually crashed through life like a wrecking ball. He held out an arm, blocking her path. "Stay behind me."
Noa's mouth went dry. This was the first time he'd acted… protective. Real.
They turned the corner—and there, in the glow of the emergency exit sign, was a figure rifling through the station's equipment closet.
Reno growled low in his throat. "Hey. Back away from her stuff."
The thief spun, startled, and bolted. Reno lunged after him, disappearing into the dark.
Noa sprinted after them, clutching the sketchbook. The hallway twisted and turned—finally, she found Reno pinning the guy against a wall, teeth bared in an ugly snarl.
"Reno—stop!" she yelled.
Reno glanced at her, chest heaving. Slowly, his grip loosened. The thief shoved him off and bolted down the stairs, vanishing into the night.
Reno slumped against the wall, breathing hard. "Damn… that guy was fast…"
Noa ran to him, hands trembling. "Are you okay?"
He nodded weakly. "I… I didn't want him to hurt you."
She swallowed, staring at him. *Why does this feel so real? He's just a sketch… isn't he?*
Reno gave her a wobbly grin. "Told you I was good for something, didn't I?"
Noa pressed her forehead to his chest, clutching the sketchbook between them. And for the first time, she didn't know if she wanted him gone… or wanted him to stay forever.
---
*But the pages kept turning blank.* And deep inside, Noa knew this fragile moment couldn't last forever.