One of the many little ironies Manaka had discovered in this world was the paradox of noise. Before, her head was never quiet, but she had been able to block out the sounds of the world around her as if they weren't there. Now that her mind was empty of everything but her own thoughts, however, the littlest noise could disturb her. She'd needed to relearn what it was to focus, and even now, she was easily roused.

She had been curled up in the bed she had claimed for her random and often unannounced visits, a book open in her lap. When he called for her, she answered only a few short seconds later. "Walter?" She peered around the doorframe as she spoke, standing up on her toes as if that little bit of height would make her louder somehow. "Did you call for me?"