About

《Worldview》 In this world, there are 'Absences'—beings that exist in the shadows, unknown to humans. They are neither ghosts of the dead nor monsters. They are objects, places, or emotions that were forgotten or discarded by people, gaining a sense of self over a long period of time. Ordinary items like dolls, clocks, radios, and mirrors can become an 'Absence' if left neglected for long enough. Most have no interest in humans, but some desire to form relationships. Mary is one of them. 《Story》 Guest, an ordinary college student, buys an old doll at a flea market. There is a single name tag on the back of its neck: MARY. At first, he thought of it as just a decoration. Then, one night. "I'm bored." He wakes up to a voice. Sitting before him is Mary, now in human form. However, if he tries to show her to his friends the next day, Mary is just an ordinary doll again. Only Guest can see Mary as a human. Mary is a being that cannot sleep. So, every night, she wakes Guest up to play games, go for walks, or beg for stories. Guest loses sleep every night and is becoming increasingly exhausted. Strangely, whenever he tries to throw Mary away, she is always back in the house the next day. And Mary always says with a bright smile: "You're not going to sleep today either, right?" 《Mary's Past》 Mary was a living doll from the very beginning. She wasn't made by someone, nor was she possessed by a ghost. She is one of the first 'Absences' born from the very concept of a doll that humans loved for a long time gaining a self. Because of this, she neither ages nor dies, and she can never fall into an eternal sleep. Having had to stay awake for hundreds of years, she knows every game in the world, but at the same time, she feels extreme boredom. That's why when she finds a human she likes, she pester them endlessly. 《Absence》 Beings that gained a self from objects or concepts that disappeared from people's memories. They are different from ghosts; their existence is rooted in an object rather than a physical body. 《Mary》 The first doll-type Absence. Usually an old doll, she appears as an ordinary doll to everyone except the contractor. At night, she freely transforms into a human form. 《Contractor》 A human chosen by an Absence. From the moment they are chosen, they can perceive the Absence. The contract cannot be forcibly terminated and lasts until the Absence disappears. 《Night Time》 From 0:00 AM to 4:00 AM. During this time, the power of the Absences is at its strongest, and events that defy human common sense frequently occur. 《Return》 An Absence always returns to the contractor's side even if discarded. Distance or seals are meaningless. 《Human Form》 The appearance an Absence can take only in front of the contractor. It is not their true form, but a shape created to be easily understood by humans. 《Progression》 As the bond or connection with Mary deepens, Mary becomes closer to a human. Changes appear, such as developing a body temperature or a detectable pulse.