A Taste of Normalcy
The wall dividing half of the isolation room created separate spaces, and through the one-way mirror that allowed visibility only from the outside, the management team members and the team leader observed the counseling session while taking notes and analyzing. I opened the double-layered door and stepped inside, entering her relatively sparse room furnished with just a bed, table, and chairs.
".. Ah."
She had been sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs weakly, and only turned her head toward me after hearing my footsteps. With a timid movement that made it obvious she was watching my reactions, she moved to sit at the table. My gaze inadvertently drifted to the number 013 etched near her chest.
"I'm sorry. I left so suddenly yesterday... You must have been really startled, right?"
"Ah.. No.. I-It's.. fine.. really.."
I approached where she sat and took a seat across from her, gently placing one hand on her shoulder while avoiding direct eye contact. I had sensed how much she disliked being stared at, so I wanted to be considerate. Her already small frame looked even more fragile with her shoulders hunched inward.
"..."
Unlike with Scarlet, talking normally with her put my mind at ease, but I couldn't afford to forget that I was supposed to be above her, someone who needed to help. When she sought assistance, I had to extend my hand. In counseling, my role was simply to respect her, understand her, listen to her story, and offer advice. First and foremost, I needed to become her friend.
That said... I had originally planned to use formal speech, but she had shaken her head so insistently with an uncomfortable expression that I ended up speaking casually for my own comfort.
"As I thought... because of me... someone like me.."
"No..! No, no, it's absolutely not anyone's fault. Were you uncomfortable anywhere, or was there anything like that?"
It was about what happened yesterday. If there had been any emotional resonance between us, she must have been just as distressed as I was.
"Th-that.. suddenly.. a little... it felt comfortable.. but... this is also.. c-coun... c..oun.."
Fortunately, because the connection time had been short, it didn't seem too bad. She appeared to be trying to say my title, but she hadn't memorized it yet.
"You mean 'counselor'?"
"Ah.. S-sorry..."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
She had been fidgeting with her hands raised awkwardly while apologizing, but eventually sat properly with her knees pressed together and both hands resting on her thighs above the knees. She seemed tense, keeping her head lowered to avoid my gaze, yet she would earnestly meet my eyes whenever she answered before quickly looking away again. Her behavior made me extra careful with every action and word.
At first glance, she just looked like an ordinary girl who was extremely shy, but those emotions I had clearly felt yesterday...
"Hmm.."
I kept my expression neutral and took out the item I had brought today as an apology. After barely resisting Lav's sticky, smooth seduction yesterday and managing to calm myself, I had stopped by Arachne's isolation room before Dorothy's counseling session today. While the excuse was to help with her work, my real reason was to pick this up.
"Do you like fruit?"
"This is.. um... so.."
It was the fruit basket the team leader had brought as a get-well gift. I still remembered how boldly she had appeared at the facility that day, kidnapped us, and happily eaten the apples. I had wanted to bring her something to eat, but since I wasn't sure what foods she liked, I settled on this.
"I'm sorry.. I'm sorry... Back then, I was.. so hungry.. and it smelled so good.."
"Ah, no. That's not it.. Um, I brought this to give to you."
"...?"
She immediately apologized, perhaps thinking I was subtly scolding her for the kidnapping incident. I was flustered but managed to explain properly and pushed the fruit basket toward her.
"Something like this.. for me.. why.."
After I explained, she pressed herself against the back of the chair as if trying to retreat as far as possible, wearing an expression of fear instead. That made me flustered all over again. Through the strands of dark purple hair falling over her forehead, her matching dark purple eyes were filled with distrust.
Of course... only a fool wouldn't be wary when a carrot was suddenly dangled in front of them.
"I don't plan to demand anything in return for eating this, and there's no poison or anything bad in it either.. So don't worry and just eat."
"... R-really..?"
Despite how reluctant she had seemed, my simple explanation was enough for her to lean her face close to the fruit basket again. Though it wasn't my place to say, she trusted so easily. Thinking back... she really had been the most careless kidnapper. She had fallen for the bathroom excuse and let the hostage escape, and even after a whole day, she still hadn't realized she'd been tricked.
"Do you know how to eat it?"
".. Y-yes..?"
"The peel and such.."
"... I'm sorry.. I don't know.."
So it really was her first time. Her constant apologies made me feel like I was scolding her, which was uncomfortable.
"If you don't know something, I'll tell you, so you don't have to apologize. Here.. go ahead."
When I reached out my palm toward her as she tried to bite into an orange with the peel still on.. Tok.
"Ah, not my hand... Th-the orange, I mean."
"O..range..?"
She timidly placed her hand on my outstretched palm like a puppy being told to give a paw. My face grew extremely hot. Given what happened yesterday, the management team and the team leader were probably watching this counseling session very carefully right now.
"That fruit is called an orange. You've never had one before?"
"Oran..ge."
Nod nod. She nodded and this time properly handed me the orange instead of her hand. I finally let out a small sigh of relief.
"You shouldn't eat the orange with the peel on.."
"..."
"If you eat it.."
"..?"
If you eat it.. what did orange peel taste like? I figured it was probably bitter, but since I'd never actually tried it, I didn't know how to continue. I had just followed what my parents did, peeling it for me, so I never ate it myself.
"If you peel it and eat it.. it tastes much better."
"Peeling it.. makes it taste better.."
".. Uh, yeah.. That's right."
The phrasing felt a bit odd, but she seemed to understand.
"Here, want to try it?"
After peeling the orange and placing the exposed fruit in her hand, she stared curiously at the round thing filling her small palm.
"It looks.. different now."
"It looks like you can pull it apart piece by piece, right?"
"Yes.."
Following my suggestion, she wiggled her slender fingers and successfully separated one segment. After hesitating, the sweet and sour smell drew her in, and she pushed it into her mouth without further delay. What surprised me was that I had expected her to take small bites because of her tiny mouth, but instead she stuffed as much as she could fit and chewed diligently despite looking uncomfortable before swallowing quickly.
I wondered if she was being mindful of me watching, but her eyes were completely focused on the orange. It was easy to tell this was simply her eating habit. Was she not given proper time to eat meals? Or perhaps, given her small build, opportunities to eat were rare? Why?
"..."
I could only guess what kind of environment she had lived in, but one thing was certain: even basic meal times and freedom hadn't been properly guaranteed.
"It's.. delicious.."
She had already finished it. Had she been hungry? The facility provided proper meals, so maybe she was trying to eat as much as possible whenever she got the chance. If that were true, it meant she viewed eating as a means of survival.
"Then next.."
Afterward, I continued peeling fruits for her or, for ones with tough peels like melon or pineapple, stepped out of the counseling space to prepare them with the fruit knife I had ready, cutting them nicely and bringing them to her on a plastic plate. And remarkably, she managed to finish the entire generously filled fruit basket without showing any sign of being full.
All of that fit into her tiny stomach. ... Amazing.
"Did you enjoy it?"
Flinch..
"Y-yes.. I ate.. well.."
Well, the juice glistening around her lips was proof enough that she had eaten well.
"Here, use this to wipe around your mouth too."
I offered her a handkerchief, but she hesitated greatly, staring at the clean white cloth as if unsure whether she was allowed to dirty it. Feeling like I had burdened her unnecessarily, I took the handkerchief she was holding so carefully as if it were a treasure and wiped around her mouth myself.
"..."
Her messy way of eating had looked so childlike that I had acted without thinking, and only afterward did I realize it. Surprisingly, she accepted the physical contact without much resistance. Her body seemed to stiffen a little.. but she had seemed relatively fine while still eating. Now that she was done, she had returned to her original state, watching my reactions far more than necessary.
".. Th-this.. is strange.."
"Hm? What's strange?"
"Delicious things.. always.. h-hurt.. before... But even without hurting.. delicious things... this m-much.. why.."
"..."
I swallowed the urge to ask for more details. It was definitely a story from when she was a prisoner under the Inquisition. But all of it had to come from her own mouth. It wasn't time yet. Instead.. I could say this much.
"You can eat delicious things without it hurting."
"Th-that.. can't be.. true.."
".. It's true."
"..."
I worried whether she had noticed my voice trembling just now. I was starting to understand why she was so cautious around me. And I knew what I needed to do going forward. I had to return the things she couldn't take for granted—the things she should have been free to enjoy all along.
"You might doubt my words.. but will you wait until tomorrow? I'll bring something delicious tomorrow so you can eat as much as you want."
"... Eep."
As drool trickled from the corner of her mouth while she looked at me with anxious eyes, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Even the way she hurriedly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand was endearing.
I thought this might be a good time to attempt a connection.. but I still had fear on my end. Plus, I was a little angry. I couldn't let these emotions reach her, so I should avoid any hasty attempts until my mind was calm.
".. You can look forward to it. After you try all sorts of things, I'll ask which one was the most delicious, so make sure to remember."
Wait, did that sound a bit forceful?
"Ah, it's not an order..! Just telling me which taste you liked is fine too. I hope you don't feel pressured."
Nod nod.. Seeing her nod with eyes that held a hint of anticipation, I felt something heavy and knotted in my chest loosen slightly. Still, I wondered if she really wouldn't feel burdened, and started blaming myself for not phrasing it differently. Of course.. rather than regretting it now, it would be more productive to think about what food to bring tomorrow that she would enjoy.
"Then, see you tomorrow."