Dorothy's Breaking Point
The rules were simple, and unlike last time, there were no burdensome penalties like having to strip off clothes every time you couldn't answer. Still...
"I think... no matter which side, they each have their own charm..."
"That's not an answer. Didn't you tell me not to dodge with vague replies?"
"..."
Since I couldn't break the rule I'd set myself, I ended up backed into a corner.
"...The bigger ones... are more to my taste."
"Hehe..."
Scarlet puffed out her chest with a victorious grin, arms crossed to emphasize her already ample assets, while Dorothy stared down at her own comparatively flat chest and gave it a few half-hearted taps with her palm. The contrast was almost pitiful.
"Are you going to keep asking only those kinds of questions?"
"Sorry, sorry. I really wanted to know, though. So I really am your type, huh?"
"..."
"Maybe you're only after my body...? I wouldn't mind that either, so don't worry."
She said it so casually, even adding a playful wink. My head was starting to throb. The whole point of starting this game was to create a natural opening for Scarlet and Dorothy to voice their true feelings about each other. Yet every time the roulette landed on her, she only asked about my preferences—breasts, thighs, hips—and compared herself to Dorothy right beside her. It left me feeling strangely guilty.
"Anyway... it's my turn now."
It was true that Dorothy's figure was modest compared to Scarlet's voluptuous one, but that didn't mean I couldn't like her. It certainly wasn't a reason to dislike her.
The roulette spun with a long, rattling whir... and finally stopped.
"Ah, finally..."
This time the arrow pointed at Dorothy. I racked my brain for a question that wouldn't ruin the mood.
"Sorry for all the weird questions earlier. There's something I want to ask—do you mind?"
"Ah... no, it's fine."
Dorothy finally lowered the hand that had been resting on her chest and looked straight at me.
"I was wondering how you feel about the three of us spending time together like this. If anything makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me."
"..."
She glanced at Scarlet first, as if seeking permission, then met my eyes again. I trusted her honesty—she wouldn't break the rules we'd set.
And just as I expected, she answered.
"...I wonder if it's really okay for me to feel this way. But I'm happy. It doesn't hurt anymore... and I'm not lonely. The clothes I'm wearing are warm... soft... and they smell nice."
"..."
She'd hesitated, but she'd told the truth. Scarlet's excited shoulders slowly sank, and the playful light in her eyes faded as she looked at Dorothy.
"It's okay."
"...!"
I'd been about to say the same thing, but Scarlet beat me to it. The surprise hit harder because it came from her.
"...Everything before now was the strange part. So hurry up and spin the roulette. It's your turn."
"Y-yes..."
By chance, the arrow landed on Scarlet this time. I wondered if Dorothy would actually manage a proper question.
"So this turn finally came around. Ask whatever you want. I'll answer properly."
"..."
I could feel the tension between them. Scarlet was trying to stay calm while unfamiliar emotions churned inside her, and Dorothy's hands trembled visibly.
After several false starts, Dorothy finally spoke, her voice small.
"...Scarlet, do you... hate me?"
"..."
I hadn't expected such a direct question. But Scarlet's answer surprised me even more.
"Are you an idiot? If I hated you, why would I have hit you, tormented you, and made your life miserable?"
"Ugh..."
"I did it because I didn't like you."
She answered the blunt question with equal bluntness. I braced myself, worried Dorothy might break, but she didn't stop.
"B-but... right now, Scarlet, you..."
"But what?"
"Right now... you don't torment me anymore."
Scarlet fell silent, lips pressed together. She set down her glass and looked at me for a moment before turning back to Dorothy, her voice softer.
"...I don't really hate you now. Thanks to the counselor, I don't have any reason to put on a show of pride in front of you anymore. No reason to hate you, either."
She no longer followed "that person," and her number had been erased. There was no longer any cause for jealousy toward Dorothy. The only way that could change was if I abandoned her and doted only on Dorothy instead.
Thinking back, maybe that was why she'd kept asking about my preferences and comparing herself to Dorothy—some insecure attempt to reassure herself.
"It must be ridiculous, hearing me say this now after tormenting you so much. I know."
"...I'm glad."
"What...?"
Even after that answer, Dorothy looked relieved. Scarlet's reaction was far more explosive.
Flames flickered around her shoulders.
"I ignored you, abused you, tormented you just because I was in a bad mood, bored, or felt like it. I enjoyed watching you suffer! So what the hell is there to be glad about?!"
Her face twisted with frustration, but she wasn't angry for her own sake.
"Shouldn't you at least curse at me? There's no way you can be okay with this now...!"
"..."
Dorothy didn't look particularly shocked. Her expression was slightly dazed—as if she was more surprised by her own lack of reaction.
"I'm... fine with it."
But I immediately understood the reason, and it was the same flawed one as always.
"Is that because you're a prisoner?"
"..."
She didn't deny it. Just gave a small nod. I sighed inwardly.
"So that's where we're stuck again."
Yes—that was exactly why I'd brought Scarlet here in the first place. I hadn't expected it to be easy.
"What are you even saying...? I didn't torment you because you did something wrong! I... I was jealous of you...!"
"..."
"Why are you so... stupidly kind..."
Scarlet's voice grew smaller until she fell silent. Then, in a quiet but clear whisper, she muttered,
"...I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
Dorothy heard it clearly. I stayed quiet.
"I don't want to shamelessly ask you to accept my apology. Even that feels shameful now, and saying sorry won't erase the wounds you've carried all this time."
"..."
"I knew from the start that you were just a little foolish, but a good person."
'I knew... so I knew you couldn't resist me. I thought of you as a convenient toy to play with.'
"Even now, I'm relying on that stupid kindness of yours, hoping you'll forgive me. It's laughable, really."
"Scarlet... you don't have any reason to apologize to me. It was an order. I... I deserved to be punished..."
Scarlet grabbed Dorothy's shoulders tightly, forcing her to meet her burning gaze.
"That's why I'm saying you're not a sinner! They tricked you. What exactly did you do wrong?"
"What I did wrong...? Why would you say something like that...? You can't say that."
"...The pain and suffering you've endured until now wasn't because you did anything wrong. You didn't do anything wrong at all. So...!"
"..."
Scarlet bit her lip, then looked at Dorothy with a messy expression of pity and irritation before finally turning away.
"Please... don't apologize."
"I... I..."
Dorothy twisted free and stumbled backward, confusion written across her face.
"This... this isn't right. Why are you saying things like that...? Everyone... please stop..."
'I... I clearly possess power I shouldn't have. That's why the angel... called me... a sinner...'
It had been too sudden. I couldn't find the right moment to intervene, and delaying wouldn't have solved anything anyway. Dorothy's inner voice was louder and more agitated than ever, and... I had a bad feeling.
"Wait, Scarlet. I'll handle this."
I grabbed Scarlet's wrist to stop her from chasing after Dorothy. I couldn't explain why, but something felt off—an uneasy tension creeping in.
"That was too sudden, wasn't it...?"
"Ugh... ahhh..."
'With this power, many people will get hurt and be afraid... So... but because of the orders... people were in danger... Then I... was I tricked? Scarlet's orders... I, with my own hands, hurt people...'
"Should we stop here for today? If you're having a hard time..."
"N-no... don't come... don't come near me...!"
Crack...!
The metal restraint around her neck crumpled like an empty soda can.
"...?"
A thin red line appeared across my outstretched arm. Then—
Thud.
A sudden lightness, a hollow sensation, and my body swayed backward. Something heavy hit the floor.
"Wait, your... arm...!"
Scarlet's panicked voice reached me as blood sprayed from the clean cut.
I remembered what the team leader had once told me: spatial abilities usually couldn't manifest inside living beings, but if it was the Founder, she could probably open a gate right through someone's body and slice them in half. It had sounded like a joke at the time, but it wasn't impossible depending on the user's power.
"I see... So I... didn't do anything wrong after all..."
Dorothy's dazed, anguished murmur was the last thing I heard before everything went dark, as if someone had flipped a switch. My severed arm had already vanished from sight. Even though I'd experienced something similar before, my first thought was of the person I needed to protect.
"Ugh... Scarlet... First... Scarlet?"
I tried to call out, but my voice didn't reach her.
"Ah..."
Just moments ago I had been inside the room, but now I was sitting alone in an unfamiliar hallway, clutching my bleeding arm. The view outside the window was that same unsettling, undulating darkness. In an instant, everyone else had disappeared, leaving me isolated.
"...."
An accident had occurred.
Or rather—the thought that I had caused the accident filled my mind.