A Room of Her Own
The girl with dark purple hair tied back in a tight ponytail was wearing an oversized tracksuit top zipped all the way up like a short dress. She was busy cleaning her room. After giving the larger room with its attached bathroom to Scarlet, she had taken the smaller, cozier room across the hall instead. Surprisingly, she seemed to prefer this modest space. It was the first time anything truly tangible had been given to her. The concept of having her own room still felt unfamiliar, yet she wiped away the dust with a flutter of excitement in her chest.
The basic furniture and supplies were already provided, but the room still felt somewhat empty. That very emptiness, however, made the thought of filling it in the future all the more thrilling for her.
"Sis, dinner's ready."
"...Hik!"
At the sound of Scarlet's voice calling from the open doorway, she flinched hard without meaning to. Quickly smoothing her expression, she nodded.
"Y-yes... I'll be right there, Scarlet."
"...Okay. I'll be waiting."
The body remembers. The fear still buried deep in Dorothy's heart showed no sign of fading easily. That was something the two of them would have to work through together, little by little.
"Haa..."
Scarlet pretended not to notice as she turned away, but the guilt remained. It was her fault, after all. The consequences of her reckless actions were far harder to clean up than they had been to cause.
"More than that... I never expected Scarlet to volunteer to cook."
"I tried the food the Counselor made once, and it stuck with me. I wanted to try making it myself."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Though after a few days I might get bored and suggest we take turns."
That was so like her. Just like Dorothy in her tracksuit top, Scarlet wore a comfortable short-sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants she had received from the Counselor, her hair also tied back for cooking. The two of them sat across from each other at the table, the casual sight of one another still unfamiliar, and the very idea of this being their home still awkward. Neither spoke for a while.
Scarlet was the first to break the silence, picking up her fork.
"Back when I was captured, I never imagined I'd end up living like this with you... It's kind of strange."
"It really is... I never thought I'd get to taste a meal you prepared, either."
The way they addressed each other made it sound as though their roles had reversed, highlighting the subtle, awkward distance still between them. Even so, there was no doubt their relationship had grown much closer than before.
"...Smells good."
Butter-toasted bread, pan-seared sausages with slits cut into them, eggs fried with the yolks still intact, and a simple salad. It was a surprisingly straightforward meal, well-prepared with no burnt spots or missing ingredients.
"The Counselor left some side dishes too, so let's have those for dinner. He told me you need to put on a little weight."
"Yeah... Thanks."
On paper, both of them belonged to the field team. Rather than being dispatched wherever their abilities were needed, their current role was essentially serving as the Counselor's personal escorts. Scarlet had proven herself by fighting the team leaders even while weakened, and Dorothy could instantly evacuate everyone to safety if things went wrong. In any case, their somewhat precarious new life together looked set to continue with the help of their kind neighbors.
*
"Go change into something else. Quickly."
"Huh? But..."
"Those clothes were bought by that woman. You really want to wear them on a date with me?"
Nero tugged at my shirt collar, scolding me. I shook my head vigorously. I had only picked one of the suits Yerin had bought for me because we were going to a really nice hotel with a reserved restaurant. I wanted something appropriate for the occasion.
"No, no, I'll go change right away."
How did she even recognize them? More importantly... I didn't have anything else to wear now.
"Hmm..."
The outfit I wore for the interview was probably the safest, cleanest choice.
"What a waste of a hanger. Why don't we just throw out all the clothes in the house while we're at it?"
Nero's reaction was predictably unenthusiastic.
"Why would you throw them away? I still wear all of them."
"...Yeah. That's exactly the problem."
She sighed softly and shook her head, then grabbed my wrist as if wasting any more time was unacceptable.
"Ah, Nero, there's something I haven't told you yet..."
Come to think of it, there was still something I needed to mention. I only had time to speak once we were in the elevator, but maybe it would be better to let her see it directly. If I told her now, she might refuse to listen and head straight back home.
"What did you say?"
"Uh, nothing. Let's head to the lobby. She's waiting."
"Waiting...? Who?"
When we stepped out into the lobby, Yerin's bright red car was immediately visible, its engine purring softly.
"...You said it was just the two of us today."
"Ow, ow! That hurts... Nero?!"
"Then why is she here?"
I hurriedly tried to explain while Nero mercilessly pinched and twisted my side.
"Sh-she's just giving us a ride. Ouch... Today we're following the plan. The Founder isn't coming either, so I was told at least one person had to be on standby nearby..."
"..."
A month had already passed since Scarlet and Dorothy tried to trap us with that ambush in the city center. They must have realized their failure by now, so there was no way I would be allowed to wander around without an escort. The fact that neither of them had attempted possession again was a little strange, but I wasn't about to complain.
"I had to beg and plead because I was thinking of you..."
"...Really?"
In the end, we both got into the back seat. I tried to at least greet Yerin, but Nero bared her fangs, so I had to stop. The destination had already been sent, so there were no issues there, but I couldn't say a single word to her until we arrived.
'...Don't tell me this is some kind of neglect play. Uhehe... This treatment isn't so bad, actually.'
Yerin seemed fine with it, which was a relief. Well... maybe "fine" wasn't the right word. Thanks to her faithfully playing the role of chauffeur, we reached our destination quickly. The area around the department store and hotel was a bustling shopping district with plenty of places to wander. Traveling far wasn't an option due to the restrictions, so this was the closest suitable spot I could find. Since I had almost no experience going out except for part-time jobs, let alone dating, I had asked Yerin for recommendations.
After closing the car door without even managing a single word of thanks to Yerin, Nero finally looked satisfied.
"...Good. Now that woman should know her place."
"Hmm..."
Honestly, if anyone knew their place all too well and still caused problems, it was probably Yerin. Even as I got out of the car without a word, she had been visibly excited by the absurd situation of being used merely as a pickup service for our date... Nero hadn't noticed because she was sitting right behind her, but I had seen Yerin press her thighs together and rub against me several times while driving.
"Today, you're my master and mine alone. We don't need fake females like that."
"Yeah..."
Nero's jealous reactions were cute, but I would have to apologize to Yerin properly later. She seemed to have enjoyed it, but... anyway, I already felt completely drained.
"Then first..."
Thinking I should change into something Nero would like first, I was about to head toward the department store when she grabbed my hand. She pointed not at the store, but at the bustling street beside it.
"You've already been to the department store once before. And as your wife, I can't allow wasteful spending."
"Ah, wife..."
"What, am I not? Who else is living with you right now?"
"Right. Yeah... you're right."
Come to think of it, ever since she gained the ability to take human form, she had been eagerly handling almost all the housework—cooking, cleaning, laundry—unlike when she was a cat and I had to do everything. Thanks to her, I no longer had to worry about coming home from work and immediately starting the laundry. Her efforts as a wife were definitely helping.
Looking pleased by my agreement, Nero smiled and pulled me along.
"Follow me."
"Ah, wait..."
It wasn't part of the plan, but I had no intention of stopping her if she wanted to go somewhere. Even without an escort, the field team was probably nearby since I was out with Nero. Yerin had likely already contacted them and given instructions by now. The only thing on my mind was that she was still holding my wrist instead of my hand.
"Want to hold hands?"
"Ah... Yeah, I'd like that."
She looked a little surprised as she turned toward me. This time I took the initiative, reaching for her hand, and she squeezed back firmly.
...It was a date, after all. This was the right way to do it. I couldn't afford to mess up. Today, I had the important duty of giving her the best first experience possible.
"Shall we go, then?"