A Visit to Dorothy's Room
"U-um, w-welcome... p-please, come in..." She's trembling terribly.
"Ah... yeah, no need to be so nervous. I just came to check how you're doing."
I didn't go into the office today. Or rather, this counts as fieldwork. With the earpiece still tucked into one ear and surveillance cameras watching from every angle without a shred of privacy, it doesn't feel all that different from a normal day. Today I'm simply visiting the neighboring room for Dorothy's counseling session.
So this is Dorothy's room. No other furniture has been brought in yet, and nothing really reflects her personal tastes, so my first impression is that it's terribly plain.
...It smells clean. Probably the fabric softener on the bedding.
"S-Scarlet... is at her Pilates class right now..."
"Yeah, I already said hello, so it's fine. I'm here to see you today."
Come to think of it, where does Scarlet go and what does she do while I'm at work? We always commute together, but I've never actually asked. Then again, that's mostly because she's constantly trying to seduce me and demanding kiss marks.
"A place to sit..." There's nothing suitable. The bed sits alone in the middle of the room, and the vanity has no chair—just a light layer of dust on its surface. The two expensive-looking cosmetic bottles sitting there were probably gifts from Scarlet.
"H-here... p-please, sit..."
"..."
I wanted to joke that she was way too tense, but seeing her point at the bed made me hesitate. Trying not to show my surprise, I looked around once more for somewhere else to sit before finally giving in.
"Alright, excuse me then."
With no other options, I carefully perched on the edge of the bed.
"Huu... haa..."
"D-Dorothy?"
"U-uh, ah!"
The moment I turned my back to her while approaching the bed, I heard her breathing grow rough. Startled, I looked back to find her hurriedly scooting away to the far side of the bed before sitting down again. Just now, her hands... they looked like they had been awkwardly raised.
...She's probably fine. The team leader is nearby, ready for any situation. Thanks to Nero desperately stopping her from watching us from our own house, she's currently observing from Yerin's place instead.
"—I've just confirmed Dorothy's hands were slowly rising with clearly impure intentions.—"
"..."
Ah, right. I did promise we'd meet again. Not just to see her face, but... with the implication of an "after" as well. And here I am, visiting her room. Even though it's not night, coming alone into a woman's room like this might have been a bit careless.
"—After all, the goal of this second counseling session is to find a way to control or release the malice suppressed inside Miss Dorothy.—"
"That means..."
"—Repeating what we did before wouldn't be a big problem, but they say late-blooming desires are the scariest. If Miss Dorothy ends up developing a masturbation or sex addiction, that would be troublesome. It would be best to find a healthier alternative, don't you think?—"
...That part is definitely off the table. Of course, the fact that her first experience happened with all four of us together was my fault, but it was an accident. It won't happen again.
Once I became conscious of it, the awkward atmosphere started feeling strangely charged. While searching for something to say, my eyes landed on Dorothy's slender frame—still looking thin, with delicate arms and legs.
"Have you been eating properly? Scarlet won't be back until evening..."
"Yes. There's still plenty of the side dishes you gave me, and Scarlet's been making breakfast and dinner for me."
"Scarlet is?"
Her cooking for Dorothy? I must have unconsciously assumed Dorothy would be doing all the housework like some kind of Cinderella. Well, that careless "wicked stepsister" image is Scarlet's own fault.
"I'm... really living peaceful days. So peaceful it's almost unsettling, like everything might shatter at any moment."
"Yeah... that's good. Or... is it?"
"You told me I needed to get used to this kind of life, Counselor, but I still feel like I'm living far beyond what I deserve."
For her, freedom had always been an unfamiliar concept. Now that it was given to her, it seemed to bring more burden than joy. I suppose handing someone something they don't understand and telling them "it's good, just try it" wasn't very helpful.
"But you don't want to go back to your old life either, right?"
"...No. Thanks to you, Counselor, I'm getting along with Scarlet now. She's always kind to me and takes care of everything... I'm truly grateful."
I'm glad to hear that, but the truth is I haven't been paying her enough attention lately. Since Scarlet also commutes with me, Dorothy must have been left alone at home, unsure what to do with herself.
Watching her sit with both hands on her knees and her head bowed low, I couldn't help wondering if even this time together was becoming a burden for her.
"Could you... come a little closer?"
"H-huh? Ah... u-um... yes... I-I'm sorry, that was rude of me, wasn't it?"
It could be considered rude depending on the situation, but right now I just wanted to ease this awkward atmosphere.
"No, it wasn't rude or anything... I just wanted to see your face properly while we talk."
"I-I'd like that too... seeing your face while we talk."
"?"
Huh...? For a second, it felt like our conversation was slightly off-track. Was that just my imagination?
"...I'm here."
"Ah, yeah..."
Dorothy slowly scooted her hips closer until she was right beside me. Looking down at her deep purple hair and the small, pretty shape of her head—so tempting to pat—I suddenly remembered the faint horns that had grown there that night.
"Mm...?"
"Eek... Was that too forward...?"
Feeling a light touch on my arm, I looked down to see Dorothy quickly pulling her hand away in surprise. I chuckled inwardly and gently placed her hand back on my arm.
"It's fine. I don't think it was forward at all."
"..."
Does holding my arm like this make her feel safer? The anxious twitching in her shoulders had noticeably decreased.
"I-I mean... I did something like that to you, Counselor... I thought you must hate me now..."
"Ah... that..."
Being betrayed by the person I thought was safest and then getting pinned down instead had certainly been a novel experience.
"It was shocking, but I was just surprised. That doesn't mean I'd hate you for it."
"...You really say things like that. Counselor, you're always..."
"It's true. Besides, if we're being honest, it was mostly my fault things turned out that way. And I'm the one who should be sorry for making your first time happen like that."
"..."
As Dorothy fidgeted and leaned closer, the bedsheets and blanket rustled softly. A faint shampoo scent rose between us—the same one I use. It was familiar, not overpowering, and suited her well.
The floor beneath my feet felt a little cold, which only made the warmth of her body where she clung to my arm feel more distinct.
"Feeling a bit more at ease now?"
"...Yes."
Once her inner turmoil had settled, I connected with her through my ability for the first time in a while.
"You can feel it, right? That I wasn't lying."
She nodded repeatedly.
Even if only partially, I'd experienced her painful past firsthand and could empathize deeply. In a way no one else could, I understood her now. I knew that the way she was acting wasn't something she truly wanted.
The word "presumptuous" probably suited me better—someone who thought they could understand another person this much. Still, as her counselor, I couldn't afford to stop trying to understand her.
I hoped she could feel even this thought clearly: that I was on her side, and that she could relax.
Because I'd lived as her for a time as Prisoner 13, I felt an attachment I couldn't quite explain—something more than mere sympathy. This interest wasn't just pity.
"Hey, Dorothy."
"..."
"Is this... your feeling?"
Since we were connected, my emotions would reach her, but hers reached me just as clearly. I hadn't expected her to be moved, but I had hoped she'd at least feel relieved. Instead, after a brief calm, a sudden heat surged up from deep in my chest.
It was so vivid it startled me—like warm breath blowing over cold hands.
Tight... But it didn't stop there.
"Dorothy...?"
It didn't hurt, but the hand gripping my arm had definitely gained strength.
"I was... holding back so well on my own..."
"Uh..."
In an instant, my vision flipped. Before I could even blink, I felt something soft against my back. It didn't take long to realize I'd been pushed down onto the bed.
"If you say things like that..."
"W-wait...?"
"I can't... hold back anymore."
No, no no no... What exactly did I say? I don't think I said anything that would lead to this...
"Talking while looking at your face really is... nice."
"Ah, y-yeah... it is."
Her small frame looked like it would be easy to push away, yet I couldn't move under her deep purple gaze—like prey frozen before a predator. But it's fine. The team leader is watching everything right now, so she'll handle any sudden developments...
"Team leader...?"
Crack...!
Instead of a mechanical reply, I heard something crumble. A chill ran down my spine as I turned my head to see the earpiece crushed flat between her thumb and index finger.
"This is... all your fault, isn't it, Counselor...?"
"...Gulp."
"Coming into my room so defenseless like that..."
Defenseless... I wouldn't say that, but... still, it should be fine. The team leader will be here any second...
"...Ah."
Now that I think about it... she probably isn't coming, is she?