4. Bathroom, Shall We Go In Together...?
Sugar was lying leisurely on a tree in the backyard, pondering the future.
She had about three years until being kidnapped at the age of 14 by the cult.
At that time, it would be good to build up her stamina and body size, and scout the situation.
But she thought it wouldn't actually help with real crisis avoidance. She needed some definite plan for self-preservation.
“Sugar! Where is this girl? S-uu-ga-!!”
Perhaps she shouldn't think about the future right now; preserving her safety for the immediate moment seemed necessary.
Sugar hurriedly descended from the tree.
Every ten seconds she delayed, the volume of that voice would increase. The size of the voice and the probability of being hit were proportional.
“Y-yes. Director. I'm here, Sugar.”
“Why so late! You should have arrived before I even called!”
“I'm sorry.”
She usually didn't show her face at all, but suddenly appearing like this... she grumbled internally.
“Huh? What? Why is your face like that?”
She followed the hand that grabbed her chin and lifted it. She met eyes with the middle-aged woman with lips painted bright red, looking nervous.
“Um, that's... um...”
“If you do that, I can't take you out!!”
It had been several days since she fought with the delinquents.
Sugar's face was still in a state of black and blue.
“What am I supposed to do when the face that's worth looking at is ruined! Aaaah! What do I do!”
Her ears would fall off.
Sugar stared into the distance, wishing this time would end quickly.
Fortunately, she wasn't that angry. It would probably end in a few minutes.
“Sister... please calm down first. What happened?”
Another staff member ran over due to the commotion. She looked like the director but her expression was much gentler. She was the director's younger sister.
“Look at her face! I have to meet donors in the afternoon, how am I supposed to take her looking like this!”
The orphanage in the slums received support from the state, but it couldn't be expected to be at that level. So, they had to get donations from elsewhere, and it would be effective to bring the child in front of the donors.
Donors were more likely to give out of social image considerations rather than kind hearts, but still, bringing a hungry child could evoke sympathy, allowing them to receive 110 instead of 100.
And that responsibility always fell to Sugar. Fat kids vs thin, ugly vs pretty, pretty was better. Since weight was irrelevant as all were skinny, it was about appearance, and Sugar was the prettiest.
“Sugar fought with the kids a few days ago... so I think we should take another child instead.”
“You should have watched them so fights wouldn't happen! Then which other child! Who are you taking?”
“I'm sorry... I'm sorry... um... how about Tomi?”
“Tomi? That ugly kid?”
“Yes, since he's ugly, after washing him, it should be fine.”
“He's a boy! Girls are better!”
“But his body is smaller than Sugar's, so somehow... for now, let's take him out today...”
There was some more back and forth for a few minutes.
Eventually, after the director's sister's earnest plea, the child to be taken today was decided to be Tomi, the boy.
“Then prepare him by afternoon! Now everyone out!”
Sugar came out of the director's office with a very disappointed expression.
How could she shout like that while speaking? She could have been an opera singer instead of an orphanage director.
She was about to return to the original backyard by slapping her ears when someone grabbed her from behind.
“Um, Sugar.”
“Yes, Teacher. What is it?”
“I have a request. Could you help Tomi wash?”
“Me? Why me?”
Usually, staff or older kids helped wash the children. She would do it if asked, but she didn't understand why she was being pointed out.
“You keep following Tomi around lately. You're close, aren't you?”
Ah, that boy was Tomi.
“Yes... okay.”
Whatever, she would do it. She was the kindest person in this orphanage. The staff were weak and kids took advantage, but Sugar didn't. If the other side didn't act tough, she didn't need to either.
Originally, even if she acted tough, as long as she didn't cross the line, she preferred to keep things gentle.
“Thank you...! The kid might hate it a lot, but try to comfort him.”
While saying that, she handed him some tree fruits.
As expected, to make the heart gentle.
She went to the attic with a gulp, it was dark.
Originally, there was a small window letting in sunlight, but it seemed covered.
“You guys are dark children?”
Recalling her school days, she tore off the cloth stuck to the window and went to the window. A scream of “Kyaa!” came from behind. In front of the source of that scream, she stood.
“...What? What kind of mischief are you trying this time?”
The boy's words came out with quite a bit of hostility.
Through the palm covering his face, his sharp eyes peeked out. The boy had always shown an unpleasant attitude towards Sugar, but today it was worse.
Originally, Sugar's words would make the boy go from expressionless to irritated, but now it was irritated to furious. This had been happening since a few days ago. That is, since Sugar praised him in the attic.
Of course, Sugar had thought idly “Hmm, rebellious type.” She didn't know what the boy thought of her or what conclusion he drew.
“Your name is Tomi, right?”
Identity check first.
The boy growled as if about to rush, but his expression changed abruptly at the question.
It didn't seem like he was angry.
Just, he seemed to be thinking a lot.
The following action was only nodding while silent.
“Okay, Tomi. From now on, I have to go somewhere with you.”
“I don't want to.”
“Denying before even speaking, you're yellow from the start. Come on, get up.”
“This...! Where are we going?”
When Sugar grabbed his arm, Tomi, in a nervous fit, pulled away. Nevertheless, Sugar continued speaking.
“Bathroom. Shall we go in together?”
“...W-what are you saying!”
“Ah, anyway, you're young. No need to be embarrassed.”
“How young are you!”
“I'm 11 years old.”
“Me too...!”
Eh, same age? She thought he was at most 8 years old.
She set aside the question of whether stealing food from an 8-year-old or from a 11-year-old who looks 8 is worse.
Sugar grabbed his hand again and led him.
“Whatever. No matter your age. The director's order has been given, so I have to go.”
“That's why! Why do I have to bathe with you!”
Tomi shouted with a red face visible even in the darkness.
But compared to that, Sugar's reaction was utterly unamused.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What else! You said let's go into the bathroom together...”
“I said let's go into the bathroom, not let's bathe together...”
“...What?”
“I was going to wash your hair while you're clothed, and let you handle the rest yourself. Did you think I meant to bathe with you?”
“Ah, ah, no! I said don't be embarrassed because you're young...!”
“I said don't be embarrassed about receiving help... or was it?”
Tomi's mouth shut tight.
That silence tasted very good.
Sugar's eyes narrowed and the corners of her mouth lifted.
Arrogant expression completed.
“Arrogant.”
Tomi jumped out of the attic and ran away.
............
............
............
She admits there was room for misunderstanding in the words.
Bath? She could have just bathed together if she wanted.
Even though it was a girl's body, they were both young. Even if it showed to a little kid, Sugar had nothing to be embarrassed about.
But the reason she pushed it anyway.
“Well... because it's fun...”
Shivering with the thrill of tormenting a young child, she came out of the attic.
Anyway, since she had driven the target outside, now she just had to find him and drag him to the bathroom.
Let's finish quickly and make a future plan.
***
“Damn it...!”
Playing with people!
“Tomi” was seething with anger in exactly the same situation as before.
He was running away from Sugar's words.
Whenever he got entangled with her, he would be dragged in without realizing or run away. One or the other.
He was the master of the Grimoire and smarter than other kids, but he didn't understand why he kept getting tricked like this.
“Arrogant.”
The sound of giggling still tickled his ears.
It was like a dream, a whispering voice.
“W-who would want to see your, your, your naked body!”
Even though her face was black and blue!
To erase the voice from her ears, she shouted at the top of her lungs. The surrounding kids looked at her strangely, but she didn't care and ran.
She couldn't just be tricked like this.
She needed to come up with a way.
Tomi ran to the backyard, leaned against a tree, and caught his breath while thinking of a way.
Since the first sacrifice of the Grimoire was already set to be Sugar, if he wanted revenge, he just had to do it.
“Not yet... not yet.”
He wanted to taste the same emotions and show the same reactions. He wanted a reaction where he could mock “Serves you right!” while seeing it. So, it was still too early to harm her.
“Is there no good idea?”
While pondering while looking at the thicket.
Suddenly, it seemed like a good idea came to mind.