Identity (7)

I didn’t expect her to nod.

I thought she’d make an excuse, but she didn’t.

She was calm, as if having a normal conversation.

It’s Erica after all.

She practically lives at the Association, so maybe that’s why.

…Anyway, putting those thoughts aside.

The office was quiet.

It was dawn, so everyone had gone home long ago.

The Director has his office on the upper floor, but I saw him leaving the building earlier while humming a tune,

So I was thinking that probably no one was in the building now.

“There will still be people working overtime though.”

When I threw out a question similar to my thoughts, Erica replied indifferently.

“Are you here for overtime too?”

“What? No. I told you earlier. I said I’d be here if you want.”

“You’ve really fallen for me, huh.”

“Leaving you alone in the Association in the first place… ugh. Isn’t that strange?”

She had fallen for the Association.

Watching Erica put down a cardboard box, I wanted to talk to her so I opened my mouth again.

“What’s that?”

“It’s for you to use.”

When I approached, I saw toiletries inside the box.

“Toothpaste.”

Erica held up a green toothpaste.

“Toothbrush.”

It was a white toothbrush.

“And shampoo and…”

“This feels like you’re treating me like a kid.”

“You are a kid.”

I moved my lips but ended up saying nothing.

“And it’s your first time sleeping at the Association.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

It’s weird that I agreed to that without much thought too.

“So I’m explaining everything one by one.”

“That’s kind of you.”

“Then please listen well.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You’re totally a kid.”

It seems she’s gotten a taste for teasing me.

“What about clothes? You’ll take them off, right?”

“Yeah. The coat. I’ve been wearing it all day so it feels gross.”

Since we were in a noisy space until just now, it had some gunpowder smell and blood stains on it, and it was damp to boot.

“Do you have spare clothes?”

Erica silently opened the door, went to the adjacent space, and came back with a few yellow clothes.

When I went to touch them, they felt soft and were of good quality.

“The size seems to fit too. Don’t you know too much about me?”

“You lent me clothes last time, remember?”

I was lost in thought for a moment.

“Ah, that time, at home?”

I did give her clothes to change into because of the rain that day.

“That’s right. Come to think of it, you haven’t returned my clothes either.”

“Ah.”

Erica blinked and let out a small exclamation.

“…I forgot.”

“Don’t do anything weird with my clothes.”

“No, I just forgot, I tell you!”

“I’ll believe you.”

Her hand approached, so I stepped back a few steps.

“If you don’t stop, I won’t give you the clothes.”

“Threats are bad.”

Her fingers grabbed the handcuffs. I was dragged again by the handcuffs.

“Hehe.”

“…You’re totally like a pervert.”

“Only as much as you.”

Erica ran a hand over her face and then calmly pointed to the bathroom at the end of the corridor.

“Go wash up.”

“Please undo the handcuffs. How am I supposed to wash like this?”

There will be lines on my wrists. Aren’t they too tight?

“Is it difficult?”

“Of course it is.”

When I raised my left arm, my right arm came up with it.

The handcuffs jingled.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m hurt.”

“I think you’ll run away.”

“Why would I run away?”

After choosing my words for a moment, I just opened my mouth.

“Anyway, I get to spend the night with you at the Association. It’s a good opportunity.”

And I smiled slightly.

“Someone as pretty as you…”

“Ah, okay. I get it, so just promise me one thing.”

Her face was about to turn slightly red, so I was going to say more but was stopped.

“Promise to put the handcuffs back on after washing.”

“You really have a severe condition.”

“I can’t feel at ease unless I do at least this much.”

There were many things I wanted to nitpick about, but I didn’t.

With one touch from Erica, the handcuffs clicked and came off, and my wrists felt refreshed.

Showers always feel good.

When I hear the sound of water pouring, I don’t think about anything for that moment.

So it’s comfortable and nice.

“Today’s medicine?”

[I’ve prepared it.]

Perhaps because of the water droplets splashing around, or because of the rising steam, a slightly wet Bloody took out a few pills from subspace.

[But why now? Didn’t you take it earlier?]

Are you asking if I have a preference for eating things in the bathroom?

“It’s a bit awkward to show Erica taking medicine.”

[Your thoughts have deepened.]

“Can you not talk as if you’re proud?”

So.

Compared to before, I really have made a lot of progress.

If I were to meet my death in this state, it wouldn’t be such a bad end.

After swallowing the pills, I opened my mouth again.

“She worries a lot.”

[That girl?]

“Yeah.”

[Uh, well.]

“Ah, I didn’t specify the subject. I mean the illness.”

It’s tiresome, but.

At twenty years old, I couldn’t whine like a child.

[It’s a bit late now, but how about trying to say something just once?]

“What, about the illness? Me? Why?”

[I’m saying this because you’ve come to know that it’s not bad to have someone comfort and care for you.]

It was certainly good.

The feeling of being involved with someone you like was thrilling.

“I don’t want to.”

That’s that.

“I didn’t expect you to say such things. I thought you knew me well.”

[That’s why I’m saying this.]

I ignored it and finished washing my body.

I dried myself with a towel, and with my body still warm, I stood in front of the bathroom door.

I fumbled with the clothes in my hand, then put on the top and finished preparing.

Before opening the door, I thought for a moment.

First, as soon as I open it, I should look around and watch for an opportunity to escape.

There’s a long corridor right in front, so if I just pass the corridor, I’ll be at the Association’s exit.

Yeah.

Good.

I opened the door.

With the steam pouring out, I felt the chill of the changed temperature.

I looked around slightly and walked down the quiet corridor in slippers.

Focusing my efforts on making my footsteps as quiet as possible, I turned the corner as soon as I reached the end.

“Ah.”

My body was pushed hard.

As I was losing balance and stepping backward, my wrist was suddenly grabbed and I stopped.

And then I heard a clicking sound.

“I knew you’d do this.”

“…Why are you like this? Is it your preference to handle me roughly?”

“What about you, is it your preference to look around carefully and sneak out as soon as you leave the bathroom?”

“Are you stalking me? You really shouldn’t do that. It’s bad.”

Erica let out a dejected laugh and then narrowed her eyes again.

When I slightly avoided her gaze, my handcuffed wrist was strongly pulled and my body was dragged.

I was dragged helplessly…

“Be gentle. I’m not going to run away anywhere.”

“An Awakened who’s wanted by the Association has entered, of course I have to keep a close eye.”

Right.

If you say so, I guess that’s how it is.

Her golden hair swayed.

I saw her white uniform that had gotten slightly dirty.

And the hand dragging me.

Feeling inexplicably happy, I walked along with a grin.

“It’s late.”

I glanced out the window.

It was late at night.

“It’s dawn.”

“It’s about 2 AM.”

“Aren’t you sleepy? Do you usually sleep early?”

“I do, sleep early?”

There was a large table in the middle of the office.

“Sit there.”

Erica let go of my wrist and walked towards the shelf next to us.

I watched her and obediently sat at the table.

Late night, empty office, and dimly lit lights.

It felt like we were doing something bad.

As I was tapping my fingers on the table and counting the patterns on the ceiling one by one, I heard the sound of plastic.

Erica sat next to me and held out some bread.

“Let’s eat something, first.”

I blinked.

“It’s 2 AM?”

“You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

I rotated my head for a moment.

“Uh, well. I’m not particularly hungry.”

“You’re hungry.”

Meeting her slightly lifeless eyes, I needed a moment of silence.

“No, I’m fine. It’s really late.”

When I lowered my gaze, I saw Erica was also holding a piece of bread.

“…I can’t eat alone.”

Erica continued.

“Be honest. Are you really not hungry?”

“It’s 2 AM…?”

“Why are you only normal at times like this?”

Then she scanned my body with cloudy eyes, and soon reached out her hand.

“Do you work out?”

Her hand slightly touched my waist and then moved towards my stomach. It tickled a bit.

“How do you maintain your figure so well?”

Roughly understanding her intention, I chose my words for a moment.

“…Well, Erica. Eating one piece of bread doesn’t make you gain a lot of weight.”

First, that look in her eyes seemed to need correction.

“No, that’s, that’s not why I’m doing this.”

“You have a really well-shaped body. You don’t need to worry.”

“That’s sexual harassment, you know?!”

“Isn’t you touching my body right now sexual harassment?”

Well, for me.

I don’t mind being touched.

Erica flinched in surprise and then removed her hand again.

“I’m joking. You can touch more.”

“Ugh, why is the conversation going this way…”

Seeing her slightly bow her head, she looked quite cute.

“Let’s eat. I think I’m hungry too, actually.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Actually, I’m more tired than hungry.

Seeing her suddenly brighten up and munch on the bread, I thought it was good that I said we should eat.

A little more time passed.

After rolling around on the makeshift bed in the break room, I checked the surroundings slightly.

I saw a few more makeshift beds, and it looked a bit different from the break room I had been to before.

As I was yawning a bit, the break room door opened.

“Did you wash up?”

“…Yes.”

“Casual clothes suit you well.”

I rubbed my eyes and hugged the pillow.

“…Thank you.”

“I really can’t believe it.”

“What?”

“That I’m here with you like this.”

“…Me too.”

I see.

Another yawn escaped.

“Are you sleepy?”

“Yeah. Very.”

“Shall we sleep now?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

I smiled slightly seeing her lie down on the bed next to me.

“…Erica.”

“What?”

“What should we do tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow…”

There was no response, so I thought she might have fallen asleep when.

“Let’s think about tomorrow when it comes.”

“…Okay.”

“So have sweet dreams.”

Drowsiness came over me.

Morning.

So, mornings are always, mornings when birds chirp,

Outside was always terribly bright.

When I rubbed my lips, I felt that sticky feeling again, so I quietly pulled back the blanket, got up, and headed to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, there was no time to observe her sleeping.

I turned on the faucet, coughed a few times, and washed my mouth.

Only after the pain subsided did I manage to grab the bathroom doorknob and open the door.

As I was staggering down the corridor, nausea came over me.

I went into the cleaning room I saw nearby and stuck my head in a bucket filled with waste.

After about ten minutes of this.

I pulled my head out.

I washed my face again with the hose, and exhaling roughly, I went back into the break room.

Erica was sleeping, so without even having time to look at her face, I pressed my cheek against her hand.

It was warm, so this time I stuck out my tongue and greedily licked her palm.

When a slightly salty taste came up and my head started to feel strange, I felt a touch as my hair was tickled.

I raised my gaze.

Erica smiled.

“Do you want some coffee?”