Chapter 4: Let’s Go to the Bathroom Together…?

Ｒεɑｄ​ өṅ ​Ḱат​Ｒҽаⅾί​ոｇ​Са​ſｅ

I was lying lazily on a tree in the backyard, pondering my next steps.

There were about three years left until Sugar would be kidnapped by the cult at the age of 14.

Building up my stamina and physique, gathering information—all of that was fine.

But I realized it wouldn’t help much in an actual crisis. I needed a concrete plan to ensure my safety.

“Sugar! Where is this brat? Suuugar!!”

It seemed like I needed to focus on immediate safety rather than future plans.

Sugar quickly climbed down from the tree.

For every 10 seconds I was late, the volume of that voice would increase. The louder the voice, the higher the chance of getting hit.

“Yes, yes. Director, I’m here.”

“Why are you so late! You should be here before I even call you!”

“I’m sorry.”

She usually never showed her face, but when she did, it was always like this. I grumbled internally.

“Huh? What’s wrong with your face?”

Her hand grabbed my chin and lifted it. I found myself face-to-face with a middle-aged woman with a sharp temper, her lips painted bright red.

“Well, you see—”

“How am I supposed to take you out like this!!”

It had only been a few days since the fight with the bullies.

Sugar’s face was still a mess of bruises and swelling.

“Your pretty face is ruined! What am I supposed to do! Aah! What should I do!”

My ears were going to fall off.

Sugar stared into the distance, waiting for this moment to pass.

Fortunately, she wasn’t that angry. It would probably be over in a few minutes.

“Sis… calm down first. What’s going on?”

Another staff member rushed over at the commotion. She looked like the director but had a much gentler expression. She was the director’s younger sister.

“Look at her face! I have to meet the sponsors this afternoon! How am I supposed to take her out like this!”

The orphanage in the slums received some government support, but it wasn’t enough. So, they had to rely on donations from elsewhere. Bringing a child in front of the sponsors usually helped.

Most sponsors weren’t doing it out of the goodness of their hearts but for their social image. Still, it worked because people tended to feel more sympathy for hungry children. What would have been 100 could turn into 110.

And that role always fell to Sugar. A thin child was better than a fat one, and a pretty child was better than an ugly one. Since everyone here was skinny, it came down to looks, and Sugar was the prettiest.

“Sugar got into a fight with the other kids a few days ago… I think we’ll have to take someone else today.”

“You should’ve made sure no fights happened! Then who? Who are we taking?”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Hmm… What about Tommy?”

“Tommy? That scrawny kid?”

“Yes, he’s got a delicate face. If we clean him up, he’ll look fine.”

“But he’s a boy! Girls are more effective!”

“But he’s smaller than Sugar, so maybe… Just for today…”

The back-and-forth continued for a few more minutes.

Finally, after the director’s sister’s desperate plea, it was decided that Tommy, a boy, would take on the role for the day.

“Then get him ready by this afternoon! Everyone, get out!”

Sugar walked out of the director’s office with a grimace.

How does she keep yelling like that? She could’ve been an opera singer instead of an orphanage director.

Rubbing her ears, she headed back to the backyard when someone grabbed her from behind.

“Um, Sugar.”

“Yes, ma’am. What is it?”

“I have a favor to ask. Can you help Tommy wash up?”

“Me? Why me?”

Usually, the staff or older kids helped the younger ones bathe. She’d do it if asked, but she didn’t understand why she was being singled out.

“You’ve been hanging around Tommy a lot lately. Aren’t you two close?”

Ah, so that boy’s name is Tommy.

“Okay… I’ll do it.”

Why not? She’s one of the few decent people in this orphanage. She’s so meek that even the kids look down on her, but Sugar didn’t. If the other person wasn’t harsh, there was no need for her to be harsh either.

Even if they were harsh, as long as they didn’t cross a line, she preferred to keep things smooth.

“Thank you…! He might not like it, but try to persuade him.”

She handed Sugar some berries.

See? Being kind pays off.

Munching on the berries, Sugar headed straight to the attic. It was dark inside.

There was usually sunlight streaming through the small window, but it seemed like someone had covered it.

Are you guys some kind of children of darkness?

Remembering her school days, she pulled off the cloth covering the window. A scream of “Aah!” came from behind her. Standing right in front of the source of the scream,

“…What do you want now? What are you planning this time?”

The boy’s voice was filled with hostility.

His sharp eyes glared at her from between his fingers, which were covering his face. He had always been cold toward Sugar, but today was worse.

Usually, his reaction to Sugar’s antics went from “expressionless” to “annoyed,” but now it was “annoyed” to “angry.” He’d been like this for a few days. Ever since Sugar praised him in the attic, to be exact.

Of course, Sugar casually thought, Hmm. Must be a rebellious phase. She had no idea what the boy was thinking or what conclusions he had drawn.

“Your name’s Tommy, right?”

First, she needed to confirm his identity.

The boy growled as if he was about to pounce, but his expression changed abruptly at the question.

He didn’t seem angry.

Just… deep in thought.

His only response was a silent nod.

“Alright, Tommy. You need to come with me now.”

“No.”

“You’re rejecting me before I even finish? You’re a bold one. Come on, get up.”

“Let go…! Where are we going?”

When Sugar grabbed his arm, Tommy, the boy, irritably shook her off. But Sugar continued as if nothing had happened.

“The bathroom. Let’s go together.”

“…W-what are you talking about!”

“Hey, you’re still young anyway. No need to be shy.”

“Young? What do you mean young!”

“At least younger than me.”

“How old are you, anyway?”

“11.”

“I’m 11 too…!”

Huh, we’re the same age? I thought he was, at most, around 8 years old.

Setting aside the question of whether it’s worse to steal food from an 8-year-old or from an 11-year-old who looks like an 8-year-old due to being underdeveloped,

Sugar grabbed his hand again and pulled him along.

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever your age is. The director gave the order, so we have to go.”

“That’s not the point! Why do I have to take a bath with you?!”

Tommy’s face turned red enough to be visible even in the dark as he shouted.

But Sugar’s reaction was disappointingly bland in comparison.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“What do you mean…! You said let’s go into the bathroom together…”

“I said let’s go in together, not let’s bathe together…”

“…What?”

“You’re the only one who’s going to wash. I’ll just help you wash your hair while I’m still dressed, and you can handle the rest yourself. Did you really think… I was going to bathe with you?”

“N-no! You were the one who said not to be shy because I’m young, so…!”

“I meant don’t be shy about accepting help… Did you, by any chance…?”

Tommy’s mouth clamped shut.

The silence was delicious.

Sugar’s eyes narrowed, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

The smug expression was complete.

“You’re such a pervert.”

Tommy bolted out of the attic.

…

I admit there was room for misunderstanding in my words.

A bath? I could’ve done it if I had to.

Even though it’s a girl’s body, we’re both young. Even if a kid saw me, I wouldn’t be embarrassed.

But the reason I pushed him like that was…

Well… it’s fun…

Shivering with the thrill of teasing a little kid, I left the attic.

Either way, I’d chased my target out, so now all that was left was to find him and drag him to the bathroom.

Let’s finish this quickly and get back to planning my future.

 

“Damn it…!”

She’s just messing with me!

‘Tommy’ was furious at being caught in the same situation again.

The situation where he couldn’t handle Sugar’s words and ended up running away.

Every time he got involved with her, he either got dragged into something without realizing it or ended up running away. It was always one or the other.

He was the owner of the grimoire and smarter than the other kids, so why did he keep getting played like this?

You’re such a pervert.

Her teasing laughter still seemed to tickle his ears.

It was like a whisper, soft and dreamlike.

“W-who would want to see your n-n-naked body anyway!”

Look at her, all bruised and swollen!

To drown out the voice in his head, he shouted at the top of his lungs. The other kids stared at him strangely, but he ignored them and kept running.

He couldn’t just keep losing like this.

He had to come up with something.

When he reached the backyard, Tommy leaned against a tree to catch his breath and think of a plan.

He had already decided that Sugar would be the first sacrifice for the grimoire, so if he wanted revenge, he just had to go through with it.

Not yet… it’s too soon.

He wanted her to feel the same emotions and react the same way he did. He wanted to see her make a face he could laugh at and say, “Serves you right!” So, it was too early to harm her.

Isn’t there a good way?

As he pondered, staring at the bushes,

Suddenly, it felt like a good idea had come to him.