episode_0075

“Massage?”

At Apple’s sudden remark, Check let out a puzzled voice.

Massage, she hadn’t misheard, had she?

Apple continued speaking to the puzzled Check, without losing her smile.

“Yes. Psychological care for Unit 7 is my job, isn’t it? Captain Rahye specifically asked me to pay extra attention to the unit members than usual. This is part of that. Also, Coco next to me and Spade here have already received it.”

Check turned around, and Coco was nodding, agreeing.

“It was really great. After doing it, my fatigue just *poof* vanished. It was truly the best. Apple, you’d probably make a fortune if you became a masseuse, wouldn’t you?”

“Hehe, I just learned it as a hobby, so I’m glad it helped you. It’s a joyful thing.”

To receive such a high evaluation from Coco, who was picky and rarely cared for superficiality, Apple’s massage must have been truly excellent.

‘But why entrust such a task to Apple?’

Apple was one of the people present when Club was kidnapped.

Check had even occasionally seen Apple appearing somewhat burdened by Club’s kidnapping.

To make Apple, of all people, responsible for the psychological care of other unit members… What was Captain Rahye thinking?

As Check fell silent, lost in thought for a moment, Apple carefully observed her before continuing.

A smile still played on her lips, but this smile was not the bright one from moments ago; it held a touch of bitterness and regret.

“Actually, I asked Captain Rahye first, before she even mentioned it. I proposed this massage idea myself.”

“…Apple? Why?”

“Because this is all I can do.”

At her words, Check also opened her mouth, murmuring, “Ah…”

So that’s it. That’s what she meant.

“I don’t have the ability to fight. I can’t jump into enemy lines to rescue Club, like Check, Coco, or Spade.”

“All I can do is gather some information and handle various administrative tasks to help you all operate a little more comfortably.”

“Ultimately, while you all go out into the field, I can only stay behind and wait, powerless.”

A comrade was kidnapped, seemingly because of her. Even if that wasn’t strictly true, Apple couldn’t help but feel burdened by the fact.

Yet, even feeling burdened, there was nothing she could do.

Of course, the tasks Apple handled were excellent and indispensable, but ultimately, it was others, not Apple, who risked their lives going into the field to help Club.

That’s why Apple came forward like this. She volunteered and offered help, like providing massages.

To do her best within her capabilities, however small, instead of just sitting idly by like a helpless heroine, waiting for someone else to do everything; to be even a tiny bit of assistance, spiritedly.

“I will work hard. I will make sure to keep Check in top condition, so you can be deployed in the operation without any problems!”

Seeing Apple speak so commendably, clenching both fists, Check had nothing more to say.

Coco, standing nearby, poked Check’s shoulder, smiling mischievously. Her gaze seemed to ask, ‘Surely you’re not going to refuse this, are you?’

No, of course not. She had no intention of doing so.

Check let out a small sigh and accepted the offer, saying, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

* * *

After finishing a shower to wash off the sweat in her own room, Check immediately headed to Apple’s room.

*Knock knock* She knocked on the door, and Spade opened it for her.

“…By the way, I couldn’t ask earlier, but Spade, why are you here?”

“Because I won’t be able to participate in this operation either. …I wanted to be of some help, however small.”

Spade spoke with a bitter expression.

Spade couldn’t participate in this operation. That was decided during the meeting earlier today.

Check had thought Spade would object, but to her surprise, Spade complied willingly.

The Spade of old, with her reckless personality, would have clung to any method to participate in this operation.

‘This girl has grown, too.’

Of course, just like Apple, Spade must also feel burdened about being present during Club’s kidnapping and failing to prevent it.

That must be why she was here now, offering to help Apple.

Check found her intentions commendable but didn’t offer verbal praise. Instead, she just lightly stroked Spade’s head.

“Please take off your clothes and lie down here as you are~.”

Upon entering Apple’s room, Check received that instruction.

Apple’s room was decorated quite professionally, giving off the distinct impression of a specialized massage parlor.

Upon closer inspection, no major changes had been made, but simply tidying the room, rearranging the layout, and adding minor decorative touches had achieved this feeling. Was this what they called ‘good taste’?

Spade must have helped with rearranging the layout.

Following Apple’s instructions, Check lay naked on the bed she indicated.

Apple covered Check’s chest and groin with towels, then placed warm, steamed towels over her eyes.

Additionally, she activated a mist machine on a nearby shelf. A hazy mist gently sprayed out towards Check’s face with a soft hiss.

‘Ah… this, the scent is nice.’

Both the warm sensation of the towels warming her eyes, and above all, the sweet, aromatic scent of the mist sprayed on her face, were pleasant.

She could already feel the fatigue in her body slowly easing away.

“Alright, Check, let’s begin.”

With Spade assisting her by her side, Apple’s massage began.

* * *

Apple’s massage was so good that she could truly be called a professional.

Or rather, Check didn’t know much about massages to begin with, lacking deep knowledge.

Perhaps it was just a simple, amateurish technique, but at least for Check, it felt incredibly satisfying.

“Now, Check, just let the tension drain out of your body~. Please tell me if it hurts at all~.”

Saying that, Apple precisely pressed and kneaded Check’s acupressure points, massaging her.

Ah, the fatigue was easing. She could feel the pleasantly relaxing sensation in her muscles, which had been unnecessarily tense. She thought she would be able to sleep very comfortably tonight.

“Check. Do you like the mist…?”

“…Spade…? Yes… I like it. What kind of scent is this…? Lavender…?”

“That’s right. It has herb scented candles in it. Would you like to smell it a bit more?”

Following Spade’s guidance by her side, Check focused more on enjoying the mist’s fragrance. It was a truly lovely scent.

Check’s room also had a diffuser, but its scent was rather bland… She thought it might be good to find a fragrance like this and keep it. Perhaps she should ask for the exact brand of the scented candles later.

Apple’s hands continued to massage more boldly. Even as her hands touched somewhat sensitive areas, Check showed no sign of resistance.

Apple lightly massaged and stroked Check’s chest, whispering into her ear.

“Check, try to breathe in deeper and deeper.”

“The more you inhale the scent of this mist, the deeper you breathe… your body will become lighter and lighter. You will feel better.”

Apple’s whisper.

Check, feeling hazy as if she were about to fall asleep, inhaled as Apple instructed.

The sweet, soft fragrance of the mist, mixed with a brainwashing agent, stimulated Check’s mucous membranes and seeped deep into her lungs.

Apple and Spade took turns instructing Check, making her continue to breathe in deeply. They were ensuring that the brainwashing agent mixed in the mist firmly settled within her, invading every corner of her entire body and mind.

Check quickly entered a trance-like state, her face flushing red as she exhaled heated breaths.

Spade removed the wet towel covering her eyes. Check’s two eyes, devoid of light, were revealed.

Apple quietly observed Check’s eyes and expression, then whispered into her ear.

“Check, how do you feel right now?”

“…I… don’t know… But… I feel floaty… sleepy…….”

“You can’t sleep yet. But feeling floaty is good, isn’t it? You’ll feel better and better.”

“……Mm… Okay….”

Check felt herself feeling better and better, just as Apple said.

And that feeling intensified the more deeply she inhaled the mist.

To Check, who was losing more and more light from her eyes, Apple whispered again.

“Check, Check.”

“Now, I’m going to ask you some questions.”

“Check, please answer my questions with whatever comes to mind.”

“You don’t need to think deeply. Just say it if it comes to mind, and if it doesn’t, you don’t have to say anything.”

Check replied that she understood Apple’s words.

Apple smiled faintly at Check, then began her questions….