episode_0011

Tap. Tap.

I looked at the waste paper blazing fiercely before my eyes.

There was really a lot of waste paper in the ruins of the library to use as kindling.

I took a breath while looking at what had been perfectly fine `books` just a few hours ago.

Naturally, the cloud snack I had carefully kept in my pocket…

I tried to take it out, but thinking of the girl in front of me, I put it back in again.

“You can smoke.”

“No. I’m not a rude adult who smokes in front of a non-smoker.”

“Heh. It’s really okay. I’m used to it because my dad smokes at home.”

Smoking at home, huh.

It’s definitely not a normal household.

Anyway, since I wasn’t that addicted, I decided to carefully put the cloud snack away again.

A strange situation where two people, a man and a woman, were sitting in front of the fire like having a campfire.

However, this situation seemed like a really good one for me.

You see, there are people who talk better in natural situations like this than during counseling.

It seemed Fraype was probably one of those types of people.

“It’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“These books. I’ve read them all at least once, but suddenly the building collapsed, then they got torn, and now they’re burning.”

A shame, huh.

I could sympathize with that feeling to some extent.

Who wouldn’t feel a shame when a hobby you like is burning fiercely in front of you?

‘Come to think of it, I must have put a few candies or chocolates in my pocket.’

I rummaged through my pocket and decided to take out some snacks to offer.

However.

-Flinch!

“Wh- what is it…?”

“Huh?”

“No, that fist.”

Fraype reacting to the fist I made to grab the snack.

Is it a trigger?

Seeing her react so deeply to a certain action, it seems clear there’s a connection.

‘Fist, misandry, smoking at home? There’s only one answer.’

Domestic violence.

-Clench.

My fist clenched without me realizing.

“…Excuse me.”

“I’m sorry. I was just going to give you a snack… Do you perhaps not like chocolate?”

“No. If you give it to me, I’ll gratefully eat… it.”

The atmosphere around suddenly seemed to turn gloomy.

However, I couldn’t easily say anything either.

Especially concerning things that happen at home, a third party cannot easily intervene.

That’s why I had a dilemma.

‘Then what kind of approach would be best to continue the counseling?’

It was a really difficult situation to do anything or to try and pry into her heart through counseling.

Perhaps Fraype’s inner self might be half-collapsed.

Because abuse at home collapses a person’s mind faster than anything else.

That might be why she acts rougher towards others and pushed counselors away.

‘Unless the problem is directly solved, she’ll eventually collapse.’

I had tried to break down her existing emotions through counseling, but.

If the target is a tower already on the verge of collapse, what should I do?

Should I leave it as is? Should I approach when she’s weakest after collapsing?

Or should I directly intervene in solving the problem and gain her trust first?

However, if Fraype was a magical girl, she would have been able to solve it herself.

Why?

My head began to throb from the phenomenon of one question giving birth to another.

“Excuse me.”

Fortunately, just as my head started aching, she cut in.

“Perhaps it might be rude to ask, but… what do you usually do?”

“Are you asking about my job?”

“Uh, yes…. I was curious because you’re so calm.”

She’s asking, knowing what I do.

I don’t know what her purpose is in asking, but I can answer with pride.

Because I live my life with pride in my work.

“I do work that saves people.”

“Are you a doctor, by any chance?”

“No, doctor… is a bit vague. I work on healing people’s minds through counseling.”

“Mind, huh… I don’t really know. I don’t really like counseling.”

Naturally.

From the first counseling session, she was uncooperative and glared at me with a face full of dissatisfaction.

I nodded, showing empathy for her words.

And through the conversation, I felt like I understood why Fraype remained here.

Perhaps she was also curious.

Why I kept approaching her as a counselor.

And why I’m so obsessed with counseling.

“Well, there are many people who think that way. Because there are many sayings like ‘If you’re sick, take medicine’ or ‘If you have simple worries, endure with mental strength.’”

“I don’t know exactly why counseling is necessary. If you’re mentally unwell, isn’t it better to go to a psychiatrist?”

“Counseling is done before your mind gets sick. When you’re like this, struggling and not knowing what to do. When you’re struggling together and the path ahead isn’t clear, a counselor listens to your story and walks with you so you can forge a path.”

At my words, Fraype thought for a moment, then looked up at the blocked ceiling.

“I still don’t really understand. Showing your worries or weak points to someone isn’t a good thing to begin with, is it?”

It’s not easy to show your weak self to someone.

Even between close friends or family, if you confide, it might remain as a burden and come back to you someday.

That’s why it’s hard to bare your whole self to someone.

I can say.

This is the reason for a counselor’s existence.

“That’s why you confide. To a third party. Someone you don’t know well, but someone who can listen to your worries. And because they can look at your words and your state more objectively than anyone else.”

“…Is that so.”

And I felt sorry for Fraype.

Just moments ago, I had thought of her as just a normal literary girl.

The more I learned about her, the more it seemed she grew up in a bad environment and had trouble trusting others.

“……”

That’s how the conversation ended.

Because Fraype, who had started thinking about something, had no intention of speaking.

Realizing the conversation was over, I just quietly stoked the fire.

I spent time watching the blazing fire, as if mesmerized by the light.

How long had I been sitting in front of the fire?

“Yawn,,, sorry.”

“No. If you’re sleepy, get some rest. I’ll stand guard.”

“No. Still, doing that for someone you just met…”

“You may not know this, but I used to work in the military. I’m excellent at standing duty or guard duty, so don’t worry too much and get some sleep first.”

In the end, she couldn’t fight off sleep, I guess.

Fraype nodded her head, then spread a book on the hard dirt floor and began to try and sleep on it.

Crack. Pop-crackle.

Now only the sound of the flames could be heard.

Whether she had fallen asleep, Fraype was just lying still.

“Hmm……”

I looked at the girl for a moment, then made up my mind.

-Tug.

-Slide.

Took off my outer clothes.

Slowly approached Fraype.

Fraype, who had closed her eyes as if deeply asleep.

“If you don’t cover up when you sleep, your mouth might get twisted.”

Thinking that since she was my charge, I should still take care of her, I covered her with my outer clothes instead of a blanket.

-Flinch!

Fraype flinching slightly.

After watching her for a moment, I also slowly moved away.

While the kid is sleeping, it’s probably okay to go smoke a cloud snack and come back, right?

And so, one night passed in this damn basement.

***

“Hey, wake up.”

-Poke poke.

“Ugh… What is it?”

“I came to save you, and this is your reaction~? Sigh, this is why I dislike counselors.”

“Fraype?”

“That’s right. Magical Warrior Fraype has arrived.”

In front of my eyes was Magical Girl Fraype, not the plain-looking literary girl Fraype.

It seems she finally made up her mind to escape from here.

“What are you doing? I thought you’d at least thank me. You hold grudges longer than I thought, huh?”

“No, I was just surprised. And do you know where the girl who was here went? We were definitely together until yesterday.”

Just as she maintained her role-play until the end last night, I also decided to maintain my role-play.

I didn’t know that girl yesterday was Fraype.

Anyway, I didn’t know. Yes.

“Ah, her…? That, that girl, I already saved her. I already sent her home, so you just need to come out.”

“Hmm, that’s strange. Isn’t that outer garment mine? That’s strange, I should have covered that girl’s body with it yesterday, hmm.”

I smiled at Fraype’s reaction, as her face slightly reddened and she looked like she was about to burst.

She’s a magical girl who’s better to tease than I thought.

“Of course, that girl gave it back to return it… Alright. If you’re not coming out, get lost, ugh.”

Fraype handing me back my outer garment and bending down as if telling me to piggyback.

Responding to that, I flung myself onto her back.

“How many kilos are you? I’m surprised you weigh more than I thought.”

“I’m a bit of a practical dense muscle, you see. Let’s go quickly.”

“Maybe I should drop you.”

Since she was playing along better than I expected, I felt like teasing her more.

It seemed like it was morning outside now anyway, so first, let’s go out and…

Go out and?

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat began to flow.

“Taxi, taxi!”

“You’ll fall off like that? Hey, hey!”

“Just take me to the counseling center quickly. Please!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I had a morning appointment! Uh, uh-oh!?”

“Don’t shake! Don’t shake!!”

I had forgotten I had a counseling appointment this morning.

Ai.

Today was the day Ai’s counseling was scheduled for this morning.

If I’m late, it’s game over.

***

“Finally arrived.”

Current time around 10:02.

Although I was a bit late, it wasn’t that long, so Ai must have been waiting.

First, if I go in, apologize first, and then continue with today’s counseling as is…

-Creak.

-Grab!

“Ugh…”

Something pounced on me.

A heavy force felt from my back.

It squeezed me so I couldn’t get free, and gradually I felt something warm on my chest.

“Oppa, why were you so late…. I was worried.”

“Ah, Ai…. If you suddenly hug me, I get surprised too…? Please let go of your arms for a moment.”

“No. It’s Oppa’s fault for being late today…. Hmm?”

Ai, who had been rubbing her face against my chest, suddenly stopped.

What is it?

Something felt off, and I started to feel breathless.

“Oppa.”

Her voice was clearly gentle.

But for some reason, it felt like a chill had settled in it.

“We clearly made a promise, didn’t we? That we clearly have a `special relationship`.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right…?”

“But which bitch did you come rolling around with?”

My whole body suddenly began to tremble.

“You even stayed out all night yesterday, didn’t you? Was it good?”

Her head slowly lowering.

Ai’s appearance gradually began to come into view.

Ai, whose eyes were dead.

“Oppa…. Oppa. Did you break our promise?”