Episode 3: Off to the Bazaar!

When I left Azure Academy, the sun was directly overhead.

"Oh, Kotoyorozu-kun. How'd it go—what's with that face?"

I noticed Luna-san waiting for me at the front gate.

"You've got quite the grin on your face."

"...Huh?"

President Elif had kissed me on the cheek, and my heart had completely melted. No, honestly, my head was full of nothing but that.

"What'd the Student Council President say?"

"Nothing, really. Nothing serious. We just talked a little."

"That so. She didn't do anything scary?"

".................."

"What's with that silence?"

She was a terrifying person, Student Council President Elif Anatolia...

I would never forget this day as long as I lived.

"Anyway, this girl says she has business with us."

Where Luna-san pointed stood a small, animal-like girl with wisteria-purple hair.

"Koshiba Nyao, reporting for duty!"

"Oh, Koshiba-san."

"Please feel free to just call me Nyao!"

"...Koshiba."

"Nyao is totally fine, you know?"

Calling a girl by her first name was honestly a high hurdle.

Luna-san seemed to understand that, grinning at me.

"If you're free after this—would you like to have a welcome party for you two?"

"Welcome party?"

"Well, it's just eating a little dinner at our place."

At the word "dinner," my stomach let out a loud growl. Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything proper in quite a while. The IV drip in the hospital room might have been the last thing.

Koshiba-san giggled.

"Hah, what an honest stomach. So weeeak."

"What did you say?"

She moved with small-animal-like briskness, taking the lead.

"Then let's do some shopping before we head home!"

Apparently in Koshiba-san's mind, our attendance at the welcome party was already decided. Luna-san and I exchanged glances, shared a small laugh, and followed her.

"Off we go! —To the bazaar!"

* * *

■

District 12 of Sky City Fructus was a town that had developed around a massive bazaar. I'd visited before, but it had been late at night with no one around.

"Wow!"

But today was different.

"We've got the freshest stuff here! Best papayas in town!"

"Hey hey hey! Charms perfect for souvenirs right here!"

The air was thick with the scent of spices, and vibrant vegetables and fruits lined the stalls. Were those live animals being sold over there? We walked, weaving through the crowds.

"Now then. What should we make today? Do either of you have foods you don't like?"

Koshiba looked back and forth between Luna-san and me.

"N-no. I'll eat anything."

"That's good♪," Koshiba said with a smile.

"I haven't really eaten much food before."

Koshiba froze, making a face like a cat that had just smelled a smelly sock.

"Koshiba will do her best!"

Luna-san's jokes were hard to read.

"Ugh... this smell is making me so hungry..."

The scent of meat wafting from huge pots, the sound of oil sizzling and popping! As I struggled against my hunger, Luna-san held out a fuzzy fruit.

"What's this?"

"Dunno. They were selling it over there."

"Do you have money?"

"Oh, Von-san gave us some living expenses for now. Here, let's split it."

Luna-san casually pulled some coins and bills from her pocket and handed them to me. The designs were all unfamiliar—probably currency unique to this city.

"How... do you eat this?"

"Ah, that's rambutan. You crack the skin open like this and eat it."

"Ooh, I see... This is good!"

"Pfft. You didn't even know that? Bazaar amateurs are hopeless."

"What did you say?"

While protesting to Koshiba, I finished the rambutan. It was juicy with a bouncy texture, kind of like lychee in flavor.

"Kotoyorozu-kun. What's that? They're selling something weird."

Luna-san pointed toward a tent in one corner of the bazaar, where neon signs flashed almost annoyingly bright.

"Welcome."

The unfriendly man sitting in the back was probably the shop owner. Piled haphazardly on shelves and wooden crates were mysterious gadgets with unknown purposes.

"Ooh, this... It shoots a beam!"

When Luna-san randomly pressed buttons on a round machine, a beam about 15 centimeters long shot out with a vwee. What was this thing even for? It seemed like really sci-fi technology.

"That's a laser kitchen knife."

"It's a kitchen knife..."

"People say it's convenient since you don't have to wash it. Needs batteries though."

"It needs batteries..."

The owner was unfriendly, but surprisingly willing to explain the merchandise.

"That one's a quantum dryer. That's a hologram display cutting board. And that's an LED light bulb."

"It's a sci-fi kitchen supplies shop!"

As expected of a bazaar in the sky. There was so much I'd never seen before.

"Hmm, what should we do about vegetables..."

Next to a tent piled high with colorful spices, Koshiba was staring intently at vegetables. She already had a bag full of ingredients in her hands.

"Want me to carry that? The bags."

Koshiba's eyes went round.

"Don't underestimate me! Koshiba is strong. Want to arm wrestle? Let's go!"

"No, I just thought it'd be hard to pick ingredients with one hand full."

"...If you're scared, finger wrestling is fine too? Let's go!"

Apparently this girl was ridiculously competitive. We finger wrestled anyway.

"Woof woof!"

"(Dodge and hold) Got you."

"NYAAAAA!!"

Koshiba screamed in defeat and dropped to her knees.

"Kuun... That makes it 3 wins and 1 loss for Koshiba..."

"When did I lose three times?"

"Koshiba demands a rematch when we get home!"

That was fine by me. Looking at Koshiba snorting through her nose, hungry for competition, I couldn't help but laugh. Like a puppy desperately trying to establish dominance.

"Come on, you two. Having fun is great, but we still have shopping to do."

Luna-san approached saying that, arms piled high with futuristic gadgets. At some point, she'd been enjoying the bazaar more than anyone.

* * *

■

I, Mehleeza Janebekova, was lost in thought while vacuuming the room.

(... Today, a boy is joining this dorm.)

I was used to living with lots of people. When I was a child, I lived in a yurt, and I didn't have a room of my own.

(I've really gotten used to city life, haven't I?)

I wasn't comfortable around boys. I couldn't tell what they were thinking. And according to rumors, boys were always thinking about dirty things. I'd never imagined anything like that.

(What kind of perverted things...?)

I didn't even know that much. City people were probably sophisticated and knew all about that stuff. Well, I had seen horses mating. Did humans do that too? But how?

"Auwauwauwauwauwau..."

I could tell my face was heating up like a frying pan. Just thinking about something this improper felt like I was doing something terribly wrong. This was why I didn't like boys!

(But that Kotoyorozu boy—)

His injuries really were terrible. First, there was a large scar on his face. His hands were wrecked, and some of his nails weren't even there. I'd heard he was my age, but he looked terribly gaunt.

(What happened to him...?)

I tried forming a few guesses, but they were all horrible. Nothing else could explain that many scars. Something truly terrible must have happened.

(And yet, I...)

I'd thrown out a wounded, exhausted boy by force.

(...Over something as trivial as him seeing my body.)

No, it wasn't trivial. My grandmother taught me that such things should be treasured. But still. Compared to his pain, it was really such a stupid thing.

It's not like anyone would be interested in the body of a huge woman like me anyway.

"...Zuuun..."

I slumped against the wall, feeling dark. Self-loathing.

"We're hooome!"

The noisy clattering at the entrance was probably Koshiba. I straightened my back with a start of nervousness and cleared my throat. The three of them came into the dining room, chatting away.

"Ah—"

Right away, I made eye contact with the boy. Kotoyorozu-kun. I thought I needed to apologize, but I was too nervous to speak. He bowed his head before I could.

"Sorry about yesterday!"

"Huh?"

"...I'll completely erase it from my memory. Really, I'm sorry."

I wished I could just say "Same here," but I couldn't.

"It's fine. I've already forgotten about it."

That's all I could say, coldly. Ugh, my own awkwardness made me so angry.

"Oh, that's great! Making up is wonderful! Now, to deepen our friendship, could you go slaughter one of the two chickens in the yard?"

Nyao laughed cheerfully. This girl was always energetic.

"...Huh?"

Kotoyorozu-kun asked back, his face turning pale.

"Oh, put the feathers in this bag."

Kotoyorozu-kun was handed a black garbage bag.

He must be from the city. Probably scared of slaughtering animals. I need to be kind, I thought. I have to show him I can be reliable.

"Mission acknowledged. Let's go, Kotoyorozu-kun."

"...A-are you serious?"

He murmured with a trembling voice. Oh, I noticed something.

(This boy is shorter than me, even though he's a boy...)

I found myself bending my knees slightly.

* * *

■

By evening, we'd returned to the dorm's living room, exhausted.

I sat on an arabesque-patterned cushion laid on the carpet and let out a breath.

"S-so tired..."

Slaughtering and plucking a chicken was pretty hard work. Physically and mentally. I could still feel it in my palms. But that's what it meant to receive a life. I'd live without forgetting this feeling.

"Mef-san must be tired too, right? Here, some water."

"I'm fine."

"You were really good at the slaughtering. Used to it?"

"Yes."

"...You must be hungry?"

"Mm."

And so it went—the girl who'd temporarily become my partner, Mehleeza-san, gave me absolutely nothing to work with. No matter what topic I brought up, she'd respond curtly in four syllables or less.

Ugh, Kotoyorozu-kun is being so considerate! I need to say something too.

B-but I don't know what topics boys like... auwauwauwau.

...Since I could hear her thoughts perfectly, I didn't think she was a cold person at all. If anything, I felt bad for making her uncomfortable the whole time.

...Should I bring up perverted topics?

But I don't know anything about that stuff!

Apparently Mef-san had some serious misconceptions about guys. If she brought up perverted topics, I'd be the one in trouble. Definitely in trouble. I looked away, feeling awkward.

"Here you go, thanks for waiting! The feast is ready!"

Koshiba placed a large platter on the low table with a thunk. The smell of spices, seafood, and roasted chicken filled the room. It was truly a magnificent spread.

"Th-thank you for the food!"

"Enjoy~♪"

I dug into the large platter. Flat noodle stir-fry, spicy soup rich with seafood flavor. All of it was unfamiliar to me, but absolutely incredible.

"So good!"

"Heheh. That makes it 4 wins and 1 loss for Koshiba."

"Oh, so that's how my losses are piling up."

I had no choice but to concede this one. As I shoveled down the food, I found myself on the verge of tears.

(It's been years since I could eat like this.)

Damn. I felt alive.

Deep down, I still couldn't fully believe in my own freedom. I felt like everything I was seeing was a dream, and when I woke up, I'd be back in that underground room, staring at a small TV screen.

(But don't cry. Someone who cries over their first meal with new people is way too weird.)

I pretended to wipe my mouth from the spicy food, wiping away the tears pooling in my eyes.

"Heheh, I know right, I know right♪ Koshiba is good at cooking."

In contrast to the triumphant Koshiba, Luna-san looked gloomy.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

I exchanged glances with Koshiba, who'd been working with Luna-san earlier.

"Luna-san's really bad at cooking and she's depressed about it. Even though she's a maid."

"That's not true! I'm not bad at cooking! The ingredients in this dimension are just wrong!"

Luna-san complained about something incomprehensible while sipping her beer.

...His hands.

I suddenly noticed a vector of thought directed at me. It was from Mef-san.

Her almond-shaped eyes, same as ever like a supermodel's, were fixed on my fingers.

(Crap.)

I felt my face flush hot. Right—my fingers had been used as toys for "education" back when I was captive, so they were twisted and ugly.

(Does she think they're gross?)

I quickly hid my hands. When I'd played finger wrestling with Koshiba earlier, I'd caught myself staring at how neat and orderly normal fingers were. Right. I was—

...I must look truly ugly. I'd been too desperate to survive to notice until now, but my scarred face and fingers weren't really something I should be showing anyone.

"..."

I was hit with terrible nausea. I was aiming for something "normal," for "youth," but was I even the kind of person who could have that? Wasn't that asking for too much?

I was just a filthy Whisperer—

"Kotoyorozu-kun. Are you okay?"

A cool palm covered my forehead. It was Luna-san's.

"Ahaha, sorry... just tired."

"...Yeah, of course you are."

Luna-san, who knew my situation best, smiled gently like she would at a child. This person always looked disinterested and indifferent, but at times like this, she smiled so kindly. What a strange person, I thought.

"Oh. Koshiba prepared your room, so feel free to go rest there."

After thanking all three of them, I headed to my room alone.

The room I'd been given wasn't large by any stretch. About four and a half tatami mats, maybe, but plenty big enough to stretch out and lie down.

"Man... I'm seriously exhausted..."

So much had happened these past few days, I hadn't had time to breathe. ...More accurately, these past few years.

"Excuse me."

A knock on the door, and it opened. Standing there was the tall, beautiful dark-skinned girl—Mef-san.

"Is something wrong?"

When I asked, she fixed me with a quiet gaze and murmured.

"Take off your clothes."

"...Huh?"

"Your clothes... take them off...?"

She closed the distance between us, step by step. I had no idea what was happening, blinking in confusion. Mef-san seemed pretty nervous too—when I read her mind, I couldn't get a coherent response.

"W-wait, Mef-san! We've barely just met! That kind of thing—"

"(Throws him down without letting him argue and removes his clothes)"

Gyah! Her physical strength was on a completely different level!

(... I'm face-down!?)

Wait! What's she going to do in this position!? My butt is a bit too soon, you know!?

"Whoa—"

Against my cowering back—I felt her large body press down.

"..., ..., ..."

Mef-san had climbed on top of my back and was gently giving me a massage.

"...Huh?"

I was confused, but once I understood she had no improper intentions, the incredibly careful, comfortable sensation of her hands made my body's tension melt away.

"Hospital."

"Huh?"

"Since when. Have you not been going?"

What a beautiful voice, I thought. Clear as ice.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because..."

I noticed her trailing off and felt my face heat up again.

Because my body had been crammed into tight spaces and my broken bones left untreated, it was grotesquely twisted. The burn marks from being pressed with flames, the scars where flesh had been carved away—I couldn't even count them all.

"U-um. It's fine. It's fine now. ...Could you stop...?"

"Why?"

"...It's embarrassing. I don't want to be touched. ...Not this... body..."

Being different from everyone. Having an ugly appearance. A body covered in scars.

"............"

I felt her heart fill with great sadness.

"I cannot agree to that. You need treatment as soon as possible."

"That's... not something you need to do, Mef-san."

"Mef is fine. We're the same age."

Oh, really? She seemed so mature, I'd assumed she was around Luna-san's age. ...Mef gently worked the knots out of my stiff muscles.

"My father is a doctor. I often helped treat his patients."

"I see."

"But. I've never seen... anyone this hurt... before..."

She was sad. She felt sympathy for me. I didn't find that painful or pitiful. Because something like that was far too foreign to me.

"Does it hurt? I'm trying to be as gentle as possible."

"I'm fine. It feels good."

"Understood. If you get sleepy, feel free to fall asleep."

She murmured in her calm voice, almost a whisper. I said thank you, but I knew I wouldn't fall asleep. I couldn't sleep a wink anymore when someone else was in the room.

"...Hff. Hff. ...Hff."

Mef continued the massage with focus and dedication. After 30 minutes, then an hour, my body had melted into putty, all tension gone.

(But why is she doing this for me?)

I thought about it a little, but couldn't find an answer.

"Now, finally. —Your hand, please."

"Huh?"

"Be swift about it."

Barely 50 centimeters away was a beautiful girl's face, like she'd stepped out of a painting. And she was holding my hand in both of hers, earnestly continuing the massage.

I want to apologize for last night. ...But I can't find the right timing.

I couldn't help but laugh. Because the whole time she'd been massaging me, she'd been thinking "I need to apologize." What a good person. Really.

"Mef, you're really kind."

"Wha—"

Her grip tightened for a moment, and ow ow, she twisted my wrist. She stared at me intently.

"How so?"

"Well, you're giving me a massage."

"You've been assigned to our team's care. Providing care is only natural."

She continued massaging gently.

"This is merely duty. Please don't get the wrong idea."

I want to say this is just normal, so you don't need to thank me.

But I said it in that cold way again... I-I can't take it back now!

Despite her icy stare, inside her heart she was fidgeting like a little girl.

"...You really are kind."

"Wha—"

She released my hand with a start.

"What is wrong with you? Don't tell me you're trying to flirt with me?"

"Huh? No, I didn't—! That's not what I meant at all—"

Mef stared at me with narrowed eyes.

Are boys really something to watch out for after all?

Come to think of it, he's been staring at my chest this whole time, hasn't he?

N-no I haven't!

But that can't be right. A huge woman like me.

There's no way a boy would like me.

I found myself staring at her.

"No! Mef, you're seriously beautiful!"

"—Eh?"

"But I'm not flirting or anything! Ahaha. I... don't really understand that stuff yet. So, um, what was I saying? Well, something like that, is that okay?"

She stared at me for a long moment, then took my hand again.

"Whatever. It has nothing to do with me."

Mef's previously skilled massage had become somewhat clumsy.