Ch. 6: A Beautiful, Terrifying Color
Drole, who had intentionally fallen during his high-wire act, held my hand and looked deep into my eyes.
However…
(What’s this unpleasant feeling…?)
I could see nothing hidden in his eyes.
Yet even so, those eyes frightened me…
Drole: “I want you to answer my feelings…”
OO: “Eh…?”
Drole: “Will you give me an answer? Look into my eyes…”
OO: “Your eyes…”
I felt as if something were controlling me, drawing me in, as I looked into Drole’s eyes…
Drole: “…tonight, come to my room.”
OO: “B-but…”
Even as I felt like I was being made to nod in agreement, I tried to speak.
Drole: “You’ll come right? If you don’t…”
Thinking of the collection in Drole’s room…I remembered how much all of the decorations looked so painful.
(I have go there again…?)
As soon as I thought of it, a cold shiver ran down my spine…
Drole: “…you’ll come, right?”
Unable to fight those charming eyes, I finally nodded.
Ch. 7: A Drop of Red
That night…
Full of unease, I made my way to Drole’s room.
(It’s not like… I hate the room.)
I was reminded of the eerie torture devices decorating the room.
(But I promised I’d go…)
Holding on to that thought, I entered the room and…-.
OO: “…!”
My eyes were assaulted by the site of several drops of blood trickling onto the bed.
Standing beside it was Drole, smiling in ecstasy.
OO: “Drole!?”
I ran over to him and looked up at his face.
OO: “…! That’s…”
The blood was flowing from his ear, down his cheek, and onto the bed.
(A piercing…?)
Drole: “Aah…”
OO: “Doesn’t it hurt? Doing it there…-“
Drole: “Well…I guess a little? Hey, hey, don’t I look cool?”
At the top of his ear… blood still trickled from the piercing he’d given himself in the cartilage.
Drole: “That expression is the best thing of all…”
OO: “Eh…?”
He thrust his elegant fingers at the tip of my nose.
Drole: “Yours, that expression of absolute worry… can you think of me being in pain? You’re an adult, yet how strange and beautiful… when you make that face, nothing can compare. That’s why I want you to watch me. Watch as I get hurt and then worry about only me with those eyes…”
OO: “That’s…”
Drole: “It’s the first time I’ve felt like this…”
I calmed myself and looked away, then returned to gaze at his face.
OO: “You don’t need to do this.”
Drole: “Why? Do you not like me?”
OO: “No. That’s not…”
As I chose my words carefully, I slowly started to speak.
OO: “Even if you don’t hurt yourself like this, I’ll still watch you.”
Drole: “Eh?”
OO: “So…-.”
Drole: “…I see.”
Surprisingly, Drole nodded in agreement.
Seeing that, I relaxed in relief but…-.
Drole: “Then that means seeing me hurt like this makes you even more concerned right? You’ll fix your eyes on me even more intently than when I pierce myself right?”
He touched the recently added piercing and gave a pained smile.
Drole: “Aah, just remembering it excites me…!”
A scarlet red drop fell.
His complexion as he smiled was pale, as if he’d fade away…
And he seemed even more satisfied.
(Why…does he say things like that?)
My unease skyrocketed as the scent of rusted iron tickled my nose.
Drole: “You’re the first person… to look at me that way.”
I was seized by emotion and a pressure clamped down on my chest…
OO: “You’re wrong… please, understand… Drole.”
I spoke quietly as I made my plea, but I couldn’t remove the look of ecstasy, a smile and closed eyes, from Drole’s face.
Ch. 8: Mark Me
From that day on, Drole’s dangerous behavior only increased.
(I wonder if he’ll properly use a lifeline this time…?)
As I took everything in, I saw a lifeline fastened around his stomach.
(Thank goodness…)
The moment I thought it, Drole took several steps out onto the line and my heart froze.
(That lifeline…isn’t attached to anything…!)
OO: “Drole, it’s dangerous!”
Even though I shouted out to him, Drole wasn’t listening…
What was worse, he then switched to standing on one leg.
OO: “Please stop Drole!! You really…shouldn’t do this!”
I shouted and pleaded with him.
And it was in that moment.
Drole: “….hmph. You really are an adult after all.”
A cold voice drifted down in the air.
OO: “Eh…?”
Drole: “Don’t do this, don’t do that… adults should just mind their own business.”
OO: “But, that’s…ah!”
Without waiting for me to finish, Drole stepped off the line.
OO: “…!”
As usual, the net broke his fall.
Drole: “Are you that worried?”
Drole languidly rose from the netting and looked at me with a bored expression.
But it was only for a moment, then he broke into a grin.
OO: “Yes I was worried. If you got hurt… I can’t help thinking of the worst-case scenario…so please, don’t do something so dangerous.”
I took his hand as I spoke and Drole let out a deep sigh.
Drole: “I know you’re really thinking about me in earnest.”
OO: “Then…-.”
Drole: “But then shouldn’t you be a little more accepting of me?”
OO: “Eh…?”
His expression was sad but determined as he spoke plainly.
Drole: “No matter what anyone says, this is the kind of person I am. But you just keep trying to reject that by using the excuse that you’re worried about me. If you like me, shouldn’t you be more understanding? If not, then everything you say is just for your own satisfaction. Don’t you think so?”
OO: “Drole…”
His eyes pierced straight through me and I could do nothing other than sink into a heavy silence…-.
That night…
Drole had called me to his room to talk.
(I’m scared, but I have to talk to him properly. At this rate, some day Drole could…)
Hopeless scenarios rose to the surface in my mind, but I firmly kept walking as if to outrun my own thoughts…-.
As before, the room was littered with implements that filled me with fear just by looking at them.
OO: “Um…what did you want to talk about?”
Unlike the other day, there was no trace of blood on the bed.
That alone eased my anxiety somewhat, but then Drole placed his hand on my cheek.
OO: “Eh…?”
The cool sensation from his palm spread throughout me entire body.
Drole: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Wondering how I can respond to your concern for me. After all, I know that you really don’t want me to die. But I want to feel pain… so, it should be fine if you’re the one giving me the pain.”
OO: “What…are you saying…?”
His words shocked me and I stood there frozen.
The hand against my cheek slowly started to move and…
He touched my lips.
Drole: “Here, bite me. If you do, that’ll be enough.”
OO: “N-no…”
Drole: “Bite me… if it’s pain that you give me, I don’t think there could be anything better. And what’s more, don’t you think it would be wonderful… to carry the bite mark of the person you love like an engagement ring? Just imagining it makes my heart race… I haven’t felt this excited since I gave myself my first piercing… come on, please? I want you to hurt me with all your strength.”
OO: “I can’t, I…-“
Drole: “Hurt me… if not, I might die, right?”
OO: “…”
I was caught in his twisted eyes.
(I don’t even want to think about hurting him but…)
Drole: “Please…bite me…”
Drole’s voice, sounding on the verge of tears, echoed in my head.
As if controlled by that echo of genuine desire, I opened my mouth a little.
END