Kayama Esumi: Indulgence

"......This has turned into a real headache."

About several weeks had passed since Kayama Esumi’s last visit to Gehenna. 

Before she knew it, more than two months had already flown by since her enrollment at Trinity General School. For someone active as a professional painter, balancing academics with her artistic pursuits was proving to be a grueling ordeal. 

For the time being, she was managing to scrape by thanks to the knowledge and grit from her previous life, but a new set of problems was currently hounding her. At this very moment, she was sprawled out on her bed, desperately trying to escape reality.

"......The Art Club is sitting on one hell of a ticking time bomb, isn't it......"

She rolled onto her back, her legs dangling off the edge of the bed as she gave them a weary little shake. 

She had only just returned from Trinity moments ago. She hadn't even changed her clothes yet, but she lacked the willpower to do much of anything. She was in a state of total lethargy.

"Did something happen at Trinity?"

Misono Mika, who was sitting on the same bed and watching the prone Esumi, spoke up with a curious tilt of her head. Judging by the fact that she was still in her junior high uniform, it seemed she was also on her way home from school. 

Quite why she was here at Esumi’s house instead of her own remained a mystery, however......

"Sigh...... Misono...... my bed is small, so could you at least sit in that chair?"

"Ehh? Esumi-chan, your bed is so soft. I don't want to sit in that hard chair."

"Then sit on the floor...... I’m the owner of this bed, you know......"

"The floor is obviously harder than the chair, though? Wait, are you being serious, Esumi-chan?"

"If possible, I’d like you to just sit there in a formal seiza pose."

"Is this the part where I get a lecture?"

"If you don't like it, get off the bed and sit in that chair...... in seiza."

"It is a lecture!!"

For context, the bed in Esumi’s room was strictly for one person. With Esumi lying down, the space was already at its limit. Since Mika had unceremoniously plopped herself down in the remaining sliver of space, the result was a very tight squeeze.

To be precise, they were packed in so tightly that if Esumi were pushed even an inch, she would have tumbled straight onto the floor.

That was why Esumi, as the master of the room, was asking Mika to use the chair beside the bed. However, that chair was a wooden stool designed specifically for sketching, meaning its comfort level was abysmal. It was only natural for Mika to refuse.

"Besides, we both have school tomorrow. Why are you even at my house, Misono?"

Esumi kept her gaze fixed on the Mika sitting on her bed, though she didn't move from her back. She seemed so drained of both physical and mental energy that she refused to budge even a muscle; a single shove really would have sent her rolling off the mattress.

Mika felt a sudden, mischievous urge to do exactly that, but she suppressed it and answered the question.

"I don't need a reason to visit a friend's house☆"

It was a response that was blindingly pure and sparkling—literally. 

I see. From Mika’s perspective, Esumi was already a "friend." Compared to her relationship with Nagisa, Esumi hadn't interacted with Mika nearly as much, but it seemed the girl’s threshold for friendship was surprisingly low. It made sense why, despite her innocent personality in the game's main story, she had such a wide social circle. 

However, if one were to ask if Esumi’s threshold for friendship was just as low, the answer was a resounding no.

"Misono...... I don't recall us ever becoming friends."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Even though we’ve had tea parties with Nagi-chan, gone out together, and even picked out clothes?"

"I only accept the invitations because we’re business partners. I don't recall a single 'friendly' interaction. I’m simply maintaining the minimum necessary social ties for my career as a painter."

"Hmm. So it’s all just 'necessary work'?"

"Exactly...... so don't just come to my house to play. Just go ho—whoa!?"

Esumi’s plan to make Mika give up and go home was suddenly derailed by an unexpected move. 

The move in question...... was a hug. Mika had lunged forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Wait...... it’s dangerous, let go!?"

"No way!!"

As mentioned, the bed was a single, and things were already cramped. The more Esumi struggled to break free, the higher the risk of them both tumbling off the bed together.

Furthermore, despite being only a year older, Mika was incredibly strong. For Esumi, whose grip strength in her right hand was already well below average, escaping by force was an impossible task.

Whether Mika had actually thought this through before acting was unclear (especially since she hadn't been told about the right hand yet), but the result was Mika burying her face victoriously into Esumi’s chest, her arms wrapped firmly around the other girl’s back. Mika had hoisted the flag of victory.

"Fwah...... Esumi-chan’s chest is so soft...... It’s like a pillow...... I feel like I could fall asleep just like this......"

"Don't just decide my chest is your pillow and fall asleep. Also, let go."

"I don't want to!!"

"......Sigh."

Esumi knew Mika didn't mean anything untoward by it, but having someone’s face buried in her chest while in such close contact brought a faint blush to her cheeks. She let out a long sigh toward the pink hair right in front of her.

She was managing to keep her cool since they were both in uniform, but Mika was casually muttering things like "You smell nice" and "They’re pretty big, aren't they?" directly into her bosom. Esumi’s sense of shame was reaching its limit. Don't talk while your face is buried there.

"Honestly, what are you even trying to do......"

Unable to move, Esumi could only voice her confusion while staring blankly at the ceiling. 

As if waiting for that exact moment, Mika lifted her head.

"Hey, Esumi-chan, did you know? Hugging is supposed to lower your stress."

"......Where did that come from?"

In contrast to Esumi’s suspicious expression, Mika offered an innocent smile, though she didn't loosen the strength of her hug at all.

"I’m not as good at reading people as Nagi-chan is, and it’s hard for me to understand what people are thinking, but even I can tell that Esumi-chan has been really tired lately. You didn't even kick me out immediately when I barged in."

"Is that so......? And?"

"I think Esumi-chan thinks too much and works too hard. I’m not in high school yet, so I don't really get what kind of faction drama you’re stuck in at Trinity, but if possible, I want you to lean on me and Nagi-chan a bit."

"......Listen, you 'lean' on family or friends. You don't do that with acquaintances. Like I said before, I don't consider you two my friends."

"So you only interact when it's 'necessary,' right?"

"That’s right."

"Mhm, mhm! Then this is something 'necessary' to heal Esumi-chan’s exhaustion!! Come on, hug me back so hard that you forget all those bad thoughts!!"

Mika began flailing her legs about as she squeezed Esumi even tighter. Esumi had been internally terrified that Mika’s monstrous strength might actually snap her spine if she got serious...... but that didn't happen.

(......She’s holding back on purpose, isn't she......)

No one wanted a situation where a "therapeutic hug" ended in an accidental injury. Mika was likely using just enough strength to hold her without causing pain. 

Well...... the terrifying thought of what would happen if she *actually* got serious did flash through Esumi’s mind for a second, but it was true that she was mentally exhausted from all the Trinity politics.

"......Only this once."

And so, Esumi decided to follow her lead and indulge herself, just for today.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around the girl’s back, pulling her close and tangling their legs together. Positioned as if she were holding a giant body pillow, Esumi buried her face into the top of Mika’s head. 

Mika had a fresh, pleasant scent that was different from Nagisa’s. It was very comforting.

"......Hey, Misono......"

"What is it...... Esumi-chan?"

"Can we...... stay like this for a while?"

"I don't mind at all☆"

"I see...... thank you."

It was a strange sight—one with her face in the other's chest, the other with her face in the first's hair—but there was no one there to question it. 

Surprisingly, being held like this made Esumi feel a warmth deep in her heart. Realizing just how lonely she had been while carrying her fatigue, Esumi began to let her worries spill out.

"......Misono...... what would you do if something you loved was about to be defiled?"

"Is that...... the problem you’re facing right now?"

"You could say that...... or not. To be honest, I’m about to get involved in a world I really wanted to avoid......"

"Hmm...... something I love, huh......"

Things that immediately came to mind for Mika were her favorite clothes, sweets, and above all, her precious childhood friend, Nagisa. 

However, both Mika and Nagisa were still in junior high and were both young ladies from wealthy families. Perhaps because people feared the power and retaliation of their backgrounds, they had never experienced being bullied or subjected to violence by others. 

That balance might shift drastically once they moved up to high school, but at this stage, it was impossible for Mika to truly empathize with the specific weight of Esumi’s problem. 

Nevertheless, because Esumi was clearly pushed to the brink enough to confide in her, Mika wanted to help. She searched for her own answer with a strong desire to be of use.

"I would protect the things I love...... with everything I have."

"......Even if it meant stepping into a world you never wanted anything to do with?"

"Of course...... otherwise, it’d be like betraying the fact that I ever liked it in the first place. I want to keep loving the things I love...... no matter what everyone around me thinks☆"

"......I see. So that’s your answer, Misono......"

It might have been her imagination, but it felt like Esumi squeezed her a little tighter. It wasn't out of frustration or anger, but a strength born from the satisfaction of receiving a convincing answer.

"Thank you...... I’m still not ready to admit we’re friends, but being able to talk this through with you helped......"

"Ehh...... shouldn't this be the part where you finally admit we’re friends?"

"Don't be greedy. You’re quite bold for someone who hasn't even bought one of my paintings yet."

"But Esumi-chan’s paintings are so expensive! Honestly, how can Nagi-chan just buy paintings that cost millions of yen each like it’s nothing......?"

"............Kirifuji is just the weird one."

Esumi felt a slight chill remembering how Nagisa would decide to buy a piece with a terrifyingly serious look before practically throwing bundles of cash at her. Still, she was grateful to have such a dedicated client to help fund her artistic career. 

Nagisa’s invitations to become her patron were still ongoing, and while Esumi kept turning them down, she made up for it by joining her for private social outings to blow off steam. In a way, these interactions were having a positive effect on Esumi too.

(......Will it end in luck or calamity? For now, I should choose the path I won't regret.)

Having decided to face the problem head-on thanks to her conversation with Mika, her exhaustion finally hit its limit and a wave of drowsiness washed over her. She realized she hadn't had a proper night’s sleep in quite some time.

"Sorry...... I’m going to sleep for a bit......"

"I was just starting to feel sleepy too, so I agree...... I’ll make sure to wake you up later☆"

"......According to Kirifuji, you’re a late sleeper who’s hard to wake up, though."

"Geez, Nagi-chan! I wish she’d stop telling Esumi-chan whatever she wants!!"

"It can't be helped. You’ll just have to do something that makes Kirifuji jealous next time."

"Whoa, Nagi-chan would get so jealous. But I like that idea☆"

The two shared a quiet giggle. Then, Mika quietly extended her wings, wrapping them around Esumi’s body as she held her. The soft sensation reached Esumi, and in her surprise at the new experience, she let herself enjoy the moment.

"Hehe...... I’m completely surrounded by your wings, Misono. I wonder what’s going to happen to me?"

"Wow...... that sounded incredibly lewd, Esumi-chan......"

"Seriously...... what is wrong with your head?"

Esumi gave a wry smile, wondering what on earth was going on in the girl’s mind. Without resisting the overwhelming sleepiness any longer, the two of them fell into a deep slumber, still holding each other tight.

Eventually, the two of them slept for several hours. Afterward, Mika forced Esumi into taking a bath with her...... but because Mika’s curiosity led her to touch Esumi’s body without restraint, Esumi’s shame finally boiled over. She ended up giving Mika a sharp rap on the head with her knuckles, shouting, "That’s enough out of you!!"

By the way, when Mika later told Nagisa about the experience, Nagisa reportedly froze in place for quite some time, teacup still in hand. 

According to Mika, "Nagi-chan looked just like a statue☆"