CH 40

“Now, this is your treatment room. You will spend the night in this room.”

The room Kashiwagi-san brought me to while holding my hand was partitioned off by a transparent glass.

The floor of the room on the other side was covered with a soft-looking blue mat.

“The mats are water absorbent, because your body will sweat a lot. Of course, you will be asked to remove all but your underwear. Then, in this room behind a pane of glass, I will observe you all night long to see if there are any abnormalities after administering the medication.”

“So I’m going to make Kashiwagi-san stay up all night, I’m kind of sorry.”

“Don’t worry, I’m used to it. Besides, you’ll be up all night too. Not only will you be in so much pain that you won’t be able to sleep, but the pain will make time seem to go by so much slower.”

“… Is the pain really like being burned with fire all over your body?”

“I’m sorry, that was a little too threatening. Let me explain a little.”

Kashiwagi-san said that and took out a red medicine from her pocket, which she was going to make me swallow, and showed it to me.

“The cause of the extreme pain is the contraction of the skin. My medicine allows the skin to adapt as the body shrinks, but in doing so, the skin of the entire body moves, which causes pain. So, to be a little more precise, the pain is like being constantly stroked on a bare body with no skin.”

“I kind of hate it that way because it’s kind of graphic… Can’t you use anesthesia?”

“I’m sorry, but due to the nature of the drug, it cannot be used in conjunction with anesthesia.”

“Well, I’m used to pain, so I’ll be fine. So—”

I smile at Kashiwagi-san.

“Don’t worry about me, okay?”

“I thought I was looking cheerful, but you…”

Kashiwagi-san let out a loud sigh with a contemplative look on her face.

“Haha, you made a mistake holding my hand. I don’t think you noticed, but you’ve been shaking the whole time. It wasn’t me who was really scared, it was you, Kashiwagi-san.”

“… I can’t bear to put you through this… I’d take your place if I could, and I’d even call it off now.”

She squeezed my hand as if to hold it.

“But this is really the last. I cannot let your efforts, which you have worked so hard to this point to the point of death because of my selfishness, go to waste. Before my feelings are shaken, will you quickly undress and get ready?”

“So it was kind of rushed. Thank you, Kashiwagi-san, I’m glad you feel that way. Well then, let’s get on with it…”

I tried to take off my clothes and started getting ready, but realized I couldn’t do it.

Kashiwagi-san looked at me and twisted her head curiously.

“What’s up? Can you start getting ready now?”

“Um… I can’t take it off unless you let go of my hands that are holding…”

“… Oh! Yeah, that’s right… Sorry.”

Inwardly wishing we could have stayed connected just a little longer, I took off my clothes and headed into the room on the other side of the glass.