Katie had been waiting in the other bedroom, and two friends came to see her. Too dazed to pick up on the grim mood, she simply looked up at them.
“…Mm? Oliver and Nanao? Why are you both…? Where’s Chela?”
“…Katie, I know you’re in rough shape, but we need to talk.”
Oliver knelt down before her. Head down, not meeting her eyes. He was afraid to do so.
“You’re upset by Guy’s absence, and the focus potions compounded that—your nervous system’s all wired up and won’t settle down. Given the cause, spells and potions won’t be effective, and we’ve concluded the best solution would be healing arts. If you’re open to it, I’ll be taking care of that.”
It took a while for this explanation to filter down. His words echoed in her mind, and as she worked out what that meant, her pulse began to race. She addressed the top of Oliver’s head.
“You…treating me? Um, like…on my back?”
“Focusing there. Avoiding sensitive areas as much as possible. But…no matter where I touch you, the results will be much the same. We’ll be quelling your excitement by first raising it to the brink. In other words…bringing you to climax.”
Again, it took a while for this to sink in. Climax? To what? Her thoughts were worryingly dull. But she was not young enough to remain clueless forever. The context eventually led to her parsing the meaning behind the phrase. She stiffened up, then burst out laughing.
“…Ah-ha-ha-ha…! Oh, I must be dreaming. I knew something was wrong! You’d never talk about this with Nanao here.”
“’Tis no dream, Katie. Alas, I have made you suffer greatly.”
Nanao sat down on the bed next to her, pulling her close. And catching the fragrance steeped into her uniform, Katie was forced to admit this was really happening. Her smile froze, and her voice shook.
“…Y-you’ve gotta be kidding. If this isn’t a dream, then is it some sort of prank? Th-that’s a bit mean, really. Does it end when I agree? Will everyone come out and laugh…?”
“Not a single one of your friends would ever dream of doing anything that cruel to you. I don’t mean to rush you—take your time and choose. I’ll add that if you wait the night out, this should subside on its own. You likely won’t get a wink of sleep, but if you’d rather take that approach, that’s fine. I’ll stay up with you—to make up for this proposal.”
Oliver’s voice was tense. However, he would not let himself phrase that option as if he preferred it. He knew that would make her dig in and endure. But the grim tone he took was turning the screws on Katie—only now did she realized that this would happen if she wanted it.
“…N-no sleep would be rough, ah-ha-ha. I’ve got an early morning… J-just…? That doesn’t mean…”
“Enough, Katie,” Nanao said when Katie tried laughing it off. “You need not hold yourself back.”
Nanao tightened her embrace. Seeing Katie like this was sad and painful and made her want to cry. Feeling her heat against her, Nanao thought, How many trials has she endured for the sake of a friend as inhumane as I?
“I should have told you long ago—Oliver is not my possession. I never had a right to demand that of him, nor did I ever wish to take him from you. Thus…”
“…Eep…?!”
Nanao had run her fingers down Katie’s sides. Not her usual impish jab, but a tender caress, with foreplay as the intent. The stimulus made Katie shiver, and in her ear, Nanao breathed the last words to topple her fortress.
“…Myself included, tonight, we indulge. Should you care to join us.”
Too many thoughts and feelings were spinning in Katie’s head. This was so far beyond her understanding—and she’d long since run out of rope to restrain herself with. She should stop thinking and give herself over to this. There was nothing here to be afraid of. Just two close friends, thinking of her, loving her, and trying to comfort her. Whatever happened next, she need not worry about the outcome. On that one point, she was very clear.
Yet, another part of her was yelling that this could not be. There were a lot of reasons for that.
All that time you’ve spent with Guy, and the moment he leaves, you’re gonna turn right to Oliver and let him administer to your basest needs? How will you ever face Guy when he comes back after something that shameless? Why are you so unprincipled? Can you not just grin and bear it? Why can you not simply last out the night?
Another part of her whispered, Well, can you?
Can you refuse and wait out the night? Laying with Oliver, his touch spurned, Nanao offering you comfort? Wondering the whole night long what it would have been like to feel his hands on you? Or will you insist you can’t handle that and hole up in bed alone? The covers pulled over your head, unable to sleep, tormented by those exact same fantasies? Well aware Oliver lies asleep in the room next door? Imagining his sleeping face, his breath, his warmth? Wondering if he’d still touch you if you asked, though you’ve already chosen not to?
You can’t.
You’d never last the night. It’d drive you mad.
“…Ah…”
She had her answer. Not one riding the crest of her endlessly swelling urge, but a conclusion reached by her rational mind, even as the desire threatened to snuff it out. She realized that, from the start, she’d been laboring under a misapprehension. This had never been a choice. She was past that point already. She knew for a fact she could not refuse.
She heard Guy’s voice. Don’t push yourself. One hand on his hip, scoffing. Matching pace with her like a brother, with tender care—just like he always did.
Her eyes filled with tears. Was this a vision designed to comfort her, or was it how he really felt? Katie could no longer tell.
“……Please…touch me……”
“…Okay,” Oliver acknowledged with a metallic tone.
He drew his wand and cast a sound dampening spell on the door. Nanao slipped around behind Katie, not letting go of her. Oliver glanced at Katie—and began moving like a precision machine.
He knew just what to do. His hands knew all too well how to take care of this.