“YOU certainly don’t waste any time making your move, do you?” Satsuki spat.
The school’s express elevator to the fifth floor popped open. Shindo lightly pressed against the door as he stepped into the elevator before taking Satsuki’s hand and guiding her inside. The doors slid shut behind her.
“Not that again,” Shindo groaned. Upon pressing the button leading straight to the fifth floor, a quiet mechanical noise accompanied the sense of rising unique to elevators.
He threw Satsuki a somewhat troubled look. She was leaning against the wall with her arms folded. Unsure where to cast her eyes in refusal to face him, she traced the corners of the elevator.
“That compliment of yours made Miss Narusawa’s day. Not that I’m surprised, the way she has a crush on you. I bet you’re thrilled to add another beauty to the fan club,” Satsuki jabbed.
“Miss...”
“You’ve stolen the hearts of so many women at home and the office!”
Shindo couldn’t help but laugh dryly at Satsuki’s sarcastic snipe. He suspected she didn’t take well to how he complimented Narusawa in front of her. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but teasingly retort, “Didn’t you like receiving a compliment from Mr. Kurihara, Miss?”
The elevator reached the fifth floor, but the door failed to slide open. Puzzled, Shindo pressed the “Open” button, but the door refused to budge.
“Miss?” he asked, turning to look at Satsuki as a lightbulb in his head clicked on.
Satsuki held her left hand perpendicular with the floor as she glared intently at the door. She was keeping the elevator door from opening.
“Why won’t you let it open?” Shindo asked.
“I didn’t like it.”
“Miss?”
“I don’t like when someone else compliments me one bit...” Satsuki said in a low voice as she glared at Shindo. “Shindo...have you ever wanted to...embrace me?”
The sudden question made Shindo’s eyes widen in surprise. Her own grew misty in recollection of haunting memories. She fixed those misty eyes hard on Shindo.
“The drive in humans to seek the opposite sex is a normal emotion for people... But ever since I was little, I’ve seen a great deal of that emotion. So even if I don’t peer into the person’s heart, each time someone pays me a compliment...I can’t help but wonder...if he is also having fun raping me in his mind...”
Year by year, Satsuki was growing into a pure hearted, beautiful woman. She could read the inner workings of human minds best left unknown. She could sense the obscene desires of men best kept hidden. She knew the wicked thoughts of jealous women. But no matter what she perceived, her only choice was to endure it with a smile. Never mind how hard that might prove...
On numerous occasions, Satsuki shunned her powers. Despising herself for possessing these accursed abilities, she cried, “I wish these powers would go away!” But they never did—they only grew stronger, more acute.
“I can’t take any compliments at face value... I know that something tainted is hiding behind those flowery words,” Satsuki confessed, tears filling her eyes.
Why did I reveal the pain in my heart to Shindo...? It saddened her to think he actually believed she enjoyed the flattery of another. She found it disheartening to know how little he thought of her.
It only ever makes me happy...when you compliment me, Shindo...
“Miss,” Shindo whispered softly as he knelt before Satsuki. Gently cupping her left hand in both of his, he drew it to his chest. “Please read my mind.”
“...Shindo?”
“And if you find my sentiments for you are even a little ‘tainted,’ then...”
“...Then what?” Satsuki asked.
“Then please send me away,” he finished.
Satsuki was struck speechless. She couldn’t imagine sending him away, no matter what happened between them.
“I am your retainer. Having looked after you since infancy, it would be improper for me to harbor such feelings toward you. I must never, by any means, sully or taint you,” Shindo said, his words pressing heavily on Satsuki’s heart. None of it was new to her, but it was nonetheless painful to hear from his mouth.
“I mean every word when I pay you a compliment. But if you question the truth behind my words, feel free to read my mind whenever you wish. And if you should ever discover content you find harmful—”
“That’s enough...” Satsuki said, cutting Shindo off. Tumbling to her knees, she snuggled against his chest. “...Your heart and mind are always warm... You’re always there to embrace me in its warmth.”
“Miss...”
“It was wrong of me to ask that. I’m sorry. I know you would never think of me that way... It’s just, it doesn’t make me the least bit happy when some other man compliments me... So when you said I must have liked it, it made me sad...and a little angry...” Satsuki apologized.
Shindo silently stroked her hair. It was unusual for her to speak so openly with him. His heart ached, realizing just how much his thoughtless comment hurt Satsuki.
“After all, you know me better than anyone else... You’re the best retainer ever.”
“You’re too kind, Miss,” Shindo replied. He was relieved to see Satsuki finally smile a little. All the while, he scorned himself in his heart as a despicable liar for claiming...his feelings for her were nothing but pure.
✦ ✦ ✦
SHINDO left the Tsujikawa private suite to pick up Satsuki at the Student Council Room after school and was making his way to the stairwell.
“Mr. Shindo!” called Narusawa as she popped out of her private suite. Her timing was too good, almost as if she was laying in wait for him. Kurihara wasn’t anywhere in sight; apparently she was alone.
“May I help you, Miss Narusawa?” Shindo asked.
Narusawa approached him with a seductive countenance. She softly ran her fingers across his suit as she cooed in a sugary voice, “I’d really appreciate if you kept this a secret from Miss Tsujikawa, but I seem to have lost the invitation for her birthday party that she gave me this morning.”
“You’ve lost the birthday invitation?”
“That’s right. I’m not sure how to handle this. Would you mind giving me some advice?” she asked.
“If that’s all, I can give you a spare invitation. I’ll fetch one from the car,” Shindo offered.
“Great! Thank you! You are such a life saver!” Narusawa exclaimed, bursting into a great smile as she looked seductively at Shindo through her lashes.
“I’ll be waiting for you in my private suite. Be sure to come drop it off, but remember, don’t tell Miss Tsujikawa about this. Well, I’ll be here waiting,” Narusawa pushed.
“I’ll be right back with your replacement,” Shindo responded. He had no idea that someone else was heading to the Student Council Room in his place at that very moment...