Chapter 4

Doll Kurumi “I’m so pleased you all could make it.” The tall woman bowed respectfully in the dimly lit lounge. Clad in an ebony-black suit, she carried an engraved candlestick in one hand, although this appeared to be more for dramatic flair than to illuminate the surrounding area. “I’m the house steward. My name is Yoriko Ishigaki. I have been ordered by the mistress of the house to see to all your needs. If you have any issues during your stay, please come to me.” Yoriko gazed around the large room. “Now then, shall we begin with introductions? You already know of each other, but I believe this is the first time you are meeting face-to-face.” She looked to the person sitting directly in front of her. A woman in the bloom of youth cleared her throat before speaking in a voice that carried. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Grimm. This is my daughter, Snow White.” She was dressed in Lolita fashion and gently stroked the head of the adorable doll on her lap. While she wore all black, the doll was outfitted in a perfect copy of her clothes in white, making it stand out. It was almost as if the doll was the star, and she was meant to be nothing more than its accessory. Or perhaps that was too much of a leap in logic. The people gathered there were members of the doll aficionado group, Doll House. Naturally, Grimm was not the girl’s real name but rather an Internet persona—her handle. It was unconventional, and her posts on the group forum were notable for their excess, but the girl herself was surprisingly mild-mannered. At first glance, no one would believe she was the author of posts such as “bliss wrapped up in eyeballs,” “are these bloomers too slutty?” or “I wanna lick those ball joints…” There was a smattering of applause, and the person seated next to her opened her mouth. “…Sasaki. And the fallen angel who danced down from the heavens, the † Patricide Anima †.” She was slightly hunchbacked and had a goth-punk look. Dark circles were prominent under her eyes, either natural or makeup, and her wrists were wrapped in bandages. The doll beside her had what appeared to be handmade black wings on its back. Sasaki was the name of the most prolific poster on the forum, the one who set the mood on the site. Always cheerful and enthusiastic, she was polite and kind to newcomers, and she was so skilled at heaping praise on others’ dolls that members would upload photos of theirs in the hopes of catching her eye. But in person, she was surprisingly taciturn. The next to speak was a woman in a maid’s costume sitting on a chair further back. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Meimei. I’m a little pig. This is the lady whom I serve, Angelica. It’s a pleasure to be here.” She bowed as she introduced the gorgeous doll. …Kurumi found it strange how casually Meimei made her introduction, but when she took a more careful look, she saw the girl was wearing a collar with a chain that led to Angelica’s hand. That appeared to be the story behind that doll. Meimei was so opinionated and knowledgeable on the forum, Kurumi hadn’t expected her to have this sort of fetish. But when she thought back, Meimei did prefer photos from a very low angle when members uploaded pictures of their dolls. This was enough clarification. “Now then, our final guest…” And all eyes moved to Kurumi. She fidgeted uncomfortably. This was to be expected. After all, she was currently wearing an outfit so hardcore and extra gothic Lolita that the clothing of the dolls nearly paled in comparison. An excess of ruffles. A tight corset. Boots with soles so thick they invited the rise of a skeptical eyebrow. Lengthy extensions attached to hair tied up to both sides in drill-bit curls. All topped off with clusters of silver accessories everywhere and a sequined eye patch over her left eye.