CH 41

Kashiwagi-san entered the treatment room after me and gazed at my face, body and underpants.

I’m sure she’s seen me already many times during the training and massage process…

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m kind of sad to think that this is the last time I’m going to see you like this. As I said on the first day we met, I don’t dislike the way you look right now either.”

“I see… Actually, me too. Because there was someone besides Kashiwagi-san by my side who told me so.”

I mutter, remembering Saika.

Kashiwagi-san stared at my face and asked me as if talking to herself.

“… Hey, can I give you a hug?”

“Eh, why?”

“Well…, uh, it’s to get research data.”

“I see. I don’t mind, go ahead.”

With a mysterious pause, Kashiwagi-san hugged my waist as was requested.

I think there was a scene like this in Totoro.

“………”

“………”

And so Kashiwagi-san hugged me tightly for a few minutes.

She may have been taking the data research seriously, but I couldn’t stand the silence and called out to her.

“Um, Kashiwagi-san?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just wanted to keep doing this.”

“Haha. I’m not sure if it’s because my body is filled with water, but it seems to be very comfortable to hold me. My sister herself often pokes me with her fingers.”

“… That’s the thing. If your life wasn’t in danger, you’d be fine just the way you are. Now, before you lie down on this mat, let me make one last preparation.”

After saying this, Kashiwagi-san started to wrap white cloth from the corner of the room around my body.

“I’m going to cover you completely with this cloth except for your eyes, so you’ll spend the night in a sort of cocoon. It’s just a change in appearance, and that’s an apt description.”

“I see… In a way, it’s Yamamoto’s hatching, right?”

“That’s a funny joke, and it really got my hackles up. I’m going to keep your remarks as data in this clinical trial paperwork forever.”

“Please don’t do this. I’ll get down on my knees. I would rather burn my whole body in hellfire.”

Thus my body was mummified.