Five sessions in, and Aoyama Mio thought she finally understood why "Relaxation Salon Mist" earned those glowing reviews. A fifth-floor sanctuary of chamomile steam and white walls, a receptionist whose smile never quite reaches her eyes, a therapist whose skilled, expressionless hands always know exactly where it hurts—and exactly where it tickles.
But today's "special course" is different. Kiryu's fingers find every weak point with inhuman precision, and the laughter it tears from her feels l
Tickle Esthetician: The Fifth Treatment Table - Name list deletion—you're next, and the remaining reservation records
The recorder terminal, hurled against the floor, was still breathing.
Deep within its cracked screen, a pale blue light flickered on and off—like a dying insect trembling its wings with the last of its strength.
Aoyama Mio couldn't tear her eyes away from that light.
Her fingertips were trembling, just slightly. The impact from slamming the device down moments ago still lingered in her palms. The crash. The sparks. The shattering screen. That should have been the end of it all.
Mio knelt carefully, avoiding the shards of glass scattered across the floor. Her own face reflected in the broken screen—distorted, fractured, like a stranger's.
On the terminal's display, the regular-customer roster deletion screen was still open.
"Deleting..."
The text blinked in small pulses. The deletion was not yet complete.
And in the corner of the screen, red letters hovered.
"10 seconds until headquarters server sync."
Mio's heart pounded deep in her chest.
Her fingers shook. Her breath grew shallow.
On the screen, "Deleting..." blinked slowly, over and over. She couldn't tell if it was progressing or stalled.
Mio picked up the terminal with both hands. Tiny fragments of glass pattered onto the floor from the cracked display.
She stared at the roster displayed on the screen, devouring it with her eyes. Minami's name. Aoyama Mio's name. And a long row of other women's names she didn't recognize.
Mio's fingertip traced gently over the roster.
"7 seconds until headquarters server sync."
The red text urged her on.
Mio pressed her trembling finger against the "Continue deletion?" prompt.
"Yes."
The screen went white for an instant.
Mio tightened her grip on the terminal. The broken edge of the screen bit into her palm. It hurt. But that didn't matter.
"Deleting..."
The same text again.
"5 seconds until headquarters server sync."
Mio's breath nearly stopped.
That was when it happened.
For a split second, different text appeared on the screen.
"Aoyama Mio-sama — Next appointment record: Updated."
Mio's hand froze.
The screen immediately reverted to "Deleting..."—as if it had shown itself for just a moment, solely for her to see.
"3 seconds until headquarters server sync."
Mio burned the words into her memory.
"1 second until headquarters server sync."
Mio slammed the recorder terminal into the floor again.
CRASH!!
This time, with far more force than before. The screen shattered into fragments, black components scattering across the floor. The terminal no longer glowed.
Silence.
Only the low hum of the air conditioning echoed through the treatment room.
Mio stared down at the broken terminal, her breath ragged.
"Aoyama Mio-sama — Next appointment record."
The words she'd seen wouldn't leave her head.
Mio squeezed her eyes shut. A dry, gritty taste of saliva spread across the back of her teeth.
She opened her eyes and turned around.
On the treatment table, Minami lay with a pale face. Mio had removed the restraints on her limbs. But Minami seemed unable even to sit up on her own.
"Minami, let's go. Can you stand?"
Mio walked to Minami's side and extended her hand.
Minami looked up at Mio's face. Her large, round brown eyes were wet with tears. The star-shaped earring on her left ear faintly caught the dim light of the treatment room.
"...Mii-chan."
Minami's voice was hoarse. The back of her throat was raw.
"I'm sorry... it's all my fault... Mii-chan, you too..."
Tears spilled from Minami's eyes. The trails down her cheeks glistened under the light.
"You don't need to worry about that right now."
Mio draped Minami's arm over her own shoulder.
"Just think about walking."
Mio's voice was calmer than even she expected.
She slowly raised Minami's body. Minami was lighter than expected. No—too light. The weight of how much the fifth treatment had drained her pressed heavily into Mio's arms.
"...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Leaning against Mio, Minami repeated it over and over. Her breath brushed against Mio's neck. Hot, and faintly trembling.
Mio said nothing, supporting Minami's body as she headed for the treatment room door.
One step.
Minami's legs tangled.
Mio pulled Minami's body tightly against her.
"It's okay. I'm here."
Mio whispered it into Minami's ear.
The strength drained from Minami's body. She was entrusting everything to Mio.
Half-dragging Minami along, Mio opened the treatment room door.
The hallway was dead silent.
From the reception area, a faint scent of herbal tea drifted through. Cloyingly sweet, artificial. Mio hated that smell.
Supporting Minami, Mio advanced down the hallway, one step, then another.
Minami's breathing rasped loudly against Mio's ear.
"...Mii-chan, my legs... won't move..."
Minami's voice was close to a sob.
"That's fine. I'm holding you up."
Mio gripped Minami's hand tightly.
Minami's hand was cold as ice.
Mio squeezed back, as if to pass her own warmth into it.
Mio advanced down the hallway and stopped just before the reception area.
The lights in the reception area were off. In the dimness, a figure stood.
Kiryu stood in front of the reception counter.
A tall man in an unbleached treatment gown. Short, neatly trimmed black hair. His bangs were cut in a straight line above his brows. His narrow, elongated eyes were dark brown, barely reflecting any light.
Kiryu's expression was blank.
He quietly blocked Mio and Minami's path.
"...Kiryu-san..."
Minami's body trembled slightly in Mio's arms.
Mio stood before Kiryu, shielding Minami behind her.
Kiryu said nothing. He simply gazed back at Mio in silence.
There was no anger in that gaze, no hostility—nothing at all.
Mio looked straight into Kiryu's eyes.
"Kiryu-san. Please step aside."
Mio's voice did not waver.
Kiryu didn't move.
Mio stared hard at his face.
In her mind, the rhythm of Kiryu's hands came flooding back.
Three seconds. Then three more. Those fingers that had relentlessly targeted only her weak points, with precise rhythm.
A chill ran down Mio's spine.
But she didn't look away.
"Kiryu-san."
Mio called his name again.
"I've read your hand rhythm. All of it."
Kiryu's eyes moved—just barely.
"Three seconds. There's a three-second gap before you move to the next weak point. You never attack the same spot consecutively. You always leave a pause."
Mio stepped forward.
"That's why I could undo the restraints during those three seconds."
Kiryu remained silent.
"Now it's your turn."
Mio's voice was low and quiet.
Even hearing Mio's words, Kiryu's expression didn't change.
He merely blinked, faintly.
That was all.
Mio pulled Minami's hand and slipped past Kiryu's side.
Mio's shoulder brushed faintly against Kiryu's body.
Kiryu's body was cold.
Mio didn't look back.
Clutching Minami's hand tightly, she headed for the emergency stairwell.
Kiryu didn't follow.
In the dimness of the reception area, Kiryu simply watched in silence as Mio and Minami walked away.
On the back of his right hand, a single thin, old scar.
The emergency stairwell was dim and chilly. The fingertips that touched the handrail tingled numbly from the cold of the metal.
Mio gripped Minami's hand and ran down the stairs, one step after another.
"...Mii-chan, wait... my legs..."
Minami's footing was unsteady. She nearly tripped again and again. The soles of her shoes scraped faintly against the concrete stair edges.
Mio didn't let go of her hand.
"Just a little more! Hang in there!"
Mio's voice came in breathless fragments.
Mio pulled Minami's body tightly against her shoulder.
The weight of Minami's body bore down on Mio's shoulder.
Mio's own legs were nearing their limit.
Mio gritted her teeth and kept descending.
Fourth floor. Third floor. Second floor.
Mio's heart pounded violently deep in her chest. The beating pushed up into her throat.
First floor.
Mio shoved the emergency exit door open with force.
The sounds of the night city enveloped them both.
People's voices. Cars. The rumble of trains. Karaoke singing drifting from somewhere far away.
The clamor behind the station rushed over Mio's entire body.
"We made it out...!"
Still holding Minami's hand, Mio burst out of the multi-tenant building.
The night air cooled Mio's flushed cheeks. The film of sweat chilled all at once, and her skin prickled like crepe.
Mio gently leaned Minami against the building's wall.
"...Thank you, Mii-chan..."
Minami's voice was wet with tears.
Mio draped her own jacket over Minami's shoulders.
"You did so well."
Mio gently stroked Minami's head.
Minami's hair was damp with sweat, clinging to her forehead.
Minami buried her face in Mio's chest and began to cry softly.
"...I never thought... I'd end up dragging you into something like this, Mii-chan..."
"I know. I understand."
Mio patted Minami's back gently.
"...I'm sorry... I'm really, really sorry..."
Minami's apologies seemed about to be swallowed by the night's clamor.
Holding Minami close, Mio looked up at the sky.
Through the gap between the buildings behind the station, a sliver of night sky was visible.
No stars.
Feeling Minami's warmth, Mio exhaled slowly. The breath didn't turn white—and for some reason, that made her strangely happy.
The words displayed on the broken terminal flashed through Mio's mind.
"Aoyama Mio-sama — Next appointment record: Updated."
Mio gripped Minami's hand tightly.
Minami's hand was a little warmer than before.
The neon of the station district reflected sharply in Mio's eyes.
Mio wrapped her arm around Minami's shoulders and began walking toward the station.
The lights of the night city stretched their shadows long across the pavement.
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