Chapter 16: Anomaly Catching Anomaly

Adaptation to Site 17 (6)

It's been roughly a few weeks since I came here.

Of course, this only speaks to the absolute value of time.

Let's forget about calculating exactly how much time has passed, and simply explain how slow the flow of time felt to me.

Because, realistically, I should already be in a nursing home, collecting my national pension.

The simple word "boring" could never replace the tedium I felt trapped in this room.

And I am now overwhelmingly consumed by the urge to get out of this room.

I've already experienced this forced unemployment life long enough to be sick of it.

'Late.'

I muttered a small complaint to myself.

The last time I met Sophia, she promised to get me out of here.

But a considerable amount of time has passed since then.

I haven't been able to see Sophia's face agan, let alone take even a single step out of here.

Naturally, the thought that it might be because of the promise she made back then came to mind first.

It's not like releasing a protected wild animal back into the wild, like saying goodbye forever.

I just don't know what's so difficult about simply letting me out for a little while.

Anyway, if that wasn't the case, there wouldn't have been anything else to do.

But, as two days passed, and then three.

Now, as it slowly approached a week.

A feeling other than discomfort, a completely different emotion, began to grow from a corner of my heart.

'...Could something have happened?'

That was the emotion of worry.

If someone you saw almost every day suddenly stopped showing up, it was a basic human way of thinking to worry about their well-being.

Also, if you were to receive news that something bad had really happened to that person.

No matter how short the time you spent with that person was, wouldn't it be natural for it to have a negative impact on your heart?

I had already experienced such things to the point of being sick of them.

But honestly, those weren't the kind of things you could ever get used to.

And the hometown I remembered was a peaceful place where wars called World Wars had only happened twice.

So, even after coming to my peaceful hometown, I didn't really want to experience any accidents happening to people around me.

'...Would it be okay to just take a quick peek to see if something's wrong?'

Looking at the only door in this room, I briefly had that thought.

Well, even if this is a protection center, there must have been times when one or two people secretly escaped outside.

Like that strangely shaped shadow sprite from before, and there seem to be some kids who sneak around outside their rooms.

If so, shouldn't I be allowed to do the same?

Maybe just taking a quick peek would be okay.

'...No, no, let's get a grip.'

However, I immediately shook my head and dismissed that thought.

Because if I did that, all the acting and effort I had put in so far would be for nothing.

In the first place, that sprite is some kind of… a peculiar life form that moves around the floor in a two-dimensional way, so let's say it can pass through these door gaps as it pleases.

In order for me to leave this room, I had no choice but to forcibly open that tightly closed door.

And given the nature of that door, which is opened and closed by the power of a machine rather than by hand.

It was obvious that if I forcibly tried to open it, the door would be severely damaged.

If that happened, people would probably label me as a troublemaker who damages property…

And my plan to leave this facility as quietly as possible would be significantly affected.

So, it wasn't a very good plan to execute.

'In the end, I have no choice but to keep waiting…'

I sighed softly and collapsed onto the floor covered with teddy bears.

If they didn't give me any attention at all and treated me like crap, I would have just broken out and left, come what may.

But somehow, riding the line between being let out if I stayed quiet felt even more malicious.

Of course, it's not like they have any intention of doing that….

As someone who had returned to their hometown after a very long time, being trapped inside for weeks without being able to go outside was nothing short of torture.

Even if I had fallen into a future where all the scenery and terrain I knew had completely changed,

Wouldn't everyone want to go to that place and reminisce about memories?

Prioritizing in my head where I would go first if I ever left this facility,

I hugged a doll that was different from the ones under the back of my head.

Let me say in advance, it's not because I have a disgusting hobby of liking dolls,

It's just that this was the only fluffy thing I could hug as a substitute for a pillow.

My persona is a tall and handsome young man.

My colleagues must have all thought of me as a reliable person at heart, unlike the way they usually looked at me.

Right? They must have.

"...?"

I was lying down, feeling the soft texture of the doll.

When I heard someone walking this way from beyond the door.

It goes without saying whose presence it was.

Because this was the sound I had heard the most, even excluding the past week.

—Click

The sound of mechanical devices meshing together rang out, and the heavy door began to move.

Finally, the door opened, and one person began to walk in from inside.

Of course, it was Sophia.

"It's been a while, have you been well?"

She greeted me.

I was about to grumble, but I decided to put that feeling aside.

After all, even if I complained, it wasn't like I could express it in words.

Anyway, I was relieved to see that she was safe.

Well, as long as she wasn't hurt.

"I'm sorry. I've been busy with a lot of work lately, so I couldn't make time to come to see Number 19."

She was busy, so it couldn't be helped, I thought.

It's not like I had never been buried under a mountain of work when I was working.

In other words, Sophia somehow managed to come see me even in that situation.

Well, if this is a protection center, I guess taking care of me is a job in itself…

But I didn't know much about the job, and I didn't think it was wise to make unnecessary assumptions when I didn't know anything.

So, as I had done until now, I decided to just look at her and nod.

"Hehe, you understand? You're a good girl."

Sophia, who had walked near me, gently stroked my head as if to thank me.

But that was only for a moment.

Unlike before, she only stroked me for a very short time.

She began to make a sad expression, as if she had something to apologize to me for.

"But, I'm sorry. I have something to apologize to Number 19 for."

"...?"

I couldn't help but feel nervous at the words that flowed from her mouth.

Because there were only two things she could possibly apologize for right now.

Moreover, she had clearly just apologized for leaving me alone for a week, which was definitely one of those two things.

So, there was only one thing left for her to apologize to me for.

"...It's become difficult to keep my promise to let Number 19 go outside."

"!!!"

After hearing the shocking words from Sophia's mouth, my pupils dilated greatly.

To be honest, it was something I had been looking forward to a lot.

It's not like I'm a pet kept at home, and I didn't like the fact that I was so happy or sad about going for a walk.

Anyway, I wanted to go outside and see the changed scenery of my hometown as soon as possible.

No, actually, I wouldn't mind just seeing what the outside of the room looks like.

Just seeing people passing by would be enough to give me the same satisfaction as coming home.

"...I'm sorry. I even made a promise."

As I lowered my head with a gloomy expression, Sophia began to hug me.

Sob, adults always lie.

I trusted Sophia, I was trusting her….

"I was only allowed to take you around a few areas nearby…."

Adults always lie…

Lie…

…

Wait, what did she just say?

"...?"

With the feeling of wondering what this was all about, I lifted my head while still being hugged to look up at her.

In the meantime, something soft was rubbed all over my face, but honestly, it didn't feel that good.

In the first place, they have nothing to do with my reincarnated body, so they don't feel very familiar.

Is it jealousy for what I don't have?

Nah, no way.

Who would be proud to carry around such lumps of fat?

It's inconvenient to move, and it's not useful for anything...

Anyway, it was completely worthless to someone like me.

It's not like I'm going to have kids, so what would I use something like that for?

I wouldn't be jealous of breast size, unless it was something like height or long limbs.

But why am I going on and on?

Anyway, I said no, so stop asking.

I peeked out with only my head and looked at her face.

Wait, is she seriously sad right now?

Seeing her face, I had to express that I was okay,

So I rubbed my face against her chest and nodded.

"...Are you telling me it's okay?"

Of course, it was more than okay.

It's not like I'm asking her to send me on a trip around the world, I just want to see outside this room.

Of course, that doesn't mean I want to live like that forever.

Anyway, just seeing outside this room was enough for now.

"Thank you, Number 19 is so kind."

No, there's no need to go that far.

To be honest, I don't know what she's thankful for.

As I've been saying all along, there's no way for me to ask her that now.

This time, I couldn't nod because her chest was in the way, but I just kept looking at her as before.

After a little time passed.

She released her hug and freed me.

I still felt like the soft touch was on my cheek.

"Then, it won't be as good as we promised before."

Sophia looked at me with a slight smile,

Then, she took my hand and started leading me somewhere.

"Today, shall we go take a look outside for a while, as Number 19 wanted?"

Towards the only door in this room that I wanted to go out to so much.

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