The Devil in My Room, Pt. 4

It hadn't even been ten minutes since I shut my door. I'd tossed my hoodie into the laundry bin, brushed my teeth, and was just about ready to call it a night when—

Knock knock.

I stared at the door, waiting to see if it was my imagination.

Knock knock.

Nope. Still real.

With a sigh, I rolled out of bed and opened it. Standing right there sheepishly was Megumi. For some reason, that moisturizing mask was still glued to her face.

"U-um... Are you... still mad at me?" she asked.

"What? Where did you get that idea from?"

"Well... You kind of stormed off right when we finished. I thought you might've been uncomfortable, so I came to check."

"What? No, of course not. It's just..."—I let out a sigh—"I was uncomfortable, but it wasn't your fault."

Her face lit up with relief.

"Really? Phew... I thought I had done something wrong again. In that case, what made you feel that way?"

"Uh..."

Well, there's no freaking way I can tell her it was because we were so close. She'll think I'm weird. Then again, she's also pretty weird, but let's not. I don't wanna cause any misunderstandings.

"It's nothing," I replied. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, was there something else you needed?"

"Oh, yeah!" she exclaimed, dramatically brushing invisible hair behind her ear. "Behold. The new me. Youthful. Radiant. Not a single pore in sight. At least... as soon as I take this thing off."

"Speaking of which, why are you still wearing it?"

"Eh? Am I not supposed to?"

"Depends. You're not supposed to wear face masks for any more than twenty minutes. Here we are, coming up on just about... twelve minutes?"

"Well, I'll keep it on for the full twenty minutes."

She threw up her hands next to her face as if modeling for a makeup shoot.

"Take full advantage when you can, ya know?"

"O... kay then."

For a moment, she pouted, clearly disappointed by my lack of a noteworthy reaction. Then, she sighed and dropped the act. 

"I guess I wanted to mess around a bit. And, um... I also wanted to say thanks."

"Didn't you already thank me?"

"Well... Yeah, I did. I guess I wanted to say it again."

"It was just a face mask, Megumi. That's not something you need to thank me for."

"I know, I know, but still... It meant a lot. So... thanks for not being a total loser tonight."

Despite the usual snark, her tone softened toward the end. Just enough to sound real.

"...Sure. But don't get used to it. This was just a one-time thing."

"Hehe, too late. I'm already looking forward to next time."

"W-wha..."

She didn't even allow me to respond. Instead, she spun on her heel and rushed back to the living room, humming as she went. I stood there for a second longer before quietly shutting the door.

I crawled back into bed, blanket over my face, telling myself to stop thinking about her smile.

I'd just started dozing off when—

Knock knock.

I bolted upright.

"What now?"

"Shohei~" her voice called from outside the door, sing-song and suspiciously sweet.

I got up, cracked the door just enough to peek through.

"Dude, it hasn't even been a full minute. What do you want this time?"

She leaned in, still wearing the sheet mask with a playful smile.

"Can you help me take it off?"

"…Why?"

"It feels stuck. Like it's fused with my body."

"Just peel it off."

"I tried, but it felt like I was tugging my skin. Not as harsh as the black one, but it still stings a bit."

"I'm not doing this again..."

"Shohei... Are you saying no to a girl in desperate need of skincare assistance?"

"Yes."

She pouted.

"Wow. How cold. And here I was thinking we had gotten past the stranger stage."

"Tch... Fine."

Megumi's expression brightened immediately. At this point, I'm convinced she's just bored and wants someone to annoy. I just so happen to be the only option around.

She skipped back, planting herself on the stool like a royal waiting for her servant.

I trudged over, rubbing the back of my neck.

"You're ridiculous."

"Aw, come on. It's all fun and games. Now, do your thing."

She leaned forward, presenting her face like an offering. I hesitated. Her skin was soft beneath the thin sheet, her bangs slightly damp where the mask touched them. Being this close again was nerve-wracking.

I raised my hands, fingers trembling slightly. Get it together. Just grab and peel. Not rocket science.

I carefully pinched the corner of the mask and began to lift it.

Her eyes fluttered closed, causing me to flinch.

As I peeled the mask back, inch by inch, I felt her warm breath lightly brushing against my hands. My heart thudded in my chest, louder than I'd like to admit. Halfway through, I made the mistake of glancing at her lips again—soft, parted slightly.

I looked away fast, nearly peeling her eyebrow off by accident.

"Careful," she mumbled.

"Don't talk. I'm concentrating."

Finally, I removed the last strip and took a shaky step back.

She opened her eyes slowly, blinked a couple of times, then smiled.

"Well?" she asked, curling the top of her fingers under her chin. "Is my skin clearer than before?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I was too busy stumbling backward like a fool, which gave Megumi a reason to laugh — loud and unabashed.

"You know... You're kind of easy to read, Shohei."

"...Quit saying things like that. I'll misunderstand."

"What if that's what I want?"

"Doesn't matter what you want. My house, my rules."

"Pfft~ Admit it, Shohei." 

While I was still on the floor, she leaned forward in her seat, crossing her legs and propping her head on her palm.

"You like having me around."

"What... I don't know where you got that idea from, but no. Not even close."

"Something's telling me otherwise, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Think whatever you want, but don't forget about the boundaries, Megumi. I don't care if you're an actor or model or whatever. Here, you're a temporary resident and nothing more. Let's keep it that way."

I retreated back into my room for the fifth time today. After shutting the door, I pushed my back against it and slid down. Finally, I can close my eyes and think about nothing. Except… of course, I wasn't thinking about nothing.

Megumi no Hana... Just what is she trying to do to me?

Then, three knocks came from the door behind me.

Her voice came through, soft and muffled, and if I didn't know any better... she sounded a bit sad.

"Hey, Shohei?"

It took me a couple of breaths, but I mustered the courage to reply.

"What is it?"

"Don't think too hard about why you're being nice to me. Just… keep doing it. Okay?"

I didn't answer right away. I didn't know how to. So I unlocked the door, clicked it open, and locked eyes with this woman who somehow landed in my life.

Unlike before, she was more mellow and less provocative. Is this her real self? I'll likely never know.

"You're really freaking weird, you know that?"

She laughed softly.

"Takes one to know one."

Then her phone rang. She pulled it out, and the moment she saw the name on the screen, her expression shifted. It wasn't playful or gentle as usual. Instead, it was nothing short of wary.

She picked up.

"What is it? Didn't I tell you not to call me until I said so?"
"A photoshoot? Tomorrow? And when exactly did I agree to that?"
"...You didn't think it was important to run this by me at all?"
"Seriously… Fine."

She hung up and looked at me. Her mouth opened, then closed again. Another sigh.

"Surprise," she said flatly, forcing a smile. "Looks like I'll have to step away from being a temporary resident for now, Shohei."

"Huh? B-but—"

I stopped myself. She'd handed me the chance to speak, but nothing came out. I didn't even know why.

"Pfft~ Don't tell me you're having second thoughts," she smirked.

"No, it's just... sudden. That's all."

"Wasn't this whole thing sudden, too?"

"Well..."

Megumi lifted her fingers to her lips and giggled.

"I was right. You really are easy to read."

Before I could respond, she reached out and took my hands.

"Wha—?! W-what are you—"

"Come with me, Shohei. To my photoshoot tomorrow."

My mind blanked.

"H-huh...?"

"Honestly, I don't even wanna go. But my manager says it'll look good for my image. After a rough stretch, I kinda need that. Also..."—she hesitated, just barely—"It'd make me feel a lot more comfortable if you were there."

I was just about to call her crazy until I remembered what I'd read earlier — the low ratings, the online backlash, her wanting a break. Her voice on the phone just now made sense.

But what role was I to play in all that? How was I supposed to help?

Even then, there wasn't a single part of me that was ready to refuse her.

"I have classes," I muttered. "I won't be able to make it until after."

That was enough. Relief softened her eyes, and the corner of her lips lifted into a smile. A real one.

"Then it's a promise!"