A Curse Called Love

I hum as I try to step in between the hallway's tile lines, though it's a bit difficult to do consistently.

There's no one around me in the quiet of my late morning walk, just my own thoughtful feet. It's summer break after all, so while there are still clubs going on, this part of school's all mine~

Well, mine and Miyari's if I can find her.

Our club is just the two of us—more excuse to hang out than anything else. Today is our first meeting, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

10:20, ten more minutes to go.

My heart skips as I get more bold in my footwork.

It's still hard to believe that Miyari has a crush on me of all people—and honestly, I still don't. Though I try to dispel the doubt as I walk. I've already spent an entire night wondering if I'd somehow heard wrong after all.

My eyes close for a spell, instead thinking of how to handle things if it really were true. If I get to the clubroom before her, I could set up a confession. However, would that really be wise? That feels pretty rushed, even if this is our last school year.

Signs labeling each room passes me until I finally see the one where my best friend's set to be.

My legs feel lighter, carrying me all the way until I get to the door.

Before I can open it though, I hear a voice muffled from inside.

"…fufufu, it all comes to this. My machinations cumulating for my most ingenious victory yet…"

I freeze, curiosity peaking.

Miyari's on another one of her chuuni rants, isn't she?

A chuckle escapes me. The delusion, the cringe, the way she makes up these convoluted scenes and schemes and themes, it's all rather endearing despite our age.

I gently rest my ear against the door's metal, hoping to overhear more of her unhinged episode.

"…with this doll of her complete, I can finally enact total domination. Bend her to my every whim. All my perverted fantasies—pure debauchery—it will be laid bare upon her will. I shall force her to dance at my fingertips while she's completely powerless to do anything…!"

My eyebrows raise, but I curiously listen on. I never took her for that kind of gal. She's usually all bark and no bite when it comes to these things.

"…first, I'll have her stroke my hair…"

"…then, she'll caress my ears."

"…and lastly, she'll massage tail, head, back until I'm a purring mess on her lap…!"

I blink and let out an internal sigh.

Of course. That checks out a bit more.

Having decided that I've heard enough, I scuff my shoes against the linoleum to discreetly announce my presence.

"Hello~?" I call out in a sing-songy voice, pretending to have just arrived. "Miyari-chan, are you in there?"

I hear some scrambling and a few fecal-based profanities.

"Uh—um—I am present, Kimiko! Just give me a brief moment to open the dimension's front portal with a summoning spell…! Sesame Open!"

The door squeaks on cue, creaking inward with the tug of a string and pulley system to reveal a triumphant image.

Miyari is sat on top of the desks like some shogun from the Tokugawa Era. Her 'tail' flicks in welcome—a hallmark of her surprisingly well-made cosplay—as she covers the blush on her face.

"Greetings, fellow club-mate and my life's closest confidant. What brings you here to the dimensional lair of my cult today?"

"We scheduled a club meeting for 10:30, didn't we?" I reply, trying not to laugh.

"Ah." Her golden eyes dart away from mine—once again, part of a surprisingly well-made cosplay. "Right. Very good! You've passed my first test, and thus, I may deem you worthy of—"

"—of playing Anim*l Crossing, right?" I finish for her, pulling up a chair and acting oblivious to her earlier ruminations.

"Right, that… Well, I actually have a task of great import for you to finish first. One that will allow me bestow immortality upon you."

"Oh? How is that?"

"I require a lock of your hair, so that it may become the final component of this totem of life-force." She puffs her chest out and waggles a half-finished doll at me. "Behold, the cursed object which will bind you to eternal life. With a bit of your essence, we can permanently seal our pact."

I gaze upon it, acting surprised—wait, hold on. Is that a tag still attached to it?

"'Enthrall eternally. Warning: Does not work unless target consents and is in love with the—'"

"CURSES!" She whips it around to hide it. "A-a false rune has been applied to it. Please ignore that."

"…This is a voodoo doll, isn't it?"

Her 'cat ears' twitch. "N-no, I would never use such dark, vile magic. My powers are only sourced from all-natural, organic, and cruelty-free ingredients. Like God's blessings, Amaterasu's blood, or diet devil's luck."

I roll my eyes but pluck a strand of my black hair and hand it to her with a smile.

"Here. Finish it up, okay? Then we can get on to the real fun."

"Ooooooo~!" Her hands immediately go to work tying the hair around the doll then sewing on two buttons for the eyes. It looks almost exactly like a chibi version of me now.

She cackles, holding the doll high. "Muahahaha! Foolish mortal! While you may be my closest, dearest, and most trusted ally, you were a fool to fall for my plan! Now behold the true might of my powers!"

She moves the doll's hand upward. And then—astonishingly—I feel a solid tug.

W-what?

My arm rises up in parallel with the doll. Then just as quickly, Miyari advances it into a petting motion on top of her head.

I'm frozen in shock as my hand reaches out to caress her soft brown hair. Her breath hitches as my fingers weave between her locks and massage her scalp.

"I-it's actually working! I mean, ah ha! Now, I have you completely in my thrall—Oooh, crap. That actually feels really good…"

She shifts my hand down to pet behind her faux cat ears next.

"Nya~" Her eyes close in bliss, and I feel my heart race as she nuzzles in closer.

I'm not sure what I'm more shocked about: the fact that the doll seems to work, or that she just nya'd in school. Still, I keep playing along and try to hide the blush rushing to my cheeks.

"M-mmm. You're right, I'm powerless before you, oh great Miyari-sama…"

"T-that's right, that's right. I'm the best! And if this works, that means… Erm, never mind. L-let us strip you of your last bit of dignity!"

My hand slides down her cheek until my fingers are playing with her lips. She purrs and leans into me until I can't help but tremble.

It's so cringe. But it's also so cute and AAAAH!! Why am I enjoying this so much?!

"Yes, yesss~" She croons. "Keep going, keep going! Now raise my chin to meet yours and ready yourself to seal the beginning of a new pact."

R-ready myself? New pact? Where was this going?!

In a panic, I somehow muster enough willpower to take back control of my hands, then I snatch the voodoo doll out of her grasp.

"K-Kimiko?! W-why did you break free—I mean, give me back the doll now! The ritual isn't complete!"

"Uh-uh." I wag my finger, almost out of breath. Oh wow, when did I get this hot? "It's clear to me that you're abusing your powers. And so, as the witch of this story, I have to stop your plans before they go too far."

"…h-huh…?" She squeaks as I toss the doll into my bag, zipping it up with a flourish.

"I'm going to confiscate this as I think of how to punish your shocking betrayal. I wonder what I should do…?"

"Kimiko?!" She looks to me wide-eyed with all her bluster suddenly gone. "Wh-what are you gonna do to me?"

"Only the most vile thing imaginable~"

I grin, and before I know it, my hands are all over her, tickling her sides, armpits and belly.

"H-hey, don't—no, please, hahehehe! THE GRAND SPELLMASTER OF THE SUN CULT DOES NOT WISH TO—HAHA, HA—BE TICKLED—HAHAHAHA!"

I giggle as she shrieks for mercy, only stopping once I think she's learned her lesson.

"K-Kimiko," she pants between breaths, "you—you're—"

"Amazing, yes, I know. The greatest person in the world, the most powerful sorceress, and the most beautiful witch that can break free of any enthrallment."

I pose, fueling her delusions with the hopes of having a bit more fun later.

"…Truly, I underestimated you. In recompense, let me prepare our recreational ritual as the host."

Miyari eyes sparkle as she finally goes for the gaming console in her bag, though my thoughts linger on the doll in my own.

I thought she'd just want to mess with me a little, not whatever the hack that was that was. Could it be that she was planning on compelling me into making the first move on her? N-no, that couldn't possibly be it. Right?

"…!" An epiphany strikes as my brain goes into overdrive.

Wait. If this is the game that she wants to play, maybe—just maybe—I could use this dark doll to figure out what her true feelings are.