Chapter 2 Part 2: Girl Ran Towards The Starting Point.

After lunch, I returned to the girl’s room.

She reacted when she saw me. Her usual unfocused gaze was fixed on me. That subtle difference changed my perception of her.

I spoke through the microphone. No response. I wasn’t disappointed. Just… uncomfortable.

She watched my every move. Like I watched hers. We stared at each other through the glass. It became hard to tell who was observing whom.

The alarm signaled the end of my shift. I gathered my things. Her gaze followed me.

“Goodbye.”

No reaction.

I turned off the microphone and left.

The short legs were a problem. The hallway felt twice as long. I got lost, briefly, looking for Hebrum’s lab.

“Anything interesting happen?” Hebrum was eating a sandwich.

I handed him the file. “Nothing special.”

He glanced at it and tossed it aside, returning to his sandwich.

“See you.”

I left.

I navigated the busy hallways and reached the staff quarters. I found my room. It was a decent size for a single occupant. A TV. A computer. Not bad.

I couldn’t call my friends, so I sent messages, saying I was going on a trip for a week.

“Won’t they find that strange?” Ramonax asked.

“Don’t read my messages.”

He had a point. I wasn’t one for spontaneous trips. They’d be suspicious.

I put away my clothes. I couldn’t wear them in this body. I changed into the clothes Hebrum gave me.

The girl’s body felt… unremarkable.

I looked in the bathroom mirror. A girl with long white hair, wearing a lab coat, frowning. I touched the ID card around my neck.

I headed to the cafeteria. Stares followed me. A girl, looking like the test subject, walking around. Without the uniform and ID card, I’d probably be dragged back to the lab.

I ordered, ignoring the nervous guards.

The short legs were a real problem. The touchscreen was too high. I had to jump to reach the ‘Confirm Order’ button.

I stood on tiptoe and jumped. My white hair bounced. The feeling against my cheek was unfamiliar. I missed the button.

“Ugh!”

I jumped again, higher. My fingers brushed the button.

Tap!

I hit it. My face slammed against the screen, but the order was confirmed. I grabbed the receipt and the pager and sat down.

“You can order by yourself?”

Ramonax sat down beside me.

“Want some candy?”

“Uh… thanks?”

He offered a small candy. I took it, puzzled by his cheerful demeanor. I’d eat it after my pork cutlet arrived.

“This is so weird,” he said, placing his hand on my head.

“Hey!” I swatted his hand away. He apologized.

“Sorry. I don’t know… It just felt right.”

I frowned, smoothing my hair. I understood. Eating next to someone who looked exactly like the girl he handled daily. He knew it was me, but habits were hard to break.

“Do you touch her head like that?”

He blinked, thinking.

“Um…”

“Why can’t you answer?”

“Probably not?”

“Then why did you touch mine?”

“Well…” He put his hand on my head again.

“Ow!”

“I don’t know how to explain it. You just seem… cute.”

I smacked his hand away. My hand stung.

“Seeing you in this small body is… refreshing. You always seemed so detached before.”

“That’s how you saw me?”

“More candy?”

I snatched another candy from his outstretched hand. My pork cutlet arrived.

“Still like pork cutlets?”

“Seems like it.”

I stabbed the cutlet with my fork. The crispy breading promised deliciousness. I stuffed my mouth.

“You’re staying in the staff quarters now, right?”

“Yes.” I mumbled through a mouthful of cutlet. I looked up at him. He felt different.

“Why are you being so clingy?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Was I like this before?”

“No. You are now.”

“That hurts. I just want to be friends.”

“You weren’t so friendly before.”

I finished my cutlet and stood up, tray in hand.

“Is that your type?”

“Huh?” He sounded surprised. I smirked and walked away.

I dumped my tray and left the cafeteria. I took a candy from my pocket. Lemon flavored. It looked much bigger than it used to.

I unwrapped it and put it in my mouth. The flavor was intense. Sour. Too sour. My mouth flooded with saliva. I stumbled.

“That little…”

It wasn’t normal candy. I wiped away a tear. I glared at the cafeteria entrance.

I still ate the candy. The sweetness after the initial sourness was soothing.

Back in my room, I tossed the gown on the chair and sat at the computer. Even with the chair raised, it was uncomfortable. I bit down on the candy. It crunched.

“Ugh!” Another sour explosion. My mouth puckered. I threw the other candy in the trash. It rattled loudly in the empty can.

Knock, knock

I was debating spitting out the candy when I heard the knock. I went to the door.

“Who is it?”

I opened the door a crack. A large hand squeezed through the gap. I jumped back, startled. Ramonax entered, arms full of snacks.

“Ta-da!”

“How did you find me?”

“Huh?”

“I never told you my room number.”

“I asked Dr. Hebrum, of course.”

His casual attitude annoyed me. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, glaring. He chuckled nervously.

“May I come in? This is heavy.”

He was the only person here I could talk to comfortably. His behavior was odd, but he wasn’t a bad guy.

“Come in.”

“Thanks!”

He went straight to the refrigerator and put away the drinks.

“Where do you want the snacks?”

“Anywhere. I’m too full to eat them now.”

His looming presence was irritating. I sat at the computer. He pulled up a chair beside me.

“What do you want?” I asked, swinging my legs. The candy stick bobbed up and down.

“What do you mean?”

“Hebrum asked you to do something, didn’t he?”

He looked away.

“How did you know?”

“You’re acting differently.”

He gave a strained smile.

“So? What is it?”

“Nothing important. Just to… keep an eye on you. Make sure you’re okay.”

“Hmm…” I turned back to the computer. I’d suspected as much. I turned it on and moved the mouse. It seemed decent. It would probably run most modern games.

I opened the messenger app and typed a quick message to my friends, telling them I was going on a trip.

“If you suddenly announce a trip, won’t they be suspicious?” Ramonax asked.

“Stop reading my messages.”