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A girl playing with her doll. In the broadest strokes, that’s what was happening. If someone happened to catch the scene out of the corner of their eye, they might think that’s all it was. But if they happened to look any further, they would realize something was amiss.
The doll was as big, if not a little bigger, than the girl. Life-sized, certainly. The girl had her doll sitting in her lap, but she had to keep shifting the doll around to be able to reach every part of it. That alone made for an odd sight.
But if someone were to look even closer, they might realize that the doll wasn’t really a doll. It was a human girl, just the same as the girl holding it. Though subtle, the doll was breathing, and despite its best attempts to not move unless moved by its owner, there was still the occasional shift in place.
But the doll’s owner did nothing to treat the doll like it might be a person. It treated the doll like any of the others in the room, just an object for her to dote affection on.
In her hand, Mutsumi had a comb. Over and over again, she ran it through Sakiko’s hair, clearing any slight imperfection. Occasionally, it would snag on some hair out of place. That simply meant that Mutsumi had to fix it.
But for Sakiko, what it meant was having to swallow the pain of having her hair pulled on. Each small spike of pain was an urge to move that she had to ignore. She was going to be Mutsumi’s doll. She had to play the part. She couldn’t move. Even if it meant ignoring her body’s every impulse, she couldn’t move.
Eventually, Mutsumi seemed to finish with Sakiko’s hair. She set the comb aside, then did her best to set Sakiko to the side so that she could stand up. Sakiko stayed sitting, unsure if she should sit up or fall back down. After all, that’s what a doll would do, right, if not being propped up?
But by the time she had started considering it, it was too late. She had to stay still. That’s what a doll was supposed to do. That’s what Mutsumi wanted her to do. And Sakiko wanted to do what Mutsumi wanted.
After Mutsumi stood, she turned back and examined her doll. The dress she had put on Sakiko wasn’t necessarily atypical for her. It was frilly and gothic. But while Sakiko might wear that kind of thing on her own, the dress that Mutsumi had her wearing was much more in every aspect than Sakiko would consider. Bigger, frillier, more elaborate. It really was a dress more suited for a doll than a person. A life sized doll, sure, but if that’s what Sakiko was, then it suited her. More than anything else, though, Sakiko would have described it as surprisingly comfortable.
At least Mutsumi didn’t mistreat her doll. If anything, she doted on it.
Sakiko had no reason to worry. Not unless Mutsumi decided that she liked Sakiko so much that she would never let her go.
A genuine concern, she was sure.
Mutsumi had a small smile on her face. One that Sakiko recognized as meaning a lot more than its width might suggest. And as long as Mutsumi was happy, Sakiko was as well.
Mutsumi reached over and put her arms under Sakiko’s. If Sakiko had been a real doll, it would have been effortless to lift her that way, but as is, there was no way she could get Sakiko off her feet. So, Sakiko simply got to her feet. It was okay to move if she was being directed. Allowances must be made.
Once she was on her feet, Sakiko stood in place. That was, until Mutsumi leaned forward. Sakiko had expected her to lead her away to some other activity, but instead, all Mutsumi did was hug. A gentle hug, and a warm one. Nothing like what Sakiko would have expected from Mutsumi, especially with the mood like this. There was a chill in the air. It was a chill that felt right for a porcelain doll.
Unfortunately, the hug was warming her up. Warming her and making her feel human again. Her arms lay at her side, but she wanted dearly to hug Mutsumi back. Was that was she wanted? Or would Mutsumi prefer for Sakiko to continue staying still? Did Mutsumi still want a doll? Or did she want a person to hug her back?
A hug would be better, Sakiko decided. She wrapped her arms around Mutsumi in turn and pulled her closer.
They were silent for a few minutes. Sakiko liked that.
But eventually, Mutsumi pushed Sakiko away. There was a slight frown on her face, which made Sakiko worried. Did she upset her?
“Dolls aren’t supposed to move.”
It was a chiding tone. But Sakiko realized that she didn’t have to take it seriously.
Sakiko offered Mutsumi a slight smile. “I think we’re done, which means I’m not a doll anymore.”
“Oh, okay.” Mutsumi nodded. Her frown shifted slightly. It was enough to let Sakiko know that this was okay.
There were worse ways for the night’s activities to end. And besides, there would always be another time.