Interlude: So… Where do I Sleep? – Let's Take the Fourth Option, Okay?

Going up the stairs, Alexandra naturally went for the room she was sleeping in earlier. However, as she reached for the doorknob, she heard some strange sounds coming from inside. At first, she thought it might be a cat meowing in the night or something like that, but as she opened the door, she realized it was something entirely different.

There, on her bed, was… that doll, Shogo, moaning softly with her eyes closed. She didn't wear her eyepatch or her nun's outfit… or anything for that matter. The only part of her body covered were her arms and legs wrapped in bandages.

"Ma, Master… not… not there…"

The doll's left hand seemed to slowly move between her closed legs while her right hand was touching her left eyelid. Her disheveled brown hair fell messily around her face, framing her fair and white complexion. Her breathing was shallow and labored, and her body seemed tense and restless. On her face, there was an expression Alexandra never imagined she could make.

Alexandra's jaw dropped as she stared at Shogo, not sure what to say or do. She slowly backed away and closed the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath to calm herself down.

"This is bad. This is really bad," she muttered to herself.

Quickly looking around the corridor, she tried to sort her available options. For one, she couldn't sleep on the ground, not because she had a real problem with it, but because she was pretty sure Shogo would kill her as soon as found her. She had to be somewhere where she could barricade herself. 

There were other rooms like this one, 4 to be precise, distributed left and right. She could choose one, but what if they were locked or didn't have something inside to barricade itself? Her grimoire allowed her to use defensive codes, but she was bad at it. Actually, that was one of the reasons she lost against that angel!

The last option was the ominous door at the end of the corridor, the 5th other room. It was probably Nya's, and should have been safe normally but she wasn't really sure if she could trust that woman.

Suddenly, Shogo emerged from the room just as Alexandra was standing up from the ground. Shogo looked as calm and expressionless as she usually did, but Alexandra could sense a slight discomfort in her body language.

"Greetings. Did you talk with master, marshmallow girl?" Shogo asked.

"I… did…" Alexandra replied, trying to sound casual, but her voice came out shaky.

There was an awkward silence between them.

"Do you want to sleep?" Shogo asked.

Alexandra twitched.

"N, No, I… I don't."

Another silence followed, and then Shogo spoke again. "You can come and sleep with me if you want."

Alexandra's heart skipped a beat. That was a trap, wasn't it?

"Um, I think I'll sleep in another room."

"The other rooms don't have beds. They're used for medical-related stuff or master's research."

"That's okay. I'll just sleep on the ground."

Shogo looked at her for a moment longer before talking again. "The nights are not warm lately. You might catch a cold. Come and sleep with me. We can share the bed."

Alexandra felt a wave of panic wash over her. She didn't want to sleep in the same bed with Shogo. But she didn't want to offend her either. 

"No, it's okay. I'll manage."

"..." 

"..."

"You saw, didn't you?"

"I didn't."

"How much did you see?"

Alexandra took a few steps back and opened a book in front of her.

"Don't get any closer," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Shogo looked at her for a moment, and then asked again, her voice seeming strangely unsteady, "You saw, didn't you?"

Alexandra took a deep breath before answering, "Shogo, can I come inside you?"

Shogo's eye widened as took a few steps back. "What… What do you mean by that, marshmallow girl? Is that sexual harassment? Are you sexually harassing me? I will let you know I don't plan to lose my virginity to someone like you. I totally refuse. You can sleep on the ground then, peeping tom."

Shogo then hastily closed the door and Alexandra found herself alone in the corridor, still trying to get what just happened. Did Shogo act embarrassed right now? She was still toneless and not very expressive, but she talked a lot more quickly than usual. 

"(Well, it's probably an act.)" Alexandra thought. 

If that doll could also mimic emotions even so slightly, Alexandra had to be extra cautious around her. She couldn't sleep on the ground, in another room or even in that woman's. This could only mean one thing for Alexandra she had to take the fourth option. 

"I won't sleep."

And so, she sat in the corridor her grimoire opened in front of her. If anyone – Shogo – tried to attack, she would be ready to ripost and take her/it down!