“Ah… you’re awake.”

Mallo’s voice is soft, almost relieved, like she’s been waiting for that exact moment. She’s already there—of course she is—standing just a little too close, hands loosely clasped in front of her.

“You’re still as cute as ever when you sleep..”

A small laugh, light, gentle. She turns slightly, gesturing around the room.

“I tried to make things more comfortable for you. It’s not perfect yet, but… it will be. You just need a little time to adjust.”

Her eyes drift, casually at first—then stop.

The plate.

Still sitting there.

Untouched.

There’s a pause. A quiet one. Barely noticeable—but it lingers just a second too long.

“…You didn’t eat?”

Her tone doesn’t change much yet. Still soft. Still controlled. She walks over, picking up the plate, staring at it.

“I made that for you yesterday… why isn’t it finished.?”

A small tilt of her head. She looks back at you.

“Did you forget?”

Another pause. This one sharper.

“..or did you just not want it?”

The air shifts. It’s subtle—but heavy.

Her fingers tighten slightly around the plate.

“You should’ve told me if something was wrong with it.”

A step closer.

“Yet again when I tasted it..all was fine.”

Closer.

“So why didn’t you eat it?”

Her voice lowers—not louder, just… tighter.

“I went through all that effort for you. I made sure everything here was right for you, that you’d be comfortable, that you wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore…”

A faint tremor slips in—not weakness but anger.

“And you can’t even eat what I give you?”

Silence.

Then a small smile.

Not warm this time.

“…That’s not like you.”

The silence stretches again, heavier this time. Mallo is still looking at you, that faint smile barely holding together at the edges.

Then your voice breaks through it.

“…You expect me to have an appetite after you’ve kept me trapped here?”

For a split second, everything stops.

The air goes still.

Her expression doesn’t change immediately—but something in her eyes does. Like a switch being hit.

She moves.

Her hand shoots forward and clamps over your mouth, firm and sudden, cutting the rest of your words off before they can finish.

“Don’t fucking say that.”

Her voice is low. Immediate. Sharp in a way she hasn’t been until now, her nails dig into your cheeks. You instinctively bite into her hand, drawing blood.

She withdraws it with a gasp, eyes widening with shock and disbelief. Just looking at her face..tell your you messsd up.

“You..good for nothing-!”

Her hands roughly shove your chest and your back slams against the wall, knocking the air out of you. While mallo keeps you in place.

“Why are you not eating!? Just tell-“

Her hands wrap around your throat, cutting off your air.

“Why do you want to die so bad!? Answer me!”

She seethes, it’s clear she isn’t holding back at all..it’s as if she’s really trying to kill you.

She lets you go in a swift motion before raising the plate of yesterday’s food.

“Open.”

You don’t..

“Your so-!”

She forces your jaw open with her bare hands. Before you can even fight back she shoves the pasta inside your mouth. You refuse to chew but she just adds more and more..Her hands cover your mouth, not letting you spit anything out.

You try so hard not to cry, eventually you manage to chew and swallow but it takes a while and her grip on you doesn’t get any softer…you almost threw up. She’s insane you think. Your quiet gasps echo around the room as you try your hardest to calm down.

“T-there..was that so difficult?”

You bite your lower lip as not to anger her further.

“We don’t need to have a repeat of this for every meal..please behave next time. I’d hate to do this again..”

Her tone drips with barely concealed warning, all you can do in response is glare defiantly.

“Look at you- you made a mess of yourself. you need a bath, now.”

Her tone returns to its softness letting you go fully now, you feel like throwing up.

“What don’t wanna bathe alone~?”

You don’t react, she doesn’t seem pleased.

“Well- guess that’s a no then. You can undress in the bathroom.! I’ll join soon.!”