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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Locker
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"…Do I really have to?"
"Are you asking that now? We've already planned everything out."
"But no matter how I think about it, this just doesn't feel right…"
A sigh escaped Amelia's lips.
Was she frustrated with Shiu's hesitation now?
Instead of scolding him, Amelia decided to convince him.
"I told you. You can't monitor Arte yourself, so I have to be the one to do it."
"I know you're better suited to monitor Arte, but… this is a crime."
Shiu's eyes wavered uneasily.
Yes, it was a crime.
And a particularly nasty one at that.
Just a male student entering the girls' changing room was an act that deserved condemnation.
But on top of that, rummaging through a female student's clothes?
If he got caught, there would be no excuse.
He'd instantly be branded a sex offender.
Not only would he be expelled, but his future life would be ruined.
Even now, if I were to monitor Arte and Amelia were to search…
"Don't worry. If anyone approaches the changing room, I'll yell loudly. There's no way we'll get caught."
"Do I really have to do… *this*?"
"I told you not to worry so much! Haven't you heard the saying, it's not a crime if you don't get caught?"
It was still a crime, even if you didn't get caught.
He wanted to say that, but Shiu soon closed his mouth.
Right.
Even if you don't get caught, a crime is a crime.
Aside from him and Amelia, no one knew about Arte Isis's criminal activities.
To seize evidence of those criminal activities…!
Shiu steeled himself.
To seize evidence of the crime.
Anyway, Amelia was planning to send him into the girls' changing room.
If he couldn't avoid it, it would be best to finish it as quickly as possible.
"…Alright."
"Good. That's the spirit. Let's go quickly. Arte's waiting."
Shiu desperately suppressed the guilt gnawing at him.
***
"Urgh. Do I really have to wear this…?"
[Why? It's pretty.]
"I don't want to wear something like this!"
She resented Lyra.
She had clearly asked for a less revealing swimsuit.
What was this?
[…Still, it seems to be a swimsuit that's less revealing than a bikini.]
"It's true it's less revealing compared to a bikini, but…!"
What she had wanted was a one-piece swimsuit.
You know, like a competitive swimsuit shaped like a leotard.
Something with less exposure, like a school swimsuit (schoolmiz) you'd see in light novels.
She had wanted a swimsuit like that.
She despaired when she checked the contents of the swimsuit she received that morning.
[Most heroines wear bikinis, so how about you compromise with this since it's less revealing? It's too late anyway.]
"…"
She looked askance at the swimsuit in her hand.
Right, it wasn't a bikini.
Strictly speaking, it was the one-piece swimsuit she had wanted.
…Except for all the skin showing in various places.
"And why is there nothing on the back? …Is it to save on raw materials?"
It was an integrated swimsuit, alright.
Except for the exposed cleavage and the low-cut back.
The fact that her butt was thoroughly covered somehow annoyed her even more.
As if they were doing her a favor, covering it up so thoroughly, despite cutting out so much of the back.
"Does Lyra… really think this is not revealing…?"
[Probably? All the heroines wear bikinis. Maybe it's a similar feeling…? Since you were a heroine candidate.]
That made sense.
That's why she couldn't blame Lyra.
She should have just gone to buy it herself.
She was too embarrassed, so she had asked Lyra to get it…
"Arte. What are you doing over there?"
"Ah, Amelia."
Amelia called out to her.
Her gloomy mood brightened a little.
Amelia was the only friend she was somewhat close to at the academy.
Hehe, she wasn't an outcast.
After all, she had such a pretty and kind heroine friend!
"Let's go in soon. If we don't go wash up now, we'll be late for class."
"Ah, ahh. Just a moment…"
She wasn't ready yet…!
Her small cry didn't become a voice, as Amelia's hand led her into the changing room.
"…Wow, your chest is bigger than I thought."
"Haha… I-Is that so?"
"I don't have much… Hey, could you tear off a little and share it?"
"There's no way that would work…"
"Tch."
Thud, thud.
After finishing her shower, she listlessly walked towards the swimming pool.
S-She was exhausted…
Amelia's energy was unusually high today.
She felt strangely clingy.
Now that she thought about it, why had the author been so quiet until now?
Normally, they would be chattering away.
Taking advantage of the moment she came out before Amelia, she whispered softly to the author.
"…Author?"
[Yes, heheh?!]
"No, you were just quiet. Why are you so surprised?"
[Oh, well… I was just thinking if this is what a light novel is like. So heroines really do play around touching breasts in shower scenes…]
"…What on earth were you watching?"
She understood what the author was talking about.
You know, there's a lot of that in light novels.
Small-chested heroines grabbing the chests of heroines whose chests are bigger than their heads, going "Eek, eek," and the large-chested heroines screaming, and the boys next to them listening and letting their imaginations run wild.
But they hadn't even touched chests.
It was just normal… No, it wasn't exactly normal.
She had been fumbling around a bit, showering with her eyes closed.
It had taken a while for Amelia to help her.
She had gotten somewhat used to her own body, but another person's naked body was still a little… difficult.
She had wondered why the author, who usually chattered constantly, was so quiet. Were they writing it down to use as material?
Of course, she knew that the author didn't just copy the contents of this world verbatim, but filtered it to some extent.
That was natural, given that they couldn't accurately grasp Yu Shiu's actions.
But she simply couldn't understand.
What kind of filter did that information pass through between her eyes and brain to be received like that?
It was a mystery.
"Ah, Amelia. Over here."
"Okay."
While talking to the author, she called Amelia, who had emerged from the changing room.
…As expected of a heroine from a novel, she was wearing a bikini, of course. And a white one at that.
The pure white bikini created a subtly alluring atmosphere.
She couldn't wear something like that.
"Everyone, listen up! I will explain the precautions before our swimming lesson!"
Ah, it was starting.
…She felt a little excited.
She had barely enjoyed playing in the water, except for when she was very young.
Since it had come to this, maybe she should enjoy it a little.
***
"T-Teacher. Can I go to the restroom for a moment…?"
"…Hm? Oh, alright. Go ahead. If no one's here when you get back, come to the classroom."
His face was contorted in a grimace, clutching his stomach, cold sweat beading on his brow.
Seeing his state, the teacher seemed to guess what was wrong and casually dismissed him.
He had just shown off his skilled swimming, so they probably thought he didn't need any more practice.
As soon as he stepped into the empty hallway, he relaxed his grimace and started walking, but the cold sweat still trickled down.
The cold sweat wasn't an act.
…Now, he had truly reached the point of no return.
It was time to sneak into the girls' changing room.
"No one's here, right…?"
He yanked it open.
Without hesitation, he opened the changing room door and quickly slipped inside.
Amelia had said that hesitation would only make him look suspicious.
Confidently, and boldly.
That was her advice to him.
"Hoo, hoo…"
The smell seemed different from the boys' changing room.
No, no, it couldn't be.
It was just his imagination.
"Arte, Arte… Here it is. Arte Isis."
Finding Arte's locker wasn't difficult.
They were organized alphabetically by name.
Amelia's locker was next to it, so it must be the right one.
…Somehow, it felt softer than the lockers in the boys' changing room.
Strange thoughts kept creeping in, so Shiu hastily yanked the locker open.
Clothes neatly arranged.
Trying his best to ignore the black leotard, Shiu began rummaging through the clothes.
"…Why isn't it here?"
But something was off.
No matter how much he searched through the clothes, he couldn't find any kind of mechanical device anywhere.
There were only clothes, some cash, and a smartphone.
Shiu began to grow increasingly anxious.
He had expected to find it quickly, but over ten minutes had passed.
If he was too late, the class might end.
He had only slipped out after the class had been underway for a while, finding the opportune moment.
"Arte! Let's go together!"
"…!"
While he frantically searched for the device, he heard Amelia's loud voice.
The voices of students, who had approached without him realizing.
He had been too focused on searching to notice.
He glanced at his watch; twenty minutes had passed.
He had failed.
Shiu instantly realized his failure and quickly moved to leave.
But haste often leads to mistakes.
The floor of the swimming pool changing room was always wet.
There was always water around, so it couldn't be helped.
That's why teachers always told them not to run in the changing room.
…The price for not listening to the teacher was devastating.
CRASH!
He had fallen with a loud thud.
Of course, Shiu was a superhuman. As a superhuman who could wield mana, a mere fall wouldn't seriously injure him.
The problem was time.
"Arte, did you have fun?"
"Yes. It was enjoyable."
Now, not only Amelia's voice, but Arte's and other students' voices began to be heard.
It was too late to leave the changing room now.
…W-What should he do?
There was no time to think.
Shiu decided to hide in the easiest spot.
"I hope we have swimming class again soon."
"I think we will, right? It'd be a waste not to use the pool much after building it."
"Hehe, that's true."
He was screwed. Shiu knew it instantly.
He had inadvertently slipped into the open locker.
Yes, into Arte Isis's locker.
How was he supposed to escape from here?
It was a colossal mistake.
Now, not only had he snuck into the girls' changing room, but he'd be branded a pervert, sniffing around girls' lockers.
"…Hmm."
Amidst his despair, it was even sadder that it smelled really good.
Not perfume, but the subtle, indescribable scent of a woman's skin.
The leotard covering Shiu's face carried Arte's fragrance.
"Ah, Arte. Sorry. I need to go to the bathroom for a bit. Will you come with me?"
"What…? Go ahead. I'll wait for you."
"Oh, come on. Why are you like that? Can't friends even go together?"
"I-Is that so…? Yes. We're friends, after all. Alright."
…!
Unexpectedly, an opportunity presented itself to Shiu.
Arte had disappeared into the bathroom with Amelia.
The female students had changed and left.
This was his chance.
He shot out of the locker like an arrow.
After confirming no one was in the hallway, he went straight to the boys' changing room.
In the quiet changing room, Shiu finally clutched his pounding heart and swallowed back tears.
He had survived.