Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Is This School Full of Perverts?
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"Yujin, why are you just standing there?"
...It's awkward going into the dorm like this.
How is Airi so nonchalant? I'm still dying of embarrassment.
"...Ah!"
Patter patter patter—
"The mark on my neck is fine. I had it placed where clothes cover it on purpose...!"
Flick—
"That's bragging! Total bragging!"
"Hehe..."
She got flicked on the forehead, and she's smiling? What's so great about that?
From now on, I'm not treating her like a human anymore. Straight-up dog treatment. A big golden retriever would suit Airi perfectly.
"Let's go, pup."
"...Pup?"
"...Nothing."
Oof.
She's such a lady, she doesn't even get "pup"... Well, yeah, upper-class folks saying "our house pup~" would sound kinda weird.
Anyway, as long as no one sees it, it should be fine. Come to think of it, is there even a reason to be embarrassed? It's just a bite from a big dog.
"Yujin... you're so cute."
Squeeze—
...What a clingy dog.
Creeeak—
"You're late."
The person who appeared as soon as we opened the door was Catherine.
The only difference from usual was that her waist-length hair, which she normally let down, was now tied up in a braided bun. Did she do that by herself?
"Yeah. I was wandering around with Airi."
Glare—
"I've been waiting."
I was just stating plainly what we'd been up to, but I got hit with Catherine's intense glare.
What did I do wrong? Why is she so mad? If anything, I deserve praise.
Squeeze—
"Let's go in, Miss Yujin."
"Huh?"
Catherine, who had been glaring at me, snatched me from Airi's arms without softening her gaze at all and hugged me tight.
Realizing naturally that I wasn't the target of her glare, I instinctively turned to look behind me.
"Catherine, you seem to be in a good mood today."
"Very much so. And Miss Airi, you seem to be in a good mood too?"
"Thanks to you, it's gotten a bit worse."
"It's been a while since Miss Airi and I agreed on something."
Haha, hahaha.
...Scary.
What's going on? Why are they fighting? This is a stare-down, right? Were Airi and Catherine always on bad terms...?
"Miss Yujin. You've had a hard day. I've made some energizing food."
Step, step—
Catherine, who had been glaring at Airi for a while, finally averted her eyes and walked deeper into the dorm while holding me.
I wanted to motion for Airi to come along, but I didn't have the courage to turn around again. Sorry, Airi...
A moment later, following Catherine's lead, we arrived at the dining table laden with all sorts of lavish dishes.
These were complicated, varied, and full of care—nothing like the simple breakfast I'd made.
As expected, Catherine's cooking is way better than mine.
"Miss Yujin."
Stroke, stroke—
"Mm...?"
"It was really delicious."
Thump—
"Honestly. This is just a small token of appreciation. It can't compare to your cooking, but..."
The gentle hand softly petting my head, the sweet voice tickling my ear up close.
And above all, the praise from Catherine that made me happiest.
...I think this is the first time I've gotten praise from Catherine since coming here.
"Catherine."
"Yes...?"
"I think Catherine's cooking is the best."
A deep intake of breath.
"Ah... Thank you..."
A trembling voice. Something kept tickling at the corner of my heart, making me feel strange.
"Alright, let's eat!"
To break the awkward atmosphere, I sat down and picked up my fork.
I knew the other three hadn't arrived yet, but I wanted to stuff something in my mouth and change the subject.
"...What is this? It's delicious!"
I'd planned to praise it casually, but the moment I popped the mystery fried thing into my mouth, a genuine exclamation slipped out.
Is this seafood? I don't usually like seafood, but if it tastes like this, I could eat it all day.
"I'm glad."
A soft, faint smile from Catherine.
The cringey atmosphere from moments ago vanished, and she seemed back to her usual self, which put me at ease.
But then.
"Miss Yujin."
Her lips close to my ear, whispering sweetly.
My ears tickled, my heart tickled.
"This weekend, would you like to go out with me? There's a place I'd love to invite you to."
"...Yeah."
I could only nod.
Until the other three arrived at the table, I couldn't lift my head. It was too hard to look at Catherine's face with just the two of us...
Ugh, what am I gonna do this weekend...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bubble bubble, bubble bubble.
"...Yujin, what are you doing?"
"Just playing around."
While bathing with Seo-ah, the winner of our silly rock-paper-scissors to decide who would join me in the bathroom, the events at the dinner table came to mind, making my head spin.
Go out together this weekend? Isn't that just a date...? What was Catherine's intention with that invitation...?
Does she really like me? If so, what should I do...?
Catherine's a super beauty, great at cooking, has an amazing figure, seems like she'd be great at housework...
Ugh, ugh... ugh... For now, stop thinking and wait for the weekend. Yeah, that's right.
Splash—
"...Seo-ah unnie?"
Hearing water splashing right next to me, I looked up to see Seo-ah standing.
I'd been trying not to notice, but the perfect body I'd seen in the bathroom last time resurfaced in my mind, and I ended up staring intently.
...Get a grip! Even if I'm trapped in a pervert den, I can't become a pervert! Don't look at innocent Seo-ah with lecherous eyes.
If I do, I might cross the line at any moment...
Squeeze—
"You were thinking about another girl just now, weren't you?"
"...What?"
Rub rub—
"You're washing with me right now. Focus on me, Yujin."
"I-I! I'm all clean!"
The soft sensation against my back.
It was heading the same way as last time, so I tried to escape, but my arm got grabbed.
"Look at me properly."
"Seo-ah, unnie..."
Gulp—
Forced to turn around, facing Seo-ah head-on dealt a serious blow to my mental fortitude.
If I just pretended to go crazy and buried my face in those breasts right now, would I be happy?
"Yujin, tomorrow... how about with me..."
"With you..."
Thump, thump—
"We play games?"
"...Sure."
What was that heart-pounding just now?
A mix of disappointment and relief... Come to think of it, Seo-ah's a total gamer. Yeah, yeah, what was I even thinking with such a cute Seo-ah right here.
"Thanks. I really like you, Yujin..."
Thump, thump—
Nooo, don't toy with me... Why do you keep playing with my heart like that?
She likes me as a little sister, as a fellow gamer. Definitely.
"Yujin, I have one more favor to ask."
"W-What is it...?"
"Tonight, can you keep me company?"
Boom—
My wildly pounding heart finally exploded from Seo-ah's finishing blow.
Aaah, I can't hold back anymore. Grrr... The little beast inside me has awakened!
"S-Sure, that's fine."
Did I bring any good perfume in my stuff?
How do girls do it? This is my first time, and it must be Seo-ah's too, right? Uw... I gotta do it right.
Hehe, but... after tonight, I'll have my first lover? Feels kinda nice...
"Thanks. Tonight's patrol won't be lonely."
"...Patrol?"
"Yeah. I patrol the school alone every night. In case there are intruders... I have to protect the students."
I waved away the wild fantasies flooding my mind.
G-Good thing... I didn't say it out loud. From now on, no more getting swept up by Seo-ah. The cute girl in front of me is a gamer! Don't forget...
"...Isn't it dangerous alone?"
"It's fine. I can handle most people by myself, and if I spot anyone, I ring the security buzzer and the patrolling Sisters nearby will come."
Aah, so she's the only one wandering around, but there are others on patrol too.
Of course... in a school this big, it'd take multiple people to finish on time.
That bad rumor about Seo-ah wandering at night was because of the patrols.
...Everyone would like her if they knew the truth.
"Is the patrol a secret? If you announced it publicly..."
"Mm, it's fine. I know it causes bad rumors, but... it's just my personal satisfaction. I don't really want praise for it."
She's an angel.
An angel is here...!
The one healing presence in this terrifying school, my mental oasis!
"Alright. Not just tonight—I'll go with you from now on!"
"...You sure? It might spread bad rumors about you too."
"Doesn't matter."
"...You'll have to stop students wandering at night, and you might end up hated."
"So? The students sneaking around without permission are the bad ones."
"I-If we're caught wandering together at night... We won't be able to brush it off this time..."
"Hehe, then no more guys bothering Seo-ah unnie— isn't that a good thing?"
Squeeze—
"Mm! W-Wait..."
My face buried between her soft breasts, a fragrant floral scent wafting in with every breath.
She was hugging me gently, so I could breathe, but out of embarrassment and guilt, when I tried to pull away, her smooth chest just sank my hands in deeper.
"Thank you..."
Drip, drip—...
"...Seo-ah unnie, are you crying...? Mmph!"
Warm droplets falling on my head.
I tried to awkwardly reveal myself, but Seo-ah unnie hugged me tighter, deeper into her chest, stopping me.
"Thank you, Yujin..."
In the end, I gave up escaping and wrapped my arms around her slender waist, hugging back.
3 minutes, 5, 10... How much time passed? Just holding each other, we never got tired of feeling each other's warmth.
"...So warm."
"Yeah, warm."
We finally left the bathroom over 30 minutes later.
What happened in there just now... I'll probably never forget it for the rest of my life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We barely escaped the bathroom, got ready, changed clothes, and now stood at the school entrance at night.
Is it my imagination? Feels like the Mary statue is glaring... N-No, we're not here to do anything bad.
"Oh, Yujin. Before we go, there are a few rules you need to know."
"...Yes?"
Rules? Besides Paradise's rules?
"Yeah. I wasn't sure if I needed to tell you, but the other Sisters patrolling the school follow them strictly, so it won't hurt to know."
A moment later, Seo-ah rummaged in the bag at her waist and handed me a single sheet of paper.
⚙ NIGHT PATROL RULES ⚙ ...Why does my head hurt already without even reading it? No, obvious.
This is a ghost story rulebook!!!