Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Is This School Full of Perverts?
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Even though it was only 7 AM before classes started, Maria Hall was packed with way too many students.
Did these kids all wake up early, wash up, eat breakfast, and rush straight here?
Pwaang-.
"...This is part of the curriculum too."
She read it after all! I figured she was smart, hehe.
"Most of the students selling stuff are in the Economics Department. Beyond just classes, they make their own products, price them properly, buy and sell them, and hone their practical skills so they won't struggle when they inherit their family businesses later."
"That sounds all grand and everything, but wouldn't it be better to just go to cram school or something...?"
"Well, I don't know if it actually works, but plenty of this school's graduates do end up as corporate heirs."
...To me, it just feels like they're creating a little society inside the school.
An isolated space cut off from the outside world, currency they make themselves that's actually usable... Am I overthinking this?
Anyway, it's probably too deep for me to dig into when I haven't even been here a week yet. What matters today is buying roses to give Catherine as a gift.
And while I'm at it, picking out a present for Josephine, who came along with me.
"Josephine, let's take a look around."
"...Weren't you here to buy roses? I know where the Gardening Club is, so let's buy them quick and head back."
Squeeeze-.
"Come on, don't be like that. Please? This is my first date ever, so I wanna do a practice run."
"Haa... Why on earth would Sis fall for a brat like..."
Hehe... Being called a brat doesn't faze me right now. I'm consciously acting like one!
...It's not a total lie. A bit of wanting to tease Josephine, a whole lot of not wanting to disappoint Catherine.
And just a tiny bit of not wanting to go back to the dorm where Catherine's waiting... Muahaha.
"Come on, let's check out that stall first where all those kids are lining up. I'm curious what's there!"
"Ah... That's..."
I pointed to the spot where students were chattering noisily in line, but for some reason, Josephine's reaction was lukewarm.
Does she have beef with someone there? With her personality, she'd probably have a lot of enemies.
"D-Do we have to go?"
"Yep!"
"...Do whatever you want."
She propped her chin on her hand and sighed. She really doesn't wanna go that bad? Hmm... Well, if she truly hated it, she wouldn't come even if I dragged her.
Step, step-.
I grabbed Josephine's arm and dragged her along to the stall, which had a big round sign reading 'Breeding Club'.
Breeding Club...? Are they selling pets? Can you keep them in the dorms separately?
"Come on in! Step right up!"
What was on display at the stall: about seven adorable fluffy rabbits and carrot chunks.
Aah... Is this one of those feed-the-rabbit things? Selling overpriced carrots one piece at a time. I've fallen for cat cafes like that before...
"You two, our shop is... um... er..."
The curly-haired girl who had been crouching to show rabbits to other students clapped her hands and approached us.
She came over full of energy at first, but after glancing us up and down, her face quickly paled.
"S-Stella... And Lady Josephine... Why are you at this humble little stall...?"
"Alice... Still doing this kind of business? Huh? Do I need to warn you myself?"
What, they know each other? Then she should've said something.
Hmm, but what's wrong with a rabbit-feeding business? Oh. Maybe the rabbits overeat and get sick? That'd be bad.
"J-Josephine... Please don't tell Seo-ah...!"
"Don't cling to my ankle. Should I kick you off?"
"Eek...!"
...Josephine is scary. As expected of Catherine's little sister.
She's been pretty tolerant of my antics. That Alice girl is kinda cute, but she threatens to ditch her right away.
And every word drips with chill... Whew. Gotta tone it down from now on.
"N-New Star! Lady Yujin... Are you close with Lady Josephine!?"
"Huh? Me? Uh..."
Pwaang-.
"......"
"We're close."
I looked at Josephine right when the question came, but she met my eyes for a moment before her face turned beet red and she whipped her head away.
Is this 'close'? Well, it's a hundred times better than the first day.
"Then! Please spare me just once... If we don't meet this month's quota, we have to send all our rabbits back home...!"
...Quota? There's such a thing?
"Yujin, don't fall for it. It's not a quota—it's mandatory club dues she's talking about."
"What? This school makes you pay separate dues? I thought the school provided them. That's how it was when I was with Seo-ah."
From what I know, clubs that perform well get more funding, and underperformers get cut. There have been clubs that vanished due to long-term failure, but the last one was 15 years ago, so not now.
"The Breeding Club took out a loan."
A loan... Doesn't fit a young ladies' school at all. Guess I should just roll with it. Picking at every detail will just tire me out.
"To buy those rabbits. Aren't their furs super fluffy? Each one's worth over 3 million."
"Pfft!"
3... 3 million... For those tiny things? They just look like normal fluffy cute rabbits to me.
"They blew all the money on buying rabbits, so of course they can't pay it back. That's why the Breeding Club's doing... this to cover the loan."
"Ah! Th-That's...!"
Josephine grabbed my hand and strode into the Breeding Club stall, then opened another door leading further inside.
Creeeak-...
"Kyaaah! Go, Elizabeth!"
"Ahh... My merchandise..."
And there was an unfamiliar sight.
A wide space combining about three rooms had wooden racetracks set up.
And on those tracks, fluffy rabbits racing their hearts out.
...Horse racing? Or should I call it bunny racing?
"Haa..."
Josephine watched for a bit, then rubbed her temple like her head hurt and sighed.
I was stunned at first too, and now my head hurts. Josephine must be even worse.
"Hey, isn't this gambling?"
I snapped at Alice, who had followed us with her head down, and she frantically shook her head.
"N-No betting money! We just charge a small entry fee, and if the rabbit you pick wins, you get a prize!"
"Same difference!"
The students watching the race from inside didn't even notice us enter—they were too focused on the racing rabbits.
No matter how I look at it, their eyes are gleaming.
"...The school allows this?"
"Heh... hehe... Of course not. We just say we're playing with the rabbits..."
"Rejected. I'll tell Seo-ah and shut down this unhealthy nonsense."
Illegal gambling in school is too much!
Aah, I should've learned paperwork stuff from Seo-ah sooner.
"Yu-Yujin!"
"What?"
"If you take this, could you turn a blind eye just this once...? Just for this month! Until we pay off the rabbits' costs..."
Alice, who had been wearing a despairing look, pulled out a small plush that looked just like one of the racing rabbits.
Snow-white and fluffy—adorable.
Well, it's cute and all... but I don't collect plushies. And Josephine with dolls...?
"...Hah."
She likes them.
She just looked away after glancing. Think I didn't notice 'cause you turned quick? I saw it all.
...She brought it on herself, but she's pitiful, and if the Breeding Club folds, the rabbits suffer too. Maybe let it slide this once.
"Got another plush? Black one if possible."
"Of course! These are handmade by the Sewing Club—unique in the world!"
Handmade, huh. These schoolgirls are so talented? I thought they were from luxury stores.
"Fine. I'll let it go this once, but next time I come, no more unhealthy games, got it?"
"Yes! From next time, we'll switch to normally overpriced rabbit feed sales!"
...Saying it so openly is kinda off-putting.
I hugged the two plushies from Alice and left the stall with Josephine, who was staring intently at the rabbits nestled against my chest.
I could give them to her right here, but there are too many eyes. Students passing by have been staring since earlier.
"Josephine, let's find a quiet spot for a sec. Okay?"
"...Why?"
Is she mad I took both rabbits? Or mad I let the Breeding Club's antics slide?
Whatever the reason, Josephine got prickly again, but when I sidled up close, her face flushed red instantly.
So cute.
"There's a reason. Hurry, hurry!"
"A-Alright, so... get off..."
We arrived at a big cafe with the perfectly ripe-tomato Josephine. No, it's called the 'Barista Club', right?
A slender student at the entrance handed us a key, and we were shown to a private room inside the Barista Club.
"Any specific coffee you'd like?"
"Nah, no coffee this time. We'll be out soon."
"Understood."
Ooh... Felt like a butler and lady. If I acted like that, I'd just look like a demanding customer. Too bad.
"Hey, Josephine."
"...What."
Maybe 'cause we were sitting across from each other now with no body contact, Josephine had regained her composure.
"Want this plush?"
"N-No need. You want it too, Yujin..."
"I don't really collect plushies. Huh? Want it?"
"Wh-What? If you don't need it, I guess I could take it."
"Then take it yourself."
The uniform was a long skirt down to the ankles, but the blouse had enough give at the chest that unbuttoning let it open wide.
...Not that it was designed for easy undressing, right?
Pop, pop-.
I undid two buttons on my blouse and tucked the black bunny plush into my cleavage.
"Y-You! Pervert!? What, what, what are you doing...!"
"Hurry up. Okay?"
Josephine likes girls after all. Big-chested ones too.
I'd noticed her staring at my chest a lot. Even on the way to Maria Hall, she kept sneaking peeks from the corner of her eye.
I'm embarrassed doing this too, but think of it as service for coming along with me.
Step, step-.
I went right up to Josephine's side and brought my chest close to her face as she sat with her head down.
...No matter how I think about it, my actions look pervy, but compared to Catherine's, it's nothing!
"Hey, Josephine. I'm cold... Won't you take it?"
"Yu-Yujin..."
"Yeah? What?"
"Do... do you... like me...?"
"Yeah. Your actions are cute, your face is pretty—I like you."
Pssshhh-...
Whoa, first time seeing steam rise from someone's face.
"F-For real...?"
"Yep. And I like Airi 'cause she's kind and friendly, Seo-ah 'cause she plays well with me and protects me, Catherine 'cause she's taken good care of me since I got here."
"...What even is that."
"I like Josephine just as much. Actually, if we're talking time spent, you're the shortest so far?"
None of them are that long, really.
They all treat me well—no reason to dislike them.
"...Fine. I'll take the plush."
"Hehe, hurry up then."
Did she steel herself?
Josephine stood up, stared at my face, then shifted her gaze to my chest.
Her face was tomato-ripe again, but she took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and reached out a trembling hand toward my chest.
"Ah..."
Squish-.
But since her eyes were closed, she missed the mark.
"S-Sorry..."
"We're both girls, so what? The plush is just a bit to the side..."
Me touching is a crime, but being touched is fine. Yeah.
Getting touched by a cute sweetheart like Josephine feels good anyway! Seo-ah's already hugged and groped me plenty.
Squish, squish-...
"Mm..."
On purpose? Or not?
Josephine slowly, slowly moved her hand, caressing like she was savoring the feel.
No, surely not on purpose. Well, service, I guess...
"Ah..."
About two minutes later?
Josephine finally fished out the plush from between my breasts, hugged it tight, and buried her face in the table.
Watching her made me embarrassed too, so I buttoned up neatly and sat back down.
"Hey, Josephine."
"Wh-Why are you calling me..."
"The reason I gave you the black plush... 'Cause it looks like me."
"...What?"
"I'll treasure the white one thinking it's you, so you treasure yours too, okay?"
Pssshhh-...
Aah, steaming up again.