Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Is This School Full of Perverts?
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"I'm so tired..."
Today, all I did was munch on a few macarons and give that greeting, so why am I this exhausted?
No matter how I think about it, greeting hundreds of people took a huge mental toll... I never want to do it again.
"Good work out there, Yujin."
"Catherine..."
The first person to spot me huddled in the corner after slipping out the back door of the auditorium was Catherine.
Looking up at her from below, her presence is overwhelming. What does she eat to grow something that big?
"Let's head back to Cherum first. The other four have their own tasks, so they'll be late."
"Okay..."
As I scurried after Catherine, who walked ahead, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
Why is Catherine being so nice to me? Sure, I did some naughty things, but she seems incredibly kind.
From the students' reactions and everything else, she doesn't seem low-status in this school, yet she's stuck by my side all day yesterday and today, showing me around.
...And encouraging me.
"Hey, Catherine. Why are you being so nice to me? I haven't done anything to impress you."
If I'm curious, I should just ask! Bottling it up will make it explode later.
Catherine, who had been walking silently, stopped dead in her tracks the moment she heard me, like a machine that lost its power source.
The way she slowly turned her head toward me honestly felt a bit scary.
"Curious, are you?"
It felt like I shouldn't take another step forward. But still, I was curious.
"Yeah, I am."
"You're quite bold, Yujin."
Catherine let out a deep sigh, shook her head a few times, and then looked straight at me.
Her deep, dark blue eyes burned with fervent passion.
"To be honest... I fell for you at first sight."
"Huh?"
"I've longed for you for so long. Do you know how much time I've waited for you to come here, Yujin?"
Her snow-white, beautiful face was flushed with heat. The single breath escaping her slightly parted lips made it hard to breathe, and I wanted to look away, but...
This disheveled side of Catherine I'd never seen, her sweet voice, the unexpected answer.
Everything felt awkward and strange; I couldn't move a muscle.
"If you're still curious, I could 'teach' you directly with these cute lips of yours. Let you feel how fiercely my heart burns... how desperately I crave only you."
"C-Catherine... You're joking, right?"
"Does it look like a joke?"
No no no no no...
Of course, Catherine is a beauty way out of my league, with huge breasts and hips. Her figure is killer, her voice is pleasing.
Objectively, she matches my type perfectly, but this is too sudden! I still haven't forgotten how she bit my neck twice on the first day.
"Close your eyes, Yujin."
Thud.
Pushed back slowly by Catherine, my back hit the corridor wall before I knew it.
In an instant, both escape routes were blocked by her arms, trapping me with nowhere to run or hide.
"Eek, eek... Eeek..."
Her pale pink lips, so moist and soft-looking as they drew closer, made me close my eyes in the end.
"Yujin..."
"C-Catherine..."
Is this my first kiss? My first time like this? Well, if it's to a blonde beauty, maybe it's okay... Hehe.
Snap!
"Ow!"
"You're too naive."
"That hurts..."
I'd been expecting a sweet kiss, but all I got was the sting of a finger flick on my forehead.
Completely caught off guard with no defense, it hurt like hell.
"Did my acting fool you, Yujin?"
"L-Liar! What happened to Paradise's rules!"
"It's only about the 'sin' of lying with malicious intent to deceive or exploit others. A white lie full of goodwill, like this one, is fine."
"What kind of logic is that..."
Rubbing my slightly swollen forehead, I looked up at Catherine, who had already returned to her expressionless face.
Was that really just acting? Why be a Sister then? With a face like that, she should be an actress...
"Listen well, Yujin. You are now part of Stella. You've become one of the stars everyone yearns for, shining brighter than anyone."
"So?"
"That's why there might be lambs in Paradise scheming to claim you. Whispering sweet words laced with lies, disguised as goodwill."
Catherine's voice and expression grew increasingly serious as she spoke; she didn't look like she was lying at all.
Airi said all the students here are good kids...
"To stay high in the heavens, you need to cultivate suspicion toward others. If you fall for tricks this easily, you might end up as someone's pet one day."
"...You're joking, right?"
A pet? I'm a person! Even if, that's too much.
"Three years ago, a Stella member was actually kidnapped and kept as a pet by another student. I don't know what means they used, but they claimed to be lovers in love, so it ended with both expelled."
Real story? This place is scary. One wrong move, and I could be next...?
"I-I don't want to be in Stella anymore."
"Even a fallen star shines, drawing those who covet it. Want to test that?"
"...No."
Grandmother, I got scammed into a job.
Not only did I join some weird club-like thing, but I might end up as someone's dog if I'm not careful.
Aah, if I had my phone, I'd call and escape right away... Phone?
"Catherine, you said we can buy phones with Talent or whatever, right?"
"Yes. But they're Paradise-exclusive, so no outside contact."
Why is this place so airtight? Physical escape is the only option.
"Haa... Whatever. Where do I go now? Classroom to study?"
Thinking more will just give me a headache. I'll attempt escape tonight no matter what, but until then, I need to play the innocent student.
The choker bugs me a bit... but if I sneak out at night, even Catherine can't do much.
"As a Stella member now, you'll do work befitting that. First, back to Cherum."
What kind of work? Sitting and eating macarons? That I'd like.
Oh, before that.
"So, Catherine. Why are you helping me like this? You said falling for me was a lie."
"...You're persistent. Just know I owe your grandmother a favor."
Grandmother? She was there at enrollment too... Do they have history? First I've heard of it.
Tsk, more mysteries piling up. She won't tell me if I ask... I'll ask Grandmother when I get home.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in Cherum, Catherine sat me down and vanished somewhere.
Leaving me alone in this huge room—what am I supposed to do? No phone, no comics. Bored...
Creeeak.
"Catherine?"
The door to Cherum opened, and in came Choi Seo-ah.
She has this intimidating aura that's hard to approach. Josephine might be better...
Maybe Choi Seo-ah isn't interested in me either. She glanced once and went back to her seat, rummaging under the desk.
Of course, I'm bored out of my mind, so I'm all eyes.
Rustle, rustle.
From under the large round desk, Choi Seo-ah pulled out a waist pouch.
She stared at the pouch for a moment, then left Cherum without a word.
But I saw it. She smirked a little while looking at it.
...Should I tail her? Catherine ditched me too, so she can't complain if I vanish!
The moment I stepped out of Cherum with determination, my nape was grabbed.
"Where are you off to?"
"C-Catherine..."
Of all timings...
"I clearly told you to wait quietly in Cherum."
"I-I had to pee bad!"
Hanging with Catherine is making me better at lying. No, it was urgent, so not really a lie.
"...I didn't think of that. Sorry, Yujin."
"No worries. So, where's the bathroom?"
"Normally, I'd guide you to the Stella exclusive one, but just this once, use the regular one at the end of the hall."
What, exclusive bathrooms too? So extravagant.
"Be right back!"
"...Please be careful."
I deftly slipped from Catherine's loosened grip and hurried to the bathroom.
Of course, my real goal was tracking Choi Seo-ah who went ahead. Honestly, where's she going? Probably nothing, but curious.
'She's heading upstairs?'
Thanks to my quick pace, I caught up to Choi Seo-ah climbing the stairs.
Her leisurely steps, clutching the pouch tightly, made her look oddly excited.
I've only seen her staring blankly at the ceiling expressionless, but she can make faces like that too.
I want to follow, but Catherine's waiting, and I really need the bathroom. Next time.
Click.
'Phew, empty.'
Even after being reborn and time passing, sharing a bathroom with girls still feels awkward.
Aah, not the time. Hurry up and—?
Footsteps and chatter approaching from outside sent me darting into a stall like fleeing.
I'm not doing anything wrong, and I'm a girl now, so no issue, but after that greeting, bumping into other students in the bathroom feels awkward.
"Cecilia, did you see her too?"
"Of course! The newly born star..."
Squatting on the toilet, uneasy words reached my ears. Star? Stella?
"I was a Karin fan, but I've switched this time. Who knew such a cutie would come...!"
"Hehe, good taste, Clara. I can't resist those cheeks that look like they'd fit in my mouth!"
"Ahh, to touch those breasts that don't suit her petite frame, I'd pay a million gold without regret..."
What the— these girls are scary.
This is about me, right? Talking about groping and eating me up?
Airi, you said the kids here are nice. Nice kids all died—downgrade back to idiot perverts!
"Clara, now that we've met as kindred spirits... I'll share a bit of my collection."
"Th-This is... Yujin's photo!"
"Bought it from the Photo Club with a fortune in Talent. Isn't her slightly trembling look adorable? Planning to print it big and hang it in my room."
"Cecilia! Please share the blessing with me too!"
"Hehe, we're already comrades—such obvious words."
"Kyaa! Friends are the best!"
Catherine, come save me quick. If they find me here, I'll be devoured... Help.
Click.
After a few more minutes of chat, they finished up, closed the door, and left.
When Catherine mentioned the Stella bathroom, I thought it was just luxury, but it's for survival.
No wonder she warned me just to go to the bathroom...
"Yujin, something happen?"
"A lot... So much happened..."
"...You did well. The bathroom for you will be ready soon after construction, so don't worry."
Back in Cherum after finishing, seeing Catherine's face brought strange relief.
This school is a den of beasts... I can't let my guard down ever.