Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Teacher's First Day at Work
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Around evening, Michelle returned home after heading out for her daily training.
She had left empty-handed but didn't come back that way.
Perhaps feeling guilty about making me handle 'that' thing which had belatedly manifested, she was clutching some food again.
Well, there was no reason to turn it down, so I accepted it without a fuss and ate.
While I munched on the sandwich she'd given me, she stared at me intently before muttering that she needed to wash up and slipping into the bathroom.
...Had she eaten before going in?
Since she hadn't said anything, I left about half uneaten. I had that much courtesy, at least.
Even after I'd eaten my fill and set the rest aside, Michelle still hadn't emerged from the bathroom.
They say women take forever to wash up, and it looked like that was true.
I hadn't seen her come out last night since I'd fallen asleep...
She wouldn't come out buck naked, would she?
For some reason, I felt awkward, so I headed to the bed first. It would've been mortifying if I'd stayed seated here and locked eyes with her while she strolled out undressed.
Listening to the faint sound of running water, I started thinking I wanted to wash up too.
Undine had wiped down my sticky body, but it felt a little like cheating... and skipping a proper shower wasn't the same as bathing, was it?
Truth be told, I was also curious about the facilities.
Parts that weren't shown in the game.
I had a rough idea, sure.
So, I resolved to head into the bathroom once Michelle came out, but she took quite a while.
After zoning out on the bed and nearly dozing off, Michelle finally finished her long shower and stepped out.
Maybe she'd taken my words to heart, because she emerged wearing different clothes from when she'd gone in.
Her exposed skin and face were flushed a bit from the extended shower. With a towel perched on her head, she glanced at the leftover sandwich on the table and spoke.
"You could've eaten it all."
"...Just in case."
I stared at her for a moment before climbing out of bed and making for the bathroom. Then her voice trailed after me, laced with a hint of surprise.
"You're... washing up now?"
"Yeah."
I replied casually, but as she approached while drying her hair and plunked me down at the table...
"...Um, Instructor?"
"Eat this first, then wash up. It'll go to waste if Plumeria Teacher doesn't have any."
Can't she eat it herself?
Michelle slid the remaining sandwich my way with an awkward smile. I wondered what was up, but since the bit I'd tasted earlier had been pretty good, I reached for it without protest.
Only then did she flash a faint smile and retreat to her own space.
Munching on the egg-packed sandwich while glancing her way, I finally headed to the bathroom.
The sensation of Michelle's gaze prickling my back was probably just my imagination, right?
Anyway.
Stepping into the bathroom—which had never been described in detail—felt oddly thrilling.
Like listening to some off-the-record audio leak?
My heart was pounding.
Enough to make me forget the mess I was in.
...I'd have to stick around this place for quite a while anyway, so it was probably best not to overthink it.
What good would dwelling on it do besides stir up homesickness?
The bathroom itself wasn't anything special. Aside from the separate changing area before the actual washing space, it was your standard layout anyone would picture.
Wait, there's a space like this—why'd she undress out there?
There was a mirror, plus a bunch of grooming items lined up. Michelle apparently didn't use them; none of the packaging had been opened.
...These things will probably stay sealed forever.
I had no use for them either, so if she never touched them, no one ever would.
After a brief moment of silence for their fate, I faced the large mirror.
The vague glimpse I'd caught in the infirmary reflected back in sharp clarity.
Hair somewhere between warm silver and pure white.
Pupils shifting between gold and pale green depending on the angle.
Eyes that exuded a languid, cozy softness. And...
As I slowly unzipped, a matching mass of plush fat emerged.
*Gulp.*
Watching it sway and jiggle in time with my arm movements felt bizarre.
This was my real body now.
I hadn't noticed when puppeteering it in the game, but this frame must've been insanely inconvenient.
Peeling off the gym clothes clinging to my body made my form even more vivid.
My snow-white skin gleamed like freshly poured milk.
...The softly glowing center of that fat mound felt a touch embarrassing. Who knew such a pale shade could actually exist?
Or maybe it was just because this was the game world?
Curiosity got the better of me, and I cupped underneath the mass with my hand.
...Warm and squishy. And heavy, all at once.
As the weight shifted from crushing my shoulders to my palm, a cool relief washed over them.
No wonder running felt impossible with these dangling.
They looked great from an outside view, but realizing they were mine made them nothing but a hassle.
And.
I sneaked a peek below my hips in the mirror.
Couldn't see the crucial spot directly, but the smooth baldness was plain as day.
I'd known it intellectually, but becoming a woman truly sank in.
Awareness brought a flood of shame and alienation, leaving me feeling off-kilter.
Letting go of the hand propping up my chest, I felt the strain hit my waist and shoulders.
...Can't just rip the damn things off.
Come to think of it, this game had alchemy.
They even had an Alchemy Department for it. Games like this usually tossed in items to cater to player tastes.
Breast enlargers like those so-called Fengyu Pills or whatever.
So couldn't they whip up the reverse—something to shrink them?
Worth a shot.
I couldn't brew them myself... but approaching someone who could didn't seem impossible.
I figured it'd be essential for any comfortable life here and tackling whatever lay ahead.
...One more thing on the to-do list.
How to even approach her, though.
I knew plenty of ways as a fellow student, but buttering up staff felt trickier.
Eh, it'll sort itself out.
With a sigh, I stepped deeper in for the shower—my actual goal.
*Sniff sniff.*
Something smelled off, so I sniffed around, but nothing weird registered.
Tilting my head, I stood before the showerhead, which felt oddly familiar for some reason.
...The convenience features I'd ragged on during gameplay were now doing me a solid, stirring a weird mix of feelings.
I twisted the faucet.
*Splash!*
Ah, freezing—shit!
"Eek!?"
*Bang bang bang!*
"W-what's wrong!?"
I yelped at the sudden icy torrent, and sure enough, Michelle's voice called out from outside.
Rubbing my chilled face, I yelled back.
"Th-the water's too cold! N-nothing big!"
"Oh... Turn it the other way for hot."
"...Thanks."
I knew that... Ugh, mortifying.
Blame the lazy-ass convenience settings.
I grumbled about the damn pre-heater while scrubbing down.
Every inch so soft it bordered on sensual—minus that, it was exactly what I'd hoped for.
...My body now, so I'd adjust soon enough.
No parts down there to stiffen up over it anyway.
The thought left a bitter taste.
Living the vague life of academy staff turned out way more tedious than expected.
Stuff a game would handle with one click now meant hauling my ass around personally.
Like getting up mornings to prep for work.
"...Instructor, isn't it getting late?"
"Five more minutes... Can't I sleep just a bit longer...?"
My roommate was finally showing her canon morning weakness.
...She'll manage on her own.
I slipped into gym clothes and threw a crisp white gown over them.
Unlike the student uniform hassle that kept me sidelined, work attire was near-total freedom, so gym clothes it was—no brainier.
Cabinet had the stereotypical health-teacher skirt and blouse, but not my problem.
With work prep done and supplies packed for any 'visitors' to the infirmary...
...I left my still-bedridden roommate behind and headed out.
The academy sprawled bigger than I'd figured.
Had to hustle or risk missing the main building deadline.
...Michelle could sprint it easy, but not me.
This'll get better eventually too, right?
Far off, students streamed from dorms toward the main building.
I'd seen them at the entrance ceremony, but damn, those academy uniforms were sharp.
Gazing at scenery once summed up in a single text line brought a fond smile to my face.
No students had approached me yet.
...Makes sense—who'd chat up a total stranger?
Anyway.
I made it to the infirmary unscathed. Door secured tight meant no break-in traces.
Cracked the windows for fresh air right away and plopped at the desk.
...Clocking in was fine and all.
But zilch to do immediately.
...Quiet infirmary's ideal, sure, but this was too damn silent.
The intruder hit the serene infirmary...
Just as I'd finished inventorying every item.
*Slide!*
The door ground open to reveal...
...a girl with pale aquamarine hair.
I'd worried she might not show again, but looks like that was baseless.