Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Unexpected Visitor
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"Hmm..."
While Iris fiddled around with the gentle sound of water, Michelle remained deep in thought.
Her ears twitching atop her head betrayed her contemplation, and her tail swayed with unspoken questions.
'She wasn't wearing any...?'
Michelle dredged up her hazy memories.
Unless she clung tightly to her sanity, it was hard to stay clear-headed in the mornings, leaving her recollections foggy at best.
Eventually, from those blurred fragments, Michelle fished out a warm, soft sensation.
"Mm..."
Recalling that much, Michelle shook her head to dispel the lingering image.
What good would it do to wonder if Iris had worn something else that morning or gone without?
'She says she wasn't.'
No need to dwell on it further.
Michelle's ears perked up as she mulled over her recent thoughts, then let out a soft chuckle.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd paid this much attention to someone else.
Of course, in professional matters... it wasn't like she ignored people entirely.
She was an instructor at the academy, after all.
She filled in her students' gaps and made note of the standouts.
But there were no personal feelings involved in that.
Realizing this, Michelle's expression turned a bit dazed.
'...Is it personal affection?'
She sank back into thought.
And the one thought swirling in her mind was...
'Do I... love Teacher Iris?'
Or feel something akin to it?
Whoosh, swish.
Her tail whipped about wildly.
The deeper her turmoil grew, the more uncontrollably it thrashed.
Finally, as her tail stilled, Michelle scratched her cheek, opened her eyes, and reached a conclusion.
...Which was.
She had no idea.
When she first met Iris, it was just a vague notion that she might make work easier, coupled with a sense that she was somehow peculiar.
That changed after she realized what had happened while she slept was mating.
Guilt and responsibility followed.
Then she got ahead of herself... and lost control.
Recalling the bathhouse incident, Michelle flushed red and buried her face in her palms with a heavy sigh.
More than arousal, it brought self-loathing and shame.
As she dwelled on it, Michelle imagined that the events of that day had gotten Iris pregnant.
Iris's once-slim belly swelled like her own breasts, and with a poof!, a child resembling the two of them emerged in a puff of smoke.
Imagining that far, Michelle felt her heart pound.
Yet her mood was strangely off.
Lost in that indefinable emotion, adrift and unsettled.
Blub, blub.
A familiar-looking spirit bobbed into view and headed toward Iris's space.
'...When did that show up?'
To be so distracted she hadn't noticed...
This was serious.
Michelle grew grave at how numb her senses had become.
The Michelle before meeting Iris at the academy would have been wary and steered clear of whatever caused it.
She'd come to the academy for fresh stimulus to break through her stagnant swordsmanship, after all.
Something hindering that wouldn't sit well.
'...'
In her confused state, her eyes caught sight of...
...panties that seemed somewhat provocative and a plain bra. The hefty gym uniform was a bonus.
'What...?'
Blinking, she watched the spirit carry them toward the changing room.
It slipped through the narrow gap with the clothes, followed by rustling sounds from inside.
Soon, a small face peeked out from the crack.
Michelle watched intently at the cautious movement.
Their eyes met—sparkling golden irises full of freshness.
The owner, Iris, startled at being spotted, ducked back inside.
'...What are you doing?'
Amused despite her bewilderment, Michelle chuckled involuntarily.
Iris hiding behind the door looked just like a rabbit retreating into its burrow.
Click.
With the sound, Iris emerged, now wearing the gym clothes Undine had fetched.
She must have gone in without remembering spare clothes.
"Ahem... Forgot my clothes."
"I see."
Hearing the sheepish tone, Michelle looked at Iris.
Iris in gym clothes.
Familiar sight, oddly comforting.
But today felt different somehow.
Pondering what it was, Michelle recalled the panties Undine had carried off.
Which meant...
'Under that baggy gym uniform, something like that...'
No, more importantly, why mismatch them...?
Well, it was Iris's choice.
Still, it nagged at Michelle inexplicably. Asking outright felt awkward.
Meanwhile, Iris eyed Michelle's complexion, carefully checking for signs of lust.
Seeing her lost in thought, Iris inwardly sighed in relief.
'It's under control.'
She flopped onto the bed with a triumphant expression.
On the other hand.
Watching Iris, Michelle felt that odd sensation again.
She walked casually at a glance.
But to Michelle, she seemed more cautious than usual.
'...?'
Another question bubbled up.
Why the sudden change?
As Michelle puzzled over it, Iris relaxed on the bed and promptly fell asleep.
Michelle stared, stunned at how quickly she'd dozed off.
Fumbling to turn off the light, she approached Iris with careful steps.
She was truly asleep, breathing steadily without a twitch.
Each hot breath from her lips made her ample chest heave.
Silently tucking her in, Michelle suddenly sniffed.
Amid the pleasant scent, a faint, unfamiliar aroma lingered.
So deeply embedded, it hid within Iris's natural fragrance.
Michelle wrinkled her nose unconsciously.
Come to think of it, Iris had gone out early that morning, saying she had errands.
Michelle had wondered what, but now smelling another person's scent on her stirred a faint bubbling inside.
It was her beastkin possessiveness flaring, but so novel it only confused her.
...Vaguely realizing it resembled the feeling from returning from the bathhouse last time, Michelle swallowed a sigh.
In hindsight, given why she'd become an instructor, distancing herself was the right call.
But she couldn't commit to it easily.
Touching Iris herself felt risky enough; someone else doing so grated even more.
That turmoil kept 'it' from growing.
Ironically enough.
Unable to sort her feelings for Iris, Michelle listened to her breathing before returning to her own bed.
'...Plenty of time left.'
Even correcting swordsmanship required some rapport.
...Human relationships all the more so.
She felt responsible if things escalated, but didn't want to rush in crudely.
It was her first time, after all—better to tread carefully.
She feared acting rashly and earning resentment.
...Yet wishing no one else would cling to her was absurd.
What could she do about her heart?
She'd watch a bit longer, she decided, closing her eyes.
Though... rivals seemed plentiful.
She figured she held the advantage.
Living together, constant contact—even for a socially awkward Michelle—secured high ground.
Thump, thump.
She felt her heart race.
A warrior's heart, once fixed on swordsmanship, now bloomed with a girl's sentiments.
Yesterday had been a real close call.
One wrong move, and plunging that blade of lust would've sent me soaring beyond the skies.
Figuratively speaking, of course.
Women often describe climax as flying to heaven or the like.
...In terms of losing your senses and bearings, it's similar enough.
Anyway.
I woke refreshed, having safely made it through the night.
And then.
"...With me?"
Michelle replied to my question in a startled voice.
Her face stoic, but tail wagging furiously—kinda cute.
Shopping that exciting?
The thought made me a bit embarrassed.
...I just needed someone to help carry stuff.
Realizing I needed clothes yesterday, I had to sort it before the weekend ended.
But I'm self-aware.
No way I could shop and haul it all back alone.
It'd hurt, bring tears, but I had to admit my fragility now.
No need to dampen Michelle's good mood by saying so, though.
Having hurriedly prepared to head out, Michelle and I set off for the academy gates.
Running into Charlotte and joining up was a pleasant stroke of luck.
"Good day."
"...Uh, y-yes, hello?"
This one was unexpected.
Leona, left alone at the academy yesterday, stood before me.
No sign of Irene beside her.
As I hesitated, Leona approached and whispered.
"Her Highness has been... off since returning yesterday─ pardon, can't find the right word. Anyway─"
According to her, Irene had returned strange, refusing to explain despite clearly hiding something.
So.
Irene was left to sort her feelings alone.
And Leona came seeking me out to uncover why.
The only one Irene had met yesterday was me, naturally.
"I trust you'll allow it."
Her bulging eyes made it hard not to tense up.
And.
For some reason... Michelle's gaze sharpened.
Something... felt about to blow up.
Do beastkin not get along...?