Dress Me Up
“Dress me.”
Aria froze at my bold demand.
“P-Pardon…? W-What do you mean…?”
“The uniform, obviously. How the hell is this thing even structured? There's no way I can manage it alone.”
I shook the jacket, shirt, and tangled mess of ribbons in my hand.
The academy uniform had great design, but in terms of practicality, it was the worst.
Fumbling with it alone would drain me before classes even started.
“B-But… how could I possibly…”
Aria backed away, waving her hands frantically.
“We're both girls—what's the big deal? Besides, aren't you good with your hands?”
Calling myself a girl still felt a bit off, but after everything I'd been through, shame wasn't an issue.
This wasn't the first or second time something like this had happened.
“That's for magic… Dressing you is…”
“Just help me once. Teach me how it works. I can't get a feel for it.”
Aria made a miserable face, glancing back and forth between the uniform in my hand and my face.
Finally, she gave in.
“A-All right… I'll help.”
She took the shirt from me with trembling hands.
I spread my arms and stood before her.
Aria carefully slid the sleeves onto my arms.
Then she began buttoning the shirt, one by one, her fingers shaking.
Click.
Every time her fingers brushed near my collarbone, a cold shiver ran through me.
Her hands were warm, but slick with nervous sweat.
“S-Sorry… Your skin is so cold…”
Aria flinched with every touch, apologizing profusely.
“Doesn't matter. Keep going.”
I replied indifferently, gazing down at the top of her head.
Up close, I could see her eyelashes quivering.
She was holding her breath, barely daring to exhale as she fastened the buttons.
Is this really that scary?
I suppressed a smirk.
The buttons reached my chest, then up to my neck.
Now Aria reached for my neck to tie the ribbon.
Her gaze lingered on the silver restraint collar around my throat.
The cold metal embedded with a red gem.
“This…”
She murmured unconsciously.
“What? Curious?”
“N-No! I just… thought it was pretty…”
Lie.
As the top student in the magic department, she had to know what it was.
A mana-responsive restraint. A shackle for criminals.
But Aria pretended not to notice, focusing on tying the ribbon.
She kept her eyes down, avoiding mine, her fingers moving busily.
Scrape, scrape.
The sound of the ribbon tying rang clearly in my ears.
Her breath tickled under my chin.
Warm and itchy.
I watched her hands quietly.
She really was skilled.
“N-Now the back too…”
“Yeah.”
To tie the back, she reached around my neck, naturally pulling me into an embrace-like position.
A whiff of unfamiliar soap scent hit me.
And the heat of another body, so close yet not quite touching.
“Hnn…”
A faint moan escaped Aria's lips.
“D-Done.”
She stepped back, speaking softly.
I fiddled with the ribbon in the mirror.
“Not bad. You've got talent.”
Even at my praise, Aria kept her head bowed, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Now the jacket too.”
“Y-Yes!”
Aria grabbed the jacket and moved behind me.
She slipped it over my arms, straightened the shoulders, and buttoned the front.
Everything flowed smoothly, like water.
“Perfect.”
My reflection was flawless.
Buttons neatly done, shirt wrinkle-free, ribbon perfectly symmetrical.
What would've taken me thirty minutes fumbling alone, she finished in five.
“You've got a real knack for this.”
I said, genuinely impressed.
“Th-Thank you…”
Aria twisted her body shyly.
“Alright, let's go. Time for breakfast.”
“Huh? T-Together?”
Aria's eyes widened.
“You gonna eat separately? We're roommates.”
I grabbed my bag from the desk.
“N-No… I was just gonna buy some bread…”
“No way. Breakfast has to be hearty. Come on.”
I brushed off her refusal and led the way.
“W-Wait for me!”
Aria scrambled to grab her bag, grudgingly following like she'd eaten bitter mustard.
///
The morning academy buzzed with energy.
But wherever I went, that energy froze like someone had dumped ice water on it.
“Look… It's Lady Bellaph.”
“She's really back? And that collar on her neck…”
“Don't make eye contact. Bad luck.”
Whispers. Gazes mixed with contempt and fear.
The crowd parted before me with every step.
“Ugh… seriously…”
Aria beside me muttered, head hung low.
“Chin up. Why walk around like you're the criminal?”
“Because I'm next to one! Everyone's staring at me weird too!”
Aria shot back in a small voice.
“And can't you walk farther away? Why stick so close?!”
“You don't know the way. And I don't want you running off.”
“Ugh, seriously…”
Aria grumbled but matched my pace.
She complained, but she wasn't bad at heart.
She'd even listened to my request.
We ignored the piercing stares and reached the cafeteria near C Dorm.
“Finally here.”
Aria sighed in relief, opening the door.
The noisy clamor hit us immediately.
Before morning classes, the place was packed—no room to breathe.
Long lines at the serving counter, no empty seats, even students eating standing up.
But the second I stepped in, the noise cut off like a lie.
As if someone hit mute.
Hundreds of eyes locked onto Aria and me at the entrance.
Shock, fear, curiosity, disgust.
“Eek!”
Aria let out a tiny scream, hiding behind me.
She hunched over, trembling.
“C-Can we just… leave?”
“Why? We came to eat.”
I strode casually toward the counter.
“This, this, and that one.”
I pointed at the menu.
“Y-Yes! Here you go! Eat up!”
She piled my tray high with meat and stew.
“Thanks.”
I took the tray and turned.
Aria was still hovering near the door.
“Hey, Aria. What're you doing? Come on.”
“R-Right! Coming!”
She jolted and hurried over, face flushed from all the stares.
“You too—grab yours quick. I'm starving.”
“O-Okay…”
Aria dashed to the counter and filled her tray.
We scanned for seats—none open.
But as I headed for one table, the four guys sitting there jumped up mid-bite.
“W-We’re done!”
“L-Let’s go! Class’ll start late!”
They fled with half-eaten trays.
A four-seater table cleared instantly.
“Here.”
I pulled out a chair and sat.
Aria sat opposite, face twisted miserably.
“I feel like I’m gonna hurl…”
“Why? It’s all delicious.”
I scooped up some stew.
Chunky potatoes and carrots in meat stew. Rustic, but excellent.
“Tastes great. Eat up.”
“Y-Yeah…”
Aria poked at hers half-heartedly.
The stares stayed glued to our table.
“So, what’s your schedule today?”
“Huh? Oh, first period’s Intro to Magic, second…”
Aria rattled off her timetable.
I nodded vaguely, half-listening.
Wait a sec.
Something clicked midway.
“Aria.”
“Yes?”
“What classes am I taking?”
“P-Pardon…?”
Aria blinked blankly.
Come to think of it, I’d been out for a month.
Registration was long over; I had no idea about my schedule.
Hell, could I even attend classes?
Suspension lifted, but I hadn’t checked my status.
I’m screwed.
I rubbed my forehead.
“No schedule, and I’m supposed to go to school?”
“M-Maybe check the admin office…”
“Should’ve asked yesterday.”
Trekking back to that hassle? The thought alone was annoying.
That’s when it happened.
“No need for that.”
A cold, clipped voice.
I looked up. Familiar red ponytail.
Esilla.
“Esilla?”
“It’s been a while, my lady.”
She stood there in her crisp uniform, arms crossed, looking down at me.