The Bashful Catgirl and the School Uniform
"The school uniforms arrived? I'd heard they were going to send them, but... that was faster than I expected."
Listening to Eunhyuk speak from behind me, I fidgeted anxiously with the box in front of me. It was a thick cardboard box covered in various labels, including the words "School Uniform" — though I couldn't focus on any of them. I clutched my pounding chest tightly. My face was burning, even though I wasn't fully awake yet.
"What's inside?"
"Ah? Oh, um~..."
I jumped at Eunhyuk's voice, but pretended to be calm as I reached for the opening of the box. It rustled as I opened it. Inside were... several sets of clothes wrapped in something transparent.
"They're real school uniforms."
"!"
A voice right beside me made me flinch. I glanced over and found that Eunhyuk had already come up next to me, crouching down to peer into the box.
"Uniforms and casual clothes? There's a lot. ...Multiple sizes, too. No wonder. I was wondering how they got the fit right when no one ever measured her."
"...Mm."
Why did his quiet voice sound so attractive today? That languid yet gentle voice of his. Looking at his slender fingers with their prominent knuckles, I suddenly recalled the whisper I'd heard yesterday.
"You're so cute...."
That one phrase. The words he'd murmured while wrapping me in those arms, caressing me with those lips. Every time Eunhyuk's mouth met mine with a soft peck, a strange sensation spread from the nape of my neck. His breath was hot, and the alcohol left everything hazy.
"H-haah...♥"
And with each kiss that followed, I moaned and panted with an utterly undignified expression. The soft feel of the bed. Eunhyuk's heated gaze looking down at me. As yesterday's memories began surfacing one by one, I—
"—cilia?"
"Uweh, ah, yes?"
I flinched at Eunhyuk's sudden voice. Startled, I turned my head to find him holding out one of the outfits with a worried look on his face.
"I asked if you wanted to try one on.... Are you okay? Does something hurt?"
"Ah, no! I'm fine. Just still a little sleepy... hehe."
I took the clothes from him with an awkward smile. Though a bit flustered by the somewhat unfamiliar design, I rose smoothly to my feet.
"I just need to try it on, right? Wait just a moment?"
"Ah, yeah. ...Hey, Cecilia."
"Hmm?"
I walked over and grabbed the bathroom doorknob. I was about to go in when Eunhyuk suddenly spoke.
"...About last night — how much do you actually remember?"
At that question, I hesitated. Putting on an expression that didn't come naturally, I answered lightly.
"...I vaguely remember getting a hickey on my neck. Everything else is fuzzy, so I don't really remember. What I said, what happened... all of it~..."
"...Is that so?"
"Yep~! Oh. Getting bitten on the neck wasn't that scary, so.... You don't have to worry about it?"
With that, I closed the bathroom door.
"Uwaaaaaah.... I'm such an idiot...!"
A quiet room where sound echoed, clean white tiles. After locking the door, I crouched on the bathroom floor and covered my face with my hands.
Did he notice? He didn't notice, right?
"Hueeng...."
The cheeks I was pressing with my palms burned as if they were on fire. I snuck a glance at the mirror and saw a girl whose face had gone bright red.
Ugh.... Ughhh......!!
How much do you actually remember?
Obviously all of it, you idiot...!! Drinking and getting drunk! E-Eunhyuk burying his face in my chest! Of course I know that was an accident, but.... Th-then after that! I, I...!
"Does thiiis make your heart race...?"
Uwaaaaaah...! I-I put Eunhyuk's hand on my chest...?! What the hell were you doing, drunk me!!
"Ugh......!"
Of course it felt good— ...Th-that's not— That's not what I mean, um.
...And, and then! On the way to the bed my legs gave out and I fell, and then I...!
"Ehehe.... Sorryy...?"
Nuzzling my cheek against Eunhyuk's neck.... Am I actually a cat or what.
"Haaah...."
A sigh escaped on its own. ...Thank goodness the bathroom door is thick. Even if I scream my head off, nothing will leak out. Though I should still hold back a little.
I never knew alcohol could be this terrifying. I'd been drinking all this time, clinging all over Eunhyuk, and I thought I understood the risks....
"Hehe.... Eunyuk's hands feel so gooood... I think my waist just melted away...?♥"
"Ugh......!"
My face was burning again. I wanted to pinch yesterday's me hard for saying whatever popped into her head without thinking!
Fine, I'll admit it. I admit it. ...It felt good.... Having the gentle hands of the person I love touch my chest, my heart going thump-thump, my head going all fuzzy and ecstatic, and that was, I mean.... .........Augh.
...I get the feeling something big almost happened. Something similar happened during heat, but this time....
"I almost got jumped...."
I remember Eunhyuk devouring my neck as if he couldn't hold back any longer. I remember those thick arms pinning me down on the bed — roughly, and yet so gently. I remember that expression melted by desire. The alcohol and the haze. The excitement and the lust. In the dark room, the soft sound of kisses — peck♥. That sensual feeling of my body twitching and jumping on its own. A voice that didn't feel like mine, sticky moans. And that one line from Eunhyuk.
"Can I... do it...?"
I felt the cold bathroom floor. When I raised my arms again to cover my face, a hot, feverish sigh tickled my skin.
Good job, me.... I properly turned him down. Even that drunk, I managed to speak properly — I'm really amazing....
"I don't remember exactly what I said, but...."
I probably refused. After I said whatever I said, Eunhyuk stroked me once and then lay down beside me and fell asleep.... ...I did refuse, right? I have a feeling I said something else, though.
"But there's no way Eunhyuk would back off like that unless I turned him down...."
Ah, wait a second. Just a moment. I think it's coming back. I don't remember anything else, but that last line — I feel like I can somehow recall—
"I'll wait...♥"
......I'll wait? For what?
"...Maybe I shouldn't have remembered that."
I muttered quietly. In the end, nothing else came back except that one line. Suddenly all the strength drained from my body. Sitting slumped on the bathroom floor, I stared blankly up at the light.
...I need to learn my alcohol limit properly. If I drink like that again, next time I might actually get jumped.
"...It's not like."
I started to get up, then stopped and hugged my knees instead. And then, in a very, very small voice, I murmured.
"...It's not like I mind. Eunyuk...."
I could feel my heart pounding. I had the overwhelming feeling that I'd just said something incredibly, incredibly embarrassing.
"...I know how gentle Eunhyuk is."
Even so, I didn't stop murmuring. Because I know. That he's someone who would never hurt me carelessly. What I'd said to Eunhyuk earlier had come out half-asleep, but it was still the truth.
A gentle person. A precious person. ...The person I love.
If the day comes when he asks me again, what will I say then? I don't really know, but still.
"...I don't want my first time to be while I'm drunk...."
That was all. Leaving behind the heat of a face that felt like it might get burned, I reached for the school uniform.
Looking at Cecilia as she emerged from the bathroom in her new clothes, I found myself thinking back to my own school days. My middle and high school years, which had nothing to do with romance. Like any red-blooded student, I'd dreamed of dating someone from school. I'd even longed for the classic school-uniform date — at least until early in the first semester.
Why? ...Because our school uniforms were ridiculously ugly.... A dull green and garish purple plaid. The nickname was "stir-fried spinach and sweet potato." To this day I still wonder who designed that thing and what they were thinking.
And now.
"...How do I look?"
Looking at Cecilia standing before me in her new clothes, I found myself recalling that old romantic fantasy. A pale sky-blue dress shirt. A navy vest that looked soft and plush. And on top, a soft beige blazer that added a fresh, student-like air.
"You're beautiful."
Beautiful. Ah, yeah. It came out of my mouth before I even thought it.
"Really? Mm, I think it's pretty, but it's a design I haven't really seen before...."
"It suits you. You look beautiful in it, Cecilia."
"R-really? Ehehe...."
I could see her ears perking up and her tail swishing. So cute. The clothes were great, of course, but that smile of hers was a real treat to look at too.
"But what about your tail? School skirts are pretty tight, aren't they? Not that I'd know."
"Ah, the tail part is open. Just this section is a little three-dimensional, so there's room up top for the tail to come through."
"Oh."
Looks like it was made specifically for beastkin. No wonder the police had texted something like, "We'd appreciate it if you could send us a wear review."
"So it's not a hole cut out — more like the top is slightly open?"
"Yeah. It's pretty comfortable."
With a small, bright smile, Cecilia spun around once to show me. Her skirt fluttered and her blazer swayed. A soft note of admiration escaped me. Beautiful.
"...School starts again tomorrow."
"Ah, right. That's true."
Cecilia answered as if she'd only just remembered when I said it. I gave a small chuckle at how she still didn't seem fully used to the days of the week.
Weekdays start tomorrow. As a student, Cecilia goes to school and studies. ...She's a "student." Seeing her in a school uniform made it hit home. How should I put it — I'm a little envious.
"Good luck with school, Cecilia."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Setting that envy aside, I offered her my sincere encouragement — hoping that this cute catgirl's school days would become good memories.