Chapter 138
Chapter 138
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Preparing for the Trip
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Since you're all first-years, this'll be your first time, but just think of it as a short break of a day or two. You've all worked hard with the exams, right? Now that the results are out, everyone's probably got a bit of a headache, but this trip is meant to help shake that off a little."
It was morning homeroom when one of the female teachers came into our class and gave that explanation.
I had a fair bit of interest in this academy trip, so I made a point of staying awake to listen.
"The place we're going is probably one you've all heard about by now—the capital, right in the center. Of course, we won't have complete free rein to wander around the capital on our own. We'll have to stick together as a group."
"Hmm... Does that mean Older Sister Karen will end up wandering off alone again?"
"Quiet down and listen for now."
"Hehe, you think?"
I tossed the teasing remark at Ella while sitting quietly, but she went silent right away.
I figured a little joking around would be fine.
Ella had this subtly straitlaced side about things like that.
Of course, that was part of what made her so cute and fun.
"Not just the first-years, but the upperclassmen will be coming along too. The student council suggested letting students form their own groups freely... but details on that will be announced later."
"Hmm..."
"The main activities in the capital include tours of the imperial palace and the churches, plus visits to various ruins."
"It's a bit more serious than I expected."
"Yeah? I thought it'd be nothing much."
Personally, I'd figured it would be super low-key.
Just head over, dump us in a museum for a bit, then free time afterward.
That was the kind of trip I'd imagined.
"Word is the imperial side is providing accommodations, so no worries there. Though honestly, it's because someone from the palace got really upset about lodging last year!"
With that, the teacher left our class and headed to the next one.
She seemed like the one stuck running errands—basically the rookie or the fall guy.
"Looks like it'll be fun."
"Yeah."
After the teacher left, Ella and I chatted lightly about it.
Nothing was set in stone yet, so we didn't dive too deep—just a few words.
Classes at the academy still needed prep, regardless of exams ending or the trip.
"Oh, right! Dress code for the trip is casual clothes!"
"...Huh?"
I'd thought we were done, and that she'd moved on to the next class, but the teacher suddenly came back and dropped that bombshell.
Hmm... She seems kinda sloppy.
I couldn't help feeling relieved she wasn't our homeroom teacher.
She just gave off this vibe of being exhausting and hassle-prone...?
"Hmm... Casual clothes, huh. Excluding weekends, we hardly ever wear them, so it feels kinda weird."
"Tell me about it. Lately, the only thing I've seen you in is the uniform."
"True."
Suddenly talking casual clothes did feel awkward for us.
Probably for most students, not just us.
Spending weekdays out of uniform was awkward in all sorts of ways.
"Hmm... If I wear a dress, I'll look like some weirdo, right?"
"...That was a joke, yeah...?"
"Of course it was. No one wears a dress on an academy trip."
It really was just a joke.
Even though I said it smiling, I had no idea why Ella took it so seriously.
Sure, I liked pretty clothes and fancy accessories, but I wasn't some tomboy princess throwing on dresses willy-nilly.
"So, what're you gonna wear, Ella?"
"Just a simple dress, maybe...? Too much makeup feels off, but I can't go looking too plain either."
Fair enough... but wasn't a dress basically the same as what she called a simple one?
She'd acted like dresses were a total no-go, but then suggested one herself.
Weren't dresses what simple dresses fell under anyway...?
"What's with that look?"
"Nothing... Just thinking you'd look amazing in a dress."
I brushed off the question in my head and said something else to her instead.
No need to voice it... yeah.
Ella would just get annoying about it, so I let it slide quietly.
*
Lunchtime on the day we heard about the academy trip, Karen suddenly asked me to help pick casual clothes for her to wear.
It caught me off guard, but here we were now, in Karen's room after school.
"Older Sister Karen... don't you have, like, no clothes?"
"...I told you, sis. If she shows up, I'm totally chewing her out."
Grace, eyeing me as she said that.
It wasn't even angry—just a plain fact about how empty Karen's closet was.
And it really was empty.
There were more pieces of underwear to support Karen's ample chest than actual outfits.
"How've you even gone on trips until now, Older Sister Karen?"
It was serious enough that I had to ask.
Minus the fancy dresses for rare occasions, it was just sweaters, the uniform, a few black shirts and pants—basically that.
I could've reasonably suspected she just wore the uniform everywhere.
"Every trip... I forget, so I end up... wearing the uniform..."
"........."
Yeah.
What can I say.
Lately, seeing Karen like this—kinda pitiful—must be my imagination, right?
Over half of it was her own doing, sure, but that didn't make it not true...
"Anyway... pull out all the clothes we have here first. Miss Grace."
"Yeah... guess we have to."
Grace and I rummaged through Karen's closet more thoroughly as we left her room and chatted.
Karen clearly wasn't one to wear whatever she bought often.
Best bet was coordinating from what she already had.
"What do you think would work, Miss Grace?"
"Denim pants."
"Hmm... those could work."
"And a shirt."
It would suit Karen for sure.
She was pretty tall to begin with—about Lize's height, on the taller side for a woman.
Taller than Rozalin, who was around average, matching Lize's grown-up height, so definitely above average.
Though Lize and Karen's figures were worlds apart.
"But I was thinking something else."
"What? With sis's height and build, obviously pants and a shirt."
"I get your taste, Miss Grace, but... Karen's Karen, right? Something that gives off more of a mature, older-sister vibe would suit her better."
"Hah?"
Grace gave me this dumbfounded look at my words.
But I was convinced there was a better combo than jeans and a shirt.
Karen was tall with killer hips and chest, sure, but something even better came to mind.
An outfit that highlighted her unique curves and volume while playing up her shy, quiet personality.
Namely...
"A long skirt!"
"Hah!?"
"You're just not into fashion, Miss Grace. It'll look amazing on her."
I said it confidently.
No reason not to—it really would suit her.
"Older Sister Karen, try these on?"
"Uh, sure?"
"Just once, please. These were already in your closet anyway."
A black long skirt and a grayish sweater.
Just those two, handed off, then I shooed her out to change.
She looked stunned, but Karen would react the same to anything, so no issue.
"Hehe... just wait a sec. You might actually like it more than you think, Miss Grace."
"...Shirts are prettier."
"Hehe."
People often pictured long skirts as baggy, leg-hiding things—and Grace probably did too—but mine wasn't.
Well, technically it was hidden in Karen's closet?
"Um... Camellia? Is this okay? It feels too clingy..."
Karen came back into the room saying that.
She seemed embarrassed, but the outfit hugged her lines perfectly.
"That's how you're supposed to wear it, sis. And it looks great on you."
"R-Really...?"
"You think so too, right, Miss Grace?"
"........."
I asked Grace, who was sitting nearby.
Up until Karen walked in, she'd insisted pants beat long skirts hands down.
But now, things were dead quiet—unlike before?
"Hehe, so? Pretty, right?"
I grinned at Grace again, teasing her a bit.
If I didn't push, she'd just stay silent and wait it out.
"W-Well, sis was already super pretty to begin with...! So yeah, obviously."
Not wrong.
I didn't press the point or drag it out.