Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Karen's Shy Outing
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"Grace, did Older Sister Karen say when she'd arrive?"
"At 4 o'clock...?"
Right, 4 o'clock.
It was exactly 4 o'clock now, and Grace and I were waiting first by the fountain.
After Karen's help in letting her wear clothes other than her uniform, we'd promised to go out together today so she could walk around in casual attire like that.
But for some reason, she hadn't shown up at the meeting spot.
"Hmm... Nothing bad happened, right? Maybe she got so nervous she tripped on the stairs...?"
"........."
"...If it's Older Sister Karen, it actually seems possible, so I'm a bit worried."
No, really.
It really felt like something Karen could do.
Of course, she probably hadn't actually tripped down the stairs from nerves, but since she wasn't at the meeting spot at the promised time, I started to worry.
"Umm..."
"...Should we go check her dormitory?"
"Yeah, maybe we should...?"
We'd planned this to help socialize Karen, but since she wasn't showing up on time...
It might be good to check once.
If something really had happened, it could get worse if we didn't go...
"Let's go for now."
"Okay."
It was a bit sudden, but Grace and I turned from the fountain toward the dormitories.
As we turned, we came face-to-face with her.
"Uh..."
"Sister...?"
"H-Hello... I'm really late, aren't I...?"
Karen, her face beet red, trembling as she walked over.
She was walking so close to the edge of the path, almost hugging the side, that we hadn't even noticed her coming at first.
Her face and waist slightly hunched, shoulders pulled inward—she was walking in such a way that we almost didn't recognize her.
It wasn't just me; Grace next to me felt the same.
"I wanted to come sooner too... but... when I walked in the middle of the path, people kept st-staring at me..."
"........."
"And today of all days, there were so many people..."
Karen looked utterly exhausted in every way.
I hadn't expected her to be this shy... It must have been harder than I thought.
But even so, back when we walked around Rosaki Territory, it wasn't this bad.
Why was she getting more introverted over time...?
"Um... Should we get moving for now? Standing on the roadside like this is awkward in its own way."
"...Yeah. Let's find a café quick and take a break."
"Th-That sounds good...!"
The moment I suggested going inside, Karen's expression brightened.
She really made it impossible not to go indoors...
We decided to head straight to the nearest café, and with Karen's improved expression, we soon entered a suitable one.
...Though while deciding which café, unlike before, Karen actively joined in, which was kind of absurd.
"...But Sister, aren't you being too shy?"
"I-Is that so...?"
"Yeah..."
Even Grace, a total Karen fan, seemed puzzled this time.
It really was a bit ridiculous.
No matter how shy, introverted, and lacking in confidence she was... just because she wasn't in her uniform.
The outfit's exposure level wasn't that high, yet she was acting so embarrassed.
"But... I've never really worn something that exposes my shoulders like this..."
"These days, even young kids wear dresses with shoulders out..."
"........."
The sweater Karen wore today was a bit different from her usual ones.
To help her get used to casual clothes beyond uniforms, we'd deliberately chosen something other than her regular sweaters.
"It's just off-shoulder..."
"Is it...?"
Anyway... until the drinks and cake arrived, I watched Karen while listening to that conversation.
"Hmm..."
It wasn't much different from usual.
No heavy makeup or extreme exposure.
Just an off-shoulder sweater, and a long skirt long enough to feel stuffy.
It only showed her shoulders and a tiny hint of cleavage.
Sure, with Karen's notably large chest, she might feel shy, but still, wasn't she overreacting?
To me, it looked perfectly fine, cute even.
"Hmm......."
Her bangs were still messy, thick enough to cover her eyes completely if not swept to one side or tied up.
Long red hair reaching past her waist.
If you faced her head-on, even though only one side was visible, her pretty eyes would catch your attention first.
Not just her eyes—Karen's face was genuinely beautiful.
Her figure was one thing, but her base facial features were stunning.
If Karen put a little more effort into her hairstyle... she'd definitely be the talk of not just the Academy, but high society too.
Of course, she'd need to act more outgoing as well.
"Camellia...? Why do you keep staring...?"
"Ah."
Had I been staring too openly without realizing?
Karen looked at me with slightly trembling eyes.
Hmm... I was just looking absentmindedly, but shy Karen probably thought I had other ideas.
"I was just staring because you're pretty, Sister."
"R-Really...?"
"I think today's outfit suits you great, and you could wear stuff like this more often."
So I gave her that compliment.
Better than dodging or saying something else—it'd help Karen more.
They say praise can make even a whale dance.
Imagining Karen dancing... wasn't easy, but obviously she'd prefer compliments over insults.
"Like when we met before, tying your hair up would suit you too. It's pretty now, but Grace next to me would like it more that way."
"...Not wrong."
"Hehe, right?"
"Uh..."
"Anyway, I wanted to say the outfit looks amazing on you. You could wear it like this for the next Academy trip too."
"Really...?"
"Of course. Why would I lie to you, Sister?"
"That's true, but... on the way here, people kept staring..."
"Ah..."
Hmm...
Personally, I saw it as natural—and it was.
Even with her head down hiding her face, just Karen's figure walking would draw eyes.
From when we first met as kids, Karen's body had always been impressive.
"Um... uhmm..."
She was a third-year now, but she'd entered the Academy a year later than most current third-years.
...Ah, could that be why she has no friends...?
Thirteen was typical for Academy entry, but not everyone started at thirteen.
Even among this year's freshmen, plenty were fourteen or fifteen.
But...
"...Sister, mind if I ask what you usually eat?"
"H-Huh?"
"Just curious."
Karen was older than typical third-years, sixteen-year-olds, by a year.
Yet at seventeen, her growth was so remarkable—it was astonishing.
My chest had been swelling lately too, but I still didn't feel it was big?
"Umm... Lately, I've been eating a lot of cheese...! And I found a place that does great fondue bourguignon for dinner... so I've been going there often...?"
"I see..."
Cheese... noted.
"Anyway, I was looking at you earlier because you look really pretty today."
"You're really... pretty too, Camellia..."
"Hehe, hearing that from you makes me so happy."
It was mostly thanks to my compliments, but still not bad.
At least, when complimented on her looks, she seemed more embarrassed than repulsed.
Feeling her confidence in her appearance grow little by little was great.
"...Hey."
"Yes, Grace."
"...Nothing."
"Why? Something wrong? The order hasn't come yet."
"I said nothing..."
"...?"
Grace suddenly spoke to me but then clammed up.
What was it?
Did something bother her again?
Maybe she wanted to compliment but I beat her to it?
"Um... Mind if I use the restroom quick...? I'll be back before the drinks arrive..."
"Of course, Sister. Take your time."
While we talked, Karen excused herself briefly.
After she left, I turned to Grace sitting beside me and said one thing.
"Grace, that's a relief, right?"
"...Yeah, it is."
She answered without needing subject or object.
Before arriving at the meeting spot, we worried a lot; even right after meeting, we were still concerned, but overall, it felt like a relief.
"She seems less shy when walking with us."
"...She was really shaking before meeting at the fountain."
"...How do we fix that?"
"If I knew, I'd have helped her already."
"Ah."
True enough?