Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Lockers
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"...Do I really have to do this?"
"You're asking that now? We've already made the whole plan."
"But no matter how I think about it, this just doesn't feel right..."
A sigh escaped Amelia's lips.
Was she frustrated with Siu hesitating at this point?
Instead of scolding him, Amelia decided to convince him.
"I told you. You can't keep an eye on Arte from up close, so in the end, I have no choice but to do it."
"I get that you're better suited for surveilling Arte, but... this is a crime."
Siu's eyes shook with unease.
Yeah, it's a crime.
A really nasty one, at that.
Just sneaking into the girls' changing room as a guy is enough to deserve all the backlash.
And on top of that, rummaging through a girl's clothes?
If he got caught, there'd be no excuses.
He'd instantly be branded a sex offender.
Not just expulsion—his whole future would be ruined.
Maybe I should be the one watching Arte while Amelia does the searching...
"Don't worry. If anyone approaches the changing room, I'll make a big noise. No way we'll get caught."
"You really think we have to do this...? This?"
"I told you not to worry. Haven't you heard? If you don't get caught, it's not a crime?"
It is a crime, even if you don't get caught.
That was what Siu wanted to say, but he clamped his mouth shut.
Yeah.
A crime is still a crime, caught or not.
No one except me and Amelia knows about Arte Isis's criminal acts.
If we're going to grab evidence of those crimes...!
Siu steeled his resolve.
To seize evidence of the crime.
Amelia was planning to send me into the girls' changing room anyway.
If I can't avoid it, better to get it over with fast.
"...Okay."
"Good. That's the spirit. Let's hurry. Arte's waiting."
Siu forcibly suppressed the guilt gnawing at him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh... Do I really have to wear this...?"
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ Why? It looks pretty. "I don't wanna wear something like this!"
I glared resentfully at Laira.
I'd clearly asked for a swimsuit with minimal exposure.
What the hell is this?
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ ...Still, compared to a bikini, this has way less exposure, right? "Sure, it's less revealing than a bikini, but...!"
What I wanted was a one-piece swimsuit.
You know, like the athletic kind that looks like a leotard.
The school swimsuit vibe from light novels—minimal skin shown.
That's what I'd asked for.
I despaired when I checked the swimsuit that arrived this morning.
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ Heroines mostly wear bikinis anyway, so this is less exposing—why not compromise? It's too late to change now. "..."
I stared sullenly at the swimsuit in my hand.
Fine, it's not a bikini.
Technically, it's the one-piece I wanted.
...If you ignore all the skin it shows here and there.
"And why's the back completely bare? ...Cost-cutting on fabric?"
It was a one-piece swimsuit, sure.
Except for the cleavage and the plunging back.
The fact that they'd thoroughly covered the butt somehow pissed me off even more.
Like they thought they were doing me a favor by covering that, after hollowing out my back like this.
"Does Laira seriously think this is low-exposure...?"
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ Probably? Heroines all wear bikinis. This feels similar... 'Cause you're a heroine candidate. She had a point.
Couldn't even blame Laira for it.
Should've just gone shopping myself.
Got embarrassed and had her order it instead...
"Arte. What're you doing over there?"
"Ah, Amelia."
Amelia called out to me.
My gloomy mood lifted a bit.
Amelia was the one person I got along with decently at the Academy—my one and only friend.
Heh heh, see? I'm not a total outcast.
Not when I have such a pretty, kind heroine for a friend!
"Come on, let's head in. If we don't shower now, we'll be late for class."
"Ah, w-wait...!"
I'm not ready yet...!
My half-hearted cry was drowned out as Amelia dragged me into the changing room.
"...Wow, your boobs are bigger than I thought."
"Haha... R-really?"
"Mine are kinda small... Hey, share a little with me."
"No way that's possible..."
"Tch."
Trudge, trudge.
I dragged my feet toward the pool after finishing my shower.
I'm... so tired...
Amelia was extra hyped today.
Felt like she was clinging to me weirdly.
Speaking of which, why's Writer-nim been so quiet since earlier?
She'd usually be chattering away.
Taking advantage of being out ahead of Amelia, I whispered softly to Writer-nim.
"...Writer-nim?"
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ Y-yes?! "No, I just... you were so quiet. Why are you so startled?"
⚙ WRITER-NIM ⚙ No, it's just... Is this a light novel? Heroines groping boobs in shower scenes—it's real... "...What the heck have you been reading?"
I got what Writer-nim meant.
You know how light novels have tons of that stuff.
The flat-chested heroine grabs at the big-boobed one's chest, yelling "Gimme some!"
Big-boobed one screams, and the guys nearby let their imaginations run wild.
But we didn't even touch boobs.
It was pretty normal... well, not entirely.
I kept my eyes shut the whole shower, so I fumbled around a bit.
Amelia helping me out took some time.
My body's somewhat used to it now, but other people's nudity still threw me off a little.
I wondered why Writer-nim—who'd normally chatter nonstop—was so quiet. Turns out she was taking notes for material?
Of course, I knew she doesn't copy this world's events verbatim; she adds her own spin.
Makes sense since she can't perfectly grasp Yoo Siu's behavior.
But I couldn't wrap my head around it.
What kind of filter turns raw visual input into that?
Mystifying.
"Ah, Amelia. Over here."
"Yeah."
While chatting with Writer-nim, I called out to Amelia as she emerged from the changing room.
...As expected of a novel heroine. A bikini, naturally. White, even.
The pure white bikini gave off this subtly erotic vibe.
I could never pull that off.
"Everyone, listen up! Before swimming class starts, I'll go over some safety rules!"
Ah, here we go.
...Kinda exciting.
I haven't really played in water since I was a kid.
Might as well enjoy it while I'm here.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "T-Teacher. Can I... go to the bathroom quick...?"
"...Huh? Oh, sure. Go ahead. If no one's here when you get back, head to the classroom."
I clutched my stomach, face scrunched, sweating bullets.
The teacher saw through my act and let me go without hassle.
I'd shown off some solid swimming earlier, so she figured I didn't need more practice.
The second I hit the empty hallway, I relaxed my face and started walking—but the cold sweat kept coming.
It wasn't fake, after all.
...No turning back now.
Time to sneak into the girls' changing room.
"No one's around...?"
I flung the door open and slipped inside in a flash.
Amelia said hesitation would just look suspicious.
Be bold and confident.
Her advice to me.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Smells different from the boys' changing room, somehow.
No, probably not.
Just my imagination.
"Arte, Arte... Here it is. Arte Isis."
Finding Arte's locker wasn't hard.
They were sorted alphabetically.
Amelia's was right next to it—confirmation enough.
...Feels softer than the boys' lockers, for some reason.
Odd thoughts kept creeping in, so Siu hurriedly yanked open the locker, shaking them off.
Neatly folded clothes inside.
Ignoring the black leotard as best he could, Siu started rummaging.
"...Where is it?"
But something was off.
No matter how much he searched, no sign of any mechanical devices.
Just clothes, some cash, and a smartphone.
Siu grew more anxious by the second.
He'd thought it'd be quick, but ten minutes had already passed.
Any longer, and class might end.
He'd timed his exit for when class was underway.
"Arte! Let's go together!"
"...!"
As Siu frantically searched, Amelia's loud voice rang out.
Students' voices approaching fast.
He'd been too focused to notice.
Glancing at his watch—twenty minutes gone.
Failed.
Siu sensed defeat and moved to bolt.
But haste makes waste.
Changing room floors are always slick with water.
With water everywhere, can't be helped.
That's why teachers warn against running.
...Ignoring that warning came at a brutal cost.
Crash!
He went down hard, making a huge racket.
Of course, as a superhuman who handles mana, a mere fall wouldn't hurt Siu much.
The problem was timing.
"Arte, was it fun?"
"Yeah. It was great."
Suddenly, not just Amelia's voice—Arte's and other students' too.
Too late to dash out now.
...W-what do I do?
No time to think.
Siu dove for the easiest hiding spot.
"Hope we get more swimming classes."
"We probably will. Waste to build a pool and not use it."
"Heh, true."
I'm screwed, Siu realized.
He slipped mindlessly into the open locker.
Yeah—Arte Isis's locker.
How the hell do I escape from here?
Epic screw-up.
Not just caught sneaking in, but sniffing around inside a girl's locker like a pervert.
"...Hm."
And amid it all, it smelled really good, which made it worse.
Not perfume—some ineffable feminine scent.
Arte's fragrance wafted from the leotard covering Siu's face.
"Ah, Arte. Sorry, gotta hit the bathroom. Come with?"
"Huh...? Go ahead. I'll wait."
"Aw, come on. Friends go together for this stuff."
"I-is that so...? Yeah, friends do. Okay."
...!
An unexpected chance for Siu.
Arte left with Amelia for the bathroom.
Other girls changed and left.
Now's the moment.
He burst out of the locker like a shot.
Confirmed the hall empty, then bolted straight to the boys' changing room.
Finally alone in the quiet space, Siu clutched his pounding heart and swallowed tears.
I survived.