Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: People Only Believe What They See
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Inside the cafe, at one of the tables.
Michelle was peering out the glass wall, watching the people passing by.
"Michelle!"
"It's been so long~."
"Guys!"
Michelle jumped up from her chair, bouncing with joy.
She had arranged to meet two friends.
One was named Sara.
Unlike the innocently pure Michelle, who didn't quite match her age, Sara always gave off a mature vibe.
Her short bob haircut and sharp eyes were her trademarks.
"Did you wait long?"
"Nah, I just got here."
"Good."
"I missed you so much, Michelle~!"
The girl who suddenly lunged forward and hugged Michelle was Lone.
She was usually laid-back and full of mischief.
Unlike Sara, her eyes curved into crescent moons when she smiled.
"Wait, I'm gonna fall!"
"What's wrong with you~? Don't be like that!"
Sara pried Michelle and Lone apart as they clung to each other.
"Okay, sit down first. What do you want to drink?"
The three of them chatted away in the cafe.
They were always talkative when together, but since it had been so long, the conversation never stopped.
"Sara, how's it going with your boyfriend~?"
When Lone asked, Sara tossed out her response casually.
"Huh? We broke up."
"What? You just started dating."
"We got into a fight last week while doing it."
"Seriously? What over?"
"He wanted me to blow him, so I worked hard at it. Then he wanted to kiss afterward, but I said no 'cause it felt gross."
"That's too much. It's your girlfriend's mouth."
Michelle sat there blushing, listening quietly to her friends' explicit talk.
"Still, was that worth breaking up over?"
"Honestly, I'd been thinking of dumping him anyway. Size was okay, but it was softer than I expected—no thrill."
"That must suck~."
This was the usual vibe when these three got together.
Sara and Lone were experienced with guys, so talk always circled back to men, leaving inexperienced Michelle as the listener.
Of course, things had changed a bit.
The old Michelle would have listened with half curiosity, half embarrassment.
But not anymore.
'...Ian kisses me first even after I blow him. Heh.'
"You seem to be doing well with yours, Lone~?"
"I got bored and dumped him yesterday."
"Again? How many is that? You're not a kid anymore—get it together."
"No way~. After a few times with the same guy, I just get sick of it."
Sara shook her head at Lone's cheeky grin.
Even with a boyfriend now, Michelle felt their stories belonged to another world.
"Anyway, how about you, Michelle? Gotten used to guys yet?"
At Sara's question, Lone jumped in first.
"Probably not~. All the teachers at her work are women, right?"
"Uh-huh..."
Michelle mumbled shyly.
She hadn't told her friends about her boyfriend yet.
Somehow, talking about that stuff felt embarrassing.
"Isn't it kinda weird to have zero experience at our age? It'll get harder to meet someone later. They'll think something's wrong with you."
After Sara's worried words, Lone pointed at Michelle's chest with a playful tone.
"But not many guys could handle these royal tits~."
She was the one who'd told Michelle men hated girls with too-big breasts.
"Hehe... Yeah."
Michelle gave a kind smile.
Before, she'd have laughed it off but felt hurt inside.
Now, with Ian, it didn't faze her.
"If you're still single when you're old, come to sis. I'll take care of you!"
Sara waved off Lone's teasing.
"Nah, no way. She won't die a virgin."
Since middle school, Sara and Lone had always treated Michelle a bit lightly.
Badly put, like a pushover.
Nicely, like a little sister.
Innocent Michelle never minded.
She saw it as them always worrying about and looking out for her.
"Sigh. Guess I'll have to go without guys for a while. Got anyone to hook me up with, Sara?"
Sara glared at Lone.
"I've introduced you to all of mine already. Not like you're the only one—I've lost contact with plenty because of you."
"So none? I'm lonely here!"
Lone and Sara dove back into guy talk.
Michelle seemed to listen silently, but her mind was elsewhere.
'...I wanna brag about my boyfriend!'
Not to show off.
Not to shock the friends who'd always babied her.
Just pure joy—she loved him so much she wanted to tell everyone.
"Really none? Look around. You got at least one or two left."
"I said no. Better to check Michelle's circle anyway. I'm single too, so busy looking for mine."
"So we're all single for a while? Been ages since this happened. Right?"
"Yeah."
Sara nodded in agreement.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Huh?"
Their eyes turned to her.
Michelle fidgeted, face red as she mumbled.
"I... have one... a boyfriend..."
"..."
The air froze instantly.
Realizing late, Sara and Lone leaned in close.
"For real?"
"Is he hot?"
Michelle nodded, beaming.
"Whoa, our little Michelle has a boyfriend."
After Sara's surprise, Lone clung on.
"Pic? I'm dying to see!"
"Pic?"
Only then did Michelle realize all her photos with Ian were taken mid-naughty deed.
"W-we just started dating..."
"Come on~. Don't lie just 'cause we tease you."
"No, it's true."
"Stop teasing. Michelle wouldn't lie."
Sara, reining in Lone, asked.
"How old?"
"Twenty..."
Sara started to reply, but Lone cut in.
"Whoa, total young buck! Where'd you meet a guy like that?"
"They say one guy got into Scarlet University this time. No way?"
"N-no! Um, I met him at the bookstore!"
Michelle shook her head vigorously.
No way could she admit dating a student.
"Seen him? Is he good?"
"Lone, you're gross."
Even Sara, saying that, leaned in curiously.
"It's embarrassing, but... it was amazing."
"How's the size?"
"Hey!"
Sara smacked Lone's shoulder but waited for Michelle's answer.
"Huh? Um... pretty big, I think..."
Unable to hold back, Sara asked first.
"Over 20cm?"
"Y-yeah... seems like it."
"Really?"
Sara's sharp eyes widened in disbelief.
Lone couldn't believe it either.
"Nah, Michelle's messing with us. A twenty-year-old that's hot, big down there too? Good luck."
"I-it's true."
"Hmm... okay..."
A subtle tension hung between the three.
Michelle didn't notice, but Lone and Sara did.
Lone smiled with crescent eyes but eyed Michelle closely.
'I'm single now, and pure Michelle's dating? Young, hot, and hung? No way.'
Sara across the table thought similarly.
'Shy Michelle, who shrinks at guy talk? Doubt it.'
Truth was, since middle school, they'd felt inferior to her.
Her standout looks and figure drew all the attention wherever they went.
They weren't slouches, but couldn't compare.
Michelle's inexperience had eased that—guys preferred them over her.
'We've always been way more popular...'
Now, they envied her.
Like a big sister when the little one gets better grades and praise.
So they couldn't take her words at face value.
"Can't believe it."
"It's not a lie..."
Michelle drooped at Lone's doubt, but Lone brushed it off.
"Then introduce him!"
"I-introduce?"
Sara, thinking the same, chimed in.
"Yeah. You're too naive, Michelle. Bad guy could hurt you. We'll check him out."
"No need. He's a good guy."
Lone pointed at her.
"Aha! So it is a lie!"
"O-okay! I'll introduce him."
And just like that, Ian unknowingly got roped into meeting Michelle's friends.
'Will Ian get mad...? How do I tell him...'
That night, Michelle tossed and turned anxiously.
The holiday passed, and the next day arrived.
Nothing special happened over the break.
Just some home workouts, reading the Enchantment Magic book, reviewing school lessons.
Entering the classroom, Dania was already there, as expected.
I glanced around the room and asked.
"Your young lady skipping today too?"
"The young lady decided to take it easy and rest this time."
"Oh, nice."
"Hmph."
Dania's attitude was still icy.
Of course, I planned to tease her anyway.
Plenty of time till morning roll call.
What to make her do today...
Oh, right.
"How's the phone?"
"...Bought it yesterday."
"Already? Activated?"
"Staff said calls work from today."
"Great. Gimme the number."
Dania scowled, hand dipping into her suit pocket, pulling out a slip of paper for me.
"What's this?"
"My number. You asked."
Palm-sized memo with digits scribbled.
Could've just handed the phone, but typical for her—unfamiliar with gadgets.
"Not this. Gimme the phone. You probably don't know how to add contacts. I'll do it."
"...No need for your number."
"Gotta add it so you know it's me calling. Hand it over."
I held out my hand.
Actually, wanted to check if she'd give a fake one.
"..."
She grimaced, reluctant.
I wiggled my fingers again.
"Come on, quicker."
"...Fine."
She moved like her hand had sandbags.
Finally, Dania pulled the phone from her bag and gave it to me.
Pink case, no less.
Flipped it—cute cat character printed on back.
"Pfft! What the hell is this."
The girl in black suit at school, with a cutesy phone?
Couldn't help laughing.
"What!"
Dania panicked, speechless.
"You like this stuff? Never guessed, always acting like one of the guys."
"Shut up! That's why I didn't wanna show it..."
Explained the paper memo.
Input my number, called—my phone rang fine.
Added each other's after, went to hand back, but felt a pang.
"Bet you haven't set up basics. I'll do it. Way easier to use."
"Th-there's stuff like that? ...Thanks."
Sorry, but lied.
Curiosity won—I opened browser, checked search history.
-Meow
-Cute
-Cute cat
-Cat paw pads
All cats.
Typos galore.
"You really love cats, huh."
"...How'd you know?"
"Search history's all here."
"It-it saves history! Give it back!"
Dania snatched it, frantically tapping screen.
Couldn't find delete, kept fumbling.
"Want help?"
"No need. I'll do it later."
She shoved the phone deep in her bag, face puffed in pout.
Won't talk if I prod now.
...Mouth shut tight?
Hm, fun idea.
-Dania, come to that warehouse from yesterday.
I whispered that and left the classroom.