Prologue (Remake): A Perfectly Normal Day
[6:45 AM / Dormitory Room]
"Ugh... Take my sword..."
Early morning. I woke to my roommate's sleep-talking right beside me in bed.
I struggled to shove her leg off my stomach, and just then, she opened her eyes too.
"Runes. You have your own room, so why do you keep crawling over here?"
My roommate—and intruder—Runes rubbed her eyes, then playfully stuck out her tongue a little.
"Cuz... big sis likes it when Harné hugs her tight while she sleeps... Eek! Kyahaha!! Okay! S-stop...!"
"We're the same age. And your sleep-talking is way too loud."
I immediately tickled her sides and belly. Runes clutched her rock-hard abs and slunk miserably out of bed.
But chasing off this repeat offender came at the cost of my fully awakened mind. With a sigh, I threw off the covers and slowly sat up.
"Runes, it's the weekend. Shall we go for a morning jog?"
"...Ooh, yeah! Now it feels like Harné enjoys it more?"
"I need to build up some stamina, at least. So I don't pass out on the street."
[8:10 AM / Walking Path]
"Haa... haa..."
"Good job, Harné! You hit today's goal."
The circular walking path in the southeast corner of the academy grounds. I'd barely managed one lap—about a kilometer—and took the water bottle Runes handed me with trembling hands.
Even with breaks, this was my state.
"Thank you, Runes."
"No prob. But man, Harné, your mental fortitude is unreal. You're exhausted, but it doesn't even show!"
Mystic Beauty Module: Frivolous behavior detected. Automatic suppression in progress.
Yeah, right. I wanted nothing more than to flop onto the ground. This forced ability just wouldn't let me fall apart.
"It just doesn't show on my face, that's all."
"Psh. I don't buy that anymore. Anyway, I'll do two more laps—you head back first!"
With a wave, Runes dashed off. In her frilly maid outfit.
"..."
Students jogging the path in frilly maid outfits. A totally everyday sight at this academy.
Of course, I was wearing the exact same obnoxious getup.
Naturally, I'd rather wear normal clothes. But jogging in anything else would draw weird stares.
After all, wearing this "academy-designated gym uniform" for exercise was just common sense.
At least it was breathable, and the short skirt didn't hinder movement much.
...I hated how that was my consolation.
[8:40 AM / Public Bathhouse]
After my jog, I headed to the spacious baths. I quickly scanned the students paired up, hugging as they soaked.
Please let all the pairs be taken already.
"Yaaawn~ Perfect timing, Harné..."
"Ah."
My classmate Uriel approached with a sleepy grin and grabbed my wrist, dragging me into the bath.
When bathing in the women's bath, pair up in twos and hug. Common sense.
"Harné... Hug me."
"Sure, sure."
I let out a soft sigh and smoothly embraced her from behind. Uriel went limp against me with a goofy smile.
"Haaah... So warm..."
This sleepyhead was bigger than me, but acted like a total baby when spoiled.
I patted her gently, pinching her side whenever she started dozing off.
[2:15 PM / Library]
"So, your roommate ditched because she hates studying, huh?"
"Yes, I'm lucky to find a study partner like you, Kane."
"Heh, indeed. It's crowded here—let's grab books and find somewhere quiet."
Kane flicked her elegant bobbed hair and stepped up to the book checkout magic plate. She pressed her chest—where her name was engraved on the uniform—against it firmly.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
"Grr... Every time... Why is it always such a hassle?!"
Beep— After rubbing her chest against it several times, Kane finally checked out.
Beep— And I succeeded on the first try, in one second flat.
...It was handy, sure. But somehow, it felt like I'd lost.
[9:00 PM / Dormitory Rooftop]
"Yawn... Been a while since we had a cloudless full moon, huh?"
"Come on, lie down quick. Gotta soak it up as long as we can."
The rooftop garden of the dormitory. Friends clustered on a mat in the center, lying back.
"Harné! Over here!"
"Coming right away."
This world's moonlight subtly purified mana waste in the body. On nights like this, students gathered for moonlight baths.
For my first one at the academy, my steps toward the mat slowed involuntarily.
Runes, Uriel, Kane. They wore functional outfits for moonlight bathing. Something like sheer white bodysuits.
Of course, so was I.
"Harné? What's wrong?"
"Nothing at all."
What could I say? Reality was hitting hard again.
Outfits like this were "gifts" from the academy. And Kane's was especially risqué.
"...Kane, what is that outfit?"
"Heh, surprised? It's a premium model with 30% higher mana filtration. I bought it special."
Misreading my reaction, Kane smirked smugly. Her suit was a belly-baring dancer costume.
Runes eyed it enviously. I gave a suitable nod and turned back toward the mat.
Or tried to.
"As expected, everyone's gathered here."
A soft-footed girl with a fluffy smile appeared from the rooftop entrance.
"...Altesia? Straight from church?"
"Yes. After service, I saw the full moon and thought I could see you all at once, so I hurried over."
Altesia approached with a warm smile. My lips curved up naturally—but so did a touch of vertigo.
Saint candidate Altesia. Wearing a succubus nun outfit.
"..."
Pure white moonlight bathing suit. Dancer-style moonlight bathing suit. Succubus-style nun outfit.
The heroines, clad in these, spent a peaceful weekend evening together.
No one sensing anything off about it.
Watching the scene, I clutched my head and muttered.
"Huh. What a total clusterf—"
"...troubling sight."