Special Admission Phoenix Squad (4)
"Phoenix. We need to go welcome your fourth squad member, so come out with me for a bit."
Esta called me over, and I followed her outside.
"We've got to head to the south terminal, so take it easy and keep up."
"Are we going to greet the new special admission at the south terminal?"
"That's right. It's also necessary for you, as the representative, to show the other passersby that special admissions exist." Esta pointed at the uniform I was wearing. It was like Unia's female academy uniform, but with the skirt swapped for pants.
"In this outfit?"
"What's wrong with the academy uniform?"
"It works okay for girls, but for guys... isn't it a bit much?"
The plaid pants were a bold design choice, no doubt about it, but since I'd wear something else on dates anyway, it wasn't a big deal.
"I think it looks fine on you." Esta's eyes scanned me up and down, but I knew her fashion sense all too well.
"Instructor Esta, did you pick out that outfit yourself?"
"What do you mean by that?"
She was currently dressed in Eastern-style clothes. The red overcoat draped loosely over her shoulders, and she stopped walking to give me a sullen look.
"Is there something wrong with this outfit?"
"No, it suits you well."
"Then why?"
"You wear clothes fine, but your taste in men's fashion seems... off."
"Hmph." Esta smirked and started walking again.
"Someone would've had to pick out men's clothes for me first."
Was that subtle flirting? Or just her natural airheadedness slipping out?
"Not just men's clothes—seems like you don't take great care with your own either."
"...What do you mean?"
"I've never seen you in casual clothes."
"No need to wear casuals at work. And if we're splitting hairs, this is my casual wear."
It was certainly unique.
"You're not dressing like Cardisha, so it's not a huge issue, right?"
"Compared to the health instructor, sure."
That woman took individuality so far it bordered on fashion terrorism.
"I dress comfortably when I'm relaxing at home."
"I see. So in your instructor quarters, you're a different sight from this."
"......."
Esta fell silent for a moment.
"Enough personal talk. Hurry up and follow."
She started walking ahead without a word. It might've looked like I'd scratched a nerve, but really, she was just embarrassed and marching on.
I know exactly how much of a mess her room is.
A career woman who looks put-together outside but flops around inside like dried fish? That's a total sales point.
There was even an early event where that gets exposed.
A CG flashed in my mind. The instructor quarters—after getting close enough for Esta to invite a guy over, the scene where she welcomes the protagonist.
It was late-game, so her hair was longer by then.
-Uh... you came?
Perched on a unicorn cushion, wearing nothing but a loose shirt and dolphin pants, greeting the protagonist.
To unlock that scene, you had to handle the early story well and build a personal bond with Instructor Esta. First as a visiting student... then crossing that line into something more.
The stage is set.
The biggest obstacle is gone. The protagonist.
Time for a quick rundown on the original story.
How does the original early plot go? Four per squad. Instructor Esta. Special admission life starting in the old school building.
At first, the protagonist gets paired randomly with Unia and two other allies.
This one squad lives together in the old school building and gradually racks up achievements at the academy.
By the end of Chapter 2, the protagonist's party pulls off feats no freshman could dream of, drawing interest one by one.
Fame brings attention from big names.
Other classes form in the old school building—2nd Squad, 3rd Squad, and allies keep joining.
Special admissions or regular students intrigued by the protagonist's crew transfer in, swelling the ranks. Everyone entering the old school building is a playable character—a protagonist ally.
I have the allies now, but no protagonist.
Right? How could they have allies without the protagonist?
The protagonist is male. True to its dating sim RPG roots, he's the guy reeling in all the girls.
I tried snatching them all before he showed up.
So I threw my best lines at Unia and aimed to outshine him with the other girls before he arrived.
But...
Can I finally relax a bit?
All the other special admissions are girls except me. I'm the only guy, and they've filled all the rest.
Sure, some male side characters have great cost-performance or abilities rivaling heroines with angel potential despite being guys.
-Remember: Don't let other males touch the heroines and hurt your feelings—pick 'em off one by one!
But in Chang Yeom's prep, they'd become my 'enemies.'
Because I'd unilaterally mark them as rivals in the mating game.
-To them, you might be a culture shock. Show modern hunk moves in a medieval fantasy game—what do you think the girls will say?
My bag of modern dating tricks would make the heroines jealous when they saw themselves loved, choosing me over some other guy.
-They're the crazy ones who made bad choices—why should we suffer? That's just how they live, bothering everyone. Unfair, but what can you do? Kill 'em and enslave them for life.
Chang Yeom even planned for 'corrupted' or 'fallen' heroines.
-Worst case, approach heroines dumped by the protagonist. Pretend it's love advice, get close, pounce, and make it a done deal...
We schemed all sorts of methods, but.
"Phoenix."
Instructor Esta, who'd been walking quietly, stopped and turned to me.
"You've been smirking silently this whole time. That thrilled there are no other male special admissions?"
"Yep."
Just like she said—no males meant no protagonist. Pure bliss for me.
"Less pressure now."
"Pressure?"
"Everyone's got tastes. Girls might pick some other guy over me before I even make a move."
"Cocky, aren't you?"
"You bet."
I fell in step beside her.
"Compared to those wimps scared of getting jumped by girls on the way to the academy, I'm way better, right?"
"...Hmph." Esta smirked, her lips twitching.
"Even though now Binyu Group and academy girls are gunning for you?"
"Sometimes self-esteem matters more."
Like a male instinct. No protagonist? Total win.
"Who knows about next year, but this year, I can say I'm way more 'manly' than guys outside the academy."
"Don't go throwing around 'manly' lightly."
As soon as we neared the south gate and the terminal beyond...
"Like this."
"......!"
Esta yanked me into a shadowy alley, grabbed my arm, and pinned me against the wall.
"'Manly' means plenty of vital energy—easy prey for succubi looking to mana drain."
"Instructor?"
"What?"
"You said 'getting jumped'—why demonstrate with your body...?"
She gripped my wrist tight while pressing her chest against me, pinning me to the wall.
"Like Rydmila, I'm wearing a suit. No direct contact, so it's fine."
"Even stuck like this?"
"It's a test, too."
"A test?"
"Yeah. Cardisha asked me personally."
Esta looked up at me for a second.
"Guys don't show it usually, but when blood rushes down there, it swells up..."
"Instructor?"
I gave an awkward smile and looked away.
"Y-You're checking... that?"
"...Good." Esta smiled.
"Does it swell up like 'I'm a confident man' with any girl this close?"
"No." Esta backed off slowly.
"...Only because it's you, Instructor."
"......."
She took another step back. Keeping my body pinned by pressing her forehead to my chest like a headbutt, she peered down while pulling her lower half away.
"Um..."
"Even through pants, it's this much...?"
Esta stuck her hips way back and swallowed hard.
"...If you strutted around students like this, what do you think would happen?"
"Dunno—what?"
"For a guy, it's no different."
Esta sighed deeply, stepped back fully, released me, and tugged her collar to adjust the inner layer.
Snap.
"No different from a woman blatantly flashing her chest."
"......."
"Of course, like Rydmila, I'm wearing a fairy suit right now."
Esta had on skin-tight white tights underneath. Obviously, no privates showing!
"If a woman walked around like this, what would hap—" Esta started.
"...Why's it getting bigger?"
"......."
"You."
Her face flushed as she refastened her collar.
"......No way—you're like this because of me?"
"Well, Instructor." I pointed toward a cafe inside the south terminal.
"We don't know when the special admission will arrive, but how about a cool drink at the cafe first?"
"Like this?"
"Hold on."
I reached into my pocket.
Adjust.
"All good."
"......."
Esta's eyes lingered on my thigh for a while.
"Instructor, one thing: if you stick to guys like that so casually..."
"I-I don't."
She cleared her throat and looked away.
"Do that to just anyone! Don't misunderstand—it's not like that!"
Did she know? The faint reddening inside her fairy suit.
"I-It's as an adult! As an instructor! To make sure you don't fall for some sleazy creep!"
Esta. 27 years old. The White Sword Saint, eternal virgin—or so they say. Total airhead.
"Just checking you wouldn't make a bad call from momentary temptation!"
But her body knew instinctively, instincts overriding her reason.
"I'm an adult!"
Not just Rydmila was husband-hunting.
"Yes, ma'am."
Even if she hadn't realized it herself.
"You're a grown-up, right?"