Sex Education
It was nothing more than a few forgotten memories, a few buried feelings, rising unbidden to the surface.
The negative emotions I had once been able to feel in my previous life—now buried beneath a haze of pleasure.
The feelings from that day, early after my transmigration, when my unique ability was still weak and I had erased my sister's memories.
They had simply come flooding back all at once.
I didn't know.
I had thought I no longer needed anyone's warmth.
Without realizing it, I must have started to see Elise as something like a friend.
I shouldn't have...
"...This is all Senior's fault."
I flopped down onto the grass beside her for no good reason and blamed Bella, who was staring blankly up at the sky.
"...R-really? Then... then I'm sorry."
Bella rose from her spot in a fluster and came toward me.
For some reason, that only made irritation surge up again.
"No—why are you apologizing for that?!"
My voice rose without my meaning it to.
Bella grew even more restless, her expression turning gloomy.
"...I'm sorry for apologizing."
"Pfft..."
I finally burst out laughing. What even was "I'm sorry for apologizing"?
"Haa... No. I'm the one who should be sorry. I've just been... a little confused lately."
I scratched my head awkwardly and apologized.
At that, Bella's worry returned as if nothing had happened, and she studied my face carefully.
"You're not hurt anywhere, are you? You look pale."
"Yeah, it's nothing like that. Don't worry so much."
I waved her off and tried to reassure her.
"...Senior."
I called out to her suddenly.
"Hm?"
Bella tilted her head and looked at me.
"At least you, Senior..."
From deep inside, a useless sentence tried to force its way out.
At least you can't hate me.
Even if my master left, even if the entire world pointed fingers at me, I wanted at least Senior to stay by my side. It was a selfish, childish wish.
But the moment the words nearly left my mouth, I clamped it shut.
I wasn't some mental patient.
I was already dumping every kind of worry and trouble on her; I didn't want to burden her with something like that on top of it.
"...Never mind. It's nothing."
I trailed off and gave an awkward smile.
"Ah, look at the time. I'll head out first, Senior. I have a group project meeting."
I hastily changed the subject and stood up.
Bella still looked puzzled, but she didn't press further.
Instead she spoke in a worried voice.
"Will you be all right alone? After what just happened... What if someone picks a fight with you again?"
"I'll be fine."
I pulled the silver brooch she had given me earlier from my pocket and showed it to her.
"I'll keep this on until I get to the café. With this, no one will even know who I am."
I winked and said it playfully.
Only then did Bella seem a little relieved, a faint smile touching her lips.
"All right. Be careful."
"Yeah. You get back safe too, Senior."
I gave her a light wave and hurried away from the spot.
From that day on, the Academy students' harassment grew even more blatant and severe.
People picking fights never stopped whenever I walked the halls, and during class some of them openly mocked me or even threw things.
It was what I had wanted, but...
Senior had caught me being bullied and fretted over me endlessly.
As a result, she refused to leave my side during every break.
Afraid that being seen together would spark needless misunderstandings or harm her reputation, I had no choice but to pin on the identity-concealing brooch my master had given me and stay next to her.
Once Senior saw the brooch's effects for herself, she seemed a little more at ease.
Today was the day we had agreed to meet at a café near the Academy for the group project.
When I stepped inside, Camilla's side had not yet arrived.
Instead, Rina and Rea were already seated at a table by the window.
Rea still looked somehow cowed, glancing around nervously, while Rina...
The moment I approached, she began glaring at me with ice-cold eyes.
Disappointment, anger, and a hint of betrayal mixed on her face.
Well, after hearing those rumors, even Rina must finally hate me the way I wanted.
That was a good thing.
Nothing good came of getting involved with me.
"Yeon."
Rina called my name in a frigid voice.
Disappointment was plain in it.
"Did you... really do that to Lady Raphaelia?"
Her gaze was the kind reserved for a criminal who had committed some unspeakable crime.
"Th-that was just a misunderstanding."
Ah?
This had been the perfect chance.
The chance to make her completely despise me and walk away.
Yet under that cold stare, excuses spilled from my mouth before I could stop them.
And then, astonishingly...
At my clumsy words, Rina's frosty expression melted away as if it had never been.
She beamed brightly and took my hand.
"I knew it! Yeon, I believed you would never do something like that!"
...What? That easily?
I was left speechless.
Rina laughed sunnily and tugged on my arm.
"Come on, let's go!"
"W-where?"
"To clear your name, of course! We have to go straight to Lady Elise, resolve the misunderstanding, and punish whoever spread those rumors!"
Wait—she's just going to believe me like this?
I had to fix this.
If she latched onto me again it would be unbearable.
I hurriedly blocked her path.
"N-no! Rina! Wait! That's... I mean..."
I stammered and fumbled for words.
Screw it. I had no choice but to tell the truth.
"Th-the thing is... I did touch her, technically..."
It had only been for a moment, but that was an undeniable fact.
At my words, the smile vanished from Rina's face once more.
She began glaring at me with that same icy look.
This time it held an even deeper disappointment... and a cold anger I couldn't quite place.
Yes. From now on, if you hate me like everyone else, it'll be better for both of us.
I thought that to myself and waited for her next words.
"......Haa. This won't do."
Rina let out a long sigh.
"Yeon, you clearly need a proper sex education."
"...What?"
Sex education?
Rina was completely serious.
Before I knew it she had sat me down in a corner of the café and, with the stern face of a strict teacher, launched into a lecture.
"Listen carefully, Yeon. No matter how curious you get or how strong the impulse, touching someone else's body without their consent is absolutely unacceptable. A woman's body is especially precious and sensitive, so you must treat it with respect. Do you understand, Yeon? Repeat after me. A woman's body is precious, so you must never touch it carelessly."
"I... I already know that much..."
Terrified someone might overhear, I whispered it and glanced around.
Fortunately the café was noisy enough that Rina's voice didn't seem to reach the other tables.
"And yet someone who knows that still did it? That is a clear criminal act, and it can leave the other person with wounds that never heal. If you ever feel that kind of impulse, take a deep breath or think of something else..."
Rina earnestly explained the most basic, obvious things.
She didn't forget the occasional scolding either—"I'm truly disappointed in you, Yeon," or "Make sure this never happens again."
...I'm a girl now too... Why... why am I sitting here listening to this...
Rage boiled inside me, but I couldn't say a word.
I was the one who had confessed "I did touch her," after all...
And worse...
Out of the corner of my eye—
From the next seat, Rea was staring at me with an expression of pure pity and contempt.
Yeah. I would have looked the same way.
Ah... this is so mortifying I could die.
I had to sit there enduring the heat flooding my face while Rina's endless sex-ed lecture droned on.
Praying desperately for this humiliating moment to end.
She had been passionately expounding on "respect for others' bodies" and "healthy sexual values" for quite some time when—
"Um... excuse me."
Clara suddenly approached our table and spoke carefully.
She glanced between us with a slightly anxious look, then addressed Rina.
"Lady Rina, I'm sorry, but... Lady Camilla has an urgent family matter today and will be unable to join the group project."
"What? Lady Camilla?"
Rina asked in surprise.
"Yes. So... you'll have to proceed without us today. I'm truly sorry."
Clara bowed politely to Rina.
Rina thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Hmm... Well, if it's urgent, it can't be helped. All right. We'll discuss things among ourselves for today. Is that okay with you, Rea?"
"Yes."
Rea answered with a quiet nod.
Still without withdrawing that look of contempt aimed at me.
...Perfect!
I cheered inwardly.
Without Camilla, the group project was likely to fizzle out completely.
For someone who wanted to flee this place from sheer embarrassment, it was the best possible chance.
"Th-then, since it's just the three of us, is there really anything we can get done? Mind if I head out first?"
I asked as casually as I could, pouring every ounce of desperation into it.
But my hopes were shattered.
Rina fixed me with another murderous glare.
"Where do you think you're going, Yeon?"
Her voice had dropped to a chill.
"I believe I made it clear that a problem child like you requires my intensive supervision? Today you'll spend a thoroughly wholesome and educational time with Rea and me."
Ah, I want to go home...
In the end I was stuck in that café corner for a full hour, forced to sit through the special education session Rina conducted.