Episode 37. Anyway, Common Sense
Episode 37. Anyway, Common Sense
'What the...?'
I grabbed the nipple patch that was about to go into the trash can again.
Then I carefully sat down on the floor and examined the patch closely.
It wasn't completely soaked. It felt like a single drop had fallen right in the center.
But... why the hell is it white?
If it had been wet normally, I would've just thought, "Oh, I must've sweated a lot on the way here~" and not thought much of it.
I slightly lowered my head and sniffed it.
It just had that peculiar bandage-like scent.
I'm not sure if it's because the amount is too small, or if it's because the liquid itself is odorless.
I closed my eyes for a moment and thought deeply.
From the... well, no, from the vulva, various fluids can come out. Like I said last time.
But there's only one type of fluid that comes from the breasts.
That is......
"No, fuck!"
The moment I recalled the name of that fluid, I shot up and cursed.
I was just dumbfounded.
Breast milk?
I'm producing breast milk now?
At this age? While going to school?
Why?
No, seriously, why?
I'm not even pregnant??????
With a dazed expression, I wandered around the room in circles like a lost child before stopping abruptly.
'Seriously, why...?'
"......"
I stood there like that for about three minutes.
"Haa."
First, let's regain my rationality.
Let's think about this rationally... step by step.
First.
Is this really breast milk?
I picked up the nipple patch with my finger and stared at it intensely.
It's white with a slight yellowish tint. It feels like very diluted banana milk.
I immediately turned on the internet and searched for images of breast milk. It took about five minutes for the images to fully load, but I could see what it looked like anyway.
The color is roughly similar. As I said, it's a pale yellow like banana milk.
So let's say the physical appearance is similar.
Second.
If it's not breast milk, is there any other fluid that can come from the breasts?
I decided to rely on the power of the internet again this time.
According to the search results, the causes of fluid other than breast milk coming from the breasts are......
Benign tumor of the milk duct (intraductal papilloma).
Enlarged milk duct (mammary duct ectasia).
Fibrocystic changes like pain, cysts, general lumps.
Breast infection or abscess.
"Fuck......"
Now I see why people say "like a fairy descended" in situations like this.
To think that breast milk is the best case scenario among those.
I want to postpone going to the hospital as much as possible. Because I have no money.
And third.
Why did breast milk suddenly come out of my breasts?
Usually, breast milk comes out during pregnancy. Because of some hormone influence or something...
But there's no way I'm pregnant, so let's exclude that.
Then perhaps a phantom pregnancy?
I've heard that phantom pregnancy patients mistakenly believe they have a baby in their womb even though they don't, and they actually produce milk and have morning sickness even though it's just imaginary.
...This obviously isn't it either.
Why on earth would I mistakenly think I'm pregnant?
It's not like I've had... sex or anything.
And I don't plan on doing that in the future either. The thought of being penetrated by a man makes me shudder.
'Then what is it really?'
Do I have no choice but to ask Seyeon about this too?
Seyeon might not be a professional, but she's not stupid. She'll kindly answer within the scope of her knowledge, and if she doesn't know, she'll tell me to go to the hospital.
Hospital.
"Sigh......"
That damn money.
I feel like I'm going crazy because of this girl who's just pretty and has nothing else.
If she suggests going to the hospital, given her personality, she'll probably go with me. And she'll probably... pay for it too.
Despite my will, I'm gradually losing my sense of shame, and I'm starting to feel self-loathing.
"Let's just sleep for now."
After all these things happened and all these thoughts, I'm mentally and physically tired.
I turned off the light and went straight to bed.
"......"
Ah, right.
I forgot to masturbate.
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The next day, during break after second period.
I was taking out my textbook and preparing for the next class when someone plopped down in front of me.
It was Eunbyeol.
A male student who was approaching from the front saw Eunbyeol sitting in my seat, turned around, and went out into the hallway.
He seems to have a bit of trauma......
"Yubin-ah, is it going well?"
"Huh? What is?"
"Changing your skill."
Ah.
"So-so."
"When do you think it'll be complete?"
"Well, at least before midterms."
"That's... obvious."
Eunbyeol looks at me slightly flustered.
"It's not just about completing it, right? You need to actually test it out and create strategies while practicing. For that, you need to have some time to spare."
"Ah, right......"
I awkwardly laughed, feeling embarrassed.
"...Sorry. I'll try to complete it as quickly as possible."
"No need to apologize. I was just asking because you haven't said much lately."
When I spoke in a slightly intimidated voice, Eunbyeol poked me and replied.
"......"
The atmosphere became a bit awkward.
"...Ah, right."
"......?"
In the silence, Eunbyeol suddenly spoke up as if she had just thought of something.
"Yubin-ah, are you free on Saturday?"
"Saturday? Well, I am, but why?"
"Do you know them?"
I looked where Eunbyeol was pointing with her finger.
Two girls were chatting and giggling with each other.
"It's a bit weird to ask if I know them when we're in the same class."
Eunbyeol muttered that in an embarrassed voice.
'No, it's not weird.'
I've only seen their faces a few times during sparring, I don't even know their names.
I conveyed that exact thought to Eunbyeol.
"Really...? March will be over in two weeks, and you don't even know your classmates' names?"
"......"
I tilted my head and looked at Eunbyeol.
Well... whether March ends or a year ends.
Not memorizing classmates' names is common sense, right?
If you're a loner.
When I looked at her with an innocent face, Eunbyeol looked at me as if I was being too much.
"That one, the girl with long hair is Minjeong, and the one with short hair is Chaerin."
"Ah......"
I let out a small exclamation and nodded.
"We decided to go out with them on Saturday. It'll be April soon, right? We'll have to prepare for exams then, so we want to have fun a lot now in March."
"Yeah."
"So... I was wondering if you'd like to come along too, Yubin."
I fell into a bit of contemplation.
'Can I, of all people, survive among the popular kids?'
And they're not just any popular kids.
They're fresh, vibrant, overflowing with energy female students.
Life forms with infinite stamina who chatter nonstop, talk to people, and move around without rest...
And a loner like me would join them?
I might mentally die in less than 30 minutes.
But if I outright refuse, my image in class might become negative.
"Hmm......"
I ran simulations of both scenarios in my head, then finally answered.
"I'll go."
Thinking about school life falling into ruin if I chose the latter made the choice easy.
The former only requires enduring for one day.
"Really? That's a relief. I thought you'd say no."
"I'm not that lacking in social skills......"
Anyway, Eunbyeol told me the meeting place and time.
'Seems like it's near the university district.'
It sounded like that from the name I roughly heard.
"Ah, and. Can you ask Seyeon too? She's always only with you."
"Mhmm, I will......"
Seyeon wasn't at her seat, having gone somewhere.
But... Eunbyeol probably didn't suggest this purely because she wants to hang out together, but rather to help the isolated kids adapt to the class.
When I nodded and answered, Eunbyeol stood up and headed to her seat.
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"So, you're saying milk is coming out of your nipples?"
"Seyeon-ah, please...!"
A night with a moon so white it looked like it had been bitten hanging in the sky.
After finishing jogging and while resting, I brought up the question I'd been saving, and Seyeon asked me back like that.
There was a strange emphasis on certain words.
Because Seyeon was saying this openly right in the middle of the training ground, not even the dormitory, I was so embarrassed I thought my face would explode.
"Huhu, sorry."
"......"
'She's a bit mischievous.'
When we first met and were awkward, she was infinitely affectionate, but once we became a bit closer, she started playing pranks and such.
I don't dislike it; in fact, it makes her feel more human.
"So... what do you think? Should I go to the hospital?"
"Hmm."
Seyeon thought for quite a long time.
With a nervous heart, I tightly gripped my sleeve. My heart pounded, afraid she might mention the hospital.
"...There's no helping this. I'll have to put you under a suggestion."
"What did you say?"
"It's nothing. But Yubin-ah."
"Yeah?"
Seyeon made a slightly flustered expression and muttered.
"Producing breast milk isn't that special of an occurrence......"
"...What do you mean by that?"
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
It's not special?
"Seyeon-ah? Do you know how old I am?"
"Of course. We're in the same grade."
"But isn't it weird for breast milk to suddenly appear overnight?"
"No."
"No...!"
Suddenly, my spine tingled, and I looked up at the sky.
'What is with this girl...'
When I stayed silent for a while, Seyeon spoke first.
"It's not weird because of your age, Yubin-ah."
"......"
"No, actually, I should say it's weird. Because it's too late."
Too late????????????????????
"Secondary sexual characteristics, don't you know?"
"I know. Of course."
"But if breast milk is only coming out now, hmm......"
"What does secondary sexual characteristics have to do with breast milk...!"
"......?"
Seyeon tilted her head innocently.
"Didn't you learn that when secondary sexual characteristics come, milk comes from women's breasts? In home economics class."
"......"
"It's common sense, Yubin-ah."
"Ugh......?"
My heart suddenly started pounding heavily at the word "common sense."
Common sense...?
Feeling like strength was draining from my body, I asked with difficulty.
"...Hey, what kind of common sense is that. Secondary sexual characteristics. So you're saying producing breast milk is like having a period or something?"
"Yeah. Just like you had your period last time, this time breast milk is coming out."
"That doesn't make sense..."
"It's true... I don't know why you're acting like this. Over obvious common sense."
"Co, common sense......"
I bit my lower lip tightly.
Is what Seyeon saying true?
Am I stubbornly arguing against common sense that everyone knows?
When I thought that, my face turned bright red.
"Then, you're saying breast milk comes out from me, from you, from every girl who's graduated elementary school?"
"Yeah. Want me to show you now?"
"...No, it's fine."
Seyeon giggled while looking at me.
"Really, Yubin needs some sex education. You're at an age where you should know everything, why don't you know."
"No, ah......"
"It's common sense that breast milk comes out from girls. Understand?"
"Ugh......"
Seyeon, maintaining eye contact with me, gradually approached.
"Now, Yubin-ah. Repeat after me. It's common sense that breast milk comes out from girls."
"From girls, no, that can't be......"
"It's common sense that breast milk comes out from girls."
"From girls, girls......"
Suddenly, dizziness rang in my head, and my body swayed.
Seyeon immediately caught and hugged me as I was about to collapse.
"Ugh, ha......"
"Since Yubin is also a girl, it's common sense that you'd spurt, spurt, sweet milk from your nipples, right? Right...?"
"Common, sense......"
"Repeat after me. It's common sense that breast milk comes out from girls, it's common sense that breast milk comes out from Yubin..."
"It's common sense... that milk comes out from me......."
Flailing my arms in the air, I repeated Seyeon's words.
'That milk comes out from breasts......'
Then I felt something snap, as if it had been cut off.
Ah.
I see.
I just didn't know.
Breast milk coming from breasts... is a natural phenomenon, just like breasts swelling and periods starting as secondary sexual characteristics progress.
I just possessed a girl's body in the first place.
Why did I stubbornly argue with Seyeon, who's an actual female student?
I became so embarrassed thinking about how I acted just now.
Anyway, so all girls spurt breast milk. I thought it only came out during pregnancy.
Hmm... Why didn't I know until now?
Anyway, I apologized to Seyeon.
"No, it's okay."
True to her benevolent nature, Seyeon forgave me readily.
"But, honestly, I'm worried though?"
"About what?"
"Like I said earlier, the timing is quite late. Think of it as if you're getting your period now."
"Ah......"
When compared to menstruation, I felt the seriousness.
"Should I take a look?"
"At the breast milk...?"
"Yeah. The color of the breast milk, or how much there is."
I closed my eyes tightly for a moment and imagined Seyeon watching me milk breast milk.
'Crazy.'
It's incredibly embarrassing.
But that thought also disappeared quickly.
At the thought that if not Seyeon, then it would be the hospital.
That's right.
If I go to the hospital and say the timing of breast milk production is late, get examined, and come out... an enormous medical bill will be charged... and then......
"Yeah, please do."
I immediately nodded and answered.
Like the saying that a dead gong beats a living brass gong, having no money beat having shame.
"Then let's go right away."
"...Okay."
Seyeon grabbed my wrist and dragged me all the way to the dormitory.