Exposed Panties and Probing Questions
A bit of food popped out of Bianca's mouth amid the confusion and splattered onto Emily's clothes. "Ahh, sorry—!"
"It's okay."
Bianca wiped the flecks off Emily's uniform with her handkerchief, her face flushed with embarrassment. Damn it, for real. She'd finally been scoring some points with the girl she liked, only for that idiot Carlyle to ruin everything with his nonsense. Naturally, she shot him a fierce glare.
Emily, meanwhile, was still flustered from what Carlyle had blurted out earlier. At the same time, she'd felt a slight relief seeing Bianca Shama's reaction. Maybe this girl really... doesn't like Carlyle? To her eyes, Bianca just seemed annoyed right now. Of course. She already said she likes someone else.
Still, Carlyle's attitude stung a little. If Emily hadn't overheard those words, she might have noticed that Bianca's reaction wasn't just annoyance. The two of them bickered on.
Of course, Bianca and Carlyle. "You gonna keep spouting crap?"
"It's not crap."
Emily gave an awkward smile and tried to smooth things over. "It's fine, you two. It barely got on me anyway."
"Ugh... still."
"It's just the uniform. A wash will fix it."
The situation settled down, at least. The three of them resumed their lunch, but this time Emily and Carlyle chatted amiably.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah, of course. All thanks to you worrying about me, Carlyle."
"What did I even do..."
"You came to visit me in the hospital."
Carlyle had visited her in the hospital? Bianca's food suddenly caught in her throat—literally. For some inexplicable reason, she just choked.
"I was so happy back then."
Luckily, Emily was looking down shyly at the time and didn't catch Bianca's expression. Carlyle noticed, of course. And his childhood friend, Emily Swan, too. This was a pretty awkward spot—especially since word might get out that he'd visited another girl. But there had been a perfectly good reason; it was just a quick stop related to sponsorship stuff.
Recalling that, Carlyle Schultz added, "Your dad happened to be someone I needed to see anyway, so I killed two birds with one stone."
The only girl I like is Bianca Shama. Emily Swan's just my childhood friend. He was signaling that to both of them, but the timing sucked.
"Gah—ack—"
She choked again. Emily scooted over and patted Bianca's back. Not on purpose, but her scent wafted over intensely as she got close.
"You okay, Bianca?"
Bianca's mind blanked at the gentle, clear voice right by her ear. * * *
Ah, Emily...! It felt like the shock from Emily was what had done it. They were childhood friends, after all. Close enough to visit each other in the hospital. That realization had hit her hard. I like Emily. That was all there was to it. Nothing else could explain that weird feeling from before.
Thankfully, Bianca recovered quickly. It was just a momentary choke on food.
"Thanks, Emily."
Emily smiled back. "No biggie."
A girl who was pure 100%—the ideal type every guy dreamed of. No way Bianca could give up. She'd been rejected once, sure, but she couldn't lose to Carlyle again!
Yeah, yeah. Plus, at least Carlyle didn't seem into Emily Swan. This is doable.
Bianca thought to herself. In anime, the protagonist's childhood friend is usually the losing heroine, right? Their bond was already super tight, so if she wanted Emily to turn that gaze her way, she'd have to step up her game.
Lunch continued. "Emily, here."
"Ah, thanks."
"Emily, blanket!"
"Huh, this...?"
Bianca fussed over her attentively. She'd come prepared, after all—like wet wipes or a little blanket to cover her skirt. Flaunting her thoughtful-guy side like this? How 'bout that, Emily?
Bianca puffed up with pride. I'm way better at this stuff than that Carlyle jerk. He was just watching with a sulky look, after all.
Emily seemed impressed by the care. "You're surprisingly thoughtful, Bianca."
Then Carlyle butted in from the side. "Shouldn't you worry about yourself first?"
Out of nowhere. Bianca followed his chuckling gaze, and Emily gasped too.
"Bianca...!"
It was just how they were sitting. Carlyle, across from her, had a clear view of everything, but Emily was beside her and only noticed now.
Clueless, Bianca tilted her head. "What's up, guys?"
Emily looked mortified, her face red, shooting Carlyle a side-eye. Then it hit Bianca.
"Oh, sorry. It was so good I forgot..."
She hadn't left any for Carlyle. "No, not that."
But that wasn't it? Emily's expression had turned serious now—not playful, but genuinely a bit stern.
"A girl shouldn't sit like that..."
"She's always like that."
Carlyle smirked and piled on. Then Bianca got it. She'd fussed over Emily with the blanket, but what about herself? Legs splayed wide open while eating her lunch.
Oh, my panties... They were visible. * * *
After lunch, Emily approached. "Hey, Bianca. Got time after school?"
"Uh... suddenly?"
"I'm going shopping after classes. Thought it'd be fun if you came too."
What was the reason? "Yeah, sure... that makes sense."
Emily continued, her face a bit complicated. "Bianca, you know... you're just too..."
She sighed, then smiled. "Anyway, wanna go? I think it'd help you out."
"But... shopping?"
What did that have to do with anything? Bianca had no clue but accepted anyway. A golden chance to bond with Emily? No way she'd pass.
"Yeah, sure!"
And now here they were.
"Huh, not bad..."
"She wears clothes pretty well."
Two girls appraising Bianca in front of her: Emily and her desk mate, Shasha.
Shasha had tagged along for some reason. -Look forward to it, Bianca. I'll teach you a ton today. Emily had shown up after school saying that, and an excited Shasha had chimed in and joined.
Bianca didn't know it, but Emily's thinking was: she was shopping anyway, and bringing Bianca along felt fine. This could be a chance to get closer... She actually liked her—someone who'd approached first, wanting to be friends. Plus, Bianca Shama was the twin sister of that boy she'd accidentally dissed. Not a rival or anything.
Emily already found Bianca's pure vibe pretty endearing. And she had a goal. First things first, gotta get her some shorts. Way too defenseless.
That was priority one. Even without Carlyle, any guy would stare if a girl like Bianca was that exposed. It bugged Emily for no reason. In front of the guy she liked—no, Bianca said she liked someone else, but still, a pretty girl. It nagged at her. She has no idea how Carlyle really feels.
Or maybe she did, which was why this needed to stop. For Bianca's sake, and for Emily's own future pining after Carlyle.
Oh, and one more shock for Emily. Raised strictly, very girly and ladylike, she couldn't tolerate one absurd thing. That... no way... Bianca's character-print panties peeking out? Beyond her comprehension.
"A girl has to know how to take care of herself. It's a shame for someone as pretty as you, Bianca, not to doll up a bit."
Emily said it seriously, and Shasha nodded vigorously. "Totally agree. Feels so refreshing."
Bianca was speechless. "R-Really...?"
But... I'm not even a girl originally... Couldn't say that out loud.
And so it happened. Bianca, Emily Swan, and desk mate Shasha met up downtown after school.
Emily and Shasha huddled, plotting. Words like hair salon, underwear, shorts floated over.
"Hairpins too?"
"Probably shoes as well?"
Whoa, hold up. Their enthusiasm made Bianca uneasy about what was coming. * * *
After school, on St. Antiope Academy's sports field. Carlyle Schultz was playing basketball with some guys. Thud-thud. Nothing beat sweating it out when his head got tangled.
He dribbled, spotted a teammate, and passed. "Hey, block him—!"
He bolted forward like a shot, blew past two defenders with his long strides, and slammed the net.
After the game, guys crowded him as he drank water.
"Yo, Carlyle."
"Feels like ages."
"Been busy."
A weird vibe at his words.
"Wait, over already...?"
With Bianca Shama, obviously. Over what?
"Never even started."
A touch self-deprecating. The guys buzzed again—weren't they dating? Thought so for sure.
Tired of the chatter, Carlyle walked off without responding. No need to warn them: Bianca Shama's mine, hands off. She wasn't anyone's to claim, but he sure as hell wasn't letting her go.
"Hoo—"
Yet these tangled feelings. Carlyle realized anew how deep his emotions for her had grown. Not light at all.
-You like Bianca Shama?
He'd once doubted it, but now? No hesitation.
Today's mess left his head spinning—and half ridiculous. He wasn't stupid. He'd long known his childhood friend Emily's feelings. But he pretended not to notice because... he'd known her forever. Her family knew too. With her, it was never romantic. More friend than anything. Or maybe a tad closer? Yeah, like that.
Emily seemed aware too—no confession yet. Things had been awkwardly balanced until today.
Bianca clearly didn't know the rumors. Or he thought she didn't. New transfer and all—if she'd known Emily liked him, she wouldn't have brought her. But even aside from that, it was subtly disappointing. Wasn't it supposed to be just the two of them? Their spot? Bringing along a girl he saw romantically felt excessive. A guy? Unthinkable.
Did Bianca even see him as a man? But then... She had been shaken by him before. They'd connected heart and body, he thought. Confusing.
Even carrying Emily up the stairs to the roof—she hadn't batted an eye. He'd expected some awareness, if not jealousy. Instead, only Emily noticed him.
"Ha—"
Headache. Carlyle sighed more pathetically than usual.
How to close the gap? More than now. Good ideas? He'd stupidly told her he'd respect her will, do what she wants. Petty, but he regretted it.
Excuses could be made. He kept brainstorming. Then he bumped into someone.
A pink head humming along: Lou Millionaire. Pretty close with her, right?
Her vibe screamed it—treating him like a little brother, not a rival.
Carlyle stepped up. Swish.
"Eek, you?!"
To the wary guy, straight to the point. "Spill everything Bianca Shama likes."