Chapter 9. Borders and Barriers (2)

“Ah, I didn’t borrow it with money. Don’t worry. You don’t need to repay me or anything later.”

“…”

Ria saw through my worries at once and spoke. I felt a little guilty for calculating the money in my head.

“I helped you out before.”

“Yes, Chae-eun-ssi, I received great help from you then!”

The woman who seemed to be the owner of the store said that and smiled brightly. She looks to be in her early 30s and runs a store like this…

Well, honestly, I don’t know exactly how capable she is. In my previous life, I only worked at a company for a short time.

…

Short time? Huh, was it?

I have short memories. I hadn’t been employed for long. I definitely lived into my mid-20s.

Then I read that novel, sent a sponsorship message to the author, and the next day I came to this world, I clearly remembered.

“Anna?”

As I tilted my head, lost in my own thoughts, Ria spoke to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh, no. It’s nothing.”

I don’t know what that sense of unease was. I had felt it once before, but I couldn’t quite recall the exact nature of that unease.

“Why, you don’t believe I saved people?”

Ria said it as if joking, so I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s not that. I’m sure you’ve been incredibly active until now, Ria.”

“…Really?”

Ria seemed pleased to hear my compliment.

“Well, good. Even if I borrowed it, we can’t waste too much time. Let’s choose quickly. I’ll help you.”

“Does that mean I have to try on various swimsuits in front of you, Ria?”

“Right? To be honest, I don’t trust your sense at all.”

“…”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Ria.

Although I haven’t chosen clothes in this world, swimsuits are all pretty much the same, aren’t they?

As long as I don’t pick anything too flashy, does it matter? After all, she’s pretty, and her figure is also good. I think she’ll look good even if she picks a plain swimsuit.

“Come on, come on, don’t make that face.”

Ria lightly pushed my shoulder and went deeper into the store.

Why is she so serious?

Isn’t she just the one who wants to go to the sea?

…Well, it’s understandable. She’s at an age where she’d want to go. Plus, Ria would be very popular at the beach, so there’s no reason not to go. Even if she doesn’t meet a man, she can show off her figure.

“…”

Thinking about it makes me angry.

Even if we’re not dating, it doesn’t feel good when pretty people around me get boyfriends. Even though there’s no possibility or anything between us.

Because of that strange discomfort, all the unease in my mind disappeared before it could even take root.

*

Even I, who have no interest in fashion, know what kinds of swimsuits there are.

I also know that there are swimsuits that are not revealing.

Even if it’s not a one-piece, there are rash guards, and there are even ones you wear like outerwear.

I didn’t have a girlfriend, so I’ve never seen my girlfriend wear one, but I haven’t not been to a swimming pool or the sea. Plus, episodes of going to the sea appear very often in movies, dramas, and manga.

“But why do you keep bringing me these?”

I said, holding bikinis in both hands. Both are bikinis. One is black, like a nun’s habit, and the other is strangely leopard-patterned.

If I had to choose, I’d pick the black one, but both are a bit questionable in terms of ‘sense’ to begin with.

“Don’t you have anything like athletic swimwear?”

“Isn’t it a bit strange to wear that kind of swimsuit when going to the sea?”

Ria answered my question as if it were absurd, which made me feel absurd too.

“…Are you concerned about the type of swimsuit when going into the water?”

“Anna, there’s a fitting outfit for every place you go.”

Ria spoke as if that were an immutable common sense.

“I remember that as a nun, there was never a time I couldn’t go out wearing my nun’s habit.”

“I told you, right? If you go to the beach wearing a nun’s habit, you’ll stand out even more!”

“…”

That was a logic I couldn’t refute, so I closed my mouth again.

“No, more than that, why are you two entering the changing room when it’s meant for one person? It’s clearly written outside to go in one by one.”

I don’t really know why it’s strictly forbidden for two people to enter a changing room…

…

Ah, I think I understand now. Even if it’s not a romantic relationship, such situations can certainly happen.

Although it won’t happen to me.

But thinking that way makes me even more annoyed.

What is it, you talked about hunting and such to me, but aren’t you in a similar position, Ria? Your face is pretty, and you even have some reputation.

And your figure is good too. In fact, it’s a figure that anyone who sees it might call unrealistic.

You keep saying things to me, but I have my own thoughts too. In fact, it’s so bothersome that it’s annoying.

I have my own boundaries.

In my previous life, what I did was help people. Among them were elders older than me, and conversely, people much younger. There were also people whose bodies were similar to mine but whose minds were much younger.

When working in such places, the most important thing to establish is the line that must never be crossed. Otherwise, a problem will surely arise somewhere. Not only the boundary between me and people, but also the boundary between people.

One reason I preferred to be alone as much as possible until Ria was because I didn’t want to cross that boundary. I know well that I am not a purely good person.

However, whenever I’m next to Ria, that boundary keeps crumbling. And it’s not Ria who’s breaking it, but I feel like I’m swaying and about to cross over to her side.

No matter what, I want to maintain my relationship with Ria. I hope this ‘close’ relationship lasts for a long time.

“What does it matter, we’re both girls. We live together too, right? Clothes too… Huh?”

“We’ll change clothes separately.”

I said, nodding my head.

I can also make an excuse that I’m not being fussy. Basically, within the convent, it’s difficult for same-sex individuals to have too much physical contact.

The church also knows how dangerous it is when ‘boundaries’ are broken.

Well, the scope of that ‘danger’ is extremely religious… but still, it’s a bit much for such things to happen within a dormitory.

“And, honestly, even between girls, it’s not right to undress in front of the other person, is it? It’s just naturally changing in the same place.”

“Uh, uh… That’s true, though.”

Ria eventually admitted it.

“And, to be honest, handing over swimsuits like that feels a bit like teasing. There’s no rule that you have to wear a bikini just because it’s the sea, right? I know about swimsuit types too.”

At my words, Ria blinked.

This time, she looked like she had been hit by a counterattack. So, it was meant to tease…

She looks like she’s been hit by a counterattack, but there’s a strange sense of unfairness in her expression.

If it wasn’t meant to tease, then what was it for?

“Ah, anyway.”

And seeing that face, I felt strange again, so I quickly said.

“Then, Ria, you try it on first.”

I pointed at Ria with my finger.

“First, Ria, you try it on, and if you pick a similar swimsuit, I’ll pick a similar swimsuit too. Show me something properly, since I know nothing.”

“…”

At my words, Ria stared blankly for a moment-

“…Okay.”

She said, looking at me with eyes that seemed to be burning.

“If I wear it, you’ll wear it too, right? Something similar.”

“Uh, hey, Ria?”

But it seemed too late for me to say anything to stop Ria.

“…Okay. I’ll pick one, so you wait here.”

Ria said that, then pushed aside the changing room curtain and strode out.

I could only stare blankly at her retreating back.

…

No, but why does she want me to wait here specifically…?

*

Well, Ria’s common sense was normal, so when she changed clothes, she sent me outside.

I paced nervously in front of the changing room, listening to the sound of clothes brushing against Ria’s skin.

After about 5 minutes, the movement inside stopped.

“Ria?”

After a long silence, I cautiously called her name.

A startled sound came from inside, and the curtain was slightly pulled open, revealing Ria’s peeking head.

“Hey, Anna.”

Ria said with a very serious expression.

“Shall we call it a draw?”

“…”

I stared blankly at Ria like that,

And gently placed my hand on the curtain.

“If you start a fight, you have to see the result. Show me. Tell me what kind of clothes you’re wearing.”

“Uh, no, wait a minute, hey.”

“Uh-uh, if you grip it that hard, it might tear?”

I pulled the curtain with a slight smile on my lips.

We wrestled with the curtain there for almost a minute, and finally, the fight ended when Ria, unable to change her clothes while doing so, let go of the curtain.

And Ria inside, well.

She was amazing in many ways.

“Ria, let’s just call it a draw.”

I said with a serious expression, but Ria, who had already shown me her appearance, said with a fierce smile on her face.

“…If you start a fight, you have to see the result.”

Hmm.

I should have just agreed to a draw when she suggested it.

I put my hand on my forehead.