Chapter 9. Borders and Barriers (3)

Come to think of it, I don’t know why I’m so diligently choosing swimsuits when I’m the one who got caught up in it.

When I look at Ria, wondering if I’m being swayed by her, Ria is also diligently choosing swimsuits.

No, thinking about it again, Ria was the one who initiated the attack first, right? Of course, I refused the draw and forced her to show me the swimsuits.

“…”

Based on my past life experiences, even if someone is wearing clothes that are my type, it feels more revealing or less revealing depending on how I treat them.

Let me give an example.

Even if I see someone wearing a bikini swimsuit at the beach, it’s rare that I feel anything particularly amazing. Unless it’s an outfit that I absolutely can’t take my eyes off, it’s rare to be deeply impressed.

Even with other outfits besides swimsuits.

However, it’s different if it’s clothes worn by someone I know.

Especially if that person is pretty, and if their usual attire barely reveals their skin.

Theoretically, I already know that Ria is pretty. She was the heroine, and I’ve seen her myself, so of course.

I also know that her figure is good. Even through the slightly loose nun’s habit, her body was clearly visible.

But what I felt when I saw the black bikini swimsuit Ria was wearing was a little, a lot different from what I usually felt when I saw Ria.

Thinking about it again, a bikini swimsuit is actually more revealing than most underwear, isn’t it? Underwear has a lot of fabric attached to it to support the body properly, but a bikini swimsuit… well, it was literally a ‘bikini swimsuit’.

In Ria’s case, the space between her breasts was quite visible. The bikini itself was just a normal bikini, but it was a disaster that happened because it was literally a ‘bikini’.

…

Wait.

I stopped my hands, which were casually sifting through swimsuits, and fell into thought for a moment.

Regardless of Ria’s embarrassment at showing me that, before wearing it, Ria had said that it’s common sense to wear different swimsuits depending on the place.

In this life, I haven’t been to a swimming pool or the sea, but Ria is a little different. She lived freely before entering the convent.

Novels don’t describe every single day of the characters’ pasts. Her mother’s story, which is really important, or everything she did in her romance with the protagonist, is not described in detail except that it’s all new, and there’s no reason for it.

But, even if it’s ‘romance’, ‘kiss’, ‘experience’, etc.

Doesn’t that mean she might have worn a bikini in front of others? While elementary and middle schoolers might feel shy, high schoolers think differently.

“Hey, Ria.”

I called out to Ria again, moving my hands.

“Hmm?”

Ria, with fire in her eyes, was choosing swimsuits and answered somewhat carelessly.

I tried to maintain a nonchalant voice as much as possible and asked Ria.

“So, you’ve been to places like the sea?”

“…Huh?”

Ria, who was choosing a swimsuit, looked up and at me.

“Uh, well, I went?”

Ria answered slowly, trying to interpret the meaning of my words.

“Ah, really?”

I lowered my gaze again and said while choosing swimsuits.

“Then, have you also worn things like bikinis? Like you told me.”

“…”

Ria was silent for a moment,

“I-I’ve worn them, of course.”

She answered like that.

Even though I wasn’t looking directly at Ria, my eyes narrowed slightly. I don’t know why.

Something, something doesn’t feel right.

I know I’m not in a position to be jealous. Besides, it’s strange to be jealous of such things between friends.

Ria would probably dislike it if she realized. She would find it a bit uncomfortable.

“…Why?”

“It’s nothing. I just thought that there was such a world.”

Even if I felt strange, it was something I shouldn’t show to Ria. She’s a person who contributed greatly to me becoming a Saint candidate, and I call myself her knight, but now Chae-eun doesn’t like it.

I glanced at Anna, who was choosing swimsuits without saying anything.

Anna was looking around the swimsuits in the store with a slightly downcast expression. Ever since I asked her if she had been to the sea and if she had worn things like bikinis, Anna has been in this state.

Did I say something wrong?

Still, she was a ‘nun’, so maybe she thinks I crossed some line?

I felt wronged, but also a bit sorry. It felt as if such thoughts were completely suppressed in Anna’s mind.

“…”

Although it was an unavoidable situation, Chae-eun stole Anna’s lips. The memory of that moment is still vivid. It was Chae-eun’s first time too.

It’s a bit funny to call that moment, which was practically CPR, a first kiss- but wouldn’t Anna now consider even that a sin?

If she ever finds out, won’t Anna resent Chae-eun?

I was a little scared of that-

“Ria.”

While Chae-eun was choosing swimsuits in a daze, Anna spoke to her.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go with this one. Ria’s swimsuit.”

“…”

Chae-eun blinked at Anna.

“Uh, so, with that one?”

“Yes. It’s red, so I think it will suit you well.”

“…Are you serious?”

Chae-eun asked Anna with a slightly serious expression. Anna replied with a smile, her previous downcast expression completely gone, replaced by a competitive face as if challenging something.

Chae-eun looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

…What was I worrying about, Chae-eun muttered to herself, and then closed her eyes tightly.

After composing herself for a few seconds, Chae-eun said.

“Okay.”

Chae-eun looked at Anna with a competitive smile, just like Anna’s, and said.

“Instead, you’ll wear the swimsuit I choose, right?”

“Of course.”

Anna said, almost glaring at Chae-eun.

“Let’s agree to wear what we choose for each other. Definitely.”

“Don’t regret those words.”

Their gazes met in the air. The store owner, watching them from a distance, felt as if sparks were flying in the air.

And following that thought-

…Is that a swimsuit that people who are nuns can wear?

Even though she knew she shouldn’t be thinking that as the person selling the swimsuit, the store owner pondered it quite seriously.