Chapter 29: Lie

“Um…are you okay, Ellie?”

Linne greeted me with a worried look as I stumbled into the classroom.

Why was she concerned? I touched my eyes; they were wet. I quickly wiped my face with my sleeve.

“What’s wrong? Were you…crying?”

“N…no! Nothing happened…!”

“Don’t lie. Your eyes are red. Did something happen with Nina?”

“…Ugh…”

Linne gently held my arms, looking into my eyes. Seeing her concerned face made me want to cry even more. I didn’t want her to see my tearful expression, so I looked down.

As I fought back tears, Linne suddenly pulled me into a hug.

“Gasp…!”

I was trapped in her embrace. Even the familiar soft pressure was enough to make my body tense. I felt breathless and pounded on her waist.

“L…let go, you pervert!”

I glared at her, but she just gently stroked my hair, not squeezing me like before.

Her gentle touch calmed my racing heart. The humiliation from the beastkin, the shock from the forced hug…it all faded away under her soothing touch.

“Don’t…touch my head…”

I buried my face deeper in her soft chest, seeking comfort. Her embrace felt warmer than usual. I wanted to stay like this forever.

It was strange. I should be repulsed. I didn’t know what this pervert might do to me. But I didn’t want to leave her embrace.

“Oh…right. You don’t like that.”

Linne stopped stroking my hair and patted my back instead. I felt a strange sense of loss.

It was just a pretense…

I suddenly missed Sister’s touch. I’d blurted out without thinking. But I couldn’t ask her to pat my head again; it was too embarrassing. It would be like…begging for attention.

I wasn’t ready to become a pet, not unless it was for someone as pure and innocent as Sister. Being pretty and busty wasn’t enough.

I shook my head, dispelling the thought. Linne’s scent filled my senses, making me feel dizzy. I pulled away.

“Sniff…I…I’m fine now!”

“Really? That’s good.”

Linne was wiping her damp chest with a towel. Was she always this sweaty? But I had more important things to worry about than her jiggling breasts.

“Give me that towel!”

“Huh?”

I snatched the towel and buried my face in it. The soft fabric felt good against my skin. Nothing else mattered.

Sniff—haa…

“Um…Ellie?”

“Gasp!”

That wasn’t right.

I quickly repositioned the towel and blew my nose loudly. Linne glared at me, but I didn’t care.

Poke—

“Ow?”

…Huh? What was that?

Something poked my stomach.
A creepy, unsettling feeling. I looked down; Linne’s finger was on my stomach.

“Linne? What are you…Ugh?!”

“Why did you blow your nose on my clothes, you idiot?!”

It wasn’t a towel, but her…chest covering…or rather, her cape.

I thought it was a bit big, but considering Linne’s height, it made sense. But I hadn’t realized…

It wasn’t my fault, though, right? It was Linne’s fault for wiping her sweat with a cape she didn’t normally wear. I was blameless.

Poke, poke—

“Ellie, you idiot!”

“I’m sorry…!”

She kept poking me until class started.

****

“Sigh…sparring again?”

“It’s fine. We can relax until the exams.”

“There are exams…? Seriously, Sara?”

Linne groaned. Sara, her blue hair swaying, just shrugged.

The afternoon classes were now held outdoors. The fresh air was invigorating, but also…unsettling.

I watched their duel. Sara seemed almost as skilled as Linne.

I noticed a hole in the side of Linne’s uniform, revealing a glimpse of her skin. I’d burned it during our duel.

…It didn’t matter. It suited her delinquent image.

My lower abdomen ached, perhaps because of my earlier encounter with Linne.

I ached all over, actually. My head throbbed, and my breasts felt…tender.

“Um…Ellie?”

The wolf beastkin spoke, sitting beside me. She was the reason I felt unsettled. I still hadn’t forgiven her for this morning. Should I ignore her?

“…Ellie.”

“Yes! Did you call, Ms. Nina?”

“No, don’t call me that. Just Nina.”

“Yes, Nina!”

“Not like that. Casually.”

“Um…yes, Nina!”

I stood at attention, feeling her lukewarm gaze on me. I couldn’t help it.

I trembled in her presence, my voice subdued. I flinched and closed my eyes whenever she moved.

It was frustrating. A mere beastkin… She’d cower and run away if I glared at her.

Glare.

I glared at her. But she didn’t run.

She just blushed, fidgeting and avoiding my gaze.

Swipe—

“Ugh…?”

The perverted beastkin suddenly patted my head, just like I did to her this morning.

“What are you doing?! Why are you patting my head?!”

“What, are you going to call me a pervert too?”

“Wh…what?”

Did she do it on purpose?

I stared at her, dumbfounded. Her eyes gleamed with a sinister light. Were her true intentions as dark as her eyes?

“…A pet…hee hee.”

Her hand tightened on my head. She was about to say something when,

“…When did you two get so close?”

A cold voice. I turned; Linne stood there, sweat dripping from her brow, the duel apparently over. But her usual carefree demeanor was gone.

“Linne!”

I quickly escaped Nina’s grasp and ran to Linne. But she looked at me coldly, like she did when we first met.

“Linne…?”

“Ellie, I thought you…hated it when I…”

“Wh…what are you talking about?”

“You were furious when I patted your head.”

“Wh…what? Haa…”

So that’s what this was about. How petty.

I finally understood.

It was ridiculous. No, it was…heartbreaking.

I felt a surge of anger. I didn’t understand why. Was it because she’d only been interested in my body all along?

Or was I disappointed that no one was as pure as Sister?

My head throbbed.

I knew this already. But hearing it out loud was different.

Linne’s cold words filled me with disappointment and disgust.

“You’re angry…because I didn’t let you pat my head?”

“Wh…what? No, I’m not angry…”

“You are! You couldn’t even tolerate one little thing that annoyed you!”

“No, Ellie, just calm down…”

Linne reached for me, probably planning to suffocate me in her chest again. I backed away, dodging her arm, and said,

“You…I mean, you…seem to think we’re close just because I’ve been…friendly lately, but I’ve never felt that way! Not once!”

I didn’t even know what I was saying. I blurted it all out, then gasped for breath, tears threatening to spill.

“Know your place.”

Linne’s hurt expression made me regret my words.

This wasn’t what I wanted. I wasn’t trying to hurt her. I was the one who needed comfort.

“I…I’m really sorry, Ellie.”

Her apology came too late.

“Liar.”

I turned and stormed out of the training grounds, the throbbing in my lower abdomen amplifying my misery.

****

For the first time since arriving at the academy, I was alone. At meals, in class, walking back to the dorm… I was always alone.

Sara occasionally visited, warning me to be careful when I was alone. But I wasn’t afraid.

This was for the best.
Being alone was safer, less chance of falling prey to the academy’s perverts. I felt… strangely relieved.

“…Sniffle…”

I avoided Linne, who kept trying to talk to me. She hadn’t tried to touch me, thankfully. Her hands were too dangerous.

Now, with Linne gone, the other students saw their chance. They were relentless.

“Sigh…this is never going to end, is it? Aren’t you tired of this?”

“Huh? We’re just worried because you seem so lonely…”

“…And? Are you planning to…comfort me with your…bodies?”

“…”

Of course, I didn’t take it lying down. I sent them away with a few well-chosen words.