Chapter 50: Its more obscene to cover it up

Though years had passed, Linea still remembered the small hand that pulled her back from the brink of despair in a strange, unfamiliar land.

“I’m…sorry…”

Linea opened her eyes, a faint sob escaping her lips. She lay in the infirmary bed, the familiar scent of antiseptic filling the dimly lit room.

Relief washed over her.

“That dream again…”

And a deep ache of regret and longing.

It was a dream she hadn’t had in a while, leaving her feeling empty and hollow. She instinctively hugged something soft and warm in her arms, the warmth a small comfort.

‘…Wait, who is this?’

She felt a small, delicate body stirring in her embrace, a light breath tickling her chest.

Small enough to fit perfectly in her arms. Bold enough to snuggle up to her without permission. She couldn’t imagine who it could be.

“Could it be…?”

Her heart pounded. Her mind raced, weaving fantasies.

Had…something changed after that incident? Had this person come looking for her, seeking comfort in her arms?

Gulp—

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

“Ellie…?”

Her voice trembled as she cautiously pulled back the covers, revealing a pair of twitching ears.

“Mmm…Linne? You’re awake?”

“Oh, it’s Nina.”

Linne smiled and gently stroked the wolf beastkin’s head, enjoying the feel of the soft fur against her fingers.

“I was worried, so I came to check on you. You were asleep, so…”

Nina, her bushy tail wagging happily, grinned. It wasn’t who Linne had hoped for, but she wasn’t disappointed.

It was unrealistic to imagine Ellie crawling into her bed. She’d never looked at her friend with…those kinds of feelings.

Twitch.—

Nina’s ears perked up.

The infirmary door opened.

“Linne, are you…awake?”

Linne turned towards the voice. A small girl with fluffy ash-gray hair stood at the doorway, her red eyes wide with surprise. Ellie.

“Ah! Ellie, this isn’t what it looks like…!”

Linne quickly pushed Nina away, even though she had nothing to hide. She didn’t understand her own reaction.

Ellie, after a moment of stunned silence, frowned.

“Hmph…I don’t care who you sleep with.”

Linne was surprised by Ellie’s words.

She’d expected insults, accusations of perversion…

“This is a get-well gift. Do whatever you want with it.”

And with that, Ellie turned and left.

It felt like a storm had passed through. Linne turned her attention to the object Ellie had left on the table by the door.

“This is…”

A crumpled, barely recognizable…loaf of bread. It was a questionable gift, but Linne didn’t mind.

“She’s so…thoughtful.”

Her words were sarcastic, but her expression was undeniably happy.

****

Linne appeared the next day. Not that I was waiting for her, of course. I was just…concerned. That’s all.

I wanted to tease her about what she’d been doing in the infirmary…not that I cared, of course.

I was just about to ask how she was feeling when—

“Aaaaaah!”

“What?! Ellie, what’s wrong?!”

I screamed, and Linne grabbed me, startled. I pointed at her back, my eyes still covered.

“There! Right there!!”

“Behind me? There’s no one here.”

“Not behind you! Your back!”

I peeked through my fingers. The sight was…unbearable. But even more shocking was Linne’s nonchalant reaction.

“What about my back? Is there a problem?”

“It’s more than a problem! You indecent…!”

How was she not arrested for indecent exposure? What kind of academy was this?

Her shirt was torn in several places, revealing her pale skin. The sight was…mortifying.

“If you’re so bothered by this, how did you manage to change into your gym clothes?”

“That’s… That’s different! You…you stupid commoner!”

Linne seemed slightly intimidated by my outburst. I decided to seize this opportunity to educate her.

“It’s more indecent to be partially covered than completely naked! Understand?”

“No, not really…”

“Ugh.”

I sighed. Explaining this to an idiot was a waste of breath. And I was partially responsible for the state of her shirt, anyway.

I decided to change the subject.

“Linne, are you free tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? It’s the weekend.”

“Yes, and are you free?”

“Uh…huh?!”

Her eyes widened in surprise. Her flustered reaction was…strange. Did someone ask her out?

…Wait…

My face flushed, my ears burning.

“N…never mind, if you’re busy.”

“No, I’m not busy! What did you want to do?”

Her usually dull brown eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Um…nothing much. I was just going to…buy you a new uniform.”

Linne looked confused. She pointed at herself, then at me.

“You’re buying me a uniform? Why?”

Why would I offer to buy her a uniform?

“The one you’re wearing…”

…barely qualified as a uniform.

“…is an eyesore.”

“Ouch.”

“And…dirty.”

“Ugh.”

Her reactions to my every word were amusing. She shouldn’t have asked “why” if she wasn’t prepared for the answer.

“Want me to continue?”

“N…no, it’s fine…”

She was like a child, despite her size. I decided to stop before I made her cry.

I noticed her dejected posture, the white skin peeking through the tattered fabric of her shirt.

I shook my head, dispelling the…distracting thoughts. This could be a ploy to…seduce me.

I took out a spare jacket.

“Here, cover yourself. You’re an embarrassment.”

“This is…?”

“No need to thank me.”

If she didn’t like showing off her skin, she’d wear it. I didn’t care either way.

“Ugh…mm…!”

But then I heard a strange sound.

“What are you doing? Why are you making those weird noises…?”

I turned, and my words died in my throat.

Linne was struggling to put on the jacket, the thin fabric straining against her…ample bosom.

“Wo…wow…”

“That’s… impressive.”

A familiar voice echoed my involuntary exclamation. I turned and saw Sara’s light blue hair.

“Sara? How long have you…”

She greeted me with a graceful curtsy. Always the proper noble lady, despite her…inner nature.

“Hee hee, I’ve been watching since the beginning.”

She smiled sweetly, covering her mouth. No one would believe that lie.

“Hmm… strange. I didn’t see her earlier.”

Except for one oblivious idiot, who finally managed to put on the jacket.

“Haa…I can barely breathe.”

Perhaps I should get her a new one. It was a favorite jacket of mine… I silently mourned its demise, vowing revenge.

“So, Sara, what do you want?”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot. I heard something interesting about yesterday’s…incident.”

“Yesterday?”

“You remember the earthquake in the forest?”

I remembered, but… I wasn’t particularly interested.

“They’re forming an investigation team. Since it happened so close to the academy, they’re concerned.”

“An investigation team…?”

“An investigation team?!”

It seemed to have piqued the idiot’s interest. Linne’s eyes sparkled.

“An investigation team… Yes, that makes sense.”

I ignored her mumbling and listened to Sara.

“It’s mostly faculty, but the student council is sending some students as well. Are you interested?”

“Are you going, Sara?”

“Yes. I’m a member of the student council.”

I hadn’t known Sara was on the student council. Not that I cared.

“Good luck.”

I had absolutely no interest in such a tedious task. But someone seemed to disagree.

“Ellie, you’re…not going?”

“No. Is there a problem?”

“Don’t you…want to cause trouble? Complain? Anything?”

“What do you think I am?”

“But…”

I tuned her out; this conversation was going nowhere. I wasn’t going on that stupid investigation, no matter what she said.