NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31
After turning 10.
So, since I regained the memories of my past life, I haven’t worn feminine clothes even once.
Not a skirt, not bright-colored clothes, not lace-trimmed attire, not even short shorts or tight-fitting outfits. Not even once.
Am I crazy to wear something like that?
I’ve even tried not to wear damn underwear when possible.
One day I attempted to wrap myself in bandages, but it was so uncomfortable I couldn’t stand it.
It was just too annoying, and with clothes you could see it wouldn’t work, so I had no choice but to wear them.
But now…
Here I am.
Wearing a skirt shorter than the one I wore in my past life.
“Gasp… I’ve never seen such bare legs on a young lady before…”
“…That’s enough.”
“It’s just, it’s absolutely fantastic on you! Why are your legs so pretty?!”
“Yurasia… stop it.”
“How can they be so smooth? You kick so hard, yet how can they be this thin? They even look so soft and delicate…”
“Please… just stop…”
My face feels like it’s going to explode from embarrassment.
My thighs feel bare. It’s refreshing. The airflow is incredible.
“…I’ve never seen you be this shy before. So, you really are a girl?”
“Ha…”
“And, as Sir Yurasia said, your legs… they are pretty. It’s almost unfair… And you turn completely red when embarrassed? Even your legs are flushed—”
“AAAAAAGH!!!”
“Eek?! W-what?! Why are you shouting? Do you think nobody else can shout?!”
“Just… just shut up, all of you. Close your mouths and… just go away.”
“Go away? No way! You have to come too! If we don’t hurry, we’ll really be late, so come on.”
Stella, who was smirking at me, let out a very annoying snicker.
“What’s wrong? Are you worried the skirt is too short? Don’t worry about it. The Academy’s uniform is enchanted, so unless you flip your skirt, your underwear won’t be seen. And, to be honest, this isn’t even that short!”
As Stella said, the Academy’s uniforms are magically enchanted, so there’s no way… accidental exposure could happen.
They even say that a storm won’t flip your skirt.
But if this isn’t short, then what on earth qualifies as short?
Focusing my glare onto Stella, I thought, tch.
“Ugh, why? It’s true! If you don’t believe me, just look around the classroom later. There will definitely be girls who have already shortened theirs.”
“…Did you shorten yours too?”
Stella averted her eyes.
“…A little?”
“What?! You’ve got to be kidding! Tsk.”
“What?! I haven’t shortened mine that much! Look! It’s hardly any different from yours! And I told you to use pretty language!”
“If you’re going to shorten it, why not just walk around in your underwear instead?”
“Wh-what are you saying…”
I clicked my tongue and glared at Yurasia.
“You didn’t shorten yours, did you?”
“…Hehe.”
“Ugh.”
Now it’s not even funny anymore.
I barely managed to hold onto my sanity as I rubbed my brow.
Oh my god.
Has Yurasia shortened hers too?
Is this really something that young people think isn’t even short nowadays?
“Why don’t you say anything harsh about Sir Yurasia?!”
“…She probably didn’t shorten it as much as you did. It’s probably just a little.”
Yurasia’s eyes trembled in response.
“…Yurasia?”
“Hehe.”
“…Why? Stella is short, so she’s trying to look taller, but you don’t need to. You’re beautiful just as you are… No, no, you need to lengthen that skirt right now. I can’t stand seeing you like this.”
“Don’t talk about height! And you’re seriously unbelievable. Are you her parent or something? From what you say, you sound like the biggest old hag there is!”
“Old hag?! Hey, I might not be Yurasia’s mother, but I—wait, um… I mean…”
What should I even say?
I’d never say “older sister,” I’d hate that.
I couldn’t say “older brother” with this body either. What about “mother”? No way.
Saying “dad” would just provoke laughter.
What on earth should I call myself…?
“What’s that? Who do you think you are?”
I looked at Yurasia.
She seemed to be shyly curling up for some reason.
Now I was certain this wouldn’t help clarify my questions.
“…Just shut up.”
“Got nothing to say? Then don’t say anything to me and Sir Yurasia either. Besides, Sir Yurasia is practically your older sister.”
“Older sister? No way!”
“Welcome to Karela Academy. You are a student of Karela Academy. And at this Academy, there are no social classes. So, Sir Yurasia could easily be considered your older sister.”
“Then why do you keep calling her Sir Yurasia?”
“…I-I’ll start addressing her more casually!”
Yurasia’s eyes widened.
“Then… can I call you casually too…?”
“Yes! No, um… Ah! You can! Feel free…!”
“…Okay. I’ll do that, Stella. Hehe…”
“Ugh… Okay… Yurasia… big sis.”
“You two are…? No, whatever. Let’s just… let’s just go.”
Clenching my trembling fists tightly, I stood up.
My legs feel exposed. I have no hindrance in my movements.
It feels uneasy. Just a misstep and I might end up showcasing my underwear to the world.
I know I shouldn’t pull my skirt down, but I still did for some reason.
It meant nothing. With Stella and Yurasia’s mysterious smiles, my embarrassment only grows.
“…Can I wear sportswear under this?”
“Sportswear is only allowed during practice hours, I hear?”
“…Oh, right.”
“You don’t have to worry, young lady! It really suits you and you’ll look beautiful!”
“That’s not what I’m worried about, no… ugh…”
I tightly shut my eyes.
Then, the back of my skirt was slightly tugged, and I heard Yurasia’s soft voice.
“Young lady, be sure to adjust the back of your skirt properly when getting up like you did just now. If it’s wrinkled… it could be a problem.”
“…But they said it’s enchanted, so it should be fine.”
“Um… it automatically smooths the rolled-up parts, but wrinkled ones can’t be magically fixed. So, sit down properly, and adjust like this. For the butt area, like this.”
“…Okay, I get it. Just stop touching my butt.”
“Gasp… Four!”
I felt a ticklish sensation on my butt as we moved. The skirt rustled and tickled my thighs.
After wearing pants all the time and now wearing a skirt, my legs felt a little chilly… oddly bare.
“If you’re cold, just wear stockings like I do.”
“Just let me freeze to death!”
“Gasp
… No! Young lady!”*
Having left the dormitory, we arrived at Signia’s main building, heading toward the central hall to check the class assignment list posted on the bulletin board.
“Wow!! I’m in the same class as you, young lady!!”
“Really? I thought we’d be separated.”
Yurasia, who ended up in the same class as me, squealed and hugged me.
“You thought we would be separated? You didn’t wish for that, did you?!”
“No way.”
I simply thought that if I ended up in the same class as Yurasia, it might throw off the balance.
But, well… I think it’s sufficient to keep us together. The professors probably haven’t seen me capture a basilisk.
They even went off saying I flunked practical classes. So rather than worrying about me, they must have separated Yurasia from Stella.
And… since they probably knew about the relationship between Yurasia and me, they put us together.
But that last thought is just my imagination.
“…Uh, um.”
Meanwhile, Stella, who was in a different class, looked gloomy.
“Left all alone, huh? Feeling sad?”
“What?! Alone? No way! I dropped myself. Ugh, I’m not sad. I don’t care. Ha! It’s actually better…”
“That’s right, Yurasia. We’ve been cast off by Stella. The self-proclaimed genius mage who achieved the youngest 3rd circle and was accepted as the second best—that’s Stella Behrhaigen. She can handle us both alone. Amazing. You’re the best.”
“Ugh… No! Stop! Don’t say that! And I… I only dropped one of you!”
“Then should I curse you? Call you a lousy mage?”
“Don’t call me lousy!”
“Praise me and it’s a problem. Curse me and it’s a problem. What are you gonna do about it?”
“Just… just don’t say anything at all.”
Hmph—I chuckled and handed Stella a macaron.
“Make friends with your classmates. Don’t fight. If you have a tough time, just tell the homeroom professor right away. If that’s not enough, then come to me. I’ll counsel you.”
“…Don’t talk to me like a parent just because you’re wearing a skirt.”
Stella, quivering, finally spat out those words.
Hearing that, I poked her side a little harder than usual as we entered the classroom.
She gasped and yelped.
“Don’t just sit there grumbling. I know you’re proud, but there’s no need to show off to me.”
Stella’s mouth fell open, dumbfounded.
“…What do you mean by that? What do you mean I don’t need to show you?!”
“Who knows.”
Leaving behind a still-dazed Stella, I promptly entered my assigned classroom.
Following me, Yurasia exchanged goodbyes with Stella and cautiously entered behind me.
All eyes turned toward us.
Every gaze I met quickly shifted away, except for two.
Ears perked up. A bushy tail swayed.
The tousled light brown short hair danced with the movements of the ears, and the same colored eyes sparkled.
The adorable mouth of the squirrel beastman opened.
So pretty.
My gaze fell down to the skirt.
Her expression crumpled up. Our eyes met.
The squirrel’s ears drooped. The tail curled down.
She began to hug her curled tail with both arms and trembled.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction.
Then she covered her eyes with both hands and started to shake.
Why is she covering her eyes?
As I tilted my head, I caught the attention of another person.
Platinum hair. Eyes the same color as her hair.
This 17-year-old girl, looking as if she’s lived her whole life, gazes at the world with indifferent eyes—Princess Silina de Herman.
That gaze is quite unwelcome.
She seemed to have no interest in anyone, so why is she staring so intently at me?
I sighed softly and gently patted Yurasia’s stiff back.
“Let’s go sit down.”
Just as I was about to move my feet, I heard, “Huh…? Young Lady!!”
The world flipped upside down.