Chapter 84

“Oh, don’t worry, it’s not like I borrowed it for money. I don’t need to pay you back later.”

“……”

Ria saw right through my worries and spoke. I felt a bit guilty for fussing over money in my mind.

“I’ve been here before, you know.”

“Yes, Chaeun really benefited from your help back then!”

The woman who seemed to be the shop owner said this while beaming with a bright smile. She looked to be in her early thirties, and running a shop like this… well, I’m not sure how capable she is, to be honest. My only experience from my previous life was a brief stint at a company.

Shortly? Wait, was that the case?

I do recall it being short. I hadn’t been employed for long at all. I definitely lived until my mid-twenties.

And then I read that novel, sent a message of support to the author, and the next day, I clearly remember arriving in this world.

“Anna?”

While I was tilting my head in confusion, Ria called out to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”

Honestly, I have no idea what that discomfort is. I felt it once before, but I couldn’t accurately recall its essence.

“Is it hard to believe that I saved someone?”

Ria joked, and I shrugged my shoulders in response.

“Not at all. If it’s you, then you must have been quite active until now.”

“……Really?”

Somehow, Ria seemed to cheer up at my compliment.

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

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

“You do, right? To be honest, I don’t trust your sense of style at all.”

“……”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Ria.

Though I hadn’t actually chosen clothes in this world, it’s a swimsuit; they must be similar enough, right? As long as I don’t pick something too flashy, it shouldn’t matter. After all, I have a pretty face and a decent body. I thought a simple swimsuit would suit me just fine.

“Come on, come on, stop making that face.”

Ria lightly shoved my shoulder and walked into the shop.

Why is she being so serious about this?

Is she really just itching to hit the beach herself?

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

“……”

Thinking about it makes me annoyed.

Even if we’re not dating, it doesn’t feel pleasant when beautiful girls around me start to get boyfriends. Though, there’s no chance of that happening anyway.

The bizarre discomfort in my mind disappeared without having a chance to settle due to this strange irritation.

*

No matter how uninterested I am in fashion, I still know the different types of swimsuits.

Especially, I am aware that there are swimsuits with no exposure. Even if it’s not a one-piece, I know about rash guards, and that some can be worn like outerwear.

Having no girlfriend meant I hadn’t seen how it looks to wear one, but that doesn’t mean I’ve never been to a pool or beach. Plus, episodes involving going to the beach are extremely common in movies, dramas, and comics.

“So, why do you keep bringing these to me?”

I said, holding up two bikinis in my hands. Both of them were bikinis. One was a black color, like a nun’s habit, and the other had a bizarre leopard pattern.

If I had to choose, I’d pick the black one, but honestly, both options were a bit questionable to base my ‘sense’ on.

“Isn’t there at least a competitive swimmer’s swimsuit?”

“Isn’t it a bit odd to wear that kind of swimsuit at the beach?”

Ria replied with a hint of disbelief to my question, and I was left equally confused.

“……Why are we discussing the type of swimsuit when we’re going to enter the water?”

“Anna, there’s a proper outfit for any place, you know.”

Ria said it as if it were an unchangeable fact.

“I remember there was never a time I went to the beach in a nun’s outfit while living as a nun.”

“I told you, right? If you wear a nun’s outfit to the beach, it’s going to stand out even more.”

“……”

That was a logic I couldn’t refute, so I kept my mouth shut.

“But more importantly, why does the dressing room say one person at a time?”

I don’t quite understand why having two people in the dressing room is prohibited.

…….

Ah, now I get it. Even if it’s not a romantic relationship, situations like that could definitely happen.

It wouldn’t happen to me, though.

But thinking like that just annoys me more.

What’s the deal? Even though Ria talks about hunting and such, isn’t she in a similar position? She’s pretty, and she even has some level of fame.

Plus, her figure is great. Anyone would say it’s unrealistic.

It feels like she keeps saying things to me, but I also have my own thoughts. Honestly, it’s starting to get annoying to think about it.

I have my own boundaries set.

In my previous life, what I did was helping people. There were seniors older than me and, on the contrary, younger people as well. Some were my age physically but mentally much younger.

In that environment, the most important thing to establish was an absolute boundary that should never be crossed. Otherwise, a problem would definitely arise somewhere. Not just between me and people, but also between people themselves.

The reason I always preferred to be alone until Ria came along was that I didn’t want to cross that boundary. I know very well that I’m not just a kind person.

However, whenever I’m near Ria, that boundary keeps trying to crumble. It’s not Ria breaking it, rather I feel like I’m leaning over and about to cross it myself.

Regardless, I want to maintain my relationship with Ria. I hope this ‘close’ relationship lasts as long as it can.

“What’s the big deal? We’re both girls. We hang out together, right? Clothes are…”

“Clothes are to be changed separately.”

I nodded while saying that.

I can even defend myself by saying I’m not being overly dramatic. Basically, physical contact between the same sex is problematic within the convent.

The church knows well how dangerous it is when ‘boundaries’ break.

True, that ‘danger’ is firmly rooted in religion, but… well, such things shouldn’t be happening in a dormitory.

“And besides, even if we’re both girls, we don’t undress in front of each other, right? It’s more natural to change in the same place.”

“Oh, right, that does make sense.”

In the end, Ria accepted that argument.

“And to be honest, handing me swimsuits like this seems a bit teasing. There’s no rule saying you must wear a bikini just because you’re at the beach. I know what types of swimsuits there are.”

At that, Ria blinked.

This time, she looked like I hit her with a reality check. So she was actually trying to tease me… wait.

She looked like she was put out, but somehow there was an oddly unfair look in her expression.

If it’s not teasing, then what’s going on?

“Anyway.”

And looking at that expression made my own feelings turn strange again, so I quickly spoke up.

“Then, Ria, you go first.”

I pointed at Ria with my finger.

“You try it on first, and if you pick a similar swimsuit, then I will too. Show me something good since I’m completely clueless.”

“……”

At my words, Ria stared blankly for a moment—

“……Okay.”

She said, looking at me with fiery eyes.

“If I wear it, you’re going to wear a similar one too, right?”

“Uh, hey, Ria?”

But by the time I tried to say something to that Ria, it already seemed too late.

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

With that said, Ria brushed aside the curtain of the dressing room and strode out.

I could only stand there, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

…….

But wait, why on earth does she want me to just wait here…?

*

Well, it seems Ria has a normal sense of common sense, as she went ahead and changed when she asked me to wait outside.

I found myself anxiously pacing back and forth outside, listening to the sound of her clothes brushing against her skin.

After about five minutes, the movement inside ceased.

“Ria?”

Since there was no sound for a while, I cautiously called her name.

Then, I heard a slight gasp from inside, and the curtain opened just a crack, with Ria peering out.

“Hey, Anna.”

Ria said with a very serious expression.

“How about we call it a draw?”

“……”

I stared blankly at her for a moment before gently raising my hand to the curtain.

“If you’re going to challenge me, then we have to see the results. Show me what you’re wearing.”

“Uh, wait, hey.”

“Oh, be careful, or it might rip if you pull it too hard!”

I smiled broadly while tugging on the curtain.

We tussled over the curtain for nearly a minute, and eventually, Ria had to let go of the curtain and finish our little scuffle since she wouldn’t be able to change her clothes otherwise.

And inside, Ria was… well.

In many senses, she was amazing.

“Ria, let’s just call it a draw.”

I said with a serious face, but already having shown me, Ria grinned like a wildcat.

“If you challenged me, then we really need to see the results.”

Hmm.

I should have just said to call it a draw when I had the chance.

I pressed my hand to my forehead.