Chapter 61: Failed Application

"Why would you say that, Sanaka-san?"

Angelie reached out to the wailing Sanaka.

"Because every time people see us together in our swimsuits, I'll always be compared to your slender and perfect figure! They'll say, 'Oh, look at that walking piece of lumber beside the goddess of swimsuits!'. And it's not even your fault, Angelie-san!"

Sanaka then banged the table repeatedly.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit, Sanaka-san."

Angelie awkwardly smiled at Sanaka. Angelie then brushed her hand on Sanaka's hair repeatedly to calm Sanaka down.

"I'm not… It's just you're too beautiful for us mere mortals to even compare… And I'm proud to be your friend. But it's still frustrating…"

Sanaka looked up at Angelie while sniffling.

"I'm still angry at the fact that Angelie-san is being careless about things that could endanger her. But we came here for Sanaka-san's sake. So, I suggest we do what we came here for."

Mimi interjected with her eyes closed.

---

A few minutes later after Sanaka calmed down, the three girls changed into their school swimsuits. While it was true that Angelie had the best figure, Mimi and Sanaka weren't that far behind. Their bust, waist and hip measurements were along the lines of society's expectations of beauty.

Angelie took out a large mirror from her room and brought it to the living room. Sanaka stood in front of the mirror and intently looked at herself from different angles. She turned around and sideways to see how she looked like. Then, she looked at Angelie and Mimi to compare herself to them. The two of them were standing together beside her, outside of the mirror's view. Sanaka then let out a sigh and smiled.

"See, Sanaka-san? There wasn't any need to be so self-conscious. You have a very nice figure yourself. You should be more confident."

Angelie smiled at Sanaka while she watched Sanaka moving about in front of the mirror.

"I guess you're right, Angelie-san…"

Sanaka then tried different poses in front of the mirror. She made some very alluring poses while looking at herself.

"I believe that your worries are now resolved. Am I right to assume that, Sanaka-san?"

Mimi intently watched Sanaka.

"Oh, no!"

Sanaka shouted then stopped moving as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"What happened, Sanaka-san?"

Angelie reacted immediately at Sanaka's scream.

"What if now… people will look at me with lustful desires?! How will I be able to protect myself?!"

Sanaka covered her chest area with her arms crossed over.

"Has she always been like this, Angelie-san?"

Mimi looked at Angelie with an exasperated look.

"You can say that."

Angelie shrugged her shoulders as she answered Mimi.

---

The three girls wore their swimsuits inside Angelie's apartment while they prepared dinner. They decided to make a simple curry dish. Angelie and Sanaka prepared the ingredients while Mimi cooked the curry. They continued to wear the swimsuits even while eating. Afterwards, Angelie said that she'll take care of washing the dishes. Mimi and Sanaka obliged and then went on their way home after changing clothes.

It was already dark outside when the two girls left Angelie's apartment. Mimi and Sanaka talked while they were walking toward the train station.

"Do you think that Angelie-san is really safe living alone?"

Sanaka looked at Mimi.

"I am worried about it, to be honest. We can’t be sure if someone has already entered her apartment and was left alone with Angelie-san."

Mimi sternly looked back at Sanaka. Meanwhile, somewhere far away, Akuma sneezed out loud.

"She does seem very independent and responsible. So, I don't think she'll be careless to let someone inside her apartment and be alone with that person who she doesn't trust."

Sanaka smiled at Mimi. Back at Angelie's apartment, Angelie sneezed out loud.

"I hope that was completely true. She just made a mistake wearing that racy swimsuit. I need to give Yuurei-san a piece of my mind."

Mimi slightly furrowed her eyebrows.

"You're really overprotective of Angelie-san, aren't you, Mimi-san?"

Sanaka smiled a little bit at Mimi.

"She worries about a lot of things, but the least thing she worries about is herself. She's been like that ever since, even until now… So, I need to be the one to worry about her."

Mimi looked straight ahead with determination.

"I'm honestly envious of your bond. Sometimes, I feel like I have no place in your friendship… Sorry if I sound bitter or something."

Sanaka stuck out her tongue at Mimi.

"It just so happens that we knew each other… a little earlier. But it doesn't mean you're less of a friend. As a matter of fact, I worry about you. Just on different matters from Angelie-san."

Mimi averted her gaze from Sanaka.

"What?! Please, tell me!"

Sanaka grabbed Mimi's arm with both her hands. She leaned closer to Mimi.

"Well, there's a lot of things… But right now, aren't you supposed to make the poster for the swimming training session? Will you have enough time? We probably shouldn't have stayed too late at Angelie-san's place."

Mimi still didn't make any eye contact with Sanaka.

"Oh, you're right! I need to hurry up or I won't have enough time to sleep! See you tomorrow, Mimi-san!"

Sanaka ran ahead and waved goodbye at Mimi.

"She's too concerned about sleep while forgetting she has a task to do. That's why I also worry about that girl…"

Mimi shook her head.

---

The following day, Sanaka came to school early to put up the poster she made to announce the Help club's swimming training session. She placed it on the bulletin board located just in the hallway beyond the shoe lockers. The poster showed the details of the training sessions and who to approach if they wanted to join. The poster was large and colorful which made it stand out among the other posters.

Sanaka headed to her classroom after putting up the poster. She planned to steal some sleep before classes started. She pulled out her chair and sat down on it. When she was about to rest her head on top of her table, the door of her classroom opened. There were some male and female students who were looking for Sanaka. They stormed the classroom and flocked around Sanaka once they knew who she was. They inquired about the swimming training session. Sanaka almost scared the students away as she snarled at them.

Meanwhile, in the hallways, a male student wearing a kendo gi was reading the poster of Sanaka. When he read it would be conducted by the Help club, he rushed toward 2-B's classroom. He opened the door and saw the students crowding a certain table. He entered the classroom and tried to reach the female student in the middle of the crowd but there were too many students surrounding her. When the crowd started to whittle down, he was able to talk to the girl.

"Hi, I’d like to join the swimming training session!"

The male student with green hair was gasping for air as he talked to Sanaka.

"May I know your name and from what class?"

Sanaka didn’t look up to who was talking. She was busy counting the list she had written in front of her.

"Tsurugi Kenji. From class 2-A. Please, let me join—"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Tsurugi-san. We're already at full participants. I actually allowed up to twenty-five people join. Our club president decided it should only be up to twenty."

Sanaka awkwardly smiled at Kenji. He knelt down on the floor on both knees and looked up at Sanaka.

"Please, I'm begging you! I really have to join!"

"You must really don’t know how to swim, huh? I wish I could help you, but the others would be angry with me if I allowed more to join… Especially our Club President. I'm really sorry!"

Sanaka bowed at Kenji.

"No, I can't miss this chance—"

"Hey, Captain Tsurugi! Let's change back into our school uniforms. What are you doing there?"

Several students in kendo gi stopped by the open door of classroom 2-B. They were looking at Kenji, who was still kneeling on the floor.

"Sorry, I'll go there now."

Kenji, with his head bowed down, stood up and exited the classroom. He left with the other students who waited for him.

A few moments later, Angelie entered the classroom. She looked at the students in kendo gi who seemed to have left the classroom.

"What was that about, Sanaka-san?"

Angelie stood in front of the seated Sanaka.

"Well, there was that one student who wanted to join the swimming training session. Unfortunately, the list was already full. I even accepted more than what we decided on."

Sanaka looked up at Angelie.

"That's too bad, then. But how many did you accept beyond the limit we set?"

"Only five more. I think they would still fit inside the pool."

Sanaka looked at her list as she answered Angelie.

"As long as we give more work for that stupid Demon Lord, I'm all for it."

Angelie grinned as she looked up.