Big Coconuts

Aria snatched the bra, holding it up like evidence in a murder trial. The heart charms tinkled mockingly.

"Pervert! Voyeur! Idiot!" Each word punctuated by a kick to Lucas's shin (gently—she checked his health bar first).

He didn't stir.

[Lucas' Health: 61/100]

[Status: Unconscious (Exhaustion)]

"Wake up and face your execution!" She shook his shoulders, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. His skin felt feverish.

Aria hesitated. Hateful as he was, letting him die of infection would doom her too. She begrudgingly hauled him onto the heart-shaped bed, the bra still clenched in her fist.

"This better be a system glitch," she muttered, pulling up the trade logs.

The logs were plain enough to see—Lucas's desperate haggling, SilkQueen's teasing, the final trade of 20 steel and 10 water. It was clear that his intention was to change the ship's precious resources for something comfortable for her, instead of satiating some weird creepy lust. 

He'd done this… for her?

Aria's anger ebbed into something worse: embarrassment.

She glanced at the bra—gaudy, impractical, but undeniably her size. The corset's broken underwire stabbed her ribcage as if agreeing.

"Idiot," she muttered.

Aria stared at the bra in her hand. The crimson lace felt soft against her skin, but the design made her want to set it on fire. Silver chains dangled from the straps, clinking like mocking laughter every time she moved. 

She glanced at Lucas, still unconscious on the bed. His bandages needed changing, but that could wait.

36DD, the tag read. SilkQueen's "guess" was suspiciously accurate. Aria's cheeks burned. Had Lucas really been… observing her that closely? She shot him a glare, half hoping he'd wake up just so she could throw a mango at his head.

But the corset's bite was relentless. Her breasts ached from the constant pressure, the sheer fabric chafing her skin. 

"This isn't for him," she muttered, grabbing the bra. "This is for me."

Aria hesitated, fingers on the corset's laces. What if Lucas woke up? What if the system decided to broadcast this to Global Chat? She shook her head. The game had already humiliated her worse. At least here, there were no witnesses.

She untied the corset. Cool air rushed over her skin as it fell open, revealing red marks across her ribs and stomach. Her old bra—a practical sports model—had been reduced to frayed straps and a bent clasp. She tossed it aside with a snarl.

The Crimson Temptation bra shimmered in her hands. Up close, the lace wasn't completely sheer. Tiny floral patterns wove together, offering scraps of modesty. The cups felt sturdy, lined with thin satin. Maybe it's not all bad.

She slid the straps over her shoulders. The moment the hooks clasped, the bra adjusted itself. Silver chains tightened automatically, the cups molding to her curves like they'd been tailor-made. Aria gasped.

[Item Equipped: Crimson Temptation Bra (Tier-2)]

[Effect Activated: +3 Charisma]

The bra fit perfectly, lifting and supporting without squeezing. The crimson lace contrasted with her pale skin, the chains drawing the eye to… She crossed her arms. 

"This is stupid."

But her shoulders felt lighter. No more ragged sports bra. She begrudgingly admitted it was the best thing she'd worn since the game began.

Now for the corset. She eyed the hated garment. Without a bra underneath, it gaped open, the sheer fabric showing far too much. But the system's buffs were tied to the outfit. She had no choice.

Aria pulled the corset back on, lacing it loosely. The effect was immediate. The crimson lace hugged her curves without biting into her skin, and the chains jingled softly with every breath. For the first time in days, her shoulders didn't ache. 

Stupid Lucas. She yanked the corset over it, lacing the sides just tight enough to keep everything contained. The sheer fabric still dipped dangerously, but at least the underwire wasn't stabbing her ribs anymore.

Her reflection blurred as the ship rocked. Behind her, Lucas lay sprawled on the bed, snoring lightly. Bandages peeked out from under the blankets, stained with dried blood. Aria's fingers twitched. 

She could strangle him. She should strangle him. But the trade logs didn't lie—he'd blown half their steel stash on this, and part of her… appreciated it?

Aria stood in front of the cracked mirror in the captain's quarters, glaring at her reflection. The Crimson Temptation Bra did fit perfectly—annoyingly so. The crimson lace cupped her curves without digging into her skin, and the silver chains dangling from the straps jingled faintly with every breath. She crossed her arms, but the motion only made the chains clink louder.

"Stupid. Gaudy. Luxury item," she muttered, yanking the sheer corset over it. The laces squeaked as she tightened them just enough to keep the outfit functional. At least the underwire wasn't stabbing her ribs anymore.

Her eyes flicked to the bed. Lucas lay sprawled on his back, one arm dangling off the mattress. His bandages had loosened in his sleep, revealing a nasty gash across his ribs. Fresh blood soaked through the shredded strips of her old tank top.

"Idiot," she said, softer this time.

She crouched beside him, peeling back the bloody fabric. The wound wasn't deep, but the edges were an angry red. Tentacle slime, probably infected. Aria hissed through her teeth. They had no antibiotics, no real medical supplies—just a handful of suspicious system items.

A flicker of guilt pricked her chest. She'd been too harsh earlier. The trade logs showed Lucas had haggled desperately for the bra, even offering their precious water reserves. He'd done it to help her, not to… whatever she'd accused him of.

"You're still an idiot," she told his unconscious form, dabbing the wound with a cloth soaked in freshwater. 

Lucas stirred, his brow furrowing, but he was in fact spiraling deeper into sleep.

A dream full of coconuts. 

Big Coconuts. Everywhere.

Lucas stood on a tropical beach, pink sand squishing between his toes. The ocean sparkled neon blue, and palm trees swayed overhead, their trunks carved into heart shapes. But instead of palm fronds, the trees sprouted giant, jiggling coconuts.

"What… the actual…"

Plop. A coconut detached itself and rolled toward him. 

"Coconuts…" he mumbled.

Aria froze.

"What did you say?"