Chapter 73: Chapter 73

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Misunderstanding

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"…Hey, Amelia."

"Yeah."

"Am I the only one… thinking of *that*?"

"Me too."

A delicious-looking steak lay before them.

Its appetizing aroma and appearance clearly promised a delightful taste.

But seriously.

Why did she have to cut it up like this…?

"Please, eat up. I hope you enjoy it!"

"…Uh, sure. Thanks."

Arte said, smiling.

I wondered what on earth that smile meant.

"Aren't you eating?"

"H-Heek. I-I'll eat… D-Delicious. Ehehe…"

I couldn't stand how much it bothered me.

I thought it was just us, but that wasn't the case either.

That maid, whose forehead was still red from burying her head in the ground earlier.

She, too, seemed hesitant to eat the steak, looking uncomfortable, but when Arte questioned her, she forced a smile and began to eat.

That maid knows too.

Well, she *is* from Übermensch, so she'd probably know about that incident. She might even know more than I do.

"Hmm…"

I'd never actually seen it, only heard about it on the news.

But I couldn't help but be bothered by it.

Cube steak, served by Arte.

I knew it wasn't *that*, but…

"…Ah, it's delicious."

"Isn't it? I'm quite confident when it comes to steak."

Before I knew it, Amelia had taken a bite and, with a lightened expression, began her meal.

Naturally, as if it were just delicious meat.

"Why did you bother cutting it up?"

"It's inconvenient to cut it yourself, isn't it? If it's pre-cut, you just have to eat it."

"Hmm…"

She said, if it's cut, you just have to eat it.

Saying that, Arte brought two more plates of steak, but then, as if realizing something, took them back to the kitchen.

"Huh? There are two extra?"

"Ah. This is… I just made too much."

"So you make mistakes too?"

"I'm human too, after all."

Watching Amelia and Arte laughing together, I gathered my courage and brought a piece to my mouth.

"…It's good."

"I'm glad to hear that."

When I casually offered my thoughts, Arte, who had been talking with Amelia, spoke to me.

"Would you like more?"

"No, this is enough. Thank you."

The cube steak, which I had been reluctant to eat because of her background, turned out to be nothing more than delicious steak once I tasted it.

Thinking that, I felt a bit more at ease interacting with Arte.

Like this cube steak, Arte's background was just a little intimidating.

Perhaps deep down, she was just a normal person.

That thought occurred to me.

"Phew. I'm full."

"Ah, the cleanup…"

"It's fine. Our maid will take care of it. Right?"

"Yes, yes! Just leave it to me! I'll do anything!"

The meal, which had started awkwardly but become warm and pleasant, ended, and Arte whispered something to the maid.

I couldn't hear clearly, but…

Alcohol? Why is she suddenly talking about alcohol?

I saw the maid's face turn pale.

I don't know. Is it some kind of code?

"Dorothy didn't eat much, did she?"

"Ah, I just don't have much appetite. Sorry."

At Arte's words, I looked at Dorothy's plate.

…It's true. She hadn't eaten a single piece.

She had only picked at the vegetables used for decoration, not touching the meat at all.

Is she feeling unwell?

She didn't seem to be.

"No problem. Spira? Please take care of this too."

"Leave it to me…"

Utterly deflated, the maid began to clear the table.

She looked like a scolded, dejected puppy.

Even though she was a snake.

"Alright, now that we've eaten, shall we go?"

"Yeah, let's go! To the beach!"

…Well, it's not like I need to worry about it.

I could somewhat understand why Arte scolded her.

Leaving her house, we got into the car.

It was time to go to the beach.

***

[It's summer! It's the beach!]

"…Where did you learn something like that?"

[Hehe, I just wanted to shout it once!]

Sighs escaped me continuously at the author's childish behavior.

Right, I wondered why the author had been so quiet lately. Of course.

It was nice having some quiet for a while… I decided to ask the author something I'd been wanting to know.

"Why have you been so quiet lately?"

[I was just thinking about the plot development for a bit.]

"…Plot development?"

[Something came up that's a little different from what I planned, but I think it's fine this way.]

"Ah, yes… Do you plan to tell me…?"

[It's no fun if I tell you!]

I didn't expect much.

The author always seemed to avoid spoilers by saying it wasn't fun if they told you.

…Though I wonder if there's any particular reason not to tell *me*.

"Arte, what are you doing over there?"

"Ah. Well…"

"Hurry up! We came to the beach to have fun!"

"Yes… You're right. I should have fun…"

Amelia, full of excitement, ran out onto the sandy beach.

A deserted beach.

The reason it was empty even during vacation season was that it was Amelia's private property.

Because of that, there was less reluctance about swimsuit exposure. There were fewer people to see.

But, but…

I simply didn't feel like coming out of the changing room.

No matter how I thought about it, this outfit… felt a bit, *off*.

"Why is this happening…?"

[Well, because you, the Reader, didn't choose any more swimsuits?]

"Please be quiet…"

[Why are you like this? It's not like I said anything wrong, is it? You're the one who made a mistake.]

Right, it wasn't wrong. It was my fault.

That's why I wanted to blame someone else.

When Amelia and Dorothy were excitedly picking out lots of swimsuits at the department store, I didn't choose any more.

I didn't feel like changing into more, and I was also worried about the stalker.

Was it because all my attention was focused on the stalker rather than swimsuits?

I ended up making a grave mistake.

…I didn't buy a swimsuit.

Why is that a mistake, you ask? It's simple.

If I only wore one swimsuit at the department store, what would others buy if they were buying a swimsuit for me?

Of course, they'd buy the one I wore first.

Was it a mistake that I got the swimsuit but was too lazy to even take it out?

I was about to pay the price for my complacency.

"Haa…"

I looked at the scrap of fabric in my hand.

…Do I really have to wear this?

Can't I just wear a leotard?

That sounds like a good idea!

Right, let's do that. The leotard is black, so it probably won't be see-through even when wet.

However, my perfect plan was instantly shattered by the author's words.

[…Reader. You're not thinking of wearing a leotard, are you?]

"Huh?"

[Surely, I trust you wouldn't go in wearing underwear.]

"Ah, ahaha… Of course not…"

Damn it.

I don't know why they're so quick-witted only at times like this.

There was nowhere left to run.

…In the end, do I have no choice but to wear this bikini?

If there's any solace to be found, it's that it's not the absolute worst.

Although the top is described as somewhat transparent when worn, there *is* a top, and the pareo, while almost transparent, does offer a little bit of coverage.

It's better than nothing, right?

[Why are you procrastinating so much? It's pretty.]

"No, I was originally a man, so a bikini is a bit…"

[Then just wear it like a man, just this once! Don't act like a girl if you were originally a man! You're not wearing it every day, so why are you like this? It's not going to wear out.]

"…"

What is this feeling?

This feeling of being nagged by the person who nags me every day.

I had a ton of things I wanted to retort, but this feeling that my rebuttal wouldn't work?

"I'll wear it, okay?! I'll just wear it!"

[Wow! So manly! As expected of the Reader! A real man!]

Are you making fun of me?

Calling someone who's going to wear a bikini a 'real man'.

My insides were boiling.

I'm really getting my comeuppance for all my past karma.

I sighed and entered the changing room.

Just you wait. I'll definitely get my revenge someday.

***

"Arte, you're late."

"She's probably changing."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She went into the changing room."

Still, she's taking too long.

Could something have happened to Arte?

As that thought crossed my mind, making me subconsciously keep looking back, Amelia's hand touched my arm.

"…What are you doing?"

"Oh, nothing, just thinking your body is better than I expected."

"Other students are all like this too, aren't they? You can't be a hero in training without at least this much."

"That's true, but seeing it in person is different. …Wow, it's hard."

Even though she saw it every day during swim class…

Amelia, saying it was fascinating, kept touching my body.

"…Right? It really is amazing."

"Dorothy, why are you doing this too?"

"It's amazing, isn't it! It's really hard."

…It's hot.

Shiu slowly raised a hand to push them away.

The hands, which had moved from his arm to his chest, were ticklish, and sticking together in the summer made it feel humid.

And then.

A shrill voice came from behind them.

"P-Perverts…!"

"Ah, Arte. You're here?"

"Wh-What are you doing right now?!"

"Huh?"

The three of them were flustered.

…Doing? What?

"A-Even if there's no one around, doing *that*… *that* kind of thing outdoors…!"

*That* kind of thing?

Unable to understand what Arte was talking about, I tried to imagine.

How we would look from a little distance away.

Two girls clinging to one boy, touching his chest.

From behind, their hands wouldn't be visible, so…

"A-Arte! It's not like that! It's just…"

As I tried to make an excuse, my mouth suddenly closed.

Because Arte was standing there, looking exactly as she did at the department store.

Shiu was busy trying to maintain his composure, feeling like he might inadvertently gaze at her with a lecherous look.

Now, wearing only a swimsuit, losing composure would lead to a disaster.

Such a situation simply couldn't happen.

"…It's not like that, you say?"

Arte's words jolted me back to reality.

There was no time to admire her appearance.

First, I had to somehow make an excuse…!

"You two, say something!"

If Dorothy and Amelia helped, this would be cleared up quickly.

Just one word from them!

But Dorothy and Amelia were, by then, running far off towards the sea.

Amelia, hearing my voice, turned her head, smiled sweetly, and gave a thumbs-up as if to say "Good luck."

Those two, did they run away on purpose…!

"Uh, th-that is…"

It took a little while to clear up Arte's misunderstanding.