Another ordinary day had passed, and before I knew it, it was a weekday again.
It was time to leave behind the comfortable short-sleeved attire and return to my uniform. Instead of the fluttering fabric, I was now covered in a thick material that seemed to wrap stiffly around my body. The sleeves were large enough to cover my hands, and it definitely felt heavier.
I did a few jumps in place, which helped straighten out the uniform that had been awkwardly hanging on my shoulders. After rolling up my sleeves, I noticed the Professor looking at me, wearing his coat.
"I should probably stop wearing such thick clothes soon. Don't you think, Urr?"
"...Then what should I wear?"
"Maybe just the shirt underneath?"
"Hmm..."
I placed my hand on the snow-white shirt visible between the open jacket. I could feel the touch directly against my skin.
I remembered that time when I wasn't wearing anything underneath and my body and chest grew, revealing what was inside. I frowned hesitantly and let out a small groan.
I should probably wear something underneath, I thought worriedly as I glanced at the Professor.
But the Professor had insisted I wear something before, and it was extremely uncomfortable then. Would it be any different now?
I still had time to think about it. Considering the bare skin under the shirt, I furrowed my brow. After mumbling for a bit, I cautiously spoke up.
"Professor..."
"Yes?"
"Should I wear something underneath?"
The Professor seemed confused by my question, pondering for a while. Then, as if suddenly understanding what I meant, his eyes lit up and he clapped his hands together.
"Ah! That's right! If you're going to dress lightly from now on, you should definitely dress lightly, shouldn't you?"
"...I guess so."
Though I was the one who asked, I wasn't entirely pleased with the answer and pouted. After contemplating for a while, I let out a sigh with slumped shoulders.
It felt like giving up.
"Then I guess I'll have to wear something..."
"Let's go buy some today!"
The Professor, seemingly in a good mood, hummed as he picked me up and hugged me tight.
Lifted suddenly, I let out a surprised "Huh?" And just like that, I was carried outside.
Perhaps mindful of others' eyes, he put me down by the time we reached the elevator. I had been terrified that we were heading straight to The Academy like this, so I sighed in relief while patting my chest.
As I exhaled a quiet "phew," the Professor suddenly looked at his phone with a serious expression.
"...What's wrong?"
I couldn't help but ask, seeing the Professor's face turn grave. When I cautiously inquired while reading his mood, his gaze wavered and turned toward me.
"Ah, well... It seems the Professor suddenly has some business to attend to."
"Eh? But it's Monday morning."
"Yes. ...Still, since Urr can move around The Academy on her own, let's go there together at least."
Eh.
"Eh...?"
Only surprised sounds escaped my mouth twice in a row.
I couldn't help but look dumbfounded at the Professor suddenly saying he had to leave me at The Academy to attend to some business.
As I stared at him with a mix of surprise and bewilderment, the Professor apologized several times and took me to The Academy.
He had suddenly left for work before, but I didn't expect it to happen so abruptly again, so my confusion didn't easily subside.
The Professor instructed me not to leave The Academy grounds and then quickly departed. Left alone in the Laboratory, I quietly sat in a chair.
There was supposed to be a lecture for second-year students on Monday mornings, and I wasn't sure if they would be happy or sad about the sudden free period, which made me feel awkward.
Well, the Professor would handle it somehow.
With my day suddenly cleared, I sat in my seat with a blank expression, waiting for the Professor. It wasn't like I had more time to spend with the Professor, nor did I have more time to spend at home.
So I eventually took out my phone.
"What are you all doing?"
After sending a voice message, replies came back almost instantly.
[Resting since I have a morning break.]
[On my way to school. Going to borrow some books from the Library.]
Aria and Karen had replied. Seeing that one person hadn't read the message yet, it seemed Sera was still sleeping.
Sera was sleeping, Aria was at home, and Karen was on her way to school. I could tell all three were skilled enough to arrange their Monday mornings free.
By the way, it seemed unusual that Karen would go to school early for the Library despite having created a free Monday morning schedule.
Is Karen the Demon God instead of me? Well, not that such things determine who's a Demon God, but still, such peculiar behavior was certainly not ordinary.
After groaning quietly, I held my phone silently.
"Since the Professor suddenly had something to do, should I go to the Library too?"
I thought it would be fine as long as I didn't leave The Academy grounds, so being with Karen should be okay.
[Oh, you're coming, Urr? That's fine with me. I'll read books with you too.]
Karen happily replied to my question. At least I'm not getting cold treatment everywhere. It's nice to have someone who welcomes me, I thought, and the corners of my mouth curled up.
Just like taking a bus, you can use the Warp Point by tapping your card. I could take a bus if I wanted to save money. But since I said I'd come, it wouldn't take Karen long to arrive.
After much consideration, I checked that my ID badge was properly hung around my neck and hopped off the chair.
Then my phone made a "ding" sound with a notification.
[What? I want to come too. The Library, right?]
Aria seemed to have changed her mind suddenly upon hearing that Karen and I were meeting, and after sending a message saying she'd come right away, she went silent.
Not much time had passed. I was standing at the main entrance of the Library inside The Academy. I had habitually come here because Karen always used this entrance.
I absentmindedly looked up at the massive building. I sent a voice message to the Professor. When I told him I'd be at the Library with Karen and Aria, he sent back a cute emoticon with heart-shaped eyes.
I didn't need anyone to decode or explain it to understand what his response meant. I chuckled.
"Urr! Did you wait long?"
"No, I just got here."
I waved my hand at the sight of Karen.
The blue color complementing the pure white uniform was definitely pretty. I almost wanted to grab the Professor's coat and ask him to buy one for me. Of course, I had no intention of throwing such a tantrum.
After all, I had my own allowance.
"Karen."
"Yes?"
"How much does an Academy uniform cost?"
"...Oh, right."
Karen thought for a moment and then slightly spread two fingers.
"Two? Twenty thousand?"
"No, two hundred."
"Ah, um...?"
The uniform costs two hundred?
As I froze in place, Karen burst into laughter and spoke to me.
"How could a uniform cost twenty thousand? Two hundred is expensive enough."
Karen's words made me feel like my brain had stopped working.
If her reaction to twenty thousand was that it's too expensive, then two hundred must not mean two hundred thousand. Ah, right, I've been living without knowing the currency unit here.
I took out the money I had received from the Professor again. Even though I had received money, I hadn't checked how much it was. Even if I was planning to give it to Karen, not checking the amount was a mistake.
Perhaps I had become careless because the Professor handled financial matters, or maybe I wasn't interested in the amount because I was planning to give it to Karen. Either way, I decided I should definitely know this time and brightened my eyes.
I took out the crumpled money and carefully read the numbers.
"One, two, three..."
Twelve bills of ten, four bills of five. A total of fifty. I held them quietly and looked at Karen.
"I have fifty Rill."
While I was fidgeting with the money, Karen seemed to have been counting along as she chuckled.
"Rill?"
"It's the currency unit. You didn't know?"
"...I didn't. So this is Rill."
I absentmindedly played with the money.
So I have a quarter of what's needed for a uniform. That's nowhere near enough. Since I'm not a child who receives an allowance, it seemed the uniform was just a dream.
Besides, it would look strange if I bought a uniform. Given that I'm currently classified as Supplies, wearing a student uniform would look odd, and even if I did wear one, the question of what color to use would remain, so I could only let out a deep sigh.
"Urr, do you want to wear a uniform?"
"Hmm, no. I was curious, but not anymore."
I shook my head.
"Why?"
"...I want to be friends with everyone, but it might be difficult if I'm assigned to a specific year."
"Really? I think what you're wearing now is cute too."
Karen patted my head as I clutched the money tightly.
"By the way, you came with your hair down today? Want me to brush it for you?"
"Yes."
I nodded. Then Karen took out a brush from her bag and showed it to me. It was the expensive-looking brush that Aria had given her before.
"My sister kept trying to take it, but when I told her I got it from a senior, she quieted down. So I can carry it around now."
"You have a sister?"
"Yes. I have a younger sister. She keeps me busy. Maybe it's because she's at that age... Wait a moment."
Karen lowered herself and started brushing my hair. Perhaps because I had just roughly dried it after washing it yesterday and then lounged around, it was slightly tangled.
My head was pulled back each time Karen brushed my hair.
"Karen, ow!"
"Oh, sorry."
"No, it's okay... my hair is tangled... ow!"
"...Sorry, it's really tangled."
With my head tilted back again mid-sentence, I turned and stared at Karen. Karen looked genuinely apologetic. Meanwhile, her hands were showing her palms as if telling me to calm down.
"...These things happen."
Since her intentions weren't bad, there was no reason to blame her. I closed my eyes again and started receiving Karen's brushing. Her touch had definitely become gentler and softer than before, which made me feel good.
"Urr, Karen!"
"Ah, it's Aria."
Just as I thought my hair was quite organized, Aria came rushing in wearing her school uniform, waving her hand. The third-year uniform with black accents caught my eye.
"Ah, Senior. Hello!"
"...You can call me Unnie. It's all the same after graduation anyway."
"Shouldn't I be more respectful after you graduate?"
"Is that so?"
While Aria and Karen were exchanging greetings, I rolled my eyes toward the brush stuck in my hair. I couldn't see it, but I could definitely feel the brush tickling my scalp.
"Karen, are you done with the brush? Can I take it out?"
"Ah, no. I'll finish it up."
"Okay."
As I nodded and waited, Aria glanced at me and quietly reached out her hand.
"Then can I help too? It'll be easier to read books in the Library if we organize your hair."
"Ah, I have a tie."
Karen took out a rubber band from her pocket and held it out. Seeing that, Aria nodded and took one.
"Um, the Library...?"
After glancing at Aria and Karen, who had started focusing on my hair, I cautiously asked.
"In a bit..."
"I just got here, so let me touch it a little more."
But they started concentrating as if their original purpose wasn't the Library at all. Well, Aria's purpose wasn't the Library to begin with.
As I received the attention of both of them, I had to endure the stares of people coming and going to the Library. So I felt a bit embarrassed.