156) Chapter 22. Because It’s Summer! (4)

But here's the thing.

It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking about picking out an “embarrassing swimsuit.”

And naturally, an “embarrassing swimsuit” was basically another way of saying a “sexy swimsuit.”

After all, if it was a swimsuit that didn't reveal much skin, there wouldn't be much reason to feel embarrassed.

Honestly, as someone who still remembered my previous life as a man, every women's swimsuit was embarrassing to begin with. But after wearing one at least once every year, I'd gradually gotten somewhat used to it.

Come to think of it, Soi and Chae-yi always seemed happiest when I wore clothes that showed more skin.

Other than swimsuit shopping, maybe underwear shopping was another example.

Of course, I rarely changed clothes in front of them or showed myself wearing only underwear.

But the two of them seemed perfectly happy simply imagining that I would wear those kinds of underwear someday.

...As a result, my closet contained quite a lot of expensive and daring underwear that I had never even picked out myself.

Naturally, I avoided wearing them whenever possible.

Anyway.

“U-um, Soi, I think that's a little...”

“Why? It's pretty. Doesn't black look sexy?”

Well, “sexy” usually meant there wasn't much fabric involved.

And if there was a lot of fabric, then it usually meant it was skintight enough to look almost see-through.

“Mm, no...”

I shifted my gaze around while staring at the black bikini Soi was holding out.

Well, yes, technically all the important parts were covered.

The problem was that it looked like only the important parts were covered.

There was just barely enough fabric that swimming would still be possible, but honestly, it didn't look like the sort of swimsuit you'd wear while hanging out with friends.

The top was basically two triangles.

And even without trying it on, I could tell that both the upper and lower portions of the chest would remain fully visible. It was the kind of design that looked like someone had simply placed two string-attached triangles over the chest.

Actually, I didn't even need to imagine it. The mannequin over there was wearing exactly that swimsuit.

“Why? You recommended something like this for Jiwoo too, didn't you? This one's much less extreme than that. Besides, Jinwoo doesn't exactly have a lot of curves. If she wore something like that, it'd probably slip during any vigorous movement.”

Since Jinwoo was currently dressed in women's clothing rather than men's clothing, she was “Jiwoo” here instead of Jinwoo.

“N-no, I mean, I was joking. It's not like I was seriously recommending she wear it.”

“Huh? Y-you were joking...?”

Jinwoo, who had been heading toward the fitting room carrying the swimsuit, looked back at me in confusion.

A white bikini hung from the hanger in her hand.

Judging by the amount of fabric, it was probably even smaller than the one Soi was holding. It covered only the bare minimum, and the strings were so thin that from a distance it might look like she wasn't wearing anything at all.

Of course it was a joke.

As Soi pointed out, if Jinwoo wore it, there was a genuine chance it might come flying off while she was running.

Besides, Jinwoo already looked somewhat young for her age.

If I actually put her in something like that, my conscience might take serious damage.

...Not that I'd explicitly told her not to wear it.

“C-could you wear something like that, Soi?”

“Hm? Of course I could. What do you think? Wouldn't it suit me?”

Soi held the swimsuit up in front of herself as she spoke.

Objectively speaking, there was nothing strange about it.

We weren't in a fitting room together. We were simply standing in the store looking at each other.

But somehow—

Maybe it was because the amount of fabric contrasted so sharply with Soi's normal clothing that it made me imagine it even more vividly.

Soi had never been particularly shy about choosing bikinis, and every summer vacation I'd inevitably witnessed her steadily maturing figure.

As a result, picturing her wearing that swimsuit was far too easy.

“Hm~.”

Soi made a teasing sound when she noticed my face turning red.

“What? Do you want to see it? Then maybe I should buy it.”

“N-no, no.”

I hurriedly shook my head.

Soi was the type who never hesitated to stick herself to me regardless of what she was wearing.

Even at pools or beaches, she was the kind of girl who would suddenly pick me up or pull me into a hug.

If both of us were wearing swimsuits—

Absolutely not.

“I-I really think something like that is a bit...”

I quickly snatched the swimsuit out of Jinwoo's hands.

Jinwoo immediately looked dejected.

No, why are you disappointed?

...Could it be that after spending so long disguised as a boy, she'd developed some kind of desire to wear outrageously revealing swimsuits?

“Then how about this—”

“Hey.”

The moment I hung the swimsuit back where it belonged and picked up a rash guard-style swimsuit instead, Soi's expression turned serious.

“I already said no rash guards.”

“Ah.”

I quietly put it back.

“This is the first time in her life she's wearing a women's swimsuit, and you're trying to make her wear something like that?”

Well, if it was someone's first time wearing a women's swimsuit, wouldn't jumping straight into something so revealing be a bit much?

Granted, I had been the one to recommend it initially, but still.

“Rua!”

While I was feeling flustered under Soi's stern gaze, Chae-yi suddenly squeezed herself between us with a bright smile.

“How about this?”

What she was holding was—

A pink bikini—

No, could I even call it a bikini?

Could it really be considered a separate top and bottom?

It looked as though the entire thing consisted of a single continuous string. Two thin strips of pink fabric extended from the neck down over the chest, ran along the sides of the waist, crossed behind the back, came forward again, and then barely covered the crotch.

In other words, if someone wore it, everything from the solar plexus down to just above the pubic bone would be completely exposed.

As though trying to preserve the tiniest shred of decency, there was a thin strap running just beneath the chest.

Though even that strap disappeared neatly beneath the breasts.

No, was it even physically possible to wear that?

Was it really intended for swimming?

Wasn't it meant for... other purposes?

It looked like the fabric would slide off to the side if you did anything more strenuous than walking.

“N-no matter what, that's too much.”

Hyeonji, who had been standing frozen like a statue with a bright red face while we recommended increasingly embarrassing swimsuits to each other, finally spoke up.

For the first time in a while, she sounded like the Discipline Committee member she was.

“Oh? Then do you want to wear it, Hyeonji?”

As though she'd been waiting for that exact opening, Chae-yi immediately held the swimsuit against Hyeonji's body.

The pink strips of fabric were suddenly layered over Hyeonji's short-sleeved shirt and slightly short shorts.

Hyeonji had such a good figure that it was obvious even beneath her unaltered school uniform, so once again I didn't need to see it worn to imagine the result.

“I-I'm absolutely not wearing that!”

Hyeonji practically screamed.

Since it was summer and the store was packed with people shopping for swimsuits before visiting water parks or beaches, countless heads immediately turned toward her.

Fortunately, Chae-yi quickly lowered the swimsuit, so nobody actually saw it held against Hyeonji's body.

“Come on, I'm joking. Even I couldn't let other people see Rua wearing something like that.”

Chae-yi said with a laugh.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

Then—

“The only people who should see Rua wearing something like that are us.”

Chae-yi deliberately added that final comment.

“I'm buying this.”

“Ch-Chae-yi!?”

This time I was the one who screamed before immediately turning red.

One of the employees was beginning to look increasingly unhappy, so I quickly lowered my head and hid myself between the clothing racks.

*

It seemed that both Soi and Chae-yi had been joking to some extent when they recommended those swimsuits to me.

Which made sense.

We were going to the beach to have fun, weren't we? We'd be splashing water on each other and throwing one another into the ocean.

If someone wore a swimsuit that extreme, it would probably come flying off while they were running around.

This year we wouldn't be borrowing the Principal's beach house, so we'd be going to a more ordinary beach instead.

The house hadn't been sold or anything.

But apparently lending it to Academy students might create a bad impression.

Normally nobody would know unless someone went around talking about it.

Unfortunately, our families weren't exactly normal.

It was the home of the country's most famous hero couple, after all. People might start talking about favoritism or special treatment.

“If this were last year, we'd have made you wear it.”

“Y-you were serious...?”

A chill ran down my spine at Soi's muttering, and I asked reflexively.

Chae-yi nodded.

“Of course. Why would we bother buying it if we weren't planning on having you wear it?”

“Uh...”

“But it'd be a bit much to wear outside, so let's save it for home. Maybe the bathtub.”

“N-no.”

They were serious?

They hadn't bought it just to tease me?

The thought that I might end up wearing a swimsuit more revealing than the ones from the gacha games I played nearly made my mind go blank.

“Rua...”

Jinwoo, who was sitting beside the completely frozen Hyeonji, muttered softly with a deeply flushed face.

No, why are you the one who's happy about this?

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Pub: 03 Jun 2026 10:03 UTC

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