The morning class passed in a delicate atmosphere. For Itsuka Shido, sitting next to him was a "friend's sister" with a cold, stunning temperament, yet a figure explosive enough to make any adolescent boy feel restless.
Furthermore, she was the "Spirit" he needed to capture—a truly sweet yet extremely awkward ordeal.
He struggled to focus on the lecture, but his gaze was always unconsciously drawn to that icy blue hue and the astonishing curves barely contained by the school uniform. He would then quickly force himself to look away, his heart filled with guilt.
As for Phoenix-in Chinatsu, this half-day was even more mentally taxing than engaging in aerial combat with Ellen Mathers.
Every gaze cast her way—whether curiosity, envy, jealousy, or simple admiration—pricked her sensory nerves like a needle.
She had to constantly maintain the cognitive interference of the [mask of the fool], while simultaneously controlling her facial muscles to maintain a "slightly detached calm." Internally, she was so mortified that her toes could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment under Amamiya City.
The bell signaling the end of the lunch break was a death knell, announcing the start of afternoon classes. The conspicuous words "Physical Education" on the timetable were nothing short of a death sentence for Phoenix-in Chinatsu.
(P-Physical Education?!)
Chinatsu looked at the timetable, feeling her vision swim.
(Changing clothes... exercise... sweating... and... the locker room?!)
An unprecedented emotion, a mixture of shame and fear, instantly seized her.
The school uniform was already a hellish challenge; sportswear... she dared not imagine how the The core of reason would "adapt" to athletic wear, which typically used less fabric and was much tighter!
... With a feeling akin to walking to the execution grounds, Chinatsu followed the girls into the women's locker room.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance and the chattering laughter of the girls.
However, when she opened her locker and saw the neatly folded standard white-and-red gym uniform and black athletic shorts, she felt a slight relief—at least the style was conventional.
(O-Okay... seems acceptable? It's just standard sportswear...)
Attempting to comfort herself, Chinatsu—like a prisoner walking toward the guillotine—found her locker, retrieved the white-and-red gym uniform and black athletic shorts, hid in the farthest corner, turned her back to the crowd, and began changing at the fastest possible speed.
However, she underestimated the destructive influence her body had on "ordinary" clothing.
The moment she took off her shirt, even with her back turned, the subtle tremor as those astonishing curves were suddenly freed, along with the smooth, fair line of her back, instantly attracted the attention of several nearby girls.
With her back to the crowd, she began the difficult "operation." The instant the shirt came off, that heavy, full, and perky "big slime" suddenly broke free of its restraints; the slight bounce and weight made even her own heart pound.
Even with her back turned, the perfect curve of her silhouette and her smooth, delicate skin instantly drew the gaze of several nearby girls, and whispers spread like ripples.
"Hiss..." Someone gasped sharply.
"Hey... look over there..."
Whispers spread quickly like a plague. The chatter and laughter in the locker room gradually subsided, and more and more gazes focused on that corner.
Chinatsu felt as if her back were being scanned by a laser, and her fingers were trembling slightly.
(They can't see me... they can't see me...)
She prayed internally, fumbling to pull on the gym top. But the shirt, which would have been loose on an ordinary girl, was instantly stretched taut on her body. The soft fabric was immediately and dramatically pushed out by that pair of "big slimes."
The outline was defined with incomparable clarity; one could even vaguely see the subtle shape of the slight protrusion at the apex. The fabric perfectly outlined the full, imminent curves, making the effect even more direct and breathtaking than when she wore her shirt!
The ties at the back seemed to bear the unbearable weight of existence. (... T-Too tight, right?! Is this really not going to rip?!)
She awkwardly bent down to put on the athletic shorts. This movement fully exposed her perky, rounded buttocks and the flawless lines of her long, snow-white, straight, beautiful legs.
The black shorts barely contained her hips, creating a sharp contrast with her fair skin. Her absolute territory once again forcefully announced its existence in a more athletic, more dynamic form.
When she finally finished changing, took a deep breath, and turned around with the resolve of facing death—the entire locker room instantly fell silent.
All the girls, regardless of their usual relationships, stopped what they were doing, their eyes locked onto her as if drawn by a magnet.
That ordinary sportswear, worn on her, exuded a nearly sinful sexiness, transforming into the most lethal weapon. The fabric was pushed high, yet her waist appeared exceptionally slender.
Her legs were straight and long, full of strength and beauty. The extreme body proportions, the imminent fullness, the slender, flexible waist, and those dazzlingly white, impossibly long beautiful legs... all elements combined, creating a stark contrast that blended pure vitality with mature sexiness, assaulting everyone's visual senses.
"..." The silence lasted a full five seconds before being broken by the sound of sharp intakes of breath.
"A-An angel's face... a devil's figure..." one girl murmured unconsciously.
"Is... is that really a proportion a human can possess?"
"I feel like we aren't wearing the same kind of sportswear..."
"I'm so... so envious... but I also feel so much pressure..."
"Oh my god..." "This... this is too illogical..."
"I... I think I kind of understand why boys like b-big ones now..."
"When she walks... won't she be off-balance?"
Several girls even subconsciously looked down at themselves, then silently sighed.
Chinatsu's cheeks were burning (fortunately concealed by the mask), and she forced herself to remain calm, walking quickly toward the exit without looking sideways.
She could feel countless gazes falling on her as if they were tangible, the burning sensation especially intense on her chest and legs.
She practically stumbled out of the locker room, moving stiffly. Behind her, the girls' discussion and exclamations burst forth like a roaring tide.