"Do you need a gym uniform too?"
I blinked.
"Huh?"
Mei pointed at one of the bags.
"We have PE tomorrow."
…
…
…
Damn.
She was right.
For some reason I had completely forgotten that normal people did normal things like attending normal classes.
And now that I thought about it…
I remembered Yuuna's gym uniform.
The fitted shorts.
The shirt.
How absurdly defined everything looked on her.
Heat crept up my neck.
"Shimizu-san?"
"N-Nothing!"
Mei tilted her head slightly.
"Are you sure?"
"Completely!"
I was not completely sure.
Not even remotely.
But it was too late to admit that now.
Mei smiled.
"Then I'll ask for one too."
She called over a store assistant.
I just looked away and prayed that no gym uniform would ever again attempt to murder my dignity.
A little while later…
We walked out of the store carrying several bags.
The sun was starting to sink between the buildings.
I adjusted one of the straps on my arm.
"Thank you for helping me."
"It's nothing."
"It's something."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It's not."
"It i—"
"Shimizu-san."
"Yes?"
"You're arguing with yourself."
…
…
…
How rude.
Mei laughed softly.
"Shimizu-san, do you have anything else to do right now?"
"Huh?"
I blinked.
"I don't think so."
Well.
Technically yes.
I had to practice the play, do laundry, prep the stream, and survive a degenerate AI.
But nothing urgent.
Mei adjusted one of her bags.
"Then… would you like to get something to eat?"
My brain took a second to process that.
"Eat?"
"Yes."
"The two of us?"
"Eating with someone is more satisfying."
"That doesn't answer my question."
The corner of her lips lifted slightly.
"The two of us."
…
…
…
"O-Oh… well…"
I looked at the bags.
Then at the street.
And finally at my mental wallet.
Because my physical one was still empty most of the time.
"I-I'd like to but I think I'll pass."
I shouldn't be spending that much money.
The uniform was already enough.
Mei tilted her head.
Then said something that made me go rigid.
"I'll pay."
"What?"
"I'll pay."
"I heard you! But I don't know if I should accept that."
Mei looked at me for a few seconds.
"Don't worry. I just want to thank you for working so hard on the play."
I tried to refuse again.
But Mei kept insisting until I gave in.
We ended up walking into a restaurant.
A nice one.
Too nice.
I looked at the menu.
I looked at the prices.
I looked at the prices again.
Then checked again to make sure I wasn't reading wrong.
"Hirano-san?"
"Yes?"
"I think they charge you just for breathing here."
She let out a small laugh.
"It's not that bad."
"A poor person just died hearing that."
"I'm paying."
"That makes it worse!"
"Why?"
"Because now I feel guilty!"
Mei laughed again.
And for some reason…
I liked hearing it.
…
That was strange.
Very strange.
I ordered something simple.
Though simple at that place still cost more than my past self spent on two meals.
While we waited, we ended up talking about the play.
"You're adapting better than I expected."
"Thanks… I think."
"You think?"
"It feels like it's been mostly… luck."
I answered a little nervously.
I don't know how much of it has actually been my own effort.
And how much is thanks to a certain degenerate system.
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"How long have you been acting?"
Mei rested her chin on one hand.
"Since I was little."
"Do you love it that much?"
"Yes."
Her smile was calm.
Natural.
"People always told me I had talent so I thought I should do it."
"That sounds like pressure."
"A little."
"And you still love it?"
"Very much. I'm genuinely happy on stage."
…
It was strange.
Most people I knew in my past life seemed to drag themselves through their jobs.
Mei talked about acting the way someone talks about something they truly love.
And that…
was beautiful.
I watched her for a few seconds.
Her light brown hair.
Her perfectly neat bangs.
Her delicate face.
Her elegant figure.
…
…
…
My eyes drifted down accidentally.
…
…
…
And kept drifting.
…
…
…
My eyes are traitors.
I forced myself to look away.
Immediately.
Because I was definitely not comparing.
Definitely.
Absolutely.
Not at all.
Although…
Hers were smaller than mine.
But they were still quite…
No.
No.
We are not finishing that sentence.
Mei looked at me.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing!"
"Are you sure?"
"Completely sure!"
I lied at a concerning speed.
By the time we left the restaurant it was already late.
We said goodbye outside the station.
"Thank you for everything."
"It was nothing."
"It was something."
"It wasn't."
"It wa—"
"Shimizu-san."
"Yes?"
"Good night."
…
She'd defeated me again.
"Good night."
I watched her walk away.
And for some reason…
I thought it had been fun.
…
Wait.
Had that counted as a date?
My brain froze.
…
No.
Impossible.
Right?
I walked back to the apartment.
Carrying bags.
And something resembling peace.
A feeling I hadn't experienced in a very long time.
The rent was paid.
I had food.
I had some money.
I still hated the system.
But…
for the first time since I woke up in this body…
I felt like maybe I should thank it.
Then I started thinking.
The original Aika.
The debts.
The apartment.
The food.
The school.
All of it.
How had she survived?
She had no job.
No family.
No support.
So…
where had the money come from?
The question kept circling my head.
Even as I walked into the apartment.
Even as I checked the shopping bags.
Even as I looked at the laundry basket.
…
Ah.
Right.
I had laundry to do.
I started going through clothes absently.
Uniforms.
Socks.
Underwear.
More underwear.
I felt a little silly for blushing at bras and panties.
And then…
I froze.
…
…
…
What the hell was that?
I pulled out a small piece of black fabric.
Very small.
Ridiculously small.
Transparent.
With lace.
With straps.
With exactly the amount of fabric needed to avoid being considered a crime.
I held it between two fingers.
Horrified.
"…"
I stared at it.
It stared back at me.
We stared at each other.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The lingerie didn't respond.
Coward.
I checked the basket again.
There was more.
Much more.
Way too much more.
My expression started changing slowly.
The debts.
The Lonely Fans account.
The clothes.
The poverty.
The loneliness.
Everything started connecting.
In the worst possible way.
I shook my head slowly.
"No…"
My voice trembled.
"Don't tell me…"
I looked at the lingerie again.
"The original Aika…"
"…was using her body to make money?"
The system's response appeared immediately.
[Correct.]
…
…
…
My soul left my body.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"