Chapter 5: School Nurse_Pulling Her Own Clothes Aside_in a Cramped Bathroom

Ruah had forgotten she was now a woman and entered a stall in the men’s restroom.

Realizing her mistake, her heart sank.

‘Well, I can understand my mistake, but what’s Himari doing in the men’s restroom?’

Even if she had business to do, why would she follow her all the way here?

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me.”

As the sound of boys’ footsteps drew closer, Ruah’s mind raced.

Her newly established goal was to train the students for the final battle.

Himari, a powerful character, was a must-have.

If it was discovered that Himari was in the men’s restroom, her reputation at school would surely suffer.

That could jeopardize her plan!

“…!”

—Clatter!

“You—”

“Come in!”

Ruah gathered her courage.

She unlocked the stall door, pulled Himari inside, and closed the door again.

All of this happened precisely two seconds before the first boy entered the restroom.

“The swordsmanship class is definitely the most fun.”

“That’s because it’s the beginning of the semester. I heard it gets really tough later on.”

“I wonder what the tests are like….”

The quiet restroom instantly filled with noise. Chatter about classes, teachers, and shared interests filled the air.

“……”

“……”

However, the two girls inside the closed stall remained silent.

Ruah covered her mouth with both hands, fearing they might be discovered. Himari simply stared down at her, lost in thought.

‘Scary….’

Himari’s sharp gaze. The incident on the athletic field flashed through her mind, shrinking her courage, but Ruah put a finger to her lips.

“Shhh.”

“…Hmm.”

Himari nodded in understanding. She seemed aware of the situation.

“Man, I wish class was over already!”

“It’s only been a few days since we started school!”

“I don’t care, it’s boring….”

The boys continued their chatter. Ruah checked her watch. Only two minutes had passed out of the ten-minute break.

—Scoot.

“?!”

Suddenly, Himari shifted closer. Confined in the small space, Ruah was forced to step back.

“W-wait….”

She instinctively tried to tell her not to come closer but quickly covered her mouth again.

Ruah tried to push her away with both hands, but Himari pressed her against the wall behind the toilet. Ruah couldn’t make a sound, nor could she escape.

—Thud.

Her back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat, but Himari didn’t release her.

‘Please…! Why are you doing this…!’

They were so close she could feel Himari’s body heat. A faint lavender scent, perhaps from shampoo, fabric softener, or perfume, tickled her nose.

She could even feel the soft press of Himari’s chest against her neck. Himari herself seemed unaware.

She could count on one hand the number of times she’d been this close to another person, let alone a woman. No, this was the second time. The first was when Suah had caught her.

“No more…”

The dissonance between the presence of people just beyond the thin partition and the fact that she was being pressed against a wall, helpless and unnoticed, was overwhelming.

Just as Ruah’s mind started to cloud—

—Thump!

Himari’s hand landed on the wall beside Ruah’s face.

“Eek?!”

Ruah gasped, snapping back to reality. Himari looked down at her, her face shadowed.

“…You.”

She whispered, keeping her voice low.

“You came here… knowing everything.”

Himari’s voice resonated in Ruah’s ears.

“My father… sent you.”

“Wh-what are you talking about…?”

“He disapproves of… my studying abroad.”

“……?”

Still trembling, Ruah tilted her head in confusion.

‘What is she talking about?’

“Your father? Hoshikawa Toshio?”

“Is that not correct?”

“N-no….”

Himari’s eyebrows twitched.

“Then… how did you know about this?”

Himari held up her left ring finger to Ruah’s face. A teddy bear patterned bandage was clumsily wrapped around it, clearly a one-handed job.

‘Ah…!’

Ruah finally understood what was happening.

‘Because I was so nosy back then….’

The injury on her left ring finger was a weakness Himari wanted to hide. She hadn’t told anyone about it except her father, so it was natural for her to be suspicious when Ruah had pointed it out and offered to heal it.

‘I revealed my game knowledge too hastily.’

This event was supposed to happen much later in the original storyline. It wasn’t surprising that Himari misunderstood, given her premature actions.

“I told my father… I would go alone, and I passed his test.”

Himari whispered firmly.

“Tell my father… to keep his promise—”

“I understand what you’re saying…”

Ruah gently pushed Himari away to create some space between them.

“But I’m really not.”

“Are you still saying that? I asked how you knew about this.”

“That’s because—”

Ruah paused, then met Himari’s gaze.

“—I’m the school nurse.”

“……”

Even Ruah thought it was a rather baseless explanation, but Himari unexpectedly stepped back, tilting her head. Her long, soft hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

“Because you are… the school nurse….”

Himari repeated Ruah’s words.

“What is… a ‘school nurse’?”

“…Huh?”

“I have never heard… that word before.”

Ruah facepalmed.

She knew Himari lacked common knowledge. She had been chosen as the heir at a young age and had only learned swordsmanship from her father, never attending school. But she hadn’t expected it to be this bad.

“It’s… a non-core subject….”

Himari tilted her head, still confused.

“Then, is a ‘school nurse’… someone who knows about injuries?”

“Y-yes.”

Ruah quickly nodded.

“That’s right! I know everything about the students’ bodies and health! That’s how I knew about the injury on your left ring finger! So, if you have any problems, come to me! I’m here to help you, H-Himari!”

“Aha… I see. Korean academies… have such people.”

Himari nodded as if she finally understood. There was even a slight smile on her lips. She looked so innocent, unlike before, that Ruah relaxed a little.

‘Right, this is her character.’

Himari lacked common sense and yearned for new knowledge, so she was always happy to learn something new.

It had been a close call, a potential turning point in their relationship, but it seemed she had managed to navigate it safely. Ruah secretly sighed in relief, impressed with her own social skills.

‘Am I actually eloquent?’

—Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The break time ended, and she heard the boys leaving the restroom.

The restroom became quiet again.

“Then, you should go back to class too—”

“Wait a moment, please.”

Himari stopped Ruah from opening the stall door.

“There is one last confirmation… I need to make.”

“Confirmation?”

“Confirmation that you are not… one of my family’s employees.”

*One more thing.*

Himari lacked common sense, but she wasn’t stupid.

“School Nurse, show me your stomach.”

“My stomach…?”

“Our family’s employees… have a tattoo on their stomach. If you show me, I will not doubt you.”

Himari put her hands behind her back.

“Do not worry. I will not force you.”

“Th-then?”

“Show me yourself. Just a peek… here.”

Himari stood blocking the door, refusing to move. She seemed determined not to budge until Ruah showed her proof.

“W-well, I guess that’s fine.”

Ruah lightly tugged at her shirt. It wasn’t like she was asking her to get naked, just to show her stomach, so it wasn’t embarrassing. Guys showing their upper bodies wasn’t even considered risqué, right? Well, even though she was a woman now.

It was just a bit awkward that Himari was staring intently.

“Is this… really necessary?”

“I want to be certain.”

Himari’s gaze was firm.

“To trust… the ‘school nurse’.”

She couldn’t refuse such a request.

“Okay.”

Hesitantly, Ruah lifted her shirt. The white, soft skin beneath was revealed. A slightly rounded, child-like belly.

“Hmm.”

Himari bent down and stared at Ruah’s stomach. Ruah’s waist twitched as she felt Himari’s breath on her skin.

‘It’s not embarrassing… it’s not embarrassing… it’s not embarrassing….’

Ruah repeated internally.

She had been a man, so showing her stomach shouldn’t be embarrassing, but her face was flushed.

“Please wait… a moment.”

Himari’s hand touched Ruah’s skin.

“Eek!”

Not only did she touch her, but she also gently poked her stomach with her finger.

—Squish.

—Squish, squish.

“K-mmm…”

A small, cute belly that yielded to the slightest pressure, devoid of any muscle. It was a novel experience to have someone else touching her stomach.

It was ticklish, embarrassing, and yet, her delicate touch felt strangely pleasant—

“M-mm… h-how much… longer….”

—Stroke.

“Kyaa!”

As Himari’s finger brushed against her belly button, Ruah couldn’t hold back and arched her back.

“There are no tattoos. Confirmed.”

“Why did you have to… confirm it like that…”

She could have sworn she saw a flicker of amusement in Himari’s expression.

Perhaps due to nerves, she was drenched in sweat. As Ruah sat on the toilet lid, catching her breath, Himari’s hand reached out to her.

“……?”

Himari was holding a handkerchief. One with a teddy bear pattern.

“Wipe your sweat.”

Ruah obediently wiped her sweat. Himari then unlatched the stall door.

“Can I… go now…?”

“Yes. I have no more doubts.”

Himari bowed politely and gracefully as Ruah stepped out of the stall.

“I apologize for… the unreasonable request. Excuse me.”

“N-no, it’s okay.”

“Then… I look forward to working with you, ‘School Nurse’.”

Ruah was about to leave the restroom when she stopped.

“Oh, wait….”

“Yes?”

Despite the lingering awkwardness, Ruah grabbed Himari’s left ring finger.

“[Healing]!”

“……”

“S-see you later!”

Before Himari could say anything, Ruah fled the restroom. Himari stared at her healed finger for a moment.

A while later, Ruah returned to the meeting room, but she couldn’t focus.

The sensation of Himari’s hand on her stomach was still vivid.