Tattered scraps of cloth fluttered through the air like confetti.
In the middle of them, Mikado Ryōko stood there in a daze—completely naked.
Shichen hadn't expected to stumble into this kind of "bonus scene" and couldn't help openly appreciating it. It'd be a waste not to look.
As expected of the nurse's office—prime territory for fanservice.
"D-Don't… look—!"
Feeling his burning gaze, Mikado snapped back to herself. Her face flushed bright red, and she hurriedly squatted down, arms crossing over her chest.
"Ryōko, why did your clothes suddenly explode like that?" Shichen asked, feigning innocence, though his mind couldn't help replaying what he'd just seen.
As expected of a mature woman—her figure was amazing. So full, so lush, a far cry from the little girls he was used to.
Not to mention the "white tigers" he had back home…
"…" Mikado lifted her scarlet face and glared at him, seething.
"What do you think?"
"Ahem, I had no idea Shizu had that kind of ability," Shichen said, putting on an innocent face.
"Then why were you still staring?!"
"Because it looked good," Shichen admitted bluntly.
And it did—even now it still looked good. Mikado might be squatting with everything important covered, but pressing her chest down against her thighs made the pale flesh at her sides squeeze out, soft and smooth.
Hard to look away.
"Turn around, now!" Mikado snapped.
"Alright, alright." Shichen obediently turned his back.
Only then did he really see Shizu's condition—her soul had literally floated out of her body and was hovering in midair, drifting around like a glowing white blob.
"U-Um… Mikado-sensei… I'm sorry…" Murasame Shizu, wearing a white kimono, looked like a blob of white jelly. Her upper body was still clearly defined—arms, chest, face—but below the waist it all trailed off into a ghostly tail. Exactly like the stereotypical idea of a ghost.
"No… this isn't your fault… it's his!" Mikado shot Shichen a murderous look, terrified he might turn around again.
She'd never been this humiliated in her life—and of all people, she'd gotten completely seen by him.
And he'd just brazenly stared, without even pretending to look away.
She'd known he was a womanizer, but she hadn't realized he'd be this shamelessly bold.
"I didn't expect Shizu to freak out like that either," Shichen said, hands spread.
"It's because you suddenly started touching my… I've never been treated like that before…" Shizu's face reddened as she poked her fingertips together.
A ghost, blushing. That was something.
"I was just curious about the body Ryōko made… So that means you can feel it?"
"Yes… the body is completely under my control," Shizu nodded.
"In that case I really am sorry—I thought you were just sort of residing inside it," Shichen apologized.
He truly hadn't understood her setup. His knowledge of souls was shaky to begin with, and this was an artificial body. How were soul and body sharing sensations?
Didn't fit any biology he knew.
Then again, in a world with aliens and ghosts, science had long since stopped applying.
"No… I overreacted," Shizu shook her head and apologized as well.
"No, I understand your mindset; you don't need to apologize. This one's on me," Shichen said.
She was someone from four hundred years ago. Back then, men and women didn't just casually touch. Her reaction was perfectly natural.
"Shichen-san… you really are a good person," Shizu said with a smile.
Someone willing to help homeless aliens, who treated her kindly even though she was a ghost—people like that weren't exactly common in her experience.
"I certainly don't think he's a good person," Mikado cut in.
"Ryōko, I feel like you've got the wrong idea about me…"
"Don't turn around!" The moment he started to, Mikado barked him to a halt.
"Alright, alright." He stayed facing away.
He'd already seen everything; who needed a second look? He could just replay it in his head without traumatizing her further.
"Shizu, go bring me some clothes."
"Eh? Mikado-sensei, where am I supposed to find those?"
"Uh…"
"Hey, I've got some here." Shichen casually pulled out a set of clothes from his Gate of Babylon and handed them over—underwear and a white doctor's coat, almost identical to what Mikado had been wearing before.
"Why do you… have my clothes?" Mikado hugged the bundle to her chest and asked suspiciously.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I bought these as spares for my lovers," he said.
"Your lovers… As far as I know, there's no one around you with my kind of figure, is there?" Mikado narrowed her eyes.
"Obviously not Lala and the others. You just haven't met them," Shichen shrugged.
"…Is that so." Mikado's lips twitched, but she didn't press it.
Given how mysterious Shichen was, it wasn't exactly surprising if he had women elsewhere.
"No peeking!" she warned, then turned to change.
"Relax. I've already seen everything—there's nothing left to peek at," Shichen replied.
"You… Forget it." Mikado sighed.
There was nothing she could really do to him, especially now with all her "tools" shredded. She was in no position to make demands.
The bed was on Shichen's side of the curtain; there was nowhere for her to hide and change. She had no choice but to do it behind his back.
Keeping a close eye on him, she changed as fast as she could, then finally let out a breath of relief.
At last, she felt safe again.
Still, the loss was huge. He'd seen everything.
She might dress a bit boldly most of the time, showing some cleavage, but she was fundamentally conservative; being fully exposed like that… there was no way she wasn't mortified.
And yet she had no way to reclaim that ground. All she could do was swallow the humiliation.
"Done," she said stiffly.
"Is that so?" Shichen turned around, gave her a quick once-over, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. It fits perfectly. How's the underwear?"
"Why do you have so many questions?!" Mikado snapped.
"So it fits," Shichen said, smiling.
"You…" She had no comeback.
It did fit—like it had been tailored for her. How the hell did he know her size?
Don't tell her he'd figured it out from that single glance.
That'd be terrifying.
"Shichen-san, how did you figure out Mikado-sensei's measurements so fast?" Shizu, now back in her body and on her feet, asked curiously.
"It's nothing special. No trick—just a trained eye," Shichen said lightly.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Shizu eyed him with open admiration.
"Amazing my ass! That's called being a pervert," Mikado exploded.
"Ryōko, I know it's easy to blame me, but you do understand this really wasn't my fault," Shichen said.
"I know… but if it had been, I'd never let you live it down," Mikado gritted out, still glaring.
"It's enough that you understand. As for me, I did get an eyeful, so I can compensate you."
"…Can't you just forget it?" Mikado knew exactly what he meant by "took advantage." She'd far rather he forgot it than be "compensated."
"That's a bit hard. I've got a good memory. I can still see it crystal clear," Shichen said.
"Then hurry up and forget it!" she yelled, mortified.
"I can't just forget a view like that," he said.
"You… Ugh, fine. I'll just chalk it up to bad luck."
"So, do you want anything as compensation?"
"Forget it. I don't have anything I want from you… Right—could you arrange for Shizu to enroll? I want her to attend school here and get used to this era," Mikado said suddenly.
"Mikado-sensei…" Shizu looked at her, deeply moved.
Not only had she taken her in and built her a body, she wanted her to go to school too… Mikado was a good person.
In this era, apparently, there were lots of good people.
"Have Shizu go to school? That's easy. I can arrange it right away; she can start this afternoon," Shichen replied.
"Eh? That fast?" Shizu stared at him.
"I'm the principal. I run this place. And you really do need to learn about this time period."
"Shichen-san…" Shizu's heart swelled again.
Shichen-san was a good person too. Mikado-sensei as well. After seeing what had just happened, she couldn't help thinking: the two of them would actually be great together.
They seemed like such a good match.
Shizu suddenly steeled herself—she'd help bring the two of them together!
She'd heard Mikado mention that Shichen already had a lover—namely the so-called future universe empress, that pink-haired girl from before. And apparently there were more than just one lover.
But that was fine. That made it easier. If he already had multiple partners, adding Mikado-sensei to the mix wouldn't be a big deal.
And in Shizu's worldview, back in her time, it was normal for a man to have several wives.
So yes—she'd play matchmaker!
"This afternoon is a bit too soon. Make it tomorrow. Can you put Shizu in the same class as Princess Lala and the others? They already know each other," Mikado added.
"As long as it's your request, Ryōko, I'll make it happen," Shichen replied with a smile.
"…"
~~~
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