Just Because I Have Narrow Eyes Doesn’t Make Me a Villain!

TN: Thank James Baily for the chapter.

“…Ugh.”

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, Siwoo.”

How many minutes had passed while I was dry-heaving and suffering in the bathroom?

Maybe he heard my groans with his sensitive hearing, but Siwoo was standing in front of the bathroom, looking at me with a worried expression.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. I heard you haven’t had much appetite lately, so I tried making something… I guess it wasn’t a good idea.”

“No, it was delicious.”

The reason for my dry heaving was simple.

I didn’t really feel like eating, but I forced myself to.

“If it was bad, you shouldn’t have eaten…”

“How could I do that when Siwoo made it especially for me?”

How could I not eat when Siwoo specially cooked for me because I haven’t been feeling well lately?

However, forcing myself to eat seems to have made me feel a bit worse.

But it really was delicious. Truly.

“Maybe you should just rest today and go tomorrow…”

“No, I’m fine…”

I shook my head at Siwoo’s worried look.

Even if I wasn’t feeling great, I really wanted to go to school with Siwoo today.

“It wouldn’t be good to miss the opening ceremony.”

“Hmm…”

I smiled slightly at Siwoo, who still seemed to think it would be better if I stayed home.

Although Siwoo no longer had a reason to try so hard to become strong like before, still.

Siwoo wanted to become a hero.

If I took the day off, Siwoo would surely skip the academy too, saying he needed to take care of me.

Seeing me smile as if telling him not to worry, Siwoo finally gave up trying to persuade me.

“…Alright. But if you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

“Don’t worry.”

I responded casually to Siwoo’s words and opened the wardrobe, where the academy uniform I hadn’t seen in a while greeted me.

It feels nostalgic.

When I was attending the academy, I wore this all the time.

Maybe because I hadn’t had a reason to wear it since the Author disappeared.

Seeing the academy uniform after so long made me feel like I was back in the past.

Though “the past” was only about three months ago.

Was it because I had only been wearing hospital gowns and casual clothes for a while?

“Ugh, cold…”

I threw off the dolphin pants and white T-shirt to put on the uniform.

Siwoo was right in front of me, but…

Well, we’ve seen everything there is to see of each other, so neither of us minded me changing clothes in front of him.

However, Siwoo seemed to be concerned about something else.

Siwoo started scolding me as he watched.

“I told you to wear underwear…”

“But this is comfortable.”

“You might get cold. Even though it’s spring, it’s still chilly.”

“I’m a superhuman, you know.”

Siwoo worries too much.

I’m a superhuman, so there’s no way I’d catch a cold or anything.

“I wear something when I go out, so it’s fine, right?”

“A leotard isn’t really underwear…”

“What does it matter? It’s comfortable, so it’s fine.”

Seeing Siwoo shake his head as if he had a headache annoyed me.

It’s not like I’m going around without clothes on.

Isn’t it fine since I wear a leotard when I go out?

Sensing that he might start nagging about dressing more properly, I decided to preemptively strike.

“…Besides, even if I buy underwear, most of it would end up in the washing machine anyway.”

“Ugh.”

“You beast.”

…Good, I won.

Siwoo couldn’t say anything in response to my sudden comment and just blushed.

Sensing that this might lead to unfavorable results if it continued, he hurriedly left his spot.

“Ahem, hmm… I’ll go get ready first. Come down when you’ve calmed down.”

“Okay.”

After Siwoo hastily left.

I started changing clothes again.

I put on the leotard, which now felt like a second skin because of its familiarity, and then on the blouse.

Then, I fastened the skirt around my waist… or tried to?

The, the skirt…?

“Huh…?”

Click.

Click, click.

Huh.

This is strange.

…The part that fastens the skirt around the waist keeps coming undone.

“This, this can’t be…”

No matter how many times I tried, the result was always the same.

The skirt didn’t fit.

The skirt couldn’t have shrunk…

This is the uniform I’ve worn before, not replaced with thread.

I remember it fitting perfectly back then.

So why can’t I put it on?

No, no way…

“Ah, ah, ah, it won’t go on…”

Click, click, click.

I thought the skirt might tear, but I tried to put it on without adjusting the waistband.

All my attempts failed, and I had to accept the terrible truth.

“Did, did I gain weight…?!”

The memories of the sudden rest period flashed through my mind.

Eating, sleeping, going out.

Eating, sleeping, going out.

…I don’t think I did anything else.

I didn’t exercise because I’m not the type who likes it.

There was no need to use mana or my abilities, so I just stayed at home and cooked.

I did make a lot of food, wanting to feed Siwoo delicious things…

“Di, did I eat too much…?”

Maybe tasting a bit here and there while cooking was the problem.

It seems I had gained weight without realizing.

“Arte! Are you not done yet? We should get going soon!”

“I’m, I’m coming…”

Ah.

I felt dizzy.

Why, why didn’t Siwoo say anything until now?

Did I gain weight so gradually that he didn’t notice?

I had to accept the fact that I could no longer wear clothes that fit me well just a few months ago.

***

“Oh, it’s been a while. You two.”

“Ah, Teacher Claire.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

I barely heard the conversation between Siwoo and Teacher Claire as they reunited.

All my attention was focused on my waist.

…Why didn’t I notice?

Ah, right.

It must be because the leotard is stretchy.

The clothes I usually wore at home… were loose-fitting.

I wouldn’t have noticed if I had gained weight little by little.

“…But Arte doesn’t look so good.”

“Ah, yes. She said she hasn’t been feeling well lately…”

“I hope it’s not an aftereffect of the battle.”

“Yeah…”

I gained weight.

So much that I couldn’t wear clothes that used to fit well.

Maybe because I was so shocked by that fact.

I could see Siwoo and Claire looking at me with concern as they talked.

“I, I’m fine… Ha, haha…”

“Hmm…”

“Sh, shall we go to the classroom?”

“Let’s do that.”

I don’t remember much of what happened after that.

I was holding Siwoo’s hand, deeply pondering how on earth I could lose weight.

“Oh, it’s been a while. Are you not… feeling better yet?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“What’s wrong with Arte?”

“She’s not feeling well these days…”

“…Is that so? It seems different from just not feeling well, though?”

Ah, it’s Amelia.

She might know some diet methods, right?

Yes, that must be it.

“…Hey.”

“What?”

“I gained weight…”

My hands and feet were trembling.

I couldn’t lift my head because I was too embarrassed to say such things.

But perhaps because I wanted to confide in someone as much as I was embarrassed, I spoke to Amelia.

“Ho, how can I lose weight and maintain it…!”

“Huh? You gained weight?”

“Ye, yes…! My waist, my waist doesn’t fit…! Wh, what should I do?!”

“Ah, so that’s why you were late tod-”

“You, shut up for a bit.”

But the atmosphere was strange.

I asked how to manage my body, but Amelia looked me up and down once, and her eyes sharpened.

“You don’t look like you’ve gained weight, though?”

“Bu, but I really have…! It, it’s true! My skirt doesn’t fit!”

“What? It’s not easy for a superhuman to gain that much wei- Wait a minute.”

Amelia, who had been looking me over, suddenly spoke to Siwoo.

Unlike usual, in a somewhat cold voice.

“Hey.”

“Y-yes?”

“Arte, you said she hasn’t been feeling well lately, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Has she mentioned feeling nauseous… not being able to eat well, or feeling tired?”

“H-how did you know…?”

“Oh, shit.”

With those words, Amelia hurriedly got up from her seat and started heading out of the classroom.

“A-Amelia. Where are you-”

“You two stay right there! Got it?! If you move even an inch, I won’t let you off easy!”

… What’s going on, using her ability and all?

Perhaps she saw Amelia leaving.

Dorothy, who entered the classroom belatedly, greeted us.

“Ah, it’s been a while.”

“Hello.”

“…Why did Amelia leave? Using her ability too. The class is about to start soon.”

“I don’t know. Maybe something happened-”

“I’m back!”

“Geez, that was fast…”

Maybe she used her ability to the limit.

Amelia, breathing heavily, handed me something.

“… What’s this?”

“Go to the bathroom, pee on this, and return.”

“Why suddenly-”

“Hurry!”

“Ah, okay…”

What is this?

It’s something white and long.

…Pee on this?

Looking at the object in my hand, I saw something that looked like it was for testing something.

Suddenly, I remembered Amelia’s intense reaction.

Could it be that I have some disease I don’t know about?

Is that why she was so urgent?

Frightened by the scary thought, I hurriedly ran to the bathroom.

And after doing as Amelia said, I looked at the kit in my hand.

“… There’s two lines.”

I didn’t get any explanation, so I have no idea what the two lines mean.

Whether it means I have a disease or not.

Unknowingly becoming anxious, I hurriedly returned to the classroom.

“Arte? Is there a problem? What you’re holding…”

“Amelia! I, I’m done! There are two lines, what does this-”

Hey, you crazy bastard!”

As soon as Amelia heard my words, she hit Siwoo, who was next to her, on the head.

While everyone, including Claire, was shocked by that sight.

She dropped a bombshell.

“How could you get her pregnant, you idiot! Didn’t you use protection!?”

“Huh, what…?”

Pregnant?

But I’ve never had a period or anything?

I suddenly looked at the stick in my hand.

Come to think of it, it does look like a pregnancy test.

…Really?