My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 152

Changing Karen’s clothes and buying her new outfits went smoother than I expected.

From the middle, Karen herself started to enjoy it in her own way.

At first, she was so embarrassed, but I really liked how she gradually improved.

Thanks to that, both Grace and I comfortably enjoyed dressing Karen up.

“This short-sleeve shirt looks nice.”

“Right? It definitely looks cool.”

After spending time getting new clothes for Karen yesterday, I decided to wear my summer uniform to school.

I had realized that the weather had definitely gotten warmer from walking around outside yesterday.

Even if it wasn’t as hot as the south, it was undeniable that summer was approaching.

“Honestly, isn’t wearing long sleeves a bit stuffy? I felt that way since around midterms.”

“Maybe you just feel the heat too much?”

“Ah, is that it?”

I definitely get hot quite easily… But really, isn’t wearing long sleeves a bit stifling?

I felt that way as soon as I put on a short-sleeve shirt after a long time.

Anyway, it was true that I was wearing my summer uniform earlier than most other students.

Most of them were still in long-sleeve spring/fall uniforms, with hardly anyone in summer uniforms.

“Hehe…”

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“I’m just happy because it feels cool.”

“Is it really that great?”

“Look, I can wave my arms around, and my shirt sleeves don’t even touch my skin. How nice is that? Plus, it’s just way cooler. How about Ella also wears her summer uniform starting tomorrow?”

“I’m not wearing it yet. It’s only mid-June. What makes it so hot?”

“It’s not super hot, but don’t you think the weather is gradually getting warmer?”

Am I the only one feeling this way…?

But then again, the Roseaki Sisters mentioned yesterday while buying Karen’s clothes that the weather was gradually getting warmer.

“It’s true that it’s getting warmer, but isn’t it a bit early to only wear short sleeves?”

“Ahh.”

Hmm.

There definitely is a temperature difference between day and night, right?

If that’s what you’re getting at… I can understand it.

“Well, wouldn’t it be fine to just wear a cardigan in the morning or at night?”

“That sounds bothersome. I’ll just wear it when it gets a little hotter.”

“Hmph.”

“Don’t make weird noises.”

“Heehee…”

“Ugh…”

Well, I didn’t intend to force her.

After all, I wore it because I was hot, didn’t I?

It would be worse to catch a cold for wearing short sleeves when it wasn’t even that hot.

“Yawn…”

“…Are you already asleep?”

“The sunlight feels warm… Besides, all of today’s morning classes were just boring anyway.”

“…That’s true.”

“And not particularly important classes, either, and there aren’t any assignments. Isn’t it fine to just sleep for now?”

The academy teachers usually didn’t bother me too much.

At first, they tried to wake me up and would intentionally ask me questions about the material… But maybe it was because I answered too easily?

If not, it might be that they just let me be because of my scores from the academy exam.

“Anyway, I’ll take a quick nap. I stayed up late last night playing with Rize.”

“Sigh…”

I closed my eyes, using Ella’s deep sighs as a lullaby.

By the way, while I liked the short-sleeve shirt of my summer uniform, I thought something a bit warmer might be better for when I sleep.

Maybe I should start wearing a proper cardigan whenever I go to the academy?

*

After academy classes, I obviously moved to the club room.

It was no different than usual, but there was one thing that stood out a little.

That was…

“Ivana, you’re wearing your summer uniform too?”

“Yes.”

The fact that Ivana was also in her summer uniform.

With a short-sleeve shirt and a skirt made of a lighter fabric, just like me.

“I didn’t see you because I was sleeping in class… This is quite a surprise.”

“Is it that surprising? Camelia is wearing one too.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

That was the case.

Since I was also wearing my summer uniform, it wasn’t that surprising after all…

“I mean, aside from me, you’re the first other person I’ve seen in a summer uniform today.”

“Ah.”

“I told Ella next to me to wear her summer uniform, but she said it wasn’t hot enough for that.”

Still, seeing someone other than me wearing their summer uniform was surprising.

I didn’t expect Ivana to be the first one to wear hers either.

“Ivana, are you wearing your summer uniform because it’s hot?”

“Yes. It wasn’t this hot in the north… It’s already warm.”

“Ahh.”

“In the north, the summer doesn’t get this hot, but here it’s already…”

“That probably makes sense.”

The north was cold all year round, and even during summer, the weather remained chilly.

For Ivana, being from the north, it was only natural for the central region’s temperatures to feel warm already.

Of course, I personally was just sensitive to heat.

“Um… How will you deal with summer this year, Ivana?”

“……”

Ella asked that question.

But Ivana struggled to answer Ella’s question.

It was clear… Even if the central region is cooler compared to the southern part, for Ivana, it must feel incredibly hot.

I wondered if she would be okay.

I hadn’t thought about that until Ella asked, but it certainly seemed like it would be quite hot.

Just like the summer I spent last year.

“It should be fine.”

“Um… Is that so?”

“It’s hot, but it shouldn’t be a drastic difference.”

“…….”

“…….”

Ivana’s response.

Hearing that made me and Ella exchange glances, sensing something.

They probably knew it was hotter compared to summer in the north, but they seemed uncertain about exactly how much different it was.

Even if the summer in the central region is less intense than in the south, summer is still summer.

“Shall we head to the club room first?”

I thought it wasn’t a good idea to fuss over it right now.

Plus, Ivana wasn’t new to being in the central region this year, right?

She should manage fine.

“Phew… I really think the club room is way more comfortable than sleeping in class.”

“Are you going to lie down again?”

“Well, what can I do? It’s comfy.”

The moment I got back to the club room, I lay down on the bed.

My bag… I carelessly tossed it aside, not caring at all that my school uniform would get wrinkled.

After all, my appearance wouldn’t change much even if my uniform got somewhat wrinkled, right?

“How about you, Ella and Ivana? Would you like to join me? It’s a bit cramped, but I think we could all fit if we lie down together?”

“I’m good. Who lies down the moment they walk in?”

“Is that so?”

“…Huh?”

Surprisingly, Ivana accepted my offer.

Well, I wouldn’t say Ivana was always doing unexpected things, so it wasn’t entirely shocking.

Still, I was a bit surprised?

After that response, she placed her bag on a chair and climbed onto the bed.

“Whoa…”

Seeing her do that made me react without even realizing.

I really didn’t think she would actually get on.

“……..”

It wasn’t just me; Ella, who was standing in the room, looked over with a quite surprised expression.

There was a hint of discontent mixed in her expression.

For some reason… it seemed just a little bit like she was slightly left out.

Of course, what was more important right now was Ivana climbing onto my bed.

“Um.”

Once she got on the bed, she just sat there quietly.

This wasn’t exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for.

“The bed is quite good quality.”

“Definitely, right? Even if it’s nothing else, I specifically got the best one for this bed.”

“Definitely… It feels pretty similar to what I use in the dormitory.”

“Among the ones sold in the academy, this is probably the best quality.”

Is there some sort of understanding among owners of high-quality beds?

After climbing onto the bed, Ivana started to touch the bed and evaluate it.

She nodded by herself or peeked at me from time to time.

It was true that the bed I bought for the club room was exceptional, and Ivana must have bought new furniture since she moved to B-grade dormitory rooms.

She probably couldn’t help but take an interest in things like this, right?

“How is it?”

“It’s good.”

“Hehe, right? It’s super soft and comfortable, so you’d want to lie here forever, right? The only downside is… it’s a bit disappointing that there’s no blanket?”

There was a blanket, but there wasn’t really an actual blanket that could cover me completely.

I had wanted to have one, but some people, including Ella, said there was no need to buy one since we weren’t all going to sleep in the club room.

Of course, I did have the thought that it wouldn’t hurt to be able to,

“And no pillow… now that I think about it?”

“After a few months, you just noticed that?”

“Well, I guess I didn’t think about it since I’ve been using a plushie instead of a pillow.”

“Sigh…”

While having that conversation with Ella, who was still standing at the door, I looked back at Ivana.

After evaluating the bed, she was now looking at me.

It felt a bit strange having her bright red eyes staring at me, but since my eyes were also on the red side, I wondered if others felt this way too.

Especially Rize.

I had a lot of experiences closely observing Rize for sure.

“Ivana.”

“Yes?”

“Are you just going to keep sitting there? You’re finally on the bed. Wouldn’t it be better to lie down?”

“Wait, you…? Is it really necessary to tell someone who’s comfortably sitting to do that?”

“Beds are made for lying down in the first place, aren’t they?”

“That… is true, but…”

Ella tried to stop me after hearing what I said.

But what I said wasn’t wrong, right?

Beds are indeed made for lying down, and if you want to sit, there’s even a chair that isn’t as soft.

Besides, it wasn’t so cramped that it would be incredibly tight for two people to lie down.

“Still, she might want to sit…?”

While Ella was looking at Ivana for a hint, Ivana quietly began to move.

Not according to Ella’s suggestion, but following my words.

Quietly, she lay down next to me, facing the wall, looking towards where Ella was standing in the room.

“How is it? Is it comfortable?”

“Definitely…”

Since Ivana wasn’t lying looking at the ceiling but facing sideways, I could only see her back…

But after all, it was a comfy bed, right?

She should be pretty comfortable lying down.

“It’s as comfortable as what I use in the dormitory.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to Ivana’s words, I glanced at her lying next to me.

Because it was summer uniform, the short-sleeve shirt felt cooler than the long-sleeve spring/fall uniform.

It wasn’t just a difference between long sleeves and short sleeves; the material of the shirt was different, being a lighter fabric, so perhaps that was why?

As she lay down, a small part of the shirt Ivana was wearing, especially around her sides and waist, peeked out from her skirt.

“……..”

Because of that, I noticed the fair skin around Ivana’s sides and waist.

At the same time, I had a personal urge to touch or pet that area just once.

Of course, I didn’t actually act on that feeling.

After all, I wasn’t that close to Ivana yet.

If it were someone more familiar like Rize or Ella, or maybe even Karen or Grace in a playful or joking manner, I might have considered it.