“What did you think?”
“It was quite ordinary. There were exercise machines that both I and the Commander could use. I assume the agents would probably use them often too…”
Dolores was discussing the gym with me before the morning work began. After all, I had planned to ask Dolores to work out in the gym next. It would be good for Dolores to have a rough idea of what the gym was like.
“I haven’t been there yet… I think I should check it out today.”
“Actually, we only tried the treadmill and then left.”
“You did well. Getting injured from accidentally lifting weights would be a big problem.”
While it was true that the difficulty we faced was greater, Dolores had a point. If we got hurt from lifting something heavy, it would truly be a huge issue.
Especially since neither the Commander nor I were in fantastic shape; we were honestly on the worse side from just working all the time. Sure, the Commander was stronger than me, but neither of us had the kind of healthy physique that would inspire envy. The thought of getting hurt using equipment we weren’t properly familiar with would be a much bigger problem than not exercising at all.
So, sneaking out quietly was the right play.
“Hmm… Lindera?”
“Yes?”
“You have sports bras, right?”
“Yes, most of my usual underwear is sports bras, so there’s no problem.”
“That’s… really a relief. It would hurt a lot to exercise in other underwear…”
“I know, right.”
Yeah, I knew all too well. Even wearing a sports bra was honestly a bit painful. Having a larger chest was something I felt again after a long time yesterday. I had somewhat gotten used to my shoulders being sore lately, but I never expected exercising would be tough too.
“So what will you wear while exercising?”
“Um… a hoodie?”
“Umm…”
“Is something wrong? Do you have a problem with that?”
“Well, it’s just… won’t it be a bit hot? You’ll be sweating and moving a lot, so a hoodie may not be the best choice…”
“Hmm…”
Was she right? I wasn’t exactly aware, but it seemed like she was speaking the truth.
A hoodie was comfortable, but that was only when I wasn’t exercising. If I were to sweat… it would probably be more uncomfortable.
“Well then, I’ll go get something for you to wear while exercising.”
“Yes?”
“The size might not fit perfectly, but wouldn’t it be better than a hoodie?”
Honestly, Dolores’ suggestion was a bit unexpected but not a bad idea. It wasn’t ideal to work out in a hoodie. The outfit Dolores mentioned couldn’t be too weird, probably just a normal training outfit. There would be some size difference in the chest area, but it should be okay, right?
“I’ll bring it during lunchtime. Right now… we should be getting back to work, right?”
“Yes, thank you. I actually thought about going to buy some clothes…”
“Well, if the size doesn’t fit, then I guess you’d have to go shopping…”
Nonetheless, I felt incredibly grateful for Dolores lending me her clothes. People shouldn’t be judged solely on first impressions.
There was no solid reason to conclude that Dolores was a bad person from the start. Initially, I thought too negatively of her. I mean, she did act a bit strange at the beginning, so maybe it was understandable.
“Yawn…”
“Commander, why are you yawning like that from the morning?”
“Isn’t it because it’s morning?”
The Commander had finally entered the office, and we were slowly starting our morning duties. After all, we planned to work out over the weekend.
There wasn’t much need to chat seriously right now.
“What were you two talking about?”
“I was just chatting a bit with Dolores about exercising.”
“Oh. Um… I guess that would be good. Last weekend we went and didn’t do anything.”
“I used the treadmill.”
“…I see.”
Why was he speaking as if we were the same, sitting at the desk not doing anything? I at least exercised.
Sure, it was only for five minutes, but I still did it!
Well, what else could I expect from the Commander, who usually just gamed all day? I decided to understand and let it slide.
“By the way, where’s Midori? It’s almost work time and she’s still not here…”
“YAAAAAH!!!”
“…”
Wow. Perfect timing.
*
“…Why did Dolores come in just to leave?”
“Oh, she stepped out for a bit.”
“What business does she have during lunchtime…?”
I had already spoken to Dolores, but it seemed the late-entering Commander was clueless.
Who told her to stroll in after having breakfast?
If I had just suggested we go to the office together, she could’ve been here sooner.
Instead, she made that bizarre excuse about buying peach tea at the convenience store, and look where we ended up.
It would’ve been easier to just follow me to the office and chat without all this fuss.
“Exercising every time and wearing a hoodie like last time seems tough, right? That’s why Dolores said she’d lend me her clothes.”
“…Clothes?”
“Yes, clothes.”
“…Is that alright?”
“What’s the problem? It’s just clothes, nothing weird.”
It really shouldn’t be a big deal. We were just talking about clothes, so why worry?
I didn’t have any proper training gear, so I had no choice.
I had some old ones, but that was outerwear.
I didn’t have anything decent to wear underneath, so it was an unavoidable choice.
“…Sigh.”
“Stop sighing. You’ll just get more wrinkles that way.”
“Do you know why I’m sighing?”
“Is there even a reason to sigh because of me?”
There really wasn’t any need to sigh because of me.
Why was he sighing?
Did he have some worries?
About a woman?
Nah, that couldn’t be it.
“Lindera?”
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Yes, I brought it, but I think it’s better to try it on first and then decide.”
Saying that, Dolores handed me a shopping bag.
There must be clothes inside.
“Thank you. Well… I have some time, so I’ll try it on now.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s nothing weird, just clothing, right?”
It shouldn’t be complicated at all.
I could just change in the bathroom quickly.
And it’s easier to try it on now rather than wait until after work, change in my room, and return it tomorrow.
“Then… I’ll change.”
*
“W-what is this?”
“How is it? Isn’t it comfortable?”
I could only agree that it was comfortable when Dolores asked me.
Yeah, it was indeed comfortable.
But the issue was…
“The size is a problem, but this isn’t right…!”
If I didn’t wear my outerwear, I might as well have just come in wearing a suit!
Honestly, this outerwear was completely different from what I usually wore and felt so awkward… but it was because it was from Dolores.
If it wasn’t, I would’ve tossed it aside by now.
“This outfit is way too revealing?!”
“Is it? It’s trendy to wear outfits like this when working out.”
“No matter what, this doesn’t seem right.”
“Why? Is it uncomfortable?”
“The exposure is one thing… but doesn’t it seem strange?!”
Seriously, wearing this tight leggings with nothing over it was absurd!
No matter how I looked at it, it felt wrong!
“What’s the big issue?”
“It’s a huge problem, that’s why I’m saying this!”
Even if I was wearing outerwear now, taking it off would mean… disaster.
Literally, a disaster!
I wasn’t even sure if what I was wearing counted as clothes.
The size was a joke, and I felt profoundly embarrassed.
Thanks to the outerwear, I managed to walk back into the office like this, but it felt like I was going to die.
“We need to take off the outerwear to figure out how it fits! We’re talking about something nobody else knows!”
“Y-yes?!”
Take this off…?
For real?
Midori said that, but if I took it off… I would definitely die socially.
That outfit was that serious!
“Midori’s right. We can’t judge until we see how it fits.”
“That’s…”
“Since it’s just the three of us, what are you so embarrassed about? Just show us comfortably.”
“Do I really have to… show you? I could just get new clothes…”
“I think it’d be better if you just showed it openly.”
“Me?”
Suddenly, Dolores was asking the Commander that.
What was she thinking asking him?
Seriously, why?!
“You need to see how it looks to change clothes or buy new ones… and…?”
“And?”
Dolores suddenly moved closer to the commander and started whispering.
“What are you two talking about…?”
I was immensely embarrassed about the outfit, but I couldn’t help but feel curious about her sudden whisper.
It was just too sudden.
Nobody else was here, so why the whispering?
“…Lindera?”
“What is it…?”
“I think it’d be best to show it clearly first before making a decision.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
Suddenly the Commander started telling me to take it off.
What a crazy perv.
No, Midori and Dolores were also in on this… they were all nuts!
“It’s unanimous! Quickly take it off and just show us!”
“…Where did my opinion go?”
“Then it’s majority rule!”
…
Damn.
I had no choice but to take it off.
Specifically, the outerwear.
Since it was more of a windbreaker type, it shouldn’t be a big issue, but…
-Zip…
Slowly, I pulled down the zipper.
After all, it was a windbreaker type of garment.
“…Uh.”
“Um…”
-Rustle…
I had no choice but to slowly take off the outerwear.
It was incredibly embarrassing.
I was feeling extremely humiliated, but since everyone was telling me to take it off… I had no choice.
Finally, I took off the outerwear, revealing my skin… and what was basically a top resembling a sports bra.
Actually, I wasn’t wearing anything under it, so it was practically underwear.
“…How does it look?”
“…It’s revealing!”
“…Not that… what about other aspects?”
“…Size is slightly… small, but it’s pretty!”
This thing is pretty?
I was seriously beginning to question Dolores’ taste in aesthetics… it couldn’t possibly be my fault.
“Commander… don’t look.”
“…Understood.”
The Commander turned back to his chair as he spoke.
Phew, what a relief.
Of all people, having the Commander see me was far more embarrassing.
I just hoped he’d stay there, facing the wall or something.
“…Is it really okay to exercise in this?”
“Of course! If you wear loose clothes while exercising, it’ll definitely be uncomfortable.”
“But this… this outfit is too revealing…”
“It’s trendy and pretty! Didn’t the Commander just think Lindera’s appearance was pretty a moment ago?”
Why was she suddenly directing that question to the Commander?
There was no way this outfit could look good.
Logically speaking, if someone said an outfit like this looked pretty, they’d definitely have weird visual tastes.
Sure, I was embarrassed and not fully thinking straight, but…
Even so, there was no way the Commander would give a normal compliment.
Absolutely not!
“…It was pretty, sorta.”
The Commander answered while still turned away, and I couldn’t believe it.
No way…
“Y-yeah?”
Is this outfit really considered pretty…?
It looked trashy and inappropriate, how could that be?
Was my taste in visuals truly that twisted?
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
