"...Hey, Amelia."
"Hm?"
"It's just me... do you remember that?"
"Me too."
A mouthwatering steak sat before me.
The tantalizing smell and appearance seemed to promise it would taste amazing.
But still.
Why the hell was it pre-cut...?
"Please, dig in. I hope you enjoy it!"
"...Yeah, sure. Thanks."
Arte said with a smile.
I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind.
"Aren’t you going to eat?"
"Hii, hiik! O-Of course I will... I-It’s delicious. Hehehe..."
It was driving me crazy.
I thought it was just us, but apparently not.
That maid who had been pressing her forehead to the floor until just now, her skin flushed red from the pressure.
Even she seemed uneasy about the steak, hesitating to eat it—until Arte asked, forcing a smile as she stuffed it into her mouth.
So she knew too, huh?
Well, she was from Weaver Mensch. She’d probably know about that incident. Maybe even better than I did.
"Hmm..."
I’d never seen it in person—only in the news.
And yet, I couldn’t shake the unease.
A Cube Steak from Arte, of all people.
I knew it wasn’t, but still...
"...It’s good."
"Right? I’m pretty confident in my steaks."
Before I knew it, Amelia had taken a bite, her expression lightening as she started eating naturally.
As if it were just delicious meat. Effortlessly.
"Why’d you bother cutting it up?"
"It’s inconvenient to eat if it’s whole. Pre-slicing makes it easier to just dig in."
"Huh..."
She said it like it was obvious—pre-sliced means you can just eat it.
With that, Arte went to fetch two more plates of steak, then suddenly seemed to realize something and hurried back to the kitchen.
"Huh? There’s two extra?"
"Ah. I... made too much."
"You make mistakes too, huh?"
"I’m human too, you know."
Watching Amelia and Arte laugh together, I finally worked up the courage to take a piece and put it in my mouth.
"...It’s good."
"I’m glad to hear that."
I absentmindedly shared my thoughts, and Arte—who had been talking with Amelia—turned to me.
"Would you like more?"
"Nah, this is plenty. Thanks."
Thanks to her background, I’d been hesitant to eat the Cube Steak, but once I tried it, it was just a delicious steak.
Somehow, that made it easier to face Arte.
Maybe Arte was like this Cube Steak—her background was a little intimidating, but inside, she was just an ordinary person.
That’s what I started to think.
"Phew. I’m full."
"Ah, the cleanup..."
"It’s fine. Our maid will handle it. Won’t you?"
"Y-Yes! Leave it to me! I’ll do anything!"
At first, the meal had been awkward, but it eventually turned lively. Once it was over, Arte whispered something to the maid.
I couldn’t quite catch what she said…
Alcohol? Why is she suddenly talking about alcohol?
I could see the maid’s face pale.
No idea. Is it some kind of code?
"Dorothy didn’t eat much, did she?"
"Ah, I just wasn’t hungry. Sorry."
At Arte’s words, I glanced at Dorothy’s plate.
…She really hadn’t. Not a single bite.
She’d only picked at the vegetables arranged as decoration, leaving the meat untouched.
Was she feeling unwell?
She didn’t seem it, though.
"No, it’s fine. Spira? Please take care of this too."
"Leave it to me…"
Looking utterly deflated, the maid began clearing the table.
She looked like a scolded puppy.
Even though she was a snake.
"Well, now that we’re full, shall we go?"
"Sure, let’s go. To the beach!"
…Not that it’s any of my business.
I could sort of understand why Arte had scolded her.
We left her house and got into the car.
It was time to head to the beach.
[It’s summer! It’s the beach!]
"…Where did you even learn that from?"
[Hehe, I just wanted to shout it once!]
The author’s childish antics left me sighing endlessly.
Ah, so that’s why the author had been so quiet lately. Of course.
It had been nice while it lasted… But now that she was back to her usual self, I decided to ask her something I’d been wondering about.
"Why have you been so quiet lately?"
[I was just thinking about the plot for a bit.]
"…The plot?"
[Something came up that’s a little different from what I’d planned, but it might actually work out better this way.]
"Ah, I see… Are you going to tell me…?"
[If I tell you, it won’t be fun!]
I hadn’t expected an answer anyway.
The author always avoided spoilers with that same excuse.
…Though I did wonder if there was really any reason not to tell *me* of all people.
"Arte, what are you doing over there?"
"Ah. Well…"
"Hurry up! If we’re at the beach, we should enjoy it!"
"Y-Yes… You’re right. We should enjoy it…"
Amelia, brimming with excitement, dashed across the sandy beach.
A beach with not a single person in sight.
The reason it was empty even during peak vacation season was simple—it was Amelia’s private property.
That was why there was little hesitation about wearing swimsuits. Fewer people to see.
But… but…
I just couldn’t bring myself to step out of the changing room.
No matter how I looked at it, this outfit… felt a little *off*.
"Why does this keep happening…"
[Well, the readers didn’t pick a different swimsuit, so…?]
"Please be quiet..."
[I didn’t say anything wrong, so why are you like this? You’re the one who made the mistake, Reader-nim.]
Right, she wasn’t wrong. It was my fault.
And that was exactly why I wanted to blame someone else.
While Amelia and Dorothy were gleefully picking out swimsuits at the department store, I hadn’t bothered to buy any more.
I hadn’t felt like trying on more, and the stalker had been on my mind.
Maybe because all my attention had been focused on the stalker instead of swimsuits?
I had made a critical mistake.
...I hadn’t bought a swimsuit.
Why was that a mistake? Simple.
I’d only tried on one swimsuit at the department store. So what would anyone else buy if they were getting one for me?
Obviously, the first one I’d worn.
Maybe my mistake was being too lazy to even take it out of the bag.
I was about to pay the price for my carelessness.
"Haa..."
I stared at the scrap of fabric in my hand.
...Do I really have to wear this?
Couldn’t I just wear a leotard?
That’s a great idea!
Yeah, let’s do that. The leotard is black too, so it won’t become see-through when wet.
But my perfect plan was instantly ruined by the author’s words.
[...Reader-nim. You’re not thinking of wearing a leotard, are you?]
"Huh?"
[I trust you’re not planning to go in just your underwear.]
"A-aha... Of course not..."
Damn it.
Why did she have to be so perceptive at times like this?
There was no way out now.
...So I had no choice but to wear this bikini?
If there was any consolation, it wasn’t the worst possible option.
It had a top, even if it was see-through when wet, and the pareo was nearly transparent but still covered a little.
Better than nothing, I guess.
[Why are you hesitating? It’s cute!]
"No, I was originally a guy, so a bikini is a little..."
[Then wear it like a man! If you were really a guy, you wouldn’t act like a little girl! It’s not like you wear it every day. What’s the big deal? It’s not going to wear out!]
"..."
What was this feeling?
The feeling of getting nagged by the person who nagged me every day.
I had a million retorts, but none of them would work.
"Fine, I’ll wear it! Happy now?!"
[Woo! So manly! That’s my Reader-nim! A real macho man!]
Are you mocking me?
Calling someone who’s about to wear a bikini a "macho man"?
My blood boiled.
I was finally getting my karma.
Sighing, I stepped into the changing room.
Just you wait. I’ll get you back for this someday.
"Arte is late."
"She’s probably changing."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She went into the changing room."
Still, it was way too late.
Had something happened to Arte?
As that thought crossed his mind, he absentmindedly kept looking back—only for Amelia’s hand to brush against his arm.
"…What are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing. Just surprised at how fit you are."
"All the other students are at this level too. If you’re aiming to be a Hero, you can’t be any weaker."
"I guess, but seeing it in person is different… Wow, you’re so firm."
They saw him like this every day during swim class…
Amelia, as if fascinated, started poking and prodding his body.
"…Yeah, it really is amazing."
"Dorothy, why are you joining in?"
"Because it *is* amazing! You’re so solid!"
…It was hot.
Yu Siwoo finally raised his hands to push them away.
Amelia’s hands had already wandered from his arms to his chest, and the tickling sensation, combined with the summer heat, was making him feel stiflingly warm.
And then—
A sharp voice cut through from behind.
"P-Pervert…!"
"Oh, Arte. You’re here?"
"W-What are you *doing*?!"
"Huh?"
The three of them froze.
…Doing? What?
"E-Even if it’s a secluded spot, doing *that*… outside…! How could you…!"
*That*?
Yu Siwoo couldn’t understand what Arte was talking about, so he tried to imagine it.
How they must look from a distance.
A man with two women clinging to him, their hands on his chest.
From behind, their hands wouldn’t be visible, so…
"Ah, Arte! It’s not what you think! It’s just—"
He tried to explain, but his words died in his throat.
Because Arte was standing there, looking exactly like she had in the department store.
He almost instinctively let his gaze wander lecherously, so Yu Siwoo had to fight to keep his composure.
With her in nothing but a swimsuit, losing his cool would be a disaster.
And that was the last thing he needed.
"…Not what I think?!"
Arte’s voice snapped him back to reality.
There was no time to admire her appearance.
He had to explain somehow…!
"Say something, you two!"
If Dorothy and Amelia backed him up, this would be cleared up in no time.
Just one word from them!
But Dorothy and Amelia were already sprinting far away, toward the sea.
Amelia turned her head, flashing him a bright smile as she gave him a thumbs-up, as if to say, *Hang in there!*
This bitch… Did she run off on purpose?!
"Uh, t-that…"
It took a while to clear up Arte’s misunderstanding.