Book 7: Chapter 1: A Sorrow for Those Who Lack (2/2)

”…Monica, do you have a dress?”

Monica shook her head mutely.

As expected, thought Lana as she put her hand to her forehead.

The school festival was just two weeks away. She didn't think that Monica could prepare the dress by herself.

”I'll lend you my old one if you like. It's already out of fashion in color and design, though.”

”Eh, but…”

Monica mumbled as she kneaded her fingers and cast her head down.

Lana pursed her lips into a pout.

”What, you don't like my secondhand stuff?”

”I-I don't mean it like that… I just…”

Monica's voice was kind of shaky like she was about to cry. Her unreliable eyebrows furrowed, and a film of tears slowly formed in her round eyes.

”I've always received so much help from you…and I haven't been able to give anything back…”

Monica's head was turning lower and lower.

Eventually, all Lana could see was Monica's crown… so she pushed it with her fingers.

”I'm not expecting anything in return.”

”…even so…”

”I-I mean, you don't need a reason to be nice to your friends, right?”

Pulling her fingers back from the crown of her head, she saw Monica's head slowly lifts.

Monica still looked bewildered.

”…thank you, Lana.”

Monica thanked her in a faint voice. The tears that should have receded a little, for some reason, filled up again along with a strong sense of guilt on her face.

Can she honestly rely on Lana without any remorse?

Lana folded her arms pouted and glared lightly at Monica.

”The dress needs to be adjusted a bit, so come to my room at another time. Anyway, Monica, do you wear a corset?”

”I've never worn any…”

”What!?”

Lana always wore a light corset under her uniform, even now. For a girl in her late teens, this should be a matter of course…but when Lana took a closer look at Monica's figure, she was convinced.

Her small figure, which could easily be said to be in her early teens, was too thin rather than slender.

”…W-Well, you certainly don't have any fat to tie up…”

”…………”

Still, if she tightened her waist more and stuffed her breasts, she would look a little more feminine.

So Lana secretly vowed to herself to wear the corset she had used in her early teens.