"Hmm? Did I do something wrong?" Ellen asked, glancing toward Belle, who had suddenly darted off.
Wise's expression turned momentarily helpless. He had managed to figure out the general reason for Belle's behavior, but honestly, what his younger sister kept on her mind all day was still a mystery to him.
[Thinking about my dear Host, of course!]
'...System, I don't need your input,' He thought, internally shutting down the system's message.
With no time to dwell on it, Wise handed the folded clothes to Ellen.
"Ellen, try these on and see if they fit. I'll come out later."
He shot a quick glance at the bed. Ellen nodded, understanding immediately.
She went into the bathroom to change. At first, she'd assumed the dress wouldn't fit, after all, as a Shark Thiren, her thick tail usually required specially made outfits.
Yet Wise had clearly thought of that, selecting a longer dress just for her. He really was considerate.
[Ding! Target: Ellen has increased her favorability toward the host by 5. Her current favorability is now 80. Additionally, 400 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 7000]
The increase in favorability was a pleasant surprise, but Wise couldn't think about that just yet. Calming Belle came first.
"Belle, I'm sorry. I brought a girl home without asking for your opinion, but it was really an accident." He approached the bed and explained everything.
Belle, listening, stuck her head out from under the covers with a small pout.
"Big brother, you're such a big dummy..."
'She wasn't just concerned about that, was she really that petty?' Wise thought, scratching his cheek.
Belle was clearly still a little angry, but Wise's next action made her anger vanish completely. He pulled the blanket off her and hugged her tightly.
"Sorry, Belle. I'll make sure to tell you about these things first from now on. Rest well for now."
After Wise finished speaking, he turned and left the room, while Belle, still in bed, remained stunned for a moment.
Finally, she let out an incredulous 'Eh?' and instantly transformed into a 'Steam Princess,' shyly wrapping herself in the blanket again.
[Ding! Target: Belle has generated emotional fluctuations toward the host, generating 1000 Emotional Value]
[Current Emotional Value: 8000]
From this, it was easy to see just how much impact Wise's recent actions had on Belle. At least, according to the system's current notifications, these were the most emotional points she had generated in a single instance.
After leaving the room, Wise happened to meet Ellen coming out of the bathroom, holding the clothes she had just changed out of.
"How is it? Does it fit well?"
"Hmm, it's alright, just a little tight around the chest."
Hearing Ellen's words, Wise felt helpless. After all, Belle's figure really wasn't as ample as Ellen's, so the clothes weren't exactly suitable.
Seeing that it was already very late, Ellen was preparing to leave. Wise glanced at the clothes in her hands, noticing they were a bit inconvenient to carry.
"Oh, right, it's not good to carry these dirty clothes like this. I'll get you a bag."
"Thank you. Also, I'll wash these clothes and return them later."
Wise didn't mind. Belle had only worn them a few times before abandoning them, and they'd been bought on a whim during a sale. He could always buy more later.
Wise went to grab a bag, but something caught his eye.
A pair of white panties with a cartoon shark pattern. On their own, they wouldn't be unusual, but compared to the rest of her clothes, they didn't look very dirty.
Wise looked at Ellen with a slightly strange expression but said nothing as voicing such a thought directly would certainly be inappropriate.
Lucky for her, the dress was long enough to avoid any mishaps. Maybe that's why Ellen had felt okay taking off her underwear.
Even though Wise didn't speak, Ellen, sitting across from him, still keenly noticed his gaze and the subtle shifts in his expression.
To be honest, she hadn't wanted things to end up this way either, but wearing clothes soaked in ramen broth was unbearably uncomfortable.
"Well, I'll head back now," Ellen said, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"Hmm, be careful on your way…"
They exchanged polite farewells, and Ellen reached for the door, ready to step out. But just as she moved, something unexpected happened.
The moment the door swung open, a strong gust of wind blew in from outside. Ellen instinctively thought she had safety shorts on, so she used her hand to shield her eyes.
But Wise, positioned directly behind her, felt no such need to look away. His vision remained clear, and he watched as the fabric of her dress whipped upward above her waist.
He caught a fleeting glimpse of her bare backside and the distinct outline of her private area, which made Wise swallow instantly.
"!!!"
"Ah!!!"
Ellen flinched, the urge to scream surging through her, yet the late hour stopped her. She clutched her dress tightly with both hands, struggling to hide herself.
The breeze outside had softened, no longer strong enough to lift her dress. Yet she remained frozen, cheeks blazing, hands gripping the fabric.
"Wise! You… you didn't see anything, right?!"
Seeing Ellen so flustered and biting her lip, how could Wise dare admit to seeing anything?
"No, nothing. The wind just now… it was too strong. I couldn't even open my eyes…"
Her heart eased slightly at his words, but a stubborn mix of embarrassment and irritation still lingered.
+ + + + +
Ellen's Inner Thoughts:
Damn it… why did so many accidents happen today?! And of all people, a boy had seen her… No, she couldn't think about it anymore. He said he didn't see anything, so he should… No, he definitely didn't see it!
+ + + + +
Wise could pick up Ellen's thoughts through the system. It probably wasn't the best moment to say anything, but he couldn't keep quiet.
"Uh… Ellen, it feels a bit chilly out there. Want me to get you a pair of pants?"
Ellen fell silent upon hearing this.
Cold? Please. At this heat, she'd be sweating in a dress, let alone needing pants because of a little wind.
'So he really saw everything!' Even though Ellen's cheeks burned with shame and her chest tightened with anger.
But in the end, she still nodded, accepting his suggestion.
[Ding! Target: Ellen has increased her favorability toward the host by 3. Her current favorability is now 83. Additionally, 800 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 8800]
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