Vol. 3 Ch. 2 Ep. 4: Swimsuit Symposium

It's really coming down.

It certainly is.

Hngh... Good morning.

Good morning, Koharu!

Morning. It looks like Azusa is the last one to get up today.

Hmm.... Mmm...

What happened? She's usually the first one awake.

I think she's been pushing herself too hard these last few days. We should let her sleep in a little while longer.

Hmm...no. The cute creatures... So round and fluffy... I mustn't.

Someone sounds like they're having a good dream. ♥

Th-The sound of thunder might make it hard, though.

Uh-oh.

What's wrong?

The laundry I hung out to dry last night! I completely forgot about it!

This is bad!

Hmm?

Now, then. Let's begin the first Make-Up Work Club Swimsuit Symposium! ♥

I don't know about this...

Hmm.

Why did it have to come to this...?

"We are in uncharted waters."

And perfectly dressed for the occasion, I might add. ♥

That's all of it.

They're completely soaked. Not to mention muddied. Our only choice is to put all of them through the wash again.

Even our gym clothes are wet now! They're sticking to me like they're covered in glue.

That's because you tripped and got all of us soaked.

No, this is my fault. I'm the one who offered to do the laundry and then forgot about it.

You don't have to blame yourself. We can always re-do the laundry and wear something different in the meantime.

That's right. First, let's change into something dry and warm. We're going to catch colds if we keep wearing these.

And for good measure, let's all take a hot shower together and dry each other's hair afterward.

...!

Is something wrong?

I'm...out of clean clothes to wear.

Huh?

So am I. My uniform and gym clothes are soaked, and I don't have a spare change of clothes.

You too? Wait! Neither do I...

Isn't this a fun turn of events? I guess we'll just have to study in our bras and panties today, ladies. ♥

In your dreams, you perv! We're not gonna do something like that!

She has a point. We all have plenty of fresh underwear, and we can wear socks to help keep us warm.

Don't go along with her madness! We can't just wear our underwear to class!

Why not? You have no imagination...

Not another word!!!

We'll just have to do the laundry as quickly as we can and dry some of it with a hairdryer or something!

In the meantime, we'll just have to make do with wearing towels! And Sensei can wait for us down the hall!

We can put off studying for at least a few hours. Why are you so eager to hit the books all of a sudden?

I suppose, but we're still going to be stuck in our underwear for a few hours.

I'd have preferred to begin studying as soon as possible, but I suppose we can't enter the classroom just yet. All we can do is take these off for now.

*sigh*...

Why are you all so disappointed about not getting to study in your underwear?! Do you want to be executed for indecent exposure?!

Ahhh! What happened?!

I think the power went out.

Seems like it. It must be because of the thunderstorm.

Wh-What was that sound?!

We have a problem.

That was the washing machine stopping. And it's locked. What do we do?

...?!

"So that's how we came to the last resort."

Sure did. Our only choice is to hold a swimsuit symposium. ♥

*sigh* There must be another way...

I guess you're right. We could always have an underwear symposium instead. I wouldn't mind that at all. ♥

It will be difficult to hold class under these conditions. Not to mention all of the building's facilities have shut down due to the lightning. Our defenses are wide open.

W-Well, this kind of thing happens to old buildings in thunderstorms.

Who cares about that?! Why are you all going along with this ridiculous symposium anyway?!

I thought we agreed that we can't have class if we don't have any clothes to wear! Shouldn't we just go back to the dorm and rest until the blackout passes?!

But what kind of camp would this be if we passed on the opportunity to make memories?

This is our chance to share the most intimate parts of ourselves. A sudden blackout, driving rain... The mood is perfect!

We may as well indulge while we have the chance. You only live once. ♥

I-I'm not denying that making memories is part of any good camp...

I see. So that's the purpose of a swimsuit symposium.

No it isn't! There's nothing educational about wearing swimsuits to class!

U-Uhhh...

Now, now. There's no need to raise your voice, Koharu. Let's just go with the flow and have some fun while we can.

Calling it a symposium was just to keep up appearances. We can talk about anything we want. Nothing is off limits. ♥

I've always wanted to do something like this. I've never been happier to have joined the Make-Up Work Club. ♥

I can empathize. I too am happy to have joined the club.

You are?

Of course I am. I enjoy getting to study, eat, and even clean and do laundry with all of you. Not a single activity hasn't been enjoyable.

Aw, that's so sweet. ♥

I've always thought swimsuits were merely meant for swimming, but now I'm learning all sorts of other useful applications for them.

That sounds more like corruption than enjoyment...

But they're comfortable to move around in and breathable. I can understand why Hanako is so fond of hers.

You've finally seen the light. See? I told you, Koharu.

Public indecency is still a crime punishable by death! That's all you need to know!

I enjoy studying with you too, Koharu.

Wh-Where's this coming from all of a sudden?! Don't just blurt out embarrassing things like that!

That's even sweeter! ♥

W-Well, of course you should relish the opportunity to study with an elite like myself.

Hmm.

I could never get a good read on you when we first met, but it's a relief to hear you've been enjoying yourself.

Of course. And I'm especially grateful for how you've always taken care of me, Hifumi. Thank you.

Azusaaa! I could just hug you!

Hifumi. I can't breathe.

I heard a rare Gold Maguro is on display at the Trinity aquarium right now.

I saw it on a pamphlet! That's the one they're calling the fantasy fish, right?

Yeah. Apparently, it was discovered at the nearby beach. I wanted to go see it for myself, but the admission fee is so high.

The beach... Now that you mention it, I've never been there before.

You've never been to the beach, Azusa?!

I also heard that you can hear strange noises coming from that long-abandoned theme park.

Th-That can't be true! That's just an urban legend!

I've only heard rumors myself, so I can't say for sure...but isn't that how all scary stories go?

Yeah, and they're all made up!

H-Haha...

I don't find walking about campus or the district in a swimsuit to be strange at all.

Of course it is! Do you not have a lick of common sense?!

That reminds me. I heard from a Sister once that somewhere in a lawless area of Kivotos is a gang that wears nothing but bikinis and masks.

Wh-Why would they only wear that?!

And you just said they're a gang, so that makes them criminals! Of course criminals have no problem committing public indecency!

It goes to show just how common wearing nothing but a swimsuit is. Why don't you join me next time?

No! I don't care what you have in mind, count me out!

...

You need to start getting a better night's sleep, Azusa!

I know. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you all by oversleeping this morning.

That never happens in a place where I'm uncomfortable.

Maybe I overslept because I no longer find that to be the case...

That doesn't change the fact that you need to get more rest. You need to go on fewer of those late night patrols of yours!

You've been going on patrols?

Yes. I've been keeping watch every night...

She has?

I didn't realize. I'm sorry.

To be honest, I use my patrols as an opportunity to do things like set traps and fortify our defenses.

Traps?

Defenses?

Why would you go to such lengths?

Don't worry. I only set them along the routes intruders would likely take. They shouldn't pose a threat to us as we go about our studies.

(Then how do you explain what happened to Mari yesterday?)

You should let us know about these things ahead of time. People will suspect you of wrongdoing if you go around doing things like that on your own.

I suppose you have a point. I'll be more careful from now on.

The last thing I want is to cause any harm to the club or Sensei.

H-Huh? Don't treat me like child.

Besides, that's not how I would describe myself.

The truth is that everything is meaningless, and vanity is the way of the world.

There will come a day where I betray everything I've ever known, all of you, my faith, and my own heart.

...

Oh.

...

The power's back.

It's about time.

And the rain stopped too! Everything is clear outside!

We should restart the laundry and get to drying everything again.

I suppose this marks the end to the first Make-Up Work Club Swimsuit Symposium. I look forward to the second.

There's not gonna be a second! This was the first and last!

No! Not yet! We can't just let this day go to waste!

Wh-What?!

Who are you talking to? Don't just start shouting out of nowhere like that. You almost gave me a heart attack.

Let's just look at today as an unplanned vacation day. We even got to bond together buck naked like real sisters.

That never happened! Stop revising history!

But wouldn't it feel like a waste to go to bed so soon? Don't you just want to seize the night and go out with a bang?

What do you have in mind?

Isn't it obvious? What kind of camp would this be if we didn't try to sneak out at night at least once? ♥

You want to sneak out?

Obviously. Let's leave the academy behind and go on a walk together!

There are plenty of places in the Trinity shopping district that are open late. Let's go grab some food and do a little shopping!

Th-That would be a violation. I can't do that!

You know the school rules better than I do, but I bet a bunch of students sneak out and go to places they shouldn't. Isn't that right, Hifumi?

H-Hahaha... Wh-Who knows? Maybe...

But Koharu's right. We're in the middle of a mandatory boot camp. There could be dire consequences if we were caught sneaking out now.

It's not like we'd go that far, it's still within the district. We'll be back before you know it. So what do you say, Koharu? Doesn't it sound fun?

I-I mean, sure it does, but...

Come on! One little walk isn't going to kill you. Isn't that right, Sensei?

You're fine with this?!

I'm dressed and ready. Just give the order on when to move.

You too, Azusa?! When did you get changed?

It's decided. ♥

Everyone, hurry up and take it off! The Make-Up Work Club is going late-night streaking!

You said we were going on a walk! Keep your clothes on!