On the way to class, we stop at the toilets to change out of our gym clothes. When I pull off my shirt, I hiss. “Ow, ow ow...” I mutter. Damn they're really sore now... How do girls deal with this...? I quickly struggle back into my uniform, keeping an ear out for anyone coming in, then head back out once I'm done.
I have to wait a little while for Jen to come out. Does it really take that much longer to change into the girl's uniform? Guys have shirts, vests, jackets, pants, and ties, with a whole bunch of buttons to do up, but the girls only have the shirt and vest, with a skirt. Their ribbons are even attached to their shirt, I think, so they don't have to tie them every time. Why does it take so long, I wonder...?
Finally, she comes out, and we head back to our classrooms. Since we didn't shower, we make it there before everyone else. “I'm sorry, you didn't get a shower because of me. Do you feel alright?” I ask.
“Pssh, whatever. If the guys can't deal with me sweaty, then I don't need them.”
“Haahh...” What is that even supposed to mean...?
Giving me a pat on the head, Jen says, “I'll pick you up after last period to deal with your issue, alright?”
“Sure.”
We split up there, and I wait for a while, until everyone comes back.
“Hey, Sei. You alright now?” Ken asks as soon as he arrives.
“Yeah, I'm feeling better. Don't worry about it.” Even when I say that, he can clearly tell I'm not being totally honest. I know a little of the pain is leaking into my voice. “Really, I'll tell you about it later.”
That earns a shrug. I manage to similarly wave off Lucy and Amari's concern.
Last period comes and goes in a flash. All it really is, is just a short class meetup before we break for the day. It's not that long and there isn't even a teacher to take attendance. It's literally just a time to our class to keep its affairs it order, isn't it?
I have a feeling that from today on, a lot of people are going to be skipping this period entirely... Whatever, not really my concern.
As soon as the bell rings, everyone's already packed up. We didn't have much else to do.
I glance up, one seat ahead, one to my right. Leona Vicca's desk. She never showed up to class today. Why not? Maybe I could ask a teacher?
Just as Lucy and Ken are striking up a conversation, Jen sweeps into the room. She waves at me, and I start to rise, grabbing my bag. “Coming!” I call.
“H-hey!” Ken stammers, “what's up?” I pause, I don't really know what to say. I obviously can't talk about it here. While I'm thinking, he catches my sleeve from behind. My clothing shifting suddenly is like a sting. Everyone catches my wince and grimace of pain, and Ken releases me with a jolt.
“Sorry, I-” I still don't know what to say. I throw a glance at Jen, but she just gives me a look to say this one's up to me. “Come with us, I'll explain.” I wave for him to follow along.
“Sure. We'll see you later?” he directs the question at Lucy and Amari, who immediately agree. It's clear that something is up, even if they don't know what.
With a few more words, we get on our way.
“So...?” he asks expectantly as we walk.
Looking between us skeptically, Jen asks, “Are you actually going to tell him?”
I bite my lip. It's embarrassing. It's a girl thing and Jen knows how to help with that stuff. But I'm living with Ken. I can't just leave him out of stuff like this, can I?
“Ugh, yeah, I'll tell him. Just... when we're alone.” It doesn't feel like the kind of thing to mention in the hall at school, even when there isn't anyone immediately around us.
“Whoo,” she whistles. “Brave.” Then she reaches up and slaps Ken on the shoulder. “I have a feeling you're going to learn more about girls than you ever wanted to know. Prepare yourself.”
“Mmm...” Ken rumbles uncertainly, but doesn't offer much response.
“Where are we going anyway?” I eventually ask.
“School store. I can only offer a temporary solution right now, we'll have to go shopping next weekend.”
“Uhh, ok?”
Following along from there, we arrive at the store, and Jen picks up... bandages? After some consideration, she also grabs some antibiotic ointment. She swipes her mobile over the reader, and we head out from there, making a beeline for the dorms.
Without a hint of hesitation, she leads us into the men's dorms. It feels like every eye is glued to us as we enter. Even the staff member at the desk raises an eyebrow when she asks us our room number over her shoulder, then starts to lead us up the stairs when we tell her.
I do my best to ignore the stares, but I keep hearing mutters of 'damn,' 'legend,' and 'balls of steel.'
Ugh...
Soon enough, we hit the reader on the door and the three of us head inside. I toss my jacket on my bed, then start undoing my vest, while Jen takes a look around briefly, before opening the door to our wash room.
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“Huh, same as the girls' side,” she notes with a shrug. Once I dump my vest in the laundry bin, I immediately see how my nipples are clearly visible, painfully hard and irritated under my white shirt. It makes me blush, especially when I catch Ken and Jen looking right at them.
While Ken averts his eyes, Jen grabs me by the arm. “Come on, Sei.” She drags me toward the wash room, saying, “Ken, stay here.”
Once we're in the wash room, Jen goes to close the door, but I hold up a hand to stop her. “Ken wanted to know, he should listen.”
“Uhh, alright,” she responds uncertainly, then calls, “Ken, come here.”
“Yeah?” he asks, walking over to stand just beyond the open door.
Jen looks at me. “Do you want to explain or should I?”
I think about it, already blushing. I don't really know that much besides what I've experienced, but I can't just make her explain everything... Looking up to Ken, I say, “So, running during gym made my nipples really sore.” His blush just makes me blush even more. He brings a hand up to cover his mouth and looks away briefly, and I can see him fighting to compose himself.
“Right,” he finally manages. “So, a girl thing. Right.”
I don't really know how to explain any better, so I look to Jen pleadingly. She sighs, then gets to it. “It's called nipple chafing and it can happen to guys too. It's just way worse for girls because you know, boobs.” She says it in a gruff tone, but even I catch her flushing red. “It's caused by your nipples rubbing against your clothing too much, like when you run. Now, turn around. You can listen, but I swear if you try to peek at Sei, I'll cut your balls off and feed them to you.”
With that... colorful threat lobbed his way, Ken immediately turns his back and promises not to look.
“Alright Sei, shirt,” she says expectantly. I nod hesitantly and pull it off, gulping and watching as she leans down to examine my breasts.
“Shit,” Jen hisses. “They shouldn't be this bad after one run. I guess because you just changed or something...? Anyway,” she waves a hand. “Hold still, this is going to sting.”
I nod a few times and prepare myself. As she works, she explains. “First, since they're already chafed pretty badly, wash them with soap and warm water. You want them clean to avoid scabs and more irritation.”
I whine through my gritted teeth. The way she's scrubbing feels like it's burning... Thankfully, it doesn't take her long.
“There, once that's done, dry them.” She grabs a towel. “Pat dry, don't scrub. It'll just hurt more and cause more irritation.” She does as she says, and I'm glad, this part doesn't hurt as bad. “Alright, the next part is the important one. You need these,” and she holds out the box of bandages.
“The idea is simple. Put a bandage over the nipple so it doesn't rub against your clothes.” Oh, that is simple. “However,” the interjection stops me there. “It's not a great solution, just a temporary one. First, because you need to replace them every day, or any time they come off, like any bandage.” That's... fair. Even as a kid, bandages on a cut might need to be replaced multiple times a day if they get wet or something.
“And second,” she goes on, “because taking them off hurts like a bitch.”
Oh. Shit. Just thinking of pulling a bandage off normally, then applying that to these overly sensitive, sore breasts of mine... This going to be really unpleasant, isn't it...?
“A-alright, I think I get it.”
“Good. Now, this time we're going to use some ointment, like you would with a cut, to help with the chafing. Normally, you could just bandage it.” With her explanation finished, she offers me the box and starts working to unseal the ointment.
I pull out one bandage from the box and start turning it around. It's one of the large kinds with tabs running off in all four directions, that I've used for skinned knees and stuff before, instead of the little straight ones. I'm assuming they work better for this?
“Alright, here.” she hands me the ointment, then stands back to watch. Wincing a little, I take my time to carefully put them on, just like I would with a cut.
“And... done,” I mutter as I finish.
“Yup, just like that. Put those on every morning, and bring a few in your bag in case they come off during the day,” Jen instructs.
I nod. I can do that. “Now, like I said, this is just a temporary solution. This weekend, I'm going to take you to get some bras.”
“Bras?!” I gasp at the same time as Ken, who turns back in shock.
With a growl, Jen socks him in the arm hard enough to make him recoil. “I told you not to look, damn it!”
He waves his hands in surrender. “Sorry, I didn't see anything!”
“You're looking right now!” Shit, she's right. I catch his eyes flicking past her, to my chest when she says that, and my arms come up automatically.
No no, what am I covering up for?!
As she's stalking forward to hit him again, I lurch after her, grabbing her shoulder. “J-Jen, hold on. It's fine.”
“Hah?!”
“I don't care if he sees my chest. I'm a guy, after all.”
“Y-yeah, I don't care if I see Sei naked,” Ken agrees.
Jen turns her glare back and forth between us, mouth half hanging open. Then she addresses me with a hard tone. “You. I might believe you more if you could say that without blushing from chest to hairline.” I flinch when she hits me with that one.
Then she spins back. “And you. What's with that?” Jen spits the words out like daggers, and points straight to Ken's crotch, where his dick is straining against his pants.
Oh god, I'm so hot I feel like I'm going to faint...
“I...” For a few seconds, Ken can't argue back, but then he crosses his arms and squares his shoulders. “I can't control how my body reacts,” he suddenly claims, dead serious. “I don't care what it says, Sei's a guy, so it doesn't matter what he looks like.”
Is he... for real...?
Ken and Jen lock gazes for a long time, the air heavy between them, before Jen finally turns away with an angry snort.
“Fine, I know you're serious, Ken. But this is not up to you. If Sei isn't comfortable with it, then you don't do it. And just look at him, does he look comfortable?” Stepping aside with a wave of her arm, she directs his gaze back onto me.
I'm standing, shirt clutched in my hands, starting at Ken with wide eyes. “I...” Why am I so embarrassed? It's just Ken. He's seen me without a shirt thousands of times, ever since we were kids.
“It's... It's just... It has to be this body,” I mumble at them. “I'm ashamed to be seen like this. Like a girl... That has to be it... I shouldn't be like this. I'm not supposed to be like this...”
“Sei...” Jen takes a half step forward, but I flinch away, arms wrapping around myself.
“I'm sorry, I just... I think I need some time...” When the tears form in my eyes, I cover my face. I'm not supposed to cry...
“Come on, Ken...” With soft steps, they both leave the room, and I flop down in bed. Why won't the tears stop? I grab a penguin plushie, squeeze it to my chest, and cry.
At some point, I fall asleep, but the next thing I know, I'm in a familiar scene...