These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy-Chapter 3Vol . : I Let My Childhood Friend Show Her Back

As my body tipped backward and I lost balance, I instinctively pulled my hands back to shield the back of my head and neck, curling in on myself in a defensive posture.

The stairs leading to my attic room weren’t that high, so as long as I protected myself properly, I shouldn’t get hurt too badly—

—that thought flashed through my mind the instant I fell.

But then, the next second...

“Big brother! Wah!”

Serena suddenly stood up in a panic and reached toward me—but in her rush, she tripped and fell down right after me.

I scrambled to open my arms, trying to catch her.

And right then, my back slammed into the stairs.

Before I could even recover from the impact, something soft crashed into my front.

...The pain in my back and the softness against my chest were two completely different worlds.

“...I’m fine. I’m okay.”

Actually, I wasn’t. Felt like I twisted something in my lower back hitting the stairs, but whatever. It’s not too bad—just gotta tough it out. No way I’m saying that out loud.

Getting injured the same day I got discharged would be way too pathetic. If I told Serena, she’d definitely feel awful about it.

“...What was that sound?”

The one who’d opened the door earlier was Mom—she stepped out of her room, rubbing her eyes.

I looked up at her from where I lay and said,

“...Mm? Oh, hi, Mom... yawn. I’ll make breakfast now...”

She clearly hadn’t fully woken up yet. Hadn’t processed the situation at all.

Sure enough, after yawning and scratching her head, she walked closer—then her eyes snapped wide open, and she stared at me with a look of utter shock.

“Ethan?! What are you doing home?! Did you sneak out of the hospital?! And what is going on here?!”

“Uh, I kinda just... fell down the stairs—anyway, Serena, can you get up now?”

“Ugh...!”

Serena must’ve realized now wasn’t the time for fooling around and quickly climbed off me.

I forced myself upright through the pain and tried to look calm as I spoke to Mom.

“I didn’t sneak out or anything! I got discharged properly—Dad even signed the papers.”

“Huh? But weren’t your injuries really serious?”

“Heh. My body’s got top-tier recovery powers!”

“...Is that so...”

Normally, that kind of excuse wouldn’t fly. But since Mom had just woken up and was still half-asleep, I could probably bluff my way through.

And with her personality, if she missed the chance to press me now, she’d just go “Well, healing quickly is a good thing, no need to dwell on it” and leave it at that. So I’d successfully dodged a bullet.

“What ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) about you, Serena? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“I’m fine...”

She was still staring at me with worried eyes. I couldn’t let anything slip—I couldn’t even furrow my brow!

I bit the tip of my tongue and forced a smile, then patted her head.

“Glad you’re okay. I’m heading to my room.”

“Wait, Ethan—aren’t you eating breakfast?”

“I ate already at the hospital. You and Serena go ahead.”

Trying to act like it was nothing, I picked up my bag, turned away, and went to my room.

Then I shut the door, locked it, tossed my bag onto the desk, and collapsed face-first onto the bed with a pillow over my head.

And let out a silent scream.

Gaaaaaaahhh! My back is killing me!

I really got what I deserved for groping my sister’s feet like that...

Ow, ow, ow...! Ugh, I just got out of the hospital! What the hell is happening?!

Even though I tried to suppress it, a low moan still slipped out. It was pretty bad.

“Lord Ethan, are you alright?”

“—Wha?!”

A voice suddenly rang out in my room, and I flung the pillow off me in shock. I reflexively tried to turn around but couldn’t because of my sprained back.

...A sigh.

Rainie had somehow appeared in my room. She helped me onto the bed properly and said,

“You shouldn’t move too much for now.”

She picked up the pillow and placed it under my chest and stomach. It felt way more comfortable like that.

Once I caught my breath, I looked over at her standing beside my bed.

“...How did you get in here?”

“I came in with you. I used an invisibility charm—no one could see me. I took off my shoes properly too.”

That wasn’t the issue. The issue was—have you been following me this whole time?! That’s straight-up stalker behavior!

“You just told me you weren’t going to come in.”

“I didn’t want to visit as a guest. If I came in openly, Lady Serena would’ve interrogated me, and then I wouldn’t have been able to stay by your side. I only want to stay close to you, so I can help you the moment you’re in danger...”

“...Right...”

So that means... she saw that whole thing with Serena’s feet, didn’t she?

That really scared the hell out of me just now.

And I don’t mean falling down the stairs.

I mean the moment I reached for Serena’s waist.

What was I even trying to do?

Take off my sister’s stockings?

Until now, I’d always managed to hold myself back. Even when Serena crossed the line, I’d kept control.

But today... I was the one who crossed it.

Completely lost it.

That said, Mom really did wake up at the perfect time...

Rainie suddenly called my name, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned toward her. Once she saw my gaze land on her, she knelt down with her knees together and hands on her thighs, sitting in seiza.

Then she bowed, touching her hands to the floor.

“I’m terribly sorry. I’m largely to blame for your injury.”

“...Huh? I just startled myself and slipped. It’s not like it was your fault.”

“It was I who woke up Lady Mother. That’s why she came out and startled you.”

So that’s what happened. She was the one who woke Mom—and Mom opened the door at that exact moment.

Was that... her way of stopping me from doing something I shouldn’t?

If that’s true, then not only am I not mad at you—I should be thanking you.

“...Thanks. Seriously.”

“No need to thank me. Please, allow me to apply some medicine. With qi treatment, your injury should heal quickly.”

“Oh—then I’ll leave it to you.”

If it’ll make me heal faster, I’m more than happy to let her.

...And getting a cute girl to apply medicine? Who wouldn’t want that?

Wait, crap—why am I having these kinds of thoughts again?

Is my brain under the influence of some kind of seduction curse?

“Then please excuse me.”

She pulled out a small porcelain bottle about the size of an egg.

Then she lifted my shirt and exposed my back. I could faintly hear her heartbeat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her ears turning red.

...Is this really something to get so flustered about?

Then I felt a sudden coldness on my lower back—it made me shiver.

“If you feel any discomfort, please tell me.”

“I’m okay. Your hands were just a bit cold. Gave me a start.”

“It will warm up soon.”

She pressed her entire palm against my back and began kneading like she was working dough. Her cold hands gradually turned warm.

Whoa—is this the legendary Sun Hand technique?

I should teach her how to bake bread sometime. She’d probably make something amazing—and give killer massages.

Anyway, Rainie’s technique was really gentle. Way gentler than I expected.

And the medicine worked fast. I thought I’d have to lie still for a while, but as she applied it, the pain already started fading.

I could probably move around without issue now.

“This medicine really works, Rainie.”

“Yes. It’s an old remedy. It treats external and internal injuries, and even fades scars.”

“Scar fading too? That’s great. Hey... you didn’t use this on yourself, did you?”

“Eh?”

Rainie tilted her head, clearly confused by the idea of using it on herself.

Yup. Definitely didn’t.

“But you said it fades scars. That one on your back—isn’t it still there?”

“...Ah. Y-Yes, I’ve already used it...”

“Liar. Come on.”

Your lying skills are about the same as mine.

“I really did use it.”

“Then show me.”

“Eh? B-But if I show you, you’ll know I’m lying...”

“...Are you disobeying me now?”

“...No. I understand.”

She looked like she’d made up her mind.

Then she shut her eyes—

—and started taking off her jacket.

She was wearing a plain white knit top underneath. Simple and elegant.

Why’s she taking off her jacket...?

Then she grabbed the hem of her shirt and began to roll it up.

She pulled it all the way off.

Her pale skin, combined with her ivory-colored bra, looked soft and pristine.

Then she gathered her long hair over one shoulder and turned her back to me.

Her entire back was exposed.

Sure enough, there was a scar.

Faint—but definitely there. Like a thread stitched into her skin. It wasn’t ugly at all. Maybe because Snowy’s saliva was applied immediately?

In fact, it added a kind of... ethereal beauty.

I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

Then her voice drifted toward me.

“...Could you help me unhook it?”

Like I was sleepwalking, I reached out and unclasped her bra.