Chapter 44: Challenges

*Rena*

"I think this might look good on you," Sayuri said, smiling as she picked out a green swimsuit.

My face reddened. "That shows too much skin!"

Ava snickered. "Sekin might get jealous if you do."

My ears twitched. He would? Wait, no! I needed to have a sense of decency!

"Hmm, how about wear this over it?" Sayuri asked, picking out a short white shirt.

It did look cute, but that only covered the top.

"Let's see," Ava said as she walked over to some skirts. They were the short frilly kind that girls in the cartoons my brother liked watching sometimes wore. Come to think of it, did Kai pick this place so he could see cute girls in skirts? To think I thought he was an innocent boy. Guess it was true what they said, all boys are perverts.

"Oh, this one will match her shirt!" Sayuri said, picking a white skirt.

I sighed. "I appreciate you girls helping me, but I don't think this is going to work. I wouldn't look good in these clothes to begin with."

"Nonsense! You're a very cute girl, Rena!"

Ava raised an eyebrow at her. "First you flirt with her twin brother and now her?"

She blushed. "I'm not flirting! I really mean it!"

Ava snickered. "I know, I was just teasing."

Sayuri pouted. "You tease!"

Ava smiled at me. "Anyway, I think Sayu's right. You'll look cute in them."

I clenched the shirt. Were they just saying that so that I wouldn't feel bad? I mean, I was rather scrawny. Wouldn't I look like a skeleton?

Sayuri nudged my wheelchair. "Come on, let's get you changed."

I sighed. "I can do it myself."

Ava blinked. "You can?"

I grumbled. "Just because I'm wheelchair bound, it doesn't mean that I'm useless at caring for myself."

"Hey, I never said you were useless!"

She said that, but her surprise told me otherwise.

I took the skirt from Sayuri and rolled into the dressing room. It felt cramped. Sadly, this country lacked facilities that were wheelchair friendly. To get here, Sekin had to lift my chair a couple times.

The good thing was that I could push myself up using both arms, since the rails were so close to one another.

My legs wobbled as I pushed myself up, as did my arms but not as much as my legs. Using one hand, I pushed down my skirt and undergarments.

I picked up the underwear and short skirt that the girls had picked out for me from my chair. Taking off my bottoms was a lot easier than putting new ones one, though. I nearly ended up face-planting against the stall door several times. I panted and sat back down as soon as I finished. Tears streamed down my eyes. My legs hurt a lot. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Sayuri called out. I wiped my tears away with my arms.

"I-I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired is all."

"You sure you don't need help?" Ava asked.

I nodded even through they couldn't see me. "I'm sure. It'll just take a bit."

Sayuri sighed as someone, probably her, lightly tapped the the door. "Take all the time you need."

I looked down. She sure was nice. It was no wonder Kai had fallen for her.

After a few breaths, I changed out of my shirt and bra and into the bikini top and white shirt the girls had picked out. Thankfully, changing was a lot easier this time. Although, removing my bra had been a bit of a struggle as I had to lean forward to reach it.

I rolled over and opened the door.

Sayuri smiled at me as soon as I came out. "You look beautiful, Rena."

My face warmed up slightly. Sekin and my family were the only ones who said that, although I doubted them too. How could I be pretty? My eyes fell on the scars on my legs and abdomen from surgeries I had, some from when I was a baby.

Ava smiled and nodded.

I combed my hair with my hands. "Y-you two are just saying that."

"I mean it! Turn around," Sayuri said.

I turned my chair around and stared at the mirror. The bikini top was partially visible through the white shirt, but it didn't look bad. It actually went well with my green eyes.

She grinned and leaned forward. "See?"

"M-maybe a little." I stared at my chicken legs and sighed. Although, I wished I had a little more fat on my bottom. I wasn't sure why others girls concerned themselves so much about trying to keep the pounds off. Being skinny wasn't all people made it out to be. At least, not to my extent... At least I managed to fill my bikini top easily. Sometimes, I felt like all my fat went into my chest... That wasn't all that good, though. It made me too top heavy.

"Let's go meet up with the boys," Ava said.

My face reddened. Hopefully, Sekin liked it.

Sayuri smiled and grabbed hold of the handles of my chair. "Let's go!"

"Sayu, don't run," Ava said, putting her hands on her hips.

Her girlfriend giggled nervously. "Okay."

I sighed and smiled at Ava. She really saved me from a nightmare.

After paying with the money Sekin had given us, Sayuri rolled me out of the swimsuit shop and into the miniature city-like amusement park. It felt good being out of that place.

Ava walked over to the front and grabbed my chair by the armrests. Together, Sayuri and her lowered me from the sidewalk. Not sure whose bright idea it was to put a sidewalk there or even why. My only guess was that the people who ran this place feared a potential flood from a freak accident or something. The ride did use a lot of water. Where did it all come from anyway? The local rivers?

"T-thanks," I managed to get out.

Ava gave me a thumbs up. "Don't mention it!" Her pink eyes scanned the area. "Now, to find those boys."

"Hey! Over here!" Sou yelled, waving. He had some ice cream in one hand.

Sekin smiled shyly at me as he held two ice cream cones. One rainbow sherbet, and the other chocolate mint, my favorite.

"Here you go," Sekin said, handing me the ice cream.

I tried my best not to stare at his washboard abs. "T-thanks."

He leaned forward and whispered, "You look cute."

I licked my ice cream fast. Good thing he got it for me, else I might've passed out.

"Say, have you been working out?" Ava asked, staring at Souta's arms. They were surprisingly well toned.

Souta grinned. "Dad asked the same thing! Think years of farm work are finally starting to pay off!"

Purpura stared at his. He had a lanky, almost feminine build. Although, he was still handsome in his own way.

"I-I got you this," Kai said, holding out a chocolate ice cream cone toward Sayuri.

I snickered. "Oh, you get her ice cream but not your sister?"

"I-I would've, but Sekin beat me to it!"

I chuckled. "I'm just teasing you, Bro."

Sayuri giggled as she took it. "You almost sound like Ava."

I blinked and stared at Ava. True...

Sehun laughed as he walked over with a rainbow sherbet of his own and a strawberry cone. "Is Ava starting to influence you too?"

Ava blushed slightly as the crown prince handed over the cone to her. Was there something between those two? I knew Kai liked Sayuri, and Sekin was my boyfriend, but why had Sehun gotten Ava her ice cream?

"Thanks," Ava mumbled.

"Wait, is eating ice cream before heading into the water a good idea?" I asked.

"You're right, we might get cramps," Sayuri said, putting a hand on her exposed stomach.

Souta grinned. "We'll be fine! If anyone does get cramps, I can save you!"

Purpura laughed. "You're eating ice cream yourself, dork."

He gulped as he stared at it. "T-then we're in your hands."

The new guy shrugged. "Hey, I can't swim, remember?"

We all sighed. Seemed swimming might take a while longer... If we wanted to stay on the safe side, that is.