Attempt to squeeze through the narrow window.

(chapter originally by Misayaka on writing.com)

Despite Chihiro's best attempts at fighting off her bashful nature, sometimes her shyness just refused to be kept at bay.

This was one of those times. Every so often the bathroom door opened, footsteps were heard entering, the usage of a stall or merely the sink followed, then the person was gone... and Chihiro had been left petrified, unable to so much as squeak. She didn't have the nerve to draw a stranger's attention to her predicament. Girls could be cruel. If the wrong person not only knew about her situation but decided to exploit it...

Chihiro shook her head to cast off the frightening mental image, her hands planted against her thighs to keep her legs from shivering more than they were. No, asking for help was off the table. She could wait, of course, but then what? She'd be locked inside the store all night unless she left. In the middle of the night. Which was akin to suicide in some areas. Again she frantically shook her head, an insistently silent 'no', while ignoring the chatter of two leaving girls that didn't help matters any.

That just left one avenue... the window. Suddenly feeling a rush of hope, she stared over to the window. It was low enough for her to reach. She was confident she was thin enough to use it...one small benefit her petite figure allowed.

And best of all, it likely lead out to an out-of-the-way area, one from which she could easily get home safely!

Chihiro wasted no time in taking advantage of that ray of hope. The moment the bathroom door shut to confirm she was once again alone, she took action. She got to her feet, rushed out of the stall, and before anything from within or without could stop her, she grabbed onto the windowsill and began to pull herself up. In a few seconds she was climbing up, and had the window open.

All she had to do was get away. The warm sunlight shone through, inviting her to climb through the outward opening to safety. The window even opened outward, meaning if she could get up and out, she was clear!

It only took a small amount of struggle. With some luck and the right amount of exertion, Chihiro had gotten her feet to scale the tiled wall. Soon she was pulling herself up and through the window.

She gave a small exhale of winded breath as she began to twist and wiggle her way through. The sight of her from outside would not be too scandalous just yet, but if someone from the bathroom were to enter, they'd get a clear view of the naked girl's bottom on full display...not a pleasant thought.

It spurned Chihiro on, and with renewed effort, she gave a grunt and tried to manage that last sharp pull which would get her out of that unimaginably awkward situation and into freedom.

And then, it happened. That last bit of struggle was the clear indicator of her progress. Chihiro had succeeded, alright.

Succeeded in...