Authors Note

Edit: Oh i actually forgot to mention this probably won't stay a oneshot because it seems a good amount of people enjoy this^^

So folks. I completely reworked this chapter from top to bottom so i felt like this is a reason to publish it anew.

I give many thanks to my mentor Chiisutofupuru for helping me a big deal with this whole thing.

I hope i didn't make any mistakes while deleting the old version so this is recognised as the only chapter.

And now have fun with this (really) totally new experience compared to the first version.

"Yes mother, I eat properly and yeah, I keep the apartment clean,” I roll my eyes and shift the phone from one ear to the other.

"Well, I only want you to be well. And remember to pick up the laundry grandma cleaned for you!" Mom says from the other end.

"Yeah, nice day Mama."

I turn the phone off, and place it back for synchronizing with my port device.

Every morning the same conversation, slowly mom and dad should understand that I can very well take care of myself.

I am already 16 years old after all.

Nothing I can do about that. Hopefully the others at school have something new on Aestral. Maybe I’m in the last drawing for beta keys? That would be absolutely awesome!

The shuttle toward Seishou Academy arrives at the stop, and as usual it is so densely packed that there is no space to breathe. "Why does everyone have to get the shuttle at the same time as me? I deliberately skipped the first two classes today so that I would arrive when lunch break begins!"

In the corner of my eye, a strangely dressed short man straightens his jacket. I’ve seen this guy a number of times already. I occupy the bus on varying times and that old geezer is there almost every day, no matter the time.

"I wonder what he is working as he has so much free time. And anyway, why can’t I shake the feeling that the guy is staring at me constantly. And what is in his strange black bag?"

From one moment to the other the Shuttle comes to an abrupt stop while ear trembling noise float’s about from everywhere and all passengers standing on board fly around wildly. I feel a slight pull on my neck that sends shivers down my spine but as soon as I turn around after collecting my thoughts there is nothing suspicious.

After the initial excitement settles, I run for a vacant seat. Now I have a legit reason to be late for school, he-he.

"Hell, I can even brag about having survived this accident.“

After arriving at school, something about 180 centimeters large pounces on me.. I was never especially tall and that didn’t change up to this day as I am only 163 centimeters tall.

"Hey Ryouta why are you so late to school? I wanted to tell you something amazing before the lessons began," my friend said, sitting on my back. “Why are you so late?”

"Shinji, care to get off of me first? I’ve no desire to listen to Prof Nakamuras boring babbling about history,” I grumble. “What's the matter so early in the morning?"

"You will not believe it, but some guy from class B-2 has received a beta access on Sunday," Shinji yelled in my ear.

"For real? What are we waiting for, go! We have to talk to him! Where‘s B-2 again?"

"On the second floor!” Shinji said from the ground, pointing toward the staircase. “-but you can forget about that, he's skipping school and playing at home ... I'd do that if I were him as well."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"You're probably right. Well, you'll get your own soon too and then you can tell me all about it," I told my friend still lying on the floor.

"Yeah, I mail you as soon as I have it," Shinji mumbled as he stood up.

"Thanks man. Let's see who gets showered with spittle today by 'Longtooth' I would like PE if not for this idiot of a teacher," I mentioned the end of break as we made our way towards the next lesson.

I happily skipped the last unit. The shuttle is not as packed as this morning and those noisy students who only talk about girls all day are nowhere near. Just this weird guy is in here again...

What does that guy do all day long?

"Excuse me, I create a poll, would you be so kind to help me? It is also

worthwhile for you!" - The strange man approached me.

Is he talking to me? Well now I at least know why he’s in here at ever varying times.

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"Not much and it doesn’t take long. It's about a survey, how much percent of students would currently prefer to belong to the opposite sex and how the distribution of desired sex looks like in general currently. So ... would you prefer to be a man or a woman, given the chance to choose?"

What a strange poll... what company is he doing this for? But never mind, I'll just tell him something stupid, could be fun anyway.

"Well, if I am honest, I always wanted to know how it is like as a girl but I will definitely not remain as a girl forever because then my family would ask what went wrong with me...

and I wouldn’t want to expose them to unnecessary difficulties."

"So you do not refuse a change in general?"

"No I would probably try it, given the guarantee I’d return to normal. Tell me, what company did you say you work for again?" I ask, but he turns away.

"Thank you for your help. I wish you a nice day and exciting holiday. Goodbye!"

Give me a break, that old fuck rides the same shuttle every time- and now out of the blue utters some outrageous questions and leaves like that the instant he’s finished? I got better things to do with my precious time. Does he take me for a fool?. Surely that was a joke...

The shuttle arrives at my station with a subtle hissing sound. I will go by grandma’s place tomorrow to pay her a visit and grab the laundry while I’m at it. First let’s see what’s happening in the All-Net now.

~ Ring Ring ~ What time is it? Oh man the stupid alarm clock has stopped again. Oh never mind, let's see who's there. Maybe Shinji, who has found out something new about Aestral.

I make my way to the door to welcome the late guest.

"Good day, dear sir. I've got a delivery for a certain Mr Ryouta Kuwakabe, is that you?" he grunts.

Delivery man. Let’s get this over with. "Yes I am, where do I need to sign and how much does it cost me?" I reply.

"That's all been taken care of by the sender,” he places the screen in front of me. “Sign here and here… Please."

"Who’s the sender?" I don’t know who would send me such a big package without telling me beforehand.

"Says... 'Zestro Electronics' -and more I can’t make out."

"Ah well then, thank you and a nice evening," I said and he hands me the package.

"Bye"

So, let's see what’s inside this package. Maybe bonus material because I gave the very first order for Aestral.

That would be really cool.

Having dispelled about five kilos of packaging material, there is a fully round, about sixty centimeters wide black ball left in the box.

What's that for? -a part? I haven’t seen a power cord, how does it work?

The ball lights up from the inside out and tiny openings appear everywhere around the globe, from which roll out countless even smaller machines. "Whoa! What are all these? Small beetles? They look like diminutive ants!"

One of the tiny machines reaches Ryouta. It crawls up his arm to the veins and stops.

I lean in close, the tiny bug lifts it’s head and pricks my arm.

I flail my arm around in a panic, trying to shake off this little pest and try to wiggle away from the orb still releasing more of these small things as I feel my consciousness rapidly fading away and then … there is only darkness.