"Come on, don’t be shy. Eat up! There's more tea if you'd like a refill," Elise’s lively voice echoed across the room. Sitting at the table were me and Forte in my body.

Akira had already left in a hurry, claiming he had work to do. In truth, he was probably making arrangements to ensure we wouldn’t be attacked again. Elise and Akira were working together, making sure we didn’t feel anxious. Their teamwork made me feel very reassured.

Forte leaned in and whispered to me.

"Playing solo as a guy is fun, huh? Have you been enjoying this all along?"

"Playing solo?" I was confused by Forte's question, blinking at him.

Forte started to panic. "Wait, are you telling me you’ve never done it? You're sixteen, man! I thought you were innocent, but wow!"

The strange direction the conversation was taking made me uneasy. "Wh-what? Is there something you're supposed to do by the time you're sixteen? Does everyone else do it?"

Forte blushed even more and whispered words to me that I had only vaguely heard in health education class.

"Wait, isn’t that something, um, for... you know, for pervy people? What? Does everyone actually do this? Am I really that weird? I need to get back into my own body soon so I can experience it like everyone else!"

Forte sighed and said, "Largo... you're definitely more suited for being a girl with the way you worry about stuff."

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Ugh. It seems I reacted in a way that’s different from how most people would. I've been told I'm a bit of an airhead, and it’s something I’ve always been self-conscious about. Being told that I’m more like a girl made me feel embarrassed, and yet it also stirred this odd sense of excitement in me.

"Oh my, what are you two chatting so animatedly about?" Elise broke into our conversation.

"N-nothing!" I stammered quickly.

"Well, you know, Mom used to be a guy too. She could’ve gone back to being a man, but after thinking it over, she decided to stay a woman and vowed her love to Dad."

"Forte! That’s not something you should just blurt out!"

"But it’s true, right? Why not share it?"

What?! Elise was a man?! I thought she was just a regular, beautiful woman!

"The curse that switched my gender when I was younger had a side effect. If I told anyone about the switch, I would die. It was really tough. Thankfully, the modern version of the curse you two are under has been upgraded, so it’s safe. Some old researchers still might think you'd die, though."

"Really?" I said in amazement.

"Then, as someone who used to be a man and is now a woman, you're like a super senior to me! Any tips on fitting into female society?"

"Hmm, just be yourself. I think, Largo, you have a natural feminine charm, just like I did. Honestly, just being yourself is enough to be seen as a girl."

"Haha..." I laughed awkwardly. It felt like a compliment, but also a little emasculating.

"Oh, that reminds me, Largo. Your clothes got a bit torn up during that battle with the witch. How about trying on some cute outfits? I’ve got some adorable ones!"

"Mom! Don’t go turning my body into a dress-up doll! I told you, no overly girly clothes!"

"Largo, I think you’d look great with a heart-shaped ribbon or something!"

It seemed like they were about to start bickering about what to dress me in.

"Well, I mean, jumping straight into really girly clothes would be embarrassing for me too. How about something unisex, like denim pants?"

Forte nodded deeply in agreement, while Elise looked a little disappointed.

Just then, Akira came back.

"I’m home," he said, his face serious as he noticed Forte and me.

"There’s important news for both of you. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be moving into the boys' dorm and girls' dorm."

4o