In a small public park, two children could be seen playing under the falling autumn leaves. “Sora! Come here, come here!” beckoned the brown haired boy, giggling happily, his hand busily dangling an insect in the air. “What is it Haruto? Eek! What is that thing!?” Screamed a tiny Sora trying to squirm away from the approaching boy. “It’s a dung beetle! Isn't he cute? Gyahaha!” “Nooo, get that thing away from me, stupid. you know I don’t like them!” “Then you must give me an icecream as compensation!”. Such exchanges, coupled with occasional shrieks, echoed across the small park, making the elderly onlookers unable to help but smiles at how adorable these two children are. “Neh, Sora. Promise that you will come and play tomorrow as well ok?” “Mmm, I promise to play with you forever!”. But it was just a promise between two powerless children, and promises could be easily broken. Leaving nothing behind but bittersweet memories…
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Beep Beep! Beep Beep- I hit the annoying snooze button. Warm rays of sunlight streamed through the curtain, across my face giving off a warm feeling. Spring, what a blissful morning. “It would be a waste not to go out on a potentially beautiful day like this” I said to no one in particular. I got up and performed my daily stretching routine before making my way to the bathroom. It’s currently 8am, early by my standard as I'm not a morning person. It has been 3 days since my return, 3 tiring days of cleaning and organizing, therefore, I will shamelessly reward myself with a day off.
Checking my figure in the mirror “Nothing out of the ordinary, oh? have I grown a little bit taller?” Perhaps not. But as the sun is already up, I’m yet again back to my male body. Not that I’m complaining, spending the majority of my waking hours as a male, isn't it only natural to identify as a man? I changed into a comfortable green sweater and black cotton pants then descends downstairs.
The agenda today is to buy some basic household necessities. Even though I brought back quite a few things from my dear aunty's house, we still need lack some items. For example, a kotatsu, preferably one that comes with an electric heater, and new futons. Nothing beats dinner on a cold night with your legs under the warm kotatsu blanket. Not to forget, soap and detergent. I'm beginning to think my little sister was only using the excuse of preparing school transfering documents, so that she won’t have to deal with the hazzle of moving and unpacking with me. I sighed, slipped on a pair of comfortable loafers and heads out.
“It’s been a while since I last walked around this neighborhood” I said to myself. Thankfully, not much has changed, except for some new buildings here and there. As I walked around admiring the scenery, followed by a sense of nostalgia, I soon found myself standing in front of an old park. This place was where I spent the majority of my childhood growing up in, and playing. “Ito push me! Faster!” a little boy is diligently pushing a girl on the park's new set of swings. Seems like this place is still popular with kids. Noticing the train station is just up ahead, I continued on.
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-The train has arrived at its destination, please proceed with caution...-
Stepping out of the station, I was hit with a sense of unfamiliarity. The city has indeed changed, Instead of the place where delinquents used to smoked and urinated on, there is now a new café. That building over there, which used to display sweets behind glass countertops where kids occasionally wipes their snots on (including me) has now became a modernized branch of a famous chains of bookstore! I might just get lost wandering around aimlessly. Thankfully, it is the age of the internet, I only have to follow Boogle Map to find the nearest mall. Not very far, for my male body full of youthfull stamina.
“According to the map, the mall is 100 meters away. Ahh, I need to turn right her-“ Thud- The moment I made a turn, I struck something and fell on my behind. Ugh! What kind of bastard- it felt like walking into a wall. Flutter- Some of his stuff scattered onto the sidewalk. Let’s just help him pick them up, feeling partially guilty “Um, I’m really sorry! It was my fault I didn’t look where I was going.” I gave him his items and apologized. “It’s alright, next time don’t be too engrossed in your phone. You might cause an accident later on if it becomes a habit” He said with a smile, but his eyes are glaring at me, yep, he’s totally angry. “S-sorry" I avoided his sharp gaze. Don't glare at me like that you macho...
“Be careful now, greenie beanies” He gave me another cold smile and walked away. “Greenie beanies?” I mumbled and looked down at my sweater. Ah, I stood out like a soybean pod. But he was kind of cool looking tho, I admired his dedication for working out, wait, what am I saying, I'm not into men, it's basically like how guys admire those with strict discipline? right...but that brown hair seems familiar…Nope, I don’t remember being acquaintanced with anyone like that.
My butts are still sore, I meant, because of the fall, hey, don’t think of anything weird. I'm not physically strong even in my male form, it's not like having two forms equals superpower or magic, I have never seen anything magical, well except for my body. I wonder what the nearby pedestrians think when they see a weird human bean mumbling to himself. Let’s just find a place for breakfast…
As I looked around, I spotted a nice looking maid café that appears to be quite busy, usually an indicator of a good place, plus it’s also near the mall so I don’t have wander far. When I entered, a young waitress in a cute frilly maid outfit that it cut just short enough to emphasize her white lace stockings, she offers to show me to my table. “This way please, I’m Airi (desu). May I know how many people came with you(master) today?” She asked in a cutesy polite tone. “Ahem umm j-just one…” I stammered, the maid outfit is abit distracting for me. God, she must think that I’m some sort of a pervert with a maid fetish. She smiled and called out to someone behind the counter “A table for one!" and escorted me to an empty table right by the window. "What would you like to order (desu)? Here is the menu, on this side is the breakfast selections, turning over the page will show you the drink menu, most of our ingredients are from organic farms so they are environmentally friendly and fresh in quality”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
She's really taking her job seriously huh. But what’s with all these foreign sounding food names. “I-I’ll have what you recommend please” “Well, our café makes really delicious chicken and waffles, also pancakes with all different kinds of syrup, you can also go with sandwich, meat option of either bacon or sausages. Oh, if you prefer a lighter choice, we do have various kinds of salad” She said energetically.
While trying not to look like a country bumpkin I decided to go with the waffles and sausages. She accepted my order with a smile. Phew, it's the first time in years since I’ve been to the city and it’s already tiring me out, so much for new experiences, I should have just went with traditional ramen shops. While waiting for my breakfast, I glanced at Airi-san the waitress. She seems to be around my age but is already able to do her job so professionally. I'm not usually very talkative, usually keeping to myself but I hope to change, in contrast to my sister who is already social butterfly.
She caught me eyeing her, eh? she’s making her way here! “Ahh, Im-“ “Excuse me but your order may take a while as we seem to be unusually busy this morning, please have some water while you wait(desu)” as she said that, she leaned forward and placed a cup of water on my table. While she’s doing that, I unconsciously picked up the scent of her hair. “L-lavender Perbal Essences conditioner?” Crap, I unconsciously blurted out the specific brand of conditioner she's using. My beauty products expert persona is acting up! “Heh~ are you also a fan of the same brand?” “Y-yes I love the lavender smell, but it has very limited stock though, a-and I can’t seem to find it anywhere” I stuttered while avoiding her gaze. Surprisingly, she didn't think a guy with extensive knowledge in conditioners is creepy at all. she gave me the location to her favorite hair products shop while flashing her signature smile, and we sort of hit it off from there.
Unsuprisingly, she is the same age as me, and I found out that we will be going to the same Hakoyama high school! She offered to exchange contacts. “You really have smooth and soft skin, Itsuki-kun” she complimented me. “Just Sora is fine” “Ahh, then just call me Airi”. Afterward, I gave her some tips on how to take care of her skin better, as well as recommends some of my favorite skincare products. Fufufu, so this is what having conversations between friends feels like. “Sora-kun is really easy to talk to, it feels like I’m talking to a fellow girl, ehh it seems like I have work to do, well then, see you at school” I nearly spewed the water I was drinking. C-crap, I had no idea I gave off a "friendly highschool girl" impression, I hides my embarrassed face in my hands. I'm just glad she didn't label me as a creep. I inwardly cried, dear mother and father in heaven, your son made his first high school friend, but his manly dignity took a critical hit.
After finishing my breakfast, I made a hasty exit after paying the bill. “Thank you very much, please come again” "Yes thank you...". 10/10 for customer service. Now I need to start shopping, it’s already 10 am. Let’s see, first is the detergent…
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“I’m home~” I said to no one in particular. It’s a good habit to hold on to. I emptied the heavy shopping bags and arrange the items to their respective places. I also got myself a few cute pairs of socks and leggings, plus some comfortable t-shirts in my female form’s size. The cashier's gaze was really painful to endure. I'm not buying it cause I'm into weird female clothing fetish you know! I mean it's not for me (male) but it's for me (female). Ofcourse I didn't say that out loud but silently endured the cashier's questioning gaze, they wouldn't understand. It's not easy maintaining this cursed body.
I also bought some groceries, it’s not good to have pre-packaged food for every meal, I, Sora(male) can cook. Thinking about it, I’m actually good at doing household chores, maybe due to my aunt having to work from dawn till dusk, the cooking and cleaning naturally became my responsibilities. My sister is actually useless, she’s too lazy, doing nothing but teases me when she's not studying or meeting friends. But she’s my little sister, so there's nothing I can do. Beside she's abit intimidating in her male form....
When I finished cooking, the sky was already dark outside. As soon as I changed into a new set of clothings, 6PM, I transformed. The fact that it happens almost instantaneously is not something I'll ever get used to, thus making my head spins. I leaned against the wall and rcalmed my breathings. Speaking about bodies, it appears that wounds and injuries sustained while in whichever form will also transfer to the other one when I tranforms . But so does the body improvements on the hair or skin areas. Except for gaining weight and developing muscles, which I’ve tried many times but failed when I’m in the female form. There was this one time when I unknowingly had the urge to become a bodybuilder and tried lifting weights in my male form. It does help me put on a bit of muscle but it seems to be exclusively for my male body. Only the soreness and muscle pain went over to the other form. So I gave up on that dream. Double the pain but half the gains? No thanks, to hell with being disciplined.
I’m talking to myself again. Being in this house alone any longer will make me go crazy. Ahh, how I wish that naughty sister of mine to arrive soon. At least I will have someone to scold, ahem. Not like I can just text Airi-san right now. Getting too close to someone is not a good idea with my peculiar conditions. The thoughts of being sent to an experimental facility by the government sent shivers down my spine. She’s my first high school friend though. Somehow the thought warmed my heart. Fufu~, friends huh? But I wonder how would she react if I were tell her about my circumstances, I don’t want to disgust her. I know I’m just being naive, I would like to take this secret with me to the grave if possible.
Dear mother and father in heaven, your son is eating properly. He also made a new friend. But somehow it seems like he is losing his manliness and sanity day by day...
“But Onii-chan, how can you lose something you never had in the first place?” huh? My little sister's voice? “Mooh~ a big brother who is good at household chores and is obsessed with skincare products? You will surely make a good bride, gyahahaha!”. *gasp, I jolts awake. The digital clock next to the bed flashed 12am. “Dammit, Hiroko~! I’ll shave my head to show you my manly appeal!” While furiously tossing around on the bed, I will give her a good smack when I meet her...