I don’t remember when I first had the feeling I didn’t belong. Ever since I was young, my body didn’t feel quite right. I also learned faster than the other kids. At times, people wondered where my vast knowledge came from. I wondered that as well.

Honestly, if I were so brave, I’m sure I’d be able to build a tank out of the little trees around us. If I were in charge around here there’d be no troubles ever. All the adults I’ve talked too seem so useless. It’s like they’re uneducated. My mother and father, on the other hand, are much smarter than the average adult. Feel free to call it bias.

Every now and then, my sister, Aisha, an annoying little brat of a redhead, thinks it’s funny to mess with me. She’ll follow me around all day while constantly asking me questions expecting me to know the answer to all of them. If I don’t know even one of those she’ll inadvertently call me an idiot, “I tought you were de shmart one.”

My little sister can’t be this annoying.

In all honesty, I brought it upon myself. I always thought I wanted a younger sister but when I finally got one… it’s like being followed by a puppy that always needs attention. Sure it’s a little cute at first but it just keeps beating you down until you’re nothing more than a walking husk.

My older brother, however, is much more… likable.

I don’t know when it first started, but I find him incredibly handsome. If anything, I feel like one of those girls who say they’re going to marry their big brother when they’re older. It’s a gross feeling don’t get me wrong, but there’s a lot that keeps me looking at him that way despite the primal disgust. Maybe if I didn’t know… maybe then I wouldn’t think of him this way.

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“Hey El!” I run and grab my partner’s hand. “How’s it going today?”

Her face turns a bright, rosy, red and she says, “H-hi R-Rainen. U-uh… I’m doing okay.” She turns away from me, “C-could you let go of my hand now… p-please?”

“Hm? Sure.”

I’m not sure what’s up with her. She’s always been acting this way but why is she so flustered? Iris and Elis also act a bit strangely, however, I’m not as close with them.

“S-so did you find what you were looking for yesterday?” She asks.

I frown, “No. All the potions were wrong.” I smile at her, “Do you want me to do your hair today?”

“It’s fine.” She answers. “There’s no school today and no real reason to braid it up. I’ll just leave it tied.”

“I see. Do you wanna go eat out together then? It’s around lunch time.”

“Huh?” She glances around. “J-Just the two of us?”

I glance around as well. Is she searching for something? Maybe we’re being followed? “Yeah, just the two of us.”

---------------------------------------------

I walk with Rainen through the city. He’s always been a little… friendly. I don’t think he’s a bad person but I’m not sure how comfortable I am with it. The first day we became partners he ran right up to me, grabbed both my hands, and said he loved my hair.

It was quite shocking. I really wasn’t expecting anyone to say anything like that. Iris and Elis said they liked my blue hair but they weren’t as expressive as Rainen. I-I’m not sure how I should feel about him.

He definitely wants to be friends and we talk about things sometimes but it’s a little awkward being around him. He knows so much and talks a lot while I sit and listen. It’s not bad, I don’t dislike it, he’s taking time out of his day to have a conversation with me no matter how one-sided it is.

He’s just so… odd. He’s an oddity of sorts. It’s probably rude of me to think of him like this. I’ve recently asked Iris and Elis about him and they think he likes me… Yeah, I’m not too sure about that.

If he and I weren’t partners he’d never pay me any attention. We’d cross each other’s path and never speak a word. We’re just strangers forced to work together. He’s probably gotten frustrated at how hard I am to talk to at times.

We enter the restaurant and sit down near the windows. Anne works here. She always serves us, Iris, Elis, and I when we come. Sometimes Rainen and Axel join.

“What would you guys like?” She asks us.

“I’ll take what I usually have.” I answer.

“Same,” Rainen says, “Loving the new necklace Anne. Did your boyfriend get it for you?” He’s already flirting with her. I’ve never known their relationship and it’d be rude of me to ask but they seem to be very friendly. Just like how Rainen tries to be with me. Does he l-like Anne?

“Haha.” she laughs sarcastically, “You know I don’t have a boyfriend. I got this on sale yesterday.”

“Shame,” he says, leaning on his hand. “You’d easily get someone wrapped around your finger if you wanted to.”

“I don’t think I’d want to.” She nods, “I’ll bring your orders here in a bit.”

“Bye Anne~”

He waves as she leaves. He turns to me and smiles brightly. My heart skips a beat. Iris and Elis were just teasing me. Rainen- there’s no way he’d be interested in me. He hasn’t even asked if I was interested in anyone yet.

“So Ellar. Is there anyone you’re interested in?” He asks.

W-What? W-wait. I need to calm down. He’s only a friend. He’s always been a little different than others I’ve met. It’s just curiosity on his part, curiosity.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“N-no one in particular. No.” I stammer.

“Oh.” he traces his hand along the table. “Is that so?”

Why is he disappointed? There shouldn’t be any reason for him to be like that. D-did I perhaps hurt his feelings by saying that? N-no. Hold on Ellar. You don’t know if he likes you yet. Iris and Elis were just teasing, just teasing…

“Why ask?”

“I was just curious.”

Just curious? They said that “just curious” means he wasn’t “just curious.”

“El,” Iris said, holding my shoulders and staring me straight in the eye, “No man is ever, ‘Just curious.’ It’s the excuse they use when they can’t think of something else to say. It’s the excuse everyone uses. If Rainen says this to you after asking, ‘Are you interested in anyone.’ Or, ‘Do you like anyone?’ Then that means he wanted to know if he had competition or if he was possibly on your mind!”

Blood rushes to my face. It’s getting a little hot in here. Is the food going to get here soon? Where are you Anne?

Rainen glances up at me, still mindlessly twirling his finger around in circles on the table. “Do you really not like anyone?”

“D-define l-like.” I push myself against the back of my seat.

“Like as in like like. You want to be more than friends with this person.” He states while watching me unwaveringly. Such an intense and… hungry stare.

Cracking under his crushing gaze, I slowly sink down in the booth. “W-well I-”

Anne rushes over to us with two trays in hand, “Here are your orders!”

I let out my held breath in a loud sigh. Anne looks at me inquzzically but doesn’t ask any questions.

“Enjoy your meals guys.”

“We will. Thank you,” Rainen says.

Very prim and proper-like, he picks up the utensils and slowly eats the vegetable filled plate. His elbows are tucked in and he eats very softly. Is it possible that he’s a noble? Iris and Elis don’t eat like this but they’re a bit different from the average person.

“You’re not going to eat yours?” He asks, affixing his eyes to mine.

“Ah, r-right!” I quickly pick up my fork but I fumble and drop it. Shoot. I’m going to have to ask for another one. Shamefully, I reach for it. Our hands touch. I instantly pull mine back.

“Hmm? Something wrong? Are my hands cold?” He examines his fingers.

“N-nothing’s wrong.”

He nods, “Here use mine. Ah, I know you like these too.” He gives me his used fork and his lychees.

I freeze at the fork, looking at it carefully. Is it alright for me to use this? He might not mind but I kinda do. He remembered the Lychees though.

“El,” Elis said, “I don’t know a lot about boys but from what I’ve seen from my brothers, guys remember what the girl they like likes!”

He remembered that I like Lychees… Is it because he has an interest in me or is it just something a regular friend would notice? No, of course a friend would know what I like or don’t like. There’s nothing weird about this at all. I’m just letting their words get into my head. So long as Rainen doesn’t say it.

He continues eating and I start. Eventually we finish and Anne takes our plates away. She drops the bill onto the table. I reach into my purse.

“I’ve got it Ellar.” He says, motioning for me to stop. “No worries.”

Usually we pay for our own food since we don’t want to feel each other to feel indebted to another. Maybe he’s trying to make me feel that way? He’s not that kind of guy is he? I don’t get that kind of feeling. He’s probably being nice.

“If he pays for your food then that means he likes you!” Elis shouts in my mind again. “That’s possible too.”

Oh shut it! I can’t tell anymore… Everything they’ve said so far has been true. Perhaps he does like me…

“We didn’t talk much but we should get to know each other better.” He says as we exit the restaurant. “Let’s do this again sometime, okay?”

I stand frozen as he walks away. He does like me!

-------------------------------------

Ooohh. Today was such a good day with Ellar. I really hope we’ll be better friends in the future. Then I can finally braid her pretty blue hair! Gosh, if only I had hair like that instead of this short black stuff on my head.

Girls are nice and stuff but even though I’m in this body…

“Hey Rai!” Axel calls my name and runs over.

I’m still a girl at heart.

“Hey Axel. Wanna go do a quest?”

“Yeah man let’s go!” He throws his arm around me.

Wonderful. Now if I could only get him to call me Reina.

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Author's Note: Well guys, I've decided to rewrite the story with a reincarnation genderbender. I hope you guys enjoyed the fast forward in the story. I'd love to hear your opinions on my reboot of the story so please leave your comments below!

Anyways guys, It's a little odd but today's been a little freaky. All these videos that I watched that came out today were all a little different than usual. I wonder if it's something in the air.

Well, just if any of you guys are wondering, it's still the 1st of this wonderful month where I am. :D April Fools folks.