Leave a comment

“Here we are.”

As always, we made it back to Anazumu without incident. None of us seemed to be missing. Mika and I, Kanata and Sakura, and finally, Shuu and Rir. The whole gang was here.

“First things first, you did great at the prefectural tournament!” I exclaimed.
“Good job, Shuu,” Mika added.
“Congratulations on your victory,” Kanata said.
“You… you were incredible!” Sakura stammered.

Each of us said their piece. Once the tournament had ended, Shuu had practically been showered in praise, but who didn’t enjoy people fussing over one?

“Ha-ha-ha, thank you, really. It only went that well since you came to cheer for me.”
“What are you saying? You didn’t even break a sweat.”
“I-It ain’t that way. Some of my opponents were plenty strong, if you ask me.”

But Shuu had still been overwhelmingly more powerful. In Anazumu, we could do anything we wanted, so we’d celebrate today like last time.

“So, what would you like to eat today?”
“Oh, you’ll be cooking again? In that case, sushi.”
“Sure thing.”

Yesterday, he mostly ate fried foods, so I could tell that he wanted to eat some raw fish in exchange. That was what I’d prepare, then.

“Keep this up and you’ll win the national tournament.”
“Right!”
“Huh? I only just noticed, but what’s with Rir?”

Now that she mentioned it, the one who’d normally be first in line to sing Shuu’s praises hadn’t said a single word.

“If you’re looking for her, she’s here.”

He turned around, showing us his back where we found her clinging to him like a parasite. Come to think of it, all I did see of her earlier were her arms.

“Rir, what are you doing?”
“…Woof, hugging Shuu.”
“She’s been doin’ that since yesterday.”

Huh… all this time?
Mika showed a momentary grin. She seemed to have the same thought as I.

“She’s been doing that constantly since you got home?”
“Yes, except during dinner and bath time.”
“Hrm.”

So, they didn’t take a bath together? Well, Shuu’s mother is usually at home, so they can’t really do something like that.

“So, while we were in my room, she kept huggin’ me.”
“I wonder, was hugging really all you’ve done?”
“Obviously not, at some point he-” Rir replied, her face still buried in Shuu’s back.
“Nope, no telling them that.”
“Mph.”

Before she had a chance to finish her sentence, he quickly peeled her off and hugged her from the front to silence her. But it was already too late with what she managed to blurt out.

“Hey, Mika, these two will be having fun in their room today, won’t they?” I asked teasingly.
“They will. What about us, then?”
“I’m up for it if you are.”

We had this exchange with grins on our faces right in front of Shuu. As for Kanata and Sakura, they were already sick of our charade and had left with a short “we’ll be in our room.”

“…A-About that,” Shuu stammered.
“Yes, I’ll be having a special treat for you today, too,” Rir replied.
“Wasn’t what happened yesterday enough?”
“No, that would mean I did less than last time. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

I’d never imagined I’d have this kind of conversation with my childhood friends. Well, we were still young.

“Then we better split up and each have our fun, right?”
“Woof! Let’s do that.”
“R-Rir, please don’t go even crazier than usual… nah, don’t go crazy at all.”

Thus, us two couples split up and went to our respective rooms.

“Phew…”
“What’s wrong, Mika?”
“I was just thinking about Rir,” she replied as she created some juice and sat down on the sofa.
“Is there an issue? She seemed as madly in love with Shuu as usual.”
“It was the first time I saw her this excited on the other side… I was wondering if I appear the same when I’m with you, Ayumu.”

Were there ever times when she acted like Rir yesterday? It made me wonder how Kanata and Sakura saw us.

“Well, does it matter that much? As long as we love each other, we’ll be fine.”
“I didn’t expect you to say that. But you’re right, there’s no problem,” she replied with a smile before downing the liquid.

The next moment, her body changed to her 16-year-old appearance.

“Eh-heh-heh, with that said, Ayumu~. Is it time to make out?”
“Yep, it is.”

I also reverted to my older appearance right away. I pulled Mika, who was still sitting on the sofa, by her hand and then drew her close. There was a nice smell on her. Keeping up the flow of things, I picked her up in a princess carry.

Alright, to the bed as usual and then we’ll-

⟦Alim, Mika! We have news¹!⟧

For now, I gently lowered Mika to the bed. We silently shot each other a glance before sighing.
Indeed, just as usual.

1. The retirement home called. They’d like their joke back.

Support Us

Unlock Early Access ------- Select Project ------- Project Gender Bender Project Necro ∴ Support your favorite series and unlock chapters before the public release.