This old video rental place has two screening rooms, each with enough seats for a dozen or so people.

When I was a kid, Grandpa Yan used to bring me here, and back then there’d still be other people watching tapes with us. But eventually, the crowds disappeared. Now, just like today, it’s only me and Kai-chan.

We’re lucky the ancient videotape player is still working. Looks like Brother Lin really did manage to fix it.

Last time we came, the machine jammed—not only did it eat the tape, but it broke it, too. The old man was heartbroken for days. Those videotape players and those tapes are his treasures, and you can’t find them anywhere anymore.

The player might be ancient, but the TV it’s hooked up to is pretty new. It’s just that videotapes look really fuzzy on a modern big screen.

Forget about crystal-clear IMAX theaters—there are even cozy private cinemas now that feel like the evolved form of places like this. These days, with Blu-ray quality available from the comfort of your home, old-school video parlors like this are nothing but relics. A tear of the times.

Not just the video store—this whole street feels that way.

I knew this neighborhood would get torn down eventually, but I didn’t think it’d be so soon. It hits harder than I expected.

I waved the tape I picked at Kai-chan—the “Cursed Videotape”.

“So, shall we start with mine?”

He nodded from the very back row near the door, looking like he was ready to sprint out at any moment.

I knew it. That scaredy-cat would never choose something like this himself. In the past, I might’ve caved and picked something tamer just for him… But not today. Today I’m going with what I want.

That was part of the deal between us. Yup—part of the deal.

It’s not like I want to see Kai-chan shivering at the sight of Sadako or anything!

“There’s no one else here. Why’re you all the way back?”

“It’s cooler over here.”

“Liar. The AC’s by the screen. Come sit up front.”

“No way!”

The tape clicked into place with a sharp mechanical whir—the rewinding noise. I knew the sound well.

“Kai, come on, sit up here!”

While the tape rewound, I reached back and grabbed his arm, dragging him to the front row.

For a guy, his hands are surprisingly soft and pale. Cool to the touch. Like that old poem—“hands like tender lotus roots, skin like clotted cream.” Honestly, without his glasses, he’s probably prettier than me.

Life really isn’t fair. He has so many things I don’t. That’s why I want to tease him, just a little. That’s jealousy for you.

“Fine, I’ll let it slide since you’re a girl today.”

Maybe he really was a bit hesitant about pushing back too hard since I’m in girl mode today. He let himself get dragged up to the center of the front row. I sat behind him and pressed him down in the chair so he couldn’t escape.

Keeping his arms down was getting tiring, so I leaned forward over the back of his seat and wrapped my arms around his neck from behind. He flinched but didn’t push me off… Being hugged by a girl, I bet he’s secretly enjoying this.

Holding him like this… it’s making me kinda happy, too.

The tape finished rewinding, and the picture flickered onto the screen. A cold, bluish filter filled the frame—it looked like a ghost could jump out any second. Kai-chan tensed up even more. I could feel his pulse hammering in his neck.

Honestly, this movie’s just a cheap knockoff of a famous horror flick. The blood is literally ketchup, the ghost has cakey makeup, and even the dried well is a prop made out of cardboard.

But I’ve watched this movie over ten times. I know every jump scare, every blooper, even the bust size of the ghost girl.

Still, the first time I watched it, it actually scared me. There was something about watching a cursed videotape on a videotape—it made the curse feel real. Like if you didn’t pass it on, something bad might actually happen.

Kai-chan, meanwhile, was completely immersed. He couldn’t see the cheap props or the obvious mistakes. He was totally sucked into the atmosphere.

For someone who says he hates horror movies, he’s kind of the perfect audience.

About an hour in, the human plank I was holding started to tremble slightly.

“R-Rinka, I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I’ll pause it.”

“N-no, you don’t have to—”

“No way! You can’t miss the best part!”

"What could possibly be good about a horror movie?!"

Despite his protests, I paused the movie. Kai-chan pouted and shuffled out of the room… but he came right back a few seconds later.

“Rinka, where’s the bathroom?”

“Out the door, turn left, walk straight. Last door.”

The bathroom’s easy to find—it’s at the end of a dim hallway. But because of the layout, it’s really dark, lit only by a flickering old lightbulb and decorated with moldy walls. It definitely gives off horror movie vibes.

Kai-chan glanced down the hallway, clearly uneasy.

“Rinka, can you come with me?”

“Seriously, are you a high school girl? Having to ask someone together just to go to the toilet?”

He winced, then walked off with the grim look of someone heading into battle. Kei-chan’s definitely way more fun to tease than Liuliu who looks indifferent. He’s kind, easy to rile up, but never really stays mad. Even if he does, it’s easy to make up with him.

Thinking about it, my feelings toward him are kind of complicated.

At first, I was only using him. He didn’t have the slightest clue that I was a guy, and treated me wholeheartedly like a girl. Being around him made me feel like maybe—just maybe—I really was a girl. It gave me a kind of hollow comfort, a fleeting illusion I was desperate to hold onto.

I never expected him to confess to me. And because of that, he got hurt.

Then later, I accidentally discovered his secret in the restroom. Honestly… it was the first time I’d seen someone so beautiful. Even Liuliu was captivated by him—completely, hopelessly lost in his charm.

That was probably when I started to feel jealous.

Then he brought that miraculous stone that could change your gender. For the first time in my fake, make-believe life, I felt hope spark inside me. I clung to that hope with everything I had… and did something rash. Something I still regret.

But thankfully, Kai-chan is a genuinely good person. He didn’t take advantage of me, even when I was cornered and desperate. He even promised to help me find the divine emissary.

"Idiot… after everything, he didn’t even gain anything for himself."

That’s when I realized—I’d fallen for this idiot.

I still like Liuliu too. But if Kai-chan ever confesses again…

I pulled the moonstone from my skirt pocket. This one’s a lot bigger than the last.

A token from the God of Bishoujo. Even if Liuliu says these stones aren’t worth much, the soft white glow it gives off is beautiful—like a full moon hanging in the night sky.

It gave me a new life. Even if it’s just for a day, it’s enough.

According to Kai-chan, if I really want to become a girl permanently, I’ll need the God of Bishoujo to personally bestow their blessing, by passing the word through the divine emissary—just like those two we met at Aqua World.

They used to be delinquents, but after becoming girls, they turned their lives around—one became a rising idol, the other her manager. Their fates changed for the better. I want that too. I want a new life.

If possible… maybe the god could bump up my cup size while we’re at it. A-cup is just plain sad…

“Geez, what is with the lighting in that bathroom? Scared the hell out of me.”

Kai-chan grumbled as he came back in. He looked pale—like he’d walked into a haunted house instead of just the restroom.

“Well then, let’s get back to the movie~ The second half is where it really gets good.”

"I don't want to see any of the 'good parts' in a horror movie!"”

I wrapped my arms around his neck again, leaning over the back of his seat. I could still feel my heartbeat thudding in my chest.

Fast and loud—ba-dump, ba-dump. Is this what falling in love feels like?

“It’s okay to be scared. I’ll be right here with you.”