“Hold up! No photography during break time! Please be respectful—cosplayers need to rest too!”

I raised my voice while physically blocking off a few persistent photographers who were reluctant to back off, shielding the girls from the barrage of DSLR lenses.

Since Lei Meow Meow and Tian Xi couldn’t make it out of the crowd on their own, I had no choice but to step into the sacred battleground myself. Under the lethal glares of a dozen camera-wielding veterans, I grabbed both magical girls by the hand and escorted them to safety.

Wait, why is Flash glaring at me too?

I didn’t even dare look back and just kept retreating until I was safely pressed up against a wall. My palms were soaked in cold sweat—the sheer pressure those guys give off is insane.

Tian Xi noticed Mai-chan trailing quietly behind me and gave a curious look.

“Who’s this girl? Chang Kai, how come every time I see you, there’s a new girl by your side?”

“This is, um… just call her Miyanaga Kohime.”

Tian Xi looked puzzled, tapping her temple with a finger as if trying to piece something together.

“Don’t tell me she’s another one of those—transformed guys?”
Meow Meow took a sip of her drink, her striking red eyes full of disdain as she teased,
“Tch. Are there even any real girls around you? You’ve got a god on your side, and all you ever do is mess with your fellow men to satisfy your own twisted tastes.”

“Hey now, that’s not fair! I swear, this isn’t about any ‘twisted tastes’!”

What do you expect me to do?! I’m desperate too, you know! If I don’t keep turning you all into girls, I’m the one who ends up screwed!

And believe me, I’d love to have a natural-born girlfriend for once—but where am I supposed to find one?!

“Anyway, yeah… like you guessed, she’s another transformed guy. She’s going through a bit of a mental block and could really use your help.”

Meow Meow gave Mai-chan a quick once-over, then smiled and extended her hand warmly.

“You can call me Lei Meow Meow, or Sis Meow Meow is fine too. Let’s get along, okay? If you’ve got questions, just ask.”

She always gives me attitude, but she’s surprisingly sweet to others in the same boat.

“Lei Meow Meow… why does that sound familiar? Oh! Weren’t you the winner of that beauty pageant?”

With her naturally bright blonde hair, Meow Meow hadn’t needed a wig, so her look hadn’t changed much since the pageant. It didn’t take long for Mai-chan, who’d apparently watched the event, to recognize her. Covering her mouth in disbelief, she said, “Wow, you’re a guy too?”

“You were in the audience?” Meow Meow shrugged, then smirked at herself. “Yeah, thanks to a certain someone, I’m a woman now.”

“That certain someone wouldn’t happen to be you, right little Chang Kai?” Mai-chan gave me a glance that made me feel like I was reenacting The Fall of Kotomine Kirei, bearing the weight of all mankind’s sins.

“Yep. Totally his doing,” Meow Meow nodded without missing a beat, though who knows how she really interpreted it.

“My history with him is… complicated. Anyway, let’s focus on your issue. Weren’t you looking for advice?”

Mai-chan still hadn’t quite figured out what was going on, so I jumped in quickly, “She’s got a situation, and I thought your experience might help give her some perspective.”

Meow Meow blinked, puzzled. “My experience? Wait, don’t tell me… you don’t know how to use a pad either?”

…Wait. So you didn’t know how to use a pad at first!?

“Ah! Now I remember! Miyanaga Kohime—wasn’t she that romance novelist?” Tian Xi suddenly smacked her forehead in realization. “That debuting female novelist who's been trending online lately!”

Meow Meow raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re into romance novels now, Xiao Xi?”

“Not just any romance novel—female-targeted ones at that! Wow, Sis Xi, you’re really getting in touch with your inner maiden.”

“I am not! I’m still a manly man at heart!” she declared, pounding her chest. Unfortunately, her hand landed squarely on her very feminine curves. The resulting bounce made her sigh and lower her head. “Well… mostly manly, I guess.”

Even she didn’t sound convinced. Lei Meow Meow gave her a cheeky grin.

“Watch out—any day now you’ll be bringing a boyfriend home. And just so we’re clear, if he’s anything like Chang Kai—pervy, sketchy, the whole package—I’m not giving my blessing.”

“Don’t worry, Sis Yuanyue is still rooting for you to marry him. I’m not gonna steal him.” Tian Xi shot back.

That earned her a deep blush from Meow Meow, who lunged at her, clamping an arm around her neck and using the other hand to mercilessly tickle her exposed waist.

“You brat! You’ve got some nerve, talking back to me now!”

“Haha—okay okay! I surrender, big bro!”

Tian Xi was laughing so hard she was crying. So her weak point is being tickled, huh?

The sight of two beautiful girls wrestling and giggling caught the attention of the nearby crowd again.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat, and once the two “sisters” had settled down and looked my way, I got to the real reason we were here.

“Back to business—like Sis Xi said, Miyanaga Kohime’s been promoted as a ‘debuting teen girl author’. But the truth is, she’s not really ‘debuting’ or a ‘teen girl.’”

Mai-chan fidgeted awkwardly, eyes lowered, nervously rubbing her fingers together.

“I think I get it. Basically, it was fake marketing, right? So… what exactly am I supposed to help with?”

“Meow Meow, let me ask you—would you ever come clean to your fans that you used to be a guy?”

“No way. Even if I did, who’d believe me?” She looked at me like I was crazy, then at Mai-chan. “Are you thinking of telling people you’re not actually a debuting teen girl author?”

“Just that I’m not a new writer. That part, I want to clear up.”

After all, the “girl” part… is kind of true now. It’s not entirely a lie anymore.

“I just feel bad for the readers. I want to be honest at the book signing this afternoon… Is that wrong?”

“If you ask me, there’s no need to come clean about anything.”

Meow Meow raised her finger dramatically, striking a pose that looked suspiciously like Uncle Sam.

“Let’s flip the script. From now on, you’re not a novelist—you’re an idol.”

“An idol? Like… you?”

“Exactly. Tell me—what makes people fall for idols?”

“Stunning looks and a great voice?”

“Pfft. Are you complimenting me? Thanks, but nope.”
She wagged her finger.
“There are plenty of idols who can’t sing or look average. The key to being an idol is showing off your best qualities and hiding the messy parts. You create a version of yourself that’s irresistibly charming.”

Mai-chan nodded slowly, still unsure. “But… wouldn’t that feel dishonest?”

“No. You’d only feel guilty if the fans found out.” Lei Meow Meow pointed to herself. “Do I seem any different from when I was on that pageant stage?”

“You seemed cuter back then…?”

“Oof. That stings more than I expected.”

She paused to gather herself, then shifted into her sparkliest, most high-energy voice.

“See, I work at being cute! That’s how I, Lei Meow Meow, get to shine under the spotlight—meow~!”

Then instantly snapped back to delinquent mode.

“Point is, who wants an idol with anger issues, violent tendencies, who smokes, drinks, and bets on horse races and boxing matches?”

Mai-chan shook her head.

…Though honestly, I bet someone out there would be into that.

Meow Meow clapped her hands. “There you go. Fans fall in love with your most charming self.”

“So what you’re saying is… if I confess, I’ll shatter the illusion of ‘Miyanaga Kohime’ that my readers love?”

“Exactly. But the guilt you’re feeling—that’s something precious too. Use it. Channel it into your work.”

She gave a thumbs-up, like a real mentor delivering sage advice.

“So this is why Chang Kai brought me to talk to you,” Mai-chan said, eyes wide. “I feel like a fog just lifted.”

She was genuinely moved, taking Meow Meow’s hand.

“I never imagined you were such a good talker! I thought you were just some hot-blooded brawler—ow!” I got punched in the side for that.

“…That said, keeping up this image is kinda tough.”

Mai-chan looked troubled.

“I mean, I don’t plan on staying a girl forever. Once the book signing’s done this afternoon, Chang Kai’s gonna turn me back.”

Those words made Meow Meow and Tian Xi freeze.

And seeing them freeze… made me freeze.

Oh crap.

“Wait—you can turn people back?!” x2

The two magical girls tackled me on the spot.