The Moon Grants Wishes
"Hiss, haa."
The winter night was cold. That was to be expected, but this winter felt especially brutal.
"Ugh, so cold."
Well, if you watched the news, they always said this year's winter was the coldest on record, so of course it was freezing.
"...Should've dressed warmer."
Did I go out to the convenience store in front of my place wearing too little? I wondered as I looked up at the sky. There was a huge, perfectly round moon hanging there. Wasn't there supposed to be a full moon tonight? I didn't think I'd heard anything about it.
"It's crazy bright."
It felt like the most radiant moon I'd ever seen.
"Ah, hiss... It's been a while since I looked up at the night sky like this."
Lately, I never had reason to gaze at the stars. As a kid, I'd sometimes step outside, stare up, and make a wish.
"These days, I'm just too damn busy."
Day in, day out, life was a grind, leaving no room for little indulgences like this. And with work not going well, my head was full of worries.
"Haa... tch, I want to make something good too."
Three years ago, Full Dive VR burst onto the scene—a revolutionary tech that hooked me hard. For two years now, I'd been pouring everything into creating content, those game-like experiences you could make and share in the VR world.
"...No real results, though."
I'd never produced anything standout. At best, mediocre stuff that got buried fast anyway, since so many others were better at it.
"I want to... make a million—no, ten million views worth of content."
Something anyone could love, or at least where I could pour out everything I wanted to create!
"...Sigh, as if."
I scratched my head and looked back up at the moon.
"Aaah, Moon, please grant my wish! I'll give you anything—just let me make awesome content!"
"Who's yelling like that in the dead of night?!"
"Eek, hiss. Better head inside."
Did I shout too loud? Startled by the angry neighbor, I hurried back home. I still had mountains of dev work today—gotta eat quick and get started.
*
Good morning~ Bappara bappa bappappa~
"Ugh... alarm's so loud..."
I scrunched my brows at the nagging alarm in my half-asleep haze and slowly sat up. When did I even fall asleep? I remembered stepping out of the capsule after a content idea hit me mid-dev, planning to jot it down...
"Must've passed out on the bed right there."
Exhausted beyond belief, I'd conked out without realizing. I silenced my phone and stretched.
"Fuuuuh~ Ah, my shoulders are killing me."
Still groggy even after the alarm, I figured I'd splash some water on my face and hopped out of bed energetically.
"Ah, augh?!"
An unexpected weight on my chest sent me pitching forward onto the floor.
"Ow... what the hell? Why'd I just faceplant?"
Rubbing my smarting forehead, I glanced down. Was something stuck to my shirt...? Huh?
"Eh? What is this, a dream?"
Blinking hard, I looked again. Two massive hills stared back—things that absolutely shouldn't be there. I plopped onto the bed in shock.
"No, huh? Wh-what?"
Come to think of it, my voice sounded off too. Much higher, almost feminine. No way... no freaking way?
"Pfft, as if. Turning into a girl overnight? Ha ha... wait, this isn't a dream?"
I jumped up and bolted to the bathroom. No, no way. What the hell happened?
Skidding to a stop at the sink, I stared into the mirror.
"Who... who are you?"
A stunning woman I'd never seen before gazed back. Panicking, I waved my hand.
"...This is real?"
The reflection waved in sync. No denying it—I'd become a woman. That beautiful face in the mirror was me.
I examined it closely. Silky black hair flowed like satin, messy from sleep but healthier and shinier than when I'd been a guy. My eyes were a mysterious reddish-brown, exotic and captivating. And then...
"They're huge."
Those enormous mounds dominated my chest, looking gigantic even in the mirror—or up close.
"Haa... so what the hell happened?"
I stumbled back to the bed and sat down. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. What changed me? The room looked identical—furniture, clothes, everything. Just me that was different.
Ding. My phone chimed. Curious, I checked it.
"...An email?"
A new mail notification in my inbox? Weird—I hadn't set alarms for emails. With a strange feeling, I opened it.
The subject made me frown: Congratulations... Your wish has been granted? My wish led to this? I'd never wished to be a girl.
I skimmed the body.
I puzzled over the "side effects" part. If there were side effects, was it even a proper wish? More like an equivalent exchange.
"No, so what are the side effects? At night, under the moon... yin energy overflows. It can influence the wisher...?"
Influence from yin energy? I racked my brain—subculture stuff, random info I'd dug up for content ideas.
"No way... did all that yin energy turn me into a girl?"
Men have more yang, women more yin—that old superstition. It sounded ridiculous, but it was the only visible change.
"So that's why I ended up like this? Too much yin makes you this body? ...Wait a sec."
Side effect granted, and my actual wish... wasn't about becoming a girl.
"I wished to make great content..."
My eyes lit up as I rushed to my budget capsule. No way... really?!
I hopped in and fired up the VR system. Excitement bubbled up. If my wish really came true...
Welcome, user. Please select an action.
"Create—straight to create!"
I shouted and dove into the creation space. My view shifted instantly; holographic panels bloomed around me.
"Alright, let's test it."
The idea from last night I'd failed to implement: a deep RPG packed with hidden elements.
"Can I really pull this off?"
My past content was patchwork junk—stitched from peeking at others' work. Honestly, I was scared. If it flopped... I'd just be a girl with no gains.
"Hoo, nerves are poison. No tension in creation."
Slap—I smacked my cheeks and dove in. My vision expanded. Gaps and fixes flashed in my mind; I filled them seamlessly.
This new sensation—like omnipotence as the content took shape. Is this my real skill? For real?
NPCs and monsters modeled flawlessly, no hitches. The key was motion—joints, animations for immersion.
"Ah."
I admired the result. Subtle movements I'd never nailed before, perfect AI... ecstasy.
"Whoa... this is really mine?"
Unbelievable quality. I swallowed hard. How long? "Only 3 hours?"
Insane speed. Satisfaction surged, but...
"Can't release this yet."
Quality leap was too stark compared to my old stuff.
"No one'd buy it. Tch... shame."
Such potential, but no instant debut. Arms crossed, I pondered. No going back now.
"...Name it first, maybe."
Yeah. Build fame with superior content, grow step by step.
"Content I want to make... my content."
No one trusts a nobody—need proven success.
"Then... time for a tribute?"