Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: 3.5 Recovery of Daily Life
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"It's a bit too loose, isn't it? Wouldn't it be better to just borrow someone else's?"
On the way home from school.
Yuuki, who had been doused with water, was wearing my gym clothes instead of her soaked uniform.
But because of our difference in build, the gym clothes looked ridiculously baggy on her.
I'd always been bigger to begin with, and now that she'd become a girl, Yuuki was even smaller, so it was only natural.
Her hands had completely disappeared into the sleeves.
The hems dragged along the ground, and the waist kept slipping down, forcing her to buckle a belt over the gym clothes.
"No. I like Naibusu's. Women's gym clothes still feel awkward."
"Hmm. I get that sentiment."
As someone who'd tried on women's gym clothes (bloomers) myself, I could totally understand Yuuki's reluctance.
That said, once you actually put them on, they're surprisingly... ahem.
"But you don't know when you'll turn back into a guy, so wouldn't it be better to get used to women's clothes? Uniforms, gym clothes, swimsuits."
"...Naibusu, do you want me to go back to being a guy?"
"Of course. It's gotta be inconvenient, right? And who knows when another wartime situation might pop up."
I hadn't finished the original game, but I'd had a hunch something huge would happen before the clear. There was tons of foreshadowing for it.
Not on the level of the Great Catastrophe, but I was convinced a similar monster rampage would hit sometime this year.
"Can you even fight properly with that body?"
At my innocent words, Yuuki made a sulky pout.
I'd said it purely out of worry for Yuuki.
My wording might've been off.
"Naibusu. Want me to attack you once?"
"Attack?"
"Yeah. With that sword."
Yuuki rolled up her sleeve and thrust out her fist.
Meaning strike down here, I suppose.
"Don't. You'll get hurt."
"Just lightly slash it and you'll see. Whether attacks work or not."
True enough.
Even without swinging in earnest, just pressing the blade against it would tell.
But...
"...No. You'll get hurt."
Yuuki's girlish wrist looked so fragile that I couldn't bring myself to touch it with the sword.
It seemed like it'd snap if I just twisted it by hand.
"Hurry up."
Yuuki halted her steps and urged me to slash.
Her usual stubbornness was showing again.
It usually frustrated me, but right now, it made me glad.
It felt like the usual Yuuki had returned—not the depressed one.
"Don't cry and expect me to comfort you."
I had to play along with her.
I let out a deep sigh, drew Moonlight, and gently laid it against Yuuki's wrist.
So lightly it barely touched. Carefully, so even if it nicked, it wouldn't cut deep.
"How's it feel?"
"...Wait."
It was like pressing a blade against glass.
Not human flesh, but something hard under the blade.
Moonlight's edge, which could sever a human neck clean to the bone, couldn't even mar Yuuki's delicate-looking skin.
I pressed a little harder and drew it back.
-Kiiii...
"..."
A noise impossible from human flesh.
It sounded just like scratching glass.
Proof that Yuuki's Aegis Rune was working perfectly.
"See? Not a scratch."
"Wait."
Yuuki's smug expression ticked me off.
I channeled mana into Moonlight.
Moonlight began to vibrate.
-Kagagagak!
Sparks flew from Yuuki's arm amid a deafening racket.
"Whoa!"
Yuuki yanked her arm back in surprise.
Even after all that, there wasn't a single scratch on her arm.
Moonlight was unscathed too. What the hell is this thing made of?
"Naibusu! My mana just drained like crazy! What did you do?!"
"Hmm."
Impressively tough. Yuuki's Aegis Rune.
Probably wouldn't kill her unless you unloaded a machine gun or anti-materiel sniper on her.
"To think even ultra-vibration mode won't pierce it..."
How did such defense come out of that slender wrist?
Curious, I pinched it.
"Ow."
Stuff like this doesn't block, huh.
Yuuki's bare skin was soft and squishy. No different from a normal person's arm.
If anything, softer than most girls'.
The more I learned, the more fascinating it got.
"Satisfied now?"
"Huh? Satisfied with what?"
"You saw it doesn't pierce. So you're good. No need to turn back."
Yuuki, pleased with the result, resumed walking with a proud stride.
She'd definitely confirmed the Aegis Rune's toughness.
But that backside still looked utterly unreliable.
The baggy gym clothes made it worse.
I chased after her and said,
"Hey. That's not the same thing. Being a girl has to be inconvenient for you too."
"Not inconvenient at all."
"Yeah right. You can't even wear bloomers."
"That's... I'll ease into it."
"Hmph. Really? Bloomers, girls' uniform, school swimsuit. Think you can handle all that?"
"I can."
"Won't you get your period soon? Then you'll need pads too."
Yuuki froze at the word "period".
"...I'll wear 'em. It's no big deal."
And off she went again.
"Hey, you hate getting drafted that much? Wait, you're an adult now, so girls get called up too."
"If I'm drafted, I'll go. Even if you tell me not to."
Yuuki whipped around and jabbed a finger at me.
"Naibusu, if I let you go alone, you'd die in no time. How could I not go?"
"Hmm... fair point."
"Right?"
"Show-off."
I'd been saved by Yuuki more times than I could count.
I charge at monsters like a moth to a flame—without her, I'd be dead quick.
"...By the way, what's with that sword?"
Yuuki showed interest in Moonlight.
I answered proudly.
"Cool, right? The president gave it to me."
"President? Mizuki Student Council President?"
"Yeah. Prototype anti-monster weapon made using a rune stone. Infuse mana and it vibrates."
For demonstration, I gripped the hilt and channeled mana.
-Weeng.
"Whoa. Neat."
"Right?"
New weapons are every boy's dream.
Yuuki's body might be a girl's now, but her sensibilities were still a guy's—her eyes sparkled at the vibrating blade.
"Want me to ask the president for one for you?"
"...Nah. I'm good."
"Don't need it?"
"Yeah. Not really."
"Alright? Was gonna pass this one to you once the finished version's out. Guess I'll return it to the president."
"...Huh?"
"Kinda got attached using it. Feels like a waste to just give it back. Oh well, if you don't want it."
"W-Well, if it's the one you used, it'd be a shame to return. Maybe I'll take it."
"Right?"
As members of the Great Catastrophe generation, we were naturally thrilled by anti-monster superweapons.
Moonlight was a traditional Japanese sword design loaded with cutting-edge ultra-vibration tech.
You could call it like slapping transformation robot functions onto a T-Rex.
No red-blooded guy could pretend not to care.
Since Yuuki was hooked, I spent the whole walk home rattling off Moonlight's awesome features.
Man, it's been forever since we did this.
Heading home, chatting so amiably with Yuuki.
Our conversation didn't let up until we reached home.
We went from weapons to combat, attack and defense in fights against monsters and Rune Holders, even sims versus armed soldiers—once we got started, the topics just kept expanding endlessly.
"I'm home."
"Pardon the intrusion~."
So I ended up stopping by Yuuki's house. To keep talking with her.
We'd always treated each other's homes like our own anyway—nothing special.
"Yuu, welcome home. Naibusu, come on in."
"Hello, Sana-san."
Sana-san greeted us with her usual overflowing allure.
No skin showing at all, yet she oozed sex appeal. Weird, right?
Stuff like that must just come naturally.
『Naibusu coming over to our house—could it be...?』
"Yuu. How was school today?"
Sana-san asked with a slightly tense voice.
She must've been that worried about Yuuki.
"Yeah... it was good."
Yuuki answered a bit bashfully.
But her voice was definitely brighter.
『Ah! Those gym clothes!』
Sana-san finally noticed Yuuki was wearing the baggy gym clothes.
Hahaha! Sana-san, I told you to leave it to me!
I flashed her a thumbs-up, boasting of my accomplishment.
『Ahh, as expected of Naibusu... which means I'm off the hook now...?』
Sana-san, who'd been thrilled that Yuuki's bullying was over, soon clouded over again.
I knew what Sana-san was worried about.
But she needed to drop those worries now.
That situation had just kinda happened along the way, but at heart, I'm a pure love fan through and through.
I had zero intention of tainting Sana-san's pure feelings with my desires.
Not that I planned to become Yuuki and Hina's dad, either.
I'd have to talk to her about it sometime.
With that in mind, I headed into Yuuki's room.
"Naibusu, I'll grab something to drink."
"Nah, no need."
I flopped right onto Yuuki's bed.
Seeing me lounging like it was my master bedroom, Yuuki gave a wry smile.
"Just wait a sec."
Yuuki left the room.
...Now that I thought about it.
Sana-san had once muttered via Mind Rune about some "naughty manga in Yuuki's room" or whatever.
Perfect opportunity.
Maybe I'd take a look.
I sprang up from the bed.
Then I started rummaging everywhere—under the bed, desk drawers, inside the closet.
Hmm. Nothing.
Maybe Sana-san found and tossed it?
If she was gonna throw it out, she should've given it to me. Waste.
Still couldn't let it go, so I was checking between the mattress and inside the quilt cabinet when—
"No way! Keep that gross sight out of my eyes! Pervert! Get out!"
...That loud voice came from outside the room.
I'd been digging through Yuuki's panty drawer and froze.
It wasn't directed at me.
It was Hina's voice—Yuuki's little sister.
Wondering what was up, I peeked out.
I locked eyes with Hina, who was just heading into her own room.
"Hmph!"
-Slam!
Hina whipped her head away and stormed into her room.
『Gross! My brother's a crossdressing guy! How's he gonna go to the academy now? Rumors are already spreading among my friends. What am I supposed to tell them?!』
Hmm. Hina's got her own struggles, huh.
Not that screaming like that inside the house was okay.
I poked my head out to find Yuuki.
Yuuki and Sana-san were both in the kitchen.
"Ah, sorry, Naibusu. I'll clean it up quick and bring some."
Yuuki smiled awkwardly.
Spilled drinks and shattered glass littered the floor.
Sana-san was picking up shards next to Yuuki.
『Ahh, dear. If you were still alive, Hina wouldn't have turned out like this... I tried my best alone, but it wasn't enough. It's all my fault for being inadequate...』
I picked up Sana-san's muffled mind waves as she cleaned the glass and dabbed at her tears.
...Hina──!!
Daring to make Sana-san sad!!
"Sana-san."
"Ah."
I dropped to my knees before Sana-san and seized her pitiful hand.
"Sana-san. No matter what noises come from Hina's room, do not come in."
"What... do you mean?"
Sana-san looked puzzled, not getting my sudden declaration.
I didn't bother answering.
She'd find out soon enough.
I turned and proclaimed the same to Yuuki.
"Yuuki, you too. If you come in, we're done. Friendship over."
"What? What're you talking about? What are you gonna do?"
Yuuki panicked too.
Naturally.
She knew better than anyone that I wasn't the type to throw around words like "break off friendship" lightly.
"Both of you, absolutely do not come in."
I drove the point home to Sana-san and Yuuki one more time, then headed for Hina's room.
──Kurosaki Hina.
You, spoiled rotten by your mom and brother, probably don't know.
But naughty kids get their butts spanked.