Who Are You? – The Tense Prelude to Vita's Greeting
While checking messages from Lou, Vita finally spotted them. Bluebell Bar sat right in the heart of the bustling district. Tucked in the farthest corner, a group was chattering away happily. They looked pure at heart, the shy, awkward type. And they were all good guys. Even if there were fake otakus mixed in, Vita firmly believed no true otaku in this world could be bad. After all, wasn't an otaku defined by their deep immersion in one passion? Someone with that kind of fervor couldn't be rotten to the core.
Lou, her junior, was the same—and so were these guys. They were comrades, in a way. The closest things Vita had to real friends on a normal day.
“Hey, guys!”
As Vita approached with a wave, their faces all went blank.
“Wh-who...?”
It was the exact reaction she'd expected. Vita grinned.
“I already told you. It's me—Vita.”
Even after she'd explained turning into a girl, they still couldn't wrap their heads around it. Utterly flustered, exchanging glances. Finally, one of the guys piped up.
“Uh, so... what's your connection to Vita?”
“Did that jerk get some dirt on you or something?”
“I told you—it's me.”
Only Lou, her junior, looked smug and triumphant.
“No lie, for real.”
Of course—he'd already seen her once over the weekend. Sure, she'd kicked him out quick after he whined about some weird smell in her room, but still.
“No, but even so...”
It had to be hard to believe.
“Lou, why're you buying into this? How's that Vita...?”
“Look at her eyes and hair color, duh.”
Overhearing the chatter, Vita scanned the group—and her expression hardened as she spotted someone.
“Why the hell is that guy here...?”
Her blunt words chilled the air. The guy in question—Nathan—flashed a surprised look, like he'd just pieced something together.
“Oh? What’s this reaction? You are Vita, aren't you?”
Vita scowled, saying nothing.
“Hey, hold up. Step outside with me, sunbae.”
Lou, quick on the uptake, led the way. Vita followed, face serious.
“What's the deal with him? Why's Nathan here?”
Nathan Jackal. In short—a thug. A fake otaku with ulterior motives. He'd stirred up trouble at the last Comic Fest, too.
“Didn't you hear? He was groping the female cosplayers.”
“Yeah, about that, sunbae...”
Lou scratched his head, looking awkward.
“Everyone figured we'd give him one more chance.”
“Unbelievable. Without even asking me?”
“We kinda figured you'd react like this...”
Lou scratched his head again, a bit guilty.
“But still, you never know. Maybe it was a one-time slip-up.”
“...Does that guy seem like the type to change?”
Vita pressed her forehead, sighing. They just didn't know Nathan's true colors. She understood—they hadn't seen what she had, by chance.
“Fine, whatever. For the others' sake.”
“He said he's reflecting on it, too.”
Lou kept persuading. Better not ruin the vibe over this... Vita's thoughts drifted that way. She had good relationships with the other friends—no need to sour the night.
“...Ugh, fine.”
Chatting idly with Lou helped settle her mood a bit.
“Hey, Lou—why's your face so red? You drunk already?”
“...Maybe. We had a little shot before you got here.”
“One shot and you're wasted?”
“Feels like it’s been forever since I drank.”
With his light pink hair and flushed cheeks, the guy looked downright comical.
“Man, you're such a lightweight.”
Back inside, Lou suddenly said something odd.
“But seriously... why'd you dress up like that?”
“What're you talking about? Dress up?”
No heels—she'd worn men's sneakers. No makeup either; she didn't even know how.
“What's 'dressed up' about this?”
“Well... you know.”
Lou's reaction felt off, suspicious.
“I was thinking, maybe you're already enjoying this whole 'girl' thing.”
“...Quit spouting nonsense.”
Smack! Lou seemed to have a masochistic streak. Still, thanks to him, Vita's mood lightened. She took a deep breath upon returning to the table.
“Sorry—let's drink!”
Even with that one jerk, tonight could be fine. Or so she naively thought.
“Cheers!”
The bar's interior glowed warmly. More cafe than dive—popular with couples, lit by soft crimson lamps as glasses clinked.
“Ahh, that's the stuff.”
Drinking like adults was a rite of passage. Everyone here had just turned legal. Technically, even Lou was only a semester behind Vita—same age.
“So, uh...”
The awkwardness gradually thawed.
“You know Lara, right?”
Anime and Comic Fest talk greased the wheels.
“What kinda question is that?”
Vita laughed at one friend's query.
“Of course I know Lara. Why do you think I've been saying I'm Vita this whole time?”
Lara—the legendary cosplayer of Magical Girl Eve Rosalind. Vita was one of her biggest fans. That might even be why she despised Nathan, the fake stan and shameless thug across from her.
That creep dared lay hands on Lara...
Vita remembered clearly. She'd stopped him, by sheer luck.
[Hey, what the hell are you doing?]
The other three didn't know that detail—a minor issue. If they did, he wouldn't be here. But Vita didn't want to air it. Lara was her favorite cosplayer, after all.
“I even got her autograph last time. You two were right there at the sketch booth.”
Recalling it stirred anger, but Vita kept cool, continuing.
“I tripped rushing over to brag, and knocked over this idiot standee in front of the booth.”
The specifics left them baffled.
“No way... really?”
“Talking to you feels like Vita, but...”
“I said yes. How many times?”
The back-and-forth looped a few times. But the awkwardness had definitely eased.
Bright bar vibes. Fruit and dessert snacks. Vita occasionally switched to a cutesy tone for laughs.
“Do you always turn your head away when drinking?”
Different from her usual speech.
“Pfft—!”
Predictably flustered spit-takes.
“Okay, enough pranks. Y-you're Vita's little sister, right?!”
“Didn't know he had a sister, but we're not fooled now.”
Giggling all around. Lou eyed his sunbae in disbelief, but he got it—the reactions made sense.
Today's sunbae is... Gray checkered skirt, ivory knit top. Undeniably feminine.
“Pfft—hilarious. What are you all doing?”
Even her laughter drew eyes naturally, like she was some enchanting opposite sex.
Ugh, snap out of it. That's Vita sunbae—!
Reminding himself, Lou downed his drink.
Even as he thought that, his eyes kept drifting. Glance. Couldn't stop, so he'd knock back more booze. It wasn't just Lou—the others felt it too. Vita alone tilted her head, puzzled, as the fast pace left everyone tipsy quick.
“Whoa, the booze is hitting hard tonight.”
“Yeah... me too, somehow.”
“Why's everyone rushing?”
How much time passed? They'd planned the winter Comic Fest thoroughly, blooming with stories. Vacation had kept them apart—except Lou—so the excitement flowed, drinks going down easy. Not that much, but...
For some reason, everyone was more buzzed than usual. Vita felt a light haze herself.
Time to wrap this up.
As she scanned the table, thinking that—
“...Hey, Vita.”
The thug, unusually quiet tonight, finally spoke. Perceptive enough, at least.
“Even so, ignoring me's a bit much, no? I've been holding back.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
Vita shot back curtly. Nathan smirked sleazily.
“You really Vita?”
No answer, but he pressed on, convinced.
“Gotta say, I'm shocked. Wow, for real...”
Shocked by what?
“When you first walked up? So pretty, I was speechless.”
His lecherous gaze raked over her. Beneath notice—Vita ignored him.
“One thing I'm curious about... didja get any numbers on the way here?”
What a dogshit question. Ignore was right. As Vita shook Lou awake silently, Nathan chuckled.
“Bet you did. Leaving a pretty girl like you alone? That'd be idiotic. Though if you're really Vita, it's kinda weird.”
This guy's for real...
Swears rose to her throat. Mood soured despite ignoring.
“Get your shit together, will ya?”
Vita snapped at the sleazy thug.
“If you wanna hook up, act decent—or keep groping cosplayers and get humiliated, asshole.”
His face hardened. Hit the mark.
“...Yeah, I'm reflecting on that plenty.”
But something felt off. Why admit it so easily? Drunk eyes gleaming, smirking lips—unpleasant vibe.
“So, Vita—help me get my head straight.”
More bullshit?
“If you're right, let's do it once. You were a guy anyway—no biggie, right?”
Blatant lust in his eyes. A man's gaze at a woman. He made a circle with two fingers, poking another through it.
“Just once with me. Pay you if you want, make it feel good. Whaddya say—positive, yeah?”
“What the fuck did you just say...?!”
This low? She knew, but... Stunned, Vita shot up, yelling.
“Wh-what...?”
“What's wrong, sunbae?”
The commotion drew stares. Vita bit her lip. Too many eyes. Barely reined in her rage amid the confusion.
“Fuck off and die, you piece of shit!”
Finally cursing him out, she stormed from the bar.
Darkness blanketed the streets. Soft crimson magic lamps cast shadows over passing pedestrians.
“Argh, that fucking...!”
Vita kicked a random stone.
“Mommy, that big sis is pretty but weird.”
“Must have funny hair, sweetie. Ignore her.”
A mother-daughter duo passed, chattering. Vita, too furious to care, kept stewing as she wandered the tree-lined path.
If no one was around, I'd have half-killed that bastard.
Still pissed replaying it. They weren't even friends—she'd planned to ghost him. That made it worse.
Should've bailed from the bar right away...
She'd given him an opening. Vita knew his true face. Not the first time seeing him hit on female cosplayers. She'd witnessed it with her top fave, Lara, warned him once. Later digging confirmed his rep.
Knowing all that, it still felt like she'd been wronged—fuming pointlessly. Vita huffed on.
Me, victimized...? What the hell did I even suffer?
She paused, pondering. Couldn't pinpoint it. But this anger wasn't just from his crap talk.
...What's this feeling?
Too mad—tears welled up. Had her female body weakened her mind too? Guys didn't cry either, but she wasn't the type to tear up over this.
Shocked anew at herself, Vita wandered aimlessly, circling the night streets.
Riiiing— riiiing—
Her magic phone buzzed nonstop. Probably Lou, but no mood to check.
Drifting like that, suddenly—a strong force slammed her against the wall.
“Ngh...!”
“There you are.”
Before she knew it, her wrist was gripped, yanked close, shoved back.
The culprit? Nathan, the sleazy thug. Dark alley off a crossroads. Passersby barely glanced over.
“When someone's talking, you hear 'em out.”
Drunken slur.
“Some bitch yelling and bailing like that.”
Like most thugs, he was built big. But Vita thought, Perfect timing.
Yeah, caught you alone. A psycho like this needed a beatdown. She was still pissed from earlier.
!!
But why? She strained—no give. Panicking.
“Cute.”
Nathan giggled. She tried again—nothing.
Can't overpower him with this strength...?
The realization hit. Chills instinctively. Gap between her old male self and this body. Now she felt his size.
Another shock.
Can't fight back...?
Stunned briefly—
“Scream again? Or try acting cute.”
Mocking voice. Drunk thug, fist raised like to strike.
If push came—kick his groin, run. Instinct.
But then—no need.
“Who the hell are you?”
Nathan's massive frame floated midair. Comically like a stage gag, but the newcomer wasn't amused.
“Who are you?”
Not a stranger's voice. Familiar face. Tousled black hair, cold golden eyes sunken deep.
Finally registering who stood before her, Vita felt, for some reason, in that instant...