Not Blackmail After All!
Two weeks had already passed since the new semester began. The weather was delightfully cool, and the early days of term still carried that leisurely vibe.
"Wow, seriously. How is your skin this perfect? Not a single blemish, and it's so clear it's practically transparent."
"Right? Bianca, mind sharing some tips?"
"Uh, well..."
Right now, Vita was in quite the pickle. During break time, the girls had her completely surrounded. And it wasn't just the girls—the boys were stealing glances too, and she could feel every single one.
"Nothing special, really..."
Her response sent the girls into peals of laughter.
"Must be natural-born beauty, huh?"
"No way, liar."
"Though with you, Bianca, it could be true."
It was total chaos. Their laughter made her feel oddly good, but...
Why does it feel kinda tiring?
Vita scratched her cheek awkwardly, and her seatmate Shasha stepped in to bail her out.
"Hey, you guys! Can't you see Bianca's embarrassed?"
She acted just like a manager shielding a celebrity. And Shasha seemed to see herself that way, now even directing the crowd.
"Okay, everyone! One question per person. Our Bianca here's actually super pure-hearted. She gets shy easily."
Pure-hearted? What does that have to do with anything?
Of course, Vita couldn't agree with that either.
"Hehe, how's that?"
Vita jumped. Shasha had sidled up and slipped an arm around her.
"Did I do good, Bianca?"
"...W-what?!"
"See? Total proof."
"Bianca really is pure."
"She's so fun to tease."
Shasha cackled as Vita's face turned beet red.
"What's wrong with it? We're all girls here."
Ah, yep. She was a girl now. But that didn't make the embarrassment any less real.
"Ugh, jealous."
"Jealous? Then you become a girl too."
The boys' murmurs made Vita's cheeks burn even hotter.
Suddenly, the conversation veered off-topic.
"Hey, Bianca. You're twins with Vita, right? So who's the younger one?"
Vita pondered for a second, but the answer was obvious. No way was she calling anyone "big bro," not even her old self.
"I'm the big sis."
"Oh, got it. You do give off similar vibes... siblings for sure."
Vita Shama didn't have a huge social circle, but she was still pretty well-known.
"Oh, Vita? That cute, pure one?"
"Yeah, super cute. Always seems so confident."
The comments that followed left Vita a bit downcast.
Girls really do see me as...
Just "cute." She didn't want to be cute, per se. It was just her looks. She'd always worked hard to be more manly.
Lost in thought, Vita spotted someone. The other girls noticed Lou too and started whispering.
"Who's that guy?"
"He's, like, ridiculously cute."
"Pink curly hair."
Is there really an idiot like that? Lingering so obviously by the classroom door.
"S-sorry! Gotta hit the bathroom quick!"
Vita bolted from her seat. She barely fended off Shasha's offer to tag along and escaped the room like she was fleeing.
Lou grumbled.
"Ah, senpai. Why'd you take so long?"
"You gotta give some warning before showing up. Anyway, you...!"
Vita shot him a meaningful look.
"Corner. Over there."
She didn't want weird rumors starting. Lou shuffled to the hallway corner, and Vita followed after a moment.
"What's up, all of a sudden?"
"I've got something important to say."
Lou looked unusually tense.
"I've been thinking about it a ton, but I have to tell you."
Vita blinked in confusion.
"Okay, shoot."
He hesitated like a puppy needing to pee.
Something clicked in Vita's mind.
This guy, no way...?
Really? No warning signs? But in this situation, only one thing fit, and her face hardened.
"Didn't expect you of all people to pull this on me, Lou."
"...H-huh?"
"If you're gonna regret it, don't say it."
Ever since turning into a girl, Vita had dealt with this a few times already.
-Could I get your number?
-Mind if I get your digits...?
-Go out with me!
None of it mattered. Strangers, after all. Rejecting them was awkward, but no skin off her back.
But this guy? Her dear junior Lou? She hadn't seen it coming.
Shocked and oddly clear-headed, she'd warned him firmly. If he'd regret it, better not say a word.
Lou looked baffled, then spilled it out.
"Thing is, I've been agonizing over whether to tell you..."
Lou Millionaire had mulled it over deeply. With his quirky personality and tastes, obsessive persistence in his interests, and outright genius in the sciences, he knew more than most.
And lately, he'd come across one key piece of info.
[There might be a way to turn back into a guy.]
But he'd hesitated. Telling her would upend her life again. She'd barely adjusted.
"Then don't."
But her reaction only steeled his resolve. Senpai was clearly on the wrong path.
[I'm gonna man up!]
Where had that Vita Shama gone?
"You know what? I can't just stand by anymore, senpai."
Vita, clueless to his inner turmoil, panicked.
What? Your feelings? And Lou suddenly seemed kinda intimidating. Was he always like this?
But his words blew past her expectations. Deadly serious.
"I found it, senpai."
"Found... what?"
"A way to change back!"
What, really?!
"Why tell me now!"
Vita grabbed and shook him front and back.
"Well, uh..."
Lou looked wronged too.
"Wasn't sure at first, and you seemed to be enjoying your new life."
"Ha, enjoy? Enjoy what."
Vita was dumbfounded.
"Weren't you? Blooming with smiles in class, and outside too."
Whack.
"Ow ow, why the knuckle sandwich?"
"You too, seriously? Things are tough enough lately."
Lou scratched his head at her reaction.
"Hmm, but if you were gonna react like this, why say 'don't if you'll regret it'?"
-If you're gonna regret it, don't say it.
Recalling her words, Vita flushed crimson. She'd totally misunderstood.
"Whoa, epic!"
Lou finally got it and started chuckling.
"You're a full-on girl now. Gave me chills for a sec."
"Shut it. Now."
Whack.
Another knuckle, and Lou finally clammed up, rubbing his reddened forehead with pursed lips.
"...Still hurts a bit, though."
Then the real talk began.
Vita had asked him before.
[Look into it for me.]
Lou was a pro at this stuff. He'd end up in intel someday, no doubt.
Science whiz and all.
Vita had searched too, but found zilch.
"So, senpai. Found a paper by some famous doctor..."
Someone like her. Gender swaps weren't rare; research had progressed.
"Even phase-two clinical trials..."
The details were huge for Vita.
After getting the info from Lou, they devolved into banter and bickering.
"No, senpai. So what'd you do there?"
"Told you, Lou. Just had fun."
They were close senpai-kouhai, but clashed on everything. Once debated favorite anime chars for hours.
But today, Lou felt extra prickly. A week ago, senpai suddenly went to Wizni Park.
[Getting ready for something, so I'll brag after.]
And that was senpai himself who said it.
Lou had been jealous as hell.
But now she's clamming up?
No bragging, dodging questions about what was fun.
"Right, senpai."
Lou's final doubt.
"You went with that Carlyle Schultz?"
Rumor had it, spotted near the city fountain.
But Lou couldn't buy it. That rival she'd hated and obsessed over beating.
Lately, senpai stuck to that thug more than him. Weird.
"Senpai, something off about you?"
"W-what...?"
That timid, guilty reaction wasn't like her.
Lou sighed, dropping it.
"Nah, forget it."
No way was he asking if Carlyle was blackmailing her. Senpai's pride, and she'd handle it.
He switched topics to lighten the mood.
"More than that, I'm actually kinda hurt."
"Hurt?"
"You barely hang with me anymore..."
Fellow otaku, both cutely cursed for guys. Bonded over that.
But post-transformation, things changed.
Emotions welled up, and Lou blurted,
"Is our friendship really this shallow-?!"
"What're we to each other?"
A voice from behind. They turned—tall shadow approaching. Carlyle Schultz, fresh from workout, hair tousled, smirking.
"There you are, Bianca."
He strode up boldly, hugging her tight like it was natural.
"H-hey...!"
Even with Lou watching.
Vita panicked and wriggled free. Carlyle chuckled, pulled her back, kissed her forehead.
His eyes warned Lou: Back off.
Lou was dumbfounded.
What the...?
No point reacting to the misunderstanding. His type was stacked glamour, not transformed senpai. He knew she was a guy inside anyway.
But more shocking: her reaction was pure girl.
His senpai!
"What're you doing, seriously!"
Face flaming, punching lightly—like a pouty girlfriend.
Not blackmail...?
Definitely not. They even looked perfect together.
Made her girlhood hit home weirdly.
What is this...?
Lou's mind rocketed to the stars.
Vita, oblivious to her junior.
Anyway. Vita's time with Carlyle Schultz had definitely increased lately.
She'd lost the bet, after all.
He hadn't demanded much, surprisingly. But she stayed vigilant—who knew when he'd flip.
The academy rooftop was their hideout now. Lunch here every day. Yesterday, today, tomorrow too.
And crucially: she'd stopped avoiding him.
Just a shift after that dreamlike Wizni Park day.
No need to overthink. Simple fact.
It's not like I even like the guy.
Straightforward. Time with him was surprisingly okay. Like friends?
So lunch together felt natural now.
On their rooftop spot, Vita sat on Carlyle's lap.
Pat pat. Definitely.
Carlyle had more common sense than expected. No slave stuff or wild demands.
But this was his "mild" ask.
"Ngh..."
Zero appeal. Sitting on a guy's lap? Sane people didn't.
But when he'd said,
-This is me going easy.
No arguing that. Bet's consequence, tame demand.
It never ended at just sitting, though.
"Eep..."
Today too, zero hesitation on skinship. Carlyle chuckled low.
"...Why're you poking my belly?"
Vita flushed.
"It's so squishy. Nice."
"So? Doesn't mean you gotta touch!"
Her usual nagging, and he silenced her—with his lips.
"Mmph... mm!"
This bickering was daily routine now. Lots of time stuck like this.
"Ha, Bianca."
Short kiss done, he sighed deep, pulling her close.
Her body stiffened.
"Why're you so damn cute?"
On his lap, hugged tight—soft girl in his arms. Bliss.
"Quit with the bullshit..."
Even as she grumbled, her little ears reddened. Carlyle chuckled.
Thus passed their peaceful days.
Until an unexpected event hit Vita Shama.