I Am a Man!
Vibrant autumn leaves painted the scenery in pretty shades of red and orange. A week had passed since Vita and Carlyle made up. Tomorrow was the sports festival, and Vita had recently resolved her nagging worries, putting her in high spirits. She stretched languidly, gazing out the window with a soft smile.
"Feels so refreshing this morning?"
She'd reconciled with Carlyle Schultz, gained hope of returning to being a guy, and even grown a bit closer to Emily. Fresh from a shower, Vita dried her hair and pulled out her phone. She opened the group chat with Shasha and Emily.
Morning greetings had become their daily routine. The topics weren't anything special—academy happenings, the upcoming sports festival, midterms—but chatting like this brought them closer. Flustered by the bold exchange, Vita closed her phone.
Girls are so forward...
Still, she'd gotten somewhat used to this kind of girl talk by now. "Time to head out." Her long hair, now familiar, swayed against her arms. Vita picked out some underwear. Since she was alone, she'd come out of the shower naked. Then she noticed it was the same pair from the day she made up with Carlyle Schultz—her face flushed a little.
Inevitable, really. "Ugh..." She froze, recalling that memory.
Looking back... that day was just too weird.
Carlyle was one thing, but she was too. Both their heads must've been messed up. Her face heating up was just because of that.
[Let's make a bet, you and me.]
The unexpected confession. Yeah, if she had to pin it down—shockingly, it was Carlyle's confession. Why? Why me of all people...?
She'd had a slight inkling, sure, but not that it was this serious. Vita couldn't figure it out. The guy who'd always been arrogant, annoying, and a total punk—why fall for his rival, who used to be a dude? Some cosmic joke? And why did she—!
[Give me a chance.]
[...I like you, Bianca.]
She'd actually responded to that nonsense. Her face burned; her hands and feet curled in secondhand embarrassment as she ruffled her innocent hair. "Ha, seriously..." She really shouldn't have gone along with it. The more she thought, the more she regretted it. It was all so impulsive. Impulsively, she'd accepted Carlyle's bet-confession, like a total idiot.
[...Uh, y-yeah.]
One thought after that. I'm originally a guy...!
She figured she couldn't lose that bet, so she'd agreed. Even so, it left her in a tricky spot—complicated reasons. Felt like toying with someone sincere. I was originally a guy, and I'll go back. No matter what he did, that fact wouldn't change. Like a bet where the outcome was already set. Or like she was getting swept up by him? I should've just said no...
It would've ended there. Winning didn't gain her much anyway. Accepting the bet led to this mess. Dressed in her uniform, Vita checked her phone again. Carlyle had been texting nonstop lately, day or night.
His bluntness made Vita's face heat up—not from shyness, but sheer absurdity. How can someone be this shameless all the time? Even more lately. A fresh message popped up. She fired back curtly.
"Ugh..." Flustered differently this time, Vita shut her phone. "D-doing this...! Doesn't change anything." Maybe she was talking to herself. Weird, right? No way a guy like her could feel her heart flutter for him. Carlyle's new aggressiveness was overwhelming. But Vita reasoned it was just her female body and hormones. The occasional flutters were illusions. Emotions that'd vanish once she turned back male meant nothing.
So the bet is absolutely...!
She was dead certain she'd win, no doubt.
But what was this feeling? Like she was getting pulled into his pace more and more.
Ding-dong—ding-dong— The lunch bell rang. Vita headed to the annex building as usual, up the stairs to the rooftop. There was Carlyle, flashing a bright smile the moment he spotted her. She hesitated at that grin.
Why does he look so damn happy lately?
She had no idea how elated Carlyle really was. He interpreted her acceptance as her okaying his confession. A whole month? He was confident he could win her over. From his view, this bet was unwinnable—for her.
"Emily not coming...?"
Hoping it wasn't wishful thinking. Bianca showed up alone, so he got his hopes up.
"Sports festival tomorrow, probably eating with friends."
"Bummer, but oh well."
He said that, but inwardly, he was thrilled. Alone time with Bianca Shama after so long. Vita caught the vibe in his expression and shrank back a bit. Then she declared:
"Y-you...! Don't get any funny ideas!"
"No clue what you mean. Got something to hide?"
"Don't play dumb."
Her face red, fist out, as she said that—Carlyle chuckled.
"Obviously, if you want. I'll follow your lead."
They'd made a promise—bet details, like a contract. Carlyle's sudden boldness had Vita flustered a lot. Even with Emily around, walking as a trio, Emily in the middle. Suddenly Carlyle hooked her pinky, then stroked her palm. Vita freaked—right as Emily chatted and laughed beside them.
"Still, glad you two made up. Felt guilty, like it was my fault you fought."
"N-no...!"
Vita denied it, face burning. Carlyle brazenly played it cool.
"Yeah, all good."
Back then, Vita had felt this weird guilt. Like betraying her crush by letting this happen beside Emily. Couldn't face her.
"What's wrong, Bianca...?"
"N-nothing...!"
Her face aflame. Pure Emily's reaction made her feel like a sinner. Furious later, Vita confronted Carlyle with two demands. One: No touching with Emily Swan around. Two:
"No naughty stuff at the academy. I said it clearly."
Recent addendums. Carlyle nodded.
"Right, promise. Only in your room then."
"No, that's not—!"
How did he twist "no academy stuff" like that? Face red, but he'd already leaned down.
"Got it, so hug me."
To get to the rooftop, no choice.
"Tch—"
Vita pouted but hugged obediently enough, arms around his neck to not fall. Felt like he smirked, but unavoidable. She thought so. Not speaking on the way up was her last pride—or tension.
Once atop, she opened the door—and soft, squishy lower belly met firm arms hugging her tight.
"Eek, what...!"
Turning, she was fully enveloped in his broad chest. "Ha, feels good." Carlyle buried his face in her neck, one arm around her slim waist, the other stroking her small head. All laced with sticky affection—enough for hugged Vita to realize.
"Love you so much."
Snuggled in, eyes wide, Vita's cheeks slowly flushed pink. Like a chick in its nest, she squirmed timidly, pushing lightly.
"L-let go a bit..."
But he didn't budge. Dumb idiot. Think this changes the fixed outcome?
No way. Lately, this impulsive bet had her in a bind. Body immobile, but her mind raced. ...No, no. I am, I...!
"I am a man—!"
Vita clenched her fist, yelling loud. "Ah, senpai!" Her junior Lou nearly jumped beside her. Chilly autumn evening. Long time since Vita met up with junior Lou. They were working out at an outdoor city field.
"Cut it out a bit!"
"What, why."
"People are staring!"
His whisper made Vita flinch. Yeah, passersby were eyeing them weird. Embarrassed, she shrugged.
"...But it's true, right?"
Lou sighed. Did this senpai not see how she looked? Sweat-matted light golden hair on cheeks, flushed face, flexible curves peeking from loose purple hoodie. Total girl. He felt nowhere to look. Calm down, Lou...! This is senpai. He'd chanted that inwardly dozens of times. Hot-blooded competitive boy, his weird senpai. Without knowing the truth, it'd be hard to see past the "top beauty in the prefecture" vibe.
"Ahem—"
Lou cleared his throat, agreeing to avoid a knuckle. "Sure, I get it... but others see a crazy chick!"
"Correct to 'crazy dude.'"
"Ah, yes."
Grudgingly, Lou thought: Senpai's a bit off lately. Invited to work out—figured something up. The reason? Absurd.
"Masculinity Reclamation Project—!"
Sweat to pump male hormones—a meaningful plan.
"Sounds legit..."
Lou was meh. "But do you need to try this hard? Just take the pill again."
"Not guaranteed. Different issue."
Senpai continued gravely. "...It's dangerous, somehow."
Really feeling off lately. Hormones amplifying femininity. Vita felt scared.
"Forget going back or whatever—lately, I feel like I'm changing weirdly..."
Like an unknown other self emerging. Lou, never been a girl, couldn't get it.
"Stamina is national power!"
Sweat and rough exercise release male hormones, per studies.
"Gotta put in the work."
She was. Matching his sincerity blow for blow. Resolved. Won't fall for it. Never gonna happen. Anyway, sports festival tomorrow—perfect. She'd trained with Lou all week.
Must take first.
After sprints, pull-up time. Lou grunted beside her.
"Ugh, dying."
"Hng...! Three!"
Vita at her third. Post-transformation, even pull-ups sucked—unfair. Did like fifteen easy as a guy. Gotta change back. So frustrating. No doubt she'd revert—lived as male for years. Natural order; no way she'd live as girl forever. So Vita vowed: Back to male, original self. No matter Carlyle's sway.
The next day, the academy sports festival kicked off. Girls in bloomers, boys hyped.
"Wooo—!"
Clear blue autumn sky. Roars filled the field.