Approaching Storm?! Midterms and the Antidote
Despite the storm brewing on the horizon, midterms started tomorrow. Still, there were things to do, so Bianca headed to the hospital.
"It's ready—the medicine! Want to pick it up tomorrow?"
She'd gotten the message, after all.
Ever since last night, a deep dilemma had been weighing on her. A crisis of identity.
But why am I even...
Truth be told, Bianca couldn't quite grasp why she was agonizing over this. She was still waiting for her consultation.
"Patient number 36, come on in!"
Her turn wasn't quite yet, so she scooted right up next to her junior, Lou.
"Hey, Lou."
"Whoa—!"
Lou jumped in surprise, yelping loud enough to draw stares from everyone around.
"What the heck are you doing?"
Bianca's face soured. Lou's expression wasn't much better.
"What am I doing? That's what I should be asking you, senpai."
"You're such a lightweight."
Still, she was grateful for him. He had a good heart under that otaku exterior—when she'd casually mentioned heading to the hospital alone would be boring, he'd shown up without hesitation.
"Don't forget about the figure."
"I know, I know."
Of course, she'd promised him one of her figures in exchange. Not a bad deal, and she was thankful he'd come along.
Bianca flashed a grin, then suddenly tossed out a pointless question to her junior.
"In your eyes..."
Given the topic, she pressed right up against him. Pinching his little ear with her fingers, she whispered,
"Am I a guy... or a girl...?"
Lou's face turned tomato-red in an instant. Well, yeah. Her senpai asking weird stuff like this wasn't new. But the proximity was the real issue. Too close. Way too close. And that sultry whisper in his ear? He finally got what a "sweet voice" felt like.
And this person right now...
Her senpai was totally dressed like a heavenly girl! No, she was a girl right now. If he hadn't known she used to be a guy...
This would be seriously...
troubling in all sorts of ways. Sure, his tastes ran thicker, but his senpai was annoyingly pretty right now. Still, Lou was quick on the uptake.
"Obviously, a guy...!"
That was the answer she wanted anyway. If he'd said girl, he'd probably get a knuckle sandwich. And she was here at the hospital to turn back into one.
"Hmm, yeah?"
Bianca smirked, her expression turning faintly resolute.
"Right, I am..."
Just as she reaffirmed to herself that she was a guy, her turn finally came.
"Patient Bianca, number 39—please enter the exam room!"
"Y-yes!"
Her name was Rosa, right? The pretty silver-haired doctor greeted Bianca warmly.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
She smiled gently, gesturing with a soft hand.
"Have a seat. Hmm... you've gotten a bit more feminine since last time...?"
"N-no, that's not—!"
"No need to be shy."
The doctor's eyes twinkled with amusement. Bianca's face flushed as she plopped into the chair. Pretty people made her nervous for no reason.
"No need for long explanations, right?"
"R-right."
They sat facing each other. Suddenly, a bag of pills was slid toward Bianca.
"So, if you take this medicine..."
Bianca swallowed hard, and a positive answer came.
"You can turn back into a guy."
"R-really?!"
"Yes, for sure. As long as your will is firm."
"My... will?"
As Bianca trailed off, the doctor asked,
"Do you remember how the drug works?"
Magicology was a hard-to-explain power. As that supernatural field advanced, once-impossible things became reality. Baumkuchen Hospital's researchers had been studying the Red Pill for the past few years.
"A drug that breaks you free from false reality to face the truth."
"Exactly."
People don't choose their gender at birth. A man can be feminine, a woman masculine. But due to tech limitations, gender reassignment surgeries often led to side effects. The Red Pill was developed for those patients—and by sheer coincidence, Bianca had taken it.
"This antidote works much the same. We delayed giving it while ensuring stability, but it has a three-week shelf life, and it's definitely safe."
"So if I just take this, I can go back..."
After bidding Lou farewell and heading home, Bianca stared blankly at the neatly packaged pills. Small, red tablets. Fate's prank or not, she had exactly three weeks left until her showdown with Carlyle.
If your will is firm, you'll revert exactly on the third week of taking the medicine—the day it hits three weeks. Good luck.
Recalling the doctor's words as she left the exam room, Bianca clenched her fist.
Yeah. I can do this.
It was just going back—back to normal. No big deal. So after lunch, without overthinking, she swallowed one pill.
Gulp.
"Oh..."
Surprisingly tasty, like everything was normalizing. Bianca smiled.
And the very next day, the big day arrived: midterms.
She'd studied late into the night, dark circles under her eyes. Still, her gaze was sharp and focused.
Concentrate. Concentrate.
Only the scratch of pens filled the classroom. As Bianca solved problems, something felt off.
What... what is this?!
Why couldn't she remember? No—her memory was too good, weirdly perfect! Flustered, she hiccuped.
Hic!
But it wouldn't stop.
Hic! Hic!
Bianca kept hiccuping. Embarrassed and sorry to distract everyone, her small face turned tomato-red.
Why, why!
Why is my memory so good...!
Just like Carlyle's nonsense had predicted!
But good is good!
Yeah. Focus. Problems flying by perfectly. Suddenly, she recalled Carlyle's words.
She wouldn't have known it herself. But apparently in some weird way, her face flushed as she pushed through the problems. Ridiculously, she aced history without a single mistake. Even more bewildering.
"Phew—done!"
"Yay, we're free!"
The students cheered. Five days of midterms over. Classes ended early on the last day, and it was Friday morning! Weekend right after dismissal.
"Can't wait. Wonder what the scores'll be?"
"Academy after, then karaoke."
No matter the results, the relief lit up every face. Bianca chatted with Shasha too.
"History was the toughest for me this time."
"Huh, really?"
Surprising, so Bianca tilted her head.
"It was the easiest for me."
"What? It was super nitpicky—total chaos!"
Bianca had been buried in books, phone off, totally clueless.
"Class rep, vice rep! Grab the score sheets?"
"Yes, sir!"
Bianca stood tensely. Scores came out the same day here.
In the quiet hallway, Carlyle walked beside her, stirring trouble.
"Got plans after?"
No plans, but she narrowed her eyes warily.
"Why, all of a sudden?"
"We made a bet."
Random bet? But his logic was airtight.
"Gotta give me a shot."
She knew what kind: a chance to woo her. Bet or no, fair was fair.
"Hmm... ugh..."
As she hesitated, he patted her head.
"If it's too much, we can just watch anime at my place. Gotta work anyway, won't be long."
"...Fine, if it's that."
A date, basically. He'd bulldozed it, but she had no real reason to refuse. Not heartless enough when he asked like that.
Plus, anime...
As the senior, she had plenty to show the newbie. And yeah, she'd ghosted him during exams—felt a little bad. Anyway, priorities: her scores.
They grabbed the sheets from the office. Bianca checked her overall rank first.
"First... number one?!"
She shot up from her seat, drawing eyes. Shasha clapped like a seal beside her.
"Whoa, amazing!"
"Bianca got first?!"
"She can do anything."
Unbelievable. Bianca dazedly glanced at Carlyle.
I finally beat him...?
Her, over that guy? First win ever.
"Coincidence."
But Carlyle approached slowly, laying his sheet on her desk.
"First place. Me too."
Bianca blinked.
"Lemme see!"
Sure enough, his said first too.
"N-no way."
Lips bitten in panic, then—
Clap clap.
The teacher clapped.
"Kids, like Carlyle said. Two firsts in our class this time. Tied for first...?"
"Whoa—"
"Epic!"
Classmates cheered. Bianca felt a twinge of disappointment.
...Yeah, no way it'd be that easy.
Never beat him by much—always second. But knowing the details made it absurd. History, the toughest discriminator, had exactly two perfect scores: her and Carlyle Schultz. Others tied elsewhere.
Oh, so that's it?
Something deflated inside, but her mood wasn't bad.
Still, tied for first...!
Better than before—growth! Like Emily said: yesterday to today, today to tomorrow.
Friends marveled, led by Shasha.
"How'd you two both ace history perfectly?"
"Two perfects."
"Smart kids just vibe on the same wavelength, huh."
Vibe...?
Bianca froze. Eyes met Carlyle's by chance—he smirked.
"Yeah, definitely. We vibe."
Decoding it, her face burned.
C-crazy...!
What innuendo! She got it all too well. Flustered,
"Y-you...!"
Luckily, friends missed it. Carlyle chuckled and pretended to flee.
That evening, Emily was lost in thought. Midterms over—should feel relieved, but her heart was a mess.
Friend, crush. Crush, friend...
Complicated feelings. She'd only recently gotten close to Bianca Shama, but...
Still, a friend.
Not oblivious—she sensed Bianca's genuine fondness. Truly saw her as a friend. So she wanted to reciprocate. Likable kid, approached first with kindness—no dislike there. That's why her heart tangled more.
If Bianca were mean or flawed, no dilemma. But her friend and crush were entangled.
Human nature—unavoidable complexity.
What to do...
Buried in her pillow, Emily pondered. They weren't dating yet. Maybe she could squeeze in? To her eyes, Bianca liked Carlyle too. But denied it.
Fortunate or not. One thing clear: this unease wouldn't fade. Sneaking in before Bianca realized her feelings felt unfair.
"What's the point."
She let out a hollow laugh.
"Carlyle doesn't like me anyway. What am I even thinking."
Real issue: win over childhood friend Carlyle first. Felt hopeless. But Emily Swan knew inaction led nowhere. That's how they got here.
Midterms done. Next up—
"School trip?"
Next week. Exciting: new places, chances to close distances.
Yes. There...!
Emily resolved: appeal to Carlyle on the trip, confirm Bianca's feelings too.
The weekend passed, a few days flew by.
"Ahh... finally alive."
Meanwhile, Bianca suffered sudden magical ailments—bedridden, severe pain forcing absences.
—You okay, Bianca? Keep warm.
Emily worried too. Carlyle nursed personally sometimes: stroking her hair, hugging silently before leaving.
"...Told you not to come."
Even this embarrassed her.
This feels weird...
Weirder than lewd stuff, somehow.
"Get better quick."
No demands, just steadfast company.
Bianca mumbled lowly,
"...What're you plotting now."
"Nothing. Promise."
His tender voice made her shrink. But when he left, she never missed her nightly Red Pill.
No doubt: she'd revert.
This academy's quirk: final semester before graduation differed. Short gap between midterms/finals, early end for college prep. Semester nearly two-thirds done.
Replying, Bianca's excitement bubbled.
Gonna be fun, for sure.
Her final school trip loomed.