Changing Relationships
Golden hair cascading in long waves, delicate features neatly arranged. Her amethyst eyes and cheeks brimming with vitality carried a hint of aloofness. A bit short, wasn't she? Just a little. Bianca let out a sigh.
"...Why is this guy's height the same even after turning into a girl?"
It had been that way as a guy, and now as a girl, she still fell just shy of average. Regrettable in all sorts of ways. But looking at herself, she seemed pretty cute.
"Well, this is decent enough..."
Not self-praise, right? It didn't feel bad. Hmm, yeah. Lately, she'd been doing this in front of the mirror more often. She was paying a bit more attention to her looks than before. She didn't know why exactly, but that was the feeling. Or rather, deep down, she had a hunch.
Bianca's cheeks flushed faintly for no reason.
"What's wrong with me...?"
She rubbed her dry face, a shallow sigh escaping her lips. She thought it was weird, after all. Why did it matter so much what Carlyle thought of her, whether he found her pretty? Overall, she probably gave off the vibe of a standoffish cat. If she rated her own looks, even she thought she was cute. Still, she wondered if she had enough feminine allure. That uncertainty made her glance in the mirror more often lately. Her body felt more fragile than mature, and it bugged her a little. It curved where it should dip in and swelled where it should, feminine overall, but...
Still, somehow...
From a guy's perspective, he'd probably prefer a so-called glamorous, mature figure. Carlyle had dated plenty of women, too. With that thought, Bianca felt a bit downcast and slapped her own cheek.
Smack!
"No, what does it matter anyway...!"
Her face tomato-red, she psyched herself up.
"If anything, he should count himself lucky to have someone like me."
Yeah, exactly! This was pointless anyway—he'd said he'd take responsibility. Carlyle had declared he'd take care of her, hadn't he? Probably for life! Bianca nodded, clenching her fist for no reason.
If it's not for life, I'll never forgive him...!
Any guy with a conscience would do the same. After all, she'd become a girl because of him—if he didn't take responsibility, she'd be in real trouble. Honestly, Carlyle seemed like he had a conscience, and that's what she liked about him. His subtle kindness, the way he went along with her stubbornness—it was all just good. Even though she'd become a woman, she couldn't imagine dating anyone but Carlyle, no other guy. It had to be him. That was her honest inner thought. Just reaffirming it made her face heat up again.
To cool her burning cheeks, Bianca opened the window. Fallen leaves scattered along the street painted a picturesque scene. It had been about eleven days since their mutual confession.
Fall's almost over...
Already? It was Thursday evening now. Tomorrow, finals would finally end. She'd studied plenty, and her heart felt light.
"Ah, feels good..."
And tomorrow was Friday, too. Bianca flopped onto her bed. Lying there, a natural thought bubbled up.
What’s he up to right now...?
Of course, she knew Carlyle was working his part-time job. But the faint regret tugging at her heart wasn't for that reason. Lately, they hadn't had a chance to meet alone after school. For no reason, Bianca rolled around on the bed. Hugging her pillow tight made it feel a little better. Honestly, she missed Carlyle. That's just how it was. It wasn't anyone's fault, but after finally opening up, there hadn't been any dramatic changes, which left her oddly disappointed. Still, there were reasons for it.
Exams played a part, no doubt. Lately, she hadn't been able to study much. Her chaotic emotions had made it impossible, so now she was scrambling with finals right around the corner. And another reason—her mother had come to visit. She'd arrived last Monday and left over the weekend, staying a full week. Parents could tell from a phone call alone how their child was doing. Bianca hadn't realized how bad off she'd seemed, but it must have worried her mom enough to rush over.
[Actually, Mom...]
In the end, she'd confessed everything, awkwardly. Her mother, Emma Shama, listened quietly throughout. Then she blamed herself for not noticing sooner, for taking it too lightly.
[I had no idea, honey... I thought it was nothing serious.]
[N-no, it's fine now! Really.]
Bianca insisted she was okay now, that she'd decided to accept herself as a woman. Hearing that resolution, her mother just pulled her into a tight hug.
Still, her mom hadn't been fully reassured.
[Hey, Vita. Since I'm here, how about I stick around for the week?]
[Wha—really...?!]
And so, with her mom staying those few days, she hadn't seen Carlyle last week. This week, they'd agreed on it together. With finals being the last ones, they'd focus on studying first.
—Kinda disappointing, though...
After his shift, Carlyle had suggested just showing his face briefly. But she'd turned him down. Honestly, if she saw him at night, she knew exactly where things would lead.
—...You're not just gonna see my face and leave, right?
—Who's grabbing who? Heh.
His chuckling retort had flustered her a bit. Fair enough—every time he'd come to her door before, she'd been the one holding on.
—Th-that's why! Don't come at all...
Carlyle had looked regretful at first but nodded soon after.
—Alright... if that's what you want.
Now that they'd confirmed their feelings, neither had any confidence in holding back. They knew that about each other, so they'd agreed. That's why they hadn't met—it was all circumstantial. Alone with her thoughts during study breaks, Bianca reflected a lot.
Looking back now...
Her life hadn't changed much overall. Turning into a woman was old news by now. It was just official— she'd live as one forever. No regrets about her choice or staying by Carlyle's side.
Our relationship...
She pondered it anew. Her transformation into a woman—if this were a story with an ending, would it be a happy one?
I don't know for sure, but...
She couldn't answer definitively, but one thing she was certain of:
[Let's start over from the beginning.]
That low voice, brimming with sincerity. She believed it. She trusted Carlyle Schultz. He was reliable. Now, she fully trusted the one she loved. This wasn't the end of a story. It was a new beginning. Probably a positive one, a fresh start. Yeah, she thought so. By now, Bianca's heart felt remarkably at ease.
Tomorrow, finals are basically over...
She'd studied enough. Rolling on the bed, she stared at her phone.
He's gonna call soon, right...?
She'd come to look forward to this time of day the most. For the past eleven days, without fail, they'd talked every single night. Strange, huh? Once, she'd ignored his calls on purpose; now, she waited eagerly. But hearing his voice late at night—it was addictive. It wrapped up her busy day meaningfully. Today was safe, worthwhile—only calling him made her feel that way. Chatting about little things, she hated when it ended.
—Hang up, Bianca. I'm heading to bed.
That reluctance always made her pout and insist he hang up first.
—N-no... you first.
—No, you.
He felt the same, it seemed. Early on, their calls devolved into bickering. Now, they hung up simultaneously after that pointless tug-of-war—it was routine. Fidgeting, waiting for his call, Bianca idly touched the necklace at her throat. A beautiful amethyst pendant matching her eyes. Carlyle had given it to her; holding it calmed her. A soft smile crept onto her face.
Hehe—
It was precious now, treasured more than her anime figures on the shelf—even her favorite Magical Girl Eve figure. When had that happened? Pretty surprising, even to her. She just wanted to see him. That longing grew uncontrollably day by day.
Thump—
Thump—
Just waiting for a call made her heart race like this. What’s wrong with me? Bianca wondered inwardly.
...I'm in deep, for real.
Her heart had fully become a woman's. Otherwise, she couldn't miss him like this. Unbelievable, but she'd realized it. And honestly, it didn't feel bad—that was the problem. So, hugging her pillow tighter, she made a wish.
...Hope his shift ends soon.
She just wanted to hear his voice. His tenderness never got old, no matter how often she heard it. It only made her crave more. Waiting for his call, Bianca's eyelids drooped unknowingly.
Nod—
Nod—
Built-up fatigue from recent days. Still, her lips curved in a smile. She knew how thrilling, how wonderful it was to truly like someone.
The weather had turned chilly. Winter was coming soon. Carlyle Schultz liked this in-between season of fall and winter. It felt like the year wrapping up, like taking a step toward his goals. As a kid, he'd wished to grow up fast. To build his own family, a true haven—that required adulthood. Every year around this time, he'd reaffirm that dream. But lately, it just felt good. Honestly, unbelievably so. Surreal, even. Had he ever been this happy? Thinking back, never.
Bianca Shama was his girlfriend now. They'd confessed, tacitly agreed.
[Let's start over from the beginning.]
He'd said it.
[...Yeah, okay.]
She'd agreed. Anyone could see they were dating. So yes, really—Bianca Shama was his girlfriend. His first love, too. The first time he'd truly pursued someone, clung so hard.
Yeah, the first. Strictly speaking, the first time their hearts aligned.
Maybe that's why?
Why does it still feel so unreal...?
Every day felt like a dream Carlyle couldn't believe. Glancing at his phone, her message was there—just now, even.
—S-sorry...! Fell asleep without realizing...
Followed by a sad-face emoticon. After his shift, when she hadn't picked up, he'd figured she was asleep. Yesterday had been disappointing, but imagining her dozing off while waiting—nodding off adorably—that cuteness eased it.
—It's fine, Bianca. See you at school soon.
Sending that, Carlyle Schultz prepared for school. Shower in the bathroom, rough-dry his hair. At the mirror, he patted on some skincare. He used to only bother when he felt like it, but now he made the effort. For a reason.
—What's that smell...?
After school on the rooftop, Bianca had clung to him and said that.
—Just skincare.
He'd looked puzzled, and she'd blushed.
—Oh, no... just curious all of a sudden.
Averting her eyes. But he could guess her real intent.
—Like it? This one?
—Wh-what...!
Flustered expression. But as he grinned and stared, she finally admitted it, mumbling.
—...Not bad, maybe.
That's why he bothered. Their lunch breaks had returned to the rooftop, just the two of them. The difference? They stuck even closer now. Since confessing, Bianca still snapped sometimes but was more honest—it was adorable. She'd nestle quietly in his arms, then suddenly turn and hug him with an "Eii!", or rub her flushed cheek against his chest to hide. Each time, Carlyle couldn't hold back and kissed her. So every day brimmed with anticipation. He wanted to get to school and see Bianca Shama. As he headed out, a text pinged.
Ding!
—Hey... finals end today! Just so you know.
Reading it, Carlyle paused. A smile slipped out.
No special meaning, my ass...
Her excitement was obvious. Bianca Shama's words and heart never quite matched—cutely so.
—Got it.
Replying, even he felt his heart lift. Today was the day! Their first date since dating. He'd been looking forward to it, too.
The classroom buzzed noisily. Bianca entered, exchanging light greetings with classmates before heading to her seat.
"Ooh, Bianca! Good morning, isn't it—!"
Shasha, ever energetic, her loud desk-mate. Greeted so enthusiastically, Bianca could only chuckle dryly. But she took the offered hand and shook it loosely. A handshake, probably.
"What role are you playing today?"
"Eh, no role..."
Shasha grinned.
"It's a good day, right? Last real exam for our soldiers today!"
"Maybe so?"
Hanging her bag by the desk, Bianca recalled last week. When she'd awkwardly returned to class, Shasha's face had been priceless. Their teary weekend farewell hadn't been a joke—Shasha knew that.
—B-Bianca...?
She'd looked like she'd seen a ghost, so Bianca had just smiled sheepishly.
—What? You two?
—Something happen between you?
The other friends knew nothing, so she'd only explained to her desk-mate Shasha. Sitting beside her, Bianca scratched her cheek awkwardly and smiled vaguely.
—Kinda ended up staying, y'know.
—R-really?!
Just one semester—a short time, really. But they'd become close friends, so Shasha's joy had been genuine. Lost in thought for a moment, Bianca noticed Shasha poking her cheek.
"Caught you, Bianca."
Out-of-nowhere remark. Playful expression making Bianca flinch.
"Wh-what...?"
"This little missy's all about dating after exams today, huh?"
"No, what are you...!"
Blushing, Bianca glanced around and locked eyes with Carlyle. Unconsciously, she smoothed her bangs. Clearing her throat, she looked away quick, but caught his lip-read message.
—Lunch, annex.
The usual spot. And today, she had high hopes.
What’s he trying to say? After-school plans, maybe...?
She'd thought about it too, anticipating a bit. Watching her friend, Shasha just clicked her tongue.
Denying it, huh, missy.
Deny what?! Total deception! Lately, Bianca Shama and Carlyle Schultz's relationship was infamous at school. The rumor of a split had cleared up, making them even more solid. Before, it was ambiguous; now, they flirted so obviously it was eye-searing. Only the two involved seemed oblivious. Watching them exchange glances, even as a friend, Shasha felt jealous.
...Sigh, lucky them. Makes me wanna die of envy.
Late fall, maybe? Winter approaching? Having no boyfriend felt criminal. Her side ached today, so Shasha sighed deeply.
Phew—