Curious About Carlyle Schultz!

Carlyle Schultz... I'm so curious about him. "Hmm, hmm..." Delicate features, cascading auburn hair. Amethyst eyes. Her slightly sharp gaze curved softly. A humming tune slipped from her plump, rosy lips, gradually livening up the tidy room.

"Is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Carlyle getting ready for his part-time job...?" Vita was rolling around on the bed. Hugging the giant plush he bought her on their first date at the Churauni Large Aquarium wasn't anything special. It had just become a natural new habit lately. She hadn't been like this before. Most guys don't go for plushies, after all. She'd never kept one in her room. Anyway, she'd lived a pretty long time as a guy, and those memories hadn't suddenly vanished. But now she saw herself as a woman and had decided to accept it.

It's not weird at all. So Vita no longer found this side of herself awkward. It was a gift, after all—from Carlyle, no less. These days, she really felt it: she was truly Carlyle's girlfriend now, his lover. Which meant she was really a woman. It was embarrassing, but not bad. It was her choice, after all.

I'm Carlyle's girlfriend... When her thoughts reached that point, her face flushed bright red and her lips curved into a silly smile—just like always.

In a way, Vita had pushed a lot behind her. Her old self as a guy, the identity she'd held onto for so long. In exchange, she'd gained one thing: the spot right beside Carlyle. And it was good. She had no intention of giving it to anyone else. Carlyle Schultz was hers, and his kindness was hers too. So she hugged the plush tighter. She missed his embrace a little, but this was nice in its own way.

"You're mine now...?" The words meant nothing to the plush, but they were for Carlyle Schultz. He'd gotten himself completely hooked on her. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if he regretted it later, too bad—it was useless. She wouldn't let go.

What satisfied Vita most was probably this: Even someone as lacking as me... She might be deficient in a lot of ways, especially as a woman. But Carlyle liked her. She believed that. So she was happy. She never regretted her choice to stay a woman without turning back. Carlyle always treated her so well, which made her grateful and motivated her to try even harder.

I'll be a good girlfriend. Resolve welled up inside her. She wanted to match what he gave her. A sweet, affectionate girlfriend—the kind guys dreamed of. She was putting in real effort to become that. Packing lunches for Carlyle every day, learning makeup—it all came from that desire. Cooking had always been her hobby anyway.

"Hmph, is that so...?"

"Yeah, obviously!" Vita always grumbled it tsundere-style, but her heart raced when Carlyle chuckled and took the lunch. She obsessed daily over menus and what he'd like. He probably had no idea.

For makeup, she was learning aggressively—from her friend Shasha, YouTube videos, everything.

"I tried from the video—is this right...?"

"Whoa, Bianca. It's okay now, but... your enthusiasm is off the charts; you're picking it up fast." She now knew what eyeliners were, why skin tone mattered, the magic of glittery pearls. She got it now: Makeup is a woman's weapon!

She only wore it for dates at first. But as she got comfortable, practice looks turned out too good to wipe off sometimes. So when Carlyle came after his shift, she went out as-is. The guy who used to tease her about it froze with a dumbfounded look.

It worked...! That's when her confidence really kicked in.

"Do it like this, okay? See?" Vita lay there, watching makeup tutorials on her phone. She also binged videos on outfits guys liked, girlfriend habits, all that. "So... bold." But she couldn't pull off a crop top showing her navel.

Doesn't suit me... She aimed for cute and pretty over mature—stuff that fit her slender frame. She knew her body well. Lately, her interest in clothes had skyrocketed. Fashion, makeup, cooking videos. Her tastes had shifted fully feminine, but she wanted to look pretty for Carlyle, hear his praise.

Be honest with your feelings. Vita was proactive. It embarrassed her a bit, alone in her room with flushed cheeks, but she wouldn't stop. Wanting to look good for your boyfriend wasn't weird. Even as a guy, she'd have tried hard for her girlfriend.

In short, all her focus was on one person: Carlyle. She just liked it—no, loved it. Her old competitive self hadn't vanished. Vita Shama's win-at-all-costs nature was still there.

If I'm doing it, do it thoroughly. She'd accepted her feelings and chosen to be his woman. This was natural. Carlyle was top-tier, so she wanted to be a top-tier woman for him. She wouldn't lose to any other girl. To claim Carlyle Schultz boldly as hers, she had to be an unbeatable heavenly woman!

His words made her grateful, pushing her to try harder. ...Me too, just like you. Since she'd come this far, becoming the best girlfriend for her one-and-only guy, Carlyle, wasn't bad. Whoosh—her resolve ignited. Her competitive spirit was alive, just redirected—maybe a tad obsessively.

School life was winding down. Career counseling done, she'd applied to the top university. It had flexible majors in year one; specialties chosen in year two, semester two.

Plenty of time. Experience more, decide later. She loved anime and manga—maybe arts or performance. Fashion intrigued her too, and cooking videos sparked ideas. She had so many likes and wants now. The old her, obsessed only with ranks and scores, felt alien. Carlyle had taught her so much, reawakened forgotten values. Same uni? Thrilling.

"You like it that much, Bianca?"

"Yeah... I do!" Yesterday's words from him had her bouncing. Both aced exams, so expected—but his science track had options. Broader than humanities; he could've gone elsewhere.

Because of me...? Nah, he was decisive. So she snuggled into his broad chest, grinning. "Same school rocks. Yeah, really." He stroked her hair; she got extra clingy, rubbing cheeks on his back. Recalling yesterday, her face burned.

"Why'd I do that..." Self-control? Gone. Her aegyo was worsening daily.

"Mmm, Carlyle..." Petting felt good; aegyo flowed naturally. Alone, she was different—speech, actions, mindset shifting feminine. Fine, she'd chosen womanhood for him.

At this rate, I'm his pet... Carlyle's pet. Hmm... pets get spoiled with love, right? Not a bad thought. Serious infatuation. Blushing, she pondered nonsense.

But what was love? A frequent musing lately.

"...I love you, Bianca." His words overflowed her once; she replied. Now habitual, but she still wasn't sure.

What's the difference between like and love...? She liked him—treasured him. "Love" felt too shy. Maybe immaturity. Love seemed for mature adults. Age-wise adult now, but felt far off.

But if Carlyle says it... Then it was love. He was mature; trust him. Not following—walking side-by-side. She'd chosen him as life's partner. If he loved her, so did she.

So this... is love. Erp. Face scorching, she realized: she was in love with Carlyle. Body shrinking, heart ticklish.

I love you, Carlyle... Hugging the plush, whispering inwardly—disaster. Her heart, at max, kept swelling daily. No shrinking. Missed him already, post-school. Wanted to stick to him every hour. Hated parting. Just over a month dating; already this deep. Dazed.

If it keeps up... Obsessed? Helpless without him? Sigh. But a soft laugh followed—surely all love.

Maturing heart, shifting habits. But not all of Vita was feminine. Some parts changed but didn't fully transform. Gender lines aren't fixed—innate only. But common tastes might define them: guys like robots, girls dolls; rational vs. emotional. People generalize.

Recent Vita? More feminine, but self-driven. Proactive to be his woman, repaying his heart with her all-in personality. Past didn't vanish. Woman now, but old self lingered.

"Whoa, epic...!" Staring at her phone, Vita gaped. "LaraTown's the best... so pretty, for real." Not a heavenly woman's face—drool imminent.

Winter meant one thing for otakus: Comic Fest! All otakus' festival; Vita never missed. This year? Must-go.

Before, garters might've mesmerized her—natural guy reaction. Now? Smooth legs' beauty, bust bigger than hers. ...Jealous a bit. Womanly thoughts mixed in—proof of change.

Famous cosplayer Lara, aka LaraTown, Vita's longtime fave. Saved her from Nathan once, blocking his sleaze.

"Thanks for helping."

"N-no problem...!" Vita stepped up as a fan. More nervous in front of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lara than facing bigger Nathan. Her top fave: Magical Girl Eve cosplay star. Became diehard fan. Tons of pics, autographs.

"We meet again."

"Hehe... huge fan."

"Thanks for the love." Celeb vibe. Vita was a massive fan, admiring endlessly.

"See you at Comic Fest on Eve! Magical Girl deploy—!"

Christmas Eve as Magical Girl Eve... Perfect. LaraTown's got killer instincts. Heart pounding post-caption. Hysteria rising. Hobby sidelined lately—realized Carlyle focus.

Ding-ding—phone rang. Vita answered.

But she trailed off—Carlyle's face flashed.

Wait... Comic Fest on Eve? Position changed. Old Vita? No hesitation. Now? Carlyle time trumped all. Eve meant dates—even she knew.

Then... with Carlyle? Near-date at Fest; fun showing newbie around. Lips curved, but sweat beaded.

"Hung up, sunbae...?"

"N-no?!"

"Why stop mid-sentence?"

Sorry for Lou, but duo better. No clingy aegyo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠show. Felt like betrayal. Quick decide: Lou precious, but Carlyle priority. Boyfriend.

"...Sorry. I'll go, but... not together... hehe." Awkward laugh, cheek scratch. Silence. Sharp Lou'd get it.

"With your boyfriend...?"

Vita silent. Face burning.

"Ditching fave junior for BF?"

"......" Affirmative quiet.

"Whoa, really hits... How could you betray your junior like this?!"

"Female corruption—no, innie corruption! You're no true otaku now...!"

Click—hung up. Line crossed; done.

Female what? Lou binged doujins. Her and Carlyle? Not cheap term.

That's why you're single. Aigoo. Fuming slightly, texted.

No mind to rants. Fine, Lou. You'll get it someday—with a girlfriend. Eve? Solo date canon. Lou handled, face brightened. Texted Carlyle? Nah...

Why not visit his work... Longtime thought. See him part-timing. She'd start vacation job too. Pure curiosity: vibe, look.

Cocktail bar... lotsa girls? Unpleasant twinge. Anyway, curious galore. Love meant knowing more.

Yeah, let's. Prepped thoroughly, hyped, left room. Time to peek unknown Carlyle Schultz daily life.