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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: 2.3 Friend
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Akane, seeing Yuuki who had become a girl, spat out words of disgust.
That alone must have been a shock to Yuuki, but it didn't end there.
"Seeing Akane do that, Hina..."
"Hina did?"
"...said it was weird and dirty..."
Sana's words were a shock to me too.
Hina, who loved her brother more than life itself.
For her to say something like that to him.
No, he's not her brother anymore—he's her sister now?
Either way!
I couldn't wrap my head around it.
Akane was trash from the start, so maybe she lashed out in anger at Yuuki, whom she liked as a guy, suddenly turning into a girl.
But Hina's her sibling, right?
They're not seriously dating or getting married or anything.
Whether Yuuki's her brother or sister, nothing changes.
If anything, being the same gender should mean they understand each other better—shouldn't it?
...Or not?
What if Naiad suddenly turned into a guy?
...Hm.
I'd be shocked too.
Thinking about it that way, I could understand Hina's feelings.
Of course, that didn't excuse saying it to her face.
She still needed a good scolding, right?
"So that's why Yuuki's been moping like that."
"Yeah..."
Yuuki must be the most confused right now.
Akane and Hina weren't even comforting her—what were they doing?
I hadn't done much either, but I didn't know, so it was unavoidable.
I'm innocent. No charges.
"Naibusu. I know it's shameless of me to ask after smacking you around, but... could you please help our Yuuki? You're the only one she can rely on right now."
Sana pleaded with tears welling up.
I was already planning to, even without her asking.
Yuuki's my friend.
If I don't help, who will?
"Just treat her like your friend as usual. I'm begging you. I'll do anything I can..."
『Ah, dear, I'm sorry... But this is for Yuuki too...!』
Sana clasped her hands as if in prayer.
Her desperate thoughts reached me too.
Was her guilt toward her husband because she felt she hadn't raised Hina right?
Hina, making Sana this sad!
I flashed Sana a grin to put her at ease.
"Don't worry, Sana. Man or woman, Yuuki's still my friend—that hasn't changed."
"Thank you, Naibusu...!"
Helping Yuuki was for her and Sana's sake, but also for my mental health.
...I had to prevent that 'event' if it might happen.
I stood and headed to the door where Yuuki had barricaded herself.
"Yuuki. It's me. Let's talk."
-Knock knock.
No response.
Yuuki stayed silent.
"Yuuki. Gonna break it down?"
Snapping a locked doorknob was nothing for me.
And Yuuki knew that.
"...Go away. I don't want to see anyone right now."
"You gonna keep acting like a whiny girl?"
"Naibusu...!"
Sana fidgeted at my blunt words.
But this was our usual banter.
Treating her gently just because she was a girl now would probably be worse for Yuuki.
I figured sticking to normal was best.
I pressed a finger to my lips to signal Sana it was fine and to leave it to me.
"Yuuki. You know I got no friends but you. I'd have to eat alone."
"...You got the Student Council President."
"President? Why bring her up?"
Yuuki's random comment left me baffled.
Sure, I hung out with the president a lot, but she wasn't my friend, and different years meant no shared lunches.
"She's like my boss at work. You think I could swallow my food sitting with her?"
"..."
"Open up already. Don't make this annoying. If I break it, you'll have to fix it again."
-Click.
The lock finally turned.
"Jeez. Should've done that sooner."
I entered and flipped on the light.
Yuuki sat on the bed, huddled under the covers.
"What're you doing? Not going to the academy?"
"...No."
"Why? 'Cause you're a girl now? Scared of what people'll say?"
Yuuki's eyes shifted under the blanket, locking onto me.
"...Naibusu, doesn't it bother you at all? That I turned into a girl?"
"No reason it should. Yuuki's Yuuki. If I dyed my hair black, would you treat me like a stranger?"
"...No."
"Same thing. Just means we can't hit the baths together anymore. That's it, right?"
"Still... I became a girl..."
"Quit yapping and get out. I skipped yesterday too. If we're late again, my sister's gonna chew me out."
"Whoa!"
I yanked the blanket off.
Then hoisted Yuuki over my shoulder and headed out.
Yuuki didn't resist anymore.
Deep down, she probably wanted me to drag her out like this.
"We'll be off then, Sana."
"...Take care. Yuuki, Naibusu."
Sana saw us off with a worried look.
Yuuki shoved her shoes on wordlessly and stomped out the door.
She didn't trip this time.
"I'll swing by again tonight, Sana."
I gave her a bright smile to reassure her.
『Swinging by tonight... Oh, dear... Please forgive me this once...』
Don't worry so much, Sana.
I'll give Hina a proper talking-to.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"So, how'd you end up a girl?"
"...Dunno."
On the way to the academy.
Yesterday I'd gone without Yuuki; today, just the two of us.
Yuuki dragged her feet, like she didn't want to go.
Or maybe it was just her shorter legs?
"Did you wish on that creepy hand or something?"
"Huh? How'd you know, Naibusu?"
"...Just a hunch."
Because in the original story, Naibusu turned into a girl that way.
The creepy hand had ended up with him then.
"It was like my dad's keepsake, so..."
"What'd you wish for?"
"..."
"Gotta know to help or not. I won't judge—spill it. You didn't wish to become a girl, did you?"
"No!"
Yuuki bristled.
Heh. Simpleton. Now she'd have to come clean to clear the misunderstanding.
I'm smart like that. Definitely not dense.
"...I wished we'd be in the same class again this year... and get even closer friends."
"And then?"
"...I turned into a girl."
"Hm."
How did Naibusu turn into a girl in the original again?
I hated recalling it, but now wasn't the time to be picky.
...Right—he'd wished to become family with Yuuki.
Two people who'd lost their families, supporting each other.
The outcome was the worst, but the wish itself wasn't weird.
People can pray to whatever they want. It's superstition anyway.
But for some reason, after that wish, Naibusu became a girl.
She was as shocked as Yuuki now, and worst of all, Yuuki—her emotional anchor—reacted with disgust, shattering their bond beyond repair.
So the original Naibusu↔Yuuki dynamic was now Yuuki↔Akane?
Yuuki definitely liked Akane.
Her reaction to the TS was similar too.
Personally, I'd prefer Yuuki date some normal girl instead of Akane...
But you can't control feelings.
She wouldn't listen even if I told her.
Plus, Yuuki didn't know Akane's true nature.
"Yuuki. Wanna make up with Akane?"
"No."
...Huh?
I didn't like Akane either, but if Yuuki wanted to mend things, I'd play bridge.
She shot it down flat.
"I hate girls like Akane the most."
Huh?
That was unexpected.
In the original, Naibusu clung to Yuuki even after things soured, desperate to fix it.
"Didn't you like Akane?"
"Me?!"
Yuuki jumped like she'd been shocked.
Maybe Akane's change soured her feelings, but that didn't erase the past.
Was she denying it now? After crushing so obviously before.
"Who I like... Ugh, forget it. Why would I tell you?"
"Why stop there? Who's the girl?"
"None of your business, blockhead."
Blockhead!
I've cleared over a hundred pure love routes—I'm a romance master!
Sana and Yuuki both judged me by looks.
I was just playing dumb to hide my mind reading.
"Hm. So you don't like Akane anymore."
"Never did."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
If Yuuki still liked Akane, I'd bridge them despite hating her.
For Yuuki's sake.
But no need.
Yuuki seemed totally over her—even denying past feelings.
"Then, Yuuki, mind if I ask a favor?"
"...A favor? What is it?"
"Got a plan that just hit me. Might be rough on you, though."
The perverts lurking like cockroaches in the academy.
I planned to lure them all out and crush them at once.
But it'd definitely be traumatic for Yuuki.
I intended to use her as bait.
"Okay. I'll do it."
"For real? Without hearing details?"
"Everything you've done so far turned out right. This too?"
Grateful she trusted me.
Honestly, this plan was a spur-of-the-moment idea.
"...Dunno. Just 'cause it worked before doesn't mean it will now. Could get dangerous."
"Even if it does, you'll save me in the end, right?"
"Yeah, well, that's the plan."
I'd save Yuuki even if it killed me.
Absolute.
My goal was seeing her reach a happy ending.
"I trust you, Naibusu. And I'm happy. Means you trust and rely on me too, right?"
"Yuuki...!"
Yuuki blushed like a heroine in love.
Heart-fluttering even for the watcher.
Protagonist charm pulling in even guys now.
"Quit making that girly face."
-Smack.
I patted her butt to snap her out of it.
"Eek!"
...Huh?
Come to think of it, Yuuki was a girl now.
"Naibusu! No more pranks like that! ...I know you didn't mean anything by it..."
Yuuki rubbed her smacked butt, face red.
Anyone would think she was a girl.
...Huh?
"O-okay."
Wait, she wasn't just acting girly—she was a girl.
Why had I treated her like my usual guy friend?
...Wasn't this plan actually pretty risky then?
My palm stung oddly from spanking Yuuki's butt.