Chapter 12: A Dangerous Game

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating the girl’s eyelids.

“Mmm…”

Sayo frowned slightly at the light, then sat up, lingering in a sleepy daze.

Stretching, she noticed an unusual heaviness in her chest and a stiffness in her shoulders.

‘Uncomfortable.’

Still half-asleep, she undressed and entered the bathroom, letting the lukewarm water wash over her.

After shampooing, Sayo glanced at the mirror.

Her small face, delicate features, and dark blue hair clinging to her wet, pale skin looked strangely sensual. And below that…

‘Am I suddenly embarrassed by my own body now?’

Flustered and ashamed, Sayo quickly dried herself.

“Hee!”

As she dried herself, she felt a tingling sensation, something she had never experienced before despite often touching her own body. Previously, she had only registered a sense of softness.

‘What is going on…?’

Hurrying out of the bathroom, Sayo reached for her underwear.

‘……’

She held the small, cute panties and the large, pretty bra, one in each hand. The soft fabric. She lowered her head. Ah—

This wasn’t ‘her’ body.

Having lived most of her 28 years as a socially isolated, shut-in male, Sayo found this mentally taxing. Still, perhaps due to living as ‘Sayo’ for three weeks, she felt surprisingly little resistance to wearing women’s underwear.

The fact that she, as a male (albeit in a female body), felt almost no discomfort was even more disheartening.

Opening the wardrobe, she saw what she already knew—all dresses. Well, there were pants among her sleepwear.

‘Ahrin will be here soon. I can’t stay in my underwear.’

Dresses with frills, overly flamboyant designs, or those with minimal fabric… wearing these with her ‘current’ mindset felt slightly uncomfortable.

That white, innocent-looking dress was somewhat appealing, and she wouldn’t mind wearing it, but… she wanted something more practical.

The school uniform shirt and skirt seemed to be the most sensible option.

“…Why am I so tired?”

Dressed in her uniform despite it being a holiday, Sayo slumped onto the bed, feeling mentally drained.

She simply flopped down, but her body executed a graceful, ladylike seated position. This disconnect was exhausting.

‘Ahrin is late today.’

Sitting idly, she started rubbing her thighs together. Not for any indecent reason, but the open skirt and the small underwear beneath made her feel exposed.

It was unsettling, yet… she felt no discomfort wearing the skirt. It felt familiar and even comfortable. This mix of anxiety and comfort was a strange feeling.

Knock, knock

“Are you awake, Miss?”

“Sh*t?! …! Ahem. Yes, come in.”

Startled, she cursed under her breath, though the sound never left her throat. Moving her vocal cords to speak, yet producing no sound, was frustrating.

Even in another world, she was being censored.

Creak

Ahrin opened the door and entered.

“Good morning, Miss.”

Ahrin wasn’t smiling, which was unusual. The stiff expression didn’t suit her. What was wrong? Sayo wished she would smile. Ahrin was much cuter and prettier when she smiled at her, not with that rigid expression.

Sayo responded to the greeting.

“Uh… um… G-good morning, Ahrin?”

Her voice trembled, her words stumbling as she averted her gaze. Her face felt hot. She knew she lacked immunity to women, but this was ridiculous…

“?”

Ahrin looked bewildered by Sayo’s unusual behavior, her mouth slightly agape. That surprised expression was also cute.

“I apologize for being late, Miss. …Please punish me.”

Ahrin, regaining her composure, spoke. Asking for punishment was odd. Sayo had a hunch why.
The cause was likely yesterday’s ‘Sayoreinne.’ Ahrin was probably trying to be professional, but… Sayo didn’t like it.
As she’d thought earlier, Ahrin was most charming when she was cheerful, bright, and smiling.

“Miss, you should dry your hair properly. I’ll do it for you.”

Sayo had indeed forgotten to dry her hair properly amidst her confusion. And that formal tone… she’d told Ahrin before that she didn’t like it…

Sayo sat down at the vanity.

Ahrin’s gentle touch as she dried her hair always felt good. Sayo focused on that sensation.

After her hair was dried and they ate at the academy cafeteria, they returned to the room.

Thankfully, the fluttering in Sayo’s chest had subsided, and she felt more comfortable around Ahrin. Now, she had to bring back the cheerful Ahrin.

‘How should I do that?’

She saw Ahrin concentrating on perfectly pouring the tea. Hmm, that serious expression wasn’t bad, but Sayo didn’t want to maintain a strictly formal relationship. She needed to break the ice.

‘This is the most effective way, right?’

“Ahrin, come here.”

Sayo pointed to the seat beside her on the sofa.

“Yes.”

Ahrin glanced at the vanity.

“You’re not holding your fan today. Should I bring it to you?”

“No. It’s fine.”

Ahrin placed the teacup on the table and stood respectfully before the sofa. Normally, she would have sat down next to Sayo immediately.

“I meant sit next to me.”

“…Yes.”

Ahrin hesitated before sitting down cautiously, her posture stiff, her gaze lowered.

Yesterday’s Sayoreinne had been too harsh. Ahrin was clearly trying to hide it, but she was nervously watching Sayo’s every move.

“Come closer.”

Sayo put her arm around Ahrin’s shoulders and pulled her closer. Ahrin flinched.

“Eek?!”

Ahrin’s cheek pressed against Sayo’s chest as she let out a strange sound. This was more like the usual Ahrin.

‘…But seeing ‘my’ chest like this feels strange.’

“I’m sorry about yesterday. I was irritable.”

Keeping her left arm around Ahrin’s shoulders, Sayo gently caressed Ahrin’s right cheek with her right hand as she apologized.

‘This is a bit embarrassing.’

Normally, ‘she’ would pet Ahrin like a dog or a cat. Do the same.

“No, Miss. It was my fault.”

Sayo traced Ahrin’s lips with her index finger before moving to her ear.

“Didn’t I tell you I don’t like the formal tone? Talk to me like you usually do.”

“B-but… Hee!”

Ahrin, whose ears were sensitive, reacted immediately.

“You will, right?”

Sayo nuzzled Ahrin’s hair, inhaling her scent. It was the same as hers.

“Yeees!”

Ahrin’s stiff expression melted away as she replied, her face completely relaxed.
She always pretended to dislike being petted like a puppy, but her enjoyment was obvious.

…Should I go a little further?

Sayo’s left arm, which had been around Ahrin’s shoulders, slid down to her waist, turning Ahrin’s body slightly.

She looked directly into Ahrin’s eyes, continuing to caress her right earlobe with her right hand.

“Hmm…”

It was the first time Sayo had heard such a breathy moan from Ahrin, likely due to the constant stimulation of her sensitive ear.

Exhale

Sayo gently pushed Ahrin back onto the sofa, their faces closer now.

“W-wait… Miss?”

Ignoring her, Sayo lightly nibbled Ahrin’s other earlobe.

“Ahh!”

She lowered her face, nuzzling Ahrin’s neck, inhaling her scent.

“Miss… something… feels strange…”

‘……?’

Sayo took Ahrin’s hands, which were trying to push her away, and intertwined their fingers, preventing her from escaping. Ahrin’s hands weren’t entirely soft, but the touch was pleasant.

After kissing Ahrin’s neck, Sayo moved upwards, to her chin, her right cheek, and then…

Their eyes met. Ahrin looked at her with tearful yet clear eyes.

“Miss… please snap out of it…”

‘!’

Her voice, though small and faint, resonated deeply within Sayo, jolting her awake.

‘Oh no…’

Sayo sat up, pulling away from Ahrin.

Disheveled clothes, tearful eyes, tightly closed lips, a face flushed red to the ears—

Why did I get so carried away?

‘I did it again, just like with Euru…’

‘I’ shouldn’t have such poor self-control…

Haha… I’m practically a sexual predator.

What should she say to Ahrin?