Chapter 65: She in the rearview mirror

Ephnel drove the car away from the crowded residential complex and stopped on a side road not far from it.

She looked out the window.

A small park lay in the distance, and compared to the complex, there were far fewer pedestrians here.

“Wait a moment,” Ephnel said to Yukina in the back seat.

“I’ll go get the clothes.”

“Mm.”

Yukina answered softly.

As Ephnel spoke, she unfastened her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, not noticing the look on Yukina’s face.

She opened the trunk and groped lightly beneath the velvety lining.

There was a small hidden compartment here, something custom-made by the Organization.

The car’s shell was only part of its disguise.

For other considerations, it had also been modified several times and was not as simple as it appeared.

Ephnel lifted the panel and revealed a sixteen-inch silver metal case.

Noticing a passerby casting a glance her way, she didn’t linger, tucked the case under her arm, and climbed into the back seat.

The back seat was spacious, but Yukina still shifted to give her more room.

“Sis, what’s that?”

“Some tools,” Ephnel said with a smile as she opened the case.

“Spare ones.

Even if they’re rarely used, if they come in handy even once, they’re necessary.”

“Mm…”

Yukina puffed her cheeks and looked sideways.

Inside the case were a spare phone, spare cards, and two neatly folded sets of clothes.

One set was clearly men’s attire—the disguise props of “Yanase Naoto.”

Ephnel placed the clothes on her lap and pressed a button on the side.

The side window shades slowly rose.

The rippling sunset was blocked outside, and the car grew dim and quiet.

The air carried a faint, unnameable tension, and their eyes grew shadowed and uncertain.

“Then… Yukina.”

Ephnel hugged the clothes to her chest, turned her gaze aside, and broke the awkward silence.

“I’ll trouble you to block the front. That’s all I need.”

“Mm.”

Yukina softly agreed, unfastened her seatbelt, and turned to sit in the middle, her back to Ephnel.

The side and rear windows were already covered, so there was no worry of being seen from outside.

Only the front windshield had no covering, so Yukina had to help block it.

Normally, if it were just a mission, there would be no need for a change of clothes.

After all, once synced, her outfit would change along with her.

When performing as a proxy idol, there were also designated facilities for that.

In short, Ephnel rarely had to change on the spot.

At this moment, she felt rather self-conscious.

Seeing Yukina’s back gave her a small sense of relief.

It was still embarrassing.

Even after becoming a girl, Ephnel had never grown used to undressing in front of other girls—even if that girl was her own sister.

She took a deep breath, set the clothes beside her, and began unbuttoning her collar.

The car was quiet, filled only with the sound of their breathing.

Yukina clenched her hands, gazing out the windshield.

Pedestrians passed by, but no one noticed the car.

She shifted slightly to cover better.

The back seat was spacious, so it wasn’t crowded even with her blocking the view.

The sound of fabric rustling came from behind as Ephnel slipped off her top.

From Yukina’s unseen angle, her neck and ears flushed red, nearly to the point of bleeding.

From where she sat, the rearview mirror caught just the right sliver of the scene behind.

Though it showed only half, it was enough for her dazed gaze to avoid Ephnel’s own.

As far as “peeking” went, it was the perfect opportunity—like deliberate temptation, magnifying her guilty thrill.

In that small mirror, Ephnel’s graceful silhouette was half-veiled in sunset gloom, like a quiet snowflake.

Her lips, rosy and slightly parted, traced a restrained curve down from her cheek, elegant as a morning glory, pale as milk, holding Yukina’s gaze captive.

She saw slender, pale fingers moving slowly, like a sheltered maiden, like a courtesan plucking blossoms, light yet alluring, tugging her breath with every motion.

The faint clicks of buttons undone fell like feathers, striking Yukina’s heart.

A glimpse of shoulder, neck, and slender waist—like a spirit born from a white serpent.

The tie in her hair loosened, and crow-feather strands tumbled down across her collarbone, sinking like silk into a dark pool, like three thousand threads of night.

A delicate fragrance drifted in the narrow space.

Finding it inconvenient to undress while sitting, that graceful figure slowly stood, granting Yukina a full view at last.

—Her sister’s figure was truly well-proportioned.

Slender as willow, her curves as artful as poetry, her presence dazzling and unshakable.

Yukina’s throat grew dry.

She swallowed blankly, her breath as hot as her flushed cheeks.

She had never stared so intently at another girl before—or perhaps it was only Ephnel who held such allure for her.

The mature lines of an adult woman etched an unfamiliar impression deep into her heart.

She could no longer look away.

It had to be said—her sister’s figure matched her beautiful face.

Even from a girl’s perspective, Ephnel stood among the most breathtaking she had ever seen.

That white-haired idol girl was a different type altogether, yet equally stunning.

Her sister’s personality was always rigid and proper, her usual clothing modest and restrained, hiding all trace of seduction.

But stripped of clothes, that suppressed allure burst forth, uncontainable.

Yukina pressed her lips together, thinking.

Though there was little height difference between them as sisters, as women they were entirely different types.

The back seat was fairly spacious.

Yukina blocked the front, while Ephnel wrestled with the back.

Changing was a difficult process, the hardest part being the chest binder.

All underwear had to come off, then the binding cloth wrapped tightly around her chest.

Through the rearview mirror, Yukina watched silently.

Her face burned to the tips of her ears, though the dim light hid much of it.

Ephnel struggled hard to flatten her chest.

She adjusted her posture, then added a jacket.

This way, it looked less conspicuous.

Ephnel wasn’t the type of girl with an “overwhelming” figure, but binding tightly enough to pass as male was still extremely difficult.

Worse, her chest was slowly growing with time—minute changes, but accumulating enough to give her constant headaches.

Once that step was done, the rest was simple: straighten the clothes, put on the wig, and everything was ready.

“Phew, finally done. Thanks, Yukina.”

Ephnel stuffed the discarded clothes into the case at random.

The window shades lowered, and the warm glow of sunset filled the car once more.

Yukina quietly slid back to the side seat, sneaking glances at her “brother.”

Cross-dressing from girl to boy was nearly impossible to make flawless.

Looking closely, anyone could see that her “brother’s” shoulders and neck were too soft for a man, her fingers too slender, her chest still faintly curved, her skin too delicate, her face too pretty.

And in her left ear glinted a star-shaped stud.

Before, Yukina might have thought it was just her brother’s “quirk.”

Now, it only looked effeminate.

In short, once someone had seen Ephnel’s female form, the disguise of “brother” appeared riddled with flaws.

As Ephnel closed the case, ready to put it away, she caught sight of Yukina’s blazing-red face.

Her movement paused, brows knitting.

“Yukina, are you not feeling well?”

“N-no, I’m fine…”

“Your face is really red.”

She set the case down, leaned in, and crawled onto the back seat, kneeling closer.

“Let me see.”

“I-I’m really fine!”

Yukina curled back like a startled squirrel.

From her angle, her gaze slid down Ephnel’s neck, catching the faint, forbidden glimpse revealed beneath her collar.

Up close, Yukina realized how tightly Ephnel had bound her chest.

From under her arms stretched harsh red marks, as if cruelly strangled, the pale flesh straining to push free, barely spilling out.

Yukina stared, throat tightening, and a swallow escaped her lips.

The next second, Ephnel’s hand gently cupped her cheek.

“Do you feel anything?”

Yukina shook her head firmly.

“Come closer.”

Ephnel hooked her neck lightly, their faces so near they could feel each other’s breath.

But unlike last time, Ephnel did not press her forehead to test her temperature.

She only brushed the back of her hand against it.

Her hand was soft and smooth—far too feminine for a supposed man.

“Feels… okay?”

After checking Yukina’s forehead, Ephnel looked puzzled.

“Sis… I’m really fine…”

“Hmm…”

Ephnel thought for a moment, then gave her a subtle look.

“Yukina, you weren’t… thinking anything improper while I was changing, were you?”

“Eh??”

Yukina froze, panic flooding her.

“Sis, w-what are you saying?!”

But her burning cheeks betrayed her, flaring even hotter.

Seeing Ephnel’s wary gaze, she suddenly wanted to fling the door open and run.

“Yukina, I’m your sister.”

“Why do you have to emphasize that?! It’s not like I don’t know already!”