Ch.4 The Doctor In Charge Created Something (A Convenient One) Like a Mad Scientist

After the MRI and X-ray examinations, we returned to the first room.

"Okay, let me give you the initial diagnosis."

"Umu."

"You... definitely have 'TSF Syndrome'."

"I thought so."

"Yeah. Well, for now, your gender has been completely changed, so there's no room for doubt, but there's still one more test left. Or rather, I think this is more important part."

"Is it the so-called ability?"

In a sense, this may be the most important aspect of this disease.

"Exactly. I'm sure you learned this in school, but when you develop 'TSF Syndrome', for some reason you manifest something like a special ability. Well, it's what you might call 'psychic powers'. Most of the time you'd see them in fantasy or other world novels."

"I do know that, but how exactly do you investigate that? Unfortunately, I do not know my own ability."

Globally, the number of cases is very low.

The incidence rate is said to be one in 50 million, but I don't know if that is correct.

Considering the global population, 'tis probably around 140 people a year, but even on TV, one rarely see news about people developing the disease.

So I do not know if that number is correct or not.

Well, that would be the reason why even if one were to search for information on how to check abilities, they would rarely find anything.

So I do not know noja.

"Oh, that's easy. Use this potion."

As she said that, Kami took out a small bottle of pills.

Why medicine?

"This is something I developed myself. The name... it was kind of a pain to come up with a name, so I just called it 'Disclosure Drug'."

"That is real sloppy."

"It's fine if it works. So, about the effects of this medicine. I could explain it to you, but... I'm sure you'd just like to go home early and get some sleep. It looks like spring break just started today after all."

"Umu. I really want to sleep."

"I guess so. Let me just briefly explain the effects. This is a drug that allows you to grasp your own abilities."

"...What is this pointlessly fantasy-like and convenient medicine?"

If this were an online novel, that would definitely be criticized a bit.

Especially by the weirdly annoying people. (TL: Author's speaking from experience right here)

"Don't say that. I thought the same thing when I first succeeded in developing it. By the way, the raw material is the blood of people who have developed 'TSF Syndrome'."

"...Is that okay? Ethically speaking."

"It's no problem. With about 10 ml, we can make enough for 100 people. It should be less than the amount of blood people would normally donate, right?"

"Well, that does not sound like a problem, but..."

I cannot help but feel that using human blood to make medicine is wrong in many ways.

'Tis like a human experiment.

"By the way, your blood that I just collected will also be used as a raw material."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. Oh, I'll use it for testing too. I'll use any leftovers."

"...Sounds like a con man."

"How rude, dear."

I do not believe I am being rude.

That is something I wish they would told me in advance if possible.

"Well, let's put that aside for now. Anyway, drink this."

"...A medicine made from human blood...I am not really keen on drinking it."

"Don't say that. If we don't understand your abilities, we won't be able to help you in any way, you know?"

"'Tis not like I am having any trouble in life, but..."

"You won't be issued identification cards or anything like that, you know."

"Then I will drink it..."

"Good."

Kami is smiling.

I feel threatened.

However, not being issued an ID card could cause various problems.

Because I look like an elementary school student right now.

If I were to walk outside after 9pm, I would definitely get picked up by the police.

In fact, it might even be too late at 7pm.

Still, could this guy really be a mad scientist...?

"Here, water."

"It cannot be helped."

Telling myself this, I gulp down the medicine in one go along with the water that is offered to me.

I wondered if it would take time, but the results were surprisingly immediate.

"Did something pop into your head?"

"Umu..."

"How many?"

"Ahh... three, I guess."

"Oh, three. That's the highest number so far."

Come to think of it, that is true.

As far as the current situation is concerned, the limit for the number of abilities is three.

Now, what kind of abilities do I have?

Looking at the details of the abilities that came to mind... Muu.

"What's wrong? You look a little confused."

"Well, it seems that something that is difficult to use has appeared..."

"What exactly?"

"The ability to grow and regress my body, the ability to manifest animal characteristics, and the ability to change my own color."

"...Hmm? What's with those crazy abilities? Especially the first one."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. From what I've heard, it means that you can grow and regress freely, right? Doesn't that mean you're synonymous with immortality?"

"...I do not nderstand even if you say that."

But, now that she mentioned it, it may be a pseudo-immortality.

This is something that can bring you back to your youth when you get old.

"Well, I'll look into that sometime. For now, I want you to try using your ability."

"Understood. In that case, would it be better to start with the easy-to-understand 'ability to change color'?"

"That's right. I'll leave it to you then."

"Well then... I guess I will start with my hair color. Right now 'tis cherry blossom pink... so maybe I will try silver hair."

"Why that choice?"

"Because I like it?"

"I see."

For now, should I just think about the color?

...Okay. I will dye my hair silver.

"Wow, the color has really changed. It's a bit plain though."

"True enough. 'Tis certainly different. ...As Kami said, 'tis rather plain."

'Tis just changing color...

If there was only one of these, I would have a really hard time using it.

"Then I'll ask for the next one."

"Yes. In that case, I will manifest the characteristics of an animal."

As for the details of this ability, it seems that one can manifest the characteristics of one out of three animals of choices ja.

The three options are: "Wolf," "Rabbit," and "Cat."

Fumu... For now, let me do a wolf.

As I thought about transforming into a wolf in my mind, I suddenly felt that the surroundings were noisy and the smell was stronger than before.

I open my eyes and look at my hands...

"Mu? Nothing seems to have changed..."

There was nothing particularly abnormal.

Could it be that this is not something that appears on the outside, but rather something that manifests as power?

"No, no, you completely changed, you know?"

"Mu? What do you mean ja?"

"Head and butt."

"My head and butt? ...Mu, it appears something mysterious is there."

I feel something strange between the top of my head, buttocks, and waist.

When I put my hand on my head...

"What is this? An ear?"

There is something triangular and fluffy.

Well, 'tis definitely an ear.

Judging from what I transforms into, it looks like 'tis definitely a wolf's ear.

Incidentally...

"It even comes with a tail."

This one is also fluffy.

...This feels subtly nice to the touch.

That being the case, 'tis sticking out from under my patient gown.

No wonder I felt a chill around my butt.

"Wow, that's an interesting ability. I never thought it would turn you into a kemo-loli." (TL : Kemo as in Kemono which means animals with fur)

I see that Kami is impressed with my appearance.

"So, are those ears and tail real?"

"Umu, 'tis real. Want to touch it?"

"That's appreciated. Let's see... hmm, this is really fluffy... Also, it's warm, so it seems to have blood flowing through it. I can feel my body temperature rising."

"Hmm... I see... It feels good to be petted by someone..."

"Oh, does it feel good?"

"Umu... I kinda like it."

This is good.

It calms my mind...

However, this seems like it would make me let out a strange noise.

"I see, I see... Now, the last one. I look forward to your growth and regression abilities."

"Got it."

In this case, it seems like the grown-up version would be better.

In that case... Should I imagine about 16 years old?

That should be enough.

I closed my eyes and imagined my own growth...and suddenly my body began to heat up.

Oh, ohh? What is this? It feels a little strange.

'Tis like my bones are getting a little thicker and my muscles are stretching...that kind of feeling.

When I open my eyes, I find my perspective to be higher.

"Wow, you've really grown. This is interesting."

"I was surprised... I have really grown. My whole body is."

"It seems so."

Look at me, I have grown so much that my clothes look like they are about to get torn.

In fact, I wonder if this will tear.

'Tis so tight.

I have no choice. I have to take off my patient clothes.

"Oh... it seems you've grown quite a bit."

"It seems so. My shoulders feel a little heavy."

"Well, no wonder, with that kind of chest."

Just as Kami said, my chest were also growing.

In terms of height... Fumu, I would say around 150cm.

However, my chest seem to be quite large.

"From what I can tell... it's estimated to be E."

"'Tis pretty big, is it not?"

"If this is you at around 16 years old, if you grow beyond that, they'll probably get even bigger."

"...That would be a problem. My shoulders feel heavy and It feels so tiring, and I feel like I'm getting hungry... No, this is making me really hungry."

"I see. It seems that this ability uses stamina. Or rather, calories?"

"Seems like it ja... I guess I should go back."

If I continue like this, I will get extremely hungry, so I imagine going back to normal.

Then, in an instant, my body shrank and returned to its original state.

I am still hungry though.

"This is what the ability test is like... Thinking about it now, we should have done it in a proper place. If an offensive ability or something had come out, it would have been a disaster."

"...Why did you not say that first noja?"

"Hahaha. I completely forgot about it. Well, it satisfied my intellectual curiosity, so all's well that ends well."

"That is just for you ja."

"Sorry, sorry. So, are you not going to change your hair color back?"

"Mu? ... Huh, 'tis not turning back."

I thought I had turn it back, but it seems I did not.

So I tried to return it to normal, but there was no sign of it returning.

"Hmm... It seems there are some rules for the color-changing ability. Do you understand them? Also, there may be some kind of drawback to other abilities. I think the effects of the disclosure drug will wear off soon."

"Umu..."

I close my eyes for a moment to take a look.

…Fumu, I see.

"Apparently, like Kami said earlier, the ability to grow and regress consumes stamina - calories. It seems 'tis possible to freeze the growth, so 'tis probably just a matter of getting used to it. Next, the ability to manifest the characteristics of an animal requires an hour's interval after transformation before I can transform into another animal ja. Also, it seems I can only manifest one type at a time. Finally, the ability to change color seems to only allow you to change color once per day per spot ja. However, it seems that I can change it back without being limited to once per day. Well, it seems impossible to change it again within 24 hours."

"I see... those are some pretty troublesome restrictions. But, it doesn't seem like there are any terrible drawbacks, so I guess they're safe abilities. I'm glad there aren't any dangerous drawbacks."

"That is true..."

I will just be honest and relieved about that.

"By the way, what kind of strange disadvantages are there?"

I am a little curious about that.

There are quite a few people other than me who have developed this disease.

"Hmm... For example, if someone who has gained the ability to use magic doesn't use magic from time to time, magical energy will accumulate in their body and eventually they will burst."

"Does that not seem too dangerous?"

"Right? Besides that, there's the ability to improve physical abilities, but the day after using it, you'll be hit with terrible muscle pain all over your body in proportion to the amount of time you used it."

"...My ability is truly peaceful."

I truly felt that way right now.

'tis perfectly fine to only get a little hungry.

Actually, muscle pain would really be unpleasant.

"That's true. By the way, about the person who have gained the ability to survive without eating..."

"What about that person?"

"Sexual desire seems to be a substitute. In other words, if they don't satisfy their sexual desire, they will starve to death."

"What kind of succubus is that ja?"

"Seriously. Haa~, this disease is endlessly fascinating. It's definitely worth researching."

This guy is a mad scientist after all.

She has a wicked smile on her face.

"Well, there are drawbacks to this world... Well, I guess that's pretty much the end of the inspection. All that's left is a simple task of filling out the paperwork. Did you bring your writing implements and seal with you?"

"Umu, I have it right here."

"Well, please sign this out. And stamp it, too."

I was handed a piece of paper and when I looked at it, it seemed to be something about my future life.

To summarize the contents, 'tis like this:

I will accept my transitioned gender and live my life with it. I will never cause any trouble with my abilities.

Something like that ja.

If one does not accept this, they would not be able to receive aid from the government.

Albeit, they will still issue you an ID card.

However, if one does not follow this, they will be under a lot of surveillance ja.

Well, if you let someone with a unique ability that humans do not naturally have run wild, you never know what those people would do.

On the other hand, if you follow this, it seems that a certain degree of freedom is guaranteed noja.

By the way, if the ability is not too powerful (such as my ability to change color), there seems to be almost no monitoring.

Also, it seems that those are permitted to be used on a daily basis.

Albeit, anything that is too dangerous is restricted.

Something like magic.

"Well, even though It says monitoring, it's not that strict. We're simply worried that they might use their powers in a strange way."

"But would that not be too restrictive? I have a feeling that this will definitely lead to rebellion from those infected."

"That's a valid concern, but it won't happen."

Although Kami initially agreed with my idea, she quickly rebutted it.

"Why not noja?"

"Because if they want to release stress, they can just come here."

"What do you mean noja?"

"This place is a research institute for TSF syndrome, run directly by the government, a specialized hospital, and at the same time, an entertainment facility for those affected."

"Fumu, interesting. But why do you have that?"

"Well, you see, this disease is bound to cause stress, right? Changing from male to female, or from female to male, is bound to cause stress. It's different from what you're used to. So, to prevent people from abusing their abilities due to that stress, this facility also doubles as an entertainment facility to help them relieve stress."

"I see……"

Certainly, that would be correct.

I guess the idea is that if they are different from normal people and are accumulating stress from surveillance and other aspects of their daily lives, then they should just create a place where they can release that stress.

Does this mean that they should be given some preferential treatment?

Even in a negative sense, they are being treated specially, after all.

"By the way, there are also rooms where you can get a good night's sleep."

"Mu, is that true?"

"Of course. I told you, it's an entertainment facility for relieving stress. It has all kinds of entertainment, from the latest games to super comfortable sleeping rooms. There's all kinds of stuff. Also, there's a place for people with the disadvantages I mentioned earlier."

"'Tis everything one could want."

"Well, if they were to explode, it would be the end of this country."

"Ah, there are probably some people with abilities that normal people cannot match..."

"That's it. ...Now, let's stop chatting. There's a lot to explain."

"Got it."

'Tis helpful to have a variety of benefits.

If so, there is no reason to refuse.

...Well, there is no way I would go to the trouble of refusing in the first place.

"I signed it."

"Hmm... Okay. Terms accepted. Now, it's time for lecture. Let's move to another location. Once you've changed, come out into the hallway. I'm the one doing the work anyway."

"Understood"

A lecture... I feel like I am going to get sleepy.

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