Ch.8 Even Though The Atmosphere at The Shopping Mall was Good...

And so, we head to the shopping mall.

I wanted to change my hair color back, but it seemed that an hour hadn't passed yet, so I couldn't change it back.

Well, I like silver hair too, so 'tis all good.

The ideal opposite sex is not bad noja.

"But... I can really feel people looking at me."

Ever since we came to the shopping mall, I felt as if people were staring at me.

Spring break started yesterday, and today is Saturday, so there are quite a few people in the building. There are quite a few families, but if I had to say, there are more students.

I am a little worried because so many of those students are looking at me.

Fumu... so my appearance is pretty good, is that what this means?

"Well, Mahiro is a beautiful girl. Or rather, a beautiful young girl?"

"Certainly, judging from her stature, she might be a young girl."

"It's not 'might be', no matter how you look at it, she's definitely a young girl. Actually though, why did you end up like that?"

"That I do not know. I guess 'tis because my 2D preference is like this. Otherwise, there is no way that disease could have caused someone to look like this."

In the first place, 'tis a disease that causes you to take on the appearance of your ideal opposite sex.

Otherwise I would not end up like this.

"But, skirts are too fluttery after all... I would have preferred pants ja..."

"There wasn't any?"

"There was not any indeed. My mother messed up, and all that is left are the clothes she used to dress me up as a woman."

"...Isn't your mother strange?"

"I heard that often."

At the very least, she is not normal.

Even though I was a man, she made me dress up as a woman.

Well, 'twas too much hassle to resist, so I almost never refused.

"...Hmm? So does that mean you need to buy clothes?"

"That is indeed the case for now, but..."

"We have to buy it. For when she's growing."

"Just as he said..."

"Hmm, Mishima-kun seems a bit like a mother."

"No, Mahiro-san is just too sloppy."

With a headache-like expression on his face, Yuya denied Miho's statement.

Certainly, he might be acting like a mother.

"I strongly agree with that."

"No, I do my housework as usual, you know."

"That's only natural, since you live alone. If you live alone and don't do any housework, that house is gonna be a mess."

"...That it is."

For me, I basically do my best to create a comfortable sleeping environment.

After all, sleep is important noja.

"...Huh? Hey Mishima-kun. You said it was for growth purposes earlier, but what do you mean?"

"That has to do with her abilities... Well, to put it simply, Mahiro-san can make her body grow or regress at will. So, she'll need some clothes from when she is growing up - ideally, clothes for a woman of 16 years of age."

"I told you I do not need them... Those will just cost unnecessary money, you know?"

'Tis not like I cannot use that card to make purchases, but the monthly limit is 150,000 yen, which is enough to cover daily necessities, food, and utility bills noja.

Well, food costs would not be that high, but even so, I would probably end up spending it on other things.

I really do not want to spend money here ja.

"Regression and growth... You got something absurd, Mahiro."

"That it is, but I do not intend to use it that much."

"Why? Doesn't that seem pretty convenient?"

"You say that, but there are also disadvantages, you know? In fact, my grown-up form makes me hungry. To be honest, 'tis pretty tough to stay transformed. It seems like I can stay in that position forever once I get used to it, but I do not really want to do that."

"Hungry, huh... That certainly is not good."

When she heard about the disadvantages of "growth and regression," Miho made a rather unpleasant face.

Umu, I am glad you understand.

There is probably nothing in this world that does not have any drawbacks.

"See? The other abilities also have some minor drawbacks too."

"Hmm... Well, I'll ask about those abilities later. Shall we hurry up and finish our shopping?"

"Understood ja. Well then, let us go. Kengo, Yuya, you guys will come in too, right?"

When I asked the two of them,

"No, we're not going?"

"Yes, we won't."

I was simply turned down.

"Mu? Why not ja? Especially Yuya, you were the one initating this whole thing."

"That's true, but as expected, we can't really follow you everywhere. We'll just float away."

"Float? What do you mean ja? We are only going to buy some clothes and daily necessities, no?"

Is there a reason why they cannot?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Miho explained to me.

"Mahiro, think about it logically. There's no way a man can go to a lingerie shop or the girls' everyday goods section, right?"

"...Mu? Why ja? 'Tis just underwear and sanitary products, no? So why are they bothered noja?"

When I replied to Miho's comment, she looked at the two of them with a terrible headache on her face and said:

"...Mishima-kun, Sasanishi, could it be that this guy was born in the Showa era or even earlier? Or perhaps she comes from a family with similar values..."

"Unfortunately, that's just the kind of person Mahiro-san is."

"Well, the cause is probably her family environment or her cousin."

"Cousin?"

"Yeah. This guy's cousin is, how should I put it... a weird person. I say weird for one reason or another. First of all, that person's a lolicon."

"Oh, is that person a man?"

"No, woman."

"...Wait. At this point, I'm starting to get a bit of a headache."

Miho frowns and holds her head.

Well, even I can tell that my cousin is a bit dangerous...

Well, I truly do not want to meet her.

"By the way, I think Mahiro's current appearance is perfectly in her strike zone. Maybe because she's her cousin, but her taste in characters is a little similar to Mahiro's."

"...I wonder if that's a roundabout way of saying Mahiro is a lolicon?"

"What are you talking about? I am not a lolicon. In fact, I am the loli right now."

"Well, that's not relevant... But, I kind of understand. But, just being a lolicon is enough to get you judged as a bad person, how bad is that person..."

Miho asked, feeling a little nervous.

Now, how to describe her...

"Uh... how can I put it... that person's tenacity is incredible, so let's say her absolute favorite character in a social game gets a rate-up gacha."

"Yeah?"

"She's the kind of person who would pay for it without any hesitation."

"? Isn't that normal?"

"Well, that's normal, if you only hear that much. But that's not what makes her so dangerous. She's the kind of dangerous person who would spend not just 100,000, but even 1 million for that character."

"She hasn't gone bankrupt from that?"

"So people like that are real, huh."

"Yes, they are indeed... In fact, there was a time when she actually spent a million."

"Seriously?!"

"Seriously ja."

I affirmed Miho's voice and began to give a brief explanation.

This is a serious story, my cousin once spent a million.

Just to get one, and only one, character.

The crazy thing is that it did not happen just once ja.

My cousin, who loves games, also likes social games.

As a result, she had a fair number of game apps installed, and had spent a considerable amount of money on all of them.

Not only does she buy characters, but she also buys costumes and even merchandise.

There are many other things too...

"Well, that is about it ja."

"Eeeeehhh... isn't your cousin a bit crazy...? And where does she get that much money from anyway...?"

"Well, I have heard that she earned her money in some way, but I do not know how. Well, other than that she is a pretty open woman."

"Wow... Mahiro's family lineage is amazing."

"Well, her family lineage - or rather, her relatives are pretty impressive. I'm sure there are doctors, politicians, researchers, etc.?"

"Well, there are. That said, they are distant relatives, and I have not met many of them ja. I think I heard recently that there is a researcher in his twenties. Apparently he is researching diseases."

Well, not only that, but my family is apparently amazing in many ways.

According to my grandfather, our family - or rather, the Ouka family - is what you might call the main family.

Why do we have so many branch families, you ask?

Well, I do not know the details either, and my grandfather, who said he would teach me someday, died before I became a junior high school student.

There's no way to find out now.

...Well, my grandfather's room is still pretty much intact, so I might be able to find something if I look there.

"Diseases, huh. Is it 'TSF Syndrome'?"

"Who knows. Well, if we keep talking it will be dark before we know it."

"Right. I mean, why were we talking a lot again?"

"We were talking about Mahiro-san's abilities."

"Ah, that's it. Well, Mahiro and I will just go buy the daily necessities. As for clothes... ah, maybe I should have someone take a look at them?"

"That is fine with me. I want to finish quickly, go home quickly, and get to bed quickly."

"...You really just sleep all the time, don't you? I mean, if you just sleep all the time you'll get fat."

"No, I will jot get fat. In the first place, by obtaining 『Growth Regression』, it has become easier to burn calories. After all, I maintain my transformation by burning calories."

"What an enviable ability...!"

She said with a look of genuine envy on her face.

Is this ability really something to be envied?

However, I did hear from somwhere that women struggle with their weight on a daily basis, so this ability to burn calories so easily must be a dream come true.

After all, just transforming can burn calories.

"... No, we need to stop. Doing things like this is why we're not making any progress. For now, with that being said, you two, just kill time as you please."

"Okay."

"Okay then, let's meet at the food court."

"Umu."

"Got it. See you then."

With that said, we went our separate ways.

"Okay, Mahiro, let's go."

Hmm, what is with that sudden lively voice...?

Did something makes you happy?

Well, 'tis fine.

"Yes. In that case, I will ask for your escort."

As I said this, I took Miho's hand.

"Wh-What's with you all of a sudden?"

Although she flinched for a moment, she didn't reject it.

However, she asked with a red face and a slightly angry tone.

...Her looking away is a bit of a worry.

"Well, I thought 'tis fine considering my current appearance. Also, now that I look like an elementary school student, my physical abilities are in line with my appearance. In other words, my stamina has declined."

"...T-then, W-why would that be a reason for you to hold hands with me?"

"What are you stuttering about ja?"

"Y-you're just imagining it!"

"I see. So, the reason. Well, to put it simply, my stamina has declined, so there is a chance that I will get tired quickly. If that happens, then if Miho leaves me behind, I will get lost ja. That would be troublesome, would it not? I cannot cause Miho any trouble. Even though Yuya asked you to help this time, it looks like I have dragged you into my situation. And so, with this, the chances of me getting lost will be lower noja."

That is just a convenient excuse, but there is also the calculating reason that maybe if I look like this I would not get in trouble.

I have always wanted to try holding hands with a girl, as a little bit of a life experience, something like that.

"...You're surprisingly thoughtful of others."

"What are you talking about? I am known as a good guy who cares about their friends, you know? This is a matter of course."

What makes her look so surprised?

Maybe she thought I was someone who could not read the atmosphere?

If that is the case, I am disappointed.

"R-right. Well, we'll be going for now. Hold my hand tight, okay?"

"Yes. I feel calm when I hold hands with Miho."

"He!?"

"Hmm? What is wrong? You are making a weird noise."

"N-no, it's nothing... I-I know I'm about to ask something weird... but why did you think that?"

Why, huh?

Well, I do not mind saying it.

"Well, I am saying this now that I've become a woman, but... I have always liked you."

"...Eh, y-you like me...?"

"Yes. That is right... to put it simply and straightforwardly, I did like you. Of course, not just as a friend, but romantically too. I was thinking that if you confessed to me, maybe I would go out with you, even though I was like that."

To be honest, I thought romance was a hassle, but that doesn't mean I would never do it.

Although I was below average in a lot of things, I was still interested.

"………………"

"Well, you always got mad at me... Moreover, I am not a man right now. I am a woman. So, you see, we look like we're the same sex. I do not want to cause you any trouble, and I am not sure what to do about myself, so I have been wondering... Wait, mu? What's wrong? You are frozen..."

"L-like, you say..."

What is wrong? Your face is bright red ja.

Moreover, your voice is a little trembling... and doesn't it look like you're grinning a little?

"Mu? Ah, umu. I will not deny it. That said, I do not know how I feel right now."

"...Eh, what does that mean...?"

Mu? Her expression changed to one of slight disappointment.

'Tis amusing how her facial expression changes all the time.

"Well, I do not know which way I am more interested in right now. One can only find out if they live together for a while. Well, I do not mind either way--"

"THAT'S NOT GOOD!"

"Uo?! W-what happened ja? To suddenly shout..."

It has been a while since I got startled.

Maybe I said something to upset her again...?

"N-no reason? B-but, let me just say this."

"U-umu, What is it ja?"

It seems like she has some incredible spirit...

What on earth is going on?

"You definitely prefer girls! Really! From the bottom of your heart!"

"Wh-what is wrong? Why are you so insistent?"

"You're... well, you're a man inside, so you should fall in love with a girl!"

Ignoring me, are you?

I mean, this is just a normal shopping mall, and there are a lot of people around... Have you forgotten that, Miho?

"...Well, you do have a point. I did not find a problem if it was a guy, but... fumu. Certainly, two girls might not be so bad."

Yuri is interesting.

No, in this case, would it be pseudo-yuri?

Well, either way is fine.

Also, I feel like about 30 to 40 percent of my erotic games are yuri games.

There must have been some TS types among them.

"R-really?"

"Umu."

"So, then, about a romance between girls...?"

"I am not against it. Well, there is still plenty of time. I will think about it slowly."

I smiled and said to Miho.

"--!"

For some reason, she turned her face away again.

Wh-what was that speed just now...it was ridiculously fast.

However, for a moment I did see her face was extremely red...

(Oh no! Mahiro's smile is so charming...! Or rather, s-s-seriously? Mahiro, liking me?! You've never shown any signs of it!? Kuh, if I really just confessed... but, wait? That means it's still not too late... Women need courage!)

"M-Mahi--"

"But I never thought Miho would love yuri that much..."

"……He?"

"Well, 'tis not that I dislike yuri. I would say I like them myself. Yes, I think 'tis good."

"...H-how did you come to that conclusion...?"

"Hmm? What is wrong ja? You seem to have given off an air of despair."

She was muttering under her breath, with a gloomy atmosphere surrounding her.

Did I say something weird again?

But I do not believe I said anything that strange...

Well, whatever.

"Anyway, we are really conspicuous right now, so shall we hurry up and get going, Miho?"

"...Haaaa. That's right... It's you after all... I knew this would happen... hehe..."

"No, seriously, what happened to you ja?"

"...Hey, since that is the case, I'll just be clear..."

"Umu."

"I, I... I...!"

"Umu."

"I L-li... Like y-"

Just as Miho was about to say something,

"--Oh? Is that you... Otoda-san?"

Suddenly, a voice calling Miho's name was heard.

"Who the hell is it?! Now, my once in a lifetime gift is-- wait, what?"

Miho was about to complain, but she turned towards the voice and stopped moving.

"Mu? You are..."

"What a coincidence to meet you here, Otoda-san. Are you shopping?"

There is a girl with black hair and black eyes that cannot be mistaken for anything other than a Japanese woman.

Ooou, a famous person from school has come out.

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