Ch.50 An Unexpected Call. Another Bombshell Dropped

"Fuumu. This house is really big... I feel incredibly out of place noja."

"No, no, this will be our home from today, so you won't feel out of place at all."

In the tea room, after the 5 of us had a cup of tea and taken a breather, I muttered to myself, picturing the interior of the mansion, to which Mizuki retorted that there is no problem.

"Well, I suppose someone like you, born into wealth, would not mind so much, but unfortunately, the rest of us are just ordinary people. It takes time to get used to it ja. That rings even more true for Aria."

I hate to say it, but I think she was the poorest of us all.

'Tis too early to judge because I have not heard much about Mashiron's family background though.

"Yeah, well, you see, my family is poor, so living in a glamorous place like this was not just a pipe dream, but an impossible future for me. So, rather than happiness, I'm more apprehensive... It's a little scary."

"I suppose so. After all, values ​​are determined by the environment in which one grew up. What about Miho and Mashiron?"

"I... well, it'll probably take me a while to get used to it. I think I'll get lost."

"...I don't mind. I've memorized the general layout of the rooms. If a maid is going to take care of things, I have nothing to worry about. In fact, I'm happy. I'm busy with my duties as student council president, after all."

"I see. Mashiron is impressive, as expected ja."

She is not the student council president for nothing.

However, I hear that the student council at our school is quite busy.

In a normal school, it probably would not be that busy, but the student council at our school has a lot to do, and on top of that, they have a lot of unnecessary power.

If I put it that way, most committees in our school are like that though.

The library committee I belong to is quite busy, you know.

"Speaking of which, Mizuki yo, since you are rich and will be living in such a ridiculously huge mansion, I have a question for you noja... How will we get to school? Should we walk, as usual?"

"Oh, you mean that? For now, I'm thinking of walking, but after the wedding, we'll probably be commuting by car."

"Why is that?"

"'Tis easy if you consider that Mizuki is the daughter of the president of an incredibly powerful company ja."

"...The Uishi Group, one of the leading corporate groups in Japan. I think the marriage to Mahiron is probably being kept quite secret and hasn't been made public. So it's being kept under wraps. But if they hold a wedding ceremony, they'll have to invite people from the company. Maybe there's someone among them who will leak information, or maybe someone will even manage to sneak into the wedding. If that happens, there's a risk that some nasty adult with bad intentions will try to kidnap us. ...Is that what you mean, Mii-chan?"

"That's absolutely correct. It's because of what Mashiro-san said. There's always a possibility that someone might want to kidnap one of us and demand a ransom."

"I see. Thank you, Mashiro-san!"

"...No worries."

It took me a little while to become friends with Mashiron, but she became friends with Miho, Mizuki, and Aria surprisingly quickly...

Perhaps there was some kind of connection between them as women?

Well, 'tis good that they get along ja.

"...But, I think Mahiron is the one we need to protect the most, more than ourselves."

"Me? What do you mean ja?"

"Mashiro-san, you're really sharp."

"...Of course. If you put Mahiron first, that possibility comes to mind."

...What exactly does it mean that they must protect me noja?

However, what is concerning is that Mizuki does not deny Mashiron's point at all; instead, she seems to agree with it, albeit with a troubled expression.

"...On paper, I, Mihorin, Mii-chan, and Sti are husbands. But the problem here is Mahiron's situation on paper."

"Uh... what do you mean ja?"

"...Simply put, Mahiron's gender is neither male nor female, but 'TS'. The most distinctive feature of this gender is that they can marry anyone, regardless of gender, and can marry multiple people."

"Umu, Indeed. But what about it..."

"...That's the problem. There's no telling what might happen if some company president kidnaps Mahiron and forces her to marry his child. Although, the same thing might happen if any of us gets kidnapped."

"I see, so that is how it is."

I generally understand.

Considering what Mashiron pointed out, that is certainly a possibility.

This is a worse situation than a politically arranged marriage.

"That's why we hired maids."

"...So, does that mean the maids in this mansion also serve as caretakers and bodyguards?"

"Yes. They're all very strong, you know? Hiiragi-san is even stronger than a world champion in martial arts, depending on the conditions."

"...There are some truly unbelievable people out there ja."

I have heard the world is full of mysteries, but I never imagined that such a beautiful maid could be that strong...

Where on earth did they find such talent?

Being rich is amazing.

"We have to do at least that much to ensure safety. By the way, the other maids are also quite strong, though not as strong as Hiiragi-san, so please don't worry."

"Well, how to say this... we're getting VIP treatment, huh?"

"We are indeed VIPs. Especially me, since I married her."

However, 'twas not like I was after money. I have no interest in immense wealth, you see.

All I want is to live a lazy, self-indulgent life.

"Even so, Mizuki's father was something else. Looking back, I wonder how he could have allowed her to marry someone he had only heard about from you noja."

"Otou-sama became more tolerant of my love life after Mahiro-chan lectured him. Plus, he had a pretty good understanding of my type, so I think that might be a factor too."

"Even so, I think 'tis abnormal for parents to let their child marry someone they know nothing."

"Otou-sama had excellent intuition, so."

"Is it really okay to just put it away like that...?"

I mean, that is way too irresponsible of an answer.

Is it really okay to grant permission based on something as vague as intuition?

...Well, 'tis way too late to talk about it now though...

"Even so, a family consisting only of women feels strange, doesn't it?"

"...Mahiro's inner self is subtly male, but at night she's just a normal girl."

"Hold on a second. I cannot let that slide. Inside, I am a complete man ja. And do not talk about nighttime."

"But Mahiro-kun at night is really cute, right?"

"She's cute."

"Very cute."

"...She's so cute, makes me want to tease her even more."

"...Could it be that now that we live in a mansion and no longer have to worry about making noise that disturbs the surroundings, would I be attacked almost every day...?"

As I mutter such worries,

""""Fufufufufufufu...""""

The 4 of them let out a very meaningful laugh.

...Am I going to die?

Well, there is no point in worrying about an uncertain future, so let me put those worries aside for now.

"Speaking of which, there is something that has been bothering me ja. Do any of you have no desire to have children?"

This.

If I were still a man, it would not be much of a problem, but my current body is definitely that of a girl. Though only about elementary school.

Since I am not a man, well... We cannot make children.

Considering all that, I wonder if these people have no desire to have children?

"Well...it would be a lie to say no."

"I wanted a girl."

"I guess I had a little bit of a longing for it too."

"...Average?"

Apparently, they do have the desire for it.

However, when it comes to young people these days, how should I put it... they barely have the desire to get married, or rather, there are few who want to have a romantic partner in the first place.

That means they do not have much of a desire to have children.

If that is the case, I guess these guys are relatively rare these days? Even though they are still in high school.

"Is that so? Now that I think about it, I feel a little sorry... It seems you all liked me all along."

"That's true, but if you hadn't TS'd, three out of the four of us would have been rejected, so maybe it was for the best? Besides, you got to have the unusual experience of marrying someone of the same sex."

"I was overjoyed when Mahiro-chan became a girl!"

Well, I suppose that is to be expected of her. She is a lo〇con, after all.

"I don't mind. I'd rather not get my heart broken."

"...married because you're Mahiron. Gender doesn't matter."

"You guys are... kind of strong, are you not?"

Most people would be somewhat confused if they ended up in a same-sex relationship, and might even break up with their partner. Yet these folks got married to me without a care in the world. And on top of that, that last line. 'Tis just too much.

Does this mean that a girl in love is strong?

"I would like to have children with Mahiro-chan, but it seems impossible. I've given up on that."

"I see. Apologies..."

I did not have such strong desires myself, but seeing my husbands wanting that kind of thing really touches my heart.

...Just as I was thinking that, my smartphone rang.

"...Mahiron, phone call."

"Looks like it ja. Let me see... Mu, is it Kami ja? Sorry, I will come out for a bit." (TL: Reminder, Kami is Mahiro's cousin and TS specialist)

Seeing the word "Kami" displayed on the screen, I stood up, left the room, and answered the phone.

Now that I think about it, the last time she called, the timing was absolutely terrible... I doubt it, but I hope 'tis not the same pattern this time around.

[Hello, is this Mahiro-kun?]

"Yes, 'tis me ja. It has been about two or three weeks, but what is it ja? Do you need something from me?"

[Well, it's been about a month since you had contacted TSF syndrome, and furthermore, it seems you've married multiple women, so I thought it was about time I told you one important thing.]

I have a bad feeling about this.

At the same time, I can kind of guess what she is going to say.

"...I doubt it, but you are not going to tell me there is a drug that allows same-sex couples to have children, are you?"

I said that in hope to eliminate such possibilities.

If possible, I absolutely hope this possibility never becomes a reality.

But.

[Oh, you figured it out. That's right.]

Damn it!

Of all things, my prediction turned out to be correct!

[Actually, there's a drug that allows men to have children with other men, and women to have children with other women.]

"What kind of drug is that ja? It sounds like something out of a fan fiction story."

[By the way, the creator is someone who has contracted the disease.]

...Are there only perverts here?

Now that I think about it, there was some hangover medicine left out the day after the gathering... Surely, 'twas not made by the very person who created that medicine, was it?

[Oh, and don't get me wrong, this was also at the request of the government.]

"The government? I doubt it, but is it something like measures to address the declining birthrate and aging population?"

[That's right. As you know, Japan is a society with a declining birthrate and an aging population.]

"Indeed."

[With that issue still going on, the 'TSF syndrome' emerged. Most of those affected end up marrying someone of the same sex as their gender change. The authorities, realizing this would only accelerate the problem, came up with a solution: a drug that allows same-sex couples to have children.]

"...They have created something truly insane."

I am afraid to tell them about this matter.

Or rather, what kind of medicine is it ja?

"By the way, what kind of medicine is it noja?"

[It's a bit graphic, but do you want to hear it?]

"......Well, sort of."

[I see. Well, I'll tell you then. We can just ignore the men's version for now, since you're a girl.]

"That would be very helpful."

I am not in the mood to listen to that right now.

[So, to put it simply, it's really easy. When you take the medicine... well, you can say that you'll temporarily feel like a snail or a slug.]

"......That is disgusting!"

Just imagining it makes me feel incredibly disgusted!

Wait, what? I am going to turn into a snail or a slug?! Gross!

[Oh, don't get the wrong idea. What I mean is that you will become something closer to their ecology.]

"...Ecology? Is there something special about those two creatures?"

[Do you know what a hermaphrodite is?]

"I think it refers to a creature that possesses the characteristics of both male and female, right?"

[That's right. So, this medicine temporarily changes your body's constitution to that kind of state.]

"Hohou, I see... wait, haa!?"

What kind of crazy drug is that?!

"Is that it? That thing you see in creative works—and even in 18+ games—that starts with 'fu' and ends with 'ri'?!"

[Yep.]

What an idiot! A real idiot!

There is some idiot who has managed to pull off something absolutely ridiculous!

[That being said, it's really just temporary. That's how it happens in women. So, well... yeah. Do you want that medicine?]

"I am kind of scared."

[What are you talking about? You had one between your legs just over a month ago, didn't you? And now...]

"That is certainly true! but... for that to exist in this body...no matter how you look at it, it seems strange and unknown, doesn't it?"

Apparently, such people actually exist in reality, but I certainly would not want to become one myself.

[Well, I don't know. To me, it sounds intere— not that, I want the data, so I'd really like you to try it.]

"You were about to say that sounds interesting, were you not!?"

[Hahaha. What are you talking about? I'm being completely serious.]

"You are nothing but a mad scientist ja!"

[Don't praise me so suddenly. It'll surprise me, you know?]

"Being called a mad scientist is not a compliment!"

What is going on inside this fellow's head?

[But it looks interesting, and I'm assuming you might need it someday, so I'll send it to your current home.]

"Do not! If that falls into the hands of my husbands, I will die!"

[I don't know anything about that.]

"That is too irresponsible!"

[The authorities have no knowledge of this whatsoever—that's a line you often hear in spy movies, right? That's exactly what it is.]

...This fellow is really awful.

She is a genuine mad scientist, absolutely. I bet all she thinks about is experimenting on other people.

[Anyway, as for the medicine...it sounds interesting, so I'll mail you about two weeks' worth. Oh, I'll also include the instruction manual, so please be careful when using it. So, that's all for now. I'm looking forward to you using it. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know after you've used it.]

"I am most definitely not going to use it!"

[Well then, I have work to do, so I'll be going now.]

Thud.

...That bastard just dropped all sorts of outrageous bombshells and then cut the call short.

"Haa... For now, I will have to retrieve the medicine myself without getting caught..."

I was already racking my brain over the worries that were likely to increase in the future ja.

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