Ch.3 This Monster Can be Normally Kept as a Pet, Apparently

"...Yeah, I guess so. When it comes to finding a job, you really have to go to the city..."

"Well, it's our hometown..."

"That's what I was planning to do too..."

Ahh.

It feels like it's been a long time since I've had a conversation like a typical high school student...

And it has to be someone of the same sex, someone I don't have to be careful around.

Lately, I've only been talking to people from my part-time job, and they're almost all older than me... I mean, they're like two generations older than me, or even older than that...

"T-then, since there's no sign of any monsters nearby, is it fine if we consider this resolved?"

I thought the two of them were acting all shy for a while, but it seems like we've been standing around chatting for 10 or 20 minutes.

Before I knew it, the child had fallen asleep, and even though it's light, I'd been holding it the whole time so my arms are starting to feel tired.

...Yeah, I was exhausted because I'd been working for more than half a day, not just the night shift.

"Oh, yes... I'm sorry, I made you come all this way and we ended up talking for so long."

"That's fine. If it's for someone like you... Gufu."

"Oops, sorry, this guy's an idiot."

"?"

The two seem to be good friends, playfully bumping into each other.

That's nice... I always felt like people kept their distance from me...

I was always a target of bullying... ever since I was little.

I was lucky that it was just bullying, they said, with a mild response, but I was still looked down upon...

But.

"...Ah."

I suddenly remember the knowledge I learned in school.

—Monsters outside the dungeon lose their magical power over time, weaken, and "disappear."

"A-ano, monsters lose their magic outside the dungeon, right?! If so, this child will disappear too!"

So, this child too...!

"Oh, it'll be fine. If it's that attached to you, you should have already tamed it, and if you have tamed it, it shouldn't disappear because of your magic."

"Definitely so."

"Really? I'm glad..."

Looking at this little one who looks like a stuffed animal... my chest feels somehow warm as I hold this child in my arms.

Does this mean I've tamed it...?

Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

When I lifted the stuffed animal—or rather, the baby monster—that I had been holding to my chest up to my neck and hugged it tightly, it seemed to have woken up and rubbed its cheek against mine, making a "kyui" sound.

...Hmm, it tickles, but I'm a little worried about the wart on its forehead.

But the fur around it is so fluffy and ticklish, and above all, it smells wonderful.

"Whoa, that tickles!"

"Kyu..."

"...An angel... No, if you've tamed it, you should go to the government office tomorrow and register it."

"A goddess... no, that's right. If it's a wild monster, you can't complain if it gets hunted or taken away. You can't always be together like that, can you?"

"Oh, is that so! That was close... If things had continued as they were, I would have taken it home and raised it as is..."

I'm glad that knowledgeable and kind people came.

Well, you see, I'd given up on the idea of ​​ever being able to explore a dungeon anyway, so I didn't really pay attention in dungeon-related classes and just did my side jobs.

"...B-by the way... well..."

"A-ahh! Th-th-this too!"

"?"

Just as I was about to say goodbye after thanking them...the 2 of them were bright red in the face.

...I wonder what happened?

They're pointing their smartphone this way.

"Ugh..."

"Hey, you say it..."

Oh, that's right, that's right. I need to get my hair cut when I get home... I can't believe it's grown this long.

I should still have some hair-cutting scissors at home that I can use, so I'll cut my hair really short so I won't be mistaken for a girl.

That way, we can talk openly as men without having to hide my face with hoodie like this.

"Kyui?"

"Oh, what should I give this child?"

"Contact information... Ah, r-right! It seems like it can eat the same thing as a humans!"

"Exchange...that monster...it's too young to know what it will become, but apparently if you put out some easily digestible food or vegetables, it will choose for itself! If that doesn't work, then try beans or meat!"

"Really? Thank you so much!"

I'm glaad!

In that case, I can share my food with it, so the food expenses won't be that high.

We might be able to manage with vegetables from our neighbors or their home gardens... maybe?

If it had been dog food or monster food, I would have had to take on more part-time jobs to afford it.

...If it's meat, I guess I still have to take on more part-time jobs regardless...

Oh, that reminds me, we're just going to keep it as a pet.

Well, I mean, I was talking to my mom about "how it's lonely living alone, so maybe I should get a dog or a cat from our neighbors...?

I think it'll be fine if I'm taming a monster... though I think it's better not to show it in public too much.

Oh, but if it's this cute, maybe it'll be okay?

"Thank you again! I have to take this child home today, but I work a part-time job around here! I'll treat you to something next time we meet!"

"A-ahh..."

"W-when we have time..."

I haven't had much sleep, so my head isn't working very well, and I haven't really looked at their faces properly, but I'm heading home because it seems like the perfect time.

"Kyui..."

"Hehe, I wonder how surprised Mom will be when I get home..."

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3rd Person POV

"................................................"

"................................................"

"...She was so cute..."

"Yeah……"

"But what about contact information...?"

"H-her part-time job! At least we got her workplace since it's nearby!"

"Y-Yeah, that's right!"

The two healthy high school boys are excited about the person they just met, but at the same time, they secretly resolve, "I'm not letting her go to anyone else."

"She must have been looking at me more than this guy!" - this unfounded confidence also played a part.

"...But why was that girl in casual clothes when it was time to go home from school...? She's a middle schooler, right?"

"Maybe it finished early? I don't know for sure since it's a different school district."

"I see."

--By the way, what was Hoshino Yuzuki wearing today, as he was hugging the "stuffed animal"?

A hoodie meant to hide his complex about his face, which looks exactly like his mother's childhood photos.

He wore his mother's old, baggy pants because "buying new clothes is expensive, and these aren't embarrassing."

Wide-leg pants are something that most guys might mistake for a variation of a skirt that city girls might wear.

And his hair was long beyond his shoulders because he'd been neglecting haircuts, and his bangs were long too—and above all, he had a high-pitched voice, a slender build, and was short.

Because of this, to the high school boys, he only appeared as a "short" "middle school girl"—but whether fortunate or unfortunate, they will never found out his true gender.

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Author's note:

If you enjoyed this and thought, "I want to see more cross-dressing boys," "I love cross-dressing," "I can't wait to see Yuzuki-kun treated like a princess by everyone," "This is interesting," "I want to read more," or "I want to support this," please leave a heart or a supportive comment at the bottom below, and if you haven't already, please rate it with ★★★ and follow me from the table of contents.

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