Chapter 3
While Lian Qi was showering, my legs felt a bit weak~ and disobedient, like I was broken. So I supported myself on the wall, step by step, and shuffled to the full-length mirror. I looked at my own shameful appearance… eh, eh…?? Can you… faintly see a… bulge… through the skirt?
If Lian Qi or Qifeng saw this, they’d definitely think I was hiding something. With a look of shame, I waved my hand and summoned a bit of Holy Light to cover the skirt and hide my embarrassment—!
Although you couldn’t see anything on the outside now, I couldn’t possibly walk around in a glowing skirt. Wouldn’t that be “the more you try to hide it, the more it shows”? So this was just to temporarily make myself feel less ashamed when looking in the mirror.
I know full well that doing shameful things with Lian Qi is playing with fire. I know that real girls don’t have to worry about their secret being exposed if their skirt is accidentally touched. But here I am, trying to be reserved on one hand, while terrified of my identity being exposed on the other. The pressure is immense! But every time, I obediently submit to her clutches, and my body just won’t behave!
I fidgeted in front of the mirror… Even with the Holy Light covering it, I still felt incredibly awkward. I really want to calm down, quickly.
Maybe I can… think about other things, to distract myself?
The Rain Caller who created the ‘smog’ still hasn’t shown up. So, a few days ago, I asked Tristina to help me find the Rain Caller’s prison archives. I wanted to learn more. She should have found them by now, right? I’ve decided—I’ll go to the palace to find her tomorrow.
Just then, I heard footsteps on the spiral staircase.
“‘Fei’er, are you okay? Lian Qi said your stomach was bothering you.‘”
It’s Qifeng!
Ugh— my legs were so weak I couldn’t walk, like they’d fallen asleep after sitting too long. Even moving was agony. But I couldn’t worry about that. I quickly flopped onto the bed. When Qifeng pushed open my door, I looked up and gave her an awkward smile—“‘What are you doing here?‘”
Qifeng stared at me blankly, blinking.
“‘Fei’er… why is your skirt… glowing?‘”
Crap, I forgot… I quickly extinguished the Holy Light covering my skirt.
“‘It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.‘”
Qifeng covered her mouth, staring at me in surprise. We’re childhood friends, but she looked at me like it was the first time she’d ever met me.
“‘Fei’er… could it be… even the blood you bleed… is Holy Light…?‘”
I slammed my head into the mattress. I was speechless.
…Are all Transmutation-types this imaginative?
“‘After all, your tears turn into Holy Light. That means… any fluid in your body could be, too.‘”
Qifeng smiled, sitting down right next to me on the edge of the bed. She wasn’t wearing her ponytail. A fragrance different from Lian Qi’s wafted from her long golden hair…
“‘You’re saying weird things,’ I whispered.”
What do you mean “any fluid in your body”? Besides tears, what else is there!
“‘My job is an Inspector. I’m very good at reasoning, you know~’”
‘Alright, alright.’ I thought to myself. You don’t even know that I, the person who grew up with you, am a boy. If Lian Qi ever finds out, she’ll probably even suspect that Qifeng knew all along and was just conspiring with me to deceive her. Ugh…
“‘Well… Fei’er, if you’re not feeling well, if there’s anything you need from me, just order me around~’ She looked at me expectantly, but I really couldn’t think of anything I needed her to do…”
“‘I’ll let you know if I think of something.‘”
“‘Do you need hot water?’ she asked caringly.”
“‘Lian Qi already brought me some. By the way, why do you two always recommend hot water?‘”
“‘Is this it? It’s already cold. I’ll go pour you a new one.’ She picked up the cup from the bedside table and drank from it, not seeming to mind at all that I had drunk from it.”
“‘N-no, that’s fine!‘”
“‘Then do you need a hot water bottle?’”
”‘…You can save yourself the trouble.‘”
If she offered me an ice pack to cool down, I’d gladly accept.
Speaking of which, while chatting about this and that with Qifeng, my body had unknowingly calmed down. I didn’t have to worry about the awkward bulge in my skirt being discovered anymore.
I sat up, kneeling on the bed.
“‘You don’t have to do anything. I just… have a question I’m curious about. Just sit there and answer me honestly.‘”
“‘Mhm!’ She unconsciously pressed her legs together, looking at me with an expression of great anticipation.”
“‘Whether it’s my three-sizes or anything else, I’ll answer truthfully~’”
Who wants to know her three-sizes…
What’s the word? ‘Curvy’? Qifeng is that type, isn’t she? Unlike Lian Qi, whose figure isn’t obvious with clothes on, Qifeng is the type who can’t hide it even if she wants to. Back when I didn’t know I was a boy, I used to get pretty depressed watching her ‘develop’ day by day while I stayed stagnant. But I’m over it now.
And don’t be fooled because she’s taller than me and think she has a strong aura or something. She actually has M-tendencies.
“‘Um… that…’ I hesitated, but finally said it: ‘Do you… get wet, too?‘”
Qifeng froze for a good few seconds. Then, her face turned red, her eyes blinked rapidly, and her gaze darted around.
“‘Ah… geez! Fei’er, how could you ask a question like that…‘”
“‘You’re unexpectedly shy.‘”
Since this involves an area I’m clueless about, I thought it’d be better to do some research. You know, understand girls better, so I don’t get suspected if I can’t answer certain questions. And Qifeng, my childhood friend, is without a doubt the best person to ask. Besides, this kind of topic… I can’t possibly go ask Sister Aijieliya, can I!?
“‘I do…‘”
Qifeng answered, fidgeting.
“‘Sometimes… when I’m tied up… I do…‘”
I frowned. ”‘…Huh? Doesn’t being tied up just… make you excited?‘”
“‘When I get excited… I-I get wet,’ she stammered.”
…
I’ve been tied up twice… how come I never felt that? Qifeng really is a lost cause.
“‘O-of course… it’s not just that. When you bully me, I do too~ Because… being with you… gives me a lot of feelings,’ she explained quickly, as if afraid I’d get angry.”
I nodded.
Excitement plus “feelings”. I pretty much get it. It seems it’s not that different from boys? But girls are girls… they don’t get a mysterious bulge.
“‘What about you, Fei’er? Do you, too?’ she asked, blushing. I replied, full of shame: ‘O-of course I do.‘”
I can’t give Qifeng the mistaken impression that I’m not a girl.
“‘When does it happen?’ Qifeng leaned in, looking at me tenderly. Does talking about such private topics make it easier to get closer?”
“‘When I’m wearing a swimsuit and look in the mirror… when I’m wearing a maid outfit and look in the mirror… hmm… the student uniform seems to be okay?’ I scratched my cheek with one finger, answering shyly.”
“‘Eh— Fei’er, you thought it was weird that I said ‘being tied up’, but aren’t you just… because you feel shame…‘”
I gave a weak laugh. “‘Feeling shame makes me excited, and when I get excited, it… just happens.‘”
I was answering Qifeng based on my own experience. It’s just… when I’m bullied by Lian Qi, I feel shame, and when I bully her (Qifeng), I feel excited. I just won’t mention those two things.