Chương 21: Chapter 12:"Yu Gets Cornered by Milia"

For three days starting today, this town treats it as a holiday. Of course, school is off too. As for the Qi Sword Arts training I do at night, I asked Inea-sensei to cancel it just during the festival. In exchange, she said with a scary smile that we'll make up for it somewhere. I invited Sensei to come to the festival too, just in case, but that person doesn't seem to like noisy things like this very much, so I wonder if she'll actually come. Anyway, I was looking forward to this day.

Lately, it's been nothing but magic and Qi Sword Arts training, so I intend to enjoy myself properly at least during the festival. Last night I was too excited to sleep easily, so I woke up earlier than usual today. Being careful not to wake Alice, I quietly got ready and decided to go to the morning bath. Taking off my clothes in the changing room, I put them all in a basket. And I opened the door to the bathhouse boldly. Since that incident with the group bathing, I guess I've completely blown off my hesitation.

I stopped sneaking around. The large morning bath had just opened, and there was no one else but me. Before soaking in the bathtub, I rinse my body quickly. The sensation of soft breasts when washing, and the feeling of having nothing in my private parts, I was confused at first, but now it's natural. I suddenly thought that I've been with this body for quite a while now.

Even though I become a man every night, as long as school is the axis of my life, the time I spend as a woman has been much longer since coming here. Normal life being a woman. Continuing that for a long time, there are times when I even start to think that this body is the base me. Well, actually, it's probably not a matter of which one is the base anymore. The two bodies reside within me as inseparable equals. As if it were so from the beginning.

After washing my body and soaking in the bathtub blankly, I heard the sound of the bathhouse door opening. The one who entered was a familiar silver-haired girl. Milia, huh. Did Milia wake up early too? I've been a bit awkward with her lately. Because ever since I said my name when I was a man, she's been looking at me and male-me probingly, staring intently. She must be really suspicious.

"Good morning."

"Good morning." After exchanging greetings, she tightened her expression firmly and started washing her body without saying a word. Strange. Usually, we would chat happily while doing it. What is this awkward atmosphere? I wished Alice were here. She would surely bridge the gap between Milia and me and easily soften this atmosphere. I, who possess no such skill, could only watch her state while holding my breath. Eventually finishing washing, she looked down on the spot for a while.

Looking slightly downward, staring at the empty tiles, she has a thoughtful face. Then, turning to me with a face as if she had made up her mind, she approaches steadily. Soaking right next to me, she even linked arms firmly so I absolutely couldn't escape. Her clear blue eyes stare straight into my face.

"There's no one here. And Alice isn't here either. There is something... I want to talk about." Thump, my heart races. What does she intend to say? If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"What?"

"I am certain. Yu, you have some kind of... inseparable relationship with that man, don't you?" It finally came.

"Even if I say I don't, you won't believe me, right?"

"Yes. Because it is clearly strange." It was a magnificent immediate answer.

"The fact that the names are the same. The fact that the atmosphere is exactly alike. The fact that the way of speaking is the same. The fact that always only either you or that man... is present." Milia rattled off my suspicious points fluently. I, the idiot, finally realized there that the deception operation was functioning even less than I imagined.

"Even Alice, she says things like that, but. Actually... she's suspicious too. I heard. That you have many mysteries. Like being collapsed in the Plains of Death, and various things." Alice too? I see... Now that she mentions it, Alice's reaction when I gave my name as a man was somewhat exaggerated for being convinced. Indeed, she is sharp too. Even though she actually has various thoughts, did she pretend not to know and go along with me all this time...?

"Including things like that. I am curious too. Keeping secrets is not good. What is the truth?" Milia presses with a quiet but strong tone. In a situation pressed this far with truth, it would be impossible to make a poor excuse. I'll surely be seen through. I felt like everything went dark before my eyes.

"Certainly, there are things... I'm hiding..."

"As I thought." The secrets I hold. That I am an otherworlder. That I drifted to this planet. That I don't know when I won't be able to stay on this planet anymore. That I have a transformation ability. That I am originally a man. That I cannot use magic as a man, and since I couldn't think of other means of living, I have been living in the girls' dorm helplessly. In that flow, that I got involved with you, Alice, and various people deeply enough to be unforgivable if I were a man.

I don't think these are things that would be easily believed if said, nor things that should be said lightly. If it's just the transformation ability, I can show it right here. But by showing it, and by telling everything, won't the relationship until now be broken? It's still fine if I just get scolded. They might be put off. They might distance themselves. If that happens. If I can no longer associate like before. I know. I am the bad one. I, who have been silent all along.

But still, I don't want the two of them to leave. Because they are irreplaceable friends I made for the first time when I was lonely in another world. I don't want to lose them. I hate being alone. I'm scared. Precisely because I think so, I couldn't say things that might break the relationship even more, and I still can't say anything now. Out of anxiety and fear, I couldn't confess even to Milia who was waiting for me to tell the truth. What came out instead was a defensive line, an excuse-like word.

"If, what if. If it's something outrageous beyond imagination, what would you do? And if it's something unforgivable for you and Alice..." I knew my voice was trembling. Milia looked straight into my pathetic eyes and—"No matter what it is, we will forgive you, obviously."

"Ah..." That was a word I hadn't expected.

"Because. No matter what circumstances there are, Yu is... Yu, right?" I am me. Her words soak warmly into my chest that seemed to be crushed by anxiety.

"At that time, you called out to me when I was in trouble alone. And you've been friendly with me ever since; you are my favorite Yu, aren't you? Am I wrong? Is there a lie even in that heart?" Ah—I see. Was that it. Milia thought of me that much. I was happy. Overcome with emotion, I feel like crying.

"No, you're not wrong... I am me." Milia smiled gently seeing me desperately holding back tears.

"Fufu. Then, there is no problem. Please rest assured and tell us everything. I don't care what your true identity is."

"Yeah."

"Alice and I, because you don't say anything. We are... worried. We think we want to help you."

"Yeah..." I was an idiot. Why couldn't I realize such a simple thing because I was too afraid to speak? Why couldn't I trust the two of them more? Even though the two of them have been looking at me as a human being rather than who I am all along. Fearing on my own, closing my heart. It's been like that since long ago. I haven't grown at all. Really an idiot. Disqualified as a friend. I wiped the tears accumulated in my eyes with my arm. I might surprise them greatly. But, let's talk properly.

On top of that, this time, without lies, I want to become a friend in the true sense. I thought so.

"Someday, I'll tell you two properly in the near future. When I sort out my feelings, I'll definitely tell you."

"I'm glad. I'll tell Alice about this. She will definitely... be happy."

"I'll say it in advance, but sorry."

"Well, judgment on that part is... after you talk. It might be... Iron Fist Punishment." At the "Iron Fist Punishment" part, Milia floated her specialty dark smile. At that moment, I remembered Inea-sensei's words, 『Isn't that something that would be settled with one punch? 』 Forgetting the warmth of the hot water, my spine froze.