Chapter 2: Seibetsu Kawaru (♀)

This can’t be happening.

Sure, right now, my gender might be listed as "female." But that doesn’t explain why I felt that ZING! It can’t just be my imagination—that sensation was undeniably real.

"Wait up, Seibetsu!"

Koitaro’s voice calls from behind me. Like I care. I need to be alone right now to sort out my feelings.

"Seibetsu!"

"Stop running, you idiot! ...Huh?"

Ugh, noise. That’s Koitaro, Indou, and Kusuri, isn’t it? Please, just stop chasing me. I want to be alone. That’s why I’m sprinting away like—

"Huff… huff…!"

Sprint… ing…

"You call this sprinting?!"

"Her legs are wobbling like a newborn fawn’s…"

"[Even the old man from Momotaro looks sturdier…]"

Retracting my earlier statement. My current state involves Koitaro supporting my shaky, half-collapsed body from behind as I toddle along. Damn this frail physique.

What happened to all that momentum from earlier? I bolted down the stairs toward the first floor, only to run out of steam the second I got there. Now I’m being half-carried, half-dragged by Koitaro while barely managing to “escape.” Wait. This isn’t escaping at all, is it?

"Ugh… h-heh… huff…!"

"You’ve got no stamina, Seibetsu—quit pushing yourself!"

"Guh… ugh…"

Koitaro peers at me with worried eyes. Stop it, idiot—don’t look at me! If I meet his gaze, I’ll feel it again! I was trying so hard not to think about it, but—no, no, it’s happening—the sensation’s flooding back…

Even through my clothes, I can feel it—the rough, masculine grip of his hands supporting my waist. Compared to when I was a guy, it’s… completely different. Firm, yet so careful, like he’s handling something precious… ehehe…

...WAIT! This is all it takes?! Just touching me, and I’m already like this?! No… my thoughts are getting hazier…! Pull yourself together! Okay, think! I still have that memory—when he accidentally confessed to me! That horrified look on his face when he realized I was a guy! He looked so crushed… I wanna comfort him—wait, no, I wanna comfort past me! Ugh. This is bad. Relying on old memories isn’t gonna help.

"Calm down, Seibetsu! Kusuri-senpai brought the antidote—"

"Let go of me, you—...huh?"

Oh. Right. I saw Koitaro drink it and revert earlier. Did I just… panic for nothing?

"Drink this, and the drug’s effects will wear off!"

I try to down the vial Kusuri hands me, but—damn it. My arms are still trembling from that “sprint,” and I can barely keep hold of it.

"K-Koitaro…!"

"Yeah, yeah. The usual, right?"

The usual. This frail body of mine has been through this before, so we’ve got a system.

The problem? I can’t drink liquids lying down. Someone has to support me, but if they’re alone, they can’t hold me and pour at the same time. After many failed attempts (including concussions and soaked clothes), we perfected this method:

1. Koitaro kneels on one knee.

2. I lean against his raised thigh while he wraps an arm around me to keep me from sliding.

3. I open my mouth, and he slowly pours with his free hand.

Yeah. Flawless.

"Ready?"

"…Mmph… nngh…! Mmm…!"

"Oh my…!"

"[Hwawawawawawa…!]"

"Wha—?! Wh-wh-wh—?!"

"This looks… scandalous…"

"But efficient."

I glance sideways at the Koitaro Harem—some are covering their eyes (peeking through their fingers), others are staring outright.

"Gah—! Haaah… saved!"

"Glad you’re back to normal, Seibetsu…"

[“Hwahwahwahwa…!”]

"If I collapsed too… could I also… like that…?"

……I’ve been getting weird looks since earlier. Was it that strange? I mean, me and Koitaro mess around way weirder when we’re just goofing off as guy friends!

"Still, what the hell was that sensation earlier… Huh?"

"What’s wrong? The antidote should’ve worked…"

"……Koitaro. A word. In private."

This is bad. Really bad. I can’t say this in front of the girls, but—nope. As I lean in to whisper, I catch a glimpse of Koitaro’s face slightly flushed. What the hell? But more importantly—shit. This is very bad.

"……! Wh-what is it?"

"Look, Koitaro… I don’t think it fully wore off. My ‘son’… isn’t where he’s supposed to be…!"

"…Excuse me………"

"Sorry, Koitaro… I don’t have the mental bandwidth right now to joke about BLE○CH references…"

"That was coincidental!"

After some awkward back-and-forth (and a very vague explanation), Kusuri-senpai crumples to the ground in despair.

"I’m so sorry…! This is all my fault…! The antidote should’ve worked…!"

"H-hey, it’s okay… You didn’t mean to…"

"But it did work on Aijou Koitaro. There’s a discrepancy here."

"That’s true… There must be another factor…"

…Oh.

Now that I think about it. There was something. A hint from earlier—no, way earlier. I knew it felt off, but I brushed it aside.

"Koitaro, there’s somewhere I need you to take me. You free?"

---

Koitaro carried me on his back to the same shrine we visited on graduation day. That day, the God of Love had definitely said something suspicious. I still don’t know what it meant, but there’s no way it was nothing.

That aside… phew. Being piggybacked is nice! Back when I was a guy, it didn’t mean much, but now I can fully appreciate Koitaro’s sturdy physique—wait, no, this is bad! My thoughts are getting corrupted! At this rate, I’ll really fall for him…!

"K-Koitaro…"

"S-Seibetsu?!"

Still clinging to his back, I nuzzle my face against him. No no no! My body’s moving on its own—my head’s gravitating toward him! This is dangerous! If this keeps up, I’ll—! I’ll—! Fall for real—!

"What’s this, gettin’ all lovey-dovey in front o’ me?! Tch!"

Hah!

"Hah! That was close! A second later and I would’ve—!"

The God of Love saved me—popping his head out of the offering box snapped me back to my senses. Thank you, God. Seriously. I’ll pray to you every day from now on…!

"…………!"

"Sorry, Koitaro… I didn’t mean to go that far…! You must’ve hated that, huh? Even if it’s me, having a guy act like that toward you…"

"Nah, I didn’t really—"

"You don’t have to force yourself! I get it… this stuff’s complicated!"

"You were soft… and smelled nice…"

Koitaro awkwardly (?) looks away. Yeah… I really messed up. You had to hate that…!

Ahem! "So… can we move on now?"

Oh right. I just said I’d be grateful, and here I am feeling guilty again. Anyway, let’s get to the point.

"You… You’re hiding something, aren’t you?"

"Did you do something to Seibetsu too…?"

"Hmm… I suppose it’s time to confess! It’s a long story, but… it all started before you were born…"

---

Long before Seibetsu Kawaru was born, the God of Love and the God of Birth (who oversees life’s creation) were close friends. They’d often work while watching Friday Road Show together. Then, one day—

They were watching Back to the Future Part 3. The scene where the DeLorean crashes into the train shocked them so much, they messed up some paperwork.

Seibetsu’s paperwork.

Originally, Seibetsu’s soul was female. But due to the clerical error, they were born into a male body. This mismatch meant the "ZING!" with their destined partner, Aijou Koitaro, never triggered—until now.

Kusuri’s gender-swap drug temporarily aligned their soul and body, finally activating the "ZING!" they were supposed to feel from the start.

"……You’re definitely an evil god."

"I take back my thanks—you’re* the root of all this?!"*

You’ve gotta be kidding me. So this is why everything’s been so messed up?! And what’s this "God of Birth"?! Did you just add a new deity to the lore, you hack?!

"W-well, these things happen! Y’know, like transgender folks! Souls and bodies don’t always match up!"

"I mean… sure?"

"But Seibetsu never acted like that before. If anything, he was super guy-like…"

"Ah, that’s ‘cause Seibetsu retained memories from a past life! Most souls forget, but theirs was unusually strong—likely from having been male in their previous existence. That’s why their personality leaned that way! Though, as a trade-off, their body ended up frail and more feminine…"

…Hold up, God. Did you just casually drop past-life memories?! Do you know about the original story too?! This is bad! If Koitaro finds out I knew this would happen and got close anyway—our friendship’s over!

"Hey, Seibetsu… You really had past-life memories…?"

"……Yeah. Not like I was hiding it…"

"Hide? Dude, you wouldn’t shut up about it as a kid! ‘Ohhh, my past life this, my past life that—!’ So… it was real?! Sorry for doubting you!"

"Wait, what?! I talked about that?!"

No way… I knew I had less filter as a kid, but I ranted about that?! And everyone just thought I was some cringey chuuni?! That’s why people avoided me?! Makes sense…! I’ll grill the god about the past-life stuff later, but—

"…So why can’t I turn back into a guy?"

"Right... That's why we came here. Please, tell us!"

Exactly. The past-life stuff, the whole "actually female" thing—there's a lot I want to ask, but the real issue is this: The antidote should have worked. So why...?

"Well, lass, yer body’s shifted to its proper gender now, aye? Ain’t no better chance to fix the paperwork mess! If yer gender stays like this, the records’ll match reality—no more ‘mistake.’ The God o’ Birth said as much. Normally, once a life’s made, we ain’t s’posed to meddle… but since they went and changed ya first, might as well roll with it!"

"...Seriously?"

"Dead serious. And that bastard ain’t comin’ down here like me, neither. Just passed along a message: ‘Consider the cute girl look my apology! We cool? Kay, bye!’"

……What.

I should be furious, but somehow… I’m not. Maybe my anger meter’s looped back around. Or maybe it’s—

"Unforgivable… Unforgivable! Messin’ not just with me, but Seibetsu’s whole life…! I’ll end you, God of Birth…!"

"Hey, hey… Sure, losing my life to a DeLorean pisses me off, but… I did meet Koitaro because of all this. Call it a net zero… hell, a net positive?"

As I calm the love monster seething beside me, I sort through my thoughts. They say having someone else lose it makes you calm down—turns out it’s true. Earlier, I was too panicked to think straight, but now? The path’s clear.

If Koitaro’s my destined partner, then not getting with him means eventual doom—death, probably.

I don’t wanna die… but getting with him? That’s… complicated. Part of me feels like my body’s moving on its own, separate from my feelings.

"Ah, one more thing! ‘Bout yer gender swap—the God o’ Birth said: ‘Seibetsu Kawaru’s case is extra special. Starts with all their friendships intact, plus double the love! Souls this strong are freaks, lol.’ That’s all."

……Huh.

So the love driving me now… is rooted in friendship? Meaning, if I give in to these impulses, it’s still me? Huh. Huh.

"Hey… Koitaro."

"Huff… Huff…! …Hah! Wh-what’s up, Seibetsu?"

Finally calmed down, he turns to me. Time to reassess.

If I’m Koitaro’s destined partner, then he must feel the same—maybe not as intensely, but close. Looking back, his behavior was off. Normally, we’d mess around no problem, but he’s been… awkward. Avoiding eye contact.

Of course he would. Even if Aijou Koitaro’s a love-starved monster, he wouldn’t just say "I like you!" to someone who was a guy until recently. No—that’s not quite right.

He’s too considerate. He’s probably worried I’d hate it. Obviously. How many people could just accept their friend suddenly turning female and confessing? That’s the kind of guy he is—aching to confess but holding back.

God. This is exactly why I—

Fine. It’s embarrassing, but… I’ll do it.

"………Koitaro."

"Ah—! Y-yeah? What is it…?"

He’s operating under the assumption I don’t know the "destined partners die if they don’t get together" rule. He could use that as an excuse, but he won’t.

…I love that about him.

So—

"…Aijou. Koitaro."

"…!"

"There’s… a lot of reasons, but—point is, I’m fully a girl now. No going back. So… I’m kinda… scared? Having someone reliable beside me would… help. Or…"

"………"

"—Screw it! Preambles don’t suit me! Hey, Koitaro! You know what I’m trying to say, right? Tried to sound cool, but… I can’t do this alone. So let’s say it together, yeah? On three."

"You’re not gonna pull another prank like back then…?!"

"Prank?! I'm the one bringing it up this time! Ready? Three, two, one—!"

"Aijou Koitaro!"

"Seibetsu Kawaru!"

"Will you..."

"Will you..."

""Go out with me?!""

...

""...Pfft!""

""HAHAHAHAHA!!!!""

---

The next day.

"So, uh... long story short... would it be okay if I officially welcomed Seibetsu Kawaru as my new girlfriend...?!"

"She’s STILL not a girlfriend!"

"[The additional warrior’s full enlistment was foretold...]"

"Dragging out such an obvious punchline is inefficient."

"Never saw this coming...! Oh, and—please don’t call me by my first name? Last name only! Not a fan of that one..."

Man. Life’s unpredictable. Who’d have thought I’d end up part of the Koitaro Harem? So the "101 girlfriends" thing... included me all along.

"But I’m shocked...! The gender-swap drug triggered a permanent change...! It should’ve worn off in half a day!"

"No clue why... Guess she had the potential!"

"Wait, Seibetsu—what about school?"

"Taking a leave for now... Worst case, I’ll transfer. It’ll work out!"

"You’re hopeless... Hey, Eiai, wasn’t it more efficient when Seibetsu was a guy?"

"Dating the same sex is efficient. But bearing children is more efficient."

"Efficiency aside, two guys can’t—can’t make kids, dummy!"

"[............]"

"Shizuku?! You’re overheating from embarrassment...!"

"[A fire dragon’s rampaging in her mind...]"

Anyway! After all that, I’ve officially joined the Koitaro Harem! Man... I’m looking forward to every day from now on. No—my whole life!

---

"Honestly... That idiot’s way too carefree! How’s she even survived this long?!"

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

"...Hikari?"

"No... It’s nothing... Nothing at all..."

---

"...Yes, it’s me. I’ve heard everything. Don’t worry.

A six-timing maggot... and one of them’s a trap?

That pest won’t get near Hikari again."