After Gender Swapping, I Became the Daughter of a Yandere Mother with Animal Ears—With the Help of My Yandere Mom and Powerful Sister, I'll Live as a Fox Girl - Chapter 42: Like a Mother

“It’s not interesting, but… I’ll tell you.”

Chizuru began to speak quietly, prefacing her story.

“I was raised as a girl from the time I was born. When I was little, I think I still had some sense of being a boy, but that’s faded… I couldn’t completely become a girl… Then, my father drove me out of the shrine… It was truly miserable.”

“…”

“It’s rare to hear about someone being raised as a girl like that. Our family has a long line of shrine maidens, and they wanted a female successor. But they couldn’t have children… Then they finally had me. I was supposed to be the successor, but when my father found out I was a boy, he went mad. He insisted, ‘Raise this child as a girl.'”

Chizuru moved her feet in the bath, causing ripples on the water’s surface.

“My mother was weak-willed, so she went along with it, and I lived as a girl. At first, it was fun. Wearing kimonos, having my hair tied up, I felt like a girl. But one day, looking in the mirror, I thought that wasn’t me… There was a girl, a pretty, smiling girl. That was the first time I felt unsure if I was really a girl. Maybe I was a boy.”

She laughed self-deprecatingly.

“What do you think about yourself, Chizuru? Do you think you’re a girl?”

“I don’t know anymore. Until recently, I acted as a shrine maiden. Even if I were a boy, I wouldn’t realize it.”

“I see…”

A silence lingered in the steamy air. The sound of water seemed unusually loud, clearing my mind and leading me to a conclusion.

“It might be irresponsible to say, but maybe it’s okay just to be Chizuru. Think about gender later.”

“But everyone will find me weird.”

“Not everyone. At least, I accept you. Chizuru is Chizuru, whether a girl or a boy.”

“…”

Chizuru stayed silent, probably understanding my words but unable to accept them emotionally.

“Sorry… I might have said something strange…”

“No, I’m happy. Thank you…”

Chizuru spoke without turning around, her voice gentle and tinged with loneliness.

“Kohaku and Ikorva are much kinder than me. They’ll accept you too… So, please stay with us a little longer?”

“Well, for a little while…”

She dipped her face into the water, unable to hide a slight smile.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing…”

Good. I’ve helped her a bit. I felt a sense of accomplishment and happiness.

“Ah, what?”

“What’s wrong?”

My vision blurred. Chizuru’s smiling face turned into one of concern.

“Are you okay!?”

“I, I feel… heavy.”

My head felt heavy, like my brain was being stirred. My body was hot, like having a high fever.

“You’re really hot…”

Chizuru touched my forehead, her cool hand felt good, but my consciousness was fading.

“Mashiro! Stay with me!” ……………… “Uh…”

Opening my eyes, Kohaku’s face was right there.

“Yikes!”

Bump

“Ouch…”

I startled awake, bumping heads with Kohaku.

“Why are you so surprised at my face…”

“It’s just instinct…”

“What’s that? You make it sound like I’m your archenemy!”

Kohaku puffed her cheeks, looking cutely annoyed.

Yet I couldn’t forget; Kohaku was indeed my nemesis… What if she did something while I was asleep?

“Sorry, sorry… How long was I out?”

“About thirty minutes.”

“I see…”

I remembered being in the hot spring with Chizuru, but then it was blurry. I must have overheated, getting lost in the conversation.

“Mashiro!!”

Suddenly, something jumped at me from behind Kohaku.

“Chizuru…”

“You idiot, Mashiro! I thought you might die! What would you do if you died!? If you died, I would… ugh… sob… waaaah!”

“Ahaha… I won’t die just from overheating. But thank you for worrying.”

I stroked Chizuru’s head as she cried. Her silky hair felt good under my fingers.

“Uh, ugh…”

“You really are a crybaby…”

“Shut up…”

Chizuru argued tearfully but didn’t leave my arms.

“Hehe. Onee-chan, you’re like a mother.”

“What!? No, I’m not!”

I shook my head vehemently at Kohaku’s amused smile. I had no memory of having such a big child.

“Come on, Chizuru, let go.”

“No…”

“That’s… troublesome…”

“It’s okay. Just for a little while…”

“Fine… Just for a bit.”

I ended up giving in. Chizuru sat on my lap, leaning against me… completely in spoiled-child mode.

“I won’t let go anymore…”

“Eh!? That’s not the deal!”

“Hehe.”

For the rest of the time until dinner, Chizuru and I never separated…