One day, my best friend suddenly turned into a sickly girl from the TS - Chapter 5: What's the difference between men and women?

“…Huh?”

This happened on my way back from the staff room, where I had some business after school.

A girl walking ahead of me dropped her handkerchief without noticing. I hurried to pick it up and called out to her.

“Hey, you dropped your handkerchief!”

“…Eh? Oh!”

She turned around, reached into her pocket, and came closer with a surprised expression.

“Sorry about that. I’m always dropping things.”

“It’s fine. Here.”

“Thank you very much.”

What a polite girl.

She was very polite. From the badge on her uniform, I could tell she was a first-year; I was a second-year, so she was my junior.

“I’ve been told to watch out for my friends because I always drop things. I did it again.”

“Well, it’s better than losing your wallet or something. Be careful.”

“Yes!”

She’s a good, honest girl.

As I was about to leave, she seemed to remember something and spoke up.

“Excuse me, senior! I heard from my friends about a senior who changed from male to female… Is that true?”

“Oh, that. It’s true, but…”

“…This world is full of mysteries.”

Indeed it is. 

The disease causing sudden gender changes is now recognized, but it still seems like something out of a manga or anime. Her comment was not strange to me, as I had similar thoughts.

“By the way, may I ask your name, senior?”

“I’m Uozumi. Nice to meet you.”

“Uozumi-senpai, I’m Komori Chigusa. Pleased to meet you.”

“Sure… though I doubt we’ll meet often.”

“You shouldn’t say that, Senpai. This kind of meeting might bring about something good.”

Taking a second look at Chigusa, she certainly had the appearance of a junior, small and somewhat childlike compared to someone like Kanase, one of the top beauties in our class.

“Well then, Senpai, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. Don’t drop anything again, okay?”

“I know! Bye!”

With those final words, Komori turned around and walked away.

I decided to head back to the classroom, where Yoru was waiting. As I neared the corner of the corridor, I unexpectedly ran into someone.

“…Yoru?”

Yes, it was Yoru.

Yes, it was Yoru. I hadn’t expected her to be here since she was supposed to wait in the classroom. She was holding not only her bag but also mine. Had she been waiting all this time? But she looked downcast. Had something happened?

“Yoru――”

“Hey, who was that just now?”

“…Huh?”

Was she referring to Komori?

Yoru looked straight at me, waiting for an answer without blinking. It was a bit intimidating, but I explained about picking up the handkerchief and having a brief chat.

“I picked up a handkerchief she dropped. That’s how we started chatting a bit.”

“…Hmm.”

Yoru let out an unimpressed sound and handed me her bag before walking ahead briskly. I followed her, and near the shoe lockers, she muttered softly.

“…Sorry, I said something weird.”

“The thing you just said?”

“Yeah… What’s wrong with me?”

Yoru held her chest, looking pained.

I didn’t know what to say, but I invited her to my house as usual.

“Want to come to my house? It might be a good distraction.”

“I’m going.”

Great, that’s settled.

Yoru seemed a bit happier as we left the school grounds. She was getting a lot of looks, but unlike in the morning, she didn’t seem to mind them.

“Got used to the stares?”

“Yeah, kind of. I can’t help it now, and besides, you and the others are here for me.”

“…Right.”

“It really helps.”

Hearing that made me happy.

If our roles were reversed, I’d probably rely on her a lot. But becoming a girl is definitely not something I want.

As we walked side by side, I said to Yoru.

“…Strangely, I don’t feel like a woman.”

“That’s because I was a guy until recently.”

She was undeniably attractive, but I couldn’t imagine anything beyond friendship with Yoru.

We stopped at a convenience store and bought some fried chicken. While eating outside, a flashy-looking guy approached us.

“Hey, pretty girl, want to hang out?”

Yoru’s gaze at the guy was icy.

“Shut up. We don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Yes.”

…That’s scary.

The man immediately turns around and walks away at the glow of Yoru’s eyes and words. Even if he’s trying to hit on her, all he can do is run home. If he still won’t give up, he has incredible courage.

“…Don’t get in the way of our time.”

“Oh, you’re saying something that makes me happy.”

I tried to put my arms around her shoulders but stopped myself.

I started to put my arm around her shoulder but stopped. I used to touch her without hesitation, but now I hesitated. Yoru looked at me again.

“Is it because I’m a girl now?”

To hell with it!

Our friendship isn’t something that can be hindered by gender.

“Hnnnuuuuu!!”

“Whoa!?”

I threw my arm around Yoru’s shoulder.

Her hair was silky and smelled great, overwhelming my senses. It didn’t feel like I was just with Yoru; it felt like being close to a real girl.

“Yoru, don’t underestimate me. This is nothing.”

“…Pffft!”

She was surprised at first, but then seeing my blushing face, she burst into laughter.

“Don’t be ridiculous, your face is all red!”

“Shut up. So, is this okay or not?”

“I won’t say it’s not… can’t say it’s not, you idiot.”

Yoru’s smile was genuinely bright.