06. To Be Invited
Look, abandoning that not-really conversation with Hikari had the annoying effect that it stayed with me far longer than comfortable. Not thinking about stuff doesn’t really work, does it? And yes I should’ve thought about it before running my mouth for months. That yes, all the games I played and all the mangas and light novels I devoured don’t exist in this world.
In my defense this world is eerily similar to the one I came from, minus the demons, weird sci-fi gadgets—I’m pretty sure I saw a hologram the other day—and actual genuine magic no-one bats an eye about.
Like, magic is treated as a rare hobby that's pretty useless and not worth all the hassle, unless you’re hunting demons, and even then it’s far from efficient and not recommended.
Oh the contrivance of living in the world of a light novel.
I mean I’m not complaining. If it makes some magical sci-fi gadget possible that lets me turn myself into a girl.
I did apologize to Hikari for running away.
Kinda…
A bit.
Told her I was being an idiot.
She did bring more bento boxes the following days and we did share them. She also disclosed that she stands up early to prepare them, which made me feel even worse for refusing them initially.
We're talking all time now and not only during break, which has increased the frequency of Mr. Kataoka’s angry glances and yesterday even Shiro barked if we 'could please shut up already'.
Which we did not.
I really like Hikari.
I learned she has a little sister named Kimika and that Hikari is into a male idol group called ‘Before’ that is written ‘B4’ and that she spends way too much of her free time playing a foreign MMORPG.
She showed me her character on her phone, proudly proclaiming that she has yet to pay for any outfits and then made a joke that I should wear something similar to her character for when I go out hunting.
Which had my face deep red in embarrassment. Because it was a female character in a salaciously cut skin-tight priestess outfit that left next to nothing open to the imagination.
It had me for a moment paranoid that she had somehow caught me crossdressing, but I quickly buried that thought.
Not really possible, she wouldn’t be this friendly with me if she had.
But I was glad she didn’t ask what I was actually wearing — probably assumed I was hunting in street clothes like most low rank hunters.
Training is going well too.
I’ve been at it for the whole week, and I think I got the feminine speech pattern down. I got the time. In the morning and evening I do the exercises out loud and during the work day in my head. It’s a surprisingly good pacifier, doing little speech exercises in your head.
Makes my customer-service smile twice as bright these days.
It’s the little things.
(✿◠‿◠)
Pitch is still far from perfect tho. Probably because you can’t do the exercise for that in your head. Have to use your actual voice for that. Out loud.
It’s most likely going to take months to get right—what a pain—but even if it’s a more a stop-gap measure, I'll keep at it.
I mean, I’m not going to have to do the pitch thing when I’m a girl, but I want to see how far I can push pretty boy’s voice into pretty girl territory. I also have an ulterior motive, the training makes his voice more mine and I love it.
You know the thing that really got to me after waking up as someone else? How disorienting it is to hear a stranger’s voice when you open your mouth.
So I’m glad to finally rid myself of that feeling.
But best to keep my voice more in guy territory for the time being, don’t want to cause problems for myself.
Oh, and I’ve started what I’d like to call operation 'pest control'.
I found a fantastic spot for a newbie like me to wet their blade on some minor F-class demons.
I’ve been at it all week, every night.
Yes, yes, I know Haruki and Mayumi were adamant that I don’t go out alone, but those girls are so busy and I need the training if I ever want to reach A-rank.
And this spot is supreme, end of the subway, an old residential area with small houses and even smaller gardens. The place is absolutely crawling with these stick-bug looking demons that, according to the encyclopedia in my app, feed off lingering memories.
Not really sure what that means, but it can’t be good.
Their hearts are worth next to nothing, so I have practically no competition and these things do little damage.
Okay… they might give a nasty bite, similar to a cat, but they are so freaking slow. And as long as I’m quick on my feet, these things go down in one or two good swipes. Helps me get a feel for my weapon against actual opponents without straight up risking my life.
In all honesty they look kinda scary, being about as big as a decent sized dog, and hanging off lamp posts, swaying some times out of sync with the breeze. Downright creepy.
So I did that tonight too and I might be actually done with this area. No more signs of activity on my app. What a bummer. Not sure if I'll find such an easy farming spot again. Best enjoy this last farewell and the beautiful night.
It’s super tranquil out here, with the forest of the low mountains rising right behind the small properties. You can hear the wind playing with the leaves, its fingers tugging at the edges of my skirt.
I bet I look totally cute and enchanting right now in my shrine maiden outfit. Skirts are the freaking best. When I’m a girl I’ll wear so many skirts!
I walk by some houses that look abandoned. If I had to guess, I’d say a third of the ones in this neighborhood are empty.
It’s sad.
“Young miss?”
I whip around.
An old grandmother looks at me expectantly from her garden gate, her figure illuminated by the streetlights.
Eh?
I glance around.
( ╹ -╹)?
Oh, yes, right. I look like a girl right now. Gotta remember that.
I’m the ‘young miss’.
I skip over to her, giving a little too eager bow and greeting.
Sorry grandma, not used to being called miss.
She answers with a wide smile.
“Young miss, you are the one who has been excising all these nasty demons the past nights, am I correct?”
Not a young miss—yet—but…
“Yes?”
“How wonderful. You must be very busy, yet can I ask if you would allow me to cook for you?”
Eh!!!?
“Uh…”
“I know slaying these demons doesn’t pay. That is why no-one ever bothers to come to clear them out. I have written the local city council to get together a volunteer group, but… So, young miss, would you allow me the chance to repay your kindness?”
“Uhm… yes.”
“Wonderful! I will inform Mrs. Ogawa and Mrs. Fujita. They will be delighted to meet our mysterious helper. And why not bring a companion? A good looking young miss such you must have someone she can bring.”
Uhm …
“I … yesthankverymuchforyourkindinvitation.”
Breathe man!
Breathe!
I’m so good at making a complete idiot of myself as of late, I should get a prize for it.
Where is that goddamn truck when you need it?
Just plow me over again. Do it.
Please.
I catch the sheepish amusement curling her lips.
That’s mean I’m trying my best here!
A short quivering exhale leaves me, and I try again.
“It-it would be an honor. I have my free day the day after tomorrow, would that be okay?”
“Yes. At twelve?”
“Yes.”
Unsure about the very concept of existing and pretty much everything else, I stare blankly at the grandma in front of me.
I’m the best at interactions! (not)
Finally she has the kindness to release me.
“I’m looking forward to it. Good night, young miss, I am sure you are exhausted, rest well.”
With that she turns and walks to her porch.
“Good night.”
Another bow and I’m off.
Things are getting strange.
Random invitations from grandmas in the dead of night? Sure why not? Perfectly normal, I mean …
I slow down.
I stop.
She was grateful.
I was so set on my on goal, blindly following my obsession for purely selfish reasons and this kind old lady was so grateful for what I did she came out late at night to invite me over for dinner.
I …
I am rotten.
I hadn’t intended to help.
I don’t deserve this.
I’m not a good guy.
Guy…
『 … 』
OH FUCK!
She thinks I’m a girl!
Oh this is bad!
This so bad!
It’s one thing to crossdress and skip through the night hunting demons in what is essentially cosplay, but I can’t very well show up looking like this to a nice meal at grandma’s! And I can’t suddenly surprise her with ‘well I’m actually a guy’, not after I pretended to be a girl, with voice and appearance and all. Their mysterious helper nothing more than a lying weirdo with a embarrassing hobby. A pervert.
It seemed such a perfect idea at the time to crossdress, but it keeps putting me in these awkward situations where I get mistaken for a girl. First by those badass demon-hunters who essentially saved me and then proceeded to add me, for whatever reason, to their all-girls demon-hunter group.
And now the nice grandma.
This isn’t what I had in mind at all, I was just thinking about how this is basically training for later when I get to be a girl!
Ugh…
Why does everything have to be so complicated?
We could’ve avoided all this if I had simply been reborn as a girl.
But no.
Can’t have nice things apparently.
Walking to the subway station I open the group chat. Maybe the gang can help??