My Life Was Already Messed Up, So What If I’m a Girl Now?!

"I'm home..." I muttered as I finally stepped through the door, exhaustion dripping from my voice.

"Ryusei!"

Keiko’s voice startled me. She was waiting in the living room, concern etched across her face. I blinked, surprised.

"I thought you haven’t come home yet," I said, scratching the back of my head.

"It’s almost nine. Are you okay? Have you eaten dinner?" she asked, her tone equal parts worry and scolding.

I glanced at the clock and winced. Almost nine? No wonder she looked so concerned. I’d gotten lost in my thoughts, wandering who-knows-where, taking pointless detours because my head wouldn’t stop spinning.

"Not yet..." I admitted sheepishly.

Keiko exhaled, then softened. "Get a shower first... I’ll make you something."

I nodded. "Thanks."

---

The hot shower helped clear my head, but only a little. When I walked back to the kitchen, the smell of broth greeted me warmly.

At the dining table, Rin was slouched in her chair, playing on her phone. Keiko was busy at the counter, sleeves rolled up, hair tied back.

"Sorry, five more minutes," Keiko said the moment she saw me. "I didn’t realize how hungry you’d be."

I waved it off and sat down. "It’s fine. I’m not starving yet. Take your time."

"Dad!"

Rin suddenly piped up, shoving her phone at me. Her tone was sharp, but her eyes had a mischievous spark.

I blinked, confused, then looked at the screen. My stomach dropped.

It was 'The Prince'. That cursed host club photo of me—or rather, the other me.

"Is this the host place? It says ‘The Prince’... I saw your face." Rin said matter-of-factly.

I froze. My brain scrambled for an explanation, but my expression must’ve betrayed me. Before I could even open my mouth, Rin added casually, "Oh, Mom told me about it."

"Wait, what?"

Keiko, without even turning around, replied, "I thought Rin deserved to know. Better she hears it from me than stumbles onto it herself."

I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples. "Right... I didn’t want my daughter finding out her dad is somehow a host, then thinking that’s who I really am."

Rin tilted her head, serious now. "But are you the real one though?"

Her words stung. I forced a smirk. "Of course I am. You want proof?"

"Yes please." Rin leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. "On my fourteenth birthday, what did you buy me as a gift?"

My heart sank. Silence stretched as I searched for an answer I didn’t have.

Rin grinned like a cat with cream. "Exactly. Nothing. Congrats, you pass. That’s the real Dad."

"...Glad you believe me now," I muttered, trying not to sound wounded.

From the corner of my eye, Keiko let out a long sigh at our back-and-forth.

Then Rin did the unexpected. She looked back at the photo, tilted her head, and said with a faint smile, "But... actually, you look kind of cool here. Handsome, even."

I smirked, seizing the compliment. "I always am."

"Tch. Not when you’re my dad, though." Rin stuck out her tongue.

"This kid..." I grumbled.

"You two, enough." Keiko cut in, placing a steaming bowl of miso ramen in front of me. "Here. Eat before you start another round."

"Thanks," I said, grabbing the chopsticks.

Keiko finally sat beside me, her shoulders relaxing slightly now that food was on the table. "So... how’s it going?" she asked carefully.

I slurped the broth before answering. "At least I know his name now. And his job. Makes it easier to track him down."

Keiko raised a brow. "And?"

"Riku," I said flatly. "That’s his name."

Her lips tightened, thoughtful. "Did Junpei reply yet?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. I sent him the details though. Hopefully he can dig something up soon."

Keiko nodded, but I could see the worry flicker in her eyes.

Rin leaned forward suddenly, curiosity burning. "So what’s your plan once you find him?"

I hesitated. My chopsticks hovered over the noodles. The truth was heavy in my chest.

"I... just want to know how this happened," I said slowly. "If someone can switch bodies so easily, it’s dangerous. Don’t you think?"

Keiko nodded solemnly. "You’ve got a point."

Rin wasn’t satisfied. Her gaze cut into me, sharp and direct. "But... do you want to go back? To your real body?"

The question hit me like a hammer.

Of course I wanted to. Desperately. I wanted to fix everything as myself. To look Keiko in the eyes as the man she once trusted. To be Rin’s father with my own hands, not borrowed ones. But... the silence stretched. Their eyes on me felt too heavy.

"You do, don’t you?" Rin whispered, reading me like an open book.

I swallowed hard. "I... I want to do it as myself. To fix things. To earn back your trust, and your mother’s trust. To redeem all of my mistakes and sins as me—not as this."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Even the faint hum of the fridge felt loud.

"...Sorry, Rin," I added quietly. "I know you told me you’d rather have me as Ryuko, but... I can’t help being selfish. Thinking about myself."

Rin leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her eyes softer now. "Not selfish. It makes sense. Part of me still wants you to take responsibility as yourself too."

Keiko exhaled, her expression conflicted. "Honestly, same. Sometimes I look at you and all I can remember is what you did... and I want to punch you. But then I see this innocent girl’s face, and... it messes with me."

"Agree!" Rin shouted, pointing at me with a dramatic flourish.

I flinched, staring at both of them as they glared in unison. "What?!"

Their arms folded, their pouts eerily identical.

I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! No rebuttals."

They both chuckled at my expense, their laughter filling the room. For a moment, the tension cracked, replaced by that warm, chaotic family atmosphere I didn’t deserve but desperately wanted to protect.

Still, deep down, I couldn’t shake the unease crawling at the back of my mind. Riku’s face. Riku’s smirk. The unknown danger he carried.

I forced a smile and dug into my ramen, but in my chest, a storm was brewing.