Have you found anyone "interesting" in your life?

They chatted for a while about how the cost of living in Japan had changed, especially in some areas of Tokyo.

And then, after a short pause, "Actually, speaking of apartments... You mentioned that you two live together? Right?" Rika asked, gazing at Seiji and Hideaki.

Ken perked up at that. "Oh, yeah. They are," he explained, "I was pretty surprised when I found out myself."

Rika's eyebrows rose with interest. "Really? Why though?"

"Let's just say that some people here can be... pretty closed off if it goes with their roommate's choices, heh." Ken replied, looking straight at Seiji.

"Oh.. Then in that case, how did that happen?" Rika asked now even more curious.

Seiji, as always, kept his response brief. "Circumstances."

Rika tilted her head, clearly not satisfied with that vague answer. "Oh, come on, don't leave me hanging. Was it like one of those 'we just happened to need a place' situations, or was there more to it?"

Ken laughed. "You know, Seiji - he's not one to spill details so easily. But yeah, from what he told me, let's just say it was... an unusual arrangement."

Rika nodded. "Hmm... Alright then."

'I'll crack the mystery eventually.'

Hideaki, still not entirely comfortable with the situation, looked away and just listened to them, meanwhile having another panic attack in his head.

'She'll figure it out. She'll find out that Seiji is hiding me, and the police will come for me!'

"Yeah... So, uh Rika? I'm actually curious, how was your time abroad?" Seiji asked, trying to steer the topic of their meeting away, offering a cool yet pleasant smile.

Hideaki's shoulders tensed at the mention of her time abroad, fidgeting slightly in his seat.

Ken nodded enthusiastically, blushing. "Oh, yeah! I'm actually curious about that too. I bet you've got some crazy stories!"

Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Hideaki, attempting to bring him into the conversation.

"Right, Miyahara-san? You were curious about her too, weren't you?" He said, wanting to make step toward breaking the ice in his own way.

Hideaki's eyes shifted briefly to Seiji, as if hoping the conversation would quickly move on and leave him out of the spotlight, but Seiji, as usual, had his subtle way of pushing the situation forward.

He smirked slightly, his gaze flicking toward Hideaki before returning to Rika.

"Actually, Hideaki was the most curious of all, he's just too shy to ask." he remarked in his usual even tone, though there was a slight teasing edge to it. "But since Ken already brought it up... Hideaki? Go on."

Hideaki tightened the grip on his cup, "Tch- like h-hell I am," he muttered, glaring at Seiji.

"Oh, come on, Miyahara-san! It's not scary — we're all just curious. Rika definitely has a lot of cool stories to tell. To be honest... heh.. She's already plenty interesting..."

Rika waved her hand, smiling slightly and looking away — a little embarrassed by the attention, but not angry.

"Ken, come on..."

Her cheeks heated slightly.

"It's no big deal — seriously."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked back at Hideaki.

He was tense. Very tense.

Even more so than before.

'He's so nervous all the time...'  she thought.

'And quiet... too quiet.'

However, seeing that the entire focus of the conversation was falling on him and beginning to overwhelm him, she smiled softly — calmer, gentler.

She wanted to show him that he didn't have to stress.

"I won't quiz you on it" she said in a gentle tone. "If you're not comfotable in telling out loud what you wanted to ask, I won't push you. Heheh." She showed a warm smile to him, hoping to ease the tension.

Seiji took a calm sip of his coffee, his smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Give him a minute - I'm sure he'll start asking once you get into the interesting parts."

Hideaki narrowed his eyes at Seiji, his face turning into an angered frown, but he knew fighting it would only make things worse.

He let out a frustrated sigh and turned his gaze to the side. "Tch... J-just... Talk about your USA stories already..." 'And leave me alone!'

Seiji's expression remained composed, but inwardly, he was satisfied. It wasn't about embarrassing Hideaki - it was about nudging him forward, making sure he didn't just retreat into silence and was seen as someone weird.

Ken let out a short chuckle, though there was a flicker of caution in his eyes. "Heh... well, maybe tell us your favorite moment from there, Rika? Right, Miyahara-san?" he said, trying to ease the tension without sounding too harsh.

"M-mhm..." Hideaki replied with croocked forced smile.

Rika nodded softly, fingers brushing the rim of her cup as she gathered her thoughts.

"Alright then… since you’re all so curious…"

She paused for a moment, as if deciding which memory to choose.

"One of my favorite moments in the States was when my friends and I got the idea to sneak onto the rooftop of a skyscraper in New York. Illegally, of course." Her voice brightened as she began the story.

Ken raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sounds like something that would end up in a police report."

"Hehe, almost!" Rika chuckled. "We were in the middle of the city, and my friend Lucas had this theory that if you look confident enough, no one will stop you. So we walked into the building like we worked there. Lucas pretended to be some new intern, I acted like I had important documents to deliver, and the rest just... followed along."

"Sounds like a stupid plan," Seiji commented, sipping his coffee.

"Heeeey, but it worked!" Rika giggled, clearly enthusiastic about her story. "We got into the elevator, went to the top floor, and then found a door leading to the rooftop. It was locked, but... well, someone in our group knew how to open things like that."

Seiji glanced at her carefully. "Interesting," he remarked coolly, though there was a faint glint of intrigue in his eyes.

Hideaki scoffed. "Illegal trespassing, great. You were lucky that police didn't catch you..." He said it with a hint of jealousy.

Seiji silently leaned over him, whispering to his ear,
"Just a reminder, that knowing you, you probably did illegal trespassing to many places as well, when you were wandering alone on streets of Tokyo."

"Tch-" Hideaki hissed.

Rika shrugged at Hideaki. "Hey, no one got hurt. And once we were on the rooftop... wow." Her eyes went soft "The view was incredible. The whole city lit up with millions of lights. I felt like I was in a movie."

Ken gazed at her softly, with delicate blushes on his cheeks. Then he felt the growing heat on his face...

'Dang it! Controlling emotions is not easy with her being around...'

Seiji merely raised an eyebrow. "Reckless. And not very smart."

"Well.. when I'm looking at it from now, yes. It was reckless. But sometimes, you have to take risks to experience something extraordinary, right?" She added.

Seiji briefly gazed at Hideaki and sighed softly.

"I guess, you're right..."

Rika nodded, with letting out a quiet hum, smiling kindly.

"Alright, your turn. Any crazy stories, or am I the only one here with a criminal past?"

Hideaki had stiffened almost immediately.

Seiji sighed inwardly glancing at Hideaki. He set his cup down with a quiet clink,

"Well, considering Hideaki and I don't have a criminal record, I'm afraid we can't compete," he said smoothly.

Ken chuckled. "Yeah, no wild rooftop adventures for these two."

"No fun stories at all?" Rika asked little taken aback.

Seiji shrugged slightly. "We live fairly ordinary lives. Nothing as dramatic as breaking into restricted areas."

Rika tilted her head, studying him. "Hmm... I don't buy that. You two seem way too interesting to be boring."
'Maybe they are gay but don't want to admit...'  she pondered.

Seiji gave a faint smirk but didn't elaborate. "Perception can be deceiving."

Then, with the same effortless ease, he redirected the conversation.

"But since you seem fond of adventure, is that why you decided to study abroad in the first place?"

Rika blinked at the sudden shift but quickly caught on.

"Oh! Yeah, actually, that's part of it. I always wanted to experience something different, to push myself outside my comfort zone. And... let me tell you, America was definitely different..."

Her tone softened slightly. She gazed at the rest of the coffee in her cup.

"It was a huge culture shock, honestly. I had no idea what to expect, but it was everything I hoped for and more." she smiled warmly. "But, after a while, I started to miss Tokyo, so it's so good to be finally back."

Ken nodded. "I've heard it's a wild adjustment. All those huge portions and endless small talk, right?"

Rika laughed softly. "Exactly. And people just talk to you out of nowhere. Like, I was just trying to buy toothpaste and suddenly I'm in someone's life story."

Seiji raised an eyebrow. "Sounds exhausting."

Rika glanced at him with slight amusement. "It kind of was. But also... kind of nice. You start missing it after a while."

There was a brief pause, and unexpectedly, Hideaki spoke up, not looking at anyone:

"...What was the first thing you did when you got back?"

Rika looked a bit surprised, but smiled. "Oh... hmm. I went straight to my old neighborhood. Got melon pan from corner bakery - it tasted exactly the same."

Hideaki nodded slowly, still not lifting his gaze. "Some things don't change."

Seiji observed the exchange in silence, though there was a subtle shift in his gaze - less cold, more attentive.

Rika leaned back slightly in her seat. "And I guess... that's what I missed most. The feeling that somewhere, things are still familiar. Like you belong."

"You're getting all poetic on us now, Rika." Ken pointed out lightly.

Rika laughed softly "Maybe the jet lag is finally kicking in."

"That's a nice way to put it." Ken added litle bit sarcastially.

"I'm trying not to disappoint." Rika replied equally teasingly

Seiji allowed himself a faint smile, then spoke in his calm tone:

"Sometimes it's not the place that changes - just the way you see it after you've been away."

Ken nodded with a understanding smile, and then gazed at Rika, blushing shyly.

'Maybe I'll gather the courage to confess my feelings this time. A little half-joking flirt as a start will be a good idea.'

He pondered in his mind then feeling determinated he added:

"Also, Rika-chan, did you eat your weight in fries like you claimed to? Heheh."

Rika's face turned pink with embarrassment. "Eh? N-no! Hehe... Ken, that was just a joke! I didn't really eat that much... I'm surprised you even remembered something like that... eheheh..." she giggled nervously.

"Well, I've got a good memory for things like that," Ken replied, flashing a proud grin, thinking that he nailed the flirt towards her, but then Seiji cut himself in with a sharp retort...

"Except when it comes to remembering someone's address."

"Oh, come on, Seiji!" Ken said sounding bashful.

"Oh, he can't be perfect all the time, can he?" Rika said with a teasing glint in her eyes, catching his dry tone.

Seiji leaned back slightly, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Perfection is a rare commodity," he remarked with dry amusement. 

"But one would think someone who can recall food-related details might manage the basic task of remembering a simple address."

He glanced at Ken again, his tone subtly sharper.

"Priorities, after all."

Ken blushed again and rolled his eyes in response, "Yeah, yeah Seiji... You got me, hehe."

'Damn... confession... and flirt mission... didn't work out. Thanks Seiji...'

Then his gaze landed on Hideaki, who appeared to be lost in his thoughts.

'Speaking of Seiji, he asked me to try being friends with him but...'

Ken sighed lightly. Inside, a quiet uncertainty gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the memories of the aggression and hostility Hideaki had shown with every time they met.

'Could I really be friends with someone who is so... dangerous...?'

The idea seemed almost impossible, but he didn't want to show any of this doubt outwardly.

'I guess we'll find out over time...'  he thought, brushing aside the uneasy feeling. But a small part of him still wondered how long this uneasy peace could really last.

Rika finished her coffee and gazed at the brightly green potted plant on the windowsill. After a moment, she asked with a slight blush on her cheeks:

"On a different note... have you guys found anyone "interesting" in your life?"

Ken immediately blushed, "I-I you know.. uh..." he started to stutter trying to make an response.

'H-how I could answer her that she's the one 'interesting' in my life since college, without making it awkward? Damnit... I've had been trying to confess my feeling for her even before she left to U.S but now it's becoming twice as challenging!'

Hideaki stiffened and turned his sight on the side but mainly from embarrassment.

And Seiji? He surprisingly took that question with a stride.

He calmly swallowed his coffee, despite the topic being one he wasn't keen on. He took a moment to collect his thoughts.

"I had a girlfriend. But we broke up a while ago," he replied with a neutral tone, offering no more than necessary.

"Oh, a girlfriend? Why did you break up with her? If I may ask?" Rika asked, leaning forward slightly, her curiosity genuine.

"Let's say... That she just wasn't playing fair with me. She had 'other' priorities than spending time with me. That's all."

Rika nodded slowly, absorbing the answer. "Have you started looking for a new girlfriend yet?"

Ken nearly jumped in his seat. His eyes widened and he clenched his hands under the table, heart pounding.

'She asked him that kind of question? That directly?'

A knot tightened in his chest - not just from surprise, but from the creeping suspicion that Rika might be interested in Seiji.

"No, not yet." Seiji calmly replied "Let's just say I have... other things that I have to deal with first..." He replied.

"Oh, like what?" she asked, her interest piqued.

Seiji subtly gestured toward Hideaki, who with still visible blushes on his cheeks, was licking the foam from his coffee like a cat.

"Him? What's so hard about handling a guy who's... well, so quiet and socially awkward?"

"He can be... A real challenge sometimes..." Seiji replied.

"Oh, I understand." Rika nodded.

Seiji took a last quiet sip of his coffee, allowing the moment to pass.

Suddenly Ken bolted up from his chair.

"Alright, let's stop talking about romance. Maybe we focus on something fun, instead?" He asked a little bit anxious, wanting to drive the stressing topic away from him.

"Something fun, you said? Okay." She smiled gently.

"Something fun..." Seiji mused aloud, then turned to Hideaki "The beach trip we had recently was very fun. What if you would say something more about it, Hideaki?"

Hideaki groaned but reluctantly continued. "We went to the beach... sunbathed... and... did stuff... it was f-fun until this idi- uh... I mean... Ken... came to us..."

Ken chuckled nervously. "Yeah, hehe... It was an unexpected visit."

"Weird..." Rika started "Usually when Ken comes it's even more fun. He tells good jokes! I still remember our pranks in college with his Magic Ability hehe!"

"Really?" Ken blushed deeply "The fact you find me funny is the real joke... hehe." He rubbed his head from embarrassment.

Seiji silently chuckled at this.

"Oh, Ken, don't treat yourself so harshly. You're one of better jokesters that I know! And I know quite a lot." Rika said gently nodding him on his shoulder, causing Ken to blush deeply, partly from embarrassment and partly from her compliments.

"R-really?" He asked with unbelievability.

"Mhm!" She nodded, smiling kindly at him.

Seiji exhaled softly through his nose. He felt quite relaxed with the presence of these three. Even though one of them was a sadistic, yet very anxious serial killer.

He gazed at Rika, and his cool eyes stopped at her hands.

"Actually, Rika?" He started.

Rika turned to him, "Yes?" She asked kindly.

"What is your Magic Ability?"

"Oh," She smiled "It's nothing special. Kinda useless Ability if I would be honest."

Seiji looked at Rika calmly, as if analyzing every word she said.

"'Useless,' you say?" he raised a brow slightly. "Sounds like something I'd like to see."

Rika blinked quickly, unsure if she heard him right.

"See it? Now? But... it's a bit... unusual... and I don't know who I should try it on..."

Seiji shrugged in his cool, composed manner.

"You can use me, if that makes the decision easier."

Rika's eyes widened.

"On you? Seiji... are you sure? It's very... specific..."

"I'm asking you too, pal. Are you absolutely sure?" Ken asked equally shocked.

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have offered."
Seiji replied calmly, taking the last sip of his coffee.

Rika inhaled, sitting up a little straighter.

"Alright... if you really want to. But please, if you feel anything weird or if I change too much—"

"Rika." Seiji interrupted gently. "It will be fine."

That alone made Rika quiet down. She lifted her hands, and purple aura sparkled from her fingers.

"Okay... it's just a temporary alteration... nothing permanent..." she whispered to herself.

Ken watched like he was witnessing both a miracle and a horror.

Hideaki, holding his cup, looked at them nervously.

"Uh... what are you guys—"

And then—
a flash.

Soft, purple, brief.

They all blinked.

Seiji looked... exactly the same.

But Hideaki... did not.

Sitting beside them was no longer the same Hideaki.

A girl — with wide, horrified eyes — held the cup awkwardly in suddenly much smaller hands.

"...w-...WHAT?!"
Hideaki squeaked in a much higher voice.

Rika nearly jumped out of her chair, going pale as a sheet.

"...uuuh... th-this... wasn't... supposed to happen." Rika stammered, panic rising. "Seiji, I swear, this wasn't intentional! Hideaki, I'm SO sorry!! I... I really thought that it will affect only Seiji!!!"

Ken stared speechless.

Suddenly, Hideaki noticed an obstruction in his line of movement. He looked down, only to find two ball-sized jiggly skin sacks protruding from his chest - breasts

"W-W... WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO ME!?!?!?!?!?" he exclaimed, sounding more as a female rather than a male, examining himself in both fear and frustration.

"Um.. You..." Ken started.

"You actually turned into..." Seiji continued, blushing lightly.

"I'm... A... GIRL!?!?!" Hideaki suddenly blurted out.

"Well... Yes hehe! You could say that I made a little... 'change' in your appearance. But don't worry! It isn't permanent!" Rika tried to calm down him - ...and herself.

"Does my rest of the body also looks more feminine!?" Hideaki asked them with growing panic.

Both Ken and Seiji nodded in response to Hideaki's question, their gazes briefly catching on the noticeable feminine features in his new form.

While Ken seemed more of surprised, Seiji's reaction was much more internal.

Besides the initial shock, he felt an unexpected blushes rise on his face, though he quickly tried to mask it.

Hideaki noticed Seiji's momentary reaction and grew defensive. "H-Hey! Why the hell do you suddenly have those red cheeks, huh?!"

Seiji composed himself almost instantly, his voice controlled and neutral. "No reason," he replied calmly, though his inner thoughts betrayed him for a brief moment. 'This is ridiculous... But he does look cute.'

His gaze moved instinctively at Hideaki's... Boobs.

'I wonder if his big nipples are the same big size on breasts now. If so, he... I mean.. she would look so hot naked...'

Then he snapped himself out of the thoughts.

'Fuck... Get a grip. What the hell am I even thinking about!?'

Hideaki, filled with frustration, suddenly stood up and grabbed Rika by her shirt, glaring intensely. "Undo this now!"

Rika flinched slightly at the sudden motion, instinctively tensing up.

"I-I can't!"

"Huh!? What do you mean by 'you can't'!?"

"Get off of her, Miyahara." Suddenly, Ken's voice cut through the room like a blade - calm, but firm. His face was filled with - not fear, but a quiet warning. A warning of someone who would do certian steps to tame down his actions...

At this moment Seiji bonked Hideaki in his head. "Let her go, and sit on your annoying ass, now." he said, his voice low and almost threateaning.

"Tch-" Hideaki held her for a moment longer, his hand shaking with nerves. Then he let go.

Rika sat down carefully, and exhaled with release.

"I c-can't change you back until the spell wears off in 24 h-hours," she explained, her voice shaky. "That's just how my Gender-Bender M-Magic Ability works."

She gently placed her hand over Hideaki's, not to pull it away, but as if grounding the tension.

"This isn't about making fun of you," she added softly. "I was aiming to turn Seiji, but.. In the last moment, I got a little bit distracted... and it changed you instead... I'm terribly sorry for that!" She bowed apologetically.

"Tch- F-fine..." Hideaki muttered.

"Actually how exactly does your Magic Ability works, Rika?" Seiji suddenly asked curious. "Is it an illusion or a complete transformation?"

"It's a complete transformation." Rika replied, now more calmer. "It rewrites your physical body temporarily. Your bones, muscles, voice and of course hormones... everything shifts to a female equivalent. Or.. male. Depends of your original sex."

"You mentioned earlier that you and Ken used to pull pranks at university. Did you use your Magic Ability for that?"

"Oh?" Rika titled her head "No, no. Because of how invasive it is... I almost never use it. It's too easy to cross boundaries."

"Rika is very sensitive about others well being." Ken added calmly. 'And I adore her for that.'

Rika nodded "My parents also told me to only use it in emergencies. Or... when someone explicitly asks me to."

"And are you sure you can't shorten it's duration time??" Hideaki asked worried.

Rika shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. Like any Magic Ability that's involving transformation, I can't shorten it, I can't extend it, and I definitely can't cancel it once it starts."

"Usually teachers teach about transformation Magic Abilities types and their duration variants at Magic classes in school. It's basic of basics. But to not remember such information... Have you not listened during the lessons, or what?" Ken added.

Hideaki's eyes twitched "AAARRGGHH!!!!" A scream—high-pitched, girlish, completely devoid of its former menace — cut through the silence of the café like a knife. "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!!!"

Several heads immediately turned.

Seiji was about to point out to him/her when suddenly a waitress that was standing at the next table raised her eyebrows, clearly concerned.

"Is... everything okay at this table?" she asked cautiously.

Rika crouched like a frightened rabbit, covering her face with her hands.

Ken slowly sank into his chair, as if hoping to vanish from reality.

Seiji — as if someone had switched him to damage control mode — immediately stood up, composed, his expression perfectly calm.

"Yes," he replied, in the tone of someone who doesn't even break a sweat while putting out a fire. "There was a spider on the flower. She... doesn't like spiders."

Hideaki turned away indignantly.

"SHE!? SERIOUSLY!?"

The high-pitched, soft, girlish tone completely destroyed the attempted rebellion.

The waitress didn't even blink.

"I understand... It happens," she said and walked away, though her expression said: Two pair dates? Interesting.

Rika buried her face even deeper in her hands.

"I'm sorry! He shouldn't look... like that! I mean — not that he looks bad! He looks very pretty! I mean — not pretty as a girl — though as a girl too — OH GOD STOP."

Hideaki blushed and then, snorted — which in this version sounded like an adorable "hmph!"

Seiji sighed already exhausted by this whole situation, and — Hideaki.

"Let's pay and leave." he said "The sooner, the better for everyone."

Ken nodded immediately.