“Hello, I’m the second injured person from Fectom General Academy!”

When I showed my arm to the doctor, they just said, “Ah, yes, I see,” and wrapped it in a ton of bandages! It’s ridiculously cool, kind of like a middle-school syndrome thing. Though, I feel like it’d look better if the bandages flowed a bit more…

“I never expected you to end up here too.”

“Yeah, same here.”

I gave a wry smile and nodded at Mizuhi-senpai’s words.

We were both lying down in the infirmary, side by side.

At a larger academy, there would probably be a medical department or students with the ability to heal injuries. But this is Fectom General Academy. We can’t expect much in terms of quality or quantity—in fact, we can’t expect anything at all.

The so-called infirmary was just a simple room with relatively clean beds and a first-aid kit, and that’s where we were resting.

Only my right arm is injured, though…

“I heard you did pretty well yesterday. Thanks for covering for me.”

“Oh no, Toa-san was way more impressive than I was. As you can see, I didn’t do much.”

I waved my bandaged arm in the air.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’m fine. The doctor said that since I’m an explorer, the wound should heal without a scar in about a week.”

“Is that so? When Toa came crying here last night, I thought it was a big deal.”

“Miroku-senpai came rushing in too, looking pretty panicked.”

Yesterday, after helping out Narou Kei and the others, I headed straight to the hospital. I got my arm wrapped up in bandages, but Toa-chan was really worried about me. By the time we got back to the academy, she was in tears.

Making a pretty girl cry… What kind of person with TS (transformation syndrome) aspirations am I?

“I could have just gone back to the dorms, though.”

“Ha ha ha, she was worried about you. Plus, she probably wanted to make sure you didn’t do anything reckless before you healed.”

“That goes for you too, Mizuhi-senpai.”

“True. Honestly, I could use your help. Kei, cut these handcuffs with your weapon.”

With that, Mizuhi-senpai showed me the handcuffs chaining her right arm to the bed. What could she have done to get restrained like this?

“No way. I don’t want Miroku-senpai getting mad at me.”

“Ugh, fine. I guess I’ll practice refining my magic without Demonsgear.”

Even her Demonsgear got confiscated…

This guy probably tried to escape again after what happened yesterday.

“How about just staying still for once?”

“It’s 7 a.m. If I stay still until night, I’ll go insane.”

You could study, you know? You’re a student.

But honestly, I’m bored too. I still have my Demonsgear, and I’m not handcuffed, but I shouldn’t move around too much. I mean, I’ve got the perfect example of what could happen if I do sitting right next to me.

“I’m hungry… I want to eat something solid soon…”

“Maybe today you’ll get to eat something.”

“Really? I hope so.”

Mizuhi-senpai’s stomach growled sadly. It’s the first time I’ve seen him look so dejected.

Just then, the sound of the infirmary door opening reached my ears. Looking over, I saw Miroku-senpai standing there, grinning, with a tray in hand.

“Good morning, both of you.”

“Good morning, Miroku-senpai.”

“Miroku, good morning. And for the love of all that’s holy, give me something other than jelly. Like meat or bean sprouts.”

In Mizuhi-senpai’s mind, meat and bean sprouts are on the same level?

“Hehe, I thought you’d say that, so today, I brought stir-fried bean sprouts and pork.”

“…! Thank you…!”

Is it really that exciting?

It feels like I haven’t yet fully adapted to Fectom General Academy’s food culture.

“Here, Kei-kun, this is for you too.”

“Thank you.”

A tray was placed in front of me.

On it was some toast and stir-fried bean sprouts with pork… Do these go well together?

“I just got the toast from my part-time job—technically expired, but still good!”

Miroku-senpai said happily, and Mizuhi-senpai thanked her even more enthusiastically.

Apparently, Miroku-senpai works various part-time jobs early in the morning. In this city, where there are a lot of students, it seems common for them to work part-time, as the barrier to working is low.

Only a handful of people can live solely on their rewards as explorers.

Just wait. Once I become a pretty girl, I’ll clear all the dungeons unrelated to the original story. And then, we’ll build our very own yuri paradise with the riches we gather. For real.

“Huh, Kei-kun, aren’t you going to eat?”

“Huh?”

Shoot, I got lost in thoughts about our glorious future.

I’d better eat before it gets cold.

“Oh, that’s right! Your dominant hand’s out of commission, isn’t it?”

“Huh? No, it’s not really that ba—”

“Oh no, I almost forgot! Someone’s going to have to feed you, huh?”

…Wait, what?

Hold on. My palm works just fine; I can use chopsticks. Sure, the bandages make it a bit hard to move, but it’s not impossible, right?

“Kei.”

Just as I was about to explain, Mizuhi-senpai called my name. She was chewing, pointing her chin toward the doorway.

I looked over.

Standing there, trembling, was Toa-chan, her face beet-red and on the verge of tears.

Are you okay? You look like you’re about to cry…

“If you can’t eat, then… then I… I’ll feed you!”

Her words were so soft and marshmallow-like, they skipped over “chewing” and became that language.

“Wow, Kei-kun, you’re lucky! Toa-chan just happened to be passing by with chopsticks, so now you can eat your breakfast!”

“Does this kind of luck even exist!?”

There it is.

No, there isn’t.

“…It seems like she’s still bothered by what happened yesterday. I’m sorry, Kei, but could you endure this for a little while for Toa-chan’s sake?”

Miroku-senpai whispered apologetically into my ear.

Well, if that’s the case, I guess there’s no choice! Time to step up for the mental health of a cute girl!

“Wow, I’m so lucky! Toa-san’s here, and she really saved me!”
“Well, excuse me…”

Toa-chan sat down on my bed. Then she handed me a slice of bread. Wait, isn’t she going to use chopsticks?

“G-go ahead.”
“Toa-chan, in moments like this, you’re supposed to say ‘ahh.’”
“I see… Thanks, Miroku-chan. Okay then, ahh.”
“Ah, ahh…”

What is this? Are we some kind of newly dating couple?

I munch on the plain, untoasted slice of bread.
Yeah! Pretty simple stuff!

“Um, can I have the bean sprouts too?”
“W-wow, okay! Here, ahh!”
“Ahh…”

Isn’t saying ‘ahh’ every time kind of tiring? Are you alright with this?

By the way, I’m definitely not alright with this. I mean, I’m getting fed ‘ahh’ by a cute girl!

That—well, that’s a sin.

Only cute girls are supposed to get fed by other cute girls. That’s common sense that even kids know as soon as they’re old enough. If you break that rule, after you die, your rotten innards will be displayed in hell to a crowd of the damned. And that’s the light punishment.

If I were a cute girl, this would be something I’d easily accept. Heck, I’d even be the one saying ‘ahh.’ But right now, I’m just a dirty, disposable side character. I’m not supposed to be surrounded by cute girls like this.

Hurry up and turn me into a cute girl already!

“■■■■■”

No way I’m using you! There’s a price to pay, isn’t there?

“……”

As usual, whatever lurks inside me seems lively today. Is that really okay?

“Is it… tasty?”
“Yes. It’s delicious. Thank you.”
“I’m glad…”

Finally, Toa-chan’s expression softened in relief.

It really did seem like she was acting out of guilt.

Only someone as close to a cute girl as me could understand her feelings so clearly. At times like this, it would be a rookie mistake to think she’s fallen for me.

Anyone who thinks that should read Man* Time K**ra a thousand times. Then, play a route of a cute-girl game a hundred times.

This is just Toa-chan trying to accept my presence. Misunderstanding this and getting closer would be a disaster.

“U-um!”
“Yes?”
“We’re… classmates, so, um, can we stop using formal language?”

See?

This is a shy girl, who’s only ever interacted with childhood friends, summoning the courage to take a step forward. And normally, it’s a cool, beautiful girl who should handle this!

At first, Toa-chan was scared of the mysterious transfer student, Sorciera, but after a certain event, the two of them quickly grew closer.

That’s the kind of thing I want!

“■■……”

What are you cringing about!? Shy girl × cool beauty is the best! Get it?

“What do you think, Kei?”
“…Alright. Yeah, let’s do that. From now on, let’s speak casually. Nice to meet you, Toa-san.”
“Okay! Uh, also, let’s drop the ‘san’ part too.”

Seriously?

But I can’t just call her by her first name without honorifics—I’m not a cute girl.

“Then, how about Toa-chan?”
“I’ll call you Kei-kun… but wait, that’s not any different…”

Saying this, Toa-chan smiled at me.

I smiled back. Today, I’ve accumulated quite the stack of sins.

■

Sins committed can’t be undone.

Once, twice, it makes no difference. So I’ve decided to commit another sin: escaping.

After being fed ‘ahh’ during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I am now a full-blown criminal. At this point, escaping is a minor offense.

“Mizuhi-senpai, are you awake?”
“…Yeah.”

Since our beds are next to each other, if I tried to sneak out, Mizuhi-senpai would notice immediately. So what should I do?

It’s simple.

I’ll just bring Mizuhi-senpai to my side.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

I got up and deployed my gear. Tonight, my dagger gleamed mysteriously in the moonlight.

Gripping it tightly, I sliced through the handcuffs binding Mizuhi-senpai.

Now free, Mizuhi-senpai stood up and gave me a thumbs-up.

“Thanks, Kei. A junior with ambition is a treasure.”
“No, no. I’m just lucky to have a senior I can look up to.”

Quietly, the two of us slipped out of the window in our hospital gowns.

Since it’s the first floor, we didn’t even need to jump—we smoothly escaped.

“Well, I’m off to do some late-night training. Without my Dive Gear, it’s the perfect opportunity to practice mana control.”
“I’m heading off for some training too. I don’t want to cause any more worry.”
“Good mindset.”
“Well then.”
“Yeah.”

We nodded at each other and dashed toward our respective destinations.

Mizuhi-senpai headed for the training grounds.

As for me, I was off to the back entrance of Fectom Academy.

Yes, tonight I’m going out.

“I’m all bandaged up… Might as well make use of it!”

Now begins…

Midnight Cross-Dressing—Wounded Beauty Version!!