Kirara Clam ponders.

Is the scene before her safe, she wonders.

“Whoa, Kei-nee turned into a girl! …Wait, she did turn into one, right?”
“…Yeah, probably.”

When Hikari used the Trans Anchor, her appearance changed drastically.

But what about Kei?

It’s hard to tell if she actually changed.

At a glance, she looks the same as always—but then again, maybe not.

“She’s definitely a girl right now, right?”
“Yeah. She is.”

At Kei’s words, Miyume tilts her head. It seems she can’t tell just by looking.

Watching this unfold, Hikari—standing beside Clam—suddenly speaks up.

“Huh? Kei-kun is turning into a girl? Why?”
“Huh?”

Toa and Miyume both turn to stare at Hikari.

In that instant, Clam feels her face go pale.

(Oh no…! Hikari already knows Kei is Sorciera!)

To Hikari, Kei is female. So, if she used the Trans Anchor, wouldn’t that mean she’d turn male?

That’s the logical assumption.

(Making Kei explain would just make things worse… I’ve gotta handle this!)

Clam lets out an exaggerated sigh and shoots Hikari a look.

“Are you stupid? If Kei uses the Trans Anchor, he turns into a girl. Obviously.”
“Wait, really?”
“The Trans Anchor changes your gender. It’s not some ‘make a hot guy for Sunday mornings’ tool.”

She steers the conversation as if Hikari simply misunderstood, then flashes Kei a smile—a perfected, 100% fake smile from her Purification days.

“Right, Kei? So… how does it feel being a girl? Oh, hey, why not try on some girls’ clothes while you’re at it?”
“That’s a great idea!”

Before Kei can even respond, Toa enthusiastically agrees. Her demeanor completely shifts as she grabs Kei’s hand, bouncing excitedly.

“Kei-kun, I actually brought an extra uniform just in case…!”
“Wait, you want me to change?”
“Of course!”

Kei’s face twitches as Toa nods firmly. Seeing Kei—usually so composed—flustered beyond belief, even Miyume seems intrigued.

Seizing the moment, Clam leans in and whispers to Hikari.

“Those two think Kei’s a guy. So, if she uses the Trans Anchor, she’s supposed to turn into a girl. Don’t say anything weird.”
“Oh, right… But wait, if Kei-kun used the Trans Anchor now, wouldn’t that mean he’s actually a guy? Which would reveal that Kei’s a girl—”
“…Oh crap.”

Clam stares at Hikari’s innocent, confused expression and realizes—

(Miyume and Toa think Kei’s a guy, so if she uses the Trans Anchor now, she should turn into a girl, but she’s actually a guy—GAH! Why is this so complicated?!)

“Come on, Kei-kun! Let’s get you changed! I’ll help! Okay?”
“Toa-chan…? Y-Your face is kinda scary…”
“Fufufu, it’s fine, Kei. They say once you start, you can’t stop anyway~”
“How is that fine?!”

Miyume and Toa close in, holding a girls’ uniform.

But right now, Kei is male.

If this continues, her true gender will be exposed.

(Nonononono—!)

Clam’s brain spins at full speed—faster than when she successfully escaped Rokuhara in the past.

(I have to save her, but how?! The Trans Anchor worked fine on Hikari, so how do I explain Kei being male in this situation—?)

The walls are closing in.

But just as she refuses to give up—

“…Huh? Wait, Kei as a girl kinda feels familiar…”

“!?!?!?!”

Kei, Clam, and Hikari all freeze simultaneously.

The tragic truth: Sorciera’s identity is this close to being exposed.

“Kei, let me see your face properly—”
“Ah—! Oh yeah! I just remembered! I’ve got the perfect outfit for Kei in my room!”

Clam loudly cuts in, her eyes darting everywhere.

“Kei, you should totally try it on! The uniform’s nice, but we should go all-out with the girly look, right? Right, you two?!”
“Uh… s-sure? I mean, might as well see different looks…”
“Yeah, I wanna see too!”

Miyume hesitates, but Toa nods eagerly.

“Alright, let’s go change, Kei! Come on, hurry!”
“Wha—?”

Grabbing Kei’s hand, Clam bolts out of the room without waiting for a response.

“W-Wait, can’t Kei just stay here?!”

Miyume tries to chase after them, but Hikari blocks her path, arms spread wide with a serious expression.

“Miyume-chan! U-Um… ah! It’ll be more fun as a surprise if we wait for the finished look!”
“O-Oh… okay?”
“Exactly! Right, Toa-chan?!”
“Yeah, the uniform can wait!”
“Thank you!!”

Hikari bows deeply. Before Miyume can question her further, Hikari snaps back up.

“Let’s chat while we wait!”

It’s Hikari’s desperate attempt at damage control.

Clam, sprinting down the hallway, mentally thanks her—full marks for effort.

“While we wait, let me tell you about this dessert I’ve been obsessed with! Miyume-chan, do you know morals?”
“That’s not a dessert.”
“…Huh?”

In exchange for keeping the secret, one innocent dream is sacrificed.

Meanwhile, a shadow watches as Clam drags Kei away.

“—Huh? Where’s Kei-nee going?”

■

Clam reaches her room, yanks Kei inside, and slams the door shut.

She forgets to lock it and immediately shoves Kei deeper into the room.

“Hurry! Okay, what do we do… You’re a guy right now, right? So we’ve gotta make it seem like you’re a girl!”

Kei tilts her head at the panicking Clam.

“I’m a girl right now.”
“…Huh? WHAAAAAT?! How?!”
“Overriding the Trans Anchor’s function is trivial. I just pretended to use it. So to them, it looks like I turned from a boy into a girl. Fufu~, even though my real gender hasn’t changed.”

Clam wobbles and collapses on the spot at Sorciera’s calm explanation.

Sorciera, amused, sits on the bed with a smirk.

“That was quite entertaining, watching you panic. Did you really think I’d reveal myself that easily?”
“I think Miyume was catching on, though.”
“Please. That was well within expectations.”

Clam feels exhaustion wash over her as Sorciera brushes it off effortlessly.

“So… you’re actually still a girl right now?”
“Indeed. The Trans Anchor is amusing, but it’s nowhere near strong enough to resist my interference.”

Clam stares at Sorciera’s cool expression—

(This bitch…! I was worried for nothing…!)

—and is pissed.

First, Hikari’s gender swap fried her brain, and now Sorciera’s identity was almost exposed.

Clam is done.

“Do you still doubt me?”

Misreading Clam’s glare, Sorciera tilts her head.

“Give me your hand.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just do it.”

Reluctantly, Clam obeys.

Sorciera grabs her hand and guides it toward—

“Does this convince you? That I’m a girl?”

—her own chest.

“!?”

Clam’s palm sinks into softness.

Modest, but undeniably feminine.

“Finally believe me? My, you’re such a skeptical child.”

Clam keeps her head down, voice low.

“…You don’t mind me touching you there?”
“Why would I? We’re both girls. Fufu~, you’re so cute.”
“…Tch.”

A sound—like something snapping.

By the time Clam realizes it’s her sanity, she’s already moving.

“—And what, pray tell, is this?”

Sorciera lies flat on the bed, staring up.

Clam’s expression doesn’t change as she speaks.

“Hikari and you… you both underestimate me too much. Acting so defenseless, trusting me completely… Do you have any idea how much I’ve held back?”

Horrifyingly, Clam isn’t blinking.

Her pupils are fully dilated, bloodshot eyes locked onto Sorciera.

Sorciera, pinned under that intense gaze, finally shows a flicker of unease.

“…Ah, my apologies. I teased you too much. Could you let me go?”
“No.”
“…I see.”

Sorciera takes a deep breath.

Then, with a gentle smile, she pats Clam’s head.

“…We are supposed to be changing and returning soon. Shouldn’t we hurry?”
“Yeah. So let’s get you undressed.”

YANK.

Clam goes straight for the pants.

Sorciera panics, summoning a magic circle—but too late.

“Mar-chanz.”

A mechanical frog latches onto the back of Clam’s head.

She points at it, deadpan.

“I’ll blow myself up with this if I have to. If you don’t want me hurt, behave.”
“W-What kind of negotiation tactic is this?!”

Sorciera’s composure cracks at the sheer insanity.

For some reason, Clam feels amazing.

She’s discovering the joy of breaking Sorciera’s usual smugness.

“Now, stay still. Don’t worry, I’ll help you change properly. It’s fine, it’s fine…!”
“…F-Fufu.”

As Sorciera forces a smile, Clam starts unbuckling her belt.

■

YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

This isn’t what I imagined at all!

『Hell yeah! Interpretation match! Interpretation match!』

I just wanted to create a “borderline age-restricted yuri still”!

I just wanted to show Sorciera’s playful side!

This isn’t all-ages anymore!

“Stay still… It won’t hurt…”

Clam-chan ASMR!?

『No escape now~ ♪』

This wasn’t the plan.

Using the Trans Anchor was fine.

To Miyume and Toa, it should’ve looked like I turned from a boy into a girl.

For the others who already know I’m Sorciera, the idea was that I nullified the Trans Anchor, enjoying the gender-bend event.

The plan was to wear the girls’ uniform, maybe blush a little.

But this?

What’s happening?!

『They tried covering for you, afraid Sorciera’s identity would be exposed. You should be grateful~ ♪』

I underestimated how nice they’d be…

I had excuses ready for Miyume…

I knew Sorciera’s identity wouldn’t be exposed…

“…Hey, do you always wear boys’ underwear?”
“Of course. I am a boy at this academy.”
“Don’t you ever want to wear cute ones?”

Ah, the mysterious beauty with a tragic backstory points.

“…I’m Sorciera.”
“Ugh, you should be more selfish…!”

Clam-chan looks heartbroken.

But her hands are already on my uniform blazer.

“You can be honest with me. It’s okay…”

I just wanted to play “Sorciera being treated like a normal girl”!

Save me, Starreader’s Staff!

『Hmm, can we still add pages in time…? Nah, better sell it as a doujin.』

Stop thinking about merch!

“Kei, I’ll always be on your side.”

“Ghk—!”

Clam’s face gets closer.

I can only surrender—

“Who’s there!?”

Clam suddenly jerks up, sensing something.

She glares at the door.

It’s slightly ajar.

Eyes peer through the gap.

“Mar-chanz!”

The mechanical frog forces the door open, immediately restraining the intruder.

“Wha—what is this frog?! Eek, get off!”

Huh? That voice…

A horde of frogs carries in a single boy.

I recognize him.

“…Sougo-kun?”

Yep, the future harem protagonist himself.

…Ugh, this just got even messier.

“Wait, who’s this kid…?”

Even Clam-chan is confused. She didn’t expect a child.

Sougo, meanwhile, looks terrified at the deranged Clam-chan.

I should probably mediate.

Draping my blazer over my shoulders to cover up, I smile at Sougo.

“Long time no see, Sougo-kun.”
“…Y-Yeah.”
“Kei, you know him?”
“Yes. He knows my true identity. He’s also the heir to a company that supports our academy.”
“…Oh.”

Smart as ever, Clam-chan instantly grasps the situation.

This is bad.

Because Clam-chan just attempted yuri assault and restrained him.

This could be a corporate scandal.

“S-Sorry! Are you hurt?!”
“N-No, I’m fine!”

The Mar-chanz vanish as Clam-chan rushes to Sougo.

Thank god.

The scary Clam-chan from earlier is gone.

『Tch. Over already? Lame.』

You’re such a brat.

“I should’ve locked the door… Wait, no, I mean, sorry!”
“It’s okay. Really.”

Sougo glances at me—mostly undressed—but I keep smiling.

Thank you, Sougo.

You saved me from an R-18 ending.

“So, um… what were you two… doing?”
“Eh?! W-Well, that’s…”
“Fufu~, we’re just close. We were playing.”

I wink at Clam-chan.

Patting Sougo’s head, I handle the situation.

Being a mysterious beauty is hard work.

『You reap what you sow~』

“S-So that was… just playing…?”
“Exactly! Anyway, Sougo-kun, why are you here?”
“Oh! My sister’s here for work, and I wanted to play with Kei-nee while waiting!”

I smile at Sougo’s earnest explanation.

Then, to Clam-chan:

“We should head back. We can’t keep them waiting. Plus, we have a little guest now.”
“…Right.”

Clam-chan nods, swallowing something unsaid.

She heads to the closet to find me clothes.

“…Next time, somewhere no one will interrupt. I won’t fail twice. Next time, I’ll—”

I elegantly ignore the scary muttering.

Mysterious beauties don’t acknowledge such things.

Remember this if you ever gender-swap!

I’ll never lose to you!

『That reaction’s a classic by now.』

“Sougo-kun, let’s go together?”
“O-Okay.”

Sougo keeps sneaking glances at my disheveled clothes.

I wonder if he thinks I was being… taken advantage of.

“Keep what you saw a secret, okay?”
“…Y-Yeah.”

Poor sheltered rich kid. That was probably too much for him.

His tastes are gonna get even weirder.

…Hmm, maybe I should dress modestly to cleanse his mind.

I do want to raise a wholesome boy.

『You were just getting molested, and now you’re acting all pure in front of everyone? That’ll just warp him more.』

Shut up.