Turning Tiny in the Modern World
“Look! It’s the same as always!”
“It really is the same.”
“Just... the usual.”
“Uh-huh. Operating to standards, I see.”
Felmenia, Liliana, and Suimei stood in the garden of the Yakagi estate around Lefille, who was striking a rather daunting pose... ignoring the fact that she was tiny, that is. She was no longer wearing the T-shirt with the kanji for “invincible armada” scrawled down the front. Instead, she’d adopted a simple tee with a teddy bear on it along with a pair of denim shorts. Her shouting in regards to her current state was, as always, nothing more than bravado. She was soon reduced to muttering with a rather complex expression on her face.
“I never thought it would happen here too...”
“It’s not like you used up your power or anything this time, so I wonder what’s going on.”
Suimei cocked his head curiously at this strange phenomenon, but there was someone in the group who was even more confused than he appeared to be.
“This little girl... That’s Lefille-san, right?”
It was none other than Hydemary, who’d never seen Lefille shrink before.
“Yeah, Lefille ends up like this when she uses too much telesma.”
“What? Like she’s overconsuming the power that composes her form?”
“Probably. I’m pretty sure the way she manifests scales with her power for the sake of consistency.”
That was the theory Suimei had come up with regarding Lefille’s transformation while he was in the other world.
“But it’s not like Lefille-san has worn herself out or anything, right?” Hydemary asked curiously.
“That’s right. Isn’t it?” Suimei asked in kind, turning to Lefille.
“Yeah,” she replied with a nod. “But it’s still happened nonetheless.”
Lefille was carrying herself with her usual composure now. It normally brought her maturity and elegance to the fore, but right now, she looked like nothing more than an overreaching child.
“So you think this happens to reconcile with the human portion of your body, which is otherwise unaffected?” Hydemary asked.
“It’s still quite a mystery,” Lefille offered.
“It really is. Even her personality changes,” Suimei added.
He threw that last bit in rather casually, but Lefille vehemently corrected him in a panic.
“M-My personality does not change! What are you saying?!”
“You don’t think it does? I mean, you’re always picking fights when you turn tiny.”
“I do not pick fights! I simply try to keep people from making incorrect statements about me!”
Lefille hopped up and down in a fit as she continued to protest. Her speech and conduct really were being influenced by her size, but it seemed she was oblivious to that fact. It was rather sad.
“What do you think, Menia?” Suimei asked, turning to Felmenia for support.
“Huh? You’re dumping this on me? Uh, that’s, um...”
Felmenia averted her gaze and tried to avoid taking a stand one way or another. This was hard for her, given her personality. As such, it was easier for Suimei to turn to Liliana, who wasn’t afraid to say what she really thought.
“How about you, Liliana?”
“I agree. She’s... a little different... from usual.”
“Lily!”
“You normally... wouldn’t be... panicking so much... you know?”
“Urgh...”
“She’s right. You usually come across as more of a composed older sister.”
“I’m composed right now!”
Lefille stood akimbo and pushed her chest out proudly in an attempt to demonstrate her composure. Was she so desperate to cling to her usual image? This only spurred on Suimei’s mischievous spirit, and he promptly went to retrieve a certain something from the house.
“...What’s up, Suimei-kun?” Lefille asked upon his return.
So prompted, Suimei pulled out what he’d gone inside to get.
“Looky here, Lefi. It’s crackling cotton candy.”
“Cotton candy!”
Suimei jiggled about a bag of cotton candy in front of Lefille, who reached up with both arms and a completely enchanted look on her face. It was like Liliana finding a cat, but worse. Lefille was practically dancing around the bag of cotton candy like a fly captivated by a honey trap. Everyone who saw it watched on with great wariness.
“...”
“...”
“...”
But, preoccupied with the cotton candy, Lefille didn’t realize she was being so scrutinized until it was too late.
“Wha?! No, this isn’t what it looks like!”
“Oh yeah? Then what is it?”
“Suimei-kun! What a wicked trap! You coward!”
Suimei had no idea what exactly about this made him a coward, but it had certainly made Lefille’s current state apparent to everyone. Especially Hydemary, who’d never seen her like this before.
“I’d say there’s a palpable difference. Would you like me to make you a doll?”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Lady Mary! Listen to me! Don’t look at me with such pitying eyes!”
Liliana placed a hand on Lefille’s shoulder as she desperately pleaded with Hydemary.
“Lefille... Give up.”
Felmenia approached as well in an attempt to console her.
“You are different from your usual self in this state, after all...”
But Lefille couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’m me! Nothing more and nothing less!”
“Well, anyways... Let’s head over next door,” Suimei suddenly suggested.
“Hwah?!”
“Oh, I see. That makes sense,” Hydemary said, nodding in agreement.
After all, it only stood to reason that they should show the Kuchibas.
“W-Wait! Don’t be so rash! Why would we do that?!”
“Come on. They’re going to be having us over for dinner tonight anyway. You can’t avoid them seeing you like this, you know?”
“Th-That may be the case, but...”
Lefille still didn’t want it to happen. Thinking back on it, Suimei could recall Rumeya bursting into laughter upon seeing Lefille in this state. It must have been utterly humiliating for her. Suimei knew the Kuchibas weren’t going to react like that, but...
“Actually, I’m pretty sure the instructor’s gonna laugh.”
“Nooooo!”
Lefille crouched down and clutched her head. In an offer of support, Hydemary lightly waved her magic wand about.
“Then how about we put on a magic show? And for my next trick, I’ll pull out a tiny Lefille-san!”
“Please don’t use me for theatrics!”
“Then... let’s just get going... already.”
“W-Wait! My heart’s not ready yet! Aaaaaaaaaaah!”
And so, Lefille was dragged out of the garden kicking and screaming.
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