Chapter 21: Breaking Down

A few days had passed since then.

I, who should’ve been a middle-aged man, am now already used to act like a high school girl, having completely adapted to my new life.

I close my legs when I sit on a chair, and mind my skirt when I use a stair.

I also held my breast when leaning forward while wearing clothes that shows my neck.

Being stared at by men was undoubtedly revolting, but more than that, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority as a popular woman.

Even though until recently, I didn’t know anything about women at all.

It’s somewhat a mystery.

Today is Saturday. I, Yuuko, Komori, and Hashimoto made a promise to play in the town together.

I was still being ignored in school as usual. However, these three were just the opposite, and our friendship has grown to the point of being candid to each other.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning.”

“Yo!”

When I arrived at the shopping mall we designated as our meeting place, the three of them were already there.

Yuuko and Hashimoto welcomed me with a smile. But for some reason, Komori was being absorbed on playing his game.

I peeked at the screen, and it turned out to be Hunting Monster.

Huh? He’s using a long sword? What happened to the gun-lance?

“Glasses-kun, that’s a long sword, isn’t it? Is there something wrong?”

“No, I just want to try out various things.”

“Heeh. So you want to change your playstyle?”

“Right. Since I can’t use guard, I need to practice my evasion skill.”

I see….. I wonder if I also should try to use things other than my one-handed sword?

Yuuko and I held hands, and then we walked together with Hashimoto and Komori.

No matter how you look at it, we are a strange combination, but everything is okay in the end.

Yuuko is plump, while I’m very slim.

Hashimoto is tough, muscular, and tall. Komori is slender and short.

Despite that, our group of two girls and two guys for some strange reason feels properly balanced to me.

As we were walking through the specialty stores’ area, there was a winter clothing sale and we got distracted as a result.

Yuuko pulled my hand and brought me around the store.

“Waaa. This is really cute! It would really suit Nacchan!”

“Uwaa. So expensive!”

“Hey, don’t you think this bag is really good?”

Each time, I put on the clothes over on my body to see how it would look.

It was pretty fun.

Hashimoto made a shocked expression.

“Gah. I wonder why women really like shopping like this? In my case, I’d just choose a clothes I like quickly and then pay for it. Isn’t that right, Komori?”

“Yeah. I’d just buy it online and get it delivered. Anything seems fine to me.”

I turned towards those two and folded my arms.

“If you guys keep saying things like that, you guys won’t get a girlfriend, you know? The two of you really should become more mindful of your appearance. Even now, when you’re being together with cute girls like us, Hashimoto-kun is still wearing a jersey, while Komori-kun’s wearing sweatshirt, and aren’t your collar already worn out?”

“Even if you say that~”

“Although the collar is already stretched, it’s still wearable.”

“Good grief. Listen, I think both of you have good character. Hashimoto-kun is chivalrous even though you’re a bit rough. And Komori-kun is knowledgable even though you’re an otaku. Nonetheless, girls will choose based on your outward appearance first. So you guys have to be neat in order to break through that first barrier.”

“So troublesome~ I don’t really want to~”

“I have no interest in that.”

“Love is a battle, you know!? And for that battle-“

Eh? What am I saying?

Didn’t I also thought the same when I was a guy?

Somehow, it’s weird. I’m feeling odd.

My words just now came out smoothly as if I already thought about it.

“Wait a minute, Nacchan, are you okay?”

I was taken aback as Yuuko shook my body.

“Ah, mn. I-I’m fine.”

“Good. Then, let’s go to check some underwear next!”

Hashimoto and Komori stopped in front of the store.

“What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter you ask….”

“Natsumi, we will wait on the outside.”

Yuuko led me by the hand.

“The guys can’t get in because they are embarrassed. Let’s go.”

Inside the store, there were underwear of all kinds, making it hard to choose.

The kind that completely cover my butt give me more sense of security, but the smaller ones were cuter.

Ah, this frill so cute.

As I thought, pink is the best. Then I’ll choose this.

“Nacchan, look look! This one is a see-through!”

“Kyaa, so indecent.”

Yuuko and I were squealing in excitement and quarelling when I suddenly realized.

I’m having fun from the bottom of my heart. Having fun while choosing underwear.

How strange. Even though I’m guy. Why am I feeling this?

I don’t get embarrassed entering an underwear shop, and instead I’m having fun?

Am I changing into a woman? No, that can’t be.

Such a thing is impossible.

When I exited the underwear store, Komori and Hashimoto were really bored, so we went to the atrium at the second floor and lined up to see the scenery below.

“I’m sorry for making you guys wait. The two of you really should’ve just entered the store.”

Their face went red, then they shook their head.

“No way. Even if for example I become a woman, I still wouldn’t enter that kind of place.”

“That’s right. Natsumi-san, that’s kinda unreasonable.”

Humph. Talk all you want, but I who had become a woman could get in just fine.

Eh? Didn’t I also think like that in the past? Did I even get embarrassed from just passing by in front of an underwear store?

“Now let’s go to the electronic stores! I want to see the new iPod!”

“Alright, let’s go. Let’s go.”

When Hashimoto and Komori went to look at musical instruments, Yuuko and I was looking at hair dryers.

Yuuko picked up a hair iron.

“How nice. I want one of this, but my mother definitely wouldn’t allow it.”

“I see. Come to think of it, I have one in my house but I haven’t use it.”

“Nacchan, I think curly hair will absolutely suit you.”

“Really? I wonder if I should try it?”

I looked at the mirror and touched the tip of my hair.

“………”

What the heck am I doing? Me, really? My behavior is completely like a high school girl.

Aren’t I only have became a high school girl for like, a month?

And yet, I’m already acting like this unconsciously.

Somehow, it’s strange. Especially today, really strange.

I’ve to remember myself.

Okay, so first of all, let’s remember the face and body I had lived with for 36 years.

Errr, if I remember correctly I was bald, and did I have beard?

I was pretty fat, wasn’t I? Since I stopped doing Karate.

Eh? How were my eyes again? My nose?

Did I really forget my own face without realizing it…..

Something cold ran through my spine.

Could….. Could it be that I’m disappearing?

If that’s the case, then what’s will happen to me?

Am I going to vanish?

My heartbeat quickens, and my back was moist from the unpleasant sweat.

Yuuko looked at me worriedly.

“Nacchan, your face is really pale. Is something wrong?”

“N-No. I’m fine. Just a bit tired. There’s a couch outside the store, right?”

I exited the store with a stagger, then sat down on the couch provided for taking rest in the pathway.

I’m disappearing from myself….. The existence known as me is going to vanish, huh…..

My heart was utterly depressed, and my head can’t think anymore.

How long this have been happening?

When I came to myself, everyone was surrounding me, they seems to be worried.

“Natsumi, are you feeling bad? If walking’s too tough, I can carry you to the hospital.”

“Natsumi-san, you really look unwell. Could it be the after effect of the accident?”

“Nacchan, let’s go to the doctor. We will accompany you.”

“T-Thanks. I….. I’m fine, so-“

I stopped my mouth with my hand as tears started to pour on my face.

Even when I wanted it to stop so badly, it just came out one after another and began to overflow.

I covered my eyes with both hands, then hid my face.

Damn. If this goes on, my sobbing would definitely leak.

I always thought there was no value in my life.

I thought it would be fine even if I die as long it’s to help other people.

I was lonely and couldn’t take it anymore.

But since I’m a worthless person, then it couldn’t be helped.

I was convinced that I’m okay even if that’s the case.

I was lying to myself.

The truth is that, I want to be needed by someone. I’ve always wanted to be loved by someone.

Then I entered Natsumi’s body and met these three.

The three of them truly needed me.

And I also felt loved by them.

I can’t bear to part with those feelings.

Having to part from them is simply too painful.

It’s terrifying to lose their affection.

Even though this body is not even mine, I sure am a selfish guy…..

Yuuko was caressing my head tenderly.

Hashimoto and Komori was watching me over attentively.

After a while, I managed to calm down and lifted my head up.

“I’m sorry. Just crying suddenly like that. I wonder if it’s okay if we change to another place? I have something I want to say to everyone.”

Then, we went to my house.