Inside the ornate box resting in the corner of the room, Suigintou had completely sealed herself in. She didn't want to engage any further with the situation outside. This perverted master of hers was simply infuriating beyond words.
Yet the contract was already established. To continue her existence, to draw upon the life energy within him that sustained her actions and supported her chances of winning the Alice Game, she couldn't break their bond no matter how annoyed she felt.
What she couldn't understand—and what troubled her most—was the strange ache that settled in her chest whenever she watched him kiss and cuddle with those human girls. It was an indescribable pain, unfamiliar and unwelcome, and she had no name for it.
The sky gradually brightened as morning fully arrived.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Shiina Mahiru, both feeling remarkably refreshed despite the previous night's activities, guided the still-sleepy Shiina Mashiro to the bathroom to wash up. Both girls were well acquainted with Mashiro's helpless, almost pet-like nature when it came to daily tasks, so they took care of her willingly, even helping to comb through her golden hair with gentle, practiced strokes.
Soon enough, Shiina Mashiro was dressed and groomed, looking as beautiful and pristine as ever.
It was worth noting that when Suigintou finally emerged from her box to partake in breakfast, Yukino Yukinoshita found herself staring at the exquisite doll with undisguised fascination. Like any girl, Yukino was drawn to such beautiful, delicate things—she longed to hold her, to examine the intricate details up close.
Suigintou, however, was thoroughly uncooperative. She fixed Yukino with a cold glare from her crimson eyes, surrounding herself with floating red feathers as a clear warning. She had absolutely no intention of allowing anyone to touch her.
After the meal, Suigintou returned to the room, intending to check on the other Rozen Maidens through her mirror. She never got the chance.
Once again, Hozuki Nozomi's hands closed around her small form, lifting her effortlessly. Before she could react, his lips descended upon hers, shamelessly claiming them.
Suigintou's mind went blank.
What—what just happened? This... this shameless human man! He'd kissed her again!
Embarrassment exploded within her like a supernova. Without thinking, she unleashed her feathers, once again transforming his clothes into a shredded, artistic mess. Then, in a panic, she fled into the mirror, disappearing from sight.
Across from Sakura Dormitory, on a rooftop approximately one kilometer away, a petite figure watched the scene unfold through some unseen means. Her small face flushed crimson as she witnessed Suigintou being forcibly kissed once more, her hands flying to cover her mouth in shock.
How bold! How incredibly audacious!
Suigintou was widely considered the most fearsome and fierce among the Rozen Maidens. Yet that human showed no fear whatsoever—he simply grabbed her and kissed her without hesitation!
Was he not afraid of having his life force drained? Of suffering some terrible consequence?
"He's truly a dangerous man," the observer murmured to herself. "I should go check on the others..."
This secret observer was Kanaria, the second doll among the Rozen Maidens, who had awakened shortly after Suigintou. As soon as she'd sensed her sister's activation, she'd begun using her artificial spirit to monitor the conditions of her fellow dolls, observing them from a safe distance.
But this time, she'd witnessed something truly extraordinary.
As she continued pondering the implications, Kanaria suddenly found herself locking eyes with Hozuki Nozomi—through a mirror, from a kilometer away.
"Ah! Not good, he's spotted me!"
Kanaria's little face paled, then flushed crimson. She dove into a nearby mirror without hesitation, disappearing in an instant. Whatever else happened, she had no desire to be grabbed and kissed like Suigintou!
Hozuki Nozomi withdrew his gaze, touching his chin thoughtfully as a contemplative expression crossed his features.
"Was that my imagination?" he mused aloud. "I keep feeling like someone's watching me."
He shook his head after a moment, deciding not to dwell on it. If someone was observing him, they'd reveal themselves in due time.
Turning his attention to more immediate matters, he opened a drawer and retrieved the red cord of fate that had appeared in his possession. He carefully wrapped it around his wrist, examining it with interest. From past experience, he knew these items were key props for triggering missions.
[Ding! The player has correctly equipped the key prop. Mission: The Succession of Miyamizu Shrine is now commencing.]
[Ding! Mission loading... please wait a moment.]
The Game Life System's mechanical voice echoed in his mind. Immediately afterward, darkness washed over his vision, accompanied by a dizzying, spinning sensation.
When his senses returned and his eyes focused, the scene before him had completely transformed.
An unfamiliar ceiling greeted his gaze. He was lying on a tatami mat, wrapped in a soft quilt that carried a distinctly feminine fragrance—a girl's scent, delicate and pleasant. The surrounding traditional Japanese room confirmed that he was no longer in Sakura Dormitory.
But what shocked him most was...
He looked down.
His hands—slender, pale, and delicate—were unmistakably not his own.
Curious, he raised one hand and pressed it against his chest.
The soft, yielding sensation confirmed his suspicion: this was undeniably a female body.
Combined with the mission's title, a realization began forming in his mind. He had apparently entered the world of the anime "Your Name," taking the place of the original male lead and forming a bond with the heroine, Miyamizu Mitsuha.
If his guess was correct, his soul was now inhabiting Mitsuha's body.
Well, well. This little girl was hiding quite a lot. She was... more developed than Yukino in certain areas. Of course, Yukino remained more beautiful in his eyes, but Mitsuha's physique was certainly healthy.
"Shua—"
Before he could further investigate his temporary accommodations, the sliding door was abruptly pushed open.
"Sister, it's already morning! If you don't come out for breakfast, you'll be late for—" A young girl's voice cut off mid-sentence as she took in the scene before her. "Uh... Sister, what are you doing?"
Hozuki Nozomi, who had been pressing both hands to his chest in a rather incriminating manner, froze. His face—or rather, Mitsuha's face—flushed with embarrassment.
"Ah... this..." He scrambled for an explanation, releasing his grip hastily. "This is... necessary massage! Yes, a health massage. Very important for circulation."
The twin-tailed elementary school girl—Miyamizu Yotsuha, if his deductions were correct—blinked at him with wide, curious eyes. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone noncommittal but clearly skeptical.
"Absolutely," Hozuki Nozomi confirmed with as much dignity as he could muster while in a girl's body, caught in the act of self-examination.
Yotsuha nodded slowly, apparently deciding to let the matter drop for now. "Come eat quickly! You have to take me to school afterward!" The little loli's tone brooked no argument. Having issued her command, she slid the door shut and scampered off toward the living room.
Hozuki Nozomi finally ceased his impromptu "massage" and touched his—Mitsuha's—chin, a fascinated expression crossing his features.
He hadn't intended to experience life as a girl, but this soul-swapping situation was undeniably novel. And since he couldn't simply leave—the mission demanded his participation—he might as well embrace the experience.
The Succession of Miyamizu Shrine... he felt he was beginning to grasp the contours of this task. Thinking about it, there was a certain irony to the situation. He'd been planning to write a script and produce a "Your Name" film starring Sakurajima Mai. Now, before filming could even begin, he'd become the male lead—thrust directly into the story itself.
The world truly worked in mysterious ways.
Fortunately, Hozuki Nozomi was not easily flustered. His experience helping Yukino and Mashiro with their daily routines—including dressing—served him well. He investigated Mitsuha's room thoroughly, located appropriate underwear and her school uniform, and dressed efficiently.
Her long, lustrous black hair he arranged into a high ponytail, a style that highlighted the girl's graceful features and drew attention to her slender, beautiful legs. She was certainly attractive, he noted objectively, though the body lacked the physical strength of his own.
His skill entries, however, remained accessible. While this vessel was somewhat weaker, it didn't impede his ability to use his abilities. There was only one real drawback.
Wearing a skirt felt... strange.
The breeze against his—her—legs was an unfamiliar sensation. He understood now why Yukino and the others always walked so carefully, always pressing down on their skirts with their hands. Being caught by the wind was genuinely chilly in ways he hadn't fully appreciated before.
He used the red cord of fate to tie up Mitsuha's hair, suspecting it served as both a medium for the soul exchange and a physical manifestation of the divine power belonging to the god of Miyamizu Shrine.
The place he now inhabited was, naturally, Miyamizu Shrine itself. Living here were Miyamizu Hitoha (Mitsuha's grandmother), high school student Miyamizu Mitsuha (whose body he currently occupied), and elementary school student Miyamizu Yotsuha.
Under the somewhat strange gazes of Grandmother Hitoha and young Yotsuha, Hozuki Nozomi calmly ate his breakfast, maintaining perfect composure despite his unusual circumstances. When the meal concluded, he dutifully escorted the little loli to school, following the system's arrow guidance function to navigate the unfamiliar streets without issue.