At the mall, the world spun in brighter colors.
Yu and the girls linked arms immediately, tugging each other from store to store. Sakura pointed out accessories with dramatic gasps—
"This necklace is so you, Yu-chan!"
—while Fumiko compared fabrics and guided Yu's choices, giving him her quiet, older-sister-like nods of approval.
Yu beamed at everything. Every reflection in a store mirror. Every tray of glittery hairpins. Every bag of sugary snacks they bought to split.
People noticed too. Heads turned.
Behind a pillar, Taichi lurked, hood pulled low. His jaw clenched tighter with every second. It wasn't just anyone noticing—half the men in the food court seemed to be sneaking glances, nudging each other.
"Dude, seriously, she's gorgeous. Ask for her number."
"No way, you do it. What if she rejects me?"
"Bet she's single. Just try—"
Taichi's fist tightened in his pockets until his knuckles went white.
'Idiots. Don't even know. Don't even care. Yukio's mine to deal with—not some stranger's to drool over.'
And still, Yu's laughter rang out across the atrium, bright and guileless, lighting up every corner Taichi couldn't reach.
---
The shoe store trip was the first disaster.
Yu wobbled dangerously on a pair of strappy sandals, arms flailing like a windmill.
"W-wait, these are so tall!"
He yelped.
Sakura nearly doubled over laughing while steadying him.
"Yu-chan, those are only two inches! You've gotta build stamina!"
Fumiko shook her head, calm as ever, and traded the sandals for a pair of cute flats.
"Try these instead. Safer."
Yu slipped them on, turning one foot then the other. He smiled, so radiant the shop clerk blushed behind the counter.
"They're perfect!"
The girls clapped for him like he'd won a contest.
Later, in a sticker photo booth tucked in a neon corner, the chaos multiplied. Sakura dragged Yu and Fumiko into frame, striking exaggerated peace signs while Yu blinked nervously at the countdown. The machine spat out the results: Sakura's tongue out, Fumiko's serene smile, and Yu's startled wide eyes with a faint blush.
"It's adorable!"
Sakura squealed, already scanning the QR code.
"We're posting this!"
Yu hovered at her side, fascinated.
"It goes straight to Instagram?"
"Yep!"
Sakura tapped through the app like lightning, teaching Yu to upload their haul shots too—shopping bags, milk teas, the group selfie with Yu in the center, ribbon catching the light.
Within seconds, hearts appeared on the screen. One username stood out. The anonymous account. First. Every time.
Fumiko's brow creased.
"...Creepy."
Sakura leaned in closer, lips pursed.
"That's the same account that liked all your posts yesterday, right? Always first? Don't you dare give out any personal info, Yu-chan. Promise?"
Yu tilted his head, eyes round.
"Of course not! I wouldn't… I mean, who would even ask for that?"
His innocent smile melted the scolding instantly.
"Ughhh, you're too cute for your own good!"
Sakura cried, hugging him around the shoulders.
Fumiko sighed but pulled him into her side too, firm and protective.
"Seriously, we're not joking. You're like… too trusting."
Yu squished between them, cheeks pink, arms pinned in their warmth.
"O-okay, I'll be careful!"
From a shadowed bench across the atrium, Taichi watched. His phone screen glowed in his hand, thumb hovering over the "like" button again.
'Mine,'
He thought bitterly, jaw tight as Yu laughed and leaned into the girls' embrace.
'You're all mine, whether you realize it or not.'
---
Back in his apartment, Yu collapsed face-first onto his bed with a dramatic groan, shopping bags fanning out around him. After a few seconds, he rolled over and pulled his phone out of his purse, eyes sparkling as he refreshed his feed again.
The photos were still there—him in the white dress, the silly photobooth shots, even the milk tea selfie Sakura insisted on. And the little red heart count kept climbing.
"...It's like watching tiny fireworks go off."
He whispered, grinning to himself. His thumb scrolled down and up, hovering over the anonymous account's name again. Always first. Always there.
Before he could spiral into guessing Taichi's intentions, DK01's voice cut sharply through his thoughts.
[Enough preening, Yu. You have a history test in three days. You passed the last one by sheer luck of my intervention. Do not expect a repeat.]
Yu puffed his cheeks.
"You always ruin my fun…"
[Fun is meaningless if you get expelled from the world for failing your role. Pick up Fujimori's notes.]
Yu let out a long whine, kicking his feet like a sulky child, but he did as told. Pulling Fumiko's neatly organized notebook from his bag, he sat cross-legged on the bed and flipped it open. Her handwriting was clean, structured, each date and event boxed with underlines and highlights.
"...She's amazing!"
Yu muttered. He traced the highlighted words with his finger, repeating them out loud, brow furrowed in determination.
Outside his window, the city hummed softly. On the other side of the wall, Taichi sat at his desk in his own room, phone abandoned at his side, jaw clenched as he replayed every smile, every hug, every laugh he'd seen at the mall. His pencil snapped in two without him realizing.
Yu, meanwhile, leaned over his notes, lips moving silently as he repeated the lesson to himself. His phone buzzed with another "like," but this time he ignored it, cheeks flushed with stubborn effort.
"I'll… definitely pass this time!"
He whispered, as if promising it to his new friends.
DK01 gave a dry snort.
[We'll see.]
---
The weekend settled into a soft rhythm for Yu.
Saturday evening, he sat at his little desk, pencil tapping against Fumiko Fujimori's notes as he muttered facts under his breath. Every so often he'd pause, scratch his head, and pout at DK01's unimpressed commentary.
Sunday afternoon, Sakura Sato dragged him out to a café, snapping a dozen pictures of their parfaits while Yu nearly spilled his milk tea twice. Later that day, Fumiko Fujimori joined them for a quick cooking practice session. This time, Yu actually managed to make onigiri that looked like onigiri and not like lopsided rice boulders. The girls praised him so much that Yu glowed the whole day, clutching the recipe notes like treasure.
Between the laughter, the outings, and the hours hunched over textbooks, Yu felt himself… warming, softening in ways he couldn't quite name.
Meanwhile, in the room next door, Taichi's spiral deepened.
He couldn't get the images out of his head—Yu's smile, Yu's clumsy hands fiddling with bows and ribbons, Yu in that damn dress at the mall. And beneath it all, the half-remembered image from that feverish dream: Yu in a frilly maid outfit, red eyes sparkling, tilting his head with that oblivious sweetness.
That Sunday night, Taichi sat on his bed, phone forgotten at his side. His fists clenched tight, nails digging crescents into his palms.
He squeezed his eyes shut. He told himself to stop—
'That's Yukio, you idiot. That's not some girl. That's your neighbor. That's…'
But the harder he tried to resist, the clearer the dream became. The soft rustle of lace, the shy look upward, the imagined sound of Yu's voice saying his name.
Heat flushed through him, uncontrollable, a tidal wave drowning the last of his composure. Hands moved fast, unbuckling, unzipping…unleashing it. His breath hitched, ragged, shame curling tight in his gut even as the image drove him over the edge with his fast movements.
When it was over, he sat slumped forward, chest heaving, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. His hands shook as he pressed them against his face, burning with guilt.
"…What the hell is wrong with me?"
He whispered into the dark.
---
On the other side of the wall, Yu yawned softly, curling up with Fumiko's notes clutched to his chest, blissfully unaware.
Deciding it was time to get his beauty sleep, Yu set aside his books and got ready for bed. Once he changed into a cute pair of pajamas, face washed and teeth brushes, Yu settled into his bed for the night.
Yu curled deeper under his blanket, Fumiko's neat notes stacked safely on his desk. His eyes were already slipping shut when DK01's flat, metallic voice chimed in his head.
[Notification: Tragic Target Taichi Arifukua has just… "enjoyed" himself to the image of you. Store unlocked. Bonus +5 points added for first JP earned. +10 JP earned.]
Yu's eyes shot wide open.
"H-Haaaah?!"
He sat up so quickly his blanket slipped down, cheeks going hot enough to light a lantern.
"W-wait, what do you mean enjoyed himself?!"
A long pause. Then DK01's dry tone filled the room:
[Translation: He fantasized about you, climaxed, and as a result, system rewards have been dispensed.]
Yu grabbed his pillow and smacked it against his head.
"Stop! Don't say it like that! I didn't need all the details!"
His voice cracked as he buried his face.
But DK01 wasn't done.
[Reminder: All skills and items were locked at the time of bounding your soul to me, your system. JP—Jizz Points—is the system currency required to buy them back.]
Yu froze, peeking out from behind the pillow.
"...Jizz Points?"
[Affirmative. JP. The more often the Tragic Target—Taichi, in this case—indulges in self pleasure towards you, the more points you earn. Current total: 10 JP.]
Yu's ears went scarlet. He dropped onto the futon, curling like a shrimp.
"S-so you're telling me… every time he, um, you know, to me of all people—"
[You are immediately notified, yes.]
Yu clutched his face with both hands, practically smoking from the heat.
"This is the worst system ever! I don't wanna know that!"
[You do not have a choice to turn it off.]
"Whyyyyy?!"
Yu groaned into his sheets, legs kicking. He couldn't decide if he wanted to die of embarrassment or strangle DK01 with his own wires.
But a quieter, more dangerous thought wiggled its way in: if he wanted his skills and items back, if he wanted to survive this world and more worlds to come… he needed Taichi to, well… do that more.
Yu's whole body went stiff at the implication.
"…D-don't tell me I have to…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Sleep with him too?"
DK01, utterly unbothered, gave a single flat beep.
[Correct. Well, eventually, but it can wait for the time being.]
Yu let out a strangled noise, muffled his scream in the pillow, and flopped onto his stomach, tailbone twitching with mortification he didn't even understand.
'Some Demon King trial this turned out to be!'
---
Monday morning arrived mercilessly.
Yu shuffled up the front steps of the school, his face still faintly pink from lack of sleep and the memory of last night's notification. His side braid was slightly crooked, his red ribbon tied in a rush. Every time he thought of Taichi, his stomach twisted.
'I know… I know what he did…! How am I supposed to look him in the eye now?!'
The courtyard buzzed louder than usual, whispers trailing after him as students passed:
"Isn't that the cute transfer girl?"
"Yeah, Yu-chan, right?"
"Her hair looks so pretty today."
Yu nearly tripped over his own shoes.
'Transfer… girl?'
By now, it wasn't even up for debate. The entire school had collectively decided he was "Yu," a super cute new student who had slipped in quietly last week. Nobody even said "Yukio" anymore. When the name did come up, it was in hushed, vague tones—an old classmate whose face people couldn't even picture. Someone who barely mattered.
And the teachers? They just let it slide. After all, Yu showed up in uniform, handed in his homework (sloppily, but still), and answered when called. That was enough.
Inside homeroom, Fumiko Fujimori and Sakura Sato immediately waved him over, both sparkling in their gyaru glam.
"Yu-chan! Over here~!"
"Your braid's a little crooked—come, lemme fix it!"
Yu let Sakura fuss with his hair while Fumiko leaned close, whispering with a grin,
"Did you sleep okay? You look all flushed this morning."
He made a strangled sound, covering his cheeks.
"I-I'm fine! Just… fine!"
DK01's voice droned in his head, maddeningly calm.
[Correction: You did not sleep well. You tossed for approximately 4 hours, 27 minutes, muttering "why me" repeatedly.]
Yu slammed his notebook shut on his desk, earning a giggle from the girls.
From the back row, Taichi's stare burned holes into the scene. He leaned on one arm, trying to look bored, but every time Yu tilted his head or fiddled with his ribbon, Taichi's jaw tightened. Yamato and Souma, oblivious, were already whispering about "how hot the new girl" is, their laughs grating in his ears.
Yu, catching Taichi's stare once, panicked.
'Oh no—does he know I know?'
His blush deepened, and he ducked his head quickly, letting Sakura keep playing with his hair.
The classroom hummed with its usual morning energy, but under the surface, Yu's nerves and Taichi's restraint pulled the air tighter and tighter.
"Yu-chan, your skin is glowing today!"
Fumiko announced, leaning over his desk with theatrical awe.
Yu flinched, tugging self-consciously at his ribbon.
"It—it's just soap, I swear!"
"No way~"
Sakura giggled, pressing her hands against Yu's cheeks as if to test the truth.
"Hmm, maybe it's love."
Yu nearly jumped out of his chair.
"Wha—love?!"
"Look at her, Fumiko, she's blushing again~"
"Totally! Yu-chan, you're so pure it actually hurts. I want to put you in a glass case and guard you from weird guys forever."
"Like guard dogs!"
Sakura added solemnly.
Yu puffed his cheeks out, muttering,
"I'm not that helpless…"
[Data indicates: you are precisely that helpless. But I'm here to make you less hopeless. Oh woe is me. I've got my work cut out for me!]
DK01 cut in flatly.
"Shut up!"
Yu hissed under his breath, earning twin confused looks from the girls.
"Eh? Who're you talking to?"
"N-nobody! Just…myself! Yep!"
Both girls burst out laughing, pinching his cheeks until Yu whimpered. The whole scene earned a handful of curious glances from other classmates—boys whispering, girls murmuring—but Yu was too caught up in trying not to combust to notice.
At the back, Taichi did notice. His pen rolled off his desk without him realizing, Yamato and Souma elbowing him with knowing smirks.
"Bro, you're staring again."
"Yeah, you into her or what? Otherwise…"
Taichi scowled, snapping his notebook shut.
"Shut it."
But his ears were red.
The bell rang, signaling the shift to first period. Students shuffled books into bags and chairs scraped against the floor.
Yu exhaled in relief, ready to lose himself in routine… until Fumiko cheerfully said.
"Gym today!"
Yu froze.
"G-gym?"
"Oh, right!"
Sakura said, stretching her arms lazily.
"You need to pick up your uniform since you're new, huh? I'll come with. Great excuse to skip laps."
Fumiko shot her friend a thumbs-up.
"I'm running early, so I'll meet you two there! Don't be late, okay?"
"W-wait—uniform?"
Yu croaked, clutching his bag tighter. His brain filled with images of himself in short shorts, tight shirt, exposed.
[Warning: System analysis suggests gym class = catastrophic public exposure.]
Yu gulped audibly.
Sakura smiled kindly and linked her arm with his.
"C'mon, Yu-chan. Don't worry, I'll help you out."
From the back row, Taichi had gone completely still, his hand gripping the side of his desk until his knuckles whitened.
'Gym class. Girls' uniform. Him in that.'
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The word gym reverberated through his skull like a death knell.
He sat slouched in his chair, fists balled under the desk, jaw clenched hard enough to ache. Around him, classmates laughed and shuffled into groups, but all Taichi could hear was the echo of Yu in gym clothes.
Not just gym clothes—girls' gym clothes.
His brain supplied the image without permission: pale legs, the cling of bloomers, the ribbon still glinting in that soft braid. Taichi shut his eyes, willing it away.
'No. Don't. That's Yukio. You're losing it.'
But when he opened them again, Yu was walking off with Sakura, smiling shyly, tugging his cardigan tighter over his frame—and it wasn't Yukio anymore. Or maybe it always had been, and Taichi was the one unraveling.
"Oi, bro."
Yamato's elbow jabbed his ribs.
"You're making that face again."
"Yeah,"
Souma added, smirking.
"Like you're about to pop a vein. You really hate gym that much?"
Taichi growled low in his throat, shoving past them to grab his bag. He couldn't admit it. Not the truth. Not that the thought of everyone else seeing Yu like that—smiling, red-faced, delicate—made him want to break something.
'Damn it.'
---
Meanwhile, in the school's locker room, Yu stood in front of the gym teacher like a deer caught in headlights as the folded uniform was shoved into his hands.
"Here, new one. Your size."
"Uh… size?"
Yu squeaked, staring down at the ominous bundle.
The teacher had already moved on.
"Yu-chan, you'll be fine!"
Sakura grinned, adjusting her own shorts.
"We'll be cute gym partners!"
Yu's face went scarlet.
"C-cute?! N-no, wait, I—uh—maybe you should head out first, Sakura-san. I'm… shy!"
Sakura tilted her head, then her eyes softened, sparkles practically forming around her.
"Awwww. You are shy. That's so cute! Okay, okay, I'll give you privacy. But don't take too long, alright? I'll save you a spot!"
She practically skipped out.
Yu, left behind, stared at the bloomers like they were a cursed relic.
"What the hell is this?! Is this even legal?! I'm not wearing this—it's practically underwear!"
[Correction: bloomers = outdated but historically common female gym attire. Legal status: irrelevant. Problem status: catastrophic if you refuse.]
Yu whipped his head around.
"Catastrophic how?!"
[If you refuse, you will stand out as cross-dressing male in female uniform. That = out of character. That = world rejection. That = restart at Day One. In layman's terms, wear the bloomers or restart.]
"Cross-dressing?!"
Yu yelped.
"What even—?!"
[Definition: male presenting as female. Societally frowned upon. Detection = rejection. Though, personally I feel like you fall more into the "trap" category.]
Yu stomped a foot, face puffing.
"So what, I'm screwed?!"
[Negative. You can tuck.]
Yu froze.
"…What the hell is tucking?"
[Explanation: manually repositioning and concealing external anatomy between thighs to simulate smooth lower body silhouette. Technique widely practiced among cross-dressers and transgender individuals. Success rate: adequate for gym shorts.]
Yu's entire body stiffened.
"Y-you want me to fold my royal jewels like origami?!"
[Yep. Unless you want the whole school to notice your demon prince.]
"Ughhhh!!"
Yu dragged his hands down his face, groaning like the world had betrayed him.
"This is hell. Absolute hell!"
Still, after five minutes of whimpering, pouting, and glaring at the ceiling, Yu did it. Clumsily, awkwardly, but he managed.
The bloomers slid on. He turned to the mirror.
…And saw a girl staring back.
His pale thighs, the smooth curve of his waist, the braid swinging lightly—he looked exactly like every other girl out there.
"…oh."
Yu blinked. His reflection blinked back.
For once, DK01 didn't quip.
[…Success rate: 100%. You pass.]
Yu grinned sheepishly, tugged on the shirt, and whispered to himself,
"Okay… okay, maybe this isn't the worst thing in the world…"