Gender Reversed

Before long, two meals were brought out.

A plate of curry rice and a plate of omelet rice.

"Thank you." Amikura took the tray and thanked the maid.

She quickly picked up her spoon. Right now, she just wanted to finish eating and leave as soon as possible.

But Etsuka merely propped his chin on his hand and watched quietly, without making a move to eat.

Amikura looked at him in confusion. "Hm? Etsuka, why aren't you eating?"

Etsuka lifted his chin slightly, indicating that she should look to the right.

Amikura turned her head and realized that the maid from earlier was still standing quietly nearby.

"Etsuka, what's... going on?" Amikura asked, bewildered.

The maid also turned her gaze toward Etsuka.

Etsuka smiled at her and said, "It's her first time here. Just cast the 'spell' on her."

"Hm? What spell?" Amikura had no idea what he meant and looked utterly bewildered.

The maid nodded, turned to Amikura, and spoke in a saccharine voice:

"Master~ To make the omelet rice even more delicious, please say the spell and do the actions along with me~"

"Huh? A spell? Oh, oh, okay..." Amikura finally caught on and hurriedly nodded.

"Meow, meow~" The maid curled both hands into little cat paws beside her cheeks and gently swayed them.

"Huh?" The very first action made Amikura hesitate, and her face grew faintly warm.

Etsuka was thoroughly enjoying the show. He blinked and quickly piled on, "Mako, hurry up and do it. If you don't, the manager will see and dock her pay."

Amikura Mako was already a kindhearted person; she was only embarrassed. But Etsuka's words changed everything in an instant.

"Huh? Dock her pay?!" Amikura panicked, with no time to think it through.

She had no choice but to stiffly raise both hands and clumsily form cat paws, murmuring so quietly it was almost inaudible, "Meow..."

Etsuka, watching from the sidelines, pressed his lips together with all his might, struggling to hold back his wildly rising smile.

[Hold it in! Stupid mouth, don't laugh!]

The maid continued with the next action:

"Puru puru~ Heart Energy Full Power!" She formed a big heart in front of her chest.

By now, Amikura's face was as red as a cherry about to explode in Plants vs. Zombies.

She huddled her shoulders, practically steaming from the top of her head, but still slowly repeated the words:

"Puru puru... Heart Energy Full Power..."

Then she raised her hands too and formed a tiny heart in front of her chest!

"Shine, Delicious Light!" The maid held her palm above the omelet rice, as if infusing it with a soul and casting a deliciousness spell on the food.

Amikura squeezed her eyes shut. Her soul seemed to have left this world, leaving behind only a robotic shell to carry out the instructions.

"Shine... Delicious Light..."

(Inner translation: Just destroy this world already...)

She also reached out to complete the "soul-infusion" ritual, hoping that once she opened her eyes, she wouldn't recognize anyone.

"Master~ Please enjoy this omelet rice infused with heartfelt affection!" The maid gracefully curtsied, holding up the sides of her skirt with both hands, then finally turned and left.

Etsuka studied Amikura with interest as she remained frozen like a statue, her hand still outstretched.

She seemed a little calmer on the surface, and the flush on her cheeks had faded somewhat, but her stiff, unmoving pose gave her away completely.

[Ugh... I don't have the courage to open my eyes at all...]

She wished she could dig out a five-room apartment with her toes on the spot, crawl inside, and never come out again.

"Okay, Amikura, let's eat." Etsuka smiled as he scooped up a spoonful of curry rice.

When Amikura heard him eating, she cautiously opened one eye.

The moment she met Etsuka's smiling gaze, she grabbed her spoon and buried her head in her food, her eyes darting everywhere.

The diners around them seemed used to this sort of thing. They glanced over, then shook their heads with amused smiles:

Tsk, tsk. You can tell at a glance she's not a veteran otaku.

During the meal, the usually lively and talkative Amikura fell completely silent. She just kept her head down and ate, occasionally glaring fiercely at Etsuka.

Horikita Etsuka felt completely innocent: she'd been the one who was curious in the first place. He'd only "kindly" indulged her.

[Ah, I've been so unlucky in my choice of company~]

As soon as she finished eating, Amikura grabbed Etsuka by the sleeve and bolted out of the maid café as if escaping prison.

The maid who had served them stood quietly inside the café, gazing through the glass at the two of them as they walked away, saying nothing.

They arrived at a clothing store.

The air conditioning was set to a comfortable temperature, the clothes were neatly arranged, and the air carried a faint, fresh scent of cotton.

Amikura carefully studied the clothes on the rack, then picked up a light blue linen short-sleeved shirt and held it up against Etsuka.

Her eyes lit up. "This style is nice. Etsuka, want to try it on?"

"Sure." Etsuka took the shirt, his fingertips accidentally brushing her arm and giving them both a subtle, tingling sensation.

Amikura's cheeks were a little flushed, but after what had happened at the maid café, she wasn't especially shy now.

"Go on, go on!" Amikura pushed Etsuka into the fitting room.

Amikura waited outside the changing room. Hearing the faint sounds of him changing inside, she couldn't help swallowing.

Come to think of it, she hadn't even seen Etsuka during their last swimming lesson. What a shame.

Amikura felt a little dizzy, constantly imagining Etsuka with his shirt off. She shook her head, and gradually managed to calm down.

Still, she waited at the fitting room entrance with a trace of anticipation.

Before long, the fitting room door opened, and Etsuka came out.

He had changed into the light blue linen shirt, with the collar open, and black straight-leg jeans on his lower half.

The outfit went perfectly with Etsuka's sunny disposition, making him look especially clean-cut and tall.

It was the first time Etsuka had been examined so closely by a girl. He casually ran a hand through his hair and asked with a smile:

"How is it? Does it suit me?"

Amikura forgot to respond for a moment. The noisy sounds around her seemed to fade away. The store was cool, but her cheeks felt hot.

Apparently, this was the first time Amikura had seen Etsuka in casual clothes.

The shop assistant came over just then. Her eyes lit up when she saw the customer who had just changed, and she praised him without holding back:

"You look great in that outfit, young man. You have that star quality."

Only then did Amikura snap out of it. She nodded vigorously, unable to keep the corners of her mouth from lifting. "Yeah! It looks great!"

Sure, Etsuka's looks had something to do with it, but she was the one who picked the clothes!

Then Amikura took a black shirt from the rack and said eagerly, "Etsuka, try this one!"

That was just how girls were. They loved playing dress-up from a young age.

Amikura was excited now. She wanted to see how Etsuka looked in different outfits.

Etsuka's mouth twitched. "Am I your dress-up doll?"

"Oh, come on, hurry up!" Amikura pushed Etsuka into the fitting room again.

As Etsuka changed inside the fitting room, he felt as though their genders had been reversed.

[Aren't girls usually the ones changing clothes?]