Side Effects

(Bai Ziye)

"Little Yezi ~"

Aunt Yuehan seemed quite bored; she kept lingering at the kitchen doorway with the Golden, but she was afraid of disrupting my cooking rhythm if she just came in.

"Stir-fried loofah with eggs, stir-fried pork with green peppers, cucumber with minced garlic... and there's spinach and tofu soup in the pot. Aren't the colors of your dishes a bit monotonous? Why is everything so green as far as the eye can see?"

The color seems to be a bit greenish?

I didn't consider all of this when I bought the groceries.

"... It's alright, there's still braised fish and lion's head meatballs to come."

"Little Yezi is so virtuous, I'd even like to marry Yao'er off to you~"

"... Please don't make such jokes."

"I'm serious, I just looked it up. Magical girls' bodies are no different from normal human females, in other words, they can get pregnant. Even magical girls who are transformed from animals don't have reproductive barriers with humans... There's a story online about a Wales farmer and his magical sheep..."

"That's enough! You can't accept all the information online; most of this is just absurd, low-brow fiction!"

What did Aunt Yuehan investigate?

What are those researchers studying?

That stereotypical story about the rancher is even more absurd...

Aunt Yuehan asked, bewildered, "Um, what if it's true?"

"Woof!"

Even the Golden is blindly agreeing with this; what does this Doggy know? Does it want to turn into a human and have my babies?

"We're back! Oh? It smells so good!"

Looking through the sliding door of the kitchen towards the entrance, Ceruno and Jila came back from outside carrying large bags and small packages. They had both changed their clothes, clearly having spent a lot of money on this trip, while I could only buy two steamers of buns with the Golden and stand by the roadside to eat them.

Hey, why am I so poor?

"Yezi, I also bought you a few clothes. Come over and try them on when you have time."

Ceruno...

Wait, has A-Yao ever bought me any clothes before?

Even though we've known each other for so many years and our relationship is incredibly close, buying each other clothes doesn't seem like something brothers should do.

But to say I'm unhappy would seem insincere; after all, who doesn't want new clothes?

"Wait, I'll be right there."

Turn the heat down and let the spinach, minced meat, and tofu soup simmer slowly in the pot.

I washed my hands, took off my apron, and left the kitchen temporarily.

"You bought so much stuff?"

The sofa was piled high with items, far more than just everyday necessities.

Jila added, "Because Ceruno's magic is so convenient, she can carry as much stuff as she wants, and before you know it, she's bought too much."

"You guys really don't value money..."

"After all, fighting witches does earn you a bounty, even if that's not made public."

Jila shrugged, Ceruno handed her several paper bags.

"This Yezi is for you."

The clothes themselves weren't anything special; they were just flashy shirts, T-shirts, baseball jackets, and trendy jackets. They all seemed to fit well, and there weren't any unexpected styles. However, these clothes had a somewhat American style, which was probably due to Heat Haze and Jila's advice.

"Thank you, I'll give it a try."

"Um."

I took the new clothes back to my bedroom. Although I could use the Star Crystal, there were so many people outside, so I didn't take the risk and obediently took off my shirt.

Yuehan's magic can make doors transparent; even when I lock the door from the inside, it's useless.

"Huh? Was I really this fair-skinned?"

I got really tanned from the equatorial sun in Hawaii, but now I'm unusually fair-skinned. I don't think I was this fair-skinned even before I went to Hawaii.

Not only that, her skin was smooth with small pores, and the fine, short hairs were almost imperceptible...

This is just like Miluno.

I was startled by my own thought and quickly looked in the mirror.

"... I am still me, at least my face still looks like mine."

His pectoral muscles remained flat.

My little brother is still alive and well.

However, the change in skin texture has also brought about a change in temperament. Now, instead of saying "handsome," it would be more appropriate to describe him as "beautiful." Although his features are not yet feminine, the word to describe him is "handsome."

Call--

Your skin has become so fair and clear; even going to a beauty salon couldn't achieve this effect, right?

Is this a side effect of completely fusing with the Star Crystal?

Or was it because of the magic potion Yin Wei gave me?

Is this the end of the change?

Is there more to come?

These answers will remain unknown until the situation truly deteriorates.

Knock knock--

A knock on the door.

Before I could answer, Ceruno's round head peeked in from behind the door.

"Hey! Yezi, why aren't you wearing any clothes!"

What kind of question is that, you idiot?

"I just took it off and haven't put it back on yet. What are you doing barging in here?"

She closed the door, walked up to me with her hands behind her back, her face flushed, her posture a little awkward, and her eyes seemed to be glancing at my abs out of the corner of her eye.

The atmosphere here is kind of gay.

"I have another piece of clothing I wanted to give you... I originally intended to wear it myself, but now I probably won't have the chance," she said.

"Oh? What clothes?"

"This is it."

She pulled a black T-shirt from behind her back; it wasn't anything special in terms of style.

But the front features a silhouette of "Miluno" in a flying kick pose;

The back features bold artistic lettering that reads "Miluno Fan Support Club".

"..."

Seeing my silence, Ceruno asked, "Don't you like her? I've noticed you've been quite concerned about Miss Miluno lately. You even praised her before..."

"... Then, I'll accept it."

The simpleton immediately grinned and said with a silly smile, "Hehehe, if you like it, give it a try. I'll head out now."

"Um."

He maintained a stiff smile as he watched Ceruno leave the bedroom, but his expression instantly crumbled.

What's the point of wearing your own fan club outfit?

I didn't even know I had a "fan support group." Could that idiot have set it up himself?

Is she the head of the fan club?

Because she couldn't wear it after becoming a magical girl herself, she gave it to me, hoping I would inherit her mantle, right?

Does this mean I have to be the president of my own fan club?

How could that be?

Wouldn't I become a laughing stock?

My chaotic inner world is roaring in despair.

Ceruno pushed the door open again and peeked in.

"Oh! Yezi! Miss Jila wants to cook too, you don't need to come to the kitchen!"

I put on a smile with the speed of a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

"Haha, is that so? Then I'm much more relaxed. (Reading in a flat, monotone tone)"

"Her family owns a restaurant, so her cooking skills are definitely better than yours!"

"Well, you should thank her for me."

Why aren't you wearing these clothes yet? Are they too big or don't they fit?

She was referring to fan support clothing.

"... No, there are so many people outside, I'll wear this another day."

I picked up another T-shirt printed with street graffiti art.

I'll wear this one first.

"Still shy? You'll have to wear it for me next time!"

"Haha, definitely next time!"

That's impossible...

I have nightmares every time I leave these clothes in the closet.