Gone

(Miluno | Bai Ziye)

August 9th.

On the first weekend after school started, Ceruno and I decided to go home.

They even brought their Doggy.

What are you going there for?

Of course, it's to meet the parents!

Although my parents and Aunt Yuehan don't object to my relationship with Ceruno at all, I still need to officially announce our relationship to them, so I told them in advance to come home today...

I doubt they'll feel any tension.

After all, my mom used to always lament that it would be great if either of me or Ceruno were a girl, so she could settle down and find a husband.

Well, that's great! Hey, we've changed together, hand in hand.

Welcome back!

Yin Lu was still there to greet us on this side of the wormhole.

Ever since her sister—cough, ever since her younger sister was captured by Sirius to be the secretary-general—she has been our liaison.

"Sister Luer, we're back-wow!"

"Ceruno, let your big sister give you a hug~"

"Who hugs someone first and then asks for their consent!"

Ceruno is being targeted by the Hugging Monster again.

Why doesn't anyone want to hug me?

It's been over a week since school started. Because Principal Xiao Yi lacks experience, many things are still in the exploratory stage. However, life at the City School has gotten back on track. We haven't completely stayed away from Skyreach City this week, since we still have to go back to my and Ceruno's alma mater, Third High School, twice a week for academic classes.

Returning to a familiar school with a completely different identity is quite a strange feeling, but since magical girls have their own classrooms, there's no chance to visit those old classmates.

The coursework wasn't as heavy as imagined; with the magical girl's abundant energy, she could handle it perfectly. Besides, academic subjects weren't urgent for a magical girl, since she had eternal youth. At worst, she could study for a few more years and eventually finish her studies.

Magical girls should prioritize magic...

Okay, even magical girls need to take exams.

However, Extinction, who had repeated two years of high school, was an expert in this area. With her tutoring Ceruno and me in our high school studies, plus Miluno and me using our combined skill "Room of Time and Spirit," we didn't have to worry about our learning efficiency.

Oops, I've gone off-topic.

"Then, Sister Luer, we'll head back now."

Okay~

Only after I said that did Yin Lu reluctantly let go of Ceruno, but her face was radiant and full of energy...

She asked again:

"It's the weekend, aren't you going to the city for a stroll?"

I countered with:

"What's there to see in this sweltering heat?"

Ceruno straightened her disheveled clothes and quietly tugged at my sleeve.

"Sister Luer is right, we should buy something for our parents."

People usually bring gifts when meeting their parents for the first time, but she and my parents are already so close they're like family, I don't think this step is necessary... but it's a kind of ritual, so I'll just go along with her wishes for now.

"Okay, then I'll buy some gifts for Aunt Yuehan too."

"Wait a minute, Miluno!"

Ceruno, however, put on a stern face and started lecturing me.

"You should call her 'Auntie' now, not 'Auntie' anymore! She's my mom!"

Is it necessary to nitpick over such wording?

"This is very important!"

She took my hand and led me away from the Wormhole Laboratory.

"Let's go shopping!"

"Woof? Wait for me!"

Since we were going to buy souvenirs, the Metro Shopping Street wasn't up to par. Although it was lively, locals considered it somewhat low-class, so we went to the shopping street in the C4 Area instead.

"Miluno, it seems like a lot of people are looking at you?"

Even though I was wearing sunglasses, many people still recognized me. Although I'm not famous as a magical girl... as an idol, I did manage to make my presence felt on the Supernova Idol Festival stage. Plus, the "white highlights" at the ends of my hair were particularly eye-catching, making it hard not to take a second look.

Miluno's disguise, however, worked flawlessly, and she was never recognized.

I shrugged and replied, "That's the price of being a public figure."

"Don't make it sound so easy, it'll attract paparazzi."

"Then what do you want me to do?" I countered.

"Let's turn back into Yezi first!"

"... ha?"

"Turn back into Yezi and go shopping with me."

If it really changes back, it will be impossible for anyone to recognize it.

But deep down I'm still afraid of reverting back to my original state. After all, so many days Past, and I don't know what my original body will look like now...

"Ah! Are you worried about turning into a girl completely?"

Ceruno keenly sensed my thoughts.

"Hmm, based on the previous progress, it should be almost done."

I haven't been taking any more inhibitors lately, and I've already confessed everything to Ceruno, so I should face my fate with equanimity.

"Yezi ~ No matter what you become, I will face it with you, so don't be afraid."

Ceruno grabbed my hand, and Goldie chimed in.

"Me too!"

"I see."

Looking around, I considered where would be a better place to cancel the change. The mall's restrooms weren't a good option, given the high volume of people coming and going, and the possibility of being noticed...

"Speaking of which, isn't Metal's shop right here? Why don't we just borrow her dressing room?"

Ceruno knew that Metal had opened a clothing store here, selling all sorts of strange clothes, so she took out her phone and started sending messages.

"Yes, it's on the basement floor, but she's at the City School right now, so it's impossible..."

She said she was at the store and told us to just go Past!

Does she have some kind of clone ability?

Inside Metal's clothing store, a high school girl with long brown hair was waving at us. Even though there were several other customers in the store, she called out directly, "Yo! Ceruno, Miluno, out shopping and on a date this weekend?"

"We are students, and what we do on weekends is our own business. But is it okay for the chief engineer to take on a side job? Isn't that dereliction of duty?"

When I asked this, Ceruno also worriedly asked, "Won't the City School suddenly fall into ruin?"

"Don't worry, the Central Control System will automatically execute the predetermined flight route, and there are contingency plans for any malfunctions. I, the chief engineer, can relax quite a bit~"

She stretched and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Then we'll use your changing room for a bit."

Without asking for a specific reason, she replied:

"Oh, then I'll use it."

The changing room wasn't big enough for two people, so Ceruno and Goldie had to wait outside the curtain... Well, it's fine, I'll have to confirm this myself.

When I deactivated the transformation, the men's pants suddenly fell down to my calves. Not only was my height reduced, but even my frame had shrunk considerably. I was even shorter than when I Miluno, which I found hard to accept.

"So short..."

With a heart full of trepidation, I checked the rise and fall of my chest.

Thankfully, it's flat.

The flatness of this man's chest is reassuring; at least I haven't become completely feminized.

My right hand instinctively reached down, trying to find my suffering little brother...

That's all!

I'm knocking on the door! No monthly pass, no trouble!