Chapter 2: Beautiful Girl, Taking a Bath

I sat on the living room sofa, feeling strangely calm after witnessing Mom’s complete meltdown in the bathroom.

The reality of the situation was now undeniable: I had actually turned into a girl. And of course, there was no known method for turning back. This wasn't like one of those stories where you hop in hot water and return to normal. That was fiction. This was reality.

Mom had told me to wait in the living room before retreating to her own room, as if she needed to think.

Left alone, I looked down at my body again.

My loose-fitting pajamas made it obvious—I’d gotten shorter. I’d been around 160 centimeters (5′ 3 by freedom unit) before, but now I looked at least ten centimeters shorter (~4'11 tall now). My arms, never muscular to begin with, were now slim and looked completely unreliable.

When I ran a hand across my pale skin, it felt soft and smooth, almost silky.

Uh-oh, my heart’s starting to race. Seriously, what kind of pervert gets excited over their own body!?

I stared at my open palm. It was small and soft-looking.

Speaking of soft—my chest. I actually had one. I’d always wondered what the point of male nipples even was, but I never imagined I’d need the female version. Not that I had wanted them in the first place…

At least Mom still recognized me as me. She hadn’t rejected me. Her brain seemed a little broken, but that was still better than being cast aside.

But what about my little brother? What about Dad?

If my doted-on kid brother, Kaname, ever looked at me and said “Gross,” that would be the end of me. Big Brother couldn’t survive that.

The Sakura siblings were apparently well-known around the neighborhood for getting along, probably because we often played badminton in front of the house. Usually, it ended with me getting totally destroyed by my athletic younger brother.

Why did I spend so much time with my brother? W-well, it’s not like I have no friends or anything!!

…Okay, that was a lie. I don’t have many. Talking to strangers is scary. If you don’t manage to strike up a conversation right when the new school year starts, when are you supposed to make friends? And how is it that groups already exist on day one? I’ll never understand it.

As for Dad—he’s the embodiment of a stubborn, old-fashioned father. He’s strict with me and my brother, never letting us slack off. He never bought us anything we asked for, though Mom would usually sneak it to us later out of pity.

If I told him, “Oops, sorry, I turned into a girl,” it wouldn’t just end with me getting smacked.

Thinking about everyone around me only made me more anxious. Could I really live like this?

Why did this even happen? Damn it, I’m about to cry.

"Ayumu, sorry to keep you waiting! Eh!? What’s with that face—are you trying to moe-kill me!?"

"Mom. I…"

On the verge of tears, I clung to my ever-cheerful mother.

She gently patted my head. Ahh… that actually feels nice.

"Ayumu, you’re scared, aren’t you? But don’t worry! With looks like that, you could knock out any guy in seconds!"

"…That’s not what I’m worried about."

"Oh? Well, you were handsome as a boy too, but as a girl? You’re even more wonderful. Wonderful? No, you’re downright invincible."

Being praised like that didn’t feel bad. And with Mom here, the fear seemed to fade a little.

"Alright then, let’s go!"

Huh? Go where? Before I could ask, she ushered me out of the living room and marched me straight back to the bathroom.

"Um, Mom? What are you—"

"Hm? We’re taking a bath, of course. Together."

"…Excuse me?"

A bath? At my age, bathing with my mother? That’s instant bully material! Please don’t! I am not a mama’s boy!

And don’t start unbuttoning my pajamas without my permission!

"Hehehe… hehehehehe."

With a creepy grin, Mom’s fingers worked at my buttons with deadly precision.

"W-wait a second! Why now, of all times!? This is not the time for a bath!"

"Oh, Ayumu. You came here to take a bath in the first place, didn’t you? You were drenched in sweat."

"Well, yeah, but…"

"Then no problem!!"

With that, Mom yanked off my top.

The mirror reflected my bare torso, faintly flushed pink.

"Muh-haaa! To think such an adorable child is mine—I’ve gotta thank the gods!"

Holding her nose, Mom stared at my reflection, panting and chanting “hee-hee-hoo” like she was in labor. That’s not even the right breathing exercise.

I stared, too. That’s a naked girl in the mirror. My first time seeing a girl naked—and she’s ridiculously cute. Lucky me. Wait. That’s me! Why am I blushing at my own body!?

"Muh-haaa! Look at you blushing—so cute!"

Unintentionally, I’d dealt Mom another critical hit.

Five minutes later…

"Hah… hah… I can’t believe just stripping off the top could make me this weak. Ayumu’s attacks hit my mental points directly…"

Gasping for breath, Mom spoke with a dazed look.

As for me, I was still embarrassed seeing myself in the mirror, but I’d managed to calm down a little.

"Alright then. For the finale—"

Sliiide!

"Eh?"

Cool air rushed against my lower half. I was stark naked.

"Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

"Of course we're taking a bath. I'll put the laundry in the basket, so you go on ahead," Mom said, her earlier excitement giving way to a calmer demeanor as she urged me toward the bath.

I did as I was told. When I opened the bathroom's sliding door, my vision turned pure white from the steam. She must have filled the bathtub while I was in the living room. I sat on the stool, scooped up hot water with a bucket, and poured it over my head. The water felt refreshing on my sweaty skin, almost as if it were washing away my anxiety.

Just then, I heard the sound of the sliding door opening behind me.

"My, Ayumu, you're so impatient. You could have waited for me." Mom sat on the other stool, positioned herself behind me, and began explaining the shampoo and conditioner. Apparently, the shampoo we had been using until now just wouldn't do.

I did as Mom said: I shampooed my hair, rinsed it off, applied the conditioner, and rinsed again.

"Mmm-hmm, what wonderful hair. You could easily be in a commercial," Mom said with satisfaction.

"Next, we wash your body, okay? A girl's skin is easily damaged, so you have to be gentle." She showed me a soft sponge but didn't hand it over.

"From now on, use this. I'll wash you today, okay? Hee hee hee." Wearing a mischievous smile, Mom applied body soap to the sponge, worked up a lather, and gently ran it down my back.

"Eeek!" The soft sensation caused a strange voice to escape me, and my body twitched.

"Ahh, my... This is the best. If I died right now, the cause would be 'death by moe'." She continued washing my back. It was ticklish, but somehow felt good.

"Alright, the back is done, so time to wash the front~" Mom's arm slid around to my front.

"Wha—!? Use the sponge!?"

"Oh my—, isn't this fine? The sponge is nice, but washing by hand is good too! Or rather, I can't hold back, let me touch you!" Her hands began roaming all over my body.

"St-stop it, Mom, that tickles!"

"Heheh, this is amazing! I've never seen such smooth skin! Aah—, this is so good!" I-I'm done for, Mom has lost it! I couldn't muster the strength to push her away, and with the soles of my feet covered in suds, I couldn't get a firm footing. I was completely at her mercy.

"Ahh—, so these are Ayumu's breasts. Whoa, what is this, they're like marshmallows. I expected maybe a B-cup. Hmm, but still, I'm getting addicted to this."

St-stop it... Mom's hands crept and stroked all over my limbs, paying no mind to sensitive areas like my waist and underarms.

"M-Mom, I get it now! I can wash myself!" But this beast-like pervert—I mean, Mom—could no longer understand human speech. I continued to be manhandled until she wore a look of pure accomplishment.

By the time I rinsed the suds from my body, I was completely exhausted.

Why did taking a bath have to be so tiring...? However, thanks to all the commotion, my anxious feelings had faded considerably.