Chapter 16: That Thing

"Senpai, are you okay?"

While I was slumped on the sofa, Kana-chan—having finished the dishes—looked over at me with concern.

"I'm fine… but sorry. We had plans to go out…"

"It’s fine. We can go on a date anytime, and I know you’re on the heavier side."

What a good kid.

Still, apparently she’s considered one of the lighter types. That unfairness is a little irritating. Maybe this is how women usually feel about men…

"Sorry…"

"Don’t worry about it. Let’s just relax at home today."

Relax?

"Sorry I can’t—"

"No, really, it’s fine. Saying it like that makes it sound like that’s all we ever do, doesn’t it?"

…We mostly do, though.

"Shall we watch a movie?"

"Yeah."

We decided to just take it easy. I rested my head on Kana-chan’s shoulder as the movie started.

"There’s one good thing about TS. When I turn back into a guy, I might actually be able to treat women more kindly."

At our usual family restaurant, everyone had gathered, so I announced today’s topic out of nowhere.

"Where’s that coming from all of a sudden? I mean, it’s a good point, but still…" said Shachou.

"Yeah. Eromi-neesan is definitely not someone who’s kind to women," added Chihiro.

Hey!
What kind of evaluation is that for me, the harmless gentleman!?

"Eromi’s struggling, nya. She just can’t do it, nya."

I am struggling, but not for that reason!

"Ah, I see… hang in there."

"Thanks for the encouragement."

Shachou and Chihiro offered some half-hearted support.

"According to Kana-chan, I’m considered one of the heavier types… what about you all?"

"Tama’s lighter, nya. It’s not that tough for her."

"Same here. It doesn’t interfere with work; I just feel a bit off."

"Same for me. I notice the discomfort, but it’s not unbearable."

What’s with this difference? Why is it only me…?

"I’m at the point where even standing is hard… yet the workload doesn’t decrease."

"Don’t you get menstrual leave?"

"Who the hell actually takes that?! Can you imagine me saying, ‘I’m on my period, so I’m taking a day off!’? And I can’t even do that every month."

Besides, I haven’t used all my paid leave anyway. There’s no way I’d take that.

"Don’t you have paid leave at all?" Shachou asked.

"No, most places do. Our company isn’t that bad. But even if I take a day off, the work doesn’t go away, and no one covers for me. So it just piles back up. Might as well push through."

Though, of course, I don’t do overtime.

"Tough…."

"Shachou, you’re saying that like it’s someone else’s problem. You’d better be careful with your female employees. From what I’ve read online, the worst scenario is when a woman with light periods is the boss. Guys tend to think, ‘Oh, it must be rough; I’ll be considerate.’ But women with light periods go, ‘This isn’t a big deal at all.’"

…That’s exactly you.

"I see… got it. I’ll be careful."

"You should."

Shachou’s female employees should be thanking me.

"Still, at first it was a shock, but you do get used to it."

"Yeah, nya. At first I thought it was some kind of illness, nya."

"I’ve got an older sister, so I knew about it in theory, but still freaked out when it happened."

I haven’t gotten used to it. Not the blood—the pain.

"Having a period… that means I can get pregnant…"

I muttered under my breath, and all three of them gave me disgusted looks.

"What would happen in that case?"

"What do you mean, nya?"

"Like, let’s say Eromi somehow got pregnant with some guy’s kid…"

Hey! Shachou!
Why me!?

"Well, you know, a drunk Eromi gets picked up and taken home," Nyako said casually.

"Hey! Nyako!" I snapped.

"And if she had a baby, she’d be the mother. But if she turned back into a guy, would she become the father?"

"I guess that’s how it’d work, nya."

"No, it wouldn’t! I’m not having a baby!"

"But what if there was a father?" Shachou continued.

"Huh?"

"I mean, let’s say Eromi got married and had a husband."

"That’s not normal at all! And stop using me as the example! If anyone fits that, it’s you, bi-curious Nyako!"

"Hmm… wasn’t there a movie like that once? That one case?"

Ah, yeah. I know which one she means.

"Or maybe with some kind of reality-rewrite magic, the baby would just turn into an adopted child?" Chihiro chimed in.

"Would it change the DNA too?"

"Who knows? But, well, if your sex can change, that’s kinda the same level of weird, isn’t it?"

"Mm..."

Why are they even thinking so hard about something so absurd? It’s annoying.

"That situation’s not even possible, okay? I’m not getting picked up, and I don’t drink that much. And even if something did happen, and I got, you know, finished inside, there’s the morning-after pill."

"Oh, right, that’s a thing..."

"Exactly. Anyway, I just wanna turn back into a guy and finish inside Kana-chan instead."

"Wow. That’s… awful," Shachou sighed in disbelief.

"It’s not awful! I’m gonna turn back into a man, marry Kana-chan, and build the perfect home together!"

We’ve only been dating for about half a year, though…

"You’ve been trained too well. Your love’s turned into blind devotion, nya."

"Yeah, that’s how it looks to me too," said Shachou.

"I didn’t think Kana-san was that scary," added Chihiro.

"She’s not scary! She’s super sweet! She just… sometimes has that don’t-argue-with-me aura, that’s all."