Chapter 20: Hobbies

A sweet scent drifted through the room.

I’d been living alone for several years now, but I’d never smelled anything like this before.

"Senpaaai, it’s ready!"

Kana-chan, wearing a cute apron, came into the living room carrying a plate. She set it down on the low table. On the plate sat the apple pie she’d just baked for me.

"Whoa, it looks just like something from a shop!"

"Ehehe, really?"

"Can I try it?"

"Go ahead."

I took a slice of the pie and tasted it. The crisp texture and sweetness of the apples spread across my tongue.

"This is delicious! Kana-chan, you’re amazing!"

"Ehehe… baking sweets is my hobby."

"Wow, you’re really good at it."

"Thank you. Do you have any hobbies, Senpai?"

Hobbies, huh?

Well, I used to just watch adult videos and, uh… yeah. But now that Kana-chan’s around, that’s not exactly an option.

"Hmm… I don’t know. I mostly just watch videos or play mobile games."

"Then let’s make sweets together next time!"

Well, I don’t dislike cooking. I haven’t done it lately since Kana-chan’s been handling all the meals, but when I lived alone, I used to cook for myself all the time.

"Maybe I’ll give it a try."

"Yay! Then I’ll bring you an apron next time!"

An apron? Why that specifically? I don’t really need one…

"I’ll be fine like this, you know?"

"Nope! You’re wearing an apron, no arguments!"

What’s with that weird insistence…?

"…So yeah, that’s what happened."

We were having our usual so-called “meeting” — basically our weekly girls’ talk disguised as a strategy session — at the same family restaurant as always.

"Mm. And then what, nya?"

"She stripped me and made me wear nothing but an apron."

"Tama realized halfway through, nya."

"Knew it. I had a feeling that’s where it was going, but still, I didn’t think it’d actually happen. Ever since I turned back into a girl, Kana-chan’s been getting bolder."

Honestly, maybe too bold.

"Kana-chan’s quite the pervert, nya. But I didn’t know she liked baking, nya."

"Yeah, she told me the other day and decided to bake something right after. Turned out great, actually."

"Hmm, that’s impressive, nya. I think the only sweet I’ve ever made was pancakes when I was a kid, nya."

Same here, pretty much.

"Nyako, do you have any hobbies? We were talking about that earlier. I’ve got, uh… not much besides ✕✕✕✕."

"Tama’s the same, nya. When I was a guy, I was practically a monkey when it came to ✕✕✕✕, nya. Guess that counts as a hobby. Other than that, I just watch anime or read manga, nya."

"Yeah, same here. What about you, Shachou?"

I turned the question toward Shachou.

"Me? I play golf sometimes, for business stuff mostly. Not really a hobby — I never go alone."

That sounded kinda upper-class.

"Yeah, I guess hobbies are things you do even when you’re by yourself."

Well, except for stuff like casual baseball or futsal.

"If I had to pick something, I’d say cooking. I make food I like and drink the kind of booze I want."

"Living the single life, huh?"

"Pretty much."

"What about you, Chihiro? Are you in any clubs or anything?"

For the record, I used to be in the ping-pong club.
I sucked.

"I’m not in a club. I was in soccer back in middle school, though."

Soccer club, huh… definitely gives off that popular girl vibe. (Says the bitter ex–ping-pong club member.)

"So, any hobbies?"

"Not really…"

So, aside from Shachou, none of us had anything you could really call a hobby.

"Maybe we should all try picking one up."

"Can you really just pick a hobby, nya?"

"Why not? Doesn’t have to be anything impressive — just something, you know?"

It’s just… when Kana-chan’s not around, the free time hits harder than I’d like.

"Wanna make a doujin together, nya?"

"Doujin? I haven’t even been watching anime lately, though."

"It doesn’t have to be about that, nya. We could just make something original. If it takes off, we could make a fortune selling it digitally, nya."

Oh-ho!

"But there’s one fundamental problem… I can’t draw."

Naturally, that means I can’t make manga either.

"Tama will handle the art, and you’ll come up with the story, nya. You’re a total pervert, but you’re good with words — you can pull it off, nya."

"So… should I write about my affairs with Kana-chan?"

"Yeah, let’s not, nya. You can use that as inspiration, but don’t just copy it straight, nya."

…Yeah, that would be a little rude to Kana-chan.

"Alright then, how about this for a title — ‘Got Brainwashed After Getting Gender-Swapped!’"

"That’s… basically your life, but sure, nya. Just write it like both characters are versions of yourself, nya."

"How do you mean?"

"You’re a masochist, but also kind of a sadist, nya. So think of the dominant guy as your male self, and the one getting dominated as your female self, nya."

I see…

"Alright! I’ll give it a shot!"

"Do your best, nya. Tama’s not that great at drawing anyway, so the story’ll have to carry it, nya."

"Got it!"

Alright, time to brainstorm!

"Are we really about to unleash her perversion on the world…?"

"This could turn into something terrifying…"

A year later, Nyako and I received several million yen in unexpected royalties…