Volume 1: Chapter 1: Have You Gotten Used to It, Yet?

Volume 1: New Everyday Life After TS

Chapter 1: Have You Gotten Used to It, Yet?

On the outdoor running track behind the school main building, the class 1-B were having PE class. For the subject, they were told to pair up with someone and ran in three legged race.

Get straight to the point, the pairs were formed, 3 pairs were called as the first batch to run.

"Are you ready, Nanoha-chan?"

"Hm."

Standing on the starting line, shoulder-to-shoulder with one of their feet tied to each other are the girl of the highest caste from 1-B, Mizuno Yuuki, and the quiet expressionless black haired lone-wolf beauty, Nonohana Nanoha.

Yuuki was a bit disappointed she didn't get any meaningful response from the other girl, but little did she knew that the other girl was sweating bullets behind her expressionless exterior.

'Ahhh, please get this done fast! Too much involvement with protagonist is not good for my heart!'

Two people with clashed minds. One want to get close to the other, while the other just wanted to get away as fast as possible.

"Nanoha-chan, your hair, can you still see through them? Do you need hairclip?"

Yuuki asked with concern. After all, Nanoha's front bang hair is so long that it covered half of her right face.

Other than concern, she's also very determined to make this girl talk.

From the first time she talked to this girl—when she extended her invitation to partner up—Nanoha never actually verbally replied to any of her questions. She just either nodded or hummed like earlier as response. This irked Yuuki a bit and ignited her competitive spirit toward this quiet introverted girl.

Nanoha didn't immediately answer her, but she put her arm around Yuuki's shoulder.

"Just run."

She finally talked, but she didn't even answer Yuuki's question. It was just a short 2 words response in flat tone, but in Yuuki's mind, she imagined it was Nanoha's way to tell her: 

"So noisy. Mind your own business."

It was all just in her own head, but Yuuki's actually a bit bummed that her charm didn't work on her classmate.

Yuuki shook her head, driving away the pessimism that's totally not up to her character, and reciprocated Nanoha's gesture to also put her arm around her shoulder.

'Arghh, whatever! I can still talk to her after this. Like she said, I just need to run. Alright, Yuuki, focus!'

After Yuuki made up her mind, the PE teacher shouted "On your mark!" to cue for the 3 pairs on the starting line to get ready.

"Ready....."

'Oh wait, we haven't talked how we should run together. Like the pace, the speed and—'

"As fast as you can."

"Huh?"

Yuuki let out a confused sound when Nanoha suddenly whispered in her ear out of nowhere, like she had read her mind.

She didn't have the time to ask what she meant by that when the PE teacher shouted "Go!" to sign the start of the race.

Yuuki focus shifted automatically and by the time she realized, she was running, as fast as she could, with Nanoha perfectly mirroring her steps.

•

•

One full lap later, Yuuki and Nanoha's pair finished the lap as in first place position, winning by huge margin from the other pairs.

Nanoha kneeled to untie their feet, while Yuuki was still basked in confusion as to what just happened.

Today was her first time talked with this girl named Nonohana Nanoha, and in the same time, it was also her first time running together with her.

Since they didn't talk about any strategy whatsoever, she fully expected there would be accident like one of them running on the wrong foot or an error in their pace that would trip them face first to the ground.

But reality was so shocking for Yuuki.

They ran very smoothly, as if they had practiced it countless time. Yuuki ran with all her might, and Nanoha flawlessly mirrored her movements to the bits.

"So awesome! Hey, Nanoha-chan, what was that just now?! That's really amazing! How did you do that? This is our first time running together right? How can you perfectly match my—"

"Sensei. Permission, toilet."

Yuuki was very excited and barraged Nanoha with questions one after another, but it was all cut off when Nanoha stood up after she's done untying the knot on their feet, raised her hand to call the teacher and asked for permission.

The PE teacher was writing something in his notebook, looked over to Nanoha direction and gave a slight nod of confirmation.

Nanoha didn't waste a second and walked away from the track field.

Yuuki trotted behind her and grabbed Nanoha's hand. "Wait!"

Nanoha stopped, turning her head to look at Yuuki with unknown emotion behind her expressionless face, and said "Let go," in low flat voice.

"Nanoha-chan...?"

Being stared at by Nanoha unchanging deep black eyes, Yuuki's hand loosened.

Nanoha used the chance to take back her hand and continue walking away without a second glance at Yuuki that was frozen in place.

After she was gone from the vicinity, Kaho and Risa came over to check on Yuuki.

"Otsukare, Yuuki. That was a spectacular run."

"That's right! Your take off was really strong that I couldn't believe my eyes! It's like you two shared the same mind as you ran. Is that really your first time talking with that girl— eh, Yuuki-chan...?"

Kaho gave a short compliment, while Risa being enthusiastic for everything about Yuuki as usual, rained her with praises. She halted her words when Yuuki didn't react and seemed frozen while looking to the way Nanoha had gone.

"Hey, Kaho-chan, Risa-chan, t-the thing just now, I-I'm not really sure, but perhaps—"

With her back facing the two girls, Yuuki began talking with visibly shaken voice. Kaho and Risa instantly grasped something was wrong with Yuuki and became a bit worried. They quickly approached and came up in front of her to check on her condition.

"Did I just...? Am I being hated?"

When the two looked at her, Yuuki looked dejected. 

Both of them recalled the scene they just saw from afar where Yuuki held Nanoha's hand when she was leaving, but let go a short after and Nanoha walked away just like that.

Kaho didn't particularly think Yuuki was being hated or anything. But for Yuuki who was well-known to being able to get along with just anyone, meeting an exception like Nonohana Nanoha—someone which her charm didn't work on at all—must have struck some sore spots in her heart.

"That's nonsense! There's no way anyone can hate my Yuuki-chan! Anyone who can hate Yuuki-chan surely have something wrong in their head!"

There she goes, Yuuki-chan number 1 fan, Asakawa Risa vehemently denied Yuuki's question.

★

Meanwhile not far from these trio, Takamaki Keita and a male student who became his pair for this race were stretching for a little warm up.

"Hey, Keita, look over there. Your girlfriend looks sad. Shouldn't you comfort her?"

The male student pointed to the trio, and Keita followed his line of gaze, to find a crestfallen Yuuki being surrounded by Kaho and Risa who tried to cheer her up.

"Did something happen to Yuu—wait! What did you mean 'girlfriend'? She and I are only childhood friends."

Keita belatedly realized he was set up. The male student who heard that denial smirked.

"Hoho~, is that so? Then maybe I can try my chance and confess—"

While the male student tried to tease him, the look in Keita's eyes changed unconsciously at the word 'confess'.

The kind of look that instantly sent chill to the male student bones, who realized that he just stepped on some kind of a landmine.

"Whoah whoah, chill dude! Don't look at me with that murderous eyes. I'm just kidding. She's all yours!"

The male student raised and waved his hand in front of him in panic.

'Who would have known that our class president have this side in him?'

The cold gaze in Keita's eyes dissipated, after realizing that the other person wasn't serious and only out to tease him. He turned his head again to the where Yuuki is.

"Let me go! I'm going to find that girl who dare and make my Yuuki-chan cry!"

"Risa-chan, stop! Seriously, I didn't cry. I'm a little disappointed, but not to the point of crying."

"Yuuki, you shouldn't elaborate on that."

"Eh?"

"Gahhh, how dare she make Yuuki-chan disappointed!"

"See?"

"Ahhh, mou!!"

He saw a struggling Risa being restrained by both Kaho and Yuuki from each side. Yuuki's no longer downcast, but now she looked a bit irritated by Risa's tantrums.

Keita sighed in relief.

He didn't particularly understand what was happening there, but the Yuuki now is definitely better than the sad Yuuki.

While Keita was thinking that, he felt a weight on his shoulder, his friend was leaning on him.

"Sorry about earlier, Keita. But seriously though, why haven't you two dated yet?"

"Da-Date?! It's umm, it's a bit complicated."

That's all Keita could say.

The girl Yuuki is certainly up to his preference of the girl he wanted to date. But everytime he began to think about it, he just get awkward on his own remembering the male Yuuki. 

He already acknowledged the fact that he might really slipped in alternative reality where Yuuki was born a girl, since everyone else around him perceived her as so.

But even after accepting it, he thought about a lot of things. 

If he's here, then does that mean the Keita of this reality now live in his reality, the one where Yuuki is a boy? Imagine your beautiful and attentive childhood friend suddenly one day turned into annoying little devil. Keita feel bad for the other him if this is true.

Also, he's not sure whether this reality slipping a permanent thing or temporary one. Will he someday wake up in the morning and find everything back to normal?

There's just too much to think about before he could consider whether to date or not.

"Well, I don't know what's the problem is, but if I may give an advice, I think you better make your move fast."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Yuuki-chan is quite popular, you know? I guess that's just natural since she's friendly to everyone. From what I heard, there are several upperclassmen who set their sights on her."

"...."

"It's very clear that you like her with how possessive you became earlier. So if you don't want her to get taken by someone else, you should just go and confess already. Better yet, put a ring on her finger so that no one can get any funny idea."

"I told you—"

"Don't lie now, will ya?"

".... I'll keep it mind."

Part of Keita wanted to deny it, but looking at how confident his friend is, he decided just to own it up and will seriously think about it.

Hearing that answer, his friend smiled proudly and gave the 'proud' slap on Keita's back. "That's what I like to hear. Come on, it's our turn soon," and walked ahead to the starting line.

Keita looked over the where Yuuki was once again, to find she's no longer there, leaving a grumpy looking Risa who was consoled by Kaho.

He searched for her figure and quickly found her talking to a sitting female student from their class.

"Kagari-chan, you also want to run, don't you? How about I become your partner?"

Now that Keita think about it, he remembers their class have an odd numbers of student. So for an activity that need students to pair up, it will always leave out one person aside.

But Yuuki, being the class vice-president and mega friendly person she is, will always do something about it.

Just like now, even though she already run with one person, she still have an abundance of energy to invite the left out one person up for a run.

'No wonder she is popular with how kind she is. I guess I really need to seriously think about my move.'

Keita thought as he walked to catch up with his friend.

★

Meanwhile in the girls toilet, Nonohana Nanoha stood in front of the mirror after washing up her face. With both hand placed on the the sink, she breathed a long sigh as she looked at her reflection.

"Ugh, I wasn't too harsh with my response, right? She wouldn't hold a grudge against me, would she? Why can't I just be normal with it, dammit!"

She was just too nervous to talk with Yuuki, which was why she couldn't communicate properly and her words came out as kind of cold.

She raised both of her hands and slapped her own cheeks.

"Wait me, think about it another way. If Yuuki-chan have a bad impression of me because of this, maybe she wouldn't want to get involved with me anymore, right? I guess?"

She tried encourage herself and by thinking positively about her situation.

However, she eventually put one hand back to the sink, while the other pinched her forehead. Headache is coming when she's thinking about her future course.

"Is it still possible to ask the teacher to swap my class? I finally have this healthy body, but being in the same classroom with Yuuki-chan for a whole year, I might really hurt my stomach from worrying too much."

Nanoha once again let out a long weak sigh, didn't know whether to be grateful or curse her new life.

★

Back to the field, Yuuki and Kagari we're practicing to walk with each one of their feet tied to one another, in preparation for their their turn in three-legged race.

"Acho!"

"Yuuki-san, are you okay?" 'Ahhh, is it because of me? Yuuki-san, please don't force yourself for me.'

They stopped walking when Yuuki suddenly sneezed and Kagari quickly asked in concern. She didn't asked the latter part verbally, but Yuuki could see clearly from Kagari's eyes that she was most likely thinking something along those lines.

"That's just a little sneeze, nothing serious. Maybe someone was talking about me. Anyway, Kagari-chan, have you getting used to walking? Want to try a little jog before our turn next?"

Yuuki smiled and energetically answered while flawlessy diverting the topic. 

Kagari nodded enthusiastically, her concern turned into admiration. She's fully infatuated as Yuuki tentatively leading her for a little practice.

Yuuki got one more devoted fan that day.

★★★

In the opposite of the outdoor field, inside the school gymnasium, another class was also having PE class. Today, their subject is about High Jump.

"Are you sure about this, Mizuno?"

"Yes. There's something I want to try."

"Alright then."

The PE teacher relented to the demand and adjusted the crossbar heights for the high jump to 2.5 meters tall.

Few meters in front of the crossbar, Mizuno Shizu, wearing PE uniform, stood calmly with her arms crossed in front of her body, her blue eyes assesed the distance and height of the crossbar, her mind's doing silent mental calculations.

All the eyes in the gym were pinned at her figure. 

One reason was because they were curious whether she can really jump that high or not. 

And another reason was because her existence on itself. 

White hair with a pair of matching color cat ears, and long furry tail that remain motionless most of the time. It's not everyday you can see a real life nekomimi in action, after all.

While they all saw her on her first day coming back to school and the brief introduction of her circumstances in front of class, but in the subsequent days she barely came to class.

No, she wasn't skipping class. To be exact, the school gave her a special privilege as Honor Student to be exempted from attending class, except for the exam days. 

Well, there's nothing more for her to learn in class with that supercomputer brain of hers, and the school believe it's better to let her do anything she wanted than confining her in classroom. Besides, it's also to keep other students self-esteem stable by not letting them be in the same room with this 'academic monster' as much as possible.

Anyway, back to the topic of today's class. When Shizu heard that her class would be doing high jump for the PE class, she asked permission to participate. 

It lead to this situation, with Shizu as the main star, with everyone's eyes on her from the sidelines.

Shizu lowered her hands and nodded to the PE teacher.

"Sensei, I'm ready now."

The teacher nodded and walked to the sideline too.

Shizu get ready for a moment, and take off running. Reaching the appropriate distance, she jumped.

Everyone's watching with bated breath, wondering if she's really going to make it.

Floating over the crossbar in fosbury position, her upper body to her back already crossed the bar. Everyone, including Shizu herself, were already sure that she would make it.

'Thud!'

"Ah...?"

She would have crossed the bar flawlessly, if only her waist, to be precise, the base of her tail didn't get stuck on the bar and knocked it over.

Shizu's focus shattered for a moment, her posture broke, and she was falling head first to the blue mattress below. 

Everyone's watching held their breath, their expression turned to worries.

The mattress would cushion her fall, but even then, falling vertically on her head first have a high chance to injure her neck.

In that millisecond timeframe, Shizu's tail swung hard and it rotated her body over to a much safer position to fall.

'Thud!' 'Clank!'

2 objects fell, Shizu's laying on her back on the mattress and the crossbar rolled over on the floor.

"Mi-Mizuno?!"

The PE teacher ran toward the unmoving Shizu, worried that she might injured herself in that fall. The teacher felt guilty, if only she didn't relent to Shizu demand.

"Hm, I forgot to include my tail in the calculation. However, with a more proper calculation, 2.5 meters seems pretty doable, but at the same time it's my current limit. Around 50% higher than my heights. But compared to average cat that can jump 5 to 6 times their body size, mine is barely 10% of theirs. Is it because I only have the ears and tail characteristics that can be roughly summed up to 10% of my whole body that it reflected to how much jump force I get from the cat's parts? Hmm, I really need more data."

When the teacher reached the front of the mattress, she found Shizu was looking at the ceiling and mumbled analyzing something. She didn't fully understand what Shizu said, but just to be sure, she asked.

"Um, Mizuno, are you okay?"

Shizu blinked and turned her head toward the teacher.

"Sensei?"

She got up from her laying position and sat at the edge of mattress facing the teacher. She then proceed to check every part of her body. After that she looked up to her and smiled.

"I don't have any injury if that's what you're worrying about, Sensei."

"A-Are you really sure? For a moment, I see you're falling head first there."

"It's alright. I safely land on my back. The cat righting reflex always save me in these situations."

"The cat right— what?"

The PE teacher was confused, and Shizu controlled her tail to show it to the teacher.

"Have you heard the saying that 'A falling cat always lands on its feet'? The technical term is 'righting reflex'. In situation like falling from high place, with their instinct for survival, the tail will adjust the body's position so its owner can land with as minimal damage as possible."

"I-I see. That's very amazing."

The teacher didn't know how to react with this information, but at very last she's glad that Shizu seemed fine.

Shizu stood up and slightly bowed to the teacher.

"Well then, thank you for letting me joining the class. I got what I came for, so I will take my leave now."

After saying that Shizu straightened her body and planned to leave the gym and wait for the school to end in her usual spot.

I repeat, 'planned'.

"Mizuno-chan, that's really awesome!"

"Right, although you knocked the bar, but you definitely break the world record with that jump!"

"Not just the woman category, but she's also break the man category, right?"

"Shizu-kun, the form you just did was really beautiful, please teach me how you do it!"

"Do you want to try Basketball Club, Mizuno-san?"

"No, please try our Volley Club!"

"Mizuno-san, can I pet your cat ears?!"

"Ah, I want to touch her tail!"

Shizu was stopped by the crowd of her enthusiastic classmates, male and female students alike. She was surrounded with no way to escape from all directions. All their chatterings hurt her sensitive cat ears a little.

Shizu turned her head to the PE teacher and gave a signal to 'Do something about this!' to her with her eyes alone.

The PE teacher laughed for a bit before dispersing the students circling Shizu, asking them to get ready for their turn for the high jump. The students actually catch the drift from her tone, they sighed in disappointment and left Shizu alone.

Shizu quickly left the premise.

She vowed to herself to get away faster if she ever joining any future class before those classmates can catch up to her.

★★★★★

After school, the sky was painted orange hue color from the distance. Light breeze of spring entered the literature clubroom through the opened window on the third floors.

"Haruka-senpai, I like you! Would you please go out with me?"

"Hah? Ha-HAH?!"

Contrasting with the serene atmosphere of after school sky outside, the only 2 students—male and female—in the clubroom clearly beg to differ.

The male student bowed 90 degrees and extended his hand forward, while the short haired female student that was holding the club's doorknob frozen in place with a slight blush appeared on her face.

A male student with generic NPC appearance and female student with top-notch heroine specs.

Wonder what will happen next between them.