Chapter 10: The "Kindest" Punishment Game in the World?

Dear Mom and Dad, watching over me from far beyond this sky. And to my past-life parents, and my little sister, who died with me in our previous life.

A lot has happened, and I ended up becoming a girl. But thanks to my best friend, Rentarou Aijou, I’ve managed to survive this long. Now, he supports me as both my best friend and my boyfriend. Currently, he’s dating seven girls—and I know someday it’ll be 101. There’s still a long way to go, but he’s so sincere, so cool… the most trustworthy man in the world, and the one I love most.

Today, after everything that’s happened, I ended up doing him wrong—and as a result, I’m now stuck in what he calls "The 'Make Kawaru Really Feel Like a Girl' Festival." A punishment game… no, more like a cosplay event packed with his own brand of kindness.

After suddenly becoming a girl, I’ve been able to live off the money my current-life parents left behind—but I still haven’t bought any women’s clothes. I know I’ll have to eventually, but the hurdle’s been too high. I haven’t even been able to bring myself to wear any yet.

And honestly, I’m still lost on how to interact with other girls now that we’re the same gender. Suddenly closing the distance feels awkward, and even though we’re the same now, recklessly getting closer to girls I used to see as romantic interests just feels… wrong. I haven’t been able to take that first step.

That’s why it’s obvious what an amazing boyfriend Rentarou Aijou is. He could’ve just made this a normal punishment game, but instead, he’s using it to help me get used to wearing these clothes—and to make it easier for me to get closer to his other girlfriends. He’s too good for someone like me.

But. Just because something benefits me and the girls doesn’t mean it magically erases my real feelings, or my shame, or… everything else. So, uh… yeah. In short—

Right now… I’m in the biggest crisis of my life since becoming a girl…!

---

"You look so good, Kawaru-chan...!"

"Ugh...! Why is this thing so short...?!"

Right now, I'm wearing a skirt for the first time in my life. What is this? Is this length even sane? It's way too defenseless. Honestly, going without might feel less embarrassing than wearing this.

"No way... Do girls really wear stuff like this normally? How are you supposed to run in this, let alone not trip over yourself...?"

"Assuming you will trip is the weird part here."

...? What's Kusuri-senpai talking about? Huh? But like, of course you'd trip.

".........? Wait, hold on—don’t people trip like, twice a day?"

"WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT?!"

".........!?!?!?"

Seriously?! You don’t trip that much?! No way. C’mon. I mean... Rentarou told me—

"Sorry, Kawaru... It was just too sad to tell you the truth..."

"No... But thanks, Rentarou...! You knew I trip at least ten times a day... and still lied to spare my feelings...!"

"[Even the Three-Year Slope isn’t this bad...]"

"HOW OFTEN DO YOU FALL, GIRL?!"

"Day before yesterday was 12 times. Yesterday’s been extra rough—36! That’s a lot!"

"A whole new level of fragile, separate from Shizuka..."

"Rentarou-kun... How have you managed to protect Kawaru-san all this time...?"

"Once, she tripped so much in a row she almost fell onto the train tracks! I really thought we were gonna die that time...!"

(I still feel bad about that.) But wow... So that’s how it is? People don’t trip that much?! I swore that was just how the world worked...! I mean, I’m already way outside the norm, so I just assumed... Huh. Guess it’s just me.

Wait, we’re way off track. That’s not the point right now. More importantly, I’ve been bothered by something this whole time.

"My legs feel all... breezy? And the underwear feels weird...!"

Yeah. Exactly. My legs are freezing. How do girls walk around in winter like this? This is insane.

"It feels so uncomfortable... I’m not used to it at all... Honestly, I’d rather just—"

"N-No panties?! Even for you, Kawaru-chan, that’s...!"

"I’m not taking them off! I just mean this flimsy scrap of fabric isn’t doing anything to make me feel secure...!"

"Then how ‘bout diapers? Full coverage, super convenient!"

".........I’ll stick with this."

I guess this is working to close the distance between us. But is this really okay?! More importantly—Rentarou, are you actually enjoying this?!

"Kawaru, all flustered... So cute...!"

THUMP...!

Guh...! Well... if you’re happy... if you really think I’m cute like this... then fine...!

"But Kawaru-chan, if you’re this embarrassed, you’ll never handle a miniskirt like Karane-chan’s!"

"You’re joking... They make skirts shorter than this?! This length is already pushing it...!"

"Too bad, Kawaru-chan~! Rentarou put me in charge of this event! You’re wearing everything I picked!"

"H-Help me, Rentarou...!"

Hahari-san was about to drag me into the changing room. No way. I don’t wanna wear something that short. A normal skirt is already bad enough! Wait—Karane?! Did Karane warp Rentarou’s sense of fashion into thinking miniskirts are normal?! …Actually, yeah, that tracks. Rentarou’s tastes do evolve based on his girlfriends. His common sense probably shifts too.

"Sorry, Kawaru... But this is for your own good...!"

"Rentarou...!!"

Too late. My desperate, outstretched hand only clawed at empty air before I was yanked into the changing room.

"Ugh... This length is wrong... It’s like I’m not even wearing—! …Wait, that’s—?!"

The moment I saw what Hahari-san pulled out, I bolted. Straight back to the room where Rentarou and the others were—tripping twice along the way. That makes nine falls today. Whatever, I made it.

"Kawaru’s in a miniskirt now~!"

Ignoring everyone’s reactions, I tried to rush to Rentarou’s side—tripped again (count: 10). If I don’t hurry, Hahari-san will catch me! I have to use Rentarou as a human shield! I tried crawling toward him, but suddenly, he backed away. Huh? I looked up—his face was beet red.

"K-Kawaru?! The miniskirt’s already short enough, but now it’s... riding up...!"

".........W-WHAAA—?!"

Seriously?! They saw them?! These stupid underwear?! Honestly, seeing me naked would be less embarrassing than this flimsy fabric! Why does it have to be this mortifying?!

"Wow, you can get embarrassed like this too?"

"Kawaru-san, you’re finally making proper ‘girl’ poses~!"

"[The pose was indeed that of a maiden.]"

Ugh... This is so humiliating...! Still sitting on the floor, I yanked my shirt down to cover my thighs. This feels... weird. I mean, it’s Rentarou. He’s seen me naked plenty since I became a girl. So why are underwear so much worse?!

While I was busy internally screaming, the real terror arrived.

"Kawaru-chan... Running away is no good~! A proper girl has to wear a bra, you know?"

"No way! I can handle the skirt, but up top, a shirt is fine!"

"Nope! If you don’t wear one, you’ll hurt your ligaments later!"

"Hahari-san, I’m negative AAA-cup! I’m a wall! Look at this—heck, I had more chest as a guy from pecs!"

"Heh, that’s right! I’m way bigger!"

Karane puffed out her (admittedly decent-sized) chest proudly. Yeah, yeah, must be nice.

"Karane-san, you’re okay with this...?"

"W-Well, Kawaru... You don’t have to say it like that..."

What’s that, Rentarou? "Don’t say it like that"? Oh, I will! And you of all people should know—you’re the second most familiar with my chest here!

"Oh, so you can grope my ‘back acne’ or whatever and not call it a wall?! It’s a wall, Rentarou! And don’t you dare pretend you forgot how it felt!"

"I wish I could forget!"

"WH-WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATION IS THIS?!"

"M-Mother is drooling!"

"Come to think of it, Hahari wasn’t there for that~."

But seriously—this is brutal. A normal punishment game wouldn’t faze me, but this? This is torture. And the worst part? It wasn’t over yet.

"For the grand finale... The whole Rentarou Family gets to pick your outfit!"

You’ve gotta be kidding me. Skirts and bras weren’t enough—now this?! I mean, sure, I do need clothes, but come on!

At least I escaped the bra. After Hahari tried to ‘measure’ me by squishing my chest from every angle—was that even measuring?! She just kept pressing her hands against me like, "Hmm, yes, this is a wall." Eventually, she gave up and declared, "There’s no size small enough." So, victory? …Or total defeat?

---

And so began Round 2 of my fashion nightmare. The worst part? It’s nighttime, so everyone’s in full "late-night chaos" mode! …For some reason, Rentarou didn’t pick anything. Probably overthinking it—like, "Choosing for her would be impure!" or whatever. (Note to self: Make him pick something later.)

—Entry No. 1: Hanazono Hahari!

Her choice: A child’s smock.

...Let me repeat that.A child’s smock.

".........Huh?"

Yep. That thing kindergarteners wear—bright blue fabric, giant buttons, oversized pockets, and a red tulip name tag that says "Kawaru" in cute letters. And the size? Perfect fit.

Disgusting. How does she even know my measurements?!

Okay, seriously—isn’t this way too extreme for an opening move?! This isn’t just breaking the shame barrier—it’s obliterating it! And apparently, she brought multiple sizes to fit everyone. (Including Rentarou? Probably. This woman is not sane.)

"Even for you, this is too much."

"Somehow… Kawaru-san’s just short enough to make this look like intentional cosplay…?"

"I take back every ‘I’ll wear anything’ I ever said."

"Nngh… TOO CUTE…!"

THUMP…! THUMP…!

"………I’m not wearing this on a date. (…At home, maybe.)"

"TOO EASY~! ♪"

—Entry No. 2: Kusuri Yakujou!

Her choice: A lab coat!

A slightly oversized but crisp white coat. The moment I stuck my hands in the pockets and struck a pose, two people squealed. (Same two as always, huh?)

"Now we match, Kawaru!"

"Surprisingly normal…?"

"That cool-girl hand-in-pocket pose with the loose coat… Gap moe overload!"

"You look amazing, Kawaru-chan…!"

THUMP…! THUMP…!

Heh. Getting praised does feel nice. (More, Rentarou! More!) Though Hahari-san’s grin is getting scary…

"Now try fake glasses too!"

Glasses, huh? Time for the classic "adjust with middle finger" move—

"So sharp… and even cooler now…!"

THUMP…! THUMP…!

"The glasses make you look unusually intellectual."

"[Behold, the eyes of wisdom.]"

…Did you just imply I usually look dumb?! (Probably imagining it.)

—Entry No. 3: Shizuka Yoshimoto!

Her choice: A princess dress!

A pure white gown, complete with a silver tiara. The skirt was way puffier than I expected. Why me?! Shizuka herself would look a million times better in this!

"Ugh…! Wh-What’s with this… hnng…!"

And what’s with this sudden blush attack?! I know this doesn’t suit me…! So why…?! My face was burning so hard even I could feel it.

"K-Kyawaawa…!"

(THUMP…! THUMP…!)

"[They say the roughest girls suit dresses best!]"

"Shockingly, it works…?"

"Total opposite of her usual vibe, but…"

"[Got one more idea, boss!]"

"What’s up, Shizuka-chan? …Oh! That’d look perfect!"

"WHAT ELSE ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO TO ME?!"

After a quick makeup session, I reappeared—same dress, entirely different energy.

Torn fabric, scorch marks, and a hem hacked short for mobility. The pristine white was gone, replaced by battle-worn grit. Even my face bore smudges and fake scars—but my eyes? Unbroken.

I gripped a plain iron sword (way too unrefined for a princess), standing not as royalty, but as a fighter.

"S-So cool…!"

"Grace and guts in one package…!"

(THUMP…! THUMP…!)

"Looks crazy strong…!"

"Okay, this fits way better. The first was cute, but this is her."

"[A fallen princess facing the end. Chef’s kiss.]"

—Entry No. 4: Karane Inda!

Her choice: …Just normal clothes?!

…Huh. I think I saw this outfit on a morning show recently. Probably would’ve been paired with a skirt, but… well. After the miniskirt incident, I guess even Karane’s playing it safe.

"…Normal-level cute…!"

(THUMP…! THUMP…!)

"But kinda… too normal?"

"[Everyone else went too hard, tbh.]"

"SORRY FOR BEING BORING, JEEZ!"

—Entry No. 5: Me! (Kawaru Seibetsu)

My choice: A samurai-style kimono!

They told me to pick something too, so… why not? Went for a men’s-style hakama—kinda like a female swordsman look. (Rare, but cool!) Even brought a fake katana (lighter than the real deal).

"Elegant and badass…!"

(THUMP…! THUMP…!)

"The sword stance suits you!"

"Why this one?"

"We had a katana lying around! Rentarou and I both love this stuff! Right, Rentarou? Just gotta swing it like—WHOA TOO HEAV—?!"

Turns out, posing was my limit. Got cocky, tried to swing—immediately lost balance. Tripped, kimono flopping open—

"…Oof?! Owowow… Thanks, Rentarou…"

Grabbed his outstretched hand, but when I looked up—his face was crimson.

"…?! Your undershirt—!"

"Oh, right! The sarashi! First time wearing one, but it’s not bad…"

Rentarou yanked me up, hissing, "Cover your front!" (Ah. The wrappings came loose. Oops.)

"Sarashi is perfect for Kawaru-chan’s slim frame! And the peek-a-boo effect when it unravels—"

"MOTHER, PLEASE—"

—Entry No. 6: Hanazono Hakari!

Her choice: A bunny suit!

Classic black bunny outfit—fluffy white tail, black ears, sheer tights (my first time wearing them… so cold!). One tiny problem, though…

"Bunny suits are… chillier than I thought…"

"ADORABLE AND SEXY!"

(THUMP…! THUMP…!)

"WHY ARE YOU WEARING ONE TOO?!"

"J-Just coincidence! (This’ll totally seduce Rentarou-kun…!)"

"Your inner monologue’s leaking."

"Wait, the top’s too big—it’s gaping! You can see inside—?!"

"Relax! There’s a giant pastie in here! See—"

I started peeling off the bunny suit’s front (thank god for Velcro). Got as far as my navel before stopping—any more would be too cold.

"Kawaru? What are you—WHAAAA—?!"

"DID YOU PLAN THIS?!"

"Ehhh? Whatever do you mean~?"

"Playing dumb won’t—"

"KYAAAA! KAWARU-CHAN’S REVERSE BUNNY?!"

Yep. Wore a reverse bunny suit underneath. Somehow, this feels less embarrassing than lingerie. (Thanks, Hahari-san. Your "supervisor privileges" are terrifying.)

"MOTHER?!"

"I APOLOGIZE FOR DOUBTING YOU…!"

"She’s been unhinged all night…"

“I can’t help it, okay!? Se’s tiny, she’s cute, she’s got proper modesty, and even though she’s a boy (used to be one), she’s also a girl—she’s perfect for dress-up…‼︎‼︎”

“You get how wonderful that is too, don’t you, Rentarou-chan!?”

“…! That’s…!”

Oh, I see how it is. So Rentarou too, huh? You really like seeing me get all embarrassed, do you? Is that it? Alright then…

“…Fine, Rentarou. And… Hahari-san too.”

“No, Kawaru, you’ve got it all wrong! It’s not like I’m trying to tease you or anything, I just genuinely—”

“That’s right, Kawaru-chan! I’m not trying to hurt you either—!”

“…If there’s something you want me to wear again, just say it. I’ll… consider it. If you both think it suits me, then, well… it’s not the worst thing. And I guess it’s good for me too, like… to broaden my horizons, maybe…”

“…I see. Thanks, Kawaru.”

“Then… Kawaru-chan?”

“Next time I’ll make you a baby outfit, so wear it for me, okay!?”

“This is the first time in my life I’ve desperately wanted to take back something I just said…‼︎”