If you enjoy gender-bender stories with strong character development and yuri themes, TS Lily Archive is worth your time. It’s a focused library built for readers who want story first, without distractions.
Preview the site below, or open it in a new tab for the full reading experience.
The night passed swiftly, and soon it was the morning of the first day of the Culture Festival.
“Ayane, you didn’t sleep at all, did you?”
For the first time, Shion awoke without Ayane’s usual morning ambush.
Sensing something amiss, Shion pushed open the door to Ayane’s room.
Ayane sat on her bed, dark circles under her eyes rivaling those of a panda, looking utterly devoid of energy.
Ayane nodded faintly.
Accustomed to going bare-faced, Ayane was asking her sister for help with makeup for what felt like the very first time.
Otherwise, those prominent dark circles would hardly be suitable for a stage performance in a play.
“I never realized you were the type to get so nervous before a performance that you couldn’t sleep, Ayane,” Shion chuckled softly, applying foundation to her sister’s face.
“That just proves you’re a dummy, Sis, if you couldn’t tell that much. Hmph.”
Ayane wanted to make a funny face, but fearing she might disrupt her sister’s makeup application, she merely pouted.
“There, all done with a natural look,” Shion announced, holding up a mirror for Ayane.
“Later, when you get back, try to catch a quick nap before you go on stage.”
Ayane yawned sleepily, leaning her head on Shion’s shoulder.
“‘Then, Sis, I’ll just sleep a little longer…'”
“Ayane, if you’re going to sleep, go lie on the sofa.”
“You can’t go back under the covers after putting on makeup, you know.”
“I still need to make you breakfast.”
Ayane, half-asleep, nodded and shuffled step by step to the sofa.
Before long, Shion heard soft snores.
While preparing breakfast, Shion thoughtfully grabbed a videotape and recorded the morning drama on TV.
This way, Ayane could continue watching it when she returned home that evening.
The journey to school that day proved equally challenging.
Shion practically dragged Ayane all the way from the shrine to the school, a feeling not unlike when she had pulled Sakuya up to the shrine before.
At least the path from the shrine to the school was mostly downhill.
“Ayane, I’ll come see your play as soon as I’m done with my duties!”
Shion finally managed to haul Ayane to the door of Class E.
Rubbing her eyes, Ayane, now slightly more awake, gave an ‘okay’ gesture.
“‘There’s one show in the morning and two in the afternoon, so Sis will definitely make it to the last one.'”
After seeing Ayane off to Class E, Shion took a deep breath.
“‘Alright, prepare to face the storm.'”
Despite merely heading to change into her maid uniform and report for duty, Shion’s steps exuded the unwavering determination and resolve of a warrior marching into a final battle in a video game.
It seemed her chuunibyou (TL Note: A Japanese slang term referring to ‘eighth-grade syndrome,’ a phase where adolescents develop grandiose delusions) had flared up in her first year of high school, but thankfully, it wasn’t too late.
Social death (TL Note: A Chinese internet slang term, ‘shè sǐ,’ referring to extreme public embarrassment or humiliation that feels like one’s social standing has died) is still a form of death, after all.
‘Indeed, everyone must face death, whether it be as weighty as Mount Tai (TL Note: Tàishān, a sacred mountain in China, often used to symbolize great importance) or as light as a goose feather.’
****
The changing room was safe.
Shion poked her head around the door, observing.
Most of her classmates had likely already changed and reported to Class A.
Like a secret agent, Shion slipped into the changing room, hiding in the innermost corner.
She swiftly changed her clothes, not forgetting to clip on her little bear hairpin.
Facing the mirror, she surveyed herself from head to toe.
Since no one else was around, Shion even made a cute ‘V’ sign at her reflection.
‘Hmm, perfect!’
‘Oh no, what if I actually really like this outfit?’
Then, she opened the door, peeking out once more.
Good, there weren’t many people outside; Shion had arrived at school quite early.
Although she was now clad in a maid uniform and small leather shoes, the outfit was still relatively easy to move in.
The white-haired girl moved through the hallways with the stealth and agility of an assassin in a video game, avoiding detection by others.
Finally, she arrived at the door of Class A.
The moment Shion appeared at the doorway, she immediately drew the gazes of several boys who had already arrived in the classroom.
Some of them were still hanging decorations, yet they simply stared at the incoming Shion, oblivious even when balloons slipped from their grasp and popped on the floor.
Though she had braced herself somewhat, this kind of intense, scrutinizing attention always made Shion’s skin crawl.
“Hoshimori-san, can I request you now? I want to be the first customer!” a boy sitting near the entrance asked, boldly raising his hand.
Shion glared at him, her face flushing.
“‘Working hours haven’t even started yet! Why are you in such a hurry?'”
“‘Then can I pre-register to be the first customer, Head Maid?'” the boy persisted.
At the same time, several other boys behind him had also begun raising their hands, as if his initiative had filled everyone with… courage.
“‘There’s no way our own classmates are going to inflate our sales! Don’t you guys want your subsidies?'”
Shion covered her face and quickly scurried back to her seat.
“Shion-san!” a shy yet gentle voice called from behind Shion.
Shigure, radiating like a small sun, had already changed into her maid uniform and was leaning on a desk, smiling brightly at her.
“‘You seem a little different today, don’t you?'”
Shigure peered at Shion’s face, a tiny question mark seemingly hovering above her head.
Seeing Shigure truly brought a wave of relief.
Shion patted her chest, though she had to be careful not to dislodge her hairpin, despite an unsettling premonition that it might fall off at any moment…
“‘I put on a little makeup today,'” Shion said, touching her face.
“‘Can you tell?'”
Shigure nodded.
“‘A little prettier than yesterday…'”
Although Shigure’s voice was very soft, Shion easily caught her words.
“‘This morning, I had to do my sister’s makeup first, so I just did my own incidentally.'”
“‘Shigure, you look adorable today too.'”
Shion reached out and gently stroked Shigure’s golden hair, which appeared exceptionally warm in the morning sunlight.
Complimented, Shigure blushed.
She nervously twirled a strand of her hair.
“‘Um… it’s my first time wearing this to serve, and I feel like I might not know what to say. That magic I learned from Shion-san to make food taste delicious…'”
“‘Everything else is fine; I’ll guide you, no problem,'” Shion quickly interjected, cutting off Shigure’s words.
“‘But as for that last magic segment… my social death alone is enough; dragging you into it would be too much.'”
“‘I want to help Shion-san share the burden too,'” Shigure said, her golden eyes fixed on Shion.
“‘Shion-san has already helped me so much, and I want to be a support for you as well.'”
The warmth in those golden eyes was almost captivating.
Realizing she had been staring for too long, Shion quickly turned her head, clearing her throat softly.
Just then, the Class Monitor entered, accompanied by a few classmates carrying coffee grounds and cups.
“‘Ah, it’s almost time to start,'” Shion quickly diverted the conversation, drawing Shigure’s attention to the incoming Class Monitor and the others.
“Head Maid! Assistant Head Maid!” Shion heard the Class Monitor call out, waving towards them.
“‘All the preparations for opening are complete! We can start attracting customers soon!'”
“‘Me?'” Shigure asked, looking utterly bewildered.
“‘Am I really the Assistant Head Maid?'”
“‘Class Monitor, you’re not even bothering to act anymore!'”