Qi Yue’an had never worn women’s clothes. As someone who considered her hobbies and personality rather mundane, such peculiar interests were far removed from her world.
“I need to change quickly and then head home.”
Her gaze fell upon the bedside table, where her phone lay, having been retrieved at some point. Unfortunately, the screen was now riddled with cracks, a casualty of the recent battle.
6:10 AM
The phone successfully powered on; thankfully, the inner screen remained intact. After a failed attempt at fingerprint unlock, she entered the passcode to gain access.
“Friends who’ve experienced gender transformation in another world all know…”
Casually searching for a related video online, she had forgotten to mute her phone, which blared with the classic AI voice of a marketing account. Startled, Qi Yue’an quickly lowered the volume.
“Hmm… is this how it’s supposed to be?”
Having watched it once, her mind convinced itself she understood, prompting her to begin the practical application.
“Uh…”
She shed the tattered black and white dress she had been wearing, then peeled off the ripped stockings that looked like they belonged to a defeated character in a game’s battle CG. What met her gaze were gently rising hills and a flat abdomen.
She glanced at the full-length mirror, where the maiden reflected within struck a somewhat alluring pose. Though not voluptuous, her divinely sculpted curves stood unveiled before her eyes.
“Beautiful…”
After much contemplation, the word unexpectedly slipped out. Yet, the face in the mirror showed neither the shyness nor the improper thoughts often seen in protagonists of transformation stories she sometimes read; instead, it exuded an aura of natural innocence.
Furthermore, whether due to a complete hormonal alteration or some other reason, no strange desires arose within her, only a sense of beauty and cuteness.
Returning to the bedside, Qi Yue’an discovered that the clothes she had just removed had vanished, dissolving into particles of light, as if they were genuine magical artifacts.
Having completed all this, Qi Yue’an awkwardly gathered her hair with her hands, but it quickly slipped back down.
Xiyin was waiting outside the door, where two cups of freshly brewed tea seemed to be sitting on the table. Her beautiful, light blue hair was unexpectedly well-maintained, and she now wore a cute black hairband.
“Xiyin, may I call you that?”
Qi Yue’an looked up, her silver eyes clearly conveying gratitude, though her tone was as casual as if asking about the weather.
“Mm, no problem. I’ll call you Yue’an, then.”
The other person replied readily, without looking up.
“My hair, constantly loose like this, is quite bothersome. How do I tie it up?”
Hearing this, Xiyin, who had been tuning the strings of a guitar she’d casually picked up at some point, paused her fingers and looked up at Qi Yue’an with a hint of surprise.
‘This girl before me possesses such rare hair and eye colors, with a delicate and refined demeanor, yet she surprisingly lacks even the most basic self-care skills?’
Subconsciously, she categorized Qi Yue’an as some sheltered young lady, untouched by the mundane world.
“You… you’ve never tied your own hair before?”
Xiyin’s voice remained calm, but subtle shifts in her tone betrayed a touch of bewilderment.
Qi Yue’an pondered seriously for a moment, then shook her head.
“No, I never needed to tie my hair before.”
“…”
A brief, peculiar silence descended upon the room. Xiyin’s light blue eyes widened imperceptibly for a moment as she meticulously observed Qi Yue’an’s delicate and fragile appearance, that of a beautiful maiden in everyone’s eyes. Her suspicion solidified.
“…I see.”
Xiyin ultimately responded with a faint acknowledgment, accepting this extraordinary explanation without pressing for details. She put down her guitar and stood up. “I’ll help you.”
Moving behind Qi Yue’an, her fingers gently brushed through the unusually soft and uniquely textured long, multi-colored hair. With practiced ease, she gathered it, then used one of her spare black hair ties to fashion an exceptionally cute two-toned twin pigtail style.
“There. This way, it won’t obstruct your vision anymore.”
Xiyin stated.
Qi Yue’an shook her head, looking into the mirror, and felt much fresher and tidier.
“Thank you.”
She thanked her sincerely, then added, her tone still calm, “Xiyin, you’re very skilled. Did you tie hair often before?”
“…”
Xiyin felt she had encountered quite a few shocks today. She remained silent for two seconds, gazing at those innocent silver eyes, and couldn’t shake the feeling that beneath Qi Yue’an’s seemingly nonsensical words, something extraordinary had been seen through or guessed.
“…No. It’s just that I’ve had long hair for a long time, so I naturally learned.”
“Oh… alright.”
Gazing at Qi Yue’an’s pure and bewildered silver eyes, she inexplicably asked another question.
“Was your… life before very different?”
Qi Yue’an looked at her unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, head slightly bowed, her gaze becoming somewhat vacant. She seemed to be genuinely contemplating the question. A few seconds later, she answered softly, her tone devoid of any discernible emotion.
“Perhaps it was very different.”
Thinking back on the ordinary life of “Qi Yue’an” that was rapidly fading, she felt a profound sense of detachment, as if it belonged to another lifetime.
Xiyin didn’t press further. She took out her phone.
“Let’s exchange contact information. If you encounter any trouble later, or… anything you don’t understand, you can contact me. If you’re interested, we could even team up. After all, it’s my first time meeting another magical girl, and having a companion is always good.”
She spoke to Qi Yue’an calmly and earnestly. Hearing this, Qi Yue’an’s eyes widened slightly; it was the first time in her life she had been invited to join a group, especially one of such significance.
“Okay, if you don’t mind, Xiyin…”
Qi Yue’an nodded, also taking out her phone with its cracked screen. The two simply exchanged their QQ contact information, and thus, a brand new magical girl duo was tentatively formed.
‘Companions, then…’
She caressed her own hand, seemingly nervous, yet deep down, a faint excitement stirred within her. Like a weak starlight, it ignited a small glimmer in a heart previously filled only with regret and sorrow. Defying all expectations, she found herself harboring a nascent hope for the future.
“Don’t be nervous. Since we’ve decided to walk this path together, we’re a community bound by shared fate. Relax a little; your bro… er, your elder sister will protect you.”
“Then…”
Qi Yue’an’s eyes brightened, and a weighty declaration like “forever” almost escaped her lips. However, the person she had seen yesterday and her suspected identity made her abruptly stop herself.
“If needed… I’ll come back. I need to return home first.”
Qi Yue’an stood up, adjusting the tattered yet still modest magical girl dress she wore.
“Thank you.”
“Be careful.”
Xiyin escorted her to the door, handing her an umbrella. A hint of imperceptible worry flickered in her light blue eyes.
“It’s still dark, and the ‘rain’ is still falling.”
Qi Yue’an nodded, pushed open the door, and stepped into the continued drizzle of the night rain. It was still somewhat cold outside, but her clothes and the umbrella overhead offered a degree of protection against the biting chill.
****
She walked aimlessly along the wet streets, the black cat’s words echoing repeatedly in her mind.
“If you use magic, the transformation process will greatly accelerate.”
She raised her left hand, repeatedly clenching and unclenching it. This hand, once severed, was now perfectly whole.
How much magic had that required? That night, she had not only transformed but also unleashed a desperate surge of power to heal such a fatal injury… How much of the six-month deadline truly remained? A month? A week? Or… just a few days?
A chilling sense of urgency gripped his heart. Like someone belatedly mending a fence after losing a sheep, he darted into an alley. Without bothering to change his clothes, he reverted to his original form, simultaneously searching ceaselessly for the black cat’s trace. He had to find it and get a clear explanation.
For some reason, the clothes he had worn before transforming were gone. The women’s attire was now on him, surprisingly without feeling overtly unsuitable. Moreover, his hair, which had never been past his ears, had inexplicably become as long as his female form’s, even retaining the hairstyle Xiyin had given him.
His eyes scoured the rainy night, meticulously sweeping over every dim corner, every narrow alley, searching for that ominous, rain-untouched silhouette of black.
“Where is it…”
He, who once longed to disappear, was now pursued by an immense dread—a fear that before the inevitable end, before he could accomplish anything, all traces of his existence as “Qi Yue’an” would be utterly erased.
In the deepest part of the alley, shadows seemed to writhe as if alive.
The next moment, a pair of familiar, deep purple eyes glowed in the darkness.
A completely black, rain-untouched cat sat silently perched on a discarded cardboard box, the tip of its tail swaying elegantly.
“Human, why do you seek me?”
The voice, resounding directly in his mind, remained calm and unruffled, devoid of any emotion.
He almost stumbled as he rushed forward, speaking urgently, his voice hoarse with anxiety:
“Last night… the battle, and healing my body… how much magic did that really take? I originally had six months… how much time do I have left now?”
The black cat tilted its head, its purple eyes observing his current disheveled and anxious state, seemingly finding it amusing.
“Calculating that precisely holds no significant meaning.”
It said unhurriedly.
“The dissipation of ‘existence’ is not a simple matter of addition or subtraction, but an accelerating process. Every time you wield power, every time you are recognized by more people as a ‘magical girl,’ you add fuel to this progression.”
It paused, watching Qi Yue’an’s face instantly blanch, before continuing in its emotionless voice:
“However, given your ‘activity’ level last night, and the repair of such extensive limb damage… the consumption was indeed quite substantial.”
Qi Yue’an’s fingers instinctively tightened around the umbrella handle, his knuckles whitening from the force.
“So… how much is left? A month? A week?”
He pressed, a barely discernible tremor in his voice.
“Based on your initial state, it has probably… shortened by about two-thirds.”
‘Two-thirds of six months…’
Qi Yue’an’s mind buzzed, a cold dread instantly surging from his feet to his head.
“…Does that mean… only two months are left?”
He barely managed to squeeze out the question, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
“At most.”
The black cat corrected.
“If you continue to use your power, or become more deeply entangled in this world, that time will shorten further. Perhaps a few weeks, perhaps a few days… who knows?”
It lightly leaped from the cardboard box, approaching with elegant steps, and looked up at Qi Yue’an, who stood frozen in place.
“Do you regret it? But the contract has been formed, and your wish is in the process of being granted; it cannot be revoked.”
Its voice held only the pronouncement of judgment.
“You chose a ‘different future,’ and this is part of the price.”
With that, it disregarded the stunned Qi Yue’an, turned, and melted into the deeper shadows, disappearing as silently as it had appeared.
Only Qi Yue’an remained, frozen in the narrow, damp, and cold alley.
The umbrella in his hand had somehow tilted, and cold rainwater struck his face, mixing with a warm liquid as it ran down.
‘Two months, at most…’
He slowly squatted down, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. On the ground lay a clear puddle.
The puddle reflected Qi Yue’an’s current appearance. Perhaps due to the indistinct reflection, apart from his hair color and chest size, his current self did not differ significantly from the transformed Qi Yue’an. With his delicate and pitiable look, no one would have guessed at first glance that this was someone’s first time cross-dressing.
Raindrops continuously fell to the ground, some trickling from the umbrella’s edge into the puddle, dissolving into nothingness, much like a certain “self” within his heart.