The Unexpected Roommate

(Bai Ziye)

With a complicated expression, the girl fidgeted and spoke hesitantly.

“Ziye, can I come in and talk?”

The corner of my mouth twitched uncontrollably. Standing before me was a classic, ultra-pink magical girl. It was clearly A-Yao.

It made perfect sense. Under normal circumstances, after a disaster like today’s, you basically can’t go on being a normal person. It was worse than having your identity stolen; even without legal repercussions, you’d face “social death” and hostility from the entire public.

After all, the footage of that battle was still up on the Association’s website. Sure, they had blurred A-Yao’s face in the official recording, but during the live stream, it hadn’t been blurred at all. That dummy’s face had spread all over the internet. On top of that, the news that Yang Yan was hospitalized because of him…

By tomorrow morning, the apartment building would likely be swarmed by unscrupulous media and angry youths blockading the entrance.

At first glance, A-Yao’s only options were to flee overseas or go to prison and rot to quell the public’s anger. Either way, his life was over before it even started.

But in reality, he didn’t only have those two choices. It was actually quite simple: just abandon his current identity and completely become someone else.

And indeed, that was exactly what he had chosen to do. I had no idea how it had happened, but A-Yao had become a magical girl. He probably wouldn’t—and couldn’t—change back for a long time, at least until the media storm blew over.

In just a few seconds, I pieced everything together. But…

“Excuse me, who are you? Do I know you?”

I couldn’t let on that I knew she was A-Yao. Even if I “found out” the truth later, I had to act completely shocked now. Otherwise, it would look like I already knew that even guys could become magical girls—and then more of my own secrets might start leaking out. I absolutely couldn’t let that happen.

So, please forgive me for going with this cliché approach.

“Can you not call me so familiarly? Miss… uh, cosplay enthusiast? Did you get the wrong door? I didn’t order this kind of ‘service.’ And my name is Ziye. Are you sure you have the right person?”

“Huh!? No, I’m not that kind of… ah, how do I put this… it’s really confusing…”

The pink-clad girl stammered incoherently, then glanced nervously around the hallway. Even though no one was there yet, she still looked awkward, unable to get her thoughts across.

Honestly, her flustered reaction was kind of amusing. After a moment of hesitation, she clenched her fists, raised her small, determined face, and met my eyes.

So cute!

Even knowing it was A-Yao, I still felt a literal electric shock straight to the heart. Squinting, she declared loudly, “Anyway, Bai… Bai Ziye!”

“Uh, yes?”

“First… let me in first!”

But her determination evaporated the moment she finished that sentence in her adorable voice, replaced by shy awkwardness. I get it. Suddenly becoming a girl must be really disorienting.

“Alright, come in. If anything happens, I’m calling the police.”

“Don’t call the police!” She hurriedly pushed past me and closed the door behind her.

I couldn’t resist her strength now that she was a magical girl.

“Ziye, listen… I’m actually… I’m A-Yao!”

“Really? I don’t believe you.”

“Are you a blockhead!?”

She grabbed my collar in exasperation, but not being used to her new center of gravity, she stumbled forward and pinned me onto the sofa. I felt a soft pressure against my chest.

Was this some kind of standard harem anime trope? But wow, she was huge. Way bigger than I am when I’m Miluno. Not just big, but soft. A-Yao had turned into a girl made of marshmallows and cuteness—the complete opposite of the cold Miluno.

Up close, our eyes met. She was the first to look away, blushing furiously.

“Miss, aren’t you being a bit too forward? I’m really calling the cops now.”

“No! Sorry, I didn’t mean to knock you over… but I really am A-Yao… Oh, right! Ziye, watch this!”

She apologized hastily, then ran to pull the living room curtains shut. Standing before me, she reached for her collar. A pink heart-shaped flash enveloped her. In the blink of an eye, she transformed back into the familiar, slightly chubby A-Yao.

In his hand was a pink Star Crystal.

“Ziye?”

“…” I opened my mouth but said nothing, pretending to be shocked speechless.

“Dumbfounded? You have to believe me now!”

“…So my best bro actually became a magical girl? It’s hard to wrap my head around. So… magical girls aren’t necessarily girls?” I asked, playing dumb.

“Don’t worry, most are female. I’m one of the rare exceptions. Not only are there guys, but there are even animals that become magical girls,” he explained.

After explaining, he resonated with the Star Crystal again and transformed back into his magical girl form.

“So where did you get that crystal? And do you know people are trashing you online?”

“The Association gave it to me. My resonance rate was quite high, so they asked if I wanted to ‘take responsibility’ and fill the gap left by Miss Yang Yan. I accepted without a second thought… As for what’s online, I know all about it. That’s why I came back in this form.”

Wait. Something clicked. So the “newcomer” Lu’er was talking about was A-Yao?!

“So, you’re not planning to change back?”

“Not for now. Not until I’ve repaid the debt I owe.”

She was serious. A-Yao was usually carefree and brainless, but I could feel the determination in her words, and her genuine guilt toward Yang Yan. What happened today had made him mature a bit.

As the saying goes, “the eldest brother is like a father.” This “dad” felt very relieved.

“Magical girl identities are supposed to be secret, right? Is it okay for you to just come back and tell me?”

She sat beside me, fidgeting with her skirt. “It’s usually kept secret, but you’re special, Ziye. After all… you’re the only one I can rely on.”

If she weren’t A-Yao but just a normal girl saying that, we’d be on a romance route right now.

“Well, what are you going to do now?”

“My address has already been doxxed. Someone might come to harass me in the next couple of days, so…” She poked her fingers together and pleaded pitifully, “…Can I stay at your place for a while?”

She couldn’t go back to the apartment next door. If I agreed, my own activities as Miluno would become very inconvenient. But if I refused, it would raise suspicion immediately.

“Sure, stay over. What’s the big deal? You’ve slept over here plenty of times since we were kids.”

“It’s different now!” She pressed her hands against her bouncy chest and tried to sound imposing. “I’m not only a cute girl now, I’m a magical girl! Ziye, you’re about to cohabitate with a magical girl! Why aren’t you more excited?”

She looked like a little lamb; her voice was soft and sweet, utterly lacking any real force.

“…Come on, I’m not some magical girl fanatic. And to me, no matter what you look like, you’re still my best bro, A-Yao.”

Besides, I had already been “cohabitating” with a magical girl even before this.

With the magical girl Miluno… myself.