The Confusing Past and a Startling Revelation

However, nothing remotely interesting or titillating ultimately transpired. Bai An An merely tickled my sensitive spots, and seeing me laugh until tears streamed from my eyes, she playfully chided:

“Ling Jiu, you’re truly too careless. You were often like this when we were in junior high together, but back then, your development was no different from mine, so it wasn’t noticeable to others. Yet, you’ve blossomed so beautifully since then, completely oblivious to it. You really should be more careful.”

What kind of bizarre memory is this? Wasn’t I just her one-sided admirer before? Why does it sound like we had such a good relationship?

And wait, does that mean I’ve been going commando all this time?

Suddenly, I began to understand why, even though others perceived me as a beautiful girl, my circumstances hadn’t changed.

Could my image in others’ eyes always have been so… regrettable?

“What was I like before? I’m suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic.”

“I still have photos from back then. Hold on.”

Bai An An held up her phone, displaying a junior high graduation photo. I had seen it before, so I had some recollection. Everyone else looked much the same, but in my place, there was an utterly baffling individual.

Who is this person?

Who is this gloomy-faced country bumpkin, wearing glasses and a slobby tracksuit, staring at the camera with eyes that seemed utterly dead? Is this me?

No, the appearance was undeniably mine. But even I was terrified at first glance. This wasn’t some otaku beauty; this was a dangerous sociopath!

It was true I had social anxiety, but those eyes couldn’t be described as mere social anxiety. They were clearly filled with murderous intent!

Could my character setting be that of a yandere who, unable to communicate with others, simply kills them?

What exactly has this world line been altered into?

There were simply too many absurdities to even begin complaining.

“Is this really me?” I asked, bewildered.

“Of course! This is the one and only Miss Ling Jiu, no doubt about it.”

“Why don’t I remember ever looking like this?”

“Didn’t you have your own graduation photo? You can’t have forgotten what you used to look like, can you?”

“I threw my graduation photo away. After all, I didn’t even know most of my junior high classmates.”

Bai An An nodded, understanding my personality. She knew it wasn’t strange for me to do such a thing.

“More importantly…” I feigned a headache, “I seem to have lost some of my memories.”

Concern flickered in Bai An An’s eyes. “Really?!”

“Yes. To be precise, I think I have some psychological issues; my memories are a bit muddled. That’s the real reason I took leave.”

“I see. Did you go to the hospital?”

“I did. The doctor told me to rest for a while.”

“Is that so…” Bai An An sighed. “I truly don’t know what I’d do if you left me, Ling Jiu.”

Huh?

This was the first time I’d seen my Goddess since my transformation, but I suddenly felt that the beautiful girl before me and the cold, queen-like figure of winter were two entirely different people.

My Goddess couldn’t possibly be this straightforward!

Besides, why would I be unable to leave you?

Indeed, I was well aware that I was her adoring admirer, but wasn’t it always you who sought my help? Without me, you’d be a helpless airhead unable to manage your own life!

Could “unable to leave” imply something else entirely?

“Um, what exactly is our relationship?” I asked timidly.

Bai An An poked my cheek playfully, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “It seems you really have lost your memory if you’ve even forgotten our relationship.”

As she spoke, a blush crept onto her face, and her voice became tinged with shyness.

“We have that kind of relationship, you know.”

I felt the string of my sanity snap instantly.

That kind of relationship?

What does “that” refer to?

Could my Goddess and I be… yuri?

Oh my god! So what exactly is going on right now?

I actually developed that kind of relationship with my Goddess without even knowing it! How could this be?

Cold sweat trickled down my back. “Isn’t our relationship just classmates?”

Bai An An shook her head. “We’ve even done things together that good kids wouldn’t do.”

Things good kids wouldn’t do?

Could it be… R-rated things?

But aren’t I still a virgin?

I was suddenly caught in a dilemma. On one hand, I couldn’t believe anything had happened between my Goddess and me, but on the other, I desperately hoped something had happened. Having no memory of it felt like missing out on a fortune.

In this dire situation, my rationality instantly pulled me back to reality.

An admirer must always remember their place, never relax their guard, and certainly never cross the line. Misinterpreting my Goddess’s meaning would lead me into a delusional “Oh, she likes me too” situation.

Assuming my Goddess and I weren’t just ordinary best friends but had that kind of relationship, and I proceeded based on that assumption, if I misunderstood her meaning, it would be akin to stepping on a landmine and committing suicide.

In short, I needed to think calmly.

First, even if the world line had shifted, the changes shouldn’t be too drastic. Even if my relationship with my Goddess became more intimate because I was a girl, it should never, under any circumstances, surpass friendship.

Second, my Goddess was a super sheltered young lady. Forget yuri; she wouldn’t even understand a dirty joke if I told her one. Therefore, “things bad kids do” couldn’t possibly be some kind of innuendo.

Third, I was a steel-straight man. If she remembered me always being a girl, then in her memories, I must also be a steel-straight girl. My Goddess was straight; she couldn’t possibly fall for another girl.

Thus, there was only one answer.

“I remember! I took you to an internet cafe last time.”

Bai An An looked a little embarrassed. “Oh, you remember that? Last time, I needed to print some documents, but I didn’t have a computer to edit them. You secretly took me to an internet cafe to edit them. You’re my confidante, my partner in crime for doing ‘bad things’.”

I knew it would be something like that.

As an admirer, I couldn’t think too highly of myself.

After all, my Goddess was a good girl who had never violated student rules. So, even going online made her feel uneasy, making her believe she was a disobedient “bad kid.”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

“Also, Ling Jiu, do you remember something you once said?”

“What?”

Bai An An curved her lips into a meaningful smile. “You said you wanted to be with me forever.”

“Eh?”

I was dumbfounded.

Did I confess to her?

Did I somehow transmigrate to another world line?

In this world line, I’ve always been a girl, and I have a younger brother named Ling Chen.

Most importantly, I confessed to my Goddess…

Confessed…

Confessed…

Did I really say something so audacious?

“As best friends!”

An incredibly complex emotion made tears stream from my eyes uncontrollably.

“W-w-w-w…”

“Ling Jiu, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly crying…?”

Bai An An anxiously pulled out a handkerchief, intending to wipe away my tears.

I sobbed, “It’s just… it’s so wonderful that we’re best friends.”

“Honestly, I don’t remember you being such a crybaby.”

She said this, a confident, All Might-like smile gracing her lips.

“It’s alright now. Why? Because I am here!”