A Day of Confusion and Discovery

Crowded?

Not quite. Although there are a lot of people, it might not be enough to describe it that way.

Currently, I am sitting alone on a bench next to the central scenic fountain on the first floor of a department store I rarely visit. Bored out of my mind, I’ve been ‘people-watching’ for quite a while now. It’s actually a great way to pass the time.

However, no matter how interesting it is to observe different people, doing the same thing for too long can get boring.

I’ve been waiting for so long… It’s so boring.

[Half an hour ago]

In a room with a large hole in the ceiling that lets in a draft, Grandma and that crazy woman were standing in front of a wall, their heads bowed in punishment. I was standing in front of them, clenching my fists and trembling.

“Grandma! What are you doing? Do you want to be a freak too?” I asked, having just tapped her on the head.

Grandma turned her head slightly and scratched her face:

“Well… it’s just that… I haven’t seen one this big in a long time, and I couldn’t resist giving it a squeeze.”

She even blushed… it seems she’s reflecting on her actions.

But… what kind of answer is that? A confession? It seems she’s done this to someone before…

Rather than think about these things, I should ask about the important stuff. I fixed my expression and seriously looked at Grandma:

“Forget it, I won’t hold it against you. But you two must know something about the changes happening to my body. Your reactions are anything but normal; you’re unusually calm about it.”

Hearing this, Grandma pointed to the crazy woman standing next to her:

“Although I have a guess, I’m not entirely sure. She probably knows more details. You should ask her.”

What?! I looked at her with a face as if I had just choked on mustard.

“Yes, I know,” the crazy woman replied nonchalantly, using a handkerchief to wipe the dust off her face.

“So it’s true…

Why would this freak know about it?”

She paused for a moment and continued:

“Actually, I came here to find your grandma because of this. But it will take a long time to explain.”

“And also,” she hesitated briefly:

“You should go buy some clothes with your grandma. It’s better to do it now.” Her expression was unusually serious.

“I agree!” Grandma smiled and raised her hand in agreement.

“What now?”

I replied irritably, not forgetting who made me go without underwear!!!

Grandma walked up to me with a smile,

“Mo… ooo…?!”

Suddenly, Grandma started rubbing my face, and I made an incomprehensible sound, looking at her in confusion.

And over there…

“Hey, what’s with those two band-aids on your chest? As your only guardian, I can’t let you look like a nightclub hostess! This is a serious issue… or do you want to be a freak?” Grandma gave me a look that said, “You have no choice.”

“…

…”

Keeping my face in her hands, I stood still, deep in thought…

I couldn’t argue…

[Back to the present]

Of course, it turned out that… as soon as we got to the department store, the two of them were like they had been injected with adrenaline, completely immersed in the madness of shopping… they went wild.

Weren’t we supposed to buy my clothes?

Whatever, I’ll just consider it as giving me some time to prepare mentally… I don’t want to put on the female outfit right away.

Thinking about all sorts of things, a few swaying shopping bags suddenly appeared in my vision.

“Finally back…”, I grumbled, looking up.

In front of me was Grandma, returning from the ‘battlefield’ with her arms full of big and small bags of ‘spoils’.

“Actually, it wasn’t that long, was it? Maybe in the future, you’ll spend even more time shopping than I do, especially since we’re both women now.”

A teasing smile, and a response like, “I’m sure I’ll be just like you someday…” I gave Grandma a very stiff smile, with veins popping out. If I had a background, it would surely read: [You’re kidding me… (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻]

Grandma put down the countless shopping bags and sat next to me.

Are all women shopping addicts?

“She didn’t come back with you?” I asked, since only Grandma had returned.

“She’s still shopping. What’s wrong? Hungry?”

“No, not hungry, just really bored waiting.”

“Can’t be helped. I’ll wait with you.”

“…

…”

We didn’t say much, falling into silence. We were just quietly waiting. But my mind couldn’t calm down.

Grandma is back, and that freak will be here soon…

That means… I’ll have to enter the ‘no-man’s-land’ soon and put on… a female outfit…

Thinking about it, I blushed and looked down. Grandma looked at me too.

“What’s wrong?” Grandma asked with concern.

I tried not to let Grandma see my expression, keeping my head down and saying awkwardly:

“Grandma… do I really have to wear a female outfit? Do I really have to wear underwear? I’m a boy, right? This… it feels… weird. Let’s just buy some other clothes and leave.”

Really, that would be enough. I just can’t take that step. I feel even more timid than when I was checking the closet in the room this morning for female clothing. Maybe deep down, I didn’t want to find any female clothing…

“There aren’t many men in the world who like saggy breasts, you know.”

…..

“What the heck?!” I exclaimed loudly, grateful I hadn’t been drinking water or I would have choked to death.

The loud noise attracted the attention of many passersby. Although my face was still red, it actually calmed me down a bit. Phew…

“I’m serious. I think you should consider your future partner.”

“No way! Absolutely not!!!” I stood up, my face red with anger, protesting in front of Grandma.

Who wants to marry a man?!

Wait!

I’m the one who’s supposed to get married! All my calm flew away just now!

!!

Just then,

“Buzz… buzz…” something started vibrating.

Grandma took out her phone and looked at it, probably a text message.

“Hey, you wait here for a bit. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Oh, and bring something to eat back, I’m actually a bit hungry.” I calmed down a bit, although it might have just been a way to change the subject.

“Sure, and stay right here. Don’t move, even if the fire alarm goes off, you wait here for me, okay?” Her tone was a bit serious.

“Okay…”

As if the fire alarm would go off so easily…

After Grandma left, I resumed my role as a ‘people-watcher’, the only difference being the extra equipment (Grandma’s spoils of war).

Just as I was looking around aimlessly,

“Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The urgent ringing of the department store’s alarm startled me.

“F-f-fire alarm?!”

No way, the fire alarm actually went off? Although there were staff members guiding people, the customers in the store were pushing and shoving their way to the exits. The scene was chaotic.

I sat there, thinking that Grandma must have a ‘gift for disaster’…

Wait!

Instead of a ‘gift for disaster’ coincidence…

“Grandma caused the fire alarm” sounds more likely, right?

Could it be… no way…

Remembering Grandma’s words, my face darkened. If Grandma goes to jail, I won’t go with her.

“Boom!”

“Thud!”

“Clatter!”

“What’s that noise?” I looked up, the awful sounds coming from upstairs caught my attention.

Nothing bad happened, right? I started to feel uneasy. Although Grandma told me not to wander, I just couldn’t rest easy.

I stood up, ready to leave.

“Woo!”

In an instant, just an instant, I felt a chill run down my spine, and I stood frozen in place.

What was that feeling just now?

Again! That awful feeling again!

“It’s behind me!” I quickly turned around.

Time seemed to stop, and my pupils constricted to the extreme. Something cut through my left ear’s hair at lightning speed!

…..

Paralyzed by fear, I hung my head, my body swaying.

Looking at the hair scattered on the ground, I was too terrified to make a sound.

Just now…

I think I saw something really terrifying.

My body… it can’t move. If I don’t run soon,

I probably…

will die…