Morning sunlight filtered through the broken window blinds, lighting up the disaster zone that was the Araki household. Dishes in the sink, battle scorch marks on the lawn, and a suspicious trail of blood roses leading to the fridge.
Inside the living room, chaos.
"YOU ARE NOT WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL!"
Tachibana (in Machio's body) held up a pair of tight skinny jeans and a crop-top hoodie.
Machio (in Tachibana's body) crossed her arms—his arms?—legs elegantly crossed, smirking.
"Why not? These jeans make your butt look incredible."
"EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!"
From the corner, Veronica watched while sipping blood-infused bubble tea through a cute black straw. She adjusted her gothic miniskirt, one leg lazily propped on the coffee table.
"Honestly, this is better than cable."
[Quest: Who's Got The Pants Now!? - Ongoing.]
[Optional Objective: Don't Get Expelled. Or Arrested.]
Scene 1: At School
Tachibana-as-Machio stormed into the school grounds, doing her best impression of a brooding boy. It was... semi-successful.
"Yo, Araki," Nariyuki called. "You okay? You look like you haven't touched yourself in days."
"Shut up! I mean—yes. No. I mean... BACK OFF."
Anzu-senpai waved from the rooftop.
Machio-as-Tachibana walked past the tennis club with a parasol, hips swaying dangerously. A group of first-years faceplanted.
"T-Tachibana-senpai looks... divine today...!"
Machio paused. Smirked. Twirled.
"I've got leg for days and a bust to boot. Why not weaponize it?"
Unfortunately, just as he basked in his boob-powered glory—
"TACHIBANA!"
His ex.
Matsumi.
She stomped over, ponytail swinging with pure rage.
"Oh no."
Matsumi grabbed Machio-as-Tachibana by the collar.
"You think you can prance around in those tights and ignore me? After what you did at the pool party?"
"Wait, I didn't do anything, that was Machio—I mean—I—I am... Tachibana, but I—"
She yanked the collar harder.
"YOU PERVY B*TCH!"
Smack!
Scene 2: In the Girls Locker Room
Veronica somehow got invited. Or maybe she just walked in.
"So... are you going to peek?"
Machio, still in Tachibana's curvy body, was hiding in the corner of the girls' locker room.
"No! I mean, yes. I mean—ARGH! I'M TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL!"
Kira, Tachibana's quiet, scary best friend, eyed him with suspicion.
"...You're not... acting like yourself."
"That's because I'm traumatized by... period cramps! Ow, ow! Yes, very painful. Woman things."
Veronica snorted, her arms wrapped around a towel.
"You know, a threesome with yourself isn't out of the question anymore."
"VERONICA!"
She giggled, trailing a finger down Tachibana's—Machio's—bare shoulder.
"I'm just saying, sweetie. One hot boy. One hot girl. One vampire who doesn't mind switching. The possibilities..."
Machio swallowed.
[Quest Update: Lesbian Threesome Route Activated.]
[Side Quest: Confuse Your Boner.]
Scene 3: Home Again, Home Again
Azumi Araki, Machio's little sister, greeted them at the door. She eyed Tachibana-as-Machio up and down.
"Onii-chan. You forgot how to walk like a dude."
"Shut it, shrimp."
"Also, stop groping your own chest when you think no one's watching."
Meanwhile, Machio-as-Tachibana had locked himself in the bathroom.
"Tachibana! Stop staring at it!"
"I CAN'T HELP IT! YOUR D**K TWITCHES WHEN I THINK ABOUT SWORDS!"
"WHY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SWORDS!?"
Veronica leaned against the wall, sipping more blood-boba.
"I'd be more worried about what it does when she thinks about me."
They both screamed.
Scene 4: Dinner Chaos
Machio's mother, Yuuki Araki, placed down fried cutlets.
"My, Tachibana, you're glowing today. Bustier than usual, aren't we?"
"AH—uh—yes! Hormones! Puberty 2.0!"
Azumi stared. "You both suck at pretending."
Tachibana elbowed Machio in the ribs. "Act. Normal."
But just then—
The doorbell rang.
"Who is it now?!"
It was Tachibana's older brother, Kaien. Tall. Muscle-bound. Protective to a psychotic degree.
He narrowed his eyes at Machio-as-Tachibana.
"Sis... why do you smell like male deodorant and failed life choices?"
"BRO, DON'T LOOK AT ME WITH THOSE JUDGING EYES! I MEAN—Sis! Yes! I am totally your sister. Totes."
Kaien cracked his knuckles.
"I'm watching you."
Machio swallowed.
[New Danger Unlocked: Brother-In-Law Instincts Level 99]
Scene 5: Nightfall Shenanigans
They tried to sleep.
Tried.
But when your soul is in someone else's body...
"Machio... stop touching my thighs."
"I'M TRYING TO GET COMFORTABLE! THEY JIGGLE!"
"STOP SAYING THAT!"
Veronica, lying between them on the bed, wrapped an arm around each of them.
"Honestly... we could just make this a regular thing."
They both glared.
"You sleep in coffins."
"True. But this bed smells like hormones and regret. I like it."
Tachibana sat up, annoyed. "Alright. Enough of this. We need to figure out how to swap back."
Just then, the pendant on the table pulsed red.
[Soul Sync Restoring... Reset in T-minus 60 minutes.]
Machio blinked.
"Wait. We're switching back in an hour?"
"Finally!"
Veronica stretched. "One hour, huh? Just enough time for an experimental makeout session."
"NO!"
"Maybe."
They looked at each other.
Then turned away blushing.
[Achievement Unlocked: Awkward Boner Unity]
[Side Quest Complete: Mutual Embarrassment Speedrun]
[Reward: A Very Confusing Memory.]
Scene 6: Midnight Reset
At exactly midnight, the pendant flared.
Both screamed.
A blinding light.
A sudden jolt.
They fell backward onto the bed.
Machio blinked.
Checked his chest.
"...I have a d**k again."
Tachibana checked under the blanket.
"My boobs are back!"
They both high-fived.
Then paused.
Realized they were still partially naked.
And Veronica was between them.
"Well, I didn't get my threesome... but I did get cuddles."
Machio sighed.
"Next time, remind me to uninstall this damn system."
Tachibana groaned.
"Next time, I'm slapping your soul out of your body before it touches mine again."
[Quest Complete: Who's Got The Pants Now!?]
[Reward: Unwanted Memories, Slight Trauma, +10 Veronica Approval]
TO BE CONTINUED...