The morning after the League of Villains' attack on Class 1-A found Terumi Mei in her room, standing in front of the mirror with a contemplative and focused gaze.
In her hands, she held some of the more feminine clothes she kept for casual outings, but she realized an important detail: she didn't own any truly nice "pretty" feminine clothing.
Despite the progress she had made in her struggle with identity and altered gender expression, Mei had only purchased long skirts and less tight-fitting jeans. For her tops, she had always stuck to short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts.
She had never been willing to expose skin—not her back, not her abdomen—nor wear sleeveless shirts that would show the outline of her chest. Until now.
—Damn it, Mei, you stupid idiot. How the hell are you going to go on a date wearing this trash? —she muttered, reprimanding herself, regretting not having something that would capture Tetsumaru's attention.
She took a deep breath, making a bold decision.
A few minutes later, she went downstairs and found Tetsumaru dressed in casual clothes, sipping a cup of coffee. His golden eyes rested on Mei's figure, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
—You look beautiful— he said sincerely, causing his other half to blush slightly.
Mei was wearing an old, deep-blue skirt that she had stopped wearing when she began to grow, so it now looked like a short skirt that any girl would wear. Her pale legs were encased in tights—her battle tights, in fact.
On her feet, she wore the Ninja sandals she had bought, and on her torso, she wore a sleeveless training shirt. She kept her arms tightly pressed to her sides, embarrassed at the thought that her bra and the flesh of her chest were easily visible.
Mei was wearing an old, deep-blue skirt that she had stopped wearing when she began to grow, so it now looked like a short skirt that any girl would wear. Her pale legs were encased in tights—her battle tights, in fact.
On her feet, she wore the Ninja sandals she had bought, and on her torso, she wore a sleeveless training shirt. She kept her arms tightly pressed to her sides, embarrassed at the thought that her bra and the flesh of her chest were easily visible.
Tetsumaru walked up to her and brushed the fringe covering one of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear and smiling at his other half.
—T-thank you— she mumbled, her cheeks burning.
What the hell was happening? She had already put her tongue down Tetsumaru's throat and vice-versa, she had swallowed his seed, and rubbed her naked body against his. Why was she getting like this over a simple compliment?
—How about we go clothes shopping?— he suggested, aware of Mei's circumstances.
—Um, that would be nice— she agreed.
They both stepped out onto the street, leaving the house empty, as her parents had left for work before the sun even lit up the city.
They walked side-by-side, Mei clutching Tetsumaru's arm like a couple. She hadn't done it on purpose.
She was truly embarrassed by the way she had come out dressed. Before, she wore skirts that went almost down to her ankles and long-sleeved shirts, so she never felt exposed.
Now, she was greeting the world like a real girl, revealing her complete beauty to everyone who glanced in their direction, which was quite a few people.
Terumi Mei was a very beautiful girl. At a height of 1.68m so far (nearly the same as her adult anime version), her strong legs encased in tights, as well as her toned body—now visible because the sweat caused by her nerves made her shirt cling to her skin—Mei garnered a lot of attention.
The only reason she didn't die of embarrassment and run back home was the calm and steady presence of her other half.
Tetsumaru walked with confidence, guiding Mei on their way and squeezing her hand. This feeling of being protected by him was something new for Terumi Mei. She felt... Feminine, much more so than during their mutual masturbation sessions.
—Is this what it feels like to be a woman?— she wondered in a corner of her mind, keeping it separate from the link with Tetsumaru to avoid filtering her conflicting emotions.
But Tetsumaru didn't need the link to know what was going through his other half's mind. After all, they were one and the same, although that line was beginning to blur as Mei kept changing.
Would there come a point when they would become two different people? Tetsumaru didn't know, nor did he care.
Because even if that day arrived, he would not stop loving his other half.
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—How do I look?— Mei asked as she opened the fitting room door and showed her figure to Tetsumaru.
The black-haired boy shifted his black and gold eyes, studying his other half from top to bottom and storing mental images for posterity.
—We'll take that one— Tetsumaru nodded. Mei smiled and went back in to change.
They had been choosing new, casual clothes for the Kunoichi. They had already packed dresses, fitted jeans, short shorts, and many styles of revealing tops that both embarrassed Mei and, in a way, boosted her self-esteem.
Right now, she had discarded the old skirt and the simple t-shirt they had arrived in, replacing them with tight-fitting pants that left little to the imagination but were not vulgar, and a tank top with intricate weaving that allowed a more revealing glimpse of the center of her chest.
Provocative, sexy, but nothing that a "tramp" would wear. Just enough for Mei to flaunt her assets and her well-built body.
That made her smile. Not her usual flirty smile, but one of genuine happiness. She had already registered this day as one of the best she'd had since they were thrown into this world.
The couple strolled through the mall, trying on different styles of clothing, even buying something for Tetsumaru.
They had snacks, ate ice cream, and finally stopped at the arcade. Girl or not, Mei still enjoyed video games.
The boys who frequented the arcade were mesmerized by the Kunoichi's presence, and some with real guts approached her to strike up a conversation.
Given Mei and Tetsumaru's mood, and showing respect for those champions who weren't afraid of the monumental beauty that Mei was, they agreed not to destroy the boys' self-esteem—as long as they weren't pigs.
Thus, they allowed themselves to be invited to play several games, where Mei crushed the teenagers and became, at one point, the queen of the arcade.
—Man, that girl is something else...— one of the boys muttered to his friend.
—Yeah... She's perfect— another commented with shining eyes.
—Hmph, she's just a girl, behave yourselves— said a gloomy boy, although his single visible eye couldn't stop focusing on Mei's smiling face.
—Get lost, you morons. I'm going to ask her out— one boy gathered his courage and stepped forward.
Tetsumaru, whose taste for video games had decreased significantly after he was left with the dull and boring part of their soul, watched the whole event calmly from the side.
These were the types of idiots who needed to be put in their place before they acquired bad habits and perhaps became sexual predators someday.
Mei, who had received the "idiot alert" from Tetsumaru, turned with her polite smile that melted the teenagers' hearts. The action caught the guy off guard, but he clenched his fists and smiled confidently.
—Hello, beautiful. I'm Hajime Iwaizumi. What's your name?— he introduced himself without stuttering. He was a tall, slender guy with spiky brown hair. A feeling of familiarity struck Mei, but she couldn't place where she knew him from.
—Terumi Mei. Do you need something?— she tilted her head with curiosity.
—Would you like to go out with me?— he got straight to the point, causing the surrounding boys to gasp.
—Hmm, I'm flattered, but no— Mei responded sharply. More gasps, some of surprise, others of relief, and a few of pity for the boy.
Hajime's eyelids trembled, and his heart skipped a beat at the direct rejection. But his smile didn't waver.
What kind of man accepts 'no' for an answer? You have to pursue women; that's how the game works.
—Come on, I promise you'll have fun. Just give me a chance, what do you say?— he insisted again.
—I respect the boldness you're showing, but I must decline again. If you'll excuse me, I'm in the middle of something— Mei refused, turning back to the game she had paused.
Hajime didn't give up, standing closer to her and leaning against the machine the Kunoichi was playing. He crossed his arms and continued smiling at her.
—You look truly beautiful. I really like your style, Terumi-San— he continued flattering her.
—Thank you, but I would appreciate it more if you could let me play— Mei said calmly.
—Of course, but I would really appreciate it if you'd give me a chance. How about this? Let's exchange contact info, and I'll let you play— the boy proposed.
—No, thank you. Please, I'm busy here— she replied.
—Oh, don't be like that, Terumi-San. I'm just asking you—
At that moment, Tetsumaru put a hand on the taller boy's shoulder, interrupting his flirting. His menacing eyes forced the boy to swallow his aggressive retort.
—She told you she's not interested, several times. If a girl tells you NO more than once, she really means NO— Tetsumaru advised.
The surrounding teenagers stopped what they were doing and focused on the exchange. Some muttered to each other, wondering what was happening, while others nodded in Tetsumaru's direction.
—Tch, and who are you? I'm working here, buddy— Hajime complained, rising a few centimeters above Tetsumaru, trying to assert dominance with his greater height.
—Haaa... It was fun while it lasted, guys, but I'm not in the mood to keep playing anymore— Mei said with a sigh as she stepped past Hajime and took Tetsumaru by the hand. The duo walked out calmly, leaving some of them slack-jawed.
The surprise didn't last long, as most of the boys who had tried to approach Mei by paying for the games turned their attention to Hajime, their intense glares pressuring the bold guy.
-Because of this idiot, the beautiful and cool girl left- they thought in unison.
That day, Hajime had an awakening, gaining a new understanding of women and radically changing his attitude when forming relationships with girls.