Ah—girls are such a hassle, a summer swarm buzzing around my ears.

After finally shaking off one wave of “attention,” Yun Shi felt her ears clear like a pond after rain.

They never circle me on normal days. Why’s everyone orbiting me now, like moths around a lantern, eager to swallow me whole?

She wanted quiet, the steady tea-steam of an ordinary life. But quiet slipped like sand through fingers. So hard.

It’s just a dress. Why the starry eyes, like night skies spilling meteors?

Girls have no defense against cute things—she got it. She’d been a girl for years; she knew that helpless flutter when something adorable saunters by. But this was different. She wasn’t a pet cat to cuddle.

Right now, Yunshi Bianqi decided her dignity mattered more than any proper Underworld business, more than any shadow war. If someone learned her true body was female, that’d be a landslide. So to prevent disaster, she had to keep one vow like a mountain oath—never again wear women’s clothes.

Yun Shi felt smug, clever like a fox slipping through bamboo.

She didn’t know that vow would get slapped soon, but that storm hadn’t rolled in yet.

Forget it. Change clothes.

Her mood lifted, a soft breeze across rice fields. Thanks to Mizuki’s mediation, her ties with friends had thawed a little—ice cracking under warm sun. Not fully healed, but Yun Shi felt content. The rest would sort itself out like rivers finding the sea.

The sports festival came at summer’s tail, cicadas fading and evenings cooling. Autumn waited at the gate. Which meant Yun Shi’s autumn would be spent on Italy’s battlefield—a bronze sky over old stones.

These days felt chilly. She was a cold-prone type, layering like a bird fluffing feathers—long sleeves even in summer, not only to hide skin that said “girl” at a glance, but to fend off the wind. Two days in cheer gear had wrung sweat like sudden rain; when she rewrapped her bandages earlier, the smell hit like damp wool.

She fetched fresh bandages, and a front-button cardigan to wear over her uniform, like a soft shield.

The nurse’s office had no second heartbeat. It was still as a shrine at dawn. Bottles and jars lined the table like glass soldiers. Beds for rest sat empty, blankets and pillows stacked square as folded clouds.

Relief loosened her shoulders. Her fingers went to her buttons, popping them one by one, small moons slipping free. Underneath, her white skin met the air, porcelain-clear, the kind you imagine a breath could bruise. She kept unbuttoning. The white bandage lay tight across her chest, stained with sweat like faint storm marks. The last button gave, and her flat stomach showed—waist slim as a willow, a sight that would buckle a man’s knees.

She eased the shirt off. Most of her skin faced the room, gleaming like an art piece under gallery light. The shirt fell onto the bed in a hush. Next, her hands moved to the bandage at her chest.

She’d lived in this body for over a decade. Familiar terrain. No blush, no drumbeat. She unwound the bandage slowly. Two soft buns finally tasted air, and while the wrap hadn’t been too uncomfortable, that tiny relief felt like a breeze through pines. Why the faint annoyance, though?

Bare from the waist up, Yun Shi gathered her clothes and bandage, ready to put on the fresh strip. She’d just reached out when the door to the nurse’s office clicked open.

Twisted my ankle right when the festival’s on. What rotten luck.

Stop complaining. Come on, I’ll check if the teacher’s here.

Crap. Someone came in. And they’re girls.

I’m topless. I’ll be called a pervert. No—worse. They’ll discover Yunshi Bianqi’s true body is a girl.

What do I do?

Panic flared like a rabbit bolting. She clutched her chest and scanned the room—hunting a hidey-hole. Fortune flickered: there was a wardrobe big enough for several people, empty as a hollow tree. How did she know? Because back when Mai punched her into the nurse’s office, she’d opened that very door.

With no retreat, Yun Shi didn’t think. She slipped inside and shut it, and right then the girls stepped in.

Teacher? Teacher, are you here?

Looks like she’s not.

Figures. I’ll go find her then.

She curled inside the wardrobe, shivering like a leaf. Her nerves thrummed. If they opened this door, everything would snap like thin ice.

She could only listen. Two girls, by their voices. And one voice felt familiar, like a tune you’ve hummed before. Was that a trick of the ear?

Huh? Why’s there clothing here?

Her heart skittered up her throat, a fish leaping the net.

And bandages? Someone used these… ugh, sweaty. Oh? Here’s a fresh one. Maybe someone planned to swap?

Kumiko, don’t touch other people’s things. If they come back and see, that’s not good.

True. Best not mess with someone else’s stuff.

Heavens. No wonder that voice felt familiar—it was Misaki Kumiko!

Of all places to meet a familiar face. Cry or laugh? She hunched deeper in the dark.

I’m fine. Kumiko, don’t you have another event?

Doesn’t matter. I care way more about tomorrow’s race.

Oh, the three-legged race. Shame I can’t pair with you tomorrow.

It’s fine! I’ve waited ages. I totally flopped this event in middle school. First high school three-legged—this time I’m winning!

So that’s why she kept pestering me to reinstate the three-legged race. She just wants a win. Yun Shi sighed, a black line of exasperation scribbled across her forehead.

By the way, you asked our classmate, Yunshi Bianqi, to get the school to bring the event back, right?

Yup! He’s basically Jesus. An all-purpose genius!

Kumiko, are you okay…

I’m fine! Makiho, you don’t get it. He’s really amazing.

Okay, okay, you worship him. Keep it in check, though.

Listening to them talk about her, Yun Shi couldn’t help smirking, the tail of pride flicking like a firework spark. Being admired felt like warm sun on cold stones.

Nearly a year at school, Yunshi Bianqi had stood in a hail of glares and anger. Little pockets of praise were rare fruit. In short, Yun Shi was easy to butter up.

She tried cracking the wardrobe door, a sliver of light for a peek. The moment it opened, a draft chilled her like winter through a paper screen. Right—she was topless. The wind slipped in like a cat.

Since you worship him that much, why not confess to Yunshi Bianqi?

Through the slit, she saw Misaki Kumiko’s friend push her with a mischievous grin.

No way. How could I confess to him?

Wait, don’t you like him?

I never said I liked him. Do you have to like someone to admire them?

Misaki Kumiko kept it straight as an arrow. The words hit like a pebble to the forehead. Yun Shi winced.

What? I thought you had a thing for him.

Not like that. I feel… like his heart holds someone else. At best, I can walk into his world as a classmate. Also, being with him feels like hanging out with a female friend. No weird thoughts at all.

Girl, that line could knife a heart.

But your intuition’s not wrong. Being with Yun Shi was like being with a female friend—no wrong notes. Yun Shi was, after all, a woman.

All she could do was smile wryly and swallow it.

Huh? When did someone come in?

Ah? The teacher! Please come here—my friend hurt her foot.

Hurt? Okay, let me see.

The school nurse drifted in without fanfare, hands already moving like practiced water over stone. She bandaged the injured girl quickly. Yun Shi stayed quiet inside, a mouse at dusk, waiting for the room to empty.

Bare-chested this long, she was cold. The last time she went topless was back in her past life’s college dorm—echoes of old nights.

Hmm?

The nurse felt something off about the wardrobe. After finishing, she walked closer, steps like a calm tide. Light edged through the crack. Yun Shi shut the door fast, heart kicking, face blanching like paper.

Footsteps approached, louder, closer. They stopped in front of the wardrobe. Yun Shi’s mind lifted to battle height—steel calm over roiling water. If the nurse opened it now, she might… no, that was a joke. She wouldn’t kill anyone. At worst, she’d chop them unconscious.

The real hassle was the two unrelated girls. In the worst case, she’d have to drop three people in a blink, clean as a shadow, with no witnesses.

She raised her hand, a knife-edge ready. If the door opened, she’d use one of her battlefield tricks. It wasn’t for chastity—no. For her secret.

But the nurse didn’t open the door. She simply looked at it for a while, then said, calm as a lake, “I’ll keep your secret.”

She knows. Completely.

Yun Shi wanted to burst out and demand answers, like a storm breaking.

The nurse didn’t open it. She turned back and finished the treatment. Soon, it was done. She told Misaki Kumiko to take her friend back to rest, and didn’t let them linger. Under Kumiko’s puzzled gaze, the two left like leaves carried off by water.

Now, you can come out, Yunshi Bianqi.

How did you know?

Yun Shi couldn’t hold back. She kicked the door open and strode out, anger popping like sparks.

Ask me after you put your clothes on. Women don’t interest the nurse.

Waaah!

She clutched her chest, spun around, snatched the bandage off the bed. She moved to wrap it, but the person behind her made her hesitate.

Um, could you turn around, please…?

Such a shy little girl.

The nurse said it, but she turned away. Yun Shi hurried to dress, fingers flying like sparrows. In a minute, she was wrapped and covered.

So, what do I call you? Yunshi Bianqi-kun? Or Yunshi Bianqi-chan?

Uh…

So you were a girl. No wonder you look… nothing like a boy. I thought, like other teachers, you were a girly boy.

Whatever. How did you know I was in there?

I used to be a cop. Of course I knew. And I saw… tsk tsk, those assets only women have. Pretty obvious, Yunshi Bianqi.

Regret stabbed like a thorn. She should never have changed here.

Another person knew her identity. How was she supposed to live? If the whole school found out, it’d be a collapse.

You’re cross-dressing, right? Should I…

You absolutely can’t tell anyone. Bribes, favors, whatever it takes—just don’t spread it!

Tsk, tsk—your own words, tethered to you like a red thread.

On the second day of the sports meet, Yun Shi’s luck was thin ice—every step creaked and splintered.