Hua Shu and I returned home, puzzled. My sister stayed silent all the way, her face slightly flushed—probably startled by my morning antics. I’d never grabbed her chest before, not once in our lives. I was also annoyed about my missing stockings. Seriously, were there guys who’d… *ahem*… over someone else’s belongings? How weird. Must’ve been some classmate.

“Miko~ We’re back!”

I led Xiao Ling inside. Miko had a key too. Xiao Shan told me Miko’s been super active since her legs healed—playing sports daily, way more confident now. Yating’s been cheerful too, free from her “chest burden,” telling me not to worry about them. Honestly, they should worry about *me*. I’ve adapted fine to this body. Sure, I’m weaker and get stared at more, but otherwise? Same old me.

“Took you forever, Hua Shu! I’ve got dinner ready!” Miko called, carrying plates with a grin.

Xiao Ling immediately dragged me to my room, bursting with questions.

“Bro, you were so weird today! After morning class, you acted like a totally different person—super obedient, calling me ‘sis,’ acting all cute… and touching my… my *there*.” She blushed. “Not that I hated it…”

“Uh, there’s a reason.” I stalled while mentally screaming for Yao Yao to appear. *Should I tell her about you?*

*Just tell her. We’ll need her help later anyway.*

Fine. I took a breath. “Xiao Ling, I’m about to say something scary. Don’t freak out, okay?”

“I won’t.”

“Well… your brother…” How to say this? *“I’m possessed by a ghost who called you ‘sis’ this morning”* might terrify her. I hesitated.

“Do you like me? It’s fine—I accept your confession! Hehe~”

Her interruption nearly gave *me* a heart attack. *Accept my confession? We’re siblings!* Probably joking. I ignored it.

“Seriously though—there’s never just been two people living here.”

“I know. Misaka’s here too.”

“Huh? Not Miko! Someone else…”

“…Bro. You mean the person under your bed?”

“UNDER MY BED?!” Holy crap! Since when?! “You scared the hell out of me!”

Xiao Ling pulled out a life-sized *Guilty Crown* Shu Ouma figure from beneath my bed.

“I get your otaku delusions, bro. Being single for over a decade’s rough.” She patted my hand solemnly, then hugged me tight. Her chest pressed against mine—*wait, did mine just get bigger?* No, focus! She thinks I’m *insane*!

“Listen! There’s a ghost living with us. For three years! This morning, I let her control my body to attend class.”

Xiao Ling didn’t flinch. She just gave me a pitying look, then pressed her palm to my forehead, then hers.

*Xiao Yao, can she see you?*

*If she wants to.*

Seeing her “poor delusional brother” face, I threw caution to the wind. “Xiao Yao—come out *now*.”

“Ahhh~” The rush was intense…

“Bro! Are you *flirting* with me?!” Xiao Ling pounced on me.

“Wait! Look over there—Xiao Yao’s right there!”

She turned.

“Onee-sama~ Long time no see~”

“Whoa! You’re the… the *morning* brother?!”

“Yep! That was me. I’m White Yao. We’ve actually lived together for years. Nice to officially meet!”

“Years?!”

“Mhm! I know you love blue-and-white panties and yuanxiao~ And your secret wish is to make your brother your wif—” Xiao Yao clamped her mouth shut as Xiao Ling shook her head violently.

“I believe you! Nice to meet you properly!”

After chatting, Xiao Yao bounced off to watch anime on my computer. Xiao Ling and I headed to dinner. Miko noticed my bare feet again but didn’t scold me—just kept staring at them while eating. *Really?*

“Hua Shu, skipping socks today?”

“No! I wore them, but I tripped this morning. They tore, so I left them in my desk drawer… and someone stole them.”

“Stole them? Definitely stolen.”

“Yeah…”

“So manga’s not lying after all.”

“What?”

“Some people get… really into used items. It’s called *fetishism*. Pretty common.”

*Common?* Guess I’m clueless. Since the stockings were ruined anyway, I shrugged it off. But Miko was drooling while staring at my feet. *Daydreaming much?*

After dinner, Miko insisted on picking me “better-quality tights.” She dragged me to Xiao Ling’s room, telling Xiao Ling to “stay put and watch TV.” I glanced at my room—Xiao Yao was glued to a new anime, eyes sparkling.

I sat on the bed as Miko rummaged through drawers. She pulled out pink tights. *Way* too girly. “Miko, I can’t wear this—”

She dropped them on the bed, lifted my foot, and rubbed her cheek against it, sighing happily. I flushed.

“Uh… Miko, I didn’t wash today. Might be sweaty, so—”

She cut me off, dead serious. “Hua Shu. Before last Friday, I only saw you as a friend.”

“Huh? Why bring this up now?”

“Before the leg swap, I felt nothing. We were too familiar. No spark.”

*Is she confessing?! Why now?!*

“I remember you saying I wasn’t your ‘ideal guy,’” I joked weakly.

“True. But after the surgery… seeing *you* like this? My heart races. Especially when I see your feet.”

“But I’m in a *girl’s* body now! And these feet were originally *yours*—” *Wait, why am I happy? First confession ever! From my childhood friend!* Old-me would’ve swept her up and kissed her senseless. *What am I grinning about—*

“Exactly! *You*. You’ve done so much for me—you don’t even remember half of it. Honestly? Your legs look… more perfect on you.”

“Still! You should marry a guy and have kids! Mr. Li would never approve!”

“He told me that night: ‘You were willing to take her injured legs so she could live happily.’ He accepts you. We’ve known each other ten years, Hua Shu.”

Her words were heartfelt, but it felt impulsive. She deserved a normal life. *Need an excuse…*

“Two girls together is… weird, right?”

“Pfft. After watching half your yuri anime collection? *Now* you say it’s weird?” She smirked. “I know what you’re doing. Give me a reason I’ll actually believe.”

*Damn. Childhood friends see right through you.*

“Ahem! You only like my *feet*!” *Ugh, so embarrassing!*

“Hua Shu, fetishism is about loving *someone’s* things. Who’d steal a sweaty sock from some gross dude?”

*Wait… the thief likes me? I’m so naive.*

“You *are* young~ I only fetishize *your* feet. Others? Disgusting.”

*Need an unbreakable excuse. Say I’m into guys? Too obvious. What do girls hate most?*

“Hold on—I’ll check my phone.” I pulled up Baidu: *“What do girls hate most?”* Millions of results. Top answer: *“Cheating scumbags.”* Makes sense.

“Miko… actually…”

“Hmm?”

“I want a harem. I’m a total player!”

“…Ten out of ten for that excuse. Proud of you, Hua Shu.”

She shoved me onto the bed.