"Ugh." Waking up to morning sunlight stabbing her face was seriously the worst. The girl tried lifting her right hand to block the glare, but her usually obedient limb refused to budge this time.

*Am I dreaming?*

Forced to open her eyes, she scanned her surroundings with lively, darting pupils.

*Definitely a dream. Nothing here looks familiar. Wait—why am I even dreaming? I remember transforming into a Magical Girl earlier... then what? Did I pass out from the pain?*

*Creak.* As she strained to recall, the nearby door groaned open from the outside.

"Who’s there?" Her voice came out raspy, parched from disuse.

"Huh? Oh! Lulu, you’re awake?" Albert’s voice entered with his figure.

Seeing him, Lulu knew this wasn’t a dream. So her right arm really was... useless now?

"Yeah, just woke up. Since you’re back to being a guy... you told them everything, didn’t you?" Lulu asked. She knew Albert might’ve run under pressure—but he wasn’t that kind of guy. He’d spill every secret. How much had he revealed about her?

Albert, now restored to his male form, flashed a smile brighter than the morning sun—radiant, warm, the perfect handsome neighbor. *Seriously, with looks like that, why’s he still single?*

"Don’t worry. I didn’t mention you. But your identity as a Hero? Impossible to hide. You used a Hero Skill right in front of everyone. They’re not idiots—it’s undeniable." The moment Lulu unleashed that power, their names were destined to spread nationwide. Even if Albert stayed silent, their fame had already swept this city. Two stunning girls, both Heroes, effortlessly crushing enemies? They were living legends—especially together.

Lulu’s mind flooded with cringey nicknames people might use. She shook them off. "It’s fine. This form is perfect. No one knows who I really am. I’m just... Lulu now."

Albert studied her on the hospital bed. During her coma, questions had piled up. "Lulu, why are you still like this? You said your transformation had limits. Shouldn’t you have changed back by now?"

Lulu offered a bitter smile, avoiding his gaze. She raised her working left hand and squeezed her ample chest—not feeling softness, but a dull ache. *Battle aftermath still hurting, huh?*

Albert’s eyes flickered downward for a split second before he looked away. *Good guy.*

"Side effects."

"Huh? From the Hero Skill? You tapped power beyond Hero State back then. What price did you pay for that martial artist-level strength? Richard told me you didn’t use a trace of Battle Aura or magic—just raw physical power." The aftermath seemed severe.

"Yeah. I *wanted* to use them. I had crazy amounts of Battle Aura and magic swirling inside me. But you know me—I can barely control Battle Aura, and I’ve never even learned magic basics. I had this gut feeling: if I tried channeling it? *Boom.*" She mimed an explosion with her left hand. Albert knew forcing unstable power could shatter a body.

Lulu’s instincts had saved her. Without them, she’d be a corpse.

"And this form? Also the Skill’s fault. I don’t mind cross-dressing—I actually enjoy the thirsty looks, y’know? Flattering." Her gaze drifted, unfocused. "But this side effect... it’s brutal. I like girls. I haven’t even had a girlfriend to help me lose my virginity yet! Why did it have to be seven days as a girl? And if I use the Skill again... the time doubles. Until I’m permanently female. Is my destiny to become a girl... and marry *you*?"

Lulu pictured it: after repeated transformations, she’d be stuck as a woman. And honestly? Albert *was* a great catch—personality, looks, everything. If she *had* to be a girl... he’d be her first choice. Plus, he was a blondie. Who could out-simp a blond hero?

"Uh..." Knowing Lulu’s true gender, Albert would never cross that line—even if she was absurdly cute now. Yet his hand reached out, squeezing her smooth cheek. *So soft. So springy.*

"You... stop overthinking. If you know the cost, just don’t use it again. Your normal Hero State is already strong enough to survive here." He kept pinching her cheek.

"Brother, Great Mage Haisa wants you. It’s urgent— Oh! Sorry! I didn’t see anything! Pretend I was never here!" Muse slammed the door shut after peeking in.

Albert glanced at his hand, then Lulu’s flushed face. Her muffled voice came through squished lips: "I alweady fowgive you, go on."

So he squeezed her other cheek too, leaving it just as red.