Click.

After locking the bathroom door, Yueci Ru turned to face her reflection.

The mirror held a breathtaking face—flawless features set against porcelain skin, beautiful enough to blur the lines of gender. Her shoulder-length black hair was slightly disheveled from the morning’s chaos. Yet the mess only added a fragile charm.

Her ink-dark eyes were clear as mountain springs, untouched by impurity. A trace of unshakable sorrow lingered in their depths, making you ache to pull her close and soothe her pain.

Her gaze dropped to the shirt she wore. Only then did she remember—Hiru Kawakami had forgotten to return her jacket. *No matter. Just a jacket.* She doubted she’d see him again anyway.

Yueci Ru slowly unbuttoned the shirt. Her fingers trembled—a first for something so simple. The last button slipped free, revealing pale skin beneath. She caught a glimpse of subtle curves on her chest. Her fingers brushed against it. Soft. Unfamiliar. The changes had been so slight she’d never questioned them before.

She unzipped her pants for a quick glance.

A long sigh escaped her. Eyes closed, she leaned against the sink, steadying her breath. *How had she not noticed all morning?*

Her voice had always been soft—blamed on frail health. This morning’s weakness, she’d thought, just made it quieter. But no. She’d fallen asleep a boy. Woken up a girl.

*Why?*

And why shrink her too? At 165cm as a boy, she wasn’t sure she even cleared 160cm now…

Memories flashed—sucking Hiru Kawakami’s blood upon waking. Silence stretched. She knew why. Her mood plummeted.

"Hm?"

Yueci Ru turned. Two sets of toiletries sat on the sink. *Wasn’t Nishikino An living alone?*

A knock rattled the door. Nishikino An’s voice filtered through: "Need fresh clothes? That shirt’s swimming on you. Take mine."

Yueci Ru opened the door. Nishikino An stood relaxed, holding a folded outfit. Her eyes flickered to Yueci Ru’s unbuttoned shirt—a flash of pale skin made her breath hitch, though her face stayed calm.

Noticing Nishikino An’s gaze, Yueci Ru finally realized her exposed chest. *Still not used to this body.* But they were both girls now. What did a glance matter?

"Brand-new underwear. Don’t worry."

Yueci Ru nodded, took the clothes, and shut the door.

Outside, Nishikino An pulled a cigarette from her pocket, stuck it between her lips—then paused. She tucked it back. Her fingers traced her own face. Decades of hardship had left their mark. Even perfect skincare couldn’t defy time.

The person she’d dreamed of seeing for twenty-three years stood right here. So why no joy?

Time had carved a chasm between them. In Yueci Ru’s memory, she was still that fiery young cop chasing justice. But people changed. Nishikino An hadn’t climbed to Chief of Police on ideals alone.

"*Heh…*"

A bitter laugh escaped her. The scar slashing her right cheek glared back from the door’s reflection—twisted, fierce.

Click.

The lock turned. Nishikino An smoothed her expression into calm indifference.

Yueci Ru stepped out. A flicker of surprise crossed Nishikino An’s eyes. She was nearly a head taller than Yueci Ru—170cm to her… whatever. The clothes weren’t hers.

Black hoodie with a white pentagram. Gray tapered pants. White socks peeked from brown cotton slippers—her sneakers left at the villa’s entrance. The outfit radiated youthful energy, built for movement. For a heartbeat, Nishikino An saw the boy she remembered.

But Yueci Ru’s hair hung loose. *The hair tie box was right beside the comb…* Nishikino An’s eyebrow lifted.

Yueci Ru shifted uncomfortably. Not from the hoodie or pants—from the lace bra and panties beneath. The delicate fabric against her skin was utterly alien.

Nishikino An smirked. "Sorry. Only had this kind of underwear."

"It’s fine." Yueci Ru was already grateful for the clothes. She’d speak more from now on—blame her silence for missing her own transformation.

"This… doesn’t seem like your style." The outfit looked decades old. She’d checked the tag in the bathroom. But Nishikino An had handed it to her personally. Clean, surely. The twin toiletries on the sink clicked into place.

"Some old clothes a cleaner found while tidying up," Nishikino An said lightly. "Meant to donate them after washing. Good timing—you put them to use."

Yueci Ru’s eyebrow arched.

Nishikino An saw the realization dawn. *Fine. No secrets here.*

"Not mine."

*Just as I thought,* Yueci Ru smiled, ready to guess:

"Your husband’s?"

"My daughter’s."

Two voices overlapped.

The air turned heavy.