Moyu Manatsu had two secrets.

The first was that she used to be a boy. For reasons unknown, she’d become a delicate, soft-spoken… *ahem*—a gaming-addicted shut-in who’d rather stay home grinding *Honor of Kings* than attend class, dreaming only of gacha pulls. (Totally normal!)

The second secret: Moyu had inexplicably swapped bodies with Lunorette, a genius magic student from another world. Only they knew. Usually, they switched every two days—but sometimes three, a week, or even twice within two days.

*Why me?* Moyu thought, baffled. First, turning into a girl out of nowhere. Then, body-swapping with some otherworldly stranger!

Worst of all? Lunorette was basically a demon.

*"Sorry, Xiao Mo! I used your cash to buy new wireless earbuds. Forgive me~ ♡"*

Staring at the note’s flippant apology—complete with a doodled winky face—Moyu’s expression darkened. Her wallet lay empty beside it. The icy grip of hunger clawed back into memory.

**"LUNORETTE, I HATE YOU!!!"**

Her roar could’ve shaken the galaxy.

*That* Lunorette—the Academy’s star pupil, the perfect student—was a demon in disguise. Who steals someone’s meal money for CDs and earbuds? Was she trying to starve her? Last time, Lunorette blew all her lunch funds on vinyl records. Moyu survived a week on instant noodles, too broke even for discounted bento boxes. And yesterday? Another earbud splurge with Moyu’s hard-saved cash.

A cold wind seemed to pierce her heart. Helplessness spread deeper than tears.

*"Heaven above… my life is so bitter~"*

The black-haired girl buried her face in a pillow, sobbing. She’d sold all her body pillows secondhand days ago—this was all she had left. And now? Even that lifeline was gone.

*When I’m her,* Moyu thought bitterly, *I play the perfect student. But she just empties my pockets.*

Reality demanded action. Her bank account was dry. Survival meant solutions.

*Do I really have to… get a job?*

The thought made her shudder.

Reluctantly, she opened her laptop and typed:

*"How to get gacha money FAST? Urgent. Online waiting!"*

Minutes later, the replies made her blood boil:

*"Just sell yourself, girl!"*

*"No selling? How will you get strong?!"*

*"Trade your ‘benefits’ to those who need them. Karma rewards generosity!"*

*"You want gacha pulls but refuse to ‘sell’? That’s tough, kid."*

*To hell with you all!*

She slammed the laptop shut.

Her body might be female now, but her heart was still a boy’s!

And even in this body, she dreamed of ordinary romance—like confessing to a few girls. Or… several girls. *Ahem.*

Bottom line: This broke NEET girl was starving.

No quick cash schemes came to mind. Despair settled in.

Resigned, she grabbed her phone. Dialed. After the ringtone cleared, she hesitated, then lowered her voice:

*"Dad…?"*

He didn’t know his son had become a daughter. She had to hide it.

*"Xiao Mo? What’s wrong?"*

His voice was warm, gentle—a man’s kindness wrapped in velvet.

*"I… I’m out of money…"*

She hated asking. Her dad barely scraped by himself, often eating plain rice with pickles.

*Unfilial child… forgive me.*

*"Oh, that’s all? Tell me sooner next time."*

His calm tone twisted her guilt tighter. He was always like this.

*"Th-thanks…"* she mumbled.

*"Your health matters most. I’ll handle it. By the way—your mom wants a family dinner. Your sister’s coming too. Will you join?"*

Moyu’s face tightened.

*"No."*

A soft sigh came through the line. *"I see."*

*Typical of that child,* he thought.

*"Xiao Mo… are you hiding something from me?"*

*He noticed.* She bit her tongue. How could she explain this absurd truth?

*"No way! Would I lie to you, Dad? You know me."*

*"...True."*

After hanging up, she sighed at the sunny window. Then she drew the curtains shut.

………………

Lunorette also guarded a secret: her body-swap with another world’s girl. Only two knew—herself and Moyu Manatsu.

When Lunorette learned her counterpart’s name was "Moyu Manatsu" not "Manatsu Mio," she’d been puzzled. The former sounded more feminine, yet Moyu’s student ID used the boy’s name.

*Cross-dressing? Or just prefers masculine names?*

She didn’t know—and didn’t know *why* Moyu disguised herself.

*"I wanna listen to music~"*

But right now, the white-haired girl craved songs. Rolling on her bed, she mourned her brand-new earbuds—useless here. This magic world had no tech. No CDs. No albums.

For the first time, she loathed this world.

*"Luno, you’ll be late!"*

Her roommate’s warning cut through her gloom. Duty called.

*"Coming."*

As Chief Student of Rockefeller Academy, Lunorette’s path was clear: excel, graduate, join the Empire’s elite knights.

And crucially—earn scholarships.

The Chief Student’s stipend rivaled a noble family’s yearly income. No exaggeration.

*"Ready to go~?"*

Caina Sodallana emerged, smiling warmly after brushing her teeth.

A duke’s daughter. A noble heiress. *My roommate?* Lunorette still found it surreal.

In the dining hall, they ordered lavish breakfasts and tea. Sunlight streamed through windows. *Unlike some countries’ cafeterias,* Lunorette mused, *where the food could kill you.*

*"Morning, Lunorette~!"*

A red-haired girl slid into the seat opposite her, grinning.

*"Morning, Shalia."*

Lunorette offered a poised, noble smile. Students nearby sighed in admiration. As Chief Student, adoration was routine.

*"Up early today, Shalia? No morning run?"* Caina asked, knowing her habits.

*"Finished already! Wanted to eat with you guys~"* Shalia stuck out her tongue playfully.

Shalia Carlemann—another noble-born prodigy. Awarded a medal by the Academy Chancellor after a stellar first-year mission. One of Lunorette’s closest friends.

Watching them chat, Lunorette almost blurted out: *I want you to meet Moyu.*

She crushed the thought. Their pact was absolute—no one else could know.

*"Lunorette… have you been acting weird lately?"*

Shalia’s question hit like ice water. Lunorette’s eye twitched.

*"What do you mean?"*

*"You’ve been spaced out all week. Even lost to the Academy’s eternal runner-up last week. Remember?"*

"The runner-up" meant only one person: Theos. Forever second to Lunorette.

*"Please… drop it."*

Lunorette wanted to vanish. *That day, Moyu was in my body!* Luckily, most students assumed she’d held back—her reputation survived. But friends? Harder to fool.

*"Actually…"* Caina leaned in, voice tight. *"Luno’s been off since Sifrena attacked her."*

Her dragon turning on its master? Unthinkable.

*"Spill it,"* Shalia pressed, eyes sharp. *"What’s going on?"*

*"Nothing’s wrong—"*

How could she say: *I swap souls with a girl from another world who loves rock music?*

Shalia’s eyes gleamed mischievously. *"Lunorette."*

*"Hm?"*

*"Ever thought about falling in love?"*

The question startled her. But honestly?

*"Yes. I’ve always wanted to."*

True. She dreamed of shared meals, strolls, meeting parents…

Though as Chief Student, she’d never had a single romance.

*"See? That’s why—"*

*"I knew it!"* Shalia crowed.

"Lunorette, you really do have a crush, don't you!"

"Huh? What are you even saying..."

"No wonder you've been acting weird lately. You're totally head over heels!"

"Seriously, can you just listen to me..."

"I never thought you'd reach the age for boyfriends. It's heartbreaking. But as your friend, I'll back you all the way! Spill it—who do you like? Is it Theos?!"

Seeing her friend's fervor, the girl had no room to explain. She shot a pleading glance at Caina.

But Caina stayed silent, face shadowed. Lunorette opened her mouth—then froze at Caina's upturned expression.

"Caina, wipe that nosy grin off your face."

"Hehe~"

Lunorette covered her face, thinking it was hopeless again. She didn't even have a boyfriend. Just the thought weighed her heart down.

Meanwhile, in another world, a black-haired girl lounged at home, gaming away, lost in the internet.