The next world.

The evening sun bathed the academy grounds in a golden glow as Kaerith and Sena walked together, an unusual quietness settling between them. After the chaos of the club meeting, Sena had insisted they grab something to eat at one of the food stalls near the dorms.

"I didn't think you'd actually follow me," Sena teased, glancing at Kaerith with her signature smug grin.

Kaerith shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I figured I'd supervise to make sure you don't cause any more trouble. You have a knack for it, you know."

"Trouble?" Sena feigned offense, placing a hand on her chest dramatically. "I'm an angel compared to Iyana. She's the one who can't go ten minutes without glaring at someone."

"True," Kaerith said with a smirk. "But at least she doesn't make people sit on my lap."

Sena's laughter rang out, light and carefree. "Oh, come on. That was harmless! Mei practically melted—it was adorable."

Kaerith shook his head. "Adorable, huh? You really enjoy messing with people."

They reached the food stalls, and Sena ordered something light while Kaerith grabbed a skewer of grilled meat. As they sat on a nearby bench, the atmosphere felt… different. More relaxed, yet oddly charged.

"So," Sena began, kicking her legs slightly as she nibbled on her food, "why'd you join the club anyway? Doesn't seem like your kind of thing."

Kaerith leaned back, chewing thoughtfully. "Honestly? I got dragged into it. But it's not so bad. You guys are… interesting."

"'Interesting,' huh?" Sena tilted her head, giving him a mischievous look. "That's code for 'you secretly like us,' isn't it?"

Kaerith raised an eyebrow. "Don't push it."

She laughed again, but her momentum faltered when she leaned too far back on the bench, her balance slipping. Before she could fall, Kaerith reached out instinctively, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward.

The result wasn't ideal.

Sena ended up sprawled across his lap, her face inches from his, her blonde hair cascading over his shoulder. For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension between them palpable.

"Well," Sena said, her cheeks turning a rare shade of pink, "this is… cozy."

Kaerith sighed, his face betraying a slight flush. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

She grinned, despite her embarrassment. "And yet, you haven't shoved me off. Interesting."

Kaerith finally helped her up, and she brushed herself off, still grinning like a cat that caught a canary. "You're surprisingly quick on your feet for a guy who's always so laid-back."

"Call it self-preservation," Kaerith replied dryly.

As they continued their walk, Sena seemed quieter than usual, her usual playful banter replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"Hey," she said after a while, her voice softer than he was used to.

"What?" Kaerith glanced at her.

"Do you think… people like me for who I am?" she asked, her tone unusually vulnerable.

Kaerith blinked, caught off guard. "What kind of question is that?"

"I mean it," Sena said, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "I know I'm popular, but sometimes it feels like people only stick around because I'm… well, you know." She gestured vaguely to herself.

Kaerith gave her a sidelong glance, taking in her confident posture that seemed oddly fragile in that moment. "You mean because you're loud, annoying, and completely impossible?"

She laughed, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Exactly."

Kaerith stopped walking, forcing her to turn and face him. "Listen, you might be all of those things, but you're also honest. And fun. And…" He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "You've got a good heart. People stick around because they like you, Sena. Not just the image you put on."

Sena stared at him, her blue and red eyes wide. Then, to his surprise, she smiled—a genuine, warm smile that made her usual smugness seem like a distant memory.

"You're not so bad yourself, Kaerith," she said softly.

The tender moment didn't last long, though.

"Of course," Sena added, her grin returning, "I still think you're a bit of a delinquent. But at least you're a charming delinquent."

Kaerith groaned. "There it is. I knew it was too good to be true."

Sena laughed, nudging him playfully with her shoulder. "Come on, let's get back before Iyana sends out a search party. Or worse—tries to take my snacks."

As they walked back to the dorms, Kaerith couldn't help but shake his head. Sena was impossible, yes, but she was also undeniably… intriguing.

And maybe, just maybe, he didn't mind her company as much as he pretended to.

As they climbed the stairs toward Sena's dormitory, Kaerith noticed she was unusually quiet—unusual for her, at least. She kept glancing down at her chest and adjusting her uniform, her cheeks tinted a faint pink.

"Something on your mind?" Kaerith asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sena sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "You know, Kaerith, I've been thinking about something deeply personal."

Kaerith blinked. "Oh? That's a first. Go on."

She glared at him but pressed forward. "It's about… these." She motioned vaguely at her chest, her expression a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Kaerith froze, his brain catching up a second too late. "… What exactly are 'these?'"

"You know exactly what I mean," Sena said, puffing out her cheeks. "My… my assets. My 'bouncy house,' as Iyana so eloquently puts it."

Kaerith rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsure how to navigate the minefield she'd just dragged him into. "Uh… I'm not sure what you want me to say here."

"It's not about what you say," Sena huffed, her arms still crossed. "It's about how everyone seems to think they define me. Like, hello? I have a brain, you know."

Kaerith fought back a laugh. "You? A brain? Now that's shocking."

She smacked his arm, her face turning an even brighter shade of red. "I'm being serious, idiot!"

As they reached her dorm room door, Sena sighed and leaned against the wall, her earlier frustration melting into exasperation.

"Do you know how hard it is to do anything with these things constantly getting in the way?" she asked, gesturing to her chest again. "It's like they have a mind of their own!"

Kaerith tried his best to maintain eye contact, but his lips twitched into a smirk. "I mean, they do seem pretty lively."

"Kaerith!" she shrieked, smacking him again, though this time her laughter escaped despite herself.

As she turned to unlock her door, she fumbled with the keys, causing her bag to slip off her shoulder. Kaerith reached out to catch it, but in the process, tripped over her foot and stumbled forward.

The next thing he knew, he was face-first against her chest.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

"… Kaerith," Sena said slowly, her voice a dangerous mix of embarrassment and warning.

Kaerith quickly backed away, holding his hands up in surrender. "That wasn't on purpose, I swear!"

Her cheeks were practically glowing now as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're lucky I'm not Iyana, or you'd be dead right now."

"I'll take your word for it," Kaerith muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Despite her earlier embarrassment, Sena couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

"You know," she said, her tone light again, "for all the trouble you've caused me today, you're surprisingly good at making things less awkward."

Kaerith smirked. "It's a gift."

She rolled her eyes but smiled as she opened her door. "Well, consider yourself lucky. Most people wouldn't survive two minutes of this conversation."

Kaerith chuckled. "Noted. Anyway, get some rest, Floaties."

"Floaties?" Sena's voice cracked, her expression a mix of shock and amusement. "You're impossible, Kaerith!"

"And yet, you keep inviting me to hang out," he shot back with a grin.

As the door closed behind her, Kaerith chuckled to himself. Sena was definitely one of a kind—frustrating, unpredictable, and entirely too much fun to mess with.

————————

It was a lazy afternoon in the club room, and as usual, Lyana was slouched on the couch with a book, while Sena was fidgeting with her phone. Kael entered the room, his movements oddly hesitant.

Lyana raised an eyebrow. "You're late. What's with the weird energy?"

Kael scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "Uh, so… I have something to show you guys."

Sena leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? What is it? Did you bring snacks? Or maybe a gift for me?"

Kael sighed. "Not exactly. It's more like… a form I've been practicing. A different version of me."

Lyana set her book down. "A 'different version'? You mean like, pill or something?"

Kael nodded. "Something like that." He closed his eyes, and a soft, shimmering glow surrounded him. His frame shifted subtly, his hair grew longer, and his features softened into a stunningly beautiful girl with curves that rivaled even Sena's. The transformation ended with Kael standing there, dressed in a fitted pink outfit that accentuated his form perfectly.

"Ta-da…" he said, his voice now lilting and feminine.

For a solid five seconds, neither Lyana nor Sena spoke. Lyana blinked, clearly caught off guard, while Sena's jaw practically hit the floor.

"W-Wait, what?!" Sena finally managed, her face turning bright red. "That's you?! But… how?! And why do you look so… so…"

"Pretty?" Kael offered, a teasing smirk on his lips.

Lyana crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure but failing miserably. "I mean, you're stunning, but what's the point of this? Are you trying to mess with us, or is this some kind of training?"

Kael shrugged, his long, wavy hair bouncing with the movement. "I wanted to experiment with transformation pills , and, well, this is the result. I thought it would be fun to show you guys."

Sena stood up, circling around Kael like she was inspecting a rare artifact. "You're… seriously gorgeous. Like, unfairly gorgeous. This is illegal levels of cute. How do you even pull this off?"

Kael chuckled. "Natural talent, I guess?"

Sena frowned, then pouted dramatically. "It's not fair. You're prettier than me, and I'm supposed to be the hot one here!"

Lyana groaned. "Oh, stop being dramatic. He—uh, she—can't help it."

Sena suddenly leaned in closer, inspecting Kael's outfit. "Wait, where did you even get this dress? Did you go shopping like this? Oh my gosh, did anyone see you?"

Kael laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah… I might have turned a few heads on my way here."

Lyana smirked. "A few? Try all of them. You probably caused traffic accidents."

Sena, now determined, grabbed Kael's hands. "We're going shopping together like this. Imagine the looks we'll get! Two gorgeous girls strolling through campus. It'll be amazing!"

Kael stepped back, waving his hands. "Whoa, whoa, I didn't sign up for that!"

Lyana leaned back, smirking. "You brought this on yourself. Own it."

Sena grinned mischievously. "Okay, new plan. Let's take her—uh, him—to the café on campus. I bet you'll get a free drink just by smiling at the barista."

Kael groaned, already regretting his decision. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"

Lyana chuckled. "Because you will."

Kael, still in his feminine form, attempted to sit down on the couch in the clubroom, but the tightness of his outfit made even that a challenge. The dress clung to every curve, and he quickly realized that crossing his legs would only make things worse.

Sena, as sharp-eyed as ever, noticed Kael's discomfort and leaned forward with a teasing grin. "What's the matter, Kael? Struggling with your new body? Maybe the outfit's too snug in all the right places?"

Kael sighed, trying to ignore how Sena's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You try moving in this thing without flashing anyone. It's a miracle I made it here in one piece."

Lyana, who was still pretending to read her book, chimed in dryly. "You chose that dress. You can't complain now."

Sena wasn't done yet. She scooted closer to Kael, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, what's it like? You know… having these?" She poked at the air, gesturing vaguely toward Kael's chest, and then reached out without warning, her hand hovering dangerously close.

Kael flinched, his cheeks blazing red. "Hey, hands off!"

Sena laughed, pulling back but not before giving a mock pout. "Oh, come on! You're practically flaunting them in that dress. I can't believe you got these bigger than mine." She crossed her arms over her own chest dramatically.

Kael groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why did I think showing this form to you was a good idea?"

Kael, still in his feminine form, attempted to sit down on the couch in the clubroom, but the tightness of his outfit made even that a challenge. The dress clung to every curve, and he quickly realized that crossing his legs would only make things worse.

Sena, as sharp-eyed as ever, noticed Kael's discomfort and leaned forward with a teasing grin. "What's the matter, Kael? Struggling with your new body? Maybe the outfit's too snug in all the right places?"

Kael sighed, trying to ignore how Sena's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You try moving in this thing without flashing anyone. It's a miracle I made it here in one piece."

Lyana, who was still pretending to read her book, chimed in dryly. "You chose that dress. You can't complain now."

Sena wasn't done yet. She scooted closer to Kael, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, what's it like? You know… having these?" She poked at the air, gesturing vaguely toward Kael's chest, and then reached out without warning, her hand hovering dangerously close.

Kael flinched, his cheeks blazing red. "Hey, hands off!"

Sena laughed, pulling back but not before giving a mock pout. "Oh, come on! You're practically flaunting them in that dress. I can't believe you got these bigger than mine." She crossed her arms over her own chest dramatically.

Kael groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why did I think showing this form to you was a good idea?"

Once Lyana left, Sena and Kael sat in awkward silence for a moment. Sena rubbed the back of her neck, sneaking glances at Kael. "Hey, uh… sorry about that. I didn't mean to… you know."

Kael sighed, finally letting his guard down a little. "It's fine. Just… maybe don't get that curious again."

Sena smirked, her confidence returning. "No promises. But hey, I'll say this: if you ever decide to stay in that form permanently, you'd probably make a killing as a model."

Kael rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Thanks, I guess?"

Sena leaned closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "By the way… if you ever need advice on, you know, supportive garments, I'm your girl."

Kael groaned, burying his face in the pillow. "Why are you like this?"

Sena just laughed. "Because it's fun."

And with that, their chaotic, awkward day came to an end—or at least until the next round of teasing.