Chapter Text
Yesterday was.. weird , to say the least.
Well, at least in Nirei’s opinion it was. The whole thing bothered him so much he hadn’t gotten even a lick of sleep!
Sakura and Suo’s sudden quietness even solidified the idea! Why would they just stop talking out of nowhere? When have they ever even done they ever done that in unison?
Honestly, Nirei was getting a bit nervous. If they find out he’s a girl, explaining it and trying to get them to understand would be hell- not that he understands how this happened either. That reminds him, the how was still unsolved! If he knew how it happened, then he could probably find a way to turn back into a guy!
And if he turned back into a guy, he wouldn’t have to worry about lying to any of his friends any longer! Lying is way too hard. It honestly makes him wonder how Suo does it so naturally.
He lied in bed staring at the ceiling as thoughts roamed freely throughout his head. He’d have to get up for school soon, he knew that. Nirei just dreaded what he knew he’d have to do in order to go. The boy had one too many things to do this morning, the list almost never ended.
Reluctantly, he threw the covers off himself. Looked down with a sliver of hope, and nope. He was still a girl. It had been only a day, yet it felt like years. He was tired of this already, he wanted to know what it was like to be a girl- he got to be one. Now he just wanted to go back. Although finding reasons to buy himself some more clothes was never bad.
Since he was going to be this way whether he liked it or not, he might as well get the full experience. Afterschool though- He wasn’t even that confident before, no way in hell he’d be now! He knew his friends would be accepting and nice about it, but thats just the way they are. If he has a choice, then he’d rather not.
Looking back up at the ceiling, he carefully held his bandaged wrist up. He guessed he would simply take it off today, just in case they happen to see it while they’re on patrol. Nirei knew he was thinking too far into the day, but he couldn’t help it! And better safe than sorry, right?
He hopped off his bed with wobbly legs, trying to be optimistic and practice it before going to school. Optimism usually came naturally for him but lately? He found it harder for it to come at all. Alright, to get himself out of the slump he’s in, he should try to think positively! He’s going to hang out with his friends today, they won’t find and damn thing out, and they’ll all have fun!
Heck yeah! Positivity!
Walking to the bathroom with a pep in his step, he looked around the hallway. It wasn’t dirty, but could be cleaned! He figured that’s another thing he can do to take his mind off the situation he’s in. Upon entering, he immediately started brushing his teeth. Rather passionately actually- so much his gums started to bleed profusely. He internally groaned as he rinsed his mouth out.
Checking the time on his phone, it read ‘ 6:17 ’. That was amazing! Great actually! even started smiling to himself as he hummed and got in the shower. And just like that, the positivity is fading. Traumatized again. Luckily, Nirei was stubborn. He already got traumatized, it wasn’t going to stop him this time around!
After finishing up in the shower, Nirei poorly dried his hair and wrapped his towel around him. He tiptoed down the stairs as he tried not to get water everywhere. After looking through the peephole and making sure no one was there, he opened the door. He quickly reached an arm out and grabbed a package. He shut the door just as fast, and made his way back upstairs. He was pleasantly surprised that the order came just in time, maybe his luck was shifting!
He ripped it open, and takes out the item. He had bought a Binder for morning delivery, and he was pleasantly surprised it came so early. He rushed back to the bathroom to put it on, and although he struggled a whole lot, and had to watch some tutorials, he eventually got it on. Nirei was so shocked at the result, it had worked so well! It didn’t take it away entirely of course, but it wasn’t obvious anymore! Nobody would notice a thing! Well actually, he thought of two people who might.
As of right now, he’ll pretend he wasn’t going to see them when he gets to school.
He slams open the door to the bathroom and runs back to his room, he grabs his Furin uniform that was hanging right in the middle of his closet. He always had it there, and reminder of the amazing school he went to and the amazing people he saw there every single day. Nirei pulls it down and swiftly puts it on, he also grabs the belt and tightens it more this time, to compensate for the fact that he had a much smaller waist than before. All he could do was pray they wouldn’t notice.
It was a bit bigger on him than before. How would he hide that? Also the fact that he had shrunken around 2-4 inches.. He was the same height as Kotoha, if not then he was even shorter. His hair though.. he could do something about that. Walking back to the bathroom for the umpteenth time. He grabbed scissors from out the cabinet, and started cutting. He had done this before, he wasn’t the best at it, but still better than nothing. His hair was all over the sink, and he looked back up into the mirror.
“YES!”
He had cut it perfectly! It had looked almost exactly the same way it did before, but he didn’t know if it’d be good enough to fool Suo and Sakura. Those two were so perceptive it was scary, he could never hide anything from them! Even if he was feeling a little bit down, they noticed. If he changed one little thing, they noticed! Whenever he lied, they just stared him down! The only reason that stupid method worked so well was because he couldn’t stand the silence! And the eyes on him made him nervous! If they tried using that, he’d just have to run.
Grabbing his phone off the counter, he goes downstairs. He slips on his leather shoes and practically falls out the door, he was trying to get to school early. Being alone with those two was something he needed to avoid at all costs, they didn’t need to see anything! When he’s back to being a guy, he’ll apologize. For now, he’ll just say sorry in his head.
He started running, dead set on making it to school as early as possible. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to school earlier than Sakura and Suo. But after only going for 10 minutes, he found it significantly harder to breathe. Although it wasn’t that hot outside, he just kept panting.
Okay, sure Nirei wanted to get to school early, but getting to school early wouldn’t matter if he faints by the gate in front of Furin. He still needed to get there, so to compromise with his brain and body, he opts for walking. Speed walking, but it’s still walking!
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Dragging himself towards the classroom was hell.
He was tired, hot, and exhausted. It felt like he could collapse any second. The moment he got there, he pushed the door open to see nobody there! His plan had worked. He laughed to himself as he stood in the doorway.
“Heh, suck it.”
He whispered. Suo and Sakura weren’t going to get him to speak now! After all, nobody usually came this early. Not even them!
“Suck what?”
Nirei shrieked.
He heard giggling and grumbling behind him, and he assumed that it was the two people he literally wanted to see the least right now. Nothing against them, he loved hanging out with them and speaking to them. They were amazing friends who he loved and cherished deeply, he doesn’t know how he’d live without them. But doing those things with them while he’s like this might do more harm than good.
Lowering his voice a bit, he responds cautiously.
“Never mind that.. but you guys are really early!”
He heard a hum, then Nirei started walking to his seat so he wouldn’t have to turn around. He heard footsteps behind him, so he figured they were following him. Sitting down in his seat, he put his head down and faces it towards the window. This way, they wouldn’t see his face! Sakura and Suo would have to try harder than that!
“Sugi-Chan, why do you look so tense?~”
Huh?
What?
…
‘Sugi-Chan..’ isn’t that what Kiryu-.. wait, it wasn’t Sakura and Suo! It was an odd duo though. Raising his head, he turns to look at them. Sugishita and Kiryu stood there, Sugishita looked like he had something he wanted to say, and Kiryu waited for him to speak.
Now, Nirei was looking at them in curiosity. Swiftly, he pulled out his notebook and pen.
Sugishita casted him a confused glare before he slowly started to speak.
“Nirei.. is..”
Sugishita started to mumble, upon barely hearing his own name, Nirei’s eyebrows raised. He couldn’t hear entirely what he said, and he guessed that Kiryu couldn’t either. Maybe he could update what Sugishita thinks of him after he gets what he wants to say out?
“Sorry sugi-chan, we couldn’t hear you. Can you repeat it?”
Kiryu asked in a soft voice, as to not make Sugishita too exasperated. At this, the tall boy looked away and gestures towards his eyes.
“Nirei.. is tired. Why?”
Both Nirei and Kiryu’s eyes widened at this, except Kiryu’s eyes also shifted towards the former. Nirei didn’t even know it was obvious, maybe Sugishita was more perceptive than he thought? He didn’t really need anyone else looking at his face. But he had been trying to say something even before he looked at them, maybe it wasn’t that that gave him away.
“Oh.. i ran to school. That’s probably what he’s talking about. Haha..”
At Nirei’s half truth, Sugishita gave him a death stare that was really just worry. Kiryu’s expression was simply one that could only be described as concern. Kiryu sighed, before shaking his head.
“If you wanna talk about what ever it is, we’re here. Okay Nirei-chan?”
Sugishita nodded blankly, Kiryu smiled as he ruffled Nirei’s hair. Honestly, he couldn’t stop his own tiny smile as well. His friends were so kind and considerate of his feelings- making sure they never overstep, never made him uncomfortable. This was really starting to make him have second thoughts, could he really lie about this to them? To his friends?
“Thank you Kiryu-San.. Sugishita-San.”
Kiryu made his way to the back of the class, and Sugishita sat down in his seat before he put his head down. If anything, he was tired. Not Nirei! Well.. he is like that everyday, even when he does get sleep. But Nirei hadn’t gotten sleep, had just been running, and would have to go on patrol later today.
Nirei sighed as he looked out the window, some more people would start to come soon. Taking out his phone, he went to the camera app. He hadn’t noticed before, but he looked like a blond raccoon. He almost shrieked, but held it in. Sleep definitely wouldn’t come easy now that he knew what he looked like.
He got up and left the classroom to go to the bathroom, if he rinsed his face, it might wake him up some. He passed some of his classmates in the hall, before finally making it there. He went to the sink, and splashed his face a few times, before looking back at the mirror. It didn’t really help his eye bags, but at least he felt less tired.
When he walked out the bathroom, he felt a bit lightheaded. It was random, he wasn’t feeling this way before.. Maybe he walked too much, or it was just him overreacting, either way, he’d have to walk some more.
He walked unsteadily, swaying a bit with every step.
His heart started beating fast, and his breathing labored. When he finally reached the door of his classroom he pushed it open. He didn’t think he’d been gone long, but almost everyone was there. Normally, he would’ve greeted them. But he could barely even see straight- he’d have to apologize later for that.
“Nirei- are you good man?”
“Why you so tiny now?”
“You look out of it.”
He didn’t know who said what, but whoever it was, he waved them off.
“Im okay..” he mumbled as he dropped back down in his seat.
He put his head down on the desk. There were a lot of sounds around him, and it was hot. Like really hot- it felt like the sun was on him. Sleeping honestly sounded amazing right now, although if he slept he wouldn’t be able to stop anyone from looking at his face. But like.. sleep just sounded so good right now. Then, he heard the door slam open. His head rose up to see who it was, and then his heart dropped as his eyes widened.
Sakura and Suo came in.
Oh shit.
He turned his head back towards the window so they wouldn’t see his face. He heard them walking towards his desk, and his stomach did 30 backflips. Obviously they’d come, he just wasn’t ready!
“Goodmorning Nirei-Kun!” Suo said, Nirei assumed a smile was on his face as he said it too. “Hey.” Sakura said, acting nonchalant. But the blush on his face gave him away, well.. Nirei couldn’t see it, but guessed it was there. So he puts on an optimistic voice as he tries to fight the sleep.
“Morning Sakura-san, Suo-San!” He finally looked at them and he practically jumped back. Suo looked at him like he was inspecting something, and Sakura glared at him- already knowing something was wrong.
“Nirei-kun.. did you cut your hair?” Suo asked with a tilt of his head as he gestured towards his hair.
Alright. what the fuck? It was borderline creepy! How did he know that? He had cut it so well, not even he’d be able to tell himself he cut it. Yet somehow, someway- Suo knew?
“Yeah.. i trimmed it a little. How’d you know?”
Nirei asked with a wobbly grin.
“It’s looked a bit shorter than usual.”
He stared at Suo skeptically, how would he know that? Nirei was usually the only one who keeps track of things like that. But then again, Suo was very perceptive. Noticed things others might completely gloss over. So it might make some sense. That wasn’t going to make him trust that Suo knows nothing- because somehow he always knows something.
“Your face looks weird.”
Sakura commented bluntly, and Nirei stared.
“Jeez, thats rude.”
Nirei squinted at him as Suo put a hand over his mouth and chuckled, Sakura started to blush and he stumbled over his words. Nirei had known exactly what Sakura meant to say, but they didn’t have to know that.
“No! thats not.. i didn’t-.. fuck!- wait!”
“I think what Sakura-kun had meant to say is your face doesn’t look like it usually does.”
Nirei looked away from Suo, how was he going to get out of this one? The fact his face physically changed wasn’t obvious, but to them? It was painfully clear. Playing it off was the only possible way to get out of this, it wouldn’t deter them entirely, but give them something else to worry about.
“Yeah.. i didn’t get sleep last night.”
He said with a yawn, putting his head down on his desk; further selling the performance. Sakura and Suo pulled up chairs and sat at his desk. He further buried his head into his folded arms, they did not need to be looking at his face for this long.
“Why?”
At this, Nirei just barely raised his head to look at Sakura. That.. was actually a good question. As much as he just wanted to say it was them that made him stay up the entire night, he decided against it. Honestly, he wasn’t sure that it was just them that made him stay up.
I mean- the last time he went to sleep he woke up a girl. It was definitely absentminded, but he wasn’t fond of the idea of sleep. Who knows what would happen if he decided to sleep again?
“I don’t know, i just couldn’t.” He says as he looks away.
Suo’s eyes soften, as he puts a hand that would normally be on Nirei’s shoulder, on his head.
“You could sleep now y’now.” He said with an understanding smile.
“I can’t right now.”
Nirei looked up at him with tired eyes, he really couldn’t. The lesson was going to start soon. What if he goes to sleep, and something happens? Like, maybe he’ll turn into a-..
what was that? Something on his head.. he was starting to feel even more tired. It was.. comforting. What was on head?
His eyes widened, and he realized something. Suo was patting his head. Sakura blushed and looked away, but had a hand out towards Nirei, silently asking him to take it.
Were they trying to get him to sleep?
No!
“Suo-San, Sakura-San, no!”
“But Nirei-kun, we aren’t doing anything! The lack of sleep must be getting to you.”
“Jus’ go to sleep already.”
“That’s what im trying not to do!”
Nirei fought sleep better than he fought people clearly, he decided to stand till class starts. He could ignore Suo’s menacing smile and Sakura’s glare, going to sleep was the last thing he should do.
Sure, he was endlessly thankful for his two overprotective friends. But this was life or death! Turning into a random thing infront of them would be terrible. Plus, what if they look at his face some more when he goes to sleep?
Then, they stood up, and-
Oh.
He hadn’t realized it before because he was sitting down, but they were way taller than him now. That’s right- he had lost 2-4 inches of his height over night. Another reason why he will not go to sleep again.
Judging by their shocked expression, he was pretty sure they noticed too.
“Nirei-kun.. you look drastically shorter than usual.”
“The fuck happened to you?”
That caught the attention of a lot of the class, they looked at Nirei. The boy sunk back down in his seat, if more people saw just how much shorter he got, it would look odd. Suo and Sakura sat back down as well, succeeding in making him sit again. But now they were curious.
“I can’t explain.”
Nirei stared down at his desk with a nervous smile. If they found out what would he even say? This isn’t at all a good excuse but he can’t think of one, how does he explain him getting shorter? This was really starting to stress him out.
“Nirei-kun, you have two choices, okay?” Suo starts in a kind voice.
He looks at him with confusion, but wants to hear what he’s has to say.
When Suo sees that Nirei is listening, he begins again.
“Tell us why you are even tinier than you were before, or go to sleep.”
Nirei ignores the jab at his height, and he thinks about it. He literally has no excuse for being shorter than he was before. but if he goes to sleep, then he might wake up hours later and be a mouse or something. Both of these options were bad.
“What if i don’t wanna do either?”
Suo and Sakura both stare at him, before Suo smiles wider, looking far too calm.
“We’ll pick for you.”
At that, Nirei shudders. But he genuinely didn’t know what to do, both of these options were bad.
“..um. Can you pick for me?”
He looked down and tapped his finger repeatedly against the desk. If they picked the first one, he’d have to tell them part of the truth. If they picked the second one, he might risk waking up a different thing. Then again, if he sleeps he might wake up a boy again!
Actually.. he might be able to get out of this.
Although, he might have to tell someone his secret.