As gym class came to an end, Nishikata found herself walking out with the girl she had met by her side as she made her way to lunch. 'So, sports bras, going to need to keep wearing those.' She glanced down and became slightly embarrassed. 'The least masculine thing about me is what's going to give me more time to turn back into a boy ... actually, that kinda makes sense ...' She blushed a light shade of pink as she continued thinking. 'It's actually the second least masculine thing about me ... but it's not like I can suppress that while exercising. Which is another thing, using the thing that's changed makes it feel more normal ... which, again, makes sense.'

"So, would you like to eat lunch together?" The girl asked, snapping Nishikata out of her trance.

"Um ..." She placed a hand on her chin as she began thinking about her proposal. 'Well, she did say that she's friends with Takagi-chan, so I could talk to her if I eat lunch with this girl.' She looked at the girl and felt an unusual kinship, and guilt. 'And I like hanging out with her ... but if she finds out that I was a boy ... no, she'll find out anyway eventually, and ... I want to be the one to tell her.' "Hey, can I tell you something?"

"What's up?"

"Well ... it's embarrassing ... like, really embarrassing."

"I ... what's wrong?"

"Well, there's something ... kinda important that I've been ... that I haven't really told you about, and I'd feel bad if I continued to not mention it."

"Oh ... well then ... what is it?"

"Can we ... talk someplace more private?"

They made their way into a side hallway and waited until there weren't many other kids walking through the hall. "Okay, what's eating you?"

"Look ... I know this might seem random, but I've been cursed," Nishikata stated bluntly earning her a surprised look from the girl. "And ... it changed me physically ... like, to an extreme degree."

"Uh ..."

"So I'm not exactly ... who you think I am."

"Oh, that's what you mean." The girl began. "So ... is that why you had trouble in gym today?"

"In a sense."

"And I take it that this is probably what's embarrassing." The girl said as she scratched the back of her head and avoided eye contact. "So ... if I may ask ... what changed exactly?"

"Well ..." Nishikata began to blush as she avoided eye contact. "I ... I've been ..." She took a deep breath and braced herself. "I've been turned into a girl!" She blurted.

The girl in front of her stared at her for a few moments, trying to comprehend Nishikata's words. "Wait ... you ... were turned into a girl?"

"Yup."

"So ... that's opposed to ... being a boy?"

Nishikata nodded. "Yes again."

"... So you used to be a boy."

Nishikata nodded, and the girl slowly turned around and placed a hand against the wall as she began taking deep breaths. "Okay ... wow ... wait," She turned around and looked at her. "A boy was just in the girls' locker room?"

"Not-"

"You pervert!" She exclaimed. "Though ... being in the guys' locker room with a girls body ... I wouldn't really wish that on anyone ... and you did change in the private changing room ... but still, you ... you're actually a boy?!"

Nishikata shook her head. "It's not that simple, I mean I used to be a boy, but I've been turned into a girl inside, and out, mind included, so I didn't ... really feel anything by seeing girls changing."

"Okay ... that's ..." She turned back around and leaned against the wall again as she took more deep breaths. "Okay ... okay," She turned back around and looked at Nishikata. "So ... you wanted me to know this because it'd be creepy if you kept it a secret for too long ... I get that ... and ... okay ... okay ... I am ... grateful that you didn't continue to hide something like this ... I ... um ..."

"I've also only told, like, three of my friends, so if you need time-"

"Sure!" The girl said, almost too enthusiastically. "I mean ... yeah, this ... this is a lot ..."

"I get it," Nishikata said with a sad smile. "It's some very heavy stuff, and I don't blame you if it's too creepy."

"No!" She exclaimed. "I mean ... yeah ... some processing time would be good ... but if you need help ... from another girl, then ... you can always ask me."

"Are you sure?" Nishilkata asked. "I don't want to impose or anything."

"Yeah ... you seem nice, so I wouldn't mind being friends with you."

"Really!?" Nishikata squealed excitedly. "THANK YOU!" She jumped towards the girl and threw her arms around her in a hug. "Thank You! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!"

"Easy there!" The girl said as she raised her hands in defense.

"Oh, right." Nishikata let go of her and tried to regain her composure. "I'm so sorry, I was just ... excited."

"I could tell." The girl said with a smile. "Anyway, I'm Takahashi." She said while offering a hand.

"Nishikata." Nishikata replied as she shook Takahashi's hand, only for her to look at her in borderline shock.

"Nishikata?" She asked, sounding a little concerned. "You wouldn't happen to be the Nishikata-kun that Takagi-chan ... mentioned from time to time, would you?"

"Unless she knows another Nishikata-kun,"

Takahashi continued to look at Nishikata surprised until she was able to form words again. "So ... how long will this last?"

"Could be a week or two if I'm lucky, or if I can't reverse it by then, then it's forever."

"You could end up a girl forever?"

"Yup."

Takahashi continued staring at Nishikata blankly until she shook her head. "I'm ... I'm sorry, this is just ... so much to process,"

"Takagi-chan said the same thing a few days ago so I get it."

"She ... did?"

Nishikata nodded as her lips began to quiver.

"Then ..." Takahashi looked down, then grabbed Nishikata's hands, holding them between the two of them. "I know you said you'll eat with your old friends today, but how about tomorrow you eat with me and my friends?"

Nishikata's eyes lit up as she stopped shaking. "You ... you really mean it?"

"Of course," Takahashi said with a smile. "You're a part of my friend group now ... Nishikata-chan."

Nishikata giggled at the use of the feminine honorific and looked at Takahashi's hands, as a warm sensation began to build inside her chest. "Thanks ... this means a lot to me."

"Well I also need some time to process all this, but I'm glad I could make you happy." She let go of Nishikata's hands and then walked away while still facing her a little. "I'll-wait, are you trying to keep this a secret?"

"People are going to find out soon enough, but I'd rather not straight up advertise it today."

"Got it, see you later then?"

"Okay," Nishikata said with a wave.

As she watched her walk away, Nishikata felt the warm kinship she had felt towards her and let out a blissful sigh. "I ... I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow ... I'll be able to make a few new girlfriends." She stopped as she further contemplated her feelings. 'Takahashi-chan ... why do I feel so differently about you?'

She continued walking as she thought about Takahashi and compared how she felt about her with how she felt about Takagi. 'There's a different feeling, that's for sure, it's not as strong, but ... why do I feel differently about Takahashi-chan?'

She continued making her way down the hall until she bumped into Hamaguchi, who was also heading to lunch. "Hey, Nishikata, real quick, do you still want to eat lunch with us?"

"Of course." Nishikata began. "Though have you told Kimura-kun or Takao-kun?"

"Not yet, Nakai and I haven't said a word to them."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I still want to eat with you guys, lead the way."

"Great," Hamaguchi replied, not sounding too confident.

They began making their way to meet up with the others, but Nishikata couldn't help but notice that Hamaguchi was acting more nervous than usual. "Hey, Hamaguchi-kun? You seem a little on edge."

"Oh, I'm fine." He replied as he looked away. "Perfectly fine."

Nishikata leered at him as he maintained his attempt at composure. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Oh look," Hamaguchi said, trying to change the subject. "There they are."

Nishikata looked ahead to see his friends Kimura, and Takao, who looked as if they were waiting for them.

"Hey! Hamaguchi!" Takao called as both of them looked up to see the pair.

"Hey, glad to see you," Kimura said between bites of his lunch. "By the way, how's-" He froze as he laid eyes on Nishikata.

"So," Takao began with a smile. "Is that your new girlfriend that I keep hearing about?"

Nishikata slowly turned to Hamaguchi with an accusatory expression while Hamaguchi looked terrified. "I'm sorry, your new what?"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Hamaguchi pleaded. "I keep telling ... I mean ..."

"You keep telling who Hamaguchi-kun?"

Hamaguchi looked as if he was about to have a heart attack. "I ... as I've been telling people all day."

"Are you joking!" Nishikata snapped. "All day?"

"Look, I've been telling people that it's not the case-"

"How!?" Nishikata demanded. "We walked together once, how do people think we're a couple?"

Hamaguchi looked to the side and began scratching the back of his head. "Oh, they may or may not have seen us eating ice cream with Mano-san and Nakai yesterday."

"Seriously?!" Nishikata fumed as she walked over to her other friends and took a seat next to Kimura.

Takao rested his chin on his fist and smiled at Nishikata. "So if you're not his girlfriend, then what are you doing here?"

"Um, Takao?" Kimura began. "I don't think you should-"

"Is this the girl you were talking about?" Takao asked as he looked at Kimura. "She's quite the catch for someone like you ... no offense."

"No, it's not her, and you shouldn't ask something like that in front of the person in question."

"Wait," Nishikata stated as she looked at Kimura, then Takao. "What are you talking about?"

"Kimura's got a crush on someone."

"TAKAO!"

"What? It's not like it's her, so it should be fine, right?"

"That's not the point!"

"Well anyway," Takao began as he turned back to Nishikata. "If you're no one's girlfriend, then what brings someone as attractive as you here?"

Nishikata clenched her bag as her anger began building; she knew Takao long enough to know when he was flirting with a girl, and he didn't like it even before, and now it was annoying her even more. "You know Takao-kun, I'm a little hurt that you don't recognize me."

"Recognize you?" Takao asked.

"Oh my ... it really is that, isn't it?" Kimura asked nervously.

'Looks like Kimura-kun's figured it out.' She looked at Takao and leered. "Yeah, I mean we've been friends for a long time, I mean I might look a little different, but I would have thought you would have put the pieces together by now."

"I think I'd remember being friends with someone as hot as you."

Nishikata slammed a hand down on the table as she covered her face with her other hand in embarrassment."Takao-kun, please don't do that."

"What? I'm just trying to compliment-"

"TAKAO!" Kimura interrupted. "I think that's Nishikata."

There was a long awkward silence as Takao just stared at her before shaking his head. "Don't joke like that, Nishikat-"

"Was cursed." Nishikata interrupted. "Remember?"

There was another long awkward silence as everyone started to stare at Takao before he calmly stood up, and walked away, leaving the others to look on in silence.

"I'm ... okay with this outcome," Nihsikata said as she reached into her bag for her lunch, still embarrassed.

"Yeah, but," Kimura began as he tripped over his words. "Have you ... like ..."

"I've been turned into a girl inside and out, my mannerisms have changed, the things I like have changed slightly," She blushed again and started twirling her hair. "And in some instances ... not so slightly."

"Do you still like video games?" Kimura asked.

Nishikata nodded. "Thankfully, though ... they feel a bit more mind-numbing than usual, but that might be because a lot has happened."

"Maybe," Kimura replied. "So ... you planning on keeping this a secret?"

She thought to herself for a moment about how to answer. "Well ... yes and no, I don't really want to openly spread it around, but ... people will notice that a boy is absent from the class and a girl is present and that I can't just go around not using my name." She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes. "That and ... I don't want people to think I'm dating Hamaguchi-kun."

"Gee, thanks," Hamaguchi said sarcastically.

"Oh, I'm sorry, do you want Houjou-chan to think you have a girlfriend?"

"No, I get your point, it's just ..." He blushed ever so slightly and looked away. "You know."

Nishikata's eyes went wide as she looked a little nervous. "Don't ... you're not into me, are you?"

"OF COURSE NOT!" Hamaguchi snapped. "Just a week ago you were a boy and a good friend of mine. Even if we did get together, and that's a very big 'if', it'd be super strange when you change back."

"Speaking of which," Kimura spoke up, trying to change the topic. "How long is this going to last?"

"Well ... if I can't find a way to break the curse in time ... then forever."

There was another moment of silence where Kimura and Hamaguchi exchanged a concerned look. "So ... how long is too long?"

"Until I grow accustomed to this body." She sighed and dropped her head. "Which will happen whether I want it to or not."

"Oh ... well ..." He let out a sigh. "I'm sorry."

Nishikata looked at him for a second before letting out a small laugh. "You don't have to apologize, this isn't even your fault."

"Well ... even if you do end up a girl forever, you'll still be our friend."

Nishikata paused as her heart skipped a beat. "What did you say?"

Kimura blushed a little as he avoided eye contact. "I said you'll still be our friend, even if you become a permanent girl."

Nishikata stared at him in shock for a moment before smiling and looking away with a slight blush. "Thanks, Kimura-kun ... that ... means a lot."

"Happy to help." He picked his lunch back up. "Now let's eat before our lunch get's cold."

"Yeah, good idea." Nishikata opened her bag and pulled out her lunch as she felt a warm sensation in her chest once again. 'He's so nice ...' She let out a sigh as she opened her lunch and began eating it. 'Even Kimura-kun, huh? Guess I just feel differently about everyone now. And I know he said we'll all still be friends, but if I don't reverse this, then there's no way things will get back to normal ... though ... it wouldn't be the end of the world, right?'