The Reve - Part 1

Chapter 9: Cool World

The spring sky was raining in the bay area of Kamakura. It has been raining almost every day since the beginning of April. Waking up from her slumber, Hyori had trouble climbing out of her bed. Her eyes were barely open and she had prominent bags under her eyes.

Usually, they were barely noticeable. At the moment, fatigue and emotional exhaustion were taking a toll on her. She had been transferred to another high school. She wanted to erase the past year. This time, she didn't want creepy attention for once in her teen life.

She had an epiphany after mourning during the spring break. She would have none of her problems if she weren't a girl. She was scared and her mind kept coming back to the same conclusion. She had no proof that there weren't bullies in her next school and couldn't change schools yearly.

The horror stories she read online depicted gloomier alternatives. She couldn't risk being targeted by teachers this time around. Scrolling down her social media feed, she stopped on a post that could turn her life around.

The short clip had the tag 'butch' and she tapped on it. Under her eyes, hundreds of short clips showcased girls switching dress codes with more or less success. Most of them were petite and their gestures undid the charm. She exited the social application as she was feeling parched.

Making a detour by the bathroom, she looked at her face and decided to use one of her overnight beauty masks. Infused with red algae, green tea, rice, a milky serum and sprinkles of a beauty quirk, the single-use face mask held to her face while she slept and provided a nice cooling sensation.

After dozens at least an hour, her skin was fully hydrated and velvety to the touch. Hyori intended to nap before she had to get ready for the evening. The world didn't stop because she was bullied and she still had to host.

While her guest slept, she opened her social media again without thinking. On top of her recommendations was a short clip of a girl, or maybe a young woman, changing from an ordinary girl to a handsome salaryman.

Handsome wasn't good enough. The term 'fine' was more appropriate. Muse used this word to describe the male lead of the dramas Bliss watched. It wasn't just the outfit. The mannerisms also were attractive. She wasn't petite and even looked full in some places. She also had long hair.

But once she layered her clothes, she was... She was Hyori's first crush. The violet couldn't breathe for a moment and locked her phone. She never felt like that. It was intense and her heart was beating fast. She might need to calm down before looking again.

Armed with a new-found courage, she left the hotel early in the morning to cycle towards the nearest specialised sports retailer. She had found what she was looking for in the gymnastics section and hurried towards the school uniforms retailer to purchase the desired item.

Rushing inside her bedroom after her shopping spree, she hastily tried a binder and compression pants under an indoor Yukata dress. The difference was notable with how curveless she looked. Her slim waist aside, she looked... Unremarkable.

She tried her new uniform to ensure everything was in order. Her hair was falling around her armpits and she thought it clashed with the outfit. Still, she didn't want to cut it again.

Instead, she brushed her tresses backwards to form a bun at the base of her head. Then, she stepped in front of the mirror again to evaluate the results. The style made her head look bigger now that the hair on the front wasn't contouring her face anymore.

Hyori barely slept the night before attending her new school. During the commute, she clutched her cycle handlebars in apprehension. Her palms were sweating when she walked into her classroom. She half expected teachers or the school's administrative agents to pin her for how she dressed.