High & Low ~The story of SWORD~

Act 10:Lower than High

Sometimes, the higher we aim to reach, the further we fall. No matter how hard we try to hold onto our place, life has a way of knocking us down. But even at the lowest point, perhaps there's something we're meant to learn.

Kasumi had reached that low point in her life. She was trapped in a space where she couldn't rise any higher, and the only direction left for her to go was down. Days passed, and she remained hidden in the Heaven Club, trying to escape her reality. Yet Rocky, seeing her trapped in this place, knew it wasn't where she belonged. She might blend into Heaven with her feminine looks, but he could see there was more to her than this life.

"Come with me," Rocky said, urging her to follow him. He took her to a private spa owned by one of his friends. It was a place where women were pampered—hairstyling, makeup, all the works—but Rocky had a different plan in mind for Kasumi.

"I could keep you hidden here in the club, but this isn't the right place for you," Rocky said as they settled into the spa's quiet atmosphere. "Will you follow me?"

Kasumi, her curiosity piqued, nodded. "Alright, I'll trust you," she replied.

Rocky smirked as he watched her. "Let's start by getting rid of those contacts. Don't tell me you've been pretending to have purple eyes?" he teased.

Kasumi hesitated but, remembering her promise, she pulled off the contacts and threw them away, her dark brown eyes now visible. They were a unique shade, one she hadn't fully appreciated before. She looked at herself in the mirror, unsure about the change.

"See, you already look different," Rocky said, examining her carefully. "Kasumi, if you keep pretending to be someone you're not, you'll eventually become that person." He glanced at her hair. "Don't tell me you have curly hair?"

Kasumi shook her head. "My hair is straight, but the color's natural," she explained.

Rocky spoke to the spa owner about the transformation he had in mind. They settled on a short, layered haircut with a right-side bang. The color would be a light ash blonde with highlights. Hours passed as they worked to get the perfect look, but when it was done, Kasumi barely recognized herself. The haircut had thinned out her face, and she looked almost unrecognizable.

She gazed at herself in the mirror, buzzing with disbelief. "What now?" she asked, turning to Rocky.

"We're not done yet," he replied. "No more makeup. You don't need it. And we'll lighten your skin a little."

A few hours later, the transformation was complete. Kasumi looked like a completely different person. With no heels on, even her height was different—her posture had changed, and she looked even more like someone else now. Rocky handed her a set of casual clothes: jeans, a black shirt, and some running shoes. But there was more—he included a chest corset and men's underwear.

"Without the bra, your chest is almost flat. If you wear the corset, you'll look completely flat. The underwear will give you the look of having... male parts," Rocky explained. "For now, you need to pose as a boy. It's the safest option. Go try these on."

Kasumi stepped into the changing room and emerged moments later, her face full of confusion. The transformation was stark. She looked like a handsome young man—nothing about her said she was Kasumi anymore.

"I look like someone else!" she exclaimed, still uncertain about the drastic changes.

Rocky waved her over to a rucksack. "There are more clothes, an ID card, and a phone in there. If you can drop the last two parts of your act, no one will recognize you."