I was lying on my bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light over the room. Keiko was beside me, scrolling through her phone like any other normal night.
But tonight wasn’t normal. No, no, no. Tonight, I was still reeling from the world-class plot twist our daughter Rin delivered the other night.
“I still can’t believe Rin has a girlfriend,” I muttered, staring at the ceiling like it was about to answer me.
Keiko chuckled beside me, not even looking up. “Honestly, I was surprised when I saw Chiyori too.”
I squinted at her. “Really? You didn’t look surprised at all. You looked like you already knew, like some fortune teller or anime mom with psychic powers.”
Keiko laughed, finally turning to me. “I’m just not as expressive as you, drama queen.”
“Drama queen? Hey, hey — this drama queen almost had a heart attack, thank you very much. I thought you’d known it all along.”
She chuckled again, and I sighed dramatically. “At least it wasn’t some delinquent bad boy in a leather jacket with a motorcycle and face tattoos. You know… those types.”
Keiko shook her head, laughing. “Why is your imagination so wild? Where do you even come up with these scenarios?”
“I–I was just… worried, okay!” I defended myself. “Our little Rin! I was ready for a punk with a switchblade, not a cute, soft-spoken girl.”
Keiko burst out laughing. “You really need a vacation from your own brain.”
“I swear,” I sighed. “Now I’m worried our Rin’s gonna be the one bullying poor Chiyori.”
That sent Keiko into a full-blown laughing fit. “See! There it is again! Ryusei, sometimes I wish I could climb inside your head just to see the circus playing in there.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay okay…” I rolled over and pulled the blanket up. “Good night.”
“Night, drama queen,” Keiko teased, kissing my cheek.
---
A few days later, February 1st rolled around like a lazy cat. February — the month of my tragic curse. Or miracle? Or… whatever the hell you call being turned into a young woman while having a wife and a teenage daughter. If it’s a tragedy, it’s the kind of tragedy you find in a manga where you’re half-laughing and half-wondering what the author’s smoking.
Anyway, it was the 11th of February — if you guys remember. So I was planning to go back to that place and do pretty much the same things I did before, hoping maybe, just maybe, this whole bizarre mystery would finally end and I could go back to being Ryusei.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if the universe had other plans, but hey — worth a shot, right?
Oh, and speaking of updates, Junpei texted me this morning, proudly announcing that his relationship with Ruka was going strong. They’re officially together now, and as a thank you for introducing them, Junpei invited me and Keiko out for dinner.
A fancy restaurant, no less. And let’s be real — you think I’d say no to free steak? Not a chance.
---
“Congratulations!” we all cheered in unison as we raised our glasses.
“To love!” Junpei shouted, clinking his glass way too hard with Ruka’s. The guy was practically vibrating with excitement. Or maybe it was the energy drink I saw him chugging before we arrived.
“Order whatever you want, guys. Go wild!” Junpei grinned.
I grinned back, “You sure about that?”
He leaned over to me, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Okay, okay — it’s for Ruka only. You and Keiko? Budget cap: 1000 yen (approximately 8$).”
I stared at him like he’d just slapped me with a noodle. “Boo... We’re in a fancy steakhouse, Junpei! 1000 yen buys us a glass of tap water here.”
Junpei grinned sheepishly. “Fine, fine! 4000 yen (approximately 32$), but no more! And no appetizers!”
I smirked, sticking out my hand. “Deal.”
We shook hands like two shady businessmen closing a ridiculous deal, while Keiko watched us like we were a pair of overgrown children.
I leaned over to Keiko. “Babe, you heard the man — 4000 yen budget. Let’s make it count.”
Keiko laughed. “I can live with that.”
Ruka was already scanning the menu, and man — she looked so different. She was smiling, laughing, even snorting at Junpei’s dumb jokes. The girl was absolutely glowing. I almost didn’t recognize her.
“The others still don’t know about you two, right?” I asked, pointing at Ruka and Junpei.
Ruka shook her head. “Not yet. I’ll tell Miko and Aki. Just not now.”
“Fair enough,” I nodded.
But being me — unable to shut my mouth — I added, “You sure you’re not being blackmailed into this? Or hypnotized? Blink twice if you need help.”
Junpei tried to deny it, failed miserably, then gave up and reenacted the whole thing in the middle of the restaurant. People stared. One old man clapped. I died a little inside from secondhand embarrassment.
“Oh my god,” Keiko was wiping tears from her eyes. “I don’t know how you two became friends.”
“I regret it every day,” I said.
“Lies! He loves me!” Junpei declared, putting an arm around me. “Brothers from another mother!”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, trying not to laugh.
The night went on, filled with chaotic joy.
And then — plot twist. Junpei forgot his wallet.
“I swear it was in my pocket!”
“Bro, you have one pocket. And it’s empty,” I pointed out, facepalming so hard I almost knocked over my drink.
“Wait, wait… I think I left it in my gym locker.”
“Do you even go to the gym?”
Junpei scratched his head. “I might’ve been using it as a snack storage, but that’s beside the point.”
In the end, guess who paid?
Yep.
Me.
As we left the restaurant, Junpei gave me a bro hug. “I owe you one, man.”
“You owe me like a hundred,” I grumbled.
“But it’s true love, bro. You can’t put a price on love!”
I stared at him. “You literally just did. It was 20,000 yen. Don’t forget to pay me ASAP — I’m charging you 10% interest per day if you’re late,” I said to Junpei with the most evil capitalist grin I could manage.
Hearing that, Junpei acted like he just took a sniper shot straight to the heart, dramatically clutching his chest and collapsing onto the table.
“Damnit, you!” I shouted, grabbing his head into a playful headlock. “STOP… OKAY, OKAY!” Junpei yelled, flailing like a fish out of water.
Everyone burst out laughing again.