It was really strange to act like a female.
No matter how much I had turned into a woman’s body, I was still a guy at heart.
Sure, I got reckless under the influence of alcohol, but come on, I’m still a man.
Yet here I was, fawning over a guy, letting out strange moans, and genuinely enjoying it…
This was a big problem.
“Why am I suddenly like this…?”
I squeezed my head in frustration while twirling a pillow with my legs.
“When I was getting it on, I didn’t shake this much…”
No matter how I thought about it, this was not right.
There had definitely been worse things before, but back then, it didn’t feel as intense. Suddenly, it was all so serious!
I was really hit hard with reality.
It’s been more than half a year since what was between my legs vanished, yet still…
“To begin with, he probably doesn’t even like me that much…”
The Commander treats me well, but that doesn’t confirm he has feelings for me.
I was basically spiraling down my own weird thoughts, and my mind was probably losing it.
“I don’t even know his name…”
I didn’t know the Commander’s name.
Despite all the craziness, I still hadn’t learned his real name.
I should have known it by now…
■■■
The Commander’s name was always blurry, as if it were pixelated. When I heard it, it was drowned out by noise and wouldn’t stick.
“…Why is that?”
I couldn’t understand.
Aside from becoming Lindera, there shouldn’t have been any blockages in that regard.
I always puzzled over why I couldn’t grasp the Commander’s name.
Of course, I hadn’t thought about it all the time since becoming Lindera… Just a nagging curiosity.
“Essentially, I slept with a guy I don’t even know the name of…”
This was ridiculous in its own right.
Not knowing someone’s name wasn’t a major problem, right?
Usually, I was just called by my title, “Commander,” and everyone else did the same.
I wanted to know his name, but if it wasn’t meant to be, then it just wasn’t happening.
There was no way to solve it without knowing why.
-Ding!
“…?”
Lying on the bed, still fiddling with the pillow between my thighs, suddenly an alert popped up from my phone.
It was dinner time, and since most messages don’t come during dinner, I was puzzled as I grabbed my phone.
-Sounds like we should go on a date soon.
“…What?”
*
“…….”
It wasn’t even a promised meeting place.
It was just, “Let’s meet at a café.”
Ah, so that’s what counts as a promise…
Anyway.
“When are you coming…?”
I wasn’t even in my usual suit.
I had worn one of the outfits I purchased with my co-workers, waiting for the Commander.
I wasn’t inside the café but hanging out at a corner in the ship’s lobby where the café was.
Why wasn’t he coming out when he was the one who suggested meeting here?
I purposely arrived 20 minutes early, but shouldn’t I have been waiting even earlier than the scheduled time?
“Tsk…”
Honestly, I felt a bit of pressure to go out, wrestling with various thoughts…
But he would be more comfortable if I showed up.
That’s why I came out.
“So when are you coming…?”
I felt awkward enough wearing clothes I usually never donned.
I felt like every agent passing by was staring at me, making it even more uncomfortable.
Of course, they probably weren’t really paying me any mind.
“…This is so awkward.”
I genuinely never thought I’d be wearing a dress in my life.
While I did wear one before, this was the first time I wore one properly outside, so I was a bit flustered as I waited…
“Did you wait long?”
“I just… arrived.”
Finally, the latecomer showed up.
Sure, he arrived right on time, but still, he was a latecomer.
“Let’s go in.”
“Yes…”
“Actually, I shouldn’t have done it this way… I’m really sorry.”
“…It’s alright. It’s connected to the Commander’s mother.”
I was a bit surprised when I read the Commander’s text, but it wasn’t a huge issue.
He merely got confused and sent a strange text.
The inquiry was about how his mother was doing nowadays, even asking about how I was doing…
Though we weren’t actually dating, he had set it up that way, making it totally understandable.
Then the conversation flowed, and he accidentally searched for photos or evidence.
Well, after all that, it concluded we should go on a date.
So, here I was, meeting him at the café.
“You’ve been working hard because of me.”
“…No, it’s my duty as a Vice Commander.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
“…Yes.”
It felt a bit off, but I let it slide for now.
What mattered was not the thoughts swirling in my head but the situation the Commander was in.
With that, we entered the café and settled down.
Of course, we ordered coffee… Just the usual mundane stuff.
“So, what do you think we should do?”
“Um…”
The precise purpose of today’s meeting was a discussion.
Nothing extravagant, just a chat about what we should show to the Commander’s mother.
“I think… just taking a picture of us sitting here would be fine. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Hmm…”
Honestly, not every date had to be extravagant when dating.
Even if we were pretending to be lovers, it was better to appear casual in front of his mother, right?
After all, there were couples in cafés chatting away… right?
“Are you against it?”
“No, that’s not it… I just thought we might need something more grand.”
“Your suggestion is fine, but it might be better to show her a light-hearted, everyday side.”
“That’s true…”
In reality, it would lead to this being a fake date, yet I was actually going to meet the Commander’s mother.
Nothing was dramatically changing at this point, and I wasn’t thinking differently.
It was just like before… Simple as that.
“Is something good happening?”
“Y-Yeah?”
“Your lips are curving up.”
“Is that so…?”
I had no idea I was doing that.
Honestly, my state of mind seemed serious these days.
How could I be so affected by just a casual conversation?
I was definitely acting weird… too weird.
Yet, my conversation partner was oblivious to it all.
“By the way, it feels a bit odd to send just one.”
“?”
“How about taking a picture here in the café and another one somewhere else?”
“Um… If that’s what the Commander wants…”
Maybe he didn’t want his mother worrying about him.
I personally thought one would be fine, but if he wanted to do another, then why not.
Of course, I wasn’t opposed; I actually liked the idea.
I felt a bit guilty for enjoying this, but what could I do?
“Then how about we take some pictures here for a bit and head to a restaurant for dinner?”
“…As you wish, Commander…”
I never expected him to make the offer so readily.
He was the type who usually waited for someone to suggest things.
Although, these days, it felt like he was different.
Anyway… that settled it.
It was a bit sudden, but at least we reached a resolution, right?
Good is good, right?
Both the Commander and I…
*
After taking some goofy pictures in the café and parting ways for a bit, I met the Commander again in the evening.
There was nothing particularly different; we simply hopped into a car and drove into the area to the restaurant.
“…….”
By the way, does he even notice?
Is he just oblivious?
It was the same outfit I wore on the way out, yet nobody said a thing.
Wasn’t he the one who always commented on me just wearing suits… and yet couldn’t tell? That was ridiculous!
I definitely didn’t wear this to look pretty; not at all… not at all!
If he bashed me before, shouldn’t he own up to it now?
“Is there something different?”
“When I came before, there were 6 types of pasta, but now there are 7.”
“…….”
What’s the point here…?
No, maybe it was my outfit that didn’t look good?
After all, Midori and Dolores said it looked fine, and I didn’t think it was ugly myself.
Why couldn’t he pinpoint it?
“…The clothes.”
“…Is there something wrong with my outfit? It seems pretty ordinary and cute to me.”
“It’s just different from the usual.”
While I appreciated the compliment, I wondered if it was what I really wanted to hear.
I hoped to hear something less ambiguous than, “It looks ordinary.”
Surely, he had the common sense to notice something.
That half-hearted smile of his rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.
*
[User: SmallChestIsPrecious] [Title: FkFkFkFk]
That Vice Commander b*tch came out on a date wearing some clothes that highlighted her chest, what the heck???
They’re not even dating, and yet, geez…
Anyone can tell she’s out here as a woman for a date; what is she thinking, seriously? I’m about to lose it!
[Board Member: KoiTzu Still Doesn’t Get It LMAO]
[PlayParkAwakening When: A LittleDumbYoungWoman]
ㄴ [SmallChestIsPrecious: What am I doing wrong?]
ㄴㄴ [PlayParkAwakening When: As expected, fun isn’t about having to understand.]
[??: But honestly, I think they’ll be speeding things up and getting married soon. I’ve seen it.]
ㄴ [Nonsense No Way]
ㄴㄴ [LOL]
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