"Hey~ Miki-san, are you listening? I signed us up for the 'Idol Birth' audition on June 10th, okay?"

"Bwaaah... No way... I don't wanna~ I'm still not ready to go out in public looking like this~"

"It's fine! You've had nine whole months of special training. It's about time we saw the results, isn't it!"

"If it's that, aren't there other ways..."

Glare.

Startle.

I-it's no use. When Midori-san glares at me, I absolutely can't defy her.

"Augh... Do I really have to?"

"Yup♪"

Midori-san can give a sweet smile while having such scary eyes...

"Here's the contents of the audition. Look—singing, a swimsuit judging, and dancing. All things you're perfectly ready for, right? They're exactly what we've been practicing."

Ugh... Do I seriously have no choice but to do this? Isn't there some way I can get out of it...

Shiver shiver.

Ugh, I've got the chills.

It's not that the car's air conditioning is too strong or anything.

That night, for the first time in a long time, I caught a cold and came down with a fever. It's surely because I'd been walking around in a short skirt during the day. Urgh, my throat is fiercely sore. I'll just go to bed early today.

* * *

Click.

How long had it been since I'd slipped into bed? I heard the sound of the door opening.

"Mi~ki. Oh my, you've already gone to sleep? Maybe you got tired from tennis?"

It's Midori... I'm feeling unwell, so I'll just pretend to be asleep...

Ah, my head is fuzzy. And just like that, I fell back into a deep sleep.

* * *

Beep, beep, be-be-be-beep...

Mercilessly, the alarm clock's electronic sound rang out.

Mmm... Morning already? If I leave it, this alarm type just keeps beeping "how about this?!" so I reluctantly reached out and turned off the main switch. Argh... my throat hurts way more than yesterday... It must be awfully swollen...

"Good morning, Miki. You went to bed awfully early last night."

As I opened my mouth wide in front of the bathroom mirror to peer into the back of my throat, a bright voice came from behind.

"Argh... Mi-dori. Mor-ning?!"

"Hold on. What's wrong? Your voice... sounds just like a boy's."

After saying that, Midori-san gasped, put her hand to her mouth, and stepped back.

"N-no way..."

"Ah. This is..."

Wait a sec. That's right—this could be useful!

"Urgh... the drug's effect might've worn off... and I might've turned back into a guy..."

"Wh-what did you say!"

"I'm feeling awful, so I'm gonna go home and have my dad check up on me~"

"U-understood. Let's have Takase-san take you. I'm worried, so I'll come with you."

* * *

And so, for the first time in half a year, I ended up heading home.

"I'm home~"

"Oh my, Miki. What's wrong? Your face is all red. Do you have a fever?"

Just as you'd expect of a mother—she can tell her child's health in an instant.

"And this must be Midori-san? Goodness, goodness, you've become even more beautiful in the time I haven't seen you."

"Oh, Auntie, stop it. Hohoho."

"Mom, I don't feel good, I'd like to lie down..."

"Oh dear, come inside quickly. You too, Midori-san."

"Hey, where's Dad?"

"He's on a business trip to Osaka today. But it's just a day trip, so I think he'll be back around eleven."

Lucky♪

"Midori, did you hear? Dad's coming back late tonight, so I'll let you know the results tomorrow."

"Are you okay? Should I stay over and take care of you?"

"I-I'm fine. Mom's here, too."

"I see. Well then, I'll take my leave now. Take care."

"Oh, Midori-san, I'll brew some black tea—please, do have some before you go."

"Ah, no. Please don't trouble yourself. Besides, I have the car waiting."

And so, it seems I can relax away from Midori-san for the first time in a while! Plus, the cold medicine I took is starting to work, making me sleepy. Fuwah…

* * *

Late that night, Dad came home from his business trip.

"I hear Miki's come home?"

"Yes, it seems she's caught a cold. Her fever's at 38 degrees, too."

"Huh, that's rare. Miki having a fever."

"Well, let me go check up on her a bit."

I feel like Dad's been somewhat gentler ever since I became a girl.

"Miki, are you awake?"

"Ugh, yeah."

"I hear you have a fever?"

"Yeah."

"A cold maybe? How's your throat?"

"Yeah, it really hurts when I swallow."

"Maybe your tonsils are swollen? Come on, let me take a look."

"Yeah. Aaaaah—"