Content Warning: Verde’s Doohickey 2.0: Sensational Summer Romp contains content that some readers might find disturbing, triggering, or uncomfortable. This includes sexually explicit activities, dubious consent, strong language, hateful language and slurs, and incestuous activities. Reader discretion is advised.
Verde’s Doohickey 2.0: Sensational Summer Romp
July 5th – From Nippon With Love
Part 1: The Hunt for Revolution
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 10:32 JST (Japan Standard Time)
Location: Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
The Tokyo metro system ran as smoothly and swiftly as always, connecting millions of people across humanity’s largest city, servicing them every day. Despite being the world-class however, there were always logistical challenges, with trains often being cramped or at max capacity, with people struggling to snag a seat as the train zoomed about. While most were polite, there was always one weirdo in about every train car. An inevitability for any cluster of dozens of people. However, the weirdos were rarely as animated as they were in one train line zooming through Shinagawa City.
They were a pair of high schoolers, looked to be in their final year, each wearing different school uniforms. One man, tall and athletic, his biceps prominent through his short-sleeved shirt as he gripped a handle, his hair freshly trimmed. He was handsome, and one did not even need to ask if he played sports, but which one. And one woman, her frame short and mousy, a bit overweight, with long braided hair that rested on her shoulders, a face that looked like it should have a pair of glasses on it. Her face was adorned with freckles, and even in a standard-looking summer uniform, she managed to look frumpy.
Their appearances were on the more mundane side of things, but what wasn’t was the words that came out of their mouth as they spoke Spanish. Fluent Latin American Spanish, specifically Mexican.
Mousy Girl: “[We can’t keep up this cat and mouse crap, we need to think of something different!]”
Sporty Boy: “[I know Ken, but we’re dealing with a serial body thief! They can be anywhere or anyone!]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[You don’t need to remind me, Elly, I know! But it’s been four days, and we haven’t found anything, we’ve just lost more! There has to be some way to track this bastard!]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[I know you don’t want to, but we need to call Verde. Maybe she’ll be willing to lend us a hand…]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Eh, the worst thing she can do is yell at us some more. Give her a ring.]”
Pulling out a budget smartphone from her pocket, Elly in the body of this sporty boy dialed Verde’s private number, hoping that she would pick up, crossing her fingers. Seconds later, she was met with a vaguely familiar voice, speaking in English.
Verde(Dia): “Heeeey~! What’s good y’all~!”
From the first word, it was clear that Verde in Dia’s body was high like a bird. Still, not dissuaded, Elly(Sporty Boy) turned on the speaker and talked to her, still speaking Spanish.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Verde, it’s Ken and Elly. Please, we need your help. We have confirmed that the VD 2.0 has been stolen by someone calling themselves Revolution. They appear to be a well-connected individual tied to a larger organization. We have not been able to confirm what their broader goals are, but we believe they aspire to stir chaos above all else. We are at DEFCON 3. Requesting immediate assistance.]”
The length of time between Elly(Sporty Boy)’s words and Verde(Dia)’s response felt like a small eternity, but she eventually replied, switching her language over to Spanish.
Verde(Dia): “[Whoa. Say that again, but real slow-like. The brain ain’t listening too good today, man.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Verde, please help us! The VD 2.0 has been stolen, and we can’t get back to our bodies! We don’t know where it is, but Tokyo, nay, the WHOLE WORLD is in great danger!]”
Verde(Dia): “[Cool! Wish I was there!]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Verde, hand over the phone to Abigale or Urabe. PLEASE!]”
Verde(Dia): “[Abigale’s busy fucking Reyn… and Urabe’s flying. I think. I forget who’s who… who are you again? I think I’m Dia?]”
As frustration between the couple grew, Ken(Mousy Girl) grabbed the phone and switched back to English, hoping that Verde would understand him better in her native tongue.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “No, you’re Verde! Look, we almost DIED last night! I was taken in by some thugs who hooked me up to a fucking machine all night long, and I don’t know how much longer I could have gone until Elly came in and bashed their heads in with her baseball bat! Do you want our blood on your hands woman? Do you?”
Verde(Dia): “…Que? You? Yeah! That does sound like a YOU problem!”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “Forget it, she’s useless to us right now. …Well just need to handle this on our own.”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “HOW?”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “Ken, we have gotten out of tricky situations before. Do you remember the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese merger we helped orchestrate on commission?”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “…That only worked because you laced their drinks with that seahorse shit!”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[It was actually LSD that I got from a triad member.]”
As Elly(Sporty Boy) switched back to Spanish, Ken(Mousy Girl) calmed down a smidgen.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Sorry about that. My asshole’s still sore from that vibrator, and my nipples are…]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[We already relieved ourselves once this morning. We’re not doing it again.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[I’m just glad both of these bodies are 18-years-old.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Think, if we were Revolution, where would we go? They called themself a master of chaos, and said something about spreading the joy of swapping around the world, swapping a lot of people.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[A Shibuya Scramble swap sounds like the most obvious thing…]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[That was my first guess, but think about it more deeply. They want to swap the world, and while the Scramble is a major tourist destination, it’s a long trek from there to the world. …Check that thread again, where was the last reported swapping?]”
Pulling his phone out of his skirt pocket, Ken(Mousy Girl) refreshed a basic looking anonymous message board, spending a minute scrolling past the replied before seeing someone post a photo from Ota City.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Haneda Airport! Revolution must be trying to swap people before they board planes! They’re probably planning on causing their ‘profound chaos’ before fleeing the country!]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[I was afraid of that! C’mon, the next stop’s in a minute, let’s make a transfer!]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[H-Hey, don’t forget to call Osamu, he’s still got our bodies in that van!]”
Part 2: Revolution at the Airport
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 11:11 JST (Japan Standard Time)
Location: Haneda Airport, Terminal 3, Tokyo, Japan
As well traveled business people, Haneda Airport was a familiar sight for Ken and Elly. A well laid out, organized, spacious, and overall pleasant airport by all accounts. Like all major airports, it required a great deal of walking up and down its myriad levels to get to wherever they wanted to be. However, the plentiful shops full of treats and essentials, with the Edo recreation area being a particular delight, as gimmicky as it may be, gave it a certain charm, and something interesting to look at, while schlepping about. It was a familiar sight as part of a familiar trip… and that’s why they could tell something was wrong the moment they stepped off the train.
People were running, screaming, tackling others, throwing them against walls as they demanded answers. Their words were loud and coarse, overpowered by ambient noise, but the word “body,” karada, kept being said, spoken by people young and old, fit and frail, and this was just the entrance, just the people trying to escape.
Still in the bodies of Japanese teenagers, and still speaking Spanish to disguise their words, Ken and Elly ran out of the train and into Terminal 3, the international terminal, hoping they weren’t too late.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Shit! It’s already started! Keep your phone close by and texts open. If you see anything, tell me and I’ll find you.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[You sure the tracking app will work here?]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[No. But what other choice do we have?]”
The second floor for check-ins was an absolute zoo, with people scared, confused, crying, and fighting while staff desperately tried to calm them down. Some people fled, seemingly after their real body. While others just stood back, unsure what to do as the rampant chaos played out before them. It was a true testament of how people reacted to disaster, the heroes and cowards showing their true colors, but this was not the time to gawk.
Without words, Ken(Mousy Girl) and Elly(Sporty Boy) went up the stairs. Elly(Sporty Boy) leapt two steps with a single stride as she hoofed it up to the third floor, leaving Ken(Mousy Girl) to explore floor four. Floor three, the departure floor, was far in a way the largest one, with over a dozen different gates and countless places where this Revolution person could hide themselves. While most people she sprinted past were Japanese, there were people of every shade filtering through. Professionals, vacationers, families, all of their lives at risk of ruination if this dastard were was allowed to do as they pleased.
Yet, how could Elly(Sporty Boy) even hope to find this person? They could be literally anyone. They could be the skinny blonde weeaboo who was taking photos of airport shops. That tall Nigerian businessman who looked incredibly jet-lagged. Or any number of moms who were willing to pay the weekend premium to start a family vacation.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Think Elly, THINK! This motherfucker has to be somewhere. Process of elimination, they’re crazy, they don’t know I’m here, so they would probably be causing chaos. Follow the chaos and I’ll—]”
???: “[You’ll find me, is that right?]”
The voice of a young woman pierced Elly(Sport Boy)’s ears, but she wasn’t speaking Japanese. No. Instead, she was speaking… Ukrainian?
Turning around, Elly(Sporty Boy) saw a Japanese woman, late 20s, with short brownish hair. A face mask covered her mouth, sunglasses obscured her eyes, and she was wearing black shorts, a black jacket, and a white tank top with a disc logo on it. It was not the body that Revolution had worn during their last encounter, at least… it did not seem like that, Elly’s mind flashing back to the tall figure in a gas mask who fled the scene when she went to rescue Ken last night. It was not what she expected… but she also felt like a moron for thinking that this Revolution character would be in any way subtle.
Elly switched over to Ukrainian before speaking, finding the words to sound surreal when coming out of her current body.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Revolution, I presume.]”
???: “[Yes. Katherine Flare, I presume?]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Actually, it’s Elly. I was in Kathy’s body when this all started.]”
Revolution scoffed at Elly(Sporty Boy)’s reaction, rolling their eyes with such exaggeration that she could tell through the sunglasses.
Revolution: “[Come with me, I would like to discuss some things with you.]”
After saying those words, Revolution turned to a deserted café, all staff gone, presumably having been swapped or fled. It was a small storefront, out of the way, and Revolution made it even more isolated by pressing a lowering a solid metal shutter. A bit excessive for a shop with such limited inventory, but it both gave them privacy and filtered out the noise. Revolution sat down, ignoring the pastries and sweets on display, likely not wanting to expose their face even to eat. After checking her surroundings, looking for any obvious weapons, Elly(Sporty Boy) sat down across from them.
Revolution: “[You had a device that could change the very fabric of the world. A device that could replace leaders, end wars, bring an end to the ills of society as the most vile people running the scenes ‘suddenly’ chose to end their lives. You could destroy the barriers of sex, age, and race by initiating a great shift in society as we know it. Yet you decided to use this thing for what? For your own personal gains? To swap bodies with your partner and change your sex? For what purpose could an elite like yourself have to engage in this? Don’t you have enough? No, I suppose not. You would not be owners of a billion yen company if that was the case, now would you, Missus Flare?]”
The dramatic flair of this person’s words transcended language and could be seen in how they sat, leaning forward, hands clenched, speaking like they had done three drafts of this speech before actually talking to her. Elly had seen people like this before, and while she was not eager to entertain them, she composed herself nevertheless.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[I can see you are one of those ‘why aren’t you saving the world’ types. Ken and I do our part. We try to give away our wealth to local and good causes, and have made it a point to always treat our employees well, to share our wealth. But there is nothing wrong with being a millionaire. A billionaire? That’s another matter. And we used the device to help us understand each other, to further our love. We used it so I could see what it is like to be a man, and he could see what it’s like to be a woman. To see what it’s like to be a different race. What sex is like with a different form. Are those not exactly some of the barriers you were talking about?]”
Revolution: “[I suppose I should have added class as a qualifier. Rich people like you may as well be a different species as far as I am concerned, and with this device, I can erase millionaires as well as billionaires. Oh, what a wonderful world that would be. Just people, no longer tied to their material form, no longer tied to personal property, just valued for their mind, for their personhood. But you would never allow that to happen, would you?]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Oh, how admirable such idealism can be. Look, Ken and I have had this for a single month, and we did not produce it ourselves. It was given to us by someone with immense power. They see the world at a higher level than you or I, and I doubt they have not considered the same thing. Yes, the pursuit of an equitable world on all fronts is an incredible concept, but far from an inevitable outcome. Uprisings founded on the greatest of intentions can lose their ideals within a mere change of leadership, and in attempting to create a new world, you could just create a less fair version of the world we already have. Change is necessary, but if it happens too fast, if the populace is not behind you, then failure will follow. You have already trampled on lives with all of this careless swapping, and how many of them do you think you’ve improved? Aside from your own, of course.]”
Despite being just a few minutes into the conversation, Revolution’s Stoic demeanor began to falter, showing cracks in their composure even with their face obscured. As if to hide these cracks, they stood up and paced back and forth.
Revolution: “[N-No, if society collapses, its sins shall perish as well, the Great Revolution shall be one where all barriers and walls are shattered. If you want to change something, you need to do it with immense force, you need to break things, or else the cycle will repeat. And if it means saving the next millennium of humanity, I am willing to break anything! This is the truth I have seen, and I shall stop at nothing to make this world, to free the masses from the confides of their lives, and—]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Do you have any specifics, or just these grand vagaries? Because that is not a plan. It’s barely even a concept. Tell me, have you considered the economic model of this society? How are people going to do physically demanding jobs when in bodies too frail to lift their hammers? How will schools accommodate people from all age groups as they need education? Society is a series of systems working together and disrupting them so drastically will risk demolishing your nation’s supply chain, starving your people. Grand change sounds nice, and I believe humans should always strive for improvement, for making a more equitable world. But forcing everybody to give up their bodies at random is not going to work, and you would know that… if you weren’t just some kid. If I were to guess… you’re 14-years-old.]”
During that that verbal dressing down, Revolution had begun leaning on the counter, staring away from Elly(Sporty Boy) and at the wall. Only once she was done, they turned around, sunglasses off, a look of dread lingering in their eyes.
Revolution: “[H-How did you—]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[You ‘sounded’ like a kid, and that’s how I knew you were one. I’m a mother. And while I don’t get to spend nearly as much time as I want with my girls, this is like a sixth sense for me.]”
Revolution: “[M-My age does not matter! Age is a mere social construct. With my awareness and—]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Chuunibyou! That’s the word! You’re a chuunibyou, aren’t you?]”
Shaking in their shoes, Revolution ripped off their face mask and slammed their hands on the table Elly(Sporty Boy) was sitting at.
Revolution: “[I am NOT a chuunibyou! I am a brilliant teenager, smartest in my class, and I have already been able to achieve so much that I—]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Achieve? You just ruined hundreds of people’s lives! And while age is a social construct, in a sense, wisdom is not. Experience is not. You have not been in the real world long enough to see how it works, yet you think that you know all the answers. You have read the first chapter and think you know how the next twenty go, but you don’t. Nobody does.]”
Revolution stared at Elly as she casually laid back in the body of a sporty boy, looking casual, composed, and wise beyond the years painted on her face. Despite being in a body roughly a decade older, Revolution’s face was red with frustration, struggling to articulate a response as they clenched their teeth. Seven seconds they spent stewing in this rage before they hung down their head, a single tear rolling down their small nose. Their grasp over the Ukrainian language crumbled as they entered an emotionally charged state, reverting back to their native Japanese.
Revolution: “[D-Damn it! All I wanted to do was achieve my destiny, to become somebody, make the world a better place, and, and, and, and—]”
As Revolution’s facade as an enigmatic mastermind shattered, they revealed themself to be who they were inside. Just some kid in over their head, just now realizing the magnitude of their failures. They were on the precipice of a breakdown, of letting all of their frustration overflow, when Elly(Sporty Boy) grabbed them, holding their sobbing face against her chest, wrapping her arms around their back.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[You screwed up. Big time. You were in over your head. But when we make problems, you know what we do? We fix them. And we are going to fix this. On that device, every single log is recorded. Everybody swapped is recorded, and so long as they haven’t gone too far, we can swap them back, one by one, and make things right. Hand me the device, and we can start to make things right again. Okay?]”
Revolution: “[…You said you were a mother? I wish I had a mother like you. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so much of a fuck-up.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Heh. Hate to say this, but two kid is plenty for me. …Though, I would like to know your real name. Revolution is a bit ‘much,’ you know.]”
Revolution paused, about to respond, before holding their tongue, looking down at their person, at their chest in particular, before looking away. Instead, they reached into their shorts and pulled out the VD 2.0, handing it to Elly(Sporty Boy). She looked at it with immense relief. A journey of 100 hours had finally come to its end, and she could go back to being herself, go back home.
Revolution: “[I’m sorry. For everything. Just tell me what I should do and I could—]”
As their heartfelt scene reached its natural conclusion, the metal shutter of this café was struck, producing a loud banging noise paired with the shout of a young woman speaking Spanish. It was muffled, but there was realistically only one person it could belong to.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Elly! You in there? The fourth and fifth floors were a bust.]”
From the tone of her husband’s voice, Elly(Sporty Boy) could tell that nothing was wrong, and promptly opened up the shutter, scootching him in before shutting it behind him. Ken, still in the body of the mousy girl, looked like he had just run a marathon, was out of breath, and had a layer of sweat across his face.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Could you tie my hair in a ponytail or something? I’m sick of these braids smacking me in the face when I run.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Sure thing, Mahal Ko.]”
Following that confirmation in Japanese, Ken(Mousy Girl) sat in a chair as he recovered, panting like a dog. Seeing how fatigued he was, Revolution placed a bottle of lukewarm water in front of him. Ken(Mousy Girl) looked up at the sketchy looking person before him, took a sip, and then started asking questions.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[So, you’re our target, I take it?]”
Revolution: “[Yes. I must apologize. I thought I could change the world but really I—]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[What’s your name?]”
Revolution: “[R-Revolution?]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[I said your name, not your ‘screen name.’ How old is this kid?]”
Ken(Mousy Girl) looked up at his wife as she tried to arrange his frizzy hair into something manageable, and she did not hold her tongue.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Fourteen. They wanted to change the world, but didn’t know enough to do anything but make a mess. And since I have the device now, we can make things right.]”
Upon hearing these words, Ken(Mousy Girl) spat out his water, nearly choking on it.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Hold up, so a 14-year-old hooked me up to a fucking machine and streamed it on the internet?]”
Revolution: “[I didn’t have any part in that! They were my sister’s friends, and they’re a bunch of ‘degenerates!’]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Sister? You didn’t tell me about that. I thought you just snagged it from a taxi.]”
Revolution: “[I don’t know anything about a taxi. I only came into contact with the device after my sister showed it to me. My sister is a brilliant scientist, but a bit of a paranoid nut. I’m not sure how she learned about the device, but she stole it from some maid café in Akiba. She normally doesn’t like to involve me in things, but she showed me, swapped bodies with me, and I, well… I stole it from her. I stole it, stole her body, and… I don’t even know where it is now. This is my tenth body so far and I—]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Hahahaha! God, this is such a clusterfuck, ain’t it? …You think Verde’s sober by now?]”
At this point, Elly(Sporty Boy) had finished fashioning Ken(Mousy Girl)’s hair into a bun so he could run without anything thwapping his shoulders, though he was a bit too preoccupied to notice this.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[We may as well. You call her. How are the crowds now that our body swapper has been disarmed?]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[It’s crazy with a box of fries out there! But we should be fine here.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Emphasis on ‘should.’]”
Channeling the power of cynical optimism, Elly(Sporty Boy) stepped out of the café and looked around. Panic still persisted in the halls of the airport, but it seemed to die down slightly. Not a ton of people were running around… except for a few. …Except for a group of about twenty men, looking tall, strong, and wearing baggy dark clothing along with helmets, visors covering their faces, and weapons wrapped along their chests. They were several dozen meters away, but it did not take a genius to know that this meant bad news.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Damn it! Of course they sent special forces!]”
Without skipping a beat, Elly(Sporty boy) ducked back into the café and grabbed both Ken(Mousy Girl) and Revolution.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Guys, we’re in deep shit! They sent the fucking military after us. We need to swap out of these bodies and destroy the VD, ASAP!]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Shit, we’re at DEFCON 2 already? Let’s go!]”
Revolution: “[W-What?]”
Rather than let Revolution respond, Elly(Sporty Boy) merely pointed the VD 2.0 at them and registered them for a Quick Swap.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Ken and I are going to run away. We’ll swap you into a new body, but you may be stuck in it. I don’t know for how long.]”
Revolution: “[I, uh, what are you?]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Do you want to be a boy or a girl? Tell me now!]”
Revolution looked to be on the brink of tears yet again, taking precious seconds to respond as they were forced to face a decision they, clearly, had not accounted for.
Revolution: “[If I have to be stuck as someone, I’d like to be a… c-cute high school girl.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Got it. You stay here. Ken, let’s book it!]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[I’m already on it!]”
Just like that, Elly(Sporty Boy) and Ken(Mousy Girl) dashed off from the cafe, leaving Revolution there, alone and confused, their heart accelerating rapidly as they realized their plans had been foiled, and that whatever body they found themself in a few minutes from now might be their forever body. Their heart raced, breathing became frantic, and anxiety billowed, all until they felt their senses fade into darkness before returning in another place. The room was different, they were in the middle of a stride, and almost collapsed as they put their foot down.
They were elsewhere in the airport, in a new body, and swiftly patted their hands across their form. Long hair, breasts, loose baggy clothes, a soft face, handbag over her shoulder, and suitcase in one hand. All seemed right, but they needed a clearer picture. They ran to the nearest restroom, trying not to focus too much on the shaking of their form, and among the crowd of people also looking at their bodies in awe, Revolution caught a glimpse of themself.
Their reflection had dyed auburn hair, wore a white graphic tee, sleeveless white jacket, and pink drawstring shorts. They looked like a girl who either just got back from vacation someplace tropical or eager to leave for her trip. And as they looked at their face, they were shocked. Shocked by how… beautiful their face was. Thin, busty, fashionable, and all around gorgeous. Even in another body, their emotions were strong enough to spur tears. This is what they wanted. And so long as they kept their mouth shut, so long as nobody else said anything… this could be them. They could start over again as this girl. As… her.
She sprinted out of that bathroom, her luggage in tow, rushing past the armed guards storming through the airport and to the trains. Under her breath, she muttered thanks for her fortune.
Revolution: “[Ken, Elly, thank you. I can only hope you have it in your hearts to forgive an idiot like me. I will cherish this life you’ve given me.]”
And so, Revolution ran away from the danger, from her past, and from this story in general.
Part 3: The Plan to Destroy the VD 2.0
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 11:33 JST (Japan Standard Time)
Location: Haneda Airport, Terminal 3, Tokyo, Japan
Knowing that time was of the essence, Ken, in the body of a mousy teenage girl, and Elly, in the body of a sporty teenage boy, ran through the airport with the utmost urgency. There was enough panic to mask the sight of two people sprinting as something unremarkable, yet few of them were running up like Ken(Mousy Girl) and Elly(Sporty Boy).
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[What’s the plan, Elly?]”
Ken(Mousy Girl) shouted between heavy breaths, switching back to Spanish.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[The observation deck! We take this thing and throw it down five stories.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Will that even work?]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[DO YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN?!]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Not a one.]”
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Then we do it my way and hope for the best. I cannot RISK a government getting their hands on this thing. And if I need to die trying to destroy it… Verde can just bring me back.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[…You’re right. As …expected …Jaanu. Guh! This body was not made for running!]”
As they finally reached the fifth floor, Elly(Sporty Boy) paused while Ken(Mousy Girl) caught his breath. More soldiers of the state were right outside Edo Hall, standing around like they were waiting for an excuse to murder a person through a crime that will be illegal to report. There was no obvious cover or way to avoid direct sight. Just walls to their left, empty space to the right, and danger in front of them. Elly(Sporty Boy) looked at this sight with a twinge of defeat, only for Ken(Mousy Girl) to grab her arm, nuzzling it like a shy schoolgirl, before speaking to her in Japanese.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[‘Eiji,’ let’s stay together. Things are too crazy here.]”
Immediately switching gears, Elly(Sporty Boy) could tell what her husband was doing, and she looked at him with bedroom eyes.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Sure, ‘Kyoko.’ I don’t know what’s got security so worried, but let’s take it easy before our flight.]”
With this guise, the two walked calmly past the soldiers, joining a few other people who were cautiously milling around. They were stared at, but the wannabe killers did not draw fire or break formation. They passed them by, looked at the door to the observation deck behind them, and took a left. All the shops and venues around them were closed down, merchandise left unattended, but they knew there was an alternate entrance to the observation deck. They reached the door and began to open it… only for it to rattle. Locked.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Of course.]”
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[You know, I think I have a plan. Give me the VD.]”
Raising an eyebrow, Elly(Sporty Boy) handed the VD 2.0 to Ken(Mousy Girl)… only for him to run away.
Elly(Sporty Boy): “[Sonuva bitch, I knew you were going to do that, and I still—]”
As she voiced her irritation, Elly(Sporty Boy) found her consciousness and senses leave her current form, shooting off someplace else, someplace beyond the airport, and inside someone… familiar. Another person was now in the body of the sporty boy… and whoever they were, they were incredibly confused, looking around, aghast, utterly unfamiliar with their sights, so much so that they did not notice Ken(Mousy Girl) walking by, or the purple doodad in his hand.
Ken(Mousy Girl): “[Sorry, Elly. But I swore I would protect you, no matter what, even if it cost me my life. Besides, it should be easier if I only have to do one swap after this.]”
Walking back to the center of the fifth floor, Ken(Mousy Girl) looked at the soldiers and quickly devised a plan. He did not like it, but he did not have a lot of options… other than to put the VD 2.0 in a trash bin and hope for the best. …But that was a pants-on-head stupid plan.
His target: the Observation Deck. The center doors were still open while the side doors were seemingly closed. His obstacle: ten soldiers ready to kill any suspicious person for the benefit of the State. His weapon: a body swapper. While he did not want to swap random people’s bodies like this, he didn’t think soldiers swapping into soldiers would make for a sufficient cover. So, he rapidly swung the VD 2.0 around, using the Quick Swap function on as many people as he could. A total of five pairs, half of the soldiers preventing him from accessing the Observation Deck.
He tried not to focus on the people he wrapped up in this rapid swapping. He ignored the old woman, young man, middle-aged couple, and their son, pretending like they were not even people, as he could not bear the guilt at the moment. He just focused on the soldiers’ line, and with half of them in a panic, the line had fallen. So, he ran as fast as he could, hoping to sneak by unnoticed, but from the shouting, that was not the case.
Military Thug: “[Hey! That area is off limits! Stop or I’ll shoot!]”
He didn’t shoot. Probably didn’t want to deal with the paperwork that comes with murdering a high schooler. Ken(Mousy Girl) kept running. Out the open door, to the empty observation deck, and looked down at the gray full of planes waiting to depart. Relief was followed by the sense that time was limited. He had a matter of seconds before someone would come to grab him, so he took his hands to the VD 2.0, arranging a swap between him, his current body, and his original body, located somewhere in a 10 kilometer radius. …He hoped.
With the inputs made, all Ken(Mousy Girl) had to do to escape this body, go back to normal, was to press a single button. He held the VD 2.0 in his hand as he dangled it past the safety ropes. Hoping that he would swap, whoever landed in his body would drop it, and this blasted thing would break as it fell five floors onto the concrete below. He was finally there, a bundle of nerves, as if it did not fall, he was fucked. He made his grip as loose as possible, nudged towards the button and—
BANG!
A gunshot went off and, next thing Ken knew, things went black. His senses faded, and when they returned, everything was still black. He could not move, and he felt weak. The fear of death ballooned in his mind as he wondered if this was it, that he would be killed and the VD 2.0 would be stolen. …But then he heard a voice pierce through the darkness. A voice he knew well, the most beautiful voice in his world, saying his name.
???: “Ken? Ken! Are you back?”
Ken(???): “E-Elly? Is that you?”
Immediately, Ken could tell this was his voice, just coarse, like he hadn’t had anything to drink for half a day.
Ken: “I think I did it! I think I dropped that damn thing!”
As he spoke, Ken felt something lift over his face. He was met with the interior of a minivan, but more importantly was the face of his beloved wife, Elly. A slender Asian woman of a complex background that gave her a light brown complexion. Her wavy black hair was an absolute mess. Her usually immaculate makeup wasn’t on, and as he looked at her dark brown eyes, he could tell that her body hadn’t slept well in days. But no matter how rough she looked, there wasn’t any circumstance where he wasn’t happy to lay eyes on her.
Elly: “You’re a reckless asshole, you know!”
Ken: “What, because I put my wife before my life?”
Elly: “Yes! We went to a seminar about this, you know, but I guess… I guess it takes more than one lesson to teach an old dog like you new tricks.”
Immediately after chiding him, Elly leaned forward and kissed Ken, wrapping her hands around his head, ruffling his slick black hair, smacking her face into his beard through sheer enthusiasm. Ken tried to return the favor, but found his arms bound by something.
Ken: “What’s with the bondage? Could you really not contain yourself?”
Elly: “That was to prevent the girl in your body from doing anything stupid. Lemme undo your straps…”
As Elly treated Ken’s straps, the two heard a voice from the driver’s seat of the minivan.
Driver: “I’d hate to interrupt your fun time, but we must get going.”
Ken: “Osamu! God, I cannot thank you enough for helping us with all this. Remind us to pay you for 100 hours straight, overtime included.”
Osamu: “Ken, I appreciate your generosity, but… actually, I think I’ll hold my tongue.”
Ken: “Smart man!”
Elly: “Oh my god, you two! …I’m so glad that you’re both safe. Osamu, drive us to Narita. We’ll take care of tickets when we get there.”
Osamu: “Sure thing, Elly. …But I am expecting heavy traffic.”
As the car started to move, Ken and Elly embraced each other in another hug, this time going both ways. They remained there in each other’s arms, just relishing in the sense of being back in their own bodies after a truly hectic, at times hellish, four days. They did not need to say anything. Merely being so close, being able to hear each other’s heart beat, was enough for them.
…At least until they got on Route 311, when, like business people, they started talking business.
Ken: “I think I’ve had enough adventures and enough Asia time for the summer.”
Elly: “I can’t disagree. We’re just going to take it easy for now, spend some time as ourselves, with our girls, and where we don’t need to worry about anything but the usual. In fact, I think we are going to need a real vacation after this.”
Ken: “My, you are the one suggesting we play hooky?”
Elly: “If you said you wanted to get back to work after all of this, I’d know you’re some imposter.”
Ken: “Ha! Good thing I’m still as lazy as always.”
Elly: “Please. You put in the work when you need to, and you know how to take action. …Or was laziness the reason you risked your life to protect me?”
Ken: “…I am a complex man of contradictory ideals and values.”
Elly: “You could have just stopped at saying you’re a man.”
Ken: “I love you, Jaanu.”
Elly: “I love you, Mahal Ko.”
From there, the two took rest as Osamu drove them 80 kilometers to Tokyo’s other airport, choosing not to catch up on everything they missed, but enjoy the simple act of being, of reaching the end of this odd odyssey. Sure, they left a monster of a mess behind them, with hundreds if not thousands of people in the wrong bodies. But with their only VD 2.0 having fallen five stories, there was no way for them to fix the mess. That duty fell upon Verde… right?
Part 4: Maid Cafe Mania
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 14:44 JST (Japan Standard Time)
Location: Vava Café, Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
As the weekend afternoon came into its own, Vava Café was positively jam-packed. Every seat was taken, with some people sitting on spare stools without even a table to call their own, just to get in and soak in the atmosphere, occupancy limits be damned. The past few days of positive buzz had turned this burgeoning maid café into a hotspot for enthusiasts to congregate. Not necessarily for the food, but for the trio of singing maids, standing on stage, currently wrapping up their latest set. With Masayo, the shy tall one, Taeko, the spry short one, and Junpoyo, the gyaru beauty of the crew. While their dancing could use some work, they sang with just enough enthusiasm and zest for one to assume that they were made for this job, even if they were way too old to be a burgeoning idol group.
Masayo & Taeko & Junpoyo: “[Be our friend~!]”
Masayo: “[You’re always looking out for us.]”
Masayo & Taeko & Junpoyo: “[Be our side~!]”
Taeko: “[Maybe one day we can be more.]”
Masayo & Taeko & Junpoyo: “[Be our first~!]”
Junpoyo: “[I’ll keep asking till you say yes!]”
Masayo & Taeko & Junpoyo: “[And together we’re gonna reach our shiny-shiny star~!]”
As they finished their performance of Be My Friend by Yomi Hirasaka, Hotaru, and Tom-H@ck from the anime Haganai NEXT, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. So much applause and cheer that… it was a bit scary considering how short-staffed they were.
The only other maid on the floor was the veteran Chidori, who was currently getting swamped with drink orders, pouring beverages and handing cans to patrons who wanted to enjoy the show. However, it was clearly turning into a zoo, and something needed to be done. The three originally male idols on stage looked at each other as they realized this and Taeko spoke into her mic.
Taeko: “[Hey y’all! We’re so glad that you’re all loving this, but we’re gonna need about ten minutes to recover. Nobody ever said that being an idol maid was easy work, y’know!]”
The crowd murmured among themselves, but seemed understanding, allowing all four maids to head out back, with Punpoyo grabbing Chidori right after she handed off a drink to a customer. They scampered off to the kitchen where they saw Rumi Ryuujin, in the middle of prepping some omurice and pancakes, working four stoves at once like a pro. While her large stature and rough exterior did not make her seem like a good pick for a chef, the results spoke for themselves. She did not bother turning to the maids as they came in, but that didn’t stop her from talking.
Rumi Ryuujin: “[You’re doing great out there. They love you three.]”
Chidori: “[Meanwhile, I’ve gone from an attraction to an actual maid. I wouldn’t mind if it were to a bunch of teenagers, but all these girls are older than me.]”
Junpoyo: “[Aw, Chi-chan, you know that we’d be totes psyched to share the stage with you. But, like, someone’s gotta take the orders.]”
Masayo: “[Rumi-san, I think we need to hire additional staff.]”
Rumi Ryuujin: “[You think I don’t know that? I’ve been running businesses for twenty years and know that the heart of any business is who you’ve got on the ground! I’d love to hire more people, but I’m already pulling favors looking for that purple Game Boy of yours. And I haven’t heard from those guys since.]”
Taeko: “[Eh, maybe we should just call off the—]”
Masayo: “[Bite my ass, Taeko. Just because you want to stay like this doesn’t mean I want to.]”
Junpoyo: “[But Junpoyo is forever and evers, for real-reals!]”
When presented with two overly enthusiastic “transsexuals” who were totally fine staying like this, all Masayo could do was slap his forehead and groan.
Rumi Ryuujin: “[Look, I know that none of you expected to be doing this a week ago, but when you have an opportunity, you gotta take it by the balls. That’s how a nobody becomes a somebody, and how someone builds wealth. Idols don’t make a lotta money for themselves, just for other people, but I like you girls, and I’m not gonna let anybody spit you out, ya hear me? Rumi’s got your back and wants what’s best for you!]”
Chidori: “[And people wonder why I’ve stuck with this woman for so long…]”
Masayo: “[I admire your dedication, but…I really just want to go back to working at a game store. Performing like this is just not what I’m made for.]”
Taeko: “[Hey, we’ve been over this. Anybody can work at a game shop, but only Masayo can be Masayo on stage, and she compliments me soooo well!]”
Junpoyo: “[Like, if performances like this are too much, then maybe we can try something else. Daddy says streaming’s gonna be super-duper big in a couple years, and if we can become a streamer group with lots of collabs, we could be super successful and reach thousands of people instead of a couple dozen. It’s pretty smart, y’know!]”
Rather than respond with words, Rumi handed the four maids two plates of food each, cuing them to leave.
Rumi Ryuujin: “[We can talk about this AFTER you’re done working for the day. We can’t bring in anybody now, it’s the weekend, and if you make me a lotta money, I’ll make sure you get your fair share. Ya got that? Now get back out there and be maids.]”
With that, Rumi shoved the four out of her kitchen and back into the unattended café, where all patrons were still patiently awaiting the return of their maids, cheering as they arrived and brought some of their food. They served their guests, entertaining them with some light banter before taking more orders, piling them up for Rumi to take care of, racking up yen with each transaction. While frantic, there was a specific flavor of joy to be had in this frantic customer service work, but as the clock struck 15:00… something happened.
Chidori turned around to see her maid co-workers. Takeo, Junpoyo, and… a crossdressing maid, Masa-chan, but she suddenly knew him as Masahiro. She looked at Masahiro confused, thinking that he had to always be here, remembering when he came in a few days ago with Taeko. But she could not remember why she thought hiring a crossdressing maid was a good idea.
Takeo and Junpoyo similarly paused, but from their perspective… something happened. Masahiro transformed back to his usual guy self, while in the middle of talking to a customer. Yet, they were the same as always, with long hair, boobs, and nothing between their legs. They immediately stopped what they were doing, dragging away a stunned Masahiro with them.
Chidori: “[H-Hey! Don’t leave me all alone again! I’m only one girl!]”
Chidori’s words fell on deaf ears, and Masahiro was dragged off to the staff room, sat on a chair while Taeko and Junpoyo got a better look at him.
Taeko: “[The fuck just happened, dude! You just became a guy again? How? Why? Shit, am I gonna turn back soon?]”
Junpoyo: “[Nooooo! I’m having so much fun as Junpoyo, I don’t wanna go back to being some wannabe loverboy!]”
Masahiro: “[…The fuck happened? Why am I a man? …Why am I a man in a damn maid outfit?]”
Taeko: “[Oh goodness, don’t tell me Masahiro has amnesia too—]”
With the force of a rhino, the staff room door swung open. It was surprising that it even stayed on its hinges after such a thorough swinging. And in the door frame stood Rumi Ryuujin, looking as if she had just seen a demon defile her parents.
Rumi Ryuujin: “[What did you two do? Where’s the game system?]”
Junpoyo: “[Like, omigush, I am totes lost!]”
Masahiro: “[You! Why do you look just like me? There is only enough room for one Rumi Ryuujin in this city!]”
‘Masahiro’ leapt up to get a closer look at ‘Rumi’ only for ‘Rumi’ to hold out a hand.
Rumi Ryuujin?: “[I’m Masahiro, also known as Masayo. One minute, I was serving customers, the next, I found myself in the kitchen, in Rumi’s body. …I’m assuming that you are the real Rumi.]”
Masahiro?: “[I am the ‘only’ Rumi Ryuujin!]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[Which begs the question of how any of this happened, and why I’m in your body. Unlike my friends, I didn’t want to be a woman, and now, well, I’m two decades older ‘and’ a woman.]”
To punctuate that statement, Masahiro(Rumi) stretched his strong, tall, and hardened form over the doorframe. He was considerably bigger and more muscular than he was in his normal body, but he did not seem to take any solace in that fact, especially as he looked down at the scraggly skin of his boobs, which looked way bigger from his new first-person perspective.
As for Rumi(Masahiro), she looked down at herself… and proceeded to strip down to her empty bra and penis-filled panty, struggling to contain her erection. Everyone’s eyes went wide as they saw this display, and before any could react, Rumi(Masahiro) yanked her panty down, grabbing her 5 inch dick with gusto as she confirmed this was real, laughing in an unnaturally deep voice.
Rumi(Masahiro): “[Hahahaha! This is just unreal! I’m really inside the body of a young man! Oh, ‘the things’ I could do with a brain like mine and a body like this. …But I mustn’t be a hypocrite. I’ve seen too many assholes discard their principles the second they have an inch of power.]”
As she spoke, Rumi(Masahiro) nakedly walked into a locker that contained “Masayo’s” clothes just a few moments ago. Instead, they were now a set of clothes that comfortably fit her new form, just to her satisfaction, smiling as she looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in a simple V-neck and tight pants.
Rumi(Masahiro): “[Hmm… you said this was your body, Masayo? Can’t say you were that much of a man, but that’s nothing a couple months at a gym can’t fix.]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[Sorry I didn’t build MY body to YOUR liking. It’s not like I want to be in yours.]”
Junpoyo: “[Hey! Hey! No fighting in the café! This is a place of sunshine and funshine! We just gotta figure out why this happened and why only Masa-chan wound up like this.]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[That’s because SOMEBODY used that device. I don’t know why they would untransform and swap me like that, but there’s probably a reason they spared you.]”
Taeko: “[Maybe they’re just messing around with it? Not everybody’s gonna be logical with this thing, y’know.]”
While what Taeko said was true, Masahiro(Rumi) stared at them incredulously, trying to suss out a reason as he thought back to their week… before slamming a fist against the wall. With his stature, muscles, and scarred face, everything he did carried with it an intimidation factor. If anything, he might have been scarier than Rumi normally was.
Masahiro(Rumi): “[…Say, Taeko, didn’t you say you were feeling ‘sick’ Saturday morning?]”
Taeko: “[Y-Yeah, what about that? People get sick, and… some of our customers aren’t the most hygienic.]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[You decided to go out partying Friday night with Junpoyo, didn’t you?]”
Taeko: “[Just because you look like you could kill me with your bare hands doesn’t mean you can be this scary, dude.]”
Junpoyo: “[Omigush, are you preggers? ‘Cos I totes got preggers~!]”
The tension in the room immediately collapsed from that one line.
Taeko: “[You what? Wait, we ‘can’ get pregnant?]”
Junpoyo: “[Like, duh, Tae-chan! If it looks like a neko-neko zone and feels like one, you better believe it’s full of eggs.]”
Taeko: “[I only agreed to going to that sex pit because I thought I COULDN’T get pregnant! FUCK!]”
Junpoyo: “[You didn’t seem to have a problem it at the time. What didja say? ‘I ain’t gay for men, but I’ll do anything for 20,000 yen.’]”
Taeko: “[I wanted to just have sex as a girl and get money for clothes! I didn’t want a baby! FUCK!]”
As Taeko seemed like she was about to explode in a panic, Rumi(Masahiro) grabbed both her and Junpoyo on the shoulders, giving them firm pats.
Rumi(Masahiro): “[If you need an abortion, I know a guy. I’ve given a few myself, but… even I have my limits. For now, you two just get back out there, give Chidori some help.]”
While it was odd to hear their boss’s direct yet reassuring words come out of the mouth of a younger man, they treated them as orders all the same, leaving behind the body swapped duo.
Rumi(Masahiro): “[And you… you know how to work a kitchen?]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[Uh, kinda? I worked at a family restaurant for two months.]”
Rumi(Masahiro): “[Eh, better than most guys your age. C’mon, we’ve been yapping so long we probably burnt everything on the stove.]”
Shrugging, Rumi(Masahiro) strutted around her former body and back to the kitchen, expecting Masahiro(Rumi) to follow behind, which he did.
Masahiro(Rumi): “[…How are you so casual about all this?]”
Rumi(Masahiro): “[I’ve seen some wild shit in my years, and I’ve learned that the best way to survive is to roll with the punches. If you wanna make it as Rumi, you’re gonna have to learn the same lesson pronto, kid.]”
Masahiro(Rumi): “[Good thing I don’t wanna make it as you. Being stuck as a girl is one thing, but being stuck as such an un-pretty woman is another.]”
Rumi(Masahiro): “[…Just ‘cos you’re in my body, don’t think that I won’t break your ass, boy. Now take care of the dishes, I’ve got a kitchen to run.]”
Tossing the burnt food from the pan, Rumi(Masahiro) got to quick work at restoring order in her kitchen, leaving Masahiro(Rumi) to use his hardened hands, burnt so many times they resisted fire itself, to the murky dishwater, looking out an open window at a sun-drenched alley, wondering how things wound up like this. Fortunately for him, there was a reason. Unfortunately, it was more complicated than he could even imagine.
Part 5: Battle in the Sky
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 16:30 JST (Japan Standard Time)
Location: Flight NRT to PVG, 52 Kilometers East of Tsushima, Japan
Most commercial flights were just business as usual, going through the established motions. All passengers had to do was take a seat, whip out their phones, eat a snack, and wait for time to pass while dealing with the cons of flying. The cramped conditions, disorientating sense of moving at high speeds, and the sounds of loud turbines. But every once in a while, something extraordinary happens.
One man, Japanese, mid-30s, dressed as a typical salaryman, was gripping the emergency exit door of the plane, holding a purple device in his hand, one with a large screen and colorful buttons. Innocuous to any onlooker, but clearly a VD 2.0 to a handful of people in the world. Before him, standing in the aisle, was a man, White, blonde, looked to be in his 40s, holding a gun in his hands. How the hell he got something like that through customs was a good question, but the mostly Japanese and Chinese passengers were less concerned about logistics and more about their lives. People sat tightly in their seats, hoping that they would not spur anger from this crazed American, the flight attendants standing back as the scene played out, both men speaking in English.
Blonde Man: “But that thing down, or else.”
Japanese Man: “You fucking Americans are all the same! Every problem, every inconvenience, your answer is the same. To kill it!”
Blonde Man: “Yeah, and look where it’s got us. Now don’t be a fucking idiot. Drop it. I promise I’ll only shoot you below the belt.”
Japanese Man: “Heh. At least he’s being honest. …If you want the VD 2.0, you’re gonna have to chase me!”
With a mighty thrust, the Japanese man caused the emergency door to swing open. Such a thing should have been impossible for a plane up this high, moving this fast, but it happened all the same. A tempest swept the entire aircraft as air was sucked out of the plane at a rapid pace, the door swung open, propelled by the intense winds. Through this sudden burst of force, the Japanese man with the VD 2.0 was sent flying, out of the plane, hurling towards the ocean below. With the plane up so profoundly high, any fall would be a death sentence, and the VD 2.0 would assuredly fall to the bottom of the ocean, lost. Yet, that did not stop the blonde man from running forward, flinging himself out the open door.
The intense winds pelted the blonde man’s face as he aimed himself at the Japanese man below, the purple device still in his hand. He narrowed his body, stripping off his suit jacket as he hoped his this lack of clothing would let him fight the wind ever so slightly. And if that wasn’t enough, he still had his gun, holstered around his waist.
Two minutes after the emergency door was swung open through means unknown, it was resealed by a frazzled flight attendant. As the winds ceased and only the sounds of the turbines took their place, he was met with the sound of applause from the audience, most of whom had emergency masks over their face. Nobody was quite sure what had happened, or why, but the relief of being safe, of knowing they would be off this blasted thing in about 90 minutes, was comfort enough.
They slowly took their masks off of themselves and the few children in the plane, but there was one person in the crowd, sat near a window, all alone, who seemed suspiciously calm. A Chinese woman, late 20s, dressed professionally, who looked at those around her with suspicion. Pulling out her phone, she opened up a messaging app and signed into another account, switching the keyboard from Chinese to Portuguese as she typed out a reply:
[Target is lost at sea. Send team immediately to recover. Ensure that our government is the first to lay claim to the device. If they retrieve it, our 70 years of peace are going to come to an explosive end. And if China finds it first, the Chinese millennium is a certainty. ETA to Shanghai: 90 minutes. I’ll contact you via secure communication. My mask will be different, but my mind is my own.]
With a sigh, the woman put her phone away and looked out the window, forlorn, when a flight attendant approached her, speaking in Japanese.
Flight Attendant: “[Ma’am, is there anything you need?]”
She shook her head.
Chinese Woman: “[I’m fine, thank you. …I-I mean I’m fine.]”
Through the stress of the past few minutes, the flight attendant did not notice her flub, referring to herself as ore rather than the more expected watashi.
As the flight attendant did his rounds, the Chinese “woman” pulled out “her” phone to bring up her camera, looking back at their face for a moment. Seconds later, they looked away, staring out the window, the VD 2.0 already well out of sight, before muttering to themself, switching over to Portuguese.
Chinese Woman: “[Even if they find that thing, I’m not going back to myself. I’m going to need to be this woman, to be her, for… the rest of my life.]”
With a somber look on her face, the new woman looked out at the cloudless sky and at the bright blue ocean, hoping that her sacrifice would be worth it in the end. But, how can any sacrifice be worth it when the cost is your body, your identity. As these thoughts crossed her mind, she pulled down the window and shut her eyes. Too riled up to sleep. Too drained to engage with the world.
Gaiden July 5th: Road Trip Prep
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2015
Time: 17:30 CDT (Central Daylight Time)
Location: The Kurokawa Residence
Even as the clock brushed toward evening, the sun was still high in Oransen, the people still trying to pry some last bits of fun and pleasure from their holiday weekend. Though, at the Kurokawa household, the tone was a bit different. The garage door was open, a fan was circulating hot air, and Haruki was mulling through her 2006 Honda Odyssey minivan. She had pulled out the seats, jamming a vacuum against every nook and cranny, picking up what looked to be years worth of dust, crumbs, dirt, and wrappers from assorted things. But not the coins. Haruki made sure to throw those in a cup.
After a final cycle over the floors, and clicking a seat back into place, Haruki shut off the car vacuum and looked over her minivan. Her hair was tied back in its usual ponytail, while her body was clad only in a sports bra, shorts, and sandals, all of which were drenched in sweat. With her fat form, she was not really built for something so physically demanding… but she still did it.
Haruki: “Gawd, I wish I could’ve snagged a body for this. But nooo, they’re all apparently too tall for the job. Ugh! why do all the strong guys around here have to be so tall?! Is it that much to ask for a 165 cee-em dude with rippling muscles? Shit, maybe that’s what I should ask for when this trip is over. Short guys who can carry their taller girls are pretty hot I-M-O.”
As she spoke to herself, wiping away some sweat with a towel, Haruki turned to grab some water, where she saw Shiaka, carrying a glass of lemonade and a bowl of watermelon.
Shiaka: “Hello Haruki. I figured you’d want something cold and refreshing.”
Stepping into the garage, Shiaka gingerly placed the bowl and glass on a semi-cluttered workbench, as that seemed like the best place for them.
Haruki: “Thanks Shi-Shi. Great timing too, as I’m just about done sprucing up the old girl.”
Shiaka: “Are you sure you’re going to have enough room? Between you, Vidkun, Tony, Bern, and Gemma, you’re going to be pretty packed in there.”
Haruki: “Nah, I’m not frettin’ it. This baby can fit seven people at most, and while five is a lot, it’s pretty much perfect for a road trip. Just big enough to feel like you’re a cozy little family, but not big enough where doing anything is a chore. Verde was crazy hitting up a BQ with 17 peeps.”
As Haruki spoke, she grabbed her lemonade and sat down on a stool they just had lying around. With no other readily available seat, and the minivan sealed, Shiaka opted to just stand.
Shiaka: “I’m a bit surprised you want to go to Mexico though. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Japan again?”
Haruki: “That was the plan… back in May. But after learning about the wet and wild world of body swapping, I’ve been changing all of my plans! A Japan trip could’ve worked, but I always wanted to go on a proper road trip. Plus, how often am I going to have people who can just ditch their lives for a week and go on a trip where most of our time is spent driving around? When life gives you oranges, you don’t make lemonade. You make OJ. ‘Sides, we’re running a pretty tight crew here, and any excuse to get to know ’em, to bro out with ’em, the better.”
Shiaka: “And why are all of you— except for Gem— going as boys?”
Haruki: “Because literally only one of us has been a boy for more than a month, and we wanna do some primo dude shit. It’s what Verde and I came up with when doing a brainstorming sesh a few days ago, and I’m stoked to get my dude on! …Actually, I know I just said that five is the perfect number, but if you wanna come Shi-Shi, the offer’s open.”
When presented with this offer, Shiaka quietly smiled and shook her head no.
Shiaka: “I don’t think I’m ready to leave home like that, or explore the world. Heading out to Chicago for a day is fine, but leaving the country is… a bit much. Maybe I could do a week in Japan, but I don’t know how I would want to do that, or what form I would want to be in. I… as much as I know it’s silly, I feel like my confidence is boosted depending on the body I’m in, but I would not want to just take someone’s body for a eight days like that. And going to Mexico is… too close to our old home.”
That reminder wiped the cheery demeanor from Haruki’s face. Going to Mexico would mean getting close to Silicon Valley, where Shiaka was nearly murdered when she was 8-years-old. Looking at her, it was hard to believe the same traumatized child had grown into such a well-adjusted woman, but family, love, and therapy are incredibly powerful things. Haruki might want her sister to grow stronger, but she’s made immense progress this summer already.
Haruki: “Yeah, say no more. I get it. Though, keep thinking about that Japan trip. When you start college, you aren’t gonna have the lax schedule you have now, but… maybe you’ll find the courage needed for a trip to Japan come spring break next year.”
Shiaka: “At this rate, I’m not even sure what I’ll want by the end of the year…”
Having downed her lemonade, Haruki stepped up to grab her watermelon, preparing to chow down, when she saw her mother, Paz, walk into the garage, a big basket of stuff in hand.
Paz: “You know I’ll always be your mother, Haruki. You’re going on a long trip, and I want you to be prepared for everything.”
Without asking, Paz opened up the back of the minivan and started loading it with her basket of supplies. This included the following: a case of water bottles., assorted bags and boxes of nonperishable snacks, a first-aid kit, a tiny red toolbox, six mini flashlights, a mini radio, power brick, backpack, blanket, spare underwear— It was basically everything one could ask for.
Haruki: “Mom, I appreciate the thought, but this is all overkill. And you know how resourceful I can be.”
Paz: “I know, but I don’t want my daughter to be stranded in the desert, thirsty, hurt, cold, and afraid.”
Haruki: “We’re sticking to major highways, have cell phones, and are going to be crashing at motels every night. We’ll be fine.”
Paz: “That’s what you think, but… no Paz, Mexico is a very different place from when you were a child. …I almost feel like I should come with you—”
Haruki: “Not happening. I love ya, Mom. But I’m not going to be in a car with you and four other people for a week. No way.”
Her snippy reaction rubbed Paz the wrong way for a moment… before she put herself in Haruki’s shoes.
Haruki: “And remember, Bern’s gonna be with us if I’m not quite ‘adult’ enough for you.”
Paz: “I suppose so. Just make sure you call me every day. And if you run into any trouble…”
Haruki: “You’re gonna do what? Fly out and save us?”
Paz: “If need be, yes.”
Shiaka: “Actually, with Verde, we can just ask her to fix any troubles. She doesn’t like using her powers, but if one of us is in danger…”
Haruki: “Yeah! And Verde’s kind of the whole reason why I’m doing this as, well, I wanna build a better Haruya, ya mean?”
Paz: “Well… my point still stands.”
With everything packed in the back of Haruki’s minivan, Paz wrapped her daughter in a hug. Her skin was sticky and she smelled, but a good mother loved her daughter no matter how much she stunk.
Paz: “I love you, and I’ll be there for you if need be. Now then, I have to get started on your going away treat.”
Haruki: “…Oh shit, you’re making your tonkatsu? Hell yeah! Nowhere in the world can I get your Mexican-style tonkatsu!”
Paz: “You know me, Haruki. Whenever I make Japanese food, I can’t help but add a little Mexican flair. It’s what my daughters and husband like.”
After teasing tonight’s dinner, Paz walked back into the house, leaving her daughters in the garage.
Shiaka: “…I wonder what I should do if you’re away for so long. Maxxie’s family said they’re going to want to keep things simple. Jade and Caroline are leaving. So it’s just going to be me, Zoe’s family, Reyn, and… the Dusks?”
Haruki: “Eh, something’ll probably come up. It always does. Or maybe you can have some lovey dovey time with your boyfriend. I’m sure he’d appreciate it after you cheated on him yesterday.”
Hearing Haruki mention that so casually nearly caused Shiaka to fall over, her light brown face flushed with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected this, desperately wanted an out… and received just that as Daisuke barged on in.
Daisuke: “Hey girls. Everything going well with packing?”
Haruki: “Swell as hell, Dad.”
Daisuke: “Good, good. Ken and Elly just landed after their little… misadventure in Tokyo.”
Haruki: “Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that. Shit’s going crazy on the Japanese internet after all of that body swapping. I have no clue how Verde plans on covering that up, but I’m all for random body swapping being a thing for the masses.”
Shiaka: “Uh, I think you’re being a bit too casual about that…”
Daisuke: “The mainstream media’s putting out a bunch of hokey excuses that people seem to be accepting. I guess a gas leak is just easier to accept than people randomly swapping bodies at an airport… But that’s not the most relevant matter for me at the moment. The assholes who stole Ken and Elly’s bodies managed to wreck things at Flare Industries. I’m no longer able to work remotely, and they need me there to restore their systems. So while you’re on vacation, your dear old dad’s going to be in crunch mode.”
Shiaka: “Oh? C-Can I help out?”
Daisuke: “…Sunshine, are you sure? It’s your summer break, and I don’t want to—”
Shiaka: “It’s Maxxie’s parents, and if you need people, I can help. You taught me a lot, and if helping you out means you don’t need to crunch, then I’ll be happy to help. I’m sure Zoe will be too, but I should ask him first…”
Smiling, Daisuke put a hand on Shiaka and gave her a gentle hug, which he reciprocated.
Daisuke: “You’re really willing to go work at an office you’ve never been to when things are that hectic?”
Shiaka: “I… I need to break out of my comfort zone sometime, so I may as well do it now, when I can help people.”
Daisuke: “Thanks, Sunshine. I’m sure you’ll be a huge help.”
With that, Daisuke left his daughters in the garage, where they talked about this and that as the afternoon faded away, and before they were called in for dinner. Marking the end of their final day before the great vacation barrage that would consume the next week.
Verde’s Doohickey 2.0 Main Page
Act 1: SwitchY Swap
May 16th: Prom Pomf Pomf Preview
May 29th: Enter Verde’s Doohickey 2.0
May 30th: Let’s Get Swappin’
May 31st: Flare Family Fiasco
June 1st: Graduation Day
June 2nd: The Kurokawa ‘Sisters’
June 3rd: My Day As Zoe Xing
June 4th: Love in Seoul
June 5th: Sister Mother and Sister Daughter
June 6th: Back 2.0 Basics
June 7th: Assembling the Posse
June 8th: Anita Neukar in… Vivi Gaimz
June 9th: Mother Daughter Heart-2.0-Heart
June 10th: Daisuke and Paz in… Wacked Up Wednesday
June 11th: VAG Swap
June 12th: Terra’s Tomorrow
June 13th: Haruki’s Birthday Bash
Act 2: CHAOTIC CHANGES
June 14th: Jade and the Kuro Abigale Quinlans
June 15th: Aku_Mako’s E3 2015 Rundown – Day Zero
June 16th: Transform Sex Power
June 17th: Erotic Blitz
June 18th: An Evening At The Local Water Park
June 19th: Date Night Cubed
June 20th: Chicago Diamond Symphonia
June 21st: The Father’s Day Resurrection Special
June 22nd: Nazz and Liang Do Flare Industries
June 23rd: The Kurokawa Family Visits the Museum of Science and Industry
June 24th: Whatever Happened to… Yuccot Kikansky?
June 25th: A World Where The Gamers Won
June 26th: Bond Xing
June 27th: SSS – Sizzling Sexual Summer
June 28th: Lesbians 2.0 Gay Boys
June 29th: Caroline and Raiyne’s Cabin Logs
ACT 3: WORLDLY WONDERS
July 1st: We Lost the Remote in Tokyo!
July 2nd: Maid Café Mishaps
July 3rd: Pier Parties and Peaceful Palavers
July 4th: The Freedom To Get High At Burger Queen!
July 5th: From Nippon With Love
July 6th: Let’s Go Mexico with Haruya ‘n’ Da Boyz! Episode 1
July 7th: Jade & Caroline’s Austrian Adventure Episode 1
July 8th: Max’s Buff Quest Episode 1
July 9th: Let’s Go Mexico with Haruya ‘n’ Da Boyz! Episode 2
July 10th: Jade & Caroline’s Austrian Adventure Episode 2
July 11th: Max’s Buff Quest Episode 2
July 12th: Let’s Go Mexico with Haruya ‘n’ Da Boyz! Episode 3
July 13th: Jade & Caroline’s Austrian Adventure Episode 3
July 14th: Max’s Buff Quest Episode 3
July 15th: Utage Three-Point-Oh!