In a quiet corner of the restaurant, a young man and a ashen-haired woman sat across from one another as their orders were gently placed on the table.
"Hey, Elaina," the emerald-eyed man called, a playful glint in his gaze.
The woman—Elaina—glanced up from her plate with a soft hum. "Hm?"
"Look what I brought." Arche grinned as he pulled a small bottle from his coat pocket. Its glass shimmered faintly, tinted a soft violet.
Elaina's eyes immediately locked onto it, curiosity sparking behind her lashes.
"And what exactly is that?" she asked, leaning in slightly.
"This," Arche said with theatrical flair, "is a miracle potion I bought earlier. Supposedly, it makes food taste multiple times better!"
Elaina arched a brow, her expression somewhere between amused and dubious. "Is that so? And you're absolutely sure it works?"
"Come on, have a little faith. I didn't make this myself, so it's definitely safe!" he declared proudly, already uncorking the bottle.
Without hesitation, he drizzled the contents over the fries on his plate. The purple liquid soaked in almost instantly, glimmering faintly as it vanished into the crisp surface.
Elaina blinked. "…You're really going to eat that?"
"I am a man of courage," Arche said, and popped a fry into his mouth.
A pause.
His eyes widened.
"…Huh. It tastes kinda weird, but—wait, it's actually amazing!"
Seeing that Arche hadn't turned blue, exploded, or sprouted feathers—and instead had begun eating even more enthusiastically—Elaina finally let herself believe the potion might actually work.
Despite his earlier claim that it tasted "a little strange," the man looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself, devouring fry after fry with suspicious delight.
"Well, it seems to have worked just as you said," Elaina murmured, eyeing the bottle with growing interest. "Can I try it?"
"Be my guest," Arche said, sliding the bottle toward her without hesitation.
Elaina accepted it, carefully uncorked the top, and drizzled just a touch of the potion onto her bread.
The liquid soaked into it like ink on parchment, faintly glistening before vanishing.
She took a bite.
Her eyes widened. "You're right—it is better."
Without even thinking, she took another bite, then another.
The flavor was unusual, sure—but oddly addictive. Whatever odd aftertaste it had faded quickly into a wave of rich, savory warmth.
By the time both of them had cleaned their plates, Arche leaned back in his seat and let out a satisfied belch.
"Ah—sorry," he mumbled, wiping a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth.
Elaina let out a quiet chuckle at his unintended outburst. "Well, you definitely enjoyed that."
"You didn't?" Arche shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"I did," Elaina said, smiling. "I just have a bit more self-control than you, apparently."
"Oof. That stung a little," Arche said with a dramatic wince, pushing his chair back as he stood up.
He glanced out the nearby window. "Dinner's done. It's already night. Let's go back."
Elaina rose from her seat with a soft smile, amused by his theatrics. "Alright, let's head out."
She cast one last glance at the city lights beyond the glass—buildings glowing softly under the night sky—then followed after him, her steps light and content
The two walked side by side along the quiet street, the night air cool against their skin. Their footsteps echoed softly—until a sudden burp broke the calm.
It wasn't Arche this time.
Arche smirked. "Weren't you the one preaching about self-control just now?"
Elaina's eyes widened in mock offense. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand, cheeks slightly pink.
"Oh, shut up. That was completely accidental," she huffed.
A brief silence followed as the road stretched before them. Then Elaina sighed, breaking the quiet.
"Ugh… I feel like I ate way too much earlier."
Arche glanced her way, lips tugging into a lopsided smile. "Hm? You know, I've always wondered—why do women say stuff like that all the time?"
Elaina shot him a sideways glare. "Don't lump all women together like that. If you were a woman, you'd understand."
"Well, being a woman sounds like a lot of trouble," Arche muttered with a shrug. "But being a man isn't exactly easy either"
He let out a small sigh and added under his breath, "I just want to be a house cat."
Elaina blinked, then laughed softly. "There's really no point in comparing genders, you know."
"But I can see you as a cat—probably the kind that sleeps eighteen hours a day and knocks things off shelves for fun."
"Sounds like a perfect life," Arche said, unapologetic.
Before long, they reached the hotel and stepped inside. The familiar warmth of the lobby welcomed them as they climbed the wooden staircase to the second floor. Their rooms stood directly across from each other.
Arche rested his hand on the doorknob, then turned slightly to face her. "Thanks for joining me for dinner, Witchie."
Elaina rolled her eyes at the nickname, though the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.
"You're never going to drop that, are you?" she asked, arms folding loosely. "But, you're welcome."
"Oh—and thanks for the potion earlier," she added, voice a touch softer. "Made my bread surprisingly delicious."
"Of course," Arche said with a smug grin. "You can always count on me."
Elaina shook her head, but her smile stayed. His confidence—while over the top—was oddly endearing.
"Right, right. Just don't let your ego swallow you whole," she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Good night, Witchie," Arche said, dropping his voice a little. "Don't let the bed bugs nibble your toes."
Elaina gave him an amused glance. "I'm not a child, you know? And yeah, good night. Try not to snore through the walls."
"No promises."
With that, Arche opened his door and slipped into his room.
Elaina chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Of course. What was I expecting" she muttered under her breath, before turning and entering her own room. The door clicked shut behind her.
Inside, Arche immediately flopped onto his bed with a content sigh. His full stomach made the mattress feel even softer than usual.
He yawned lazily, "I really love it when my insomnia takes the night off…"
Eyes fluttering shut, he sank into the warmth of the blankets—and before long, sleep claimed him.
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains like an uninvited guest. Arche's eyes snapped open the moment it touched his face.
He sat up groggily, rubbing his temple. "Ugh… why do my shoulders feel like I'm carrying emotional baggage I didn't sign up for?"
Still half-asleep, he dragged himself to the window and flung it open dramatically.
A gust of fresh morning air slapped him in the face like an aggressive wake-up call.
"I'm so sleep deprived…!" he groaned, voice unusually high-pitched. His eyes blinked. "...Wait, was that my voice?"
Stretching with a yawn, he scratched the back of his head—then paused.
"...My hair's longer?" he mumbled, grabbing a handful of silky strands that now reached past his shoulders. "Weird. Did my shampoo level up overnight or something?"
He shuffled toward the mirror, still dazed. That's when he saw her—a beautiful woman staring back at him.
"Huh? I don't remember taping a model magazine to my mirror… wow, her chest is—hold up."
He reached out, trying to peel the "magazine" away, only for his fingers to smack directly against the glass.
"...There's no magazine," he whispered, frozen.
A strange, unfamiliar whimper escaped his throat. It was soft. Feminine. Not his.
His gaze slowly returned to the mirror.
A woman stared back. Shoulder-length black hair. Emerald green eyes. A face way too familiar. A figure that—well, let's just say—was noticeably well-endowed.
He looked down.
Boobs.
Big ones.
Blocking his entire view of his torso.
"...No way."
He looked back up at the mirror, now wide-eyed in pure horror. And then—
"I… I…"
"BECAME A WOMAN?!" he shrieked, the scream echoing through the entire hotel floor.
Still in full-blown panic mode, Arche flung open his door and bolted across the hall. He pounded on Elaina's door like a madwoman.
"Elaina! Elaina! Open up!! Emergency!! Witch-level emergency!!"
The door creaked open… but instead of the familiar elegant witch, out stepped a tall, sleepy-eyed man with ashen hair and striking blue eyes.
"…Huh?" the man blinked. "Are you…?"
Arche froze. His expression twisted into raw confusion. Then into shock. Then—rage.
A man.
Coming out of Elaina's room.
His brain short-circuited.
"WHO ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD?!" Arche screamed, grabbing the guy by the collar like he was about to interrogate a final boss.
"WHERE IS ELAINA?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!"
"I AM Elaina!" the man barked back—and before Arche could start a wrestling match in the hallway, the guy yanked him inside the room and slammed the door shut.
"Shhh! You're gonna wake the whole floor!" the man hissed.
Arche, still flailing, pointed dramatically.
"Don't mess with me! Elaina's a beautiful witch girl with shiny hair, sparkly eyes, and a whole identity built around eating bread and judging people!"
"That's how you see me?" the man muttered flatly.
He pointed accusingly. "You are just some... tall, suspicious, shampoo-commercial-looking guy—with... ashen hair and... those eyes…"
His words trailed off.
Those unmistakable azure eyes.
Arche's jaw dropped. "EHHH?! ARE YOU—?"
The man straightened up, expression turning dead serious. "Yes. I am."
Arche's entire brain screamed in denial.
"I woke up like this," the man continued, gesturing at himself as if explaining a bad wardrobe decision. "I don't know how, or why—but yeah."
Arche backed up a step, still visibly glitching. "W-Wait… are you really Elaina?"
"Unfortunately, yes." The man nodded solemnly.
Silence.
Then Arche groaned, hands on his face. "This is a nightmare. I was supposed to wake up and enjoy my day, not puberty 2.0…"
"…And you're Arche, right?" the man—no, Elaina—asked cautiously.
Arche blinked, still recovering from the sensory overload. "Yeah, I'm Ar—"
Then it hit him like a lightning bolt.
"AH—?!"
He stared down at himself in horror.
Slim waist. Soft features. Chest-level obstruction. Definitely not his usual hardware.
"…We… swapped genders?!"
"Seems like it…" Elaina replied, crossing her arms with a sigh, as if this sort of thing happened every Tuesday.
Arche's face twisted into panic. "Wait! Wait wait wait—does that mean…?!"
Without thinking, he spun around, yanked open his pants, and peeked inside.
There was only silence.
His expression slowly crumbled.
He dropped to his knees in pure despair.
"MY PRIDE…" he cried to the heavens, "IT'S GONE!!!"
Elaina stared, utterly speechless for a moment. Then realization dawned, and she pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Seriously? That's what you're panicking about right now?"
Arche whipped around, face red, voice rising. "You don't get it, Elaina! That was—" He stopped mid-sentence, unable to finish.
"…Never mind," he mumbled, hugging himself like a traumatized schoolgirl.
"Well," Elaina muttered, "this is going to be a long day."
"So," Arche began, arms crossed under his newly acquired chest, "do you have any idea why we suddenly turned into the opposite versions of ourselves?"
Elaina's eyes widened. A memory surged through her brain like a thunderclap.
"The potion…" she muttered.
Arche blinked. "…Potion?"
Elaina slowly turned to him, eyes narrowing with grim clarity. "The one you poured all over your fries last night."
Arche's face paled. "O-Oh…"
There was a silence thick enough to suffocate a conversation.
Then, in classic guilty fashion, Arche turned his head to the side and began whistling an off-key tune like a child caught drawing on the walls.
Elaina's gaze sharpened into a death glare. The temperature in the room dropped by five degrees.
"Arche," she said sweetly. Too sweetly. Dangerously sweet. "Where. Did. You. Buy. That. Potion?"
"Uh… you know… a potion shop?" Arche replied, squirming like someone tiptoeing across broken shells.
Elaina's eye twitched.
Arche added quickly, "W-Well… I might have walked out before the potion seller finished explaining what it actually does."
Silence.
Then—smack.
Elaina facepalmed so hard Arche swore he heard a thunderclap.
"Oh, of course you didn't," Elaina growled. "Why would the man who bought a glowing purple potion at a sketchy shop bother to read the warning label?"
"I-it was a cute bottle!" Arche protested weakly.
With a slow, menacing smile, Elaina stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Arche… remind me again why I haven't thrown you off a cliff yet?"
"U-Um… because deep down, you like having me around?"
She sighed with mock sympathy. "Then let this be a gentle reminder of your place."
"Wait, gentle wha—"
THWACK.
Elaina slammed a firm fist onto Arche's head like delivering divine judgment.
Arche slumped to the floor, rubbing his scalp with a guilty pout. "A-Ah… alright! I deserved that! Let's go back to that potion shop and get this reversed!"
Elaina sighed, exasperated. "But don't think for a second that you're off the hook."
Arche glanced at Elaina's outfit—her usual form-fitting dress now awkwardly stretched over her taller, broader male frame.
"Uh… those clothes look kinda tight on you," he muttered. "Want me to lend you something of mine? You know… baggy and breathable?"
Elaina looked down at herself, then slowly nodded in defeat.
"…Fine," she grumbled. "I'm not wasting money on men's clothes for a body I don't plan on keeping."
"That's the spirit!" Arche said, perking up. "I think I've got something in dark purple. It'll match your soul."
Elaina didn't respond. Just glared.
"…Joking," Arche coughed. "Definitely joking."
Arche headed back into his room with a dramatic sigh, rifling through his wardrobe like he was preparing for a fashion show he never wanted to attend.
"Let's see… Elaina's current body is taller, leaner… not as ripped and devastatingly handsome as mine, obviously…" he muttered, squinting at a pile of folded clothes.
"So maybe something from my 'almost-fit-but-not-really' collection…"
Eventually, he pulled out an outfit that had been banished to the back of his closet years ago—an old ensemble he'd grown out of but refused to throw away out of sheer nostalgia.
He stepped into Elaina's room without knocking—because body swaps apparently erased all sense of manners—and held up the clothes as if announcing the arrival of royalty.
"Here—this is an old set I barely wear anymore."
He gestured dramatically. "It's a little tight on me, but it might fit your 'slightly less impressive' frame."
Elaina—currently a man with a posture that said "I'm too tired to react"—took the clothes with a flat look and a sigh. Still, a flicker of gratitude passed through her eyes.
"…Thanks," she mumbled, glancing down at the outfit. She still hadn't entirely accepted the idea of being tall, male, and—worst of all—broad-shouldered.
Arche gave a thumbs-up, then backed out of the room with the speed of someone avoiding getting accidentally flashed. "I'll wait outside. Don't take too long—I get bored easily."
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Elaina stepped out.
She was dressed in a crisp white shirt under a bright blue sweater, paired with sleek black pants and simple white shoes.
The clothes hugged her form just right—though not too tight—and gave off the strange vibe of a high school heartthrob who accidentally wandered into the wrong story.
Elaina tugged at the hem of the sweater awkwardly. "I'm still not used to this…"
Arche turned and gave a low whistle. "Well, hello there, Mr. Elaina. I gotta say—those vibes are kinda working for you."
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "Thanks… I guess. Not like I had much of a choice."
Arche grinned. "That's the spirit. Accept your fate. Look stylish while doing it."
Elaina sighed. "I already regret waking up this morning."
"Alright! Now it's my turn to change clothes!" Arche declared, puffing her chest with mock pride.
"No offense, but I don't think your clothes will suit this glorious body."
Elaina, now in a man's body, narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"
Her gaze slowly dropped to Arche's chest—unfortunately much more pronounced than her own in her original body.
"What did you just say?" Elaina growled, irritated.
Without another word, Elaina stormed into her room, rummaged furiously through her wardrobe, and returned with the largest shirt she owned. Her expression was stone-cold.
"Put this on," she said, thrusting the shirt at Arche.
Arche blinked at it. "Uhh... Elaina, I think—"
"Put. It. On." Her voice left no room for argument.
Arche straightened, saluting like a soldier under inspection. "Yes Sir—Yes Ma'am."
He quickly retreated into his room with the shirt in hand.
Elaina crossed her arms and waited outside with the stern patience of a prison warden. A minute passed.
Then, a hesitant voice called out, "...Elaina? Can you come here for a second?"
With a tired sigh, Elaina stepped inside. "What now—"
She froze.
Standing before her was Arche, breathless and visibly struggling as the oversized white shirt clung tightly around her chest.
The buttons on the front were stretched to their limits, trembling like they were holding on for dear life.
Elaina barely had time to register the danger before—
POP!
A button shot off like a bullet and smacked Elaina squarely on the forehead.
"Uh... I was gonna warn you," Arche muttered sheepishly.
Elaina rubbed her forehead, wincing. Her gaze dropped again, and this time—unfortunately—it landed on Arche's now-exposed cleavage.
She stepped out and waited just outside the door, arms crossed and expression unreadable.
A moment later, the door creaked open just a sliver—enough for a pale hand to awkwardly slip the shirt through.
It dangled between two fingers like it carried some kind of dark curse.
"I can't believe this..." she muttered, staring blankly at the wall as the door clicked shut again behind her.
After a while, Arche stepped out of the room, prompting Elaina to turn toward him—toward the man now wearing a woman's body.
He was dressed in a sleeveless tank top, a black jacket casually thrown over it, shorts that showed off far too much leg, and sleek black shoes. Somehow, it worked. In fact, it worked too well.
Arche looked... terrifyingly sexy.
How did he, a guy, manage to pull off women's fashion better than most women?
"Hey," Arche said with a smug grin, striking a pose. "Be honest. Do I look good or what?"
Elaina scanned him up and down, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. "Arche... are you sure you were born male?"
That hit him like a dagger.
"Ugh… Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?" he groaned.
Elaina tilted her head. "Where did you even get those clothes?"
"Hm? These? Just some of my own stuff—I cut them a little," he replied nonchalantly.
He paused, catching the suspicious glint in Elaina's eyes. Then, with a dry look, added, "You think I enjoy this kind of thing?"
He crossed his arms dramatically. "Sorry, but I prefer pants and dignity, thank you very much."
"Just checking," she replied with a smirk. "But I'll admit, you do have a talent for picking women's clothes."
Arche beamed with pride. "Well, that's because I read a lot of magazines about beautiful and sexy wom—"
He froze mid-sentence, realizing what he had just said. Slowly, he turned to Elaina.
"Forget I said that."
Elaina sighed, amused. "Yeah. No doubt about it—you were definitely born a man."
After their brief conversation, they headed straight to the shop where Arche had bought the potions.
But as they arrived, they found the doors and windows shut tight.
"…Ah, right. It's Sunday," Arche muttered.
Elaina groaned in frustration. "Are you kidding me? The shop's closed on Sundays!?"
She sighed, crossing her arms. "Now what are we supposed to do? Just wait around until tomorrow?"
But when she turned to face Arche—he was gone.
"Huh?" Elaina looked around, puzzled, then spotted him entering a fairly large store nearby.
Curious, she followed him in, only to find herself inside a clothing shop—and there he was, already wandering through the women's section.
Elaina walked up to him with a tired expression. "What are you doing now?" she asked, arms folded.
"…I just feel kind of uncomfortable," Arche said, his own arms crossed now.
It didn't take long for Elaina to figure out what he meant. In his current female form, he obviously wasn't wearing a bra—because, well, he didn't have one. But he definitely needed one now.
"Well," she said, giving him a once-over, "do you even know your size?"
"Uh…" Arche awkwardly picked up a few bras in different sizes. "Alright… wait for me here, okay?"
Elaina let out a sigh, leaning against the nearby wall. "Fine. But don't take forever."
Arche nodded and disappeared into the fitting room, leaving Elaina waiting outside with her arms still crossed.
As Elaina leaned against the wall, arms crossed and patience running thin, a staff member from the store approached her.
Given her current male form, there was really only one logical conclusion the employee could draw about why a man was loitering in the women's lingerie section.
"Are you waiting for your girlfriend, sir?" the staff asked with a warm, innocent smile.
Elaina didn't even flinch. "No," she replied flatly, not bothering to explain, "He—I mean, she's just a friend."
The staff member's smile didn't fade. In fact, it somehow got brighter.
"Oh? I see... I'll pray for your relationship." With that, they bowed slightly and walked away, leaving Elaina blinking in mild disbelief.
She let out a sigh, rubbing her temples. Seriously, what kind of rom-com nonsense am I living in right now...
Moments later, Arche finally emerged from the dressing room, holding a few items triumphantly.
"Elaina, I found the right size!" he announced, beaming with pride.
"Took you long enough," she said, glancing over. "So? What size are you?"
"It's an E!"
There was a beat of silence. Elaina's expression went blank.
"…E, huh," she muttered, as if each syllable physically hurt.
"E is for Elaina!" Arche grinned, then suddenly perked up as if struck by genius. "Oh! Does that mean you're A for Arche—"
A smack echoed through the store, followed by Arche's muffled yelp from behind a clothing rack.
Let's just say he got what he deserved again.
Still red in the face, Elaina sighed and quickly grabbed a few sets of underwear for herself—ones that fit her current situation a bit more appropriately.
They both made their purchases and retreated to the changing rooms, each emerging shortly after looking noticeably more comfortable.
Outside the shop, Elaina folded her arms. "So, we have to stay like this?"
"The shop's closed, but the people are definitely still in there!" Arche said with unwarranted optimism. "Let's go around town and look for the owner!"
"We could also just ask people nearby. Might make things easier," he added with a proud smile.
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "You really think it's that easy? You know nothing ever is when you think it will be."
"You're just too negative, Elaina," he huffed. Then, after a beat, his eyes lit up.
"Hey, should we come up with a new name for you? A guy named Elaina is way too abnormal!"
She raised an eyebrow. "Wow, lucky you—must be great not having to think too hard about that kind of thing."
"…What?"
"Elaina may sound girly, but Arche is more commonly a girl's name."
Arche froze for a second, visibly annoyed. "…Agh, forget it."
"Let's just focus on finding the shop owner," Elaina said, steering them back to the problem at hand. "If they live in this town, someone must've seen them."
They started walking again, scanning the streets. A long silence settled between them—until Arche suddenly lit up.
"Wait! I just realized—now that I'm a woman, I can approach a unicorn!"
Elaina blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I've always wanted to ride one! But unicorns only allow pure, virgin maidens to get close." He clenched his fists, eyes gleaming. "I've changed my mind! I'm staying like this until I ride one!"
Elaina just stared at him, stunned. "...Up to you. I still want my body back yesterday."
But Arche wasn't listening. He was lost in his unicorn dream—until reality slapped him in the face.
"Ah," he muttered.
He'd just remembered something crucial.
He wasn't a virgin anymore.
Silence.
His excitement withered. His face darkened.
"Elaina," he growled, eyes shadowed, "we're splitting up."
"What? Why—"
"There's no benefit to me being in this body anymore!" he shouted, fists shaking. "DAMN IT!"
And with that, he bolted down the street, leaving Elaina in his dust.
"Hey! Arche!" she called out. But he was long gone.
She let out a tired sigh. "Why does he have to be so impulsive…?"
Taking a deep breath, she looked around and refocused. If they were going to find the shop owner, splitting up might actually help.
She started walking in the opposite direction. "What's gotten into him…?" she muttered, shaking her head.
Elaina continued walking through the streets, stopping now and then to ask if anyone had seen the potion shop owner.
No luck.
"Well, that was useless," she muttered under her breath, rubbing her temple in frustration.
Determined not to give up, she wandered into a quieter part of the town, where the crowds thinned and the noise faded.
It was there—right when she thought she could gather her thoughts in peace—that a cheerful voice cut through the air.
"Good morning~!"
Elaina turned around, only to find herself face-to-face with three women, each wearing a smile that could only be described as too friendly.
"What are you looking for?" the first one purred. "A beautiful woman? Lucky you, I happen to be right here."
"Oh my, do you have time?" the second chimed in, leaning in slightly. "You look very free."
The third winked. "Or maybe you're just lonely?"
Elaina blinked. A small pause. Then a long sigh.
Right… I forgot I've literally turned into a guy.
"Uh, sorry," she started, awkwardly scratching her neck. "I'm actually just looking for someone—"
But one of the women stepped in closer, cutting her off.
"No need to be shy~ We don't bite," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Elaina raised an eyebrow, trying her best not to grimace. "That's not exactly reassuring."
"Aww, don't be like that." Another one casually brushed her fingers against Elaina's arm.
"We're just bored. And you? You look like someone worth entertaining."
Elaina froze, very much not entertained.
"I appreciate the attention, really," she said, taking a polite step back. "But I'm in the middle of something important, so—"
Before she could finish, the third woman had already snuck behind her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
"C'mon," she whispered. "Let loose a little. Just enjoy the moment."
That was enough.
Elaina's warm expression vanished instantly, replaced by the cold, piercing gaze of someone who had absolutely no time for this nonsense.
The air turned frigid.
The women paused, visibly recoiling. Their playful grins faltered as the chill in her eyes sent a silent warning.
"Whoa…" one of them muttered, taking a half-step back. "He got cold real fast…"
Elaina's eyes widened slightly as she caught a glimpse of messy black hair sticking out from the edge of a nearby alley. That could only be one person.
Arche.
Without another word to the persistent trio of women, Elaina spun on her heel.
"Sorry, I just remembered—I'm meeting someone," she said hastily, her voice flat and her expression unreadable.
"Aw, seriously?" one of them pouted, crossing her arms. "Tell them to wait. We're more fun," another teased.
Elaina didn't respond. She was already walking away.
As she neared the alley, the sight before her made her sigh in that tired, long-suffering kind of way only Arche could inspire.
Three thugs—big ones—stood facing Arche, who looked like someone who had confidently walked into a hornet's nest and was just now realizing his mistake.
"Oh? Elaina, hi!" Arche said cheerfully, flashing a peace sign—completely ignoring the fact that a thug was looming over him like a final boss.
"Can you believe it? Me, in trouble again. What a twist!"
One of the thugs, a burly guy with a knife and the subtle grace of a brick wall, stepped forward. "You his girlfriend?"
Before Elaina could reply, the three women from earlier rounded the corner, stopping as they caught sight of the standoff.
Their eyes narrowed as they spotted Elaina again. "So this is who you were meeting?"
The thug's eyebrow twitched. "Wait, are they with you too?"
"I don't even know them," Elaina muttered. "And no, I'm not his girlfriend."
"Hey!" Arche barked in protest. "You didn't have to sound that offended."
"I'm just being accurate."
The thug waved the knife casually. "Doesn't matter. You're both in our way."
Elaina took a breath, brushing a lock of hair from her face, her expression sharpening.
Before Elaina could reach for her wand, she paused—only to remember a rather inconvenient detail.
She was a man now.
And standing in front of her... was also a man.
For a moment, she simply stared, her brain catching up with the situation.
Martial arts had always been Arche's department. Sure, he'd taught her a few moves—some basic self-defense, just in case.
But the general rule was clear: if a petite girl like her fought a muscular guy in hand-to-hand combat, she'd end up eating pavement nine times out of ten.
But right now? She wasn't petite. She wasn't even a girl.
A strange, unfamiliar rush tickled down her spine.
"...Why are you just standing there?" Arche asked, blinking in confusion.
A wicked smirk slowly spread across Elaina's face, her posture straightening like a swordsman before a duel.
"Don't worry, Arche," she said coolly, her voice lower and smoother in this temporary male form.
Her eyes gleamed with uncharacteristic confidence. "I've got this."
Arche's brows rose, impressed. He glanced between the thugs and his suddenly bold apprentice, then gave a knowing nod.
"Very well. Show me what I've taught you, grasshopper," he said, dramatically taking a step back. "Master will be watching."
He strolled out of the alley and casually joined the group of flirtatious women who were now whispering excitedly among themselves, as if this was the most entertaining thing they'd seen all day.
One of the thugs stepped forward, clearly unimpressed. He was built like a bear with anger management issues and had a knife in his hand—classic.
"Don't get cocky, pretty boy," the thug growled.
Elaina tilted her head, smiling in a way that was equal parts charming and dangerous.
"Pretty boy, huh?" she echoed, cracking her knuckles with deliberate flair.
She took a step forward, her voice dropping to a playful murmur.
"Let's see how well 'pretty' punches."
One of the thugs swung a heavy wooden pole straight at Elaina's head—but she caught it with her forearm like it was nothing, her eyes blazing with sudden adrenaline.
In the same breath, she reeled back and slammed a full-powered punch into the thug's gut.
The man's mouth dropped open like a broken hinge as pain exploded through his body. Elaina blinked, stunned at her own strength.
Then, as the thug crumpled, her lips curled into a wide grin she didn't even try to hide.
"Woah," she breathed, clearly impressed with herself.
Another thug, armed with a knife, lunged from the side. But Elaina caught his wrist mid-swing and stopped it cold.
With one swift motion, she kneed his leg hard, knocking him off balance—then smacked his face with a slap so fierce it echoed like thunder.
Down he went.
The third thug hadn't even made a move yet, but Elaina was already charging at him.
She grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and with a wild yell of effort—flipped him over her shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
Boom.
Three thugs. Down. Groaning. Defeated.
Elaina stood in the center, panting, her fists still clenched. Sweat clung to her brow, but her face lit up with uncontainable joy.
From behind her—
"KYYYAAA!"
A chorus of excited cheers erupted from the group of women watching, their eyes sparkling with admiration—including Arche, who, now in a girl's body, was practically screaming like a fangirl.
Elaina turned around, smiling confidently. "You ladies alright?"
"That's my girl!" Arche exclaimed proudly—then quickly faltered. "Er... I mean, my proud and favorite student!"
The correction came just in time, though not before a few curious glances were thrown his way.
Despite the confusion, the group of women remained visibly enamored. They practically sparkled as they watched Elaina, hearts in their eyes.
"That was incredible!" one of them called out breathlessly, completely starstruck.
Arche, sensing danger—or perhaps simply jealousy—swiftly stepped in front of Elaina, spreading his arms protectively.
"Such a shame," he said with a grin, "but she's—he's taken."
The magic words landed with brutal impact.
"Aww, seriously?" a petite brunette pouted, her shoulders slumping. "You've got to be kidding me..."
"Ugh, typical," added a taller woman with striking green eyes, crossing her arms. "The hot ones are always taken."
Arche flashed her a grin. "Nice work," he praised, looking far too pleased with himself.
"Maybe next time, I'll teach you how to shoot a pistol… or, you know, stab people properly with sharp weapons."
Elaina arched an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Thanks, but I think my magic is more than enough." She paused, then added dryly, "Also—do you hear yourself right now? Teaching me how to stab people?"
Arche shrugged with all the seriousness of a man giving sage life advice. "What? It's an important life skill!"
"What if your magic fails one day, and the only thing between you and certain doom is… a butter knife?"
Elaina sighed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet—" Arche jabbed a thumb at himself proudly, "—ridiculously charming."
She rolled her eyes, amused, as if she had just confirmed her suspicion: Arche was less a traveling companion and more a full-time headache.
With that crisis narrowly averted, Arche and Elaina made their way to a nearby restaurant to wind down and refuel.
The place was cozy, filled with the warm aroma of sizzling oil and spices.
Without hesitation, Arche flagged down a server and confidently ordered a full plate of fried chicken.
Elaina blinked, staring at the mountain of crispy meat in front of him.
"Um... Arche, that's a lot of food," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can finish all that by yourself?"
Elaina blinked, unsure whether to be impressed or concerned.
"Watch me."
Arche then overheard a conversation behind him. A man with curly hair was speaking to his friend.
"Hey, let's buy some potion for your allergies. Even if it only works temporarily, it should still help, right?" the curly-haired man said.
"But the potion shop near the library is closed," grumbled his rather hefty companion.
"No worries! I know where the owner lives. We can just ask her to open up!" the curly-haired man laughed, clearly proud of his 'brilliant' plan.
Arche's ear twitched. He glanced at Elaina, who had heard the conversation too. She leaned toward him slightly, her voice hushed.
"You caught that too?" she murmured.
Arche licked the last bit of oil from his fingers and nodded. "Alright, my turn to shine."
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "Shine? What are you—?"
Before she could finish, Arche stood up and sauntered over to the curly-haired man with the confidence of someone on a fashion runway.
"Hey there," he purred, tucking his hair behind his ear like a soap opera lead. "Mind if I borrow you for a minute?"
The man blinked. "H-Huh? Uh… sure!"
Arche gently grabbed his wrist. "Not here… it's embarrassing," he said coyly, leading the stunned man outside.
Back at the table, the large friend cursed under his breath. "Lucky bastard…"
Outside, Arche led the curly-haired man into a dim alley. The poor guy's face had gone beet red. Arche leaned in with a sly smile.
"Hey, I'm curious… Where does that potion shop owner live, exactly?" he asked smoothly.
"Uh… th-that's, uh… kinda personal info. You'd know if you're a regular…" the man stammered, fidgeting under Arche's seductive gaze.
"Oh? That's such a shame…" Arche cooed, tilting his head with mock concern.
"I really need that potion, you know. I'm sick, and that shop's the only one that sells what I need."
"J-Just wait until tomorrow!" the man stammered. "I swear it'll be open!"
"But I want it now," Arche purred, trailing a finger down the man's chest.
"If I don't get it today, I might just drop dead from tragic beauty."
He folded his arms beneath his—currently enhanced—chest, giving the man a full view. "I'm willing to offer… appropriate compensation."
The man's eyes zeroed in, a nervous giggle escaping his lips. "Uh… o-okay…"
"Her house is next to the clock tower in the north," he spilled instantly.
"Oh? Thank you~" Arche smiled sweetly and took a dainty step back. "Now, for your reward…"
"R-Really?! Right now?!" the man's eyes sparkled with hope.
Arche's fist connected with his face faster than he could blink.
The man's head ricocheted off the alley wall and he dropped like a sack of potatoes.
"Ugh… that felt way too gay," Arche muttered, shaking his hand with a grimace.
He glanced down at the unconscious man. "Did I hit him too hard?"
"Well, not my problem" he added with a smirk, brushing his bangs aside before sauntering out of the alley.
"Elaina! Let's go! I know where she lives!" he called out brightly, then threw a glance at the big guy still seated.
"Your friend's off buying... enlightenment."
The large man blinked and slowly nodded, too stunned to question anything.
Riding swiftly through the air on their broomsticks, Arche and Elaina zoomed toward the potion shop owner's house.
Arche glanced sideways. "Elaina… seeing a man sit like that… it's just weird." His tone was full of judgment, as Elaina sat gracefully, legs neatly together like a princess in a skirt.
Elaina blinked. "Well, excuse me for having manners," she quipped, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Then she tilted her head, eyeing him skeptically. "Wait… are you standing on your broom?"
"Of course," Arche grinned, arms crossed confidently. "It looks cooler. Plus, I've got great balance."
At that exact moment, his broom wobbled.
"Wait, no—"
WHAM.
Arche tumbled off mid-air, hit the ground, and rolled like a poorly-thrown barrel.
Elaina burst out laughing, nearly dropping her broom. "Hah! Smooth move, ballerina." She covered her mouth, still giggling.
"You might wanna sync with your new curves before doing stunts."
"Ugh… this body has no aerodynamics," Arche groaned from the dirt, limbs splayed dramatically.
Fast-forward a bit…
They landed in front of a small, modest-looking house.
Arche, with a slight bruise still glowing on his cheek, pointed at the door. "Alright, Elaina. Smash it down. Use that manly strength!"
Elaina stared at him. "You want me to break in?" she deadpanned. "What happened to knocking, you civilized caveman?"
Arche rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... I just thought it'd be hotter."
Elaina sighed. "You need therapy."
"Fine, fine, I'll do it!" Arche stepped forward and began pounding on the door like he was trying to break into a vault. "Hey! Open up! We just wanna talk!"
Elaina raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "Wow. That's one way to knock. Very... subtle."
He ignored her, still banging.
"You know, you don't have to assault the door like it owes you lunch money," she added, deadpan.
Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a trembling young woman with wide, watery eyes.
Arche immediately spun around, pointing at Elaina. "Elaina! What did you do to this innocent little girl?!"
"What?!" Elaina snapped. "I literally just stood here!"
"Your aura probably scared her," he shrugged.
"I'm not the one who tried to kick the door in!"
"U-Um… c-could you guys maybe not fight on my porch?" the girl mumbled, barely audible.
"Shut u—"
YANK.
"A-Aaagh! My ear! My EAR!" Arche squirmed as Elaina pulled on it like a disobedient toddler.
"Don't be rude," she said sweetly, still tugging. "She's just a kid."
"Umm… actually… I'm 25," the 'girl' corrected, her voice awkward.
There was a beat of silence.
"…She's older than me?" Arche blinked. "Right. Don't judge a book by its adorable, tiny cover. Got it. Life lesson #67."
"Anyway!" Elaina suddenly blurted out, still gripping Arche's ear like it was her personal stress ball. "You're the owner of this potion shop, right?"
"Y-Yes?" the girl replied, startled. "Is… something wrong?"
"Y-Yeah, her hand," Arche muttered through clenched teeth.
"Could you please let go of my ear before it detaches from my head?"
Instead, Elaina tightened her grip.
"This idiot—" she jerked his head a little for emphasis "—didn't bother to listen to your explanation about that potion you gave him"
"Oh no," the girl gasped.
"Yeah," Elaina huffed. "Now thanks to Captain Reckless here, we've both swapped genders"
"H-Huh?!" the girl's eyes widened. "W-Wait… so you're a guy?" she pointed at Arche, then turned slowly to Elaina. "And you're a girl?"
The two just stared at her, unamused.
"I… should've guessed from your personalities," the girl muttered under her breath.
Arche blinked. "Wait, what did you just say?"
"N-Nothing!" the girl squeaked, waving her hands frantically. "I-I'll go get the antidote right away!"
She disappeared into the house at lightning speed.
"When exactly do you plan on letting go of my ear?" Arche asked, wincing in pain.
"When you stop acting like a brat," Elaina replied sweetly, still pinching like it was a competitive sport.
Moments later, the girl returned, clutching a small glowing bottle.
"U-Um… here," she said, handing it carefully to Elaina. "Just drink it, and by tomorrow morning, you should both be back to normal!"
Elaina took the bottle, finally releasing Arche's poor ear. He immediately reached up and rubbed it like it had survived a war.
"I think I lost all feeling in that ear…" he muttered.
"Good. That means you'll remember this lesson longer," Elaina said with a satisfied smile.
Elaina eyed the potion bottle suspiciously, like it had just insulted her fashion sense.
"You sure this isn't going to turn me into a talking chicken or something?"
The girl quickly shook her head, both hands up like she was under arrest.
"N-No! I swear! I've never had a single failure! Well… aside from that one exploding shampoo, but that was a fluke!"
"Comforting," Elaina muttered, then sighed and uncorked the bottle.
She gave Arche a side glance. He stood there with the confidence of someone who had definitely not read the label.
Raising the bottle to her lips, Elaina took a cautious sip—and instantly regretted it.
"Bitter… like my patience," she grimaced.
After drinking half, she shoved the bottle into Arche's hands. "Your turn."
Without hesitation, Arche downed it like it was water from a mountain spring. "I saw my life flash before my eyes—and it was begging me to stop drinking."
"Don't be dramatic," Elaina said, wiping her mouth.
"I live on drama."
He reached into his pocket and handed some money to the flustered girl.
"Huh? N-No need, really—"
"Just take it," Arche cut her off with a sheepish grin. "Also, sorry for being a jerk earlier. My sense of humor sometimes runs faster than my common sense."
"O-Oh… okay… thanks," the girl stammered, accepting the payment.
Elaina smiled faintly, watching the exchange. Despite all the chaos, Arche always had a way of redeeming himself—eventually.
They walked side by side under the warm afternoon sun.
"Hey, Elaina," Arche called out suddenly, a mischievous glint already in his voice.
"Yeah?" Elaina glanced at him, eyebrow raised like she was bracing for nonsense.
"How does it feel to be a man?" he asked, grinning wide.
Elaina blinked, then looked down at her now masculine form as if realizing it all over again.
"Hmm… Stronger. More athletic. My legs feel like they were made for sprinting or chasing down criminals," she replied thoughtfully. "But I do miss the elegance"
Arche laughed and flipped his hair dramatically, "Honestly? I'll adapt. I already feel like I could rule the world in this body."
"But yeah, not really my thing. I miss my glorious abs."
Elaina chuckled. "I get it. I miss my body too."
Then her gaze drifted to Arche's current form. "You're… surprisingly cute. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were about to debut as an idol."
Arche flipped his long hair and struck a pose. "Darling, I'm hot in every timeline, dimension, and gender."
Elaina rolled her eyes. "There's that ego again."
"You can't blame me," he smirked. "It's backed by solid evidence."
"But be honest—when I was a guy, I was still handsome, right?"
Elaina put on a mock-thoughtful face, like she was about to give a serious review. Then shrugged.
"Meh. You were okay. Like…background-character-at-best level."
Arche gasped, clutching his chest like he'd been shot. "Elaina, that hurt! That was a critical hit!"
"Yup. I do it professionally," she replied smugly.
"Truly, you're the final boss of heartbreak."
"Just part of my charm."
That night, Arche somehow convinced Elaina to drink at the bar with him.
It was a terrible idea. They got very drunk. Like, "barely-functioning-humans" drunk.
By the time they stumbled back to the hotel, they looked like two freshly escaped lunatics—giggling, tripping over absolutely nothing, and leaning on each other like broken shopping carts.
"Archhhheee... I don't think I can feel my legs anymore," Elaina slurred, hiccuping mid-sentence like a malfunctioning flute.
"You can't even walk straight!" Arche laughed, just before smacking his shoulder into a wall.
He finally grabbed the doorknob to his room and dramatically declared, "Good night, handsome man…"
He paused, then gagged slightly. "Ugh. Why did that sound so wrong coming out of my mouth?"
Elaina, barely managing to keep her eyes open, raised a shaky hand in salute like a drunk soldier.
"Good night, beautiful woman," she said, dragging out the words in a playful tone.
They both staggered into their rooms, flopped onto their beds like sacks of potatoes, and passed out instantly—snoring in less than a minute, with their shoes still on and dignity left behind at the bar.
The next morning, Arche woke up face-down on the bed, drooling like a baby.
"Huh…?" he mumbled, blinking at the wall. His hair was a mess. His pride? Missing.
"Hehe… it was all just a dream," he said with the confidence of a man who absolutely did not remember last night.
He stretched with a yawn that cracked his spine. "Voice's back too! Sweet!"
"Hm… I need to pee. Where's the toilet again?" he muttered like someone who'd just woken up in a stranger's house, wobbling toward the door.
He grabbed the handle—click—and opened it right as the door across the hall opened.
Elaina stepped out, visibly drowsy and a little rumpled, wearing a shirt clearly a few sizes too big. It hung off her like she'd borrowed it in a hurry.
"...Good morning, Witchie," Arche greeted, half-smiling.
"Morning…" she mumbled through a yawn, scratching her head like a confused cat.
Arche blinked, rubbed his eyes, blinked again. "...Wait a sec. Why are you wearing my clothes?"
Elaina looked down at herself, tugging at the oversized shirt. "Oh. Huh. That explains why these feel like pajamas from a giant."
Then she narrowed her eyes at him. "...Why are you wearing women's clothes?"
Arche froze. He looked down.
"HUH?!"
There was a moment of silence. The two of them just… stared at each other. Processing.
"...Don't tell me—"
"...Yesterday wasn't a dream?!"
They both screamed in unison.
"Ugh… that's a terrible way to start the morning…" Arche grumbled, dragging a hand down his face. "Well, I guess it's time to get back to the daily grind."
"You're right," Elaina sighed, still blinking away the remnants of sleep. "But first… let's get properly dressed."
She rubbed her temples, as if trying to physically erase the memory of what just happened.
"Ah! You're right—especially me!" Arche spun around and quickly shut his door with a click.
"I completely agree," Elaina muttered, closing her door as well, her voice dry.
Both of them began preparing for the day ahead—showering, dressing, and doing their best to regain a sense of normalcy.
Eventually, they emerged from their rooms, looking far more presentable than before, and met in the hallway.
"Ready?" Elaina asked, adjusting her hat slightly.
"Oh no—I forgot to go to the toilet!" Arche gasped, eyes wide with panic. "Just wait outside! I'll be quick!"
Before Elaina could respond, he bolted down the hallway like his life depended on it.
"Alright, but don't take forever," she called after him, shaking her head with a small smile.
The morning sun filtered in through the windows, bathing the hallway in soft, golden light.
Whatever awaited them today—chaos, peace, or something in between—they would face it the same way they always did.