Riku walked through the school gates, feeling like the entire world was watching him.
Except it wasn't him—not really. It was Mei's face, Mei's uniform, Mei's body.
But inside, it was Riku.
His hands trembled slightly as he gripped Mei's school bag tighter.
"Act normal. Just walk normal."
He took a deep breath and stepped into the hallway. The usual chatter of students echoed around, but now every glance, every whisper felt like it was aimed at him.
"So this is how she felt… every day?"
He passed by a group of girls. They glanced at him—then whispered.
"Hey, that's Mei, right? She looks weird today."
"Tch, maybe she finally lost her mind."
Riku clenched his fists.
"Ignore it. Focus."
He made it to class. When he opened the door, everyone turned to look.
The class fell silent for a moment—then returned to normal. Kind of.
As he walked to Mei's seat near the window, he caught eyes with a boy sitting near the back.
Asahi.
That smug grin was still there. Asahi leaned back in his chair, gave a lazy wave.
"Yo, Mei."
Riku's blood boiled—but he forced a smile.
"Hey…" he said, barely keeping his voice steady.
Asahi's eyes narrowed. "You look different today. Tryna act bold or something?"
Riku wanted to slam a desk into his face. But he couldn't—not yet.
"Play it cool. Not now."
Lunch Break – Rooftop
Riku sat alone, finally breathing freely.
He stared at his hands—her hands—and thought back to Mei's voice in his dream.
"You have ten days. Delete the video from his phone. And make every student regret what they did to me."
His fists clenched.
"Asahi. That bastard recorded us and used it to blackmail her. How low can you fall?"
He took out a small notebook.
"First, I need a plan."
He started writing:
1. Get close to Asahi.
2. Find out where he keeps his phone.
3. Figure out his passcode.
4. Delete the video.
5. Expose him publicly.
6. Make every student feel her pain.
But even with a list, his hands were shaking.
"This isn't a game. If I fail, I stay trapped in Mei's body… and Mei disappears forever."
After School – Hallway
Asahi blocked his way near the shoe lockers.
"Yo. Mei. You finish my math homework?"
Riku looked up slowly. "No."
Asahi blinked. "Huh?"
Riku smiled. A sharp, cold smile.
"I'm not your dog."
For a moment, silence.
Then laughter.
"What's gotten into you?" Asahi said, grabbing Riku's collar. "You hit your head or something?"
Riku stared into his eyes.
"You're going to regret everything you did. Starting today."
Asahi narrowed his eyes. "You threatening me?"
"Take it however you want."
Riku turned and walked away, his heart racing like crazy.
"Okay… that might've been too much."
But deep inside, it felt good.
Really good.
That Night – Mei's Room
Riku sat at the desk, staring at her mirror.
The girl in the reflection had fire in her eyes now.
"Day 1… done."
He placed his hand over his heart.
"I promise, Mei. I'll free us both."
The morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, brushing gently against Riku's face.
He sat up slowly in Mei's bed, her soft pink blanket falling off his shoulder. He blinked twice, momentarily forgetting—
Then looked down.
"Right… I'm still Mei."
His chest still felt foreign. The weight, the softness—it threw off his balance.
And worst of all—his body moved differently.
Getting dressed was still a war. He fumbled with the bra again for ten whole minutes.
"HOW do girls wear this every day?!" he hissed, nearly strangling himself with the straps.
Morning – School Gate
Day 2 had just begun, and Riku already felt the pressure rising.
He walked into the school building, trying to keep a confident pace. Some students stared. A few whispered.
"Did Mei always walk like that?"
"She's kinda… scarier now?"
Riku didn't care.
"Good. Be scared."
Second Period – Class 2-B
Riku scanned the classroom. Asahi wasn't there. Suspicious.
He made a mental note.
When the teacher stepped out for a few minutes, a boy leaned over.
"Hey, Mei. You look hotter today."
Riku's eye twitched.
"Can I punch him? Just one punch?"
But instead, he forced a sharp smile.
"Thanks. You look dumber than usual."
The class went quiet for a second, then snickers followed. The boy backed off, scowling.
"This is... kinda fun." Riku thought.
"But I can't forget why I'm here."
Lunch Break – Accident
Riku stood up and stretched. He wasn't hungry—Mei's body didn't crave the same greasy food he used to love.
"Maybe I'll just use the bathroom instead."
Without thinking, his body moved from muscle memory.
His feet turned left, past the vending machines.
Down the hallway.
Open the door—
Step inside.
Urinals.
He blinked.
Urinals.
"...Wait."
A boy at the sink glanced back. His eyes widened.
"HUH? Mei!?"
"Oh crap."
Riku screamed internally. He dashed out of the boys' washroom, face red like a volcano.
He pressed his back against the wall, breathing heavily.
"That was close…! What am I doing?! I'm not a guy anymore!"
A couple girls passed by and giggled. "Mei's acting weird again."
After School – Library
He needed answers.
Riku pulled out Mei's old diary from her locker—something he found hidden the day before.
Inside were pages of hurt.
"Today, they called me a curse again."
"They took my lunch."
"Why does Asahi hate me so much?"
"I wish I was invisible."
Riku's hand tightened on the book.
"This girl was crying while I was laughing in my own world. And I never even knew."
Evening – On the Way Home
Riku spotted Asahi across the road, talking to two seniors. Probably up to no good.
He pulled out Mei's phone and opened the voice recording app.
He tapped record and followed silently behind.
Asahi laughed.
"Yeah, that chick Mei? She's so easy to break. Give her one threat and she folds."
"Still got that video?"
"Of course. Safe and sound in my hidden album. She can cry all she wants."
Riku's grip on the phone tightened.
"Gotcha."
He turned and walked away, his eyes cold.
Night – Mei's Room
Riku lay on the bed, eyes wide open.
"I messed up today... almost exposed myself. But I got information. And tomorrow, I'm one step closer."
He stared at the ceiling.
"Mei… I'm starting to feel it now. How deep your pain was. And I promise—"
His hand curled into a fist.
"—I'll make them pay."
The sun had barely set when Riku arrived home.
He dropped his bag near the door, shoulders aching from the weight—not just of books, but of emotions he was never meant to carry. His thoughts were cluttered, buzzing with Asahi's words and Mei's pain.
He stepped into the room and flopped onto the bed, letting out a long sigh.
"How did she handle all this… every single day?"
His hand reached toward Mei's phone, intending to review the voice recording again. But just then—
a vibration.
New message.
Sender: Mother
Message:
"Don't forget to send me the ¥30,000 this month. Or don't bother calling me daughter again."
Riku's heart froze. He read the message again.
Then again.
¥30,000…? Her own mother?
He scrolled up. There were dozens more messages—some short, some long, all sharp like knives:
"I raised you, the least you can do is pay me back."
"Don't be useless like your father."
"No job? No money? Then what are you good for?"
"You're just like him. A failure."
Riku's hands trembled.
He stood up slowly, as if the floor under him had shifted.
"She… She was being blackmailed at school… and extorted at home?"
He stared at the screen, Mei's fingers trembling in his grip.
A deep silence filled the room.
Then—his legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. Not his own. But hers.
"This body… has been through hell."
Riku opened the dresser drawer, searching for anything—letters, hidden notes, photos.
He found one picture, old and faded. Mei as a child, smiling… next to a woman whose face was only half in the frame. The woman wasn't smiling.
Riku stared at Mei's smile.
"Even after everything… you kept smiling like that?"
He clenched his fist.
"You were drowning while everyone watched."
He picked up the phone again. Re-read the latest message.
Then he whispered to himself:
"Mei… I promise you. I'm going to fix this. Not just for ten days. For everything they took from you."