In a Western-style mansion perched atop a slope, clearly the home of a wealthy family.
"I'm different now."
Eriri Sawamura stood before a full-length mirror, still wearing her Toyogasaki Academy uniform, looking no different from usual. But only Eriri knew she had changed.
Before the mirror, Eriri raised her right hand, examining the two oval contact lenses on her fingertip.
Due to years of late-night drawing under desk lamps since elementary school, Eriri had worn glasses from an early age, with her prescription long exceeding 400 degrees.
Yet now, as she gazed at the golden-haired, twin-tailed girl in the mirror, she could once again see the world with the clarity of her childhood.
"Has my myopia completely disappeared?"
As she spoke, Eriri turned to look out the window at a cherry blossom tree about ten metres away.
Since it was still spring, a few lingering petals remained on the branches.
Staring at the distant tree, Eriri could clearly discern the colours on each petal and even count their exact number.
"Even when cycling home earlier, I barely felt tired despite reaching 40 km/h."
"I really am different now." Eriri sighed sincerely at her reflection.
Just an ordinary day at school - receiving a love letter by chance, going to reject it only to discover it was a 'prank' by two seniors, then being forcibly recruited as a founding member of some mysterious organisation.
The world had changed so drastically within a single day that even a seasoned otaku like Eriri felt somewhat dazed.
Only now did she truly feel that she really wasn't the same as before.
"But the most important thing is... the ability..."
Taking a deep breath before the mirror, the reflection gradually began transforming.
Lustrous dark purple hair, mysteriously alluring violet eyes, a taller and more curvaceous figure than Eriri's - the image of an elegant noblewoman materialised in the glass.
— Sayuri Sawamura.
The birth mother of Eriri Spencer Sawamura, and the woman she knew best.
"According to Senior Luo's mass-mailed ability analysis on the forum, this 'Metamorphosis' power is best practised starting with familiar people before gradually attempting more challenging transformations... to let my mind adapt..."
'Eriri' examined herself in the mirror, then suddenly clutched her cheeks in frustration:
"Damn thirty-year-old hag! Being taller is bad enough, but having a better figure too? Even my skin needs 'adjusting' to match yours! You're almost forty!!"
Just as Eriri was venting her grievances, a sudden knock came at the door.
Before she could react, the door swung open, revealing the smiling face of Mrs Sayuri Sawamura holding up a Blu-ray disc.
"Eriri, I've bought the latest Blue Archive BD! Shall we watch it together after dinner?"
"Oh my?" Sayuri froze upon seeing another 'herself' in the room, her expression momentarily blank.
Before Eriri could even scream, Sayuri teased in a mocking tone:
"Eriri, you naughty girl, pretending to be Mummy. What if Daddy mistakes you for me? That wouldn't do at all."
"?!!!"
In that instant, Eriri felt like her head had exploded. Covering her head, she shrieked: "Why didn't you knock before coming in?!"
"I did knock!"
Sayuri Sawamura grinned at the flustered Eriri, her gaze lingering on the silver bracelet on Eriri's wrist for two seconds before adding:
"By the way, the school won't approve if only one parent attends the parent-teacher meeting."
"Who said I transformed into you for a parent-teacher meeting?!"
Stamping her feet in anger, Eriri rushed forward and began pushing Sayuri out of the room:
"Out! Get out now!"
Helplessly ejected by her daughter, Sayuri watched as the door slammed shut with a loud bang:
"My, my, I thought her rebellious phase was already over."
"But come to think of it, when did she get so good at makeup? And that bracelet... Could it be... a 'friend's' gift? Hmm, receiving a bracelet from a friend so soon after starting high school? This is serious."
"Is Eriri finally growing up? Ah, how exciting..."
As the matriarch of the Sawamura household smiled fondly over her daughter's supposed 'growth', inside the room, Eriri leaned against the door, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest as she gasped for breath:
"That scared me to death, scared me to death... Thank goodness I transformed into Mum this time, otherwise..."
The mere thought of being discovered by Sayuri while transformed into Utaha Kasumigaoka or someone else made Eriri realise all her secrets would likely be 'interrogated' out by her mother.
It was utterly terrifying.
"I should just do these things at the 'Astronomy Club' from now on."
At this moment, Eriri felt immense admiration for Luo Shu's foresight. People like them truly needed an exceptionally safe space.
"No more using abilities at home..." Eriri thought with lingering fear.
...
Nerima Ward, Utaha Kasumigaoka's rented apartment.
Lying on the sofa with her head resting on the armrest, Utaha Kasumigaoka stared at her phone.
The screen displayed a Line chat interface, with 'Luo Shu' at the top of the conversation, followed by a heart symbol.
The last message in the chat was still the reminder sent after class.
'Luo Shu <3: Let's go to the clubroom after class. It's about time Eriri learned some things. Lol. (Read)'
'Utaha Kasumigaoka: Planning to intimidate the newbie? What a wicked chief deity you are! (Read)'
'Utaha Kasumigaoka: I'll lock the door when the time comes. (Read)'
'Luo Shu <3: On behalf of Eriri: Thank you so much! (Read)'
Scrolling through these messages while recalling the inexplicable unease she'd felt passing through an alleyway on her way home, Utaha sighed deeply and set her phone aside, muttering:
"As expected, a wooden deity can't comprehend a girl's need for security."
"Next time, I'll ask that wooden deity if he can place one of the 'club's safe room' doors in my apartment..."
"I wonder if that's even possible..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka murmured to herself, her eyelids growing heavier until she drifted off to sleep, still clutching her phone, her breathing gradually evening out.
The girl lying on the sofa slowly slipped into slumber.