I have no parents. They both died in an accident when I was very young.

  A relative took me in for a while, but it was clear they saw me as nothing but a nuisance. Their treatment of me was cold, often biting.

  Not wanting to be a burden any longer, I decided to move out and live on my own the moment I graduated from middle school. They were relieved to see me go, and honestly, so was I.

  As for high school—well, I was always a decent student. Fortunately, I found a school that offered a full tuition waiver. With no money to my name, I rented a cheap, dilapidated apartment near the school.

  My life was a relentless cycle: working late-night shifts to earn a living, then coming home to study. That was how my days ended. I rarely had time to hang out with friends, but I never felt unhappy because of it.

  I lived a quiet, peaceful life. I was just an ordinary high school student.

  But those days feel like a distant memory now.

  Let’s start from the beginning. Lately, I had been having strange dreams.

  An endless, pitch-black void. And there I stood, alone. In front of me stood a girl.

  She was beautiful, with glossy black hair that flowed just past her shoulders. We would stand there, gazing at each other. I didn’t know her, yet she didn’t feel like a stranger. No, it was more than that.

  Looking at her gave me a bizarre sensation—as if she were me. As if I were staring at another version of myself standing right there.

  Logically, it made no sense.

  Sure, I have a high-pitched voice and a somewhat feminine face. People often tell me I’m not very "manly." But my body is solid enough, and my height is about average. I am, without a doubt, a boy.

  She, however, had a softer frame. She was slightly shorter than me, and the gentle, well-formed curves of her chest made her womanhood unmistakably clear.

  By every rational thought, she had to be someone else. And yet, for some reason, her delicate face carried the undeniable ghost of my own features. The aura she radiated was identical to mine.

  Her eyes were sharp, defiant—giving her a somewhat tomboyish impression. But looking closely, they were my eyes. Exactly my eyes.

  In the dream, I reach out to her. Simultaneously, she reaches out to me. A symmetrical movement, like a reflection in a mirror.

  The moment our hands touch, the impossible happens. Our fingers lose their boundaries, sliding through each other as if we are made of mist.

  Starting from that point, my body begins to melt into hers. We blend, swirling together until we become one.

  A strange sensation envelops me—as if my very existence is being rewritten. A melting pleasure and a searing heat surge through my veins—

  ...And then, I always wake up.

  I saw this dream over and over. Given the nature of it, I worried I was losing my mind. But since everything else was normal, I brushed it off. A dream is just a dream, I told myself. It wasn’t something to worry about.

  I was wrong.

  The night of my sixteenth birthday. I had worked late again. On my way home, I saw a strange figure leaning against a telephone pole. It was a woman with blonde hair.

  Everything about her was wrong—starting with her clothes. She wore an eccentric outfit that looked like a medieval witch’s garb, something utterly out of place in modern Japan.

  I almost did a triple-take, wondering what kind of cosplay this was. In her right hand, she held a black, ornate staff. She looked like she had stepped straight out of a video game.

  The streets were deserted at this hour. She radiated an eerie, unsettling pressure. Even if she were just waiting for someone, she was terrifying.

  I tried to pass by as casually as possible, pretending not to notice her. But then—

  "Yu Hoshimi."

  "Wh—!?"

  She called my name. I was so shaken I let out a pathetic yelp. How does she know who I am!? Ignoring my confusion, her lips curled into a mysterious, faint smile.

  "That reaction confirms it. I’ve finally found you."

  Found me? What does that even mean?

  "Barshiel."

  Before I could even process her words, she moved. Chanting an incomprehensible phrase, she swung her staff with terrifying force!

  I couldn't even react; I just stood there, flinching. W-what the hell is this!? I looked around frantically, but nothing seemed to have happened. I turned back to her, my heart racing.

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  She was scowling now.

  "I thought I could at least use wind magic—a natural phenomenon of this planet. But it seems the 'Tolerance' here is abysmally low..."

  She was muttering something under her breath, but it was gibberish to me. Who was this woman?

  I stood frozen, my mind a mess. She looked dangerous. I should run. But she seemed to have business with me—should I listen? If I’d had even a few seconds to think, I would have fled.

  "No choice. We’re out of time."

  Before I could decide, she made her next move. She fiddled with her staff, and a moment later, something slid out from the tip. A blade.

  The end of the staff was now a sharp, deadly spike.

  My heart leapt into my throat. The glint of the metal screamed danger. Wait... no. No way. The bad feeling in my gut was confirmed instantly.

  Without a word, she lunged, thrusting the weapon straight at my chest!

  "Waugh!"

  I twisted my body instinctively. It was a miracle—my body moved with a grace I didn't know I possessed. The strike, which surely would have been fatal, grazed my side.

  But I had no time to feel relieved. She recovered her stance in silence and leveled the staff again. But her expression had changed. She had been so composed before, but now she looked genuinely bewildered.

  "Impossible. You shouldn't have been able to dodge that. Does this planet even dampen physical abilities?"

  Again, I had no idea what she was talking about. But I understood her killing intent perfectly. I was going to die. In that moment, my mundane life shattered, turning into a nightmare of the extreme.

  Fear paralyzed me. My legs shook. I wanted to run, but I couldn't turn my back on her. I was too terrified to let her out of my sight.

  When I finally squeezed out a voice, it was weak and pathetic.

  "Why... why me?"

  At my question, she made a deeply sorrowful face.

  "Yu. Lately... have you experienced anything strange? Anything... supernatural?"

  "That..."

  The dream. That bizarre dream. She took my silence as a 'yes.'

  "I see. You have. Those were the signs."

  "Signs of what?"

  "You are about to awaken to a singular power."

  "Huh?"

  "When that happens, you will become a 'Star-Walker.' Just as I am..."

  She wore a dark smile—the kind of smile belonging to someone who has despaired of everything and can only laugh at the absurdity of it. Powers? Star-Walkers? What the hell was she talking about?

  As I stood there dazed, she closed the distance. Before I could move, her hand touched my cheek, pulling my face toward hers. We were so close I could feel her breath.

  Her green eyes were filled with a haunting sadness. Why did she look so pained for me? She leaned in and whispered into my ear.

  "It means, Yu... you can no longer stay on this planet."

  It felt like a bolt of electricity shot through me. I can't stay on this planet!? She pulled back slightly but didn't let me go.

  "You will be swept away, wandering from star to star, drifting through this universe forever. Yes... for eternity."

  She looked disgusted by her own words, as if she were relishing a bitter poison.

  Wandering the universe? Don't give me that crap! I wanted to shout it, but my mouth was too dry for words. She was too serious. She looked at me with such genuine concern—as if every word she spoke was the absolute truth.

  I was pinned by her gaze.

  "There’s no time left," she continued, her voice heavy with urgency. "You don't understand yet. But if you don't die here and now, you will surely regret ever having lived. That is certain."

  Then, she spoke as if she were begging for mercy.

  "It's not too late. So, please. Before it's too late... let me end your life."

  I couldn't answer. My reason told me this was insane. Why should I die because of some fairy tale told by a stranger?

  But... Looking into her eyes, I couldn't laugh it off. And if I provoked her, she might strike again.

  What if... just what if she was telling the truth? Wandering through the stars was beyond my imagination. Maybe it really was that horrific. But could it really be worse than death?

  My head started to spin. I felt a cold sweat breaking out. My heart began to pound—not just from fear, but something else.

  Something was wrong with my body.

  My chest felt tight. A sudden, violent heat surged through my limbs. What’s happening!? It burns! I can't breathe! I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

  "Ah... ugh!"

  "What!? No! It’s too early! The awakening wasn't supposed to happen yet!"

  The sensation of my body melting... it was just like the dream.

  Why? Why is this happening in reality!? I felt my flesh shifting, changing at a terrifying speed.

  I was terrified. The heat and an overwhelming, melting pleasure—likely caused by some abnormal surge of brain chemicals—hit me all at once.

  Through the haze, I heard voices. The blonde woman... and someone else. A boy's voice, appearing out of nowhere.

  "Good evening, Ena."

  "Wh—!? Will!? What are you doing here!? What did you do to Yu!?"

  "I just accelerated the awakening a little. More importantly, what were you doing? Watching 'FabLs' is my hobby. Don't go ruining my entertainment with such boring ideas."

  "You... how could you! I could have saved him from this wretched fate!"

  "Too late for that. Besides, I looked into his ability. It’s hilarious."

  "What’s so funny about it?"

  "Usually, FabL abilities are things like your 'Horoscope' or my 'Interference'—powers that rewrite the laws of the world, right?"

  "Yes. And?"

  "But this one—hahahaha! It rewrites the laws, all right. After all... this one can cross the boundary of gender!"

  "What!?"

  "Heheh. Male and female, flipping like a switch in an instant. What an absurd power."

  A switch? Between male and female? Then this writhing in my body... is it!?

  Will’s voice rose in a mocking oration.

  "I heard that the gods of this planet are hermaphroditic, and that they created humans in their image as male and female. If that's the case, this one, who possesses both, might just be a 'Vessel of God.' Yes... let’s call his ability [God Vessel]!"

  The Vessel... of God...

  "Hahaha, this is perfect! What a grand name for such a joke! I can't wait to see how this newcomer survives with such a ridiculous power! Look! His chest is already swelling!"

  I felt his eyes on me. It was humiliating. Stop it! Don't look at me! I’m not a freak show!

  "Nnh... ahhh!"

  A high-pitched, feminine moan escaped my lips against my will. The voice was wrong. It was too high.

  "Will! You said the switch was instantaneous! You’re using 'Interference' to slow down the transformation on purpose!"

  "Oh, come on. His reactions are just so entertaining. I’m just playing around a bit."

  You... damn you, Will...!

  "Nn... ah...!"

  "Stop it! Can't you see he's suffering!?"

  "Really? To me, he looks like he's enjoying it quite a bit."

  I hated it, but he was right. It was agonizing, but at the same time, the pleasure was so intense it was driving me insane!

  "Heheh. Still panting, I see. Well, I suppose I should let the change finish and give our guest a proper greeting."

  "What are you planning to do to Yu!? Don't you dare—"

  "You’re noisy. Shut up for a second."

  I heard Ena scream. After that, her voice went silent. How long had I been writhing?

  Finally, the changes seemed to settle. The vortex of pain and pleasure was receding. My body was still flushed with heat.

  What... what am I? Wait. Calling myself "Ore" (the masculine I) felt wrong. Not "Ore."

  "Watashi."

  Calling myself "Watashi" (the feminine I) felt right. As for why... my newly transformed body was already giving me the answer.