Luceris felt a deep pang of guilt.
But this was a reality she could no longer avoid.
There was no way she could hide from her sister for the rest of her life...
From another angle, maybe this moment could serve as a buffer—an entry point to help Aria understand.If she could get through to her sister, then facing their parents might go a little more smoothly.
Taking a deep breath, Luceris squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and walked toward the apartment with a strange sense of peace—like someone walking calmly toward their own execution.
She opened the door.
Inside, a tall, elegant figure sat on the couch watching TV. The screen showed two black bear-like monsters locked in a ferocious battle.
Watching high-powered combat matches had always been Aria's hobby.
Standing over 1.7 meters tall, Aria was a well-known battle professional. Despite her toughness, she possessed a striking physique, beautiful curves, and a face that had once crowned her a campus queen—both in high school and college.
Luceris's eyes flicked toward the coffee table.
A pair of wrinkled black silk stockings and a pleated skirt lay there.
Her heart instantly dropped.
So it was discovered after all...
She gently pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breath.
At this point, being scolded would be merciful.
What truly terrified her was the looming sense of unbearable social awkwardness.
How on earth was she supposed to face her sister?
"You're back."
Aria's voice came from the couch. She didn't turn around.
Before Luceris could respond, Aria picked up the black stockings with a sharp look and said flatly,"My dear little brother, would you like to explain this?"
She smirked slightly, pretending to be casual, still reclining like a seasoned detective.
"At first, I thought a thief had broken in," Aria continued. "But then I figured—no way. So I started suspecting you."
"And sure enough... You've been acting weird lately—avoiding people, staying cooped up, sneaking around like you're hiding a crime."
"After careful observation, I've reached a 100% accurate conclusion: The culprit is none other than you, Luceris!"
As she finished her monologue, Aria jumped to her feet, eyes wide, clearly preparing to deliver a sisterly beatdown.
But the next second, she froze.
"Eh?"
Because standing in the doorway was not the little brother she'd expected—
—but a stunning young woman with long, straight black hair, a graceful posture, and the radiant charm of an angel-next-door.
Where was her brother?
Aria stood still, visibly confused. She quickly hid the stockings behind her back.
"You… who are you?"
Her brain began to scramble for explanations.Maybe a cousin visiting unannounced?Or… a girlfriend? That seemed more plausible.
Luceris had always been decently good-looking. Attracting someone this beautiful wouldn't be impossible.
But… something about this girl seemed familiar.
Luceris sighed, changed into her indoor shoes calmly, walked to the fridge, grabbed a drink, and took a seat on the couch.
She sipped once, then looked at her dazed sister with calm determination.
"…Sis."
"…"
Aria's expression tightened. It was as if time had stopped.
Luceris exhaled slowly and said what needed to be said.
"Sister, it's me. I'm Luceris."
"???"
"You—what? Who are you again!?"
Luceris didn't speak further. She knew Aria had heard her loud and clear. She was just refusing to accept it.
In fact, Aria had thought the girl looked oddly familiar, and a completely insane idea had already crossed her mind—
Could this be… her brother?
She never expected Luceris to blurt it out like that, throwing her world into chaos without warning.
What was happening?
Had Luceris really crossdressed this well?
"You little punk, why are you wearing girls' clothes?"
Aria marched over in disbelief, prepared to grab her 'brother' by the ear.
But the moment her hand touched Luceris's shoulder, her fingers paused.
Soft.
Too soft to be a boy's shoulder.
Her eyes dropped to Luceris's chest—then without warning, she pounced to inspect further.
Luceris shrieked.
"Sis, what are you doing!? You're acting like a creep!"
She was starting to wonder whether Aria would strip her on the spot to confirm her identity.
"Oh my God, Luceris—you went and got surgery!?"
Aria's voice cracked.
Her 'little brother' had become a beautiful girl.
"Bah! Who got surgery!? Are you kidding me?"
Luceris rolled her eyes, deeply offended.
Aria dropped to the floor, completely disoriented. Her mind was spinning.
Luceris felt like crying but held it in.
Just as she feared… her sister couldn't process something this absurd so easily.
"I don't even know where to begin…" Luceris murmured. "But I didn't mean to take your clothes, Aria. I… I had my reasons."
Her voice was soft and a little shaky, her expression full of innocent guilt.
No one on Earth could stay mad at that face.
Aria, too, had already let the clothing issue go—because compared to the truth of Luceris's transformation, it was irrelevant.
She stared at her for a long time in disbelief…
There wasn't a trace of her former brother left.
Luceris wasn't just feminine—she radiated femininity more purely than Aria herself.
Just what the hell had happened?
Luceris gave a silent gesture, asking her sister to sit calmly.
Then she began to explain everything. Not in detail—some parts were vague, others made-up, just enough for Aria to understand the basics.
Even so, Aria listened as if she were reading an alien script. None of it really made sense, but she tried.
Eventually, she accepted it.
She sat on the sofa, dazed, her voice distant:"So… from now on, this really is a family of daughters. I guess Mom and Dad would be… proud? Probably?"
Aria was a warrior—an epee-wielding powerhouse. Her personality was aggressive and bold.
In some ways, she'd always thought of herself as only half a woman…
Maybe that's what she meant.