Henshin Emergence [What If]

April 7th, first day of high school. Saki Yoshida nervously enters the classroom with her new look. Everyone stares at her. She takes a breath and introduces herself.

— "My name is Saki Yoshida... My hobbies are reading and shopping. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Did they see right through me? Am I just trying to look normal? Is it impossible for me? "

She trips over the desk. As she gets up, two classmates approach her.

Yui, the one with short hair, smiles.

— "Yoshida-san? Would you like to walk home with us? There's a juice shop nearby."

Aiko, the one with the ponytail, joins in.

— "Yes! Let's all three go, it'll be fun!"

"Is this... going out with your friends?"

Saki nods excitedly. She promises to go out on Sunday. That's why she's going alone to buy clothes and a fashion magazine the next day.

In the store, she flips through a magazine, confused. An older boy, Hayato, with brown hair and a black jacket, approaches.

— "Oh, is that the newest Monmon? I was looking for her."

— "Hey...! Me...?"

— "God would punish me if I took a magazine from such a pretty girl."

"Pretty...? Do you really think I'm pretty? No, wait... is this what you call flirting? It's embarrassing to be complimented... "

"If you want, here. I'll pay for it, so let me read it for a bit afterward. It's a small price to pay to talk to a girl as beautiful as you."

— "No! I mean... thank you...!"

— "I thought you were a model. You're much prettier than the girls in the magazine. Standing here is boring, let's go sit down and relax. Please, my lady."

"It feels good to be called pretty... I almost feel like I can feel good about myself. I only changed a little and everything changed so much. "

You're a few meters away in line at the store. You see the whole interaction between Hayato and Saki. You see how he gets too close, how he makes her feel special to quickly gain her trust. You get a bad feeling. That flirting doesn't feel sincere; it feels calculated, as if he's taking advantage of Saki's insecurity and inexperience.