I sat cross-legged on my futon, tightly gripping my controller. I was in the middle of an intense battle in my game, my fingers flying across the controller.

The room was filled with the sounds of intense battles and victory cheers from the game. It was a world where I felt in control, a stark contrast to the anxieties I faced in the real world.

Suddenly, the door to my room swung open, and in walked Miho, her voice bursting my virtual bubble.

"Hey, Kaede, wanna hit up the bookstore with me?"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen just yet. "The bookstore? Sure, give me five minutes and I’ll finish this level."

Miho sighed, "Just five minutes, alright? I'll get your outfit ready in the meantime.”

I gave her a quick thumbs-up without taking my eyes off the screen.

After conquering the level, I finally turned my attention to the clothes Miho had prepared. The outfit she chose was cute. It was a style I admired on others, but not one I could get excited about wearing. However, it was the unexpected addition of a bra that made my cheeks flush.

"No way," I muttered, shaking my head. I couldn't bring myself to wear it. “I’m not wearing that…”

I put on my clothes. A long, flowing skirt paired with a delicately embroidered top. I looked in the mirror and my eyes widened.

I really am cute, huh?

I mimicked some iconic poses from some of my favorite manga characters.

“Pfft,” Miho smiled approvingly. “What are you doing?”

“N-nothing… What are you doing here?”

“Your five minutes are over. You ready?”

I nodded. “Y-yeah… Let’s go.”

As we made our way to the bookstore, I couldn't shake a certain discomfort I was feeling. My nipples were sore, a sensation I'd experienced before when wearing certain clothes.

"Not again…" I mumbled to myself,

Miho noticed and asked, "Is something wrong, Kaede-chan?"

I hesitated, but decided to be honest. "My nipples hurt sometimes when I'm in clothes like this.”

Miho raised an eyebrow. "Really? Maybe you're not wearing the right size?"

I shrugged, uncertain. “I dunno, maybe.”

Miho came up to me with a concerned expression, and she reached for my top. Her eyes widened. "Kaede-chan, you're not wearing a bra!"

I blushed deeply, embarrassment coursing through me. “I, uh… Didn’t know how to put it on.”

Miho sighed gently, concern in her eyes. “You should’ve told me.”

I can’t tell her I don’t wear a bra because it’ll make me feel like losing my last bit of manhood.

“Let's go buy you a bra before going to the bookshop,” Miho continued.

Bra…shopping…

###

Miho led me to a nearby bra shop. Stepping inside, I felt like all eyes were on me, judging my presence in a place meant for women.

I’m just imagining things. I’m a girl now! It’s not weird for me to be here!

Miho picked out a couple of bras, her experienced hands selecting various types.

"These should fit you. Which one do you think you'd be most comfortable in?" She held them up, offering me a choice.

I hesitated for a moment, my face flushing with embarrassment.

"Then, I'll go with that one," I whispered, opting for the sports bra, which seemed like the least intimidating option.

Miho chuckled softly. "Oh, the sports bra, huh? I thought you'd go for something more cute."

I couldn't help but feel self-conscious about the whole situation. It wasn't about cuteness; it was about not losing my male pride.

We made our way to the fitting rooms, and to my surprise, Miho joined me inside. Panic surged through me as I stammered, "W-w-what are you doing here?"

Miho seemed unfazed by my reaction. "Hm? You don't know how to put on a bra, right? I'll teach you, so undress."

With a defeated sigh, I slowly removed my top, revealing my naked back to Miho. However, I completely forgot about the mirror in front of me. And my eyes involuntarily shifted towards my chest. I had been avoiding this moment, but my eyes were met with my naked reflection, and I couldn't help but stare for but a moment.

"I'm sorry!" I blurted out to myself, quickly turning away from the mirror.

However, now I stood in front of Miho, my chest still exposed. My cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment.

"D-don't look!" I turned around once again, my heart pounding in my chest.

Who am I even apologizing to? They're my boobs… I thought, trying to compose myself.

I held my arm before my boobs and turned to Miho again. “I’m ready.”

Long live real-life censorship.

Miho chuckled lightly at my flustered state. Her easygoing demeanor put me at ease.

"Kaede-chan, it's normal to feel awkward at first,” she assured me.

With her guidance, she handed me the bra and showed me how to put it on. It felt strange at first, but with Miho's patient instructions, I began to get the hang of it.

"Now, adjust the straps so they're comfortable, and make sure the back isn't riding up too high," she advised.

I followed her instructions carefully, still feeling a bit self-conscious. After a few adjustments, I finally felt like I had it right.

Miho smiled warmly. "See? Not so bad, right?"

I took a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of relief and accomplishment. And I nodded.

With my new bra properly in place, I carefully put my top back on. As I turned to face Miho, I could see her approval in her eyes.

"Good job, Kaede-chan. Now you're all set!"

###

We finally made our way to the bookstore, and I no longer felt uncomfortable. The sports bra I wore was a good fit, and thanks to Miho's patient guidance, it didn't feel as awkward as I had initially imagined.

The bookstore was a cozy little place, with shelves lined from floor to ceiling with all sorts of novels and manga. The scent of freshly printed pages hung in the air, creating a welcoming atmosphere for any book lover.

As we entered, my eyes widened with wonder. It felt like stepping into a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered. I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement, the kind that only a true NEET like me would understand.

Miho, who was just as enthralled, guided me through the aisles. She knew this place like the back of her hand, her fingers gliding along the spines of the books with familiarity.

Our first stop was at the light novel section, and there it was–Mayo's latest creation, titled "Moonlit Melodies." The cover art featured a mysterious moonlit night with a hint of romance. I was both impressed and proud that the light novel Miho edited for was really here.

"Miho, this is a book you edited, right?" I asked, marveling at the connection between my sister and the world of light novels.

Miho nodded with a proud smile. "Yeah.”

“What’s Mayo-sensei like?”

Miho placed her hand on her chin. “Hmm, let’s see. Mayo is a talented writer who specializes in villainess reincarnation light novels. She's actually not much older than you, Kaede-chan. It's amazing how someone so young can create such captivating stories."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a newfound respect for authors like Mayo, who pursued their passion and achieved success at a young age. It was inspiring to hear about their dedication to storytelling.

“However, her personality is quite… unique,” Miho continued.

“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

Miho scratched her head. “I can’t quite explain it, but if you become a successful author yourself, then I’m sure you’ll meet her one day. You’ll see for yourself then.”

Just what is this girl like... To think she can make Miho, out of all people, react like this.

After some browsing of my own, looking for familiar authors, I saw it—a new light novel by my favorite writer, Angel. The cover art was breathtaking, it featured a fantastical world with floating islands and magical creatures. And the title, “Stardust Dreams," promised a tale of magic and adventure.

I hurriedly picked it up, my fingers practically tingling with anticipation. Holding it close, I turned to Miho with wide eyes.

"Miho, look! Angel-sensei started a new series! Can I get it?" I asked, my voice filled with childlike excitement.

“Angel-sensei did? Sure, I want to read it too.” Miho asked, curious.

My eyes lit up. “You know Angel-sensei?”

“Yeah, of course I do. Angel-sensei has been the talk of the editorial department lately. ‘The Anonymous Genius,’ we call them.”

“Anonymous?” I repeated.

Miho gave a light nod. “Mhm, even their editor doesn’t know what they look like or who they are.”

“That makes it even cooler!”

Miho responded with a chuckle.

When we headed to the cashier with our selected books in hand. The cashier, a friendly-looking woman with glasses, greeted us with a warm smile as she scanned the books.

The cashier totaled our purchases, and the total displayed on a screen. Miho reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She paid for both of our books.

Before leaving the bookstore, I took one last glace around the store, taking in the sight of other customers browsing through shelves and discussing their book choices. It made me feel more motivated to make my own mark in the world of fiction one day.

Whether I'm a guy or a girl, my dream's been the same all along. I want to become a famous light novel author, and I want my stories to sit on these shelves, right next to Angel-sensei's and Mayo-sensei's!