"A wonderful black tea arrived today."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Everyone, it will be quite the treat."
"Indeed."
"Yes. It has a truly lovely aroma."
Early morning. Although it was a holiday, the Gardening Club was meeting today. Of course, as planned, I was scheduled to head to Diom Magic Academy for an investigation afterward.
I had promised Amelia that I would research the famous Ariane Algren, after all.
But I wonder if you noticed? In truth, I was right there in the middle of that conversation...
As the Gardening Club members were enjoying tea and scones, Sera-senpai hurried into the room, looking flustered.
"I-I’m so sorry...! I’m late...!"
"It’s quite alright, Dina. You still have about a minute to spare."
"Is that so? Thank goodness."
Sera-senpai looked relieved at Rebecca-senpai’s words.
She took her usual seat and was served tea, but then... her gaze happened to meet mine.
"Oh? Rebecca-sama, is this a new member?"
"No. This is Ray."
"Huh?"
She looked completely blank, so I offered a greeting once more.
"Sera-senpai, it’s been a while. I am Ray White."
"Wha—hu—?! No, no... you’re joking, right? Your voice and your appearance are totally those of a girl!!"
Since she pointed it out, I began reverting my voice to its original masculine state.
"Nng... nng... There. How is this, Senpai?"
"Whoa! Don’t use your usual voice while looking like that!! It's creepy!!"
"Well then, I shall return it to normal, shall I?"
"...Rebecca-sama, what exactly is this...?"
"Actually..."
Rebecca-senpai explained the gist of it, though it wasn't really a major ordeal. I had simply arrived at the Gardening Club gathering in crossdress. Naturally, it was for the mission I had coming up.
Besides, I wanted to confirm whether my crossdressing techniques had grown dull. I hadn't used these skills much since my voice changed. Just in case, I had used the makeup kit I kept hidden in my room, and I had even procured brand-new female uniforms for the various academies.
Actually, when I had consulted the Club President about this...
"I see. Leave it to me," he had said.
And by the very next day, a girl's uniform that fit my size perfectly had been prepared. Since I am quite tall, gathering a girl's uniform of this size must have been difficult... yet the Club President accomplished it with ease.
Perhaps the Club President is no ordinary man...
"...I understand. I’ll concede and admit that crossdressing suits you. You always had a somewhat androgynous face and a slender frame... but that voice!! How are you making that voice!!? And your bone structure! Your skeletal structure is wrong, and your muscles seem to have decreased somehow. There's something wrong with you, isn't there!?"
"Even men can produce a female voice with training, Senpai. My skeletal structure and musculature are an application of Inside Code. Anyone who has received undercover infiltration training should be able to alter their body to some degree, but as for me... shall we say I am slightly gifted at it? Though naturally, I cannot change my height."
"I-Is that so...?"
"Yes. I became capable of this after repeated, blood-soaked training."
"Well, that’s fine, but... why do you need to produce a female voice?"
"In undercover investigations, there are cases where it is advantageous to change one's gender."
"...Yeah, okay. I’ve decided not to ask too many questions about you..."
And so, I sat there perfectly dressed as a female student, responding with a feminine voice.
I wore a beautiful long chestnut-colored wig and had applied a full set of makeup. However, if it were too thick, I wouldn't look like a student, so I kept it to a minimum. Then, I added padding to my chest, and the transformation was complete.
Master had hammered crossdressing techniques into me, and it turned out they were useful even here.
I thought once again that Master is truly great.
"Ray-chan, you're so cute~"
"Yeah, yeah. You should just stay in that outfit forever!"
"You're cool as a boy, but as a girl, you're incredibly cute~"
"Here, do you want some sweets? Have some tea too."
"Thank you, everyone."
For some reason, my crossdressing was a massive success, and I was a big hit with my seniors.
This was a definite victory.
It seemed my skills had not deteriorated after all.
Having reconfirmed that, I stood up from my chair.
"Senpais, I have some business to attend to..."
"Is that so? Ray, please come again."
"Yes. I shall come to talk about flowers again soon. Well then, Senpais... excuse me."
With a polite bow, I left the clubroom.
"That Ray... she’s seriously cute..."
I heard Sera-senpai’s voice muttering at the end, and I reflexively struck a victory pose.
Since I had been wearing the Arnold Magic Academy uniform earlier, I returned to my room to change into the Diom Magic Academy uniform. Evi happened to have just woken up and was wandering around the room while yawning.
"Oh, Ray. Running as usual, huh? You're amazing... Hm? Wait, who are you?"
"I am... no. Cough! It's me."
I adjusted my voice and immediately returned to my usual tone.
"...Huh? Are you Ray?"
"Indeed. I am Ray White."
"B-But... you're a girl!!"
"A minor circumstance. I am crossdressed to head out on a mission."
"No, wait... hold on... my brain can't keep up with the processing..."
"It's alright. Accept things as they are."
Chatting like that, I quickly changed into the Diom Magic Academy uniform. Then, I checked my appearance again in the full-length mirror.
Chestnut hair reaching down to my chest, and translucent white skin. My lips were only colored enough to look healthy, not heavy. My eyelashes were curled beautifully (I had used an eyelash curler), and a perfect female student with not a single wrinkle or blemish had been born.
"Good, it's perfect. Well then, I'm off. I'll be back between evening and night."
"A-Ah..."
He looked unconvinced, but it couldn't be helped. Everyone is surprised at first.
Before I left the academy... I wanted to check on Amelia's status. It wasn't that I didn't trust her, but I wondered if she was working hard at her training today as well.
And so, I headed toward the usual training grounds.
"Hm... she's at it. But those are... Elisa and Clarice, perhaps?"
Amelia seemed to have been performing the training I assigned since early morning. However, this time Elisa and Clarice were also beside her, seemingly helping her. It was the simple task of melting the ice she created, but the actual preparation and subsequent processing were tedious... so Elisa and Clarice were handling that, I assumed.
What a wonderful friendship... I thought, while I called out to Amelia in my usual instructor persona.
"Amelia trainee!! You seem to be doing well!!"
"Ranger!! I am working hard at my training today as well!! Mm...? Eh...?"
"Wait, that voice just now was..."
"It was Ray-kun, but... Eh? Eh?"
While everyone was staring blankly, I continued the conversation.
"So Elisa and Clarice are helping too. Wonderful. However, Amelia trainee! Do not let your concentration break! Even if your friends are present, you must not slacken!"
"R-Ranger?"
Since she was staring at me as if she'd seen a ghost, I immediately revealed the truth.
"Ah... sorry. I am heading out on a mission now. Since I judged that crossdressing would be better for it, I am wearing these clothes."
"""Whaaaaaaaaaaat!!???!"""
The voices of all three overlapped and echoed through the area. All three seemed to be in shock; Elisa was even covering her mouth. However, was it really something to be that surprised about? I thought I still looked somewhat like my original self.
"W-Wait a minute!! Are you... are you seriously Ray?"
"Heh... how is it, Clarice? My crossdressing is pretty good, isn't it?"
"No, it's way past the level of 'good'!? You're cuter than the girls around here...!?"
"Y-Yeah... I'm... a bit surprised... no, maybe even a little scared...!"
"...Yes. It's just as those two said. It's hard for me to believe it right away... To think that Ray could change this much..."
"Heh. If that's the case, then it's for the best. It would be meaningless if I were found out."
For this mission, I had actually considered infiltrating as a normal male student... but I judged that for approaching Ariane Algren, being of the same gender would be more advantageous. Apparently, she has a sort of clique around her and doesn't let male students get very close.
That is why I crossdressed.
The only thing I couldn't do anything about was my height, so I tried to make use of it instead. I made the skirt a bit short so my slender legs would stand out, and I also chose short-length socks. This way, the length of my legs was the most prominent feature.
From any angle, I would surely look like nothing but a woman.
Of course, the hair removal was perfect. I had taken a shower immediately after waking up today and carefully shaved everything.
"Ah! But what are you going to do about your voice!?"
"Clarice-san. How is this?"
"Creepy!! Eh!? How are you making that voice!!?"
"The technique for a man to produce a female voice is well-established. You suppress the Adam's apple and do it like this... but since it's a matter of sensation, it's hard to explain. It's all down to practice."
I tilted my head slightly and intentionally displayed feminine mannerisms. Once I arrived, I would have to seal away my male voice and gestures. I should let them soak in now.
"U... ugh... somehow your voice is cuter than mine! And even though they're fake, it's annoying that your breasts are big too!"
"...I might... lose a bit of confidence too..."
"Ray, just where on earth are you planning to go...?"
The three had different reactions, but it was a good sign. Amelia was looking at me as if she were seeing a strange, inhuman creature... but well, it was a solid start.
Now then. It's about time to head out.
"Amelia. Have high expectations. I will definitely obtain information on Ariane Algren!! Well then, farewell everyone!!"
And so, still in my crossdressed form, I triumphantly headed toward Diom Magic Academy.
I have no regrets about my crossdressing!
Fuhahaha!