In the midst of the lush forest, the night was filled with the gentle sounds of nature—the chirping of insects and the whispers of the wind caressing the leaves. The stars glittered in the night sky, casting a soft glow among the trees. Inside a small cave shielded from the wind, Jiro and Takeshi sat reclining in front of a softly crackling, warm campfire.
The cool night air felt comfortable, making the warmth of the campfire feel even more intimate. Shadows danced on the cave walls due to the flickering flame, creating a soothing atmosphere. Jiro sat as he gazed at his friend, Takeshi, who recently underwent a transformation that left him with mixed feelings.
The change Takeshi experienced was evident; his current form was different from before, making Jiro want to help his friend feel more comfortable with his new situation.
Jiro looked at Takeshi with eyes full of consideration, thinking about how to make his friend more at ease with the changes he underwent.
"Takeshi, I have an idea," Jiro suddenly said.
Takeshi lifted his head, looking at Jiro with hope. "What's the idea, Jiro?"
Jiro smiled faintly. "How about you change your name to something more... feminine? To match your current appearance."
Takeshi was silent for a moment, looking thoughtful. "A more feminine name? Hmm, I'm not so sure."
"Trust me, Takeshi. With a more fitting name, maybe you'll feel more comfortable with your current form," Jiro coaxed.
Takeshi bit his lower lip, looking hesitant. "Alright, if you insist. But I don't know what name would suit me."
Jiro thought for a moment, then smiled. "How about Shirayuki Tsuki? It's a beautiful name and suits you well. We can call you Shira as a nickname."
"Shirayuki Tsuki... Shira, huh?" Takeshi—or rather Shira—tried saying the name. "I like it. It sounds sweet."
Jiro nodded in satisfaction. "From now on, I'll call you Shira. That name seems more fitting for you."
Shira agreed reluctantly. "Alright, Jiro. I'll go by that name from now on."
Afterward, Jiro helped Shira prepare dinner. They ate the rabbit meat they had cooked, though it tasted a bit bland due to the lack of seasoning.
Shira chewed the meat enthusiastically. "Even though it's bland, it's still good! Maybe because I'm a fox now, I like raw meat like this."
Jiro smiled at Shira's enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. Sorry, I couldn't add any seasoning."
"It's okay, Jiro. This is more than enough," Shira said with a mouthful.
After the meal, Shira looked sleepy. Perhaps because she was a fox now, she felt lazy and wanted to sleep.
She laid herself down near the campfire, her eyes slowly closing.
"Jiro, I'm really sleepy. Aren't you going to sleep too?" Shira asked softly.
Jiro shook his head. "You go ahead and sleep, Shira. I'll keep watch for a while."
Shira nodded slightly, then comfortably closed her eyes. Before long, she fell asleep, snoring softly like a cat.
Jiro watched Shira closely. Although her appearance was now different, she was still the Takeshi he knew. Slowly, Jiro extended his hand, gently stroking Shira's white hair.
"Sleep well, Shira," Jiro whispered.
Unaware, Shira slowly shifted and leaned against Jiro's lap. She seemed very comfortable, snoring softly like a cat.
Jiro was surprised but didn't try to move Shira away. He just continued to gently stroke the fox girl's head, allowing Shira to sleep peacefully.
That night, Jiro kept watch quietly, occasionally glancing at Shira's peaceful face as she slept on his lap. For some reason, Shira's presence gave Jiro a warm and comforting feeling.
However, Jiro quickly realized and slapped his cheek, thinking, 'What was I thinking, she's my friend, more precisely, a guy. There's no way I could like a guy.'
.....
Days went by since Jiro and Shira found themselves stranded in this new world. That morning, the sun rose gently, peeking through the leaves and shining onto Shira's face, who was still sleeping in their small cave. The morning light made Shira's white hair glow, giving an impression of grace and tranquility.
Jiro, who was already awake, sat in front of the nearly dying campfire. He pondered for a moment while watching his friend sleep. Over the past few days, many interesting things had happened, and deep down, Jiro felt entertained by Shira's transformation.
Since they started living in the forest, Shira gradually began to adapt to her new form. Initially, she felt awkward and a bit uncomfortable, especially with the instinctive urges that sometimes appeared unexpectedly. However, over time, Shira learned to accept and adjust.
Every morning, when Jiro woke her up, Shira would always tease Jiro in various ways. She found that Jiro, who usually appeared cold and calm, was now more easily flustered by her sweet words.
"Good morning, my dear," Shira softly greeted, aware that Jiro had woken up earlier. She lazily lifted her body, glancing at Jiro, who blushed hearing her address. Shira chuckled softly, enjoying the moment.
She enjoyed teasing her friend because, in the previous world, Shira knew that Jiro had never blushed. So witnessing Jiro's blush now made her feel proud.
Jiro cleared his throat and averted his gaze, pretending to be busy with the campfire. "G-Good morning, Shira," he replied softly, trying to maintain a normal tone.
Shira approached Jiro, sat beside him, and rested her head on his shoulder. "You know, I'm starting to get used to all this. Thank you for always being by my side, Jiro." Shira spoke like this, but her hand didn't stop; she drew circles on Jiro's stomach to tease him.
'Look at his reaction, so funny, hehe,' she thought, watching Jiro's reaction.
Jiro averted his gaze, feeling relieved to hear Shira was becoming more comfortable in her new form. "I-I'm glad to hear that," Jiro spoke with a stammer, responding to his friend with care.
...
Every day, they explored the forest, searching for clues and a way out. During their exploration, Shira often pointed at strange objects or creatures they encountered, asking Jiro their names and functions. Although Jiro didn't always know the answers, they enjoyed the learning process together.
When night fell, they returned to the cave to rest. Shira collected firewood while Jiro lit the fire using his Elemental Control power.
On quiet nights, they shared stories and entertained each other with simple jokes. Despite their difficult situation, the warmth of their friendship made all the hardships feel lighter.
"Today, you didn't blush as usual, Jiro," teased Shira as they prepared for sleep.
Jiro smiled, covering his embarrassment with a small laugh. "Maybe I'm getting immune to your teasing," Jiro replied with a smile, which made Shira respond in a displeased tone.
"Tch, boring."
Jiro only watched his friend with complex eyes. Sighing, he thought, 'Hah... If only my friend knew how I felt, Jiro didn't know how he would react.'
Thinking so, Jiro looked at his hand, where a swirling wind spun. Yes, his power had increased again. Besides, if anyone could see the color of his pupils, they might be scared. It looked like a revolving chaos without order.
It was part of Jiro's skill, Intimidation. When activated, it would make someone see their greatest fear. Jiro had been using this power for a few days against monsters, and it turned out to be effective.
Then he shifted his gaze to his main skill, Absolute Dominion. It was a very powerful force. However, Jiro rarely used it due to the side effects of this power.
Below is the description of the skill related to his Absolute Dominion power:
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Absolute Dominion (Active/Main)
Description: Kurojiro possesses the power to command and control the minds, bodies, and natural elements of the creatures surrounding him. With a single command, he can force anyone to obey, instill fear, or subdue them without resistance.
This ability operates at several levels:
Mind Dominance: The user can enter the target's mind, controlling their thoughts and emotions. This allows the user to implant suggestions, manipulate memories, or impose their will on the target.
Body Dominance: With a command, the target's body becomes compliant with the user's desires. This allows the user to control physical movements, restrain the target, or make them move according to the user's wishes.
Elemental Dominance: At higher levels, the user can dominate natural elements, such as wind, water, fire, and earth. This allows them to control the weather, summon storms, or even alter the landscape around them.
Limitations: Although extremely powerful, Absolute Dominion requires incredible focus and a strong will. The larger the target or the stronger the opponent's will, the harder it is to dominate them. Furthermore, excessive use of this skill can drain the user's energy and mental state, potentially causing exhaustion or permanent damage to the user's mind.
Side Effects: Users who overuse this skill may experience a loss of empathy, become obsessed with power, and ultimately lose the ability to interact normally with others.