-Tatsuo-

The way to school, boring as always~

—Hey Makoto.

—Tatsuo!

Meeting on the way to school was not unusual for us, indeed we had been doing it since kindergarten but even so Makoto and I have not been the only ones walking together all these years.

—Guys! Waiiit!

—Look who woke up a little earlier today!

—Stop bothering!

The three of us started walking together in the direction of the school halfway there. A figure that was already etched in my mind and was practically impossible to remove.

On my left side Inaba Makoto was laughing out loud while the girl on my other side was "upset." Brown hair, darker complexion than the school average and gray eyes accompanied by his usual glasses, a shy boy and not very talkative if he’s not with us but who likes to talk about any amount of trivia when being with his closer friends. If I had to point out anything about him, it would be his height of 1.67 meters which is quite low compared to me and even several of the girls in our class.

To my right, Matsukaki Ryoko pretended to be upset with us while trying not to catch Makoto’s laughter. Her pale blue hair down to the level of her armpits dancing to the rhythm of her every step and was blown away by the occasional spring winds, her lavender eyes were quite calm even though she pretended to be annoyed with me for having reproached her and it took away the credibility of her performance, these details together with her fair skin gave her a quite fresh and clean look of cold colors, passing Makoto with her 1.74 meters, she was one of the highest girls in the classroom being only surpassed by Riedel and her magnificent 1.77 that held her up as the tallest girl in our class.

—Come on come on~ it was just a joke, relax a little, Ryoko.

Between the two of them, with orange hair shaved strictly and an earring in my left ear, grayish blue iris and milky skin, I straightened up to 1.82 over the two dwarves with pride; Shinsato Tatsuo, third best member of the Sakura Densetsu school kendo club and childhood friend of these two, those are all the titles I need in this school and in this life to be more than happy without needing anything else.

—Did you see the last chapter yesterday?

—Ryoko, you know I don't watch anime... so that question is only for Makoto, right?

—Of course I saw it! I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world!

—You… you were talking about it until late in our LINE group, you said that the protagonist almost died but in the end he manages to defeat his enemy… hey, are you wanting to leave me out of the conversation on purpose?

Cherry blossom petals fell from side to side on this path, bathing the pretty brick road that looms before us. Those petals that always announced the beginning of the school year… this year they would do it for the last time to us since this is the first day of our third year of high school.

—Damn, he found out!

—Ryoko...

A casual conversation and scenery; there was nothing out of the ordinary on this completely usual day that announced the beginning of our final stretch as childhood friends in this school. So… this is the end huh…

***

“Will Riedel-sama give this year's speech again?"

This panorama between the boisterous murmurs of the audience and the frank words full of expectation and firmness of the girl at the head was usual in all the ceremonies of this school, of course... whenever Riedel spoke all the monkeys of this high school lost their minds.

—In this new year there is beauty, promises that have been made years ago are yet to be fulfilled and many new ones will be born in this very place, when we finish our journey… —The almost heavenly girl with long pink hair standing on the stage was giving highly motivational words to all the students.

"Isn't it obvious? The beauty of Riedel-sama must participate in all the ceremonies, be it the start of the year, summer vacation..."

"But I heard she was dethroned by another girl in her class last year, what was her name?"

“You mean that Hanazawa girl from her class? Certainly her grades are perfect but her weak physical performance seriously weakened her."

"Apparently... the gap between those two is so small that due to having such a poor grade in physical education, Riedel-sama was able to steal her honor student title."

"Riedel-sama is amazing… she excels in everything she does."

I don't think it's a problem... but sometimes it becomes a bit annoying that these idiots don't have anything else to talk about. It's true that when I met her that day in middle...

"Do you think she likes someone?"

"I doubt there is a mere mortal who can make her fall in love, do you know how many boys she has rejected? One! In these three years of high school there was only one brainless idiot declaring his feelings.”

Seventh grade? Of course... I don’t know her for that long, sure? We didn’t even studied in the same middle school. Her appearance at this high school gave a lot to talk about, I don't know why I mentioned something nonsensical like that.

I remember perfectly that many knew about her since her person was not only glorified in her own secondary school but also through all the secondary and preparatory schools in the city… who knows? Maybe even in the country.

"Now that I remember it...! They say she rejected him saying something like she liked someone else."

"Nah, most likely she said it to not to hurt his feelings since there is no one in the world worthy of her love, not even the most popular or daring boys here are capable of trying to sully his holy figure!"

"And from what I heard, I think that person was challenged to declare his love, although he certainly liked her... it was a kind of punishment from his friends..."

"Riedel-sama is so good to everyone..."

An unattainable, relentless beauty and someone I never want to get close to emotionally, she is completely out of my batting area... even my area of r03;r03;understanding, it’s impossible to understand what she thinks and although that only makes her more beautiful...

Sometimes it is scary.

—So… let's do our best this year to graduate together! Let's achieve the goal that we have all engraved in our hearts and let's be proud of it!

A thunderous "YEEEES!!" resonated throughout the gym causing many of the students to stand up; hey hey... we haven’t graduated yet, leave that euphoria for the year-end speech...

—I'll see you all with your diplomas in this very spot once the cherry trees are in full bloom again! And if not... I'll look for you and pull your teeth out!

This time the "YES!" started out strong but it weakened in a second, causing many to lower their arms dubiously, having realized that they accepted something that might hurt them. Everyone took their seats and the majestic girl left the stage and the director took her place.

“Her speeches always have their unorthodox part at some point huh?

"I can't wait to hear what she have to say in our graduation!"

—Graduation huh… —I muttered.

—Motivated by the encouraging words from "Riedel-sama"? What do you say? —Mimicking the way she heard that surname whispered more than once all around the place, Ryoko seemed to found funny taunting Riedel's devoted followers.

—It's... it's hard not to get motivated with a speech like that. Riedel should have run for the presidency of the student council at least once, she would have revolutionized this school with her brilliant leadership qualities —Makoto next to me was not another loser like the rest of the boys yet he had deep admiration for Riedel.

Although I don't blame him for that, not idolizing her is almost like a crime in the eyes of some God, destiny, karma, or whatever they want to call it.

—No... not particularly, I was just thinking that if everything goes well... in the blink of an eye we will be up there receiving our diplomas —I indicated with my finger the place discreetly so that the director would not see me point him out.

—Yes... I think I understand what you mean, what do you think you will do after achieving it? —Ryoko's voice lost all its previous malice and was filled with a melancholy feeling that was transmitted to me.

—I think I'll stick with the plan to go to college, my grades are stable enough to get into a decent one.

—And after that? —On the other side, Makoto said what I didn't want to hear coming from Ryoko, but not from him either—. What will you do next?

—I'll probably become a samurai, I'm good at kendo... or maybe a shogun wouldn't be bad —I laughed silently, covering my mouth with one hand—. I leave it to your imagination.

That conversation that I don't usually like came up so I tried to assassinate it as quickly as possible, luckily it seems that my attempts paid off since my two friends remained silent.

Just before I closed my eyes to rest for a bit, the last thing that came into view was Wakahisa's strange expression a couple of seats in front of me.

Ah... that face he makes every time he loses himself watching Riedel, that specific look is a totally different one from all the others, even mine. A look that under no circumstances I’m able to understand. Unlike all the hungry wolves that stare at Riedel or the inflated image we all have of that girl… Wakahisa's gaze is completely different.

In a way it reminds me of someone who sees a painting... longing for the content portrayed in it.

But what does that matter? I closed my eyes while still listening to the boring speech of the director.

What am I supposed to do after all this?

***

Upon entering our designated classroom I took the first seat that came into view and that was free, after all they would be assigning us different ones later so it didn't matter where I sat now, I just looked in which there were two free seats close.

Just when my friends took their seats (one in front of me and one to the right), I did one of my usual hobbies which consists of searching the desk compartment for something that someone else might have left behind. Naturally it's not like I'm a thief, if I can find the owner I'll obviously return it, but...

—Huh?

That never worked... until today.

—Is something wrong?

—No, I just found something down here...

Taking the elongated circular object, I pulled it out to have a look at it. What was in my right hand was nothing that far from my mental image. A transparent elongated toothpaste tube looking-like object but… what struck me was its sparkling blue content.

—What is this?

—Did Tatsuo found something after all these years?!

—Come on, shut up for a moment Ryoko, this is something quite strange.

Upon close inspection of the object I saw a cap equal to that of a toothpaste tube as what I initially thought it to be but there was not label or brand to which it belonged, as if someone had made this container and put something there.

—What did you find?

—I have no idea but… it's strange.

—Why don't you sniff it a little? “sniff-sniff” —Moving her nose, Ryoko mimicked the sniff of a dog.

—Nice try but I'm not a hound, heh... —Although I should try to smell what the hell it contains, I've never seen anything glow like this.

As I unscrewed the cap and brought my nose close to the opening, an intense peppermint smell burned my nostrils causing me to cough a couple of times.

—Bah! It's just mint essence!

—Mint essence? Really?

—So does anyone have smelly breath around here? Who will it be? —With a wicked grin, Ryoko started looking around looking for someone she clearly wouldn't find.

—For burning my nose I think I'll have some, Makoto, Ryoko, would you like a bit?

—I-I think I'll pass… yes, thank you but no —the usual reserved brown haired boy politically refused.

—Are you crazy? No, not at all, I don't want something that I don't know where it has been previously... what if the last person who consumed it was sick?

—Don't be so paranoid...

Squeezing the content of the small container I dropped some of the shiny paste on my tongue and then moved it across my mouth.

—Mmfgph!

—Is it poisoned?

I'm worried that Ryoko might ask that so nonchalantly when she saw my face wrinkle but it's not like it was poisoned, swallowing, I spoke agitatedly.

—IT BURNS!

—Can't handle a little peppermint?

—No no, that thing is not normal peppermint, I have tried many mint candies in my life but none even comes close to the intensity of this cream... anyway... —As I screwed the lid, I kept the object about 4 centimeters long in my pocket—. I'll report this missing item later, meanwhile… look, class time.

The teacher entering the classroom along Riedel put some books on the wooden desk while Riedel went straight to the last available seat.

It is interesting enough indeed to see that all the classes that have never studied alongside Riedel see her as some kind of deity, referring to her as “Riedel-sama.” On the other hand, the people who have studied with her certainly idolize her but we can have a more personal treatment, in fact, she gets along very well with Tomoe and Wakahisa with a good relationship that lasted for a couple of years now.

And so our first teacher began to speak.

***

The last class was hell.

After our second class, my mood and general composure had dropped for no apparent reason; I have been dizzy, somewhat agitated, tired and even feel feverish... did I really got sick the first day of school?

When the teacher of our second subject of the day left the classroom, I requested permission to go to the infirmary from the class delegate Shiraishi Kotone.

—Shiraishi… can I go to the infirmary? —Having gotten up from my seat, I approached her desk—. I feel terribly bad...

—Huh? Shinsato, are you sure this is not one of your tricks to escape from the next class?

—What? No!

—Tatsu- —Ryoko who had been behind me came over touching my back and making me turn to her—. You’re pale!

 Huh? Is it my imagination or did Ryoko grow up a bit?

—Well... I'll let the next teacher know that you're in the infirmary, you can go —writing something in a small notebook, she gave me permission to go.

—Thank you…

When I tried to take a step to go to the sliding door at the back of the room I felt like my legs gave out and I stumbled, had it not been for Ryoko who was in front of me at that moment and held me, I would have fallen to the floor.

—Are you okay? —Shiraishi sounded somewhat alarmed from behind.

—Shiraishi, I'll take him to the infirmary, okay?

—A-ah sure... thanks Matsukaki.

When the girl with pale bluish hair helped me to stand up, I saw Makoto jump from his place.

—I'm going with you!

—Don't be silly Makoto, you'll miss the class… stay for us and take notes so that later you can notify us of what we missed, okay? Also… Tatsuo is strangely light, I'll be able to carry him myself.

She had a point, there was nothing he could argue against so he reluctantly nodded “Okay.”

We both left the classroom while the dizziness and fever only kept getting worse.

...

—Tatsuo… is it my thing or are you getting shorter and shorter?

—Huh… am I starting to hallucinate or did I actually hear you say that ridiculousness?

—Hey! You're not supposed to talk like that to someone who is helping you walk!

—I'm sorry... I'm just worried that I'm starting to hear things...

—Tatsuo apologizing? I better hurry up before something serious happens to you.

Ryoko increased the speed and constancy of her steps, dragging me with her.

***

—Is anyone here? Damn... it seems that the teacher is not he…re?!

That exclamation pulled me out of my partial sleep.

—Why… are you screaming?

—Tatsuo! You’re my size now!

—Eeeeeh...?

I think I have started to lose my mind, hearing Ryoko babble such nonsense must be part of the hallucinations generated by my brain due to the excessive heat, my eyes were burning and my consciousness was barely managing to stay awake, I don't even have the strength to play her game along.

Uh... no... I don't think I can stay awake at this point...

The heat, the dizziness... the world spins around me... I see... I see colors and spirals even when closing my eyes.

Tsch, after all if I'm hallucinating, at least I’m able to be aware that I have started hallucinating but... it feels funny to hallucinate... hehe... hehehe...

—Ha...

—Tatsuo?

—Tamagoyaki… mom… bring me breakfast…

—W-what are you saying?!

—Nggh!

The lights of my world went out with a flash.

 

-Ryoko-

The body attached to my arm was losing weight at an alarming rate as if it had suddenly started to disappear, becoming terribly scrawny. Seeing it, however was not the case, instead of losing muscle mass or something like that, what he was losing was just size, his appearance remained exactly the same.

Tatsuo fell forward and if it hadn't been for me holding him, his forehead would have hit the bed.

—Control yourself!

Deep down I was not sure if I shouted that for him who lost consciousness or for myself, I must clarify that my stomach turned over, seeing how something inexplicable was happening to the boy I like in front of my eyes and right in my arms was something terribly scary. While he lost more weight I picked up the delinquent-looking boy and placed him on one of the empty infirmary beds.

—Is anyone here?! I need help! Something... something strange is happening to Tatsuo! —Without any response, I began to be alarmed when I saw that the rate at which his body was losing mass increased exponentially, losing approximately one centimeter per second—. SOMEONE HELP!

But no one answered, there was no one here or in the vicinity although that is normal, we are in the middle of classes... but why isn't the teacher in charge of the infirmary even around here?!

—Tatsuo! Tatsuo! Answer me!

Panic began to take over my mind as I watched him being reduced to an alarming speed, the boy who was quite a bit taller than me now must have been half my full size and kept losing size with every second that passed. Not having any answer I lost my calm, is he dead? How long will he continue to lose size? What's going to happen to Tatsuo!?

The clothes he was wearing were starting to be too big for him since his body was the only one losing size, he looked like a child wearing his uniform.

No… no… what is this!? What's going on?

Why the hell is this happening to Tatsuo?! It is impossible... it’s impossible for this to happen to a human, never in history has occurred something like this, this situation has no public precedent, is it a condition that he has? Something he at-

—The blue cream! —I quickly reached my hand into the pocket in which Tatsuo had kept the mysterious tube of bright blue cream, pulling it out—. This... is this what caused everything that is happening? There's only one way to found out —stepping away from the bed where the boy was constantly losing his size, I took the lid off and squeezed it a little so that the pasty content came out onto an empty water bottle on the table.

After about five seconds, the paste that was still on the bottle began to glow brighter and was absorbed by the surface of the bottle without leaving a trace.

—Ha?!

It was definitely that, now I am completely and totally sure that the culprit of all this is nothing more and nothing less than this mysterious blue cream, that clearly was not a normal reaction of anything you can get yourself in broad daylight in a school. To confirm my theory I should see if the bottle begins to shrink but considering the reaction of Tatsuo, it might take a little more tim-

The bottle began to shrink rapidly.

—This is not…

In about ten seconds the bottle had apparently disappeared from my sight, as I approached the table and squinted, I saw something very tiny.

—This is... —Taking a nearby magnifying glass conveniently placed I focused on the place where the reduced object was and to my surprise that thing was the bottle that had stopped shrinking—. Impossible!

A chill ran through my entire body, the size of that bottle must be less than a centimeter now, it is even smaller than an ant... I have made a terrible discovery but at the same time ... I felt some relief to see that it don’t kept shrinking indefinitely.

—Tatsuo… Will he end up this size?

But why did the bottle shrank so quickly? Perhaps it is because it reacts differently with living organisms, perhaps they offer resistance? And if so, does that mean I'm not sure that Tatsuo will stop losing size, what if he keeps shrinking indefinitely? N-no!

Tatsuo… Tatsuo… Tatsuo!

Running to the side of the bed where my childhood friend lay, I saw that his body was beginning to lose itself under his clothes which at this point were not that they were baggy but that they would not fit on his body for anything in the world.

—If I don't take off his clothes...

Huh?

My cheeks heated tremendously when I said that, what the hell did I just said!? Take off his clothes!?

Of course I did! This is a life or death situation and I can't get carried away by emotions, if I don't take off his clothes he will end up buried under a mountain of cloth and I won't be able to find him later!

It's... Is it normal that I'm accepting this whole situation so quickly?

—Forgive me… —Putting a open palm in my face and leaving some space between every finger that subtly let me see what I was doing, I started taking off his uniform.

First his shirt, then the T-shirt he was wearing underneath, pant and belt… I made sure I hadn't brought him with me in any of those objects but luckily he was still in bed… only now naked as he continued shrinking.

—I almost forgot his earring! —I moved closer once more and carefully removed the earring from his left ear.

Turning away from him, I gave a couple of encouraging slaps to my cheeks.

—Ryoko... control yourself, this is an abnormal situation and you must remain calm...

There is certainly nothing that I can do to stop what is happening, all I can do is to keep myself as calm as possible and help him from now on. His reduction will eventually stop and I will take him home with me while we look for a way to cure him, it will all work out!

—So leave the embarrassment behind for a moment… if he keeps shrinking and I lose sight of him, that will be a real problem!

I got surprised when I saw myself accepting all of this as quickly as fact, something so unreal was difficult to process but if someone I love is in danger I would have no choice but to go over it quickly and treat the problem even if it was with the nails.

When I turned around again I saw Tatsuo's small naked body on the bed of white sheets, his current size must be that of a baby of a few months and yet he didn’t stop; quite muscular and...

—H-how masculine he is...

Don't think about it, idiot!

Bringing a small bench to one side of the bed, I sat next to him watching his sleeping body.

—The fever… is almost certainly caused by that thing, I hope… I hope it clears up when the shrinking process stops…

If he stops shrinking in the first place.

 

-Makoto-

This is something that had never happened before, at least not that I remember... even with all the time I have known Tatsuo I have never seen his face so deteriorated by illness.

What intrigues me the most is the fact that his condition practically worsened from one moment to the next, when we met him this morning, at the start of year ceremony, when we arrived at the classroom… he was perfectly fine; however at some point when Ryoko and I started ignoring him in the middle of class, he caught a cold to a point where it looked like he was about to die.

—I wonder if he's okay...

The natural thing would be to think that he will recover, also, Ryoko went with him and she of all people is the most apt to take care of Tatsuo in times of difficulty like this, after all she is madly in love with him.

But Tatsuo's strange illness is not the only extremely rare event that would drive me out of my mind today...

—Hey Inaba~

The voice I heard was from one of the last people I envision speaking to me in a normal class, that angelic and magnificent voice that so many dream about and glorify on a daily basis in this high school...

—R-Riedel!?

Even if I tried, hiding my impression was impossible and I ended up sounding somewhat alarmed when I called her by her last name… I hope I didn't sound rude. Unaware of my unfolding dilemma, Riedel took the seat that belonged to Tatsuo and sat in any way that couldn't be cataloged as correctly.

—The one and only~ hehe... hey, can I ask you something?

Judging the way she used to garnish that “title” she gave herself, it sounded like she was saying it as a joke... but I don't think any of her fans believed that it was a joke.

—Mm? Oh right, what is it?

—Matsukaki went out a moment ago… I could say that carrying Shinsato with her, is everything okay?

Was Riedel watching when all this happened? Well… it wouldn't have been strange for her to notice since Tatsuo made quite a stir when he tripped.

—Apparently he got sick suddenly… it's the first time I've seen him so bad since I've met him…

—Same goes for me me... do you know what it could be? Getting sick suddenly is not a good sign at all —despite her relaxed expression, there was some concern in her voice.

—What could it be? No... I really don't think I can figure something out.

—Maybe… he ate something in bad state?

—I don't think so, Tatsuo has a tough stoma- —I paused as I went, remembering a vital point that my mind had missed until now—. Now that you mention it… yes, he ingested something weird indeed when we entered the room. He had been perfectly fine… up to that point.

—It could be a coincidence... or it could be that indeed that was the cause, what was it?

—I'm not sure... but it was a kind of bright blue cream in something like a tube of toothpaste that he found on his table, when he smelled it he said it was mint essence but then when he put a little in his mouth he said that it was the strongest mint flavor he'd ever tasted.

—I see... you better keep that in mind, it may be something to take into consideration —putting a more serious expression, Riedel got up from the seat, making her very long hair flap a bit—. Hope Shinsato gets better soon then~

—Yes, I hope so too… thanks for worrying.

Giving me a smile in response, Riedel walked away from my place and took her own seat next to Wakahisa, they both started talking as soon as they got closer. They are really close...

Our next teacher walked into the classroom and there was no sign that they were coming back anytime soon.

...

After half an hour, the class was interrupted.

—Sensei! Can I go to the bathroom? It's... it's an emergency...

The teacher who wrote things on the blackboard turned around and when she saw Riedel she was a little surprised, it is not something that she does often asking for permits and it is well known by everyone, even by the professors.

—Ah... of course you can Riedel.

—Thank you!

The beautiful girl with long pink hair and long stockings over the knee rose elegantly from her place, her prominent height among the girls and the perfection of her chest did not stop captivating us all as well as the proportions of the rest of her body.

The seemingly perfect girl withdrew from the place as the class continued its course.

 

--Act 1--

 

-Tatsuo-

I felt how the drowsiness was gradually releasing me from its clutches and pushing me towards reality once more. The headache, fever and dizziness that I felt before sleeping ended. Apparently every remnant of me being sick is gone once and for all.

However there was something that caught my attention. Even without opening my eyes a breeze ran through my body and a mysterious cold made me shiver for a moment almost as if I were lying naked.

The last thing I remember is that Ryoko brought me with her to the infirmary, I suppose that after treating me they let me rest on one of the beds... why would I be naked?

Surprised because of the almost instantaneous disappearance of the symptoms that I experienced until a while ago I decided to open my eyes to see the surroundings of the infirmary room... but what I got instead was anything but natural.

If I were to describe my surroundings as the first thing that comes to mind right off the bat it would be like a place that is not on this planet at the very least.

A white landscape that stretched for who knows how many meters, the floor was like nothing I had seen before... no, wait, I know this composition... fabric? It seems to be made up of fabric… where am I?

When I saw my own body I realized that the cold of a moment ago was due to the fact that I was actually naked, this situation only got worse with every second that passed and I realized more strange things happening around me. As if all this had not been enough, a sound echoed from the skies and made me jump in fright. The sound was vaguely assimilated into a voice, a heavenly voice that flooded my entire environment.

That voice… it was familiar to me.

—TATSUO.

I tried to understand its origin and its meaning, apparently it was calling my name. Am I dead? Is God speaking to me? But… that voice is from a girl, in fact it is from a girl I know very well!

Ryoko?

Turning around and looking up, I saw something that took my breath away.

Up in the sky was the figure of a person hovering over me, the only thing I could see clearly was her face that was watching me closely. That face was certainly unmistakable to me.

—R-Ryoko?!

My legs trembled and my face was filled with terror and incomprehension, losing strength in my limbs I fell seated on the soft floor and was face to face with the imposing and colossal face belonging to my dear childhood friend that now resembled more of a kind of goddess.

 

-Ryoko-

After a while of waiting I decided to take a seat on the bed next to Tatsuo's small body to be closer to him, taking off my slippers and leaving my long black nylon stockings a little more below the knees, I was careful not to crush him with the smallest part of my body when I climbed on the bed. I crossed my legs and left his body that already seemed more like an insect than a person surrounded by what for him must now be insurmountable walls.

I stopped to think for a moment if it would be the best decision since that way he could see under my skirt with ease...

—I better cover myself… I don't know how he could react.

I pulled my skirt down and held it so that way he couldn't see underneath. I can't deny that knowing he could have a clear path to observe down there made my heart beat a little faster and caused me some emotion… did it awaken something in me to see him so defenseless?

A few seconds later his reduction stopped and his inert body remained lying on the bed.

—I hope you wake up soon...

It’s hard to measure him just with the eye but I calculate that he must be between 2-1,5 centimeters in size... I hope he don’t get too scared after waking up and seeing this body so... big.

I wonder how big my breasts will look from his perspective... they aren’t small neither as big as Tomoe's... but with his current size...

—Why the hell I'm thinking about those things!? —I gave myself a couple of gentle slaps on the cheeks to dispel those strange thoughts.

I can't help it when I see his figure so small and defenseless sleeping like an angel… I want… I want to hug him!

Luckily it seems that his size remained considerably larger than that of the bottle’s, although it is somewhat difficult to notice him if you don’t pay attention, he’s not nearly as imperceptible as that bottle in which I had to use a magnifying glass to distinguish from some dirt on the desk.

 

-Tatsuo-

—TATSUO, ARE YOU OKAY?

The voice at an unpleasantly high volume made me cover my ears and try to walk back, I could feel the vibration and the wind of those words throughout my body.

—Oh... sorry, I'll try to speak as low as I can~

This time her voice was much more manageable and although I couldn't describe it in any other way than “strange” as it was a surround sound that seemed to come from a speaker, that was definitely Ryoko's feminine and kind voice.

—I guess I can't hear you now so I'll try to talk to you with pauses so that you can reason everything that is happening in time, do you like the plan?

Making a superhuman mental effort to overcome the situation and understand everything that my environment tells me, I nodded with my eyes wide open trying to maintain my peace of mind. If I lose control at this time it will be the end, luckily and thanks to what I practice, my ability to handle and analyze adverse situations is quite high so it is difficult to make me lose my coolness. Even so at this moment I felt like I was about to lose control if it weren't for the beautiful girl in front of me comforting me with her gentle and understanding voice.

Taking a deep breath I put a hand on my chest to try to calm the rapid beating of my heart and although my breathing was still quite irregular, there was nothing I could do about it other than wait to calm down a bit.

—Very good… —Nodding her head, Ryoko gave me a smile—. I have no idea of what happened but as you can see, you are now about 2 centimeters tall —making one of the pauses she promised she would make, she continued speaking a few seconds later—. Do you remember that you started feeling sick and I brought you to the infirmary? It is difficult for me to distinguish your expressions so I need you to answer my questions affirmatively with one jump and negatively with two, can you?

I don’t feel tired or hurt contrary to how fatal my body was before sleeping so I got up again and affirmed with the highest jump I could perform.

—Perfect~ As I was saying... when I brought you here I realized that you had started to lose size, at first in a subtle way but when I laid you down on the infirmary bed it was as if you lost a centimeter with every second that passed, you finally stopped where you are now... luckily it was at that point and you didn't kept shrinking indefinitely...

Alright… was that all that happened? So it seems that the discomfort was related to this “reduction process” ugh... I think I got a headache because of the unrealism of all that is happening…

—But you must know that this is all your fault, Tatsuo.

My fault?

—I found the reason why you shrunk and that is nothing more and nothing less than this —she took a familiar object from the pocket of her skirt.

I almost lost my breath when I saw it, so… was that the cause!?

—I experimented by pouring a little of this “mint essence” onto a bottle that is now almost microscopic so we were lucky that you stopped at that size, it would have been really problematic if I had to see you through a magnifying glass…

I can't believe it… who…? Who would leave something with the ability to do this on an ordinary scholar desk?!

But more importantly, I had never heard of something like this in my life, never in the news had such a technological advance been shown... therefore it is impossible for an ordinary person like Ryoko, Makoto or me to be in possession of something like that. In any case that should be something top secret not open to the public... does that mean that there’s someone in our school involved with this kind of thing? Or someone who was in our classroom in possession of something like that and irresponsibly left it behind?

That’s why it would make sense that it didn’t had a label after all... if it’s not a commercial product, the natural thing would be to hide the origin of said object.

—Anyway we are not here to decide who to blame, what we have to do is to find a way to return you to normal.

I jumped high as a statement but even if she tell me something like that... we found an unknown object without an owner that can shrink things and we don't even know if there is a way to reverse it, this is something that has not been in the news nor is it known publicly about it, the world would have changed if so, then... how?

—Don’t worry about anything, we’ll look for a way to reverse this either on the internet or any other place, I will do whatever is necessary... do you remember that Makoto is a reckless net man? I'm sure he can do something to help you.

Ryoko's words made me remember that detail, Makoto is a computer genius and in various situations he had modestly shown us some of his incredible achievements.

—At the moment I will take care of you, okay?

Take care of me... like a pet?

—Although I must find a way to explain this to your parents... should I tell the truth? Although it would be a shame... surely they would want to keep you...

For a moment I felt like my stomach turned, why was that? I think I feel more opportune and much safer that Ryoko is the one taking care of me now. There's the fact that I've already gotten used to seeing her that size and that I don't know how my parents might react to all of this… but I think it's mainly because I feel comfortable around her.

—We'll think of something, don't worry Tat, everything will be fine!

I was a little surprised by the way she called me, I could swear that the last time she used that nickname was when we were children, maybe seeing me in this state reminded her of something specific?

Due to the shock of the moment I hadn’t thought about it before but little by little I realized how embarrassing it was to stand in front of this huge girl with my naked body, after blushing a little I covered my member with both hands almost out of instinct. Ryoko apparently found this fact funny as she giggled.

—I was worried about how you would react when you woke up and found yourself in this situation... but judging by the fact that you took the time to cover yourself like that, it seems like you're still the same boy as always... fufufu~

My heart gave a sudden, strong pounding that stood out from all the others upon hearing her mocking laugh.

—Don't move from where you are, okay? I'll go find something you can use to cover yourself for now.

I jumped again to guarantee her that I wouldn’t move from my current place.

—Very good, I'll be back right now~

Then as if the end of the world had begun, the soft and white ground beneath my feet began to shake to a magnitude that would have made any of the strongest earthquakes in Japanese history look ridiculous. All caused by a girl who was getting up with the care not to hurt me, yet her body was so monumentally large that the simple change of position on the bed made my world shake uncontrollably.

—R-Ryoko! —I fell back, being in the presence of what was happening in front of me.

Ryoko let her skirt above me as she stood up, leaving a pretty clear view of what was underneath, she rose until her panties and her body hung an enormous shadow on me.

And then…

—Hap! —Ryoko jumped out of bed landing on the room’s floor.

When all her weight suddenly disappeared from this padded surface the bed returned to its original state and the sudden movement made me fly a few meters in the air, luckily the surface was soft enough to soften my landing and not hurt me.

—T-th-that was terrifying...

When I sat back I saw Ryoko giving me one last glance and a fleeting smile before moving away, her colossal body moving at breakneck speeds away from me and blurring into the distance until she stood still in front of what appears to be a desk, I could hear her voice to the distance reach as great sonic waves that traveled from a great distance to reach my ears.

—Hm... I think a piece of bandage will work to cover his body for now, when I get home I'll give him something better... —Ryoko spoke while searching inside a building who knows how many meters high near the desk—. There must be something...

How she moves, how her voice acts, how things look from my perspective now... all those things are inhuman and absurd now, she said I should be about 2 centimeters but is that accurate? I guess it's hard to measure me like this. At the moment I can only hope that Ryoko gets something suitable for me to wear and come back, there is not much I can do with this size...

 

--Act 2--

 

While I was resting comfortably on this disproportionate bed, a sound that could only qualify as terrifying reached me, however the sound was not scary because it was trying to be, the most terrifying thing was that the sound caused me fear by its very nature without even trying.

—Hello Matsukaki~

—R-Riedel? —The flustered voice tried to drown out any alarmed tone which only made her more suspicious by stuttering.

—Ara~? Am I being untimely with something? —The girl entered to the previously silent room and closed the sliding door behind her.

—Of course not!

—I'm glad to hear that hehehe...

I could only see innocently as her gigantic figure walked, greatly reducing the space between us with every single step.

—I saw that Shinsato was somewhat ill, where is he? —As she spoke, she approached the bed I was on, now I was right under the shadow that her body hovered over my little existence.

—He left! He felt really bad and decided to go home!

—Leaving this early...? That’s a shame…

Terror possessed me when her skirt passed over me, leaving my body exactly under her descending rear... she's going to sit on me!

Maybe it was my thing, maybe that's what they call seeing life pass in front of your eyes but being in the middle of this situation I felt as if everything had started to happen in slow motion, like that meteoric-scale butt was descending little by little onto me... does it end here?

—Stop iiit, stop iiiiiiit! —I pressed my body against the soft surface of the bed, sinking in a futile attempt to avoid destiny.

Exactly below her whitish panties-covered vulva, the descent came to an abrupt halt.

—S-she heard me?

I don't think that was the case, Riedel stopped for a reason and it’s impossible that it was me.

 

-Ryoko-

—WAIT WAIT WAIT WAAAAAAAAAAAAIT! —My throat hurt a little when I tried desperately to prevent my classmate from sitting right in that place out of all the possibilities that existed, flattering my childhood friend under her ass.

—Is something wrong? —Riedel stopped centimeters from making contact with the surface of the bed.

—Y-YOU CAN'T SIT THERE! —I desperately tried to create an excuse as I flapped my arms and my eyes rolled and rolled in bewilderment.

—Why? It's a bed, the beds are there for you to sit on, right?

—S-sure they are! You're right! B-but there are school rules that you probably don't know about!

—School rules?

HOW CAN SHE SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN THAT POSITION!? SHE WILL EVENTUALLY GET TIRED AND FALL DOWN!!

—Y-YEAH! —I yelled, startling her a little judging from her expression—. THERE IS A SCHOOL RULE THAT SAYS THE FOLLOWING! “A student should never sit on a bed in the infirmary unless he or she is visibly ill”!

—Wow —she chuckled sympathetically—. I've never heard about that rule... but I'm getting tired of being like this so I think I'll have to break it.

—NOOOOOO! R-RIEDEL-SAMA! IF YOU BREAK A RULE...!

—Come on Matsukaki, don't be so formal with me —she smiled—. You have no idea about all the rules I've broken in my school life, I don't consider myself as a model student fufu~

With that giggle, Riedel reduced the space between her and the bed to nothing, sinking the mattress under the weight of her body and along with that… Tatsuo.

—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

 

-Tatsuo-

Being so close to a girl's most intimate place is terrifying and exciting at the same time, especially if we mix it with the factor of my current size and the fact that she’s nothing more and nothing less than the beauty par excellence of our school... Riedel Monica.

—What is this...?

After spending a few seconds while she was hovering over me, a strange and mesmerizing smell invaded my nostrils. At first it was a somewhat uncomfortable smell but after inhaling it a few more times it started to get fragrant and arousing.

This is…!

The intimate smell of this girl is…!

Realizing that something in me had grown too large, my cheeks flushed red and I tried to hide my embarrassment by screaming.

—RIEDEL! I'M DOWN HERE STOOOOOOP!!

Naturally there would be no way for my petty shrieks to register in her brain but it was the only way I could find to reject those lusty thoughts.

After all, there is only one girl that I am in love with.

Forgetting the distant voices I hear, my world focused on rejecting the piece of underwear above me.

It was then that all my efforts were put aside with the least effort. Slowly, the space between Riedel and me disappeared, obliterating my existence...

But contrary to what I expected, did my life continued pleasantly...?

—Mmphf!

The immense pressure being exerted on me is impossible to measure, I cannot say for sure how much weight is falling on my little body right now but if there is one thing that is true it is that I am alive… how?

As smooth as the skin on her vulva is, accumulating the weight from the rest of the body that stands tall for meters and meters… it would have been unlikely under normal circumstances for me to emerge unscathed.

Did that reduction cream made me more durable?

Since the only thing Ryoko and I know about that cream is the fact that it is capable of shrinking, this would be a discovery.

But as much as I tried to take my mind off those carnal thoughts... the smell of her erogenous zone began to affect me seriously.

The body above me shifted a bit, probably settling into her seat and in the process she practically massaged my entire body, squeezing me against her panties.

This stimulus is too much to bear! If it continues even a little longer... I...

—Oh right!

My body was suddenly lifted into the air when Riedel's body shot up, my little figure flew several meters staying attached to her panties but thanks to the speed at which she got up I fell back to the bed. My landing was smooth as before and it didn’t hurt me.

—I think… the damage is mostly mental…

I can still feel it clearly, the smell that enveloped me, the pleasant warmth that made me want to stay there for life, the softness of the crushing weight that didn't hurt at all...

—I have to go back to class! Hope to see you there soon Matsukaki.

—I-I'LL GO IN A MOMENT!

With a smile Riedel returned the way she came, leaving the infirmary room.

—Tatsuo! Tatsuo!

As soon as Riedel left the place Ryoko sidled up to my resting place, searching my body with her worried face between the white sheets until she found me resting.

—Are you okay?! —Alarmed, she still didn't forget to whisper so as not to torment me.

Taking advantage of the strength I had left, I jumped to confirm my well-being to the girl with the nerves on edge and her face extremely close.

—What a relief... I was careless to leave you in this place... I'm so sorry!

I can’t blamed her, it really was an exciting experience so there would be no way I could blame her. While I keep a secret that I was about to burst from being crushed by Riedel Monica's vulva, I shouldn't be upset either pretend not to be.

—Come on, up —Ryoko placed the palm of her hand right in front of me.

As she got so close, I couldn't help taking a few steps back but after confirming her intentions I walked towards her. The fact that I am about 2 centimeters tall only forced me to have to climb with some difficulty to be able to stand on her palm which made me get into perspective of how insignificant I am.

Victorious, I jumped right in the center of her outstretched hand, not like I've done much but just getting here felt like a real accomplishment to my current self.

—Very well... hold on, I'm going to lift you up~

She gave me plenty of time to sit up and get comfortable on the fleshy and slightly sweaty floor. A moment later I felt how the whole environment that I saw from here began to go down, or rather, I began to go up.

She did it so gently that I wasn't pressed hard against the ground but I still felt a curious sensation in my stomach… I don't think she can do anything about it because looks like she has already been delicate enough.

—It's too strange to see you this way… —As I got closer to her sight I could see how her eyes bigger than me focused on my body.

Seeing their tremendous pupils change size was a bit impressive… I must actually look super small from them.

—Your body... everything about you is so small now…

Unexpectedly, like a giant tree falling from the skies Ryoko's huge index finger pressed my body against the palm of her hand with little force but was still strong enough to preventing me from standing up.

—I even can immobilize you... I can't believe that the strong boy I spend most of my time with is this powerless against me now...

Those words hurt a bit in my pride but they were the harsh reality, even against Ryoko, my cute and delicate childhood friend, any effort I make is less than useless, she won't even realize that I'm opposing to her controlled force.

—Even *this* here is small~

When I thought that her harassment was over, the finger that had been raised previously fell right on my member and began to squeeze it from side to side.

—Although I can feel a certain firmness... but it is pretty cute~

HA!?

I HAVE NEVER KNOWN THIS SIDE OF RYOKO!

Unfortunately for me, the assault that Riedel left halfway through a couple of minutes ago had lowered my stamina considerably which made it almost impossible for me to resist the intense direct stimuli from the girl with a sadistic expression. No matter how hard I tried

I couldn't help but end up reaching my climax.

 

-Ryoko-

His little body resting on my hand… I can barely feel it!

Huh? What is this strange feeling that has been taking over my mind for a while now?

Since I'm looking at Tatsuo in this way, a strange impulse awakened within me, I suddenly want to be more playful with him… even being more intimate.

I feel... I want to do naughty things to him...

Why? Why do I feel like this at a time like this?! This is not a game… it’s not…!

Did this situation awaken a latent feeling within me? Some strange philia that I had no prior knowledge of? In any way I couldn't keep turning a blind eye to this fact so I ended up taking advantage of my omnipotence over him.

—Even *this* here is small~

With the tip of my index finger I carefully attacked his crotch, feeling something almost imperceptible but clearly hard pressing against my fingertip.

—Although I can feel a certain firmness... but it is pretty cute~

I perceive how that sensation intoxicates me, clouds my thoughts, Tatsuo's small penis feels happy to see me, to feel me touching it… is that so? Of course he’s since otherwise he wouldn't be so hard at a time like this.

Suddenly a tiny perception of wetness brought me back, did he just came?

Returning to reality I felt terribly bad for having gotten carried away by the moment, after all now I am Tatsuo's world, I am the only way he can survive in this disproportionate world and it would be dishonest and cruel of me to behave just as I did!

I couldn't help but blush when I realized what I did, the realization that I made my best friend and the boy I love cum made me panic, not knowing what to do, I became agitated and started to apologize like crazy.

—I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't want to…!

It was only then that I realized I had screwed up again.

—A-ah?

I felt something small, minimal sinking between my boobs.

How he got in there?

 

-Tatsuo-

Something like an electrical impulse went through my whole body when I came, I have to admit that leaving aside the situation I find myself in, this has been the best orgasm I have ever experienced in my life, not to mention that it was one caused by the girl I love.

—R-Ryoko!

When I tried to call her name to regain her attention, her finger had moved away and I could see her face with a puzzled expression as if lost in thought. Her cheeks changed to a scarlet hue as well as her eyes slowly widened.

—Ryo...ko?!

A sudden movement of her hand sent me flying through the air and in the middle of my flight I left behind the trustworthy floor I was on until a moment ago… where am I supposed to land now?! The answer would impress me in more ways than one.

When I flew out I did it in the direction of her face but she seems not to have realized it at the time so her eyes did not focus on me and only kept looking at nothing, however my destination was not still unknown to me when I started to fall and I saw the opening of the collar of her uniform approaching at breakneck speed.

—YOU CAN'T BE TALKING SERIOUSLY!

Almost as if I had been drawn like iron to a magnet, I fell straight into the spot landing on a soft surface that cushioned my fall. Shortly after I finished my fall, the descent gave me no rest as I began to slide… right into the space between her breasts… I will sink into her bust!

This might seem like the dream of any boy my age, the only problem is that right now I have just experienced an orgasm and I'm not looking for things like this one, in fact, now it seems somewhat ridiculous to me how lucky this strange falling was, almost as if someone had caused it on purpose.

Being dragged into the canyon between Ryoko's breasts I tried to hold on from somewhere by squeezing portions of skin; that was useless because the sweaty skin didn't help much.

Hilariously I ended up being smashed between the two colossal fat orbs of my friend, a typical enough event to be able to make me laugh… if it weren't for the fact that I feel like I'm starting to suffocate.

Before those breasts began to extract the soul from my body, a finger entered the same place through which I fell and tapping in different places near me presumably looking for me, contacted my naked body and holding me with all possible care, pulled me out of the meaty prison.

Ryoko raised me in front of her face again with a rather embarrassed expression.

—I-I'm sorry about all this but... we have to go back to class... don’t you think?

I don't think I want to argue with a girl who can make me disappear under the sole of her feet if she wants to. Either way it's not like I'm upset although I'm a bit surprised at her unusual and aggressive behavior, I can't say that it bothers me, in fact, it has helped me to take a decision after all this time.

I will declare my love to Ryoko Matsukaki.

***

After we both left the infirmary, Ryoko said that at the moment, in case of questions she would say that I was very ill and I decided to go home and that as soon as the day was over she would tell my parents that we would spend the night at Makoto’s place and then we would figure out something, the three of us would come to a conclusion with a whole night of thinking at our disposal.

In the end we both returned to the classroom and she placed me in her desk, I would have preferred to stay in her pocket or some other closed place, it’s quite unnerving to see so many people of a size that easily surpasses that of the average buildings everywhere, much less would want any of them fix their attention on me but I doubt that could happen in the middle of a class and Ryoko said she would hide me after the class ended so I think everything will be fine.

Or so I thought...

Until now we were in a boring math class, I could see the sincere boredom on Ryoko's face at the amount of formulas that were being written on the blackboard by our teacher, Ryoko is not a stupid girl but math is not specifically her strong point... at least not applied that way since in physics and chemistry she stands out quite a lot in our classroom. Just when the class ended and the teacher left the classroom, I saw the girl raise her arms stretching.

The movement was tremendously fast which made me a little nervous, she then closed her eyes and let out a slightly distorted voice.

—Aaaaaaah, finally it ended~

She clearly wasn't whispering now, waiting for her to do something to cover me from the possibility of being discovered, my expectation turned to fear when I saw her huge boobs come my way.

Hey hey HE-!

My cries of alarm were instantly drowned out as both soft orbs behind the uniform landed on my insignificant body, crushing me against the wooden surface of the desk.

Unlike the time I was crushed by Riedel, this time the surface below me would not deform for my comfort, this time the whole weight of her breasts leaned on me pressing me hard against the flat and solid surface of the table.

—Mhpffff!!

My screams of despair couldn't get anywhere, this girl's voluptuous chest was completely overshadowing my existence and my efforts. As much as I tried to move they wouldn't budge one iota.

The body heat emanating from Ryoko began to make my naked body sweat once more, although in this situation I could not afford to be excited by my circumstance as I felt a serious pain running through my entire body, this time I was being truly crushed and if she doesn't realize that she laid on me, I don't think I can take much more.

Every second felt eternal, my perception of time was distorted as pain began to cloud my mind, my whole body began to feel intense pangs that spread, the pressure in my chest at this moment should be immeasurable, the entire mass of the chest of this girl was directly on me after all, my heartbeat sped up and each beat started to feel heavy and painful. This is honestly agony.

 

-Ryoko-

These math classes reaaaally are the woooorst. Yesterday I was practically forced to sleep late at night due to the stellar broadcast of that anime whose end I was waiting with Makoto for so long, having known that today we had math classes I should have recorded the chapter to see it at any other occasion... now I almost can’t contain my tiredness.

When the teacher finally left I felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from me, taking advantage of the situation I stretched my arms up and after a yawn escaped my mouth, I flopped onto the desk.

It felt quite comfortable but my breasts where the ones who cushioned the fall, I would love to have a comfortable bed under me to throw and sleep for a couple hours. After a few seconds thinking about how wonderful mattress makers are I turned my head to my dear friend’s seat.

—Tats-

Tatsuo is...

—AAAAAAAAH! —I covered my mouth without changing my position, drawing the attention of my classmates.

—D-D-DAAAMMN! I FORGOT THAT SOO IMPORTANT THING HAHAHAHAHA!!

If they saw this way when I got up Tatsuo would probably be in big trouble, I must get their attention away from me as quickly as possible.

They all looked away after realizing that the scream was nothing serious. Tatsuo sure is fine, my breasts are very soft and I don't think I can kill him with them, not after seeing how Riedel put her weight on him and he came out practically unscathed.

Calmly I began to get up little by little making sure that his body had not been glued to my breasts, when I looked well in my clothes I realized that he was not there, quickly passing my attention to the table I saw him.

—Tatsuo, Tatsuo!

His small body lying on his back barely moved, after bringing my face close enough I could see that he was still breathing.

Filled with relief, I tried to speak to him.

—Forgive me! I need to take you to a place without people to examine you, I will put you in my skirt pocket, raise your arm to affirm!

I could see the tiny arm rise slowly, I think I have done more damage than I thought, I must get him out of here fast!

Taking his body delicately between my thumb and index finger careful not to hurt him further, I took him to the bottom of one of my skirt pockets and released him.

—Makoto —as I got up, the boy with glasses turned to see me—. I'll go to the bathroom for a moment.

—Didn't you just come from the infirmary? Couldn't you have gone before?

—T-that's not your problem! Ah… I'll be back in a moment!

Ignoring the boy's complaints I rushed out of the bustling classroom.

***

People came and went through the corridors due to the time change, not wanting to make Tatsuo wait a second longer I rushed through the people, tripping on a couple of occasions.

The rush was not good at all though as I accidentally crashed into someone who made me fall on my butt.

—H-hey! You ok?

A silver-haired boy with glasses and very handsome features extended his hand helping me to get up and I accepted his help by taking his hand. When I got to my feet I briefly apologized and thanked him before quickly pushing him back. I heard his voice stutter behind me a few times but didn't pay much attention to it.

I couldn't imagine that at that moment, I made the biggest mistake of my life.

Instinctively touching the pocket that I carry Tatsuo in, I felt moisture through the fabric.

Moisture that could only belong to two things...

To the blood of the boy I'm in love with.

Or the cream I kept next to him.

Either of those two things made me want to cry at that very moment as I left behind all distinctions for where I was and started a race to the bathroom.

 

-Tatsuo-

When the monumental weight was lifted, I was lost in the shadow exerted by two bodies of flesh the size of meteorites hanging over me.

—Tatsuo, Tatsuo!

Even so my body still hurts intensely, naturally after all that pressure put on me, it would be strange if I had come out completely unscathed.

Ryoko's eyes that approached my small figure were bright... sparkling, they were watery and it seemed that tears were about to overflow.

—Forgive me! I need to take you to a place without people to examine you, I will put you in my skirt pocket, raise your arm to affirm!

With all the strength I had left, I did my best to raise my arm.

Ah... I'm not good at all, this is not good… although luckily I don't feel any broken bones but my whole body is sore.

There was little I could do when she held my body with two of her fingers in such a delicate way that I hardly felt pain, placing me carefully at the bottom of her pocket, the world began to move with her steps, forward, backwards...

I could hear the distant voices echo, it's something I still can't get used to… no, first of all I don't think I have gotten used to being this size, I don't think anyone can get used to this.

Suddenly a great tremor turned my world upside down and threw me from side to side while it lasted, when it ended I landed squarely against a hard surface despite being inside her pocket... did she just fell?

But more importantly. I felt damp, a kind of thick liquid bathed me to a great extent, seriously... where did-

The familiar intense smell of mint triggered the alarms in my head and to confirm my suspicions, a little light that found its way through the pocket entrance illuminated that thick liquid, rather its origin... which let me take a look at it, to that damn thing.

The paste that got me into this situation in the first place was now all over my body.

My heart skipped a beat when I felt the demonic substance being sucked into my body.

 

--Act 3--

 

When we arrived at our destination I felt a door closing, then one hand entered and two fingers took my small figure, pulling me out of the darkness and depositing me in the palm of her other hand.

Those tears full of regret... of realization...

I'm scared, but at the same time… I feel a bit calm… maybe disappearing with you isn't so bad, Ryoko Matsukaki.

After all…

—I'm in love with you...

—I love you... —Her beautiful crystalline eyes from the accumulation of tears filled my heart with joy upon hearing the sincere statement.

Ah… I knew, after all we both were in love with each other, why I never tried to tell her before? I'm a complete idiot...

But don't be sad because... from now on, we will always be together...

 

-Ryoko-

This must be a lie...

This cannot be real, of course… it’s a dream, all of this is too unreal to happen in the world in which I live, MY world… the world with him in which we have lived since childhood…

Tatsuo's body began to shrink uncontrollably and there was nothing I could do other than seeing him on the palm of my hand with no choice.

—Hey… you… you have to be kidding me.

No, I knew perfectly well what would happen, the amount of cream that Tatsuo absorbed was enormous for his scale, now that he has absorbed it there’s no going back... and if a little bit did this to him...

He will disappear from my world.

—TA...

I can't scream, if my screams catch up with him I can't guarantee his eardrums would resist.

—Ta...

I cannot cry, I am not allowed to cry, if just one of my tears falls on him it would be more than a sea enough to drown him.

Nor am I allowed to hug him, if I press him against my chest then he...

—Tatsuo...

Lost in my feelings, I kept seeing his reduced figure shrink and shrink without stopping and without knowing something like a limit, like a train without brakes that was heading straight for its doom. That was the orange haired boy on the palm of my hand right now.

The boy I would never see again.

I have to say it…

I have to get these feelings off my chest now.

He will go away, there is nothing I can do now!

I had a whole life to tell him, I had a whole life to share with him, I was the luckiest girl in the world to share all those moments of happiness with the boy I liked every day...

Ah… I remember club days, ordinary classes, sleepovers… walking to school together every morning…

It was always the three of us, Makoto, Tatsuo and me.

But now... due to a small mistake, to an insurmountable wall that loomed over our lives, over our futures...

I took his life, my little mistake was the moment that caused the disappearance of his existence as a human being.

—Forgive me...

How irresponsible... how am I supposed to forgive myself for something like this? No… there is no way although I think that being him, that boy would smile and say “No problem Ryoko.”

Is he afraid? Scared? Terrified of my progressively growing body around him?

But he’s with me... and he will disappear with me, he will become a part of me, even though he continues to shrink and disappear...

—I love you...

What I just have done?

And then my eyes lost sight of him, straining to see that thing that seemed less than a grain of sand, Tatsuo's life vanished under my sight.

Will he fall between the tiny cannons of the skin of my hand?

Will he drown in a salty drop from my sweaty palms?

Will he be eaten by one of the germs of my body?

Tatsuo...

Tatsuo…

I…

—Tatsuo… I… love you…

Forgive me... Forgive me!

—Aa... aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!—I couldn’t hold back the tears that began to overflow and with a cry full of pain, I said goodbye full of guilt to the existence of the man I love.

But it's okay… right?

Because… because despite everything, he's still here with me.

I can hear my own crying contradicting my thoughts, no matter how much I deny it, my feelings are sincere and they know me better than anyone.

—TAAAAATSUOOOOOOOO! —I pressed my open palm against my chest, pulling that microscopic boy close to my heart.

Do you still exist?

I can't... forgive myself...

...

—I see you have a little problem.

A voice that I didn't expect to hear surprised me from behind yet my feelings paid no attention to it. Pressing my palm harder and harder against my shattered heart, I drowned out that distant and precious voice of my existence with all my might.

Go, go away! I don't have time for anyone else… I…!

—I'll bring Shinsato back~

I turned my head instantly, tears that still came out now had a different flavor as they crawled and passed my lips only to fall to the floor of the lonely bathroom stall, the closed door did not let me see that person's face but I knew who that voice belonged to, there was no human being who did not know that in this school.

My wide-open eyes still shed tears that wouldn't stop but my heartbeat accelerated when I heard that statement.

Standing up and pressing my hand hard against my bare chest through the unbuttoned uniform, I opened the door to let in the view of the beautiful, almost artistic figure now in front of me.

—You went through a difficult moment... but fear not, this is a nightmare that has come to an end —a radiant smile escaped the lips of Riedel Monica who even in a place as vulgar as a bathroom, didn’t lose absolutely anything of her glamour.

—What are you...?

—Shinsato surely had a difficult moment, you too! But don't worry and… if you remember this, imagine it was a nightmare and that way it will be easier for you to accept it, don’t you think so?

—I don't understand… no-

—You don't have to, Matsukaki —raising her right hand, the enigmatic girl winked at me—. See you later, send my regards to Shinsato~!

Wait…

What is this…?

A snap was the last thing registered in my mind before plunging into the total darkness of oblivion.

 

-Monica-

A reducing paste huh.

Few things happen in this preparatory school without my being aware of it, I honestly could not say that this didn’t take me by surprise but it’s not as if it was something magnificent.

Scribbling down something in a little notebook while Danny happily spoke to me I caught a glimpse of that group.

Inaba Makoto, Matsukaki Ryoko and Shinsato Tatsuo enjoying their youth to the fullest.

It was a cruel fate what happened to those two in another time, however I am not prevented from rebuilding the lives of those who have not yet died.

Does this mean that causality has brought even greater things into my environment?

I don’t know the reason and I am not interested in knowing either, in some other way I already had knowledge about it. The reason that this thing was in Shinsato’s seat is related to me in one way or another, that’s why under my own “limits” I was able to turn a blind eye to his limitations.

Is this a hole in my head? A plot hole? A mistake in the story? Asking to myself that way only makes me more curious.

—What are you doing? —Danny asked.

—I'm just drawing a little, do you want to see? —Turning over my little sketchbook, I showed him a little monkey in development.

—It's great!

—I thought you would said it was cute~

—Sure it is too —his smile is so resplendent...

Even so the only thing I can explain to myself right now about the little mishap with this Shinsato boy are the following three facts that I have managed to conclude:

First: the aforementioned reducing paste does NOT belong to this world... or rather to this age.

Second: no matter where it came from, I can't know for what reasons they left it here… what I do know is that either that object or the person/persons who brought it with them makes me consciously or unconsciously responsible for making an appearance here.

The third is the name of the owner of that mysterious object that does not belong to this time.

However, it’s not the first time that I see him. In fact his name has been recurrent for me since I have these powers... there are so many things that I don’t know being omnipotent and omniscient that it’s counterproductive to call myself a goddess... but sometimes I feel that it is better not to know certain things.

Because interfering with my own intentions and wills is terrifying in more ways than one, it’s illogical and extremely dangerous...

I’m afraid, I feel deeply alone and… I don't understand it, the person who is most afraid of my powers is…

I myself.

Even so I feel warmth coming from that name, imagining that person that I have never seen or met before, I feel a strange relief that runs through my chest, a relief that reminds me of the first time I saw Danny through these fogged windows between screams and sobs. Is this feeling salvation?

The name that I hear being whispered with regret by a voice identical to mine, full of pain and longing is...

Zad Starshine.