HeTrOS Daily Transformation Report, August 29th, 2042:

Subject: bf4e9d9f-2a2c-4654-9b97-0d1a38e6b1de (herein after "b1de"), aka Ryan Porter

Target Identity: Kaelyn Moonshadow

Transformation Progress: 50% integration threshold reached.

Physical Adjustments:

Height: Reduced by two inches, aligned with skeletal rescaling algorithms to match target morphology. Bone density redistribution in progress to optimise frame stability.

Weight: Reduced by twelve pounds, attributed to adipose relocation, lean mass reconstitution, and metabolic optimisation towards target baseline.

Hair: Length increased by eight inches. Follicular transformation progressing via phased keratin expression reprogramming. Colour of already present hair shifted to intermediate shade of 17, 37, 75, 1. New roots showing target colour of 5, 10, 49, 0.

Skin Colour: Incremental recalibration in eumelanin-to-pheomelanin synthesis balance. UV melanin adaptation detected. Current shade reached: Sunset Gold (14, 33, 56, 0).

Eye Colour: Intermediate iris pigmentation reached Jungle Green (68, 26, 100, 9), following predicted melanocyte redistribution pathway.

Muscle Mass: Fast-twitch vs slow-twitch fibre ratio recalibrating for optimal biomechanical efficiency. Joint articulation undergoing gradual modifications to maintain neuromuscular coherence. Osteogenic restructuring flagged for monitoring to prevent proportional disharmony.

Laryngeal Shift: Vocal fold recalibration nearing biologically congruent frequency range. Temporary vocal instability possible during transition phase.

Endocrine Modulation: Androgen suppression sequence completed. Oestrogenic expression initiated—bioavailable hormonal levels converging within standard adaptation tolerances. Adrenal and pituitary synchronisation underway to mitigate neurochemical inconsistencies.

Distinctive Features:

Felinae Auditory Receptors: Full auditory displacement achieved—human pinnae fully reabsorbed, replaced by felinae auricular structures. Superior positioning achieved. Auricles now aligned with feline neuromuscular control pathways, though minor proprioceptive lag remains. Receptors are compact, proportional, and responsive, though external shape remains slightly undersized relative to final target morphology.

Felinae Caudal Extension: Extension now externally visible and biomechanically integrated. Rudimentary motor function achieved—limited articulation but sufficient for basic counterbalance adjustments. Neuromuscular pathways activated. Early-stage tail flicking and reactive movement detected—coordination expected to improve with further myelination. Length: 7 inches—progressing towards final proportions. Tissue elasticity within standard deviation for transitional phase.

Sensory Enhancement: Cochlear frequency response exhibiting slight amplification. Temporary hyperacusis detected—auditory dampening recommended. Neural adaptation expected to optimise processing of enhanced sensory input. Tactile nerve density shift in extremities noted—increased somatosensory feedback pending full calibration.

Recommended measure:

- Continue transformation at the current rate.

- Physiological alignment proceeding at expected rates, with minor deviations within standard adaptation tolerances.

- Neurocognitive synchronisation unstable due to identity fragmentation. Recommend emergency care. NOTE || Everything is going according to plan, emergency response denied and deemed unnecessary — #SysAdminNocturne

Friday, August 29th, 2042, Home of the Porter family, Maywood Park, Oregon.

Kaelyn stirred, a warm contentment filling her as she felt the soft weight of the blankets, her breaths slow and deep with slumber's peace. Despite how comfortable she felt, something definitely felt off this morning. The couch in the basement creaked slightly as she shifted, the heavy warmth of the blanket slipping from her shoulders. Morning light filtered through the small, narrow window near the ceiling, casting long, muted beams across the cluttered space. It took her a moment to realise where she was. Longer still to realise who she was.

She inhaled sharply. Her hands—larger, rougher than they ought to be—were her own, but not entirely. Compared to Ryan's, the skin was softer and the nails sharper. Her ears twitched involuntarily, a flicker of sensation she had not expected. She reached with one hand and felt at the ear on the top of her head. Misshapen. Too small. But definitely not human. She felt the familiar pressure of her tail brushing against the couch cushion. A shudder ran through her spine as she realised the implication.

She was here, in Ryan's world. And she was in control. She felt a shadow of his presence—a faint, lingering awareness, like an echo of a dream not yet faded.

He's still dreaming…

She smiled in triumph. For the first time, she was more than a passenger—a voice in the back of his mind. Today, she was the dominant one. The day would belong to her. She moved and flexed one hand open in front of her face, marvelling as she controlled the muscles of her fingers. Still completely awestruck by the unexpected turn of events, Kaelyn smiled, her breath catching in her throat as she marvelled at her own ability to command her physical form so completely.

She wondered, however, if she was only in control because Ryan was stuck inside her mind, dealing with her past. Perhaps this was something else—something deeper? Perhaps her ability to take control linked to how much their body had changed to match her own. If so, would he be able to fight her for control, once he snapped out of the nightmare he was stuck inside? If true, then today would see them with equal claims to their shared physical form, a situation promising unforeseen challenges.

Kaelyn exhaled slowly, adjusting to the sensation, to the sharp, overwhelming awareness of being real in the waking world. She stretched her arms over her head, feeling the pull of muscles that were not quite hers and yet were. She swung her legs off the couch, planting her feet on the cold floor. Her balance wavered for a moment, but she steadied herself with her felinae instincts, her short, unfinished tail swaying slightly behind her.

Whoa, easy there...

The house was quiet. It had to be early, likely before anyone else had woken up. Lucia was probably still asleep, and Ryan's parents... they would have questions. More than questions. Concerns and worries. She could already picture the way they would look at her, trying to find their son—like something was wrong, like something had gone wrong with Ryan.

Instead of mourning the son you feel you've lost, consider cheering for the daughter you never knew you had?

Her hands moved across her face, a slow, tired rubbing motion that seemed to convey the weight of her burdens. She would not deal with that right now. Right now, she had things to do, and the family's VR rig was sitting a mere metre away from her, inviting her. Calling her like a siren.

She approached the device and sat herself down, her hands moving on autopilot as she nudged the neural connector at the base of her neck.

You went to bed fast and you've left some unfinished business yesterday, chico.

There was footage to edit, a new Golden Dawn video to publish. Yesterday, she had accrued some juicy footage. The dungeon runs, the party battles, the private conversations—there was more than enough material. She was still planning to market Vaelith's rise to stardom. The recorded footage from both dungeon runs would prove a veritable goldmine to showcase the little mage's prodigious growth. They had gone from a ragtag group's first clumsy attempt to a record-shattering, well-oiled machine, in a single run.

Kaelyn closed her eyes, letting the interface hum to life. She reopened her eyes inside Ryan's virtual Hub, still using the cyberpunk aesthetic. She looked down and recognised her body. The body she would soon inhabit in both worlds. She was still wearing the same outfit she had picked for yesterday's interview. Recollections of yesterday's interview with Chloe and the following chat with Megan brought a smile to her face.

Her smile faded as she focused on the reason she had logged on. She had more important business to attend to than reminiscing; editing, organising the footage, making sure the right moments were highlighted. That would take time. But it was a task she could lose herself in, something that made sense. Something that belonged to her.

She opened an interface and pressed the button to launch Ryan's video editing software. As her little movie studio formed around her, a random thought crept into her mind. Ryan's parents owned a fancy bath upstairs. The kind with jets, the kind Ryan had never bothered with before. The kind she had always been curious to try.

Yesterday, at their apartment, they had taken a long, hot shower before coming here. This was fine. A practical choice, justified with the time pressure. But today? She could reward herself with a long, comforting soak.

A small smile played at her lips. That sounded nice. Very nice.

For once, she could take something for herself. Just for a little while, she did not have to be a ghost in someone else's life. A mere passing thought at a life that could have been.

She worked feverishly on the video of the Golden Dawn's dungeon runs. She would show it all. The hesitation of the first run, the near-catastrophic mistakes—when Vaelith took a tank buster and barely survived thanks to Kaelyn's shield spell. The group, out of breath, as they finally won and received their loot at the end of the first run.

But then, it would be time to show the frenetic second run. How Vaelith, Leoric and Kaelyn had timed and combined their knock-back skills and turned the dungeon into a crazed pinball machine. Leoric throwing explosive traps at Elyssia's feet, which simply used the detonation to propel herself further along. Vaelith blinking past the tank, landing behind packs of enemies, blasting them towards Elyssia before the monsters even noticed the little dracan mage.

She made sure to focus on everyone's facial expressions, capturing them at their best. Leoric, brooding. Elyssia, in charge. Vaelith, focused. And, of course, Kaelyn, perfectly in control.

Everyone played their role to perfection.

And even if they had not? Well, she had all the tools to tweak it to perfection, anyway. But honestly, the footage would require very little editing.

With Ryan's memories and know-how as her guide, Kaelyn began the painstaking process of cutting, editing, timing, and tweaking. Her brow furrowed in concentration.

Minutes later, she applied the finishing touches, and zoomed in on the UI-element displaying proudly the record time for the dungeon.

Now for the last step…

Kaelyn pondered how to name her masterpiece. "From Zeroes to Heroes: How This Off-Meta Party Shattered Coralshade Cove's Record Time!"

She smiled.

This'll be another massive success, I'm sure!

Her work here done, she opened the virtual interface and logged off. Seconds later, she opened her eyes in the real world once more.

This is the second time of many. I could get used to this.

Kaelyn freed herself from the rig and stretched once more. She leaped off the FullDive rig and walked up to the door leading out of the basement. She slowly, deliberately, turned the handle, the cool metal smooth beneath her fingers as she opened the door as silently as she could. Then, she ascended the stairs with the lightest of steps, tiptoeing to avoid disturbing anyone as she made her way towards the bathroom next to the primary bedroom.

As she walked towards the second flight of stairs, she quickly scanned the living room, kitchen, and dining table. She saw no one; the quiet confirming her suspicion she was the first one up.

Once she reached the door, she peeked inside—empty. She slipped into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her as quietly as she could.

Kaelyn caught her reflection in the mirror. The hybrid image of Ryan and herself stared back—halfway between the young man he had been and the young lady she was becoming. The oversized hoodie hung loosely on her frame, giving the impression of some article of clothing borrowed from a boyfriend rather than something that had once fit. She smiled wryly before pulling it off, amused as she knew this had once been one of his.

The view of her shirtless body in the mirror pained her. She bit her lip as memories of her years as a teenager, still growing into herself, came back, flooding her mind. They were far too close to the memories Ryan had endured overnight.

She shook her head, focusing again on her reflection, trying to look at it objectively. There was very little that was masculine about her figure anymore. All traces of Ryan were erased by whatever magical—or technological—marvel had made this possible.

But for how little Ryan she could see in the girl in the mirror, it still did not feel like her. This body had yet to truly become hers. If the reporter—Ms MacIntyre—was to be believed, it was only a matter of time; a little under forty-eight hours before she would become real. To some, two days may feel like an eternity. But to Kaelyn, who had hoped and waited for something like this to happen for decades? Of course, she wished it could be faster. But she was perfectly capable of waiting it out.

Good things come to those who can wait, after all.

As she grinned, the ears atop her head twitched nervously. Seeing the sorry state of the teenage-looking girl in the mirror weighed heavily on Kaelyn's heart.

Don't worry, girlie. It'll be over before you know it.

She winked at her reflection and stepped towards the bath. Kaelyn knew she would not be able to linger there in peace for as long as she wished she could. The noise would inevitably wake the family up, and when they realised who was in here, they would demand to speak. They would want to speak with Ryan. But Kaelyn would have to do.

She intended to make the best of whatever time she would get to herself, anyway. She turned the faucet to the warmest temperature. Kaelyn scanned the different products sitting by the bath. Amongst the bottles, she found some lavender foam bath. Smiling fondly at the memory of her late mother's favourite perfume, she poured a generous amount in the bath.

She waited for the bath to fill up before activating the water massage feature. The water jets rumbled to life, and she sank into the warmth, letting it envelop her completely.

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Kaelyn let out a slow sigh as the heat of the water seeped into her muscles, loosening the tension she had not even realized she was carrying. The jets pulsed against her back, sending waves of comfort through her limbs. For the first time since waking, she allowed herself to just exist—to feel the moment without questioning what it meant.

The sound of the water, the faint scent of lavender, the warmth cradling her—it was grounding in a way she desperately needed. She trailed her fingers through the foam, watching the bubbles form and dissolve. Her tail rhythmically shifted left and right underwater, the movement shifting the ripples caused by the jets. The sensation of the half-formed limb was still strange, a proof of how much farther she would transform.

I'm still a work in progress.

She closed her eyes. Ryan's current absence was a first for her. For as long as she had existed, he had always been there, the dominant one, mostly unaware of her own existence. Since he created this avatar in the game, he had always been, at worst, thinking, analysing and second-guessing her. Even when they had agreed, there was always the underlying push and pull, the constant negotiation of control. But now, there was just her.

Is it selfish to enjoy this? No.

She exhaled slowly, sinking deeper into the bath.

It's my turn, is all.

A knock on the bathroom door shattered the fragile tranquillity.

Kaelyn's ears flicked toward the sound, her body tensing on instinct. She stayed quiet for a moment, hoping they would go away. Maybe it was just someone passing by. Maybe—

"Ryan?" Lucia's voice came from the other side of the door.

Kaelyn winced.

Damn it.

She considered ignoring her, but her sister would not let things slide so easily. If it came to that, Lucia would run downstairs to confirm it was her in here, and not one of her parents.

"Ryan, I know you're in there," Lucia called again, voice softer this time. "Can we talk?"

Kaelyn sighed, pressing her fingers against her temples. She had known this moment would come, eventually. She had just hoped she could have enjoyed this time alone just a little longer.

"Give me a few minutes," she said, keeping her voice even.

There was a pause. Then a quiet, "Okay."

Kaelyn stared at the ceiling, watching steam curl toward the vent. The brief reprieve was over. She rolled her shoulders, reaching for a bottle of shampoo and body wash. If she had to face Lucia, she would at least do it feeling clean.

By the time she stepped out of the bath and into the cool air, she had composed herself. She wrapped a towel around her torso, shaking out her damp hair. Her ears twitched at the sound of footsteps retreating down the hall—Lucia was giving her space, for now.

She took one last look in the mirror. A girl, with a foot and a half of soaked blonde hair and half-formed cat ears and tail. She smiled bitterly at her reflection.

Not our most glorious hour, heh?

She had no other choice but to put on Ryan's old thing again, so she slipped the hoodie back on, then wrapped the towel around her hips, turning it into a makeshift skirt.

Lucia was waiting just outside, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

Her expression was unreadable. As Kaelyn approached, Lucia looked her in the eyes. She seemed surprised she did not have to look up. They were almost level now. Her sister looked down, examining her attire first, then at the ears on the top of her skull.

"Hey," Lucia said simply.

Kaelyn met her gaze. "Hey."

A beat of silence stretched between them. Then Lucia sighed, pushing off the wall.

"So, huh… This is what the halfway point looks like?" she asked. "I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but how are you doing, bro?"

Kaelyn flinched. Lucia still saw her as her brother. Of course.

She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. "I don't know about being your brother anymore, pequeña," she said, the words feeling heavier than they should.

Lucia frowned. "Sure. Brother, sister? That's for you to decide, not me. You tell me, I follow."

Kaelyn inhaled sharply. Of course, Lucia immediately assumed this was a conversation about gender. Kaelyn, however, had worded it specifically this way, because she wondered if she truly belonged in their family.

Her situation was rather unique. She had grown up alongside them, so she knew everyone quite well. However, Kaelyn had longed to be seen and loved by them. They had never really even noticed her. Never paid her any attention.

"That's not what I meant," she said at last. "I don't even know if we're related at all."

Lucia studied her for a long moment. "What? Do you think you sprouting cat ears and a tail means we'll stop caring about you? What do you want us to do? Kick you out?"

Kaelyn hesitated. "No… But would anyone blame you if you did?"

Lucia's lips pressed into a thin line. Kaelyn could see the gears turning in her sister's head, the war between logic and emotion playing out in real-time.

Finally, Lucia exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I get it," she said, more to herself than to Kaelyn. "But you don't have to worry about that. I doubt Papá or Mamá would kick you out, but if they try? I'll fight tooth and nail for you."

Kaelyn blinked. "That's it? No more questions?"

Lucia gave a small, tired smile. "Of course I have more. I'm dying to know how you look under that hoodie. But my questions can wait. Have you had breakfast yet?"

Kaelyn let out a breath of relief. Lucia truly was something else. She shook her head. "No, I haven't."

"Come on. We still keep a box of your favourite sugary cereals in the pantry."

Kaelyn grinned. "Wait, you don't mean…?"

Lucia's smile broadened. "Of course. We always have some Corn Pops for when Ryan comes over."

"Gotta have my pops…!" As soon as she had uttered that line, Kaelyn felt like something deep within rouse slowly awake.

Ah, he's coming to...

Her sister rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a smirk. "Dios mío, you're impossible." She gestured toward the kitchen. "Come on, before Mamá and Papá wake up and start asking way too many questions before you've had coffee."

Kaelyn followed, smiling. Coffee? Ryan was not a big coffee drinker. He got most of his caffeine from energy drinks. But this would be Kaelyn's first coffee, at least in this world. She licked her lips, realising how eagerly she wanted to have some.

As they made their way downstairs and to the kitchen, Kaelyn's still-wet feet padded against the cool wooden floor. The house was still quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the settling foundation. It felt surreal to be here, like the walls should somehow react to her presence, to acknowledge the impossibility of her being here like this.

The kitchen was much as she remembered it—spacious, cluttered in that comfortably lived-in way. The scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air from a pot their father had likely set to brew automatically in the morning. Lucia moved to the pantry, pulling open cabinets, reaching for the yellow box of cereals.

Kaelyn slid onto one of the kitchen stools, drumming her fingers against the counter. She watched as Lucia poured the unnaturally bright corn puffs into a bowl, added milk, and slid it across the counter to her.

"Are you sure you should eat this?" Lucia teased, propping herself against the counter with her arms crossed.

Kaelyn grabbed a spoon and smirked. "I've never been more sure of anything."

She took a bite. The first crunch was sharp, the sugar coating melting into a sweet rush. It was a familiar feeling, one she had been privy to before—had felt, witnessed—but never had experienced as fully as she did right now. The milk softened the edges just enough, but not too much. Just right.

She chewed slowly, then swallowed. She scooped another spoonful, collecting exactly seven puffs, which settled into a hexagon shape in her spoon. She had seen Ryan do that countless times; he had always made sure each bite had this precise amount. She took them all in with a single mouthful.

Her ears twitched as she listened to the quiet sounds of the house—distant creaks, the low hum of the fridge, the occasional rustle as Lucia moved beside her.

As she chewed slowly and deliberately—trying to make each bite last as long as she could—Kaelyn glanced at her little sister, who sat on the stool next to her, head leaning in her left hand, elbow on the table.

Her sister. That was how she had been thinking of Lucia all day, she now realized. When it came to Eduardo and Sarah, she had mostly thought of them as Ryan's parents, as if she was a stranger in this household. But Lucia had never been relegated to Ryan's sister inside her mind.

She pondered idly about why, as she took another spoonful.

Crunch. Crunch.

She let the sweetness settle on her tongue, pressing against the roof of her mouth before she swallowed.

Sitting here, eating a bowl of cereals at a kitchen counter, distracted her from spiralling deeper into her own thoughts. The simple act was grounding in a way she had not expected.

Until Ryan's voice inside her head shook her out of it.

Hey, those are my Pops!

Hush, you. Lu poured me that bowl so they're mine. Let me have this.

She felt him acquiesce to her request. But she wondered what had triggered his brief flare of jealousy. Was it the cereals, or the reflection about her belonging in this family?

Lucia huffed a laugh, then set out two coffee mugs on the counter. "You want some?"

Kaelyn nodded. "Mhm. Please. Black for me."

Lucia gave her a sidelong look, but said nothing as she poured a cup. She set it in front of Kaelyn, who wrapped her fingers around the mug, feeling the heat seep into her skin.

She lifted it to her lips and took a sip. Bitter and sharp. Stronger than she expected. She swallowed the first mouthful, then took another sip. This felt so different from what she was used to. She was not drinking second-hand, or tasting it like a spectator would. Lucia had served this cup just for her, just like the bowl of Corn Pops.

Lucia studied her for a moment, the air between them shifting. "You really feel different from yesterday," she said finally. "I mean, I guess I already knew that, but seeing you like this... It's like you're not even trying to be Ryan anymore."

That question struck a nerve.

It's because it's not me, Lu! How can you not realise that?

What are you saying? Should I just go ahead and tell her we're two different people? Do you want to see how she'll react if I do? I don't mind. I'm sure she'll grow fonder of me over you, anyway.

You wouldn't dare!

I don't see a problem. Just watch.

Kaelyn's grip tightened around the mug, grinning. "It's because I'm not."

Lucia raised an eyebrow in surprise as she sipped from her own coffee cup. The silence was like an invitation to continue.

"Ryan was still a bit overwhelmed this morning, so he left me in charge while he ran off to deal with something else—" She tapped one finger against her temple twice. "In here."

Lucia nodded slowly. "So my brother's still in there somewhere, then?"

Kaelyn sipped some more coffee before gently lowering the cup on the table. She slowly spun it around, one finger pushing against the handle. She wanted more time with Lucia. With her breakfast. With all of this. She scooped up and took another mouthful of cereals.

Why can't I speak and tell her I'm right here?

You're merely a whisper in my head right now, chico.

She could still feel him weakly trying to take control. But for now, his efforts were wasted. She was not ready to give up on this, not for a while longer.

She finally swallowed. "Yeah," she said finally, voice quiet. "He's still here. Just... resting."

Lucia exhaled, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "This is a lot, you know. I mean, not in a bad way. Just... a lot. It's like—" She paused, searching for the right words. "Like watching someone you thought you knew become someone else overnight."

Kaelyn stirred her spoon in circles in her bowl of cereals, letting the spoon clink softly against the edges.

She took another bite. The satisfying crunches, almost the same as popping bubble wrap. She chewed slowly, giving her time to pick her words carefully. The sweetness lingered on her tongue.

She swallowed, then smiled. "I didn't become someone else, Luci. I was always here. You just never noticed me. I've seen you growing up, and know everything Ryan knows about you. Perhaps even more."

For a moment, Lucia studied her, blinking. Kaelyn brought the coffee cup to her lips, sipping slowly as she watched her sister. Was she stupefied? Puzzled? But then, to Kaelyn's surprise, Lucia merely let out a small, breathy laugh. "Yeah? I guess that's fair."

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds the soft tapping of the spoon and the occasional sip of coffee. Kaelyn took another bite.

Lucia tilted her head, eyes gleaming with something more familiar—mischief. "You know, if you're gonna stay like this, we're gonna have to do something about your wardrobe."

"If?" Kaelyn snorted. "What's wrong with my wardrobe, anyway?"

Lucia gestured at her. "I dig the 'girlfriend in her boyfriend's shirt' vibe you've got going, not gonna lie. But if you're gonna make a whole grand debut as Kaelyn, and introduce yourself to our parents, then maybe you want to dress up a little."

Kaelyn arched an eyebrow, taking another bite of cereals. "And what, exactly, do you think I should wear?"

Lucia grinned, a full, teasing thing. "Oh, I have so many ideas."

Oh please, spare my dignity...

Calm down, chico. This'll be an important sister-bonding moment. Let me have this moment with her.

Kaelyn could not stop the small smile tugging at her lips.

She took another bite. And one more. The bowl was nearly empty, and she had not even noticed. She scooped up the last remaining puffs and let them linger in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully, then pushed the empty bowl to the side and drained the rest of her coffee.

She grinned. "Then, why don't you show me what you've got in mind, before nuestros padres wake up?"

As quickly, the grin turned into an awkward smile, as Kaelyn realised suddenly how she had just called them our parents. For a minute, she feared how Lucia would react, how Ryan would. Worst of all, she worried about what this meant for her.

But Lucia simply grinned wider as she grabbed Kaelyn by the wrist and practically dragged her out of the kitchen. Kaelyn barely had time to set the empty coffee mug down before being pulled toward the staircase, her damp tail flicking behind her in protest. The taste of coffee and sugar lingered in her mouth.

"Whoa, slow down," Kaelyn said, giggling. "Where are you taking me?"

"My room, obviously," Lucia said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "No offense, but if we limit ourselves to the clothes Ryan left behind, you're gonna keep looking like someone who raided a lost-and-found bin for emotionally distressed gamers."

Kaelyn snorted. "Harsh."

"Honest," Lucia corrected, shoving open the door to her room.

The space was unmistakably hers—organised chaos, shelves lined with books and trinkets, a desk littered with notebooks and half-full mugs of tea, posters of bands Kaelyn had barely heard of plastered across the walls.

Kaelyn stepped inside, suddenly hesitant. This was Lucia's space. She had been in here before, but as Ryan. And Ryan had always been a guest, lingering at the threshold, never quite belonging.

Kaelyn, however? She took another step inside. As soon as she did, she felt Ryan's presence inside her mind quieten, as if he did not want to intrude during this private moment between sisters.

Lucia was already rifling through her closet, tossing out tops, skirts, and sweaters in an ever-growing pile. "Alright, let's see what works. Try this." She chucked a black tank top at Kaelyn, followed by a soft, see-through cardigan. "And this. Oh, and these." Some underwear, a pink tennis skirt and a pair of charcoal leggings finished the pile.

Kaelyn held the tank top up against herself. "... Do you really think this is me? It all feels like some teenage girl's clothes."

Lucia shot her a flat look. "Have you seen yourself? Do you really think you're you? Kaelyn the sexy catgirl, right now?"

Kaelyn's ears flicked back. "I—"

Lucia crossed her arms. "Don't like it?"

Kaelyn opened her mouth. Closed it. She ran her fingers over the fabric, considering. She did not know. Kaelyn had worn many outfits in the game and virtual reality. But this? This was different. These clothes were real, meant for a body like hers—not Ryan's oversized hoodies or makeshift outfits thrown together to hide in.

Just like the coffee and cereals—these were hers. For the first time, she was holding, within her own fingers, clothes that were meant for her.

"You're right," Kaelyn admitted. Her voice was softer than she meant it to be.

Lucia's expression eased into something gentler. "Then try it on."

"Oh… Can you…? Do you have a training bra I could borrow…?"

Lucia gave her a silent smile of understanding and returned to the wardrobe, shuffling through multiple drawers, before she pulled out a nude one and offered it to Kaelyn.

The half-formed girl hesitated. She had been dodging this moment, this full commitment, but she had already taken so many steps forward—what was one more? With a deep breath, she turned away, slipping off Ryan's hoodie, the towel, the makeshift remnants of the past. She slipped the garments on. The tank top fit snugly, hugging her form in a way that Ryan's clothes never had. The cardigan was warm, comforting, a weight draped over her shoulders that didn't feel like a burden.

She turned back toward Lucia, ears twitching, tail swaying hesitantly.

Lucia looked her up and down, eyes narrowing in appraisal. Then she grinned. "Oh yeah. That look works on you. Like you're my younger sister."

Kaelyn rolled her eyes, but her sister's contagious grin quickly replaced her inquisitive expression. "Don't get used to it."

"Oh, I absolutely will."

Kaelyn glanced at the mirror hanging on Lucia's wall, catching sight of her reflection. She was still not at all Ryan, but not quite Kaelyn, either. But with those clothes, she felt closer to herself. Closer than she had ever been.

The ensemble she wore was not something Kaelyn would ever have gathered for herself. It was also something Ryan would never have agreed to don. It was something she expected to see on a fourteen-year-old Lucia on a weekend.

And Kaelyn loved how normal it made her look. This did nothing to accentuate her looks. But it also did nothing to hide who she was. It was just her, unapologetically herself. Comfortable clothes, made with practicality in mind.

Lucia flopped onto her bed, watching her. "So, what now?"

Kaelyn met her own gaze in the mirror.

What now?

Ryan was coming back. She could feel him, that faint stirring at the edges of her mind, the slow return of awareness. But for now?

She smiled. "Now," Kaelyn said, turning back to her sister, "help me find some shoes. Then we can introduce the new me?"

As Lucia went back to her closet, Kaelyn heard a familiar notification ping, one they both immediately recognised as Ryan's.

"Getting messages awfully early in the morning there, sis. Who's it from?"

Kaelyn bent down and retrieved the phone from Ryan's hoodie and checked the home screen for notifications. "Huh. It's Megan… Oh."

"Oh? Are you worried about what your girlfriend will think of the new you?"

"No, not worried about that. It's just that she's outside and she's asking if I'm awake. If we can let her in…"

Megan!? She's here? She can't see me like this! Send her away!

Why? Why do you even think she wants to see you instead of both of us? She knows me, we've talked before.

Lucia froze mid-motion, a pair of running shoes in her hands. She turned slowly, a wicked smirk creeping onto her lips. "Oh-ho. Someone's got a surprise guest."

Kaelyn swallowed, staring at the screen.

Too soon. Too soon. I'm not ready for this…

Megan is about to meet us at our weakest. She's outside. Right now….

Her tail flicked anxiously behind her. She had just begun to feel like herself, to settle into this new skin, to claim this body as her own. Introducing herself to Lucia was one thing, and her parents would be another. But Megan? This really raised the stakes.

Lucia leaned in, peering over her shoulder. "Well? Are you gonna let her in, or are you gonna make her stand out there like a stray cat?"

"Hey!" Kaelyn shot her a glare. "If anyone here is a stray cat, then it's me."

Lucia snorted. "So, you going to let her in?"

Kaelyn took a deep breath, thumb hovering over the screen. The image in Lucia's mirror caught her eye—the same one Megan was about to see.

Can't you tell her not today?

Why? Do you only want her to see us once you're completely gone? Plus, you're the one who agreed with this meeting two days ago, remember?

Ryan offered no arguments. Kaelyn exhaled, heart pounding, and typed out a reply. "Yeah. I'm awake. I'll get the door in a second."

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