Friday, August 29th, 2042, Outside Melanie Kim's home, Guildford, Surrey, Canada.

Melanie adjusted herself in the driver's seat and tapped the car's engine power button. The dashboard of her Acura ZDX lit up as the car woke up, quiet and luxurious. Shane had advised her to go with this model and had insisted on the Tiger Eye Pearl colour when he saw it in the showroom. Something about a ritual involving yellow cars from his youth. She had to admit; it was a rather bold choice, but she liked it.

Lee buckled his seat belt beside her, knees raised awkwardly, legs spread wide. She stared at him in disbelief—equal parts awe at his impossible metamorphosis, envy at how smoothly he handled the change, and pure confusion at the fact he had fit perfectly fine in this same seat just twelve hours ago. How could someone grow taller overnight like this? "Hey, don't hesitate to mess with the seat's position," she said, gesturing toward the controls. "Give yourself some legroom, sib."

He blinked at her blankly for a second, then nodded in sudden realisation. "Oh. Sure… Where are they—" He twisted to the right, fumbling around, until the seat started moving back. Lee let out a sigh of contentment. "Yeah, that's much better."

Little sister won't do anymore; Lee isn't even my sister anymore, and he's already taller than I am.

From what she had seen of his avatar during yesterday's VR call, he would get even taller.

She toyed with the idea of calling him "Baby brother" from now on. It would take her some time getting used to, but it would work. Until the nickname died, or she found a better one.

Lee noticed her looking in his direction. He beamed like a child at her, while simulatenously adjusting the hoodie's collar. He wore Shane's clothes like they were his—hoodie over the long-sleeved shirt, both fitting him almost too well now.

Mel put the car in gear and backed out of the driveway slowly. "You comfy?" she asked. "Not too tight?"

Lee glanced down at himself, rolling up the sleeves just once more. "I'm good. Looks like your boyfriend and I have matching stats."

"You wish," she snorted.

But she did not laugh. Instead, her eyes flicked toward him again as they merged onto the main road. The light caught the edge of his jawline—sharper now. More shadow than curve. The same light used to hit Sophie's cheeks with a kind of softness. Now it skated across a stranger's bone structure.

She tightened her grip on the wheel. Lee was watching the city slide by, his fingers drumming up a beat on the central console, to the tempo of the K-pop song blasting from the car speakers.

"How are you handling the beanie?" she asked after a minute. "Not too hot?"

"I'd rather cook than explain why I have tiny ears on top of my head."

"Fair."

Mel smiled, but the ache in her knuckles told a different story. Something had shifted between them—and it was not just the jawline or the deeper voice. It was the posture. The presence.

She signalled left and changed lanes, annoyed by her own thoughts.

This is fine. You're going shopping. It should be fun.

Still, her gaze flicked sideways again as he shifted in his seat. The movement was subtle, but instinctive—like someone used to taking up space. Someone used to being heard.

Before, she had always been the one people defaulted to. She was the planner, the fixer, the older sibling. Sophie had always been brilliant, but quieter. Smaller. More comfortable letting Melanie lead.

Now? Now, her little sister had a deeper voice and broader shoulders and a presence the world would soon take notice.

Melanie did not know how to feel about that.

She turned into the mall parking lot, scanning for a suitable parking spot. She always avoided the rows near the entrances, where traffic slowed to a crawl because of all the foot traffic. Once she found what she was looking for, she carefully steered into the space. Then, she turned the engine off and sat back with a sigh.

Lee unbuckled his seatbelt and exhaled like he was preparing for battle. Melanie glanced over just as he reached up and tugged the beanie down. He checked himself once in the side mirror, frowned slightly before pulling the hoodie over his head. Melanie's gaze locked on his hair as it caught rays of sunlight. His formerly inky-black hair had already lightened a few shades since yesterday.

He caught her staring again and flashed her a tight-lipped smile. "Ready?"

Not remotely.

"Yup," she lied.

She slid down the sunglasses sitting over her head as they got out of the car—just in case anyone recognised her. She caught the movement of Lee's long legs as he stepped out of her car. He stretched rapidly before tying his hoodie around his waist. A few people were walking past, their gaze naturally drifting to him, then quickly flicking away when they realised they were caught staring. Melanie's eyes narrowed, bothered by how people looked at him now; like they could not help themselves.

Mel locked the car with a chirp and adjusted her bag on her shoulder. Lee was already a step ahead of her, hands in his pockets, walking like someone who'd always had that body. Like someone who had nothing to prove.

Two teens, a boy and a girl, walking towards the same entrance, gave Lee a subtle once-over. One of them raised her eyebrows and muttered something behind her hand. Lee did not seem to notice—or care—but Melanie did.

Soon they reached the glass doors of the entrance. A man wearing a blue Guildford security vest stepped forward to open and the door for them—a gesture meant for both of them. His gaze had landed on Lee first, and he had offered him a friendly nod—It stung. Just a little.

"Morning," the guard said.

Lee blinked. "Oh. Uh—morning." He glanced at Melanie, unsure what had just happened.

She offered the security agent a polite smile. "Thanks," she murmured.

The man had already turned away, scanning for other customers.

They stepped into the chilly, perfumed air of the mall. Music drifted from some nearby boutique. The lighting changed from clear skies to bright commercial warmth. Lee raised the beanie over his forehead just slightly, letting more of his face show now that they were inside. He looked around with interest, head turning toward the central atrium like he was curious—maybe even excited.

For Melanie, this place held no secrets. She had walked through this mall a thousand times. She knew how people looked at each other in passing: bored, distracted, indifferent. That was the default. Lee was drawing a different kind of attention. No confusion or double-takes. Just… interest. As if the world had taken one glance and filed him under: relevant.

She walked beside him, close enough for their shoulders to touch. Mel watched her brother move with newfound confidence. Like the main character on a movie set who moved like the camera followed his every step. She wondered if he would prefer she find clothes to help make him disappear, or if she should find some to make him stand out even more?

She knew every store, every brand. And she knew exactly how to dress him up if he wanted to downplay his flaw or highlight his qualities. She resolved to guide him gently through the different choices, but to let him have the final say. After all, it was his life. As the bigger sister, she should focus on making him as comfortable as possible.

"Come on, let's get you some clothes, Lee."

"Lead the way, sis."

For now, Lee needed to get himself a bunch of essentials. She took them to one of the chain stores where they could get ordinary items for a good price. They entered the store. The fluorescent lights inside the store buzzed faintly overhead as Melanie grabbed a cart. Lee hesitated at the entrance, his expression halfway between curious and overwhelmed.

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"Come on," she said, already rolling the cart forward. "This is just to cover the basics. We'll figure your actual style once you're done growing."

Lee snorted. "You make it sound like I'm still moulting."

"Honestly? You kind of are."

They passed racks of folded jeans and stacks of logo tees. Melanie navigated without hesitation, heading for the essentials section tucked near the back. She grabbed a pack of ten plain black ankle socks and set it into the cart without comment. Then tossed in a six-pack of briefs, and another of boxers. She had picked both like it was no big deal, but she saw Lee glance down at the contents and wince.

"You'll thank me later," she said.

"I'm not arguing," he blurted. "Just… wow. That's a real 'life comes at you fast' moment."

"Welcome to your second puberty, bro."

She said it lightly, though her stomach twisted a little when the word left her mouth. It had come out so naturally. Bro.

Lee did not even react to it. He was busy fiddling with the buttons of his borrowed shirt, his gaze drifting toward a display to their left. Mel followed his line of sight—and realised he had unconsciously veered toward the women's section.

Lee's eyes scanned a rack of cropped sweaters, some ribbed tanks and slim-cut high-waisted jeans in pastel tones without even thinking about it. Like muscle memory.

Melanie reached out and gently nudged his elbow. He blinked and looked at her. "Wrong aisle," she said, softly.

"Oh. Shit," Lee muttered, dragging his eyes away. "Force of habit."

"No biggie; your instincts haven't caught up with your body yet. Also, no one noticed, and nobody would comment if they did. I keep going through the men's aisles when I need inspiration for my job."

Lee gave her a sheepish nod, then followed her back toward the other half of the store.

They passed flannels, basic hoodies, racks of cargo joggers and drawstring shorts. Lee reached out and paused at a display of t-shirts—just solid colours, but in that elevated way that only certain brands pulled off. One of them, a muted rose-brown, caught his eye.

"You like that one?" Melanie asked.

"I… I think so." He held it up against himself. "It's not too... statement piece, right?"

Mel tilted her head, evaluating. "Nope. That's a good tone for you. Contrast against the ears, soft enough to keep things from going full macho. Nice choice."

Lee blinked. "Wow. I feel affirmed and critiqued at the same time."

"Welcome to shopping with me."

She took the shirt from his hands, checked the tag. She put it back and dug up a different one, one a size larger, and added it to the cart.

They kept walking, and Melanie noticed something subtle: Lee had stopped trailing behind. He was walking beside her now. Even starting to move a little ahead when they turned corners into the trendier section, where the store's modest ambitions lived. Slim-fit knits. Stretch dress shirts. Sweater polos in muted jewel tones.

Melanie drifted toward one rack, eyes scanning at the speed only a professional fashion designer might. Her hand darted out and plucked a button-up in charcoal chambray off the hanger, then another in deep rust-orange. She slipped both onto the cart's side rail before Lee noticed.

"Are those for me?" he asked.

"Maybe," she said vaguely. "We're figuring out what works for you, right?"

"You just said we were getting basics."

"These are basics," she said with a straight face. "For a functional adult with a sense of dignity."

Lee squinted at her. "I'm not trying on that burnt pumpkin thing."

She snorted. "First of all, it's rust. And second of all, I'm not asking you to wear it to a gala. I just want to see how it looks like on you."

He eyed the cart suspiciously.

Melanie grabbed a knit crewneck in cream and a tan corduroy overshirt, draping both casually over the cart. Then, after a moment's thought, she doubled back and added a short-sleeved henley in pale sage green.

Lee raised an eyebrow. "Are you building me a capsule wardrobe or a dating profile?"

"Can't it be both?" she replied, not missing a beat.

Truthfully, she had no intention of buying all of it. But she wanted to see how he moved in them. What colours made him brighten, which textures made him fidget. What he looked like when he caught his own reflection and paused, even for half a second.

What makes him feel like himself?

Because whoever Lee turned out to be, Melanie wanted to meet him fully. Not just in the quiet comfort of borrowed hoodies, but in the boldness of a new silhouette.

She added one more item, deliberately off-script—a navy tee with a minimalist pink heart stitched just above the hem. Subtle. Playful. Unexpected.

If Lee noticed, he did not react. Which was fine. He would catch it in the changing room. And she would watch, not to judge, just to understand.

"Alright," she said, nudging the cart with her hip. "Let's get you into a booth and see what you like."

"Please don't treat this like a montage."

"Oh, it's already one," she said with a grin. "You just haven't heard the backing track yet."

The fitting rooms were unisex—curtained stalls in a quiet alcove near the back of the store. Melanie had always liked this setup. Less weirdness, less drama. Just clothes and people trying to make them work.

Lee disappeared behind one stall with an armful of items. He said little as he went, but he did not seem nervous, either. That made her oddly proud. Or maybe just relieved.

Melanie claimed one of the low-slung seats outside the changing area and sank into it with a quiet exhale. The cart sat parked in front of her, wheels locked, garments half-folded over the edge. A few of the pieces peeked out.

She pulled out her phone without thinking. Her thumbs hovered over the home screen for a few seconds before muscle memory took over. Contacts. Her private chat with Eomma and Appa.

She stared at the name for a beat too long.

Then, without letting herself hesitate, she tapped out a new message.

"Hey. Something's going on with Sophie. I thought you should know. Maybe send a message?"

She sat there, reading the sentence over and over.

I can't do this to him. He said he doesn't want to let them know.

She deleted the message and tried something else.

"Me and Sophie are at the mall. Should we drop by after we're done?"

Nope!

Deleted again.

The blinking cursor on an empty message field stared back at her, impatient.

She tried one more time.

"Hey. Just wanted to check in. Hope everything's good today :)"

She hit send. The cheerful ping hit, and she regretted it instantly.

Almost instantly, her mom replied.

"All good here, sweetie. What's going on?"

Melanie stared at the screen. She stared at the reply, her thumbs frozen. Her heart beat a little harder.

Behind the curtain, she heard the rustle of fabric. A quiet, self-conscious grunt. The zipper of a jacket. Lee muttering something under his breath that she could not make out. She looked down at the screen again and quickly replied.

"I was just thinking of visiting this weekend. Maybe bringing snacks. I'm at the shopping centre. Want me to buy anything while I'm here?"

It was the most obvious deflection in the history of deflections, but her mom replied just as quickly.

"Yes. Some spicy Kimchi corn snacks. And more of that rice coffee your dad likes."

Melanie smiled weakly at the screen. She let out a breath.

What am I doing?

She wished Lee did not feel the need to hide something this big from their parents. She felt torn between respecting his wishes and dutifully letting them know about the life-altering event.

Before she could spiral further in her own thoughts, the curtain pulled back just a few inches. Lee stuck his head out, one hand still tugging at the collar of the shirt he was wearing. His eyes scanned for her.

"Hey," he said. "Can you come look?"

Relieved to have something to do to keep her mind occupied, Mel returned the phone into her purse and stood, her smile already back in place.

"Yeah," she said, brushing her hands off against her jeans. "Let's see the damage."

Mel slipped into the changing room. Lee was in front of a full-length mirror, looking himself over, wearing the rose-brown tee and a pair of charcoal capris. The shirt was slightly loose across his chest, but not in a sloppy way—it skimmed him like it was meant to be oversized, giving him just enough room to still be discovering his new frame.

Melanie took one look and raised her eyebrows, impressed despite herself. "Okay. That's a win."

Lee glanced down, tugged at the hem. "It's comfy, but I dunno. Feels a little... art student? Like I should be holding a disposable film camera."

"Please. If you showed up at a coffee shop in that, you'd have people writing poems about your tragic backstory."

He made a face. "So I look like a sad ex-boyfriend?"

Mel smirked. "No. You look like an actor who could pull it off."

Lee blinked. Then laughed. "Okay. That's not bad."

She gestured for him to turn. He did, slowly. The back of the shirt dipped just slightly, the curve of it drawing attention to his shoulders—not broad yet, but starting to be.

She made mental notes: soft knits, neutral earth tones and unassuming clothes suited him.

"Alright," she said, grabbing the next hanger from the cart. "Time to level up."

Lee gave her a look like he was bracing for a boss fight. "Hit me."

Ten minutes later, she stepped in again—this time in the sage green henley and the tan corduroy overshirt layered over it, sleeves rolled to the elbows. Instead of capris, he wore cuffed up, slim-cut jeans.

Melanie nearly whistled.

Lee stood awkwardly at first, fiddling with the hem of the overshirt. "Is it too much? It feels like... a lot."

"It's a look," Melanie said, already circling around him like a stylist on set. "But it's not loud. It says, 'Hey, I might teach a pottery class, but I also know how to build my own furniture.'"

Lee cracked a smile. "That's dangerously close to hipster."

"Only if you add a fanny pack and a leather apron. Which, give it time."

He chuckled, then turned toward the mirror. His smile faltered slightly.

She saw it. That brief pause. The way his fingers froze on the rolled sleeve, how he tilted his head—just a little—like the reflection surprised him.

Not scared. Not disappointed. But surprised. Like he had caught a glimpse of who he could become.

Mel waited for him to respond. Just stood a little behind him and let him look. He shifted his weight. Tried a different stance. Ran his fingers through his hair, which was already drying in soft waves. His ears twitched beneath the beanie, barely visible, but still there.

"You okay?" she asked gently.

Lee nodded slowly. "Yeah. Just… getting used to it."

"You want to try the heart shirt next?"

He snorted, shaking his head. "I saw you sneak that in."

"Guilty."

"Yeah, let me put it on," he said. "I'm starting to feel like one of your Sims character cycling through outfits."

She smiled and stepped out of the changing room again. The clothes were not perfect yet. The fit was not exact. But Lee's eyes had a spark in them Mel had not seen in years. Not since they had played that MMO, a decade ago.

She thought she finally understood why her brother did not want their parents to grieve him. Because he was alive—truly alive—for the first time, perhaps, since his puberty.

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