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“Mmmmm…” Chris yawned and stretched before scratching her hand and opening her top dresser drawer. She had some spare clothes from Gretchen, but she knew she’d have to eventually go shopping, preferably sooner rather than later.

She tossed a few items of clothing onto the bed before grabbing a pair of boxer shorts, holding them before her eyes with a look of deep contemplation. “Is this okay?” She muttered, briefly considering she may need to purchase some panties. Why, though? Was it essential to wear form-fitting undies?

After taking a moment to think, her cheeks flushed red. ‘Oh yeah…’ At some point, she’d likely have her period, and panties would be necessary to keep a liner in place. The other option was tampons, which, to the fledgling woman, seemed objectively worse than having to wear tight undies. ‘I’ll never get used to this,’ she huffed. By now, her complaints usually manifested as pouting and whining, and she could move on with her day without having a full-blown panic attack. There were still moments when the surrealness of her transience hit hard, but she had no plan of slowing her life down. If anything, she could now speed things up and do far more than she could previously.

For now, she pushed those concerns to the back of her mind, ignoring the slight aching below her navel. She stripped out of her pajamas and shivered in response to the cool air blanketing her nude form. Without further delay, she pulled the boxers on and grew mildly embarrassed when they snapped into place, hugging her ass and mad privates more than she would have liked. Female asses would take some getting used to; lower body garments could be deceptively tight when having to work around her ample ass and wide hips.

Once that was done, she pulled on an old black tee shirt and an oversized gray hoodie. As she wasn’t wearing a bra, she was more comfortable masking her body with extra clothing.

With a sigh, she pulled on a pair of jeans and struggled to maneuver around her tail. “Ugh.” She tried to let the pants ride low enough for the still-growing appendage but found it uncomfortable and thought her pants may slide down while walking.

“Fuck it,” she shrugged, walking to her closet and grabbing a sharp pocket knife from the top shelf. With that, she unceremoniously carved a line down the back of her pants, hopefully long enough to give her pseudo-tail room. She knew this would likely cause the pants to tear and fray over time, but the long hoodie would keep everything covered, and she planned on getting tail-friendly clothing as quickly as possible.

A few minutes later, she was fully dressed and successfully slid her tail through the opening. It wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it would suffice until she acquired new apparel. She glanced at the mirror, seeing an adorable girl wearing what looked like her boyfriend’s clothing. Despite the bagginess, she couldn’t entirely conceal the shape of her hips. ‘There are worse things than being too cute, I guess,’ she momentarily lamented before grabbing her keys and wallet and walking out to the living room.

"Yo!” Chris waved to Rodrick after opening the front door.

The casually dressed wolf-man’s tail flicked about wildly as he stepped in with a smile and pulled Chris into a hug, a greeting she had always received from him upon visits in the past. However, everything felt different in this body. Rodrick was much larger than her, so he seemed exceptionally large and well-muscled when he held her. That slightly musty scent of his also did strange things to her that she hoped to ignore.

“How are you feeling today?” Rodrick warmly asked as he stepped back and looked at Chris carefully.

“Well, my head doesn’t hurt. Nor does my back or muscles. I don’t even feel remotely tired after seven hours of sleep, so I’ll count that as a win,” Chris curtly replied.

“Glad to hear it! Let’s go!” Rodrick chimed as the two of them left.

Once they reached the man’s car, Chris opened the passenger seat and began to sit when he remembered something. What was she supposed to do with her tail? She then immediately remembered that Rodrick had his seats modified. The back of each seat had a large, waist-level gap that allowed tails to comfortably jut into the backseat area.

Rodrick noticed Chris carefully getting into the vehicle and saw the stubby tail. His eyes suddenly widened, his ears perking in full alert. “Oh! You’re growing a tail?? That’s awesome!” He cheered with a wide grin.

Chris blushed as she finally got comfortable, buckling her seatbelt. “It is?”

“I mean-- I have a tail. I think it’s neat that we’ll be able to share that… I don’t know,” he responded somewhat sheepishly.

Chris didn’t want to crush his enthusiasm. Watching his ears and tail react to his every emotion was actually quite charming. ‘He’s kinda cute…’ She mused with a slight smile. Not in a weird, sexual way or anything like that. Of course not. Just-- well… Expressive puppies were cute, right? Of course. This was the same thing. But then, why did she only just start getting these feelings after becoming female? She chalked it up to women liking cute animals and things, forcing the train of thought from her head. “You’re right. I will need your help with this whole ‘tail’ thing,” she added.

“Demis generally have extremely flexible tails, far more so than their animal counterparts, so they can curl to our sides. In a pinch, you can probably curl your tail around you in a seat if you don’t lean back too far. Well-- not when it’s that short, but mine was like that too during transience,” the wolf-man offered as he started his car and pulled onto the road. Wait, wasn’t he supposed to not use the word ‘demis’ to describe people with traits like them? He briefly recalled what Aoi told him on the flight but decided not to overthink it right now. Apparently, many girls found the term ‘demi’ cute and endearing.

“That’s good to know; thank you.” She quietly replied, turning her gaze to idly stare out the window. There was still quite a lot on her mind. “Where are we headed to first?” She asked a few seconds later.

“Food? Hotpot, maybe?” The man suggested.

How long had it been since she enjoyed hotpot? She’d be able to purchase a variety of meats to enjoy, so she was entirely on board. “Let’s do it,” she agreed. “After that, I-- well,” she caught herself mid-sentence and bit her lip, pushing her legs together as a slight shame manifested.

"What’s up?” Rodrick replied with concern.

“I need-- err… New clothes and whatnot,” she admitted. “You grew up with sisters; can you go with me? Where can I get clothing with tail holes?”

Rodrick blushed and gripped the steering wheel tightly. “O-- Of course I’ll help you,” he promised. “But, are you sure you wouldn’t rather do this with Gretchen?” Or your mom?”

“Gretchen is great, but I don’t trust her not to want to dress me up like a doll. She can get carried away. With my mom, I have the same concern multiplied by ten. It’s not like you have to be glued to me or come into the changing room; I just-- well, need support, I guess,” she sheepishly added.

“Say no more,” Rodrick laughed. “Yeah, it’s no problem. After food, let’s get you some new clothes. The place I shop at has male and female clothing and tailors who do custom modifications and orders.” Clothing stores with built-in tailor shops were growing more commonplace every year as the number of transience-related accommodations was necessary.

“Thank you,” Chris said with genuine relief, taking a slow breath as she closed her eyes and rested her head back. She always felt refreshed after hanging out with Rodrick, who was always ridiculously nice and chill.

A little while later, the friends sat at a booth in the back of ‘Happy Cat Hotpot,’ an incredibly delicious establishment on the outskirts of Chinatown. They quickly agreed to share the bone marrow broth hotpot, and each ordered some meats and a couple of veggies. “Man, I can’t wait… I’m so fucking hungry,” Chris sighed as she stretched her arms and then leaned forward and rested her forehead on the table.

Rodrick laughed before leaning over and gently patting Chris on the head. “May I say what’s honestly on my mind?”

Chris looked up and tilted her head. “Sure. I don’t think you’ve ever said anything malicious or insulting to me.”

“Your mannerisms are super cute,” he responded. “You pull it off super well, I promise,” the shaggy wolf insisted.

Chris felt her heart rate picked up as she sat up and folded her hands in her lap. “Do you think I make a good girl?” She asked before she could consider the question.

“What? Fuck yeah, of course,” Rodrick instantly responded. “I don’t know why, but all of your old mannerisms and traits shoved into this new body are endearing. You give off such a good-- err, energy? Aura? I don’t know, but it’s great.”

Chris couldn’t be too upset despite feeling flustered. Would she prefer it if people didn’t find her cute? Not being cute wouldn’t magically turn her male again, so wasn’t it better to be a cute girl if she had to be one? “I’d rather be cute than deformed. I guess there are worse things,” she grumbled, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

Rodrick wanted to point out how her pouting was adorable but kept his mouth shut. Instead, he just laughed and smiled. “What about me? Do I make a cute wolf or whatever? I hope I pull it off well.”

Chris paused and considered her following words. Did he make a cute wolf? Well, maybe. She took a deep breath before responding. “You pull the wolf look very well. Ten out of ten.” With that, she gave Rodrick a cheeky thumbs up.

“Good enough; I’ll take it,” the wolf chuckled.

Soon, a waiter came by and set up their pot, bringing a variety of meats and some veggies. Chris eagerly awaited the broth to heat up before sticking some kalbi beef slices. “How long has it been since we’ve had hotpot?” She mused. The meat was still on the rare side when she fished it out and shoved it in her face. “Ahh- hot, hot!” Her eyes opened wide as she put a hand before her face. She had been so eager to eat that her patience had worn incredibly thin.

Rodrick laughed and shook his head. “I feel that. When I went through transience, the cravings were nearly uncontrollable for a while. It will take some getting used to.”

After consuming the meat, Chris grunted and puffed her cheeks in a huff. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What cravings?” She asked innocently, looking at Rodrick before down to the plethora of red meat before her. “Just-- don’t glance down at my side of the table when you answer, heh heh….”

There was a momentary pause as Rodrick smiled at Chris. For some reason he couldn’t pinpoint, his chest felt fluttery? Was that it? ‘Why on earth does she have to be so cute?’ He lamented. Their conversations made it abundantly clear that this woman was Chris. They still engaged in the usual banter and seemed to enjoy one another’s company. He was starting to realize how dangerous the combination of Chris’s personality with an attractive female body truly was.

Chris readied more beef and veggies before cracking an egg into the broth. She glanced up to meet his gaze and tilted her head. “What? Is my face all messy or something?” She asked self-consciously, reaching for a napkin.

“O-- Oh, no! Just lost in thought for a moment,” Rodrick replied as he prepped food for himself. How on earth was he supposed to deal with these emotions? Oh well! He was enjoying himself far too much to worry too severely.

Chris just nodded her understanding. “Oh, by the way. I discovered something kinda neat,” she added.

“Oh? What’s that?” The wolf-man replied after swallowing a mouthful of food.

“I followed Gretchen’s advice, and it seems like I can use magic,” she responded with a wide grin that showed off her fangs. A nearby server froze and stared at the booth. Another patron returning from the bathroom gave a strange look, but no one else seemed to care.

Rodrick glanced around and then leaned forward. “That’s amazing! But let’s talk about that more when there are fewer ears. I have to know all about it,” he insisted as the tip of his tail flicked about and thumped against the seat cushion.

Chris paused and hesitantly looked around. The waiter turned away and returned to his duties upon realizing she was looking. “You’re right. Later, then.” Magic was a touchy subject for a lot of people. There have been an increasing number of magic-related incidents, and humans tend to fear what they do not understand. Conveniently, many also chose to overlook the positive aspects of magic.

After eating, the two arrived at ‘Rainboutique,’ a store that sold and tailored various clothes for all body shapes and physical needs. Chris walked in hesitantly and glanced at the aisles around her. The story seemed well maintained, with polished tile floors and the fragrance of fresh linen.

Rodrick noticed Chris entering ‘deer-in-headlights’ mode and stepped in to help. He blushed as he opened his mouth and realized he was also more out of his element than he would have initially thought. Yes, he had sisters and experience shopping for tail-friendly clothes, but he didn’t have experience taking his new female best friend shopping for women’s clothing. “Oh, umm… I’ll be with you every step of the way, but do you mind if I flag down an employee to help?”

Chris quickly nodded. “Yes, that would be wonderful,” she replied as her stubby tail flitted nervously.

Rodrick went to find someone and returned less than a minute later. A tall woman with crimson hair approached with a wide smile. A well-fitted red dress covered her body and showed off her curves. “I heard you might need some help. My name’s Carrie; I’m the assistant manager here. I am also a tailor and a clothing expert,” she said warmly.

Chris immediately realized this woman had been through transience. Dark red horns protruded from her forehead, and a devilish crimson tail with a fine, dark red fur tuft at the end slowly swished behind her. “Yes, I definitely need some help. I’m Chris, by the way,” she said with a forced smile. “I went through transience recently; my body has changed-- err, quite significantly,” she stated after momentarily thinking her words through.

Carrie briefly paused before smiling widely. “You’re in good company, then! Most who shop here have similar stories to share, including myself. Do you mind if I steal you from your man briefly?” She giggled.

The two friends blushed, with Rodrick stammering. “W-- wait… She’s not…”

“I won’t keep her for long,” Carrie waved before trotting off and gesturing for the freshly transformed woman to follow.

Chris couldn’t bear to make eye contact with Rodrick and was glad to have an excuse to leave. By the time shopping was over, they could forget that awkward moment. She took a deep breath and focused her attention on Carrie. “Sorry in advance. I need help with basically everything,” she confessed.

“Oh no, don’t be sorry. Customers like you are my favorite to work with,” Carrie promised as they entered the female clothing section.

Chris glanced at the clothing racks, wincing when she saw panties, bra, and other undergarments. Everything was so lacy and feminine, and she still didn’t feel like she belonged here.

“To start, do you know your cup size?” Carrie warmly asked, scanning Chris from head to toe.

Cup size? Chris blushed and shook her head. “N-- No… When I say I need help with everything, pretend I’m some alien being learning how to be a human woman for the first time,” she suggested, letting out a weak laugh. That wasn’t too far off from the truth.

“Fair enough!” Carrie grinned and produced measuring tape from her purse. I’ll need to get your size. Would you prefer going into a dressing room where you have privacy?”

Chris winced and anxiously peered around. She didn’t see anyone in the immediate vicinity, and there was no avoiding what had to be done. Her breasts were large enough to warrant a bra, and they were already starting to chafe and get uncomfortable without the support. “Here is fine,” she muttered coyly.

“Of course!” The devilish woman grinned.

The moments that followed were an alien experience for Chris. She lifted her arms and allowed Carrie to get up in her personal space. “Ahhh…” She shivered and bit her lip nervously when the measuring tape wrapped around her chest. Her nipples momentarily throbbed, and she was once again reminded of how sensitive her new body was while a slight tingle manifested between her legs. Fleeting memories of the previous night’s masturbation session came to mind, but she quickly ousted them; now wasn’t the place or time to get aroused.

“Looks like you’re a 34D! And they’re quite a lovely shape as well. I don’t know what you looked like before, but I can promise you’re very beautiful,” Carrie promised.

Chris understood Carrie was just trying to bolster the confidence of someone she assumed to be a woman who had just gone through severe transience. Well, technically speaking, she wasn’t wrong. However, something else bothered her. “W-- Wait. D cups? I have D cups?” she asked in shock before glancing down and feeling her heart race. She assumed they were in the C range; did they grow? Did she just not understand breast size?

“34D is actually a very common cup size! I promise they look perfect and proportionate on you,” Carrie insisted. With that, she walked a few feet and selected some bras. She then held out one that was somewhat lacy and red, with a cute little bow between the cups. “Cute, right? I have a few for you to try.”

“L-- Lovely!” Chris forced a smile and a weak laugh. She could tell that she was in for a long and arduous day.

CHAPTER END

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