Chapter 1

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My right foot throbbed painfully.

The pain was so intense that it gradually pulled me out of a deep sleep.

"Ah... it hurts..."

Curling up in the soft bed, I tried to touch the source of the pain in my right foot—only to realize that my hand couldn't reach it at all, which instantly woke me up.

Trying to sit up and throw off the covers, my body wouldn't move as it usually did. It felt as sluggish as when I had a high fever as a child.

Confused by the unusually dark room, I propped myself up on my elbow, lifted my heavy upper body, and pulled back the covers to check my persistently painful right foot.

"Huh? Why... am I in a negligee? Where's my pajama...?"

The slender left leg peeking out from the frilly hem was clearly not mine. The bigger issue was my right leg.

The skirt's bulge revealed that it extended to my thigh. I could see my knee, but there was nothing below it.

"No, no, no. Wait a minute? Isn't something fundamentally wrong here?"

A chill ran down my spine.

Could it be that I'm not me? Should I scream, "We've been switched!"?

I've been switched. Probably. Because this isn't my body. How thin is this? There's no muscle at all, and my hair is so long. What the heck is this?

...

It must be a dream, surely.

The pain in my foot is gone, so it must be a dream.

Okay, I'll go back to sleep.

Ignoring the strange sensation in my right foot, I pulled the covers up to my shoulders and took a deep breath.

That's right, I have work tomorrow.

If I go to work tomorrow, I'll have a three-day weekend.

I plan to go to a cake buffet with Chiuki and the others after work. Maybe I should keep my bento light. I still have some frozen side dishes, right? Yes.

Maybe I'll visit my parents' house on Saturday. But, you know, I don't get along with my sister-in-law. I hope she takes the kids out.

These days, living together is a no-go. My dad spoils the grandkids, and he never gave in to my requests for a game console or good grades. Now, he gives them presents every Christmas and birthday.

Ah, I wish I could get married soon. I'm already twenty-eight, and I wonder if there's a good person out there.

Trying to roll over, my body tensed up at the strange sensation in my right foot.

What the heck is this? What kind of dream is this?

It's a nightmare, with one leg missing, a weak and emaciated body, and an overwhelming sense of sadness.

Well, whatever, I'll just go back to sleep. I have work tomorrow.

I need to wake up at 5:30, so I should go to sleep now.

This inexplicable bad feeling in my chest will be gone when I wake up, right?

Still, this nausea is bothering me.

A different kind of unpleasant feeling is weighing heavily on my chest.

No, no, it's not good to have such dark thoughts.

I should focus on the upcoming cake buffet.

According to Chiuki, who loves cakes, this buffet is produced by a three-star patissier and is supposed to be incredibly delicious.

I'm currently into pistachio, so I'd be thrilled if there's a cake that combines chocolate and pistachio. I might take a break with some jelly and see if there's almond tofu. Ah, I'm getting excited!

Thinking about the cake buffet tomorrow and building up my excitement, I forced myself to fall asleep.