As a child, the people around me had always told me that I would grow up to become someone beautiful. By ten, my older sister somehow managed to convince me into letting my hair grow out. Strangely enough, my parents didn't argue. Saying things like "It suits you" and "you look better like this" then never explaining why.
By high school, things stayed the same. Long hair, androgynous appearance that leaned into dangerously feminine territory, which also made people ask me to join a beauty pageant and somehow freaking won. Though, I never really dig deeper as to why.
My university, strangely enough, never complained about my hair being long either. Even though boys were normally encouraged to cut their hair short for reasons… to keep appearances. That was just how strict things were in my country.
But why didn't they make me cut mine…?
Well, according to Professor Wang…
"Why… you ask? The institution thought you were a girl."
…Was what he told me.
Other students who knew rarely misgendered me. Though, it still happened.
I never actually cared that much about it… but this is…
"Eh? You're actually a guy…?" a guy, probably a senior, suddenly asked me out while walking alongside Anathasia as we headed to our next course.
"Yeah, I am…" I replied, forcing a small smile. Anathasia meanwhile, was basically stifling her own laughter as she stood behind me. Her hand clamped over her mouth.
[PFFT—AHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is brilliant!]
I felt a vein on my forehead threatening to pop. Where the hell was the Anathasia that said those things about selfishness being fine yesterday?
"You're really a guy…?" he repeated. I nodded in response.
I honestly felt bad for him at this point… even if he was the one who tried to hit on me instead of Anathasia.
[PFFT— looks like you're most guys' type after all, Kyle. Or maybe I'm just too ethereal for them to even think of approaching me, hm?]
I immediately shot a glare at her, then my expression softened again as I looked back at the senior before me.
"Yeah… so, I'm really sorry…" I muttered as his eyes met mine, the cocky expression he had disappearing.
"No, no… it's not your fault," he shook his head, stepping back. "I should be the one apologizing…"
He trailed off, then simply turned away while I stood there, Anathasia still snickering behind me.
"Hey, hey—wanna know what he was thinking just now?" she chimed in.
My expression flattened.
"No—"
"'Even though I was the one in the wrong, he still apologized… why did he have to be a dude…?' was what he was thinking—"
BONK
"I said don't."
She fell silent, wincing while rubbing the top of her head.
"Ow… alright, got it, okay? You're too rough on your girlfriend, honestly…" she whispered, her cheeks puffing out.
She paused, then walked in front before turning, a smirk curving on her lips.
"Honestly, if I took the form of a white haired hottie, no one would probably suspect anything," she suggested.
"Y'know, white haired characters like that tall white-haired guy from JJK or maybe that one boy from HxH?"
My eyes narrowed.
"Are you watching anime now as well?"
"People would probably be staring at us like we're some kinda models—"
"Oi—"
"—especially with how beautiful you are~"
This girl's getting carried away again.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"Alright, alright, let's just get to our next course, alright—" I glanced at her, only to see her eyes widened, lips slightly parted.
My brows furrowed.
"What?"
That seemed to snap her back to reality.
"Gosh… this works as well…"
"What works?" I leaned close, pulling on her cheek gently.
She just nodded, then gave me a thumbs up.
"Yeah, forget white-haired hotties. I'm into guys with long black hair."
"Wow, shameless." I murmured, then gently let go of her cheek before inclining my head toward the next room for our course.
"Anyway, let's go. We'll be late," I added.
Holding her by the shoulders, I turned her around and gently ushered her toward our next class. Something she didn't bother resisting.
—
After our second course, since it was Thursday, we were completely free from noon onward.
Stepping out into the hallway, I spotted a familiar figure walking toward us.
"Noah…?"
Even from a distance, I could see the smirk already curving on his lips. He raised a hand as he approached, the usual him.
"Sup. Haven't seen you since, like, March, dude."
He glanced at Anathasia, who was quietly sipping from a juice box beside me, holding it with both hands.
"And you as well, Anathasia."
Then he turned back to me and casually draped an arm over my shoulder, leaning close to my ear.
"So," he whispered, brows wiggling. "You two finally together?"
"Finally…" I trailed off, glancing at Anathasia, who was still cluelessly sipping her drink. Or at least, she looked like she was.
"It's been official since, like… early February?" I said. "I just couldn't really say anything. We went to the beach shortly after, then I had to deal with her missed deadlines… and then we went back to my hometown."
Noah immediately pulled away, eyes wide, lips forming a small 'o'.
"Sheesh… what?"
I nodded.
His eyes darted from me, to Anathasia, still sipping her juice like an innocent little girl, then back to me.
"That's actually insane…" he muttered, letting out a small, incredulous chuckle.
"But somehow… I already expected it."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah," he said. "I knew you could pull it off."
I stared at him.
"Hah?"
"Anyway," he steamrolled on, already waving as he stepped back.
"We should seriously hang out next time. See ya!"
With one last glance, he walked off, probably to his next class.
I exhaled.
"Well… that was—"
"Weird?" Anathasia cut in. "Totally. I think he just needs time to process the fact that we're together."
She lifted her now-empty juice box, pretending to tuck it into her pocket—
only for it to quietly dissipate before it got there.
"Anyway," she continued, glancing at me, "we're free for the rest of the day, so…"
She tilted her head.
"Anything you wanna do? Visit another country? Go hiking?"
I froze.
Hiking was one thing.
Visiting countries was another.
"Girl," I said slowly, "what?"
"What?" she replied easily. "I can just warp us anywhere. Why worry?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Normally, I wouldn't," I said, "but aren't you treating space-time a bit too casually? What if you mess up a timeline? Or erase someone by accident?"
She stared at me.
Blankly.
Like I'd just said something incredibly stupid.
"I'm quite literally a god," she said flatly. "Playing with space-time is one of my specialties."
She waved a hand dismissively.
"And even if something got displaced, I'd just put it back. I've been doing this since before time and space were even a thing."
"I know that, but still…" I stopped short. "Let's just go home. I think that's safer."
She shrugged—
and the next thing I knew, we were back in our living room.
From the middle of the hallway.
"Good god…" I muttered.
"This god is careless…"
"By the way," she said suddenly, now wearing the oversized shirt and shorts she'd borrowed months ago. Borrowed, asked, and never returned.
"What do you want for lunch?"
The kitchen was already clattering.
"Curry," I sighed, sinking into the couch.
She hummed softly as she moved about.
—
Seven light years away from the solar system
A civilization that once worshipped a god by the name of Rauk'thar drifted aimlessly through the vacuum of space.
Their planet had long since been reduced to scattered cosmic debris.
Beside those remains floated their god, an interdimensional being capable of leaping between realities and continua.
Lifeless.
Records recovered from what remained of their archives spoke of another civilization.
One located seven light years away.
They had planned an invasion.
It never happened.
Instead, the civilization was erased. Along with their god, by an unseen authority that left behind no signature, no trace, and no explanation.