Author's note: Hi everyone! Here's another chapter of The Kanichiomiya Site! Just a note, later in this chapter there's lengthy descriptions of how the humans look as Keronians, so bear with me. Enjoy!

3

Summer Frog

Once we had gotten to the infirmary, Pururu had us lie down on some of those medical tables. My breathing intensified, which irked me. I was supposed to be brave and fearless, and yet I was the only one of all the humans around me who was panicking.

"Do you want me to operate on you?" Pururu asked.

I nodded briefly before the words hit me. "Wait, operation?"

She nodded. "Traditionally, transformations are done using rayguns, but since you will be staying Keronian for an extended period of time, that technology won't be sufficient. The procedure is fairly complex, but the steps are simple- we implant a generic piece of Keronian DNA in your brain. Don't worry," she said at my alarmed look. "It was created in a lab, not taken from an actual Keronian. It's perfectly safe and has been tested before."

"On humans?"

"No, not on actual humans, but we've made replicas with stimulated Pekoponian DNA that we have tested."

"My head's spinning."

Pururu laughed. "There's nothing to worry about, Natsumi-chan. I'll see to that."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

"Alright. I'm going to put in the IV needle."

That I was fine with. Needles and shots had never been a problem for me, unlike Fuyuki- although he was probably so jazzed about all of this that he didn't even care. A glance over at him revealed my suspicions to be correct, as he was happily chattering away with the medic working on him as she slid his IV needle in. "Okay," I responded to Pururu.

A sharp pinch, and the needle was in. "Now I'm going to give you anesthesia," Pururu continued. "Just breathe deeply and relax, okay?"

I nodded and began taking slow, deep breaths as she placed a mask over my nose and mouth. "You're doing fine," she encouraged. "Just keep breathing."

I glanced over at my fellow humans to see similar masks being fitted on all of them. The platoon watched from the doorway, anxiety reflected in everyone but Kururu's eyes. My vision began to blur, I became numb, and I felt the world slowly slipping away.

The next thing I knew, arms were shaking me and a voice was gently calling, "Natsumi? Natsumi, wake up. The operation's over."

I sat up groggily, feeling very uncoordinated and processing slowly. "What?" I opened my eyes to see Pururu hovering over me.

"It's me, Natsumi. It's Pururu. The operation's finished. I hate to do this, but I have to ask you a few questions. Please try to answer them as best as you can. This is to make sure your brain is still functioning properly."

I nodded sleepily.

"First, what is your full name?"

"Natsumi Ayame Hinata."

"Good. Now, when were you born?"

"December 2, 1997."

"Your immediate family that you live with?"

"Fuyuki Hinata and Aki Hinata."

"Your alien partner? Name and rank, please."

"Corporal Giroro."

"Good. Now, what's the last thing you remember?"

"You said you were going to give me anesthesia. You were telling me to keep breathing."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Then the procedure went perfectly."

A relieved sigh emitted from me as well. "So I'm…"

"Yes."

I started to hop down from the medical table to find a mirror, but Pururu put out a hand, stopping me. "I have to make sure your muscles respond correctly. First of all, follow my finger with your eyes. Don't move your head." She began to move her finger back and forth. I made sure to keep my eyes on it.

"Wonderful. Can you move your fingers?"

I wiggled them.

"Raise your feet, please. Keep your knees straight."

I followed her instructions.

"Good. Nod your head and then shake it."

I shook my head 'yes' and then 'no'.

Pururu nodded and wrote something down on a clipboard. "One last thing. How do you feel in general?"

"Good, I guess, but a little sick."

"That's normal. Anything else?"

"Like my body's all out of proportion."

"Again, normal. Keronian proportions are different than that of humans, as you probably already know." She gave a small smile. "Ready to see the new you?"

I nodded slowly, a bit unsure. "I guess."

Pururu nodded reassuringly, then helped me off the bed. My eyes were still adjusting to the light, but I could hear the yawns from the rest of the former humans, which quickly turned to answers to the questions the medics were asking.

"Where's the platoon?" I asked suddenly.

"In the dining hall, having dinner. We thought that adding their shock to your own would be a bit too much for you."

I nodded a bit, but then paused. "Wait. Dinner? Then that would mean…"

"It's 18 hours- 6:00 non-military time. You were under for eight hours."

"Eight?!"

"While the operation is completely safe, it takes a while for your brain cells to accept the new DNA, and even longer for your body to complete the transformation. Keronian technology may be more advanced than that of Pekopon, but it still has its flaws. Here we are," she finished, stopping in front of a mirror in the corner of the infirmary. "Take a look."

I waited for my vision to adjust, and then gasped.

Sure, I knew I would be Keronian now, and I knew what to expect, but it was still a shock to see an alien frog standing where my reflection should be. I was now an orange Keronian with a pink hat with pigtails instead of the usual flaps. A red sun insignia was on my belly, with a matching sun on my forehead. I still had tadpole characteristics- a tail and a white face. I shook slightly, amazed.

"I shouldn't really be saying this, but you turned out pretty well," Pururu commented. "By Keronian standards, you're a real beauty."

I blushed slightly. "Thank you." I glanced over my shoulder to see my friends- now Keronians- getting up as well. Mama was a black Keronian with an indigo cap that had a high ponytail; her symbol was a question mark. Fuyuki was a dark blue tadpole with an indigo cap that had a small scrap on top, making it look like his hair; his symbol was a classic alien head. Momoka was a pink tadpole with a light blue cap that had a rectangle of jagged blue hanging down, also making it appear to be hair; her symbol was a peach. Saburo was a light grey tadpole with a silver cap without a flap; his symbol was a squiggle. Finally, Koyuki was a dark green tadpole with a black cap and a low ponytail tied with a red hairbow; her symbol was a kunai.

Cries of amazement and excitement echoed around the room as my friends examined their new appearances, while the medics exchanged happy and relieved looks. I couldn't help but smile- they seemed genuinely concerned about us, and I appreciated that.

Eventually, the medic who had been operating on Momoka smiled and asked, "Are you ready to see your partners?"

Nods and "YES!"s filled the room, and I grinned. Perhaps this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.