New Look

Natsuki Subaru found himself once again in the bustling market of Luginica, a place he had grown all too familiar with through countless deaths and rebirths. The confusion swirling in his mind was a constant companion as he navigated through the throngs of people, each step echoing with the weight of his past experiences.

The appa vendor's voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to the present. "Miss, are you okay?" the vendor asked, concern evident in his tone as he eyed Subaru's disoriented expression.

Subaru blinked, the unfamiliar pronoun catching him off guard. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine," he replied automatically, his mind still trying to piece together how he ended up back here yet again.

As he wandered through the market, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. The curious glances from the passersby only added to his discomfort, their eyes lingering on him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. There was something different about him, something that set him apart from the others, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Ignoring the stares, Subaru sought refuge in a familiar alley, the cool shadows offering a brief respite from the oppressive heat of the market. Leaning against the rough stone wall, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind.

But his moment of peace was short-lived. The sound of approaching footsteps shattered the silence, followed by the rough laughter that echoed through the narrow passage. Subaru tensed, his form instinctively assuming a martial art stance as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation with the bandits.

Sure enough, they appeared moments later, their presence announced by the clinking of armor and the arrogant swagger that marked their approach. The leader, a burly man with a bushy beard and a cruel glint in his eye, took one look at Subaru and sneered.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain as he looked Subaru up and down. "Surrender everything you have, girl."

Subaru's jaw clenched in frustration at the misgendering, but he forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing as he assessed the situation. "You guys really don't learn, do you?" he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with weary resignation.

The bandits laughed, their mocking taunts washing over him like a wave. "What can a little girl like you do against us?" one of them jeered, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "If you wanna play rough, this ain't the place for it."

Subaru's eyes narrowed as he motioned for them to come at him, his heart pounding in his chest as adrenaline surged through his veins. "Come on, then," he challenged, his voice steady despite the nervous fluttering in his chest.

And come at him they did.

The first bandit lunged forward with a wild swing, but Subaru was already moving, his body reacting on instinct. With a quick sidestep, he dodged the blow, his movements fluid and graceful as he danced out of reach.

But the bandits were relentless, their attacks coming faster and harder with each passing moment. Subaru ducked and weaved through their onslaught, his mind a blur of calculated movements and split-second decisions as he fought to keep himself one step ahead, his fists and feet moving with a speed and agility he had never known before.

The leader growled in frustration as he launched himself at Subaru, his fists swinging wildly as he sought to overwhelm his opponent with brute force.

But Subaru was ready. He could end it right there. But he wanted to flex his muscles.

With a swift kick, he sent the first bandit sprawling to the ground, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. The second bandit hesitated, his eyes widening in fear as Subaru closed in on him. Before he could react, Subaru delivered a powerful blow to his gut, sending him crashing to his knees with a pained grunt.

Only the leader remained, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged at Subaru with a primal roar. But Subaru was prepared, his body moving with the grace and precision of a seasoned warrior as he met the bandit head-on.

With a deft sidestep, he dodged the attack, his hand shooting out to grab the bandit's arm in a vice-like grip. With a swift twist, he flipped him onto the ground, his body hitting the pavement with a resounding thud.

The bandits lay defeated at his feet, their bodies bruised and broken. "A-are you an assassin?" the short one asked, his voice trembling with fear.

Subaru rolled his eyes, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "No," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're just too weak."

But as the words left his mouth, Subaru couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. Why had he been so harsh? And why did he feel so…odd?

His gaze drifted around the alley until it landed on a broken mirror nestled among a pile of trash. With a sense of trepidation, he reached out and picked it up, his heart pounding in his chest as he caught sight of his reflection.

And then he froze.

The face staring back at him was that of a girl, her features delicate yet strong, with eyes that burned bright with determination. Her hair, braided with multiple laces, cascaded down her back, framing her face in a halo of dark waves.

It was a face he had never seen before, yet it felt strangely familiar, as if it belonged to him all along.

"What the hell…?" Subaru whispered, his voice barely audible over the din of the market. Tentatively, he reached out to touch his reflection, his fingertips brushing against the cool surface of the mirror. The image mimicked his movements exactly, sending a shiver down his spine.

He tried to smile, but the girl in the reflection looked… intimidating. It was as if he were staring into the eyes of a stranger, a stranger who held secrets he could only begin to imagine.

With a shaky breath, Subaru dropped the mirror and loosened the grip on his trousers, letting them fall to the ground. As he looked down, he realized that something was different. Sabaru Jr. was gone.

He was a girl.

He wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all. But instead, all that escaped his lips was a single word, spoken with a mix of disbelief and fascination.

"Interesting,"

O-X~X-O

Author Note: Yep, it's Suzune from Classroom of the Elite.

I'll continue this if you like it. So tell me your opinion.