Cursed Gender Swap?! The Mafia Bosss Love Bullet Seven Shots
Luca Kaneshiro, a popular VTuber from NIJISANJI EN, is the boss of a mafia with flowing blonde hair tied at the side, a white hat with a black band, and a pinstripe suit. He is short-tempered and likes to play the villain, but deep down he is a mischievous, friendly golden retriever of a man.
One day during a stream, the screen suddenly goes white. When Luca opens his eyes... he has become a girl! And all of his Luxiem friends have also swapped genders in total panic. Now a beautiful mafia boss
Cursed Gender Swap?! The Mafia Bosss Love Bullet Seven Shots - Love Bullet, Third Shot: Inside the Crane
So this is it! The rumored Arcade Pixel!
Luca Kaneshiro looked up at the large building facing the western main street.
Pixel Arena. A massive game center on the west side of EN Square, packed with over a hundred different competitive and mini games. Above the entrance, a giant sign glowed with pixel-art characters bouncing up and down.
Several days had passed since that day—since they'd obtained the second bullet at Emotion River. Luca was still in a girl's body. Her waist-length golden hair was tied to the side, a white hat perched on top, and she wore a pinstripe suit tailored for a woman. The hem of her skirt fluttered with every step.
Beside her stood Ike Eveland, silver long hair swaying in the wind. The gender-swapped Ike had silver hair with blue streaks flowing down to their back, their narrow blue eyes glinting quietly behind glasses. Even in a simple white shirt and black skinny jeans, they somehow looked like a work of art.
To be precise, it's Pixel Arena. Arcade Pixel is just a nickname.
Ike pushed their glasses up with a finger.
Details don't matter! Let's get inside!
Luca started to grab Ike's hand, then stopped. Holding hands girl-to-girl just felt weird.
The automatic doors slid open, and a blast of game noise and the cheers of young livers spilled out.
The interior was dim, with colorful neon lights crawling across the floor. Crane game machines lined the walls, and in the back, rhythm game and fighting game cabinets crowded together.
Whoa... this is amazing.
Luca's eyes sparkled. Even as a girl, coming to an arcade made her heart dance.
Luca, let's check the prizes first. Rumor has it there's something emitting a pale pink light among the crane game prizes.
Ike said, operating the tablet in their hands.
Right! Where is it, where is it!
The two walked toward the crane game area.
Along the way, Luca's feet tangled.
Whoa—!
She stepped on her skirt hem and nearly pitched forward. Ike grabbed Luca's arm in an instant.
Are you okay?
I-I'm fine! This skirt is seriously hard to move in!
Luca's face went red as she slapped at her skirt hem.
It can't be helped until you get used to it.
Don't laugh!
With that exchange, the two came to a stop in front of the crane game machine at the very back.
Inside the large glass case, colorful prizes were piled up like a mountain. Plushies, figures, keychains, boxes of snacks.
And then.
At the very back of the prize pile, hidden beneath a plushie, a pale pink light pulsed—thump, thump, thump.
There it is...!
Luca pressed her hands against the glass and leaned in close.
A bullet-shaped crystal, about two centimeters in diameter. No doubt about it. It was a Seven Heartbullet—the same as the first one loaded in Don Kaneshiro, and the second one they'd obtained at Emotion River.
The third one! Ike, we found it!
Luca turned around and smiled at Ike.
The moment Ike saw that smile, something deep in their chest tightened.
(There it is again—that face.)
Every time Luca smiled with joy, Ike felt their own heart leap.
Yes, I can see it. You found it well.
Ike smiled quietly.
Luca clenched her fist.
Alright! I'm gonna get this for real! Watch me, Ike!
Luca slammed a hundred-emo coin into the crane machine's control panel.
Clunk—the sound of the coin dropping.
The machine whirred to life, and the crane arm began to move slowly over the prize pile.
Luca gripped the lever, adjusting the arm's position with a serious expression.
Ike watched Luca's profile intently.
(That focused face, that joyful laughing face—all of it...)
Ike quietly pushed down the feelings spreading through their heart.
Right here! Cherry pick!
Luca pressed the button.
The arm descended.
At the back of the prize pile, directly above the bullet, the arm opened.
The claw touched the bullet.
—But.
Swish.
The claw failed to grab the bullet.
What the—!?
Luca shouted.
Why!? That should've totally gotten it!
The arm's grip strength seems weak. The bullet's shape also makes it slippery, but more importantly, it's too far back—the claw isn't even reaching it.
Ike analyzed calmly.
Dammit... one more time!
Luca inserted another hundred-emo coin.
Clunk.
The arm moved.
This time she aimed slightly closer.
But it didn't reach the bullet.
Tch!
Another try.
Clunk.
The arm descended.
The claw grazed the side of the bullet.
Ugh, come on!
Another try.
Clunk.
This time it almost lifted the bullet.
But before the arm could rise all the way, the bullet slipped and fell.
Screw this machine!
Luca slammed both hands on the control panel.
Her emo balance was draining fast.
Luca wasn't even checking how much she had left anymore. She was completely absorbed in getting the bullet in front of her.
Ike watched Luca's figure.
(You really are so straightforward.)
A smile naturally rose to Ike's lips.
At the same time, a sharp pain pricked deep in their chest.
(Seeing you like this just makes it even more...)
Ike let out a small breath, as if shaking off their own feelings.
Luca's attempts had already exceeded ten.
A hundred emo times ten—that was a thousand emo. Enough for a bowl of ramen.
Why can't I get it!? This is definitely rigged!
Luca was on the verge of tears.
Luca, calm down.
Ike said in a quiet voice.
How am I supposed to calm down!
Listen. Crane games have a trick. If the arm's grip is weak, you should give up on grabbing it directly.
Then what do we do!
A two-stage strategy. First, we shift the prize box to knock the bullet forward. Then, we use the arm to push the fallen bullet, rolling it toward the exit chute.
Luca blinked in surprise.
...Are you a genius?
It's just analysis. That bullet looks light, so it should roll if pushed. The prize box is only caught on the edge, so pushing it from the side should move it too.
Ike explained the plan, pointing at the glass case.
Luca stared at Ike's face intently.
You're seriously reliable!
Luca moved to throw an arm around Ike's shoulders.
—But her hand cut through empty air.
Ah.
Luca looked at her own hand.
She couldn't reach Ike's shoulder.
Height difference. The gender-swapped Luca was shorter than Ike now.
...Again.
Hehe, you failed again.
Don't laugh! Wait, did you get taller after the gender swap!?
I was always taller than you. The gender swap didn't change that.
Luca looked up at Ike.
Silver hair sparkled under the arcade's neon lights.
Blue eyes gazed down at Luca gently.
...Somehow, that pisses me off.
Luca turned her face away with a huff.
But her lips were smiling.
Isn't that cute.
Don't call me cute!
The two looked at each other and laughed.
Something warm spread deep in Ike's chest.
(Times like this, laughing with you—I...)
Ike stopped thinking about what came next.
They couldn't think about it.
If they did, they wouldn't be able to stop.
Alright! Let's try again with Ike's plan!
Luca inserted a hundred-emo coin.
Clunk.
This time, she aimed for the prize box.
The arm descended and hooked its claw on the edge of the box.
The box moved just a little.
It moved! One more time!
Clunk.
The box moved further.
The bullet rolled out from under the plushie.
It's out! The bullet's out!
Luca jumped up and down.
Her skirt hem fluttered up.
Ike hurriedly averted their eyes.
Calm down. We haven't gotten it yet. Next, we push the bullet to the exit.
Right! Leave it to me!
Clunk.
The arm descended and landed just before the bullet.
Then the arm moved sideways.
The claw pushed the bullet.
Roll, roll.
The bullet rolled across the prizes.
Go! Go! Go!
Luca pressed herself against the glass case and shouted.
The bullet rolled down the prize pile, heading straight for the exit hole.
And then.
Plop.
The bullet dropped into the retrieval slot.
YESSSSS!!!
Luca threw both hands up and screamed.
Nearby livers turned around in surprise.
Luca snatched the bullet from the retrieval slot.
In her palm, the pale pink light pulsed—thump, thump, thump.
Warm.
Third bullet, get!
Luca held the bullet up high.
Ike watched that figure quietly.
(Your smile shakes my heart this much.)
Ike placed a hand on their own chest.
Their heart was pounding almost painfully.
This feeling—it wasn't because of the curse.
Ike was certain of that.
Even before the gender swap, they had already—toward Luca—
Ike! I never would've gotten it without you! I owe you one!
Luca beamed at Ike with a full-faced smile.
That smile squeezed Ike's heart tight.
...No, it's because you worked hard.
Ike managed to smile back.
Their voice trembled slightly.
Luca loaded the bullet into Don Kaneshiro, which she pulled from the inner pocket of her suit.
Click.
The third bullet settled into the cylinder.
That's three. Four more to go.
Luca spun the revolver-shaped streaming mic around her finger.
An old habit of Luca's, unchanged.
Even with a girl's fingers, Don Kaneshiro spun just fine.
Alright, let's head back! I'm starving!
Yes. Today was a good haul.
The two left Pixel Arena.
Outside, the sky was beginning to turn orange.
The evening breeze swayed their hair.
Luca started walking along the Heartbeat Promenade, the walkway along Emotion River.
The river's surface swayed in pale pink again today.
Reflecting the romantic feelings around it, the whole river glowed softly bright.
Ike walked half a step behind Luca.
Luca's golden hair shone like gold in the sunset.
The brim of her white hat fluttered in the wind.
Her skirt hem swayed—softly, softly.
(Beautiful.)
Ike thought.
But didn't say it aloud.
Couldn't say it.
At that moment.
—Whoosh.
A sudden strong gust of wind blew.
Whoa—!
Luca held down her hat.
Ike held down the bag slung over their shoulder.
But the bag's opening was open.
A bundle of white papers flew out.
Ah—
A small sound escaped Ike's lips.
Manuscript pages.
Ike's half-written novel manuscript.
The papers danced in the wind and scattered across the walkway.
Ike, your manuscript's flying everywhere!
Luca broke into a run in a panic.
She picked up the scattered pages, one after another.
Luca, it's fine! I'll pick them up!
Ike shouted, their face pale.
What are you talking about! Of course I'm helping!
Luca kept picking up pages.
And then.
The moment she picked up one particular page, Luca's hand stopped.
On that page, in large letters, was written:
"My Beloved"
Luca stared at those words.
...Ike.
Luca slowly turned toward Ike.
Ike saw the page in Luca's hand and gasped.
The color drained from their face.
You have someone you like?
Luca asked with an innocent expression.
Ike's heart lurched.
...Huh?
Ike couldn't get their voice out properly.
This manuscript says "My Beloved," right? Who is it!
Luca grinned as she approached Ike.
N-No, that's... it's just fiction. For a novel.
Ike said quickly.
Their face was bright red up to their ears.
Don't be shy! Having a crush or two is great! I'll cheer you on!
Luca slapped Ike on the back—thump, thump.
Those words pierced deep into Ike's chest.
(Cheer... me on?)
Ike bit their lip.
Something deep inside squeezed tight.
Luca didn't know anything.
Didn't know that this manuscript was written from Ike's feelings for Luca.
Didn't know that the words "My Beloved" were directed at Luca.
So, what's this person like? If I'm your friend, you should introduce me!
Luca laughed cheerfully.
Seeing that smile, Ike felt like their chest would burst.
...I can't say yet.
Ike hung their head.
Silver hair hid their face.
Huh? Why not?
...Because I haven't sorted out my feelings yet.
Ike said in a small voice.
Luca tilted her head.
Hmm? Well, I guess that happens. But love is great! I'd like to try it myself someday!
Luca said with a bright grin.
Ike couldn't lift their face.
The kinder Luca's words were, the more it hurt.
Luca held out the col
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.