Ironmouse's Big Transformation! Chaos, Chaos, and a Little Heart-Pounding
The popular VShojo VTuber Ironmouse wakes up one morning to find her body has transformed into a boy's. The pink and purple fluffy hair and demon horns are there, but everything else is different. Panic! But she's not the only one. Zentreya becomes a boy too, and a certain pathetic slug-like manager becomes a girl. The entire VShojo office is in chaos, and the fans absolutely cannot find out.
As if that weren't enough, everyone's feelings of love get scrambled. Rivals suddenly seem attractive,
Ironmouse's Big Transformation! Chaos, Chaos, and a Little Heart-Pounding - The dragon beyond the door, and the demon's smile after tears.
From beyond the door came the sound of a steady knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
Three times. Then, a long pause.
Mouse sat slumped on the entryway floor. Her back against the door, knees hugged to her chest. Dried tear tracks stiffened her cheeks, pulling at the skin. When she closed her eyes, the words that had streamed across her phone screen floated up behind her eyelids.
"Disgusting."
"Die."
"Betrayed."
Her body trembled.
(I can't go out there.)
(I can't look at Zen's face.)
Another knock.
Knock, knock.
"...I'm sorry."
A voice that couldn't become a voice slipped through the gap in her lips.
Zentreya was on the other side of the door. She knew it. They'd been out there since last night, leaning against the wall, waiting for the sunrise. Mouse still clutched the handwritten note that had slid under the door. The paper was soggy with sweat and tears, crumpled beyond recognition.
"I'll wait until morning. I want to hear what you have to say. I won't leave you alone."
Every time she remembered those words, something deep in her chest clenched tight.
("I won't leave you alone"?)
(That's so unfair.)
(I'm the one who keeps running away.)
Rustle.
A sound. A white slip of paper slid through the gap beneath the door.
Mouse held her breath.
She crawled forward and picked it up. Her hands shook so badly she couldn't grip it properly. Finally, she managed to lift it and unfold the creased paper.
"I found suspicious logs in the server room. This isn't a coincidence."
Her eyes traced the words.
The meaning wouldn't sink in.
(Suspicious logs?)
(The server room—at Vox Tower?)
Rustle.
Another slip.
"I won't leave you alone. I'm not telling you to open the door. But I want you to listen."
Mouse's throat spasmed.
"...Zen."
Her voice cracked. Tears spilled over again. She thought she'd run dry, but she had no idea where they kept coming from. The bridge of her nose ached sharply, and she couldn't draw a proper breath.
(I want to open it.)
(I want to open it and say "help me.")
But her body wouldn't move.
A boy's body. A deep voice. A stranger staring back from the mirror.
(I can't let anyone see me like this.)
(Zen looks cool even as a man.)
(I just look like some kind of monster.)
Her fingers touched the doorknob. Cold metal against her skin. She gripped it. But she couldn't turn it.
Then, a voice came from outside.
A flat, mechanical synthesized voice.
"Mouse. I brought my laptop. Through the door is fine. I want you to hear what I have to say."
The voice of text-to-speech software. Zentreya's voice.
Mouse pressed her forehead against the door.
"...I can hear you."
Her voice was small. But it seemed to reach the other side.
"Good. You're breathing."
At those words, Mouse's face twisted into something between a sob and a smile.
"Obviously. I'm alive."
Her voice trembled, the last words fading into nothing.
Silence.
Then, the synthesized voice again.
"Last night, I went into the server room at Vox Tower. I got permission from Name-san. I checked the access logs from the night before the Flip phenomenon occurred."
Mouse lifted her head.
(Access logs?)
"3:14 AM. An unauthorized external access was recorded. It went through an anonymous proxy, so it can't be traced. But at that hour, the only people who could breach the server are insiders—or someone with serious technical skill."
The synthesized voice laid out the facts, flat and steady.
A chill ran down Mouse's spine.
(Someone did this on purpose?)
(Someone caused this phenomenon?)
"This isn't a coincidence. There's a high probability someone did this deliberately."
"...No way."
"Mouse. This isn't your fault. Someone orchestrated this."
Those words pierced her chest.
(It's not... my fault?)
(Really?)
Mouse stared at the crumpled note in her hand.
"I won't leave you alone."
Zentreya had been out there all night. Even when Mouse ignored her messages. Even when she wouldn't open the door. The whole time.
(They waited for me. For someone like me.)
Slowly, her body moved.
Strength flowed into the hand gripping the doorknob.
Click.
The lock turned.
Creeeak... the door opened.
Morning light flooded in.
So bright she had to squint.
And there, standing in that light, was Zentreya.
Crimson hair tied back in a single tail. Sharp golden eyes fixed directly on Mouse. A masculinized body. Broad shoulders. Long fingers. Wearing a black hoodie, laptop in one hand.
They said nothing.
But their eyes said, "Good. You opened it."
"...Zen."
Mouse's voice crumpled into a mess.
The tears wouldn't stop. She couldn't stay standing, and she sank down on the spot.
Zentreya stepped forward without a word. They gently took hold of Mouse's arm as she crouched there. A large hand. Warm.
Pulled to her feet, Mouse stood.
Zentreya said nothing, just led Mouse back into the room. They didn't let go of her hand.
The room was dark. Curtains drawn shut, air stale and heavy.
Zentreya sat Mouse down on the sofa. Then they picked up the phone lying on the floor, found the charging cable, and plugged it in.
"Turn it on."
Mouse shook her head.
"...No. I don't want to see those words again."
"You have a voicemail. From Name-san."
Mouse looked up.
"...From Name-san?"
Zentreya nodded.
With trembling fingers, Mouse powered on her phone.
The screen lit up.
Notifications piled up like a mountain.
(I don't want to look.)
But Zentreya was beside her.
Mouse tapped the voicemail icon.
A woman's voice flowed from the speaker.
"Hello, Mouse? I—no, I mean, I-I! It's Name!"
Name-san's voice. Soft and feminized. But the remnants of her old masculine speech patterns lingered at the edges.
"So, about that Mirror Man video—I consulted a lawyer. Bottom line: that video is just audio analysis mixed with third-party commentary. It doesn't hold up as definitive evidence. I'm already processing the takedown request!"
Mouse's breath stopped.
"Also, Zentreya looked into the server logs for us. Apparently there was some suspicious access. We don't have the full picture yet, but this phenomenon might not have happened naturally. So, Mouse—don't carry this alone. Both Zentreya and I are on your side. ...Oh, and, are you okay? Don't push yourself. I'll call again soon."
Click.
The voicemail ended.
Silence.
"...Hic."
Tears overflowed.
She cried out loud.
"Waaaaaah!"
Like a child, at the top of her lungs.
Mouse clung to Zentreya's chest. She gripped the fabric of their hoodie and pressed her face into it.
Zentreya said nothing. They just placed a hand gently on Mouse's back. A large hand, moving slowly, soothingly up and down.
"I... I...!"
"I caused so much trouble for everyone...!"
"I thought about... disappearing...!"
Zentreya listened in silence.
Mouse's tears soaked into the hoodie.
How long did she cry?
Eventually, the tears began to settle.
Sniffling, Mouse pulled away from Zentreya's chest.
Zentreya opened the laptop.
Text appeared on the screen.
"You are you. Ironmouse isn't over."
Mouse stared at the words.
"...I'm not over?"
Zentreya typed new words.
"Don't end it. As long as you don't end it, Ironmouse is alive."
Tears welled up in Mouse's eyes again.
But these were different from before.
(As long as I don't end it.)
(It's not over yet.)
Mouse looked at Zentreya's hand.
A masculinized, large hand. Bony, with long fingers.
That day, when she first saw Zentreya's male body at their apartment, her heart had pounded.
(Was that a side effect of the Flip phenomenon?)
(Or was that how I really felt?)
She didn't know.
But right now—
She wanted to touch that hand.
Mouse reached out, slowly.
She placed her own hand over Zentreya's.
Zentreya's eyes widened, just slightly.
"...Thank you, Zen."
Mouse's voice still trembled. But she said it clearly.
"I'm coming back. I'm going to return to being Ironmouse."
Zentreya said nothing.
But they gently squeezed the hand resting on theirs.
Warm.
Something small burst open deep in Mouse's chest.
(I like this hand.)
(Zen's hands are warm.)
Mouse smiled through her tear-streaked face.
"...I bet my face looks super ugly right now."
Zentreya typed on the laptop.
"Always has."
"That's so mean!?"
Mouse raised her voice.
The corner of Zentreya's mouth softened, just barely.
Seeing that expression, Mouse laughed again.
"Ahaha, what was that? Is there something to laugh about?"
Zentreya shrugged.
Mouse picked up her phone.
A call to Name-san.
Her fingers trembled.
(It's okay. I'm okay.)
One deep breath.
She tapped.
Dial tone.
Once. Twice. Three times.
"Hello!? Mouse!?"
A woman's voice. But it was Name-san's voice, thick with worry and urgency.
"...Name-san."
Her voice was wet with tears again.
"Where are you right now!? Are you okay!? No, of course you're not okay, sorry, what am I even—"
"I'm going to stream."
The other end went quiet.
"...What did you just say?"
"I'm going to stream. Tonight. An emergency stream."
Mouse's voice rang out, steady and clear.
"Mouse..."
Name-san's voice trembled.
"Understood. I'll handle the stream setup. But streaming without a voice changer is way too risky. You understand that, right?"
"I understand. But I'm done hiding. I'll speak with my own voice, in my own words."
"...You're serious."
"I'm serious. Because I've decided not to run anymore."
Silence.
Then, Name-san let out a small breath.
"...I'm glad you're safe."
That voice was wet with tears.
"...Name-san, are you crying?"
"I'm not crying! I—no, I mean, I am not crying!"
"...Thank you."
"Wh-what for...?"
"For everything. You and Zen both—you helped me."
"...Obviously. You're my important talent."
Warmth spread through Mouse's chest.
(I wasn't alone.)
(Zen was there. Name-san was there.)
(Just knowing that makes me feel this strong.)
"Okay then, I'm going to get ready for tonight! Name-san, please handle the stream logistics!"
"Y-yeah! Leave it to me! ...I mean, leave it to me!"
She hung up.
Mouse exhaled deeply.
Zentreya held out the laptop.
"You've got a good look on your face now."
"It's still a mess from crying."
"Still. Much better than before."
Mouse stood up.
"I'm going to wash my face!"
She headed to the bathroom.
The mirror was still covered with a cloth.
Mouse reached for it.
(I'm scared to look.)
(But I have to.)
(Because this is who I am right now.)
She pulled the cloth away.
In the mirror was her masculinized self.
Pink and purple hair. Demon horns. But the jawline was a boy's, and there was an Adam's apple at her throat.
"...It doesn't suit me."
Mouse spoke to her reflection.
"But this is who I am right now. I'm Ironmouse."
She splashed cold water on her face. The chill washed away the tear tracks.
She dried her face with a towel and looked in the mirror again.
(Yeah. I'm okay.)
When she returned to the living room, Zentreya was standing there, waiting.
Mouse stood beside them.
In front of the mirror. Their two figures, reflected side by side.
Two masculinized bodies.
Mouse let out a small laugh.
Zentreya's mouth softened too.
"Somehow, we look like two guys—a demon and a dragon."
Zentreya opened the laptop.
"Not bad."
"Right!? Isn't it crazy!?"
Mouse headed to the streaming room.
On the desk lay the voice changer cable.
Mouse stared at it.
(If I use this, I can get closer to my old voice.)
(But that's not good enough.)
Mouse picked up the cable.
Then she set it down on the desk.
"I'm not using it tonight."
Zentreya watched from behind.
Mouse turned around and smiled.
"I'm going to talk to everyone with my own voice. That's the most honest thing I can do right now."
Zentreya nodded.
Evening.
Zentreya returned home to prepare for the collab.
"I'll join the stream too. I'll be right beside you in the collab."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
Zentreya got into the car.
Mouse waved until they were out of sight.
Back in her room, her phone buzzed.
A message from Name-san.
"Someth
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