Switching Shifts - TG Caption

 Original art by ゆの

Switching Shifts

    Niko’s brain skipped a beat as the unfamiliar sensation of air running up his leg hit him. The slit in the side of his skirt gave the world a full view of his, or well, his sister's thigh. This was the standard women's uniform where they worked, and after having done this a few times he should be used to it but… it felt so foreign each and every time. Niko and his sister, Ayana had swapped bodies. It wasn't the first time they had done it, either. Whenever one of them needed the other to take over their shift at the tea house their family ran they did it. A normal family would just have them come in at each other’s scheduled times… but their Dad ran a tight ship. He often said something about how he set up the schedule for the most ideal customer experience… and the balance of men and women there at any given time on specific days was one of those things he seemed to think mattered. Fortunately, their family was a bit more in touch with their spiritual side… so they could pull tricks like this.

    The doorbell rang as a customer made their way in. With his back turned to whoever it was as he was bent over cleaning, Niko welcomed them in. “Welcome in! I’ll be with you in just a moment here…” As he stood up and turned around though he was greeted by a familiar face blushing trying to avert his gaze. “Ryan?” Niko and Ayana had been friends years ago… until he moved away. They hadn’t seen each other since then, so to see him now… what was he doing back in their little run-down town? “Hi Ayana, it’s been a minute huh?” That was right, Niko wasn’t in his own body right now, was he? He would have to play the role of his own sister this whole time…

    “O-oh! Yeah, it has been a while hasn’t it?” Niko guided him to a table and took out his notepad as he was about to take his order. “Yeah… I wasn’t sure if your family would still be running this place. Kinda obvious though, huh?” Ryan let out a nervous laugh, and Niko did the same. “What brings you here?” Niko pried. This was his first time hearing anything about Ryan being in town. Surely his family wasn’t moving back in? His father seemed to be moving on to bigger and better things… “Ah! Yeah, I didn’t contact either of you beforehand huh? I’m staying with my grandpa. Poor guy just about single-handedly runs his little dojo, y’know? He isn’t weak by any means but uh… I needed a change of pace. Getting to see you is a bonus!” That made sense. Ryan never looked out of shape, but he sure as hell was in shape right now, his build… he must have kept up with his martial arts practice over all these years. Niko found himself thoughtlessly twirling his hair as he listened. A feminine habit that he definitely didn’t have until now. “So, uh, how’s Niko doing? Is he working here too?” Niko’s heart skipped a beat at hearing his own name. “Niko’s… he’s good! Uh, he doesn’t work today, sorry. But, uh, I’m sure he would be happy to see you! You should come by some time!” Ryan smiled. “I’d love to!”

    After Ryan took his order, the shop was empty. Which meant Niko had all the time in the world to sit down and talk with him before they closed. Ryan was different… he was funny, he was forward, and he made Niko feel special, even when he was supposed to be the one serving him… “Y’know, I do want to come see you and your brother, but I was thinking…” Ryan leaned forward and looked Niko in his eyes, or well, his sister’s eyes. “What would you say if I asked you out on a date? Just me and you?” Niko was flustered. He had never been asked out before! Especially not in a woman’s body, by his childhood friend! He wasn’t sure what to say. But they had been having fun… if their date was like this, maybe it would be nice… “Yeah, I’d like that...” Niko gave a faint smile as he looked into Ryan’s eyes, seeing something in them he never had before. “Great! I’ll come to pick you up on Saturday then.”

…

    “How was work?” Ayana asked from her brother’s body as he wearily dropped his bag to the floor when he got home. “It was great! I saw Ryan.” Niko couldn’t wipe a slight smirk off of his face as he sat across from her on the couch. “Oh yeah? How’s he?” Niko put his hand on his chin as he stared off into space for a moment. “He’s great…” Just then he realized what he had agreed to earlier. Their date might cause some issues! “Shit… U-uh… Can I borrow your body on Saturday?”