The very first thing I did when I got home was one thing.
Buying clothes.
It was among the most urgent matters for me.
*I can’t keep going around like this.*
No matter how many times I thought about it, my current state was shocking.
Without a bra, I’d resorted to bandages, and without pants that fit, I wasn’t wearing a single thing that could be called lower-body clothing.
At least an oversized shirt was covering my body, but…….
*…Fuck. Like that helps.*
After going outside once in this sorry state, I realized something. This was a matter of survival.
Because the chilly sensation brushing against my thighs every time the wind blew was gnawing away not just at my self-esteem, but at my dignity as a human being.
I immediately flopped onto my stomach on the bed and turned on my phone.
Wings poked out past the bed and flapped, but I ignored them. Shopping was the priority right now.
"Let's see, women's clothing…."
When I typed a word into the search bar, all sorts of information popped up.
[2024 F/W Season New Arrivals Up to 70% Off!]
[Size 44 Recommendations! For Petite Women…….]
[Winter Must-Have Top 10 Long Puffer Coats]
A deluge of flashy advertisements.
As if aggressively insisting that fashion sites weren't just for popular kids, my mind grew hazy for no reason.
"…Let's start with the basics."
I went into the underwear category.
And regretted it five seconds later.
"……What the hell is this."
The screen was filled with code-like words I couldn’t understand.
[Bralette]
[Underwire Bra]
[Seamless Bra]
[Sports Bra]
[Wire-Free Bra]
[Push-Up Bra]
"A bra's a bra, why are there so many types?"
Underwire… I don’t even know.
Seamless is that thing. That thing from seamless open world.
*…I'm getting dizzy.*
Too much information was pouring out all at once.
At a time like this, it'd be better to get help from an expert.
*…Damn it. I’d really hoped not to be the one to reach out first.*
Letting out a sigh, I opened KakaoTalk.
Scrolling through my contacts, I stopped at one name.
[Han Yuri]
My beloved younger sister.
A total lunatic.
The most annoying existence in the world.
And a fucking bitch.
*…Still, she should know clothes well.*
Even if she's a tomboyish little shit, her biological sex is female, at least.
She should know about women's clothing, right?
…Shouldn’t she?
If that's the case, I should know men's clothing too… but I don't know jack.
*Ah, whatever. I'm sure she knows.*
I gritted my teeth and typed a message.
[Me: Hey]
Three minutes after sending the message.
The '1' still hadn't disappeared.
"……."
This brat was one hundred percent pretending she hadn't seen it.
She's a shut-in who fiddles with her phone all day; there's no way she hasn't seen it.
[Me: I know you saw it]
Another five minutes passed like that.
Still unread.
"This crazy bitch."
Normally, I would've called and cursed her out, but I couldn't do that now.
*…If I call with this voice?*
I didn't even need to imagine the specifics.
All sorts of annoying shit would happen, goddammit.
Of course, I'd have to come clean eventually… but at least not now.
*…Why hasn't this bitch checked my message yet.*
Damn bitch.
At this rate, I might have to give up on getting help.
*…I'll have to find another way.*
I turned my gaze back to the phone screen.
Bralette, underwire, seamless—the words still flickered as if mocking me.
*Should I ask Shin Ayun?*
The thought crossed my mind, but I soon shook my head.
She's in a similar situation as me. Asking for help might feel like mockery to her.
Besides, it felt a bit off to ask another favor when we'd only just met.
*So in the end, I have to do this alone.*
I took a deep breath and stared at the screen again.
*…Okay. Let's start with the underwire bra.*
The reason I decided to check this one first was nothing special.
Hearing "wire" just made me think of wire action games.
And it was also the first item at the top of the list.
[Daily Underwire Bra - 28,000 won]
[Built-in underwire supports the chest, creating volume and a beautiful silhouette!]
But I hit the back button the instant I read the description.
Volume was an option I had absolutely zero fucking need for.
My body might be a woman's now… but I'm still a guy. If a guy has volume, that's fucking gynecomastia.
*…What can I even wear.*
I searched for a good while after that. I could honestly say I worked hard on this.
*…I even searched for detailed info.*
After all that searching.
I eventually settled on a sports bra. They said nothing was as comfortable for first-time wearers.
It was exactly what I needed.
The problem was…….
"Damn it, size?"
…I had no idea what my size was.
Honestly, I didn't really want to know, nor could I.
Having only transformed this morning, where would I find the leisure to measure myself?
*So, how the hell do you measure this?*
Looking into it more, it seemed you generally needed a measuring tape.
But there was no way I had a measuring tape in my studio apartment.
In the end, measuring my size seemed hopeless.
*…Should I just eyeball it?*
I considered it, but gave up immediately.
From what I'd heard, if the size didn't fit, it was so painful you'd be better off not wearing one at all.
"…Ha."
And so, my fierce battle with the bra came full circle, back to square one.
All because I didn't know my size.
*…For the time being, I'll just have to stick with bandages.*
Feeling hollow, that was the conclusion I reached.
After all that struggle, the answer was bandages.
Of course, that only applied to the bra; the rest was different.
Unlike bras, which couldn't be measured, I could at least roughly eyeball tops and bottoms.
*This much should do…….*
I started picking out tops and bottoms.
First, tops.
*A hoodie should be safe enough.*
[Oversized Hoodie]
[Cropped Hoodie]
[Zip-Up Hoodie]
[Basic Hoodie]
"…Goddamn it."
Here we go again. What's oversized, and what's cropped?
*…Let's go with basic.*
[Basic Hoodie - 27,000 won]
[Size: FREE]
"Oh, free size."
I marveled like that, but I had no clue what free size meant.
What, is it made of rubber?
Of course, what I needed at a time like this was reviews.
[I'm 160cm tall and it fits perfectly!]
[I'm 165cm and it's a bit small ㅠ]
[I'm 158cm and it's roomy~]
"……."
Roughly speaking, around 160cm seemed to be the sweet spot.
But I'm not even 150cm.
*…It might be big.*
But there were no other options.
The ones that weren't free size had a cryptic sizing system like 44/55/66, and I had no confidence I'd understand that.
*Ah, screw it.*
I added it to the cart. And one more.
I tossed in another identical hoodie just in case.
*…I need something to wear while my laundry's in the wash.*
It was absolutely not to prepare for the inevitable day I ran out of clothes after putting off laundry because I was lazy.
Now for bottoms.
*Training pants should do.*
I'd always bought training pants even when shopping for men's clothes.
Comfortable, warm, and they go with anything.
I didn't bother choosing panties. I'd manage somehow with my boxer briefs. My mental strength had already reached its limit just getting this far.
Total: 111,900 won
"……."
I stared blankly at the screen for a moment.
110,000 won.
*…Expensive. I couldn't even buy a bra and it's already this much.*
I let out a sigh.
*…It's necessary anyway.*
I pressed the payment button.
[Your order has been completed!]
[Estimated Delivery: 2-3 Days]
"……."
Two to three days.
That meant I had to survive in this state until then.
Bandages, boxer briefs, and a long puffer coat.
*…Huh?*
Come to think of it, even after those things arrive, won't I still be in the exact same sorry state?
I didn't buy any underwear at all…….
A sudden wave of futility washed over me.
It felt like all the struggling I'd done so far had been for nothing.
Of course, on the outside I'd look presentable, so things would be quite different…….
Just then, my phone vibrated.
*Vrrt—.*
I flinched in surprise and checked my phone.
Could it be my sister, that girl? If she was only reading it now, I'd show her what true wrath looked like.
But.
[Shipping Notification]
"……."
It wasn't.
It was just a shopping mall alert.
I tossed my phone aside again.
"…That damn bitch."
My sister never replied until the very end.
*What the hell is she doing.*
Normally, she'd read messages instantly and reply with nothing but sarcastic crap.
*…Don't tell me something actually happened to her?*
The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but what a ridiculous thought.
*Ha, like anything could happen to that girl.*
A bitch with more vitality than a cockroach—what could possibly happen to her?
Even if several thugs rushed her, that tomboy bitch would beat them all down and stroll back.
*…She's probably just ignoring me on purpose.*
That was the conclusion I reached.
And I buried my face in the pillow again.
*Two to three days… that's long.*
How am I supposed to get by until then?
It's not like I have any reason to go outside, but.
*…What if another emergency alert comes?*
If something comes up where I have to go out, like to the district office?
*Then… I'll just have to go out like this.*
"…Damn it."
Forget it. That's enough depressing thoughts.
Rather than this, I might as well kill some time.
I went straight to a community site.
The number one most popular community ranking that appeared immediately.
[Mutant Minor Gallery]
It was a name I'd never seen before.