One moment things were calm. The next, the world turned topsy turvy.

Two people walked down the longest hall of Sobu High and their world had changed.

Hikigaya was walking down a hallway reading a light novel. It was a popular one of his demographic that carried with it hopes and dreams of young men. The moment he flipped the page and blinked, he was suddenly staring at himself.

Yukinoshita had been minding her own business until Hikigaya let out a chortle. She glared at him ready to chide his crass action but found her eyes glued to a book with lecherous art.

"What the devil am I looking at?" Her voice was coarse. She reached for her throat and found an Adam's apple. The book dropped and the thud had alerted the other.

Hikigaya realized he didn't need to squint as much to look at the person ahead of him.

"What the hell? A doppelganger?" His voice plucked strings from the heavens sending him in a daze filled with clouds made of roses. He covered his mouth and tender lips kissed his soft hands.

They turned to their familiar yet alien voices.

It was Yukinoshita who screamed a quick gasp first but Hikigaya could have sworn he had been screaming.

Yukinoshita was abuzz with questions. She heard herself jolt in fear but it wasn't her making such frightened sounds. The person in front of her stood aghast pointing a finger at her in a way that flattered no one.

"Who the hell are you?" Thankfully alone, no one had heard the screams that followed.

—

The school bell rang but it did not stop the staring contest. The shouting contest was quick but the embarrassment from doing it in public had frozen the pair in the following seconds. The two took a step at the same time. Slow steady steps until they were face to face.

The boy raised their hand and Hikigaya mimicked like a well trained dog.

They made contact. Hikigaya felt the rough textures on the boy's calloused hands. He did not remember them being that hardened but his senses were jumbled up as is.

They both took steps away from another, no longer in sync.

The wind blew and whatever shorts he was now wearing fluttered — 'were they shorts?' He looked down, more curious than anything, and instead was greeted by a sophomore uniform from J class. He could tell by the special ribbon and sweater underneath the blazer but that airy feeling below bothered him again. He snapped at attention, eyes wide at the realization that he was wearing a skirt.

His hands on instincts pulled at the hem of the skirt. He saw the checkered cloth and it became more apparent his skin was exposed to the elements. Instinct or not, he wanted to see what was going down there—

Slap!

A loud crack, dizziness, and his head turned sideways from a hard slap.

"What do you think you're doing?! Who are you?" The boy shouted. The boy with his voice, Hachiman realized. Who was that person wearing his face?

"Jeez, are you trying to kill me or something?" Hikigaya bit back. He rubbed his cheek, still buzzing from the attack.

"Answer the question." Now Hikigaya understood what others felt when they had to look him straight in the eye. The doppelganger's eyes screamed for murder. Hikigaya gulped.

"It may not look like it, but I'm a boy. I-I'm Hikigaya Hachiman."

The boy blinked then a familiar frown found itself on the stranger's face.

"It's nice to meet you Hikigaya-kun. You seem to be in my body. I believe you already know who I am."

Now Hikgaya frowned back. There was a girl in his body. More importantly it was someone highkey unreachable.

"Do you think I live under a rock? Your name's Yukinoshita Yukino right? Everyone's heard of you." He puffed his chest. "Perfect grades, prettiest girl in the school, perfect looks—"

He crossed his arms and tilted his face down. The action was unintentional but left him flustered and red.

"—well, almost."

"Are you seriously checking me out right now?"

"Look. I can't help it. Everything feels weird. The way I stand feels weird. Breathing is weird."

"I guess common decency is a new concept for you then."

"It's called being overwhelmed by the situation."

"You don't see me groping your body, Hikigaya."

"I'm more surprised you haven't died of disgust in my body."

"So not only are you lacking moral ethics, you also lack self-respect. Unbelievable."

Another voice.

"Yukinoshita-san?" It was a girl. Hikigaya never heard of him?

"What is it?"

"Eh, why'd you reply?"

"Answer her." Yukinoshita whispered.

Someone had interrupted them.

"Yo-yo, whatcha want girly?"

"Answer like a human being, not a skinwalker."

"Err, class is starting and the teacher was looking for you."

Hikigaya felt an unseen force push him in the girl's direction. He looked back to see it was Yukinoshita.

"Go ahead to class. I'll go to yours and find a cause for all of this." Her voice was resolute which was something Hikigaya would say is alien coming from his own mouth.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming– uh, what's her name?"

"Minami-san."

"Right Minami, lead the way." Yukinoshita's figure disappeared as Hikigaya followed Minami. The fluttering of his skirt did not ease him. Something was telling him this was going to be a long day.

—

"Mock quiz!"

The J class teacher announced these words like they were preparing an execution. Everyone groaned, reacting like it was in fact an execution, but none were as loud as Hikigaya. Everyone in the class glued their eyes to "Yukinoshita" for her sudden outburst. Hikigaya planted his head down the desk hoping to find a hole like an ostrich.

"You've gotta be kidding me…"

His muffled cries for help were not answered though the teacher eased the class into behaving through reassurance.

"Not to worry, it's not graded. Think of this as an assessment of your capabilities. I don't expect correct answers but I demand effort and "

"Alright. No worries, Hikigaya. It's just a stupid quiz. How hard can it be– why is it in english?"

"Of course this is THE international course so I expect you students have not skipped out on learning English."

A loud thud – Hikigaya's head slammed the desk.

"I'm doomed."

—

"Can anyone solve this equation?"

"I can sensei."

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun. Go ahead."

"Done."

"That was quick– that's correct? That's correct! Very good."

"Sheesh Hikitani got that brain power."

"I know right? That's Hikki for you."

And just like that, Yukinoshita had found herself the talk of the class. She hid her smirk well but something had to be asked.

"Why are they getting his name wrong?"

—

"To work is to lose by Hikigaya Hachiman– Hikigaya Hachiman? I'm sorry but there's no Hikigaya in this class. Who wrote this? Is this a prank?".

"Oh fu–"

"Is something wrong, Yukinoshita-san?"

"Nothing at all, teach. I just forgot to send my essay. Here you go."

"... To Lose is To Work… I sure hope this Hikigaya fellow isn't taking your work, Yukinoshita-san."

—

They met at the school gate.

"How was school?" Yukinoshita asked but she already knew the answer for the both of them.

"Hang on," Hachiman said, still expecting to hear his deep and somber tone yet it was a pleasing soprano. Even with that he knew his hearing was different.

Everything sounded clearer. Birds chirped in a pitch different to what he was used to. It was much louder. He could practically hear the would-be mother Hojiro prepare her nest. Every time it snapped a twig his ears picked up the unique crack or snap from the beak. Sooner or later this would drive him mad but for now it was simply an annoyance.

He stopped to inhale some fresh air. Felt like an eternity since he had done that, and if you want to be technical it's kind of true, this was the first time he breathed the outside air. The lingering dew and cut grass was still apparent. Nature attacked his senses much more than usual. No that's not the right idea. The passing car's smoke made his nose flare. Rather, his sense of smell had become much more sensitive than what he was used to. Not so much as mint starting to smell like lavender but a much more in depth explanation of everything.

"Yukinoshita-san's senses are too honed." Hikigaya admitted.

"What's wrong, Hikigaya-kun? Is there a reason why you've glued yourself to the wall?" His former body turned. The usual rotten eyes were replaced with some Ikemen would-be idol. Yukinoshita somehow turned his loner self into looking like the Ideal Riajuu. What a scary power.

"I just said your body has some serious hearing and stuff. Are you a superhero or something?"

A flat palm aimed at Yukinoshita meant he asked a rhetorical question. He already knew the answer. She can overhear people's whispers about her. How they called her cute among other things… Suddenly her initial gloats of overhearing her classmates call her pretty and callous behind her back made more sense than he'd like to admit. Yukinoshita's super hearing is a serious skill, a tier above his own 108 skills.

His face scrunched, dejected. When did he get soft enough to seriously compliment her?

"Well that's great to hear. Yours, I'm afraid, is something I'm not quite used to." Even as she spoke softly a fair pace away from me, my new ears somehow picked that up.

"Say Yukinoshita, are you a mind reader by chance?"

"Hmm? What brought that up?"

"Nothing."

They spent the remainder of the walk in silence, something the two of them had always had an affinity for. The chirps from the birds and chatter from the people passing by were their intermission from the chaos inside them.

"You're wasting our time. We need to head to your home as soon as possible." She growled. With Hikigaya's body and face, it was quite the imposing figure. Yet perhapsheI was starting to inherit Yukinoshita's backbone as he failed to waver at such a sight.

They arrived at the bike racks. The loner boy turned ice princess spotted his bike alone in the center aisle. He guessed even his own belongings were loners in their own respect.

"Quit snickering."

"I wasn't. Really. Don't judge…"

"Don't worry, we're here." Yukinoshita hurried. She immediately removed the bike from the rack with the keys the Chiba boy showed her. No second wasted, she got to setting up my bike like a pitstop crew. Throughout, she wore the face of a serious professional. Something one could only dream of emulating…

That's the Yukinoshita power. Overpowering Hikigaya's own mediocrity with her tailor-made brute force perfection.

"Hop on, Hikigaya-kun." It was a jumbled mess, Hikigaya thought. She was on his bike but it was technically him riding it.

"Oi. What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm riding the bicycle, now let's go-"

"You don't get to ride MY bike." With how Hikigaya tugged at her sleeves, it gave many a reason to look. Any onlookers would see two couples arguing over who gets to ride the bike. Romantics would aww in admiration. People like Hikigaya would have let out silent death threats.

He pointed at Komachi's passenger's seat. "You stay there."

"I think not. It's your body." Arms moving from head to torso. Then torso to bike. "It's your bike. Therefore, I should ride."

"Oh please, it's still MY bike. And me swapping bodies with you will never change that. Now get off." Hachiman's glare only intensified with the sharp sapphires of his new eyes.

"I know perfectly well my body's limits, Hikigaya-kun. I cannot carry you."

"Just get off," Some bystanders turned to look at "Yukinoshita" shouting. Hikihaya seemed to not care at the moment, his cautious side missing thanks to the hectic situation they were in. "I may have lost a few inches but your body isn't short..."

"What about me then?"

Was he really going to leave a girl alone to fend for themselves? Sometimes Hikigaya hated his old fashioned way of thinking,

"You'll go to my place since you're, well, me." Hikigaya hoped she was the independent type.

"I am not comfortable going alone in this body."

"And why's that?"

She fidgeted, which thanks to Hikigaya's body, so much she looked like she needed to go to the toilet. Crossed legs like that was so out of character for his body. Then she had to cross her arms too in an embrace attempting to shield her even more non-existent chest.

"I'm not good with directions." The way she left his face downcast was honestly an experience to Hikigaya.

He finally surrendered, parking the bike in the rack. They were both vulnerable in this circumstance.

"Fine then, I'll walk you home."

"… Thank you."

—

"We're here."

Technically. They were a block or two away from his actual house.

"I don't see it." Yukinoshita squinted but the sun had set and the streetlights barely lit the house.

"It's just down that street."

"Why can't you bring me there?" Yukinoshita crossed her arms. Her face had her trademark resting face.

Hikigaya could only gruff at her naivety.

"Do you really want my parents to think that I came home with some girl? More importantly, what would they think when 'I—my body' is brought home by 'me—your body'?"

"Ah, if that's the case then I understand."

She took a step forward. Five steps in, she turned around when she heard him hum an announcement.

"Right, well, I'll see you tomorrow then. I'll research about this swap as soon as I get home in your apartment."

"Hikigaya—"

"Hmm."

"I know the circumstances are quite kafkaesque but don't try anything funny with my body."

"Hah! I should be telling you that."

They made a hidden vow.

Hikigaya was left alone with only Yukinoshita's body to keep him company. He turned around hoping to catch the train. Bad enough he was going alone as a girl but it was getting late.

"But hey, what else could go wrong?" He just had to jinx it.

In his hubris, the gods of romantic comedy decided now was the best time to rain.

—

"You know, romcom gods, when I asked to see a hot girl get wet, I didn't mean this way." He thought these were words for lucid dreams but nope, Yukinoshita's body was indeed soaked from the rains. The long commute didn't help and Hikigaya found himself exhausted as he began taking off bits of himself each step in the unfamiliar apartment.

The place was spacious but not extravagant. It was no bigger than his first floor house though unlike him, Yukinoshita lived alone and didn't have to compete for resources like he did. It was modern too, less homey feeling, almost spartan in nature. The only sign of personality and signs of a human being living here was the Pan-san decor and figurines settled around the living room. There was probably more in the bedroom but thinking about that just made him blush.

Now was not the time to freeze up, Hikigaya thought. He had to change before he caught a cold. The last thing he wanted was to feel sick.

After dropping his bag by the entrance, Yukinoshita's clothes followed suit around the condominium. He was too exhausted to organize.

The jacket was the first to go, heavy as it was now thanks to water and spiritual pressure. Then the knee-high socks as he didn't want to slip. His feet were smaller than his but the moment he planted them on the ground he could not complain about his balance. He was on autopilot the rest of the way to the bathroom. The anything that was soggy had to go from the ribbons to the polo, to the skirt, to his underwear—

He stopped at the last move, coincidentally facing the full size mirror.

Hikigaya saw Yukinoshita's body in the middle of undressing. In such a vulnerable yet haggard posture. Her normally upright body was jutting her chest out as her hands reached for the back of her bra. The fingers struggled to free her ample chest but panic enveloped the boy turned ice queen. When his embarrassment peaked, he stopped fiddling with it.

Hikigaya stared at the mirror but Yukinoshita stared back.

Whenever Hikigaya raised his hands, the Yukinoshita reflection would do the same.

Desire triumphed over self control. He allowed himself this little reward, ignoring the guilt building up in his stomach.

He wasn't sure if the sakura petals were real but they were around Yukinoshita Yukino right now and it made for a striking image. Her body in its state likened her to an artwork. It was only the sudden ringing from Yukinoshita's phone that knocked Hikigaya out of his trance.

He picked it up after regaining self control.

"Hello–"

He heard a cat and his voice meowing at each other. Then his original voice spoke.

"You didn't tell me you had a cat."

"-err, well it wasn't important enough to mention."

"It most definitely is. They don't allow pets in the apartment but now I get the chance to play with him. Nyaa."

"Okay, weird. Any chance for us to switch back? Found anything?" The only thing he wanted to find was a way out of this situation before his instincts got the better of him again.

"No. Nyaa. Nyaa. Ah he left."

"Kamakura doesn't like the pushy types."

"Right, I'll take note of that. As for our condition, there is nothing we can do at the moment. Which pains me to allow you access to my bathroom."

"Y-you're pretty nonchalant about all of this…"

"Why shouldn't I? Hikipervert's running amok in my body. Why do I have an inkling feeling that you were about to do something uncouth to my body right now."

"T-that's a baseless accusation!" How did she know, he asked himself but he already knew the answer.

"Just clean my body and treat it with respect. I know it takes an iron will but surely this is something even Hikigaya-kun can handle."

She ended the call.

Yukinoshita Yukino was pretty, and she wasn't afraid to gloat about it. Her face was his face so all he could see was her angry expression as his reflection.

"Bitch."

Slap.