I shook the Potion in my hand.
The Potion, swirling and mixing as I shook it, glowed with a mysterious color under the moonlight. That strange hue... felt oddly significant. As if... it was hinting at what was to come.
...Whether I drank this or not... it seemed obvious that big and small changes would occur around me.
‘Hmm.’
Recalling today’s events... left me with a peculiar feeling.
...Though many things happened, the most memorable part was... naturally, being... um... violated by the group? I didn’t quite like that word.
After pondering for a moment... I decided to think of it as being loved.
That’s what I settled on. It was a bit... rough... but I could feel the affection. So... saying I was violated... wouldn’t be right. It would even be rude.
Come to think of it... I remembered agreeing to it myself.
...It was all because of Master’s candles.
I always wondered what she was making in the corner of the Workshop, but to think she was crafting something so... insidious.
‘...Did she anticipate this would happen?’
I let out a deep sigh and tapped the Potion bottle.
It was good that the tangled situation... was resolved... but there were two things I was dissatisfied with.
One... was that I ended up revealing a secret I’d kept my whole life.
...Well, since many others did the same, it wasn’t particularly special, but it still left a bitter taste.
It felt less like dissatisfaction and more like... complaining.
And honestly... the biggest dissatisfaction was something else.
...It’s nothing major.
It’s just... dealing with everyone... all at once... was too exhausting, I guess....
Frankly, it felt less like I was engaging with them and more like I was lending my body one-sidedly. Though I could feel the depth of their affection... calling it mutual... felt a bit off.
Maybe because of memories from my past life, group play is a bit... emotionally draining, I suppose... anyway, that feeling wasn’t entirely absent.
‘...Shouldn’t we establish a turn order?’
Honestly, even now, I’m only moving because I drank the Potion. If I hadn’t, I’d probably be cradled in someone’s arms and gently laid on the bed by now. No, I was certain.
Even as I thought this, I felt a dull ache in my waist and a tingling in my lower abdomen.
‘If I drink this... maybe I won’t have to do it for a while.’
...The fact that such a ridiculous thought even crossed my mind suggests I’m not taking the situation too seriously either.
Come to think of it... I realized I was already assuming I’d drink it.
Staring blankly at the Potion, I lifted the hem of my clothes slightly.
My soft-looking, pale white stomach was revealed. Moving my hand to touch it... it was as soft and pleasantly pliable as I’d imagined.
Gently tracing circles... I almost imagined I could hear a sloshing sound from inside.
‘That can’t be.’
...Even though I came an absurd amount and blocked the entrance... that’s a whole different level from actually hearing sounds.
Well... I took it as a sign of how conscious I was of this fact.
I lowered my clothes and buried my face in my arms resting on the table.
Ultimately, thinking positively...
‘...Pregnancy.’
I don’t think I’ve ever seriously considered it... I’ve been taking Contraceptive Potions as a minimal precaution, but that was solely to prevent accidents.
Naturally... the thought of me giving birth... has never crossed my mind.
Even though I was swept along into this situation, I still think... I’m not fully prepared.
Yet, despite that... I wonder if it’s okay to impulsively drink this and get pregnant just because I feel like it.
‘Hoo...’
All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head.
Who would have thought I’d be worrying about getting pregnant, not about getting someone pregnant.
...Who could have known?
Well, with this body... it might be fitting....
Somehow, my feelings were fluctuating.
They say pregnancy does that, but I’m not even pregnant yet, and my mood feels strange.
It didn’t feel real... and I was a little scared.
It was different from when my body changed.
Meanwhile... click.
The sound of the Workshop door opening reached me.
Wiping the slightly welled-up tears on my sleeve, I looked up to see familiar faces.
To be precise... two people.
It was Cecil and Master.
Master was holding an outer garment, and Cecil was carrying a tray. Steam rose from the mug on the tray.
Master slowly approached, draped the outer garment over me, and asked.
“Are you alright?”
“… Ah, um... yes.”
“Good.”
Master gently pressed the corners of my eyes and pretended not to notice.
...It seemed Cecil hadn’t noticed.
“Lady Asha. If you’re cold, please have this.”
Cecil approached with quick steps, offering the tray to me... um... hot chocolate.
“… Thank you.”
Thinking it was perfect timing since I craved something sweet, I took the mug. Warmth spread through my fingers.
...It felt like their caring thoughts for me.
Taking a sip of the deep brown cocoa, sweetness swirled in my mouth.
Feeling my body warm up, I smiled at Cecil.
“You made it well.”
“Hehe... I made it just as Lady Asha taught me.”
“I see...”
Meanwhile, Master brought a chair and settled beside me. Seeing this, Cecil also brought a chair with effort and sat next to me.
The two took the remaining mugs from the tray and sipped.
...I followed suit, sipping from my mug.
The Workshop was quiet.
Only the sound of drinking from mugs could be heard.
...But that alone seemed to calm my restless heart. Realizing I wasn’t alone... made me feel like things would be okay.
The body heat from those close by warmed my heart.
Then.
A slightly noisy sound was heard.
The Workshop door swung open. Blinking, I turned my head to see familiar faces again.
“… What are you doing there?”
“Haha... I was worried, you see.”
“… M-me too.”
“… Asha.”
Claudia, Veronica, and Claire entered the Workshop with awkward expressions. Perhaps they were replaying what happened in the bathroom, as their faces were slightly flushed.
...The commotion I felt earlier seemed to be the sound of the three arguing.
The group, awkwardly scratching their cheeks, quickly approached and sat at the table. Since Master and Cecil had already taken the initiative, they sat opposite them.
Finally, true silence settled over the Workshop. And... I could feel eyes of various colors fixed solely on me.
‘Earlier... I was a little scared.’
In the bathroom... perhaps because they looked at me with eyes full of desire and affection. When I became conscious of their gazes, my body trembled... but now, how should I put it?
I felt a sense of stability.
Eyes filled with concern.
...I felt a belief that no matter whose child I gave birth to first, they wouldn’t leave.
‘...What’s so good about someone like me?’
Someone who only cares about money and is... a bit indifferent to those around them... isn’t that right? Not even knowing they held such feelings and was digging the ground, so not just a bit, but very indifferent.
But... if they still like me, what can I do?
Some say the one who falls in love first loses.
...I don’t think that’s entirely true. Circumstantially, they fell first, but seeing me now, worried about pregnancy because I got caught by them... isn’t that the case?
The aversion from my past life’s memories seemed to have already faded.
...In the end, it must mean I love them too.
The start was a bit... no, very rocky.
I lifted my head from staring at the mug and met the eyes fixed on me, one by one.
Eyes shining like jewels.
Once aware, my heart pounded fiercely.
...So loudly I wondered if the group could hear it.
Whether they actually did... the group’s expressions became slightly peculiar.
I cleared my throat and set the mug down. Then, I picked up the Potion in front of me. The group’s eyes followed.
“...Actually, I’ve been taking Contraceptive Potions regularly.”
There was no reply. As if waiting to hear me out, the group only nodded.
I felt relieved. If they had each said something... I might not have been able to say what I needed to.
I chuckled inwardly and continued.
“So... this Potion I’m holding... will counteract that and make me... um... anyway, it’s a Potion to make that happen.”
Thinking about it... it’s a bit of a mess.
Rather than a proposal or even asking to be lovers... it’s more like, let’s get pregnant first!
...Given the unusual situation, I suppose it can’t be helped.
Don’t they say women consider such things important?
So... even though I’m in a female body now, shouldn’t I, who was originally male, do it?
“I was pondering whether to drink it or not...”
Suddenly, a clattering sound was heard.
Blinking, I saw Claudia excuse herself to check something.
...She returned shortly.
Accompanied by the Princess.
The Princess, having changed into neat clothes, smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“...It seems I’m too late.”
“...No, it’s fine. I was about to say it now.”
The Princess nodded silently and took a seat.
...She didn’t have some magical device installed... did she?
I shook my head inwardly.
Seeing the others arrive without being told... it seemed they all had a vague idea.
Anyway.
...Since everyone had gathered, albeit by chance.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“...I’m thinking of drinking this... and getting pregnant.”
My heart pounded fiercely.
“No matter the outcome... can you all stay... with me?”
Saying this, I unwrapped the Potion.
The mysteriously glowing Potion sparkled as if it were a ring.
...It was a slightly strange... proposal.
Author’s Note (Afterword)
Here, the Onahole is making a proposal.