Having Become a Woman, I Now Live as a Complete Outcast

Bbi-bbi-beep! Bbi-bbi-beep!

“Ugh…”

As usual, I groggily woke up to the blaring alarm cutting through the morning silence.

Unlike my little unnieter, I’m not one to sleep in, so getting up isn’t that hard. But that doesn’t mean I enjoy this hour of the day.

It’s like how being good at studying doesn’t mean you love it.

“Ugh, it’s so bright…”

It wasn’t as bad with my eyes closed, but the moment I opened them, the sunlight stabbed through like a dagger. I let out a groan and shuffled toward the window.

On either side hung the blackout curtains I’d personally installed.

I’m pretty sure I closed them before bed last night.

Mom must’ve come in while I was sleeping and opened them. I don’t get why she bothers when I wake up just fine on my own.

I flicked on the light and was about to leave the room when I stopped in front of the full-length mirror by the door.

‘Still not used to this.’

There, staring back, was a slight, timid-looking girl with long black hair reaching past her shoulders.

Me.

And yet, calling her “me” felt like it got stuck in my throat.

Even my name’s different. Not Seo Hajin anymore—now it’s Seo Harin.

Would keeping my old name have made it easier to adjust to this body?

‘Probably not.’

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips as I realized how pointless that thought was.

At this point, what does it matter?

The moment I became a girl, my entire life was turned upside down.

A name, just a few characters, wouldn’t have made a difference either way.

If anything, holding onto a guy’s name with this appearance might’ve made the disconnect even worse.

After my usual morning bout of brooding, I finally stepped out of my room.

At least I no longer burst into tears or collapse in front of the mirror like I used to. That’s progress, right?

Maybe it means I’m slowly getting used to this body, this life.

“Yaaaawn…”

The second I opened my door, the one next door creaked open too, revealing a hippo-like figure with its mouth stretched wide.

Glossy brown hair in a bob, still shining despite the bedhead nest on top.

A height that matched mine, more or less.

It was none other than my little unnieter, Hayoung.

“You’re up early for once,” I said, my morning greeting sounding more like an offhand remark.

I wasn’t trying to be snarky.

It’s just rare to see Hayoung, the queen of sleeping in, leaving her room at the same time as me, so I couldn’t help but comment.

She rubbed her right eye and gave a sleepy nod, clearly still half-lost in dreamland.

“Mmm… I went to bed early yesterday.”

“Why? Were you tired?”

I’d heard Hayoung mention feeling stressed about schoolwork since starting high school, so I asked with a hint of worry.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. She shook her head casually, letting out another massive yawn.

“Nah, nothing like that… yaaawn…”

“Why don’t you sleep more? There’s still time.”

“I’m fiiiine… ugh.”

I’d interrupted her mid-yawn, and her words came out slurred, almost cute.

“Heh, ‘fiiiine,’ huh?”

Like a zombie, Hayoung shuffled over, her body limp, and plopped her head on my shoulder.

Back in the day, this would’ve been impossible, but now that our heights are about the same, it’s no big deal.

“Oh… um… Your unnie has to do shower now.”

“Just a little longer…”

“Fine, but just a bit, okay?”

“Yesss… hehe.”

Having gotten her way, Hayoung flashed a peace sign and grinned.

Even before I became a girl, our family was tight-knit, especially between us siblings. This kind of closeness was normal.

Back then, my friends would hear stories about me and Hayoung and ask how we could be that close.

When we were brother and unnieter, there was at least some boundary because of our genders. But now that I’m a girl, it’s like the leash is off—Hayoung has no qualms about getting all touchy-feely.

Sometimes I wonder if she’s secretly happy I’m a girl now.

“Harin, sorry, but if you’re up, wake your unnieter and go shower… Huh? What are you two doing?”

I was stuck in place, pinned by Hayoung leaning on me, when Mom appeared from the kitchen. She blinked at us, dumbfounded.

“Hayoung says she’s sleepy,” I explained with an awkward smile, covering for her.

Mom’s expression shifted instantly to exasperation, and she clicked her tongue.

“Ugh, she finally gets up early for once and now she’s keeping you from washing up… Seo Hayoung! If you’re gonna be like that, go back to bed!”

Mom’s scolding echoed through the house, but Hayoung just buried her face in my chest, reunnieting fiercely.

“Noooo… I got up early today, why’re you being like thiiiis…?”

“It’s fine, Mom,” I added, backing Hayoung up.

Mom let out an “Oh, you two…” and shook her head like she couldn’t win, but she quickly retreated to the kitchen.

She’s always had a soft spot for me.

Dad, on the other hand, melts for Hayoung.

So whenever one of us is getting chewed out, the other steps in to smooth things over. It’s practically a tradition between us… well, unnieters now, not siblings.

Unless it’s something serious where playing defense won’t cut it—then it’s every man, er, girl for herself.

But seriously, when is she gonna let go?

I’m starting to get impatient here.

Back when I was a guy, a shower took three minutes tops, no problem. But now, washing this ridiculously long hair takes forever.

“Hayoung, your unnie really needs to shower now.”

“Mmm… I’ll use Mom and Dad’s bathroom…”

I gently pried her off by the shoulders, and she shuffled toward our parents’ room like a sleepwalker.

For context, since Dad leaves for work early, we’ve got two bathrooms available at this hour, which is a nice perk.

After sending Hayoung off, I stripped down, turned on the shower light, and stepped inside.

“Ugh…”

The mirror caught the reflection of a pale, naked female body, and I instinctively looked away.

It’s my body, but somehow it feels like I’m doing something wrong by looking.

I’ve gotten used to most things, but this? This is still tough to face.

To drown out those thoughts, I turned on the shower and let the warm water wash over me.

Finally, my mind started to clear.

Just a little, but still.

---

It’s been ten days since I enrolled at Cheongseol Girls’ High School.

For the record, Hayoung transferred here too, as a first-year.

“It’s getting seriously hot now, huh, unnie?” Hayoung grumbled, squinting under the scorching morning sun.

I don’t know why she’s clinging to my arm if she’s so hot, but whatever.

“Yeah. If it’s this bad in the morning, imagine the afternoon.”

“I heard the high’s 27 degrees today.”

“That’s brutal.”

I grimaced, shaking my head like a dog that drank saltwater.

It’s barely June, and it’s already 27 degrees? Is this what Earth has come to?

I’m not thrilled, but I’m more worried about Hayoung—she’s way worse with heat than I am.

I can at least manage outdoor activities in the summer, but Hayoung? Come July, she’s glued to the AC at home.

Even if she goes out, it’s just to get to a café or PC bang with blasting air conditioning.

“This year, we’re holing up at home again, right, Unnie? Hehe.”

As if reading my mind, Hayoung started planning our summer, giggling to herself.

Of course, my opinion nowhere in that plan—classic.

Back in the day, I’d have suggested hitting a waterpark or something, but now? I can’t even bring myself to say it.

The idea of standing in front of people in a women’s swimsuit… Will that day ever come?

Oh, green light.

“Hey, Unnie, let’s order chicken for dinner tonight.”

We’d reached the school gates, and just before parting ways, Hayoung threw out the idea.

“Chicken? Sounds good, but… Mom’s gonna have something to say.”

I’m not one to turn down a meal together, so I agreed, but the real hurdle was our final boss: Mom.

Hayoung tends to use our parents’ card instead of her own allowance for takeout, so she gets an earful pretty often.

But as if my concern was pointless, Hayoung flashed a proud peace sign and winked.

“It’s fine! I got a gift card yesterday.”

“A gift card? Where’d you get that?”

“Dad got it from somewhere and gave it to me. Said to share with you.”

Oh, it was from Dad. Figures.

At our old school, Hayoung was so popular she could’ve gotten it from a friend, but here, she probably hasn’t made that close of a friend yet, so I was curious.

Anyway, chicken’s a win in my book.

Maybe it’s because my tastes changed after becoming a girl, but I’m way more into chicken than I used to be.

“Hayoung!”

“Huh?”

As we sealed the deal for tonight’s chicken dinner, a voice cut in.

I turned to see two girls waving enthusiastically at us.

Hayoung’s friends, I guess.

She’s such a social butterfly, already making friends here in no time.

Unlike a certain someone who’s willingly living the loner life.

I felt a twinge of pride, but as Hayoung waved back and kept glancing their way, I started to feel uneasy.

Even without mind-reading powers, I could tell what was on her mind.

“Hayoung, I’m fine. Go on.”

“N-No, it’s okay. I’ll see them in class anyway.”

When she hurriedly waved off my suggestion, I put on a mock-stern face and gave her a gentle push.

“Tch, don’t be like that. They’re saying hi—go chat with them.”

“Mmm… Okay. I’ll text you during break.”

“Cool. Just don’t get your phone confiscated during class.”

She must’ve had a run-in before, because my warning made her jump.

Here’s hoping she doesn’t get in trouble again.

“See you later, Unnie!”

“Yup.”

After sending Hayoung off to her friends, I crossed the school gates and suddenly felt… empty.

How pathetic.

I’m her unnie now, not her oppa, and without her, I don’t even have anyone to talk to.

Maybe I should take a page from Hayoung’s book and try talking to people, making friends.

But for now, it’s… hard to approach anyone.

It’s not that I’m scared of the other kids—it’s more like I don’t trust myself.

“Haa…”

Letting out a small sigh, I dragged my heavy feet toward the school entrance and up the stairs.

Then—

Thud!

“Ow?!”

Stars flashed before my eyes as a sudden impact sent me stumbling backward.

Thankfully, I didn’t tumble down the stairs, but my butt was throbbing.

Ugh, I hope I didn’t bruise.

First things first, I should apologize to whoever I bumped into.

“S-Sorry! Are you hurt—”

“It’s fine, I’m okay… Huh?”

The other person, rubbing their own backside, froze when they saw me, their eyes widening.

What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?

Maybe I’ve got red pepper flakes in my teeth?

Or… what if that bump messed up my head somehow?

“Um… you okay?”

Her name tag said she was a second-year like me, but since we’d never met, I used polite speech.

She stared at me, then mumbled under her breath.

“Pretty…”

“Huh?”

Did I hear that wrong? What’d she say?

I was about to ask her to repeat it, but she jolted upright, shaking her head frantically.

“N-Nothing! I didn’t say anything! Anyway, you’re a second-year too, right?”

“Y-Yeah… I mean, yup. I’m in Class 1.”

“Class 1? That’s wild. I’m in the class next door, but I’ve never seen you.”

Well, duh—I just transferred, so of course she wouldn’t know me.

If I’d been more social, maybe, but I’ve just been sitting in my chair, radiating loner vibes, so it’s no wonder I’m off her radar.

“Uh, yeah, I’m a transfer student…”

“Transfer? Oh, so you’re the one from the rumors…?”

“Rumors?”

What rumors?

Please don’t tell me it’s something like, “There’s a new transfer in Class 1, and she’s a total loser!” I’d seriously cry.

My brief panic was cut short as she flinched again, waving her hands like she wanted me to forget everything.

“N-Nothing big! Just, like, rumors about a new transfer student? That’s all! Anyway, see ya later!”

“Hey, wait—”

She dropped her pen.

Before I could stop her, she rattled off words like a machine gun and bolted, leaving me standing there, arm outstretched, dazed.

‘I didn’t even catch her name.’

She said she’s in the class part, so that’d be Class 2, right?

I’ll swing by during break to return her pen.