The morning sun cast golden rays over the sprawling campus of Aether High, a prestigious academy in a world where gender roles were reversed and power was everything.
But this was no ordinary school—Aether High trained power bearers to hone their abilities and choose their career paths, whether as a renowned hunter or a humble police officer.
Misa, a single mother with a kind face and tired eyes, drove away from the school gates after dropping off her two children, Ren and Hiyori.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she muttered to herself, "I never thought he'd grow up so fast… Now I have to worry about his future." Her voice was heavy with concern, her thoughts lingering on Ren, her adopted son, who was starting his third year of high school when the girls start to awaken their abilities and tend to be violent and horny.
At the gates, Ren, a tall, lean boy with tousled black hair and warm brown eyes, walked alongside his younger sister, Hiyori, who was in her first year. Hiyori's pink pigtails bounced as she glanced at her brother, her cheeks puffed out in a mix of worry and curiosity.
"Ren, do you know your class yet? Third year's a big deal, you know. You gotta be careful with all those… girls starting their new-puberty," Hiyori said, her voice teasing but with a hint of genuine concern.
Ren smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Aww, does my little sister care about me? Don't worry, Hiyori, I'm not new to this school. I know how to handle myself." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You, on the other hand, should be careful. You're the new kid here. Go make lots of friends, alright? I hope some of your friends from middle school is here."
Hiyori's face flushed, and she let out a dramatic "Hmph!" crossing her arms like a classic tsundere. "I'll make tons of friends, just you watch!" she declared, though her bravado faltered slightly.
Before Ren could tease her further, a loud voice cut through the air. "Ren, my man!" A boy with spiky blonde hair and a wide grin tackled Ren in a bear hug, nearly knocking him over.
Hiyori's eyes widened, and she quickly slipped away, muttering to herself, "Well, he wasn't lying about having friends…" A wave of relief washed over her as she noticed the lack of girls in the group. Thank goodness, she thought, scurrying off toward her own classroom.
Ren laughed, disentangling himself from the hug. "Kaito, ease up, man! You're gonna crush me before class even starts."
Kaito, the blonde, grinned sheepishly, while another boy, Greg, with neat glasses and a calm demeanor, adjusted his frames. "You're lucky, Ren. You've got that natural charm. The girls are already buzzing about you, and it's only the first day unlike me."
The trio started walking toward their classroom, their conversation slipping into the kind of chatter you'd expect from teenage girls in a typical world—but here, in this reverse world, it was the boys who gossiped like this.
"So, Kaito," Ren said, nudging his friend, "you still obsessed with that new idol group? What's their name again? Starlight?"
Kaito's eyes lit up, and he clutched his chest dramatically. "Oh my gosh, Ren, you have to listen to their new single! It's, like, life-changing! The lead singer's voice is so dreamy, and their outfits? Total perfection!" He twirled a finger through his hair, mimicking a pose he'd seen in a music video.
Greg rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "You're hopeless, Kaito. I'm more into that new VR game that dropped last week. The graphics are insane, and you can customize your avatar's hair to, like, glow in the dark. I spent three hours last night just messing with the settings. My waifus are not like these 3D girls man. They are not just horny, they actually care about me and love me."
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "You two are ridiculous. Kaito's fangirling over idols, and Greg's geeking out over anime girls. But I guess that's the charm of my friends."
He always felt out of place among men in this world. As if something was always bothering him. While he was busy thinking about it, Ren heard the topic change to skincare.
Kaito gasped, feigning offense. "Excuse you, my skin is flawless, thank you very much! I've been using this new moisturizer with moonflower extract which is a rare ingredient. You should try it, Ren, your cheeks are looking a little dry."
Greg snickered. "He's not wrong. You gotta step up your game, Ren. Third year's serious business. People really start developing their powers now and you know...attractive men get favour from girls...not that I care about 3D girls."
Ren's smile faltered slightly. "Yeah… speaking of, any of the boys in our section manifest yet?"
The mood shifted. Kaito and Greg exchanged a glance before looking down at their feet. Greg pushed his glasses up, his voice quieter. "Just one. You know, Daichi. But, like, he's from an S-rank hunter family, so it's not exactly a surprise. The rest of us… well, we're artificials. Unlike like you, we don't have the same… potential."
Kaito nodded, his usual energy subdued. "Yeah, you're lucky, Ren. You're not an artificial. You've got a real shot at manifesting something."
Ren shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I'm still adopted, though. Doesn't mean I'm guaranteed anything." He forced a smile. "Besides, only, what, 5% of guys ever develop powers? It's mostly girls who get them."
Greg sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, that's how it's always been. Girls awaken left and right, but us? We're lucky if one of us hits that 5%. Still, I'd be stoked if any of us got something cool."
Kaito clapped Ren on the shoulder. "Hey, if you awaken, you better not forget us little people, alright?"
Ren laughed, the tension easing. "Deal."
They stepped into the classroom, and Ren's eyes swept over the room. It was familiar, yet different. The girls, who made up most of the class, looked… changed. Their postures were more confident, their eyes sharper, their auras almost palpable and their bodies were more developed.
Most of them must've awakened over the summer, Ren thought. In this world, powers were dormant from birth, only manifesting between 18 and 20, and girls trained their bodies rigorously to prepare for the surge.
The classroom door swung open, and their teacher, Ms. Jenny, a stern woman in her 40s with glasses perched on her nose, strode in. She dropped a stack of books on the desk with a thud, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Welcome back to another year, everyone. I trust you've all prepared yourselves for what's ahead."
A girl in the back whispered to her friend, giggling about something. Without missing a beat, Ms. Jenny's eyes narrowed, and a piece of chalk shot across the room as Jenny threw it into the air and hit it with her ass, smacking the girl's forehead with pinpoint accuracy. The class froze.
"Just because some of you have awakened your powers doesn't mean you're above everyone else," Ms. Jenny said, her voice icy. "Let me make this clear: no one—no one—except teachers and the principal is allowed to use powers on school premises unless we allow them. Doing so is a grave offense and could lead to expulsion. Understood?"
The class gulped in unison, nodding. Ms. Jenny adjusted her glasses, her expression softening slightly. "Good. Now, we have a new student joining us today. She comes from a… notable family." Her tone was cautious, almost reluctant, as if she knew better than to say too much. "Please welcome Lan Meiling, daughter of the Lan Conglomerate, the most powerful guild-financing dynasty In Norbata, which funds Guild Sirius—one of the top dungeon guilds in Norbata."
The door opened, and in walked Lan Meiling. Her long black hair was woven into intricate twin braids, her pale porcelain skin glowing under the fluorescent lights. Her jade-green eyes scanned the room with a regal air, and her custom academy uniform, adorned with golden embroidery, screamed wealth and status. She carried a fan engraved with her family crest, snapping it open with a flourish as she stepped forward.
Ms. Jenny gestured to her. "Meiling, please introduce yourself."
Meiling's lips curved into a refined smile, but her eyes were cold. "I am Lan Meiling, heir to the Lan Conglomerate. I expect this academy to meet the standards befitting my presence. Most of you are likely beneath my notice, but I shall endeavor to endure." Her voice was sharp, dripping with arrogance, as if she were addressing peasants rather than classmates.
The room was silent, some students awed, others bristling. Ms. Jenny cleared her throat. "Thank you, Meiling. There's an empty seat next to Ren. You may sit there. Everyone, please make her feel welcome."
Meiling glided toward the seat, her fan flicking closed. She glanced at Ren, her eyes narrowing briefly before dismissing him entirely, as if he were no more interesting than the desk itself. In a world where girls chased boys relentlessly—men being rare and coveted—her indifference was striking.
Ren raised an eyebrow but said nothing, leaning back in his chair. Well, that's a first, he thought.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Students shuffled out, but Ren lingered, watching Meiling gather her things with the grace of a queen. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to try his luck. "Hey, Meiling, welcome to Aether High. I'm Ren. If you need help getting around or—"
"There is no benefit to me speaking with you," Meiling cut him off, her voice like a blade. "I don't judge people by their gender, only their worth. And you, thus far, have shown none." She turned on her heel and walked away, her braids swaying like pendulums.
Ren blinked, then let out a dry laugh. "Why did I even try?" Shaking his head, he grabbed his bag and headed for the library to borrow some books before going home.
As he walked through the halls, the atmosphere shifted. Girls from his class and others he didn't even recognize began to swarm him, their eyes sparkling with interest. In this reverse world, men were the ones pursued, and Ren—tall, handsome, with an easy smile—was a prime target.
"Hey, Ren!" a girl with short pink hair called, twirling a strand around her finger. "You free after school? We're going to the arcade. You should totally come!"
A third girl of the same group, bolder, stepped in front of him, her hands on her hips. "Ren, you're looking extra good today. Got a girlfriend yet, or are you still playing hard to get?"
Ren laughed, raising his hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa, slow down, ladies. I'm just trying to get to the library, alright? I don't have that kind of interest yet."
The pink-haired girl pouted. "You're no fun, Ren! But fine, we'll catch you later. You can't escape us forever!"
As they giggled and dispersed, Ren shook his head, a wry smile on his face. This is gonna be one hell of a year.