I slammed the door of my car in a hurry, late to meet my friends at our favorite café. As I fumbled with my phone, I tripped on the curb and went crashing into a row of designer bikes parked outside the newly opened cafe next door.

The bikes clattered to the ground, a domino effect of destruction. I stared at the damage in horror, knowing I was in trouble. The owner of the café, a tall, handsome man with glasses, came rushing outside to see the cause of the commotion.

He quickly assessed the damage and turned to me with a stern expression. “Do you have any idea how much these bikes are worth?”

“I’m so sorry,” I stammered, “I didn’t mean to —”

“I understand it was an accident,” he interrupted, “but you still need to take responsibility for this.”

I opened my purse, praying I had enough to cover the damage. But there wasn’t even enough for one bike. The owner sighed, as if coming to a decision.

“Alright, here’s an option. I’ll agree not to press charges if you work at my café to make up for the damages.”

I hesitated, thinking of my friends waiting for me, but I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to escape legal trouble.

“Deal,” I agreed quickly.

“Good. Come with me,” he said, leading me inside the strange café.

It was a cozy place, but I immediately noticed something odd. All the waiters were dressed in schoolboy uniforms, and there seemed to be an overwhelming theme of male-on-male affection displayed on the merchandise and décor.

I blinked in confusion, but I knew I couldn’t back out of our agreement.

“I take it you’re familiar with yaoi?” he asked, watching my reaction.

I blushed, “Yeah, I’ve heard of it, but I didn’t know there were cafes like this.”

“Well, you’re about to become a part of it. This is a yaoi-themed café. Are you still in?”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” I resigned.

He smiled slightly, “Not really. But don’t worry, it’s actually quite fun.”

He led me to a small changing room and handed me a uniform.

“Put this on, and it will do the rest.”

“Do what?” I asked, but he simply left the room, urging me to change.

The moment the pinstripe uniform inched its way onto my body, I could feel a sudden warmth enveloping me. My body began to tingle and shift, and before I knew it, the transformation was complete.

I turned to the mirror and couldn’t believe my eyes. I was no longer a woman but a teenage boy with pale, refined features and an ethereal beauty I never had before.

I stumbled out of the changing room, feeling entirely disoriented.

“What’s going on?!?” I cried.

“How did this happen?”

“It’s just part of the magic of the costume,” the owner explained calmly.

“Now, let’s give you a new name. How about… Kaito?”

I froze, staring back at him with wide eyes.

“Kaito?”

He nodded. “Yes. That way, you can blend in with your coworkers and truly immerse yourself in this yaoi-themed world. Are you ready?”

I hesitated before slowly nodding. This was my life now, at least until I paid off my debt. And as strange as it was, there was an undeniable thrill in becoming an entirely different person.

“Ready,” I agreed, and as Kaito, I stepped into my new role as a waiter in this exciting, enchanting world.

As the weeks went by, I found myself becoming more and more comfortable with my new identity as Kaito. My coworkers, all lovely young men with their own mysterious stories, quickly accepted me as one of their own. The customers, too, found me endearing as a shy, innocent boy new to the world of yaoi.

Working at the café wasn’t so bad – the regulars were kind, the food was delicious, and the tips were generous. I was making a dent in the debt I owed and even started enjoying the secret that only the café owner and I shared.

One day, after a particularly busy shift, I found myself alone in the changing room, staring at my reflection. I had grown attached to the Kaito persona, and I couldn’t deny the feeling of security that came with hiding behind this façade. It was nice to be someone else, someone who didn’t have the same problems and responsibilities as my real self.

As I was in the middle of this thought, the door to the changing room opened, and the owner stepped inside.

“You seem to be adjusting well,” he observed with a small smile.

I nodded hesitantly. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

He became serious and continued, “I’ve noticed that you’re doing a great job here and that you’re making a lot of progress towards paying off your debt.”

“That’s good news, right?” I asked, unsure of whether I should be happy or not. The thought of returning to my real life sparked a feeling of dread within me.

“Yes, it is,” he replied carefully. “But I feel like it’s time for me to tell you something.”

“What’s that?” I asked curiously.

“The magic of the uniform doesn’t last forever. Once your debt is paid, the charm will wear off, and you’ll return to your former self. However,” he paused, peering into my eyes, “if you should find yourself attached to this new life, there is an option for you to remain.”

My heart raced as I considered his words. Kaito’s life was filled with fun, adventure, and an escape from reality – but was it worth giving up my old life entirely?