Chapter 33

邂逅 (Kaigou, lit: Encounter) is the thirty-third chapter of the Tensei Pandemic manga series.
==Plot==
Upon exiting the haunted house, Yurina finds Aki amidst the crowds of the summer festival. Kyousuke, Hinata, and Mikoto also find their way out, with Hinata surprised to see the president dressed as a girl. Before they can engage in conversation, Kyousuke, eager to experience more of the festival, urges the group to move on.
The festival progresses. Hinata wins a Man Ranger plush from a marksmanship booth. He initially wants to give the plush to Yurina, but their attention is diverted by a little girl crying nearby, also wanting that particular plush, so they decide to gift the plush to her instead. Overjoyed, the girl thanks them, calling them "big sisters." When the girl's mother mentions that her daughter's preference for boyish things is embarrassing, Yurina reassures her, expressing that she thinks it is a good thing.
Continuing walking, Yurina shares her thoughts with Hinata, empathizing with the little girl they just encountered. She reflects on how people often told her to "act more like a girl," appreciating that Hinata has never made fun of her. Opening up, she tries to say something to Hinata but stutters. She cuts herself off and runs for the toilet.
Perplexed, Hinata ponders what Yurina was trying to say. At this moment, Aki suddenly calls out to him, claiming to have spotted the doctor. However, instead of leading him to the forest, Aki guides him into the forest and presses him against a tree. He touches between Hinata's legs and suggesting to "try it outside." He admits that when he saw Hinata on the balcony during their beach trip, his heart skipped a beat. However, hearing a rustle nearby, she abandons the idea and sends Hinata off.
As Hinata leaves, Yurina appears to confront Aki, demanding to know what she did with Hinata. Meanwhile, Hinata returns to the festival. He spots Kyousuke and Mikoto and tries to catch up to them, but as he moves through the crowd, he passes a hooded figure wearing a kitsune mask, who questions him if he enjoys being a girl. The hooded person briefly removes their mask before running away. Hinata, realizing that this person is the doctor that he's been searching for, chases behind.
In the forest, Aki tells Yurina to not get the wrong idea, saying that he merely helped Hinata retighten his yukata. As Yurina heads back to regroup with everyone, Aki suggests going together. She reveals to Yurina that she likes Hinata, and remarks sarcastically that it's unfortunate Yurina also likes Hinata, as he had hoped to have girls' talk with her. Yurina questions Aki why she is telling her this, and whether this is her reason for coming today. However, Aki then poses an unexpected question: "What would you do if Hinata turns into a girl?"
Chasing the masked figure, Hinata ends up at a small shrine and finds the person seated. Hinata asks if they are the criminal doctor who gave him the gender-changing injection. The person confirms but objects to being called a "criminal," telling Hinata use the name "Yako." Shifting the conversation, Yako asks if Hinata has experienced his "girl's day" this month. Confused, Hinata fails to grasp the meaning, but Yako dismisses it, saying it will come eventually. Yako then compliments Hinata on his appearance in the women's yukata, as well as the swimsuit and maid outfit, shocking Hinata. Yako reveals that that they've been observing Hinata ever since the gender change, as Hinata is a "very important sample" for their ongoing research.
Hinata asks to be changed back to a boy as soon as possible, believing there must be a cure to revert the effects of the virus. Yako, however, dashes his hopes, stating that once the virus has entered the body, it cannot be eradicated. Hearing this, Hinata falls to his knees. Yako clarifies, saying that it's not that there's no possibility of reversing the change, but rather, even if they revealed the method, Hinata wouldn't be able to revert to his former self. Yako kneels down beside him, urging Hinata to accept his new identity, explaining that full acceptance would solidify the transformation, making it irreversible.
In the forest, Aki adds to her question for Yurina: "If he would never be able to turn back into a boy again, what would you do?"
Yako rises and walks towards the sky lit by festival's fireworks, annoucing that once the experiment proves their theory, their virus will spread like the fireworks, starting a "Tensei Pandemic."
==Featured Characters==
In order of appearance:
==Navigation==