Erlkin looked into her office, with the pastel pink walls, child-sized furniture, and posters of hyper-deformed animals on the walls. This room was made to resemble a "kinder garden" typical of this region of 177-shi. Familiarity and comfort were vital for redevelopment, but it always made Erlkin shudder.
She didn't hate her outfit, a yellow garment locally known as a "sun dress." She'd have to take that one back home.
Her students flooded into her classroom, having been herded in by the RAs. While she had left yesterday with only three children, it had gone up all the way to nine! It'd be astounding if anyone made it through unscathed.
She looked at her role sheet, and started calling out names. Rosarie was there, as was Tessa, Fern, Hazel, Chrysanthemum (or "Chrissy"), Zitrona, Calce, and Tempesta. Leyla didn't respond at first, but was soon found hiding under a table, crying.
"Ley-chan, what's wrong?" Chrissy asked
"It's just... my fwends won't tawk to me now that I'm all widdle..." The Authority touted 'instant psyche death' as a pro of the procedure, but it seems they couldn't get that torture correct.
"It'll be okay, Leyla, you have plenty of new friends your age! Just look around..." Around the room were plenty of kids with colorful hair, identical sailor uniforms, and the same blank expression. Most of these kids gave seem like they'd be just as happy being shoved into a closet for hours on end.
It was vital that these children gain a sense of identity, even if it was the one they had already...
"Okay everyone, I want you to tell me one thing you remember about your old life. Like, before you became a Maho Shojo."
"I was an... uh... I had a dog at home... her name was Allie and she was real big"
"I used to be like, really tall. And my hair was really cool, like in a mohawk!" Fern held up her emerald-green hair, and decided what she'd do with the next pair of scissors she finds.
"I was dating my girlfriend Sabr-Sa-Sabin-" Calce was flustered. Why couldn't she remember her girlfriend's old name?"
"My name's Zitrona, silly!" She said, giving her girlfriend a peck on the cheek.
"Alright, that's a great start! I want you all to keep thinking about how you can be yourself, while still sticking in with, y'know, the rules."
The kids were all apprehensive - something in their mind told them that being themselves was the worst thing they could do.
---
Chris stepped into the classroom at 2 PM, on the dot. Inside, he saw a tired Erlkin with pink hair and a heavily stained sundress. If he had to guess, today she had them try finger painting.
"Alright, please take a seat." She spoke authoritatively. Before we start, we need to set the ground rules. You will refer to me as Erlkin-sensei, and I will refer to you with whatever your new chosen name is."
"It's Grace, ma'am."
"Alright Grace-chan, I'd like to show you something." She dove into a wardrobe, and grabbed a small, white dress, plain except for some tiny rose accents.
"That? How am I supposed to wear that?"
"You didn't even try it on!" She tossed the dress over to Grace. As he pulled the dress over his head, she heard it stretch - somehow a dress sized for a twelve year old fit on a college linebacker.
"It's an enchanted dress, it'll fit whoever wears it. It's really helpful in periods of transition." Erlkin chuckled. "Most of the students aren't getting theirs for another 3 weeks, but it looks like you get a head start."
"I was saying that - how can I wear this? Like, outside? What'll people say? 'Oh, that's just that magic witch guy, yeah you hear about that estrogen? He's basically already a little girl.'"
"First off, you're a she now, not a he. Secondly, I'm sure they're already saying that. Like, don't you have a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, of course -"
"Does she know?"
"I haven't sat down and told her, but-"
"I think she can do the math. She know's you're gonna start shrinking, and she's already found a real man."
"You're probably right..."
"Now, sit back down, I'd like to start our lessons with table etiquette..."