Chapter 13

"Kazu-kun, that's not possible."

"That's not possible, Andou-senpai."

On a certain day off, I was in my room when I was being given the cold shoulder by two popular idols. Those two, of course, were Kusakabe and Kiyokawa. The sight of their casual, feminine outfits was a feast for the eyes... Why did I end up in such a situation? It was because the two of them, after hearing the details of the sleepover date from Rinka, came to talk to me. Rinka wasn't here.

"Could it be that Andou-senpai is a bit of a wimp?"

"Ugh... I can't deny it."

"Kazu-kun, you're so inconsistent. You can be bold at times, but then there are times when you're not."

"Nana-senpai is right. When you're determined, you go all out, but usually, you're so passive. Are you a split personality?"

"Hey, that's going too far, isn't it?"

"No, no, it's impossible for someone to be so engrossed in an online game that they forget about a sleepover date, especially when Rinka-senpai is involved."

"But Rinka also has her issues. Getting so absorbed in an online game together... it's a bit much, isn't it?"

The two of them sighed regretfully. ...What am I supposed to do with that?

I'm a hardcore online gamer, after all? I've been dedicated to online games since I was a kid, a true gamer? Being a wimp is only natural, right?

Thinking about it, it's amazing I've been able to interact with idols up until now...

Most herbivorous guys would be too nervous to even talk. Or they'd get overly excited and act weird. In my case, maybe it's the insensitivity of being a hardcore online gamer that's helping.

"I was surprised when I heard from Rinka. The sleepover date was going well at first, but you stumbled at the last moment. And to be caught by her father... "

"In a way, her father is the biggest victim."

"No, it's me."

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"...Sorry."

Why are you so tough on me? I feel like crying...

"Andou-senpai, it's wonderful that you care for Rinka-senpai, but sometimes that can hurt her, you know?"

"...Yes."

"Kazu-kun, I think you should be a bit more proactive!"

"Kusakabe, that's harsh..."

"Because you haven't even kissed yet, right? It's too late, way too late!"

"..."

"Are you listening, Kazu-kun?"

"Y-Yes, I'm listening."

"Then why are you being so quiet!"

"Well... I find it embarrassing to have this kind of conversation with girls!"

"\"What?\""

When I finally spoke my mind, they both widened their eyes and tilted their heads.

"What's with that reaction? Do you think of yourselves as guys?"

"No, no, we don't think of ourselves as guys. We just weren't paying attention to our gender."

"Me too."

"Pay a little more attention. And blush a bit."

"Hehe, Andou-senpai, you might not know, but girls often have deep conversations among themselves."

"Right. We can't have those conversations in front of guys."

"So, you're aware I'm a guy, right? Are you thinking of me as a girl? Or not treating me like a human?"

I've always felt that these two are unusually close to me. It's not out of affection, but rather a lack of caution.

"Treating you like a human, or rather, Andou-senpai is a hardcore online gamer, right?"

"What do you mean by that? Do hardcore online gamers not have human rights? I'll cry, damn it."

"Kazu-kun, you're more of a Kazu-kun than a guy."

"I don't get it."

I don't quite understand, but I get that they don't see me as a guy.

...It's a bit sad.

I don't really want them to see me as a guy, but it's a complicated feeling.

"As the commander of the Kazu-kun and Rinka's Love Grand Plan, I can't ignore this situation!"

"What plan? I've never heard of it."

I thought it was the Friendship Grand Plan before. Either way, it's embarrassing to listen to.

"I, Aya Kiyokawa, am the strategist."

"Wow. So things are moving forward without me?"

"By the way, Andou-senpai, you're just a low-ranking soldier."

"Hey, why? I'm the main character of the plan, right?"

"The main character is Rinka-senpai. Andou-senpai's role is to make Rinka-senpai happy. Do you have any good ideas?"

When asked by Kiyokawa, I thought for a moment. I had one idea.

"Maybe the fireworks festival?"

"The fireworks festival?"

"Right. Rinka said she wants to go to the fireworks festival with me."

"Then go. With Rinka-senpai's disguise skills, it should be easy."

"But... she wants to wear a yukata."

"...That's a problem."

Hearing my words, Kiyokawa sighed.

Wearing a yukata would completely reveal her identity.

"She also wants to visit the food stalls. Honestly, I think it's impossible."

"I don't like the word 'impossible'... but I see, it is tough."

"Still, I want to fulfill Rinka's dream."

The three of us linked arms and tilted our heads, deep in thought.

No matter how we think about it, it seems impossible.

A popular idol going to a fireworks festival with a guy would be a scandal waiting to happen.

"How about we host our own fireworks festival? We can gather the audience and get their help!"

"That's impractical. We don't have the money. I don't know the details, but a fireworks festival costs tens of millions of yen. Plus, hiring extras and renting a location... it would easily exceed 100 million yen."

"...How about sparklers?"

A significant downgrade.

"Kazu-kun, do you have any ideas?"

"Andou-senpai, you're our only hope."

"What can I do? I've been saying it's impossible from the start."

I'm not even trying to think of a plan.

Then, Kiyokawa's eyes lit up with a brilliant idea.

"...What?"

"The problem is that a popular idol and a guy are going to the fireworks festival, right?"

"Right."

"So, if the popular idol goes with a girl, there's no problem, right?"

"Huh?"

That way, I can't fulfill Rinka's dream of going to the fireworks festival with me.

"Oh, I get it! I understand what Aya-chan means!"

"Of course, Nana-senpai. Only Andou-senpai didn't get it."

"W-What do you mean...?"

"It's simple. If Andou-senpai becomes a girl, there's no problem."

"Wh-What!?"

She said it with a serious face, and I screamed.

Me... become a girl?

"But wait, Aya-chan! If Kazu-kun becomes a girl, they won't be able to have children. That's a bit sad. I want to hold Rinka's child."

"Ah, so you want to be called 'Aunt Nana.'"

"I'm not an aunt yet! I'm still young!"

...This is too much. I can't keep up. I don't want to keep up.

Talk about children by girls is too much for a herbivorous, wimpy guy.

"I want to live the rest of my life as a guy."

"No one said anything about castration."

"Then what?"

As I asked with a twisted mouth, Kiyokawa smiled slyly.

"Cross-dressing, of course."

Cross-dressing...?