Chapter 17

As evening approached, the three of us decided to part ways.

I felt relieved to finally be freed from hell, but once again, Kiyokawa offered an unnecessary yet appreciated piece of advice.

"Shouldn't you show your appearance to Senpai Rinka? Explain the situation and think about what to do next."

...Indeed, that was the right thing to do.

I should tell Rinka, who is directly involved, about the cross-dressing. I know that, but... I really don't feel like it.

"Please have confidence, Senpai Ayuzawa. If you're that cute, there's no doubt Senpai Rinka will fall in love with you all over again."

"Even if she falls in love with me because of cross-dressing, that's a problem...!"

After parting ways with Kajiwara and the others, I, half in a fit of pique, headed to Rinka's house on a whim.

I was let in by Kaoru-san, who happened to be at home, and decided to wait for Rinka to return.

"Wow, you really think of some things... As expected of a popular idol, your thinking is different from us ordinary people."

In the Mizuki family's living room, Kaoru-san, who had heard everything from me, said with genuine admiration.

At first, when she saw me in cross-dressing, she widened her eyes and asked, "Who are you?"

"Those two are definitely messing with me."

"While saying that, you were also into it, weren't you, Wado-kun?"

"No way! I've never felt like crying as much as today!"

When I shouted with tears in my eyes, Kaoru-san laughed happily.

"Hahaha, Wado-kun, you're such a funny kid. But the cross-dressing suits you."

"I'm not happy at all..."

Kaoru-san carefully examined my outfit. I don't care anymore...

"I feel so proud as a sister. To do this much for Rinka..."

"Well, it's also for my own sake..."

"If it's for your own sake... Ehh, Wado-kun, are you serious? Did you get into cross-dressing?"

"No way! Can't you understand from the flow of events? It's to go to the fireworks festival with Rinka!"

Seeing my reaction, Kaoru-san laughed happily again.

For some reason, I feel like I'm being toyed with by women wherever I go.

"Yay! Kazuto-nii-chan, carry me!"

"You're calling me 'nii-chan' so casually..."

"......Huh?"

When I gave Nao a sidelong glance as she ran over happily, she tilted her head, looking confused.

...Well, she's cute, so it's fine.

I picked up Nao.

"Kazuto-nii-chan, you don't have any boobs, do you?"

"Of course not!"

It would be a big problem if I did.

As we passed the time, we heard the sound of the door opening and Rinka's "I'm home" from the entrance.

—Oh no!

"I forgot to tell Rinka about the cross-dressing!"

I had planned to tell her via smartphone, but I was too embarrassed to tell Rinka about the cross-dressing and kept putting it off.

And I ended up forgetting!

"It's fine, right? Let's make it a surprise! Rinka will be surprised!"

"Yay, a surprise!" Nao, who was being carried by me, also seemed excited.

These sisters are really something...

"What are you doing—eh?"

Rinka stepped into the living room, immediately spotted me, and let out a rare, surprised sound.

After a moment of silence, Rinka, maintaining her cool idol demeanor, said:

"Oh, Wado-kun, you're here. You should have let me know."

"Ah, yeah..."

"Do you want to stay for dinner? I'll start preparing it."

"Wait a minute!"

I was surprised by how naturally Rinka accepted it.

"Don't you think anything of my outfit?"

"Not really."

"Of course you do! I'm in cross-dressing, you know!"

"So what? Cross-dressing is no big deal."

"Wh-what...!"

Without even raising an eyebrow, Rinka boldly declared it.

It was so confident that it almost felt like a presence.

"I'm Wado-kun's wife, you know? No matter what kind of unusual hobbies or quirks my husband has, I will accept everything as his wife."

"You're too understanding! No, it's a misunderstanding!"

"It's fine, Wado-kun. We are truly bound by our hearts, an absolute couple... No matter what happens, I will never dislike you. So, you can reveal everything."

"That's Rinka for you..."

Facing Rinka, who seemed to emit a light like the Virgin Mary, I felt like I might have to hold my head in my hands.

I might have been more mentally relieved if I had been criticized.

It's a problem when everything is accepted without question.

"Even if Wado-kun's heart is that of a girl, I don't mind. Because I love Wado-kun as a person."

"Why is this not making me happy at all...!"

If she had said this in a different situation, I might have been flustered, but now it just leaves me with a strange feeling.

Suddenly, Rinka started to fidget.

"Wait, hold on, Wado-kun."

"What's the matter?"

"You didn't go out in that outfit, did you?"

"Um, I did?"

"See... Tell me the details. It's a cheating check."

"Why!?"

"Men won't ignore such a cute Wado-kun. There's a possibility that... you know."

"No way! There's absolutely no possibility of that!"

"Cheaters always say that... I heard it from Sato-san."

"Here comes Sato-san again! Enough already!"

Ah—why does it always end up like this?

A man who gets suspected of cheating because of cross-dressing... I'm probably the only one in the world, right? Probably.