I Ended Up Cross-Dressing, My Secret Relationship with a Handsome Guy (BL) - Chapter 25

“I like you, Kiryu.”

It felt as though I were being judged for my sins.

During the preparation period for the cultural festival, I was unbearably irritable. Everything I heard, everything I saw, filled me with frustration. If I didn’t have a shred of self-restraint left, I probably would have destroyed anything within reach. That was how frayed I had become.

And yet, my insignificant pride wouldn’t allow me to reveal such an unsightly state. So, I kept up appearances, acting as if everything was normal. Or at least, I think I did. I was so overwhelmed by my emotions that I barely remember anything from that time.

The only things that remain in my memory from back then are Yukiho, the people around him, and Tanaka.

I couldn’t stand it.

Ever since the cultural festival preparations started… ever since it was decided that Yukiho would cross-dress, people began gathering around him. At first, they only talked to him briefly before leaving, as if discussing plans. But as the days passed, even those who had only exchanged business-like conversations started casually chatting with him.

“Hey, Saito, why didn’t you join a club?”

“…I’m not good at sports, I don’t like working in groups, and I’d rather just study.”

“Studying is fun!? Say that again~~!”

Tamata from the rugby club was sitting in front of Yukiho’s desk. He had already talked to him multiple times, so Yukiho seemed to have gotten used to it. His words were no longer as clipped as before.

“Ah, Yuki~! Hey, let me tie your bangs up with this. Time for a makeover!”

“! N-no way…!”

“‘No way’ is still a no, huh?”

“‼”

Kusunoki, one of the more flashy girls in class, seemed to have taken a liking to Yukiho. She often talked to him and had no hesitation in touching him in front of everyone. Now, with his bangs tied up using a cherry-patterned hair tie, Yukiho gave her a look of pure disbelief.

But he was too kind—no matter how much he disliked it, he never undid it himself. Even when people took pictures, he never complained.

On the other hand, he was sharp-tongued toward the boys, and perhaps that contrast was what made him even more intriguing. A lively circle had formed around him.

“…He never let me take a picture.”

“Did you say something, Kiryu-kun?”

“Nothing.”

The people around me were loud and lively—girls who flaunted their femininity more openly than Kusunoki and boisterous guys who wouldn’t shut up.

Why wasn’t Yukiho here, by my side?

Why was it that, while I wasn’t even allowed to talk to him at school, they could interact with him so easily?

He was already standing out.

I could hear people around me saying things like, “Saito’s actually got a really nice face,” and even the girls, who normally wouldn’t pay attention to him, were fawning over him, calling him “cute~.”

But I had known that long before they did.

I had always known how cute, how beautiful, how captivating Yukiho was.

But at school, I couldn’t talk to him. Because we had promised. Because he had told me he didn’t want to stand out.

I kept thinking, “If others are doing it, then it should be fine,” but every time, I held myself back.

Why was that?

The answer was simple.

I was afraid of being hated by Yukiho.

I still didn’t understand why he had left that day. If I reached out to him now, if I met up with him and apologized, he wouldn’t accept it as a mere token gesture.

I didn’t know what to do.

So, I pretended to sleep, clutching my head in frustration.

That unbearable stalemate was finally shattered one evening, during the cultural festival preparations.

Our school took the cultural festival very seriously, even opening it to the general public. There was a school-wide competition for the best exhibit, and various other events were lined up. That’s why almost every student was fully committed to their work. On that day, too, most of them were busy building stage props.

“Do we have enough panels?”

“Yeah, we’re good. After cutting them, we need to paint them. Oh, and take the dried ones to the art team.”

Tanaka and I, being the so-called “poster boys” for attracting visitors, had nothing to do until the actual event. So, for the past few days, we had been helping out wherever extra hands were needed.

“I wanted to be in the cast, though. It’s tough being handsome, huh, Kiryu-kun?”

“Sure is.”

“Put some heart into it when you reply!”

Dressed in our gym uniforms, Tanaka and I were helping paint the panels. From behind the gym, we could see other classes working on their preparations. Everyone seemed so fired up—it was almost impressive.

“So, Kiryu-kun, you’ve been all tense lately. Still haven’t made up with your little kitty?”

“…”

“Silence means yes~!”

I paused mid-stroke with my paint roller and turned to look at Tanaka.

But he wasn’t even looking at me. He kept painting, unfazed.

“Man, this is rare. You usually don’t care about people at all.”

“…What?”

“You hate anything troublesome. You don’t like crying girls, so you avoid breakups that might cause drama. You refuse to help with club activities because rejecting people is a hassle. You’re the ultimate ‘go-with-the-flow’ guy, never saying no, never chasing after anyone.

But now, for the first time, you’re all messed up over a crush. It’s hilarious.”

“…I told you, it’s not like that with him.”

I regretted talking to Tanaka.

I didn’t have romantic feelings for Yukiho.

I was angry because he allowed others to do what he had forbidden me from doing.

I was irritated because people were swarming around something I had found first.

It was like when a child has their favorite toy taken away—something as simple as that.

Even if I understood that my feelings were childish, I couldn’t help how I felt.

“Whoa, no way!”

“Is that seriously the same guy?”

Someone cutting panels let out an exclamation, pulling my attention away.

I suddenly remembered that my phone had vibrated earlier. Checking it, I saw a message with an attached photo.

Kusunoki had sent it with the caption: “Made the cutest girl ever!”

I had a bad feeling.

As soon as I opened the group chat, I saw it—Yukiho, dressed in a Taisho-era kimono, arms slightly raised in confusion, his expression utterly unguarded.

I heard the snap of something breaking inside me.

“Whoa, is that really Saito? His potential is insane. He seriously looks like a girl.”

“Hey, Kiryu, check this out—”

“Don’t look at him.”

“…Huh?”

More messages popped up—”So cute,” “This is insane,” and then, mixed in with them, one that made my bl00d freeze.

“Come to the back of the gym so we can check the fit.”

At almost the exact same moment, the student council president called out, “Good work today, everyone!”

That meant Yukiho was coming here.

Wearing that outfit, with that vulnerable expression, walking through the school building, making his way here.

I couldn’t allow that.

It was unbearable.

“Sorry, I need to step out for a bit.”

“Huh!? Wait—are you serious?”