I Ended Up Cross-Dressing, My Secret Relationship with a Handsome Guy (BL) - Chapter 30

“A chance… for what?”

“Huh? I just meant I want the opportunity to get to know you.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

I pressed my fingers against my forehead, trying to sort through my thoughts.

But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t find an answer.

It was only natural—I had no idea what Kiryu was thinking.

“…Why do you want this chance?”

“Because I want to know more about you.”

“And why do you want to know more about me?”

“I need this chance to figure that out.”

“Hah?”

I was trying to understand, but his explanation only confused me further.

A deep crease formed between my brows.

Unlike me, though, Kiryu’s face remained completely serious—there was no trace of teasing or dishonesty.

Then, after a brief pause, his expression twisted in frustration.

“…According to Tanaka, I’m apparently a complete idiot.”

“…Huh?”

Hearing Tanaka’s name out of nowhere made me tilt my head.

“He told me that everything I’ve done with you—the way I’ve treated you—is something you only do when you like someone.”

“What?”

“Like, during the cultural festival… When someone posted that cute picture of you in the group chat, or when you let others take photos with you but wouldn’t let me, or when you let them touch you at school.

All of it pissed me off.

And I thought… I was just being territorial, like someone taking away my favorite toy.”

His words were carefully chosen, hesitant, but even though I had already known, hearing it confirmed still hit like a heavy weight in my chest.

So that’s what it was, after all.

I didn’t want to know, yet I had been forced into this answer.

I looked away.

“But then, Tanaka made me realize that I was wrong.”

I had been on the verge of sinking into my emotions, but the mention of Tanaka again made me stop.

A bad feeling crept up my spine.

Moving stiffly, like a malfunctioning robot, I slowly turned back toward Kiryu.

“Hey, Yukiho—”

“Wait.

Did you talk to Tanaka about me?”

“…Why are you bringing up Tanaka now?”

“You were the one who mentioned him first!”

Kiryu immediately frowned, pursing his lips like a sulking child.

The absurdity of it all was starting to make me lose it.

I pointed at him, exasperated.

“You—you did talk to him about me, didn’t you?!”

“I kept your identity hidden. But… he figured it out.”

“HOW?!”

I was shocked, my whole body stiff with horror, but Kiryu just blinked at me blankly.

“He saw me get pissed when your picture got posted in the group chat.”

“Wh—huh? HAHHHH?!”

This was beyond comprehension.

I groaned, clutching my head.

“It’s over…”

“It’s fine. Tanaka isn’t the type to go around spreading stuff like that.”

“Of course you don’t care! You lose nothing!”

“Huh? I told him everything, even about the cross-dressing.”

“SO I’M SCREWED EITHER WAY! I’m in the red zone, my HP is critical!”

“…Tanaka also said you were cute.”

“Why the hell would that make me happy?!

…Wait.

Kiryu.

What’s with that face?”

Even though this was a total disaster for me, Kiryu didn’t seem to share my urgency.

Instead, his expression was unreadable, complicated.

If I had been making that same face, I probably wouldn’t even be able to look at myself in the mirror.

But on Kiryu, I could somehow make out exactly what he was feeling.

“I wanted to be the only one who knew how cute you were.”

“…Are we back to the toy analogy?”

“No.”

Still wearing that complicated expression, Kiryu looked straight at me.

“I’m jealous.

Of Tanaka.

…And of everyone else who’s realized how cute you are.”

I blinked.

I heard what he said.

I understood what the words meant.

But I couldn’t wrap my head around them.

My brain recognized them, but my body refused to react.

I was completely frozen.

Like a statue.

“…Yukiho, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Suddenly, the tension in Kiryu’s face melted.

His sharp eyes softened, a slow, blooming smile stretching across his lips.

Then, he reached toward me.

His long fingers brushed against my cheek.

The coolness of his touch traced my skin, moving down to cup my jaw.

“You’re all red. Like a candy apple. Cute.”

I bit my lip, frustrated.

But then, as if scolding me, Kiryu’s fingers gently tapped against my lips.

I had no choice but to let go.

Annoyed, I glared at him instead.

Kiryu, of course, just laughed.

“…Why are you touching me?”

“Because I want to.”

“I already told you—I like you, Kiryu.”

“I know.”

“…If you keep doing stuff like this, I won’t be able to forget.”

Kiryu touched me like I was something precious, and it made my heart ache unbearably.

No matter how hard I had tried to forget, no matter how much effort I had put in, he was undoing all of it in an instant.

It was infuriating how thoughtless he could be.

But despite that—despite all of it—my heart was screaming with joy.

“Don’t forget. Remember me.”

“…You really are selfish.”

“Yeah.

And I’ve hurt you so many times because of it.

I’m really sorry.”

His hand slipped away.

Kiryu was smiling as he said it, but his eyes were shadowed.

“I really am an idiot.

Even now, I don’t fully understand my own feelings.

I want to know more about you.

I want to keep you all to myself.

Just thinking about the way you looked at the cultural festival makes me jealous enough to hate everyone who saw you that day.”

He spoke slowly, carefully, like he was placing each word down one at a time.

“I think I like you, Yukiho.”

The words fell between us, quiet but heavy.

And before I could think, my mouth moved on its own.

“…Why think?”

“I’ve never liked someone on my own before.

So I can’t say it with confidence.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve always just dated whoever confessed to me.

And since we were dating, I treated them well—at least on the surface.

But I never actually fell in love with any of them.

So I don’t know if what I feel right now is love.”

I stared at him, mouth slightly open, completely dumbfounded.

Kiryu’s brows drew together slightly, and he let out a small sigh.

“But I think—

No, I’m pretty sure I do like you.

I just can’t say it for certain yet.

That’s why I want to spend more time with you.

Because if I do, I’ll be able to tell you for sure.”

“…What if it turns out to be a misunderstanding?”

“It won’t.

I think I’m right.”

I suddenly felt the urge to laugh.

“…Pfft.”

Kiryu looked at me, puzzled.

But I ignored him, unable to hold it in any longer.

“Aha—haha… Oh my god, Kiryu, you’re so dumb.”

Maybe I was an idiot too.

This vague, uncertain confession could very well turn into a knife that would kill me in the future.

But even so—

Even knowing that—

I still found myself thinking that it might be okay.

“Alright.”

I wiped at the corners of my eyes and met his gaze.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

No matter how this ends,

This is our last chance.