Dong Hazuki Feels Comfortable

[What’s wrong, Ichijou-kun.

Do you not want to see me?]

It was still a midday filled with just the right amount of warmth.

March cherry blossoms spiraled gently through the air, showing off their beautiful姿态 in this most comfortable weather.

Within this beautiful and quiet scene, I was waiting for the sound of footsteps.

Only, this time, those footsteps came much later than yesterday.

And he seemed to be hiding something from me, deliberately avoiding my gaze.

I could say that I understood him fairly well.

But his current behavior was truly a bit strange, and for a moment I couldn’t tell what kind of accident might occur.

Since I don’t know—

Then I’ll just ask directly.

[I think I’m still quite easy on the eyes.]

I lightly adjusted my long hair, which had been messed up a little by the wind.

Compared to the convenient ponytail, I prefer letting this waist-length hair fall freely.

Although it’s quite troublesome to take care of normally, but—

Compared to a ponytail, this hairstyle gives people a better impression.

There’s no particular theory to support this.

It’s simply what I think.

Perhaps it’s because I personally like it.

Isn’t there a saying—

Nothing is more important than liking it yourself.

Besides, he seems to like it too.

At least, he glanced at it a few times while I was fixing it.

[Yeah.

I just felt like Dongye-san might scold me.]

He looked a little guilty.

[After all, I did arrive late this time.]

[Then make sure you apologize properly.]

Following that line, I naturally continued the conversation.

This was actually the most common game progression.

After this line, it would usually become the story of a clumsy male lead and an unreasonable female lead.

Thinking about it, that really would be a nice development.

The location was chosen well too.

A hidden space where only the two of us existed.

Unfortunately—

I’m not someone who causes trouble for no reason.

And I have no intention of developing things further with him.

I believe he doesn’t want to become anything complicated with me either.

[I’m very sorry.]

[Mm-hmm.

Then can you tell me why you arrived so late?]

I hope it wasn’t some accident that would affect the game’s progression.

[Ah.

Xiao Yue asked me, and wanted to invite me to eat together.]

When he said that, for a moment I almost thought he was calling me.

But after that brief, instinctive reaction from hearing the name so often, I realized who he meant.

Shang Xianyue.

His childhood friend, someone he had known since he was young.

Between them had accumulated deep friendship, just one step away from transforming into love.

But at that time—

I didn’t want to see that happen.

Although Shang Xianyue is also a heroine who needs to be攻略ed—

She’s very troublesome.

She can practically only be left for last.

Still, it seems the conditions for that transformation haven’t been met yet.

[You rejected her?]

[That’s right.

After all, she’s met a lot of new friends too.

If I went, it wouldn’t be great.

So many girls.]

He revealed a bit of awkwardness, as if imagining that scene.

Ah, yeah.

That really would be unbearable.

As a guy, eating together with a group of girls would definitely turn you into a target of criticism.

You might even get teased if they thought you looked decent.

Well, that’s mostly just imagination born from stereotypes.

What the real situation would be—

Honestly, I don’t care that much.

Rather—

[Hehe.

Hehehe.]

After turning my thoughts around a bit, I found something that made me laugh.

As expected, in order to make bored me feel happy, my way of thinking always becomes a bit strange somewhere.

[Eh—?]

He looked at me in confusion, puzzled by my odd behavior.

[Pfft.

Because Ichijou-kun was afraid of eating with girls, he refused to accompany the childhood friend who grew up with him—]

I covered my mouth with my hand, hiding the remaining laughter.

Though my narrowed eyes were still telling of my delight.

[Yet here you are, eating with me, another girl.

And you’re even chatting so happily.]

[What do you think I’d feel?]

[Eh—]

Ichijou Riku, who had absolutely no awareness of what this behavior implied, could only let out a startled sound.

Even though I know he’s not the type to harbor feelings toward me, I still can’t help but let my thoughts run wild in that direction.

Shang Xianyue, one of the heroines—

Rejected because of a fake like me.

If she were to find out, what kind of expression would she have?

I’m really looking forward to it.

But that really would cause big trouble.

So it will remain nothing more than a fantasy.

In the end, it’s because Ichijou-kun, the male lead, is simply too straightforward.

[After all, Dongye-san said you would be waiting for me here.]

He scratched his head.

[I didn’t want you to waste time for nothing.]

—Ah.

Is it really because of me?

I blinked, reacting to his words.

[Ichijou-kun—]

[Yes.]

[I was originally a man.

So don’t develop feelings for me, okay?]

[Dongye-san is joking.]

It really seems he doesn’t have those thoughts.

Well, if he still did even knowing that this body contains a man whose heart has already rotted, there’d be nothing I could do.

I could only hope his sexual orientation wouldn’t change because of it, so that the攻略 plan could continue.

[We’ve talked quite a bit.

It’s time to eat.]

A good portion of our lunch break had already passed through our back-and-forth conversation.

Ichijou Riku’s bento box had long been opened, releasing an aroma tempting enough to make anyone crave it.

Even I couldn’t help glancing at it.

Drawn by this rare appetite-awakening smell, I opened my own bento box as well.

[Dongye-san seems to not like talking while eating.]

After meeting me only twice, Ichijou Riku had already noticed something unusual about me.

But I didn’t have the leisure to respond to him.

Or rather, I didn’t intend to explain myself in detail.

[Mmh.]

After mentally preparing myself, then—

Just like always, I efficiently replenished my body’s energy.

The stomach’s wriggling came with a sense of reluctance.

Even though I was aware that my body needed it, an indescribable feeling surged up from deep inside.

That is—

The feeling of wanting to vomit.

[Dongye-san, what’s wrong?]

Well, there’s really no need to worry too much about me.

After all, up to now, I’ve been treating you as nothing more than a tool.

This kind of reaction actually becomes rare amusement for me.

Unequal relationships are always so fascinating.

How should I put it—

What I give is clearly fake, just surface-level acting.

Yet I can still receive what might be genuine concern.

Even so, I know that no matter what, he would offer concern.

After all, gentleness is an essential trait of a game’s male lead.

However—

[I have a lot of troublesome problems.

So Ichijou-kun, please hurry up and take me back.]

[I’ll take you back, Dongye-san.

And don’t rush me.]

He revealed a faint, bitter smile as he looked at me.

[Dongye-san.

Are you unable to eat?]

That’s why I kind of dislike this sharp observation.

[I didn’t expect Ichijou-kun to notice.]

Since he had already seen through it, denying it would only leave a bad impression of lying.

I’ve calmed down now at least.

I’m no longer clutching my stomach like before, suppressing the urge to vomit.

The sunlight grew a bit brighter, spilling down gentle warmth.

The breeze was like a group of mischievous children, darting and running about, filled with an atmosphere that made one want to fall asleep within it.

I closed my eyes, quietly enjoying this rare moment.

[Did Dongye-san have this problem before?]

[—If you’re talking about me when I had a male body, I did have a similar problem.

As for the original Dong Hazuki, I don’t know.]

Awakened by his question, I turned my head and slightly curled my lips.

[Maybe it really is such a coincidence.]

[That just happens—

[To mean we both have this troublesome problem.]

Though for me, this kind of coincidence can hardly be called a good thing.

[I see—]

He seemed to be thinking about something, even putting down the food in his hand.

What could he be thinking about?

I’m actually a little curious about his thoughts at this moment.

Does he feel pity for me, who has this condition?

Or is he still hung up on the fact that I used to be a man?

Of course, these are just my guesses.

My curiosity isn’t strong enough to drive me to ask him directly.

As long as it doesn’t affect my plan, it’s fine.

Other than sending me back, I don’t want to bother with anything else.

[By the way, Ichijou-kun.]

[Yes, Dongye-san.

Please go ahead.]

[Which club are you planning to apply to?]

[Ah.

Why are you asking that?]

[Ichijou-kun—]

I blinked softly.

[This is about our promise, you know.]

[You mean the choice of whether I can become a harem king?]

As the male lead, he’s not that stupid.

Otherwise, the future plan would be ruined.

[So, Ichijou-kun, your choice is—]

[Uh, if there are no accidents.]

He hesitated a little, but still answered honestly.

[The Go-Home Club.]

The so-called Go-Home Club, as the name suggests, means going straight home after school.

In other words, not planning to join any club.

How—

Surprising.

Though the meaning of this “joy” is completely different.

[—That’s quite an expected answer.]

[I-Is there a problem?]

Perhaps sensing a change in my emotions from my gentle smile, he became cautious.

[Of course there’s no problem.

It’s just that if Ichijou-kun doesn’t participate in club activities, it’s very easy to become like how I used to be.]

[That kind of otaku who has already rotted away at home.]

Whether it was a reminder or a warning, I slightly narrowed my eyes.

[Ichijou-kun.

I applied to a very interesting club, called the Classical Literature Club.

Would you like to consider it?]

[When Dongye-san says “consider,” do you really mean you want me to join?]

[Mm-hmm.]

Though he still wore a bitter smile, he didn’t refuse.

That made me sigh in relief.

After all, the persona I’m pretending to be wouldn’t force others.

Seemingly relaxed now, he picked up his bento again.

The tempting aroma drifted past my nose with the breeze.

At that moment, the nausea toward food that still lingered in my stomach strangely disappeared.

I closed my eyes as well, enjoying the gentle wind blowing toward me and this rare, leisurely midday.

It feels—

So comfortable.