lt weird.

"...How can girls stand walking around outside wearing such a skimpy thing... Wouldn't just taking a slightly larger step cause their panties to be seen..."

By the way, right now Shidou was wearing shorts underneath the skirt. ...Regarding what was inside them, well, no comment.

"It's a good opportunity, so learn a bit about the hardships that girls face. It's also for the future."

"...Sure sure."

Shidou gave an apathetic reply, and like that walked towards the entrance of the building.

The three-person group Ai-Mai-Mii were already there, having a conversation about various unimportant things.

Shidou gulped, and holding back his nervousness, placed his hand over his chest. ...Squish, a weird feeling. Now that he thought about it, he was wearing the <Ratatoskr> special made super realistic breast pads. At that overly realistic feeling, his face turned slightly red.

"Sigh... the road ahead will be difficult. For now, just go with what we practiced."

"O-okay."

Pulling himself together, he shook his head around and proceeded towards the three.

After taking a deep breath, he called out to their backs.

"U-uhm."

"Nn?"

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

Each responding in their own way, the three of them turned around and inspected Shidou closely. —They're probably going to see through it. If they do then maybe rumors like 'Itsuka Shidou likes crossdressing' will start spreading. Negative thoughts floated through his mind.

Shidou nervously waited for their words, and the three of them tilted their heads perplexedly.

"What's wrong? Do you need anything?"

"You're so tall, you're like a model."

"Isn't that cardigan hot? Or are you sensitive to the cold?"

It seems that they had not realized it was Shidou. For the moment he let out a sigh of relief.

"Uhm, you are Yamabuki-san, Hazakura-san, and Fujibakama-san right? Of the Tenou Festival executive committee?"

"What, you, where did you get that information!?"

"It can't be, an enemy spy!?"

"What is your goal!"

Taking some kind of weird pose, they responded. But even then, it didn't seem like they were really being cautious. He continued with a feeble smile.

"Uhm, I was told by Itsuka Shidou that he wanted a rest from the executive committee today..."

"What did you say!"

"That Itsuka ran away!"

"Bring the fire! A witch has appeared!"

It seemed that tomorrow there will be a burning at the stake, but for now he acted as if he hadn't heard that.

"Uhm, Shidou says you'll smack his balls if he comes, so as a boy--I mean as a girl, I've come."

"Eh?"

Ai's eyes turned round in surprise.

"Mm, well we wouldn't mind that... or rather that'd be a great help..."

"In the first place, who are you? What is your relationship with Itsuka-kun...?"

"Also you called him without honorifics. Ohh, maybe a rival for Tohka-chan has appeared?"

The three of them excitedly started to talk. Shidou hurriedly interrupted.

"N-no, that's not it... uhm, we're cousins, COUSINS!"

"Cousins... huh. What class? Your name?"

"Eh?"

Being asked unexpectedly, Shidou's eyes swam.

"I'm in class 1. My name is uhm, Itsuka... Shidomi... I mean, uhm... Shiori."

Stuttering, he uttered a suitable fake name, and the three of them huddled and started a meeting.

A few seconds later, the circle broke apart and they started patting him on the shoulders.

"There's quite a few things that seem off, but whatever."

"Glad to be working with you, Shiori-chan."

"Work hard!"

"O-okay...!"

It seems that somehow he had made it past the first barrier. He let out a sigh of relief.

Then, at that moment. He heard loud voices coming from behind.

"You definitely did something! Tell me, where did you hide shidou!"

"That is my question. If you don't answer then you will regret it."

He didn't need to turn around. It was Tohka and Origami. He did find it weird that they were not at the meeting place yet, but it seems they had been searching for Shidou.

"Hey, Tohka-chan, Tobiichi-san. We're over here."

Ai waved her hands, and Tohka and Origami turned their gazes towards this direction.

"...Nu?"

Seeing Shidou, Tohka's eyes turned round.

Then for some reason she looked downwards, and as if sniffing, her nose twitched.

A few seconds later, she looked Shidou in the eyes with a convinced look.

"What are you doing, Shi—"

"...!"

Shidou hurriedly stuffed Tohka's mouth, and in a small voice so that Ai-Mai-Mii wouldn't hear, he whispered to Tohka.

"...Sorry, Tohka, there's a reason for this. Can you act as if you didn't know?"

"Nu...? I-is that so. Mm, I understand."

Tohka gave a small nod, and in an excessively loud voice announced.

"Mm! Nice to meet you, girl who is not Shidou!"

"...N-nice to meet you."

A bead of sweat dripped down his face as he went to shake hands. The group of three had slightly puzzled expressions, but satisfied it with dismissing it as usual Tohka behavior, they didn't inquire about it any further.

Then—

"...!?"

Shidou involuntarily shut his eyes.

The reason was simple. Suddenly from below, a shutter sound along with a flash of light appeared.

"Eh, ehh?"

Not knowing what was going on Shidou's was flustered, and the sound repeated intermittently.

Finding it suspicious he looked there... and immediately found the suspect.

Holding a small digital camera that came from who knows where in a strangely cool pose, Origami was continuously pressing the shutter button. Needless to say, the one being shot was Shidou.

She had on her usual dry and flavorless expression, but for some reason, he thought that her breathing was slightly wild, as if aroused.

"U-uhm..."

"Don't move."

Saying this, Origami pressed the shutter button once more. From the right, from the left. At times calmly, at times passionately. With an intensity that would put a pro to shame, she intently captured Shidou's figure into pictures.

"Look this way."

"E-ehh..."

"Good. Very good."

"U-umm..."

"Take off something."

"T-that would be troublesome."

Shidou didn't really want his current look to remain in records, but he didn't think that Origami would listen even if he said that. He turned his face away in embarrassment as he waited for Origami to become satisfied.

Seeing this scene, Ai-Mai-Mii started whispering to each other.

"Hey hey, wasn't Tobiichi targeting Itsuka-kun?"

"Was she someone who was also into girls?"

"Is she okay with anyone with the Itsuka last name? Targeting their DNA?"

...etcetera, they were just saying whatever they wanted to, but Origami didn't seem to mind in the least. Lying down with her face up, she slid her hand through the middle of Shidou's two feet.

"Wai, wha...!"

He held his skirt and drew back. However, Origami's hand that was not holding the camera, had a tight hold on his leg.

"W-what are you doing!"

Unable to just watch, Tohka grabbed Origami's feet, and started to pull her away from Shidou. Looking from the side, it would definitely be a surreal scene.

However, Origami, with a strength that couldn't be imagined from those thin arms, kept her hold on Shidou's foot, and from the camera, *snap* *snap* *snap*... the shutter sound rang continuously.

"Wa, n, g-gyaaaaaaaaaahhhh!?"

Shidou's face turned red, as he let out a scream that was more girly (at least more than Origami) than any girl's.

The Tenguu Square that will be the hall for the Tenou festival, is a large convention center located in the middle of the Tenguu city.

There is a central stage in the middle and big exhibition halls constructed in its surrounding. The main block prepared for the Tenou Festival is the east block from hall 1 to hall 4.

".......so, Kotori. Where is Miku?"

He talked to the Incam with a soft voice just in case.

Right now, Shidou was hiding behind the hall 2's equipment and was examining the nearby situation.

Although it was okay when he was going for a little toilet break..........to use as an excuse to get out from the place but, since Origami's eyes sparkled for some reason and followed him, his stamina and time was taken away just to shake her off.

"Looks like you're finally alone. Miku is in Hall 1. It's the place with Rindouji's booth set up."

"Hall 1......understood. I'll head there immediately."

After saying that, he quickly leaped out from the shadow of the equipment and ran towards hall 1 while having the intention to let Origami and everyone find him.

Miku was easily found. There were a group of girls wearing navy blue sailor uniforms in the back of hall 1-------and Miku was standing right in the center.

"Together with other students.........well, that's only normal."

"Well, we already expected this but, this is annoying. Even if you get close, they might prevent a straight conversation by encircling and guarding the Empress-sama."

"Can't we do something to isolate Miku? Like having someone from your side disguise as a worker------"

"! Wait for a second, Miku is walking out."

Being told that, Shidou looked back in front.

It's true, according to what Kotori said, he found out Miku broke free from the group of Rindouji female students, and walked somewhere alone.

"What........? Toilet break?"

"Anyway, this is a chance. Go and chase after her."

"Ou, I get it."

"Tone."

".........I understand."

Now that he thinks about it, he noticed he completely turned back to guy-mode when he talks with Kotori. He cautioned himself to avoid getting his habit out at the last minute while walking out to follow Miku.

Around a few minutes of following, Miku passed by the nearest toilet exiting hall 1, and headed towards the Central stage located in the middle of the square.

She then passed the audience seat like that, passed under the rope with the words [Unauthorized personal not allowed] written on it, and walked to the direction of the back stage.

"Ah.........."

"Chase her, Shidou."

"U-understood."

After Shidou made up his mind and pass under the rope, he entered the back stage just like that.

The wall was separated by one sheet and the nearby scenery was completely changed so much that it was shocking.

Contrastive to a brilliant and dazzling stage, it was a space with no miscellaneous. Various packages were piled up on both sides of the dim path, the width of the path which was originally not that wide turned even narrower.

He walked through the path while having the intentions of not tripping over, when he continued walking to the stage; he reached something that looks like a door.

And then, he took a peek from there.

"Ah............"

Shidou unintentionally let out a soft voice; Miku was standing right in the middle of the stage, and taking a look around the hall.

Déja vu. It was the same scene he saw yesterday in the empty arena.

Was this the intensity of a Spirit? Or something called the aura of an idol? He was overpowered by reflex and couldn't take a step forward.

Looking at Shidou like that, he could hear a given up sigh coming from the Incam.

"Don't get nervous when you haven't even met her yet."

"I-I understand.---------I just have to talk to her right?"

"Yes. If our hypothesis is right, then I think you won't receive that careless treatment from last time."

".......And on the off chance you are wrong?"

"I'll pick up your bones."

"........oi..."

"It's a joke. [Izayoi Miku hates males] there is no mistake - judging from the data, it is 8 or 9 cases out of ten. But, it's a different case if [Shiori-chan] is not suitable by Miku's judgment, and there might even be a chance that she notices Shidou is a guy. Please be careful."

"O-ou--------not that, I'll be careful."

Shidou made a deep breath and pulled his cheeks before stepping out to the stage.

Probably noticing Shidou's existence by the footsteps, Miku turned around.

"Oh my----?"

Opening her eyes wide in surprise, Miku glared at Shidou as if she was examining him.

Maybe, he was exposed to be a guy. Nervousness was tightening Shidou's heart.

"You are........?"

"Eh!? I-I am......"

"Idiot, Shidou!"

Suddenly questioned by Miku, he said [I][6B 1]?unintentionally. Miku tilted her head in a surprised state.

"I........?"

"Ah, errr, that's........"

Shidou turned flustered while trying to somehow trick her. If he were to be exposed as a guy here, then everything will go to nothing.

However, Miku showed a gentle smile in response to Shidou's fluster.

"You seem to use odd words---. ufufu.........but it has personality so it's wonderful."

"........! Affection level, mood, values are steady! It is not declining!"

The Crew's voice shook his right ear's eardrum.

"It looks like, she identified Shidou's male words as a personality...........well aren't we lucky. Okay, go on with your tone like that."

"O,ou.........."

*Hou* He made a relieved sigh.

But, he can't wait for the opponent to respond. For the time being Shidou was about to open his mouth and exchange some greetings.

However as if to interrupt him, Kotori's halt echoed from the Incam.

"------Wait. The choices are coming up."

On top of Shidou and Miku's image shown on the main monitor, a window was displayed.

① "You are Izayoi Miku-san right. Please sign this for me!"

② "What are you doing in a place like this?"

③ "I'm sorry but, will you buy the underwear I am wearing right now for 30000 Yen?"

"All members, your choices!"

When Kotori shouted, the total results were displayed out on the panel monitor close to her.

The winner was--------②, and also............unexpectedly,③.

"②..........well it is proper for the beginning but........why is ③ this popular?"

"No, a guy would be a pervert but, she just told him he has quite the personality so, I think an impact filled question from Shiori-chan mode is good........."

"Judging by the harsh words for the beginning, we could see the opponent's response. Hora, wasn't it a success or other during that time with Kurumi?"

Hearing the crew's words, Kotori [Fumu.......] placed her hand on her chin.

"Well.........okay. It's true; I wanted to determine Miku's permission line."

After saying that, Kotori pulled the mic closer and made an instruction to Shidou.

"W-wha........are you serious!?"

"Shidou right now is a girl. It's just a form of a joke to the utmost. [A weird girl] is okay, so it's important to get recognized."

"I-is it something like that........"

Even when he heard the explanation, it still doesn't make sense until now but, it is undesirable to keep Miku waiting any longer. Shidou made up his mind and opened his mouth.

"Hey......you"

"Yes---?"

"Th-the underwear I am wearing right now.........will you buy it for 30000 yen?"

"Heh?"

Miku's eyes opened wide into a perfect circle and she tilted her head. She looked back at Shidou with those clear eyes while asking him in wonder.

"Huh, why is that?"

"Why is that........even if you tell me that, errr..."

As if he was in trouble, when Shidou was hesitating to say it, *fufu* Miku made a shape of a smile with her lips.

Taking a glance, it was a smiling smile. However, Shidou tensed his shoulders. The other day, after showing that exact expression, he witnessed the constant abuse spilling out from her.

However, what leaked out from Miku's mouth was not abusive slangs or cursing and swearing words that could break Shidou's heart, but a very enjoyable vocal sound.

"Let's see. I don't like it if its money but, I'll think about it if I can exchange with yours you know-----?"

"Eh..........Eeeh!?"

Unexpectedly being told that, Shidou's face turned red by reflex and he pushed down the hem of his skirt. Looking at that, Miku made a strange laugh.

"Ahaha-----, it's a joke. Rather, shouldn't that be my reaction?"

"A,aah......so,sorry.......I was joking too."

For a while, both of them laughed together. But, silence immediately arrived.

Time was limited. Shidou searched for topics in order to somehow expand the conversation.

"-------H-hey."

"Yes----?"

"Isn't this place..........off limits?"

"Fufu, yes that's true-----. I'm sorry, I did something bad~"

While saying that, she made a prankster smile. Towards that very charming gesture, Shidou *doki* skipped a heartbeat by reflex.

"But, if that is the case then you are also a bad child too---"

"Eh? Ah......"

Now that he thinks about it, that's true. Shidou swing his hands as if to make an excuse.

"Ah, no. I was........"

"Fufu, it's okay---"

And. While saying that, Miku closed in on Shidou with a carefree pace.

When she reached a spot where both of them can hear each others' breathing, [Shhhh] she made one finger stand up in front of Shidou.

"Shall we make this our secret? It's a promise between naughty girls."

"Eh........a-aah......!"

When Shidou took a step back before nodding, Miku made a joyful smile again.

Her face was the same. Her voice was also the same. The girl in front of him was unmistakably the Spirit Shidou encountered the other day.

But, even though he understood that, the response the current Miku was giving out right now was totally different from the cold-hearted empress in Shidou's memories, so much that he thought there might be a chance there are 2 Spirits with the same face like the Yamai Sisters............will the interaction be so different just because the target's gender was wrong.

When Shidou was thinking about that, Kotori let out her voice as if to hit Shidou's butt.

"Get a hold of yourself. Be on your guard."

"Ou........I know."

"? Is something wrong---?"

"N-no, nothing ........"

As expected, he was too close to Miku, to reply to Kotori. Coming from the Incam he could hear [.......seriously] Kotori's giving up voice.

But, this time he could not reply to that. Rather than that, it would be correct to say he had no time to reply. Miku was tilting her head while asking a question.

"Your-------that uniform, is it from Raizen-san?"

"Eh, aah, that's right so?"

"Hnn-----........were you there in the meeting on the day before yesterday---?"

"No..........during that time, I was a little sick."

"Aah, so that's the reason."

After saying that, Miku brought her right hand out forward to Shidou.

"Well then, going over this again----. I am Izayoi Miku from Rindouji female academy. Nice to meet you---. Let's make the Tenou festival a success together."

"O-ou, nice to meet you."

He brought out his right hand and exchanged a handshake with Miku. Miku's hand was small, and a little cold. While having the intentions of not exerting too much power, he lightly grabbed her hands.

".........?"

And, Miku made a smile while tilting her head.

He could not understand her intentions clearly. When he replied back by making the same gesture, his right ears eardrum shook with a screech.

"Idiot, why won't you name yourself even though the other side already introduced herself?"

"Ah......"

Being told by Kotori, he continued his words in panic.

"Shiori.........Itsuka Shiori."

"Shiori-san is it-----. It's a nice name---"

"Tha, thank you"

He made a fuzzy smile while replying. When he did that this time, Miku dropped her sights on the hand she was grabbed on.

"Such a strong hand. Are you doing any sports?"

"........! Ah. ...........err, a little bit of volleyball........"

When he suddenly picked a game that can make the skin of the hands thick, Miku made a understanding nod.

"Aah, no wonder"

"Eh?"

"I thought it was cool to be so tall"

"Aah........haha, I apologize for not really looking like a girl"

"That is not true. I think you are really cute"

"......i-is that so..."

He was thankful to be praised but..........as a guy, it was a complicated mental state.

Well, he could somehow agree with that compliment if it was directed to modern cosmetics which showed tremendous performance.?The guys in this world don't get deceived.

".......Fumu, not a bad value. If that's the case, it should be alright as long as you don't make a big mistake. I want a little more of her response data. Go and asked her some questions"

"Ah, ah, errr........"

Following Kotori's instructions, he tried to squeeze out a question.

"Miku........, what are you doing in here?"

When he asked, Miku let go of the handshake and turned her body around before looking to the audience seats.

"------I love the stage---"

"The Stage....?"

"Yes---. Everyone will want my songs. That space, I hold it very dear so much that I can't stand it. That's why, the moment I saw this place when I was in the middle of moving, I suddenly felt like standing on it."

"I see.........."

When Shidou said that, Miku made a strange smile.

"Shiori-san is the unusual one."

"Eh? W-why?"

"-----By any chance, have you not heard of my name before?"

"Eh........err..."

That was clearly, not about the Izayoi Miku of Rindouji female academy she was talking about, but rather she was pointing out the unidentified idol Izayoi Miku.

When Shidou was having troubling on determining his reply, Miku swung her head slightly.

"Ahaha, looks like I caused some inconvenience to you---. Please do not mind it."

While saying that, Miku passed by Shidou with dancing steps, and headed towards the stage wing.

"Well then, it's about time we go back---?"

She then turned her head around and looked back at Shidou.

"Originally, I was hoping for her to talk a bit more but.............unreasonably restraining her is also not good. There's no choice, before she joins up with the other students, lets head to the direction of making an excuse to meet with her next time."

"......Understood."

After Shidou made a soft voice to agree with Kotori, he turned back to Miku.

"Yeah.....lets go back. If someone finds us here we might get scolded"

"No---,I don't really mind about that---"

"Eh?"

When Shidou tilted his head, Miku once again made one of her fingers stand and [Shhhh] made it stand in front of her nose.

"Wasn't this our secret?"

"..........!"

*Doki* His heart skipped a beat from his negligence. His face must have turned red.

Whether she knew or not about Shidou's mental state, Miku made a smile and walked away lightly.

"Hora, stop making your breathing wild. You don't have much time to be alone together with her."

"O-ou......."

Shidou took a deep breath to calm his heart rate before entering the stage wing to chase after Miku, and walking on the backstage path.

But, perhaps because he increased his pace to chase after Miku in a panic, Shidou did not pay enough attention to the stage, unlike when he approached it. Meaning something might happen-----

"U,uwa!?"

The hem of the skirt that he was not accustomed with caught on the edge of some materials and he rolled down the stage.

"Ouchouchouch............"

"A-are you okay?"

Miku walked closer to him worried. In a panic, Shidou pushed down his skirt that was flipped up. Although he was wearing short pants just in case, something embarrassing was still embarrassing.

"Here, your hand."

"A-aah....sorry."

When Shidou took Miku's hand and was about to stand up------Shidou brought his eyebrows together.

"Uh........"

It would seem that he grazed his hands. He pulled his hands by reflex from the pain.

"This is serious---"

After Miku distorted her eyebrows in pain, she took out a handkerchief with lace on it from her pocket and wrapped it around Shidou's hand. "No, you'll dirty it. This small wound......"

"What are you saying. A volleyball player shouldn't look at a hand injury lightly......I can only do this kind of treatment now, so immediately disinfect the wound when you get back okay---?"

"Ah.......Thank you."

"No. Your hand please---"

He grabbed Miku's hand with his uninjured hand, and stood up. When he did that, Miku finally showed a relief state and walked in front as if to guide Shidou.

And at the same time, *Fuu* he could hear such a sigh.

"Oh my my, you got escorted magnificently."

"Guh..........."

"It's not like I said you can't. Limited for this time, Shidou is a girl. Judging from her response, it looks like Miku is surprisingly the type to hold the initiative."

*Fufu* Kotori breathed out, and continued.

"What's more--------luckily, you seem to have made an excuse to meet her next time. If your rolling down was intentional, then I was about to praise you about it."

"Eh?"

"I'll explain later. It's okay; so do not make Miku wait right now."

"Mu.......I understand."

It's true, what Kotori said was correct. This time in order to avoid falling, Shidou paid attention while passing through the path, they then crossed the non-authorized personal rope and reached back at the Central stage.

"I'm sorry, you're a lifesaver."

He bowed his head quickly to express his thanks. Miku made a gentle smile while swinging her hands.

"Nono, do not mind------"

But, Miku cut her sentence around there.

He thought it was strange for an instant but, he immediately found out the reason. Before he knew it, Origami forced her way between Miku and Shidou.

"Get away, Shiori."

She spread her arms as if to protect Shidou and send a sharp sight towards Miku.

"Are--, you are.....aah, that time. Now that I think about it, you are also from Raizen high school—"

And, being glared by Origami, Miku raised her eyebrows as if she remembered something. [That time] she was referring to, was clearly not referred to the joint meeting from the day before yesterday. Most likely before that------- during the Spacequake.

"What are you planning?"

"You sure say bad things. I don't plan on harming you, you know"

"Do you think I would believe that?"

When Origami said that, Miku made a troubled smile.

However, Origami didn't loosen her guard down for even a bit and took a peek towards Shidou's direction.

"Shiori, what happened to that hand?"

Because she saw Shidou's injured hand, Origami's voice has a slight sharpness in it.

Maybe she thought Miku injured Shidou, or maybe she thought it was Miku's fault he was injured. Shidou *Bun**Bun* swing his head to fix the misunderstanding.

"No, this is------"

"Shiori-san."

And, when Shidou was about to let out his voice, Miku stopped him.

Like just now, she made her index finger stand up to say [It's a secret] and winked.

"Ah........"

".........what do you mean?"

When Origami said that a little unhappy, Miku *ufufu* laughed. She then flipped the hem of her skirt like that, and walked towards hall 1.

"............"

Origami was still not satisfied and was glaring at Miku's back but she was not planning to pursue any further.

Instead, after Miku's back could no longer be seen, she turned her face to Shidou.

"I request an explanation."

"E-err......"

Somehow, it's going to be tiring from now on.

After school the next day.

Shidou was standing in front of the Rindouji female academy and was waiting for Miku to finish school.

"-----Shidou, can you hear me? Class already ended in Rindouji. She should be coming out now"

"Okay"

He replied back to Kotori's voice that he heard from the incam in his right ear, and took out the stain-removed and washed lace handkerchief from his pocket.

Yes. This was the method Kotori was talking about in order to get in contact with Miku.

It's true that he can make an excuse by using the title of returning the borrowed handkerchief. Naturally, there might be a chance it might end right after she received it but............th-->>

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