Chapter 7

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Volume 2: The Demons Of The Hananomiya Family

Chapter 7: The Cross-Dressing Boy Panics

After that, I couldn’t resist at all, and just like that—–I was dragged off to karaoke.

We were led to a large room, and with a table in the center, we sat across from each other in a four-on-four arrangement of boys and girls. I ended up securing the least conspicuous spot on the far left end.

“…In this situation, what on earth should I do…?”

While desperately avoiding looking at the four students from Hananomiya Girls’ Academy, I was wracking my brain over what to do next… when suddenly, I noticed my phone vibrating in my pocket.

I secretly opened my phone and confirmed that there was a message from Hanako.

[What are you doing?]

I glanced up briefly, and there was the figure of a bob-haired Zashiki-warashi looking intently in my direction.

I forced a strained smile at her, looked at the screen of my smartphone, and replied on Rain.

[Well, I didn’t expect this to happen… it was an accident…]

[Hina doesn’t seem to have noticed, but Honoka is here with us. She’s been closer to you than anyone else. It wouldn’t be surprising if she noticed your connection to Kaede Kisaragi.]

[That’s true, but… I have two questions. First, why is Honoka even here at this mixer? Isn’t Honoka supposed to have an extreme fear of men?”

[Hina brought Honoka along because she wanted to help her overcome her aversion to men. It seems that this mixer was actually something Hina planned, with the goal of recruiting the boys from Segawa High School into the Kaede Kisaragi fan club.]

[I see. That explains why Honoka is here. So… my last question: What about the student council president? Why is she here?]

A girl with wavy, tangerine-colored hair, sitting at the far end of the table near the door, twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

I understand that the three close friends are together, but how in the world did the student council president, who was clashing with Karen, end up here? I don’t understand it at all.

[We ran into the student council president while heading to the meeting place for the mixer. Hina accidentally let slip about the mixer… and the president insisted on coming along to supervise and ensure no inappropriate behavior occurred. Since it made the numbers even, Hina allowed her to join us.]

I see… So that’s why that upperclassman is here.

I nodded slightly, understanding why the students from Hananomiya Girls’ Academy were present here, Shogo, who had been sitting opposite me at the far right near the door, stood up, and loudly announced.

“Alright then, let’s start with introductions! First, the guys! Oh, I’m Shogo Kiritani, a first-year at Segawa High! Nice to meet you!”

With that, Shougo lightly raised his hand and pointed his fist, as if it were a microphone, towards Tohru (Toru), who was sitting next to him.

“? What is this?”

“It’s time for introductions! C’mon, it’s your turn!”

“Hmm… I’m Tohru (Toru) Arisaka from Shuuei Academy High School. Nice to meet you.”

Tohru adjusted his glasses with a finger as he introduced himself.

Following him, the boy in a gakuran sitting next to me—the class rep—stood up with a somewhat nervous expression.

“I, I am Miyu… no, I’m Yukio Makigusa, a first-year at Segawa High School!! I’m here today to make sure Kiritani-kun doesn’t do anything weird to the girls! Nice to meet you!!”

I, I am Miyu… no, I mean, I’m Yukio Makikusa, a first-year student at Segawa High School!! I’m here today to make sure Kiritani-kun doesn’t do anything weird to the girls!! Pleased to meet you… Uh… Masuriru!!

The class rep shouted, eyes spinning, and then promptly sat back down.

Class Rep… You’re so nervous that your character doesn’t even make sense anymore… and what on earth is “Masuriru” supposed to mean…?

“You’re from Segawa High? But wait, isn’t your uniform different? You’re wearing a gakuran, right?”

“It’s a hand-me-down from my brother!!!!”

“A hand-me-down…? What do you mean?”

When Hina questioned him (Her), the class rep, unable to think of a good excuse, answered energetically and with painful honesty.

I can’t watch this anymore… The class rep’s life points are at zero!!

“Alright, next is… Fuuma, introduce yourself.”

“…Understood.”

I stood up, avoiding eye contact with the members of Hananomiya Girls’ Academy as much as possible, and stared at the floor as I spoke.

“I’m Fuuma Yanagisawa, a first-year at Segawa High School… Nice to meet you…”

I immediately sat down, lowering my head.

Then, Hina began to cheerfully make a fuss.

“Oh my gosh! You’re so much cooler in person than in the photos! Hey, Fuuma-kun, do you have a girlfriend right now!? You wouldn’t be at this mixer if you did, right!?”

“…I don’t have one.”

“Kyaaa!!”

Hina adorably flailed her legs, while next to her, Hanako glared even more intensely at me. Meanwhile, the class rep next to me was biting his handkerchief in frustration.

…What is this situation? What situation am I in right now?

“Okay, next up is us, the students from Hananomiya Girls’ Academy! I’m Hina Kasuga, a first-year in the modeling course! I do some part-time modeling too! Yay! Next, Hanako!”

“…I am not ‘Hanako’. Ahem. My true name is Francesca von Roxane. I am the True Ancestor Vampire Princess. Pleased to meet you.”

“F-Fran… what?”

“Francesca.”

Hanako sharply corrected the confused Shogo with a stern look.

Hina shook her head and continued the introductions.

“This girl is Hanako Sato. She’s a bit unusual, but she’s not a bad person. Alright, next is the president!”

At her prompting, the student council president stood up with a sharp, disdainful look, as if gazing at filth, and looked down on us guys.

“My name is Sakurako Sakuragaoka. I have no intention of participating in such an immoral mixer. I am merely here to oversee the event as the student council president of Hananomiya Girls’ Academy, to ensure no inappropriate behavior occurs.”

After saying this, she quietly sat down, turned her nose up, and looked away.

After smiling awkwardly at the president, Hina turned to the girl sitting next to her, Honoka.

“…Honoka, can you do this?”

“Pigyaa!?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Honoka.

I had noticed earlier… for some reason, Honoka was wearing a cardboard box with “Apple” written on it over her head.

Seeing her strange appearance, all the boys (And one girl disguised as a boy) tilted their heads in unison.

“Um, who is this girl…?”

“Ah, well, she’s a bit afraid of boys… I brought her here to help her get used to them. But it seems it didn’t work out…”

“Kaede Onee-sama… please help me…!!”

The cardboard woman, trembling with her shoulders, tried to hide behind Hina. Sorry, I meant Honoka.

Honoka-chan… Onee-sama is right in front of you… but there’s no way I can say that.

When I was about to suggest to Hina that Honoka should leave early, Hina took out her phone and said something shocking.

“Guess I have no choice. I’ll call Kaede-chan to help calm Honoka down.”

“Huh?”

“Onee-sama!? Can I really hear Onee-sama’s voice!?”

Suddenly revitalized, Honoka clasped her hands together in prayer.

At the same time, both Hanako and I turned pale.

“Wa-wait a minute. Didn’t I tell you that Kaede-san was too busy to attend the mixer today!?”

Hanako-senpai…!! You went through all that trouble to cover for me…!! I owe you one…!!

“Hmm, but I think Honoka would feel better if she could hear Kaede-chan’s voice, don’t you?”

“Yes! As long as Onee-sama is nearby, I’m not afraid of anything!!”

“…Fine. I won’t stop you. However, Kaede-san mentioned earlier that her phone wasn’t working well today. So… there’s a chance her phone might be off….”

As she said this, Hanako subtly glanced at me.

I immediately understood her intent and quickly turned off my phone in my pocket.

“…? Huh, she’s not picking up… I guess her phone was off after all?”

Hina and Honoka both looked disappointed.

Hanako and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I narrowly avoided having my identity exposed, but… can I really get through this without anyone realizing I’m Kaede Kisaragi…?