The girl before him wasn’t in her morning uniform. Instead, she wore a cool, casual outfit—a silver-gray dress that perfectly accentuated the youthful innocence fitting for her age. She gave off a next-door-neighbor vibe.

Kubo pushed his bicycle, curiously eyeing her.

Moyu Manatsu covered her chest with her backpack, barely daring to breathe, terrified of revealing any slip-up.

“What’s up? Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?”

Utterly baffled, Kubo pushed his bike toward the girl, making her even more panicked inside.

“Um, Classmate Kubo, what are you doing out so late?”

In her panic, Moyu blurted out a topic, hoping to divert Kubo’s attention.

Please, she wasn’t wearing her chest binder now. What if he saw what was under her shirt…

It was too horrifying to even think about.

“I’m out buying soy sauce for dinner. But you—why are you home so late? I don’t recall you joining any clubs.” Kubo stopped pushing his bike, studying her curiously.

That was true. Moyu Manatsu, nicknamed the weird guy in class, had never joined any clubs.

“Um, I was out with a friend…”

“A friend? I thought you only got along with the class rep.”

“That’s really hurtful…”

“You being out this late is suspicious.”

Facing Kubo’s doubtful gaze, Moyu Manatsu felt a pang of guilt. If he found out she’d been at Yuki’s place, this trouble-loving Kubo would definitely stir things up. Better keep it secret.

“Speaking of which, weren’t you buying soy sauce?”

“Oh right, I almost forgot.”

Kubo remembered and pushed his bike past Moyu.

They were in a quiet neighborhood street, nearly empty at this late hour. Behind Moyu was a small shop with a stall outside—Kubo’s destination.

“Boss, one bottle of soy sauce.”

“Coming right up!”

The kind shopkeeper chuckled and went inside to fetch it.

Moyu seized the chance to slip away, but Kubo suddenly turned.

“Moyu, why are you covering your chest with your backpack?”

!

Moyu’s internal alarm bells hit critical.

“You seem… off somehow.”

Kubo eyed the trembling Moyu Manatsu with puzzled curiosity, making her even more afraid.

Kubo was just curious, but Moyu was drowning in guilt. Without her binder, her chest’s slight swell was obvious. Though small, she lacked confidence it wouldn’t raise suspicion.

“Um, Kubo, I have to go…”

“Running away? Not so fast~”

A mischievous grin spread across Kubo’s face, as if she’d found a fun game.

“Moyu, were you with the class rep all afternoon?”

“…”

“Did I hit the mark? Tsk tsk, kids these days—let me guess what you got up to.”

Kubo had fixated on the wrong thing. That was good. Moyu stayed silent, letting her ramble until she lost interest.

Meeting acquaintances here was bad enough. She couldn’t afford a single slip-up.

“Here’s your soy sauce, miss.”

As Kubo rambled on, the shopkeeper returned with the bottle. Kubo paid and placed it in her bike basket.

“Um, Kubo, I really must go.”

Moyu tried to escape.

Suddenly, a bug flew near her, buzzing around her chest. Kubo noticed it land there—but the backpack blocked the view. She stepped forward and pushed Moyu’s backpack aside.

“Moyu, there’s a bug on you—ah, it flew off…”

After moving the backpack, Kubo reached out to flick the bug away. But it vanished before she touched it, leaving her finger resting lightly on Moyu Manatsu’s chest. Though gentle, the contact was real—and Moyu froze solid.

Awkward silence filled the air…

“This… you…”

Kubo seemed lost in thought, her expression uneasy. Her finger hadn’t moved.

It’s over…

She’s definitely found out!

After all that caution, she’d been caught!

Moyu Manatsu screamed internally, frozen in place, clutching her backpack.

“Moyu.”

Kubo withdrew her finger, searching for the right words.

She knows…

Moyu saw her future flash before her eyes.

She was already planning how to explain this to Yuki.

“Were you stung by a bee? It’s swollen like that.”

Kubo chose her words carefully before speaking.

Huh?

Moyu stared blankly.

“You don’t usually show it, but it felt soft when I touched it. When did it happen? Were you poking a beehive or something?”

Kubo looked so serious—had she really not noticed?

“Yeah, something like that…”

“I figured. Hey, Moyu, why not come to my place? My mom’s a doctor—she’ll fix you right up.”

“No thanks, I’ll just put some ointment on at home.”

This was such an unexpected turn…

Right, Kubo Aoji was an idiot.

How dense could someone be to think it was a bee sting…

But thanks to Kubo’s idiocy, Moyu’s secret as a girl stayed hidden. And luckily, her chest wasn’t large—if it were, suspicion would’ve deepened. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“I’m heading home.”

Covering her chest with her backpack, Moyu Manatsu left. Kubo, oblivious, pushed her bike toward home.

Thank goodness Kubo was an idiot.

She kept repeating that thought.

Turning a corner into an alley, Moyu just wanted to get home and game. Dinner could wait until after nine.

“Whoa, a cute girl!”

Suddenly, several scruffy-looking delinquents blocked her path. Moyu’s mind screamed *What the hell?!*

“But she’s wearing a boys’ uniform.”

“Who cares? She’s adorable!”

“Look at her clutching that backpack—so damn cute!”

Blocked and frustrated, Moyu thought how unfair the world was—running into thugs just by stepping out.

“Hey cutie, wanna hang with us?”

“Yeah, like a game of hide-and-seek!”

“Shut up, idiot! We’re hitting on her, not playing games!”

*Holy crap!*

What now?!

Moyu Manatsu was being hit on!

“Look, you might not believe me—I’m a guy! You’ve got the wrong target!”

Moyu instinctively stepped back, using the classic “I’m a dude” defense.

“Seriously? She says she’s a guy?”

“I’m telling the truth! I’m in a boys’ uniform—look closely!”

The thugs paused, considering this.

Their apparent leader stepped forward and snatched Moyu’s cap off.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

Hatless and flustered, Moyu watched as he held her cap, a strange gleam in his eyes.

Without the cap, she looked even more girlish. Her boys’ uniform couldn’t hide her delicate aura—those wide, panicked eyes like a startled animal, beautiful black hair, and a cute face.

A total moe girl.

“Boss, she just said she’s a guy, right?” one thug muttered.

“I’m telling you—I’m a guy! Are you into guys now?!”

Moyu was bluffing, but had no other options. If they knew she was a girl, something unspeakable would happen.

“You’re a guy?”

“Yeah! My ID says so clearly.”

“A guy…? Even better.”

The leader grinned lewdly.

Moyu froze.

“What the hell are you saying?!”

“Guys are fine too. Let’s do anal.”

“Don’t come near me! You freaks!”

“Hehe, crossdressers are hot. I love cute boys.”

“No! Help!”

Moyu Manatsu’s entire life flashed before her eyes.

She’d never met perverts into trap idols before.

Was she about to lose her virginity here? How terrifying.

“No one bullies a cute boy when Kubo-sama’s around! Take this!”

A familiar voice rang out. Thuds of flesh hitting flesh followed. Moyu opened her eyes to see the girl from minutes ago—Kubo—suddenly reappear, fists swinging in a pose she clearly thought was heroic.

“Kubo-sama trained in taekwondo! You street punks, brace yourselves!”

A few screams echoed. The girl single-handedly took down the thugs. They fled in disgrace, shouting "You'll regret this!" and left her alone, striking a cool pose.

"Are you okay, Manatsu?"

Seiji Kubo clapped his hands, watching Moyu, still dazed.

"Kubo, what are you doing here? Weren't you heading home?"

"I saw thugs following you, so I came. Looks like I wasn't too late. But honestly, I never thought even boys aren't safe these days."

"Yeah... you're right..."

Remembering the terrifying scene, Moyu Manatsu was still shaken. *Do I have to be careful even around boys now? This world is scary.*

"But speaking of which, Manatsu, you really look like a girl without your hat." Seiji Kubo sized her up, not missing a detail. Moyu Manatsu quickly covered her chest with her backpack.

"Why stare at me like that?"

"You've always been delicate-looking, but you're way too cute. I'm starting to doubt your gender."

"...Anyway, thanks, Kubo. I'm heading home." Hugging her backpack, she fled from this awful place. She'd never pass by here again.

Watching the slender figure blur in his sight, Seiji Kubo sighed. Every time he saw her, it felt like seeing a ghost. Was she really that scary?

"Ah well, time to go home." Pushing his bicycle, humming a tune, Seiji Kubo rode off toward home.