The next day, the atmosphere at Raizen High School was bustling again. After a trip and vacation to Arubi Island, the students were now going about their school routine as usual. But it was no ordinary day. This morning, the main building was filled with festive decorations. Brightly colored flags fluttered along the fence, a large stage was set up in the middle of the field, and loudspeakers played upbeat, upbeat music.
Today was the opening of the Ten-Oh Festival, one of the school's biggest annual events. The students gathered enthusiastically, dressed in their neat uniforms, but their faces beaming with anticipation of the excitement to come.
On stage, Mai stood confidently, her long hair swaying gently in the breeze, while her smile radiated the enthusiasm typical of an MC. She raised the microphone and swept her gaze over the thousands of students seated in the rows of chairs and standing on the sidelines.
"Good morning, everyone!" she exclaimed energetically. "The Ten-Oh Festival has finally begun! This year, as always, we will witness a variety of exciting performances from representatives of our school. And for the opening ceremony…"
The spotlights slowly swept over the rows of students. The atmosphere suddenly fell into a curious silence.
"The person who will be performing in the main event is…" Mai deliberately held on for a few seconds to build suspense, then raised her hand. "Itsuka Shido!"
Suddenly, the spotlight shone on a male student standing in the middle row. Shido froze in place, his face filled with shock. Applause and cheers immediately erupted, but his expression clearly showed he was completely unprepared for the announcement.
"W-What? No way!" he exclaimed in a panicked tone, his hands raised as if to deny the accusation. "This must have been planned! There's no way I was chosen just like that!"
Some students laughed at his reaction, while Mai maintained her friendly smile. She then added a calm explanation.
"Calm down, Shido. This isn't a conspiracy. This election was conducted through a student-wide vote, and the results are clear. Almost all the male students chose you as their representative."
The reason was simple: Shido was known to be very close to many of the beautiful girls at school. From Tohka, Origami, and even the twins Kaguya and Yuzuru.
Cheers immediately erupted from the male students. Some whistled mischievously, others shouted Shido's name, reluctantly teasing.
"It's no wonder you're considered the most suitable representative to perform at the festival," Mai continued with a teasing smile.
Shido slumped in his chair, his face flushed. He couldn't deny that. Everyone knew how many beautiful girls surrounded him every day, even though he himself never intended to seek attention.
In the back row, Kaito, who had been watching the skit, smiled faintly. He could sense Shido's desperation. Nevertheless, something stirred inside him. An idea struck him.
Kaito raised his hand, catching Mai's attention on stage. "If I may, I'd like to perform too. Not as a substitute, but as a solo performer. I want to sing."
The atmosphere suddenly became lively. Many students whispered to each other, clearly surprised and intrigued. Kaito was no ordinary person. His natural charisma, coupled with his handsome face, made everyone immediately imagine how amazing he would be if he actually performed on stage.
Mai smiled broadly, her eyes sparkling. "Of course! That will make the festival even more festive. We all agree, right?"
Cheers erupted throughout the field. Nearly every student cheered in agreement, both boys and girls. Kaito's name echoed throughout the field.
Shido, who had been half-protesting, could only stare at Kaito with a disappointed expression. "K-Kaito… I thought you were going to help me out of this situation. But instead… you're taking the stage too?"
Kaito stepped toward him. With a calm smile, he patted Shido on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You're not alone. I know this isn't what you expected, but consider it a new experience. You weren't chosen for a reason. Everyone believes in you, Shido."
Her tone was sincere, drawing admiration from several students around them. Although Kaito had decided to perform, she still took the time to encourage the hapless Shido.
Shido could only sigh. "You're really… not the type I thought you'd be, Kaito."
Kaito chuckled. "Just think of it as me just wanting to add some color to this festival."
Mai then regained control of the atmosphere. "Alright! So, our festival performance will be opened by Shido, followed by a solo performance by Kaito. You're all excited, right?"
"Yaaaa!" the entire class shouted in unison.
The Ten-Oh festival atmosphere grew even more lively. Cheers, applause, and laughter filled the air, marking the beginning of an event that would not be easily forgotten.
Meanwhile, Shido remained seated with a gloomy expression, feeling cheated by fate. Kaito, on the other hand, simply stared at the stage with a serene smile, his mind already contemplating what song he would sing.
...
The next day, school proceeded as usual after the excitement of the festival announcement. The students returned to their routines, although chatter about who would perform in the main event still rang out in every corner of the classroom. Shido and Kaito's names were now a frequent topic of conversation.
Kaito himself appeared relaxed, walking down the corridor toward the restroom. His silvery white hair reflected the sunlight coming through the window, causing several passing female students to turn to steal a glance. As usual, he seemed unconcerned.
Arriving in front of the door to the boys' restroom, Kaito pushed it open without thinking. However, as soon as he entered, he stopped. His gaze immediately fell upon the figure standing in front of the mirror.
A girl with long blue hair, flowing beautifully down to her waist, wearing a girl's uniform complete with a skirt and ribbon. Her face was sweet, though tense, as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. He knew exactly who the girl was, but he didn't immediately show it. Instead, he chose to play.
"Hmm… there's already an interesting sight in the men's restroom this early in the morning," Kaito said casually, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Who are you? And… why is there a girl here?"
The blue-haired girl, who was none other than Shido, immediately panicked. Her eyes widened, and she took a half step back. "I-I… I'm just… lost!" she stammered.
Kaito knew he was doing this to deceive the spirit, who was a yuri, so Shido disguised himself as a girl to approach her because the spirit, aka Izayoi Miku, hated men.
Kaito pretended to nod, holding back a laugh. "Lost, huh? It's quite a long way to go to the wrong restroom." He slowly stepped closer, his gaze full of curiosity. "But your face… why does it feel familiar?"
Shido stiffened. "N-no, you've got the wrong person!"
Kaito lowered his face slightly, as if wanting to get a better look. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "Could it be… you're Shido?"
Shido's face paled. "W-what?! N-no! How could you compare a beautiful girl like me to that Shido!" He tried to mask his panic with a high-pitched voice, but it only made him sound even more suspicious.
Kaito held back a loud laugh, but his mischievousness was getting the better of him. With a sudden movement, he grabbed Shido's chin, gently lifting it until their eyes met. "Hoo… interesting. If it's not Shido, why does your expression look so much like his? Even your nervousness is exactly the same."
Shido immediately froze, his face bright red. "K-Kaito! D-don't joke like that!"
"Wait a minute," Kaito narrowed his eyes, then bent down even closer. "How do you know my name when I've never seen or met you, right?"
Shido immediately struggled, his hands trying to pry his chin from Kaito's grasp. "N-no! Don't do that! I… I—"
"Then… who are you?" Kaito pressed, his tone half teasing. "A mysterious girl? Or… is it actually Shido who's crossdressing?"
Shido bit his lip, cold sweat breaking out on his temples. He realized that denying it any longer would only make things worse. With his face lowered, he finally spoke softly.
"I-I… I'm Shido…"
Kaito slowly let go of his chin, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha! So my guess was right! So you're Shido!"
Shido covered his face with both hands, clearly embarrassed. "Don't tell anyone, Kaito! Please! If anyone else finds out, I'll die of embarrassment!"
Kaito patted his shoulder casually. "Calm down, calm down. Your secret is safe with me… as long as I'm not bored," he added teasingly, making Shido even more panicked.
"Ka-Kaito!" Shido protested.
Kaito just grinned broadly. "Relax, Shido. Honestly, when you're like this… you're quite cute. Not inferior to Tohka or Origami," he teased.
Shido's face immediately turned red, and he looked away nervously. "Don't say such strange things! I… I only changed because of… certain circumstances! This wasn't my choice!"
Kaito moved closer, lowering his head until it was almost level with Shido's face. "Then... maybe I'll call you 'Shidoko' more often when you're in this form."
"No!" Shido let out a small cry, nearly jumping back. "Kaito, seriously, don't give me weird names!"
The previously normal bathroom was now filled with absurd conversations. If other students had entered, they would have thought the two of them were doing something suspicious.
Finally, Kaito stepped back with a chuckle. "Okay, okay. I'll keep this a secret. But if I get bored, don't blame me if I suddenly mention the 'mysterious girl in the boys' bathroom.'"
Shido could only sigh deeply, his face still bright red. "You really are... annoying, Kaito."
Kaito simply shrugged and walked out of the bathroom, whistling cheerfully. Behind him, Shido still stood frozen in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection in girl form, muttering under his breath.
"Why did I have to be found out by him of all people…?"