Phew... I made it just in time.
With the sound of the toilet flushing behind me, I stepped out, washed my hands, and started back toward the otaku room.
I’d come dangerously close to wetting myself at my age... and in a classmate’s house, no less. If I’d actually leaked, it would have been a permanent stain on my history. I really pulled it off by the skin of my teeth.
(Then again, the moment I started pretending to be a maid while cross-dressing in front of one classmate at another’s house, I suppose my "dark history" was already beyond saving.)
"...Hm?"
As I walked down the hallway, a shout of "What!?" erupted from the direction of Yuria’s Room.
Something was definitely going on. Wait, don't tell me...
I hurried back into the otaku room and immediately pressed my ear against the wall to listen in.
"Wh- Wait! What!? A maid!?"
"Yeah! A blonde one, from overseas? She had these really curly pigtails. I didn't know your family decided to hire a maid, Yuria!"
"…………Tch. That idiot."
Dammit, Airi! You just had to go and blab!
Now Yuria knew not only that I’d left the room, but that I’d taken it upon myself to act out the part of a maid.
"Huh? Are you... on bad terms with the maid or something, Yuria?"
"Ah, no, it’s not that..."
"Oh, right! That maid smelled exactly like Ryouta. Isn't that weird?"
"……Hold on, Airi. Sorry. I’m going to go check on her work, so just make yourself at home."
This was bad. Very bad.
Cold sweat began to soak into the undershirt I wore beneath the maid outfit as I glanced toward the door. A moment later, Yuria entered, her face twisted into the mask of a literal demon.
"So..."
"Y-Yessir!"
"Ryouta, do you just not know how to follow instructions?"
"I-I’m sorry!"
"Or have you just developed a habit of appearing in public in drag since the school play? Well?"
Yuria was in full-on "pissed off" mode, her eyes sharp as she closed the distance between us.
"I said I’m sorry! I really do feel bad about it!"
"If you’re so sorry, then why did you go out there?! What would you have done if Airi realized it was you?!"
"I know, I know! I messed up!"
"If Airi had caught you, she would’ve thought I was some kind of pervert who makes Ryouta cross-dress just to get into some erotic roleplay!"
"There’s no way Airi has that kind of imagination!"
She hadn’t even realized it was me, and besides, we were talking about Airi here. She’d never come to a conclusion like that.
Then again, considering Yuria had made me cross-dress and taken a mountain of photos, I couldn't help but wonder if I was the only one who thought calling her a pervert wasn't exactly a stretch.
"Also, just for the sake of my dignity, I wasn't trying to do some kind of roleplay. I just really had to use the bathroom. I thought wetting myself would be a disaster. So please, just forgive me, Yuria."
"Wait, really...? Sorry, Ryouta. I panicked and got angry. I just figured since you’re a pervert, you’d naturally be getting off on that kind of thing."
Everyone just keeps calling me a pervert... though, considering I spend most of my time staring at thighs or trying to touch them, I suppose I reap what I sow.
"And sorry about the clothes, too. When I tried to cover for you, the conversation went in a weird direction. I felt like if I’d refused to give her the clothes right then, Airi would’ve thought it was because 'I like Ryouta' or something."
Yuria spoke apologetically, her cheeks tinged with red.
Blushing like that... did she really hate the idea of being misunderstood as liking me that much?
Well, clothes could be replaced. I should just be glad the secret was safe.
"Come on, Yuria. Don't worry about the clothes. It was an emergency."
"B-But! Because of me, your—!"
"A single outfit is a small price to pay. More importantly, I’m just glad you’re okay."
"Ryo... Ryouta... You really are... kind—"
"Ah, but in exchange, let's call it an equivalent exchange. Since I gave my clothes away, give me the ones you’re wearing right now!"
"............Huh?"
As soon as I made my demand for Yuria’s fresh-off-the-body clothes, her eyes instantly turned cold.
Using my own lost clothes as leverage to try and score Yuria’s warm, recently-worn outfit... I truly was the ultimate scumbag alchemist.
"Wh- No way am I giving them to you! Besides, what do you even plan to do with my clothes!?"
"Well, you know... wouldn't it be uncouth of me to say it out loud?"
"Ugh! You really are the worst! That’s just plain creepy! And embarrassing!"
Yuria refused, pummeling my chest with soft, rapid-fire punches.
I guess I wasn't going to get her fresh-off-the-body clothes after all. Dammit.
"I regret thinking Ryouta was cool for even a second... You idiot! You can just spend the rest of the day in your underwear for all I care!"
"Wait! I can spend the day in just my underwear at your house!? S-sorry, but I tend to react pretty quickly to things, so it might be an eyesore even through the fabric."
"Agh, enough! Just put some clothes on! I’ll buy you a replacement at a boutique later to make up for it!"
The situation had become such a chaotic mess that Yuria fled the otaku room, her face bright red.