Miyama and I returned toward the gymnasium after finishing our rounds to promote the play.
Inside, students were already busy with their various preparations.
"We did so much promoting, but I wonder if people will actually come?" Miyama said, stopping at the gymnasium entrance with a heavy sigh.
Of course the guys will come, I thought. They’d show up just for a glimpse of Miyama’s massive chest.
Plus, Yuria’s fans would be there in the morning and Kuroki’s in the afternoon, so the show was guaranteed to be a hit.
Then there was me—a total laughingstock in hideous drag. Seriously, what kind of lead was I supposed to be?
"Ryouta, are you nervous?"
"N-Nervous?"
"Yeah. I mean, Airi and the others are going to be performing on stage in just a little bit, right?"
"I guess... I’m a little on edge. But it’s not like anyone in the audience will be looking at me anyway, so it’s not that bad. Ahaha."
I gave a self-deprecating laugh, but instead of joining in, Miyama stared at me with an uncharacteristically solemn expression.
"Airi is... I’m nervous..."
"Huh? You are, Miyama?"
"Look..."
Miyama gently took my right hand and guided it toward her chest. M-mmph!?
She placed my hand near her left collarbone, the base of my palm pressing right into her soft, jiggling chest.
God, the softness...!
(If I slide my hand down even an inch, I’m going to end up kneading her out of sheer reflex!)
"Airi’s heart... it’s thumping, isn't it?"
It certainly was... though, if anything, it was my lower body that was starting to throb in response.
Wait, no! If anyone saw us like this, they’d get the completely wrong idea!
Sensing the danger, I immediately pulled my hand away.
"Usually, Airi... doesn’t really get nervous."
"I-Is that so?"
"But when I thought about how I didn't want to fail in front of Ryouta... I just started getting really anxious."
"M-Me?"
I was caught off guard by the sudden mention of my name.
"Why me? I wouldn't get mad or tease you even if you messed up, Miyama."
"That’s true, but..."
Miyama hesitated, the words seemingly catching in her throat.
"...Um, you see, Airi noticed something when she went to Ryouta's house the other day."
"Hey! You two! It’s almost time to gather!"
Hino, dressed in his Stepmother Queen costume, called out to us from the stage.
"G-Got it! We're coming! ...So, what happened at my house?"
"N-No! Never mind! It’s nothing!"
"Wait, what?"
"Airi just felt like... once I went to your house, I really couldn't afford to lose to you! That’s all!"
Miyama blurted the words out in a rush, then hurried toward the stage, her dwarf costume bouncing rhythmically as she went.
I didn't quite follow... was she saying she felt some kind of rivalry toward me?
"Ryouta."
"Hmm?"
Just as I started to follow her, a voice called out from behind. I turned around and froze.
"...! Y-Yuria."
There stood Yuria, clad in a prince’s attire: a white jacket, red pants, and black boots.
She had swapped her usual gyaru look for makeup styled to make her look like a handsome man. Her pure white jacket was adorned with gold embroidery, featuring a standing collar with gold and red stripes and ornate shoulder pieces. The red sash draped across her chest gave her a truly regal air.
To complete the masculine look, Yuria had tied her long brown hair back, letting it drape over her right shoulder. She also seemed to be trying to minimize her thick thighs with skin-tight red pants, though they were still quite curvaceous.
Looking her over from top to bottom, even with her shapely legs, Yuria was a hundred times more handsome than I was on my best day.
"So... what do you think? Do I look cool?"
"You look a hundred times better than I normally do. It’s like we’re on completely different evolutionary tiers. I feel like I’ve lost to you in every conceivable way."
"R-Really? You mean it? Thank god."
Yuria smirked, looking genuinely pleased.
"I mean, Ryouta, you... you’re pretty cute too, you know? With the red ribbon and everything."
"Huh?"
I really didn’t need this kind of forced, awkward flirting...
"Now, Snow White... shall we head to the stage together?"
"O-Oh, yeah."
Prompted by Yuria, we began walking side-by-side toward the stage.
(It’s finally time for the real thing.)
Hino approached us once we reached the stage.
"Izumiya, you..."
"What? If it’s gross, just say it’s gro—"
"How do I put this... you're actually kind of cute?"
Hino said, his eyes practically licking over my feminine silhouette. He looked almost bashful.
For some reason... I had a sudden, terrifying premonition that I was about to be bent over.