The Strange Life Of Mikoto Ishida (Yutaro Kindaichi)

Helping

After the incident with Kindaichi's mom, we decided to limit our study sessions to just days that we didn't have practice. His poor mother probably couldn't handle seeing me more than a couple days a week. I mean, if you had suddenly walked in to see some strange boy on top of your son in a not innocent-looking sort of way, would you want to be seeing that guy hanging around your son after that?

It's been a couple of weeks since then and thankfully Oikawa hasn't been as hard on me after the incident with the 100 receives. That didn't mean that we got along any better though. It's like that little magnet thing we learned in science class a long time ago: Opposites attract and Likes repel. Oikawa and I were supposedly alike, so therefore it was only natural that we'd repel each other.

I had to admit though, as much as I disliked the guy, it was pretty hilarious that our little groups of fangirls had somehow determined that Oikawa and I would make a hot couple. Personally, I, as well as the entire volleyball team, could not understand how they came up with that. I mean, Oikawa and Iwaizumi seemed so much more likely, you know? Then again, I never really understood the allure of yaoi and other such things.

Leaning back in my chair, I waited for the school day to hurry up and be over with. As I tried to think of something to distract myself, my aunt's words replayed through my head. What happened to my sweet little niece? I swear, all this acting is turning you into a boy!

To be honest, I really hadn't noticed it, but she wasn't exactly wrong. As I kept up this little act, I was slowly getting used to acting like a guy. The more I got used to it, the more I'd begin to act when I really didn't need to.

The ended soon, but not soon enough. Escaping my class as quickly as I could, I still couldn't get there first. Two of the second years, Yahaba and Watari, had beaten me there. That meant that I would have to wait until everyone else had left. Obviously, that meant that I would be late for volleyball practice. Not like that's anything new.

Sometimes, I managed to forget that I even was a girl. I was still careful, of course. Though with a certain spiky-haired friend of mine, I saw no reason to have to hide. So when he waited with me until the others were gone from the locker room, I never stopped to think that there might be something wrong with the situation.

Kindaichi was finished changing first, but he waited around for me. Being in the same class, we could easily claim that we got stuck staying after if anyone questioned why we were late. It was something that the two of us had plotted out right after he'd found out my secret.

I strip myself of my male uniform, not even thinking about how improper it is for a young lady to be changing in front of a boy... especially a teenage boy. As I slip my practice shorts on, I don't even notice the pair of eyes that are on me. I finally throw my t-shirt on and turn towards my best friend.

He's turned so that he's not facing me, so I merely tap him as I pass by, letting him know that it's time. But when I reach the door, I realized he hadn't followed like he usually did. So I turned back, calling back to him. "Kindaichi? You coming or what?"

"I... You go on ahead." He's facing me, but his head is turned and not looking directly at me. Something was definitely up. "I have to take care of something first..."

My eyes run over him quickly, looking for some clue as to what might be wrong. As my gaze drifts over the front of his shorts, my answer became painfully obvious. I gave a quick nod and turned back to the door. He wanted to take care of a little guy problem, so I was going to let him deal with it in peace. Then a thought crossed my mind.

I was the master of being late, so if Kindaichi showed up after I did, that would definitely catch someone's attention. Obviously, that would then lead to questions and I wasn't sure how well he'd do if the whole team began interrogating him. I mean, he's stubborn and all, but you pit him against the entire volleyball club? That won't be pretty.

My hand lingered on the open door for a moment before I simply closed it and turned back to the spiky-haired male. I quickly moved closer, placing my hands on the waistband of his shorts as he stares down at me with wide eyes.

"H-hey!" Kindaichi grabs my hands, a bit of a blush tinting his face as I knelt down. "What are you doing?"

"If you show up later than I do, you're gonna look suspicious," I said, my face completely serious. "Besides, it'll be faster if I do it."

I'd never done anything like this in my life, but I can't say I really minded him being the first. Besides, it's not like we were actually going to have sex or anything. Okay, so maybe it technically counted as sex, but it's not like he'd be doing anything to me.

Kindaichi's still hesitant though. He looked down at me, his nervousness clear as day. "Um... Miko?" he asked, averting his eyes. "Could... could you take off your shirt while you're doing that?" He still wouldn't look at me, but at least I knew he wasn't rejecting my offer. And as nervous as I was, I couldn't help but feel a little happy at that. "If you wear it, you just look like a guy, you know? But if I can see that you're a girl, it'll be easier and faster..."

Little did I know, this was only the beginning.