Guys Don't Like Me

Chapter 25

  Ryuu decided that it was time to talk to Kazu - or Kazumi - whoever was present. The next day, he ditched school and went over to Kazu's house. Without bothering to even try the front door, he immediately went around and slipped in through the back, removing his shoes and mumbling a "Pardon the intrusion" as he stepped inside.
He didn't bother searching the house, either.
Instead, he went directly to Kazu's room and entered without knocking.
He stood just inside the threshold for a second, contemplating his next move. I've come this far...now what? He almost panicked, but then a voice saved him.
"Get out," Kazumi muttered. "I don't know why you're here, but just get the hell out and save me the trouble of kicking you out myself."
Kazumi's apathetic hostility lent Ryuu much-needed resolve. He inhaled deeply, and as he exhaled, he shut his eyes for a moment before opening them. "I can't do that. I need to be here."
There was a moment of silence as Kazumi processed Ryuu's words. "Why?" she finally asked, her voice blunt, cold. Ryuu supposed that he deserved as much.
"Because..." Ryuu stumbled over his next words. "Because you're here."
Silence settled over the two of them like a toxic miasma.
"You don't know what you're saying," Kazumi finally said, and sheets rustled as she turned to face the wall. "Just go, okay? And we can both pretend like this never happened."
"But I don't want to pretend that this never happened," Ryuu said, taking a step closer to Kazumi. "And I know exactly what I'm saying."
Kazumi looked over at him, her eyes narrowed. "Really? Then do you understand how much 'stranger' hurts? Because you had no trouble saying that."
Ryuu sighed, taking another step closer. "I know, I know. I'm a huge idiot. I never should have said that. I was stupid, and I didn't understand...anything. You...My feelings..."
Kazumi just stared at him. "What...feelings?"
Ryuu shook his head, exhaling unevenly and laughing bitterly. "I wanted to be strangers while I figured out how to just be friends again..."
"What do you mean?" Kazumi asked, a glint of fear in her eyes. "You're not making sense-"
"But it seems like I can't be friends with you either," Ryuu finished, and Kazumi stilled.
This time, there was no hiding the hurt on her face. "Please...just go," she whispered, and Ryuu took one final step so her was right next to the bed.
"It's sick, I know, because I was supposed to be your friend, but..." Ryuu bent down so he was at eye level with Kazumi. "I can't just settle for being friends," he whispered, and without giving Kazumi any time to think about his words, he leaned in, putting a hand behind her head and bring his lips to hers.
After a moment, he drew back, and silence invaded once more.
"You know, if you're going to do something gusty," Kazumi said a second later, "at least maintain a confident image."
Ryuu quickly hid his face behind his hands. "I'm sorry!" he mumbled, blushing so hard that he was very nearly glowing. "I just..."
"Are you embarrassed?" Kazumi asked, sounding bored. "I get it. You don't really want to be with me, but you had this weird delusion that you maybe had a crush on me and you had to test it out-"
"No!" Ryuu interrupted, silencing her. "I- It's not a delusion," he stuttered out. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this..."
Kazumi was quiet. "And?"
Ryuu shook his head. "And I know it's wrong, and I know that you probably hate me, and I get all that, but I can't help it. I think- I think I'm in love with you." Ryuu shook his head, moaning slightly. "Oh my gosh, I'm in love with my best friend...Of all the things to happen..."
Kazumi was still pensive. "So...you're in love...with Kazumi."
Ryuu hesitated. "Yes," he finally answered, and Kazumi frowned slightly, but Ryuu held up his hands defensively. "And I'm in love with Kazu! I'm in love with...you, no matter what name you go by or what you look like."
Kazumi looked unsure. "Then...say it."
"Say what?" Ryuu asked, not sure as to what Kazumi was referencing.
"My name," Kazumi said, looking away, but not before Ryuu saw the smallest sign of a blush on her cheeks. Kazumi can blush? That's even possible? "Not- not Kazumi. My real name."
Ryuu paused before looking Kazumi in the eyes. "Kazu, I love you."
Kazumi struggled to keep a blank face, but after a moment, the mask fell through and Ryuu saw what looked like a hint of annoyance mixed with embarrassment. "Whatever."
The two were quiet for a few minutes before Kazumi spoke again.
"So you want me to stay in this form, right?" she finally asked, and Ryuu blinked.
"Huh? Oh, you mean as a girl?"
Kazumi shrugged. "I just figured...it would make things easier for you, right?"
Ryuu blushed, his imagination conjuring pseudo-erotic images, looking down. "Well...um, y-yeah, probably."
Ryuu looked up to see Kazumi starting to pull her shirt over her head, and Ryuu grabbed the fabric in desperation, holding it down. "What are you doing?!" he yelled. "You're going to give me a heart attack..."
"Oh, sorry. Did you want to take it off yourself?" Kazumi asked, deadpan, and Ryuu's blush only worsened.
"WHAT?! I mean, NO," Ryuu said, panicked as his words stopped making sense. "What are you doing?!"
Kazumi tilted her head slightly. "I thought you knew. The only way to permanently seal my gender is to have-"
Ryuu quickly slipped his hand over her mouth. "OKAY, OKAY! I GET IT!" After a moment, he slowly drew his hand away, and Kazumi waited a few seconds before pulling at her shirt again, leaving Ryuu to quickly pull it back down before she exposed anything.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! THAT WAS NOT A YES!" Ryuu yelled, thoroughly embarrassed and awkward to his core.
Kazumi just stared at him. "I don't understand...do you want me to stay like this, or not?"
"Yes!" Ryuu instinctively answered before shaking his head. "But- I'm not ready yet, to, you know..." He looked away, blushing, before looking back at Kazumi. "Nobody says it has to happen right now, right? So...why not wait until later? Like after you graduate?"
Kazumi just watched him. "You realize...that I'll be a guy half the time, right? And that doesn't...bother you?"
Ryuu massaged the back of his neck. "Honestly? A little bit...because, despite all of this, I'm definitely straight," Ryuu quickly clarified, panic seeping into his voice. "But...I don't want to restrict your freedom," he said in a gentler voice. "Besides, you'd probably have to change schools if anyone found out that you don't have a twin. For now, it's fine like this."
Kazumi allowed a half-smile before it turned into a smirk. "So what you're saying is...you're going to resist my seduction for a whole 'nother year?"
Ryuu swallowed. Damn, I didn't think of it that way. "W-well, yeah, I'm not going to s-sleep with a minor," he stuttered, making up a random excuse, and Kazumi's smirk grew bolder.
"A minor, eh?" She grinned deviously. "Well, if you think you can resist, then go ahead and try." She laughed darkly, a sound that sent shivers down Ryuu's spine. "It's adorable how they struggle so futilely..." As her laughter died, she yawned and turned over. "By the way, I thought I'd mention that I'm not wearing any underwear."
"WHAT?!"
"Kidding."
"...This is going to be a long year..."