The Sixth Delusion (2)
To be honest, I was pretty nervous when I first opened the door and stepped outside with the male version of me.
I mean, he was only supposed to be a little handsome! If he’s this beautiful, anyone who sees him is going to fall head over heels!
Yet strangely, from the moment we left the house until we reached the shopping mall, people didn’t seem to pay him much attention at all.
Huh? What’s going on? Is it because he’s wrapped up in that long puffer jacket and they can’t see him properly?
No way! Do I look like his girlfriend or something, so they’re not interested?
Now that I think about it, in most gender-reversal novels, the protagonist gets all kinds of flirty glances when walking alone, but when they’re with someone, it never happens. In that case, me and I really must be soulmates!
The fact that no one is paying attention to me… this has to be a divine opportunity! I just hope he doesn’t get too heartbroken.
“Here we are. We’ve finally arrived. Whoa, there are a ton of people. Let’s go buy you some clothes first.”
After walking for about ten minutes, we finally reached the shopping mall. It was the weekend, so the place was packed.
Wait… are all those people staring at the other me?
Oh no. So it really does end up like this. Of course an appearance this outstanding was going to draw every eye.
Shiver, shiver.
What the—? The other me is clinging tightly to my arm and trembling all over.
What’s going on? It doesn’t seem like he suddenly fell for me. Why is he acting like this?
“W-what are you doing? Hey, why are you linking arms all of a sudden? Did you start liking me or something?”
“Hey, the second we stepped into a crowded place my whole body started shaking. I can’t stop it. Why am I… like this?”
Ah. Right. In his original world he’d failed the college entrance exam four times in a row and ended up as a fourth-year repeat student who never got into university. Could it be that after being locked in his room studying nonstop, his mind had grown unstable and he’d developed panic disorder…?
“……Good grief. Hey, you are me. Why are you suddenly scared? No one’s looking at you strangely. Besides, this is a gender-reversed world, and you’re the protagonist of that world. To any woman who sees you, you’re an irresistibly attractive man. No celebrity could possibly be more beautiful than you. Have some confidence.”
You’re the protagonist of this world now. The most handsome man alive, the center of everyone’s attention. So stop trembling like that…
“Lean on me. I’ll help you through it.”
……Sigh. That’s right. Is this the moment where I have to keep other women from trying to steal him? Whether you do internet broadcasts or become a celebrity to make a name for yourself, I’ll do everything I can to support you.
Because I’m you.
If not me, who else would help me?
Wow… is this for real? If he wasn’t actually me, I would’ve fallen for him on the spot.
Why are you so cool, me?
……That’s right. I’m the protagonist of this world, aren’t I? I’m the protagonist of the gender-reversed world and the most handsome man in the entire setting. In those kinds of novels, the whole world revolves around me!
There’s no way I’d be shivering like this here!
“……Yeah. Thanks. Me. It really is only you.”
“It’s nothing. I’m you, so of course I’d say that. Don’t act like that when you are me.”
“Okay. Then shall we go buy some clothes?”
Huh? His face just turned bright red.
Heh. Well, even if it is me, that line was probably a little embarrassing to say out loud.
Stuff like that usually only appears in novels. If it were me I wouldn’t have been able to say it, and even if I had, I’d be kicking my blankets in shame every night.
Still… it was cool. Me.
Even so, he was still trembling, so we stayed arm-in-arm as we headed toward a clothing store. And just as I expected, every single woman around us glanced our way at least once!
Oh! The surrounding reactions popped up!!
Yes! This is exactly the cliché I wanted from the gender-reversed world!
Still… it’s kind of gross seeing a guy act like that.
Anyway, one thing is now crystal clear.
I really am an impossibly beautiful boy.
The situation where everyone around us is buzzing only about someone else’s looks and I can hear every word of it. I used to think it was unrealistic, but now I’m living it.
“Hey. Feeling good?”
“Yeah. It feels amazing. I finally realize I’m a beautiful boy who’s arrived in a gender-reversed world.”
“Must be nice. Still, I’m glad you’ve got your energy back.”
“Were you worried about me? Thanks, me.”
“Nah, I wasn’t that worried. You were just shaking so hard I had to say something.”
And so we stayed arm-in-arm as we walked into the clothing store.
I have been running this clothing store for about three months.
Truthfully, my family is so wealthy I don’t need to work at all. This entire country already moves exactly as my house wishes, so none of this really matters.
But after I caused one too many incidents recently, Mother ordered me to reflect and placed me under house arrest, forcing me to run this pathetic little shop.
So here I am, stuck in a place like this, managing a store.
After all, the entire shopping mall belongs to my family. No matter how diligently I work, it’s nothing but pocket change.
I’ve met countless men in my time. Among them were top-tier actors, idols, and models from the entertainment world. Even they groveled before the power of our house. I’ve seen every kind of handsome man, yet none ever touched my heart.
I am the heir to the great Grace family. I cannot simply form a relationship with just any man. Even though I have lived for more than a hundred years, I have never dated anyone. I never imagined I would meet a man who perfectly fits my tastes right here in this clothing store.
About five minutes ago,
a couple walked in arm-in-arm.
‘Ah, another couple here to rub their relationship in my face. Some of us can’t even think about meeting men because we’re stuck under house arrest.’
I was inwardly grumbling when the moment I saw the man’s face—!
It felt as if the world had come to a complete stop.
Hair that flowed like liquid silk, shining with a luster that made it look like strands of the finest thread. A straight, adorable nose as if carved by the gods themselves. Eyes so beautiful that no jewel in existence could compare.
He was more beautiful than any man I had ever seen.
Could this truly be the appearance of a human being?
Before I knew it I had lost myself, simply staring at him.
Then our eyes met. He smiled at me. My face grew hot. It felt like all the blood in my body had rushed to my cheeks.
Ah. Is he interested in me? This is the first time a man has shown me interest without knowing my background.
Suddenly the woman who was his partner stepped between us and glared at me.
Oh dear, I must have been staring too long. I quickly lowered my head. Women who date extremely handsome men usually pick fights out of pride, so it’s better not to get involved.
Of course, if I used every method at my disposal, making that woman kneel before me would be easy. It’s even one of my favorite pastimes.
The problem is that I am currently under house arrest. If I cause trouble with a woman like her in this state, I have no idea what Mother would do to me. It probably wouldn’t end with a golf club.
No, wait. That man just smiled at me. That means he’s interested in me. Who are you to try to come between us!
Filled with rage, I lifted my head again. And there was my male god, happily smiling and chatting with that woman.
“So in this world, men wear stuff like this?”
“Yeah. Men usually wear pants, while women wear either pants or skirts. Looks like it’s the same where you’re from? I thought in a gender-reversed world men would be wearing skirts.”
“Same here. Since I came to a gender-reversed world, I figured men would wear revealing clothes, put on makeup, that sort of thing.”
“In this world it’s taboo for men to show their upper bodies. If you walk around in revealing clothes you’ll be in serious trouble.”
My male god……? Why? Weren’t you the one who liked me?
Why are you having such a friendly conversation with that arrogant bitch?
Was that smile earlier just my imagination?
Ah. Why? If I had met you first, my male god would have been mine.
Why is someone like you taking my male god?
Who do you think you are?