Festival Drag Debacle
A problem had arisen.
It was that they couldn't give up on the food stall.
"We've already submitted the application..."
"No can do. Let's lure in some guy who can cook. Can we add another person?"
"Yeah, we can, but we don't have any friends."
"......"
Damn, why hit me where it hurts!
"Should I call Mosik?"
"Mosik Karma? He seems like he can't do anything but work out."
"Bet his culture score's higher than yours. And he dances pretty well too."
I'd seen him teaching the second-years last time. Looked like he danced a bit better than Adria.
"......Shut up?!"
"Let's call him and ask anyway."
We all trooped out to find Mosik.
There were two places he could be: the gym or the clubroom.
Not the clubroom, so...
"Huff, huff..."
"......That body dances better than mine? No way."
Adria muttered quietly as she watched Mosik pumping his pecs at the gym.
Hmm. Hard to picture it myself.
But he really does dance better than you.
"Hoo, hoo... Huh? Eugene-nim? Adria-nim, Jenella-nim, and even Ashy-nim? What brings you here?"
Mosik approached, sweating bullets after his workout.
Ugh, that sweat stench.
I waved my hand and said,
"Got business with you. You got anything planned for the festival?"
"Nothing set except club stuff... but I do have one idea."
"? What?"
"A workout experience course where I personally train people..."
"Hey."
This guy's trying to kill us.
I got serious.
"Forget that. Do the food stall with us. You know how to cook?"
"Yes. My parents' hobby is cooking, so I learned from them. I can brew alcohol too."
"Oh, nice. Then come brew booze with me..."
"What's nice about that! Who's brewing booze at the academy!"
"Gah!"
As expected, Mosik's cooking skills were more than adequate.
Hmm, still a bit below mine, though.
"Better than dumping herbs in everything."
"Aw, come on. It's healthy food."
The group gave a collective 'NO!' sign.
These punks... one day I'll make 'em eat pizza loaded with herbs.
Dare to diss my precious rations...
"So what do we do?"
"Me, Adria, and Jenella can handle serving. Eugene's kinda in-between..."
"He can support Mosik."
"From what I see, even if Eugene sneaks in herbs, Mosik wouldn't say a word."
"......"
Didn't think of that!
"Hmm, should we dress up a little for serving? What do you think?"
"Sounds good? Just a little dress-up, right? Might draw more customers."
"We won't slack off. Deal?"
Won't slack off?
'Dress up... uh, like makeup?'
Just a little, she said. Fine.
I nodded readily, and they exchanged weird looks.
Then they grabbed both my arms so I couldn't run.
Grab!
The day of the summer festival dawned.
As if to prove how unprecedented this was—something never done before—there were no long-standing traditions or standard events.
First-, second-, and third-years alike knew zilch about the festival!
'Weird. But where are the third-years?'
"Third-years can't come out anyway because of the dungeon."
"......"
Man, this school shoves third-years straight into a dungeon?
Impressive. Real impressive.
"This is my first festival too, so I'm a bit nervous. I've prepared roughly, though..."
Professor Nipella wore a conical party hat on his head.
Uh... isn't that for birthday parties?
I checked the name of the booth he was standing at.
[Happy Birthday This Month!]
......A birthday booth?!
So creative. Yeah, real creative...
Professor Nipella adjusted his crooked hat and looked at me.
"How much have you pre—"
He froze mid-sentence.
His eyes trembled slightly as he stared at me.
"?"
I barely kept my face from twisting up.
If I messed up my makeup, Adria and Jenella would kill me.
They'd spent hours pinning me down to do it!
'Should've just skipped it.'
Never dreamed "dress up" meant cross-dressing.
Professor Nipella unconsciously reached out toward me. I slipped back.
"E-Eugene-nim?"
"Don't ask."
"Why are you covering your face with a veil—"
"Don't ask."
"......"
Professor Nipella looked like he had a million questions.
Why the outfit... and so on...
"You're... enjoying it... in your own way...?"
"Absolutely not. I didn't want this. Don't get the wrong idea."
I shuddered in horror.
"They said they'd doll me up, but I never thought it'd be drag!"
"I see..."
"Yeah. I don't have that kinda kink. Mosik might, though."
-You did drag? I wanna try. Drag's something only real men can pull off...
-Shut it.
"I... see... So Ashy and Adria did this?"
"Jenella too..."
"Ah... That's a shame. Uh, um. Yes. Good luck."
I clutched my hem, trembling. I'd never do this again!
At least they let me wear the face veil.
Maybe feeling guilty for forcing me, they didn't object much to covering my face.
-Hmm, this weird vibe? Not bad.
-Might even be good...
-She's pretty...
If they say it's good, maybe they wanted this!
Still better than showing my face.
The outfit was just magically altered clothes.
-Next time, maybe more? So even stripping in front of people looks girly...
-You wanna die?
-Sorry.
Just once. I'd endure just this once!
I'd planned to wipe it off, but they cried and begged—it was hours of work—so I agreed just for this summer festival.
"It's starting soon. It'll run three days, so enjoy it..."
"Yeah..."
"You got this..."
Professor Nipella patted my shoulder sympathetically.
Don't sympathize!
Makes me madder!
"Professor, can outsiders come to our school?"
"??"
"No, a pretty girl just passed by..."
Who said that?
The summer festival lasted three days, bigger than when the saintess visited.
Even outsiders could enter!
They had to pass strict checks and restrictions, but many came just to set foot in the top academy.
Some booths were student-run, others hired outsiders for all three days.
Get Buff Just by Eating!
"Whoa, check out that guy's muscles. Second-year?"
"First-year, apparently."
"With that face?"
"He's the guard?"
"The chef."
"???"
Dunno why. Actually, I do.
Anyway, our food stall drew eyes too. Food quality wasn't top-tier, but...
Festivals are for cheap eats and fun, right?
Small group-run, but Mosik overdid it, so scale grew.
"......"
Yeah. That's the problem.
Lots of stares here.
Especially at Mosik's muscles—people came out of curiosity.
"Endure it, endure."
Ashy whispered as my plate trembled.
"Break it and Mosik has to recook. Delays mean complaints."
"Why not let me chef? I'll sub for Mosik today."
"No. You're on day three."
Festival's three days. Day one normal, day two club competitions, day three free-for-all.
We split: cooking day one Mosik, day three me. Serving AM/PM shifts.
AM: me and Ashy. PM: Jenella and Adria.
So I cook earliest on day three.
Wanna swap with Mosik now.
"No herbs?"
"Fine, none."
"No poison weeds either."
"......"
Was gonna sneak poison weeds in those bastards' food.
Students whispering, staring—I knew those looks.
Like drunk uncles and aunties at restaurants on weekends!
"Wanna gouge their eyes out."
"No."
"Just one. One guy!"
-No!!
"No!!"
I went to draw my knife after hearing crap while serving; Eodukshini and Ashy held me back.
Let go!!
Those are the trash nobles from entrance exams. Rip 'em all off!!
-I'll break a bone when they leave. Call it even!
"Handle it clean, no traces."
-Of course! Not me doing it anyway.
"?"
I looked down. A puppy munching Mosik's special snack in the corner lifted its head.
Woof.
Why're you here?
The divine beast puppy and Eodukshini exchanged glances.
......What're you two up to?
"You ate with the doggo?"
-My affinity's OP.
"Cool. Perfect."
-?
I grabbed Eodukshini, slapped an apron on it, shoved utensils in its hands.
-??
"Girls love you too, right? Saw you score snacks last time."
-......?!
"Help me out."
My secret weapon.
Distract with something else, divert stares!
Genius plan!
One hour later. Rumors spread about our stall.
Muscular chef cooks, bouncy slime delivers utensils, veiled haughty girl serves—unique concept...
Fuck, why am I included?!
"The haughty vibe's even better, right?"
"Yeah. Veil gives princess vibes."
"Not super polite, but it's a festival."
"True. Sneak peek—she's gorgeous."
"L-Looked and tripped... Ugh, my son!! Ack! Th-That dog bit me! Grrr..."
"Hey! Call a doctor! It bit there!"
Eodukshini, hearing the rumors, rolled on the floor laughing.
-Puhahaha! Pretty! Owner's pretty! Pwahahaha!
Kill it?
Crunch! Crunch!
Ashy averted her eyes as my fork snapped in my mouth.
Don't blame me—you made me this way, and I'd take complaints anyway.
Adria and Jenella arrived cheerfully, masks and hats hiding faces—but joy obvious.
Wait, Jenella's embarrassed...?
But first, Adria whistled at me.
"Pretty lady~ Got a boyfriend? If not, dinner with me?"
"You're dead."
What, you some pickup artist? She giggled, removed her mask.
"......?"
I doubted my eyes.
"Who're you?"
"Who else? Me. Too perfect guy disguise?"
Adria winked playfully.
Now I saw: she was cross-dressed as a guy.
Idol-level perfection!
Wait. She didn't do it alone... no way...?
"Jenella too? Take it off."
Knew it.
I grabbed fidgety Jenella; Adria kindly removed her mask and hat.
"......"
Her too.
TS festival today?
Why's everyone swapping genders?
"......Uh. Yeah. Okay. You did it."
"What kinda reaction's that? Ashy'll do it too. Just a bit."
"Ah, yeah... sure..."
My lame response made Adria puff her cheeks playfully.
"Know how hard guy-drag was? No help, hours of makeup! Magic items were a pain to get!"
"Who asked?"
I didn't say do it?
Jenella seemed pleased with her disguise, fiddling cheeks, then glanced at me shyly.
"D-Does it... look bad...?"
"Nah, suits you fine. But I hate gender swaps. Guys are guys, girls are girls. Respect it, but not for me."
"......"
Jenella deflated.
......Too harsh?
Felt a twinge of guilt. But it was true. Respect actual transitions, sure.
But drag? Hard pass.
"Too much!"
Not sorry to you.
"Whatever, go. PM shift's yours now? Parade in drag for the effort~"
"Who asked? Gonna dunk myself in the fountain."
"Ehehe! Don't, come on. Out you go."
"Yeah, have fun."
Ashy and Adria shoved me out.
Wait.
Why you too?
-Me too!
"Eodukshini helps us. Here."
-Aaaah!
"Have fun!"
Bam!
Booted out the back. I looked beside me awkwardly.
Jenella stood there in guy-drag, awkward expression.
Why're you here? PM shift, right? Before I asked, she grabbed my hand.
"?"
"Ashy yielded today. Said play with you."
Her?
"......So."
She interlocked fingers like I'd bolt, gazing with heated voice.
"You're mine today."
Been yours all along?
She said it, then ducked her head shyly.
Don't drop a line then get embarrassed!