“Warm? Not cold?”

He looked at me puzzled.

“Look. Unlike you, I have to deal with something called period cramps, got that?”

I don’t know if he knew that having cold stuff during a period can actually aggravate the pain.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure thing then.”

Elliot ♂ offered to help make me a drink. I had no reason to deny. Today was a chill Saturday afternoon with nothing to do after all.

We went to dig into our mini-library for manga to read. The collections did not only include the series’ that I liked, but also those from my elder sister, my mom and dad. Jasper didn’t like manga, so he had a separate section for his light novels.

Mom had mature tastes. So… what better chance to take a look at her most recent steal than when she was out, right?

“It’s really…”

Mom’s preferred manga were…

“Lewd.”

…Yeah.

Elliot ♂ and I read it side by side.

I tried to flip a page.

He held on.

I didn’t want to mention it, but did he need to stare at the heroine’s breast so much?

I took a sip of the warm jasmine tea he made.

“Hey Elliot, since you’re interested in girls, do you not get aroused by the male body?”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’d say I do. Personally, I just prefer the female body.”

The thought of burying myself in between two soft breasts makes me drool a little.

I heard him sigh.

“You know, let’s pick some other manga.”

“Eh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, unlike a girl, guys get a boner.”

I don’t know what it’s like having a boner, but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable having the boner forced down by tight underwear?

“Huh? So? Just because you’re having a boner right now you’re stopping?”

“Don’t you think we shouldn’t be reading porn together, like this?”

Ohya?

This manga wasn’t doujin. It was more of an adult story.

Sure, it had explicit scenes littered all around, but the story’s main focus had nothing to do with it. So, I wasn’t sure if calling it porn was appropriate.

“But we’re both the same person? Plus, weren’t you the one who first suggested this idea?”

I was the one who suggested the idea huh? Good point.

Could it be that as a male, he’s more depraved?

Could it be that right this moment, he was thinking about doing lewd things to me now?

Hentai. Pervert.

You’re a complete cock-brain.

“Cock-brain.”

“Slut.”

Nevermind. It seems we do sync up after all.

Btzz.

I put the manga aside and picked up my phone.

He seemed to feign ignorance as he went to pick a different manga to read.

Oh, a text from Ellis.

‘I’ll give you my answer during culture festival day.’

“Huh?”

Answer?

What answer?!

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

It was the first day of a new week.

Richard-sensei entered the class with some breaking news.

“You two seated at the back over there. You’re this year’s culture festival presidents. Good luck.”

“…?”

“…What?”

“I’ll give you the rest of the period to discuss your plans. I expect a report on the ideas the class comes up with. Toodles.”

He left the class with those words.

No drawing lots, no discussion.

He made a declaration and walked away.

I wasn’t sure if he was having his ‘PMS’ or if this was just the way he handled every year’s culture festival. It was the first time our class had Richard-sensei as our homeroom.

Ellis and I looked at each other.

Her bright blonde hair shadowed her emerald eyes.

“No way. I’m out.”

I said.

“Then why not tell Richard-sensei to swap you for the other one? I’d much prefer her than you.”

She snorted.

Was Richard-sensei out of his mind? We’d never get along.

My blood began to boil.

I stood up and walked out of class.

Damn it.

Why am I always the one to clear up her mess?

Fortunately, I didn’t need to go far.

Sitting a few steps up the flight of stairs, Richard-sensei waved at me. I looked at him dumbfounded as he patted the space beside him, inviting me to sit.

He had been expecting me.

“Are you going to explain something?”

“You must be curious why I chose the two of you?”

“Yeah. And you seem to have a reason for it?”

“I do.”

I was now more curious than mad. Richard-sensei probably didn’t have any ill intentions.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

“Do you know what my blessing is?”

“No, I don’t.”

In fact, I don’t even know what most of my classmate’s blessings were. It’s typical to keep it a secret… part of just how the culture here works.

“I call it ‘Hint and Fix’.”

“Hint and fix?”

“Yes. You and Ellis aren’t on good terms, right?”

“So the news has even reached the teacher’s department?”

“We’ve known about it since last year.”

Ugh…

“I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to make up. Even if it’s impossible to get back together, I thought it would at least be less of a burden for you if you could turn your hostile relationship neutral.”

“…But, isn’t it good to avoid needless drama?”

“I don’t know about that.”

He shook his head.

“I’m simply suggesting that this decision is a hint given by my blessing. If it’s correct, then after the culture festival, your relationship with Ellis will change.”

“Change… for the better?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…”

“Of course, if you think you can’t handle it, then you could always have Elliot take your place.”

“Um… alright?”

Richard-sensei squeezed my shoulders with a firm grip.

“It’s our secret little deal. Don’t tell anyone about it. Otherwise, the whole purpose of this would be for naught.”

Hint and Fix. It seems to be a fate-altering blessing.

“I’ll… think about it.”

“You’re welcome. Now go and get me the ideas.”

He patted my shoulders, signalling the end of the conversation. He got up and went his way.

What a surprise. I didn’t think he’d actually use his ability to help me out with my relationships.

“Thank you sensei.”

I’m grateful.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“So, how did it go?”

Ellis asked, casually looking at her fingernails.

“No luck.”

“…”

“Let’s just start already.”

I headed up to the blackboard and split the board into three columns.

“Let’s begin brainstorming ideas for the culture festival. Anyone with any ideas, raise your hands and speak.”

The suggestions were slow at first, but as momentum picked up, ideas began flowing like an ever-constant stream.

Elliot ♀ came to the front voluntarily to help me chalk down the ideas.

Ellis… didn’t seem to harbour any intentions of helping.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

Maid cafe <3.

“…This is the most suitable option for our class?”

Elliot ♀ was just as stunned as I was.

Our class was made up of some of the hottest girls on the block.

And one of the biggest gyaru in this class was Willow Hart. Oliver’s girlfriend.

Now, what has this got to do with the main cafe?

Well… Willow Hart leads the girls’ cosplay troupe.

“Girls! We’ve got to step up our game!”

She cheered like a cocaine-overdosed cockatoo.

“Yeah!”

“I’ve always wanted to wear a maid costume.”

“We’re actually going to cosplay? Oh yeeeah!!”

That’s one major problem resolved. As for the boys…

“Damn, imagine Tility in a maid costume.”

“I’m in!”

“A maid cafe has always been a man’s dream!”

Yeah. I might have to do something about that…

“Gordon, Oliver.”

“Yes?”

“What?”

“Can I leave it to you two to be in charge of the menu?”

The two guys looked at each other. One was a pastry-making enthusiast, the other was the son of a chef who cooks ramen.

“Sure.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

They looked fired up enough.

“And drag in the boys with you. I can’t let everyone go scott-free.”

The male monkeys all shuddered at Elliot’s ♀ sharp glare. The tumult quieted.

The class will be divided into three groups.

Chefs. Attendants. Technicians.

Chefs would be in charge of menu creation, ingredients and making the actual food on the day.

Attendants were the maids and ‘potential butlers’ that would be part of the fan service.

Technicians were in charge of decor, equipment, posters, and management of assets within the other two groups.

Next up would be funding.

We do have class funds, but I doubt it would be enough. So I needed to gauge a convincing estimate before telling the class to pay up. I expect the costumes to be the biggest expense here.

“Willow, do you know how much it costs to get a maid costume for each person?”

“Why not rent the costumes instead?”

“Rent?”

She suggested something I wasn’t familiar with.

There was such a service to rent something like a dozen maid costumes? I wonder which entrepreneurial paedophile came up with such an idea?

“I know a friend who operates a clothing rental service. We just need to choose the best attire for the price. I can’t give you a price estimate yet though.”

Aria suddenly raised her hands.

“I’ll shoulder the costs.”

“Uh? Huh? No, it’s not fair. It’s a class thing, so everyone should contribute.”

“But…”

“Yeah, I think it’s better that way.”

I wasn’t sure why Aria thought to do this, but it’s out of the question to have a single person sponsor everything.

“I don’t mind paying for a new costume. I’ve always wanted to cosplay as a maid.”

“Ain’t no way we’re going to let a single person pay for everything.”

The rest of the class voiced similar thoughts.

Before we could round up the discussion, our mathematics teacher arrived. The meeting had to be adjourned, sensei looked amused by our draft-up of the class project.

Meanwhile… I couldn’t help but notice Ellis’ constant, cold gaze on me.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Hey, Elliot.”

“Yeah, what?”

At home after dinner, we drew up a duty roster for the maid cafe. We had the same brain, so who’d she assign to which role was exactly who I’d assign to that role.

“Thanks.”

“Thanks? Why?”

“In class earlier in the morning when we needed to plan for the culture festival.”

Ellis, the bitch didn’t even care enough to perform her duty. If not for Elliot ♀, I don’t know if things would’ve gone so smoothly.

“Why would you have to thank me for that?”

“I just felt like it.”

“You’re such a weird me.”

She sighed.

“Ellis is kinda pissed at me now.”

She said.

“What? Why? It’s not like you did anything right?”

“Who knows what goes through the mind of that girl when the situation involves you. Frankly, the Ellis I knew before my birthday wasn’t so aggressive and clingy. Just what happened between the two of you?”

“Well…”

“Don’t need to tell me if you don’t feel like it. There are things I’d rather keep buried in. I’m sure the same goes for you.”

My hands went awry, I messed up a name.

“Ah shoot. Oliver just became Oilve.”

“I’m sure no one will notice.”

She showed me the duty roster she was working on.

Oliver’s name there was also written as ‘Oilve’.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

I rolled my eyes.

I guess some things were really just better left in the dark.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

It was a warm Saturday afternoon.

“What? No you pervert you shouldn’t go. Do you really plan to watch the girls pick out maid outfits?”

“…”

Elliot ♀ had a good point there.

The only problem was that she should’ve told me about it yesterday, not right up when we were about to head out.

“We’re both perverts, so why does it matter?”

“…”

It was her turn to be speechless.

Aren’t I right, ‘me’?

I could somewhat tell what was going through her mind.

She’s lesbian, so ogling girls in delectable costumes must be incredibly appetising. So much so that she wanted to monopolise the feeling.

Hell, I ain’t a voyeur.

We’d been living in the same room, going about our routines in a very similar fashion. We ate at similar times, used our phones at similar times, studied at similar times…

And because of it, neither she nor I had any privacy to well…

Watch porn.

Or masturbate.

This is literally the second longest I’ve gone without nutting.

I don’t know about her, but I feel like she must’ve set a similar record.

Disgusting?

Well, perhaps.

But if I’m disgusting, then so was she.

“Come on, we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”

“Sometimes I wonder how much you know.”

“About?”

“Shut up.”

I don’t know if I know. That’s for sure.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“This is the meeting place right?”

“We always arrive early when it comes to these sorts of things for some reason.”

Elliot ♀ and I checked the time using our phones.

And following that action, we naturally began to scroll through social media.

We hadn’t posted anything since we became two separate people. I wonder how our followers would perceive us if they were to suddenly receive a post.

Elliot ♀ and I lifted our phones up at each other at the same time.

““Huh??””

And performed a double selfie where we were both taking a photo of each other taking photos of each other.

“What the hell is with this coincidence?”

“Just when I thought we were starting to become different, this happens?”

We looked at each other.

Her brunette hair had been tied into a side ponytail, a golden butterfly pin held her tucked bangs in place.

She wore a pale blue blouse and black tights. Her simple style matched well with the ocher-coloured handbag she carried.

For some reason, the thought that we were having a date crossed my mind.

I felt self-conscious all of a sudden.

She and I looked away at the same time.

We both ran our hands through our hair…

What the fuck was this situation?!

“Don’t get the wrong idea…”

“I-I know.”

We’re not dating.

This isn’t a date.

There’s absolutely nothing going on between us.

We’re overthinking.

Yeah…

Damn it, someone arrive already! It’s getting super awkward standing here like this.

It was only then did I realise the peculiar gazes of the people around us.

And from among them, I saw…

“Damn prick.”

…Oliver and Willow taking photos of the two of us.

“W-Wow!”

“Delete that right this instant!”

“I’ll kill you if you don’t!”

Elliot ♀ and I complained to the snobbish couple.

Oliver and Willow burst out into laughter.

We must really look like a joke to them, don’t we?

Similar appearance, similar actions, similar complaints.

“Don’t worry, we’re not going to leak it everywhere.”

Oliver dismissed our worries with a waving gesture.

“But weren’t you two just taking a photo of each other earlier? That was so cute and couple-like you know?”

““We’re not a couple!””

Go to hell.

It was only a coincidence.

“Look, not only does their scowl look the same, they even bite their lips at the same time.”

Oliver remarked.

Elliot ♀ and I exhaled.

Deep breathes.

Calm down.

Peace… I am peace…

The more agitated we were, the more they would not take us seriously.

“Did we arrive on time?”

“Wow! The Elliots look so good together.”

“Yeah, they’re like twins!”

The rest of the girl’s gang arrived.

It broke my pride to hear their impression of ‘us’.

“Huh? Where’s Aria?”

Elliot ♀ asked.

“She said she couldn’t make it.”

“But don’t worry, I have her three sizes on the top of my head,

Elliot’s ♀ gaze sharpened at Willow’s words.

Wow, when did Willow take the measurements?

“Is there anyone missing?”

“Yeah, Ellis hasn’t arrived yet.”

“We’ll wait a little longer.”

“Oh, and there she is.”

“Nice. We can go to the cosplay shop now.”

I turned in the direction where Oliver pointed.

And when I saw her,

For a moment I thought I felt my heart ache.

Seriously?

A dark blue coat over her white shirt and light blue jeans. A large barrette held her hair in place and… that gold butterfly pin.

The exact same one which Elliot ♀ wore.

Elliot ♀ probably failed to give it to her, that’s why she owns it.

But the one Ellis had was… a gift I got her for her birthday last year.

I don’t get it.

Why was she wearing that?

“All here?”

Ellis asked in a casual tone.

“All here, let’s go.”

Then nodded and turned away.

Acting as if I didn’t exist.