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It was just for a few days.
A few days, where he’d allow himself to be dressed up in dresses and wear makeup.
In a little spot where people, mostly men, would go to perform in these stylistic outfits. It wasn’t something Naruhodou was knowledgeable about, but he did enjoy watching from the sidelines.
He enjoyed it but was rather embarrassed to even think about going out there and performing in front of people who may recognize him, even with a hood & makeup.
Luckily, the people in charge allowed him to just watch from the sidelines.
So he’d just watch the performances, he’d always enjoy stuff like this; it’s quite fun to watch.
But He’d always make sure he was out of public view, just in case; And it always went smoothly!
Until that fateful night.
It started out as normal, he’d be told to try out an outfit and then he’d just watch the shows.
It was going normal!…
Till he looked at the crowd and felt his stomach drop.
Kazuma Asogi, he was there in the crowd.
‘Okay this is not good’ he thought to himself. ‘But surely if I stay hidden, he won’t notice me…yeah!’ He looked back at the crowd, making sure he was entirely visible but still able to see.
It took awhile but he found him. Kazuma seemed to be doing alright, he wasn’t the biggest fan of shows like this but he didn’t hate them entirely.
Still, why was he at a performance show like this? There’s no reason as to why he’d be here unless-
Ryuunosuke suddenly stopped as he realized he was staring for so long, that Kazuma noticed him.
He quickly hid himself and ran backstage.
‘SHIT SHIT SHIT’
‘Why is he here?!?” Ryuunosuke thought to himself, he was panicking like crazy. “Why in the world did he have to come here??” His face was fuming with embarrassment, his best friend just saw him in a kimono and full makeup of all things.
‘Maybe he didn’t notice me! I’ve got a hood on so he shouldn’t have-‘
“Hey! you there!”
He froze as that familiar voice. He cautiously turned and looked behind him, meeting face to face with Kazuma.
If there was a day he’d wish to be dead, it’d be now.
Kazuma cleared his throat as he spoke. “Excuse me for scaring you,” he said as he slowly stepped closer and Ryuunosuke just looked around like a panicked mouse. “I just noticed you staring and…” Kazuma looked at him as he extends his hand a bit.
“Ryuunosuke quickly stepped back. He hadn’t said a word during any of this, and what could he say during this?
Why is Kazuma so calm about this?
Actually, how did he even get backstage? There’s no way he-
Suddenly, he felt his hand being held. Looking to see Kazuma…with the softest expression that Naruhodou has NEVER seen before. He didn’t even think Kazuma could make that expression.
“There’s no need to fear me, I don’t want to cause you any harm!” He exclaimed as gently held Ryuu’s hand, blushing slightly…actually it was surprisingly noticeable.
He could have just removed himself from this, he should have! It’s not like he couldn’t have just simply slipped his hand away from Kazuma’s and make a run for it.
But…
Maybe it was just the shock from it, or maybe his brain was too confused to do anything, but he just stood there and looked at Kazuma’s face…
“You…” Kazuma broke the silence. “You are very pretty, ma’am…”
Ma’am?
“I-uhm…” he stammered as he moved slightly closer to Ryuunosuke.
He’s never heard Kazuma Stammer like that before, besides from tongue twisters.
And…he’s not this flustered usually…
“I’m aware that you may not know me..” his eyes looked so desperate.
Ryuunosuke still kept silent, even if he wanted to, his mouth denied it.
“But I..” his hand grip tightened as he spoke. “But I wish to know you better!” He almost yelled as his face started to blush red.
Oh
OH MY GOD
What the HELL is he supposed to do now!? He can’t just speak up after THAT, and he can’t just run away with his hand being tightly grasped.
Now there’s this awkward silence between them, ‘please just free me from this situation-“ he thought to himself before-
“Hey! What you doing here?!”
Kazuma and Ryuunosuke look to see one of the staff, staring at Kazuma with daggers in her eyes. “You’re not allowed in here!” She yelled as she quickly pulled Kazuma off and dragged him out.
“ACK- Wait I didn’t mean-“
Ryuunosuke spared no time, quickly leaving to the changing rooms. He could feel how flustered he was by that whole situation.
To think that his partner was attending a show and just HAPPENED to notice him was embarrassing enough.
But for him to then CONFESS?! And with those usually stoic eyes, looking so desperate and yearning?
Too much, Too much to bear.
‘I’m never doing this again, not EVER’.
——
“Wait, you need me to-“
“Dress as a wonderful woman so we can investigate? Yes my dear fellow!”
God damn it…
“I don’t understand the reason to do all of that..” Kazuma said with slight confusion. “Why dress up as a woman? Wouldn’t it-“
“I’ll need to stop you right there Mr.Asogi!”
“Hm?”
“As a master of disguise,” he stated, “ it is much easier to play the part instead of trying to find it.”
Kazuma thought about it and nodded. “I suppose that makes sense, however…” He added as he then pointed to Ryuunosuke.
“Why should Naruhodou be the woman?”
…
“Do you perhaps want a part in this instead?” Holmes questioned as Kazuma quickly shook his head. “Not at all, it’s just-”
He paused as he looked at Ryuunosuke, eyeing him from top to bottom, before continuing with what he was saying.
“He’s not the most feminine person.”
“Sorry?!”
“I didn’t mean it like that, I just-“
“Well it shouldn’t really be that hard,” Susato stepped in. “I believe with enough makeup and accessories, we should be able to make him look like a woman!” She explained, sounding slightly excited for some reason.
“Yes indeed! I just need Mr. Naruhodou do give his agreement to continue further.”
Ryuunosuke paused for a second, gathering his thoughts.
“I suppose I could do that.”
Kazuma looked almost surprised but mostly concerned, “Are you sure about this, Naruhodou?” He asked.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
‘It’s not the first time I’ve done something like that..’
…
…
“You’ve dressed as a woman before?” Susato asked with the most shocked expression on her face.
Oh no.
“I-uhm..y-yes? Sorta of?” Ryuunosuke awkwardly admits, no point in hiding it now. “It was actually just more like dressing up in kimonos and wearing a hood..”
“Ah! So you participated in drag shows?”
“Okay well not technically,” he explains. “I was just more then not just there to help with trying out outfits since a lot of the performers had my build.”
Sholmes nodded, “I see…you wore the outfit but you didn’t stand on the stage, I see indeed.”
“I don’t recall you ever telling me this, Ryuunosuke.” Kazuma said with slight curiosity in his voice. ‘Wait does he not..?’ Ryuunosuke thought to himself.
“Yeah but you were there for one of the shows, so I don’t-“
“No I wasn’t?”
Huh.
“You were there, I remember it clear as night!” He exclaimed, confused on how Kazuma would forget that night. “I can assure you, I do not recall EVER seeing you in a show or in this ‘drag’.”
What???
Ryuunosuke looked more confused than ever. “What do you mean?? You-“
“I was not in this drag show, however..” Kazuma paused. “I do remember being invited to this performance show.”
“Performance show?”
“Yes, it was fairly good from what I can recall.”
Does…Does he not…?
No, he must have known! There’s no way he-
“Oh! Was that show were you met that one quiet woman?” Susato asked. “Ah yes! Thats the one!” Kazuma smiled.
Oh…
Oh my god.
“Quiet lady?…” Ryuunosuke was so stunned by this revelation. Kazuma looked back in confusion, before realizing. “Have I never told you about her?”
“No…”
“She was very shy but very pretty,” he explained. “I noticed her on the side of the stage, she looked almost embarrassed when I tried to approach her.”
He didn’t know?! But it was so obvious!
“Did she happen to wear a hood and blue kimono?…”
“…She did,” Kazuma replied as he then looked at him with confusion.
“With very rounded facial features like me?”
“…that is very specific but also correct…”
…
Everyone kinda just stood silent, it seemed like everyone but Kazuma had understood what had happened.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Kazuma.”
“Yes?”
“That performance show was a drag show.” Ryuunosuke exclaimed as he began to brass for impact.
“Oh. Well that explains-“
“That women you saw was me.”
…
“What”
“That was me in drag,” he exclaimed, “I didn’t say anything because I believed that you knew it was me.” He could feel his face turning red as he remembered that night. “I also didn’t bring it up because I was very embarrassed about-“
“You’re joking right?”
Huh?
Ryuunosuke looked up, expecting to see Kazuma angry, only to see him shocked and confused.
“That was…that was you?” He asked.
“I-“
Sholmes stepped in. “While I would like to know the details,” he started. “Should we perhaps step out of the room so you two could have this conversation?” He asked.
Ryuunosuke wanted to say something but-
“No! No it’s fine” Kazuma quickly exclaimed. “I’ll just- go for a walk.” He quickly left the room before they could even say anything.
And while Ryuunosuke could have taken this as shame,
He DID happen to notice Kazuma’s face getting immediately red and flustered…