Chapter 6: The Cultural Festival

WHAT MIKI DOES AFTER SCHOOL

THE CULTURAL FESTIVAL

CHAPTER 6 OF THE MANGA

In Itsuki's bedroom, Miki, Itsuki, and Izumi are getting ready to practice their special Festival activities. It is two days before the school's Cultural Festival, and there are so many things to get ready and practice. Izumi has 'taken charge' of the set up duties that involve Miki and Itsuki. Both are dressed in girl's cheerleader costumes, as that is what was decided for their class to do at the Cultural Festival. Izumi is dressed in her female school uniform. She has put the finishing touches on Itsuki's cheer outfit and makeup, and declares that Itsuki, dressed as a sexy twin tailed girl, is really, *REALLY CUTE!* Miki adds her 'two cents' saying that Itsuki is a totally different person, one who is now so, so cute! Itsuki is a cis-male at school, however, so as to comply with the festival rules, he must wear a girl's cheerleader costume. Although Miki is a trans girl, the school still (wrongly) identifies Miki as a male, so Miki also gets to wear the girl's cheerleader costume, too, much to her joyous delight.

The day before is when it was revealed to Miki and Itsuki that the class has decided to do the cross-sex/opposite gender outfits. The entire class will fulfill the role of cheerleaders for the various athletic events. The boys will wear girl's traditional cheerleader outfits of an athletic shirt and a mini-skirt, and the girls will wear the male military style school uniform. Itsuki is apprehensive, concerned, and somewhat angry, however, Izumi declares that his outfit is fine the way it is. One of Itsuki's concerns and objections is that if Miki wears the girl's cheerleader outfit, she will undoubtedly be so cute and attractive, that it will be a dead giveaway that Miki is a trans girl, something that is not well known or accepted at school. Izumi tells Itsuki that he is just over-thinking it.

Breaking up the conversation, Izumi has to take a phone call. It is Hasegawa. He is calling to tell her that earlier today, he got into an argument with a teacher, who told Hasegawa that Izumi-chan was (supposedly) *not a girl.*  But, however, that there was *a boy* named Izumi Morishige at this school. Hasegawa told the teacher that he, the teacher, has got it all wrong. Izumi **is a girl**, who is not seen very much, because she does not come to class all that often. Izumi, sweating bullets, says that the teacher did, indeed, get it wrong.

The phone call causes Izumi to morph into a sour mood. She flops down on the couch in Itsuki's bedroom, and bemoans the fact that she has to wear the male school uniform. (Izumi is adamant that she is a girl, regardless of what anyone at school says. Therefore, under the rules of the festival class project, she has to wear a male uniform.) So cruel! Izumi jumps out of the couch and hugs Miki, crying about what is she going to do? Itsuki is silent, but thinks to himself that one can't see anything but *two girls in front of him right now,* but only he knows that they both were former boys who are beginning or already transitioned to becoming authentic girls. Continuing to think to himself, Itsuki only by accident found out that Miki was a transgender male to female. And why did Izumi have to tag along for this consultation that was supposed to be between Miki and himself, alone? Izumi's mood changes again, becoming defiant and abrasive. She orders Itsuki to 'do something' so that Miki and herself do not get found out at the Festival that they used to be boys. In return, Izumi will make sure that Miki is protected at the Festival from anyone ever finding out that Miki is a trans girl. Really? Really! Leave it all up to me, assures Izumi!

Back to today, wherein Izumi is grooming and putting the finishing touches on Itsuki, dressed in a cheerleader's outfit. Itsuki fails to see how this is going to help Miki. Izumi, who is almost done now, tells Itsuki that if he is more attractive and adorable than MIki, although both are dressed as cheerleaders, then all of the public's attention and admiration will be focused on Itsuki, not Miki! That is the beauty of Izumi's plan, MIki will be an adorable girl, but stay in the background. Izumi now turns to dressing herself. She changes out of her female school uniform, and into a male school uniform. She leaves the jacket part unbuttoned, so as to show off the fact that she is wearing a binder around her exposed chest, so true of what a cross-dressed girl would do. Itsuki says that Miki and himself will go on ahead outside to practice, and will text Izumi if that teacher is around, the one who argued with Hasegawa.

Sure enough, when Itsuki and Miki go outdoors to the practice field, the cutest 'star of the show', the one getting all the attention, is **Itsuki** ! Miki asks one of the boys why the girls, dressed in the male uniform, are not outside? He answers that they are practicing indoors, in an unused room, so as not to get sunburned today. Meanwhile, indoors, two female classmates find Izumi, and want to lead her to the room where the other girls are. Hasegawa sees this, and goes ahead to where the other girls are, and announces to them that Izumi is, indeed, here in the building, dressed and ready to go. Izumi shows up, but only to grab Hasegawa by the shirt collar, and lead him off with her to the Infirmary. There, Izumi, as mad as a disturbed hornet, lambasts Hasegawa, telling him that she had no intention of taking part in the School Festival, not at all, not one bit! Hasegawa apologizes, but to no avail. Izumi, in a huff, tells him to leave her alone, and promptly leaves the Infirmary, slamming the door in his face.

Outside, Miki says that she has already texted Izumi-chan. Itsuki wants to know where is Hasegawa? Miki answers that he is on the executive committee, so he is like management, and does not have to practice. One of the cheerleader boys comes up to Miki from behind, grabs her sides just under her arms, and lifts her up into the air a little bit. Miki's cheerleader shirt is pulled upward, exposing her slender, pretty bare midriff, and her tiny, attractive navel. Miki screams to **put her down** ! A hearty round of laughter and applause breaks forth from all the boys. However, Itsuki is incensed, and shouts out, **"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"** The boy merely states that he was only checking as to how heavy Miki is. This because the other boy cheerleaders want to make a human pyramid, and Miki looks to be so delicate and light, so as to be a natural for the topmost person. **" ENOUGH WITH THAT, PUT "HIM" DOWN AT ONCE!!! "**, commands Itsuki. The boy, still holding Miki in the air (she is so, so light as a feather) gently puts Miki down.

In a little while, outdoor practice begins. Of course, the cheerleader boys want to practice the human pyramid. This they do. One by one they position themselves in layer after layer. Now the only position left is at the very top, room for one solo 'light as a feather' person. Miki carefully climbs up, layer by layer, until she is standing upright at the very top, with her feet on the backs of Itsuki and another boy. Miki, however, is shaking like a leaf. She apologizes to Itsuki for her foot on his back, but Itsuki tells her that he is okay. The other boy turns his head to look up at Miki to see what is going on and if Miki is okay, just as Itsuki also looks up. Itsuki is the first to see the dilemma, and quickly and deftly elbows the other boy to distract his upward gaze. What Itsuki saw looking up at Miki was a horror that would make *Night of the Living Dead* look like a little girl's birthday party. A danger not anticipated! Miki is standing up at the top of the pyramid, but when seen from below, this means that one could see her cheerleader panties underneath her small, pleated mini-skirt. But for one problem; Miki is a girl who still has 'boy bits'. And all this is making for a small, round bulge between her legs, tightly outlined by her girl's panties. *" Houston, we have a problem!!! "* The other boy protests the almighty poke that Itsuki gave him, but it was for the better good. Thankfully, the boy's pyramid held steady, with no incidents, and no one else noticed Miki's unwanted male trademark.

The two boys who are co-captains of the all boy's cheer squad are discussing the results of the practice so far. One boy says that there were no unexpected problems that came up. The other boy says that the pyramid was amazingly simple to do. Two more boys carrying a shopping bag, come upon Miki and Itsuki. They make the comment that it is not right that Itsuki is cuter, and stands out more than Miki. Therefore, one of the boys reaches into the shopping bag, and places a long haired wig upon Miki's head, stating that they borrowed the wigs from the Drama Club. With the longer hair, Miki now looks like the 'spitting image' of a super cute, awesomely talented girl cheerleader. (Just what Itsuki wanted to avoid!) Itsuki goes ballistic---

" **NOOOOOOOO !!!!!!! NO WIGS !!!!!!! MIKI IS JUST FINE AS THEY ARE !!! "**

Itsuki tears the wig off of Miki, before is sinks into anyone that Miki, who wears long hair regularly after school anyway, is actually a boy transitioning to a "super cute, awesomely talented" authentic girl. The two boys whisper to one another that Itsuki is acting weird today. And, yea, he is being so frantic for some reason. Meanwhile, a ways away, Itsuki is scolding Miki, telling her that she needs to be discerning, and refuse offers more often (see Chapter 1). Miki, almost brought to the point of tears, apologizes profusely. She says that she will do better. Itsuki counters by saying that he probably did overreact. The two boys with the shopping bag now approach Miki and Itsuki with an alternate plan. They say that they already thought about it, and ask Itsuki if he would possibly consider standing on top of the human pyramid himself ? Why ? Because, although Itsuki got angry about Miki wearing a wig, Itsuki himself is wearing a girl's long haired wig right now! And with the wig styled into two provocative twin tails with ribbons, Itsuki looks so much more feminine, girly, and downright sexy (Izumi's earlier handiwork) than Miki does anyway. " I guess. ", spits out Itsuki. The boys say that choice should have been the case from the start !

The practice for the day finished without further incident. Miki was reassigned to the cheerleader troupe that would do routines on the ground. Itsuki did, indeed, make it to the top of the pyramid. However, he grabbed onto and pulled the hair of the two boys underneath him for support and balance as he arose to standing on the top. The two boys loudly complained that pulling their hair hurts, and having Itsuki stand on their backs makes for a super heavy load to bear. Itsuki loudly and compassionately voices his concern for the two boys underneath him---

***" SHUT UP AND HOLD STILL !!! "***

And nobody noticed that Itsuki, for presenting as a girl, also had 'the male trademark' that was so delicately and fashionably revealed by the skin-tight fitted girl's cheerleader panties that he was wearing under his pleated cheerleader mini-skirt !!!

Also after the practice session, Hasegawa makes his way to the Infirmary. Earlier, Izumi had left the Infirmary, and in fact, slammed the door in Hasegawa's face. But later, after he had left, she came back to lie down on one of the beds, exhausted. Sure enough, Hasegawa finds Izumi-chan in bed, wearing her female school uniform, and offers her a cup of cold juice. Izumi is awake with her back to Hasegawa, but says nothing. Must still be angry from earlier. Hasegawa says that he will leave the cup of juice on a low bookshelf for when she is ready for it. Izumi, with her back to him, addresses him with a question---

" Why did you try and make me go to practice ? "

Taken aback by the question, Hasegawa stammers a response. He says that he though it would be a good idea for Izumi to get out and do things, so as to meet more people and to get along with them. Izumi says that was just meddlesome, since she, Izumi, already has you guys as friends. Hasegawa perks up and asks if 'you guys' includes him? Izumi states that she just does not know for sure.

The day of the Cultural Festival was bright and sunny. Everyone had a good time, both participants and attendees. However, the Cultural Festival is nearing it's end, as Miki and Itsuki sit on the grassy ground and watch the 'winding down' happenings that are going on. Miki, still wearing her cheerleader oufit, giggles, and remarks to Itsuki that the festival was *so much fun !* Itsuki comments that it must be great to be so carefree. Miki questions that Itsuki already has changed out of his cheerleader costume? Of course, as if he would keep wearing it a second longer than necessary. Itsuki is wearing an athletic shirt and casual pants. Miki observes that he wore the costume for her sake, right (so Miki could enjoy the festival as a covert, unnoticed girl)? I guess so!

" Why? ", inquires Miki.

Miki pleads that she is always causing so much trouble for Itsuki, and yet why is he always worried about her and taking care of her? Itsuki stands up and says that it doesn't matter. He tells Miki, let's go. Itsuki begins to walk away, but Miki only stands up, is embarrassed as 'all get out', and is shaking like a leaf. She calls out to Itsuki....... what ???

***" I ........."***, stutters a trembling Miki, her hands folded, and placed over her heart.

**" I.......I.......lov........"**, continues an unwary Miki, with her heart pounding away like a drop forge machine.

" Haa! What is it? Finish what you are saying! ", blurts out Itsuki, loud enough to attract the attention of a couple of boys who are eating snacks and still wearing their cheerleader outfits. " Don't just stop in the middle ............ "

Miki apologizes, as she can't go on any further, what with so much attention being focused on her right now. Miki, like the shy, teenage girl that she is, gives up and runs away. Itsuki follows after her, shouting Miki's name over and over. The two boys in the cheerleader outfits look on with interest and delight---

" .......what the hell .........?........"

" Beats me.......... "

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Click on Omake 6.5 to be taken to the next part of the story.