Living Normally In An Abnormal World - Chapter 23: Before the Meeting

Chapter 23: Before the Meeting

I wake up to the alarm on my cell phone.

“Ah…”

I suppress my lazy feelings and get out of bed. Today is the Touch and Greet event at Saint Athéné Girls’ Academy. I said I would participate, so I can’t back out now, but…

“But looking at this schedule, there’s just no way… “

06:00 – Gather at the venue and prepare dresses

07:00 – Interact with female students

10:30 – Storytime with kindergarten and nursery school children

12:00 – Lunch

13:00 – Interact with female students

20:00 – End

…Considering the travel time, I’d have to wake up at 4 am. This is like going to Comiket on the first train.

And then, they’ll probably want me to do a signing or something, since they asked, “Won’t you be signing autographs as well, Yuuto-sama?” So, I designed one, just in case.

“MANA, Yuuna, wake up.”

The entire Kinoshita family will be participating today. After that discussion, I felt bad about leaving Yuuna out, so I invited her. She enthusiastically replied, “I’ll go!”

“Hmm? Ah, five more minutes.”

“Mmm, good morning, Yuu-kun.”

Mana is up, but Yuuna is definitely going to hit the snooze button.

For now, I’ll leave Yuuna to Mana and go make breakfast.

Then, we’ll get ready for the Touch and Greet and head to the venue in Mana’s car.

–Venue–

“Wha…Whoa”

Everyone, including me, is stunned.

As soon as we enter, there’s a 50-meter-long red carpet, an orchestra playing, and a huge sign that says:

**”Our Deepest Gratitude to Kinoshita Yuuto-sama”**

And the young ladies participating today are lined up neatly beside the red carpet, bowing deeply to welcome me:

“‘We sincerely thank you for joining us today at the Saint Athéné Girls’ Academy Touch and Greet!'”

The scale and grandeur of this reception are beyond what a regular person would experience. Well, I suppose it’s to be expected since the perspectives of nobility and commoners are inherently different.

But I can’t help but think…

*(Wow, the nobility is insane.)*

Mana, Yuuna, and I walk on the red carpet. After a while, Hayashi-san comes to greet us.

“Kinoshita-sama, thank you for joining us today.”

“No, it’s our promise,” I reply. We exchange a few more pleasantries, and it’s finally time to get ready. Mana, Yuuna, and I separate and head to our respective dressing rooms.

“It’s been a while, Yuuto-kun~♡ Have you been well~?”

In the dressing room, Sakata Luna-san was waiting for me.

She’s the one who helped me choose a dress for my first party. Well, I ended up wearing the wedding dress she made for that party.

Since then, she’s told me that she’s received several orders for wedding dresses, although they’re apparently not for actual weddings but just for wearing.

Whenever Maria and I attend parties, Sakata-san always helps us with our outfits. Well, most of the time, it involves me cross-dressing, so she complains, “I want to dress you in a nice dress~.”

“This time, it’s a dress, right?”

“Yes, please help me.”

“Ufuufufuufu♪ I’ve been looking forward to this so much!”

Sakata-san brings over several dresses and approaches me eagerly.

*(Here we go again with the dress-up game)*, I think to myself.

All I can do is ask, “Please be quick about it, okay?”

“Fufufufu… It might take a while.”

Why?!

–Mana’s Side–

“This way, please.”

We are guided to the dressing room by an attendant.

“Thank you.”

“Mama, hurry up and change so we can go see Nii-cha!”

“Yes, let’s go see Yuu-kun’s dress soon.”

Yuuna is eager to see Yuu-kun’s dress. I feel the same way.

It goes without saying, but Yuu-kun is handsome. Anyone would be captivated and turn to look at him if he walked down the street without cross-dressing.

He’s also kind. He’s polite to strangers and knows how to interact with women. Even if he knows how to interact, it’s understandable that people fall for him.

He’s turned down confessions but has received many love letters. He couldn’t date them, but he corresponded with them through letters. Almost every night, after putting Yuuna to bed, I would see him writing replies in the living room.

A fan club was formed, and a newspaper featuring Yuu-kun was made. When Yuu-kun found out, he was initially flabbergasted but eventually acknowledged their existence.

How far will my son’s kindness go?

Well, it’s a secret that I’ve been secretly getting that newspaper every week.

This time, we’ll be meeting young ladies from some prestigious families. It’s already rare to see them outside of work, but now they’re everywhere I look.

They all claim to be Yuu-kun’s fans, but I’m sure they actually just want to form an engagement.

I hope nothing bad happens…

“Mama! Let’s go!”

Yuuna pulls on the hem of my suit, urging me to hurry up.

“You’re so impatient.”

“I want to see Nii-cha’s dress!”

So, Yuuna and I head to the venue, but when we arrive, we don’t see Yuu-kun anywhere.

I ask one of the nearby servants, “Where’s Yuu-kun?”

“He’s still changing. I wonder when he’ll be out.”

Hmm, we still have some time, so it’s fine. Let’s just confirm if he’s in the dressing room.

I knock on the dressing room door a few times and ask, “Yuu-kun, are you there?”

“I’m here~”

I hear Yuu-kun’s voice, and I feel a little relieved.

“Now, Yuuto-kun, please put this on next!!”

“Eh, isn’t this one too revealing?”

“It’s fine!! It’s for my collection anyway.”

“A collection?!”

Wow, I want to see that. As I’m thinking this, Yuuna bursts in without warning. It’s too late to stop her, and she’s already standing next to the designer.

After looking at Yuu-kun’s dresses for a while, Yuuna says, “High exposure is good, but Nii-cha should go for something more flashy. Like pink.”

“My, you know your stuff. And what’s your name, dear?”

“I’m Yuuna, Nii-cha’s little sister!”

“Hee… A little sister, huh? Then it shouldn’t be a problem for you to be in this dressing room.”

No, it’s a problem!

“Is that woman Yuuto-kun’s mother?”

“Eh? Ah, yes, I’m Yuu-kun’s mother, Mana.”

“Sakata Luna. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“Oh, Mana. How’s this? Wearing something with a higher exposure level might be nice for a change.”

Yuu-kun shows me a red qípáo.

…It’s very sexy.

“It suits you.”

“Thank you, but I won’t be wearing this at the venue, though.”

“Of course, Yuuto-kun. If you wore this, the young ladies might eat you up.”

“Oh, I’d rather not have that.”

“Alright, enough dress-up. Now, put this on.”

She brings out a light pink wedding dress.

“This is the only option for you.”

“But I don’t have a fiancée…”

“Don’t worry, Nii-cha! I’m your wife!”

Yuuna makes a strong statement with a fist pump.

“What?!”

Yuu-kun is surprised by her statement, and I can’t help but smile at their familiar exchange.

“Alright, alright, let’s get changed~”

So, Yuu-kun starts to change into the wedding dress.

Yuu-kun in a wedding dress is even more beautiful and cool than he was two years ago.

“Mana, Yuuna, let’s take a picture.”

Of course, there’s no reason to refuse. Yuuna and I feel the same way.

We take pictures. Yuuna and I are both holding Yuu-kun’s arms. Yuu-kun smiles and doesn’t mind.

There’s only happiness in this moment.

“Now, it’s time for the Touch and Greet. I know it’ll be tough, but do your best, okay?”

“Yes.”

“See you later♪”

Sakata-san blows a kiss, and Yuu-kun returns the gesture. According to Yuu-kun, this is their way of greeting each other.

…I’m a little jealous.

So, we left the dressing room.

A little time passes, and an announcement echoes throughout the venue:

**”The Touch and Greet will now begin.”**

In the next moment—

DotaDOTA! !

The young ladies rush towards Yuu-kun as if they’re causing an earthquake.

Then, they—

Pick him up—

And take him away?!

“Yuu-kun!!””Nii-cha?!?”

“Ah, there you are. Mana, Yuuna-chan.”

“Yes. Where’s Yuuto-sama?”

Maria-chan and Erina have joined us now.

But more importantly,

“He’s been taken away.”

” “Eh?!?” “

The Touch and Greet has just begun.