The Story of a Man Who Vowed to Not Let Any Man Come Between Yuri, Only to Find Himself Caught in Between Them - Chapter 10: The Path to the Yuri Garden

Chapter 10: The Path to the Yuri Garden

“Sakuya Ihomote-kun, that’s who you are, isn’t it?”

With unwavering conviction, she spoke to me with such powerful eyes.

Although I was surprised by her statement, I didn’t nod in agreement just because of it… well, I was just slow to react.

“Oh? Was I wrong?”

“…”

I wondered what the right answer was. 

However, just by remaining silent, I was already incriminating myself, and continuing to remain silent would only make things worse.

“… Haah.”

“Wow, that was a big sigh. That means I’m right, huh?”

I nodded.

In situations like this, if I were an anime or manga character, I would reveal my true face without hesitation. 

Unfortunately, there were kids playing around everywhere, so I couldn’t show my face and shatter their dreams.

“Let’s see… yeah, never mind how you found out, but I am certainly Sakuya Ihomote. I can’t show my true face here though.”

“I understand. So… it really was you, Ihomote-kun.”

“May I ask how you figured it out anyway?”

Then Aizawa told me.

She said that she figured out my age from our conversation, as well as the name “Saku-chan” that the old lady had mentioned before, and the incident of the Horni Yuri Academy.

“Aizawa-san, please don’t mention that yuri manga anymore! I’ve been worried about it… really!”

“I-I’m sorry! Well, not only the cover was impactful, but the title itself was so…”

“…”

Anyone, please kill me now.

As I was thinking she said,

“But you know? Yuka might have started to notice it before me. That girl was suspicious because Ihomote-kun and Tsukki’s voices sounded similar.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Even though your voice changed a bit through the costume, that girl has always been sensitive to people’s voices… so maybe she’d figured it out.”

“…Hmm.”

“But you know, when I think about it, there were a lot of hints, weren’t there?”

“Well, yeah.”

Indeed, there were many hints.

However, as long as I stayed in my Tsukki form, I wasn’t caught, but when I intervened in the exchange with those girls in person, I was the end of my luck.

“Alright, I have to go back to work now since the break is over.”

“Okay, see you later♪”

What does she mean by “see you later” I wondered, but the work comes first!

On the way back, Minase came back from the restroom and saw me off, but I guess by the looks of her, she probably knew that the person inside Tsukki was me… well, it’s too late now once Aizawa finds out.

“What’s wrong, Tsukki?”

“Troubled?”

“Haha. Did I look like that? It’s no big deal. Here’s some candies for you guys.”

“Wow!”

“Thank you, Tsukki!”

Yeah, seeing these kids smile makes me forget my worries.

After fulfilling my duties as Tsukki, I took off the costume and greeted the old man and old lady.

“Well then, see you later. Thanks for today!”

“Thanks again, Sakuya.”

“Take care, Sakuchan.”

When I left the department store, there were still children playing outside.

However, the children who approached me as Tsukki didn’t approach me now that I had taken off my armor, which was the difference between me, a normal guy, and Tsukki.

However, due to what had just happened, things were different this time.

“… They haven’t gone home yet.”

Minase and Aizawa were sitting on the bench, chatting happily.

As I was thinking that maybe I should just pretend not to remember and just go home, Minase noticed me out of the corner of her eye, and Aizawa also noticed and waved to me .

“I guess I have to go over there.”

In the classroom, their expressions were not indifferent like usual, but now their expressions towards me were no different than towards Tsukki. 

I felt relieved that I didn’t seem to be perceived as someone disgusted.

“So… you really waited for me?”

“I said I’d wait for you, didn’t I?”

“It seems like a lot happened while I was gone. Tsukki… I mean, is it okay if I call you Ihomote-kun? Did Mai cause any trouble?”

“Why do you have to make it sound so bad?!”

As soon as I joined up, the two of them began to flirt with each other, which was a feast for the eyes. 

While it wasn’t as intense as one might expect, and while Aizawa hadn’t really caused any trouble, it was true that I was surprised by her sudden remark, so it wasn’t entirely a mistake.

(Hey hey… two beautiful girls are flirting. What the hell… isn’t this the best scene in the world?)

While it seemed like no more than friendly play between the two of them at the moment, since I knew about their relationship, I could still feel a certain respect for them.

Was I really making a Buddha-like face right now? 

When the two of them noticed my expression, they chuckled and shook their shoulders.

“I knew it. Tsukki is Ihomote-kun after all.”

“Yeah. He’s looking at us with such happiness.”

“Ah!”

It was only natural to feel embarrassed when pointed out, so I turned away to hide my embarrassment.

“Ihomote-kun, why don’t you sit down first… oh, that’s right. Which side do you prefer to sit on, me or Yuka?”

“That’s right. You said you didn’t intend to sit in the middle, right? So you have to tell us which side to sit on.”

“…”

These two… are they making fun of me?

Although I was urged to sit between the two of them, I stood in front of them, looking down at the bench where they were sitting.

“Once again, I am Sakuya Ihomote. I work as Tsukki… um, if possible, I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about it too much.”

“Why are you using honorifics?”

“That’s right, it feels like there’s a distance between us, doesn’t it? Besides, I won’t say anything about this, so please be relieved.”

Using honorifics was just a formality, and it was something I would appreciate if they didn’t mention too much.

It’s common to have your workplace or part-time job exposed, but Tsukki had become a somewhat famous white bear in the area. 

So it felt a bit uncomfortable for me to be known as the person inside… but well, these two seem like they’ll keep my secret safe, so I feel relieved.

(When I think about it, in a way, I’m blessed with good connections. Friends who affirm my hobbies and keep my secrets, and a kind yuri couple I met by chance and started talking with… they’re not exactly normal, but I’m grateful for them.)

“Well then, I guess that’s fine. Oh, and there’s one more thing I want to ask…”

“What is it?”

“Tell, tell?”

“Could you please never mention Horni Yuri Academy again…?”

“…Fufu.”

“Aahaha♪”

I bowed my head and earnestly asked them not to talk about Horni Yuri Academy. 

Aizawa understood, and Minase didn’t seem to mind at all, so that was a relief.

“It’s okay. I don’t plan on meddling in someone’s interests.”

“Yeah, and like I said earlier, I thought Ihomote-kun was really positive about girls’ love, so it was a great discovery, you know?”

“…”

…Positive, huh? I’ve said it many times, but I really do love yuri.

I don’t know when I started liking it so much, but I can confidently say that I do.

“That’s why Mai and I thought… we want to be friends with you.”

“Friends…?”

“Yeah. You were the first guy we liked, so… oh, and by first, I don’t mean it in a lewd way, okay?”

“Uhh…”

“Mai, you’re so quick to turn pink in the head like that.”

“Ehh? This much is normal, you know?”

Oh, they’re flirting again… I watched them closely and replied,

“Well… as Tsukki, I’ve heard a lot from you two. That you’re not good with guys, and you don’t want to get involved if you can help it. And… well, I just want to watch you two from the sidelines, you know? That’s how I feel.”

Yes, this was everything to me.

Certainly, as a single man, I was very happy to be able to meet beautiful girls like them in any way possible… but! I still wanted to be the one who watched, and that feeling never changed.

“Does that mean we can’t be friends?”

“Can’t we just… get along?”

The two of them lowered their eyes in shock.

“No, it’s not that… umm, so… ughhh!!”

I was frustrated that I couldn’t convey my thoughts properly!

As I was spinning my head trying to figure out how to say it, the two suddenly moved closer… and kissed.

“…Huh?”

The kiss was only a touch, but the sight of the two gazing at each other with reddened cheeks was still beautiful, like a scene you would only see in a video game or comic book.

After one more quick kiss, the two looked at me and said,

“We can show you more than this, you know?”

“Yeah? In the closest place, just for you, Ihomote-kun?”

It was a devilish whisper, an invitation to the Legendary Yuri Garden.