When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 67: Cross-dressing Rihito-chan's Failure.

Cross-dressing Rihito-chan’s Failure.

“U-Um, I’d like to settle the bill, please.”

“…”

Unexpectedly, the cashier is Sajou-san. The other staff members have retreated to the back, and they are nowhere to be seen.

Thinking that perhaps I should have waited a bit longer is now a regretful afterthought.

To avoid being recognized by my voice, I speak as softly as possible and hesitantly extend my smartphone with the electronic payment screen open.

“P-Please…”

“…………”

I feel a piercing gaze. Sweat threatens to pour down my face.

Being afraid of my makeup running is a first in my life. It’s not an experience I ever desired, nor one I ever wanted to have.

“E-Excuse me…?”

While hiding my face with my smartphone, I manage to eke out the words. Sajou-san silently scans the QR code displayed on my screen. The sound of the payment confirmation, “Tiron,” rings out.

“Thank you very much.”

It seemed suspicious, but there shouldn’t be any definitive evidence. Please let it be so. I’m begging you.

Without even taking the receipt, I dart out of the café as if fleeing.

The autumn wind rustles the trees and brushes against my sweat-drenched cheeks. I can feel the difference in temperature between the inside and the outside.

It feels as if a sudden chill has set in. I wipe the back of my neck as if to remove the sensation.

“I was really off my game…”

Without realizing it, a self-mocking murmur escapes my lips. My shoulders slump as if the tension has drained away.

As much as I want to remain in this melancholic state, letting the wind soothe me, I can’t afford to do so.

Sajou-san’s shift will end soon, and right now, I am dressed as a girl.

This is not a look suitable for public viewing. If my parents saw me, they would cry. If my sister saw me, she would laugh through her tears.

“I need to get home and change quickly, or I’ll end up having to explain myself in the doorway.”

Determined to avoid that scenario, I jog across the crosswalk before the blinking blue light changes to red.

***

“Welcome back.”

“…I’m home.”

After some time had passed since I returned home.

I greeted Sajou-san, who had just come back from her part-time job, at the entrance. Immediately, he gave me a suspicious look.

“W-What is it?”

“…Nothing.”

Her intense gaze made my heart race, but he said nothing and walked past me.

Does he suspect something?

Though my heart was pounding, Sajou-san simply said, “I’ll prepare dinner, so please wait.”

Yes, everything’s fine. Everything’s fine.

I repeated this mantra in my mind to reassure myself, but I couldn’t shake off the unusually strong feeling of being watched.

Even as we sat down for dinner, her gaze did not waver; in fact, it felt even more intense.

“…(Stare)”

“…(Sweating)”

I couldn’t stand the oppressive scrutiny any longer; it was killing my appetite.

I didn’t want to ask. I really didn’t want to ask, but I had no choice.

I put down my chopsticks and rice bowl on the table.

Raising my downcast eyes, I met her half-lidded black eyes directly.

“Is there something on my face…?”

I asked cautiously. Sajou-san placed her chopsticks on the table with a clink.

I felt a tense atmosphere, like a child about to be scolded by their parents, and my shoulders jumped.

Unexpectedly, she reached out her hand, and I instinctively shut my eyes tightly.

What’s she going to do? Bracing myself for whatever might come, I felt something soft yet firm brush against my lower lip.

W-What was that?

I opened my eyes in surprise to find Sajou-san’s thumb there.

The pad of her thumb was stained with what looked like red paint.

She had traced my lips with her finger. This realization made my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

At the same time, I was puzzled. Why had she done such a thing so suddenly?

Unable to comprehend, I stammered, “Huh? Wh-What?” while she pressed her now red thumb against her own lips, slowly tracing them.

“Ah…” I let out a small sound as if air escaped from my throat.

Her lips, now faintly colored, looked as if she had applied lipstick.

“…Do you have this kind of hobby?”

W-What!?

At that moment, it finally dawned on me.

I had forgotten to remove my makeup!

Whether it was due to my physical and mental exhaustion or my rush to change clothes before Sajou-san returned, I had completely forgotten to take off my makeup.

Why, how could this happen…!?

What a blunder. I wished I could undo everything, but of course, it was already too late.

“W-When did you notice…!?”

“When you were taking a picture of the cappuccino. You had the same smartphone.”

Am I an idiot?!

What a devastating mistake.

In my effort to emulate a high school girl’s behavior, I completely overlooked the obvious clue left by my belongings.

“…Well, I suspected something from the moment I saw you.”

Sajou-san’s voice, tinged with exasperation, carried a rare, sadistic smile.

“Fufu~. We look forward to your next visit, Rihito-chan.”

“I swear I’ll never dress up as a girl again!”

Overwhelmed by the sheer embarrassment, I collapsed, writhing and groaning in humiliation.

The only consolation was seeing Sajou-san genuinely laugh for the first time, a small but joyful sound of amusement.