The Contract of Natsuhi, The Cage of Clothes

The arrival of summer break was like pressing the pause button on the tense rhythm of Advanced Nurturing High School. The campus had emptied considerably, leaving only the clamorous cicadas to declare summer's sovereignty. For Kazama In, the holiday didn't mean total relaxation—training, reading, and handling certain "matters" inconvenient to deal with during the semester still occupied his time. And of course, there was that "apology" promise with Sakayanagi Arisu.

On his communicator, Sakayanagi Arisu's message came direct, carrying her signature, unrefusable sweetness: "In-nii~ First day of summer break, the sun is just right, perfect for keeping a promise (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ Meet me at the school's south gate at 2 PM. I'll take you somewhere fun~ Wear clothes that are easy to move in. PS: No refusals allowed."

Kazama In looked at the screen, his ink-black eyes showing no ripple. He knew this childhood friend and Class A ruler's personality well—her so-called "fun places" usually meant trouble. But the "apology" was something he'd agreed to himself, and keeping his word was part of his code of conduct. He replied with a simple "Understood."

2 PM, school's south gate.

Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair, pushed by Kamuro Sumire. She wore an exquisite white lace dress and a small sun hat, like the most expensive doll in a shop window. Seeing Kazama In arrive on time (still in his simple black T-shirt and pants), she broke into a brilliant smile and waved her little hand: "In-nii, right on time!"

"Where to?" Kazama In cut straight to the point.

"A place that can lift your spirits~" Sakayanagi teased, signaling Kamuro to push her forward. "Just follow and you'll find out."

The destination was inside an artistically rich building near the school—the "Light and Shadow Box" modeling club. Pushing open the door, cold air rushed out, mixing with faint scents of fabric, cosmetics, and coffee. In the bright, spacious room, various photography equipment, clothing racks, and makeup stations were set up. Several seniors were busy—some organizing clothes, others adjusting lights.

"Sakayanagi-senpai! You're here!" A sharp, capable senior with a high ponytail greeted her warmly, her gaze immediately landing on Kazama In behind her. Her eyes exploded with admiration and professional appraisal. "So this is... Kazama-kun?"

Kazama In gave a slight nod. "I'm Kazama In."

"Wow! Even more striking than in the photos!" The senior didn't hide her praise, circling around him. "This body proportion, this bone structure, this cold aura... a natural clotheshorse! Sakayanagi-senpai wasn't lying!"

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled elegantly. "Senior Shimizu, I've brought the person. Don't forget our 'agreement.'"

Senior Shimizu immediately patted her chest in assurance. "Don't worry! The points will satisfy you!" She turned to Kazama In, her smile overly eager. "Kazama-kun, here's the thing. Our modeling club often needs to shoot catalogs in different styles—for school promotional materials or some small outside projects. But quality male models... ahem, are pretty scarce. Sakayanagi-senpai recommended you, and we looked at some... um... everyday photos she provided. We think you perfectly fit the 'versatility' we need!"

She leaned in, lowering her voice with a coaxing tone: "If you're willing to cooperate with us on a few sets of photos in different styles as our club's reserve material, we'll pay you personal points per set! Absolutely fair! And we guarantee the photos will only be used for our internal library or school non-commercial promotions—no misuse! What do you say? Points to earn!"

The lure of points. Kazama In's weak spot was precisely targeted.

His ink-black eyes swept over Senior Shimizu's eager face, then glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu, who was smiling like a cat that got the cream. "Sakayanagi's 'apology'... is essentially using me to earn points while indulging her own amusement?" He instantly grasped the connection. But points... were indeed resources he needed.

"How much exactly?" Kazama In's voice remained calm.

Senior Shimizu named a considerable figure, adding, "And if the results are especially good, there's a bonus!"

Kazama In was silent for three seconds. Assess the risk (photo usage controllable), the reward (substantial points), and... fulfilling his "apology" to Sakayanagi. He nodded. "Fine."

"Great!" Senior Shimizu and several other members cheered. Sakayanagi Arisu's smile grew sweeter, her eyes gleaming with the light of a plan executed perfectly.

What followed made Kazama In feel like a meticulously arranged doll.

He was led to the makeup area. The makeup senior looked at his overly perfect, cold face, clicking her tongue in amazement. She applied only the lightest foundation, slightly refined his contours, and emphasized his already deep, sharp brows and eyes and his slightly pale lips. "This face... doesn't need much work. The raw coldness is the greatest weapon!" she sighed.

Then came the "nightmare" of changing clothes.

Under Sakayanagi Arisu's enthusiastic "guidance" and Senior Shimizu's professional coordination, Kazama In was forced to try one outfit after another, each wildly different in style:

Cold Elite Style: A perfectly tailored dark gray three-piece suit with gold-rimmed, non-prescription glasses. Kazama In just stood there, slightly tilting his head toward the camera, expressionless. The aura of someone in control, untouchable, washed over the room. Shutters clicked furiously. Sakayanagi rested her chin on her hand, eyes full of appreciation. "In-nii really looks best in a suit! Like a young emperor ruling a financial empire~"

Gothic Knight Style: A deep blue velvet coat with intricate embroidery, a white lace shirt underneath, tight riding pants, and tall boots. The outfit was ornate to the point of flamboyance, creating a stark contrast with Kazama In's cold temperament. When he was forced to hold a prop longsword and strike a slightly stiff pose, it oddly merged into a tragic, medieval, celibate knight vibe. Sakayanagi laughed even more. "Oh my, In-nii even has the potential to be a 'princess's' guardian knight!"

Street Hip-Hop Style: Ripped jeans, an oversized graffiti hoodie, metal chains, and a baseball cap. Kazama In wore the cap expressionlessly, hands in his pockets. His "stay away" aura forcefully turned "cool streetwear" into "stay away or die" gang leader vibes. Senior Shimizu wiped her sweat. "Kazama-kun... could you... loosen up a bit? Give us a 'cool' feel?" Kazama In: "..." (Internally: Isn't this 'cool' enough?)

Traditional Yukata Style: A deep navy yukata loosely tied, revealing his clearly defined collarbone. He stood barefoot on a simulated ancient courtyard set, slightly tilting his head up, eyes vacant. Rain-like lights fell on him, outlining a beauty of solitary detachment. Sakayanagi watched without blinking, whispering to Senior Shimizu, "This one... print an extra copy for me."

Sporty Style: This was the most uncomfortable for Kazama In. A bright yellow athletic tank top and shorts exposed his well-trained muscles. He was asked to mimic jumping, shooting, and other actions. He completed every instruction expressionlessly, movements as standard as a textbook, but utterly devoid of "vitality"—more like a precision machine executing orders. The photographer was at a loss between laughter and tears. "Kazama-kun... imagine sunshine! The beach! Sweat! The throbbing of youth!" Kazama In: "..." (Internally: Sweat, yes. Throbbing? None.)

With each outfit change, Sakayanagi Arisu acted like she was playing a large-scale dress-up game, eagerly directing his poses, angles, and even personally adjusting the folds of his collar and the turn of his cuffs. She held a small notebook, diligently recording each outfit's number, style, and her own comments. Kazama In was like an emotionless mannequin, letting himself be arranged, silently calculating the points accumulating.

The shoot went exceptionally smoothly, yielding a wealth of high-quality photos. Senior Shimizu was grinning ear to ear, promising points generously. Just as Kazama In thought the ordeal was over, Sakayanagi Arisu's big blue eyes twinkled mischievously. She leaned in and whispered a few words to Senior Shimizu.

Senior Shimizu was stunned for a moment, then looked at Kazama In with even more blazing intensity, a wild joy like discovering a new continent! She clapped excitedly: "Brilliant! Sakayanagi-senpai! That idea is genius! Kazama-kun! One more set! Just one! This set, triple the points! No! Quintuple!"

Kazama In's internal alarm bells rang, a wave of foreboding washing over him. "What style?"

Senior Shimizu took a deep breath and shouted with all her might: "CROSS-DRESSING!"

The entire studio fell silent. Even the senior organizing equipment stopped, staring dumbfounded.

Kazama In: "..." He felt a crack appear in his iceberg facade. He whipped his head toward Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair, hands cupping her cheeks, smiling like the purest angel, but her eyes sparkled with demonic light: "In-nii~ Don't look at me like that~ I just think, with your looks, not trying cross-dressing would be a crime against nature! And the points are quintupled! Quintuple!" She held up five pale fingers, wiggling them.

Quintuple points! That number slammed like a hammer into Kazama In's "frugal and thrifty" nerves. "...An irresistible amount of points... Sakayanagi's twisted amusement..." His inner self waged war. The dignity of "The Arbiter" roared in refusal, but the lure of points was too great... And he had signed an agreement to cooperate with the shoot; technically, he couldn't refuse the club president's request.

Kazama In's expression flickered, finally settling into an icy resolve bordering on facing death. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, only a resigned, frozen pool remained. "...The clothes."

"Hurry! Bring out the 'Moonlight' series set!" Senior Shimizu directed excitedly. Several seniors scrambled to push over a clothing rack.

When that "cross-dressing" outfit was revealed before Kazama In, even he had to admit the design was exquisite—not revealing, even quite "conservative," but... extremely sensual.

It was a modified gothic dress. The main body was deep, ink-black satin, tailored to fit the waist perfectly before flaring into a fishtail hem. A high collar was inlaid with fine black lace, subtly veiling the neck. The most unique part was the upper body, which used a corset-like design made of elastic black leather, decorated with silver chains and dark patterns, cleverly shaping and slightly lifting the chest (requiring special padding inside). The sleeves were semi-transparent black gauze, reaching the elbows. It came with knee-high black patent leather heeled boots (with internal lifts) and a small hat with black gauze.

"This 'Dark Night Rose' set! Kazama-kun—no, Kazama-chan—you are its destined one!" Senior Shimizu's eyes blazed.

What followed was, for Kazama In, a dual torment of spirit and flesh.

He was pushed into the changing room. With the "professional" help of two seniors (Kazama In kept his eyes shut the whole time, body stiff), he struggled into the outfit. The tightness of the corset, the foreign sensation of the padding, the awkwardness of the heels... every element tested his limits.

When he was half-pushed, half-guided out of the changing room, the entire studio fell into dead silence.

Time seemed to freeze.

Standing under the lights was no longer the cold, sharp "Arbiter."

The ink-black dress made his exposed neck and arm skin startlingly porcelain-white. The corset design accentuated a stunning waist-to-hip ratio (enhanced by padding). The arms under the gauze sleeves were lean and powerful, yet the half-concealment lent a unique allure. The padded chest, framed by the leather corset, formed a breathtaking curve. His already almost demonically handsome face, under the makeup senior's masterful light touch (emphasizing eyeliner, applying matte dark red lipstick), softened the overly sharp lines and highlighted his delicate features. His cold, phoenix-like eyes, traced with eyeliner, gained a touch of enchantment and aloofness. The small black gauze hat sat askew on his silver-white and dark red short hair, half-veiling his forehead, adding a sense of mystery and decadent beauty.

He stood there expressionless, posture straight (even if a bit unsteady in those high heels), his gaze still icy cold—but that coldness created a devastating chemical reaction with this sexy, mysterious women's outfit! It was a beauty that transcended gender, aggressive and destructive! Like a queen of darkness and desire emerging from the abyss, or a deity fallen to the mortal world, watching coldly from the sidelines.

"Aah..." Someone gasped sharply.

"Goddess... a goddess has descended..."

"My god... is this really a man?!"

"I declare, I'm gay now! No, I'm straight! Ah, I'm confused!"

"Quick! Camera! Film! Memory card! Shoot! Shoot like there's no tomorrow!" Senior Shimizu was the first to react, her voice trembling with excitement.

The shutter sounds erupted again, more frenzied than ever before!

Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her chair, the smile wiped from her face. Her mouth slightly open, her blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on Kazama In under the lights, filled with pure, almost obsessive awe and an indescribable satisfaction. Her little notebook had fallen to the floor without her noticing. "...Even more perfect... than I imagined..." That was the only thought left in her mind.

Kazama In felt like a rare animal on display. He forced himself to ignore those burning gazes and the maddening shutter clicks, following Senior Shimizu's instructions to strike poses—some languid, some cold and proud, some disdainful. Every movement carried his unique, unshakable chill, yet it strangely blended perfectly with the women's outfit, creating a one-of-a-kind, breathtaking beauty. Only one thought occupied his mind: "Hurry up and finish. Points. Five times."

When the last set of photos was done, Kazama In practically charged into the changing room, switching back to his own clothes at record speed. Once he was back in his familiar black T-shirt and pants, he felt like he'd regained a bit of himself. Stepping out, he had returned to the unapproachable "Arbiter," though the lingering, not-yet-faded redness at the tips of his ears betrayed his inner turmoil.

Senior Shimizu grabbed Kazama In's hand excitedly (he subtly pulled it back): "Kazama-kun! No, Kazama-sama! You're a lifesaver for our club! A treasure! I'll transfer the points right away! Five times! No, I don't think that's enough! I'll add a special bonus! If you ever need to come again, please do! We can negotiate the price!" She looked at him like he was a walking gold mine.

Kazama In nodded expressionlessly. When the notification of points arriving chimed on his phone, his battered heart found a sliver of solace.

Sakayanagi Arisu had also returned to normal, putting on her sweet smile again as she wheeled herself over: "Onii-chan~ You worked hard! I had a lot of fun today! As an apology... I'm very satisfied~" She emphasized the word "apology" with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Kazama In glanced at her but said nothing. He just wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.

To "appease" Kazama In (or rather, to keep enjoying the thrill of dominating him), Sakayanagi Arisu suggested watching a lighthearted movie and then having dinner together. Kazama In wanted to refuse, but considering he'd already "sacrificed" this much, a little more wouldn't hurt, so he silently acquiesced.

The movie was a relaxing animated film. Kazama In's mind wandered the whole time, replaying those cringe-inducing scenes from the studio. Sakayanagi, on the other hand, watched with great interest, occasionally whispering comments.

Dinner was at a quiet Western restaurant. Kazama In mechanically cut his steak, chewing without tasting a thing. Sakayanagi ate elegantly, occasionally sneaking glances at the still-cold-faced Kazama In, who was clearly radiating an "I'm done with life" vibe. The smile never left her lips.

"Onii-chan," Sakayanagi set down her knife and fork, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin, then suddenly asked, "Those crossdressing photos... could you send me a copy? Senior Shimizu said they can circulate internally."

Kazama In's knife paused mid-cut, the blade scraping against the plate with a harsh sound. He looked up, his jet-black eyes like a frozen abyss fixed on Sakayanagi, his voice cold enough to shatter ice: "You dare."

Sakayanagi Arisu showed no fear; instead, she smiled even more sweetly: "Oh, just kidding~ Onii-chan is so stingy. But..." She drew out the word, pulling out her phone and waving it, "Back in the studio, I 'accidentally' took a few side shots with my phone~ Perfect angles!"

Kazama In: "..." He felt his temples throbbing. He seriously considered whether to execute a "judgment" right now, target: the little devil smiling like an angel in front of him.

In the end, under Kazama In's almost tangible, icy killing intent, Sakayanagi "regretfully" said she would "treasure it well" and never share it (Kazama In deeply doubted this).

Night fell. Kamuro Sumire led Sakayanagi by the hand, with Kazama In walking silently beside them. The three returned to the dormitory area.

"Well then, Onii-chan, thank you for today's 'apology'~ I'm very~ happy!" Sakayanagi Arisu waved at him in front of the dorm building, her smile dazzlingly bright. "Have a great summer vacation~ Looking forward to 'playing' together again~"

Kazama In watched her disappear into the elevator before letting out a long, silent sigh. He touched the phone in his pocket, feeling the solid satisfaction of the points added, but then remembered that damn women's outfit and the "side shots" on Sakayanagi's phone... A complex mix of humiliation, exhaustion, helplessness, and a tiny bit of comfort from the points surged through him.

"This damn summer vacation 'apology'..." He turned and walked toward his own dorm building, his silhouette looking especially desolate (and full of resentment) under the starlit summer night. The Arbiter Kazama In's summer vacation had officially begun, with this absurd, crossdressing-shadowed opening.