The arrival of summer vacation was like pressing pause on the tense pace of Advanced Nurturing High School. The campus was much emptier, with only the noisy cicadas proclaiming summer's dominion. For Kazama In, vacation didn't mean he could completely let his guard down. Training, reading, and taking care of some "business" that was inconvenient to handle during the school term still occupied his time. And, of course, there was his promise to "make it up" to Sakayanagi Arisu.
Sakayanagi Arisu's message arrived on his communicator, direct and infused with her signature, impossible-to-refuse sweetness:
"Big brother In~ It's the first day of summer vacation, and the sun is shining. Perfect for keeping your promise! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ Meet me at the school's south gate at two this afternoon. I'm taking you somewhere fun~ Remember to wear something comfortable. P.S. No refusing!"
Kazama In looked at the screen, his ink-black eyes calm and unreadable. He knew the personality of this childhood friend and Class A's leader. Her idea of "somewhere fun" often meant trouble. But he had agreed to make it up to her, and keeping his word was part of his principles. He replied with a simple, "Got it."
Two in the afternoon, at the school's south gate.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair, pushed by Kamuro Sumire. She wore an exquisite white lace dress and a little sun hat, looking like the most expensive doll in a shop window. When she saw Kazama In arrive right on time, still dressed in a simple black T-shirt and trousers, a radiant smile bloomed on her face. She waved her little hand. "Big brother In, right on time!"
"Where are we going?" Kazama In got straight to the point.
"Somewhere that'll put you in a good mood~" Sakayanagi kept the destination a secret and gestured for Kamuro to push her along. "Just follow me and you'll see."
Their destination was the Modeling Club, "Light and Shadow Box," in an artfully designed building near the school. When they opened the door, cool air washed over them. The room smelled faintly of fabric, cosmetics, and coffee. The spacious, brightly lit interior was filled with photography equipment, clothing racks, and makeup stations. Several young people who looked like upperclassmen were busy at work, some sorting clothes and others adjusting the lights.
"Sakayanagi! You're here!" A capable-looking upperclassman with her hair in a high ponytail spotted Sakayanagi and hurried over to greet her. Her gaze then fell on Kazama In behind her, and her eyes instantly lit up with a mixture of amazement and professional appraisal. "And this must be... Kazama?"
Kazama In gave a slight nod. "I'm Kazama In."
"Wow! He's even more striking in person than in the photos!" the upperclassman exclaimed without restraint, circling Kazama In once. "Those proportions, those features, that icy aura... He's a natural model! Sakayanagi wasn't exaggerating!"
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled elegantly. "Senior Shimizu, I've brought him, just as promised. Don't forget our 'agreement.'"
Senior Shimizu immediately thumped her chest in assurance. "Don't worry, don't worry! I'll make sure you're happy with the points!" She turned to Kazama In, her smile almost too eager. "Kazama, here's the situation. Our Modeling Club often needs to shoot catalogs in different styles, so we can build up a collection of materials for school promotions and small projects outside school. But good male models... well, they're in short supply. Sakayanagi recommended you, and we looked at some of the... well... casual photos she provided. We thought you'd be a perfect fit for the 'variety' we need!"
She stepped closer and lowered her voice, coaxing him. "All you have to do is cooperate with us for a few shoots in different styles, and we'll pay you personal points for each set. It's a fair deal! And I promise the photos will only be used in our internal library or for noncommercial school promotions. We won't misuse them! What do you say? You could earn some points!"
The lure of points. Kazama In's weakness had been pinpointed perfectly.
His ink-black eyes swept over Senior Shimizu's eager face, then glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu, who was smiling like a cat that had just gotten into the cream. "So Sakayanagi's 'making it up to me' basically means using me to earn points while indulging her own tastes?" He instantly understood the connection. But points... were a resource he needed.
"How much, exactly?" Kazama In's voice remained calm.
Senior Shimizu named a quite substantial figure, then added, "And if the results are especially good, there'll be a bonus!"
Kazama In fell silent for three seconds. He weighed the risks—the photos' usage could be controlled—against the rewards, which were considerable, and the need to fulfill his promise to Sakayanagi. Then he nodded. "All right."
"Wonderful!" Senior Shimizu and several other club members cheered. Sakayanagi Arisu's smile grew even sweeter, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction at a plan well executed.
For the next while, Kazama In felt like a doll being carefully posed and arranged.
They led him to the makeup area. The makeup artist took one look at his impossibly perfect, sharp-featured face and clicked her tongue in amazement. She applied only a very light base, touched up his features slightly, and focused on emphasizing his already deep, piercing eyes and faintly pale lips. "This face... It barely needs any work. That natural, cool look is his greatest asset!" the makeup artist exclaimed.
Then came the "nightmare" of changing outfits.
Under Sakayanagi Arisu's enthusiastic "guidance" and Senior Shimizu's professional styling, Kazama In was forced to try on one wildly different outfit after another:
The cool, elite style: a perfectly tailored dark gray three-piece suit, paired with gold-rimmed glasses with clear lenses. Kazama In merely stood there, turning his head slightly toward the camera. He didn't need to change his expression; an aura of total control and keeping everyone at arm's length washed over the room. The shutter clicked furiously. Sakayanagi rested her chin in her hands, full of admiration. "Big brother In looks best in a suit! Like a young emperor ruling a financial empire~"
A deep blue velvet coat with intricate embroidery, worn over a white lace shirt, with tight breeches and tall boots. The outfit was so extravagant it was almost over the top, a stark contrast with Kazama In's icy demeanor. When he was made to pick up a prop sword and strike a somewhat stiff pose, the combination somehow evoked the tragic austerity of a medieval knight. Sakayanagi laughed even harder. "Oh my, big brother In could be the knight protecting a 'princess'!"
Ripped jeans, an oversized graffiti hoodie, metal chains, and a baseball cap. Kazama In wore the cap expressionlessly, with both hands in his pockets. His keep-away aura turned the trendy look into something more like "Stay back or die," giving him the air of a gang boss. Senior Shimizu wiped her brow. "Could you maybe... loosen up a little, Kazama? Give us more of a 'cool' vibe?" Kazama In said nothing. (In his mind: Wasn't this cool enough?)
A deep navy yukata, loosely tied at the waist to reveal his sharply defined collarbones. Barefoot in a traditional garden set, he tilted his head slightly back, his gaze unfocused. A rain-like wash of light fell on him, tracing a lonely beauty that seemed to belong to another world. Sakayanagi couldn't take her eyes off him. She quietly told Senior Shimizu, "I'd like an extra copy of this one."
This was the outfit that made Kazama In most uncomfortable: a bright yellow tank top and shorts that left his carefully toned muscles on full display. He was asked to jump, shoot hoops, and perform other actions. He carried out each instruction with a blank expression, his movements so precise they looked straight out of a textbook, but utterly devoid of "energy." He seemed more like a finely calibrated machine executing commands. The photographer laughed helplessly. "Try to imagine sunshine! The beach! Sweat! The thrill of youth!" Kazama In said nothing. (In his mind: There's sweat. The thrill? No.)
For each outfit change, Sakayanagi Arisu treated the whole thing like a large-scale dress-up game, enthusiastically directing his poses and angles and even adjusting his collar and cuffs herself. She held a small notebook, carefully recording the number and style of each outfit along with her own comments. Kazama In, meanwhile, was an emotionless coat rack, letting them do as they pleased while silently calculating how many points he was earning.
The shoot went exceptionally smoothly, producing a large number of high-quality photos. Senior Shimizu was grinning from ear to ear and promised the points without hesitation. Just as Kazama In thought the ordeal was nearly over, Sakayanagi Arisu gave him a sly blink and leaned in to whisper a few words in Senior Shimizu's ear.
Senior Shimizu first froze, then looked at Kazama In with even greater excitement, as if she'd discovered an entirely new continent. She clapped her hands in delight. "Brilliant! Sakayanagi, that's a fantastic idea! Kazama, one more set! Just one! We'll triple the points for this set! No, five times!"
Alarm bells rang in Kazama In's mind as an ominous premonition settled 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 upperclassman sorting equipment stopped what she was doing and stared, dumbfounded.
Kazama In: "..." He felt a crack appear in his icy expression. He whipped around to look at Sakayanagi Arisu.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair, cupping her cheeks in both hands and smiling like the purest angel, though her eyes sparkled with a devilish light. "Big brother In~ Don't look at me like that~ I just think it'd be such a waste not to try women's clothes with your looks! And you'll get five times the points! Five times!" She held up five pale fingers and wiggled them.
Five times the points! The number struck the "frugal and thrifty" part of Kazama In like a heavy blow. "The points are impossible to turn down... Sakayanagi's mischievous streak..." He wavered inwardly. The dignity of the Arbiter roared at him to refuse, but the points were too tempting... And he had signed an agreement to cooperate with the shoot, so technically... he couldn't refuse the club president's request.
Kazama In's expression shifted several times before settling into a chill that was almost defiant in its resignation. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, only the icy stillness of a resigned deep pool remained. "...The clothes."
"Quick, quick! Bring out the 'Moonlight' series!" Senior Shimizu directed them excitedly, and several club members hurriedly wheeled over a clothing rack.
When the "women's outfit" was displayed in front of Kazama In, even he had to admit the design was exquisite. It wasn't revealing—in fact, it was quite "conservative"—but it was... incredibly sexy.
It was a modified Gothic-style dress. The main fabric was deep, inky-black satin, cut close to the body to hug the waist before flaring into a mermaid tail at the hem. Its high collar was trimmed with delicate black lace, partly veiling his neck. The most distinctive feature was the bodice, designed like a corset but made of stretchy black leather and decorated with silver chains and subtle patterns. It artfully outlined his chest and gently lifted it (a specially made bust pad had to be worn underneath). The sleeves were translucent black gauze, reaching to his elbows. The outfit came with knee-high black patent leather heeled boots (with hidden lifts) and a little black hat with a veil.
"This 'Dark Night Rose' set! You're its destined wearer, Kazama—no, its destined girl!" Senior Shimizu's eyes shone.
The next part was, for Kazama In, a double torment of mind and body.
They ushered him into the changing room. With two upperclasswomen "professionally" helping him—Kazama In kept his eyes shut and his entire body rigid—he struggled into the outfit. The corset's tightness, the strange feeling of the bust pads, the awkwardness of the heels... Every part tested the limits of his endurance.
When they half-carried, half-guided him out of the changing room, the entire studio fell into a deathly silence.
Time seemed to freeze.
The person standing under the lights was no longer the icy, sharp-edged Arbiter.
The inky-black dress made the skin on his exposed neck and arms look astonishingly pale, like porcelain. The corset drew out a startling waist-to-hip ratio (with the help of padding), while his strong, sleek arms showed through the gauzy sleeves, the partial concealment lending them an unusual allure. The padded bust formed a breathtaking curve beneath the leather corset. Under the makeup artist's masterful hand—she'd focused on darkening his eyeliner and applied matte dark red lipstick—his already ethereal, almost unnaturally beautiful face had lost some of its harsher edges, bringing out the delicate beauty of his features. The eyeliner gave his icy, phoenix-shaped eyes a touch of bewitching aloofness. The little black veiled hat sat at an angle on his short hair, a mix of silver-white and dark red, partly covering his forehead and adding an air of mystery and decadent beauty.
He stood there expressionless, his posture straight despite the slight wobble of the heels. His gaze remained cold, yet that chill clashed with the sexy, mysterious outfit in a devastating chemical reaction! It was a beauty that transcended gender, fiercely captivating and almost destructive! Like a queen who ruled over darkness and desire, emerging from the abyss—or a fallen deity, looking down on the world with detached eyes.
"Hss..." Someone drew in a sharp breath.
"A... goddess has descended..."
"My god... Is that really a man?!"
"I'm gay now! No, I'm straight! Ah, I'm confused!"
"Quick! Cameras! Film! Memory cards! Shoot! Shoot like your life depends on it!" Senior Shimizu was the first to react, her voice pitching with excitement.
The shutters began clicking frantically again, more densely than ever before!
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair, her smile gone. Her little mouth hung slightly open, and her bright blue eyes were fixed on Kazama In under the lights, brimming with pure, almost obsessive amazement and a satisfaction she couldn't put into words. She didn't even notice when her notebook fell to the floor. "...He's even more perfect than I imagined..." That was all she could think.
Kazama In felt like a rare animal on display. He forced himself to ignore the scorching gazes and frantic camera shutters, and followed Senior Shimizu's instructions, striking poses that were languid, aloof, or disdainful. Every movement carried his characteristic, unyielding chill, yet somehow blended perfectly with the outfit, creating a unique, breathtaking beauty. He had only one thought: "Get it over with. Points. Five times."
When the last set of photos was finished, Kazama In all but rushed into the changing room and changed back into his own clothes as fast as he could. Only when he'd put on his familiar black T-shirt and trousers did he begin to feel like himself again. As he left the changing room, he had once more become the untouchable Arbiter, though the lingering blush on his ears, not yet quite faded, gave away his inner turmoil.
Senior Shimizu excitedly grabbed Kazama In's hand (which he discreetly pulled away). "Kazama! No, Kazama, you're a god! You're our club's savior! A treasure! We'll send the points right away! Five times over! No, that's still not enough! I'll add a special bonus too! If we need you again, please come back! We can talk about the price!" She looked at Kazama In like he was a walking gold mine.
Kazama In nodded expressionlessly. Only when he heard the notification on his phone that the points had arrived did his battered heart find a little comfort.
Sakayanagi Arisu had returned to normal as well, wearing her sweet smile as she wheeled over. "Big brother In~ Thanks for your hard work! I had such a lovely time today! As far as making it up to me goes... I'm very~ satisfied~" She put particular emphasis on "making it up to me," her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Kazama In glanced at her without replying. All he wanted now was to get as far away from this place as possible.
To "comfort" Kazama In—or perhaps to keep enjoying the pleasure of bossing him around—Sakayanagi Arisu suggested they see a lighthearted movie and then have dinner together. Kazama In had planned to refuse, but after sacrificing so much already, he figured another little while wouldn't make a difference, so he didn't object.
The movie was a lighthearted animated film. Kazama In's mind wandered throughout, still replaying the hair-raising scenes from the studio. Sakayanagi, on the other hand, watched with great interest and occasionally offered a quiet comment.
They chose a quiet Western restaurant for dinner. Kazama In mechanically cut his steak, finding it tasteless. Sakayanagi ate elegantly, stealing the occasional glance at the still stone-faced Kazama In, who practically radiated an air of "I've given up on life." The smile never left her lips.
"Big brother In," Sakayanagi said, putting down her knife and fork and dabbing the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Could you send me those cross-dressing photos? Senior Shimizu said they could be shared internally."
Kazama In's hand stopped mid-cut. The tip of his knife scraped against the porcelain plate with an ear-piercing sound. He raised his head and fixed Sakayanagi with his ink-black eyes, cold as a deep pool. His voice could have frozen water. "You wouldn't dare."
Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, her smile grew sweeter. "Oh my, I'm only joking~ Big brother In, you're so stingy. But..." She drew out the last word and waved her phone. "At the studio, I 'accidentally' took a few profile shots on my phone~ The angles were perfect!"
Kazama In: "..." His temples began to throb. He seriously considered whether to carry out a "judgment" right there and then, with the little demon smiling like an angel in front of him as the target.
In the end, under the force of Kazama In's palpable killing intent, Sakayanagi "reluctantly" promised to "treasure" the pictures and never share them. Kazama In had serious doubts.
Night fell. Kamuro Sumire led Sakayanagi, while Kazama In walked silently beside them. The three returned to the dormitory area.
"Well then, big brother In, thank you for 'making it up to me' today~ I had so much fun!" Sakayanagi Arisu waved to Kazama In in front of the dormitory building, her smile dazzling. "Have a wonderful summer vacation~ I can't wait for us to 'play' together again~"
Kazama In watched her disappear into the elevator before letting out a long, silent breath. He felt the reassuring weight of the extra points on his phone, then remembered that accursed outfit and the "profile shots" on Sakayanagi's phone... A deeply complicated mixture of humiliation, exhaustion, helplessness, and a little comfort from the points welled up inside him.
"This damn summer 'favor'..." He turned and headed toward his dormitory building, his silhouette looking especially desolate beneath the summer stars—and steeped in resentment. Kazama In's summer vacation, for the Arbiter, had officially begun with this absurd, mortifying opening, forever shadowed by the specter of cross-dressing.
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