Chapter 21: Here, take my pants, Chifuyu.

[A/N: I'm crying and puking my heart out. I just lost another 50/50 on Honkai Star Rail for Robin. I swear, I never won a single one of them.

However, I did get Robin in the end, but with 80 pulls… I'm so broke and tired… I need to save up for Firefly now !_!

Anyway, please enjoy this chapter while I finish the 2.2 update.]

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Chapter 21: Here, take my pants, Chifuyu.

- Chifuyu Orimura -

"How are you feeling, Maya?" asked Chifuyu as she held her forehead in pain. She held herself against the wall of the school entrance.

"…I don't feel so good, senpai. I can't drink anymore…" Muttered Maya as she tried her best to stay awake.

Chifuyu and Maya returned from drinking outside during one of their outings. Chifuyu has been stressed a lot lately because of the inclusion of Aruto Igarashi at their school by various parties ranging from the public to the government of many countries interested in Aruto.

However, she needed clarification as to why she handled this case when the principal was fine and acting carefree as the school janitor.

Of course, as a responsible adult, she knew she only had to drink her sorrow away with some alcohol. Obviously, it would be boring to drink alone, so she also dragged Maya, her junior, to drink with her. It wasn't a one-time thing, as they had been drinking for a few days now.

"I can't drink tomorrow, senpai. Please leave me alone…" said Maya, crouching, covering her mouth. Chifuyu, better at handling beer, slowly walked toward Maya as she patted her back.

"Don't vomit inside the school. It would be a pain to clean this up…" muttered Chifuyu as she started to drag Maya toward the closest bathroom from the school entrance.

"Don't worry, senpai. I won—Urk!" muttered Maya as she gasped and covered her mouth again.

As the duo headed toward the bathroom, Chifuyu suddenly noticed someone walking toward them. She squinted her eyes to focus on the figure as she almost immediately recognized the night guard uniform.

"John, right? Is your shift done?" asked Chifuyu as she placed Maya's head on her shoulder and looked at the man with the brim of his cap covering his face.

'John' stopped immediately when Chifuyu spoke to him. She didn't know if she was just imagining things because she was drunk, but she thought she saw 'John' tensing because of her.

"Yes, Orimura. I just clocked out and am ready to go home," Said John as he saluted. However, Chifuyu frowned slightly as she heard his voice. His voice sounded deeper than usual as if he were forcing it. It was very strange to her.

"Are you sick? Your voice is deeper than usual?" asked Chifuyu as she was worried about the man. It would be a shame if John were to take a sick leave because of his negligence. Few people were willing to do this night job, even if it was at the IS Academy… Well, at least now, before Aruto Igarashi and her brother came to this school.

She was sure now that there would be more applicants if they were to post a notice.

'John' fiddled with the rim of his hat as his figure trembled slightly. "…Thank you for asking Orimura, but I did catch a cold." Answered the man.

"I see… please take care, John. It would be tough to find someone to replace the schedule," Joked Chifuyu as she stared at the man suspiciously. Her instinct told her there was something wrong with John, and she wasn't sure what.

"Ah, yes… I also wouldn't want to be bedridden." Said 'John' as he cleared his throat.

Chifuyu suddenly held her forehead as she moaned in pain. Maybe she shouldn't have drunk more than usual. She felt like shit right now…

"Orimura, are you fine? Do you need my help?" asked 'John' with some worry in his voice. Chifuyu glanced at the man as she shook her hand.

Also, maybe her drunkenness caused her to act up. There is probably nothing wrong with John; she was imagining everything.

At the same time, Maya, who was entirely out of character, started to giggle. "Senpai… I see the stars flashing in front of me! Me! Hehehe! Psht!"

She then tried to catch the light emanating from the ceiling lights. Chifuyu glanced at her junior, and she almost forgot about her because of her suspicion toward John. She excused herself toward John, who waved her concern.

"I'll be going now, John. I have to take care of Maya." Chifuyu said as she dragged Maya away and passed John until her eyes stopped at a specific part of his body that caught her attention.

"It's alright, Chifuyu. I shall also leave now. It's getting pretty late." Answered 'John' calmly as he passed Chifuyu

Chifuyu felt herself getting a little sober and started to piece various clues together. Her mind flashed as she grabbed the man's wrist and tightened her grip.

"Wait!" shouted Chifuyu as her action surprised John and Maya.

"…Is there something wrong? Orimura?" tentatively asked John uncomfortably as he lowered his cap. Chifuyu stayed silent while walking with Maya in her arms and faced 'John.'

"Senpai? Is there something wrong with John?" asked Maya doubtfully. She became a little sober because of Chifuyu's action.

Chifuyu disregarded their voice, her focus entirely consumed by examining John's hand. "…Too delicate," she murmured; her words made John break into a nervous sweat while confusing Maya.

"What? What do you mean, senpai? I don't understand…" she asked, directing her gaze toward the hand in question.

"This hand," Chifuyu continued, "shows long and dainty fingers. Though I can't recall the exact details of his hand, I'm certain it was rougher, more calloused because of his old age."

"And upon closer inspection," she added, her inspection, "I notice that you stand taller than John, and your scent is different. Not a trace of his usual heavy cologne."

Chifuyu then stared deeply at this unknown man in front of her.

"Who are you?" growled Chifuyu as she hardened the grip on his wrist while the fake John remained silent.

"My name is John." Replied the man in a higher pitch voice.

"…Are you trying to be funny?" asked Chifuyu, dumbfounded. At least she was sure this fake wasn't a spy because of his poor performance.

"…No?"

"…Anyway, Why don't you show us your face, faker?" said Chifuyu, annoyed as she glared at the fake.

"…"

"If you are not going to, I don't mind doing it for you," Said Chifuyu as she reached her hand toward the hat on the man's head.

-=-=-=-=-

- Aruto Igarashi (John Jonh) -

I looked at those hands that were dangerously coming for my hat. I knew I couldn't let her see my face. I could still escape this situation if she didn't find my identity.

I immediately reacted and dropped to the ground as I felt her grip on my wrist decrease, and I caught her off guard. It was indeed a blessing that Chifuyu drank that night. Chifuyu lost her footing as she stumbled toward me. Maya fell to the side, and she lost her support from Chifuyu.

I stared at the incoming Chifuyu on the ground as I caught her with my foot on her stomach, and before she could react to the situation, I immediately threw her behind me.

"Urgh..!" grunted Chifuyu as I grinned. I evidently found some happiness when I heard her cry. She had been after my ass for many days ever since I came to this annoying school. Anyway, I didn't waste my time getting up from the ground as I ran toward the door until I felt a tug on my right leg.

I was caught off guard by the sudden pull as I fell head-first to the ground. I moaned in pain as I rubbed my nose. Fortunately, I wasn't bleeding, but it wasn't an enjoyable feeling. Unbeknownst to me, my hat fell off my head because of the abrupt fall that revealed my face.

So, I, like a dummy, revealed my naked first to them when I tried to look behind me to find the source of my fall.

"ARUTO?"

"IGARASHI?"

"…." I stared at them speechlessly as I tapped my head. I was currently touching my hair. I looked around and found the hat lying innocently on the ground.

"hehe?"

"You caught me?" I said as I cutely winked at them with my tongue out.

Chifuyu stared at me with contempt and pure disgust on her face while Maya averted her face.

Please don't stare at me like that, Chifuyu. Your judgmental face is really breaking my heart, ok?

"…It's not what it looks like?" I squeaked, inwardly cringing at my feeble attempt to deflect.

Chifuyu stared at me with a silent, penetrating stare before finally breaking the silence. "Then please, Aruto, enlighten us on why you appear ready to escape through the entrance door as a night guard."

"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose it does give off that impression…" I trailed off as my admission made Chifuyu even angrier.

Please don't look at me like that, Chifuyu! I just wanted to escape!

Chifuyu took a deep breath as she locked eyes with me. "Let's go back calmly, and I'll make sure this never happened."

"Nah," I answered calmly.

"I'm not giving you a choice." Replied Chifuyu as she tightened the pressure on my ankle with her hand.

"I know. That's why I'm making another choice," I said brazenly as I looked around me rapidly.

"Aruto…"

"Sorry, but I have to."

"I won't let you leave this place…!" growled Chifuyu as she crawled toward me and got hold of my second leg despite my effort not to. She is a fierce woman, even drunk. However, I sighed in relief when I noticed that Maya was content to watch us from the sidelines.

I can't let this situation go on, or I'll be trapped by her sooner or later… I glanced at Chifuyu and then at her hands holding my pants.

I lowered my head as a crazy plan started to form in my head. My reputation may never recover in the eyes of the two of them, but…

Everything for my goddamn freedom.

"Are you ready to go, Aruto?" asked Chifuyu once more as she was ready to stand up and take me back. However, I ignored her as I immediately fiddled with my belt buckle. My explosive action immediately caught their attention.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" shouted a flustered Chifuyu as her cheeks turned red.

"EEP!" squeaked Maya as she turned her head around.

"Since you wanted my pants so badly, I thought I should simply give them to you!"

"DON'T YOU, DA—" shouted Chifuyu, then covered her eyes as she noticed I was serious about it.

My eyes shined as I felt the lack of pressure on my legs. I quickly threw my belt away and removed my pants toward Chifuyu.

"YOU DARE!?"

I ignored her outcry and quickly ran toward the exit with my boxer.

Still, I never thought I would flash again at this school. Ever since I arrived at this place, I somehow became weirder. This place somehow made me an exhibitionist.

Like, one time was wild enough, but a second time?

Yeah, this place was fucking weird, and it is definitely not because of myself.

As I approached the exit, I was quickly rooted in place as the glass door suddenly lowered into the ground, and I backpedalled in surprise.

Then, I became even more confused by the sudden red-blaring alarm that resonated at this instant through the entire school. Moreover, instead of the usual glass door, it was now changed into a reinforced metal door in front of me.

"What the fuck is that!?" I cursed out loud.

[BEEP!] [BEEP!] [BEEP!]

[ALERT!]

[CODE 69]

[THERE IS A PERVERT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL'S ENTRANCE!]

[I REPEAT!]

[THERE IS A PERVERT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL'S ENTRANCE!]

"?"

My face darkened immediately as I turned around and looked at Chifuyu and Maya. However, their surprised and confused expressions caught me off guard.

"Senpai, since when have we ever had a code 69?" asked Maya as she looked around in panic. Meanwhile, Chifuyu kept her eyes on me as she shrugged. "This is new for me, too… however, this voice is strangely familiar, making me want to drink again…"

It looks like they had no idea what just happened. I honestly don't know if that's a good thing or not… Still, I couldn't help but complain about this so-called Code 69.

Like seriously? Code 69? What are you? 12?

[EVERY STUDENT'S REQUIRED TO STAY INSIDE THEIR ROOM WHILE THE STAFF SHALL DEAL WITH THE SCUMMY EXHIBITIONIST PERVERT! PEKO!]

[PLEASE STAY INSIDE…]

WTF?

ME? A SCUMMY EXHIBITIONIST PERVERT?

Impossible! I won't accept such a disgusting title on my head! I refute such an accusation toward myself! Sure, I might lack bottom clothing, but you can't simply insult me like that!

I WANT TO SUE THIS DAMNED SCHOOL FOR DEFAMATION!

ALSO CONTEXT MATTER!

[INITIATING PROTECTION AGAINST ALL PERVERT!]

[DEATH TO ALL DISGUSTING PERVERT!]

[WEAPON ONLINE!]

[PEKO!]

"?"

"Fuck… I need to drink."

"Senpai!?"