Chapter 22

With it on. 2006/05/19 22:42 “I’m using it for my club at school.” With that simple excuse as my weapon, I went home and extracted my old uniform. Working on explicit orders to retrieve the outfit, I packed my Febrezed and air-dried uniform in my bag and headed to Y-ko’s place. Sigh. To think that I would have to put on this high school gakuran again in my fourth year of college. Come on. It’s not like I’m joining a male cheerleader squad or anything. …… … Okay, I’m not going to lie. It doesn’t feel that bad. And I won’t deny that I’m feeling a bit of nostalgia. Ding-dong. I rang the doorbell and stepped into the apartment. What a shock. A bit hasty, are we? Not a “welcome back” or even a “nice to see you”? And have you been waiting in the entranceway this entire time? I gestured with my right arm, which had the gakuran-stuffed bag slung over it. She seized the bag, pulling it right off my arm like a purse snatcher. … So you don’t even care about the souvenir I spent money on, just for you? Fear the fatal attraction of the gakuran. She pulled the outfit out of the bag and stared at it closely. “Hey, it’s ripped a bit here.” She grinned. Well, how should I put this? It was enough to make it worth bringing the thing back here. ……… Which doesn’t change the fact that it’ll be embarrassing to put on, once she demands it. I grabbed the outfit and plodded off to the bathroom. Alas… So weak. The weakest of wills. I worked quickly and carefully, washing only my body and then turning off the showerhead. I wiped myself off with the towel I had prepared and looked into the laundry basket to put on the gakuran. …… It’s gone. I put the thing in the basket just minutes ago. But all that I see are my underwear and shirt. … Why? It didn’t take more than an instant to determine that it was Y-ko’s fault. Damn her. I wrapped the towel around my waist. I could have gone out just wearing my shirt, but I felt it would just be inviting pity, so I decided against it. And there she stood, Y-ko wearing my old school uniform. Because of our height difference, the sleeves extended past her hands. She was also stepping on the hem of the pants. Y-ko was wearing the gakuran. The top button was still unfastened… but I couldn’t see any signs of a shirt on underneath. All I saw was bare skin. … Yes, it was damn sexy. I was in trouble. I had nothing but a bath towel fastened around my waist. She shot me a supremely mischievous grin and put her hand on the second button. … No, Y-ko. Stop laughing and peeking at my bath towel. No! …… It’s time for my counterattack. And as I said that, I stretched my hands out to the buttons of the uniform. For an instant, she stood dumbfounded. Got her. My counterattack was a success. With this masterstroke, I will seize control of the situation. I moved on to the third button. She grabbed the hand I had extended to the button. What is this? She released her hand from my arm … and reached up to stroke my ear. …… Um. … You would prefer to do it with it on? In that case, it is my job to see your wishes fulfilled.