Chapter 27 Eh, Nagi is...!?

Eh, Nagi is…!?

“N-no, Nanami… what are you saying? He is obviously a guy, doesn’t he? Right, Nagi?”

“Eh!? Ah, um… w-well, that’s…!”

When I turned to Nagi for confirmation, he suddenly seemed incredibly flustered.

Nanami, noticing Nagi’s reaction, frowned and spoke with suspicion.

“…No, she’s clearly a girl. Why do you think he’s a guy? Do you have any proof?”

“W-Well, look at Nagi’s clothes—they’re men’s clothes! That makes him a guy, doesn’t it?”

“Taiki, that’s such a stupid reason. Sure, Nagi’s wearing men’s clothes, but just look at her body shape—it’s obviously a girl.”

“Huh? Body shape?”

“Exactly. Plus, her face is small, her shoulders are narrow, and even though she’s a bit more built than most girls—probably from working out—it’s still clear she’s a girl.”

“N-No way. That can’t be right! Besides, don’t say something so rude about someone you’ve just met. R-Right, Nagi? I’m sorry for what Nanami’s—”

“…No, it’s okay. She’s right. I’m… not a guy. I’m a girl.”

“…Huh?”

Just as I was about to apologize to Nagi, he lowered his head slightly and quietly muttered those words.

My mind couldn’t process it at first, leaving me utterly confused.

“W-Wait… oh! I get it! This must be one of those tricks, right? You’re not Nagi—you’re actually Nami-san!”

“…Eh?”

“Yeah, that’s it! Nagi and Nami-san have the same body type, so you must’ve switched places for fun! Like one of those twin-switch tricks you see in anime or dramas—”

“…Sorry, but I’m an only child. The person working at that café and the one attending this university… both of them are me.”

With his head lowered, Nagi admitted it, leaving me struggling to wrap my head around his words.

(Wait… does that mean… no way!)

“Eh… wha!? W-wait a second… my head is really messed up right now… but… are you saying that Nagi’s sister, Nami-san, is… you?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Nami-san.”

“Wha…!?”

Nagi’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. A person named Nami-san never existed. The beautiful woman in the maid outfit I thought was Nami-san… was Nagi all along.

Which means…

“S-So that means I’ve been saying all those things about Nami-san to you this whole time… like how she’s my type, or how beautiful and kind she is…?”

“Y-Yeah… so everything you said was directed at me…”

“N-No way! I-I… ah…!”

Realizing this, my face turned bright red.

I had told Nagi things like how beautiful, kind, and my type “Nami-san” was—only to discover I’d been saying all of it directly to him.

(W-wait a second… ah, I want to disappear into a hole!!)

I screamed internally, overwhelmed by embarrassment.

When I looked at Nagi, his face was just as red. Well, of course—it must’ve been embarrassing for him to hear all that.

Both of us stood there, faces flushed, awkwardly avoiding each other’s gaze.

Then Nanami, looking confused, spoke up.

“Huh? What’s wrong, Taiki? Why do you look so weird?”

“Eh!? A, w-well, um… I-I was just surprised because I didn’t realize at all that Nagi was a girl. But how did you know Nagi was a girl at first glance, Nanami?”

“Because I closely analyze people’s body types for work. I’m always thinking about things like, ‘These clothes would suit this man’s frame,’ or ‘This would complement this woman’s slender figure.’ Besides, with her small face, narrow shoulders, and body shape, anyone could tell this girl is a woman.”

“I-I see… so it’s a professional thing. But hey, wait a second! Calling someone ‘this girl’ when you’ve just met them is rude!”

“Eh? Ahaha, it’s fine, isn’t it? Right, Nagi? You don’t mind either, do you?”

“Eh? Y-yes, I don’t particularly mind, but…”

Nagi, overwhelmed by Nanami’s overbearing demeanor, nodded reluctantly. Nanami had a habit of looking down on others, even at first meetings.

True to form, she was doing it again now.

“See? No problem. Anyway, Nagi, you’re a bit more built than most girls. Oh, do you play sports? Are you an athlete?”

“Eh? No, I don’t play any sports right now. I just do some light workouts and running on my days off.”

“Wow, you train even though you’re not an athlete? Oh, I get it—you work out to pull off a masculine look! Are you a cosplayer or something?”

“N-No, it’s nothing like that. I just work out and wear men’s clothes because… well, no particular reason. I just do it.”

“Huh? You’re doing all this for no reason? Haha, what’s with that? You’re such a weird girl—so painfully odd! Haha, you’re seriously over the top!”

“…!”

“Hey, Nanami, that’s enough. You don’t talk to someone you’ve just met like that. Show some respect.”

I glared at Nanami, who was laughing at Nagi, and reprimanded her.

“What? Why? She’s weird! I mean, she works out and wears men’s clothes for no reason—that’s so cringy. What are you even doing hanging out with someone this ridiculous, Taiki?”

“Nagi’s my close friend, and I enjoy spending time with her. Don’t insult my friends like that.”

“T-Taiki…”

“Huh? Taiki, you sticking up for another girl? That’s rare. Oh, whatever. So, Nagi-chan, was it?”

“Eh? Ah, yes?”

“Well, Taiki and I have something important to discuss. So why don’t you head home? Come on, Taiki, let’s go.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Hey! Stop clinging to my arm!”

“Fufu, come on. You should feel honored to have a cute girl holding onto you.”

“Who’d be happy about that!? And you’re not my girlfriend, either!”

“U-Um!”

As Nanami and I argued, Nagi suddenly raised her voice. Nanami turned to her, clearly annoyed.

“What? Oh, you’re still here? Look, we don’t need you anymore, so why don’t you just go home?”

“You might not need me, but I do! Taiki is my dear friend. S-So… please let go of him. You’re making him uncomfortable!”

“…Huh?”

Nagi, her voice trembling slightly, stood up to Nanami’s selfishness.