Chapter 333: The Journalism Club Interview

"Well then, thank you, Rinji-kun, for taking time out of your busy schedule to accept this interview from the Mass Media club."

"Thanks for the invite."

Sitting in the Mass Media club's classroom, Rinji narrowed his eyes at the two girls in front of him—Kose Erika and Kino Karen, the Mass Media club's twin powerhouses. They were known for quickly publishing reports on major events around campus, especially those involving the student council members Shirogane and Kaguya.

Now that the sports festival had ended, they were at it again.

"You know, you could've interviewed students who actually placed in the events. Why me?"

"But Rinji-kun won nearly every event he participated in," Karen said with a smile. "You've become one of the hottest names in Shuchiin Academy."

"…Let's be real. That popularity is all negative."

"No way, it's all praise."

"Such as?"

"You were voted 'Most Beautiful Male Student in the School.'"

"And?"

"'No.1 Most Suitable for Crossdressing.'"

BANG!

Rinji slammed the desk, startling both girls.

"What the hell kind of bullshit titles are those?! How is this better than before!? At least back then, they feared me and treated me like a delinquent. Now what?! I'm some kind of comedy mascot!?"

"N-no… I think people really like you."

"One day. It's only been one day!" Rinji held up a finger, veins bulging on his forehead. "The festival ended just yesterday, and this morning, over twenty love letters fell out of my shoe locker!"

"Huh?"

The two girls exchanged glances, then looked at Rinji.

"That's… a good thing, right?"

"They were from boys!!"

"…Oh."

Now they understood why Rinji was furious.

"I'm starting to suspect the guys in this school have some serious issues with their orientation," Rinji said, trying to calm himself. "Or is it that Japanese high school boys are just that open nowadays?"

"Well, technically... it's because their orientation is not in question."

"…What?"

"N-no no! I mean, that's too much!"

Seeing the cold glint in Rinji's eyes, the girls quickly changed their tone.

"Fine, whatever. Ask your questions already. I've got student council work after this."

"Right... the first question is from another student who submitted it."

Karen took out a note with questions submitted for Rinji.

"Go ahead."

"First question: When will Rinji-kun crossdress again?"

"There won't be a next time."

"Second question: Are you really a guy?"

"I am."

Though his face stayed composed, his twitching eyebrows made it clear—Rinji was on the brink of eruption.

"Third question: Was it comfortable wearing a dress?"

"No, it wasn't. And give me the names of whoever submitted these questions. I'm sending them all to meet their makers."

"Eh?"

"What kind of trash questions are these?! Why are they all obsessed with the crossdressing? Do I have no other redeeming features besides that?!"

"Actually, it's like this."

Erika explained.

"Because of your performance in the cheer squad, your popularity in Shuchiin has skyrocketed. Right now, you're only behind President Shirogane and Vice President Kaguya."

"...Unbelievable."

Rinji hadn't expected that just one sports festival would drastically boost his popularity at school. The once-negative opinions about him were now turning positive.

Of course, these "positive opinions" were kind of strange.

He thought the students would forget about that trivial event after a day and that he could return to class as if nothing happened.

However, when he entered the classroom, the entire class gave him a peculiar look. It wasn't the usual hatred or fear from before.

"Please focus your interview on the sports festival, not my crossdressing," Rinji said helplessly. "Besides, I wasn't the only one. Every guy in the cheer squad wore skirts. Why are you targeting just me?"

"That's not our intention. It's just that the students are really interested in you. We need to write what they want to read."

"Tch, in any case, I don't want to hear the word 'crossdressing' ever again."

"Got it."

Karen nodded and began flipping through a stack of prepared notes.

Soon, sweat began to form on her forehead.

It seemed most of the submitted questions were about Rinji's crossdressing. It was hard to find any that weren't.

"Ah, found one."

"Go on."

"What does Takamine-san think of being called 'one of the most beautiful girls in Shuchiin'?"

"I'm out."

Rinji stood up from his seat.

"Eh!? Rinji-kun, don't go!"

"Can't your Mass media club ask some normal questions for once?"

It wasn't an exaggeration to say the Mass Media club interviews had driven up his blood pressure.

On the day of the sports festival, after his mother left, Rinji's suppressed frustration had burst out. He ended up tying up Fujiwara and Ishigami—the main culprits—behind the gym warehouse until nightfall.

If that ever became gossip among the students, honestly, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't blow up the whole school.

"I was tricked by Ishigami. I should never have joined that stupid cheer squad event."

"Eh? But your performance was amazing," Karen said. "A lot of our Mass media club members have become your fans."

"The fewer of that kind of fan, the better."

Rinji rubbed his head and looked at the two girls in front of him.

"In short, I don't want any more cheer squad or crossdressing content in the articles about me."

"But... without those, the student council won't be interested."

"If you don't want to spend the rest of your lives in Africa, then stop messing around," Rinji's gaze sharpened. "It's dangerous, understand?"

"Yes..."

The two girls, overwhelmed by Rinji's pressure, quickly nodded in agreement.