I Will Inspire Your Insipid Days - Volume 1 Chapter 1.3

Thus

She said it as if it were a trivial matter. Now, it was my turn to question.

“…From the beginning?”

“Just by looking at the skeletal structure, it’s obvious.”

With this single statement from Tachibana Natsume, my consciousness began to escape reality at breakneck speed.

—Now then.

Let’s talk about my family, the Hanabishi.

We have inherited our own unique Japanese dance from ancient times, but like other well-known traditional arts such as Kabuki and Noh, what we call traditional dance is completely different from other types and has its own cultural system.

The most distinctive feature is that it’s a strictly matriarchal lineage.

In other words, the head of the Hanabishi family has been succeeded by women through the generations.

And—the position of the next head was supposed to go to my sister.

Originally, my sister was the one who was supposed to attend Shumonzuka Girls’ Academy.

Naturally so. This school is a special educational institution established to respect the autonomy of students and contribute to the development of all forms of entertainment and arts. There’s nothing strange about the next head of traditional dance attending here.

However, my sister casually declared one day,

“Dance? I’m not doing something as dreary as that. I have no intention of inheriting the house. I’ve decided to live a tough life. After graduating from middle school, I’m going to travel overseas.”

At first, I thought she had lost her mind, but later, I realized I was wrong. No one, including me, thought she would actually cross the sea.

My sister—or more precisely, my fraternal twin’s name is Hanabishi Kanon.

Right after graduating from middle school, she declared, “Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you,” grabbed a backpack, and dashed out of the mansion—an unbelievable woman, Hanabishi Kanon. While her reckless temperament had always been somewhat visible, such an extreme act was unprecedented.

However, the story doesn’t end there.

In a state of utter panic, the Hanabishi family held a family council to somehow conceal the extraordinary situation of “the rightful heir to the dance not attending the country’s top arts high school.”

The conclusion they reached was this:

“To send Hanabishi Yonon, the twin brother of Hanabishi Kanon, as a substitute to enroll in her place.”

I repeat, the Hanabishi family is entirely matriarchal.

Naturally, women hold a higher status than men.

Girls born into the Hanabishi family are rigorously trained in dance from a young age. On the other hand, boys are basically ostracized, and communication with parents is almost severed. They don’t participate in family gatherings.

Therefore, the notion of “the brother substituting for the sister” was an absurdity that somehow became acceptable in the Hanabishi family.

And for better or worse, I was born into this world as Kanon’s other half.

As a child, being around Kanon and observing her “feminine manners” allowed me to inadvertently pick them up, enhancing the feasibility of this reckless plan.

For about two months now, the fact that I have been able to live as a high school girl is proof of perfect camouflage. The fact that I haven’t been caught yet almost made me anxious. But—.

“I see. So your real name is Hanabishi Yonon, and Hanabishi Kanon is your alias at Shumonzuka Girls’ Academy. Your family is a distinguished one that has inherited traditional dance for generations, and you’re a boy of the same age as me.”

After sharing a summary of information, Tachibana-san said this without changing her expression.

I initiated the conversation again.

“…When did you realize?”

“You phrase it strangely. I told you, I knew from the beginning. You can tell by the skeletal structure. You’re good at hiding your wrists and neck, but that kind of thing actually makes it more noticeable.”

Tachibana-san declared bluntly in response to my question.

Inside, I could hear the sound of the confidence I had built up crashing down.

“…What are your conditions?”

Suppressing my confused thoughts, I inquired.

“Conditions? For what?”

“Don’t play dumb. This is a girls’ school, and I’m a male. I can’t let others find out. There are circumstances. So, I need Tachibana-san to keep quiet about it.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Don’t you trust me?”

“How could I possibly place my full trust in someone I just met!”

“I see, is that how it is? Then—”

I had no choice but to agree to the conditions presented.

***

Several minutes after the confrontation with Tachibana Natsume, I found myself visiting the faculty room again.

When I showed the collected application form, Satsuki-san immediately jumped for joy, snatched the paper from my hand, and exclaimed, “Seriously!”

“Thanks to you, I’ve avoided being grilled by the principal. You saved me.”

“I’m surprised you’ve managed to avoid lectures and continue your teaching career so far.”

“Detecting the signs of a ‘scolding’ from the higher-ups and extinguishing the source of fire in advance is a valuable social skill.”

“Satsuki-san, you haven’t been in society for that long, have you?”

“Whether being immediately employed as a teacher after graduating from university counts as ‘entering society’ is debatable.”

“Don’t speak of self-deprecation that leaves me at a loss for words.”

Ignoring my admonition, Satsuki-san skimmed through the application form and murmured, “Huh?”

“Did Tachibana Natsume really write this?”

“Is there a problem?”

I wasn’t paying close attention to what Tachibana-san was writing, so I had no idea what she had applied for.

However, judging by Satsuki-san’s reaction, it seemed she had made an unexpected request.

“Hmm… well, it’s fine. Using the big hall, huh? I can’t understand the thoughts of a genius.”

Shumonzuka Girls’ Academy’s premises are equipped with studios and ateliers that students can freely use, primarily for practicing music, theatre, dance, and other performing arts. In addition to these, there are also halls and stages for presentations.

Among these facilities, the big hall has the largest capacity, capable of accommodating all students with seats to spare. The entrance ceremony was also held here.

“By the way, Satsuki-san, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

As Satsuki-san continued to read through the documents, I made a significant announcement.

“Tachibana Natsume found out.”

“Found out what?”

“My gender.”

“…Found out what?”

“So, my gender.”

“…Gender?”

“There are no more variations to this conversation. Tachibana Natsume found out about my gender.”

After stating it all at once, Satsuki-san froze like a statue.

The cigarette shortening with a faint sizzling sound, eventually, the ash fell off, and after taking a deep breath,

“Why?”