Is that a cricket bat in your pocket, or are you just happy to see the Bratessor suffer an identity crisis?

Apparently, thinking of cricket didn’t help Hiroki* any more than thinking of baseball had. Unsurprisingly so, since that traditional remedy is designed for use by straight guys. If you’re gay and want to avoid arousal, thinking of balls is obviously counterproductive irrespective of the precise nature of the sport in question. Thinking of boobies works way better.**

Perhaps Hiroki’s embarrassment would be lessened, though, by the knowledge that at least one person who has noted his condition has interpreted it in the most innocent way possible. Although probably not more than one.

And that one person suffers a considerable amount of mental stress himself in reaction to the realization just how innocent his interpretation had been. As the Bratessor correctly observes, his puberty happened more than a century ago…and, not to say something indelicate, but: the girl he had his first time with is probably dust by now. In the intervening years, he has not only continued to accumulate experience, but he’s also taught on the subject matter to thousands of students. So, yeah…this innocent patter of thinking is a shock to him, and raises some specters – he very much enjoys being young again, but would he really want to revert to a younger age mentally as well?

More on Monday.

* His name hasn’t yet been mentioned on-screen, but I’m revealing it now – it’s just too awkward to refer to him otherwise.

** If that doesn’t work either, congrats, you’re bisexual. Good luck finding anything to think of that’ll calm you down.

P.S.: The title of this strip is not an attempt at predicting which name the next pope will choose…