Yea buddy this isn't crossdressing no matter what the title says. Even the text says "she" when referring to momiji and all the evidence its futa is there.
You say the text says "she" (not sure which part you mean anyway) but then say the artist's commentary is not true.
wat
I had my suspicions even while reading it and looking closely at it (like in page 7) Momiji does really look like one of those "otoko no ko(娘)"/traps in this.