A Man Who Lost Confidence, to a Gentle Chastity-Reversed World - Chapter 14: Club Visits, New Encounters

Chapter 14: Club Visits, New Encounters

The next morning, I wake up as usual, like in reality. Honestly, this world feels like my reality now, and I’m starting to think the old world was the bad dream—a convenient interpretation.

But there’s no guarantee that’s true. All I can think is to live a bit, just a tiny bit, more boldly in this situation.

In the morning living room, Mother and Yuki relax as usual, while Yukari-san prepares breakfast in the kitchen. After yesterday, I’m curious about Yuki and Yukari-san’s behavior, but nothing seems different.

They return my greetings as usual, and Yuki, sitting next to me at the table, seems to look at me more cheerfully than before. It might be my ego, but given yesterday, I’m relieved.

Yukari-san, when I glance at her while eating, gives a slight smile, but her sudden smile makes me a bit embarrassed. Mother, diagonally across, probably notices.

“Everyone seems extra lively today, huh?”

Mother’s tone isn’t angry at all. I didn’t see Yuki’s expression, but Yukari-san nearly drops her chopsticks in a fluster. Of course, I freeze for a moment, too.

Today, Yuki walked me to school again. I make sure to thank her every morning, and today’s walk is, as always, really enjoyable.

As my sister, but also just as a charming girl, walking with Yuki every morning is something I need to cherish. Still, seeing her in casual clothes reminds me of her body’s shape in the bathroom.

I know I shouldn’t lust after my sister, but I slip into dirty fantasies right away. I’m a pathetic man and brother. I need to face and think about this issue.

At school, I part with Yuki and head to the shoe lockers. Her tutoring is off today, so she’ll pick me up when I’m ready to leave. Since club visits start today, I’ll contact her depending on the situation.

Today, classes go until fifth period with a lunch break, followed by optional club visits after school. That means upperclassmen start classes today, so the school will feel busier.

I’m not interested in clubs. In reality, joining the computer club in middle school got me persecuted as an otaku, and in high school, I considered the literature club but couldn’t handle the girls’ stares during the trial period.

Back then, I felt my presence ruined the atmosphere, so I didn’t join officially and ended up in the go-home club.

I sometimes regret not sticking with a club—maybe I’d have grown into a decent person. But with my poor social skills, I probably couldn’t have managed, so I shake off the lingering attachment.

My mindset hasn’t changed much. I worry that joining a club would disrupt its atmosphere, feeling almost apologetic.

I’m managing to talk to Asagi-san and Yamamoto-san in class, but those relationships are still unformed. Building senior-junior dynamics feels beyond my confidence.

Still, I think visiting cultural clubs might be okay, and wasting the long trial period doing nothing feels like a shame. This school allows multiple club memberships or none at all, so there’s freedom.

A list of clubs and circles was handed out by the student council. I’ve marked softer options like the literature club, astronomy club, and manga circle, but I’ll decide after visiting.

Classes start today, and each begins with the teacher’s greeting. All today’s teachers are women, ranging from their mid-twenties to over fifty.

After the fourth period, it’s lunch break. I planned to eat Yukari-san’s bento quietly somewhere out of sight.

But as I take out my bento and stand, Asagi-san and Yamamoto-san approach, each holding cute bento boxes.

“Sato-kun, if you’ve got a bento, wanna eat together… if that’s okay?”

Asagi-san says this shyly but looking at me. Yamamoto-san stands beside her, looking anxious.

A beautiful girl talking to me, let alone inviting me like this, feels like a fantasy. But since she asked, I have no reason to refuse.

“U-um, yeah…”

With that reply, an entirely unknown event—eating bento with girls—begins.

“I was in the basketball club in middle school, so I’m thinking about joining here, too…”

The conversation during lunch, as expected, is driven by Asagi-san. She brings up student-like topics—studies, clubs—flowing from her mouth.

I manage to nod along as usual, but at one point, Asagi-san pauses. Then, she picks up a small piece of tamagoyaki from her bento with her chopsticks.

“Sato-kun, my bento’s mostly frozen food, but I made the tamagoyaki myself.”

She shows off the tamagoyaki in front of me. I don’t know what she’s saying or how to respond—interpersonal communication is a puzzle I can’t solve.

“Th-that’s cool… it looks really well-made…”

So, I choose a bland, boring comment. Hearing it, Asagi-san pauses thoughtfully before continuing.

“Thanks, Sato-kun. So… if you don’t mind, could you taste it? I think it turned out well.”

Can I really eat a girl’s handmade tamagoyaki? It feels like I don’t deserve her effort. My opinion probably isn’t helpful, but I can’t refuse her request.

Nodding silently, I slide my bento box to let her put it in. But she stops me with her hand.

“No, it’s fine… it’s easier to just put it in your mouth.”

With that, she extends her chopsticks toward my mouth. The tamagoyaki closes the distance.

My mind freezes, and I open my mouth late, but I snap back just in time. The tamagoyaki lands in my mouth.

If I think about it, this is insane. It’s the classic “ahh” moment from a girl—something I thought I’d never experience, a privilege for popular guys.

I worry if this is okay. Asagi-san’s intentions are unreadable, even if she just wants to be friends. It’s too intense for me, and I can barely register the taste.

Still, I have to say something, so I blurt, “I-it’s delicious!” in formal language. Asagi-san blushes slightly but smiles, saying, “Hehe, yay!” with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Yamamoto-san keeps checking her bento box, looking troubled, as if unsure what to say. I can’t ask why, of course.

Even if it was Asagi-san’s whim, I’m grateful a guy like me got to experience it. I tell her, nervous, “…S-sorry for taking some?”

She looks down slightly and replies, “N-no, it’s fine!” in a quieter voice than usual.

I’ll probably never have such a cute moment again, so I resolve to store it as emotional sustenance. With that decision, my first time eating bento with girls passes.

“Let’s eat together again sometime, I’d love that!”

Asagi-san says this, leaves the classroom, and Yamamoto-san bows once before returning to her seat. After a memorable forty minutes, fifth period begins.

Classes end, and it’s after-school time. I plan to visit a few cultural clubs. I can’t imagine how school life will go here, but I’m starting to want to see what clubs are like.

This world has been kind to me so far. But like in my old world, I might lose my place during the trial period. To shake that fear, I need to make an effort where I can.

During lunch, Asagi-san invited me to check out the basketball club. As a classmate, she probably thought it’d be reassuring to go together.

But I have no interest in sports clubs, and going without interest would bother both her and the club. So, I declined.

She looked a bit disappointed, and I felt a little guilty. But now, she calls out, “See you tomorrow!” with a smile, easing my anxiety. I’m still scared I’ll make a wrong move in these interactions, though.

As I stand to visit clubs alone, Yamamoto-san walks over.

“…U-um, Sato-kun, i-if you want… would you like to check out some cultural clubs together…?”

Yamamoto-san invites me, trembling as if she’s afraid of me. Her feelings toward me remain a mystery.

But come to think of it, she mentioned wanting to see cultural clubs during lunch. Like Asagi-san, she probably wants a classmate to go with. I think she’d prefer another girl over me, but I don’t understand her reasoning.

She doesn’t seem to pity me; it feels like she’s genuinely asking.

“U-um, if you’re okay with me, Yamamoto-san, I’d… of course go with you…”

When I reply, she freezes for a moment, then steps closer. Her breasts, visible through her uniform, make me flinch as they approach.

“N-no, Sato-kun, if you’re okay with me…!”

When I reaffirm, “Y-yeah, it’s fine,” she mutters, “Alright!” softly, grabbing her bag to prepare. She says she’s interested in the literature club and cooking circle and wants to hear about them.

Despite my past trauma, I like reading and writing, so the literature club appeals to me, and I can cook a bit, so I’m curious about the cooking circle. We decide to visit both, heading to the clubroom building for the literature club first.

Most cultural clubrooms are on the third floor of the new school building. Standing before the literature clubroom, Yamamoto-san knocks. A “New Students Welcome” sign is posted, so it should be fine. But while Yamamoto-san’s okay, I’m worried I’ll get disapproving looks.

“Um… freshmen?”

A tall, short-haired female senior opens the door. Her boyish, almost handsome face gives the impression of a track team member.

“Come on in, then. We’ll get tea and snacks.”

At her words, Yamamoto-san enters first, and I follow hesitantly. The senior, seeing me, lets out a short “…Huh?”

Her reaction scares me, and I look at her anxiously. She stammers, “Ah, um,” before addressing me.

“S-sorry. I didn’t expect a guy… but of course, you’re welcome.”

As expected, the literature club is mostly girls. I’m still uneasy but trust I’m not being told to leave, so I enter. Two more seniors sit inside.

A long-haired, black-haired girl reading a book glances at us, nods slightly, and returns to her book. She feels a bit assertive but has a model-like beauty.

The other, a brown-haired, semi-long-haired girl, stares at us, observing. Her round-eyed, small-animal-like face is extremely cute.

Both have different charms, and I’m nervous. Why is everyone I meet so cute and pretty?

We all sit, and the first senior introduces herself.

“Um, I’m Aoi Shiina, a third-year and the literature club president. Thanks so much for coming today.”

She bows lightly, and we nod back.

“This club isn’t too formal. People come when they want and do what they like, so it’s fine to join multiple clubs. Some, like me, write on computers, while others just read.”

The room has bookshelves filled with various books.

“We have about ten members, but we only gather fully for the cultural festival to make our magazine. Otherwise, we hold events if people want…”

She adds that only these three are here now, prompting the others to introduce themselves. The long-haired senior speaks slowly.

“Akiyo Ishikawa… third-year… I usually come to read.”

She closes her mouth and glances at Shiina-senpai.

“Akiyo doesn’t talk much but knows a lot about novels,” Shiina-senpai adds.

Then the other speaks up.

“Hey, hey! I’m Ami Asai, second-year! I read and write novels, too! I’m in another club but come here a lot, so nice to meet you!”

Her sunny smile is dazzling.

“Ami was excited for new underclassmen. She can be loud, but I hope you’ll get along,” Shiina-senpai says.

Asai-senpai retorts, “Don’t say that!” and we move to our introductions. Yamamoto-san goes first.

“I-I’m Maki Yamamoto… I like books, so I wanted to hear about the club… p-please take care of me…”

She adds she’s never written but finishes. Then, their eyes turn to me, and I tense up, holding my breath.

“U-um, I’m… Shun Sato… Yamamoto-san invited me, and I’m interested in writing, so… I’m curious…”

My connectors are messy from nerves, but I manage to introduce myself. I avoid saying I like reading, fearing questions about favorites, and shift to writing. In reality, I posted web novels, so it’s not a lie.

Afterward, the seniors lead a casual chat. Shiina-senpai talks frankly, Asai-senpai excitedly shares popular cafeteria dishes, but Ishikawa-senpai just watches silently.

After enjoying the talk, Shiina-senpai faces us.

“Thanks again for coming. We don’t do much for welcoming, but the clubroom’s open daily, so come read or chat whenever you want.”

She looks at me.

“And, Sato-kun, we don’t have any male members right now… so it might not feel comfortable. But we think this is a place where no one needs to hold back, so if you’re okay with it, I’d be happy if you came back.”

The gender ratio must make her, as president, mindful of such things. For a moment, I fear she dislikes my presence, but her latter words give me hope.

I’m glad I’m not rejected and want to stay in this charming, female-filled environment forever. Of course, that’s presumptuous, but being welcomed is enough.

“…I want to check other clubs, too… but this free atmosphere suits me, I think… I might come back…”

Shiina-senpai smiles, saying, “Really? That’s great… anytime’s fine.” Asai-senpai beams, but Ishikawa-senpai remains expressionless.

Thanked by the seniors, we leave. Yamamoto-san, whose top choice was the literature club, says, “I-I’d be happy if you joined with me, Sato-kun…”

I figure having a classmate in the same club would be convenient. The atmosphere makes me think joining might be okay.

Next, we visit the cooking circle. It’s livelier than expected, with about ten freshmen gathered in the home economics room for an explanation.

As a circle, they have a small budget, but more members could elevate it to a club. After an enthusiastic pitch, they explain activity days.

It’s all girls, so I worry I stand out, but a senior says, “Come back if you want…!” so I think I’m not hated, feeling a bit positive.

Yamamoto-san wants to visit more clubs, but I don’t want to keep Yuki waiting, so we part here.

Apologizing, I’m surprised when she says, “N-no, thanks so much for coming with me…?” waving vigorously as we part. She’s genuinely kind to me.

After parting, I text Yuki. She replies instantly, saying she’ll pick me up in about twenty minutes.

I wait at the school gate. Many clubs, like the track team, pass by, and I, a pervert, can’t help but stare at the girls’ jiggling breasts in their thin gym clothes, getting excited.

Yuki arrives and asks about the clubs I saw. I tell her I visited the literature club and others with Yamamoto-san. She narrows her eyes and asks.

“Shun-nii, are you getting pretty close with Yamamoto-san?”

I feel I messed up. Just yesterday, I told Yuki I wanted to be close with her, and now I’m talking about another girl.

Yuki seems to care for me. I shouldn’t do anything to snuff that out. Prioritizing my sister is a given.

“…W-we’re close, I think… but being close with you hasn’t changed, so… I hope you’re not worried…”

I say this, feeling it’s creepy, but it’s my honest thought.

“…Hehe, thanks, Shun-nii.”

Yuki looks down slightly. I’m relieved she’s not put off, though I feel embarrassed.

Back home, we rest in our rooms before eating dinner together. I love this time—it feels like reclaiming a joy I never had in life.

Talking happily and eating warm food together is so fun, something I’d almost forgotten. Is this the happiness I sought?

Thinking this, I return to my room, prepare for tomorrow, and lie in bed. Surprised at myself for looking forward to what tomorrow brings, I let my fatigue fade.