Chastity Reversed: Part-Time Life by the All-Girls High School - Chapter 18: Do as You Like

《Next stop: ●× Station, ●× Station》

The next day was a day off from my part-time job. After school, instead of hanging out with any female friends, I headed straight home. Not that I had any same-gender friends in the first place (tragically).

The train ride took about 30 minutes. None of my classmates or anyone in the same uniform lived near me.  

Which was why… I could keep up my act.  

If the truth about all that came out, I wouldn’t be able to show my face at school again.  

“What should I do?”

I arrived at my local station.  

I’d finished the book I’d borrowed. My homework was all done.  

Moments like this made me think, maybe I should’ve joined some kind of club or activity.  

So, instead of heading home, I decided to take a walk.  

Like some old man, but hey, it was fun, so I couldn’t complain.  

[“It’s… nothing.”]

Oh, right.  

Yesterday around this time, that Yankee girl was standing outside like a statue.  

If she was there again, maybe I’d strike up a random conversation.  

I did enjoy talking to girls, after all.  

And she was straightforward—talking to her was genuinely entertaining.  

“…”

But wait. Think about it.  

Wouldn’t it be creepy if she really were there again?  

Just standing outside the convenience store, not going in.  

…No, she wouldn’t actually be there, right—  

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Why are you here?”

This was practically becoming my catchphrase these days.  

But in this situation? Totally justified.  

“What is she doing…!”  

I ran toward the store.  

She wasn’t standing outside like before—this time, she was inside, talking to the manager about something.

The manager stood there, visibly trembling, practically vibrating in place as she spoke.  

She looked terrified. Honestly, I thought she might generate enough energy to power something.  

“! Sato-kun?!”

“Yo. I was out for a walk and got curious, so I decided to drop by. I know this girl,” I said casually.  

“Oh, is that so? Well, you see, she said she’d like to work here, but we’re fully staffed at the moment…”  

“Ah, I see. You’re job hunting, huh?”  

“…Yeah.”  

“There are plenty of places hiring in the area, you know? There are even other convenience stores around here.”  

“…”  

Why had she suddenly gone quiet?  

Well, whatever. Some customers were starting to stare at us. Better wrap this up.  

“Manager, I’ll grab two fried chicken snacks.”  

“Ah, sure! That’ll be 250 yen!”  

“Thanks.”  

I figured since I was already inside, I might as well contribute to sales.  

“Alright, let’s go. Don’t cause any more trouble here.”  

“Ah…”  

I grabbed her arm and led her out of the store.  

…Huh. She was pretty strong.  

***

In front of the convenience store, in the shadow of the parking lot, I sat down and took a bite of the fried chicken.  

Pretty sure the manager fried this batch. Not bad.  

“Want one? Oh, wait, are you not allowed to eat snacks you didn’t buy?”

“…”  

“Do you have any allergies?”  

“No…”  

“Then eat one. Classic flavor’s the best.”  

“…”  

The small package with the grinning chicken logo had about five bite-sized pieces inside. I skewered one with a toothpick and—  

“Here.”

“!?!”  

“Good, isn’t it?”  

Since she wouldn’t eat on her own, I held it up to her mouth.  

For someone who acted tough, she was surprisingly easy-going in moments like this.  

“Munch, munch.”  

“You really like fried chicken, huh…”  

She was eating a lot. Not that I minded.

“So, what’s with the sudden desire to get a part-time job?”  

“Does it matter?”  

“Oh, I get it—you just wanted to be around me, huh?”  

“Wha—”  

“You’re so easy to read. No idea why, though.”  

It was obvious from how she stood outside waiting yesterday. And now, she was even trying to work at the same convenience store as me.  

“…”

“Hm?”  

“You were the only one,” she said softly, clenching her fists.  

“The only one what?”  

“The only one who ever got mad at me.”

Her quiet words conveyed everything.  

I didn’t know her family situation, but it probably wasn’t great.  

Just like Koharu, many kids in this reversed world seemed to come from single-parent households.  

Here, where women were the primary breadwinners, societal support for parenting was strong—maternity leave, paternity leave, and even “child vacation days” during the summer and winter. That in itself was a good thing, but perhaps because of it, people were now able to raise children even without a “father.” Of course, the “reverse” was also true.

It was a good system, but it also meant kids like her often ended up in these circumstances.  

“So, it wasn’t because you wanted to kiss me?”  

“!?!”  

“Just kidding. Unless it’s true?”  

“It’s not!”  

“Relax, I’m joking. What’s your name?”  

“…It’s Ai Azuse.”  

“Ai-chan, huh? Got it.”  

“Stop calling me that!!”  

“Haha, come on. It’s a cute name. I’m Sora Sato. Nice to meet you.”  

Tossing the empty snack wrapper into a nearby trash can, I turned back to her.  

“Seriously, though, why’d someone with such a cute name try smoking?”  

“…Someone gave it to me.”  

“Was it from the Rose Garden?”  

“Yeah.”  

“For free? Wow, how generous.”  

“…Next time it’s 2,000 yen.”  

“Ugh, that’s basically a shady subscription model.”  

First one was free, then they reeled you in.  

“That group sounds sketchier than I was told.”  

“…”  

“You know it too, don’t you?”  

“I don’t know… but they’re all I’ve got now.”  

Her voice carried a hint of despair, her side profile looking fragile.  

It seemed she had nowhere to belong—not at home, not at school—  

“Hey, Ai.”  

“What?”  

“Why don’t you come to my place?”

****

“Isn’t it dangerous to follow some guy to his house?”  

“Shouldn’t the person inviting me be the one not saying that?”  

“Fair point. I’m not exactly a good guy, you know.”  

“What’s that supposed to mean?”  

“Want some more snacks?”  

“What are you, a creep?”   

And so, with her nod of agreement, I brought her to my house.  

I deliberately took less-traveled roads to avoid running into anyone she might know.  

Click

“Come on in, make yourself at home.”  

“Uh, okay…”  

She walked in hesitantly, glancing around.  

Despite being a Yankee, she neatly lined up her shoes. What’s up with that?   

“I live alone.”  

“…What?”

“Told you—I’m not a great guy.”  

“!?”  

Sitting on the bed, I took off my jacket. The creaking noise echoed faintly in the quiet room.  

“So, what do you want to do? I’ve got board games, video games—”

“—You’re way too careless, you know that?”  

Before I could finish, I found myself pushed down.  

She loomed over me, her hands trembling, her breathing uneven.  

Her eyes, her actions—they sought something. Warmth, perhaps.  

“So, what’s your move now?”  

“…Are you okay with this?”  

Though we hadn’t touched, the heat between us was palpable.  

“That’s my line.”  

“!?”  

Looking straight into her eyes, I spoke.  

“If you’re okay with someone like me, then—”  

This wasn’t daytime. A kiss wouldn’t end it here.  

The night had just begun.  

“Do as you like.”  

Gently, I’d uncover her true self.