Chastity Reversed: Part-Time Life by the All-Girls High School - Chapter 34: Which Side Are You Really On?

“Are… are you okay?”

“Ah, yeah. Sorry.”

He looked at me with concern.

Even though we were having such a good time, I ended up ruining the mood. What was I doing?

“Haha, that’s kind of unexpected!”

“What is?”

“I didn’t know you could make that kind of face, Sato-kun.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well… it’s just that… even when the boys in class say mean things to you, you always seem unfazed.”

“Ah, I see…”

He said it with a curious expression.

Well, it was indeed true. Almost half the classroom was basically “the enemy” to me.

“It’s only because the other half are ‘allies’ that I manage to get by.”

“!”

“Back in first year, I was pretty close to becoming a shut-in.”

“What?”

“At that time, I didn’t have a single friend.”

“…I… I didn’t know that…”

Looking back now, it felt like a distant memory. If things had stayed that way, maybe I wouldn’t even be here anymore. In this messed-up world, I might’ve just thought, “Fine, I’ll reincarnate somewhere else or something.”

“To be honest, I even thought Kanata didn’t like me.”

“Th-that’s not true!!”

“!?”

“Oh. S-sorry.”

“You startled me. No need to deny it so strongly.”

“But… it’s not true.”

“I see. Well, since I don’t have any guy friends, I guess I just assumed. My bad.”

“N-no, I’m sorry too…”

It wasn’t like every single guy in class hated me, but when you hear insults day after day, it was hard not to develop a bit of an aversion.

That was why when he first spoke to me, I was cautious and confused. Now… things were different.

“You’re not like the other guys in class, Kanata.”

“…Yeah.”

“Well, then! Let’s talk about something only guys can discuss!” (Suddenly.)

“Huh?”

Once I decided on that topic, there was no room for doubt anymore.

Kanata Azuma—was a good guy. That much became clear from his reaction just now.

“So, Kanata, since you’re an idol and all… are relationships forbidden for you?”

“!! W-well… my agency isn’t super strict about it. But… there’s kind of an unspoken rule…”

“Ahh, makes sense. By the way, is there anyone in our class you’re interested in?”

How long had it been since I’d had a conversation like this? A guy-to-guy talk about romance.

My excitement started to rise.

“…”

“Huh? Oh, you want me to go first? Well… there isn’t anyone for me right now… Actually, having a girlfriend is probably impossible for me forever. So I’ve given up on it.”

He stared at me silently as if urging me to continue.

It was such a boring answer… but it was the truth.

A guy like me—someone who didn’t fit in—couldn’t imagine being in a relationship.

In this world—where everything was “reversed”—I was an outlier. And once again, I’d dragged my own “value” down to rock bottom.

That was why dating or getting married… those things felt completely out of reach for me.

“…I don’t think that’s true.”

“You think so? Thanks. Hearing that from the most popular guy in class means a lot.”

“Heheh! That’s not tru—”

“It is. You’re ridiculously cute after all.”

Did he not realize it himself? Honestly, it was almost unfair how much he stood out compared to the other guys in class.

Even though our class had plenty of good-looking people… none of them could compete with Kanata. If this were a game, he’d be Tier 0—a cheat character level of cuteness!

“…Huh?”

Wait—why was his face turning so red? Wasn’t he used to hearing stuff like this as an idol?

I thought he’d just brush off something like this from someone like me—the lowest of the low.

“Most girls would fall for you instantly.”

“…What if…”

“Hm?”

“What if they weren’t girls?”

“…What?”

What was he saying?

Did he mean to imply if they were guys instead?

I wasn’tgay or anything. Of course, love came in many forms—but as someone who wasn’t into guys romantically—I couldn’t really relate.

“W-what do you think?”

“I don’t know. Like I said earlier—I’m into girls.”

“Oh… yeah. That makes sense. ‘Normal’ boys usually like cool people…”

“Well, yeah. But maybe there are some guys whose preferences differ from others too?”

“Huh?”

“Oh… never mind. Forget what I said.”

“Huh?”

I slipped up there.

But whatever—it was fine.

Maybe he’d think less of me now—but this was my first real male friend after all.

It should be okay to open up a little—to Kanata at least.

It’d been so long since I’d had a conversation about romance like this…

In this world where everything felt “off”, somehow with him—I let my guard down and spoke freely.

“You know… my type isn’t ‘cool’ girls—it’s ‘cute’ ones.”

“!!!”

In this reversed world—that probably made me part of the minority.

But even though the world had changed—I hadn’t—and I didn’t plan on changing either.

That included my preferences too.

“Haha! Not very ‘normal’, huh?”

“…I’m the same.”

“Huh?”

“I like ‘cool’ people too,” he said softly. “That’s my type.”

“…Wait—what?”

Wasn’t that totally “normal”?

What was going on?

If that was the case, then it was almost as if—

“That was weird of me—haha! Must be tired from all the fun today—sorry!”

“Well then, let’s call it a night. You’ve got an early morning tomorrow anyway—I’ll get the futons ready.”

“I’ll help!”

“Thanks!”

We both stopped talking abruptly—as if realizing we shouldn’t push this conversation any further.

We laid out the guest futons together—a space usually reserved for family or visitors—and got ready for bed.

It was past 10 PM now—not late by high school standards—but after such an active day—it felt good to turn in early.

“I’ll take a quick shower first—you go ahead and rest in bed.”

“Okay… but I haven’t bathed yet either…”

“Don’t worry about it—your fans would probably consider that extra value!” (Joking.)

“You’re awful!” He playfully hit me with his fists.

“All right—go take your bath then.”

“…Fine~ Yaaawn…”

With an adorable yawn—Kanata crawled into bed—clearly exhausted from today’s activities.

“Good work today,” I said softly as he settled down.

“…Yeah… Let’s hang out again soon…”

“If it’s on one of my days off from work—sure thing.”

“Yay…”

“But honestly—you’re probably busier than me anyway…”

“Oh right—I’m an idol…” His voice trailed off as sleep overtook him.

“…Goodnight,” I whispered after confirming his steady breathing and turned off the lights.

As I undressed and stepped into the shower—I couldn’t help but mutter quietly under my breath:

“…So which side are you on?” 

The sound of water drowned out my words—as if carrying them away into nothingness.