In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 137

Chapter 137: On the Front and Back of the Earth

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“Communication starts with a pleasant greeting. This is the same no matter what country you’re in. Now then, let’s learn some basic greetings commonly used in daily life.”

Why?

“It’s easiest to remember things by ear, so we won’t be writing anything on the board for now. Let’s start with the morning greeting. Repeat after me: ‘Bom dia!'”

“Bom dia!”

“Very good. Once more. Bom dia!”

“Bom dia!”

How in the world did things end up like this?

Tsuzuki Kurara had just begun studying the language through online classes while living in a dormitory. Everything was so incomprehensible that she couldn’t even manage living a good daily life at this rate. She had decent confidence when it came to English—at least enough to handle basic conversation. But this wasn’t an English-speaking country.

At the airport, hotels, or near the capital, English probably would have been enough. However, in this scenic rural city far removed from any urban center, it was useless. Even having access to online lessons from a city-based language school was something to be thankful for in this situation.

“The afternoon greeting is ‘Boa tarde!’”

“Boa tarde!”

Why was I, someone who doesn’t understand a word of Portuguese, sent here in the first place? 

That question remained unanswered. Everything had happened so suddenly and without explanation.

The other day, she had been summoned alone to the director’s office at St. Catherine Academy. She had assumed it was to be questioned about the recent incident.

“Congratulations! Your assignment to our sister school in the Holy Mother City has been officially decided. This is truly an honor.”

What the director informed her of directly was a sudden overseas study assignment. While Kurara was still confused and flustered, the travel arrangements were made rapidly, and before she knew it, she was on a plane. It had all gone far too smoothly.

Did anyone even ask if I was okay with this?

When she tried to confirm the details with those around her, all she got in response were congratulatory words like “Congratulations!”, “How wonderful!”, and “We’re cheering you on as our representative!” It was treated like she had been selected to represent the school at some international student speech contest.

So she figured it couldn’t be a bad thing. Since it had been decided in such a hurry, it must be just a short-term study abroad trip—maybe a few weeks. That was what she thought. She tried to shift her mindset and treat it like a sightseeing trip, but once she arrived, she realized how wrong she had been.

The Holy Mother City of Aparecida had once gained fame throughout South America as a shelter for women in distress. At the heart of that was the Aparecida Holy Mother Convent—which also operated the school she would be attending until graduation.

Translated into Japanese, the school’s official name was the Aparecida Holy Mother Convent Boarding School. Its founding principles were “Chastity, Poverty, Obedience.”

It was said that spending several years here would transform you into a splendid woman who embodied those ideals. This was because the school didn’t just teach academics. As it was originally a vocational school supporting women’s financial independence, subjects like cooking, sewing, cleaning, and laundry were also included as part of the spiritual discipline and graduation requirements.

Students could only go outside for community service. Dorm life was a self-sustaining communal lifestyle, and participation in farming work was required. All around them stretched endless rural scenery. There weren’t even any public transport routes. Shopping district? What was that? It was a place completely cut off from the outside world—a sanctuary for maidens.

Naturally, the students were all girls. The teachers, contractors, and janitorial staff were all women too. Kurara hadn’t realized it yet, but this Aparecida Holy Mother City was famous as an exceptionally rare city in the world—one inhabited solely by women, built by women, and for the sake of women, where men had become extremely scarce.

“That concludes today’s lesson. See you next week. Até mais (See you later)! Bom fim de semana (Have a good weekend)!”

◇◇◇

And now, on Saturday—the weekend—in Japan, on the other side of the globe.

Inside the elegant white-themed cafeteria of St. Catherine Academy, two girls sat closely side by side, savoring newly released desserts beautifully arranged in tall glasses. Needless to say, they were Karen Kousaka and Seiko Kougyoku.

In front of Karen was a parfait au chocolat. In front of Seiko, a parfait aux fraises. In simpler terms, a chocolate parfait and a strawberry parfait. Both were special-order items you couldn’t get without a reservation.

That was only natural, since it had been Seiko who, after learning that Karen liked chocolate, instructed her personal pâtissier to develop the recipe and have it added to the menu here.

Of course, Karen had no idea that said pâtissier was currently working in the cafeteria kitchen.

No expense had been spared in selecting the ingredients. The chocolate panna cotta locked in a rich cacao aroma, topped with a thick ganache sauce and high-quality whipped cream with a subtle sweetness. Then came silky smooth chocolate ice cream crafted with expert technique, and a crispy chocolate macaron generously filled with chocolate cream.

It was a full-on chocolate extravaganza, yet somehow refined and well-balanced.

“Karen-sama, how is the parfait au chocolat?”

“It’s really delicious. This cafeteria is amazing. You couldn’t eat something like this at just any café. It feels seriously luxurious. Kougyo-… I mean, Seiko, want to try some too?”

When Seiko had invited her to the cafeteria, Karen had honestly apologized for having been distant, despite how kind Seiko had always been to her.

Seiko, who would have had every reason to feel hurt, simply smiled and said, “From now on, would you call me by my name too? ‘Seiko.’ That’ll be our sign of reconciliation.” And just like that, she forgave her.

Then they had come here together to eat parfaits. But once the desserts were brought out, Karen noticed something. The seasonal strawberry parfait was certainly extravagant, but the chocolate parfait had clearly received even more attention to detail. 

Didn’t Seiko deliberately order a different flavor so she could try both? Karen thought so—because she herself was like that, and figured Seiko must be too.

“May I have a taste?”

“Yeah. You should definitely try it. I highly recommend it. Oh! But… I guess we need a new spoon, huh?”

She didn’t want the rich chocolate flavor to get on Seiko’s strawberry parfait spoon. But on the other hand, offering her own used spoon to someone like Seiko, a refined young lady, also didn’t sit right on her. 

“This spoon will be just fine. We’re good friends after all.”

Seiko said with a bright smile, and Karen found herself captivated by her all over again.

Wow. So girls who shine like that really do exist.

Born and raised in privilege, beautiful with refined manners, and yet warm and approachable—she had heard that Seiko was one of the most elite students at the academy, but she never once flaunted it. The more Karen got to know Seiko’s character and the closer they became, the higher her opinion of her grew.

“Karen-sama?”

“Ah, right! A taste test. This panna cotta is absolutely amazing. It tastes even better with some whipped cream on top.”

Flustered, she quickly offered the glass to Seiko.

“Which part is it?”

Seiko tilted her head, peering into the layered glass.

“Let’s see… Around the middle of the glass. But since it’s all chocolate, it might be hard to tell. Should I scoop some up for you?”

“Yes, please.”

Karen tried scooping it with the long-handled spoon, but the exquisitely jiggly panna cotta threatened to spill the moment she moved to hand it over.

“Want to just eat it like this?”

They were both girls, so it wouldn’t be weird—thinking that, she offered the spoon. Seiko hesitated for a moment, but then ate directly from it. She looked completely delighted.

It was probably the first time she’d done something like this since she was a toddler—and with someone she had feelings for, no less. Seiko’s maiden heart fluttered, overwhelmed with emotion. And at that moment, Seiko decided to give the patissier who had made the deliciously wobbly panna cotta a special bonus.

＊＊＊＊

Having finished their parfaits, the two sipped fragrant coffee while catching up.

“I was surprised. I never expected Kurara to be chosen as a special support exchange student.”

“It sounds like she’ll have a very valuable experience.”

“That program isn’t open to just anyone, right? I heard you need a recommendation from someone influential.”

Since Karen had served as student council president, she had a general understanding of the systems that provided support for studying abroad. She hadn’t looked into the specifics since she wasn’t interested herself, but if she remembered correctly, Kurara’s destination was one of the most selective schools in the program.

“Perhaps transferring to this academy off-season was part of that plan.”

“Yeah, it was a weird time to transfer. Now that you mention it, it makes sense to think she enrolled with studying abroad already in mind.”

“Are you interested in studying abroad, Karen-sama?”

“Nope. I don’t think I could handle living in a foreign dorm.”

“Tsuzuki-san’s school is known for having very strict guidance, but there are schools with more relaxed environments too. Still, Karen-sama, are you considering internal progression to Catherine Academy University?”

Seiko already knew that Karen hadn’t submitted her application for internal progression yet. Though today was their long-awaited reunion, she had made up her mind in advance that she needed to confirm Karen’s intentions for the future.

“That was the plan, but then I heard Maya was applying externally, and I started to think it might be nice to try going outside too.”

Though Karen had once resigned herself to living life as a woman, she couldn’t help but worry about how having a women’s university on her record might be perceived if she ever returned to being a man in the future.

There had been a time when she thought it would be safer to stick with the internal path, but if her best friend was aiming for an external university, then maybe she could do it too. That was what made her reconsider.

“Oh my! That’s quite the surprise. Which external university are you interested in, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m most curious about Soukei University, a co-ed comprehensive university. Maya said she’s aiming for their law faculty.”

“So would you be going together?”

“If I do, I’d probably go for the political economics faculty. I think I’ll apply to the law faculty too, though.”

“That sounds wonderful. If you decide to apply externally, I’ll support you however I can.”

“Thanks. After all, we will still be friends even if we end up at different universities, right?”

Wanting to be more than just friends, Seiko silently vowed to follow Karen, no matter what path she chose.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー