In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 41

Chapter 41: Valentine’s Prelude at St. Catherine Academy

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“…Karen-sama…♡”

I softly murmured that person’s name. Just that alone made a sparkling feeling bubble up inside me like soap bubbles. Why just uttering that person’s name was enough to make me feel so incredibly happy?

Two springs ago, that person had appeared at this academy with an air of confidence, and my eyes were drawn to that person—no, riveted. Her back was straight and poised. She was a full head taller than me, so much so that I had to crane my neck a bit to look at her. 

The way she walked, cutting through the air with her shoulders squared, would have made my nanny scowl in disapproval. But that boldness of her swept away notions of propriety and etiquette in an instant, and I was utterly captivated.

And yet—if you looked closely, she would occasionally show a fleeting, uncertain expression, as if she wasn’t entirely comfortable in this place. That juxtaposition of hers… It was just too much! I couldn’t handle it!

Ahh, if only I could remove even a fraction of that sadness weighing on her. If I could be of any help to her.. This warm, fuzzy feeling rising in my chest… I wondered what this feeling was called?

It felt frustrating, bittersweet and yet, it made my heart race with excitement, a sweetness like nothing I had ever known.

Was this “kyun”… And “thump-thump”—the thrill of love? It had to be. Born into the Kougyoku family—one of Japan’s most distinguished yet restrictive households—this was the first time in my life that my heart had been so deeply shaken.

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This was the “Royal Salon,” a space reserved for only the most elite students of Saint Catherine’s Academy. A sunroom facing south, the space was bathed in warm sunlight even in the winter. Today, as always, an elegant tea party was being held by the young ladies who could only be described as the winners of life by birthright.

“Seiko-sama, do you have any plans for this year’s Valentine’s Day?”

“I was wondering the same. What will you do for this year’s Valentine’s Day?”

At one of the tables, two of the three young ladies engaged in conversation turned their expectant gazes toward the elegant girl seated at the head.

“Takako-sama, Akiko-sama… There is no need to even ask.”

“So that means… Just as expected?”

“Of course. I shall give my chocolates to Karen-sama. No, to Karen-sama alone. The most exquisite chocolate, like a precious gem, worthy of that person!”

“As I thought! Seeing how determined you are, have you already made preparations?”

“Naturally. I have invited a renowned chocolatier from Paris. I’ve hired their entire workshop, so by now, the prototype chocolates should be nearly finished.”

“As expected of Seiko-sama. It sounds like something truly exceptional will come of this.”

“Last year, because of the student council election, I couldn’t give her anything. This year, no matter what, I must have Karen-sama accept my feelings.”

“That election was troublesome. We unexpectedly became Karen-sama’s opposition, and it put us in quite the bind. We had to withdraw in a hurry.”

“Indeed. Conflict is not something we desire. That was the best decision.”

Seiko Kougyoku, Takako Genshou and  Akiko Gosakuramachi. Known as the “Three Empresses of Saint Catherine’s Academy,” they were young ladies from the most prestigious families in Japan. And yet, despite their high standing, their conversation was much like that of any other high school girls—focused on the upcoming Valentine’s Day. The scale of their discussion, however, was on an entirely different level than normal girls.

“Seiko-sama, your pure feelings have moved me. We shall help you, won’t we, Takako?”

“Of course. But if Seiko-sama gives chocolates to Karen-sama, won’t it cause quite a stir throughout the academy?”

“Do you think so? I imagine many others will give chocolates to Karen-sama again this year. One more person shouldn’t make much of a difference, should it?”

“No, that’s not the case. You yourself are admired by many students, Seiko-sama.”

“That’s right. Last year, due to the ‘Karen-sama Fever,’ I heard she received so many chocolates she couldn’t even carry them all home. It will likely be the same this year. However, there is a difference between an ordinary student and you, Seiko-sama—the attention you draw is far greater.”

“To avoid causing too much of a commotion, it may be best to carefully consider the setting in which you present the chocolates.”

“…Understood. If the two of you say so, then it must be true. I shall give it proper thought.”

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“Alright… Here we go.”

“Karen, what’s that? A cart… And cardboard boxes?”

I had brought a folded stack of cardboard boxes into the student council room on a cart. Maya looked surprised, but for me, these were necessary supplies.

“Well, since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d get ready in advance.”

“Ah, last year was quite the ordeal, wasn’t it?”

“Exactly. I’ll be leaving the chocolates I receive here in the student council room for a while, if that’s alright?”

“As long as you stack them in the corner, I don’t mind. But you won’t be able to eat all of them, will you? What will you do after that?”

“Last year, I ate every single one. It took forever, but they were all really expensive chocolates, and it felt like a waste to throw them away.”

“I can’t believe it. And you didn’t even break out in pimples?”

“Nope. Maybe it’s just my body type?”

Strangely enough, no matter how much chocolate I ate, my skin remained flawless. In fact, according to my diary, the more chocolate I consumed, the more energy my soul accumulated.

So if I kept eating chocolate, would I eventually turn back into a man? When I asked that, the diary told me that I still had nowhere near enough energy for that to happen. Besides the diary, there was one other thing that had been given to me when I came to this world—a divine blessing.

【The Blessing of the Chocolat God】

Apparently, it was the blessing of a god associated with chocolate. But according to the diary, this wasn’t the kind of blessing that would normally be given to someone like me, who only ever received obligatory chocolates.

The diary explained:

《No other gods volunteered. As a last resort, you were chosen through a process of elimination.》

What the hell? So it was just out of pity? Or did I get picked by default because there were no other options? Apparently, the deciding factor was the fact that I had drowned while clutching a bag full of obligatory chocolates. When I heard that, I was like, Come on! I worked my ass off! Couldn’t some god of diligence or something have picked me instead?!

To which the diary responded:

《Blessing of the Diligence God is highly sought after in Japan, and there is an overwhelming demand for it. Nearly all subordinate gods’ slots were already filled. The only remaining option was ‘The Obsessive Devotion of the Corporate Slave,’ which is still available. However, that would result in reincarnation under extremely harsh conditions. Would you like to apply for that instead?》

…I refused, of course. I had already had enough of the corporate grind. Even if it was a bit useless, I’d take this diary over that any day. Still… Even though Valentine’s Day existed in this world, why was the Chocolat God’s divine power so weak? That part remained a mystery to me.

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