In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 49

Chapter 49: Exchange Meeting

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Spring break was just around the corner. At this time of year, we second-year boys, were roped into participating in an event called the “Inter-School Exchange Meeting,” something we were joining for the first time this year. And so, we had come to St. Catherine Academy for the said exchange meeting.

Right now, on the stage, the student council president of this academy, a girl named Kousaka, was delivering the opening speech to the academy’s students.

“…And with that, I’d like to move on to introducing the students visiting from Eika Shuuei Academy.”

This student council president was a tall, cool-looking beauty, like a Kurazuka star. Not only was she incredibly confident, but the aura she exuded was on another level. She seemed so composed and experienced. It was almost hard to believe she was the same age as us. 

“To my surprise, it seems that one of our guests today has even appeared in the promotional video for the game we student council members also play, ‘Sengoku Emaki Kafuuden:Battle Flower Gale.’ If you’ve seen that PV before, try to spot who it is!”

Whoa. That caught me off guard. So, they really figured it out, huh?

“Now then, students of Eika Shuuei Academy, I will call your names in order. Please introduce yourselves.”

Following the call, we briefly introduced ourselves. During that time, a large number of St. Catherine Academy girls were staring at us intently. The tension was definitely rising. Once the introductions were over, we stepped down from the stage and into the main hall. Several round tables had been set up here, with drinks and light snacks prepared. The initial setup involved us making the rounds to the seated female students in order.

It felt like some kind of matchmaking party. 

Not that I had ever attended one, but, you know, just the image of it.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuusei Takeda.”

“…………”

The young ladies shyly averted their gazes, fidgeting. Anything would be better than no reaction at all.

“Do you have any questions for me?”

“…U-um?”

Oh! Here it comes!

“How tall are you…?”

My height? What an unusual question.

“I haven’t measured recently, but back in April, I was 178 cm.”

“Oh my! That’s the same as our White Rose-sama!”

“As expected of White Rose-sama! To be the same height as a man!”

Wait, ‘desu wa’? Whoa! They actually talk like that!

“Who is White Rose-sama?”

“Why, of course, that would be ‘St. Catherine’s White Rose,’ Karen Kousaka-sama.”

Kousaka… So, that means the student council president? I wasn’t sure exactly what the title “White Rose” meant, but it had to be something symbolic. The moment White Rose-sama became the topic, everyone suddenly became animated. 

Alright, if that’s what they love, let’s keep the conversation rolling with White Rose-sama as the focus.

“The student council president has an incredible presence, doesn’t she? I take it she’s well respected here?”

“Of course!”

The young ladies, who had been so reserved before, suddenly had plenty to say when it came to White Rose-sama. By the time I had finished making my rounds at the tables, I had become incredibly well-versed in all things White Rose-sama.

“She entered our high school with exceptionally high marks.”

“Her favorite drink is coffee, but she doesn’t take sugar or milk with it.”

“Her favorite color is light blue, so that became her image color.”

And so on. She was practically a celebrity. I also learned that White Rose-sama played BatFla. If she played, you’d think we would have crossed paths in-game at some point, but I had no memory of it. Maybe our login times were completely different? She seemed like someone who would stand out, though.

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During table time, I attempted to reboot the utterly spiritless Maya.

“Maya, time to come back to reality.”

“Maya-san! Wakey, waaaakey!”

“Huh?! Eh? The convention hall? When did I get here?!”

Phew. Looks like she finally snapped out of it.

“We’re in the middle of table time. Everything’s going smoothly. Soon, we’ll be moving into free time.”

“Already?! Oh no, I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I—”

“It must have been a real shock. It’s rare for you to act like this, Maya.”

As I gauged her condition, she muttered something.

“The bells…”

“Bells?”

“The bells tolled. All at once. Church bells… The bells of blessing.”

Church bells? Like the riing-goong sound?

“A-and then?”

“White doves flapped their wings and took flight. And then, amidst a sea of blooming roses, there he was… Riding a white horse…”

“A sea of roses and a white horse, huh. Well, I suppose he does seem like the type to have wings and flowers on his back.”

“He… Takeda-sama, where is he now?”

Wow. The normally cool and composed Maya, blushing and looking shy? What an unexpected reaction from her.

“He’s making the rounds at the tables.”

“I see… That makes sense. After all, that’s why he’s here.”

“If you’re interested, why not talk to him during free time? That’s what this exchange meeting is for.”

“N-no! Someone like me could never…”

Maya had always maintained a strong aversion to men, so she probably had zero immunity to them.

“So, you’re just going to do nothing?”

“N-nothing… Well, maybe… Watching him quietly from the shadows would be acceptable?”

“I’m sure you’d be fine if you just talked to him directly. Want me to take you over to him?”

“No way! No way, no way, NO WAY!”

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“Achoo!”

“Oh my! Takeda-sama, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m fine. My nose just tickled a bit.”

It wasn’t cold or anything… That was weird. Was someone talking about me? And so, without any major incidents, we safely made it through the inter-school exchange meeting. What awaited us next was White Day, an event treated as a massive occasion in this world.

It was about time for me to make up my mind, too.

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