It's a Chastity-Reversed World, But It's Different From What I Imagined? - 30

Chapter 30: Recruiting Members

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It had been embarrassing for me to interact with the Student Council President in the student council room. Being the guy my little sister and childhood friend had written off as gross, I had freaked out wondering if doing something like that to someone as ridiculously beautiful as the president might actually count as a crime.

But judging from the president’s reaction, I didn’t think she disliked it. When I entered the student council room, she looked more tired than the last time we had met. And when we talked, she carried this strangely challenging vibe. Before, she had seemed amused just looking at Seiya and me, but this time her attitude felt completely different.

“I just hope that made her feel a little better. As far as I can tell, Yoru’s appearance isn’t bad… Probably.”

It had been nearly half a year since I was reborn, but when it came to confidence, I was still half in doubt.

“Welcome back. Did you manage to finish the paperwork with the student council?”

“Probably. The Student Council President gave her approval. As long as we find a third member and an advisor according to the rules, she’ll acknowledge it.”

“The Student Council President? Was everything alright with her?”

“Yeah, she just seemed a little tired.”

“I see. Then make some time after school.”

Seiya glanced at the two of them.

“You already talked to them?”

“Yeah. While you were at the student council room. They both said they’d listen to us.”

Even when I looked their way, neither of the two looked back at me.

“Are you sure this will work?”

“Well… Probably. Neither of them had any plans to join a club anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Since guys have preferential treatment, they can choose not to join at all if they want.”

Apparently, even in high school, there were preferential measures in place. 

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After school, Seiya made the arrangements and we entered a family restaurant. In my old world, my only memories had been of the hospital and home.

Those were vague too, and I had never gone into a family restaurant with friends. I was so hyped up that I couldn’t stop looking all around the place.

“Yoru, it’s not like there’s anything rare here. Come on.”

We sat at a booth and ordered from the drink bar along with some fries to snack on.

“Well, it’s a little late for introductions since we’re all in the same class, but… Let’s do it anyway to thank you for coming today. I’m Seiya Shirogane, and this is Yoru Kurose, the one who came up with the Men’s Cheer Team.”

Seiya took the lead, but neither of them made eye contact with me. Even on the way here, there hadn’t been anything resembling a conversation.

“Hey, Seiya. Are these two really okay?”

Getting uneasy, I whispered to Seiya.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… Are they even capable of normal human conversation?”

When I glanced their way… Midorino had removed his hood, but he still wore his massive headphones, and I could hear music leaking from them. Akai had been reading a book the whole time we walked here, and even now he hadn’t lifted his eyes from the page.

“They’re just not good with people. Hey, you two, can you introduce yourselves?”

At Seiya’s prompting, Akai finally lifted his face. Midorino paused his music but didn’t bother to sit up.

“Haah… I only came because Seiya-kun asked. I’m not interested in anything besides reading.

Kurose-kun, though, there’s one thing I want to say to you.”

From behind his glasses, his sharp eyes glared straight at me.

“What is it?”

“I can’t understand why you’ve stayed silent until now, only to suddenly decide to do something like this. What are you thinking?”

Silent until now? Why did Akai see it that way? I didn’t understand. Seiya kept quiet, turning his gaze toward me. Even Midorino had lifted his face, looking at me as if he agreed with Akai. Their attention was all on me.

“Haah…Actually, this is because of my own problem.”

I prefaced it that way and looked at the three of them, who all nodded.

“I just… I’m not very good at talking.”

It wasn’t like I’d been deliberately keeping silent. I was just bad at talking and couldn’t bring myself to start conversations. That was all.

“…Huh?”

Both Akai and Midorino looked like they couldn’t understand what I meant.

“I… It’s not like I hate talking, or that I dislike girls. I just struggle with communication. Even about this club, I only thought it’d be nice if I could use this as a chance to get along better with girls.”

Somehow, I managed to put it into words. When I let out a relieved breath and looked at them, their expressions were hard to read. After a moment, Akai’s glasses glinted.

“So you’re saying… You’re socially anxious? With that face of yours?”

At those words, Midorino nodded furiously.

“Appearances have nothing to do with it! Is being socially anxious a crime? I’m working on fixing it. That’s why I’ve been able to start talking a little bit more lately.”

Akai pressed a hand to his temple, deep in thought. Midorino just stared at me in surprise.

“See? Just like I told you.”

For some reason, Seiya alone looked smug, grinning like he had won something.

“I get it now, Seiya-kun. So I was the one misunderstanding things… And this club you want to start is just a way to make chances to get along with girls, is that it?”

Akai still looked doubtful as he asked.

“Yeah. I mean, isn’t it weird? Men acting all arrogant just because there are so few of us, puffing themselves up because girls pamper them. And in the end, all we’re worth is being used as decoration like some mascot. What the hell is that? So I want to change it. I want to show our worth from our side, to prove we have a reason to exist.”

In my old world, I couldn’t even show my own worth. I had just been existing. I thought in this world, where chastity norms were reversed, girls would pamper me and I’d finally be needed.

But this wasn’t the world I had imagined. If I didn’t prove myself, it would be no different from the old world where I only lived without meaning.

“You’re… You’re a lot more passionate than I thought.”

Akai looked as though he finally understood. At some point, Midorino had taken off his headphones and was laughing.

“I’m Hayato Akai. I don’t know yet if I’ll join your club. But I’m glad we could talk, Kurose-kun.”

“I’m Youhei Midorino. That was hilarious. I’m fine with joining. Do you think the cheering squad will sing? I love music and I’ve always wanted to try making songs. Kurose, you’re fun, so let’s do music together.”

Both of them had listened to us and then introduced themselves. That reminded us that we had been in the middle of introductions and we laughed together. Since Midorino had decided to join, we spent the rest of the time talking about each other and then left the family restaurant.

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