Just Being Alive Is Amazing: Starting Life Over in a Chastity-Reversed World - Chapter 8: Is That Promise Still Valid?

Chapter 8: Is That Promise Still Valid?

While I was engrossed in reading the materials, a knock on the door echoed through the room. Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already past the start of visiting hours. Wondering who might be coming today, I called out to let them in, and Kaede entered alone.

“Huh? Just you today, Kaede?”

“No, not just me. But since you’re meeting someone for the first time in your current state, I thought it’d be better to get your okay first, so I came in alone.”

Meeting someone for the first time in my current state means it’s probably someone I knew before. But who? I’ve already met all my relatives…

“Maybe a friend?”

“Yeah. Our childhood friend.”

I had a childhood friend? Given the gender ratio, it’s probably a girl, but what kind of person is she?

I told Kaede to let her in, and she called out toward the door.

“E-Excuse me…”

A girl in the same uniform as Kaede entered, her voice hesitant. Her dazzling blonde hair reached the middle of her back, and her sharp, almond-shaped blue eyes stood out. And she was tall—probably close to 180 cm, which is impressive for a middle school girl.

“Come on! Introduce yourself!”

Kaede patted the girl’s back, making her jump before she started speaking.

“I’m Komine Arisa. Nice to… meet you.”

“She’s not usually like this, but she’s probably nervous since it’s been a while since you last met.”

Indeed, despite her striking appearance, she seemed timid and lacked energy. But anyone would feel unsettled meeting a childhood friend in this state. I need to take the first step here.

“Um, Arisa-san? You don’t have to be so reserved. I’d like you to talk to me like you did before… you know, before I lost my memories.”

At that, Arisa took a deep breath and said, “Alright.”

“Then you gotta call me Arisa and drop the formalities too, Takuya. That way, I won’t feel so nervous either.”

“Okay, got it, Arisa.”

“Yup, that’s the Arisa I know!” Kaede nodded, satisfied.

“Arisa, if it’s okay, can you tell me about yourself.”

“Me? Hmm… I guess I love volleyball. I like staying physically active.”

“Arisa’s really good at volleyball!” Kaede chimed in, helping the conversation flow.

“Are you in the volleyball club?”

“Yeah,” Arisa replied, looking a bit shy.

“She loves volleyball, but she loves you just as much, Takuya!” Kaede teased.

Arisa’s face turned bright red. Even I was startled by such a sudden comment, despite it being about the pre-amnesia me.

“N-No way! It’s not… well, it’s not not true, but… Kaede, don’t say weird stuff!”

“Wha~t? But you’ve been so worried about him! And you’re still hung up on that promise you made as kids to marry Takuya.”

What?! A marriage promise? In this world, marriage carries heavy weight for women. With a 1:200 gender ratio, even meeting a man is a big deal. It was probably just a childish promise, but she’s been holding onto it and thinking of me all this time. But the current me is like a different person…

“I’m sorry… It’s because I lost my memories…”

“No, don’t apologize! It’s just something I felt on my own… And it’s not like it’s off the table… right?”

“Huh? Uh… well…”

Her sudden intense gaze caught me off guard. But the one she loves is the old me, not…

“But with my memories gone, I’m practically a different person…”

“Ugh, Takuya, that again?! We keep telling you, you haven’t changed!” Kaede scolded me for bringing up my usual anxieties.

“The Takuya we love is still here. Your kindness, your tendency to worry too much—those haven’t changed. And even if something has changed, it’s just a new side of you. People change over time, so don’t sweat it!”

“Okay… sorry.”

If I’ve changed, it’s just a new side of me… I mulled over Kaede’s words. I realized my family gently accepts me even when I’m stuck overthinking trivial things.

If that’s the case, living true to myself is probably what will make my family happiest.

“Not ‘sorry’—say ‘thank you’!”

“Right… Thank you, always. I… I love you all too.”

I hoped my gratitude reached my family, who encourage me and visit every day.

“S-Saying stuff like that out of nowhere is unfair! I love you too!” Kaede’s face turned red, but she returned my feelings.

“B-But enough of that! We’re talking about Arisa right now!” Flustered and red-faced, Kaede pushed Arisa forward to shift the focus.

“W-Wait, Kaede, don’t push me! Uh, anyway, that’s how it is, Takuya. Don’t worry about anything. I think you’re still the same, and I’m sure I’ll love any new sides of you too. So… let’s keep getting along, okay?”

Pushed forward by Kaede, Arisa extended her left hand to me.

“Yeah, let’s get along, Arisa.”

I shook her hand, responding to her words.

“Okay, let’s keep the introductions going! Takuya, got any questions for Arisa?” Kaede peeked out from behind Arisa’s shoulder, urging her to continue.

“Uh, what’s your position in volleyball?”

“You know about volleyball, Takuya? I’m an outside hitter. Basically, the point-scorer.”

“Arisa got scouted by powerhouse schools but turned them all down. Guess why?”

“Huh? Because the teams didn’t feel right?”

I was surprised when Kaede suddenly posed a quiz to me. Based on my guess, Arisa must be strong enough to have her pick of powerhouse teams, right?

“No, that’s not it. Right, Arisa?”

“Eh⁉ Oh, um…”

Arisa stammered when Kaede abruptly threw the conversation to her. What could be the unusual reason?

“It’s… because I wouldn’t be able to stay with Takuya… That’s why I turned them all down.”

I see, she turned them all down to go to the same school as me. I’m honestly happy that she chose to stay with me over playing volleyball for a strong team.

“Thank you, I’m really happy that you think of me that much. But are you sure it’s okay? Even if we go to different schools, we can make time to meet…”

“You don’t have to worry! Our team is pretty strong too, you know.”

Our team? Are we already decided on a high school and participating in practices?

Seeing my confused expression, Kaede came to my rescue.

“So, we’re attending a combined middle and high school, which means we’ll automatically go to the same high school if we continue.”

I see, since it’s a combined school, the team members are mostly already decided.

“Plus, if a male student wants, up to two people can be in the same class as him. For girls, they have to be top scorers to be in the same class as the boy they like, but to make it easier for boys to attend school, boys can also choose who they want in their class. Well, both Arisa and I are studying like crazy to make sure we’re in the same class as you, Takuya!”

This must be another part of the male-favoring system. According to the materials, male university attendance is low, and many don’t work, so school is an important place for choosing my marriage partners. Having these two as classmates would make attending school feel safer.

“Are we in the same class now?”

“Yup. So even when you return to school after a long time, you can relax because we’ll be there with you.”

“Then, could you tell our classmates about my memory loss beforehand? It’d probably be confusing if they don’t know…”

“Sure, got it. We’ll let them know.”

“Oh, and how many boys are at the school?”

“Roughly one per class. It varies a bit by grade, but that’s about how many they can gather.”

“But you’ll be fine because we’ll be in your class! And our seats are close too!”

With this world’s gender ratio, there’s probably only one boy per grade, if that. Are boys being gathered into co-ed schools?

As the two were teaching me about school, a knock on the door echoed through the room.

“Excuse me. Visiting hours are almost over, so please prepare to leave~”

It was Yoshizawa-san, coming to announce the end of visiting hours.

“Okay, understood. Well, Takuya, we’ll come back tomorrow too.”

As Kaede said this, she leaned closer to me, and a pleasant scent wafted over as something soft touched my cheek. It took me a moment to realize it was her lips.

“Wha—! K-Kaede!”

“Fufu, we got along so well today, I couldn’t help but want to do it♡ Wanna try too, Arisa?”

“I-I’ll do it too!”

Arisa, as if competing, closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and leaned toward me. Her hands, clenched tightly in front of her, were gripping so hard that her veins were slightly visible.

Wait, with her eyes closed, isn’t she veering off course? With no other choice, I leaned my cheek toward her face.

A chuu sound rang out as Arisa’s lips touched my cheek. The spots where Kaede and Arisa kissed felt hot and tingly. Since they both kissed my cheeks, I wanted to return the gesture.

In my past life, this might’ve been a bit embarrassing, but in this world, it’s probably something that’d be appreciated.

I told the two to come closer, and I gently kissed their cheeks.

“““Ehh!”””

Surprised exclamations came from both of them and Yoshizawa-san. Oh right, I forgot Yoshizawa-san was watching. That’s a bit embarrassing.

“W-Well, you two, it’s about time, so thanks for coming.”

““Y-Yeah…”””

The two, looking a bit dazed, gathered their things and left.

“T-Takuya-san, k-kissing a girl’s cheek like that! That’s not fair!”

“Huh? Not fair?”

“Oh, n-no! I mean…”

Could it be that even Yoshizawa-san thinks of me that way? If so, that’d make me happy.

“Well then, Takuya-san, take it easy with dinner and rest well!”

With that, Yoshizawa-san hurriedly left the room.