Someone Who Believes They Can Live Normally in a World Where Chastity Is Reversed (Did You Think You Could Live Normally in a World With a Male-To-Female Ratio of 1:5?)

University cafeterias were generally crowded after the lunch break began.

The main reason was that there were significantly fewer seats than the number of students, and perhaps because students knew seats were limited, quite a few of them left the university grounds after classes.

However, students’ true feelings leaned towards wanting to have lunch in the cafeteria since it was affordable, and our cafeteria’s food wasn’t bad either.

“Koiumi~! Yayaya~!”

So, having someone reserve seats in the cafeteria beforehand was greatly appreciated during university life.

As I carefully made my way through the crowd with a tray of lunch sets, I reached Mizuho, energetically waving her arms.

“Thank you, Mizuho! You’re energetic as always~”

“Fufu. Well, yeah! Let’s eat~!”

“By the way, Mizuho, having katsudon for lunch… isn’t it too heavy?”

Mizuho was the most cheerful among my friends that I knew.

She had always been bright and bubbly since high school, and I couldn’t count how many times her innocent brightness had saved me.

Even though her attempts to catch a guy usually ended in failure… Why didn’t she have a boyfriend when she was so cute?

With her trademark twin tails and bright sky-blue eyes, she was the epitome of the cute type, slender and shorter than me.

She was wearing an oversized T-shirt with a thin denim jacket and black shorts that showcased her slender, beautiful legs.

Her friendly smile sometimes made even me, a girl, flutter.

“Fufu Today’s a super important day, so it’s katsudon! To win!”

“What competition…?”

“Of course… it’s a competition in love!!”

Didn’t it feel like she was in love with being in love… was that a negative?

I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Are you going to confess?”

“That’s right!! Well, I think my chances are pretty good this time! We’ve been talking quite a bit!!”

“Wait, is it Keito-san from the badminton club?”

“That’s right! We seem to make eye contact a lot during club activities, so I’m sure of it!”

“Isn’t the bar set a bit low…?”

That sounded like something someone who attended an idol concert and was near the front row would say…

“Ahh! Koiumi, are you mocking me because you’ve been on a roll lately?!”

“I’m… not on a roll at all…”

“You’re smirking! That’s unfair, unfair!”

I felt bad for Mizuho, but it was true that I had been getting along quite well with Masato lately.

We even went on a date the other day…♪

I was a bit surprised when I heard he did tutoring on the side, but he said he had never met her outside of tutoring, so it should be fine…

As I was lost in thought, a hand was placed on my shoulder.

“Wait for me… When I come back victorious, let’s plan a double date…”

“You should stop that… it’s a death flag…”

Really, Mizuho hadn’t changed her personality since high school. Cheerful, always at the center of the class, lifting everyone’s spirits. It was precisely because of this that I truly wanted her to be happy. After finishing her katsudon, Mizuho clasped her hands together.

“Thank you for the meal… Well then! I shall make my way to the clubroom now, so await the good news!”

“What? Now?! Isn’t that a bit sudden?”

“It’s better to strike while the iron is hot! Fate won’t always wait, young lady…”

With a small, cute gesture, Mizuho waved her slender index finger and left her seat.

Until her figure, brimming with excitement, disappeared, I watched her go.

“Hope she’ll be okay…”

While taking a bite of pasta, I vaguely pondered the likelihood of Mizuho’s confession succeeding.

Keito-san. A senior in the badminton club, indeed was quite pleasant. But something about him felt off, and I didn’t quite like it.

He seemed to hang out exclusively with a few senior girls…

Glancing at my watch, I realized there was still some time before the third period.

“Maybe I’ll swing by the club building first…”

Although I wanted to reserve a seat for Masato in our class, Mizuho’s confession also piqued my interest.

If it succeeds, I’ll have to congratulate her too.

After finishing my meal, I quickly texted him and headed towards the club building.

The club building.

At this time, the area, usually bustling after the third period, was still relatively quiet.

Since it’s slightly away from the lecture building, only those with free periods would come here.

“…She’s not here, huh.”

I decided to check the badminton club room first, but Mizuho wasn’t there. Maybe she’s already done, or perhaps the confession got canceled.

“Should I head to the classroom?”

Since there was no message from Mizuho… but if, by any chance, it succeeded, she’d probably text me right away.

“Huh? Are you seriously asking me out? LOL”

I heard a voice.

With a bad feeling, I headed towards the source of the voice.

(…!)

Hiding behind a corner.

At the far end of the club building, in front of the emergency stairs, were two figures, their expressions hidden from me.

But there was no mistaking the twin tails at a low position.

(…It’s Mizuho…)

There’s no mistaking it. That’s my best friend.

“Will you go out with me?… Huh? Are you serious? lol. Satsuki told me to talk to you at least once a year, so I thought why not give it a shot? lol. Did you seriously misinterpret that?… It’s kinda gross though.”

“…I’m sorry.”

…Huh?

I could feel my body temperature dropping rapidly.

“Well, that’s the deal… Don’t ever do something like this again, okay? lol, Seriously, it’s creepy and a waste of time. And if I hear you’re saying this to other girls, I won’t forgive you. Understand your place, okay? Bye.”

Unforgivable.

I can’t forgive it, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t!

I can’t forgive the fact that such trash hurt Mizuho’s feelings.

…Darn it. I should have recorded it or something.. If I did, I could’ve exposed his true nature, humiliated him…

“Are you eavesdropping, too?”

“…!… Mizuho… I’m sorry.”

Before I knew it, Mizuho had returned to where I was hiding.

“It’s okay! You came to worry about me, right? Witnessing the kindness of Koiumi-dono, it brings tears to my eyes~!”

“Mizuho…”

I understand. We’ve been friends for so long, I know her well, and even if we weren’t, anyone could tell.

The Mizuho now was just putting on a brave face.

“Ah~! I thought I had a chance, but wow, I got completely shut down! My HP is like zero now~ Yo-yo-yo!”

Doing an imitation of being cut with a sword, Mizuho stuck her tongue out.

“Not going so smoothly, huh! Koiumi-dono, let’s put the double date on hold a bit longer☆”

“Yeah… Mizuho, you’ll definitely find someone better than that jerk.”

I know. Empty words like these won’t heal Mizuho’s heart.

Even though they were cheap words of encouragement, I know.

Mizuho should know too.

“Uoooh! I’m getting fired up now!! I’ll show ’em what I’ve got~! …So Koiumi, make sure you cherish your current guy, okay?”

“Yeah…”

Why is it that I feel like crying now?

Why does Mizuho have to go through this? Mizuho, who’s so cute, earnest, and kind to everyone…

“Hey. You’re in the same class as him for third period, right? Hurry up and go!”

“But Mizuho, you…”

“I, for one, want to feel the evening breeze~! Don’t keep him waiting! Hurry up and go!”

“Mizuho…”

With a light gesture, Mizuho waved her hand. Many words were on the tip of my tongue… but I swallowed them all. I thought any words I said now might backfire.

Right now, it might be better to leave her alone. I headed towards the classroom building, not looking back towards Mizuho. Because the feeling of her presence behind me was much weaker than usual.

The chime for the lecture start rang, and at that moment, I slipped into the classroom.

(That was close!)

I scanned the classroom after swiping my attendance card.

Towards the back, a boy was waving at me.

(Oh, him…)

Feeling a surge of impulse… and then recalling Mizuho’s recent ordeal, my heart ached.

I won’t ever forgive him.

“Thanks for saving me a seat!”

“No problem at all. Isn’t that what friends do for each other? You’ve saved me seats plenty of times too.”

Ah~ He’s so cool and cute.

A person packed with all the good qualities in the world. A god.

That’s why remembering that trash from earlier made me sick to my stomach. Dark emotions swirled within me again.

To Mizuho… How dare he… I can’t forgive him.

“…Something wrong? You look pretty down.”

“…Actually,”

He noticed the subtle changes in my expression and showed concern. Masato truly is a good person.

I told him what had happened.

He knew I had a close friend, so he knew what kind of situation my friend must be in.

How much I can’t forgive that senior. And I desperately tried to keep my voice from getting louder.

“That’s awful… What a jerk.”

“…Yeah.”

It’s beyond terrible, no matter how you look at it. While many guys can be disrespectful and arrogant, this time it’s especially bad.

It’s the first time I’ve heard such despicable remarks.

His expression also turned quite dark.

“I can’t forgive him… It might be a bit naive of me to think I can just go tell other seniors what happened…”

“…Because Mizuho is too kind-hearted, she probably wouldn’t like it. Personally, I want to give him a piece of my mind.”

That senior was popular with the girls. They didn’t know his true nature.

So even if I were to confront him about this, the odds wouldn’t be in my favor. Knowing that, I feel frustrated too.

“…I don’t know, but I can’t stand that guy… But now that it’s come to this…”

After pondering for a while, Masato brightened up and turned to me.

“We just have to be happier than him, right? That’s the best revenge. Finding someone better than him and showing him how happy you are… That’s probably the best revenge.”

…Really, the person I like has such a good heart.

“Yeah… That’s true. I want Mizuho to be happy.”

That’s what I truly wish from the bottom of my heart.

Class ended after the fifth period.

Today was Wednesday. Hopefully, I can go on another date with Masato today~ That’s what I was hoping for.

“I’m sorry! Something urgent came up, and I have to go home!! Sorry!!”

I couldn’t stop Masato as he hurriedly flew out of the university.

Who could have called him?! When I asked, he just said, “Someone like a parent!” Oh well, we can meet again tomorrow anyway.

Watching him leave, I opened my smartphone.

There hasn’t been any contact from Mizuho since that incident.

I tried calling her, but it didn’t go through.

“…I hope she’s okay…”

Even though losing in love has become routine for my best friend, I think this time it hit her hard.

I always think this when I’m watching her, but Mizuho was probably just in love with the idea of being in love rather than actually in love with the ‘person.’

I hope that someday, Mizuho will find someone she can truly love from the bottom of her heart…

Someone like Masato is to me.

“Maybe I’ll treat her to a parfait tomorrow.”

Thinking about Mizuho, who has a sweet tooth, I headed home too.