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?)

The educational institution called university, I believe, had varying daily time constraints depending solely on the autonomy of the learner.

People without motivation entrust attendance to others and go out to play, while motivated individuals attend many classes and earn credits.

Of course, some universities may not be like that.

I’m somewhere in between, taking classes reasonably and also taking breaks reasonably.

Today, it’s more of a day off. After the third period, I don’t have any classes left to take today.

“Phew! I’m tired! Ah, next week’s quiz… I’m not confident.”

“Well, it’ll work out somehow!”

“Mizuho, you always say that and barely make it…”

“Because I manage just in time!”

Today, like always, the three of us attended classes together. Lately, I feel like we’ve gotten used to hanging out together.

Glancing at Mizuho’s face, I see her smiling at a casual comment.

Because I’ve gotten used to it, I hesitate to express my feelings to Masato, fearing what might happen if he rejects me. But if I keep hesitating, Masato might be taken away by someone else.

I can’t let that happen.

“…? What’s wrong, Koiumi?”

“Uh, nothing! Well then, let’s go to the batting center we promised to go today! It’s just a short train ride away!”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

Originally, Masato and I made plans to go to the batting center today. I’m confident in my softball skills, but Masato doesn’t believe me, so today I’ll prove it! That’s the promise for today.

“Mizuho, you’re coming too, right?”

“Huh? Uh, well… haha! Today I have a prior engagement… Have fun with just the two of you!”

“Huh? Is that so?”

“Yeah, yeah! Mizuho-chan, the popular girl, is busy, you know… Haha.”

She’s saying this, but I can’t help but find it strange.

Mizuho has been friends with us for a long time, and when I invite her, she usually comes running. But…

“Mizuho, do you have something to do?”

“…”

Masato seems a bit surprised too, peering into Mizuho’s face.

“I-I mean… Ah, I’m, um, in a bit of a bind… It’s not like Masato really wanted Mizuho-chan to come that much. But today’s just not possible! Sorry! Well then, see you both tomorrow!”

“Hey, wait, Mizuho!”

Mizuho, adjusting her marine cap, rushes off in a hurry.

Is she in such a hurry? We should be going to the station together…

“Mizuho was acting strange, huh?”

“Ah…”

Being told that she was acting strange, I realized.

Mizuho was being considerate. She wanted Masato and me to have some time alone…

“Mizuho’s silly… It’s not like that matters.”

“…? What’s wrong?”

“Uh, nothing! Well then, let’s go!”

We’ll have to tell her properly when we meet tomorrow.

It’s not a problem at all for me to spend time with the three of us together. After all, I’m the one who introduced Mizuho to him.

I love Mizuho too.

—

From the nearest university station, it’s about a 10-minute train ride. Masato and I arrived at the station where the batting center is located. Exiting the ticket gate, we see the rooftop of the building in front, enclosed with nets.

The distinctive metallic sound of hitting a ball with a bat could be heard here and there.

“I’m excited to bat after such a long time.”

“Haha, Masato, you’re like a kid.”

“You should always return to your childhood when doing something like this!”

Following Masato, who is full of energy, I head towards the elevator.

I wonder what kind of kid Masato was… Was he already cool back then? Taking the elevator to the rooftop, we arrive.

Inserting 1000 yen into the ticket machine, four tickets for batting are dispensed.

“Who’s going first?”

“It’s fine, Masato, you go first. Your eyes have been sparkling since earlier.”

“Haha, caught, huh?”

He really looked like a child. That’s cute and lovely about him.

Masato hurries towards the batting area…

“Masato, it’s 130 kilometers there, right? It’s quite a distance from the start…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay! I told you, I’ll be fine.”

“Really…?”

This is the batting stance with the second fastest pitch speed in this shop. I think it’s quite difficult for guys to hit this…

“Oh, sorry, can you hold this for me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Before Masato entered the batting stance, he handed me his backpack, wristwatch, and necklace. …Wait, isn’t this kind of girlfriend-like? Helping out with her boyfriend’s belongings, it’s so girlfriend-like, isn’t it?! Well, he might as well be my boyfriend now (self-conclusion).

I’m happy…

“Alright! Let’s do this!”

Masato, stepping into the right batter’s box, rolled up his sleeves and stood at the plate. Watching him through the net.

The monitor lit up, and the pitcher raised his arm. In sync with the video, the ball was launched.

“Here we go!”

Masato swung his bat sharply, connecting with the ball. A resounding metallic sound echoed as the ball flew cleanly towards center field.

“Wow, amazing! You’re really amazing, Masato!”

“Of course! That’s what I said! Here goes!”

He caught the next ball too. This time, towards right field.

Since he’s swinging from the inside, the strong hit ball goes towards the right.

Wow, he’s good… Oh no! At this rate, I won’t be able to prove that I’m better!

Putting that aside, Masato’s batting form from behind was so cool that I couldn’t help but be mesmerized, forgetting our conversation.

Oh right, I should take a video. I want to watch it later.

I took out my smartphone and opened the camera. Recording Masato’s figure on video.

“Here goes!”

“Wow, amazing, amazing! You’re catching almost all of them!”

“I’ve got this much under control!”

My heart was pounding. This conversation was also being perfectly recorded on my phone. If I were to post this on social media… Wouldn’t that make us a couple? It’s a perfect strategy to fill in the gaps. I think it’s a brilliant idea even if I say so myself.

In the end, Masato managed to hit back almost all of the balls cleanly.

“That was fun! It’s been a while, but I managed to hit quite a few!”

“Wow, that was amazing, I’m surprised. You were really telling the truth.”

“See!”

Unusually high-spirited Masato made me smile too. Now, I need to show what I’m capable of.

“Well then, it’s my turn!”

“Hey, hey, Koiumi, are you going to bat at that spot too?”

“Huh? Yeah, why?”

“It’s really fast, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be better to try other spots…?”

Oh, I see. Masato, you still underestimate me, huh?

“Here! Hold this!”

“O-Okay.”

This time, I handed Masato all the belongings he had just held and my own. Alright! Let me show you!

Entering the batting stance, I put in the ticket. Without hesitation, I pressed the start button.

Today, it was good that I wore hot pants and sneakers. I chose comfortable clothes because I thought I might be doing some exercise, and it was the right choice.

I swung sharply at the ball ejected from the pitcher shown on the monitor… Alright! Center field!

“Whoa~! Seriously?”

“See! I told you!”

Masato is surprised. Yeah, yeah, this reaction is what I wanted!

I had a chance to touch baseball when I was young, and since then I’ve been playing softball on and off.

Somehow, I got pretty good at it without realizing it, and I did reasonably well in high school too.

I always liked sports anyway. At the timing of finishing one ball, my softball spirit was ignited.

Alright, I won’t miss a single ball from now on! I hit the incoming balls one after another.

Center field, right field, left field. Shifting my weight without lifting my left leg too high. The power to hit far decreases, but the power to connect increases.

Before I knew it, I was engrossed in hitting the balls back.

—

After finishing at the batting center…

Masato and I take a breather at the fast food restaurant on the first floor of the building where the batting center is located.

…But.

(I, I overdid it~~~)

I’m currently regretting it immensely.

After that, I got all fired up and hit a ton of balls.

But, what does that mean to Masato, I wonder? I’m starting to think about it now.

Even though we came together, if Masato didn’t enjoy it… and if Masato doesn’t think even a little bit better of me, then it’s meaningless!

Yet, I stubbornly kept on batting…

Oh no, what if he thinks I’m being too intense… I want to die…

“Sorry to keep you waiting~”

As I slump over the table, Masato brings over what he ordered on a tray.

“Man, that was fun~. What’s wrong, Koiumi?”

“No… haha…”

What should I do? I definitely overdid it… I should ask Masato just to make sure.

I ask Masato, who is curiously drinking juice, “So Masato… how do you feel about girls who are into sports?”

“What do you mean?”

“Um… like, in terms of your type? Like, do you like it or not?”

I’ll wrap it up nicely. Try to minimize the damage…

“I wonder, maybe because I used to get along well with a girl who used to exercise a lot, but I kind of like it. People who can exercise.”

“I see…”

A girl I used to get along with… I see. That’s right, Masato has had experiences before, so it’s natural for someone as cool as him to have had something before.

Even though it should have been a good answer, I feel down about myself for some reason.

“When did you start playing softball, Koiumi ?”

“Huh? Was it around late elementary school?”

“I see… so until high school. That’s why you’re good.”

While eating fries, Masato nods in admiration.

Um, is it okay to be happy? He doesn’t dislike girls who can exercise, so I can be happy, right…?

…

We rode the train, heading home.

In the end, I couldn’t really delve into Masato’s childhood stories or anything like that.

There will be plenty of opportunities to talk about it in the future… the timing to ask will definitely come.

“Well, I have to change trains here.”

“Yeah, okay! Take care! See you tomorrow!”

I wave goodbye to Masato as he gets off the train.

Honestly, our current relationship feels comfortable.

We can hang out together at university, we’re always in touch, and it feels like we’re almost dating when we go out together… Well, he probably doesn’t think of it as dating at all.

I don’t want to give him to anyone else. Absolutely not. But at the same time, I’m scared of ruining our current relationship.

If I couldn’t be with Masato anymore… I would definitely break down.

…

Ping.

My smartphone receives a notification.

I wonder who it is, so I take out my phone. It’s Masato.

What is it? Did I forget something like my bag…?

[Thank you for today! It was fun~!]

Masato has sent a picture…

I tap on it immediately to open the image.

It’s a picture of me, completely focused, waiting for the ball with a serious expression while I was engrossed in batting. It was taken from a diagonal angle behind me.

[I took a sneaky shot haha. You looked so cool! I’ll let you win today’s match!]

…

Ah. Why is this person…

I instinctively hug my phone to my chest. As I sit in the train seat, I chew on this feeling. He does things for me that I want him to do. He says the words I want to hear.

“I love him… I love him so much…!”

I mutter softly. The sound of the train rocking was so loud that I didn’t notice it, my heartbeat was so loud.