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 summer heat was becoming increasingly harsh on this Sunday.

The sound of cicadas felt particularly annoying. In such circumstances, I found myself holed up at home with nothing particular to do since I woke up.

“Uwaa… It’s so hot!”

Seriously, it’s too hot! Although I have an air conditioner in the room, I usually avoid using it to save on electricity. Sure, I could use the excuse that it’s just too hot, but summer has only just begun. If I keep turning it on every time it gets like this, I dread thinking about the electricity bill in the future.

“…Should I go outside?”

You might say it’s hotter outside, but it’s a matter of mindset. I’d rather be active outside than suffer from the heat indoors.

After quickly showering to cool off and changing into something more comfortable, I packed a basketball and a towel into my backpack.

“…Yuka might be there.”

Checking my phone, I saw I’d received a message from her this morning. She’s probably still practicing with the basketball club.

Somehow, I’m starting to look forward to playing basketball with Yuka. It’s surprising. She’s getting better and better. It wouldn’t be strange if she completely outperformed me soon. Is she really just a middle school girl???

“Alright, let’s go.”

Locking the door, I head towards the park. The midsummer sun was scorching the concrete, but the outdoor air felt somewhat refreshing.

—

It was a typical Sunday afternoon, and there were already people on the basketball court at the park.

“Well, they’re not… that skilled…”

A strong sense of déjà vu washes over me.

As I get closer to the basketball court, I notice a familiar figure among the girls playing basketball.

“Isn’t that Yuka?”

With her black short hair and a blue hairpin, it’s easy to spot her. Today, she’s not wearing her club jersey, which might make it difficult to recognize her, but I quickly spot her.

Could it be… bullying again?

Considering what happened last time, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease as I cautiously approach the basketball court.

“Over here!”

“Yeah!”

“Pass it!”

“Nice shot!”

Oh, it’s fine.

All four of them looked serious, and unlike last time, they were fully focused on basketball.

“I’m tired~!”

“Let’s take a break.”

Oh… that’s refreshing. Yuka seems to be taking the lead.

Listening to their conversation, they seem like classmates, and from what I’ve heard, it’s natural for Yuka, the only first-year student who plays in matches, to become a leader-like figure.

The four of them head towards the bench beside the court.

Hmm… what should I do? It wouldn’t be nice to interrupt Yuka and her friends’ practice, but I also want to touch the ball since I came all the way here for basketball.

…If I just turn my back and shoot some hoops, maybe I won’t be noticed?

I take the ball out of my backpack and sneak onto the court, dribbling the ball a few times with my back turned to them.

A light warm-up.

Passing between my legs, then from behind…

Yeah, the ball feels good in my hands.

A jump shot from mid-range.

With a satisfying swish, the ball goes through the hoop. Yeah, I have a good success rate from this distance.

Alright, just a couple more shots and then I’ll leave…

“Onii-san.”

As I was about to go for another shot…

A voice I recognize from behind.

What…?

“H-How did you find out….”

“How many times do you think I’ve seen you play…? I can tell right away.”

Yuka had somehow approached me from behind without me noticing. She smiles gently, her smile dazzling.

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt, I’ll leave right away.”

“Eh? Are you leaving?”

“You’re with your teammates, right? It’s fine. Make sure to practice properly.”

I don’t want to interrupt the practice time with her classmates. I wave to Yuka and the others, then leave with the ball in hand.

It’s good enough that I could take a few shots at least.

“W-Wait!”

As I crouched down to put the ball in my backpack, I heard a voice. When I turned around, I saw three girls, presumably teammates of Yuka, approaching me.

What’s going on?

“Teach us basketball!!”

Uh, sure…

—-

It seemed unexpected for Yuka too that they were asking me for lessons, or maybe they were discussing something among themselves. …Or maybe it’s just Yuka getting mad while the others are just letting it slide.

Did I do something to upset Yuka?

“Oh, um, I guess I should head home, Yuka. Sorry about that.”

“Oh! N-no, that’s not it! Onii-san, Please don’t leave…”

“Huh? Really?”

Her face seemed flushed. Is she okay?

“Just like you’re teaching Yuka, please teach us too!”

“If there’s anything I can teach, I don’t mind…”

Even though Yuka seems to stand out skill-wise among them, the other girls seem like typical middle school basketball club members. They’re pretty good, I guess, but if that’s the case, there might be something I can teach.

“Yay!! I’m Suzuka, nice to meet you!”

“I’m Koho!”

“I’m Miho!”

Wow, they’re so energetic… Am I already getting too old for this?

I shook their hands as they were offered to me, and they vigorously shook mine up and down. They’re so lively…

“Mou~~!!!!!”

Yuka’s getting furious. Did I disturb them after all? I should apologize personally later on SNS…

—-

I don’t know if it’s because they’re middle schoolers, but they all seemed to absorb the techniques quickly. They easily put what I taught into action and make it their own.

I see. I guess it’s no wonder one would feel like saying, “Middle schoolers are the best!” I forget whose words those were, but I think they were talking about elementary schoolers. Either way…

“Onii-san, Onii-san!”

Maybe because Yuka called me Onii-san, the girls in the basketball club started calling me Onii-san too. Miho -chan even called me Onii-san. Yuka seemed really mad. Yikes.

Isn’t this ponytail girl… I think she’s Suzuka-chan?

“What’s Yuka-chan to you, Onii-san?!”

“Hey, Suzuka!?”

Yuka put Suzuka-chan in a headlock with a lot of force.

Isn’t that going to hurt…?

I should make it clear since Yuka wouldn’t like being misunderstood. Alright, let’s make sure to raise Yuka’s likability back up.

“Well, Yuka… It hasn’t been that long since we met, but she’s already like a little sister to me.”

These were my honest words. Somehow, I’ve started looking forward to playing basketball with Yuka and even enjoying our conversations about things other than basketball. I actually quite like the time I spend talking to her.

Was I being too forward…? But Yuka seems to have taken a liking to me to some extent, and I want to believe that she doesn’t dislike me…

“L-little sister…”

Oh, it seems like she might be uncomfortable with that. I feel like crying. I misunderstood.

“Hey, Onii-san, do you have a girlfriend~!?”

This time, it’s Miho-chan with a surprisingly gal-like question. Are middle schoolers these days like that?

“Nope~. Single, all alone.”

“What!? That’s so surprising! Well then, I want you to be my boyfriend!”

“Miho!!!”

Wow, Yuka’s really mad. She seemed a bit down earlier, then angry. I’m worried about Yuka’s emotions.

But to suddenly volunteer to be my girlfriend… that’s probably just a middle schooler being infatuated with love, huh.

—-

“Thank you so much!”

“Yeah, thanks for letting us join in!”

Except for Yuka, the other three head back to the bench. Miho-chan even said, “After three years, I’ll come confess to you!”

She seemed like a gal, but she was lively and nice. Maybe in three years, she’ll forget about me…

“Um, thank you, M-Masato-niisan.”

“Hm? Uh, yeah. Sorry for bothering you.”

For some reason, Yuka started calling me “Masato-niisan” now. It’s fine, but was it just my imagination that she didn’t like being treated like a little sister earlier…?

“They’re good kids. Take care of them.”

“Yeah, if you’d like, come watch our games sometime.”

“Oh, definitely. I want to see you play in a game.”

Can regular people even attend games? Can we watch them in a tournament…?

“Um, um…”

“Hm?”

As the sunset shines on her, Yuka’s cheeks seem to be tinged with red.

But still, looking at her like this, even though she’s young, Yuka’s face has a feminine roundness to it, and she’s cute. Her emerald-colored eyes are clear and beautiful.

In the future, she’ll surely become a beauty.

After a brief pause…

“I-It’s nothing.”

“…? Well, then, see you next time. I’ll accompany you in practice anytime.”

In those few seconds, I couldn’t tell what Yuka was thinking.

It seemed like she was about to say something, but then she swallowed her words.

“Yes. Next time, I’d like to practice with just the two of us.”

“Haha, yeah. If I’m teaching you, it’s better to have just the two of us.”

The level of teaching is too different from the others.

In that sense, practicing with just Yuka will probably help improve her skills.

“Yes!! Thank you again!”

Yuka’s bright smile as she responded was adorable.