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?)

In my dozen or so years of life, I’ve never been so troubled by a single thing.

Ever since I found out that Masato works at a boys’ bar, I’ve started sweating oddly every time I see Koiumi. It’s like there’s something cold stabbing me in the back, reminding me of the fact that I’m betraying my best friend.

You might think it’s just a minor secret, but the thing is, the other person is Koiumi’s crush. If I were truly Koiumi’s best friend, I think I should tell her.

But… I didn’t say anything. I know the reason very well.

It’s because I, too, have started to be drawn to Masato.

Feeling his kindness, my heart can’t help but be moved beyond control.

Right now, I’m managing to maintain some balance between feeling sorry for Koiumi and the existence of my destined person, but… honestly, my heart is quite exhausted.

Today, we were at the beach with Masato and Koiumi, but I was at a loss for how to feel when I’m with the two of them.

I try to give Masato and Koiumi some space whenever possible, but every time I do, my heart feels tight.

I want him to like me too.

…In this state, would I be able to smile and congratulate them if they were to start dating?

“What the-?!”

That’s what happens when I go into the sea with this kind of mental state.

I lost my balance and threw myself into the water. I desperately tried to stretch my legs out, expecting to touch the ground, but there’s no sign of it. I’ve unexpectedly come to a deeper part, and I can’t regain my posture.

What am I doing?

That’s what I thought in that moment.

A sensation of floating.

My legs and back are held in place, allowing me to surface above the water.

“I told you! You should’ve warmed up properly!”

…Why does it always end up like this?

“Uh… um… sorry.”

My body feels hot.

The hands wrapped around my back and legs. Masato’s worried face.

Everything contributes to making my emotions a mess.

I shouldn’t be falling for him.

I know that, but…

Slowly, I’m gently lowered onto the sandy beach.

Glancing briefly at Masato. Masato was brushing his hair aside.

The silhouette… It seems familiar.

When was it? I can’t remember.

But it feels like it’s something really important…

“What’s wrong, Mizuho?”

“…Uh, nothing! Thank you, Masato!”

If I can’t even express my gratitude, then it’s no good. I forcibly push out the lingering sense of discomfort from my mind.

—

Koiumi and I were playing with a beach ball.

As I retrieved the ball that flew towards the sea and returned, Koiumi crouched down.

“Koiumi?! What’s wrong?”

“Sorry… I’m feeling a bit dizzy…”

Her face is red. Could it be heatstroke?

I immediately lend Koiumi my shoulder and lead her back to Masato’s parasol.

I put Koiumi down in the shade and called out to Masato, who was sleeping.

I feel bad waking him up, but it’s an emergency, so I have no choice. Masato, who woke up abruptly, was worried about Koiumi.

And then immediately… he carried Koiumi.

“Mizuho, please watch over here for a bit. I’ll take Koiumi to the inn’s room first.”

“U-Understood!”

Masato walked away.

A sharp pang of pain pierced through my heart.

The moment when Koiumi, being carried on Masato’s back, looked momentarily delighted.

That’s right. I’m just an extra.

I came here to fulfill their love.

Forgetting my position like that, what was I even excited about?

My heart aches.

What am I expecting as a friend?

Surprised to see Masato return after laying Koiumi down, I had assumed he would be nursing Koiumi.

“Is she okay? Koiumi, I mean. It’s fine, I’ll be back soon too.”

“No, it’s okay. Koiumi is calm now, and she actually asked for me to play with Mizuho.”

…!

Koiumi… she’s also considering my feelings.

And yet… and yet, what am I doing?

Am I betraying Koiumi?

Walking along the beach at dusk.

Balancing myself on the breakwater a little higher up from the sandy beach, I spoke.

“But Masato is so cool! Carrying Koiumi like that in an instant!”

“No, that’s probably the least burdensome for Koiumi…”

“But still! isn’t it because you work at a bar that you’re kind to girls?”

“I don’t think that’s really relevant…”

I understand.

That kindness Masato possesses is his true nature as a boy. And that… is directed towards Koiumi, a girl.

Hopping back to stable ground, I asked Masato.

“Hey, Masato.”

“Yeah?”

“If I were in Koiumi’s position… would you carry me too?”

…What do I want him to answer to this?

I understand. The kind Masato would surely carry me. But more than confirming that fact, I wanted Masato’s attention on me.

I wanted him to… think about me even just a little bit.

“…Of course. I mean… we’re friends, right?”

“…Fufu, thanks.”

Responding to the word “friends” without showing any reaction.

Friends, huh? That’s right.

To Masato, I’m just a friend… Naturally.

But still, why does it hurt so much?

Returning to the parasol.

The sun is about to disappear beyond the horizon. Once that day sinks, the time between Masato and me will end.

All I’ve gained was the fact that Masato saw me only as a friend.

It’s laughable, isn’t it?

As I try to take out a towel from my bag… I catch sight of the handkerchief I received from my destined person, carefully folded.

Somehow, I decided to take it out and unfold it.

[It’s okay if you don’t return this handkerchief. See you later!]

The pounding in my chest at that moment was surely real.

I can still vividly recall it.

…Even though I can’t seem to remember that person’s face at all.

As I absentmindedly gaze at the handkerchief…

Fate always comes suddenly.

“That’s my handkerchief, isn’t it?”

“…Huh?”

In a completely ordinary tone of voice.

Without any context.

“I’ve been thinking that I haven’t seen it lately! It’s one of the rotations of my handkerchief, but where did it go?”

“…”

――That’s a lie.

“It’s a lie, right?”

“Huh? No, I don’t think so… yeah. The design isn’t like that, after all…”

Wait, no. Stop it.

Even though I don’t want to understand, my brain draws one conclusion.

That’s not right.

Because then, that means, that means…

[Are you okay? Is it a contact lens? Let’s search together.]

That’s Masato.

Masato is my destined person.

[You’re not ugly. Mizuho-chan is cute.]

Even at that time.

[You don’t have to push yourself. It’s okay to say it’s tough. I’ve only been with Mizuho-chan for a few hours, but I know that you are trying to be cheerful. But you don’t have to push yourself until it’s tough. There’s no one who wouldn’t get hurt by being told something like that.]

At that time too, at that time too――!!

[Wait! Mizuho!!… Mizuho, wait, let’s talk?]

Even today――

[I told you! Properly warm up!]

――Everything.

Masato Katasato was my destined person.

“……!!”

I dashed off.

“Mizuho?!”

It doesn’t make sense.

It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense!!!!

My destined person is Masato, from the beginning, from that time onwards, it’s Masato.

I don’t want to understand. I don’t want to understand, but I do.

In hindsight, it all makes sense. The kindness he showed, the more I got to know Masato, the more I could understand.

The familiar hairstyle during the day, it must have been from that time too. My destined person was at the bar. From the beginning.

The moment I stepped into that place, we… met.

“Mizuho!! Wait――oh no?!”

“Eh…?!”

As I turned around, I saw Masato, who had been chasing after me, falling from the breakwater onto the sandy beach.

—-

“For now, there are injuries, but they’re not severe. If you let him rest like this, he should recover by tomorrow.”

“T-That’s good…”

In the inn’s bedroom.

Panicked, I contacted Koiumi when Masato lost consciousness, and with the help of the inn staff, successfully brought him to the bedroom.

The inn’s attending physician examined him, and for now, I’m calm.

Masato seems to be just sleeping now.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself.”

“T-Thank you very much…”

The doctor left.

Only Koiumi and I were left in the room.

“What happened, Mizuho?”

“…”

I couldn’t answer anything.

I didn’t know how to explain to her.

I couldn’t say that my destined person was Masato.

“Let’s rest today. It’s been a lot. I’ll listen to you tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

For now, all I could do was rely on her kindness.

—

Night came.

In the end, I watched over Masato in his bedroom, making sure nothing happened to him. Masato was sleeping soundly. Kind and wonderful, my destined person.

I could feel my heart pounding.

――I can’t stop now.

My heart, which had been in balance, collapsed in an instant. The shackles holding back these feelings had been released.

Because, that’s right.

Even before being introduced by Koiumi, I had met Masato.

So, this isn’t wrong. I’m not in the wrong. Emotions surged uncontrollably within me.

There’s no need to endure anymore. Yielding is out of the question. Masato’s chest rose and fell with his breath. For some reason, it felt seductive.

These unruly emotions were new to me. I didn’t know I couldn’t control them this much. An impulse took over. That face of Masato’s. I wanted to touch it.

I gently stroked his head.

I gently stroked his cheek.

An irresistible sense of exhilaration. A sweet, tingling sensation. Isn’t it okay to do whatever I want now?

I’ve endured so much. No one will――be angry. No one will blame me. The god of fate gave me this moment. I gaze at Masato’s perfect face once more.

A kiss… I want to do it when he’s conscious.

The first time should be wonderful, after all. Then my eyes move to his neck.

Was it from when he fell today? There’s a red mark on his neck. A scar on Masato’s beautiful body. A thrill ran down my spine.

It was a sweet desire born within me. I wished to overwrite this scar with the existence of “Mizuho Tonosaki”.

I couldn’t stop. My heart was pounding loudly. I want to prove that I am his destined person on this beautiful neck.

Deeply. Strongly. I want to engrave it.

My existence.

To not give it to anyone else.