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 world has entered the time known as summer vacation.

As a high school student, I was also enjoying my summer vacation to the fullest.

Today, I was having lunch at a fast-food restaurant with my friend, Miaki.

In this scorching heat, being summoned with selfish reasons like “Come because club activities are over” makes me want to protest with the appropriate means, but I don’t think anyone would complain.

And then, the incident happened.

With a thud, my dropped smartphone made a sound as it fell.

That couldn’t be… I looked on in despair as Miaki, sitting across from me, picked up the phone I dropped and shamelessly unlocked the screen.

“Rejected, lol!!! There must be one or two other girls out there!”

“Well… I suppose there might be…”

“What was the reply when you asked? Hilarious. Let’s share it with the others.”

Laughing, Miaki filmed my smartphone and me, drowning in despair. She’s still the same old jerk.

[Shiori tries to invite her private tutor to the summer festival but gets shot down, lol’…]

“Don’t you guys have any sense of decency?”

With a chuckle, Miaki returned the smartphone to me, and I opened the social media app. There were already comments on the photo Miaki had just shared.

<Mana>: [It’s a natural outcome, lol.]

<Hatsumi>: [Why did you even think it would work?]

Ah, these people really have no heart. I was foolish to have even a glimmer of hope.

…Well, honestly, I’m quite resigned to this outcome.

Since then, things have changed between me and Masato-san.

I no longer need to pretend to be prim and proper and mostly speak in my usual manner.

I’m aware that sometimes I speak quite frankly without reservation, but for some reason, Masato-san seems happy about it.

And because he’s happy, I continue… and so the loop continues.

I’m fine with it because it’s fun for me… but is it really okay for Masato-san?

And above all… about that “mark.”

There’s a woman near Masato-san. Without a doubt.

He said she doesn’t exist… so it must be one of those purely physical relationships, right?

I gulp down a lump in my throat.

Um, can I join in too…?!

It’s too envy-inducing, isn’t it??? Friends with benefits? Sounds great. Nothing beats carnal desire.

The notion of maintaining a chaste and righteous relationship vanished when I was five.

Could I possibly be included in that starting rotation (if you catch my drift)…

“Hey, you’ve got a message from Mana”

“Huh?”

Lost in thought, I was poked in the forehead by Miaki as I absentmindedly sucked on the straw of my vanilla shake.

I opened my smartphone.

<Mana>: [So, Shiori, want to go to the festival with me? I got rejected by a guy I met on an app and I’m bored.]

<Hatsumi>: [You’re relentless… Oh, I’m free too, so I’ll join. Maybe I can pick up a guy too.]

“Oh, by the way, I’m going with my boyfriend. Sorry.”

“I didn’t ask.”

I ignore the blissful couple across from me. There’s no point in paying attention to happy couples. It’s written in the Kojiki¹If you wanna read up about it here: Kojiki that you’ll never get anything from them.

Now, regarding the invitation to the summer festival.

Why on earth would I have to go to a festival with three girls just because I’m feeling sad? Decline, definitely decline.

<Shiori>: pNo way~! I’d rather stay home and play games than indulge in licking each other’s wounds!]

<Mana>: [Then meet at 6:00 PM at XX Station. Wear a yukata since we might pick up guys.]

<Hatsumi>: [Got it~]

…Could it be that I’m using a different language from these guys?

—

On the day of the summer festival

“Alright, let’s go fishing for guys!”

“I wonder if that’ll work out…”

In the end… I ended up coming. It felt weird that both Miaki and others were wearing yukatas while I wasn’t, so I put one on too…

“How long are you gonna mope around, Shiori? Let’s go already!”

“Huh… Are you seriously planning to pick up guys?”

“Of course! Why else do you think we came all the way here…”

With that energetic declaration, Mana started walking. Mana was the most modern girl among us. She really gave off the vibe of a trendy girl. I can’t help but wonder how I ended up being friends with her.

“Well, I’m not really feeling it either…”

Following up on that was Hatsumi. She’s also quite tomboyish and healthy-looking. She looked like she belonged to the top tier of the school caste. I wish they would consider what it’s like for someone surrounded by high-spec individuals like me.

Huh… These guys were planning to use me as bait from the beginning… What trash they are… Maybe I should just stop being friends with them…

While thinking about things I hadn’t even thought of, I followed the two of them.

—-

“Can’t find anyone~!!!”

“Well, no surprise there.”

About an hour since the festival began.

In the end, we hadn’t come across any guys worth talking to. Part of it was because there weren’t many people, and most of the guys were already here with girls. The number of guys who came alone was extremely low.

“You guys need to put in a bit more effort in searching!”

“Ugh, even if you say that… I’m hungry~”

Hatsumi sat down on a bench that’s been set up in the venue. Come to think of it, we haven’t eaten anything yet, and we haven’t even visited any food stalls.

“Well, do you want to eat something?”

“Well, can’t be helped. Let’s just give up and get something normal to eat.”

It seemed that Mana also thought it would be tough with the increasing number of people around.

“All right, now that we’ve decided, let’s go somewhere. Yakisoba? Takoyaki?”

“Both!”

“You’re gonna get fat.”

“Shut up.”

As we exchanged teasing remarks, we headed towards the food stalls.

—-

“Yakisoba is so good!”

“I usually don’t even think about eating yakisoba, but why does it taste so good at festivals?”

I also took a bite of the yakisoba I bought myself. Yeah, it’s delicious. The flavor really comes together nicely with the red pickled ginger…

“Let’s open the takoyaki~”

Hatsumi opened the plastic container containing the takoyaki. Instantly, the scent of the sauce wafts through the air.

Mmm, that’s the feeling of a summer festival.

The temperature, hot yet cool in its own way, unique to a summer night.

Even the usually noisy chorus of insects. At this moment, for some reason, it feels pleasant.

It was during such a rare moment of sentimentality that it happened.

“Hey hey, even middle schoolers are here with older guys. Kids these days are really advanced…”

“They’re probably siblings, aren’t they? Well, even if they’re not, I wish I had an older brother like that…”

The gaze of the two as they bite into the takoyaki.

I also turn to look in that direction to see the girl they’re talking about, who seems to have been blessed with immeasurable advantages in a past life.

“…!”

I gasped.

It was Masato-san. There was no mistaking it.

Ah… he looks so good in a yukata too. It’s truly fitting for a prince…

But that’s not the issue here.

The girl walking together certainly didn’t look like high schooler, more like middle schooler, around second or third year

His sister? No, that’s not it. Masato-san said he didn’t have any siblings.

Then who is she exactly?

They disappeared into the crowd, and without thinking, my feet started moving.

“Hey, Shiori?! Where are you going?!”

“Sorry, I’ll contact you later!!”

I started running. The yukata was clinging to my legs, making it annoying. I had to make sure.

Was that girl the one who left a “mark” on Masato-san?

I doubted it. She seemed too young for that. Maybe she’s a relative’s child or something.

Still, there’s a possibility.

If, by some chance, that girl was indeed the one. Could it mean there’s a chance for me too?

—

Luckily, I quickly found them.

The height difference made them stand out, and I wouldn’t miss Masato-san’s presence either.

“There they are…”

They were chatting happily.

The girl… let’s call her a “loli” for now, was handing a fox mask to Masato-san.

Strangely, I didn’t feel any jealousy swelling in my chest.

Was it because they looked just like siblings, or did it stem from something else?

[We will soon begin the finale of the festival, the fireworks display.]

The announcement echoed from the speakers installed around the festival grounds.

It’s already that time. Everyone around was moving towards the main shrine where the fireworks would be visible.

This is bad. I managed to blend in the crowd, but if they all disappear, it’ll be different.

Masato-san might notice me.

I quickly hid in the back alley of the grove.

Alright. Even from here, I can confirm their presence.

Masato-san seems to be bending down.

Is he taking off the mask…? They seem quite close—.

And then, the next moment.

The loli kissed Masato-san.

“Ah…!”

Instinctively, I hid behind the trees, covering my mouth with both hands to stifle any sounds that might escape.

No way… Th-they’re together? Him and that loli… But he said he doesn’t have a girlfriend…

Timidly, I glanced at them again. What I saw then was even more intriguing.

The loli, holding Masato-san, carried him into the grove. Then, boldly, she stripped off his yukata.

“I…!”

I involuntarily crouched down. They were so close now. If I made even the slightest noise, they might notice.

I sat there, only moving my head to observe their actions.

“Yuka…! Stop… this isn’t right…!”

“It’s your fault, Masato-san. You provoked me by showing off such a provocative figure…!”

…It felt like my heart was about to burst.

Right behind me, my beloved Masato-san was being assaulted.

If I were a pure and righteous heroine, surely I would intervene and stop them. I would say, “What do you think you’re doing? You shouldn’t be doing this.”

But even so…

Why… am… I… getting… so… excited… like… this?

“Haah… Haah…!”

My breathing became ragged.

The fact that Masato-san, someone I cherished, was being taken advantage of by a girl even younger than me filled me with an uncontrollable excitement.

A girl younger than me, surpassing me in every way, filled me with despair. Although these feelings should contradict each other…

They strangely overlapped, feeling… good. I want to hear more of their voices. I want to hear their breathing.

I want them to… become more disheveled. As I touched my lower abdomen…

There was an unbelievable heat emanating from there. Aah… Humans are truly unfathomable creatures.

My face is hot. My body is hot. Yet, for some reason, the tears won’t stop.

To quell the excess heat, While listening to their sweet voices, I reached out to my own body.

(T/N: Folks can you suggest me some rom-com you would like to see translated, I am having a hard time searching for new projects)