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?) - Chapter 53: Childhood Friend Like JD Remembers

[See you tomorrow!]

[Yeah, see you tomorrow.]

A childhood promise, made carelessly, yet innocently believed that we would surely meet again tomorrow.

It was fun. Though it’s only about a year’s worth of memories, they remain as joyful recollections.

We used to play catch without gloves until a passerby gave us a hand-me-down glove. It wasn’t new and was quite worn out, but it still remains one of my treasured possessions.

His disappearance was truly sudden. Without any way to contact him, I waited for him at our usual spot day after day… But he never showed up again.

I cried my heart out.

It was only much later that I realized I had loved him.

—

The sound of my alarm woke me up… Again, this dream. I hadn’t had it at all since starting high school, but lately, it seems to haunt me frequently.

Forcing my groggy mind awake, I wash my face. Dwelling on the past won’t do me any good.

After drying my face, I picked up my smartphone, still plugged into the charger. There’s a message from Masato.

<Masato> : [Good morning~ I’ll make it to the station by 15:00]

<Masato> : [Looks like it might rain around 18:00, so let’s move early]

Today, I have a date planned with Masato. Moreover, tomorrow, Mizuho, Masato, and I are supposed to go to a theme park. Essentially, these two days are crucial.

…But my current feelings are complicated.

I love Masato. To put it mildly, I adore him. And the first emotion that ever arose in me was a desire to possess him, a jealousy I wanted to keep to myself.

However, the more I got to know Masato… the more I started to feel like all the women around him might also be in love with him. I have no intention of yielding my love for Masato to anyone. But, considering it’s Masato, if someone were to confess their feelings to him now, would he choose them?

In that case, perhaps it would be better if we all surrounded him.

Such an outrageous thought crossed my mind. I’m aware of how ridiculous it sounds. Yet, the fact remains that I desire Masato by any means necessary, even if I can’t have him all to myself.

I replied to Masato’s message. We plan to go shopping tonight in preparation for tomorrow’s theme park visit. Since Mizuho is working today, we also plan to fulfill our promise of playing catch, something we’ve talked about since our last visit to the batting center.

I head to the entrance to check my softball equipment. Holding my glove from my active days, I notice the worn-out glove we received together in the back. I pick it up gently.

“…I wonder how he’s doing now.”

The glove, a matching pair I received with the boy I used to play catch with, has been kept by me all this time.

“I hope he’s doing well.”

The dream probably keeps appearing because it’s a happy memory. Now, I hardly remember what we talked about.

Laughing at myself for continuing softball through my student years, I realize that was probably my first love. Mizuho says childhood romances don’t count, but to me, it’s a precious memory.

The old glove is still usable, but it’s nowhere near as good as the newer ones, so I carefully store it back. It’s like a talisman to me; I could never throw it away.

“Alright, time to get ready.”

Even though I was planning to exercise, I was going to see the guy I love. There’s no such thing as being too prepared. From choosing my outfit to applying makeup, there’s plenty to do. I switch my mood and stand in front of my closet.

—

I arrived at the meeting station.

Looking around after passing through the gate, I spot Masato. Dressed in a black long coat and a gray knit sweater, his style and fashion sense are even more apparent in winter. His coolness is almost violent.

“Masato, sorry to keep you waiting!”

“Hey, Koiumi. No worries, I just got here.”

Women around us look on enviously.

And they should be! I’m going on a date with this man!

“Shall we go?”

“Yeah. It’s funny to think we’re playing catch in the middle of winter.”

“Well, it’s not that cold yet!”

Though we had talked about playing catch when it was still warm, it’s gotten quite cold now…

It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from the station to the park. Fifteen minutes fly by when I’m talking with Masato.

“The weather is a bit worrying, though. Looks like it might start raining.”

“Yeah… If it looks like it’s going to rain, let’s head back to the station early! I brought a foldable umbrella!”

“Ah, I brought one too, just in case.”

Darn, there goes my chance for a shared umbrella moment… Though I’m disappointed, not getting caught in the rain is obviously better.

“I brought my glove, but it’s pretty old.”

“Is it still usable?”

“I think so… but please be gentle.”

“Don’t worry! My old glove still works surprisingly well.”

I no longer use that old glove, but I used to use it all the time back then, until my parents bought me a new one.

“By the way, Koiumi, what position did you play?”

“Ah, what do you think?”

“Hmm, let me see…”

We chatted about trivial things as we walked to the park. Having Masato by my side naturally lifted my spirits!

—

“We’re here~!”

“Wow, there’s hardly anyone around.”

Perhaps it was due to the not-so-great weather that the park was nearly empty. Or maybe it’s just that at this time of year, it’s mostly young kids who think of playing outside…

As we placed our bags on a bench, I did some light shoulder rotations to warm up. It’s been a while since I’ve thrown a ball! I hope I can still do it. Since Masato didn’t have a ball, I brought one suitable for softball.

“I’m getting worried if I can still do this.”

“Don’t worry! I won’t throw it too hard!”

“Please be gentle…”

I found Masato’s slight apprehension endearing as we finished our light warm-up and took our positions. We weren’t planning on any intense exercise, so we kept our coats on.

“Here goes~ Catch!”

“Oops…”

The ball I tossed lightly fell to the ground as Masato failed to catch it.

“Sorry, this glove makes it hard to catch a softball.”

“Really? Can I see it?”

Indeed, Masato’s glove looked quite small as I approached to take a closer look. I peeked at his hand curiously.

“――Eh?”

A voice escaped me involuntarily. I recognized that glove.

It wasn’t just familiar; I had just seen it. It was stored carefully in my house, my glove.

The exact same design. Old and worn out.

It was as if I had been struck by a heavy hammer, such was the shock.

I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

“Wait, Masato.”

“Eh?”

“Where did you get this?”

“Well, I didn’t buy it, I remember… I got it from someone.”

My mind reached a conclusion, a shock like nothing I had ever felt before piercing through me.

Such things can happen. The words, the name, slipped out without me even remembering.

“Are you… Ma-kun?”

“Eh…?”

Memories began to resurface, the vague outlines slowly taking shape.

[Let’s play catch again tomorrow!]

[See you tomorrow!]

I remembered the words spoken, the promise made.

I had wanted to see him again after we lost touch, to talk to him just one more time.

Suddenly, I remembered the first time I met Masato.

He was engrossed in his laptop on a bench. Looking back, perhaps I was naturally drawn to him…

Because he was the person I had always wanted to see again.

The dots connected into a line.

And once connected… all I felt was an indescribable joy.

I took off the glove and hugged Masato. Only after hugging him did I realize tears were streaming down my face.

“So it’s true… Masato, you were Ma-kun… I’ve always, always wanted to see you! Where did you go? Why did you suddenly disappear?!”

“Wait, Koiumi…”

Masato grasped my shoulders.

I was elated. The person I had always loved was indeed the one I could fall for all over again. It had to be a fateful encounter.

Our eyes met. Ah, I still love him so much.

But as Masato looked at me, his expression was…

“You’ve probably got the wrong person…”

“Eh…?”

My body temperature plummeted rapidly.

What is he talking about?

“No, that can’t be… right? Because this is the glove we got together, right? When we were kids, we played catch in that park for about a year, didn’t we?”

“Sorry…”

Sorry? Why is he apologizing?

“It’s not a lie, right? Look, I’m not mad about you disappearing. I’m just so happy to see you again. And your name! I had forgotten it until now, but I used to call you Ma-kun, and I remembered that, so…”

I was speaking rapidly, but Masato’s expression remained pained and apologetic.

“Sorry…”

I couldn’t understand why.

I was sure of it now. The person I played catch with that day, at that place, was Masato.

The glove was an old design, no longer sold anywhere, and we had received it together that day.

Yet…

Why was he denying it?

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize, I don’t understand. I really looked forward to seeing Ma-kun back then. Even when I thought I might never see you again, I couldn’t give up, and that’s why I joined the softball club and kept playing…”

I was aware that my words might be incoherent, but I couldn’t stop, couldn’t accept it.

I didn’t understand why Masato, looking so troubled, was bowing his head. I was scared.

“Is it something you can’t tell anyone? If it is, I’ll keep it a secret! Please, just say it’s true…”

“…”

“That’s all I need, to hear you say we’ve met again…”

Before I knew it, I was the one grasping his slender shoulders.

Even as I shook him, his expression didn’t clear.

I let my arms fall limply.

Something cold seemed to pour down on me.

“Why are you lying?”

“It’s not a lie…”

“Liar!”

I shouted louder than I expected.

“It can’t be wrong! We both received the same gloves, and I called you Ma-kun…”

“…”

“In college, when I first saw you, I naturally spoke to you! Looking back, I must have realized it somewhere deep inside… It’s such a happy thing, so why…”

Why do you look so sad?

I bit my lip, unable to find the words.

The rain began to fall harder.

The tears of joy on my cheeks had changed without me realizing it.

I turned my back on him, whose expression remained unchanged.

“I’m going home.”

I picked up my bag and started to run, never looking back.

“Why, how could this…!”

A mix of pain, sadness, confusion, and anger swirled within me.

All I could do was look up at the rain-soaked sky.