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 55: Energetic JD's Feelings Are Not A Lie

I longed for love, the kind I saw in dramas and movies—so wonderful. I strongly desired to experience such romance myself.

…But.

“I like you! Please go out with me!”

Back when I was a middle schooler or a high schooler, every time I bowed my head and voiced these feelings, I actually doubted whether I was truly experiencing the love I had once yearned for.

Do I like them? …Hmm, I think I do. Maybe if we start dating, I could fall for them. Or so I thought, lining up false emotions. Looking back now, it was quite a nuisance, wasn’t it? Being rejected was only natural. My words were frivolous, driven by ulterior motives, and empty.

But you see…

That’s exactly why… that’s exactly why I can now say with confidence.

Hey, Masato.

My feelings, these emotions that overflow from me and won’t stop, they are—

—

The first thing I did when I got home was take a shower, washing off the rain-soaked body.

As the shower poured over my head, I remembered what happened today.

[Is it something you can’t tell anyone? If, if that’s the case, I’ll keep it a secret! I promise, so… please say it’s true…]

[…]

[That’s enough, just to know that we could meet again, that’s all I need…]

[…]

The fact that I had met Koiumi was undoubtedly true. There was a girl I used to play catch with. She approached me without hesitation at the orphanage, befriending me. Playing catch in the park became a daily routine. Back then, I didn’t have many friends my age, so her presence was precious and made me happy.

I stopped the shower for a moment, water dripping from my wet hair, obscuring my vision.

…But, but still.

“That’s probably not ‘me’…”

Should I say it’s not the Masato Katasato who is here now? I became aware that I had reincarnated and come to this world just before entering university… Although I have memories of meeting Koiumi as a child, those belong to the previous me, and in this life, we are undoubtedly strangers.

Perhaps the memories I have and those of Koiumi are slightly different. And more importantly, I struggle with whether it’s right for me, who was not the Masato Katasato she knew, to take away her precious memories.

I couldn’t immediately find an answer in that situation.

[Why are you lying?]

Koiumi’s expression at that time is etched in my mind. A look of disbelief. It was painful to watch.

After stepping out of the shower, I lay down on the bed. As I pondered for a while, a notification sound chimed from my smartphone.

<Mizuhu>: [Anyway! I’m going! I’ve told Koiumi too.]

<Mizuho>: [Koiumi might not be able to come, but if you don’t mind, I want you to come.]

Tomorrow, Koiumi, Mizuho, and I were supposed to go to the theme park. But after what happened today, it felt awkward to go, so I had already contacted Mizuho.

I see, Koiumi won’t come, huh? I really did something inexcusable.

But I think I need to find my own answer. For that, I truly need time.

I don’t know what face to make when I meet them tomorrow… I set only the alarm for waking up and closed my smartphone.

After all that had happened, it seems I was mentally exhausted. There’s tomorrow too, so I should sleep early tonight.

With that thought, I turned off the room’s light.

…But in the end, I couldn’t stop thinking about Koiumi. It was much later that I finally fell asleep.

–

The next day, under the sunny sky that belied last night’s rain, Mizuho and I walked through the theme park, just the two of us.

It had been a while since I visited such a theme park, but it wasn’t too bad. I thought this as I took a bite of the churro I bought with Mizuho.

Mizuho, walking beside me, had been smiling all day. She’s always a very cheerful and nice girl, but today her smile seemed especially radiant. She must be trying to keep me from worrying about yesterday’s events.

Mizuho really is a good girl.

Suddenly, I noticed the headband she was wearing.

Right after we arrived at the park, we decided to buy matching headbands. “We match!” she said, happily putting on the headband. Mizuho usually wears her hair in twin tails, but today she had let it down. The loose hairstyle felt strangely familiar, leaving a strong impression on me.

“…? Masato, is something wrong?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing!”

“Could it be you’re smitten with Mizuho-chan~?”

“Ahaha, maybe that’s it.”

Indeed, Mizuho with her hair down is cute. But aside from that, what was that sensation I felt at that moment…?

“…You shouldn’t affirm that, you know…”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing! Oh! Let’s go on that next! That one!”

“Wow! That’s a pretty new one, right?”

Mizuho pointed to a recently built attraction. As I looked at its sci-fi exterior, she suddenly pulled my hand, making me stumble.

“Come on, come on! If we dawdle, we’ll run out of time!”

“Don’t pull so suddenly… you’re strong, aren’t you?!”

I thought the same thing with Yuka, but aren’t the girls in this world too strong?!

As I hurried to keep up, Mizuho’s bright smile made it all seem okay.

“If we’re having fun, then anything goes,” I thought.

■

After a while, as Mizuho seemed a bit queasy from the attractions, we took a short break.

Sitting across from me, Mizuho pointed behind me and said, “Let’s go on that.”

Turning around, I saw the park’s largest Ferris wheel.

“The Ferris wheel? Sure, let’s go.”

“Not right now, though! Let’s wait a little longer… okay?”

“…? Sure, that’s fine.”

Mizuho’s smile was unchanged, but there was something different about it that made my heart skip a beat. “Alright, let’s make the most of the time until dusk!”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

As Mizuho’s complexion seemed to improve, we stood up from our seats. “Let’s go all out until the end!”

“Aren’t you recovering too quickly?!”

Despite appearing to be in pain just a moment ago, her energetic movements betrayed none of that, and all I could do was smile wryly.

After enjoying a couple more attractions, the time had come for the sun to set.

As promised, for our last ride of the day, Mizuho and I queued up for the Ferris wheel.

“It was so much fun today! Did you enjoy it too, Masato?”

“Yeah! It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place like this… but it was fun, thanks to Mizuho.”

“Hehehe, I’m glad to hear that!”

Mizuho’s innocent laughter was adorable. She truly suited her smile.

Koiumi also had a devilish smile that suited her, but Mizuho’s smile was different. Not to say one was better than the other, but each had their own charm that I found wonderful.

…I wonder if Koiumi is okay. I can’t help but worry about her, especially since I said something that must have been quite painful for her.

“…Hey, Masato.”

“Hm?”

Before I knew it, Mizuho had grabbed the sleeve of my jacket. When I looked at her, she was gazing up at me.

“Masato is kind, so I’m sure you were worried about Koiumi today too.”

“…”

She hit the nail on the head. I don’t think it’s just because I’m kind, though. If I were truly kind, I wouldn’t have hurt Koiumi in the way I did…

Interrupting my thoughts, Mizuho tugged on my sleeve. “Hey, I have a favor to ask of you.” Her upturned eyes were more serious than I had ever seen before, and I involuntarily caught my breath.

“I want you to look only at me, just at me, while we’re on this Ferris wheel.”

My heart skipped a beat. Her expression was so far removed from the Mizuho I was used to seeing.

I found myself incredibly attracted to her.

“…Sorry, I understand.”

“Mm. I’m happy.”

Before we knew it, we were at the front of the line. It seemed that time had passed more quickly than I had felt, perhaps because my mind was so preoccupied.

“Next two, please.”

Prompted by the staff member, Mizuho and I stepped forward.

“Koiumi, I’m sorry.”

Mizuho whispered this in a small voice.

What was that apology for?

At that moment, I had no idea.

“Wow!! It’s so beautiful! Look, look, Masato! The night view is amazing!!”

“It really is… beautiful.”

As soon as we got on the Ferris wheel, Mizuho was as excited as ever, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I decided to honor Mizuho’s request and focus only on her during this time. To enjoy this moment, right now.

“Yay! I heard this Ferris wheel had an amazing view, so I really wanted to ride it! I’m glad I could ride it with you, Masato!”

Mizuho was in high spirits, kicking her legs back and forth. As she said, the night view that stretched far into the distance was so beautiful that it left us speechless. For a while, she and I just took in the breathtaking scenery.

“Can I come over there?”

“? Sure, that’s fine.”

We had been sitting facing each other when Mizuho asked this. Maybe she wanted to see the view from my side? There was no reason to refuse, so I shifted my seat to the side to make room for her.

And then, at that moment.

There was a loud thud, and the gondola swayed heavily.

“Whoa?! What’s that?!”

“Mizuho?!”

Just as Mizuho was about to stand up, she lost her balance.

“Are you okay?… Wait.”

As I reached out to Mizuho, who had instinctively put her hands on the floor…

Perhaps due to the imbalance, her headband had come off.

There sat a girl on the floor.

I know it’s a strange way to put it.

But for some reason, this scene felt incredibly familiar to me, and I was at a loss for words.

“…Hehehe… It kind of reminds me of that time.”

“Eh?”

I only didn’t understand her words for a moment.

Looking up at Mizuho…

—It clicked.

The scenery overlapped with that time.

[Ah, you don’t have to return this handkerchief. Bye!]

[Ah, wait a minute, please!!]

I know this girl.

With swollen eyes, crying. The girl who called out to me at the end.

“…I found out a little while ago. The person who helped me back then was you, Masato.”

What came out of her pochette was… a handkerchief. I remember giving it to her.

“I can finally tell you.”

Her voice sounded strained, trembling.

“Hey, Masato… no, my fated person.”

Mizuho smiled, and tears overflowed from her eyes.

But these tears were not sad like before.

“Thank you for saving me. I’ve always wanted to tell you, thank you for rescuing me.”

I took the handkerchief she handed me, still in a daze.

“And there’s one more thing I have to tell you.”

She gently pushed my shoulders from the front, and I finally remembered that I was standing. I sat back down as prompted.

I looked directly at Mizuho’s face. Her cute, pure, and straightforward eyes sparkled.

“I like you. I’ve liked you since that time… I’ve always loved you, Masato Katasato-kun.”

“…!”

Pure and straightforward emotions were directed at me. My mind seemed to stop, as if time had frozen.

“I’ve always been unsure of my feelings of love. I’ve told so many lies up until now. I’m really no good.”

“But now… I can say with confidence.”

“These feelings, these feelings alone, are not a lie.”

Mizuho’s right hand touched my cheek.

In an instant, I felt a sensation on my lips.

“…Fufufu…”

“Mizuho…”

The only words I could muster were her name.

That was all I could articulate.

Because right now, I could only think about Mizuho.

“Look at me, Masato.”

When I looked around as she told me, I realized we were at the highest point of the ride.

In other words, we were at the peak, halfway through the ride.

Suddenly, my vision returned, and I found Mizuho holding my cheeks.

Once again, my lips were taken from me. Easily, without any resistance.

A passionate kiss, as if Mizuho’s very existence was being etched into my body.

“…Haa…”

After what felt like an ample amount of time, I was finally released.

Mizuho’s cheeks were flushed.

She licked her lips, looking almost bewitching.

“Until we get off…”

Mizuho took off her gown.

“You can only think about me, okay?”

Slowly enveloped by the sensation of Mizuho…

I knew I had no means to resist.