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?)

Please allow me a moment to talk a bit about myself. I—Masato Katasato —had a somewhat unusual upbringing.

From a young age, my home was a child welfare institution.

I was abandoned by my parents… and picked up by the institution, a fact I became aware of once I was old enough to understand. Certainly, the reality was shocking, and the absence of parents brought loneliness. However, the people who raised me in the institution were like parents to me, and I believe they raised me as if I were their own child, so I felt at ease.

A phrase that my foster parent often repeated was, “Be kind to others.” Having been subjected to the unkind act of being abandoned by my parents, I sometimes wondered why I had to be kind. However, a particular encounter changed my way of thinking.

It was with a girl who often came to the nearby park. One day, when I was alone in the park, she approached me and said, “Let’s play together,” which made me happy. For about half a year, there was a period when I played with her almost every day.

She was kind to me. Looking back, I’m sure she realized that I wasn’t a child raised in a typical family. Yet, she didn’t seem to mind. She was always kind and friendly, which made me very happy. I loved the time we spent playing together beyond measure.

However, one day, as I was heading to the park to play with her as usual, I overheard a conversation between some housewives in their forties.

[Did you hear? Mrs. ○○’s daughter has been playing with a child from the institution lately.]

[Really? She’s such a good girl, she probably couldn’t say no even if she wanted to…]

[Poor thing…]

For my young self, hearing this was a shock. Even though I didn’t know her full name, I immediately knew they were talking about her. Perhaps it was because some time had passed since we started playing together, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that she was playing with me out of pity or sympathy.

Quietly, making sure not to be noticed, I turned around. If my feelings were not mistaken, she thought well of me. Even so.

If playing with me would be a negative for her, then I shouldn’t go to meet her.

On the way back, while wiping away something that overflowed from my eyes, I decided. Within my reach, I would be kind. Just like the girl who was kind to me, I would be a man who could be kind to anyone.

I must have been too naive about the world. I thought nothing would change just because the values between men and women were a bit different. I believed there would be no problem living normally, even though I wasn’t particularly handsome and had started receiving some attention from the opposite sex.

But, that perception was a big mistake.

“Thank you for your hard work~”

“Yep!”

Finally stepping out of the cramped gondola, Mizuho stretched with a satisfied expression.

On the other hand, I felt utterly exhausted. My body was still hot and flushed, and my head was spinning. I tried to organize my thoughts while following the petite girl walking ahead. Mizuho was the girl who had been looking for her contact lens at that time. She had been searching for her fated person, who turned out to be me.

Even now, I have to accept the fact that Mizuho likes me. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and Mizuho’s straightforward expressions of love, my thoughts are a jumbled mess. Mizuho, walking ahead, turned around with a lively spin.

“Ah, that was refreshing! The view was beautiful, wasn’t it, Masato?”

“Yeah, it was…”

No, no, I couldn’t see the scenery at all after a point! I didn’t even have the energy to retort… Seeing Mizuho’s bright smile and how happy she looked, I couldn’t help but feel disarmed.

…How should I respond to her feelings? I’m too shocked by the intensity of the emotions she conveyed to organize my thoughts.

Lost in a maze of thoughts with no apparent exit, I walked with my head down when Mizuho suddenly peeked up at me.

“I’m going to freshen up a bit, so Masato… wait around there!”

“Eh? I don’t mind waiting here…”

She pointed a bit further ahead. There were benches here, and I could easily wait… But Mizuho, with a kind expression, shook her head.

“No, please, over there. ――My turn is over now.”

“…Eh?”

“Just go, please! Anyway, wait down there! Bye!”

With those words, Mizuho hurried off and disappeared. I tried to ask her to repeat what she had whispered softly along the way, but… I thought I caught a glimpse of a melancholic expression on her face.

Inside the gondola, there was, how should I say… an intense aura of allure, so the sudden change felt stark. Blinking in surprise at the shift, I obediently looked towards where Mizuho had pointed.

There was… a building emitting a divine white light amidst the darkness of the night in the park—a church. Of course, it wasn’t a real church but one modeled after those found in stories. Around it, people were taking photos, and couples were enjoying the romantic atmosphere.

“I could have just waited here…”

I felt awkward about going there alone and couldn’t help but think that. Even though there are benches here, there’s nothing that serves as a landmark. Quietly, I walked down to the church.

■

Turning the corner and reaching a spot where Masato could no longer see me, I sat down with a thud. “Hahaha… I did it.”

I had decided to confess my feelings to Masato today. I don’t regret it because it was a decision I had made. But I’m cowardly, after all. I didn’t want to hear Masato’s answer without Koi Umi being there.

Driven only by selfish desires, I stole Masato’s lips.

I could feel my heart pounding. ――It was my first kiss. The kiss I gave to the person I love, filled with my emotions, was incredibly sweet. I wanted to remember this moment forever, so I savored Masato deeply, engraving it into my memory.

I opened my smartphone. There was the message I had hoped to see.

“…I’m glad.”

Feeling a bit relieved, I typed a reply.

Looking back, so much had happened. My best friend’s crush was a wonderful person. I had wished for a love like that, and then fate brought us together.

But I never imagined that person would be my best friend’s crush. Even after learning the truth, my best friend remained my best friend.

So, I really shouldn’t be experiencing such happiness. Because I’m cowardly, I did this, thinking it was my last chance.

So now, all that’s left is ――to exit the stage.

My best friend said she wanted me to be included. I was happy about that, and I genuinely hoped it could happen. My efforts throughout the day to make Masato like me weren’t a lie, not even by a millimeter.

But… after hearing about the argument they had yesterday… I learned that the two of them were childhood friends. While listening seriously, I thought, “That’s like playing a trump card, isn’t it?” She probably meant it when she said she wanted to love him both together. But still ――it’s uncertain if he would feel the same.

My best friend is attractive, even from my perspective. It wouldn’t be surprising if he chose to be with just her, especially since they’ve been close since childhood.

“…Ugh. I’m so cowardly.”

If my role is over, I should just go home. Yet, somewhere in my heart, I can’t fully give up. Maybe he’ll choose me too, so I can’t move from this spot where I can see that place.

I crouched down, hugging my knees. Despite the winter night air being cold, strangely, my body didn’t complain of the chill.

I opened my smartphone again.

There, the text I had sent just about ten minutes ago remained.

[The prince awaits at the church.]

With that screen still open, I looked up at the night sky.

There, spread out was a refreshingly beautiful, infuriatingly lovely starry sky.