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?)

It had been about 10 months since I was transported to this world.

Thanks to Aika-san who had picked up someone like me, I had been able to live just as I had in my previous world.

I could attend the university I had planned to go to.

I had a balanced university life and part-time job.

I thought I could probably live normally even in this slightly different world.

But.

Over these past few months, I was forced to realize that was a misunderstanding.

“Haah~…”

With a deep sigh, I surrendered myself to the bed in my room. Glancing at the digital clock beside the bed, it was around the time when the date would soon change.

Today I had a shift at the boys’ bar, but I couldn’t concentrate much, so they let me go home early.

And after immediately taking a shower, now.

I knew the reason why I couldn’t concentrate. It was because the girls I had become friends with had been confessing their feelings to me one after another.

Recently, even Shiori-chan, who I thought was the only one who didn’t have romantic feelings for me…

“High school girls are really forward these days…”

Maybe it was just Shiori-chan. Thinking about it calmly, the books and games Shiori-chan had introduced to me were quite explicit, so perhaps it was only natural.

Maybe it was my fault for not considering that.

Being liked was honestly something that made me happy. But I didn’t want to—or rather, I couldn’t—continue like this without making any decisions.

But what should I do?

Yuka and Shiori-chan were too young, so wasn’t it wrong to even consider it?

Since Seira-san was a customer, wouldn’t dating be inappropriate? As for Koumi and Mizuho, dating two people at the same time, is that ethically okay?

But when I thought about these things, what troubled me the most was:

“I don’t think I don’t want to date any of them…”

I knew their good sides, I’ve learned about different aspects of them, and we’ve become close.

There wasn’t a single one I disliked. No, to speak without shame, I liked all of them.

That’s why it’s really difficult to make a decision.

I heard a knock-knock at the front door.

A visitor at this hour… there was only one candidate.

When I went to the door, I heard the voice I expected.

“Masato, are you still awake?”

“Aika-san, what’s wrong? Did I forget something?”

“No, it’s not that. You seemed so absentminded that I got worried.”

“Ugh… sorry.”

“I’m not trying to blame you. Can I come in?”

“Yes!”

I opened the door and welcomed Aika-san. My room didn’t have many things, and I was the type who cleaned regularly, so it was always ready for visitors—that was my small point of pride.

I opened the folding table and laid out a cushion.

“You had tea and such, right? I’ll borrow your kitchen?”

“I do! Okay, please do, I should be the one apologizing.”

“You don’t need to be so formal with me, as always.”

Aika-san always said that, but she was my benefactor… Without Aika-san, I wouldn’t be who I am now.

After a while, Aika-san returned from the kitchen with two mugs of tea.

I confirmed that Aika-san had sat down, then put the mug to my lips….Yeah, it’s delicious. Even though it’s just a tea bag.

“So? If you’re troubled, it must be about girls, right?”

“Ugh… well, yes, that’s right.”

She hit the mark with one shot, and I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

“Well, I knew from the first time we met… Masato, you are too easy going in various ways. It’s only natural that you’re being targeted.”

“I don’t think I’m particularly easygoing…”

I didn’t really feel that I was especially easygoing about such things. The seniors at the bar were probably similar too…

“Hmm. Then, for example.”

Aika-san placed the mug she was holding on the table.

“What if I just put sleeping pills in only your tea?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, my thought process stopped.

Aika-san sitting in front of me had a serious look in her eyes, and the atmosphere wasn’t one where I could laugh it off.

“N-no, no, you wouldn’t do something like that, Aika-san.”

“Really? You don’t know that. It hasn’t even been a year since we met. What If I’ve taken care of you this much because I liked your appearance, and having you work at the bar might have been just so everyone could get to know your good qualities fully, before I enjoyed you myself.”

…It frustrated me that I couldn’t definitively say that was impossible.

It’s true that I haven’t known Aika-san for that long, but I should know she was not the type of person to do such things.

Considering the situation I’d caused due to my own naivety, I wasn’t even sure if I could say such optimistic things.

Aika-san stood up from her seat and sat down next to me. The scent of refined perfume, befitting an adult woman. Because it was Aika-san, it didn’t feel unpleasant, and I could only sit silently.

“So, I’ll help myself.”

Aika-san’s face drew closer. She had done so much for me. Whatever she did to me, I couldn’t complain—

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Ouch!”

Pain shot through my forehead. When I opened my eyes, Aika-san with her mischievous smile had just flicked my forehead.

“Just kidding.”

“Please stop that! It’s bad for my heart!”

“Hehehe, but you don’t seem to mind that much.”

“…I thought it would be wrong to go against Aika-san after all you’ve done for me…”

“How sweet. If I were about 10 years younger, I would have helped myself without hesitation. Unfortunately, I’ve decided to raise you properly.”

With an uncharacteristic “heave-ho,” Aika-san returned to her original position.

“Back to our conversation. Because you’re kind, I think you’ll continue to receive approaches from various girls. There are two ways to deal with that.”

Aika-san held up her index finger.

“First, correct your personality and avoid girls as much as possible. Don’t interfere. Don’t be kind. Don’t get involved.”

…Indeed, that behavior might be correct in this world. But I—

“Don’t make that face. I know. I know you can’t do that. So, here’s the other option.”

As if seeing through my feelings, Aika-san patted my head.

Then she held up her finger again for the second option.

“Just find someone already. One person, two people, whatever works.”

“Huh?”

“In the end, having someone who loves you and is always with you is the best deterrent against other women. So before you have more worries, start dating someone and make them your lover.”

…That coincided with what I had been thinking. Dating someone. Becoming lovers.

Although the memory of experiencing that in the past still remains my trauma. But I couldn’t keep using that as an excuse to run away forever.

“It’s not as bad as you think to be in a relationship. …And maybe you should try believing? Those girls who say they genuinely like you.”

“Believe…?”

Indeed, I had been making assumptions. That I couldn’t give special treatment, that it might end up like before.

But if I accepted the feelings of those girls around me now, would it really end up like that? It might be self-centered, but I didn’t think they would become disillusioned so easily.

“Yes, you’re right. I’ll do that.”

“Good. That’s for the best. Also, I don’t think you should put it off too much… decide by March.”

“Huh?”

It was just a little before the new year. Indeed, having already received confessions, it could be considered too late to wait until March.

But without a deadline, I could easily imagine a future where I would suffer without making a decision.

“I-I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Well said. That’s the boy I believed in.”

By March, I would have an answer. Who I would become lovers with.

It seemed presumptuous to “choose,” and honestly, they were all attractive girls. Too good for me.

But if I didn’t properly convey my opinion, I would keep these girls with promising futures at a standstill.

I would make a decision.

“Huh?”

Perhaps because I had clearly decided what to do. Suddenly, drowsiness overtook me.

…Wait, so suddenly?

“Oh, by the way. I said it was a joke earlier, but I really did put sleeping pills in your tea.”

“Wh…at?”

What Aika-san pulled out with a smile was an empty vial.

“Well, not sleeping pills exactly, just over-the-counter sleep aids. But I bought the strongest ones.”

As she said this, Aika-san easily lifted my body and placed me on the bed.

…Is strength the default for women in this world…?

“Your eye bags are terrible, and you’re pushing yourself too hard with your worries. Now that you’ve decided what to do, get a good night’s sleep today.”

She gently covered me with a blanket and futon, and my consciousness inevitably melted away.

The feeling of my head being stroked was pleasant.

Having been raised in a facility since birth, I had never truly felt the warmth of family.

It might be too early to think of Aika-san, whom I had met less than a year ago, as a mother figure, but still.

It was an undeniable fact that I was alive because of her. No amount of gratitude would ever be enough.

Who would I become lovers with? I still didn’t have an answer.

But I wanted to maintain this kind of relationship with her forever. Because I truly felt blessed to have met Aika-san in this world.

“Good night, Masato.”

Just before I let go of consciousness.

I felt something soft gently touch my forehead, where I had felt pain earlier.