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 7: The Unstoppable Tsundere Office Lady

Since I first went to “Festa,” a month had passed.

Today was Friday.

I checked the time with my new favorite watch. Just a little more. Just a little more until the end of the workday. I can’t suppress the excitement in my chest.

Until recently, my life consisted of working like a dead person and then just going home to sleep, but it already feels like a lie.

I checked my watch again.

The second hand aligned perfectly with the number twelve.

“Thank you for your hard work! I’ll leave now!” 

I promptly clocked out at the end of the workday and left the office.

With the current me, I might be able to aim for the world. As I leave, I overhear a conversation from the office.

“Mochizuki-san, isn’t she leaving work super early lately? Especially on Fridays.”

“Did she find herself a man?”

“Huh, seriously?”

Well, I mean, it’s not exactly like that… Maybe half true.

I don’t care what rumors they spread. Masato-kun is waiting for me.

Recently, just knowing that gives me the energy to live.

What used to be lazy weekends have turned into time for self-improvement, and work is no longer a chore but rather a means to see Masato-kun.

I even want more money. As I was about to head happily to that place, I was stopped from behind.

“Seira-chan!”

It’s my senior, Miki-san.

Miki-san seemed to be in a rush too, probably because of my speed.

Finally stopping, I let out a sigh of relief, and Miki-san silently approached me.

Huh, did I mess up something at work…?

Without a word, Miki-san came next to me… and then, she linked arms with me.

“You’re going to ‘the party,’ right?”

“Uh…”

“The party” refers to that place, “Festa.”

It’s a coded term that only our group understands, so our bosses won’t catch on to us going to a boys’ bar.

But Miki-san’s comment hits home.

Of course, I was planning to go.

Just as I thought my secret plan to go there might be exposed, Miki-san whispers softly.

“Take me too ♡”

…I wish my favorite boy would say that to me, but seriously… (Sincerely)

Miki-san skipped ahead lightly. From seeing her excited demeanor at Festa, it’s clear that she’s quite infatuated with that boy too. I wonder if she’s financially okay.

(Well, I can’t really say anything about others…)

Honestly, I wanted to skip too.

Thinking about meeting him soon, my excitement levels are through the roof. Since the day I first met him, I’ve been going to that place every week without fail.

It’s obvious. He’s my angel. His innocent smile, his expressive face… any expression suits him. There probably isn’t a man better than him in this world.

Even if my ex-boyfriend really was like trash, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Well, comparing them was kind of ridiculous anyway.

Lost in these thoughts, I realize I’ve already arrived at the front of the shop. Once again, the signboard was making bold claims.

Miki-san strided forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Let’s go? To the world of dreams…!”

“Y-yeah…”

This was my fifth time coming here, but I still felt nervous before entering.

I’m not used to the atmosphere. But once I start talking to him, I forget everything.

“Welcome, young ladies… Oh, it’s Miki again! You’ve come back!”

“Fufu… don’t say such formal things, Yusei. I told you I’d come yesterday, didn’t I?”

Ah, here we go again.

Miki-san was already making moves on her favorite boy with zero distance between them.

I admired her for this. I could never do it, mainly because I’m terrified of being disliked.

As I watched the two of them flirt, the boy suddenly turned towards us.

“Is this lady… Masato’s?”

“……!”

Oh no, he knows…!

It’s so embarrassing. Have I become known as the girl who always requests Masato at this shop…?

…Huh? But somehow, that doesn’t feel too bad. I mean, it’s like official recognition, right? ()

After I made my request, the boy responded with a smile.

Since Miki-san was so infatuated with him, he must be a good person.

Well, I was dedicated to Masato-kun, though.

We were led to our seats on the sofa, with Miki-san and I sitting a bit apart.

“Miki-san… weren’t you working yesterday? Did you come here after work?”

“H-Huh? N-No, I didn’t come yesterday. Even I don’t come on workdays…”

“Huh? But you just said you did yesterday…”

Miki-san did indeed tell her favorite boy, “I said I’d come yesterday.” That meant Miki-san had assumed she had come to the shop yesterday… but…

“H-huh… um, is this one of those things we shouldn’t say too loudly? Uh, I’m at a loss… Oh dear, what should I do? But you’re my beloved junior, after all…”

…Wait, was this senior always this annoying???

I want to say something, but the way she’s squirming and waiting for a response irritated me strangely. Well, she’s generally a good person, and I like her!!

Miki-san leaned closer to me to whisper.

“Actually… I got his contact information ♡”

“……!?”

H-his contact information…?!

To tease me, Miki-san stick her tongue out, leaving me dumbfounded.

That’s just not fair.

That’s way too unfair.

This is no longer about the shop; it’s personal.

It’s not work hours, yet here she was, able to talk to her crush.

I want to talk to Masato-kun too…!

“Good evening, you’ve come back again.”

I froze..

That voice that melted my heart. There’s no mistaking it.

Timidly lifting my gaze, there’s Masato-kun, smiling like an angel.

…Oh, he’s not wearing a tie today. That’s fine too… Not that!

“Y-You see… it just happened that I had some free time…”

It wasn’t a coincidence at all, but I had to play it off that way. I had just dashed out of work to be here, but saying something like, “I’ve been thinking about you all day and rushed here straight from work just to see you,” would be too creepy. So, I had to pretend it was just a coincidence.

But then…

“Masato-ku~n! Seira is totally head over heels for you, so you better take care of her lolol”=

My senpai’s outrageous comment threatened to ruin everything.

“H-Hey, Miki-san…!”

Miki-san’s face was already turning red. She really can’t handle her alcohol!

I needed to do some damage control…

“Cough… Uhm, well, you see, it just happened. Senior invited me, and I had no choice. So, I called for you. Understood?”

Phew, not bad. With Miki-san here and a reasonable explanation, it seemed fine.

“Haha… Thank you. I’m just someone who can only listen, but I actually enjoy listening to your stories, Seira-san.”

My brain nearly melted from his cuteness.

“Y-You… You say that to everyone, right?”

“Huh?… No… You’re the only one who requests me, Seira-san…?”

Only me…? Is that so, only me?

It’s incredibly convenient, but women really don’t have any sense.

Masato-kun, undoubtedly the best man in the world…

But then, on the flip side, there’s a part of me that doesn’t want him to realize how amazing he is. I’m shamelessly yearning to monopolize this smile.

Even though we’re not even dating. I’m just a customer being served at the shop.

…Wait, why am I feeling like crying as I say this to myself?

Then, I remember Miki-san’s words.

[Actually… I got his contact information ♡]

If… If I were to get Masato-kun’s contact info too…

I’d surely be on cloud nine. But at the same time, if he were to reject me, I don’t think I could survive the next week.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t. And then, for about two hours.

As always, Masato-kun was an angel, and our conversation was delightful.

During that time, the waiter asked about four times if we wanted to extend our session, and I chose to extend each time.

Because other than Masato-kun, I had no interest in anyone else. However, sadly, enjoyable times always pass by too quickly.

“Seira~~! Let’s go home~~!! How long are you going to flirt with Masato-kun!! Look!!”

W-What?! Flirting?! We’re not flirting!!

But I want to!!!

“H-Huh?! We’re not flirting! It’s not like that at all! You, lanky… lanky…”

Uh oh. I wanted to say something mean, but nothing’s coming to mind. Give me some credit for smoothly turning his slim build into ‘lanky’ with a slightly mocking tone. That’s all I’ve got.

“Yeah yeah. I’m lanky. Please come again.”

He took my hand.

Oh no, I’m in too deep. I love him. 

Just him holding my hand made my heart race. With the alcohol in my system, my body felt warm.

Even as Miki-san settled the bill at the counter, Masato-kun kept holding my hand.

…Now might be the time.

I could blame it on the alcohol and lean on him a bit, couldn’t I?

I summoned my courage and leaned into Masato-kun. My heart was pounding loudly. His sweet scent tickled my nostrils.

It feels like my whole body is being dyed with his essence.

“Seira-san?”

He called my name.

A soothing voice. But I can’t bring myself to look at him right now. I can’t let him see my messy face.

So, I keep my head down.

“It’s… it’s not allowed.”

“…Huh?”

“You can’t accept requests from anyone else… except me…”

I know it’s selfish.

As someone working here, if someone requests him, he should serve them.

But just imagining Masato-kun serving another woman made my heart ache.

“It’s okay. I only work Fridays anyway.”

“…I see.”

“And on those Fridays, Seira-san always requests me like this.”

“…I see.”

Unfair.

Now that he said that, I have to come every Friday.

Well… even if he didn’t ask, I would still come. Despite wanting to stay longer, we reluctantly left the shop.

Once we were far enough that the shop was out of sight, Miki-san and I sat down on a bench.

Ah, once again, Masato-kun was an angel… no, a god today.

“Hey, Seira! What’s with all the lovey-dovey stuff when people are paying behind youuuuu!!”

“W-W-What?! Y-You… you saw that?!”

“…It’s not allowed… (sniffle)”

“AAAHHHHHH!!! Forget about it!!! Right now!!!”

It’s too embarrassing!!!

Honestly, even though I was put off by Miki-san’s behavior the first time I came to this shop, now I can’t laugh at anyone’s actions anymore.

Miki-san laughed heartily.

“Well, it was awesome, wasn’t it?… Well, should we go home…? Oh, but I’m a little hungry. How about we eat something before heading back?”

“Sure, let’s do that.”

Recently, life has become a little more enjoyable. Of course, Masato-kun’s presence is a big part of it. But thanks to my caring senpai as well, I’ve been feeling better.

“Alright, Good work~! See you on Monday!”

“Yeah, See ya!”

Miki-san and I headed in different directions.

We planned to just grab a quick bite to eat before going home, but it ended up being much later than expected.

The date had already changed.

“Now then…”

My house was about two stations away from here by train.

It’s not that far.

As I thought back on today’s lingering feelings, I started heading towards the station platform.

That’s when it happened.

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help but be speechless.

What I saw ahead. Walking through the drunken crowd, a young man.

There was no mistaking it… it was Masato-kun. There’s no way I could have mistaken it.

Masato-kun, in casual clothes.

My heart rate suddenly increased.

The last train was approaching soon. If I miss it, I’ll have to take a taxi home.

And yet.

My feet naturally started following him.

Following him, chasing after him.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

Before I knew it, we passed the park near the station and entered a residential area.

Ahead of my gaze was Masato-kun.

What I was doing was almost criminal.

(But I can’t help it… I can’t help it…!)

I know. This is wrong.

I know I absolutely shouldn’t do this.

My heart, pounding incessantly, and my head, burning with heat, won’t stop.

Masato-kun stopped at an apartment a little further from the park.

Probably… that’s…

“Ah!!”

The moment I tried to peek at him.

Masato-kun briefly glanced back at me.

(He saw me? He saw me?)

If Masato-kun came over here and called the police, my social life would be over.

There was no way to explain this.

This was stalking.

Suppressing my pounding heart and trembling, I cautiously, fearfully, cautiously peek again. It seems Masato-kun has entered his house.

“Haaahh…!”

I collapsed on the spot.

I’ve always known I’m a terrible person, but I never thought it would come to this.

Despite feeling guilty all over, my feet won’t stop.

Slowly, I approach the apartment… until I reach the door.

(Katasato… that’s what it said, Masato-kun.)

With trembling hands, I opened the memo app on my phone.

Tears start flowing.

I couldn’t stop crying at my own unbelievable scumminess.

But.

My body involuntarily wrote down the address.

(I won’t use it for anything! I won’t send anything! I won’t do anything at all!)

Then why am I writing it down?

I don’t know.

This is a one-way ticket to getting caught.

At that moment… I heard a noise from Masato-kun’s room.

The noise… it was the sound of a shower, I quickly realized.

“Haha… haha haha haha…”

Once again, my body collapsed.

Weakly, I collapsed on the spot.

I stuffed my phone, into my suit pocket.

I shed tears.

Even in this situation.

Masato-kun was taking a shower just one wall away.

Just knowing that made me… uncontrollably excited.

Truly, I was an irredeemable pervert.

I finally realized that.

No, maybe I knew it from that moment.

“Hey, I’ve broken, Masato-kun.”

These feelings… they can’t be stopped anymore.

(T/N: Chapter 47-48 locked out)