Life In The Reverse World

“The one who saved Chouko from that scumbag… that was you, wasn’t it?”

Shihou Shouko, Chouko’s mother, raised a hand and brushed aside a lock of walnut-colored hair that had fallen across her forehead before continuing coldly,

“And the one who made Chouko more composed, yet also more willful and stubborn… that was you as well, wasn’t it, Hoshikawa-kun?”

She met the boy’s gaze head-on. What disappointed her was that she found no fear or unease in those deep violet eyes—only a forthright courage and audacity.

Hah. Just moments ago he had been cracking dirty jokes with her daughter right beside her, and now he could still face a parent like her with such composure…

The thought made her sneer inwardly.

Perfect timing. She had been troubled by the fact that this boy seemed to have no obvious weaknesses—only for him to hand her one on a silver platter.

“M-Mother…”

“This is adults’ time to talk. Children should stay quiet and listen without interrupting. That’s basic etiquette. I don’t believe I ever forgot to teach you that.”

Shouko shot her daughter a glance. Seeing Chouko obediently lower her head and fall silent, she turned back, her eyes once more appraising Harutaki with open hostility.

“What you said to my daughter just now—I can’t pretend I didn’t hear it.”

“May I ask… which part you’re referring to?”

This damned brat…

Looking at the boy’s smiling face, the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

But she thought, if you believe something like this will shut me up, you’re sorely mistaken.

“About being ‘thrown away like a used massage stick,’ and about ‘Chouko-chan’s father.’ Do you understand what I’m talking about now, Hoshikawa-kun?”

“……”

Now he was truly in trouble.

Harutaki looked at Shouko’s still youthful face, and when he noticed that half-smiling, half-mocking expression, his heart skipped a beat.

He had assumed that this auntie, who insisted on taking Chouko back to Kyoto, was a conservative and severe woman from a distinguished family. But hearing her casually say words like “massage stick,” and even bring up jokes that implicated herself with near-derisive ease, made him realize just how off his earlier judgment had been.

You can’t judge people by appearances—and you especially shouldn’t view everything through subjective assumptions.

He had fallen into the trap of preconceived notions, dismissing other possibilities based on incomplete information and his own bias.

He couldn’t afford to stumble into that pit again.

Yet just as he was rapidly weighing how to explain himself, Chouko’s mother didn’t give him the chance.

“Haa…”

Too green.

Shouko let out a shallow breath, clearly satisfied at finally seeing the boy at a loss. The vague sense of dislike she felt toward him eased somewhat.

In the end, he was still a minor. No matter how mature and steady he seemed, his temperament still needed polishing, and his skin wasn’t thick enough to rival politicians or bureaucrats. She believed that if the old madam were to personally guide this child, the political world of Japan would likely see a rising star in the near future.

But what did that have to do with her?

She was Chouko’s mother, not his. Even if she thought highly of Hoshikawa, she wouldn’t allow him to approach her daughter if there was even the slightest risk of Chouko being hurt.

At least, not until Chouko had matured.

However…

“Chouko, you’ve already done that kind of thing with him, haven’t you?”

Shouko suddenly turned her head toward her daughter. The stern gaze, paired with such a blunt, unexpected question, startled Chouko badly.

“D-Done that kind of thing…?”

Clinging to a shred of hope, Chouko asked back.

Given her mother’s usual dignity, saying “massage stick” and making jokes about fathers earlier should have been the limit… right?

But according to Murphy’s Law—

“What other ‘kind of thing’ would there be besides relations between a man and a woman?”

Playing house?

Chouko snarked silently in her heart. The image of her lying together with Harutaki on two separate occasions surfaced in her mind, and she almost laughed.

If she actually said that out loud, no one—including her mom—would believe it.

A teenage boy and girl lying in the same bed, the girl a bona fide beauty, yet the boy somehow managing to do absolutely nothing.

Only that idiot Harutaki could pull something like that off… what a disgrace to the title of “scumbag.”

As she thought about it, the corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously. Unfortunately, that tiny smile led to a major misunderstanding in Shouko’s eyes.

“I didn’t do anything strange…”

“Heh…”

“M-Mother…”

Seeing her mother’s expression, Chouko knew she wouldn’t be believed. Her head drooped again in dejection.

She couldn’t do anything right…

Because of her willfulness and recklessness, even her own mother—the person closest to her—no longer trusted her.

Thinking back to everything she had done just to run away from home, Chouko bit her lower lip hard, hoping the pain might ease the guilt and anguish in her chest.

“You don’t need to explain… I understand.”

Didn’t do it? Then why did you smile so blissfully just now when the topic of men and women came up?

As someone who had “been there,” Shouko could read her daughter’s expression perfectly.

That was unmistakably the sweet-and-sour smile of a girl in love—like biting into a candied kiwi.

She herself had once gone through a similar phase. But love—or rather, happiness—was never something meant for women of prestigious families like theirs.

A carefree life and noble birth seemed like gifts from fate, yet the price had long been marked in secret. And that price was often paid with an entire lifetime.

Precisely because she understood such a fate, she wanted—within her limits—to give her daughter a life happier than her own.

But judging by the current situation, Chouko, having missed her chance, would likely have no choice but to walk the same path her mother once had.

But was that really so terrible?

Shouko was not the type to say, “Why not eat meat porridge?” She knew very well how many people yearned for the kind of life they lived.

Exquisite food, fine clothes, comfortable living, effortless travel…

In truth, she believed that only after one’s material needs were satisfied could a person afford to pursue higher spiritual desires.

Like the “freedom” her daughter longed for.

Yet if Chouko were to leave the family, would she truly still have the material foundation needed to support that freedom?

Shouko didn’t think her daughter had that capability. In her eyes, the moment Chouko became independent or entered society, she would be devoured by the wolves lurking all around.

This was a society that ate people alive.

She sighed inwardly.

…

“I know quite a bit about young people these days. For example, making your girlfriend call you ‘Daddy’ and the like—”

“Ahem… I’m sorry, Auntie Shihou, but unfortunately, I’m still a virgin.”

Clearing his throat, Harutaki stated something countless people would rather never admit, his tone upright and resolute.

To many, wearing labels like “virgin” or “inexperienced” was humiliating and shameful—proof of a lack of charm, of being unpopular with girls, something only gloomy loners or hardcore otaku belonged to.

But…

Wasn’t it cool?

Saving something as precious as your first time for the girl you could truly say you loved.

As a virgin—at least, a virgin in his second life—Harutaki thought it was incredibly cool. It matched his ideal of youthful romance: self-respect tinged with innocence.

“…?”

Seeing that Shouko hadn’t yet reacted, Harutaki took a deep breath and declared loudly,

“I’m still a virgin! And I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about that at all! Saving your first time for the person you truly love, and only after you’ve both confirmed your feelings, leaving virginity behind together—I think that’s an incredibly cool resolve!”

The thin air, mixed with countless scents, froze instantly.

Some passersby stopped to look. Even the people lining up nearby to buy New York Perfect Cheese souvenirs turned their heads, gazes filled with surprise or confusion.

Though most people in Japan avoided causing trouble and cared deeply about atmosphere and conformity, gawking was human nature. Driven by curiosity, aside from a few who lost interest and moved on, the rest all began watching.

First, the fact that this handsome, tall, confident, sunlit “normie” was speaking immediately swallowed most complaints and dissatisfaction.

Second, his uniform clearly marked him as a high school student.

Young people did strange, unconventional things all the time. Nothing new there.

And finally—

A young woman in a tasteful dress, elegant and noble in bearing.

A cute yet dejected beauty in the same school uniform as the boy.

Security personnel in suits standing nearby in a loose encirclement.

Quick-witted onlookers instantly pieced together a melodrama.

A poor yet outstandingly handsome boy falls in love with a rich young lady, only for their relationship to be discovered—and opposed—by her strict, conservative family.

What was this?

Wasn’t this the fairy tale of the “Cinderella boy” and the princess?

If the boy were some worthless scoundrel, that’d be one thing. But look at them—mutual affection, perfect match. Even if he came from humble origins, couldn’t he just marry into the family and let the two be together?

“Hang in there, kid! If she doesn’t want you, come to big sis. I’ll comfort you~”

A young woman dressed in Harajuku style broke the silence first, grinning as she waved at Harutaki.

“Madam, does his background really matter that much? Your daughter and this boy clearly like each other. He doesn’t seem bad at all. There’s no need to go so far, right?”

A middle-aged woman, looking slightly older than Shouko, spoke gently in persuasion.

“A handsome normie who’s still a virgin? That kind of good man is hard to find. If you don’t want him, I’ll take him~”

“Hey, why do you get him?!”

The Harajuku-style girl immediately started laughing and bantering with her friends.

The atmosphere around them coalesced, carrying the unspoken pressure that refusing now would be “wrong,” that it would mean going against “public opinion.”

For a moment, before Shouko could even respond, she found herself surrounded on all sides—isolated, and turned into the target of countless gazes.

…

We will be giving out 5 bonus chapters after reaching 25 vote on NovelFire!

Feel free to leave a vote or review!!

19/25