“We’ve arrived.”

Oh.

A massive high-rise tower stood before me, so tall it almost made me tilt my head back.

The first two floors didn’t seem residential, with chairs visible through the glass windows. From the third floor up, balconies extended outward, and by the look of it, the building must have around twenty stories.

That’s… pretty damn tall.

“Wow, this place is huge,” Yamaguchi said beside me, sounding equally overwhelmed.

“You’ve seen it before, haven’t you?”

“Sure, but only in pictures! Seeing it in person is totally different.”

“Enough talk, let’s go,” Tachibana said, briskly walking ahead.

“Wait for me!”

I followed them into the building.

Inside was a spacious glass-walled lobby, with an elevator straight ahead.

The panel showed buttons up to the 25th floor, and Yamaguchi pressed the button for the 10th.

“We’ll head to the 10th floor this time. This apartment complex was just completed recently, so hardly anyone has moved in yet.”

No wonder we hadn’t passed a single person since coming in.

“I see.”

The elevator chimed, signaling we’d reached our floor.

“Let’s go,” Tachibana said.

“Right.”

We stepped out and walked down the corridor until we stopped in front of one of the doors.

“This is the one.”

It looked like a typical apartment door. I’d never lived in a high-rise before, so I couldn’t really compare.

She opened the door, and we entered.

Wow… it’s pretty spacious.

“Whoa, it’s even bigger than my place,” Yamaguchi said.

“Well, the rent here would be several digits higher than yours,” Tachibana replied.

“Good point.”

Honestly, I think Yamaguchi was more impressed than I was.

“The layout is 3LDK. This is the living room and kitchen area, and there are three Western-style bedrooms. You can also access the balcony from here.”

Tachibana guided us through the apartment, and I followed her to look around.

“Nice place. You should take it,” Yamaguchi said.

“Why are you deciding for him?” Tachibana shot back.

“Because we’ll be living together, right?”

What the hell is she talking about?

“When did that become a thing? I mean, I wouldn’t mind living with someone as pretty as Yamaguchi-san, but…”

“See? He agrees,” Yamaguchi said, grinning at Tachibana.

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

Oof… she got smacked.

“So, what do you think? Will you take it?” Tachibana asked.

“Hmm? You look kind of uneasy,” Yamaguchi said, leaning in to study my face.

“How much is the rent? I’m broke, so there’s no way I can afford a place like this.”

“Ah, no need to worry. This floor is designated for men only, and both rent and utilities are fully covered by the government.”

That’s… a bit too generous.

If I heard that anywhere else, I’d think it was a scam.

Still, there’s probably a catch somewhere.

“To explain briefly,” Tachibana continued, “a portion of tax revenue is allocated to men’s welfare. You’ll receive a monthly stipend of 300,000 yen. However, you’ll need to file a claim later. Additionally, adult men are required to fulfill certain duties, for which they receive compensation.”

Duties, huh? Don’t tell me that means… sperm donation or something like that.

“It’s not as complicated as it sounds,” Yamaguchi said casually. “Basically, it’s to prevent the population decline from worsening and to provide women who can’t find partners the option of artificial insemination.

“I get it,” I said.

The logic made sense, in a way.

“Most men hate it and only do it because it’s mandatory, though,” Yamaguchi added.

“Yeah… I can imagine,” Tachibana sighed.

“Details will be handled later after a bodyguard is assigned to you. Since you’ll need to visit a designated hospital, a trained escort will be provided for your safety.”

“Understood.”

“So, do you like the apartment?” Tachibana asked.

“Yeah. It’s got a separate bath and toilet, which is nice. I’ll take it.”

“Very well. I’ll register your address here immediately. The official documents will be mailed later.”

“Thank you.”

Tachibana pulled out her phone and made a quick call.

“Alright, the registration is complete. You can move in right away.”

That was fast!

I thought it’d be from tomorrow or something.

It’s like they had everything prepared from the start.

Well, since all I have is my bag, this actually makes things easier.

“As for your personal bodyguard, we’ll assign one later. You’ll be able to choose from several candidates.”

Bodyguard, huh? Oh right, the so-called male guard system.

Sounds like a hassle. Wonder if I can refuse.

“Unfortunately, that’s not optional. It’s required by law,” Tachibana said flatly.

She read my mind!?

“You’ve got that super bothered look on your face,” Yamaguchi teased.

Guess I’m an open book.

“Wow, your expressions are easy to read, huh?”

“Stop teasing him,” Tachibana said, sighing.

“Anyway, here are your keys.”

She handed them to me.

“Aww, I wanted to give them to him,” Yamaguchi pouted.

“If I let you handle it, who knows what you’d do,” Tachibana replied.

“Hey, that’s mean!”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

Tachibana pressed her fingers to her temple and sighed again.

“And this is a phone for official contact. The station’s number is pre-registered. Nothing else has been modified, so don’t worry.”

I took the phone.

It didn’t have a passcode, and I could open it immediately.

The interface felt similar to my old phone, so I’d probably get used to it quickly.

“That’s everything. We’ll send the rest of the documents later,” Tachibana said.

Then the two of them left, Tachibana dragging Yamaguchi out by the arm.

“I wanna live here toooo!”

I could hear Yamaguchi’s shout echo from the hallway.

She’s a lot more childish than I first thought.

Anyway, I locked the door and looked around.

“Ah… there’s no food.”

Opening the fridge, I found it completely empty.

Well, of course, no one’s lived here before.

What now…

I can’t go hungry tonight, but going out at night might be risky.

Then again, it’s not like being in a reversed chastity world made me any weaker. I’ll be fine.

“Yeah, I’ll manage,” I said to myself.

I checked the map app for the nearest convenience store and decided to head there.

Taking the elevator down, I muttered,

“I wonder how much cash they gave me.”

Opening the envelope, I pulled out three 10,000-yen bills—each featuring a woman’s face.

“So, it’s still yen… three bills though. But who’s this woman supposed to be?”

Man, I miss old Yukichi.

I followed the map, walking through the quiet streets lit by evenly spaced streetlights.

It wasn’t too dark, so I felt safe enough.

After about five minutes, I spotted a bright sign up ahead.

“That must be it.”

The map app confirmed it.

The logo looked unfamiliar, but the shape of the store reminded me of a regular convenience store.

As I stepped in, the familiar sound of automatic doors greeted me.

“Welcome… wait, huh!?”

What’s her deal? Whatever.

I browsed the aisles, picked up a bento for dinner, a sweet bun for breakfast, and two bottles of tea, then went to the register.

“Here you go.”

“W-welcome!”

Her voice cracked. What’s she so nervous about?

“W-would you like a bag?”

She asked carefully, her voice trembling.

“Yes, please.”

“Your total is 750 yen.”

“Here.”

I handed her a 10,000-yen bill.

At least the currency value seemed the same.

“R-right, I’ll take that.”

The register drawer clattered open, and after a few moments, she turned toward me with the change in her hand.

“Th-thank you for waiting… ahhh!”

The coins slipped and scattered across the floor with a metallic clink.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine, really.”

Do men here make women that nervous?

After receiving the change, I left the store.

“Thank you very much!”

Her voice followed me as I walked away.

The trip back was uneventful. I didn’t run into anyone, which was kind of nice.

Not that I wanted to meet anyone, but if I had, maybe it’d make this reversed chastity world feel more real.

With that thought, I unlocked my apartment door and stepped inside.

I heated up the bento in the microwave and sat down to eat.

“Yeah, that’s good. Guess fried chicken tastes great no matter what world you’re in.”

After finishing and cleaning up, I decided to take a bath and go to bed.

Maybe I’ll stop by that café tomorrow.

“Ah… right, I never paid for that coffee.”

Alright then, first thing tomorrow, I’m going back to the café.