Afterward, blushing even to her ears, Kabashima-san and I engaged in various conversations.
To begin with, the role of a servant is one of the male-favoring measures in Japan. If a man desires, the government provides him with managed land and housing. Alongside this, a servant is dispatched by the government. This is one of the obligations assigned to men, and it cannot be refused.
In the rare cases where the homeowner, a male, marries and lives with a woman, the servant is still assigned without change. Moreover, in homes without men, there are no servants.
Servants have a role in reporting the activities of men to the government several times a month. For reasons like understanding the health of men, servants sometimes take care of all household chores. Nowadays, very few men oppose this system.
There was once a rule that required a servant to always accompany a man for the sake of his safety. However, since men lost their privacy, there was an increase in deteriorating health and mental well-being due to stress. In response, in recent years, men have been given considerable freedom in their activities, and they can move around alone without any issue in safe places.
Furthermore, as Kabashima-san explained earlier, a servant cannot bear children with the man of the house. If, by any chance, a child is conceived between the servant and the male homeowner, severe punishment will be imposed on the servant. It might be fine if it's done with consent, but since there's no precedent, it's uncertain how it would turn out.
Returning to the topic at hand: how can I have sex with Kabashima-san?
I also learned earlier that the concept of contraception doesn't exist in present-day Japan. The reason for this is related to the population ratio of this country.
For every 2 men, there are 8 women.
It's an overwhelmingly female society.
"A pandemic occurred, right? In… 1910, I believe."
"That's correct. Only men died all over the world. For a time, the world was left with only women."
"After all the men died, the virus died out too. Although the men born afterward were fine, their numbers significantly decreased, leading to various issues, as written in books."
"Yes. The chaos of that time is unimaginable, but there were widespread exploitations that ignored men's rights, it seems. Perhaps that's the remnant. Even now, men find women difficult to deal with. It's not common for men and women to marry."
Afterward, efforts to protect men began worldwide, and men's rights were secured. Furthermore, policies to increase the male population and improve the birth rate were adopted worldwide. Through these efforts, the population ratio in Japan has now returned to 2:8.
Hence, to improve the birth rate, the technology of contraception declined, to the point that even knowledge about it is absent now.
In the present, artificial insemination is much more prevalent than natural conception through sexual intercourse between men and women.
Since men are obligated to undergo a health check and semen extraction once a month, a significant amount of sperm is stored in frozen storage at hospitals. Many women conceive through artificial insemination using this sperm.
I had been reluctantly going for a health check once a month until now. If I neglected it, the monthly allowance of 600,000 yen would be cut off. As it's almost impossible for men to work outside, losing this allowance is a matter of life and death. Hence, I had no choice but to provide my sperm.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm starting to get it. Alright. First, let's have Kabashima-san quit her job."
"Yes… Eh!?"
"Kabashima-san, quit your job and live here. Otherwise, we won't be able to have sex, right?"
"Indeed, but… with Yuma-sama… I understand. It might take some time, but I'll try to apply for a department transfer. If I say there's a possibility of pregnancy due to a man's demand, I should be able to smoothly change departments."
"Uh, it's fine since I can support you financially, you know? I should have a considerable amount of savings. I've been making quite a profit from investments."
"No, women can't be financially supported by men."
Is that so? I wonder if this is related to the concept of a bride. I'll just obediently follow along.
"Um… Kabashima-san, do you keep track of your menstrual cycle?"
"Of course, as it's a woman's practice."
"Well then… do you know about the periods when it's easier or harder to get pregnant?"
"I was on my recommended day last week."
Recommended day?
Ah, a time when it's easier to get pregnant.
"Well then… right now might be a harder time to get pregnant, I guess. Alright, come to my room tonight. Well, I'm going back to my room now."
"Huh? Huh? Yuma-sama?"
Ignoring the flustered Kabashima-san, I return to my room, feeling excited. Somehow, I'm starting to enjoy this.
Now then, back in my room, I boot up my computer. There's something I want to look up.
In my dreams, I often read manga. A common theme in those manga is non-human races. I don't recall the details, but the stories often involve forming good relationships with non-human races and leading a slow life in a different world.
I never quite understood what's interesting about these stories. Even if they mention different worlds, those worlds are just places with a lack of modern conveniences. The idea of gaining access to magic sounds appealing to me, but I doubt I, as a human, could use magic to begin with.
Besides, non-human races are no longer that uncommon.
Just by walking around, you can encounter various races.
"I found it. That's right, WIRCO."
WIRCO. The World Interspecies Race Coexistence Organization. Established in 1968, it's an international institution that sets up frameworks to promote interactions between different races and to facilitate mutual understanding.
"It all began with the pandemic of 1910."
"The virus that killed men didn't only affect humans. It also affected various other races living quietly around the world, as well as the demon clans and angels living in the demon realm and celestial realm."
Subsequent investigations revealed that this virus wasn't a natural occurrence; it was created by a certain race. However, the authenticity of this claim remains uncertain.
As a result of this virus wiping out men, many races suffered catastrophic consequences. This was because non-human races tended to have longer lifespans compared to humans, and their birth rates were generally lower. Consequently, the number of newly born males was extremely limited.
Furthermore, many races had high child mortality rates, and the number of males reaching the age of reproduction was drastically reduced, leading to a significant decline in their numbers.
Facing the crisis of species survival, various non-human races began interacting with one another, something they had previously avoided, in order to overcome this challenge. They chose to reveal themselves to humans.
This led to the formulation of laws related to interspecies interactions in various countries around 1965. Subsequently, in 1968, WIRCO was established, providing a foundation to promote active interspecies interactions.
"I never had a shred of interest in this kind of thing before. Non-human races, huh. Now that I look… they're really cute."
Until yesterday, I knew that such beings existed, but I had zero interest. However, now that my perspective has changed, I find many of these women quite charming.
WIRCO's website contains introductions to various races and their points of note to facilitate smooth interactions. However, all the content is in English.
"Elves… Dwarves… Beastmen, Dragonkin. I feel like I've seen Beastmen before. Treants, Merfolk, Lamias…"
As I browse through pages about different races, I ponder how I could meet them. Then I remember that there should be an organization similar to WIRCO in Japan.
"Oh yeah, this is it. JIRAC."
Japanese Interspecies Race Advancement Center, also known as JIRAC. It's an institution that conducts research, education, and more for non-human races seeking tourism or residency in Japan. However, their website is rather basic, mainly consisting of translations of WIRCO's race introductions into Japanese. There are also some photos depicting training and educational activities.
"Hmm… well, I'll probably meet some of them eventually."
With my changed perspective, the world appears fresh. Women greatly outnumber men in this world, and women are assertive when it comes to sexual matters. Now that my aversion to women is gone, this world, where I'm in the minority gender-wise, seems like a paradise to me.
Time passed, and before I knew it, it was dinnertime.
Kabashima-san's cooking is really delicious. Dinner consists of beef tongue, barley rice, grated yam, soup, and salad. Kabashima-san is eating the same thing across from me. Although we hadn't eaten together before, we decided to have meals together starting from lunch today.
"Is your beef tongue a bit burnt, Kabashima-san?"
"N-No!? There's nothing like that!"
She's trying to hide it, but it's clearly burnt. Mine is cooked just right.
(To say that I couldn't focus on cooking as the night approached… I can't say that…)
With her face turning bright red, Kabashima-san continues to eat calmly. She's cute. But man, there's an excessive amount of yam on my plate. Was yam considered a meal that boosts vigor? I guess that's it.
After finishing dinner and taking a bath, I wait for Kabashima-san in my room. I lie on the bed and play a puzzle game on my smartphone. I installed it a long time ago and have been playing it out of habit.
Feeling somewhat bored, I decide to finish the game. Just as I do, there's a knock on the door.
"Please come in."
"E-Excuse me…"
Kabashima-san enters the room quietly, dressed in a pale blue negligee. The negligee is see-through, revealing a navy blue and white embroidered bra and shorts. Her soft-looking abdomen and slightly toned thighs can also be faintly seen.
"Wow… you look amazing. I like how you tie your hair, but it's nice to see it let down too."
"T-Thank you very much."
Kabashima-san bows slightly, revealing a deep cleavage.
"Come over here. Let's start with some conversation."
I pat the spot next to me on the bed. Kabashima-san nods and approaches hesitantly.
"Phew. Excuse me."
She takes a deep breath and then sits down beside me. She seems too nervous… but there's no need.
"Kabashima-san, you've taken care of me for four years, right? I've been quite blunt until now, so it must have been tough."
"Oh no! Not at all. Just being able to take care of you, Yuma-sama, made me very happy."
"Really? I think I've hardly talked to you until today."
"That's not true. Occasionally, Yuma-sama would say words of appreciation to me."
"Really? Did I?"
"Yes! Like 'Thank you' or 'Good job'."
Honestly, I have no recollection of that… I don't remember ever sincerely saying 'thank you' or 'good job'.
"Did I, really?"
"Yes! Like, 'Hi!' or 'Okay!'"
"Is that meant to be words of appreciation…? The bar is just too low."
"No, I'm sorry. Yuma-sama, thank you so much."
Kabashima-san takes my hand and thanks me once again.
"N-No… Thank you very much as well."
For some reason, Kabashima-san's eyes are teary. She might start crying again at this rate. I never realized Kabashima-san had this kind of character…
"By the way, Kabashima-san, why did you become a servant?"
I decided to quickly change the topic.
"Sob… Yes. I had a father, and when I was young, we lived together. There were servants around when I lived with my father, and I looked up to them with a certain degree of admiration. Also, I was quite good at studying. And, though it might sound self-praising, I was good at housework. After my father left, my mother worked tirelessly, so I gradually took on household responsibilities."
In modern Japan, polygamy is practiced, meaning men can have multiple wives. Of course, it's a minority, and many men might not have wives at all… Men move between multiple households or choose to live alone most of the time.
My father was like that, and I assume Kabashima-san's father was too.
"I became interested in the job of a servant, which I admired when I was young. After graduating from college, I became a civil servant and finally fulfilled my dream of becoming a servant. And the first person I served was Yuma-sama."
"Oh, it was your first time?"
"Yes. After becoming a civil servant and completing two years of training, I was finally assigned as a servant, and the first person I was assigned to was Yuma-sama. I'll never forget the first time I met you."
When I reviewed Kabashima-san's resume earlier, it didn't include information about past assignments, so I didn't know. And I have no memory of our first meeting. By the way, Kabashima-san is 28 years old, two years older than me.
"I see, I'm glad to be your first, Kabashima-san. Please continue to take care of me from now on."
I gently embrace Kabashima-san's body from the side. She stiffens due to the sudden action, but I hold her tightly and whisper in her ear.
"I like you, Kabashima-san."
"Huh!?"
Before Kabashima-san can react, I push her onto the bed and bring my face closer.
"Ah…"
Kabashima-san tightly closes her eyes.
Smack… Our lips touch.
Authors note: Yuma likes Kabashima-san more than he realizes. Even though he tried to keep his distance, spending four years together made her someone he was aware of, even if he didn't consciously acknowledge it.
And with his changed perspective, the way he sees Kabashima-san has shifted significantly. The memories of being taken care of by her all this time, combined with his changing preferences in appearance, have led to a skyrocketing level of affection.