Chapter 4: It's Our First Reunion


TL: Akabane


***


Why are entrance ceremonies so boring? The boring stories of the dean and other old men. The boring stories of the guests.


"It's really boring. It's sad to see such a scene spread out after winning the examination war."


"That's right. We are a national university, right? Even the venue fees here probably come from taxpayers' money. I want it back."


Ayashiro, sitting next to me, also looks bored. We had been chatting about random things for a while. Ayashiro was quick-witted and sarcastic, so it was quite fun talking with her. But that didn't last long.


"Next is the freshman representative, Chusho Hagiri's entrance speech."


A male student stood on a pedestal. He had a nice face and a good physique, but his confident expression gave the impression of being somewhat arrogant.


"What's with that guy? What's with him? He's the top student in this year's entrance exam? My grades were so low because of him. I should have studied harder."


Ayashiro looked at Hagiri with a somewhat disgusted expression. Ayashiro also seems to have a self-confident streak, and they don't seem to be a good match.


"It is a great honor for my life to be able to spend this day in this place. This place is now filled with young people who have the potential to lead the future of Japan and, by extension, the world. I wish them the best of luck..."


A list of pretty words that don't matter. A parade of pretentiousness. Boasts disguised as humility. The speech was filled with such empty words, but it was well received by the audience. Hagiri had a kind of charisma.


"Oh, my. You're a smooth talker, as if you could be a politician in the future. But you seem to lack passion. It smells like empty vanity."


"...You have a good eye for people."


"Hmm? Is that so? Am I right in my characterization of him? I mean, do you know him?"


"I've seen him before. But I don't think he knows me, though."


"I see. Hmmm."


Ayashiro looked at me somewhat suspiciously, but didn't go any further. She seems like a surprisingly attentive girl. Maybe it's just her appearance that makes her a landmine type. It's a shame that I, whose only experience with women at times like this is my wife, don't have a good eye for judging whether a woman is good or bad. I thought so.








After the entrance ceremony was over, I went out of the hall and saw that the new students were again calling for new students. We walked slowly among the crowd.


"Which circle are you going to join in?"


"Tennis club, event club, and other conscious clubs, and art clubs as a hobby."


"You're greedy to want to drink a lot, but that's okay. It's good that you don't say you want to go to the sex clubs."


"I don't want to go to those places. It's too dirty. I want to value crushes and sparkles more. What about you, Ayashiro?"


"I'm like that. I want to go to a place where I can study fashion and other girlish hobbies. I'd also like to go to a more serious place that deals with social issues. I'm also interested in tennis, but I have the image that I'll be asked to play doubles at night, so I think I'll pass."


"You're so quick to talk dirty to me! I'm in trouble, so stop it! Tennis clubs range from dating-type clubs to those that are just for fun, so take your time and look around."


"Well, that's true. We have time. By the way, I feel like you've been staring at me a lot since a while ago."


It seems that many people are looking in our direction. It's like they are talking secretly. But not in a malicious or condescending way. More like curiosity?


"Isn't it because of your mensch-like dress? Well, it's cute, but it's not TPO."


"Thank you for the compliment. But I don't think it's me they're looking at. Everyone is looking at me with a kind of admiration. When people look at me, they look at me with jealousy or as if they are looking at a panda."


"Can a panda and jealousy go hand in hand...? But yes, you're looking at me, aren't you? Why?"


"Could it be... oh, I knew it."


Ayashiro searched something on his phone and showed me the result, a social networking screen. There was a selfie I had just taken with my senpai on it.



<<The Imperial Capital University Newspaper>>


New student feature No. 1

Kanahisa Tokiwa!

Here's a selfie of a freshman and a senior getting along!

This Hollywood-faced first-year student helped a senior student in a cool and dashing manner without any pretense!

Is he a future Mr. Imperial University candidate?



What's a Hollywood face...?


"You've become a celebrity so fast. You're good at it."


"Hmmm. I didn't think I'd be petit-buzzed. I'm a little embarrassed. Haha."


The selfie was intended to mount the idea that I'm already good friends with my classmates later on. I had no idea it would go viral in this direction. I guess he really liked me.


"Hey, hey. Can I talk to you for a minute?"


"What?"


"Can you put your hands around my waist like you did before?"


"For what?"


"Just do it."


Ayashiro didn't even listen to my reply and leaned closer to me. I had no choice but to do as I was told and put my hands around her waist. Then Ayashiro extended her selfie stick and took a picture of us with her phone. Then she shows me the pictures she was able to take.


"Look, don't they look good? I can use this, right? When those idiots who can only be good-looking through their moods start hitting on me, I'm going to show them this! It'll definitely be a good luck charm! Fufufu..."


Ayashiro looks kind of happy. I thought it would be tactless to put a damper on that.


"That's great."


"I'm sure it is. If I told them that I'm this guy's friend, I'm sure they'd all look pale and tremble in humiliation. Fufufu."


"Stop it! You're ruining my image! Just leave it as just a friend there!"


"Well, what should I do? Ufufu?"


Ayashiro was very agitated with me and was cute for her age. It was the first time I had ever experienced this kind of flirting, and it warmed my heart and made me feel wonderful. But it didn't last long.



"Excuse me. May I have a word?"



I heard a sweet voice from behind me that somehow seemed to resonate to the core of my body. Reflexively, I felt my body tremble. I turned around to see a woman there. She was a beautiful woman wearing a shimmering cherry blossom patterned furisode hakama. My heart begins to make a sickening sound.


"What are you doing? Didn't you see we're just having chat?"


Ayashiro's mouth twitches and her voice turns sour. The woman in the kimono seemed a little annoyed by her attitude.


"Yes, I'm sorry. But I just wanted to talk to the boy over there."


The woman turned her eyes toward me. I knew she had a very beautiful face. She had mysterious brown hair that looked as if it had been smothered in ash, and eyes of the same color. The color gives her a mysterious beauty that is ethereal or fragile. She was still ・・・・・・ too beautiful.


"What? Reverse-nan? Petit Buzz, that's amazing. I can't believe you can even catch such a beautiful woman. What is wrong with modern society?"


"Huh? No, it's not like it's a reverse-nan or anything. Oh, ohon! Let's see. Kanahisa Tokiwa-kun. We're going to have a dinner party for first-year students only. What do you think? We're not having a welcome party today, so the purpose of the party is to make horizontal connections regardless of department or faculty..."


I looked closely and saw a group of beautiful new students in the direction this woman came from. From the distance between them, it seemed that they were meeting each other for the first time. But they seemed to be proud of each other. Perhaps someone had just put them together. They are a special team of beautiful men and women who are the envy of everyone around them. I was invited to join the team, in a way, it's an honor.



If only that "Chusho Hagiri" wasn't in that group...!



I involuntarily clench my back teeth tightly. Otherwise, I was sure that my body would reflexively move and do something terrible. And the woman in front of me continued.


"No? It's true that I can understand why you would be confused if you were asked out of the blue. But Hagiri, who organizes this group, is very caring, so I'm sure you'll fit right in!"


Yes, that's right. The woman in front of me calls Chusho Hagiri by his first name. He and she were what you might call childhood friends at this point in their lives. Their houses were next door to each other, their parents were close, and they grew up like brother and sister. They had an irreplaceable bond, having spent the same space and time together in elementary, junior high, and high school. If left to their own devices, they would become lovers after the GW holiday. The ideal couple that everyone envies. For now, they are still friends.


"I understand that, but who are you? If you're going to ask me out, why don't you tell your name first?"


"Ah! I'm sorry! Oh, right! My name is..."


You don't have to say it. Because I know it well. I don't want to hear it. Because it reminds me of something I can't forget. I tried not to think about it. That she also attended our university.


"Ririse Igarashi."


The woman said with a kind smile. That smile I once had a short-lived monopoly on. Because this woman was my "wife" in the first world.


"I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Ayashiro Himena."


"Himena? Can I call you Hime-chan?


"No, I don't want to. You can call me Himena-sama."


"You're so bossy, you know that? She's cute like a doll, but she's so arrogant!"


My wife, who was getting caught up in Ayashiro's pace, was still smiling cheerfully. I don't know much about her these days. I was just watching from afar. It was a while after we graduated from college that my wife and I started dating. So she seemed like a woman I didn't know.


"What is it, Riri? Are you having trouble? Do you need a hand?"


"Ah, Chusho! Oh no, haha. I was kind of pushed around. University is an amazing place, isn't it? All these strange people! Fufufu..."


My wife stuck out her tongue and laughed mischievously. I don't know that kind of face. I only know my wife as an adult. But someone who knows my wife like that is right in front of me.


"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm..."


"You don't need to introduce yourself. You were singing from the podium like a big shot just now, weren't you?"


Ayashiro is looking at Hagiri with a somewhat doubtful look. Hagiri was a little puzzled by the pressure in his eyes.


"Singing...? Hahaha...you're an odd one, aren't you? Hahaha..."


"Right! That's why I'm totally drunk too!"


"I could see why Riri, who can get along with anyone, was puzzled. So, what do you think? How about you guys? Let's have a little party with us."


Hagiri's fresh smile certainly looks attractive. Among the women around him, there were many who looked at Hagiri with admiration. I love it. I'm very, very jealous. This guy with this smile! This man, he took and destroyed something precious to me!


"I've already saved the venue. It's a beautiful place and the food is delicious. I'm sure you'll have a great time! You'll come, won't you?"


Thus I was reunited with the man I hated the most and the woman I loved the most.



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