CH 5

Chapter 5: Shady Person Won't Allow A Crowd Of Bright Person

TL: Akabane

TL: Sorry but there may be some translation errors in this chapter.

***

What a dumb story. I had been so caught up in my college debut that I had completely put my wife and her partner out of my thoughts. I hadn't thought about what to do when I met them.

"Hey, where's your department?"

Hagiri, the man who standing in front of me, asked with a smile on his face.

"I'm in the Law Department, Legal Training."

I was surprised. Ayashiro apparently belongs to the top liberal arts department. But it seems to suit this cynical and quick-witted girl.

"Wow, that's great. So you're going to be one of the elite of the elite at our university in the future. Then don't you think it's important to make horizontal connections? If you make them now, they will be a great asset in the future."

"Yes, that's true. I guess there's no point denying it."

'Yes, yes. I am also a medical student in medical school, and I think that in the future, it is necessary to cover not only specialties, but also all the departments across the board. That's what this party is for."

I'm annoyed with Hagiri who naturally mounts the faculty. This man is a monster who entered the medical school of the most difficult and highest deviation Imperial Capital University in Japan at the top of his class. He is the top of the elite of the entrance examinations. At the Imperial Capital University, students routinely fight each other over the center score and the main exam score, as well as subtle mounts based on the department. That kind of thing really gets on my nose. But I don't think it's unreasonable for my wife to cheat on me. If it's about my job or a doctor, most women would choose a doctor.

"Oh, I see. A doctor in the future? That's great. Speaking of which, what department are you in, Tokiwa?"

I hadn't told her that. Or rather, I didn't want to mention it in front of this man. It was absolutely impossible to beat the medical department of the Faculty of Medicine as a pecking order. I didn't want to say that in front of Ayashiro or in front of my wife. I let out a sigh.

"I'm in the architecture department of the School of Engineering."

And to add to that, I'm a one-grader. I had tried to get into art school when I was still a student and failed, and I had given up on my artistic sense, which is why I went on to the architecture department. That's why I didn't want to tell her. It's miserable to compare myself to someone who would go straight to medical school.

"What? No way! What a coincidence! I'm in architecture too!"

My wife said this in a happy voice to my depressed me.

"...Oh...I see..."

Another painful mistake. I forgot. I wasn't aware of it because I hadn't tangled with my wife at all during my first round of school. But my wife is in the same department.

"Heh. You are in the same department as Riri, huh. Haha. My childhood friend is a bit of a clunker, so support her, okay? Haha."

Heartbreakingly, Hagiri looks restless. During the first round, after I found out about the affair, this guy was so jealous that he came on to me. It's similar to the atmosphere I had then.

"Childhood friend? That's the first time I've heard that in real life. Does that mean you guys are dating?"

Ayashiro asks, curious. I don't want to hear.... Personally, I'd rather not hear about it.

"Well, it's not like that. But I think of Chusho as an irreplaceable person. Ufufu."

My wife replies with a cheerful smile.

"Oh, I believe we have a strong bond with each other. Haha."

Hagiri also smiles and says with a fresh smile, and the two of them look at each other calmly, in a somewhat good mood. An irreplaceable person. A strong bond that has been built up. A relationship that takes precedence over marriage. That's it, isn't it? I think it's unreasonable. I didn't stand a chance from the beginning.

"I see. Hmmm. So it's like that. You're a keep-at-home, convenient guy who doesn't want to get hurt. I want a childhood friend too. I long for it."

The air froze. Hagiri's mouth is tied in a tight line. My wife stopped in a drawn-out smile.

"No, no, no! Wait a minute! Why are you talking like that! Chusho is not a man of convenience!"

My wife protests desperately with her lips pouting at Ayashiro. But Ayashiro is having none of it.

"Really? But you two don't even have a physical relationship, right? And yet a man and a woman are together? It's impossible. Absolutely impossible. How can you keep each other connected when you can't even be together physically, much less have sex with each other? I doubt it."

"No, I don't think so! Friendship exists between men and women too!"

"Yes, you might. I mean, you're only attracted to the guy in a way that doesn't outweigh friendship, and you don't feel so strongly about him that you can't stop yourself from having a crush on him. Isn't it the love that makes the bond really strong? I think so. It is nothing but a strong egoistic desire for the other person. For example, love and sexual desire. You may have a good relationship, but it's not a mutual one of intense desire. Heterosexual friendships are only a consolation for those who don't deserve each other. Such trivial feelings are just a convenience, right? Am I wrong? If they are intensely desired, they are not convenient for each other."

A talk with an implication that might have a point or two came out of Ayashiro's mouth. My wife put her hand on forehead and pondered.

"Ugh...eh...but we've always been together and gotten along well."

"That's how it's supposed to be if the relationship is just as confusing as my quibbling."

Ayashiro spits out. I've only known this woman for a short time, but she seems to be angry at my wife for interrupting her earlier flirtation. That certainly warms my heart.

"Don't insult Riri any more than that."

Hagiri stands in front of her as if protecting my wife.

"Ayashiro, I was going to invite you to the party too, but no. I'm determined to protect Riri. I don't want to invite a mean person like you."

"Okay. I didn't ask for it though. You just ask me out without my permission and then cancel it without my permission too. What a busy person."

Ayashiro turned away saying that. But there is a smile on her mouth.

"Tokiwa. It may be none of my business, but you shouldn't befriend with girls like that. People who hurt others for no reason are scum. They are not worth befriending."

Are you serious saying that? You stole my wife from me. I've been scarred for more than a lifetime and I've even lost my life.

"Tokiwa. Leave that girl alone and join our party. I'd like to talk to the people in the department where my precious childhood friend goes, and it would be good for you."

"Those guys back there?"

I turn my attention to the beautiful men and women behind Hagiri. They are a very handsome group. They are the very best of the best from each department. The man in front of me must be the king of the kingdom. And then is my wife will be the queen?

"That's right. I found shining talents from each department and called on them. They all agreed with my idea. They're a wonderful group of people who help each other and raise each other up. They are special people."

I guess this is what they mean when they say the soul of a triplet is a hundred souls. When I found out she was cheating on me with him, she kept on blaming me like this. She said we weren't compatible. She said she was special. And she said his thing is not like me.

"Not a single thing you say resonates with me. I don't agree with any of it. First of all, Ayashiro is not a scum. She's a weirdo, but she's an interesting woman. She's worth being friends with."

"Oh? You're protecting me?"

I only smile at Ayashiro. But I think that was enough to let Ayashiro know how I felt. She smiled kindly and nodded.

"And secondly. I'm a college debutante-type former shady guy. That's why I hate those glittery, flirtatious people. I don't want anyone in my line of sight, except me."

A roundabout world. My world was colorless until I met my wife. I had a good face and a good head, but I had a fatally bad personality. I didn't fit in well with the people around me. So I was always envious of the sparkling people. I wished it would all break down. But after dating and marrying my wife, I realized that the world is a very wonderful place. I didn't have to hate on other people's happiness anymore.

"And thirdly. In the first place, those guys don't have any qualities other than their faces. Am I wrong?"

I was sure. Hagiri probably chose them purely for their looks, and that the smart ones among them probably didn't make it into the 'group'.

"...That's not true. They have talent that shines through. It's more like, when you gather people with talent, they just happen to have a good face."

"Then why don't you bring in someone to prove their talent?"

Hagiri's face turned cold like a Noh mask. He's staring at me quietly. Those beautiful men and women are pawns that this man has gathered to be his loyal vassals. Good-looking subjects make the king shine above them. Instead, talent is a hindrance. They could kick the king off his throne.

"You are a terrible man to doubt them! I thought you were a good man who would take the initiative to help others! Too bad! I'm not going to invite you to join us. You don't deserve to be one of us."

He was outraged. In other words, he was right. These guys are just wooden puppets with a nice face. I wouldn't join them even if I had to die. It would be like throwing away my youth down the drain.

"Hey, Chusho!"

My wife's voice came out as Hagiri and I stared at each other.

"What is it, Riri?"

"Is it true what Tokiwa says? You said that those people are the most talented and amazing people in the first year and that's why you're going to interact with them, right?"

My downcast wife said this somewhat sadly.

"That's right. Have I ever lied to you?"

"...Yes, you have. Chusho doesn't lie, does he? But...but..."

My wife looked up and stared at me. Her ash-smoky brown eyes looked so beautiful and kind.

"Riri? Is something wrong?"

"Nah. Nothing. Let's go, you two shouldn't fight. Let's not fight anymore. Chusho, let's go back to the others. It's almost the time, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Let's go now. It's a waste of time to hang out with these people."

Hagiri turned his back to us and went back to his friends.

"...Sorry, Tokiwa. Let's talk properly next time."

My wife smiled sadly, then turned toward Hagiri. And then they zigzagged away from here to have a dinner party or something.

"Ayashiro. Are you free now?"

The tension drained out of me and the words came out naturally.

"I'm free until the evening. I'm having dinner with my father at night."

"Then why don't you come hang out with me until then?"

"Oh my! That's great! Where are you going?"

"I don't know.. It depends on the mood and the tension of the moment. Hahaha."

"Well, it's not planned, but it sounds fun. Fufufu..."

We left the entrance ceremony hall laughing. We had a lot of fun that day and into the night. It was a sparkling youth that I can proudly say.