CH 7

Chapter 7: Cafeteria Wars! Intercourse Man vs. NTR Man!!!!

TL: Akabane

***

During orientation, I tried to stay away from my wife as much as possible. But it was still impossible to continue doing so in the same classroom.

"Tokiwa. Let's all... let's go out to dinner today. I want to talk properly with everyone in my department."

My wife recently learned something from the crowds that flocked to her, and she started rotating to have lunch with a different member of the department every day. I honestly thought she was good at putting up the "I want to talk to everyone during orientation." She's usually so carefree and no-nonsense, but somehow she only seems to have her wits about her when she's trying to hunt me down.

"No, I have leftovers at home..."

But of course I refused. I really don't know what to say, and it brings back bad memories that make me sick and uncomfortable.

"I see. Then I'll stop eating at the cafeteria today too and go home to eat the leftover. Yeah, that's too bad."

As my wife said this sadly, the members of today's lunch group behind her glared at me with sharp eyes. I could see why. If I miss this opportunity, I may never get another chance to have a meal with my wife. I was desperate. Then I had a hunch. If I turned down this lunch, I would lose my place in the department.

"Come to think of it, I can just eat the leftovers at night! Let's go to the cafeteria now! Ahaha! Ahahahaha!"

"I see! Good! I wonder what the daily special is today? I'm looking forward to it, ufufu!"

I was already burnt out. I ended up being taken to lunch.

A group of about 8 people, including me and my wife, came to the cafeteria. The cafeteria is always crowded. Our university has quite a large number of students. So during peak hours, we had to get a seat early. But you know, my wife is a princess by nature.

"Oh...there are so many people today...I wonder if we can sit down..."

My wife was depressed. She has a pitiful face to look at. But she is beautiful. This is a picture of this. In other words....

"Um! We've finished eating our sushi, so you can use this table!"

A group of senior members who were sitting nearby, who looked like an athletic club, hurriedly ate their sushi and opened their seats for us, or rather, for my wife.

"What! Really! Wow, thank you! I'm really glad to have good seniors!"

"No, not so much! I'm a sophomore in Economics, majoring in Monetary Policy, Sato."

"I'm a sophomore in Law, majoring in Political Science, Tanaka!"

"I'm a junior in English Literature, Suzuki!"

"I'm third year engineering student in mechanical and electronic engineering, Saito!"

"I'm..."

The seniors introduce themselves with the hope of getting a chance. I've never seen such pitiful self-introductions... My wife is innocently happy, but I'm sure she'll forget it a minute later. The seniors left the cafeteria with shy smiles on their faces. Then we took our places at the open tables. Each of us took our lunch menu from the counter and brought it back on a tray. My wife sat down normally next to me. The air froze for a moment. There are not many girls in the science department. That is why everyone in this group, except my wife, is a boy. Otaku, loners, and talkative person are all chomping at the bit, a group with nothing in common, but all of them are staring at me with cold eyes. It's amazing, mankind can unite when there is a common enemy. And I didn't want to be that enemy, so I avoided my wife! This guy is really pushing me over the edge in a natural way!

"Hey, hey, why did you guys apply to this college?"

If you're the only girl in a group of dudes, it's usually something a girl says at random that becomes the topic of conversation. My wife started talking about a topic that was really appropriate for the orientation period. The guys all started competing with each other to tell my wife why they came to our college. All of them were so boastful that I couldn't help it. A shady guy who claimed to be the most brilliant student in the school. The talkative who said, "I couldn't study, but when I really put my mind to it, I passed the entrance exam!" The otaku who is proud to say that he will leave his mark on history through his architectural research. The conscious, high-minded boy who will take over their parents' construction company and expand the business, etc. Why are their stories are so boring?

"Hey, Tokiwa. You've been quiet since a while ago, haven't you? Are you nervous because you haven't interacted with everyone in the department for a long time? You have a cute side, don't you?"

Her smile, which gave a somewhat maternal impression, was very beautiful. It must be a blessing to be able to turn it on, I suppose, by nature. In fact, everyone around me was mesmerized. But to me, this woman's beauty is poison. The more beautiful, pretty and lovely she is, the more the fact of her betrayal makes me miserable.

"Nothing. It's not like that."

"Really? Then tell me why you came to this college."

My wife looks into my face. The face of my wife I knew was much more mature than now. Now she still has the innocence of a child. I don't know my wife in this period. Why does it frustrate me that I don't know her? So I decided to push her away.

"I came here because I failed in art school. Architecture is somehow closely related to art. I wanted to do something a little bit art-like. Then I should go to the best place. That's all."

I sensed that the boys around me were a little irritated. After all, the Imperial Capital University is one of the top universities in Japan. It was not a place to come after a slip and slide. I was a collapsed art college hopeful. Even now, there are days when I really wish I had gone to art school.

"Really? That's strange..."

My wife had a subtle expression on her face that was hard to describe. Even though I have little experience with women, there are some things you can learn when you gain life experience. Women don't like to hear about men's failures. I was a loser who failed the art school entrance exam. That's how my wife remembers me. It is the nature of women that they don't even look at loser men. I will fall out of her interest sooner or later. That's all right. I was relieved to think so.

"Riri? Did you eat here today?"

"Ah. Chusho. Hey there."

I turned toward the voice and there was Hagiri. Surrounding him were the male students of the medical school. They were all looking at my wife deliriously.

"Guys, let me introduce you. She's my childhood friend, Igarashi Ririse."

Hagiri introduces my wife to the medical school guys. That was definitely a mounting act. He is flaunting the fact that Hagiri has the power to befriend such a beautiful woman. I am sure the medical school will fall into his hands in the near future. He is frighteningly good at politics.

"I'm Ririse Igarashi. Pleased to meet you."

My wife stood up and bowed neatly to the medical students. The beauty of her gesture certainly charmed the medical students. The violence of beauty. Hagiri is in complete control of the violence that my wife possesses. A hard bond, a strong connection between the two of them. A sweet connection that will soon be replaced by love. I can't win, I'm convinced of that.

"Dear Riri's classmates. Please take care of my childhood friend. Riri has a little bit of a loose end, so please help her out."

"Oh my God! I'm not that kind of a goofball! You always treat me like a child, don't you?!"

My wife smiled shyly. Even though she complained with her mouth, her expression was cheerful. They are friends who can casually joke around with each other. When she was with me, my wife was quiet and always laughed peacefully. She was a calm woman who didn't often say anything on her own.

"Because we've been together since we were kids. My feelings for you haven't changed since I was little. Hahaha."

Hagiri said this with a fresh smile. It was an easygoing smile that certainly seemed to be well-liked. I don't think so, though.

"By the way, Riri. We're going out to eat with the advertising research group. How about it?"

"What? But I'm in the middle of eating..."

My wife is puzzled by the sudden invitation. Besides, she still has quite a bit left over from lunch.

"It's a shortcut to your dream of becoming a female TV announcer. An alumnus who works as a producer at a TV station is coming all the way here today. It's a good chance. Let's go sell your face. Don't worry, I'll be there to support you!"

After graduating from college, my wife became a female announcer for a major commercial TV station in Tokyo. Naturally, her good looks made her very popular, and she was frequently seen on news programs, interviewing celebrities, and appearing in variety shows. She was a regular guest on news programs, celebrity interviews, and variety shows, and was rarely seen on TV. She worked as an architect at a big company and was paid many times more than I was, which is a good salary by most people's standards. How could I have married her? I wonder if my low salary was a betrayal. I feel depressed.

"Come on, let's go. I'm sorry, everyone. It's for Riri's future. Please forgive me."

Hagiri bowed his head to us architecture department guys. But it was our side that felt defeated. Hagiri can control where my wife goes. We all understood that as a man, he is very close to my wife. Yes, I can't win.

"Then let's go, Riri!"

"Oh...sorry..."

My wife said to me. Her face was contorted in apology. The same face as that time. The same face she had when I found out about her betrayal. I was sick of seeing that face. I got up, put my hand on her shoulder, and sat her down on the chair with a little force. I was gentle, so it shouldn't hurt.

"Eh...Tokiwa...why?"

"Eat it without leaving any leftovers. It's a waste."

There were still two fried shrimp left on my wife's lunch plate.

"Hey, Tokiwa. Are you interfering with Riri's future?"

Hagiri glares at me. I glare back at him.

"Shut up. My family is a farmer. I won't tolerate anyone who takes care of their food."

My family is a farmer in Hokkaido. I came to the city because I don't want to take over the family. The house will be taken over by my sister and her husband in the future, so there is no problem.

"Your connection with the producer of a major TV station is much more important than a mere lunch. What you're saying is nonsense."

"I don't know. I'm not a part of your value system. Besides, you're the one who wants to meet the producer, not Ri...Igarashi, right?"

"...It's in Riri's best interest to meet with the producer."

"That doesn't answer the question. Hey, you wouldn't lie to Igarashi, would you? Swear to Igarashi right here and now that yourself have no intention of negotiating anything with the producer."

Hagiri shushes. I have knowledge of the future. This inter-male childhood friend will start on TV in the summer. A program featuring current students of the prestigious Imperial University will be aired. There, with his fresh looks, this man becomes a popular figure among the audience. He will make a lot of money by publishing reference books and self-help books. He will probably talk about it with the producer. The reason he has my wife present is probably to use her attractiveness to make the negotiations more favorable. Well, it's probably true that it will pave the way for her to becoming a female announcer.

"Is it true...Chuso?"

"Riri. Don't be fooled by what Tokiwa is saying. He's the type of person who swallows others with his quibbles. It's not good to be this type of person."

"Chusho. I still have some things I want to talk to my classmate. And it's still not good to leave food. I don't think that kind of person should be an announcer. I don't think I'm qualified to talk to people on TV like a big shot. Yeah."

My wife said this while staring at Hagiri with a serious face. Hagiri seemed puzzled by that look in my wife's eyes. But soon he smiled a fresh smile.

"Okay. Yes, I do. Riri is right. Let's meet with the producer some other time. Then I'll see you at night."

"Yeah. See you later, Chusho."

Hagiri and my wife gave each other a small wave. Then Hagiri left the cafeteria with his cronies. My wife's cheeks were a little red and she was fidgety. Then she looked me up and down and said.

"Um...Tokiwa...thank you..."

"Thanks for the food. Everyone. I'll go ahead and excuse myself. I have to study in the library."

"Oh...wait........."

I stand up with my tray. My wife was saying something behind my back, but I ignored it. Then I left the cafeteria.