CH 40

Chapter 40: Cinderella

TL: Akabane

***

Is a meal after skipping a lecture taste good? The average college student would probably answer, "Super tasty!" of course I do, and so does the girl in front of me right now.

"These scones are delicious! I'm so glad I came! I'm so happy!"

"Yeah. That's great."

Igarashi was enjoying her after-dinner dessert. In the end, we not only skipped second period, but also lingered here during lunch break.

"Hey, speaking of which, Tokiwa..."

"What?"

"What's a "three-some"? I've recently been asked to play it."

I almost spit out the coffee I was drinking.

"Who? Who invited you to do that?"

I don't know who invited her, but I knew I had to close it. No matter how much of a college student you are, that's just not right.

"Hmm? It's Ayashiro. She said it's okay for Tokiwa and I to have a threesome. She told me on the train this morning."

"Ayashiro X...! Igarashi! Forget those words forever. Don't ever say them in public. Okay?"

"Hmm? Is that so? Okay, but... By the way, is Ayashiro your girlfriend, Tokiwa? I always see you with her."

"No, I'm not."

"Then, are you dating Milan?"

"No, I'm not dating anyone."

"Hee. You with all those beautiful women, but you're not dating any of them...you must be shy."

If you ask me if I'm shy or not, I definitely was in my previous world. I think it's different now. Otherwise, I don't think I would be with Ayashiro and the others. Igarashi seemed to be in a good mood for some reason.

"So, Tokiwa, what kind of girl do you want to date? What kind of girl is your type?"

It was a question that had a somewhat teasing nuance to it. I had never really thought about it. In my previous world, I was on the unpopular side, so I couldn't afford the luxury of choosing a girl, and I didn't think there were any girls better than Igarashi. Maybe that's why I suddenly said out loud,

"Maybe a righteous person who wouldn't cheating on me."

"Is she a girl who is loyal and would not cheating on you?"

"Yeah, yeah. A girl who's loyal. Surely, a girl who cheats on her husband would be a scumbag! I hate girls like that!"

I'm talking about you in the previous world. What's with this time-space warped, self-deprecating gag-like conversation?

"Me, you know. I don't like those adultery dramas. I want to change the channel when I see my mom or sister enjoying it. I don't like it. Girls who are bouncing around between men. It's pathetic and stupid. It makes me feel like an idiot, and it turns me off. I think I'll stick to foreign detective dramas! Shoot and shoot and solve crimes! I love it!"

Super space-time self-deprecating gag! Is it okay to laugh? Haha! That's funny.

"Well, yeah. Detective dramas are kind of fun, aren't they? The case investigation part and the confrontation with the criminal burns."

"Yeah, yeah. You have to be single-minded, after all! Speaking of which, you know what?"

"What?"

"I heard about it from Tomoe! I heard that this expensive school cafeteria is also used as a wedding venue! I heard that it's often used by couples who are students at the Imperial Capital! They meet at the same university, get together, and get married! And they get married on campus! It's so nice, isn't it? I'm so enamored of this place. Ufufu."

The way she talks with a twinkle in her eye makes me think she's a dreamy girl. But you know what? Her face looks so cute.

"Hey, Tokiwa?"

"What?"

"What kind of person will I marry? What kind of person would be a good match for me?"

"......Yeah...well..."

I look into Igarashi's eyes. Her mysterious brown eyes with a hint of gray are so beautiful. I had named them Cinderella ash-colored.

"I'm sorry. I don't know."

"What? You didn't have to think so hard! Haha! You're so serious, Tokiwa! Ufufu."

"But yes, I am. See. There's a story about Cinderella, right?"

"You want me to marry a prince? I don't think I'm a good match for a prince."

Igarashi's eyes are downcast, strangely and somewhat sadly. It looks as if she is despising himself.

"No, it's not that. Glass shoes. The glass slipper. Just throw it somewhere. And the person who comes to deliver it to you is a good match for you, isn't he?"

I don't know what I'm talking about. At the very least, I didn't want Cinderella Ririse to lose her prince to Hagiri. So, she should not leave her glass slipper behind, but just throw it away. Someone will surely pick it up and deliver it to her. It must be the one who is destined to be.

That's interesting. Hmmm. Then, where should I throw the glass slipper?"

"You'll have to do that yourself. Oh, but make sure you deodorize them. Glass shoes are definitely steamy."

"Haha! That's right! Glass shoes are definitely sticky with sweat! They look stinky! Haha! Oh no. My stomach hurts from laughing so much. Hahahaha."

Apparently, my joke was on point in Igarashi's opinion. After a nice wacky moment, we decided to leave the cafeteria and head to the next lecture hall.

Various clubs were handing out flyers in front of the lecture building. It is still the season for new students. The enthusiasm immediately after entering the university has faded, but all the clubs are still recruiting new students.

"Oh! That's Kanata! Help me hand out flyers! Gyahaha!"

Kekai-senpai was near the lecture hall. He is handing out flyers to new students.

"Eh. I'm not in the circle yet! I'm still a customer! A customer!"

"A customer is a waste for a naughty one like you! I hope you'll join the management side right away. Hahaha! By the way, who's the lady over there?"

It seems that Kekai-senpai was interested in Igarashi. This guy is in and out of various circles. Maybe he wants to recruit her?

"I'm Igarashi, a freshman in the same architecture department."

"Hm? Ah, you're Hagiri's childhood friend. Heh."

Kekai senpai knows about Hagiri. Or rather, the student council and this person are almost in a confrontational relationship. Kekai-senpai is concerned that Hagiri's network will have a bad influence on our university.

"I am Ririse Igarashi. Chusho is always always take care of me."

I couldn't help but make a sullen face at the sight of Igarashi bowing so neatly. She looks like a well-made wife, doesn't she? That reminds me of something. After the Golden Week holidays, Hagiri and Igarashi will start dating.

"Oh, my. She's a very accomplished young lady. Hmmm. Yes, I see. Here you go."

Kekai-senpai handed Igarashi a flyer.

"Here's the information about the welcome party for new students we're having tomorrow night in Shinjuku! Please come and have fun. It's at the intercollegiate, so there will be a lot of people there! Gyahaha!"

"Tomorrow...?"

Igarashi was staring at the flyer with a stern look on her face. She seemed to be worried about something.

"This is for you!"

"Hey! Hey!"

Kekai-senpai handed me a bunch of flyers.

"You can hand them out for me."

"You're just forcing me to do your job! I'm a freshman!"

"I'll buy you pizza again! Do it! Go for it! Good luck! Gyahaha!"

My senior ran off. He pushed me to work, but I can't hate that guy.

"Why is it tomorrow...?"

"What's wrong?"

"Hey, Tokiwa, you're going, right?"

"Yes. I've already been invited by my senpai.

Milan is also planning to participate as a performer. Ayashiro is not coming because she is going to another club's welcome party. Yuzuriha refused with a reluctant face. It seems the crowd is still too much for that girl.

"I see. Yup. Well, that's right. Heh. Yeah. I already have plans tomorrow. It's a nice dinner with good food and good drinks."

"Hmm. I see."

I have an idea who I'm going with.

"I'm going to wear a beautiful dress. A passionate red dress. But the shoes. They're not glass."

Igarashi smiles a somewhat fragile smile. I want to say something. Because that kind of face doesn't suit me. I want her to smile more carefree and cute.

"That's good, isn't it? If you don't have glass shoes, you can get out of the carriage without being noticed by the witch or the prince, and you can walk anywhere you want."

I don't think there is any point in saying that. Igarashi never came out of Hagiri's influence. The future did. Even more so now. There's no way that the feelings of two people who are going to be going out soon are not exciting.

"...I see. Haha. That's right...yeah. I hadn't put on my glass slipper yet..."

Somehow, she seemed to have regained her usual soft smile.

"Tokiwa. I'll help you with that flyer! I've always wanted to try! That kind of thing! It's like being a college student! Haha!"

Taking about half of the flyers from my hands, Igarashi began handing them out to new students on the street. Soon a crowd formed and the flyers were disappearing like flies. I was not to be outdone. Igarashi and I handed out flyers around the lecture hall and in classrooms. We managed to get them all out before classes started. We smiled and high-fived each other.