Cheated and Restarted Chapter 3

How to Behave at a Welcome Party!

After that lunch with my wife, she stopped getting involved with me. Well, given that awkward ending, it was to be expected. The orientation period passed without any particular trouble.

And then, Saturday arrived.

"Oh my? Aren't you here early? It's still twenty minutes before the meeting time, you know?"

The meeting place was a café near Shimokitazawa Station. Ayashiro was already inside, elegantly enjoying some black tea.

"I live in this town, so being early is only natural. Speaking of which, you're early yourself."

This is the town I'm living in now. It's only a few stops from Shimokita to the Komaba Campus, and if I felt like it, I could even walk or bike there.

"Oh my? You lived here? Then I wish you had told me sooner. I was going around clothing stores all afternoon. I would have made you carry my bags."

"Heh. Did you buy anything?"

"The jacket I have draped over my shoulders now. It looks mature, doesn't it?"

Today, Ayashiro had her hair in a "two-side-up" style. And as usual, she was rocking the slightly Chuunibyou "Black x Pink" style. However, the finish was somehow more mature than usual. The rider-style jacket, in particular, brought out a mature vibe.

"I think it's nice. It matches the shirt, and you really feel like an adult woman."

I think it's genuinely impressive how she retains the Jirai-kei (Landmine) elements while balancing them with a mature look. It's probably only possible because Ayashiro possesses exceptional beauty.

"Thank you. But I can't be called an adult yet. After all, I've never spent the night with anyone. This body doesn't know pain or sweetness yet..."

"You slip in dirty jokes whenever there's an opening, don't you! Why do you like them so much! Just so you know, if it weren't me, everyone would be totally creeped out! Also, absolutely do not say things like that at today's welcome party!"

"Fufufu, I know, I know. If I spouted dirty jokes at a drinking party, unpopular virgin boys would get the wrong idea. ...I wonder why they misunderstand so quickly... Sigh..."

Ah, she just said something that sounded like it had some deep darkness behind it. I'll ignore that. After all, I'm fundamentally on the unpopular side too. Since I time-leaped, my body is a virgin. ...Come to think of it, I've only ever known my wife, and she cheated on me, so am I not practically a true virgin?

"So, what kind of group is holding the welcome party today?"

"Let's see. It's a serious one. A university-recognized organization guided by professors from the Faculty of Education. It's a solid place. Maybe close to an NGO for educational issues?"

I know that circle. It's an "Ambitious" circle in the correct sense of the word, doing proper, respectable activities.

"Oh? That's quite serious. What attracted you to it?"

I was honestly surprised. I thought Ayashiro had some seriousness at her core, but she really is quite serious. I felt my fondness for her growing.

"Educational issues are wide-ranging, but today's circle supports the elimination of educational disparity for the poverty class. You understand, right? How much money did it cost to get into our university?"

"Yeah. I'm from a public high school, but prep school costs were quite high. Honestly, I don't even want to count it."

"Me too. I'm from a prestigious private prep school. Not just the tuition there, but tutors, prep schools, and even the cost of reference books. It cost a lot of money. Fortunately, my father is rich, so it wasn't a problem at all."

There is a dark side to our university. National universities have cheap tuition. But the difficulty of the entrance exams is insane. To break through that, it costs a ridiculous amount of money for prep schools and reference books. That's why it's whispered as fact that the average household income of our students is higher than that of private universities.

Subjectively, I also feel like many of my classmates are rich. I think this is clearly strange. The tuition is cheap for universities that are easy for the rich to enter, while those who don't have money and can't study have no choice but to go to expensive private universities. There is an irrational disparity there. Even after graduation, if you come out of our university, you get considerable preferential treatment in society. A high educational background is a ticket to high income. And that disparity continues to be reproduced forever.

"That circle creates and distributes original textbooks and uses the internet to distribute lecture videos for university entrance exam prep for free. I'm thinking I want to be involved in something like that."

"I see, yeah. That kind of thing is good. Yeah. Doing something for someone else is a good thing."

"I'm happy if you say so. That's why I want you to cooperate with me at today's welcome party."

"Bullet sponge, right?"

"Exactly. Men will swarm around me, so please act aggressive and say, 'Don't touch my woman!'"

"Ehh. That's a bit... isn't that just being a painful guy! Well, I'll be a wall. If I'm by your side, I should be able to scatter the guys to some extent."

Even so, I think there will be plenty of guys approaching her aiming for a "One Chance."

"Today's circle has a selection process. And it's a serious one where professors interview you. I want to make sure I sell my face properly."

"That means you don't have time to deal with guys picking you up. Well, leave the guarding to me. I'll escort you properly."

And so, we headed to the Izakaya where the venue for the welcome party was being held.

＊

What is important at a welcome party? The answer is not just one. Personally, I think the first thing is where you sit.

Kind circles will guide the seating arrangement so that new students and seniors mix well. I think the best way is drawing lots for the seats. But this time is a bit different. I must avoid being separated from Ayashiro. But that worry was unfounded. This welcome party had free seating in a large Zashiki (tatami room).

By the way, I believe the trick to securing seats at a welcome party is not to go too early. The trick is to sit near the most important senior in the circle just when the seats are about half full. Someone who boldly sits near a senior at a welcome party tends to be favored. Getting your face remembered is more important than anything. Conversely, it's better to avoid sitting near cute girls. To be blunt, a welcome party is not a place for hookups. I know this because, as an In-kya (introvert), I observed properly in the first world. Girls don't really like being hit on at welcome parties either. I think girls tend to want attention from the seniors. Though, I might need to research this area more in the future. Eventually, I want to devise such a strategy guide to save the In-kyas.

"So, where should we sit?"

"Well, wait a sec."

Naturally, the human relationships of this circle are also part of my future knowledge, albeit slightly. First, I should aim for the vicinity of the current representative. But those spots were already filled. So, the target is...

"In front of that woman with glasses would be good. She's probably going to be the next representative."

There was a plain-looking girl with glasses and hair dyed a dark brown. I had met her in the future. At that time, she was serving as the representative of this circle.

"What's that? What's your basis?"

I couldn't exactly say "Future knowledge!", so I fudged it appropriately.

"She's a sophomore in the Faculty of Education. I know because I passed her at school the other day."

Well, that's a lie. Ayashiro looked suspicious, but she nodded.

"Is that so. If you say so, let's do that."

And so, we sat in front of that sophomore. The senior glanced at us sharply. She wasn't glaring. She just couldn't speak up herself because she was serious. This person is a "Serious-type In-kya." So, I'll initiate the conversation.

"Nice to meet you, Senpai. I'm Tokiwa, a first-year in the Department of Architecture. This is Ayashiro from the Faculty of Law. We look forward to working with you today."

"Ah. Yes! Nice to meet you! I'm Gatou, a sophomore in the Faculty of Education."

Personally, I think introducing yourself with just your family name, rather than your full name, is fine when dealing with serious types. In-kyas hate the "Wei-wei" (party animal) culture of immediately calling each other by first names. This person is the type who hates that too.

"Come to think of it, I feel like I passed you in the cafeteria the other day, Gatou-senpai. Weren't you ordering the daily special?"

"Ah, yeah! That's right! Wednesday's daily special croquettes are delicious! Wait, you passed me!? Heh, what an amazing coincidence! That's interesting!"

It's a lie. I didn't go anywhere near the cafeteria to run away from my wife.

"Heh, is that so? I'll try eating it next time! I'm looking forward to it. Ahaha."

We broke the ice cheerfully. Gatou-senpai's face was filled with a gentle smile.

At that moment, I felt a soft and ticklish sensation on my thigh. Ayashiro was pressing her index finger against my thigh. Ayashiro wore a faint smile on her red lips. And she traced her finger along my thigh.

L-I-A-R.

Ayashiro traced that on my thigh. The sensation of her finger was ticklish and very sweet. Ayashiro's blue eyes, grinning like a mischievous child, were unbearably filled with sex appeal.

"Okay! Freshmen, everyone! It's time! We will now begin the welcome party! Please hold your glasses! Congratulations on your enrollment, everyone! CHEERS!"

"CHEERS!!!"

And thus, the welcome party began.

After the toast, laughter and lively conversations echoed here and there throughout the banquet hall. This circle was treating the new students politely. There was a gentle atmosphere where seniors would approach the freshmen who looked like they were becoming loners. I thought it was a good circle.

However, the issue of compatibility still stands in the way. To be blunt, Ayashiro and Gatou-senpai have interests that point in vastly different directions, so they probably wouldn't get along at all in private. That's why the conversation was a bit awkward at first. It was only because I had broken the ice with Gatou-senpai initially that the conversation between the two continued. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I was connecting them.

I think Ayashiro bringing me along was the correct answer.

However, Ayashiro's enthusiasm for the circle activities was "genuine."

"Why are you interested in our circle, Ayashiro-san?"

Gatou-senpai asked Ayashiro. She was a little drunk, so her face was slightly red and her expression relaxed, but her eyes were serious. She was trying to assess Ayashiro.

Probably to respond to that seriousness, Ayashiro's expression became dignified as she spoke.

"My family used to travel overseas a lot. We went to various countries. We even went to countries that Japanese people don't usually visit. There is something I saw there."

"What did you see?"

"I was walking through a certain market in broad daylight, hand in hand with my father. It was a truly chaotic place, where the good smell of fruit, the raw smell of fish, and the bloody smell of meat were all mixed together. When you're used to life in Japan, that kind of smell is pretty tough. My father stopped in front of a certain shop. A small stall. They were selling juice made from local fruits. It smelled very delicious. But... the person selling it wasn't an adult. It was a child, about the same age as I was—an elementary schooler. My father ordered two juices and paid with US dollar bills. In that country, trust in their own currency was low, so dollars were in circulation. But paying with dollar bills makes calculating change troublesome. You have to consider the exchange rate for that day. I couldn't calculate that price in my head. But that child calculated it in an instant and quickly returned the change. My father was impressed and gave the change back to the child as a tip. Then he said this to me in Japanese: 'You saw that just now, right? That child has greater calculation skills than you, yet they can't go to school right now.' I was shocked. So shocked I couldn't even taste the juice anymore. I went back to the hotel on the verge of tears. I didn't understand why, so I hugged my mother. I thought it was irrational. Every time we went on a trip, my father showed me the darkness of this world. He probably wanted to convey just how happy we were."

Gatou-senpai and I were listening intently to Ayashiro's story. We forgot about drinking and only wished to hear the rest of the story.

"In this world, there is irrationality; there are people who are driven into unhappiness even though it's not their fault. I saw that. I passed by it. Seeing such things makes me feel guilty and ashamed. ...But I can't do anything. Because I'm just a child. I can't do anything about the world. But now I'm standing at the entrance to adulthood. I want to do something. It's not out of guilt or anything. If I can share even a little of the happiness I possess... then maybe the irrationality I saw that day might be redeemed. So I want to try doing that, starting with my immediate surroundings. This country is rich. At least, seen from the perspective of the whole world, there is no other country as blessed as this one. But even in this country, there are children who, for various reasons, cannot access education like that child from that day. Just one person is fine. If, through my power, even just one such child becomes able to access education and realize a fruitful future, then I will be satisfied with that. That is the reason I came here."

Ayashiro had a somewhat lonely smile on her face. That smile brought about a sentiment that squeezed my chest tight. I thought her feelings were precious. And I felt that being able to be next to such a person right now was "happiness."

"Is that so... Ah, I'm speechless. But, yeah. That was a good story. Ayashiro-san, you are a wonderful person."

Gatou-senpai seemed moved as well. Her eyes were misty as she stared at Ayashiro.

"Thank you very much, Gatou-senpai."

And then, the two began to passionately discuss educational issues in Japan. Since my specialization is different, I just watched from the side. But even so, I was happy. Ayashiro will surely get along well in this circle. Since I was able to help with that, I'm glad I came here today too.

I quietly moved away from the two, who were getting heated up. I shouldn't intrude.

Alcohol makes you need the toilet more often. I went to the restroom for a bit. When I came back, an unpleasant sight suddenly entered my vision.

"Like I said! We're gonna lead this country's education and start a total revolution! Isn't that awesome!"

"...Eh... ah... y-yes..."

A first-year guy with a "Playboy Atmosphere"—someone who clearly looked like he was attempting a college debut and wasn't used to it—was annoyingly hitting on a female first-year with long bangs and glasses. I couldn't see her face well, but the girl gave off an impression and wore clothes that were unusually plain for this day and age. Jeans, a shirt, and a cardigan. All mass-produced items with no brand. Her hair was just tied behind her back at about shoulder length.

But there was one part that stood out. Her breasts were incredibly huge. They were pushing her shirt out to the limit. Yet her legs and arms were slender, and looking at the line of her hips, they were well-shaped; she didn't look fat. It was hard to tell with the shirt and cardigan, but she likely had a defined waist too. Her figure was surprisingly good.

"Actually, Yuzuriha-chan, aren't those huge? You must be popular!"

Eh? He's actually saying that? What a creep... That's blatant sexual harassment. But the girl called Yuzuriha looked down.

"...Not really... not... popular... at all..."

She was speaking in a whispery, faint voice. She didn't say she disliked it. But she pulled her legs toward her chest like she was sitting in a gym class. Unconsciously trying to hide her chest.

"No way! Actually, I feel like I'm gonna fall for you, Yuzuriha-chan!"

The man said that while drinking alcohol. But the mouth of the girl looking down was distorted in dislike. This was definitely a bad flow. That girl might just get swept away without being able to do anything. Every year at every university, there are women who are eaten by men against their will because they couldn't say no. That would surely become a scar for the woman's future.

So I headed toward the two of them.

The Playboy looking guy was trying to put his arm around the plain girl's shoulder. The plain girl must have sensed it. She shrank her body a little. But she wasn't trying to refuse with words. No. She couldn't.

Male In-kyas become loners. Female In-kyas become someone's prey. Because neither possess words. They can't speak up because they're afraid. Even against a human trying to prey on them, they can't say no because they're afraid of being disliked. The plain girl resembled me in the first world.

So I grabbed the Playboy looking guy's hand and stopped it before it could touch the plain girl.

"...Eh... huh?"

The plain girl raised her face and looked at me. The eyes peeking through her bangs looked surprisingly cute, and she seemed surprised.

"Hey!? What are you grabbing me for!"

The Playboy looking guy started getting aggressive with me. Annoying. I have to make this kind of punk understand the hierarchy.

"Hah? Why the hell are you speaking casually to me? I'm older than you. Show some respect."

I bluffed a little. To make him misunderstand successfully.

"Eh!? Ah, you were a senior... No, um..."

The Playboy looking guy suddenly deflated. It worked. He misunderstood me as an upperclassman. This type is weak to visible hierarchy. And since this guy has a childish vibe, he's probably a straight-entry student. He's not used to university yet and is dragging along high school common sense. Older equals upperclassman. But in university, having older classmates is normal. He's still naive.

"You, are you planning to ruin our reputation? Sexual harassment is strictly forbidden in our circle. No matter how drunk you are, one strike and you're out. This isn't an event circle or a hookup circle. We don't spoil people. Hmm?"

"Eh... no... well, she didn't seem to dislike it. It just kinda happened."

"It didn't 'just happen,' you idiot. If I hadn't stopped you, you would have gotten guidance from the university. Worst case, maybe even expulsion?"

"Eh, no, no! Surely not that!"

"It's not 'no, no.' Well, since I stopped you just in time, you're safe though."

The trick to threatening someone is to force a debt of gratitude onto them. I learned this when some underworld forces got involved in a job during my time as a working adult in the first loop. The darkness of the construction industry runs deep.

"T-Thank you very much."

"Yeah, yeah. Being able to be properly grateful is a good thing. Go on. Get out of her sight. Go to another place. Just so you know, don't go talking about this screw-up elsewhere. Don't embarrass me. Got it?"

Finally, I glared at him with all my might. The Playboy looking guy nodded vigorously and moved away from the plain girl. He went to a group that looked like his friends far away and looked away from us. I managed to scare him successfully.

"U-Um, th-thank you very much. S-Senpai-sama..."

"Senpai-sama"... This girl seems either too nervous or too scared. I sat next to the plain girl. That Playboy looking guy was still checking on us, so I wanted to keep guard.

"Calling me 'Senpai-sama' is weird. Besides, that earlier was just a bluff. I'm a first-year just like you. A Ronin, though! Kukuku."

The plain girl had a blank look on her face, then after a moment, she smiled.

"Is that so. Thank you very much."

"Formal speech is fine too, but usually casual speech is normal if we're in the same grade, whether Ronin or straight-entry."

It's a common problem where straight-entry students use formal speech with Ronin students for a while. Conversely, Ronin students tend to get frowned upon for using casual speech with upperclassmen who are the same age. Japanese is difficult.

"...Um, I, well, I can only use formal speech... My accent is, well, too strong... I can't speak well unless it's formal."

"Ah, is that so. Heh, where are you from? By the way, I'm from Hokkaido."

"I'm from Satsuma."

"Ah... I see..."

Wait, "Satsuma"... That's an old way of saying it. But the accent from that region is hard for people from the Kanto region to understand. I can see why.

"That guy is still watching, so let's chat a bit."

The plain girl gasped and turned her face toward the Playboy looking guy. She tightened her lips and nodded at me.

"Tell me your name. I'm Kanahisa Tokiwa from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering. You can call me Kanata."

"...Kanata-san, right. I am called Yuzuriha Kouyou. I'm in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science."

"Eh? Seriously!? That's amazing! Math Department!?"

Our Math Department is crazy. Everything about it is crazy. It gathers people who score higher than the medical students in math alone. It's a place where people who are so smart it doesn't make sense gather. One of the dens of geniuses in our university.

By the way, it's also said to be one of the places with the lowest percentage of girls. Or rather, Koto University itself feels almost like a boys' school, with the gender ratio overwhelmingly leaning toward men.

"It really is strange, isn't it... for someone like me to be doing math..."

"No, that's not true at all! The Math Department is a gathering of geniuses and eccentrics, so I actually respect you. It's amazing!"

"But I'm the only girl in the department. All the girls from my high school who came to this university went to the Faculty of Letters or Sociology... I'm bad at geography and history, so I couldn't go into humanities... Math is the only thing I'm good at."

Usually, people go into humanities because they can't do science, don't they? Her way of being humble seemed a bit backward.

"I think that's amazing! Yeah! A girl who can do math is really cool! Yeah!"

However, my praise didn't seem to resonate with the plain girl. She hugged her knees and rested her forehead on them.

"But everyone at school says that being too good at math makes me like a man, that I'm not cute, that I'm ugly. They say I only have female hormones in my chest... that because I can only do math, I suck at makeup too... I am..."

She was spiraling into negativity all on her own. This girl is bad news. Someone with this kind of negative mindset would look like easy pickings to a player. She was safe because that guy was just a "Playboy Looking," but if it were someone experienced, she'd be in a love hotel by now. I should change the topic.

"I-Is that so... Since you came here, Kouyou-san, does that mean you're interested in education or something? Are you aiming to be a teacher in the future?"

"I'm not interested at all. I was invited by girls from my high school. They said, 'Let's go to a drinking party.' Since we were at a girls' school, we didn't meet any boys, so they said everyone's a university student now so we should make boyfriends. But I don't really understand that kind of thing, yet I couldn't say no..."

Wow... hearing that, it sounds like this girl doesn't have any female friends either. An In-kya among In-kyas. It feels like she was brought along just to make up the numbers. Or perhaps she was treated as bait for the boys.

"I couldn't join the conversation well today either, and when I was staying in the corner alone, that person from earlier entangled me. I was scared, but I felt like it would be even scarier if I refused... University is scary. I want to go back to Satsuma..."

Kouyou-san sank deeper into depression. It was genuinely pitiful. I thought about assigning someone like Ayashiro to her. But Ayashiro, sitting at a distant table, was speaking passionately to the seniors. It would be a pity to interrupt her.

I want to give her some confidence.

"Kouyou-san. Try lifting your bangs a little."

"...Eh? N... Yes..."

She looked like she wanted to say no, but in the end, she couldn't refuse me either. I didn't really want to force her, and I wanted to respect her will, but there's such a thing as shock therapy in this world.

"Excuse me for a moment."

I took some portable hair wax out of my jacket pocket, rubbed a little onto my hands, and used it to arrange her bangs.

"Here, take a look."

I held a hand mirror in front of her face. The mirror reflected her eyes, now revealed from beneath her bangs. A very beautiful face was there.

I traced the reflection of Kouyou-san's eyes in the mirror with my finger.

"I think you are a beautiful and cute girl. Look. You have such beautiful eyes."

These were words without lies. Even without makeup, she was incredibly beautiful. While listening to her story, a thought had occurred to me. Perhaps she wasn't being bullied because she was good at math, but rather because people were jealous of her talent or her beauty. This girl has a dark and weak personality. In a girls' school with no boys, it probably wouldn't be impossible to brainwash her into thinking she was ugly. If she was verbally abused every day, told "You're ugly, you're ugly," it's no wonder she lost confidence in her own face. Especially in a closed space like a high school.

"...That's a lie... I'm not beautiful..."

The curse placed on her must be deep. They ganged up on her and stole her confidence with dirty words.

"Everyone likes a beautiful woman. I like them too. You are beautiful. That's why I wanted to get my hands on the beautiful you. The guy from earlier was the same. And if I were to lie to you, it would only be when I was trying to get my hands on the beautiful you. Now, were my words just now a lie? Or the truth?"

"All Cretans are liars," said the Cretan. Is that statement true or false? There is a logic puzzle like that. I created a quibble similar to it and asked her. I thought it was the perfect wording for a girl in the Math Department.

"...Huh? Men want beautiful women. But you said you would lie to get one, Kanata-san. If my being beautiful is a lie, but the fact that you want to get me is true, then I am beautiful? Huh? Huh?"

She stared into the mirror, immersed in a sea of thought for a while. Then, she began to smile.

"Jeez, that's weird. Your logic is all over the place. Ahaha. But it's strange. I thought that even if you were a liar, it would be okay. I thought I wanted to believe it. Kanata-san. Am I a beautiful and cute woman?"

"Yeah. You are beautiful and very cute."

"...Thank you, Kanata-san. Thank you very much."

Her smile was a truly beautiful thing.

After that, we managed to have a sporadic but normal chat. It seems she really likes math. She said she wants to be a researcher in the future. Also, whether surprising or not, she likes anime, manga, and light novels. She tends to prefer works aimed at men, which apparently was another one of her worries. And she was even creating her own.

"I upload romance stories to a web novel site. Kanata-san. Is it okay if I use what happened today as material?"

"Hmm? Well, as long as individuals can't be identified, I don't mind."

"Yes. It will be fine. I'll change the name to something like Tanaka-san."

She smiled cutely, looking somewhat like a little devil as she said that.

"Isn't that just flipping it around? Well, whatever."

"Please contribute to my page views if you can. Fufufu."

I think we managed to have a pretty enjoyable conversation. But since we had been talking for quite a long time, I needed to go to the toilet. Personally, I believe drinking parties are a battle against the urge to urinate.

"Sorry. I'm going to the toilet for a bit."

"Ah... You'll come back, right?"

Kouyou-san stared at me somewhat anxiously.

"It's fine. I'll be right back."

And when I came back from the toilet... she was gone.

I thought she might be in the toilet too. But I didn't pass her on the way, and she wasn't in the line in front of the women's restroom. So she hadn't gone to the toilet. A terribly bad feeling washed over me, and I scanned the banquet hall. The Playboy looking guy was gone.

I immediately rushed out of the Zashiki(Tatami Room), put on my shoes, and called out to a staff member.

"Hey, did a guy who looks like a playboy and a girl with glasses and a huge chest go outside!?"

"Eh, yes. They left just a moment ago."

Kouyou-san is weak at refusing when pressured forcefully. So, in the brief moment I took my eyes off her, that Playboy looking bastard must have taken her outside.

"Dammit! That bastard! He didn't learn his lesson!"

I immediately dashed out of the shop. Then I searched for nearby love hotels on my smartphone. There were several love hotels around Shimokitazawa Station. Kouyou-san must have been taken to one of them.

"Shit, which one, which one! Where would he go!? Think! Think!"

That Playboy looking guy is definitely a college debut type. He lacks any sophistication in seducing women. Probably—no, definitely—a virgin. I remembered when I was a virgin. The first time I slept with my wife was at a love hotel. My wife back then was a passive woman who would basically say okay if a man confessed to her, as long as he wasn't a creep. At the same time, her thinking was whimsical, and I was scared because I didn't know when I might get dumped. So the me of that time was quite panicked. I wanted to consummate the relationship immediately, so I thought of a way to get to a love hotel before my wife's mood changed and executed it.

"First, choose a place close to the bar we were drinking at. Choose a place where the exterior doesn't look like a love hotel at first glance to hide ulterior motives. And at the same time, choose a room with an elaborate, cute interior as much as possible. ...The one that fits the conditions is...! Only one!"

A love hotel near the theater, about a five-minute walk from here, fit the conditions. I ran toward it.

And then, I caught sight of the two of them just about to enter the love hotel. Kouyou-san's face was hanging down, distorted in sadness.

"You bastard! Stop right there, hey!"

The two of them noticed my presence. The Playboy looking guy glared at me in anger.

"Ah!? You're that shitbag from earlier! You lying bastard! Pretending to be an upperclassman to steal Yuzuriha-chan from me! You coward!"

Apparently, my bluff had been exposed. Well, if he stayed at that venue, he would have found out eventually.

"You're the one at fault for getting tricked! Besides! Don't try to drag her into a love hotel without consent!"

"Hah!? Yuzuriha-chan hasn't said she hates it! I clearly said we were going here! Right, Yuzuriha-chan?"

The guy sought agreement from Kouyou-san. Kouyou-san's face twitched, and she remained frozen.

"No one is listening to your nonsense! Kouyou-san! Say it! Say it clearly! Otherwise, you'll stay like this forever! You'll be swept away by someone, held down, and lose sight of yourself forever! Is that okay!? Are you okay with that!?"

Kouyou-san raised her face. She looked at me with a face on the verge of tears and trembled.

"...B-But... I... someone like me..."

I know she has no confidence. But if she doesn't muster up her courage here, she can't move forward.

"Yuzuriha! I enjoyed talking to the real you! So let me hear it! What do you think! What do you want to do! What don't you want to do! Say it! Let me hear it!!!!"

I screamed at Yuzuriha. I wanted it to reach her. Please reach her. I prayed.

And then.

"...I... I... I! No! I don't want to! I don't want you! I hate it!!!"

Yuzuriha shook off the guy's hand and grabbed onto my arm.

"I hate it! I hate it! No, no, no, no! I don't want someone like you! Don't touch me! I hate you!"

Yuzuriha screamed at the guy. Finally. Finally, she raised her voice.

"Wh-! Even though you came this far! You...!"

The guy reached out for Yuzuriha. But I wouldn't let him. A girl had mustered her courage. In that case, protecting that courage is a man's job!

"Hmph! Sei-ya!"

I grabbed the man's arm and twisted it, locking him in a joint hold.

"Oww-ow-ow-ow!"

"I can put more power into this and snap it right now, you know!"

"Let go! Let go of me! It hurts, it hurts!"

"Swear it! That you will never approach Yuzuriha again!"

"I swear, I swear! I absolutely won't approach her!"

"Don't ever do the same thing to other women either! Next time, I won't let you off with just this!"

"I get it! I get it! I'll stop! I'll stop doing this kind of thing! I wasn't cut out for it! Please! Stop! It hurts! It hurrrts!"

It seemed he was saying it seriously. I released the joint lock. Then I shoved the guy in the chest.

"Get lost right now! Don't ever show your face in front of us again!"

"Hii!"

The Playboy looking guy ran away at full speed. It worked out somehow. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew. That worked out."

"I'm sorry! Thank you, thank you, Kanata-san! Thank you! Waaaaahhhhhh!"

Yuzuriha clung to my chest and started wailing loudly. This is trouble. I don't know how to comfort a woman. For the time being, I patted her head and led her away from the front of the love hotel.

I sat side-by-side with Yuzuriha on a bench in the shopping district, waiting for her to stop crying. In the meantime, I called Ayashiro.

"What is it? Or rather, where are you right now? The welcome party is ending soon. You promised to escort me, didn't you?"

Ayashiro, who answered the phone, sounded somewhat displeased. I felt bad that I couldn't stay with her until the end of the welcome party.

"It's hard to explain in a few words. Could you come to the edge of the shopping district after the welcome party ends? I need your help."

"Help? You need help from me?"

"Yeah. Ayashiro, you're the only one I can rely on. Help me."

Yuzuriha was sobbing and sniffling. But ultimately, it was a man who made this girl cry. If possible, I wanted a woman to be by her side.

"Oh my, oh my! Really, is that so! Fine. I'll go once the welcome party is over. Wait for a little while. For me."

Her tone of voice instantly became cheerful. I thought I was bothering her, but maybe not? It was very grateful.

After a while, Ayashiro arrived.

"Oh my! I came because I was called, and what do we have here? A cute, cute girl is crying! What is the meaning of this!"

Ayashiro looked at me and Yuzuriha with eyes full of curiosity. Her hand stroked Yuzuriha's cheek.

"What a beautiful girl. Come on, come on, stop crying now. Tears don't suit you. Please smile."

Yuzuriha closed her eyes as if it tickled, and then immediately stopped crying. She was still hugging my chest tightly, but she had calmed down considerably, and her complexion had improved. Ayashiro is amazing.

"So? What is the situation? In detail!"

I explained everything carefully from the beginning. But well, this is Ayashiro. This woman, whenever there is an opening...

"I see. In other words, you successfully took her home, so you wanted to brag to me. And if possible, you wanted to invite me too and aim for a 'One Chance' threesome. I'm sorry. But I've decided that my first time will be passionate, in my wonderful boyfriend's room, in a world for just the two of us. Besides, I'd like to decline a threesome with a girl whose boobs are bigger than mine."

"Haha! There are too many things to point out in that sentence!"

"The one pointing will be your lower..."

"I won't let you say that! That's too vulgar!"

Ayashiro was grinning nastily. She had probably been drinking too, so she must have been having a blast.

"Um, Kanata-san. For my precious first time too... I'd prefer it just the two of us!"

Yuzuriha, having stopped crying, delivered her first words—and it was an unexpected dirty joke. The Ayashiro virus had infected her.

"Don't play along with this woman's dirty jokes!"

"But from the second time onwards! If it's a kind girl like Ayashiro-san, I don't mind if it's three people! Even these breasts, whose only merit is being big, have two nipples! Please, the two of you, suck on them!!"

"Hey, Ayashiro! This naive girl from the countryside has been dyed by the darkness of the city because of you! How are you going to fix this!"

Ayashiro was making a triumphant "smug face." So annoying. But the fact that she stopped crying and became energetic is thanks to her.

"Ufufu. It's punishment for leaving me alone. But I'm glad. You weren't trash who would abandon a girl in trouble. My eyes weren't wrong, and bringing you along today was truly a good thing. I made a super fine play!"

"Well, that's true. If you weren't here, it would have been a disaster."

"Exactly. So Yuzuriha! You better be grateful to me until you die! Being in the Math Department, you understand causal relationships and logic well, don't you! The one who brought this man here today was me! In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that I am the one who saved you!"

What is this? It sounds like a quibble, but it's not a lie, which makes me kinda mad. But Yuzuriha looked as if she had been struck by lightning and grasped Ayashiro's hands.

"What perfect logic! Thank you, Ayashiro-san! Thank you so much!"

Then Yuzuriha hugged Ayashiro. Ayashiro patted Yuzuriha's head, saying "There, there."

"Ahh, boobs are soft. This must be how a light novel protagonist feels when he saves a big-breasted heroine and gets a 'Lucky Pervert' moment. Nice! Very nice!"

This woman looks like she's genuinely having fun. But thanks to that, Yuzuriha has somehow cheered up. I guess same-sex encouragement really is better in this situation. She really saved me.

After a while, the two separated, and Ayashiro sat on the bench too. The order was me, Yuzuriha, then Ayashiro. Yuzuriha was linking arms with both me and Ayashiro. It felt like a bit of anxiety and fear still remained.

Now, what to do. I thought about walking her home.

"Where do you live, Yuzuriha? I'll walk you home."

"Eh, no way! I'd feel bad! I live in the university dorm in Mitaka! That place is quite far from the station. It's too much to ask!"

I've heard about the Mitaka dorms. Something about being called a remote island on land. But apparently, the dorm fees are dirt cheap.

"Oh no, this man! He's trying to job-change into a wolf who walks girls home to attack them! But it's a disaster, isn't it? Yuzuriha's precious first drinking party of her life was ruined, right? Poor thing."

I certainly thought so too. Having that be the first drinking party of your life is too pitiful.

"That's true. But I was able to meet you two like this! That alone is enough!"

Yuzuriha said that and smiled. But it's still pitiful. Drinking parties are fun. I don't want her to develop a complex about them. Drinking parties are pretty important even after going out into society.

That's when I had a flash of inspiration.

"Ayashiro, Yuzuriha. Do you two have a curfew?"

"I don't. As long as I send a message to my father, it's okay."

"There's no curfew at our dorm."

The conditions were cleared. Ayashiro seemed to have already guessed what I was thinking and directed a look of expectation at me. Yuzuriha tilted her head. She looked kind of like a hamster; it was cute.

"Tomorrow is Sunday! Let's play until morning! It's time for the Second Party (Nijikai)! Let's make some noise and forget the bad stuff!"

"Oh my! Sounds good! I'm in, I'm in!"

Ayashiro is always up for it. I love girls like that!

"Second Party... just us three?"

"That's right. Let's go!"

I reached out my hand to Yuzuriha. Yuzuriha looked at that hand, flashed a beaming smile, and grasped it.

"Yes! I'll go!"

And so, pulling Yuzuriha by the hand, I trotted through the shopping district. Ayashiro followed happily. We set off for a Second Party just for the three of us.

The place we arrived at was a billiards hall. With darts included.

"This is my regular spot!"

In the first world, even as an In-kya, I had a fair number of friends and sometimes went out to play. This is that shop.

"Heh. It's quite a nice place. Having a sofa attached to the table is stylish."

The good thing about this shop is that there is one sofa attached to each billiards table. It's fun to laze around on the sofa while waiting.

"Wow, billiards...!? That's so adult!"

Yuzuriha was somehow excited by the billiards table itself. She was staring at the table and balls with sparkling eyes. It's nice, seeing such an innocent reaction. It makes me feel happy too.

"What do you two want to drink? I'll order."

"It's the Second Party, so it's okay to drink whatever we want, right? I want that 'Standard Draft Beer' culture of drinking parties to perish. I'll have red wine for now. And a fruit platter."

"Ah, I understand! I wanted to drink what I liked, but I hated that feeling that it had to be beer! Pitcher beer goes flat and isn't delicious! For now, I'll have Imo-Shochu (sweet potato shochu), straight, no ice. Also, smoked pickled radish (Iburigakko) with cream cheese on top."

Ayashiro is just as I imagined, but Yuzuriha's order is somehow incredibly austere.

"I'll dare to go against the 'Standard Draft' and get bottled beer. For snacks, mixed nuts."

Personally, I like bottled beer around the size of a foreign 500ml PET bottle.

I went to the counter to order. The drinks and snacks came out immediately. I took the tray to where the two were sitting on the sofa.

"Alright. Ahem. Cheers to the Second Party!"

""Cheers!""

It was a toast with just three people, but it must have been the most fun toast of my life. I believe that was true not just for me, but for the two of them as well.

Billiards while drunk tends to become chaotic, but since these two were already contaminated by the "Ayashiro virus," it was exceptionally terrible.

"Okay!? Yuzuriha! When hitting a curve shot, you sit on the edge of the table like this and cross your legs sexily! Look there! That wannabe wolf over there is looking this way! Show it off to him!"

Ayashiro-san seemed overly eager to hit balls sexily. I was definitely not looking at her legs. I wasn't feeling frustrated that her panties were just barely out of sight. Not at all.

"But, but! Isn't it better to unbutton like this and show off cleavage like this! That's the royal road! Ayashiro-san!"

I started philosophizing. When leaning over to hit the ball with the cue, if breasts touch the table, is that safe or out? What I can say is that the bra encasing those large breasts tended to be simple in shape, drawing mathematically beautiful curves.

"That's not bad either. By the way, what cup size are you? I'm F."

"That is... mumble mumble."

"Ehh!? The erotic H-cup!?"

"Waaah! Please stop exposing meee! It's embarrassing!"

She was showing off her cleavage while swinging the cue, but having her cup size known is embarrassing? Is that a common Math Department trope?

The two girls were wrapped in that high tension peculiar to alcohol, but they were getting along well and enjoying billiards with squeals of delight.

I was chugging bottled beer straight from the bottle. Yuzuriha, whose face was red from alcohol, was staring intently at that.

"What's wrong?"

"No. Just, seeing Kanata-san chugging bottled beer, it looks like a foreign movie. I think it's cool!"

"Thanks. I'm glad if it suits me."

"Yes! You feel very much like a mafia member! Like you do bad things on Wall Street and keep blonde beauties around you at a night pool on a building rooftop! You're cool! I've thought so since I first saw you at the welcome party!"

"Oh, uh-huh. I'll take that as a compliment."

Is that a compliment? Wait? Could it be that at that time, Yuzuriha actually saw me as scarier than that Playboy looking guy?

"Come to think of it, you were called 'Hollywood Face' on social media. Hilarious! Look, look, Yuzuriha! This is the photo from the entrance ceremony!"

Ayashiro showed the photo on her smartphone to Yuzuriha. The photo I took with Ayashiro at the entrance ceremony.

"Whoa! It's a suit! Total mafia! Nice! Haa... if you two were there, I should have gone to the entrance ceremony too."

"Eh? You didn't go?"

"No. I went near the venue, but... I thought it would be a nuisance if someone like me went..."

Yuzuriha drank her shochu in one gulp with a gloomy face and sighed. Seriously, she takes such negative actions. It's pitiful how In-kyas throw away chances to make memories like this.

"That's not true at all, though. But we can make memories starting now. Come on, you two, stand there side by side."

Ayashiro pointed her smartphone at us and barked instructions. We stood side by side as told.

"Too stiff! You're stiff, you two! The only thing that should be stiff is your d..."

"I won't let you say it!"

"Tokiwa! You put your arm around Yuzuriha's waist! Like 'She's my woman!' Yuzuriha, rest your head on Tokiwa's chest and wrap your arms around his neck! Feel like a goddess of the internet!"

What is a "goddess of the internet"? But Yuzuriha took the pose exactly as Ayashiro instructed. I felt an excitement that made a shiver run down my spine from her hands touching my neck.

"That's good! That 'female' face! Okaaay, cheese! Yaaay lol"

Ayashiro kept snapping the shutter continuously. Then she showed us the photos she took.

"Kya! What is this! I look like a mafia mistress!"

"Hey. I'm not part of the underworld."

I feel bad for Yuzuriha who is squealing, but being lumped in with underworld forces is a bit troubling.

"Give it up. No matter how you struggle, you have a 'Hollywood Underworld Face'—a bad guy face that makes any woman in a photo with you look like a mistress or sex friend."

"Is my face really that obscene!?"

"Yuzuriha! I'll send you that photo, so if guys from your department harass you, show them that photo and tell them you became this man's 'Second'! If you do that, they won't bother you annoyingly anymore!"

"Second." It seems to be an ancient word referring to a mistress. Do people still say "Second" these days? I've only ever heard it in old movies.

"Wow, I'm happy! 'Second' has a nice ring to it! That tacky-cool feel is wonderful! Like a Yakuza movie! The people in my department have been stalking me and it was annoying! I'll make use of it!"

"Stop iiit! My image! My image of a refreshing, good young man is dyinggg!"

"Hyahaha! So hilarious! Ahaha! Tokiwa the Intellectual Thug! Ufufu! Ahahaha!"

We made noise, laughed together, and fooled around.

And then, morning came.

"The morning sun is blinding...!"

"The sunlight! It burns meee! I'm gonna be purified!"

"Ahh, the water for sobering up is super delicious. It works."

We were bathing in the morning sun at the station before the first train. I decided to see them off until they properly got on the train. The station shutters opened. The Second Party ends here. It's very lonely. But feeling lonely is proof that it was that much fun. So that's fine.

"Okay, let's do an Iccho-jime (single hand clap)! Ready!"

""Yes!""

We clapped our hands at the same time. Then we applauded quietly.

"Thank you very much, both of you. Today was truly fun. It was surely the most fun day of my life."

Yuzuriha bowed to us.

"No, no. Besides, let's play together again in the future and keep updating the 'most fun day of our lives.'"

"Ayashiro-san! Thank you! I love you!"

The two hugged each other. That's nice. This kind of thing. A proper friendship has been born. She's fine now. Yuzuriha can properly raise her head now.

"Kanata-san too, thank you very much!"

"No, no. You're welcome. I'm glad if you enjoyed yourself."

"Yes. Thanks to you, I think I can enjoy my university life from now on. Thank you so much!"

Yuzuriha hugged my neck tightly, and then quickly let go.

"Was it soft after all? Were you excited? How was it?"

"Haha! Ayashiro! Don't dirty a touching moment with dirty jokes!"

But honestly... her breasts were incredibly huge... and soft... and... my heart was pounding...! Boobs! My wife was a G-cup, so being bigger than that feels like cheating. Seriously insane.

"Fufufu. Well then, we'll get going now."

"See you, Tokiwa. Let's meet at school again!"

The two entered the station and disappeared from sight. I watched them go and went home in a great mood.

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