Cheated and Restarted Chapter 6

I Seriously Want Social Ties to End When I Quit a Circle

"Nice to meet you, Kanahisa Tokiwa-kun. I am Misaki Isumi. First-year, Department of Modern Culture, Faculty of Letters."

Smiling bewitchingly under the moonlight, Milan looked just like a goddess. But my gut told me this was a bluff.

"So, what do you want to make me do? Could you tell me briefly?"

"Oh my. It sounds arrogant coming from me, but don't you think you'd want to enjoy chatting with such a beautiful woman like me?"

"If you saw that uproar earlier, you'd understand, right? I've enjoyed myself plenty."

I made plenty of noise during the day, and even had women fawning over me. I have no intention of saying chatting is fun just because the person is beautiful at this point. More than that, the topic she’s likely to bring up has much higher expectations. I think it’s something I can commit to more seriously, unlike the ephemeral play from earlier.

"Is that so? But I (Boku) haven't talked to you properly yet."

Normally, a woman using "Boku" as a first-person pronoun would just be painful to watch. But for Milan, it seemed perfect. It fit her style—cool, yet without the unpleasant parts of a man.

"But the request you want to make of me is urgent, isn't it? Am I wrong? It must be a situation where a beauty like you has to go out of her way to talk to a man herself, right?"

Women generally don't ask men for favors themselves. I learned from my wife that women are creatures who maneuver so that men sense what they want and act on it. Yet this girl called out to me herself. I can sufficiently guess that she's harboring some considerably troublesome circumstances.

"Hah. I guess it's obvious. Well, there's no way I can play games against a man capable of something like that. After all, against a King like you, the best I can be is just a clown."

"A King? Me?"

"Yeah, you were a King. You defeated the guy tormenting everyone and sat on the throne. It was like a fairy tale. It was fun to watch. It was a good performance. Fufufu."

Milan laughed cutely. Being called a King didn't feel bad. But at the same time, I felt a snag. There is a King greater than me. The guy who stole my precious person and destroyed my life.

"The request is simple. There is a selection process I have to undergo to enter a certain circle. I want you to help me pass it. You're the only person who fits the conditions."

A rather interesting story has come up. A circle selection. Tennis circles are famous for face checks and communication skill checks, but I've heard there are cultural circles that do it to gather the elite too.

"Conditions? What circle is it?"

"The conditions are simple. Face, height, and acting ability! The circle I want to enter is a certain intercollegiate university theater troupe! It's their entrance test! I need a partner for that!"

"Theater!?"

A theater circle. A world I can't quite imagine. I know they do presentations at cultural festivals. In the previous world, I was even forced to buy tickets once.

"Yes! Theater! Normally, it's an individual audition, but this year's troupe leader—who is both the artistic director and the director—is an eccentric. He restricted applications to pairs."

"Wait a second. Even if we pass, wouldn't I have to join too?"

"That's not it. That's the tricky part. The selection is in pairs, but the strange condition is that one person must be the applicant's acquaintance who does not wish to join the troupe."

"What's that? I don't get the meaning. There's absolutely no benefit for the partner."

"According to this year's leader, 'If you're an actor, you must have enough charm to prepare at least one or two people who will cooperate with you for free.' When put that way, you can't argue back. Entertainment is all about charming people, after all. He means he doesn't need anyone who lacks the power to ask friends for cooperation."

"That's a severe way of thinking. He's a serious hardcore type. It’s kinda incredible. I understand the condition. I get the face part. Better to be good-looking than not. What about the height?"

"My height is 171cm. And the selection piece is about the moment a man and woman fall in love. So my partner naturally has to be taller than me. Also, for the actual performance, I plan to wear high heels to show my body lines beautifully. So it's even more important. You're around 180, right?"

"Yeah, to be exact, I'm 183.1 cm."

The only thing I can beat her lover in is height. I heard from Mashiba in the previous world that Hagiri claimed to be 180cm, but his actual measurement was apparently 179.9cm. I don't lack sympathy for a man fudging 0.1cm, but I think lying is bad.

"Nice! If you're that tall, there's no problem! Even if I wear high heels and stand next to you, it's a height that will look great!"

"That's good to hear. But I can't act."

"That's exactly why there's no problem. I want that thing from this afternoon! Bluffing, deceiving people, and charming them with that charisma! I want that talent!"

Milan's eyes were sparkling. Seeing that performance and being told she wants me... it does sway my heart. Milan didn't betray my expectations.

"When you put it like that, it's hard to refuse. But let me confirm something. If you just need a guy with height and a good face, there are others. If a beauty like you asked, surely anyone would do it, right?"

When I asked that, Milan's face clouded over slightly. It seems the urgent circumstances lie around here.

"First of all. If I ask, I'm afraid of ulterior motives. I have confidence in my appearance. Enough to know that from a man's perspective, well, they'd want me."

"I think utilizing a man's ulterior motives is a woman's privilege, though."

That's just how men and women are. Women make men do things using sexual appeal. Men expect something in return. It's a common sight. You just have to say thanks at the end and bail.

"Acting from a guy like that can never move people's hearts! Theater is about telling beautiful lies to the audience! But actors must not lie about their passion for their own performance! I won't accept anyone involved in the play for the sake of my looks other than the audience!"

I was impressed. Her logic holds up. I thought this girl must be the real deal. But in the previous world, I never saw her on TV. I don't remember hearing about her on stage either. Does that mean she didn't sell as an actor, or perhaps she gave up?

"You had women fawning over you earlier, but you didn't take anyone home, right? Both of those girls on either side of you were swamped in your charisma. If you had felt like it, you could have taken both of them home at the same time and had a threesome, but you didn't. You're serious at your core, aren't you? You're the type who makes noise and fools around but doesn't cross the line. I can trust a person like that. People who can control themselves give good performances."

I just didn't feel like doing that, so Milan is overestimating me. It's true I wanted to play around like a party animal. But the reason I seized control of the atmosphere back then was because I got pissed off at being looked down upon by those girls. I wanted to make them crazy about me. I wasn't really seeking anything beyond that.

I understand now. I wanted to prove that I have the power to be desired by women other than my wife. Men other than the King aren't even looked at by women. I was just a corporate slave. A cog in society, a slave to labor. In contrast, the "cheating partner" who stole my wife was a company president, someone who moved society, a King who employed slaves. If you don't become a King, you can't stay with the woman you love forever.

"Got it. I'm somewhat convinced by your reason for choosing me. But there's more, right? That uproar today was a product of chance. But was it really a coincidence that you, Milan, were watching it? You've been watching me all day today, haven't you?"

I felt something off about Milan's claim. I felt like she was observing me too much. Could it really be a coincidence that she saw that uproar and called out to me? It's more reasonable to think she had marked me from before and was waiting for an opportunity to talk. Or perhaps she was assessing whether my abilities were sufficient for the conditions?

"You're right. There's no point in lying, so I'll say it: I've been marking you for a long time. To ensure I pass the troupe selection, I had to assess your ability. And one more thing... You're on bad terms with Hiroto Hagiri, right? If it's not someone like that, I'd be very troubled."

"Hagiri?"

Hearing that name, I involuntarily glared at Milan.

"...Hkh...!"

Milan flinched and shrank back. I scared her.

"Ah, sorry. Did I scare you? As you know, I hate him super much. But why does that matter?"

"...Uu... ah... nn..."

For some reason, Milan was squirming. Her cheeks were dyed slightly red, and she was looking down. Is she still scared?

"Hey? Why are you spacing out? Are you listening to me?"

When Milan looked up, her red eyes appeared faintly wet. It looked terribly sexy. But did I scare her to tears? It didn't look like that kind of face. What on earth is this reaction?

"...Hmm? Ah! Sorry! I spaced out! Umm, you see. Actually, I (Boku) was originally in the Hagiri Group. I was a member of the group everyone mocks as the 'Student Council.'"

"Hah? That gathering of puppets?"

"Yeah, yeah, that one. I was invited at the entrance ceremony. I joined thinking there would be benefits... but I couldn't keep up, so I quit."

The clouds were looking ominous. More than that, I felt the irrationality of this world in the shadow of her lover appearing wherever I went.

It seems the existence of Hiroto Hagiri cannot be ignored, even leaving my wife out of it. In the previous world, his existence only entered my vision after my wife's cheating was exposed. So the Hagiri I know is only an arrogant, confident guy who stole my wife. After the cheating was exposed, my wife ignored Hagiri. She didn't look at him and didn't speak to him. So I never found out what kind of feelings my wife held for him. No, well, the answer is obvious since she cheated.

There's no doubt Hagiri is a nasty guy. A venture president, a billionaire, handsome, and popular. He was well-known in society as a philanthropist. A popular figure in the world. The "Yo-kya of Yo-kyas" (ultimate extrovert), so to speak.

But how was he in this era? I don't really know. In the previous world, he was incredibly obsessed with my wife. Apparently, he intended to make me and my wife divorce so he could marry her. Is that the case in this era too? I don't know.

"Milan, from your perspective as someone who was in the group, what kind of guy is Hagiri?"

When I asked that, Milan's complexion clouded. She wore a truly unpleasant expression, a mix of disgust and fear.

"A monster. That's the only way I can describe him. At first, I thought he was just an 'Ambitious-type' leader. But no. He is undoubtedly a monster."

A monster. In terms of ability, that's certainly true. He can be called a self-made hero who started a business young and built a fortune that would be quicker to count from the top of the rich list. He made large donations and gathered respect from society.

But the words he spewed at me after the cheating was exposed were just utterly petty. He kept chanting that my wife belonged to him, that he was the one who should be with her. Me, me, me, me, Ririse, Ririse, Ririse, Ririse. How many times did he repeat those words? Even after building that much wealth and honor, he continued to be obsessed with the bond between himself and my wife. It was just disgusting.

"To be blunt, that group is dangerous. It's a kingdom created by the monster called Hagiri. King Hagiri and the many other slaves. That's how it seemed to me."

"That's quite harsh. Calling them slaves."

Is my wife one of those slaves too? I don't know. The information I have on her in this era is limited. Just the clubs and circles she joined, stuff like that. And the ex-boyfriends I didn't want to know about. At most, just that.


"Those puppets are slaves. They're a bunch of idiots trying to feed off Hagiri's scraps. I got sick of it. Thinking, are university students really this foolish?"

Milan snorted in blatant contempt. Just remembering it caused this reaction. It must be quite an unpleasant memory. But I have to ask. Yuzuriha was also in Hagiri's sights. I had a bad feeling that I was going to have something stolen by him again.

"Hah... even remembering it now makes me sick. They really are foolish. University is a moratorium period. During that time, what many humans seek is booze, sex, popularity, and money."

"Unfortunately, that's the truth. I don't want to admit it, but university students really only seek those things. I won't deny it myself."

"Even so, there's a limit. That group doesn't have one. Hagiri, you see, has created a terribly gruesome system. Should I call it a perpetual motion machine of desire using puppets that are only beautiful on the outside?"

Poetic expressions suit Milan well. But what I want to know right now is the concrete substance of that. Milan probably wants to talk about it but doesn't want to. She is ashamed of having been in the group.

"Milan. You've already quit, right? So I won't equate what you and Hagiri are doing. I don't think you were his accomplice."

Milan smiled self-deprecatingly, but somewhat calmly.

"Thank you. It sounds like an excuse, but I wasn't involved in the truly dangerous deeds of that group at all. I want you to believe that."

"I believe you. So tell me."

"Thanks. That 'Student Council,' so to speak, is a hybrid circle of an event circle and a dating service operator. There are tons of circles at this university that use the brand of 'Koto University student' to fish for girls from other universities or women's colleges. But if you think of it as just how it is, it's not a big deal. Koto University guys and girls from elsewhere both have benefits, so they interact in intercollegiate circles. Why Hagiri is dangerous is because he doesn't stop at something like that. He gathered beautiful men and women from Koto University and, yes, to put it crudely, 'procured' beautiful girls from other universities."

It's common knowledge that intercollegiate circles are meeting places, and it's not particularly a bad thing. Well, ultimately, saying it's an exchange of the brand of a prestigious men's university and future high income for a woman's youth and sexual attractiveness might be a bit vulgar, but still.

"And instead of introducing the procured girls to Koto University students, he introduced them to the wealthy class living in tower mansions and the like."

"Hey, hey, seriously? Does Hagiri have a network with the wealthy class?"

"Seems like it. And a terribly deep network at that. Where we went after the entrance ceremony was a tower mansion in Roppongi. 'Nearby shop' my foot. What a huge liar. A floor for VIPs on the upper floors of a tower mansion. He had rented out that place. Everyone got dizzy in an instant. Hagiri obtained the seat of the King right there. That floor was a property owned by a certain wealthy person, but that person seems to like Hagiri a lot. Giving him his own car, handing him the keys to the mansion—he's being very favored. Through that person, he's conducting a mistress introduction business, introducing fresh female college students to young successful people."

"Haha... a pimp, huh. Quite a... nasty story."

Was my wife dragged into that kind of business? If so, that would explain why Hagiri and my wife didn't last even a year dating.

"That's right. A very nasty pimp. But he didn't threaten the procured girls or anything. Even for the girls, even if it's just for one night, even if they're just sex friends, they can frolic with rich successful people. It must be unbearably fun. For a woman with no talent whose only merit is youth, that's how it is."

"Harsh."

"I don't want to be thought of as the same kind of woman. I'm different from them. That's why I quit. Just, you know, the role I was asked to play by Hagiri wasn't an offering to some rich person, but Hagiri's close aide and the princess's caretaker."

"Close aide? Did Hagiri demand you to become his mistress or something?"

"No, he didn't. You might find it surprising, but he doesn't demand anything like that from the girls within the group at all."

"And by princess, you mean..."

"Igarashi-san. He treated her respectfully. He paid close attention not to let her get involved in the backend business. He just dragged her around often. I know because I was taken along too. Among the wealthy class, there are true power holders. When dining with such people, Igarashi-san and I were taken along. A kind of accessory, probably. A power move to show he can bring along such beauties. But the top people among the wealthy are good at reading those signals from their counterparts. Hagiri used Igarashi-san's beauty well as a weapon to close business deals."

I thought that was the case with the dinner with the TV station producer the other day too. Dragging my wife around for worthless things.

"What do you mean by business deals?"

"Promises to invest when he starts a business in the future. The other party was very serious. Seems like there's some seed of a business. Naturally, he didn't tell me the contents, though."

In the future, he certainly starts a business and succeeds. But I don't really know what he was doing. Just that he's rich. His profile ends there. Other than that, just that he was popular on TV while in school.

"Hagri invited me to appear on TV with him. In a sense, in that group, I was the King's favorite next to Igarashi-san. But because I happened to learn about the backend business and knew a little scandal of Hagiri personally... I got scared and ran away from the group."

"Wait a second. A scandal about him? What kind of content?"

From my perspective, Hagiri in this era is rough around the edges, but still looks like a perfect man. As long as my wife isn't involved, I don't feel like I can win at all. When my wife is involved, he's not calm either, so I can just barely manage.

"I don't mind if you tell others, but absolutely don't say I said it. Hagiri shouldn't think that I know his secret."

"I won't say it."

"Well, even if this scandal spreads as a rumor, I don't think anyone will believe it, though. ...I'm a Ronin student, see. I came to Tokyo last year, and while going to prep school, I worked part-time as a dancer at clubs and events in various places in Tokyo. To polish my performing arts. So, this is a story from around last winter. Just before Christmas. On my way back from dancing at a club in Shibuya. I passed in front of a love hotel in Dogenzaka. Then there was a couple in uniform fighting. Both were beautiful, so I remembered them well. Later, I met Hagiri and learned that the guy fighting back then was him. The woman with him at that time was... wait, why are you covering your ears?"

The woman with him can only be my wife! Don't screw with me! Weren't you supposed to start dating after Golden Week!? Does that mean you started dating officially after Golden Week, but you already had a physical relationship before that!? Is this the world of a poorly written eroge!? Don't screw with me!

"Um, I haven't finished the story?"

"No, I know without hearing it. There's only one woman it could be."

I feel the irrationality even more. If they had a physical relationship even before entering university, then indeed the obsession would be great. The bond between a man and a woman who spent the majority of their youth together shouldn't be easily broken. I don't want to hear it.

"You're probably imagining Igarashi-san. But no. It wasn't Igarashi-san. I remember the face of the woman, though. She's not in the Student Council, so maybe she went to another university? I feel like the relationship is still continuing. Hagiri shows almost zero sexual desire toward women. Even toward Igarashi-san, he only shows lust occasionally. So isn't he venting his sexual desire with that woman? Just a hunch."

I realized there was a part of me that was relieved that the woman fighting in front of the love hotel with Hagiri wasn't my wife. I feel shame, misery, and above all, frustration at that fact. My heart is still broken and imprisoned by that "guy" and my wife. Even if the world's time has turned back, my heart hasn't returned to normal.

"That certainly is a scandal, personally speaking. Ri... Igarashi definitely shouldn't know about that."

"Right. Igarashi-san is scatterbrained, but no matter what, if her childhood friend had a physical relationship with another woman, there's no way she could interact with Hagiri at that distance. Besides, Hagiri must want to hide it. Because his true favorite is Igarashi-san."

The ultimate favorite. After all, he pressured me to divorce. It's as serious as it gets. Was the reason my wife in the previous world ignored Hagiri because this scandal was the trigger for their initial breakup? And then time passed, she married me, got bored, and cheated with Hagiri out of spite for the past, making him crazy about her before dumping him? If so, I can somewhat understand why she didn't speak to him after the cheating was exposed. I feel like it makes sense. Approaching something that looked like the truth of the cheating, which was a mystery in the previous world, I felt a strange sense of relief. And this scandal becomes a card. It could be a big weapon when I confront him in the future. I felt the corners of my mouth distort in joy.

Milan saw my face relax and smiled faintly.

"You laughing at such creepy circle circumstances makes you reliable. I understand well why Ayashiro-san and Kouyou-san are attached to you."

"Do I have some worth after all? I'm honored by your praise. One thing concerns me. What is the disadvantage you suffered by leaving the group?"

"Right. That's the problem. Sigh... why are humans like this... Sigh..."

Seeing Milan sigh with a fed-up face, I felt something like pity or sympathy. I'm a victim of that "guy," and so is this girl. I feel a sense of solidarity.

"Is Hagiri harassing you?"

"No, that's not it. That man has mastered business thinking. He's not free enough to spare effort on someone who ran away. That group is closer to a company than a mafia. Unless it's a black company, normally they don't chase you if you resign, right?"

"That's true. If business is the priority, as long as secrets don't leak, they won't chase someone who quit."

"Exactly. But what do the people who remained think? That group is, so to speak, one of the top caste circles in this university. Belonging to it itself becomes a source of pride. I must look like an ungrateful person who quit despite gaining the boss's favor. That's why the obstruction from people other than Hagiri is terrible. Especially the girls. For example, when I tried to join our university's theater circle, I was refused in a roundabout way. The Student Council is absorbing even the upperclassmen."

"Eh? Has his influence spread that much?!"

"Of course, like the dance circle from this afternoon, there are still plenty of places that resist the Student Council and let me in. But even so, wherever I go, the shadow of the Student Council flickers. I can't even make friends in the same department. Everyone is afraid of being hated by Student Council members. Student Council members are the top caste. If you are liked by them, you can lead a fulfilling student life. The reverse is a loner like me. For now, Keikai-senpai is protecting me, but even he will graduate someday. A fun student life is difficult. I was even refused for department drinking parties. Haha... hahaha."

Her dry laughter invited sorrow. She herself is a popular person, but it seems her daily life is a different story. She surely has plenty of fans both inside and outside the school, but that lot likely just 'stans' her from a distance and doesn't actually interact with her. Because of that, she's being treated like a panda meant for display. While there are people who enjoy gazing at the panda, there is no one to go to lunch or grab drinks with her. Her private life has been torn to shreds. Her desire to join an intercollegiate theater troupe is likely partly to escape the stifling social ties within this school. Popular, yet lonely. It's so pitiful I can't bear to watch.

"I'm a 'college debut In-kya,' so I think I have some understanding of your lonely life. Let me cooperate with you."

"Thank you. It really helps... Thank you, really, thank you!"

I decided to cooperate with Milan. It's too pitiful, no matter how you look at it. It's common for things to get awkward between someone who quit a circle and those who remained, but there's a limit. This is an act I cannot overlook. If I run away from Milan's circumstances here, I will probably continue running away from various things forever. That is a world far from a sparkling youth. I decided so in my heart.

"Yo. You guys. Did you wrap up your talk?"

A voice came from above. Keikai-senpai was peeking out from the window of the men's dorm. Kirin-san was clinging to his back. I won't dare ask about their attire. Milan's face was dyed red at the boldness of the two of them. Honestly, even I'm embarrassed.

"So this was the reason you called me today, Keikai-senpai."

"D-Don't get the wrong idea! I just wanted to let you eat pizza! Just go with that. Gyahaha!"

Well, he called me over, then immediately shacked up in a room with a woman, so I honestly think the setup itself was sloppy. I think his vibe was just hoping it would trigger Milan to take action herself. But he really is a person who takes good care of others. I'm really glad I used cheap tricks to make contact with him at the beginning.

"I have to wash my hands of circles and activities within the university before long. I can't protect you guys forever. So you guys have to make connections with decent people of your own. Friends, lovers, whatever is fine, but keep making an effort to be with others. If you're alone, it’ll definitely ruin you. University is a place to train you to avoid loneliness before going out into society. Worry greatly, young people! Gyahahaha!"

"Kyaa, Kei-kun is so cool! Ah, by the way, do you two want to eat? If you're okay with leftovers, I can make something?"

Milan and I looked at each other and laughed softly.

""We would love to!!""

And so, Milan and I were treated to a doria made from leftover pizza ingredients by Kirin-san. It was super delicious. But who is this person? In the end, the day passed without us ever knowing who or what Kirin-san was.

＊

Bonus : "What is the origin of the name Milan?"

"By the way, your real name is Misaki, right? Why are you called Milan?"

"Milan is my stage name, but my real name, Misaki, is written with the kanji 美 (Mi) from 美しい (beautiful) and the kanji 魁 (Ran) from 花魁 (Oiran (courtesan)), making the characters 美魁 (Misaki) If you change the reading, it becomes Miran."

"Ah, I see. That's stylish."

"Right! That's not all! I like male roles. Milan is a male name in Europe. Yet in Japanese, it sounds like a girl's name Miran. I'm aiming for that too!"

"Ho. As expected of the Faculty of Letters. Cool."

"Right, right! I will definitely become an actor worthy of this name! So thank you for helping me, Tokiwa-kun."

"You're welcome. Let's do our best starting tomorrow!"

""Cheers!""

＊

Lunch break the next day. We spread a picnic sheet on the grassy plaza on campus, and Milan and I decided to start training in preparation for the theater troupe selection. Theater is all about having an audience. That's why I summoned them.

"I see, I understand the situation. In other words, you intend to work hard on the selection with a cute girl, aim for the 'suspension bridge effect' to seduce her, and if things go well, drag her into bed. But since you can't be satisfied with just one partner, you called me to have a threesome... I'm sorry. I'd like to decline a threesome with a woman taller than me. Please ask Yuzuriha."

"Who said that? Or rather, what? Are threesomes trending among girls?"

Milan was talking about threesomes too; are they popular? I hate that trend way too much...!

"Kanata-san! I don't mind! Even that Ikemen girl has breasts and two nipples attached! Let's suck on them together, you and me, chuu chuu!"

Yuzuriha, talking about threesomes with a very nice smile, must have already been dyed by the darkness of the city. The innocent Satsuma Ogojo is gone de gowasu! This ol' boy is fixin' to cry!. (Talking in Satsuma-ben)

"You sucking on someone else's boobs when you have huge boobs yourself is too luxurious of an act!"

Once infected by the Ayashiro virus, you can never be cured. Incidentally, the Ayashiro virus is demonically strong, so it cannot be sterilized with alcohol. Rather, there is a fear it might become even more ferocious.

"Th-that's... left and right simultaneously!? ...And after that, up and down simultaneously!? Or front and back simultaneously!? I... ah... nn... phew..."

Milan is squirming. Ah, it's hopeless. The Ayashiro virus is spreading. The love of dirty jokes among female college students is abnormal. An In-kya guy like me can't keep up!

"Now then. Your bodies are loosened up nicely, right? Won't you show me that 'assigned acting' you have to do for the selection?"

Ayashiro coolly returned the conversation to the original topic. While reading a copy of the script we’d been given as the assignment beforehand, she urged us to act. Yuzuriha is looking at us with eyes full of expectation.

"Wait a moment. It's pitiful to make Tokiwa-kun do it suddenly. First, I (Boku) will perform the male role alone. Watch!"

Milan stood in front of us, bowed once, and then performed the male role from the script alone. It's the role I'll be doing in the actual performance. That acting was truly wonderful. Anyway, it was cool. She perfectly played the ideal man. An image of a man that made even me think I want to be like that.

And the acting ended quickly in no time. The script is short. The acting itself only lasts two or three minutes. But I was sufficiently moved. And I wasn't the only one.

"Kyaa! So cool! It's like that! That! Like Takarazuka! I want to see more! Encore! Encore!"

The Satsuma Ogojo was swamped in Milan's Ikemen-ness. But I don't think there are encores in theater?

"That acting just now was wonderful. If I were to fall in love, a man like this would be good. It was a splendid expression that directly captured and stimulated the audience's desires. You look like you could make a living just with acting. Rather, why did you come to our university? You don't need to go to university, do you?"

I sense a certain irony in Ayashiro's characteristically precise critique. Indeed, she seems to be at a level where she could make a living. I'd be willing to pay about a thousand yen even for the acting just now. If it were a full play, I wouldn't mind paying ten thousand yen. She was doing entertainment that was that captivating to watch.

"Ahaha. Going to university was the condition for coming to Tokyo. Also, getting a degree from a good university was the condition my parents set if I wanted to do performing arts. That's why I came here. If I can graduate, it's an educational background I can boast about for life."

It's a common story that career paths are narrowed due to family circumstances. Ayashiro seemed to have some thoughts about the story just now, as her face clouded slightly.

"Is that so. I understand. I will cooperate properly, to the best of my meager ability."

Ayashiro's eyes went into serious mode. Since this girl has a keen eye for people, her feedback and impressions on the acting will likely be precise. The training from here on seems like it will be productive.

Milan showed us the model performance. Now I just have to imitate it. I did study acting methods online to some extent after going home yesterday. I just have to do that.

I stand before Ayashiro, Yuzuriha, and Milan. The gazes of the three, filled with some expectation, pierce me all at once. This must be the gaze actors feel on stage. I feel myself getting quite nervous. But even so, in the previous world, I was a working adult who survived decent ordeals. It's okay, I can do it. The trick to acting is drawing from your own emotions or something. Not becoming the role, but using your body to express the emotions the role requires in that moment. That is acting, or something like that. It seems there are various schools of acting methods, so I don't know the details. For now, that's how I understood it. So, I call up the emotions necessary for the role I'm playing, those memories.

My role is a man who meets a woman and falls in love on the spot. A simple role. So I recall the event that led to me dating my wife in the previous world. That was at a bar I went to with a colleague. My colleague and I were drinking at the counter, but in another box seat, female announcers including my wife were having a mixer (Goukon) with popular young comedians. At that time, my wife was giving a cold, polite smile. Her face was cold, even though it was our first meeting since university. For some reason, I moved my body on the spot. And before I knew it, I had pulled my wife's hand and left the shop just like that.

Thinking back now, I wonder why I did such a thing. But when the two of us ran out of the shop, my wife was certainly wearing a warm smile. That emotion certainly still remained in my chest.

And I began to act.

*** Kanata Acting!! ***

And the acting ended. A super short performance, not even three minutes. I finished, bowed, and looked at Ayashiro and the others' faces. Everyone wore a gentle smile.

"That was good acting! It had the intensity of presence and beauty like a Broadway actor! Though your voice was crap!"

"It's true! It was very wonderful! The scent of tragic love, like a Chicago mafia member falling in love with his nemesis cop's daughter, was very heartbreaking! But your voice was dregs! Let's find a voice actor for dubbing!"

What is this evaluation? Both Ayashiro and Yuzuriha were dissing me while praising me with teary eyes. Feeling exquisitely unconvinced, I turned my face to Milan. She seemed impressed.

"Yeah, yeah! It was better than I thought! I was surprised! Aren't you at a level where you could become a legend actor in the silent film era? Is that what they call star quality? It was a slightly small performance that would look better on film than on stage, but it's more than enough! With this, we'll definitely pass the selection! Luck has finally turned my way!"

Milan praised me too. But what? Silent film?

"Hey, hey, everyone? Why is everyone dissing my voice? Hmm?"

Everyone quietly lowered their eyes. Milan said somewhat apologetically.

"Umm. How should I put it... Your physical expression is amazing! There's a grandness of presence, an intensity, a coolness beyond logic that makes my heart skip a beat, but... your voice... how should I put it... I don't know why, but it's a monotone voice overflowing with the nervousness of a virgin boy who isn't used to women... haha..."

"Eh? What's that!? Is my voice that gross!?"

"Not gross, but... a little... yeah, just a little, though... maybe creepy... haha..."

Milan had a dry smile on her face. Is it that bad? While I was thinking that, Ayashiro came up to me and showed me her smartphone screen.

"Don't be shocked. Just don't worry about it... Pfft..."

This girl is laughing!? And then the video of my acting started playing. And I heard the voice from that time.

'I LOVE YOUUU!'

It was seriously creepy. It was trembling somewhat, and the virgin stench was insane. Come to think of it, when I met my wife, I was a virgin! Did my voice become a virgin's because I used that emotion!? Conversely, isn't that amazing!? I can act like that!

"Don't worry about it Kanata-san, at least your body is amazing!"

Yuzuriha said that with a subtle smile while patting my shoulder.

"Stop it! Stop evaluating me like a pitiful girl being treated as a convenient sex friend!"

It was a shock. My acting talent is scary (trembling voice).

"Ahaha. But you don't really have to worry. It's been announced that acting by people with no acting experience will be taken into consideration during the selection. Rather, other than the voice, it was at a level where you don't even need practice! Let's forget about the voice for now! Then, let's coordinate with me! I think we can even do it unrehearsed! Let's give it a try! Ahaha!"

Milan untied her ponytail and let her hair flow. With that, her usual boyish impression vanished, and a pure (Seiso) atmosphere like a princess appeared. She must have sealed away her usual Boku-girl persona and switched to a mode for the female role. This girl is amazing. Can she manipulate fluffy impressions of people like atmosphere and aura? Is this the aptitude of a true actor!? I can't lose! The one standing center stage will be me!

"Tokiwa, I'll say this just in case. The protagonist of the selection isn't you. Stop trying to compete with Misaki."

Ayashiro, who must have sensed my inner thoughts, retorted. Oops. Somehow I was doing a sports anime trope before I knew it. In the selection, I am strictly a supporting role to make Milan shine. I have to stick to my role properly!

"Then I'll take a video. Do your best until I say cut."

"Hey, wait a sec. Ayashiro, why are you acting like a director?"

"Wouldn't you want to say it at least once? 'Cut.' I love that."

"This is a stage play, you know."

Ignoring Ayashiro's nonsense, Milan and I challenged the acting unrehearsed.

*** Acting!! ***

Our acting ended. As the one acting, I didn't stumble particularly, nor were there any sluggish parts. I think we were able to act smoothly. But the faces of the two audience members were grim for some reason.

"...What is this? Leaving Tokiwa's voice aside, both of your acting is skilled, yet..."

"That's right. Leaving Kanata-san's voice aside, both of you were acting very properly. And yet..."

The two looked like they had chewed on a bitter bug. And they said this.

""It's boring.""

The harshest possible evaluation rained down.

"Guh! Boring!? My performing art is boring!? No way!?"

Milan collapsed on the spot. Her body was trembling violently, and her face was pale. For a performer, being told they are boring is probably the most painful thing.

"I'm sorry. But speaking frankly, your acting is 'boring.' I can't verbalize it well. Both of you are skilled, and you're in sync. But it's boring. That's the only way I can put it."

Ayashiro seemed perplexed. She wore a sour expression.

"...What is it? Like... is it this? Like when a favorite light novel or manga gets an anime adaptation, and the voice is different from the voice actor you imagined? No, that's not it... what is it? A gap? A distortion? Hmm?"

Yuzuriha crossed her arms and groaned. She couldn't verbalize it well either.

"Hmm. Milan. What's the cause? I think your acting isn't bad?"

I played the video of our acting and observed. Indeed, when pointed out, it's boring for some reason. Excluding my crap voice, our acting looks beautiful. But I feel something is off.

"It's just a feeling, but I feel like the cause lies with Misaki."

Ayashiro peered into the video too. Her white hand covered the screen, hiding my figure and showing only Milan. The acting is beautiful. Acting like a pure and beautiful princess. But indeed, it's true.

"Ayashiro. Seems like you're right. Milan's acting... I feel something is lacking. What is missing here?"

I looked at Milan, who was crushed. Then I compared her with the Milan on the screen. As I thought, something is missing.

"Can I borrow that video for a moment?"

Yuzuriha said that with her glasses shining suspiciously. A pencil in her right hand. An A4 report pad in her left. She took Ayashiro's smartphone from me and placed it on the picnic sheet. Then she got on her knees and crawled on all fours to stare intently at the video. Since the skirt of the dress she was wearing was a little short, when viewed from behind, the sexy roundness of her butt and her black panties flickered into view occasionally. Yuzuriha wrote mysterious mathematical formulas that even I, a science student, couldn't understand well on the report pad while playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding the video.

"Nice... panties seen from behind a concentrating girl. Look at this! That pure girl has been defiled by the darkness of the city and started wearing black panties! Wonderful!"

Ayashiro grinned and peeked inside Yuzuriha's skirt. But Yuzuriha was so concentrated she didn't notice at all. I covered Ayashiro's eyes with both hands from behind.

"Yes, guard! Super barrier! No dirty Ayashiro virus allowed, mega barrier!"

"No way! I want to see! After all, I chose those panties for her! I have the right to see!"

Ayashiro frolicked, trying to peel my hands off with squeals. Of course, I won't let her see. I won't let her disturb Yuzuriha.

"Digitize emotions on the time axis and plot them. Convert to matrix vectors and redefine each with unique frequencies. Take the limit, normalize complex numbers, and rearrange constants. If I prove by contradiction that the function has a solution... No way! The contrapositive is a transcendental number!? No way..."

What is she saying? Satsuma-ben is difficult... But it seems some kind of answer came out. Yuzuriha stood up and walked toward Milan.

"I should have realized it was strange in the first place. The theme to be expressed in this acting is 'Romance.' In other words, the feeling of falling in love itself...!"

Yuzuriha squatted in front of Milan and said.

"You're still a virgin (Oboko), aren't ya!!!!"

Hearing that, Milan shot her face up.

"Th-th-that's not true! I'm that! I'm super popular, you know! Popular! I've never had trouble with men! Haha! Ahahaha! I do it a ton! I'm an actor, so of course I'm experienced! Ahaha! Ahahahaha!"

Her voice is trembling terribly. When you become a university student, lack of romantic experience itself tends to become a complex for both men and women.

"My eyes... excuse me. My eyes cannot be deceived! Mathematical formulas do not lie! From the logic derived from your acting, I have proven that you are an innocent virgin (Oboko-chan) who has never even performed mate-acquisition behavior toward a male of the human species, let alone sexual intercourse—excuse me! I will use a more rigorous definition! Experience of inserting a male organ into female genitalia!"

At the end of the mysterious mathematical formula on the report pad held by Yuzuriha, who was striking a smug pose, the letters "Q.E.D." were written.

"Stop it! Showing math formulas to a humanities student like me is science harassment! It's Rike-hara! Rike-hara!"

"Don't change the subject to deceive me! That reaction itself proves that you are nothing but a troublesome virgin!"

Yuzuriha's logical harassment ("Logi-hara") is severe. But saying she doesn't know love felt somewhat persuasive. Ayashiro seemed to agree, nodding frequently. Will this really be the breakthrough? ...I'm anxious...! That’s what I thought.

Milan, flustered by the logic harassment. She argued back while trembling.

"Everyone misunderstands this in the first place, but! You don't need to actually experience things for realistic acting! For example, if there's a role of an astronaut! Do you think anyone can actually go to space for character building! There isn't, right! Actors should build their acting with their own imagination! So for love acting, you don't really need romantic experience! Consider this refuted! This is a refutation! Experience isn't necessary! Not For me!"

The way she rambled rapidly was truly pitiful. But there, our Quibble Queen Ayashiro-sensei launched a merciless pursuit.

"But actually, you aren't able to do that acting. Borrowing your logic, that's because you lack imagination, not experience with love, right? Isn't the lack of imagination due to your lack of effort? You Doutei onna (virgin woman)!"

"Guh! Doutei (virgin)!? I'm a doutei!? Noooooo!"

Milan-chan (Doutei onna) fell to her knees and held her head. I feel only sympathy for her lamentation.

"The reason your male roles have a somewhat pure atmosphere was because you reeked of doutei. Yaay, Doutei onna! What a wonderful ring! Ah! How beautiful! Doutei onna!"

Doutei onna. What a terrible word. It's amazing how it sounds worthless compared to "Shojo (maiden)." Aren't I the same? In the previous world, my body count was only one, and since I came back, my body is a virgin. Mentally a "Second Virgin." Physically a "True Virgin"! I feel like crying!

"Ayashiro. Give her a follow-up soon. She's so pitiful even I feel like crying. Save her."

"Ehh? I wanted to tease her a little more. Well, fine. Misaki. Your acting fundamentally lacks imagination for love. That's why your acting is skilled but boring. Then do you know what you should do?"

Milan stood up unsteadily with a pale face.

"I'll go throw away my sho... I mean, Doutei onna status right now. Tokiwa-kun... Is the toilet over there okay for doing it? Ahaha, ahaha... If it's for acting, I have no choice...!"

My sympathy grew even more for Milan, who said that with hollow eyes.

"Stop being hasty. I have an idea. If you want to heighten your imagination for love, you just have to simulate the experience. Yes. You just have to awaken the 'woman' sleeping inside you like that."

Ayashiro smiled with a nicha sound, ferociously. Milan and I shuddered seeing that smile.

"There are standard moves in romance. The great templates piled up by our predecessors. I'm going to have you two do them now."

"Romance templates?"

"That's right. The magical game that rebirths any dense, cold woman into a bitch in heat! Its name is! 'Kabedon Chin-lift Couple-straw Energy-drink Heart-pounding Foot-poke Game in Campus'!"

Definitely a shit game. But Ayashiro started preparing happily. She made Milan and me stand against the glass wall outside the cafeteria. Then Ayashiro smirked and said.

"Tokiwa. First, Kabedon that Doutei onna there."

I felt immense resistance. But I have no choice. I Kabedon'd Milan against the glass wall of the cafeteria.

"Good. Next is the chin-lift (Ago-kui)!"

I did as told. Then I heard high-pitched squeals from girls around us. Students and faculty members walking by were looking at us.

"We... we're being watched."

Milan's cheeks were dyed red, and her eyes were wet.

"You're making a good face. That's right. Hurry and unleash the female within you. Tokiwa. Insert your thigh between the Doutei onna's legs."

I took a breath, steeled my resolve, and inserted my thigh between Milan's thighs as told.

"Ah...! Nn..."

A muffled voice leaked from Milan.

"Muhha! It feels like the boundary between shoujo manga and Teen's Love! I want to switch places!"

Yuzuriha was taking pictures of us with her smartphone. I hope this doesn't become dark history.

"And Doutei onna! You poke Tokiwa's thigh with your toes!"

"Ehh!? I do it!?"

"Oh my!? You're embarrassed!? That's good! That's proof you're awakening as a female! But no good. Still not enough! Yes! Poke poke! Poke poke! Poke poke!"

Ayashiro jeered while holding up the index fingers of both hands. Milan turned bright red and started poking and tracing my thigh with her toes.

"Muha! Ehhh!"

Yuzuriha is filming us from point-blank range. Unconcealable excitement could be seen on her face.

"Now, Doutei onna-chan. Let's do something even more embwarassing."

Ayashiro inserted a "couple straw" into an energy drink can and held it out to us.

"N-no way!? You intend to put that in my mouth!?"

Milan's breathing was becoming rough. She stared at the tip of the straw with a somewhat ecstatic expression.

"Come on, take it in your mouth. It's delicious."

We took the straw in our mouths as Ayashiro said. And while staring at each other, we sucked on it together, chuu chuu.

"Uwa! Wawa! This is already, se-! you know! Se-! Se-! Seeeeeeeeeex!"

Objectively looking at it, our situation seriously makes no sense. Kabedon while chin-lifting while intertwining legs while sucking energy drink with a couple straw... what kind of punishment game is this? But the gazes from around us were all excited, like they had seen something erotic. Milan's eyes also looked somewhat melted, sweetly wet, and sparkling.

"Hey... my heart is pounding so hard. Is this..."

"It's the energy drink. Definitely that. There's no other reason."

Awakening as a woman from this is a bit too crazy. But I feel like it had some effect. We drained the energy drink and separated our bodies. Milan was breathing roughly and wearing a suspicious smile.

"Kanata-kun."

"Ah, yes."

"Let's (act)♡"

We challenged the acting again. Ayashiro and Yuzuriha watched us with serious gazes.

And the result was.

"It's amazing. You could really smell the scent of a woman who's about to fall for a man."

"This has the sex appeal of a relationship between two people who have gone past love and are already doing it! It was ecchi-chi-chi!"

The two spewed crappy impressions with smiles. But it sounds more positive than earlier...

"My acting. Was it interesting?"

""It was interesting!""

Ayashiro and Yuzuriha answered with full confidence. In this moment, Milan crossed the wall of acting and obtained a new expression. I thought that was a wonderful thing. Even though I closed my eyes to the fact that later, the mysterious nickname "Kabedon Mafia" would be whispered about me!

Thus, our countermeasures for the selection went well.

That night, Milan and I were discussing our acting plan while eating dinner at the cafeteria. Smiling at each other and confirming our anticipation for the selection felt very fun. I think that's probably something close to the atmosphere of happiness.

But a voice that seemed to tear through that was heard.

"Huh? Tokiwa-kun, and is that Misaki? Yahoo! What are you two doing?"

When I turned toward the sugary, carefree voice, there was my wife wearing tennis wear. Behind her were my wife's BFF The "Saba-saba" woman (whom I hate immensely) and those male medical students who were by Hagiri's side during that uproar in the cafeteria the other day. Everyone was wearing tennis wear. I had no choice but to become aware that I was making a sour face involuntarily.

It's very frustrating, but my wife clad in tennis wear is incredibly cute. Isn't the Saba-Saba Mashiba behind her also on the cute side by societal standards? I don't think so, though. My wife came up to the side of our table with a beaming smile.

"This is unexpected! So you two were friends! Is that perhaps for a report? Were you studying together?"

My wife glanced at our report. But she didn't seem very interested. Honestly, that helps.

"Ah, yeah. Well, I got to know Milan recently. That's right. We were studying together. Ahaha!"

"Y-Yeah! That's right! Haha. We get along pretty well! Ahaha!"

Both Milan and I laughed awkwardly. In this situation, that “guy” is definitely nearby! Milan and I looked around restlessly.

"Ahh! Are you two perhaps looking for Hiroto!? Jeez! Hiroto and I are childhood friends, but it's not like we're always together! Being thought of as a set is unexpected! Jeez!"

She's pouting angrily. But Hagiri was always by her side. It's reasonable to think he's here today too. But it seems he's seriously not here right now. Conversely, I'm curious about the reason why he's not. If he's here, it pisses me off, but if he's not here, it makes me anxious, which is super annoying.

"I see. So Hagiri-kun isn't here. By the way, those clothes are cute! Were you playing tennis?"

Unlike me, Milan seemed relieved that Hagiri wasn't there. She brought up a topic to my wife with a beaming smile.

"That's right! I joined a tennis circle too! I was hitting balls like crazy just now! Did you know!? When you hit on the left side, you hold it with both hands!"

My wife swung both her hands around whoosh whoosh. To be blunt, it looked more like baseball than a tennis swing, so it looked goofy. But since she's a beauty, regrettably, it looks cute. Also, her short skirt floated up softly, revealing the spats she was wearing underneath. I hate the instinct of a man that makes me follow it with my eyes even knowing they're spats. The medical students were directing their gazes at my wife's butt just like me. Seriously, thank god for spats!

"Well, I guess I know about the two-handed backhand. By the way... Igarashi-san."

"Ehh, jeez! I told you Ririse is fine! Also, I'd like to be called with '-chan' by an Ikemen-type like Misaki! Ahaha!"

"...Ririse-chan. The people behind you are from the same circle, right? Aren't you keeping them waiting?"

"Hmm? Ah! That's right! That's right! Since we're at it, why don't you two join our tennis circle too! Everyone was kind and we get along well! So even a shy Tokiwa-kun can surely fit in! Ufufu."

Wow, as usual, the conversation jumps immediately. Or rather, she's seriously not listening. Milan is gently trying to get her to return to her original group, but it's not getting through at all. My wife is surely the type of girl who would shamelessly ask for seconds of Bubuzuke even if she went to Kyoto! Though I've never gone with her! Or rather, the unpleasant gazes from the group behind her directed at me are seriously uncomfortable. It's not my fault my wife came over here. I'd like the group wandering around my wife aiming for a "One Chance" to understand that.

"Actually, Milan aside, I can't join the tennis circle you joined."

I know the tennis circle she joined in her first year. Her lover belongs there too. I heard my wife quit that circle immediately after breaking up with that guy. And unfortunately, I don't have the qualifications to enter it.

"...Eh? Why? Just join! Hiroto said that university students are all supposed to play tennis! Besides, there were lots of girls from other universities too! Even girls are mustering up the courage to join, so could it be Tokiwa-kun is scared?"

"I'm not scared, I'm stating facts. Your tennis circle is a Medical Faculty circle. So I, being from another faculty, can't join."

There are numerous tennis circles at Koto University. There are flashy ones, drinking circles, club-like ones, and ones that play tennis loosely and chill. Currently, Ayashiro, Yuzuriha, and I are discussing joining a chill-type one. We plan to invite Milan too.

"I'm from a different faculty too, though?"

It might be an exaggeration to say it's infamous, but there is a circle at our university that many students dislike or envy. That is the tennis circle mainly composed of the Medical Faculty, to which my wife belongs. Because.

"Girls are fine. Though saying that, Koto University girls don't really join your place, or rather, they almost can't join. Your place is composed of guys from Koto University Medical Faculty and girls from other universities only. According to the rules, male students other than those from the Medical Faculty aren't strictly forbidden, but it's impossible. Guys from other faculties don't have high enough status to be with the Medical Faculty bunch. Do you get it? The reason the only Koto University girls are you and your 'BFF' behind you is because you have good faces. Didn't Hagiri explain it properly? I bet he only said something like, 'You can play tennis with peace of mind here,' right? How stupid. Everyone playing tennis happily together? It's not that kind of circle. What a joke."

Actually, it isn't just tennis; most athletic teams and cultural circles in the Medical Faculty exist independently from the rest of the university. This is because their class schedules and the duration of their degree program differ entirely from other faculties. Since med students have to study far longer hours than students elsewhere, they simply can't participate in standard university circles activities in the same way. Even so, I still find the whole situation bizarre. The female managers in these medical circles are almost exclusively beauties from other universities, and if you aren't paying attention, you'll realize they actually outnumber the male members.

The casual circles are exactly the same. It is a spectacle that the average man would find hard to believe. Here at the Koto University Medical Faculty, the circles are surrounded on all sides, front, back, left, and right by nothing but beautiful, cute girls. They are all stunning women from other universities, and every single one of them is gunning to date a Koto medical student, a future super-elite doctor with the ultimate goal of marriage. I can't take this world anymore! There’s nothing here but naked ego! What are they, wild beasts?!

"...Is... that so..."

Finally, even my wife's dense, carefree head seemed to grasp the situation. Her complexion isn't great. She was probably just told by her lover "Please join this tennis circle so we can spend as much time together as possible." My wife has a somewhat fluffy, detached-from-reality side. When we started dating in the previous world, she had a somewhat cold and jaded side, but at her core, she's a good-natured person and a natural airhead.

"Hey. I've been listening for a while, but who do you think you are? Why are you saying such discouraging things? Could it be, that? Do you think acting cool and cynical is cool?"

Mashiba, the self-proclaimed "Saba-saba" girl, approached my wife and started glaring at me. So I ended up making a sour face too. Milan, sitting next to me, also glared at Mashiba somewhat moodily. But strangely, she soon stopped glaring, widened her eyes, and tilted her head while looking at Mashiba's face. Milan was making a suspicious face. I was curious, but right now, Mashiba in front of me was more annoying. I said in the coldest voice possible.

"What? I just explained the reason why I can't join your circle."

"That part of you is lame, though?"

"Could you stop using abstract words? If you're a science student, point out my problems logically. If you do that, I'll listen as much as you want. Yes, as much as you want."

Tch. Mashiba clicked her tongue at me. She blatantly showed her displeasure to intimidate me. This girl seriously lacks logicality despite being a science student. Probably, since her friends Hagiri and my wife went into science, she just went into science to be with them. It's amazing she can keep up with the studies, but frankly speaking, it's extremely foolish.

"Tomoe. Stop clicking your tongue."

My wife muttered in a slightly cold voice.

"But this guy is making fun of everyone!? It pisses me off! If he has complaints, he should just re-enter into the Medical Faculty! He's just jealous of the Medical Faculty anyway! Because no matter how he struggles, he can't beat Hiro, who is in the Medical Faculty!"

The deviation score status of the Medical Faculty itself is enviable, I guess. But since I aspired to go to art school, I don't particularly want to be a doctor or anything, so I don't care.

"Tomoe. Don't raise your voice. I. I hate that kind of thing."

"Eh? Riri, I'm, well..."

"I hate it."

"Ugh...!"

I felt a vague painfulness seeing my wife meet Mashiba's eyes with a cold face like a Noh mask. Mashiba looked a little scared of my wife's demeanor. I have seen this face occasionally. When she really hates something, my wife makes a face devoid of any expression, just cold. I hated seeing that from the bottom of my heart.

"Hey. Mashiba. I went too far too. So let's stop arguing."

"...Fine. Riri is troubled, so I'll forgive your abusive language."

Her pointless condescension irritates me, but I want to end it here. I don't want to get any more irritated.

"Let's go already, Riri."

"...Go ahead without me. I want to talk to Tokiwa-kun and his friend a little."

"But..."

"Go, Tomoe. It'll be quick."

My wife spat that out without even meeting Mashiba's eyes. What was there was clear rejection. Mashiba nodded with a shocked face and went toward the distant table with the medical students.

"Sorry. Tokiwa-kun. Sorry to you too, Misaki."

My wife apologized to us awkwardly. At her core, she is this kind of girl. She has a kind side. No, she had it. Until she betrayed me...

"It's fine. Whatever. I don't mind."

"I don't mind either. It's not Ririse-chan's fault, so don't worry about it."

My wife nodded weakly at our words.

"Thank you, both of you. ...You know. I caused you trouble, but... it's true that I wanted to play tennis with you two..."

My wife smiled with slightly moist eyes. And immediately she left our side and returned to Mashiba and the others.

"Hey, Tokiwa-kun. Can I ask you one thing?"

Milan opened her mouth somewhat heavily.

"What?"

"Hagiri and Igarashi-san. Which one is the master and which one is the servant?"

That question seemed to have multiple layers of meaning.

"I think. Isn't Igarashi-san a rare villainess? Distorting and destroying other people's lives with her charm. A monster like a personification of a femme fatale. I can't help but think of her that way."

"Femme fatale..."

"Sometimes I even think that maybe she is manipulating everything Hagiri does too. I've seen so many powerful people become enchanted just by her smile. Maybe that's why? There were times when Hagiri looked like he couldn't handle Igarashi-san. I don't understand. It feels like I'm going crazy. Those two… They are seriously creepy!."

Milan was distorting her face. An expression like she was enduring or withstanding something. Is she that scared of my wife? Well, I'm someone whose life was destroyed by her too. I wonder who initiated the affair. Which one was the master, and which one was the servant?

"Milan. If you're holding something in, tell me. I've decided to be your ally."

I patted Milan's back. I think this is the best thing for someone who is scared. Milan softened her facial expression gently.

"Thank you. I feel like I can talk to you. ...I realized it just now. That girl who was beside Igarashi-san. That's the woman who was fighting with Hagiri in front of the love hotel!"

"Hah? Hey, hey, hey. Eh? Seriously...!?"

"Yeah. That girl Mashiba didn't show her face in the Student Council, so I didn't know until today. Seeing that behavior, it seems she is quite close with Igarashi-san and Hagiri. Hagiri didn't put Mashiba in the Student Council to keep it unnoticed. She's quite the brave girl! Acting like best friends with the favorite woman of the man she slept with! Disgusting! Every single one of them! There's no decent person around that man!"

Milan genuinely loathes Hagiri and his lot. Hearing the story just now, I came to hate Mashiba even more too. Judging by my wife's behavior, she probably hasn't realized that there is a physical relationship between Mashiba and Hagiri. Could it be that was the reason for my wife and Hagiri's breakup in the previous world? My wife's surroundings are just too disturbing. Even though I was married, in the end, I didn't understand my wife until the very end, and even now after making a fresh start, I still don't understand.

"Milan. You were right to run away. That’s all I know. Thank you for coming to me."

I naturally found myself saying thank you to Milan. Everything is full of unknowns. But it's clear that Milan coming to me is a fun thing. Unlike Hagiri and my wife, who are in a dark fog where their forms are ambiguous and unknown. I thought that having such a person by my side right now is very happy.

"Kuku, ahaha. You are thanking me? Kukuku."

"Yeah, I'll say it. It became more fun after Milan came to me. Ayashiro and Yuzuriha must be enjoying it too. So thank you for coming."

Ayashiro, Yuzuriha, and Milan taught me that people can connect correctly. That we can cherish each other and laugh together instead of hating and hurting each other. I'm glad I came back to this era.

"Is that so! Ahaha! Is that so, is that so! Jeez! Fufufu."

Milan smiled gently. Then she finished her meal quickly, took her tray, and stood up.

"I feel like I'm making a face that's too embarrassing to show people. I'll take my leave first."

"Oh, see you later."

"Yeah. I'm looking forward to the selection."

Turning her back to me, she walked away with light steps. I could see that Milan's ears were slightly red. I looked forward to seeing her again very much.

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