Chapter 123 - The Absolute Queen
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun~"
"Ah, Airi, good morning."
Hmm, this is a problem.
I'm doing it exactly like it says online, but it's not working.
"What's wrong?"
Airi is perfectly dressed in her suit.
In contrast, I was struggling with my necktie.
It's not working...
...I guess this will do.
After tightening the tie, I turned back toward Airi.
"You can't hug me today; you'll get lipstick on my white shirt."
She wore makeup today.
"It suits you."
"Thank you♪"
Then, Airi closed the distance between us.
And she retied my necktie.
"Your tie was crooked♪"
"Ah, sorry..."
"There, all okay~"
I picked up my daybag and left the room.
Today is the university entrance ceremony.
I heard the mornings are crowded, so I decided to leave early.
"Airi-chan, you look perfect in that suit."
Mother praised Airi.
Yeah, come to think of it, her atmosphere is different.
Setting aside the hairstyle, what is it?
Her hair... ah. There's a bit of brown in there.
"Airi, did you dye your hair?"
"You noticed♪"
Airi is excited.
"It suits you. That's why you looked more mature."
"Thank you. Why don't you dye your hair too, Toya-kun?"
"I'll pass; I feel like I'd just look like some flashy guy."
"I think your basic features aren't that bad, though~"
Airi crossed her arms, looking thoughtful.
"Toya, if you don't hurry, you'll be late."
"Ah, crap."
I hurriedly ate my meal and rushed to the washroom.
"Please take care of him at the university too. Toya is just like that."
"He is a clumsy person, but I look forward to your kindness."
I heard those voices.
Isn't that conversation a bit strange?
"I'm ready! Airi, the car keys!"
"Coming~"
With that, I borrowed Airi's car keys.
We had decided that I would commute in Airi's car.
The reason was that it's a light car with good fuel efficiency, and going in a large car would be a hassle.
The car was parked in the garage of Airi's house.
"Toya-kun, please take care of Airi-chan~"
Seen off by Airi's mother, we headed to the entrance ceremony venue.
It takes about 15 minutes by car to the local university.
Normally it would be faster, but it was a road famous for traffic jams.
Airi's car had a navigation system, but we ignored it and took the back roads.
It was a good thing we had visited the university beforehand.
When we arrived at the parking lot, a red sports car was parked there.
Kanna beat us to it.
"You're late, Toya."
Kanna also looked sharp in her suit.
As expected, Kanna has the better figure.
I guess it's like "cool Kanna" and "cute Airi"?
While waiting in front of the elevator, a large black SUV and a silver compact car arrived.
It was Watanabe-kun and Ishihara-kun.
"Oh, everyone's early."
Watanabe-kun said. The only ones who hadn't arrived were Sashihara-san and Eguchi-san.
"I heard those two are waiting upstairs. Let's go... wait, before that."
Pon!
Watanabe-kun smacked me on the head.
"Are you checking the group chat? There's no reaction from you at all."
Told by Watanabe-kun, I looked at my smartphone.
The meeting place and schedule for today were written there.
"Sorry, Watanabe-kun. I turned off the group chat notifications because Toya-kun is too noisy."
"I see... from now on, I'll have Tosaka-san tell him."
As Watanabe-kun said that, everyone began to move.
When we went up to the 1st floor, a crowd had formed.
A woman wearing a Chanel suit had stepped out of a black limousine.
Wow, she's beautiful.
Her makeup is perfect, and her hair is only slightly longer than Airi's.
Like Airi, she had grown out slightly dyed hair, and her accessories exuded elegance.
The men followed the woman walking in high heels like a school of fish.
If I had to describe her, it would be like adding Airi and Kanna together and dividing by two.
Poke
"What are you staring at, Toya-kun?"
"No, I just thought she's a beautiful person~"
"Your nose was stretching~" (T/N: Japanese idiom for being smitten/lecherous)
"You two are the same as always~"
"Really, you two are never boring to watch."
The ones who appeared from behind saying that were Sashihara-san and Eguchi-san.
Sashihara-san was ordinary, but Eguchi-san, wrapped in a Prada suit, drifted with a similarly noble feeling.
Is the reason no men were clinging to these two because that person was stealing all the male gaze?
"Who is that person?"
"That's Shimizu-san. Didn't you notice she was there during the open campus?"
Eguchi-san answered for me.
I don't even remember going to an open campus.
"Toya-kun doesn't need to worry about her!"
"That's right, Toya! You only look at Airi!"
Whether Kanna's voice reached Shimizu-san or not, Shimizu-san looked this way.
"S-she's looking over here."
"There's no need to worry about it, right?"
Airi said so, but she directed her gaze toward Shimizu-san.
Shimizu-san walked toward us.
"Are you Tosaka Airi-san?"
Shimizu-san spoke to Airi.
"I am... is something the matter?"
"So you're the Tosaka-san who was tied with me for first place."
Tied with Airi...
Not to be rude, but even if it is a national university, it's a local one, right?
Did she mess up which university to go to?
"I'm not interested in that sort of thing."
Though Airi said that, perhaps bothered by the gaze of the men, she clung to me.
The gaze of the men shifted from Airi to me.
Why is such a plain guy with such a beauty?
The gazes pierced me like that.
I felt myself shrinking.
Perhaps sensing my state of mind, Kanna slapped my back hard.
"Airi's boyfriend is only you! Get a grip!"
Kanna said it intentionally in a loud voice so that those around could hear.
"Oh? You had a boyfriend. I'm envious."
Unexpected words came from Shimizu-san.
There are plenty of handsome guys behind you, you know?
Why don't you choose from among them?
"...So, what business do you have with me?"
Airi confronted Shimizu-san with a resolute attitude.
"Don't be so hostile. I was just curious about the other top student who declined the oath. This is a kind of fate, so let's get along."
Saying so, Shimizu-san sought a handshake.
Airi shook hands in silence.
"What is your faculty?"
"Faculty of Economics."
"Then, we're different. I'd like to meet you again if possible..."
"If there is fate, won't we meet?"
"I suppose so. Well then, see you."
With that, Shimizu-san headed toward the venue.
The school of fish followed after Shimizu-san.
There were some who were captivated by Kanna or Eguchi-san, but since Eguchi-san was arm-in-arm with Ishihara-kun and Watanabe-kun was by Kanna's side, they returned to the herd without speaking.
"What an unpleasant woman..."
I felt she was similar to Eguchi-san, though.
They probably have similar tastes in men, don't they?
"Oops! We should head into the venue soon too."
(2)
Upon entering the hall, we lined up and sat in random positions.
I was on the far right end.
Airi was to my left.
To my right sat a man who looked like a slovenly salaryman, with messy hair and a rumpled suit.
When the man noticed me, he stared at me intently.
The ceremony began.
While the greetings and such were starting, I questioned him as he continued to stare at me.
"Um, is there something wrong with me?"
"You, were you the FW from Hofu High School? Katagiri Toya-kun, if I recall."
Ah, a soccer person.
Maybe I shouldn't have asked?
"Ah, don't misunderstand. I'm someone who retired from soccer in high school too. I'm preoccupied with part-time jobs, so I have no time for circles."
"Then, why me?"
"I was a keeper at Ida High. I conceded two goals to you. It was shocking, so I happened to remember..."
I see, I'm sorry about that. That second half 45th minute was my only time in the Soccer Club.
"Ah, I'm late in introducing myself. I'm Sakai Yoshiyuki. Did Katagiri-kun also quit soccer to work part-time?"
"I haven't looked for a part-time job yet. I'm not sure about the lecture times."
"Maybe you should have looked for a job beforehand. You can find university groups on SNS and gather information on lectures."
Was that so...
"You know everything, don't you, Sakai-kun?"
"Most things can be found on the internet."
"I see..."
"Do you know Tada-kun?"
"Makoto has been a friend since middle school."
"Ah, that's it. I had heard about you from Tada-kun. That 'that guy is a fantasista.' When I actually witnessed it, I couldn't stop shaking."
"Toya-kun isn't playing soccer anymore!"
Airi jumped in.
"You're Katagiri-kun's girlfriend, a beautiful person indeed~"
He said it with his mouth, but he didn't seem very interested.
"Are you friends with Makoto?"
"People gathered around Tada-kun. Is he the type who can get along with anyone?"
"Certainly."
While we were talking like this, the entrance ceremony ended.
Apparently, student IDs will be issued now.
It'll be crowded anyway, so I can do it later.
"Sakai-kun, why the local university? Couldn't you have aimed for a Private University with a recommendation?"
"I wasn't that obsessed with soccer, so I thought, 'maybe this is enough'?"
I understand that feeling well.
I feel like I can get along with Sakai-kun.
"By the way, Sakai-kun, which faculty are you in?"
"Faculty of Economics. Ah, your companions are calling you."
When I looked back, everyone was standing and waiting.
"How long are you going to keep talking? Let's go."
When Kanna said that, I stood up from my seat and left the spot, saying "See you later."
(3)
At a family restaurant not far from the venue.
"Who was that person?"
"A person who was a keeper at Ida High. He said he's Sakai-kun."
"Recruitment for the Soccer Club?"
"No, apparently he's not playing soccer. He said he's busy with part-time jobs."
"I see..."
Airi breathed a sigh of relief.
"That person is kind of strange."
Airi's harsh critique.
"Despite calling me a beautiful girlfriend, he wasn't looking at me at all. I've never met a person like that."
So Airi felt it too.
"Looking at Airi and not being interested in Airi is indeed strange. Could it be..."
I don't think that's it, Kanna.
"It's not that kind of feeling. It seemed like he was talking to Toya-kun with a friendly sense."
"Well, it's good that Toya made a friend at the university, isn't it?"
"Yeah, he seemed like he knew everything. It might have been good."
"Uuu..."
What's wrong, Airi?
"Am I the strange one? I feel kind of frustrated. That Toya-kun is getting along with someone other than me."
"That's not true, right? You don't think anything of it when he's talking with Watanabe's group."
"That's because I'm included. Is it because I'm not between Toya-kun and Sakai-kun?"
"Tosaka-san, you're worrying too much. If you keep saying things like that, Toya won't be able to become a working adult!"
Watanabe-kun stepped in.
"Toya will only look at Tosaka-san when he's with her, right? Toya."
I nodded.
"Yeah..."
Airi was depressed that day.
I'll be kind to her at home.
(4)
From the next day, university life began.
Toya, Airi, and Kanna were in the same basic seminar class.
It seems the specialty is Western Economic History.
After that, we received registration guidance and entered the selection of courses.
"I'll write yours too, Toya-kun♪"
It's a hassle, so I'll leave it to Airi.
I handed the paper to Airi.
"From a guy's perspective, I wonder if German is the way to go."
I only know about Baumkuchen.
"Specialized basic subjects, basic seminars, and general education subjects are non-negotiable."
Based on the explanation, there's plenty of room to work part-time.
With this, I might be able to manage even without an allowance.
There's also time to hang out with Airi.
"Tosaka-san."
A voice came from behind.
Airi and I turned around.
It was Sakai-kun.
"Did you listen to the explanation properly? That's impossible. First of all, you've exceeded the limit."
"Eh?"
"Hoe?"
I looked at the sheet in Airi's hand.
"Airi, what are you doing!?"
I let out a scream that echoed through the classroom.
"Eh? I put them in properly so they wouldn't overlap."
She looked at my face with a puzzled expression.
Kanna, who was next to Airi, also fell silent upon seeing it.
"Why are there two second foreign languages!?"
"Because I thought Toya-kun might like German... and I want to try taking French."
"There are too many unnecessary subjects!"
"Uuu... but they look interesting."
Apparently, Microeconomics looked attractive.
"Tosaka-san might be suffering from April sickness,"
Sakai-kun muttered.
After that, during lunch break, we consulted while eating the bento Airi made.
Sakai-kun apparently eats at the cafeteria.
"Uuu..."
Airi is depressed.
"Airi, I'm fine with French, so let's just make it one?"
"Airi, I heard that for the first year, it's fine to focus on general education subjects. Let's remove the extra ones. You can't take them all anyway, and if Toya collapses, it'll all be for nothing, right?"
Kanna and I soothed her.
"But Toya-kun said he wanted to enjoy campus life with me..."
Was Airi's campus life meant to be filled with studying...
At this rate, a hellish life awaits.
...At a time like this, I'm glad for my parents.
"Airi, since we'll have free time, let's use it meaningfully, okay?"
"...You're going to work part-time anyway! I'll take them even if I can't get the credits!"
"...I'll give up on the part-time job. My parents said that, and I want to spend time with Airi."
"Uuu..."
"If you want to study, Airi, I'll accompany you. We can do that just the two of us at home, right?"
In short, as long as we have time for just the two of us, it should be fine.
...Right?
"Are you okay, Toya-kun? Don't you have anything you want to do, like part-time jobs or circle activities?"
"The time I spend with Airi is important."
I tried emphasizing it.
"Yeah... I understand."
Saying so, she started cutting out the unnecessary lectures.
Though she had packed them right up to the credit limit.
I heard from someone that it becomes a disaster during final exams.
Well, if I'm with Airi, will it work out somehow?
It's worked out until now, hasn't it?
Problems are piled high, but we can just solve them one by one.
(5)
In the afternoon, we proceeded with the course registration according to the timetable we actually built.
"Looks like you were able to persuade her,"
Sakai-kun whispered from behind.
"Well, yeah, though there's no leeway..."
"U-uu... did it not work?"
Airi, who was next to me, said anxiously.
"It's okay, it's okay."
Saying so, I patted Airi's head.
Airi looked down, appearing slightly embarrassed.
It seems her mood has improved.
Once the guidance and orientation ended, that was it for today.
Actual classes begin tomorrow.
On the way back, the rumored circle recruitment battle had begun.
Standing out particularly high were the school of fish swarming around Shimizu-san.
"Which circle are you joining, Shimizu-san!?"
"I'm thinking of golf."
"Oshyaaaaaa!"
The roar of the Golf Club could be heard.
Apparently, there were many applicants for the Golf Club this year.
Amidst that, a voice that stood out was heard.
"Katagiri-kun, is Katagiri Toya-kun here?"
They were calling me through a megaphone.
Blatantly wearing Soccer Club and Basketball Club uniforms.
I shrank myself.
Please, let them not find me.
Then, someone placed a hand on Airi's shoulder.
Airi jumped and clung to me.
"You're cute, are you interested in tennis? Ah, and your boyfriend over there? Why not join too? Let's sweat the sweat of youth together."
"I-I'm not interested in circles."
Airi was frightened.
A voice called out to me as well.
"It's the Yakiniku Appreciation Society, but it's not just yakiniku. We're planning karaoke and mixers too."
I mean, is there any point in joining a circle like that?
"T-Toya-kun."
Idiot, Airi. If you call my name now...
"Toya-kun!? You're Katagiri Toya-kun!"
I was found by the Soccer Club and Basketball Club.
"Katagiri-kun! With you, a return to the 2nd division is possible!!"
"Don't be stupid! Katagiri-kun obviously wants to play basketball."
While the Soccer Club and Basketball Club bickered, we quietly escaped.
"W-wait! At least look at the flyer!"
Saying so, a flyer was forcibly handed to me.
Once one person handed it over, flyers were given one after another.
While protecting Airi from the jostling crowd, we managed to reach the parking lot.
Phew...
As I took a breath, Airi screamed.
Startled, I looked to the left and saw a single flyer pasted to the door.
Recruiting Miss Contest participants.
At this point, it's a horror movie.
(6)
Two women facing each other.
One is my girlfriend, Airi.
The other is... Shimizu-san, was it?
Why did it turn out like this?
After the guidance ended, when I went to the meeting place with Airi, it was like this.
"Airi, what's wrong?"
"Nothing in particular, you know? It's just that this person..."
"Oh? Cute. Your boyfriend?"
The corners of Shimizu-san's mouth rose.
The wrinkle between Airi's eyebrows deepened.
I can feel Katagiri-kun's feelings painfully well.
I'm starting to feel somewhat sorry.
"Does Shimizu-san have a boyfriend?"
Airi's expression changed to a smile, and she spoke pleasantly.
"Unfortunately, I haven't been able to decide yet."
When Shimizu-san said that, the men around her volunteered one after another.
"Is that so? Then, let me give you some advice. You meet your destined person in unexpected places. Well, shall we go, Toya?"
Saying so, Airi turned on her heel and began to walk.
I followed after her.
The crowd parted like Moses.
I walked behind her, bowing my head repeatedly like a servant.
It seems Airi is in a bad mood today.
"Toya. Don't be so subservient."
Saying so, Airi forcibly grabbed my arm.
Wow, unpleasant gazes are piercing me.
I want to send a message to Katagiri-kun saying "Help me."
I didn't come by car today.
Because Airi came to pick me up in the morning.
And now, that car is waiting in front of the university gate.
Though an exceptionally large car was parked on the opposite side.
Airi let me in first, and once she got in, the car started moving.
"I want a change of pace... Shinjo. Please take a slight detour."
"As you wish."
Saying so, Airi took a breath.
"What on earth happened?"
"I'll tell you now, she's the one who started it."
After leaving the Faculty of Education building, on the way to the meeting place with me, she ran into Shimizu-san.
Shimizu-san approached, leading a large number of small fry (Airi's expression) around her.
"Is this our first time meeting? If I recall, Eto-san?"
"It's Eguchi. To be precise, it's the second time. We met at the entrance ceremony."
"Is that so? I didn't notice. I'm sorry."
"Do not concern yourself. Well then, good day."
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Are you meeting your boyfriend?"
"You have a boyfriend. How nice~. I'd love to see him once."
The men around Shimizu-san did not allow a refusal.
"...Do as you please."
And then I appeared...
"I understand well what Tosaka-san meant by 'far better than someone who belittles another's lover'..."
"Then, was Airi angry because of me?"
"Yes! Do you think there's a girlfriend who wouldn't get angry after being spoken to like that?"
"I don't mind. As long as I'm recognized by Airi."
"You're a man! Don't you feel at least a little pissed off or irritated?"
"I'm sorry..."
Airi drank the provided drink and took a breath.
"It's fine... Toya isn't at fault. I wonder if I was like that in the past?"
Speaking from experience, I feel a darker aura from Shimizu-san than from Airi.
"Airi, there's no need for you to worry."
When I said that, Airi clung to me.
"The only one who can heal me now is Toya."
Saying so, Airi remained clinging to me for a while, not letting go.
I silently accepted Airi.
I was surprised that there was a woman who could unsettle Airi.
Well, their faculties are different, so they probably won't have many points of contact.
I thought so at the time, but we would end up meeting in an unexpected place.