Chapter 328 - Encounter is Gravitational Pull
(1)
"Good morning, Toya-kun. You have school today~"
"Ugh..."
I rub my eyes and get up.
"You're awake. Once you're up, get ready~ come on, come on."
I change clothes while being hurried by Airi.
"After you change, wash your face and do your routine~"
I wash my face as told and go out for my routine.
Once my routine is done, I shower and eat breakfast.
I make coffee and return to the room, waiting for Airi to come back.
When Airi returns, she's drying her hair.
Once she finishes drying, she sits next to me and drinks café au lait.
I fiddle with my phone while watching TV that I don't particularly need to watch.
When I finish my coffee, Airi takes the mug and heads to the kitchen.
When Airi comes back, she starts putting on makeup.
During that time, I prepare for today.
Once Airi is ready, we head to school.
When we get to school, I head to the gym, change in the locker room, and go to the court.
Tasuku and the others are already practicing.
"Yo."
"Oh, Toya. Yo."
Airi is watching the practice from the second floor.
After practice ends, we change, and it splits into those who kill time and those who attend class.
As usual, I go to look at job listings. My document screening just won't pass. Am I becoming infamous in the document screening?
I need to find a job anywhere.
"She said she'd let you work at Emi-san's place, so why not just try the interview?"
Since Airi says that, I decide to ask Emi-san during lunch break.
"Sure. I'll talk to my dad."
"Oh, but it's not a sure thing yet."
"I know. It's just a temporary backup, right? Leave it to me."
"That's good, Toya-kun."
"Is it okay to be at the same company as Nozomi?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
Emi-san is on the phone at home.
"He says to come for an interview after the holiday."
"Thanks, Emi-san."
"This much is nothing."
"What about Watanabe-kun and the others?"
"I'll take the civil service exam for now."
"Think you'll pass?"
"Well, I'm studying."
The exam is apparently this month.
"Nakajima-kun is taking it too, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Why don't you try it too, Toya?"
That might be an option too.
"I should have gotten a teaching license in a situation like this."
Nakajima-kun says.
"Everyone, instead of worrying, you should just come to my place."
Emi-san says.
In the Watanabe group, those whose jobs are almost decided are Makoto, Ai-san, Honoka-san, Kanna, Ishihara-kun, and Sakai-kun.
Those who have decided their career paths are Watanabe-kun, Nakajima-kun, and Tasuku.
I haven't even decided my career path yet.
If I went with basketball, it would probably be decided soon, but...
Just then, a phone call came. From the job support office.
"The hiring exam schedule has been decided, so please come pick up your letter of introduction."
"Yes."
I tell everyone about it.
"Congrats! You'll ace the interview and stuff!"
"That's great, Toya-kun!"
I haven't been hired yet, though.
After class, I receive the letter of introduction.
It was a small, privately-run accounting office.
The exam is mid-May.
By the time the spring tournament ends, the results will probably be decided.
Since there was time until club activities, I decided to kill time at Blue Bird.
Ring-a-ling.
"Welcome."
Toya and I were surprised.
It was a female staff member we'd never seen before.
She had short black hair and wore rimless hexagonal glasses.
She was barely wearing any makeup.
"This way, please."
We were guided to a seat by the unfamiliar female staff member, feeling a bit flustered.
"May I take your order?"
"The usual..."
"The usual?"
"Oh, Kitamura-san, these people's order is fixed too."
Sakai-kun came over.
"Is that so? Then I'll leave it to you, Sakai-senpai."
With that, the female staff member left.
"The usual is fine, right?"
"Sure, but Sakai-kun..."
"Is that person new?"
"Looks like it. I met her for the first time too."
She was apparently hired while Sakai-kun was away at training camp.
I hear she's in the Faculty of Education at the local university.
Incidentally, Akira-san didn't know either.
"Sakai-senpai, your order is ready."
"Oh, I'll come get it now."
Sakai-kun goes to pick up the order.
Watanabe-kun and Ai-san also arrived.
Ichinose-san is also surprised by the new female staff.
Sakai-kun is explaining the situation.
Watanabe-kun immediately asks Sakai-kun for the details.
Sakai-kun began to speak.
(2)
As usual, I headed to Blue Bird and went to the break room.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Misato Kitamura, recently hired. Forgive me for asking, but what's your name?"
"I'm Yoshiyuki Sakai. Forgive me, but what do you mean by 'recently hired'?"
"Oh, I hired her while you all were away. She's a pretty straightforward girl."
The owner started talking.
While listening to the story, I was looking at her.
Short black hair.
She wears glasses.
She's dressed in a jacket, T-shirt, denim pants, and sneakers.
It's not flattering to call it stylish.
She's not wearing makeup; she came bare-faced.
"Kitamura-san, go change for now."
"Yes. Understood."
"By the way, why did you hire her?"
"Sometimes you and Ichinose-san are both gone for your 'Watanabe group activities,' right? Next year you'll both be gone. She came looking for a job at just the right time."
"I see."
"Well, she's a bit clumsy in some ways, but cover for her there."
"Understood."
After that, I watched her work, but she was clumsy, couldn't handle the register well, and was a troublesome girl.
Even I wondered why they hired someone like her.
"Hmm."
Ai-san grinned slyly.
That face means she's up to something.
You can tell even without being Katagiri-kun.
She's consulting with Watanabe-kun about something.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's your coffee and cream soda... whoa!"
She tripped and almost fell.
Katagiri-kun hurriedly catches the cup.
"Sorry, sir, my apologies."
"Oh, don't worry about it. By the way, are you also a student at the local university?"
"I am under no obligation to provide such information to a customer."
She seemed to have taken offense.
I cover for her.
"Kitamura-san, these people are regular customers. It's okay to talk a bit."
"But that's not a reason to divulge personal information."
"They're not bad people, so can't you help me out and tell them?"
"...I'm Misato Kitamura from the Faculty of Education, entering the local university this year. Is that enough?"
Can't you be a little more friendly...?
"Hmm, I see. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"I'm not interested."
So she's set on wanting to do something, huh? She probably thinks the new girl lacks interesting qualities.
Katagiri-kun is staring intently at Kitamura-san.
"Um, sir, is something the matter?"
Noticing Katagiri-kun's gaze, Kitamura-san asks.
"You're definitely more of a meat sauce person than a Peperoncino person, right?"
What's he going to say? Another food topic?
"Amazing! How did you know?"
"Because I felt you're the type who doesn't mind sauce splattering."
"You can tell that much?"
"I don't mind it either, but I still like Peperoncino more."
"Is that so?"
"You like yakiniku too, right?"
"Yes, I love it."
"How about we go for yakiniku sometime..."
Thwack
"That's mean, Toya-kun. Trying to pick up a girl right in front of your wife?"
Tosaka-san is angry. Well, she would be. If he starts flirting right in front of her.
"That's not it. Our group likes yakiniku and drinking parties. You like food, right? Why don't you join us?"
"But I'm busy with my part-time job, I don't have time for clubs or anything..."
"Oh, there are working people in the group too, so we'll adjust the schedule."
"Hmm... Should I join?"
"You can eat lots of delicious things."
"Then, maybe I will? Do I need an application form or something?"
"Oh, no need. Most of the communication is through messages, so if you give me your ID, I'll invite you."
Thwack
"It still sounds like you're hitting on her."
You've upset Tosaka-san, Katagiri-kun.
"Is it really okay, even with a wife?"
"Oh, this group doesn't care about that stuff at all."
"Well, as long as there's no trouble like guys hitting on me, it's fine... I'll join."
"Then, after your shift, ask Sakai-kun to invite you."
"Understood."
With that, Kitamura-san went back.
"That was okay, right? Watanabe-kun."
Katagiri-kun says.
"Oh, yeah. But you've gotten good at picking up girls."
Watanabe-kun is impressed.
"Another one joined?"
Ai-san asks.
"Yeah."
Katagiri-kun answers while patting Tosaka-san's head.
"So, what are you going to do with her?"
"She just seemed kind of unlucky. I couldn't leave her alone."
Ai-san says. She's definitely thinking of making her a toy.
"Then, we need to find a guy for her too."
Watanabe-kun sighs.
"Well, I think any guy would be fine."
Katagiri-kun says casually.
"What do you mean?"
"First, we need to change her. She's not interested in romance at all. 'Food first, love later,' type?"
"I see."
"It'd be great if she could come to like someone herself."
The Watanabe group's nature of wanting to pair everyone up no matter what doesn't seem to have changed.
(3)
That evening, after my shift ended, I exchanged IDs with Sakai-senpai and was invited to the so-called Watanabe group.
I heard the Watanabe group is a gathering of regulars at my workplace.
They say it's a matchmaking group, but I wasn't interested.
Spending money on clothes and makeup is a waste. It's better to save and eat delicious food.
After changing out of my uniform, I head to the station.
I need to transfer at the local station to get home.
I wanted to commute by car, but I couldn't get a license. They said I can't even do an automatic-only one.
It's better to board at the station one stop further than going back to the university station, so I walk a bit.
The train only has two cars, but it was crowded that day.
I was standing near the exit when I felt something strange on my butt.
It wasn't an accidental touch. It was clearly being groped.
I wanted to call for help, but there was no conductor. It's a one-man train.
Plus, it's non-stop until the terminal with unmanned stations.
How long will this continue? This humiliation.
I should protest, but I'm too scared to speak.
Then the discomfort suddenly disappeared.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I turned around to see a good-looking guy grabbing the arm of a very suspicious-looking old man.
"I-I didn't do anything! Don't make false accusations!"
The old man is flustered.
"If you didn't do anything, why are you so flustered? Should I announce what you did right here, loud and clear?"
"I-I'll sue you for defamation!"
"Sue me if you want. I'm Junichi Kuribayashi, first-year in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the local university. I won't run or hide!"
"Um, can we stop? This is causing trouble for other people..."
"Sorry, but could you come with me to the terminal station? Um, your name?"
"Kitamura."
"Kitamura-san, I'm taking this guy to the police. Can you come along?"
"Yes..."
I really wanted to go home early, but it couldn't be helped.
After that, at the local station, we explained the situation to the station staff and handed him over to the police.
Following the officer's advice, and since it was a first offense, we didn't file a formal complaint.
Mostly because it was a hassle.
"Are you sure that's okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry for the trouble, even though you helped me."
"It's fine. Well, I'll be going then. Um, Kitamura-san, right?"
"I'm Misato Kitamura."
"Got it. Well, see you around."
He was a nice young man. Well, he probably has a girlfriend already.
I didn't have any bad feelings. He mentioned the local university. I wonder if I'll run into him again?
After that, I took the train home. I returned to my apartment, a 5-minute walk away.
(4)
When basketball club practice ends, everyone changes and starts heading home.
Chii-chan also goes home with Takatsuki-kun.
Well, only as far as the parking lot.
I take Airi home, eat dinner, take a bath, bring a chu-hai to the room, and return.
When Airi comes back, I hand her the chu-hai and we drink together.
Airi starts working on the household accounts as usual, and I face my desktop.
When Airi turns on the TV, I pick up the TV sound while playing a game on my desktop PC.
I haven't been playing much lately, but I thought I'd try it occasionally and booted up a game.
The one I recently started is mainly a PvP game centered around war, where you level up by playing the war aspect.
It's a TPS-like game with a Western fantasy setting, using magic and summon beasts to conquer wars.
Character creation is easy, and you have to buy equipment with money, but it doesn't cost that much.
I'm using a female character named "Airi."
"So this is the kind of girl you like, Toya-kun?"
Airi, who had been watching behind me without me noticing, speaks to me.
"Airi, wait a moment, okay?"
I'm almost done.
But such excuses don't work on Airi.
"No way. I want you to pay attention to me right now."
Airi says that and hugs me.
My character, now standing still, is quickly killed and sent back to the respawn point.
I still won that war, but I'll stop the game here today and log out.
Sitting in front of the table, I tell Airi to come here.
Airi happily hugs me.
"What a troublesome wife."
"Ehehe~"
Without any sign of remorse, Airi clings to me.
Some random variety show was playing on TV.
She probably got bored and started messing with me.
I don't scold her for it.
I thought it was my duty to keep Airi in a good mood.
I look at my phone.
Normal conversation is continuing.
No incidents happening.
Kitamura-san isn't saying much either.
Maybe she's not good at this kind of thing?
It doesn't seem like that's the case. She answers questions properly.
But only with harmless answers.
I said she's not interested in romance.
That's probably not wrong.
She's like the old Sakai-kun.
I got the impression that if Sakai-kun were a girl, it would be something like this.
How to get her a boyfriend?
That thought doesn't even occur to me.
Because she doesn't need it.
If she needs it, I'll help her then.
That's what I thought.
But her will is stubborn, so stubborn I wanted to ask how she ended up that way.
She's probably just a girl with no romantic experience.
I don't think anything will change just by bringing her into the Watanabe group.
If something changes, it'll be due to a third party.
I was having this conversation with Watanabe-kun and the guys.
"So there's no point in preparing a boyfriend for her right now?"
"It won't work unless she moves on her own."
I say.
"If Toya says that, it must be difficult, huh?"
Watanabe-kun says.
"Not difficult, but it's more accurate to say it'll take time."
"Got it. Let's just watch the situation for a while."
Then Airi took my phone away.
"Hmm, you're talking about Kitamura-san."
Airi looks at my phone and says.
"Yeah."
"She was a strange person, wasn't she? I thought, 'She doesn't have a bad face, so why does she go bare-faced?'"
"You're right. She's a difficult person."
"Even Toya-kun can't conquer her?"
"Is there even a need for me to conquer her?"
"Huh?"
"I have my hands full just conquering you, Airi. There's no way I can conquer someone else too."
"Bzzzt! Wrong answer! You're always using every trick to conquer others and pair them up."
And if you can't conquer your own wife, that's a huge problem, Airi says.
"In these kinds of games, the hardest one to conquer is the childhood friend route, you know?"
"Ugh... so that means Toya-kun has those kinds of games too?"
"I don't have them now."
"You can't fool me! Show me the games you bought before training camp!"
As Airi says, I take out a shelf.
Airi examines each game software inside the shelf one by one.
"The one where jam splatters everywhere has increased."
"Oh, that's one I bought the other day. A new title came out."
"Have you already cleared it?"
"I haven't even touched it yet?"
I explain to Airi that I'm thinking of playing it once the job issue is settled.
"So Toya-kun is getting a job too. You'll be joining the working world."
"If I get one."
"If you fail, there's Emi's company."
"That's true, but I still want to decide my own workplace."
I want to create a future that fits me, I tell Airi.
"A future that fits you... Toya-kun, I feel like you intentionally choose the hard path."
"Maybe."
I laugh.
I ran away from soccer, where I was set to join the national team and had a scouting offer from Primavera, declared I'd quit basketball if I won gold for Japan, and I'm about to throw away a major corporate job I could get through a friend's connection to work at a small accounting office.
Thinking about Airi's happiness, I don't know if making a living through basketball is best, or if working at the accounting office to have time with her is better.
I just have to live believing that my choices aren't wrong.
That's how I've lived so far, and I'll continue to do so.
"Just choose the path you think is right, Toya-kun. Being your wife is the greatest thing I can do for you, who made my dreams come true."
Airi says she'll follow whatever path I choose.
"Thank you."
"Let's go to bed soon. We have school tomorrow."
"Yeah."
With that, I turn off the TV, get into bed, and fall asleep.
Today ends, and another new day begins.