CH 8

Chapter 8: This Is How New Friends Behave!

TL: Akabane

***

After lunch with my wife, she stopped getting involved with me. Well, that's what happens when you end things in such a subtle way. The orientation went by without any trouble. Then came Saturday.

"Oh, no! Aren't you coming early? It's only 20 minutes before our meeting time."

The meeting place was a cafe near Shimokitazawa station. Ayashiro was already there, enjoying an elegant cup of tea.

"I live in this town, so it's normal for me to be early. You're came early too."

"I live in this city now. It's less than a few stops from Shimokita to the Komaba campus, and I can walk or bike there if I want to."

"Oh? You live here? Then you should have told me first. I spend my daytime shopping at clothing stores. I could have your help with my luggage."

"Oh. Did you buy anything?"

"The jacket I'm wearing right now. Isn't it nice and mature?"

Today Ayashiro was wearing a two-sided updo. And as usual, she was wearing a chuuni-sick black and pink style. However, the finish was more mature than usual. Especially the rider-like jacket gives it a more mature look.

"I think it's good. I think it goes well with the shirt, and You look like an adult woman."

I think it's usually amazing to have the mine-type elements still there and still look mature at the same time. I guess it's possible because Ayashiro has extraordinary good looks.

"Thank you. But I'm not mature yet. I've never spent the night with anyone. My body doesn't know pain and sweetness yet..."

"You always have a dirty talk! Why do you love that kind stories so much? I'm telling you, if it weren't me, people would be all over you! And don't ever say anything like that at today's party!"

"Fufufu, I know. If I say anything about that at a drinking party, I'll be misunderstood by the non-motivated virgin boys. I don't know why I'm so easily misunderstood...ufufu..."

Oh, she's saying something dark. I'll let this one slide. I'm essentially on the side of the nonmotivated, too. I'm a time leaper, so I'm a virgin in body. ...In the first place, I only know my wife, and she's cheated on me, so I guess I'm more of a true virgin, right?

"So, what kind of group is today's new club?"

"Well, it's a serious group. It's a university-recognized group, and it's a solid group led by a professor in the education department. It's more like an NGO for educational issues."

I know of that group. It's a conscious circle in the right sense of the word that is doing a decent job.

"What? You're a serious type of person, aren't you? What attracted you to it?"

To be honest, I was surprised. I had thought Ayashiro had a seriousness at her core, but she seemed really serious. I felt I was getting a good feeling about her partner.

"There are a lot of different educational issues, but today's circle is helping to eliminate educational disparities among the poor. You would understand, wouldn't you? How much money did it cost you to get into our college?"

"Well, you know. I went to a public high school, but I spent a lot of money on prep school. To be honest, I don't even want to count it."

"Me neither. I went to a prestigious private school. Not only did I have to pay for tuition, but I also had to pay for private tutors, prep school, and reference books. It cost me a lot of money. Fortunately, my father is rich, so it's not a problem at all."

There is one dark side to our university. Tuition fees are cheap at national universities. But the difficulty level of the entrance exam is not half as high. To pass it, it costs an unbelievable amount of money for prep schools, reference books, and so on. That is why the average income of our school is higher than that of private universities. There are whisperings that the average income of our school is higher than that of private universities. I feel that many of my classmates are rich. This is obviously not right. Tuition fees are low at universities that are easy for rich people to enter, and those who cannot study due to lack of money have no choice but to go to private universities with high tuition fees. There is an unreasonable disparity. Even after graduation, if you graduate from our university, you will be treated favorably in society. A high school education is a ticket to a high income. And that disparity will continue to be reproduced forever.

"The club makes and distributes original textbooks and distributes free video lessons on how to prepare for college entrance exams over the Internet. I'd like to get involved in something like that."

"...Oh, yeah, that's good. That's a good idea. It's good to help someone."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. That's why I need you to help me today at the party."

"Dodging bullets, right?"

"Yes, that's right. The guys are going to be swarming all over me, so I want you to be all, "Don't mess with my girl!""

"Yeah. That's a little... painful! Well, I'll be a wall, and with me around, I'll be able to weed out the guys in your way."

Still, I'm sure there are a lot of guys who would probably come up to her for a chance.

"Today's circle has a selection. It's a serious one, with professors interviewing. I want to make sure I sell my face."

"...Hey, didn't you ever think of coming dressed normally?"

If you're in a circle with a selection, there's a chance that maybe they're watching what you're doing at the new party. If you wear strange clothes, you might be taken as unserious and dropped. But if you have a good face like Ayashiro, it might not matter much.

"I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not! What I like is this kind of fashion! I want them to accept me, including this! Otherwise, you won't be able to work comfortably even after you enter!"

Ayashiro declared proudly and proudly. Even selfishness looks admirable when it goes this far. This would be fine.

"Well, if you're thinking about it, it's fine. Okay, okay!"

I raised my cup of cold water. Ayashiro also saw my movement and raised her cup of tea.

""Here's to hoping you pass the selection!""

We toasted to our victory.

"By the way, do you know the maximum amount of alcohol you can drink?"

I don't want her to get carried away and drink too much and go down. If she does, I'll have to take care of her.

"I'm fine. I've been drinking with my father for a long time. I can drink a bottle of wine in one gulp and still think clearly, so I'll be fine."

A bottle of wine in one gulp is amazing. She's the kind of perseon you should never imitate. I mean, Ayashiro is a current student, so she's been drinking since long before that....?

"Since long time ago...? Ah..."

"That's right. I'll let you guess. You shouldn't dig into a woman's past. Ufufu."

She may be talking like a nice girl, but what she's doing is terrible. I'm not going to touch it.

"Well, if you know the limit amount, I guess it's okay. Ahaha!"

And we headed to the izakaya, the venue of the new party.

What is important in a new welcome? It is manifold. Personally, I think the first thing is where to sit. Some friendly clubs will guide newcomers and seniors to the right place so that they can mix well with each other. I think the best way is to draw lots for seats. But this time it's a little different. I had to avoid being separated from Ayashiro. But my fears were unfounded. This time, we had free seating in a large tatami room. By the way, I think the trick to getting a seat at the party is not to go early. The trick is to sit near the most senior members of the circle when the seats are half full. Those who proudly sit near their seniors at the party will be loved by the newcomers. It is most important to remember the faces. And don't sit near pretty girls. To be frank, the new party is not a place to meet new people. I know this because I was a first-timer in the world and observed it properly. Girls don't like to be hit on at the party. They tend to want to be cared by seniors. That's what I think. I think this is something that needs to be studied in the future. Eventually, I would like to develop such a strategy to save the shady girls.

"So, where should I sit?"

"Well, wait a minute."

Naturally, I have a bit of future knowledge about the relationships in this circle. The first place I should aim for is near the current representative. But that area was already occupied. So, what I was aiming for was.....

"I want to be in front of that woman with glasses. She will probably be the next representative."

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

"What's that? What's the basis for that?"

It's future knowledge! There's no way I can say that, so I just fudged it appropriately.

"That woman is a sophomore in the education department. I know because we passed each other at school the other day."

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

"Yes. If you say so, I will."

And we sat down in front of that sophomore. The senior stares at us. She's not gunning for us. Not that she is. She's just too serious to speak up herself. She is a serious person. So, I call out to her.

"Nice to meet you, senpai. I'm Tokiwa, a freshman in the architecture department. This girl is Ayashiro from the law department. Nice to meet you today."

"Ah. Yes! Nice to meet you! I'm Kato, a second-year student in the Faculty of Education."

Personally, I think it's fine to introduce yourself with just your last name, not your full name, if you're with a serious person. The serious person don't like the culture of calling each other by their first names. This person is also the type who hates that kind of thing.

"Speaking of which, I think I passed Kato-san in the cafeteria the other day, but I'm pretty sure you ordered the daily special, right?"

"Oh yeah! That's rigth! The daily croquettes on Wednesdays are delicious! So we passed each other! Wow, what a coincidence! That's interesting!"

It's a lie. I didn't go near the cafeteria at all to get away from my wife.

"Oh, really? I'll try it next time! I'm looking forward to it. Haha."

I was cheerfully confidant. Kato-senpai's face was filled with a gentle smile. It was then that I felt a soft, tickling sensation on my thigh. Ayashiro's finger was pressing her index finger against my thigh. Ayashiro had a smile on her red lips. Then she stroked my thigh with her finger.

L-i-a-r.

Ayashiro traced her finger on my thigh. The touch of her fingers was ticklish and very sweet. Ayashiro's blue eyes, smiling mischievously with a grin, were irresistibly sexy.

"Okay. All you new students! It's time! I'd like to start the freshmen party! Please have a glass! Congratulations on your enrollment, everyone! Cheers!"

"""""Cheers!"""""

And so the New Joy began.