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Arifureta Chapter 471
🕑 Added 2023-10-15 11:48:33 +0000 UTCI, I-I-I, I’m a Total Loner!
With car it would take around forty until fifty minutes with car to go from Nagumo family house until the university. With train it would be a bit under an hour considering the walking time until the station and also the waiting time.
A university that had a department that Hajime wished for and also had varied courses. On top of that it was located in reasonable enough distance……the result after all those requirements were factored in was,
Using the high school graduation as the chance to leave their parents’ home……a lot of Hajime’s classmates took that option, but Hajime and others didn’t even consider that option from the start.
They had Myuu who had just started going to elementary school, and there was also the underground workshop that Hajime was continuously upgrading in convenience even now.
And most of all, Yue and others disliked that option. They said that they didn’t understand the meaning of intentionally living separately from Shuu and Sumire.
Therefore the university located within commuting distance was an absolute requirement. When Sumire and Shuu heard that,
It wasn’t like the thought that the girls might be asking to live in their own house after marriage had never crossed their mind, so they felt relieved and patted their chest, but even that only lasted briefly. After that their tension exploded that they even started an improvised rap duet.
Strange. Why were they expressing their joy with rap……about that naturally, the quality of their rap, their matching tune, they absolutely must have practiced this for several months! Their rap level was so high everyone wanted to retort like that. As expected from the Nagumo spouses. Strange.
In any case.
「Hm~m, as expected perhaps I should take it too, a license.」
「That was why I told you to take it. And yet you said that using “God Speed” is easier and faster……」
Hajime was driving a car, while Kaori and Shizuku were having such talk at the back seat.
Their departments were different, but any first year would have curriculum schedule that gave them a lot of free time, so their activity time didn’t differ much from each other. It was the natural course of event for them to go together.
Hearing what Kaori said, Hajime stopped the car to wait for the traffic light to turn green while glancing at the back through the rearview mirror.
He wondered if perhaps Kaori was harboring some kind of guilt that he went out of his way to pick her up like this, which was an extravagant treatment in a sense for coming and going from university, but it seemed that wasn’t it.
「That’s not it, Shizuku-chan. I’m not talking about convenience you know? Because, if that’s all I’m considering then certainly it’ll be better to go to university by “God Speed”.」
「What an absurd power word.」
「Even Hajime-kun and Yue can go using teleportation if they want.」
「It feels like my concept of going to school will crumble hearing what you say.」
By the way, they didn’t choose to teleport to university even though not doing that costed them precious time in the morning was because this too was “an enjoyment of university life”.
That was naturally the reason why Kaori too was riding together with Hajime every morning.
Although they hadn’t gone as far as sending marriage registration, there was a proper ring on Kaori’s left ring finger. She was wholeheartedly enjoying the situation of going to university while conversing inside the car that her husband was driving.
Of course, it was also the same with Shizuku.
Yue was sitting on the passenger seat. She looked back over her shoulder.
「……Then what? Do you want to try driving? ……Fumu. That’s not a bad idea. I’ll be able to make out with Hajime at the back seat. Kaori, become the personal driver for Hajime and I.」
「Do you want a dangerous ride?」
It seemed that it wasn’t like she had interest with driving. Kaori gave a resentful glare at Yue while pointing at diagonally left forward.
「Don’t you think it’s cool?」
Everyone’s gaze was drawn toward where she was pointing.
There was a bike there that was also waiting for the light to turn green. It was a large bike with tough and rugged looking frame painted black and iron blue──a Yamaha’s V-Max. It was a monster bike with 1700 cc engine.
The rider’s long leg was rhythmically tapping on the ground. She was wearing a full face helmet with dull black color and mirror type shield so her expression couldn’t be seen, but she looked like she was in an extremely good mood.
「She has the appearance of a stylish girl right? And yet, she’s straddling a bike that big……bike makes your beautiful legs even more striking isn’t it? And even though her straight back form a beautiful posture, her body lines like her tight waist got really pronounced……I think it’s a bit too lewd!!」
「……Nn. I shall agree. Why can she look so provocative like that just by getting on bike? Or rather her jacket, isn’t it the wrong size? Her breasts, they’re about to spill out though? The fastener, it’s about to open on its own though? Is it intentional? So obscene! Nice, do it more!」
「Hajime, what do we do? There’re two sex harassing uncles inside this car.」
Shizuku got a bit creeped out seeing Kaori and Yue breathing hard through their noses.
「Yeah, well, certainly I also think that she look sexy riding bike like that. There, see?」
Inside the specially customized helmet, even though they were pressed flat there, the hell usamimi(bunny ears) ears (Shia’s naming) were in perfect condition.
Yue and Kaori’s conversation must be audible to them. The monster bike’s rider──Shia twisted her upper body to look back at them.
*Kashu-* She flicked up her helmet’s shield and narrowed her eyes bashfully. And then she flapped her hand as though to say 「Just what are you two talking over there desuu~」.
That gesture was witnessed by a young woman in suit inside a car that was coincidentally stopping at the next lane. 「Eh? S-she’s waving her hand at me? Oh no, I’m embarrassed for some reasonnn-」 The woman went bright red while waving her hand back reservedly.
Furthermore, behind Shia was a young man riding a moped. From the start he must have been entranced by the combination of Shia’s body style and monster bike.
His gaze was glued hard at the glimpse of what was clearly a beautiful face even though he could only see the eyes that became visible after the shield was lifted up.
「……I hope she won’t cause any accident.」
「Perhaps I should install perception blocker on the bike itself? No, that’ll be more dangerous……」
Actually, it was rare for their vehicles to be this close by not far from the university.
Most of the times Shia would go ahead, or there would be other cars that got in between and separated them on the way. The car wouldn’t have an easy time to move when there were many other cars on the street, or perhaps the car would get stopped by a lot of traffic lights……there was also how Shia would often change course depending on her mood to be honest.
That was why, for the car to be able to keep up the whole time with Shia who was riding enjoyably on her bike was something rare that could be counted on one hand during these two months.
In other words, staring once more at Shia riding her bike like this caused an admiration to grow once more inside Kaori.
「Well, it’s fine if you want to take bike’s license isn’t it? Shia will also be happy.」
「That’s true……perhaps I’ll consider it if I have time.」
Shia was nodding up and down fiercely. She also gave a thumb up. She really looks picture perfect huh……everyone thought.
Also, the lady in the next car. The thumb up wasn’t for you so it’s fine even if you didn’t give a thumb up back. Shia’s nod made her expression brightened up as though to say 「She responded to my lips movement and gesture!?」 but it was a misunderstanding……that’s why, the young man behind. You too shouldn’t send a jealous gaze to the lady like that……
「Come to think of it, I’m amazed that Hajime-kun was also able to take license.」
Kaori was watching the light turning green and Shia taking off while tilting her head.
「Eh? Do you think I would fail?」
「No no! I’m talking about time. Just when did you have the time to take the license?」
Everyone knew about how busy Hajime was in these few months.
Not only he had classes in university, there were the case of the King Tree revival’s adverse effects, the world tree’s branches revival project, the handling of the world’s changing situation, the management of the company he established, and in addition there were the various researches he was doing, etc.
Even if he was using Hour Crystal, there still wouldn’t be enough time. It was clearly an amount of work that was beyond a single human.
Because of that, among friends he got called with things like “The only one going through 72 hours a day”, “The man who forgot the notion of holiday in another world”, “A monster inflicting terror by never showing how busy he is”, “The model personnel sought after by black company”, “Hardest working demon king”, etc.
「Aa, that’s what you mean. It’s that you know, the one-shot exam thing.」
「You passed that!? I heard that in exchange of not needing to graduate the driving school, the difficulty level is really high you know!?」
「If I’m not mistaken, it’s something like five percent isn’t it, the passing rate there?」
「Yeah.」
Yes, Hajime-san went directly to the license examination hall and took the exam there──so to speak it was the so called grade skipping exam and passed it in one go.
In the first place it was common knowledge that he had amazing driving skill that he was even able to perform combat maneuver with his vehicles. Using magical VR game he was also able to practice with earth vehicles as much as he liked. And so what was left for him to do was only cramming the required knowledge to pass the written exam.
「……Aren’t you two overly surprised? It’s natural to pass if it’s Hajime.」
「No, it’s really not that simple you know?」
「That’s right Yue. Even if you have the driving skill it’ll be pointless if you don’t know the traffic rule.」
「……That’s even more so. Hajime already had the knowledge right?」
「「?」」
What was she talking about? Kaori and Shizuku thought with tilted head. Yue shrugged her should and said good grief. Putting aside Shizuku, Kaori should already know.
「──”Step on the pedal when you see a criminal. They teach you that in the driving school” was what he said right?」
「That’s not the case here!」
「Hajime!/ What are you teaching Yue!?」
「No, yeah. That’s the traffic law only at Tortus, yeah.」
No, that’s still problematic in its own way……Kaori and Shizuku’s gaze were saying that.
Also, what Yue said was the teaching of Hajime when in the past he stepped hard on the pedal to save Liliana who secretly ran away from the kingdom that was in a disturbing state and the merchant caravan she was hiding with got attacked by bandits.
「Well, you know. I simply studied. I also used Hour Crystal and did it between works. After that, I might be cheating for a bit. I took the test while using “Light Speed” in short burst.」
In other words, Hajime was clearing the exams with reaction speed that was several times of normal people, which he used to observe the reaction of the examiners themselves, to confirm whether there was no mistake with his knowledge or if there was something that he overlooked.
「I see. Perhaps I also have a chance if I use that method too? I wanted to graduate the driving school normally but……it feels like it’ll be a waste doing that after hearing what you did. You should have told me.」
「It’s not like you’re going to drive at Tortus. And it’s not like you don’t have any free time. This is something important, so obviously it’ll be better to learn properly in the driving school.」
「That’s……you’re right. Yep, it’s just as you said. I’ll also pick a car that can pass the inspection normally for the car that I’ll buy one day. Not something like this disguised Brieze.」
Shizuku agreed even while twisting the knife a bit with a mischievous smile.
Yes, this car was actually Brieze at the inside despite looking like Jeep Wrangler. In other words, it was crammed with tons of weapons and powered by magic power. The engine sound and the body were also disguised. The liquid metal-chan was working hard. Also, It was disguised as Jeep Wrangler because the original shape was similar to it.
「I-it’s fine isn’t it? Unlike Shia, it’s not like I have friend that’ll be interested in checking this car’s inside, and for the inspection it’ll manage again somehow with the disguise……」
「I’m not saying anything you know?」
「If by chance it get exposed then I can just flash the Neura Liz*r New.」
「Can I say a word?」
「This can also be used for family outing. And an unarmed car is dangerous so I don’t feel like driving one at this point.」
「Right, let’s have a word shall we.」
Shizuku’s priceless words that preached of the definition of the words common sense smoothly flowed into the right and out of the left ear.
「C-come on, Shizuku-chan. Let’s just leave it there okay? Hajime-kun’s quirk for weapon is like an incurable illness after all.」
「……Nn. Besides we’ll arrive soon.」
The university came into view.
The parking lot within campus ground fundamentally wasn’t for student’s use. It was only for when there was special reason.
And so Hajime drove the car toward rented parking lot for public use that was located slightly away. Shia detoured the campus ground and headed toward the exclusive parking lot for “Gouon!” circle, so they parted way here.
Shia lightly waved her hand. Yue and others waved their hands back. Meanwhile the car entered the parking lot that had monthly rental fee that originally would be quite expensive for student (even so they were lucky that they managed to get a space there).
「What are you two going to do this afternoon?」
Hajime drove toward his rented space while asking.
「Of course, let’s get together.」
「Yes, me too. After all this is a rare day where we have shared course.」
Actually, Kaori and Shizuku, and also Shia couldn’t have lunch together with them every day.
The campus was big so there were multiple eating places. And they were in different department, so the nearest eating place was also different for each of them.
Of course, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be unable to meet up during lunch, but they had taken the trouble to put themselves in an environment where they were able to interact with a lot of people who came from outside the local area. It would be slightly unsatisfactory if they always spent their time together with only family despite that. For the sake of a good university life too, they should treasure their respective new friendship in their own department.
Under such thinking, it wasn’t only Shia who was able to form hobby friends, recently Kaori and Shizuku too would have lunch with their new friends.
But, if they didn’t meet up at all inside the campus……then there would be no point for them to attend the same university.
And so, they matched their schedule to take the university’s shared subjects (foundational subject that could be taken by all students regardless of their department) together, and in days when those subjects’ lecture ended relatively close to lunch time, they would have lunch together.
「I see. Then let’s meet up at the lecture before noon. It’s fine to have lunch outside like usual right? Decide it beforehand if there’s a restaurant that you want to go to.」
「Yep, got it!」
「I heard from this girl in the same class with me yesterday about this good restaurant. I’ll try to ask her more about it.」
Both Kaori and Shizuku smiled happily in respond to Hajime’s words.
Also, they “had lunch outside” was because they would stand out much when Yue, Shia, Kaori, and Shizuku were together. And so they would always go outside the campus to eat when the four of them were together at the same time.
Of course, there would be no problem for them to have lunch leisurely if they used perception blocker or the like but……
Actually, Shia, Kaori, and Shizuku had announced that they were married person, but they made it ambiguous the fact that their husband was a student in the same university in a different department──Hajime.
The reason for that of course wasn’t because it was embarrassing for them being a member of a real harem. But, as expected it was a fact that it was a type of relationship that was far removed from being “normal” in the eye of society.
It was reality that such fact could possibly become an obstacle in building new friendly relationship. It was also a fact that a bad first impression would require tremendous persistence and effort to compensate for it.
And so, they thought to create friend with personality that would be able to accept such thing, or introduce Hajime later after they had gotten close enough they would be able to accept the fact.
「……Hajime, what about Yuuka and others?」
Yue asked at the timing when Hajime just finished parking the car on his rented space.
「Hm? Won’t they call if they want to come along too?」
「Hajime-kun, so cold! Just what do you think Yuuka-chan is!」
「No, she’s a friend……」
「Hajime, you’re horrible. Try putting yourself on the shoes of Yuuka who have to indirectly ask you about your lunch schedule and indirectly ask you to meet up every time.」
Even if they told him something like that……Hajime made a troubled expression.
The writing ability of Yuuka-chan who was unable to become honest no matter how much time passed was improving everyday. It was to a degree that the girls were amazed to learn how so much word variation could exist.
Although.
「……Hajime, Yuuka’s already at her limit.」
「W-what limit?」
Yue’s expression looked serious. Hajime turned off the disguise engine sound while asking back.
「……She’s about to run out already, of words asking about your plan, or phrase for eating lunch together. And even the last time, she finally feigned a coincidence to meet up with us.」
It seemed that Yue couldn’t bear to watch it anymore. She even reflexively grabbed Yuuka’s hand and dragged her into the restaurant without paying any care to the person herself who was looking embarrassed.
「…………Miyazaki or Tamai invited her there right? Those two also came together with her.」
「「「……」」」
Yue and others looked at him reproachfully. Even though originally the three of them should be the one on guard if there was a girl who looked like she had ulterior motive approached Hajime.
Why did he have to be stared accusingly like this by his three wives? Hajime wasn’t particularly dense. But, still. He thought that as a man with wives and child, it would be wrong for him to invite a girl who hadn’t made her feeling to him clear. That should be an extremely natural consideration for him to have.
And yet, the wives in question were looking at him with a gaze that seemed to say 「Good grief(Yare yare daze)」……
It really didn’t make sense to him at all no matter how he thought about it, even so Hajime replied 「I’ll call her later」.
The three’s expressions softened in acceptance and they nodded.
For some reason, it felt like their attitude toward Yuuka was soft compared to their high school period. They were like guardians watching over a difficult child.
Perhaps because the time they were spending together had decreased drastically, Yuuka’s awkwardness, or perhaps her praiseworthiness, that kind of aspect of her felt like it was even more striking than before.
Perhaps that side of her was tickling something like the motherhood inside his wives?
That was the thought Hajime had. As expected, that explanation still didn’t feel satisfying to him even while he got out of the car. Yue and others also got out.
Like that, they walked to enter the campus from the main gate──not, but from a place that wouldn’t gather much attention──
「……Good grief.」
Yue let out a sigh.
Hajime and others guessed just from that. They smiled wryly.
「──”Disperse”」
Yue’s word reverberated through a strangely wide range. It was “Divine Word”. The target were several people among the people around the back gate that they were heading to.
Not many people were using this gate during the morning, but naturally there were still some campus staffs and students other than Hajime’s group using it. In that case, it was normal for Yue and others to attract attention every time they passed here.
Among those people, there were also those who were clearly lying in wait for them despite pretending to play with their smartphone or talking with their friend.
Especially Yue. Her beauty had already became well known despite the recognition blocker applied on her. It was somewhat understandable that some people would try to have a glance of her in the morning to fuel them to go through the rest of their day, or wanting to meet her like a fan waiting for the idol they were supporting to pass by.
Therefore, they would overlook such people as long as they wouldn’t cause any harm.
But, people trying to sneakily take picture of them from behind cover, or people trying to casually call out to them with an expression so overflowing with ulterior motive it was curious just where did their confidence came from were unacceptable.
「There’s no end to them.」
「Even if you say that, it’s still two months. It can’t be helped. Yue in her 20 years old mode is packed full with charm even in the eyes of fellow female.」
Just now, around half of the people who got hit by “Divine Word” were newcomers. The number of people who had received “Divine Word” and became made to stop having interest to Yue and others was already nearing three digits ever since their enrollment to this university.
Even then something like this still happened everyday. It was definitely caused by Yue’s charm.
Even in her girl’s form there was nobody who thought of Yue as a child due to the bewitching aura that was oozing out from her. Her outer appearance that had caught up with her inside could bewitch even gods and demons, as had been proven in the fairy world.
The grown up Yue would become an actual country toppling beauty if she was born in such era. Ordinary people getting so entranced by her was something that couldn’t be helped somewhat.
That was why, Hajime too wouldn’t do anything to every single one of such case as long as they weren’t too much of a bother. It felt like their university life would be hindered even if he only applied Pressure on them, and most of all Yue would quickly deal with such people like clockwork. And so he put his full effort on praising her.
「You’re doing a really great job in using discretion, Yue. You’re already completely used to living in Japan. You’re a magnificent pacifist.」
「……Ehhen. You can praise me more.」
「No, umm……I’ve been hearing a lot of first-hand accounts of upperclassmen who looked much like a player suddenly transformed into super plain students wearing plain clothes, lenseless glasses that looked like it was picked up from the bottom of bargain bin, and also their black hair set in plain side parting though.」
「……They are a bunch that snorted when looking at Hajime so it can’t be helped. I’m even feeling moved with just how merciful I am.」
「W-well, certainly you stopping with the Smash without warning is already a positive growth, I think?」
「If they are members of a certain organization who harbored ill will, then it will be volunteer life for them out of this country. But instead they’re turned into diligent humans studying hard for their future. Yue is too kind.」
「……Fufu, you made me shy.」
By the way, Yue also wouldn’t act against anyone who wouldn’t cause harm to them. She would only ignore them.
People who crossed that line and did light harm like taking photo and the like would only be stopped by dispersing them just like now.
If someone was too persistent then Yue would only make them lost interest. And if someone was too malicious or she judged that they would cause harm to their enjoyment of university life on the whole, only then she would change their personality.
Like that, Yue had her own evaluation standard and didn’t change people’s personality whimsically, so certainly it could be said that she was restraining herself.
「Well, I can understand your feeling seeing that they’re the type of person who will still call out to a woman with ulterior motive even knowing that the woman has announced that she’s married and wearing a marriage ring.」
「True that. That kind of person is overflowing with baseless confidence and fundamentally won’t listen to other people’s explanation. Rather than allowing that kind of person to hover around, it’s better like this.」
Yue was gathering much more attention, but only relatively. Kaori and Shizuku themselves were also in possession of charm that drew attention vigorously. The number of men whose heart they had broken when they announced that they were married was beyond counting.
Them announcing that they were married was of course mainly because it was a happy thing for them, and that was the only thing that they didn’t want to hide. But a part of it was also in order to ward off men.
If they didn’t announce their married status, there would be much more men coming to woo them than now.
Considering that, they couldn’t deny the evaluation standard of Yue who possessed charm level that pierced through even the perception blocker. And so Shizuku and Kaori smiled wryly at Yue who was immersed in satisfaction as Hajime gently patted her head.
Also, there were girls too among the people who came to see Yue first thing in the morning, but they only shrilly screamed 「Kyaah」 with small voices.
Yue’s closeness with Hajime was also spreading to some degree at the same time when she instantly became famous, so there were also people who were supporting her with that included.
「Now then, we’re going to be late if we don’t walk fast. Kaori, Shizuku, see you two later okay?」
「……Nn. Shizuku, please find out the information of that good restaurant. It’s reaally fun going around the restaurant near the campus with everyone at lunch.」
「Fufu, I get it. Leave it to me.」
Hajime and Yue left while holding hands and snuggling close with each other. Kaori and Shizuku saw them off while looking at each other. They understood from looking at each other’s eyes. It seemed they had the same thought.
Which was.
──I want to introduce my new friend to Hajime quickly
They chuckled with each other and left that place with quick pace to their own lecture too.
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The time passed in the blink of eye after that.
Inside the large lecture hall where a shared subject’s class was being held before noon, a famous old professor who was always wearing a straw hat with ample variation regardless of the season was ending the class early.
It was also the professor’s habit to lightly lift up his straw hat as greeting. Also, Hajime had never seen the professor wearing the same straw hat until now. He was a serious straw hat maniac.
In the end, would he be able to see the professor run out of collection before the curriculum ended? It was something that Hajime looked forward a little.
Getting back on topic.
At the edge of the large lecture hall that could accommodate 500 people, there were Hajime and Yue sitting side by side, with Shia between Kaori and Shizuku sitting behind them.
The seating was arranged in stairway form, so Hajime and Yue had to look up slightly when they looked back to the three.
「As expected the professor’s story is interesting. It’s even more so as someone who know about Vatican or the actually existing underworld.」
「Right desu. And yet there are many students sleeping through the lecture. Why is that?」
「H~mm, because in the first place not many Japanese people are interested with religion, perhaps?」
「……Then, why are they taking this class?」
「Because they want easy credit, I guess?」
The exit would be congested if hundreds of people moved. And so Hajime and co were amusing themselves by talking among themselves while waiting for the crowd to thin out.
Also, the class they were taking was “Introduction of Religious Studies”. It was unpopular among the first year, however the upperclassmen often took it to make up for their grade because of how easy it was to get credit here.
One of their reasons taking this class was because not many students of their year were here, but it was also a fact that they were interested with the class.
Religion and history couldn’t be separated from each other no matter how much you tried. Also often occult things got related with religion.
Now that occult was starting to appear as real world problem, they thought that it would be useful learning about religion and its history.
Even putting aside whether it would really be useful or not, the class was more interesting than they imagined so it was all good. Though it was also because of the old professor’s skill in lecturing.
「……It feels like our objective and method got reversed. Well, no matter. More importantly Shizuku, did you manage to get the restaurant’s information?」
Yue who was watching the upperclassmen who were going out of the lecture hall as though she was watching a mysterious creature for a little while immediately turned a gaze that was sparkling with expectation toward Shizuku.
This university had a lot of eating places nearby. From restaurant that served a big portion with relatively cheap price, to stylish restaurant that was a bit expensive. It was a bit of obsession for Yue right now to find a restaurant that she would like.
However, Shizuku who usually could fulfill someone’s expectation on her properly looked unusually evasive today. She seemed hesitant to speak, and her expression was also troubled.
But, Kaori opened her mouth first before Shizuku could speak the reason.
「Ah, sorry to interrupt but, can I speak for a bit?」
「……Nn? What, Kaori? Did you find a restaurant that you want to recommend?」
「Just how much you want to go to a restaurant tour? That’s not it.」
Kaori also looked a bit troubled. Yue and others looked dubious. Then Kaori glanced at her smartphone while continuing speaking.
「Umm, it looks like the matter of Hajime-kun had gotten found out.」
「Found out……you means, by the friend that you just made?」
Kaori nodded. Shizuku said 「It looks like Kaori had also heard the same talk huh」 with a wry smile.
「Well, you two managed to keep it secret longer than me. The people in my circle had also found out that it’s Hajime-san since quite some time ago.」
According to Shia, it seemed that her friends had inquisitively questioned her about a month ago.
Naturally they were also aware of Yue’s existence, so they were worried or angry that if the husband that Shia said was Hajime, wouldn’t that mean he was two-timing? And so they interrogated her about it.
「I never heard about that though?」
「I never mentioned it after all. I already finished persuading them, or even if some of them aren’t completely persuaded their reaction is like “Well, if Shia is fine with that then it’s fine for now I guess”. I guess that they’re alright with it as long as I introduce Hajime-san properly to them one day?」
For good and bad, they were all people who were madly in love with their own partner(bike), so they wouldn’t say anything if Shia herself wasn’t troubled.
It was exactly that kind of simplicity that made Shia felt comfortable to be with them. That was the reason she decided to join the circle.
「Well, information circulate really quick in society right now. It isn’t like we’re completely hiding it, so certainly it lasting for two months isn’t bad……」
「Ahaha, that’s true~. They said that it doesn’t look like we want to hide it no matter the cost. This morning, it looks like they saw when we got out of Hajime-kun’s car and thought about it.」
No matter how big this campus was and how many people were coming and going in it, as long as they were in the same campus, as expected it was just a matter of time until their relationship was found out.
「It looks like my friends also had found up since a little while ago but……it seems that someone who was showing interest at me, was pestering Hajime……」
「……I see where this is going. I turned that person into a diligent guy and it spooked the girls around you?」
「Yes. They said that Hajime might be a dangerous person.」
It seemed that they were taking wait-and-see approach after that. Hajime asked Shizuku with worry.
「The friends that you finally made, did they distant themselves from you?」
「Looks like several of them are. But, there’re also some who got interested and became friend with me because of that. Then, those girls who became especially closer with me you see, they told me to introduce them to you and let them talk to you already.」
「Ah, so Shizuku-chan too. It’s also like that at my side. It became that kind of talk. They asked me to bring Hajime-kun at lunch. Though with me, I got this feeling that they’re aiming for Yue more rather than Hajime-kun though.」
Kaori and Shizuku were looking troubled, however it could be seen from their expression that they weren’t feeling uncomfortable.
It showed that the relationship they had built with these people they were friends with was just that good. As expected both Kaori and Shizuku’s communication ability was also great with how they were able to create friends that they judged could be told about their special relationship in just two months.
In any case Hajime felt relieved inside while nodding that he had to respond in this case.
「Got it. If it’s like that then let’s eat in the cafeteria today. Is that fine with you too Yue?」
「……I have to make them understand as the first wife. To battle.」
「「Don’t fight okay?」」
Yue-sama suddenly smiled while sighing fuh. Kaori and Shizuku became a bit worried while sending message to their respective friends.
「Then I’ll call my friends too. A lot of them are free spirit so I don’t know how many can come though.」
Shia also took this as opportunity and started sending messages.
Many people had left and the lecture hall had started becoming deserted. Then Kaori suddenly said 「Come to think of it」 and asked.
「I’ve never really heard Hajime-kun talking about your friend here haven’t you?」
「!」
For some reason, Hajime-san jerked.
「……Kaori, how can you ask something so cruel?」
「What does that mean!?」
Shizuku and Shia guessed it. Eh, don’t tell me……their expression seemed to say. Hajime-san, pressed his hand on his chest. It was like he got stabbed by something.
「Don’t tell me……Hajime-san, you still haven’t made any friend──」
「I, I-I-I have though!?」
Had they ever seen Hajime looking this shaken up before this? This time it was Shia and Shizuku instead who pressed their hands on their chests. The atmosphere became heavy. Kaori also guessed it at this point.
「Stop, don’t look at me with those eyes. I really have a friend here. Friend……candidate, no, it won’t be an exaggeration even if I call them friend, I think if you look at it from a certain way──」
「I’m sorry, Hajime-kun! You don’t need to force yourself anymore!」
「Don’t apologize! That’s just violence under the guise of sympathy!」
「……By the way, I managed to make a friend.」
「Why’re you kicking me while I’m down?」
Yue-sama spoke with a smug face. The unexpected betrayal made Hajime looked shocked.
By the way, in Yue’s case, rather than friend, the relationship was more like a junior idolizing a senior.
Her inhuman beauty was in a different dimension. At the beginning, it seemed the other side was feeling daunted somewhat by the difference in life experience or their depth as human, but Yue was Yue, a player in her own way.
She was also able to be considerate to someone of the same sex, and she also had broad-mindedness. She wasn’t really humble but there was no haughtiness in her, rather she was kind. It was also clear to anyone who saw her how she had absolute confidence in herself and there was this unshakeable aura around her.
There was no way the average girl could resist if such woman smiled at her, talked to her normally, and even be considerate at the end of it.
In addition, she was married.
Men’s eyes were glued on her but she wouldn’t give them any of her time, far from that she wouldn’t leave her husband’s side for even a moment as though to show off her intimacy with her husband.
Even then, she wouldn’t treat anyone of the opposite gender badly and would at least talk normally to them. However, it was clear to anyone who saw that there was an absolute difference when she spoke and acted with Hajime.
Her transcendental beauty was also part of the reason but, her appearance that was conveying 「Being at the side of this person is my happiness」 with her whole being made other girls to be unable to even feel jealous toward her.
Rather, they even held longing toward such marital relationship when seeing that.
Because of that.
「……It’s hard being invited by girls everyday to talk or go out and play.」
「Are you perhaps, picking a fight?」
Emergency. A husband and wife argument was imminent.
「……With my overflowing love toward Hajime, even the feeling of the boys in our department have gone past envy and they can interact normally with us right?」
「Thanks for that. You worked out a plan for my sake who can’t make a single friend.」
Hajime’s expression was twitching greatly from the gentle gaze that Yue was directing toward him. He was doing his best to form a smile, but his voice was trembling.
Or rather, he just admitted that he couldn’t make a friend……Shia and others looked like they didn’t know what to say.
Hajime’s gaze wandered around for a bit to avoid the eyes of Shia and others while he said to them.
「It can’t be helped……at my side I’m also starting to tell them about all of you. Certainly, the number of guys interacting with me normally was increasing but……they got distant again after that……」
「Err, sorry for that?」
「Don’t apologize, Kaori. Even I would get put off in their shoes. If I find out that a man my age is practicing polygamy despite having a wife this pretty, I’d think 『This bastard is screwing around!』 or 『This guy’s definitely bad news!』 too.」
「So you can look at yourself objectively huh.」
Shizuku’s wry smile stabbed into his heard again. Shia and Kaori reached out with their hands and patted his shoulders kindly.
「However. However, still. There is hope.」
「……Nn. There’re two who show prospect. One was already like a friend from before after all.」
「Eh? But Hajime-san, Aby isn’t here you know?」
「I understand really well now that there’s only Endou inside you who is in my friend position.」
Even I have some friends before I got summoned! Hajime filled his reproachful gaze back with that feeling. Kaori put her hands on her lips in a display of her surprise.
「Such……such lie, is just sad!」
「I’m not lying though!?」
「Because I, I was watching Hajime-kun the whole time! It was only from high school but, I never got any information of Hajime-kun playing with other boy, not even once!」
「Can I ask you to stop saying scary thing like that so naturally?」
This is why Yue is calling you with names like “Stalkaori” or “Yamisaki Bakaori-san”. Hajime’s gaze said that while, (TN: Stalkaori=Stalker+Kaori, Yamizaki=From her name Shirasaki, the kanji for Shira is white which got changed to the kanji Yami that means darkness)
「He really exist. ……I’ve known him ever since entering middle school, a guy who I can even call as my war buddy who had gotten my back many times before.」
「H-hey, Hajime. Could it be this is what people called imaginary frie──」
「That’s not it!」
Hajime-san today was high tensioned. He cleared his throat *cough* to stabilize his heart.
「By chance he entered this university too and also entered the same department. I just learned about this recently.」
「? Even though a good friend like that entered the same department, Hajime-san only learned about it recently?」
「……That’s right.」
「Hajime-san of all people didn’t realize right away? Eh? Or rather, why is that good friend got degraded to “friend candidate” desu?」
「…………That’s, how do I explain it……」
「……Shia, that can’t be helped. Hajime and that boy, had never met even once until now after all.」
「「「As expected it’s an imaginary frie──」」」
「I’m telling you that’s not it!」
The lecture hall had gotten considerably deserted but, there were still a few people there. A small group of students who were eating bento were looking at Hajime with sympathy in their eyes. It seemed that they were listening.
Hajime ignored them to the best of his ability and wrung out his voice.
「I’m a gamer you know? Naturally, I also played online game often.」
「「Ah」」
It seemed that Shizuku and Kaori finally got it. Yes, in other words this friend that Hajime called his war buddy who had protected his back many times despite never meeting him before was none other than──an online game friend.
Miraculously, they both harbored the same dream of wanting to develop VR game. They then realized each other’s identity while having such talk.
──D-don’t tell me you’re……”Dogeza Instructor”!?
──Then you’re……”Supreme Cleft Chin”!?
By the way, the two weren’t joking around or going crazy or anything. Yue looked at the two with that kind of suspicion for a moment but, those were just their usernames in the online game.
By the way part 2, “Supreme Cleft Chin” didn’t actually have cleft chin in real world. He was a very normal young man who simply had admiration for cleft chin. Though he was a skinhead and had no eyebrow.
「Both of us are gamers who had sacrificed real life while overcoming numerous hardships after all. Our tension also went up by the accidental offline meetup, and we also hit it off with each other through our conversation but……」
By the way, a high school friend of Cleft Chin also enrolled into this university with him. He was none other than the second friend candidate.
He was a glasses character who was small and timid, but he was self-assured when playing game to a degree that he got invited into an FPS-type pro gamer team. And apparently he was really strong. Also, his handle name was “Date Masamegane”. His eyesight at both eyes was 0,1 though.
「I see. So they choose to wait-and-see after learning about Hajime-san’s indulging lifestyle?」
「The “indulging” part, is it needed?」
Hajime’s gaze became reproachful again. Then Yue suggested to him.
「……Hajime. How about contacting them too? If we’re going to talk about our relationship to our respective friend, it’s a good chance to tell them too, right?」
In fact, Cleft Chin and Masamegane looked like good people even in Yue’s eyes. When they heard that Hajime and Yue were married, the first words that came out of their mouth were 「Is that so……congrats, Dogeza」 such blessing. It certainly showed their character.
「No, let’s not. We talked of playing game together next time after so long. I’ll talk to them slowly at that time.」
「……Fufu, that so. Got it. Have fun.」
「Ou.」
It was then. Right after they stood up from their seat to head to the cafeteria soon, Hajime’s smartphone rang.
He took out his smartphone from his chest pocket. The moment he saw the screen, his expression became displeased.
「……Nn? Is it from Hattori?」(TN: Whoops, looks like I’ve been wrong this whole time. Fukube’s name is actually Hattori)
「Looks like it. Wait for a sec.」
The words of Yue who was peering on the screen made Shia and others went 「Drats~」 from imagining the development after this.
「……Hattori-san, I’m in campus right now though?」
The first thing Hajime said was where he was to convey his situation as well as holding the other side in check but……
Hajime’s expression became very annoyed. The others couldn’t hear the content of the conversation, but the voice of Hattori──the leader of the division in charge of dealing with the returnees that leaked out slightly from the speaker sounded genuinely desperate. It felt like, someone begging without any care of appearance or shame.
Even without looking, they could imagine that the person on the other side must be pleadingly bowing his head up and down right now.
Before long Hajime cut off the call and let out a loud sigh.
And then, she apologized to Kaori and others with very guilty looking expression.
「My bad. I’ll go to help out Hattori-san a bit.」
「What’s the problem? Should we help too?」
Shizuku asked with a serious expression, but Hajime lazily waved his hand.
「No, it’s not anything serious. You guys know that the information war with other countries is intensifying behind the scene right now right?」
The people who appeared all over the world and caused supernatural phenomenon. It was well known that all countries were starting to move to secure them and analyze their power.
And then, they also knew that the respond department that Hattori was leading was one of the teams fighting in the thick of it.
「About that matter, it seems there is this place that offered to negotiate behind closed doors. If it goes well then the problems that both we and Hattori-san would have to deal with might decrease by a lot, but it looks like they don’t have much leeway time-wise to deal with it over there.」
The girls didn’t understand about the detail, but anyway it seemed Hajime was needed.
The truth was, it wasn’t rare for Hajime to get called for this kind of diplomatic exchange. This too was one of the reasons of his busyness.
And, Hajime taking action wasn’t solely just for some kind of merit.
「I’ve been making Hattori-san working hard openly and also secretly after all. If it’s a request from that person, I can’t just treat it too lightly. His stomach’ll get riddled with hole at this rate.」
According to Kousuke who was visiting the respond division regularly, apparently even energy drink that was mixed with restoration medicine and specially made stomach medicine didn’t seem like they could keep up with the damage to Hattor-san’s stomach.
「It can’t be helped if it’s something like that. Do your best, Hajime-kun.」
「Yea. Really sorry. Tell your friends I’m sorry too. That’s right, if it’s like this how about matching everyone’s schedule to open a get-together somewhere instead of doing it in cafeteria?」
「That’s great idea! Surely everyone will be happy! I’ll tell them now!」
「Like that even our respective friends might be able to be friend with each other. It’s not a bad idea desu.」
「My, in that case let’s invite the boys too if we’re going that far. They’re good people who’re interacting with us normally as students of the same year, so perhaps they’ll be able to get along with Hajime too I wonder?」
「Can you stop displaying your mom element so naturally like that?」
「Who’re you calling mom!」
Although, Hajime thought it would be a good thing if his friendship with the same gender could expand. If only everyone’s female friends got invited, it would become an event that might cause horrible rumor with Hajime being the only man among a dozen or so girls there.
There wouldn’t be any problem if Shizuku and others said that their male acquaintances were good people, and in that case it might be a good idea to invite Cleft Chin and Data Masamegane too…………while he was thinking something like that,
「Also, about the afternoon class……」
「……Nn. It’ll be fine too. I’ll record so you can see it with past replay.」
「Thanks.」
Hajime smiled back at Yue who understood him even without him saying everything. Then he said 「Then, see you guys later」 and left with a quick walk.
Everyone saw off his back while,
「Now then, let’s inform everyone about the change.」
Shizuku said while moving to tell her friends about Hajime’s sudden business. But, Yue told her to wait.
「……Wait. It’s fine to continue with the gathering.」
「Eh? But the essential person Hajime won’t be there you know?」
Kaori and Shia also tilted their head, but Yue sighed fuh and smiled.
Like that,
「……I’ll put them in their place beforehand so they won’t barrage Hajime with questions during the actual get-together.」
「「「What are you planning!?」」」
「……It’s fine, be at ease. I’ll make them give us their blessing unanimously before the afternoon class start.」
「「「Not a single word there is putting us at ease!!」」」
「……To battle!!」
「Aren’t you mistaken in your word choice I wonder!? I wonder!?」
「As expected I’ll be angry if you use “Divine Word’ or the like you know!?」
「Wait, Yue-san! Please tell us the specific of what you’re planning to dooo!」
Yue started walking away by herself. Shia and others chased behind her while a bit of unease was spurring them on.
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Meanwhile around that time, in the building of the faculty of education.
「Oi, Tamai.」
「Oou?」
Several boys were calling out at Tamai Atsushi.
「You’re apparently friend with that Nagumo guy aren’t you?」
「Aa~, yeah. You might say that.」
His words sounded ambiguous not because he wanted to deny that they were friends. It was because the expressions of the boys approaching him looked grave.
One of them, if he remembered right belonged to the boxing club. That person placed his rugged hand on Atsushi’s shoulder.
「Lend us your mug for a bit.」
「Hahaha………………」
He dropped a glance at that hand for a bit while,
Just for a little bit, Atsushi wondered if perhaps it was rash of him to go to the same university with Hajime. He let out a dry laugh. While letting out a long sigh inside his heart.
.
AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.
Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.
About Shia’s bike, I decided to make it V-Max that got recommended by multiple readers. A bike that got power and felt like it needed to be subdued with power suited Shia I think. It’s fun considering this kind of thing. In any case, thanks for the many comments!
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