Chapter 26: Reuniting with a college classmate

　Late July.

　Rushia-sensei was at my house.

　Today was the day of the meeting.

　At Rushia’s request, the meeting was held at my house.

　While we were both working at home, Nanakon and Akari came home after walking the dog.

“Fua～～～～～～～～～♡”

　In the living room, Rushia’s eyes lit up in her dress.

“Nanako!　She’s so cute!　This puppy!”

　A miniature dachshund is sitting in front of Rushia.

“Her name? 　What’s his name?”

…..[Chobi]. He is small, so Chobi.

“I see.　Chobi!　That’s a good name!”

　Rushia seemed to be in a good mood.

　On the other hand, Nanako is also in a good mood after being praised for her dog.

“…… Would you like to hold Chobi, if you don’t mind?”

“I can hold him!　I’m so happy!”

“You’re such a kid!”

　Akari says stunned.

　Rushia received Chobi from Nanako with trepidation.

“Oh!　Chobi!　It’s so smooth!　It’s so warm!　I love you so much~♡!”

“Ahn ahn!” [Bark bark]

“Ah, don’t lick my face … Hyan ♡ you mischievous child ~ ♡ Mou ~ ♡”

Seeing Rushia so excited, I thought it might be a good idea for us to have regular meetings at our place.

　She doesn’t have many friends.

　If she had an excuse to have a meeting, she might be able to make more time to play with her friends Akari and Nanako

　And then it happened.

　Ping-pong…….

“Huh, who is it?”

　Akari tried to stand up.

“I’ll get it. You go play with your friends.”

“Parents!”

“I’m your guardian.”

“Nuu…… I don’t want you to be my guardian forever. …… In the future, I’ll be your groom…?”

　I poked Akari’s forehead with my finger.

“Don’t get carried away.”

“Nihii♡ Sorry♡.”

　I headed for the front door, leaving Akari and the others behind.

　When I opened the door, I felt a …… surge of heat.

　There was a woman in a suit,…… wearing sunglasses.

　But …… I know her.

“Eh?　 Niekawa ……?”

She is tall, with glossy black hair.

　She has a firm body and a shapely figure.

“Is it Niekawa?”

　There was a friend of mine who went to college with me.

　It was Ichika Niekawa

“‘…… How did you notice me? I’m even wearing sunglasses.”

　When Niekawa took off her sunglasses, her mouth curved into a little smile.

“‘How could I forget my friend’s face?”

“…………”

　Niekawa rolled her eyes.

　Her mouth puckered up, then she quickly put on her sunglasses.

“Nnn….!　It’s been a while since I’ve seen you,…… Okaya-kun, maybe seven years.”

” That’s right, since my wedding.”

　When I graduated, I got married to Misae.

　At that time, I invited Niekawa and [another] friend to the ceremony.

　I never had a chance to see her again until today.

　So nostalgic……, but more than that.

“Why are you here?”

“Ah, that’s …….”

　That’s when it happened.

“Niekawa!　Sorry, I kept you waiting.”

Tetete, Rushia came running towards us.

　In her arms, she is holding Chobi.

” Young lady, I’m here to pick you up.”

” Young lady ……?”

　Niekawa obviously said so, looking at Rushia.

　I didn’t know who Rushia was, but from the way she talked and acted, I knew she was a lady from a good place.

　I see, Niekawa is her driver huh.

“Niekawa. I’m sorry, Uhm …… I want to stay at my friend’s house today.”

“What ……!?　You want to….. stay?”

“Yeah. Chobi, …… my friend’s dog, and I wanted to play with him more. …… Would that be okay?”

　Rushia asks fearfully.

“Well, that means that …… the young lady will be staying at Okaya-kun’s house, right……?”

“?　Ah, yes, but …… what’s wrong?　Oh, I see. I need to get permission from my grandfather.”

“Eh?　Oh, yeah, that’s right, …… well. I-I understand, I’ll ask him.”

　She took her phone out of her pocket and stepped outside.

Chira…..Niekawa looked at me.

“?　What’s wrong?”

“…… Nothing.”

Niekawa went outside, leaving me and Rushia alone.

“Okaya ……, do you know Niekawa?”

　Jii, with Chobi in her arms, Rushia asks.

“Yes, I do, Sensei” (Okaya)

“…… Okaya”

Zui, Rushia brings her face close to mine.

“Honorific, Please…… stop using it Sensei.”

　When she came to my house before, I had agreed with her not to use honorifics.

“…… Okay. Rushia.”

“Yes. So?　What’s your relationship with Niekawa?”

“We’ve been college friends since freshman year, all four years.”

“U-University friendddddddddddd!?”

　Rushia raised her voice in an absurd manner.

　Chobi is startled and jumps out of her arms.

　Then she went back to the living room where Nanako and the others were waiting.

“Is it such a surprise?”

” Ah, no, it’s …… right. U-umu. Okaya is also a part of society, so it’s no surprise that he had a college days. …… Okaya. Is this the same university as Niekawa?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“So you’re from ……, the University of Kyoto?”

“?　Yeah.”

“That’s amazing. …… Okaya. I didn’t know you were from Kyosakura, one of the top universities in Japan along with Haseda. No, Okaya’s work is as impressive as it gets, and it’s no wonder that you graduated from Kyosakura.”

　Rushiya nodded in admiration, “Yes, yes.”

　I’m good at it because I don’t need talent to study.

“I’m sorry.” (honorifics/polite)

“Umu!　Okaya …….honorifics!”

“Ah, I’m sorry, that was …….”

“Next time you use honorifics, I’ll ask you to do one thing for me. O-okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Fuaa……!?”

“It’s not likely that this habit will go away without a severe punishment like that. …… What’s wrong?”

　Rushia’s face turned red and she opened and closed her mouth like a little …… bird.

“R-really…..is that okay?”

“?　Yeah.”

“Y-You know that what I say is …… absolute, right?”

“It’s okay, I dont mind”

　I don’t mind listening to a child’s begging.

“If I ask you to meet my parents, will you meet them?”

“?　I don’t mind.”

“Really!?　Really?”

　Rushia’s previous work, Senmoshi, brought a huge profit to the publisher.

　I had always wanted to visit Aisatsu once to thank her.

“All right, all right!　Listen Okaya!　If you use honorifics, you’ll have to meet my parents!”

“Okay. I’ll be careful not to use it.”

“No!　Use it!”

“That’s not way to punish someone.”

　I poked her forehead.

I-I see. …… But …… ugh~…… Okaya …… if I give you 10 billion yen as punishment. Would you accept it if I asked you to accept it?”

“Hahaha. It’s a funny joke. I don’t mind, as long as you really give me 10 billion yen.”

“………………………….I’ll consider”

　This serious girl can tell a joke too.

　It’s kind of refreshing.

“Hey, Niekawa. You’re back?　What did grandfather say?”

　Before I knew it, I found Niekawa standing in the doorway.

“…………”

“Niekawa what’s wrong?　Rushia wants to see you.”

　Niekawa came back to her senses.

“I’m sorry, ……. I got in touch with your grandfather. He said you can stay the night.”

“I see!　Thank you, Niekawa”

“Please contact me tomorrow so I can pick you up again.”

“Contact……?　Niekawa, I don’t have a smart phone, remember?”

“T-tthat’s right. …… What should we do ……?”

　I thought about it for a while and told Niekawa.

“Should I contact you, Niekawa?”

“Eh……?　Is that okay?”

　She looked surprised, even through her sunglasses.

“Yeah. Is that the same old contact information?”

“Ah, Uhm, I broke the old phone…… and lost all my data.”

” I didn’t know that. Then let’s exchange contact information.”

“!　Are you sure……?”

“?　How am I supposed to contact you tomorrow if we don’t do it?”

“T-hat’s true……”

　I exchanged my LINE ID and cell phone number with Niekawa.

　After the exchange, Niekawa hugged her phone to her chest with a squeeze…..Kyuuu

“Okaya-kun. Thank you.”

　Why was she thanking me for……?

　Ah, gratitude for letting Rushia stay.

“It’s not a problem. Don’t worry about it. I won’t touch the child.”

“Umu……Okaya, That’s …… kind of relief.”

　Hoo, Niekawa breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes, I’m glad to hear that.”

“You think I have the guts to do anything with a minor?”

“That’s true.”

Fufufu, Niekawa laughs.

　The way she was smiling was exactly the same as when I was in college, and I missed it.

” Why don’t you come inside?　We have a lot to talk about.”

“…………!”

Niekawa takes a step forward.

　However,……, a look of realization appeared on her face.

　Looking at Rushia behind me, rather than me ……, Niekawa shakes her head.

“That’s nice, but I’m …… [at work].”

“Ah, ……, I see. That’s right. I’m sorry for asking.”

“Uun, don’t worry about it. I was just happy to see you.”

” I see. ……”

　I pondered for a moment and then said.

“Hey, do you want to go out for a drink sometime?”

“”EEH…..!?”

　Niekawa was surprised ……, and for some reason, Rushia was surprised too.

“O-Okaya!?”

” Only the…. t-two of us”

“?　No, I was thinking of inviting the [Ouji] as well.”

” Ouji?”

Haté ~ Rushia tilted her head.

　On the other hand, Niekawa immediately realized that she had an idea.

“I see. ……. I wonder if he works with Hakubaku-kun.”

“Well, not the same job, but we’ve met many times in our business relationship.”

Niekawa nodded, “I see, …….”

“So, the three of us …….”

“Umu, …… the three of us.”

　Rushia wanted to join the conversation.

　Children often want to interfere in conversations between adults, so I didn’t really mind.

“Okaya-kun, can I leave the …… setting to you then?”

“Sure. I’ll ask Ouji about his schedule and let you know when it’s decided.

“Thank you. But ……, it’s been a long time. I haven’t seen him in seven years. I wonder if he remembers me?”

“How can a Ouji forget the face of his friend?”

“That’s true. Fufu”

　…… and Rushia tugged on my arm, squeezing it.

“Okaya, how long are you [ chummy ] talking? Niekawa is in the middle of [work], please don’t interrupt her too much.”

“Y-yeah……that’s right. Sorry, Niekawa.”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

　Niekawa put her hand on the doorknob and opened the door.

　I followed her out.

　I wanted to see her off to the outside.

　There was a big black limousine parked in front of my house.

“You…… work at a great place, huh?”

“R-right…….”

　She looked away from me, looking uncomfortable.

　She doesn’t want me to get too deep into it.

“Hey …… Okaya-kun.”

　Standing in front of the limousine, Niekawa takes off her sunglasses and looks straight at me.

“Is it …… true that you broke up with Nagano-san?”

　…… We were at the same university, so you’ll hear rumors.

“Yeah, I broke up with Misae.”

“…… Yeah. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“?　No, don’t worry about it. It’s okay. It’s over.”

　It’s true.

　I’ve already broken up with Misae. Therefore, I don’t think anything of it when she brings it up.

Niekawa looks at me and rolled her …… eyes.

” I see,……, you’ve cut off the past.”

” Yeah.”

“……Okaya-kun, you’re the type who drags things out quite a bit, so I was concerned.”

“Thank you. Well, …… a lot happened this time.”

　If I had been alone, I might have dragged it out, just as Niekawa said.

　But now I have the twins, Nanako and Akari.

　With their encouragement and warm meals, I am able to go about my daily life.

“…… I see. There’s someone good nearby.”

“Niekawa?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Ah, ……. What about Niekawa?　Are you married yet……”

“No, I-I’m not. ……!”

Niekawa denies it quite loudly and strongly.

　She quickly came to her senses and shook her head, her face reddening.

“I’m embarrassed to say that I’m 28 years old and I’ve never even had a boyfriend, let alone gotten married.”

Mojimoji, Niekawa twisted around.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I don’t have a girlfriend, nor am I married. Well, I’m …… divorced man.”

“!?　You don’t have a girlfriend ……?”

“?　No.”

“Anyone you’re interested in?”

“No.”

“What about ……Rushia-chan?”

　Why is Rushia’s name suddenly coming up ……?

　I poked Niekawa in the forehead.

“Idiot. Are you out of your mind?”

“Eh……?”

“Rushia is a high school student.　That’s impossible.”

　Pokan …… and Niekawa opened her mouth and eyes and looked at me.

　But …… eventually, her cheeks blushed and she nodded.

“R-right!　She’s a minor!　I don’t know what the hell I was thinking …….”

Niekawa repeatedly ruffled her long hair with her hand.

“Well, then, Okaya-kun, in the true sense of the word, you are now free.”

“What do you mean, in the true sense of the word …… Well, I’m free, but…”

“…… Yeah, [I understand].”

　Niekawa looks up and smiles.

“I’m looking forward to the meeting”

“Yeah. I’ll be in touch. I mean, you’ll be hearing from me tomorrow.”

” You forgot it already, geez …… fufufu”

　She sat down in the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“I’ll pick her up again tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow, Okaya-kun. See you later.”

　The limousine drove away from me without a sound.

　But Niekawa…… reminded me of my college days and made me feel a little happy.

“Well, …… hmm?　What’s up with you girls?”

　Nanako, Akari, and Rushia were standing in the doorway.

　All three of them were staring at me with mysterious looks on their faces.

” …… What do you think of that?”

” …… It’s black.”

“…… Yeah, I think it’s black, too.”

　The three of us say something in whispers.

　Black?　Color?

“What’s black?”

　The three of them looked at each other and then said.

“””Cheating investigation”””

　I sighed and ran my finger across their foreheads.

“Idiot.”