kscans

Chapter 169 - The Food is Delicious!

I headed to the venue with Satou-kun. When I gave our invitation to the girl at the reception desk, she glanced between him and me with a knowing smile.

I guess she must have thought we were a couple.

The madam always has one of her young relatives work the reception whenever she throws a party. It's her way of giving them some pocket money, I believe. I've seen that girl quite a few times because of it. And well, I'm the one who always brings a female friend, yet this time I showed up with a man. It's only natural she would misunderstand.

Heh, I don't mind it at all.

She isn't someone we're close enough with for her opinion to matter, but still. It's just genuinely nice to be seen as a couple by someone else.

"Oh."

"What is it?"

"I saw someone I know. I'd like to go say hello."

"Okay. I'll go with you."

There was still some time before the party started, so I thought we could chat for a while, but it seems he found someone he knew. Well, the hostess is wealthy enough to throw these parties fairly often, so she has a vast network of contacts. It wouldn't be strange to find someone here who does business with Satou-kun, or rather, his company.

"Well now, Satou-san! It's been a while."

"Yes. It's good to see you're doing well."

Satou-kun shook hands with a portly man in his mid-fifties. I've seen him a few times before, but we've never spoken. I wonder who he is.

"Was the Mölkky tournament the last time we saw each other?"

"Yes. Ah, that heated competition we had... my blood boils just thinking about it."

Mölkky? What does he mean, Mölkky? I mean, I know what it is. It's that... game where you throw a wooden pin, right?

"By the way, today you're here..."

"Yes, I'm accompanying a friend."

Satou-kun smoothly took a step to the side, so I nodded and stepped forward.

"My name is Suzuki. We have attended the same events a few times, but I believe this is our first time speaking."

"How very polite of you."

He offered me his business card along with a brief introduction. Ishikawa-san... huh, so he's the editor-in-chief of a publishing company. I had no idea.

"I met Ishikawa-san through a mutual friend of my company's president."

"That was at the bowling tournament, was it not? My, my, that was quite exciting as well."

"We could have aimed for the championship if the president hadn't been holding us back."

"Hahaha! Your team truly gave us a run for our money."

As they were talking, an acquaintance of Ishikawa-san's approached. It was another familiar face. He probably came to greet Ishikawa-san and... was curious about me. When I come to these parties, I don't talk to anyone besides the host and people I already know. A go-getter would probably try to use an event like this as a chance to get ahead, but I have no such ambitions. It seemed he didn't know Satou-kun either, but,

He managed to get friendly with them in about five minutes.

How should I put it? He has an exceptional talent for grasping the flow of a conversation. He used interesting topics and perfect reactions to effortlessly slip into their good graces. I knew Satou-kun was sociable, but to see him befriend a stranger right before my eyes...

He really is on another level.

And as is always the case at these gatherings, when one group gets lively, more people are drawn to it. Satou-kun easily brought the newcomers into the circle of friendship as well. The circle of people grew. What I found masterful was the way Satou-kun guided the conversation. He probably knew that always trying to be the center of attention would make him seem like a show-off and earn him resentment. So Satou-kun managed the conversation so that the person at its center was always changing.

His follow-up is practically divine.

The moment the atmosphere threatened to turn even slightly awkward, he would immediately step in with a follow-up, correcting the mood as if nothing had happened. Honestly, I think what he's doing is a lot of trouble. What for? To be liked and expand his network? No, that's not it. If he were here in his capacity as a company employee, he might have such ulterior motives, but this is his private time. Satou-kun is shouldering this troublesome role without any selfish intent, simply so that everyone can enjoy the conversation.

"But still, you have to admire them. Being so lovey-dovey as a couple even after so many decades."

"How about you, Satou-san? Is there anyone special in your life?"

"That's right. For example... well? What about the lovely woman right next to you?"

"Well. I'll refrain from making a clear statement on that."

And the others in the circle could sense it too. They're the kind of people invited to a place like this. To put it crassly, you could say they're all socially successful individuals. And people like that have a good eye for character. It's only natural that they would notice. His every action is perfectly calculated. Yet at its foundation is pure sincerity.

Of course they'd end up liking him.

Unless you're a terribly cynical person, there's no reason not to. As I was thinking this, the guest of honor made her entrance.

She's as beautiful as ever.

The madam is quite advanced in years. Yet her elegant demeanor makes one feel her beauty more than her age. Her speech ended, and applause erupted from the hall. Beside me, Satou-kun was also sending his heartfelt congratulations with a bright smile. It wasn't a perfunctory social pleasantry, but a genuine blessing. Though he didn't know her, he thought the very fact that she and her husband had walked this path together for so long was wonderful. Yes, I was right to bring Satou-kun. Thanks to him, I can also celebrate her without any reservations.

"This is amazing."

"Right? One of my old classmates is a chef at this hotel."

"Oh?"

"She was a great cook even back in our student days."

"Who's better, you or her?"

"I wonder. Back then, I was number one in both academics and practical skills."

But there were more than a few times I thought she was about to surpass me. I'd say she's better now, still on the front lines and dealing with demanding clients. While we were talking, the madam, having finished greeting her other guests, made her way over to us.

"Mio-san! Thank you so much for coming today. I'm so happy you're here."

"Not at all, thank you for inviting me. I am delighted to be here."

"By the way, who is this gentleman?"

She's not even trying to hide her curiosity.

"He's a friend of mine."

This time, I prompted Satou-kun, and he gave a polite introduction. She must have been secretly watching us before the party started. The madam began chatting cheerfully with Satou-kun.

"My, so you've known each other since high school?"

"Yes. Differences in what we believed in... and our youthfulness, caused us to drift apart."

"I always sensed a certain shadow about you, Mio-san... I see. But you have such a wonderful expression on your face now."

The madam smiled, saying she was truly glad we were able to make up, and it made me think of my mother. I cut ties with my parents when I joined the True World and haven't seen them since. I wonder if they're doing well.

"Well then, I should be going. Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

As she left, the madam secretly whispered in my ear.

"He's a wonderful man. Don't let him get away, you hear?"

"Yes."

The madam gave a small laugh and then, this time, she was truly gone. But, well, what can I say? Having the man I'm in love with be praised by so many different people is...

To put it mildly, it's the best feeling in the world.

The food is just so incredibly delicious.