"Kaneda?" The stocky man looked at the colleague who had come with him, somewhat surprised. "I thought Professor Iwama was treating us again this time. I never expected you to be the one who booked the private room. Kaneda, when did you become so generous?"
Kaneda Kamezo gave a cold snort. "I didn't book it. Must've been some other Kaneda."
"Brother Kaneda, Brother Arai!" A voice came from nearby. The group turned toward it and saw a slightly older professor emerging from the direction of the private rooms.
"I've been waiting for you for ages." Professor Iwama came over and patted their shoulders. "Why are you only getting here now?"
Arai Ryuichi hurriedly said, "Sorry, Kaneda was just taking forever. I waited for him for ages."
Kaneda Kamezo snorted again. "I didn't ask you to wait for me. Why couldn't you come ahead on your own?"
"What did you say?!" Arai Ryuichi snapped. "Today's gathering is to celebrate your promotion to associate professor. Is that how you treat the colleagues who came to support you?"
"Heh, so you know I'm an associate professor now." Kaneda Kamezo shot him a haughty sideways glance and lifted his chin. "Don't think that just because we used to be equals, you can still address me as one—watch your wording. From the moment I was promoted, an ordinary lecturer like you became an assistant beneath me."
Arai Ryuichi: "You...!"
"Enough, don't block the way." Kaneda Kamezo pushed past him and walked up to the pretty receptionist. "Miss, what's the most expensive thing in your restaurant?"
"..." The receptionist kept smiling. There was no reason not to fleece a sucker who had delivered himself to her doorstep. "That would be pufferfish caviar. Would you like an order?"
"Three orders. There are three of us." After ordering,