"Every Wednesday is the Day I Throw Away My Husband" Episode 1

When I submitted our marriage registration, I thought it would be forever.
That I had formed an unbreakable bond with my husband.
But now, I want to throw my husband away.

******

"Satomi-san!"

It was almost lunch break. I was called by my name in a loud voice at such a time.
When I looked over, Naito-san, a senior colleague, was beckoning me over happily.

"Manager Satomi is here!"

I could see my husband waving with a smile at the entrance of the floor.
I stood up in a hurry, but Naoto-san stopped me with his hand as I tried to rush over.

"No, no, stay right there. I just brought some refreshments."

At the word "refreshments," not only Naito-san but the women in the department gathered around happily.

"Manager Satomi, thank you as always!"
"Wait, aren't these cream puffs from Kikuro? There's always a huge line and I can never buy them. It must have been tough in this cold, right?"

At those words, Naoto-san's smile deepened.

"No, no, I'm just glad you're happy. I was nearby for a meeting. I wanted you and Yukino to have some."

Saying that, Naoto-san turned his smile toward me as well.

"You wanted to eat one too, right?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Are you working hard?"
"I think I'm doing fine."

I married Naoto-san, who works as a manager in the sales department, three years ago after meeting at the company.
We are in different departments, but he comes to check on me like this sometimes, bringing refreshments.
He can be a bit overprotective, but he is a kind man.

"Manager Satomi, is it really okay for us to accept something so expensive?"
"Of course. Yukino is always causing you trouble, after all."

At Naoto-san's words, the female employees squealed with delight.

"Manager Satomi is really so kind to his wife."
"I'm so jealous, what a wonderful husband."
"That's not true. I'm just a worrier."

He gave a wry smile and looked at me, saying, "Right?" I responded with a vague smile.

“Well, I’ll be going now. Yukino, make sure you don’t cause everyone any trouble.”
“Yes.”

With that, Naoto-san gave a light wave and left the floor.
The female employees each picked up a cream puff from the gift. With sweets from a famous shop, everyone’s voices naturally became brighter than usual.

“I’m so jealous, Manager Satomi. He’s handsome, and he’s incredibly good at his job, too...”
“It makes my heart flutter how he only shows his true self to you, Yukino-san!”
“And the thoughtfulness of casually bringing a gift to his wife’s department!”

As they said this, everyone turned their gaze toward me.

“He really is someone too good for me, honestly.”

I should be grateful that he loves someone as worthless as me.
Even at home, Naoto-san always points out my flaws.
There surely isn’t anyone else who thinks about me as much as he does.

My gaze dropped involuntarily. Realizing I had been clenching both hands unconsciously, I gently relaxed them.

“...Really, I have to try hard so I don’t get thrown away.”
“Eh~. But it’s pathetic that you won’t be loved if you don’t try.”

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced my ears.
The owner of the voice was Tachibana-san, who was in her third year this year. When our eyes met, the corners of her vibrant pink lips curled up tightly.

“But well, with your specs, Yukino-san, it’s tough even if you try, isn’t it?”
“...”
“Hey! Tachibana-san!”

Naito-san warned her in a flustered manner, but Tachibana-san picked up a cream puff with a cool face and returned to her seat.
As she passed by, a sweet scent wafted over.
It was expensive-smelling perfume. Her lipstick must be high-quality, too. Her eye makeup was vivid, and her eyelashes were perfectly curled.
These were all things Naoto-san had forbidden me from using, saying they were “a waste.”
As I was blankly watching Tachibana-san’s profile, Arino-san at the next desk tapped my shoulder.
“Yukino-san, isn’t it about time for your health checkup?”
That’s right, I remembered. We were scheduled to have our health checkups in order starting yesterday. When I stood up saying I’d be going, Naito-san called out, “I’m so jealous.”

“That’s right, Manager Satomi is cool, but Dr. Koizumi, the industrial physician, is wonderful too!”
“Oh, Naito-san, you’re always talking about things like that.”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? Just looking at him makes me happy! It’s not like I want anything to happen!”

With the voices of my seniors acting excited behind me, I headed toward the infirmary.

＊＊＊＊

The infirmary is on the second floor of the building, at the end of the floor. I only visit it once a year for the health checkup consultation.
I tried to recall the face of Dr. Koizumi, whom Naito-san had mentioned, but even his features were hazy.
Wondering what kind of person he was, I knocked on the infirmary door.

“Excuse me. This is Satomi from the Planning Department, here for the consultation...”

The inside was a bright space where soft sunlight entered. I squinted involuntarily.
As if reacting to my voice, a man in a white coat turned toward me.

“You must be Rina Satomi. Please, come this way.”
“...Y-yes.”
“It’s nice to meet you, isn’t it? I’m Koizumi, and I’ve been working as the industrial physician since this spring. Pleased to meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you.”

I only come to the infirmary for health checkup consultations. If he started this spring, I hadn’t met him before. It was natural that I couldn’t remember his face.
As prompted, I sat down in the chair.
Dr. Koizumi also sat across from me and flipped through the medical records with long fingers.
When he lowered his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes cast shadows on his face.
I see, I felt like I understood why Naito-san and the others were making such a fuss about him being cool.

“There don’t seem to be any particular problems with the test results. Is there anything in your daily life that makes you feel anxious?”
“In my daily...”
“Yes. Even trivial things are fine. It’s also my job to conduct stress checks for employees.”
“...There is nothing in particular.”
“Really?”

Dr. Koizumi tilts his head slightly as he asks.

“...? No, I don't.”
“I see. In that case, that's fine.”

Even as he wears a gentle smile, that brief pause from a moment ago somehow lingers in my mind.
It was as if he were asserting that there must be something going on...

“If you ever have anything bothering you, please feel free to come and talk to me anytime. Everyone else does, too.”
“Thank you very much.”

I don't have any worries. Every day is peaceful... just as I thought that, Naoto-san's face suddenly crossed my mind.
Something that bothers me.
Every Wednesday, Naoto-san attends a study group. What concerns me is that he's been coming home later and later.
He said he often goes out for drinks after the study group ends, but once I start worrying about it, I can't let it go.

“Is something the matter?”

Dr. Koizumi peers into my face as I suddenly fall silent.
As the distance between us closes, I am overwhelmed by his handsome features and instinctively lean back.

“No, it's nothing.”
“I see. In that case, that concludes the examination. If anything comes up, please feel free to come by anytime.”
“Thank you very much.”

I leave the infirmary and let out a breath.
Dr. Koizumi's eyes were very striking. Eyes that looked straight at me, as if piercing through me.
I can certainly understand why everyone makes such a fuss about him.
But that has nothing to do with me, a married woman. I shouldn't even be hesitant about joining in on the talk about how cool he is.
All I can do is fulfill my role as a wife properly. I should only be thinking about that.
Even without that, my husband often scolds me for being “slow” or “stupid.”
I have to finish my work by the end of the day, go to the supermarket, and finish the rest of the housework before my husband gets home.
As I head back to the floor, thinking about the schedule ahead, Dr. Koizumi fades from my mind.

＊＊＊＊

Naoto-san is a perfect person.
He graduated from a good university and is capable at his job. With his refined features and gentle demeanor, I hear he still has many female fans among the employees even in his mid-thirties.
I wonder why someone like that would choose me. I once asked him. At the time, he smiled and said it was because of my modest nature.
He is my first love and an irreplaceable person to me. Naoto-san is my entire life right now.
Since I have become the wife of such a wonderful person, I must be perfect too. That is something Naoto-san tells me almost every day.
I must not cause any trouble in Naoto-san's life, and I must not disrupt Naoto-san's routine. That is why the morning after he comes home late... Thursday morning is always hectic. Since I can't take care of my husband's personal needs on Wednesday, I always wake up a little earlier on Thursday to get the housework done.
This Wednesday, which was yesterday, he was later than usual, so today is especially busy.
I have to stay awake until my husband gets home, and I'm not even allowed to bathe before him. My sleep time was short today, and my head felt a bit hazy, as if it were covered in fog.

“Yukino!”

As I was sorting clothes in the washroom, trying to finish the laundry in a hurry before heading to work, a voice called out from behind me. When I stopped and turned around, I met eyes with my husband, who had a stern expression on his face.

“Where is my blue checkered tie? I told you yesterday that I was going to wear it.”
“Oh...!”
“Honestly... I'm always telling you to do what you're told right away.”
“I'm sorry...”
“I'm not angry. I'm just scolding you for your own good.”
“...Thank you.”
“Fine. Never mind, I'll prepare the tie myself today.”
“I'm sorry for the trouble.”

With a heavy sigh, Naoto-san returns to the room.
For a moment, I remember the cold look he gave me, and my heart feels heavy. But this is no time to be depressed. If I don't hurry, I'll be late.
As I hurriedly took out my husband's dress shirt...

“Huh...”

There was some kind of stain near the chest area of the shirt.
Looking closely, it was something sparkly... it looked like glitter. There was also a stain that looked like foundation.
Reflexively, I brought the shirt up to my face.
Mixed in with my husband's scent was the smell of sweet perfume. Could it have gotten on him in a crowded train? No, regardless of the scent, the glitter-like stain was in a place that wouldn't get dirty unless he took off his jacket. In the first place, he should be wearing a coat when he rides the train now.
My anxiety grows rapidly.
The dress shirt is the one he wore yesterday, Wednesday.
A Wednesday when he came home late.
A dress shirt stained with cosmetics.
A sweet scent.
I couldn't help but hug the shirt tightly.

“Is he with a woman...? On Wednesdays...”

The anxiety that had grown in an instant was about to drive me to action.