NTR Kousuke

Chapter 36

After a slight pause, Tomonaga-san looked up and began to speak,

"Kousuke-kun, I, I'm weak-willed and easily swayed by others, and I'm always being made fun of... But even someone like me can change... I'm a useless, sloppy woman who has to push herself... That confession was witnessed... The next day, you caught me and listened to my complaints... You gave me a chance to change. Kousuke-kun, you saved me. ...That's why, Kousuke-kun is special... Ah! I can't put it into words! What I mean to say is."

Tomonaga-san's hands trembled, her eyes darted around, and her body was stiff.

...But I'm not an idiot either; this must be an important conversation, so I'll listen carefully.

"Please give me confidence and resolve. ...If I succeed in my diet, if I succeed in my diet, there's something I want you to hear on Culture festival, day two..."

Her voice was hoarse at the end, probably from nervousness.

Her speech was also stiffer and more awkward than usual.

I couldn't look directly at Tomonaga-san, who was blushing and looking down.

I'm probably blushing too! My heart is pounding, and my throat feels dry.

Huh?

Is that what this is about? Right?

I can't say anything.

My mouth wouldn't form words even though I felt I should say something, and my mind was even more blank.

I'm not overthinking this, am I?

Patting her cheeks, Tomonaga-san said seriously,

"So, please watch me from the side? As before. So I don't run away, so I can't make excuses, I might whine or lash out because I'll be so focused on the diet, but I'll try my best. Even if it doesn't work out, it's fine. This is how I feel!"

Girls are strong, aren't they?

Two months ago, the girl who was so down is pushing herself this far in just two months, becoming so beautiful, and vowing to become even more beautiful.

And she's cutting off all escape routes.

She's incredibly cool.

At this moment, Yukari Tomonaga shines so brightly, it's enough to make one fall in love.

No, I'm falling in love.

I, in fact, can't take my eyes off Tomonaga-san right now...

Was this girl always this beautiful?

I had been confessed to by a girl before, but Satsuki was also there at the time, and I politely declined without even considering it.

But now, my heart is being stirred like this.

Tomonaga-san gave a wry smile, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere between the two of us,

"Ahaha, well, it's a preview. After declaring all this, I can't end up with a pathetic result, can I...? I've cut off my own escape route."

I nodded earnestly, but still not knowing what to do, I asked,

"...U-Uh, I understand well. What should I do?"

Tomonaga-san laughed again, "Ahaha!"

After laughing, she told me seriously,

"Please just be as you've always been... No, wait. Um, um, about me, would you call me Yukari? Ah! No, um, it's fine if you can't."

Her face turned bright red again, and she looked down.

Tomonaga-san had said her piece, but her timidity showed itself again,

No, Yukari... Yukari-san.

"...Yu-Yukari-san."

"Ko-Ko-Kousuke-kun."

Yukari-san stumbled over "Kousuke-kun," even though she had called him that before.

Hahaha! We both laughed.

After that, we consciously tried to change the subject and didn't touch upon that topic again.

Still, I could feel the atmosphere between us changing since Yukari-san's declaration.

We repeated many trivial conversations while drinking tea.

After enjoying tea for a while, we left the café and took the train at the terminal station.

Since we were going in the same direction, we were on the same train.

The train arrived at Toko Station, two stops away, her nearest station.

*Pshoo!* The door opened,

Just like always, her getting off the train, which had happened many times since summer vacation.

What did I always say?

"...See you tomorrow."

"Good work, rest well, okay?"

"Have a good holiday."

No, that's not right.

What should I say today?

I...

"...I'll contact you again tonight, Yukari-san."

"!! Yeah! Kousuke-kun! See you!"

I had never said I would contact her myself before.

For me to do that... I was surprised by the change in my own feelings.

I arrived at Shinkawa Station; a middle school classmate seemed to be on the same train, which often happens, but we talked and parted ways, then I went to the bicycle parking lot and rode my bike home.

I responded as usual, but my mind was somewhat elsewhere as I headed home.

That's how much that girl's preview? No, her declaration was shaking my heart.

It wasn't unpleasant at all; rather, it was the happiest and most enjoyable feeling I'd had since Satsuki rejected me.

My previous relationship ended in such a way that I don't know how to handle my own feelings.

At night, we exchanged LINE messages several times, and I praised and complimented Yukari-san, who had completed more than her quota of exercise today.

Yukari: "Praise me more!"

"I can work hard because Kousuke-kun encourages me!"

"Hehehehe, I wanna eat pancakes..."

Yukari-san's LINE messages became playful, and I laughed.

I hope we can gradually become less reserved with each other.

The night deepened as I thought about the change in my relationship with Yukari-san.

What can I do?

Yukari-san says I saved her, but that's not true.

By supporting Yukari-san during the time I was overwhelmed after Satsuki rejected me, I saved myself. Now I clearly understand that.