NTR Kousuke

Chapter 59

Rustle...rustle!

The audience is murmuring...!

So freaking annoying!

That Tomonaga girl is using dirty tricks, blasting her own commercials everywhere to promote herself!

I heard yesterday that the film club guys made a documentary about Yukari Tomonaga's diet project and presented it.

When I heard that, I was like, huh?

So a fat girl got dumped and lost weight just to get back at someone, right?

Good for her, nice job! That's about it, isn't it?

So freaking annoying!

People who watch that and treat Tomonaga like a heroine, or say introverts just need to try harder, are ridiculous.

...Above all, Kousuke and Tanaka from the same middle school. Back when I was dating Kousuke, I told him to quit hanging with the film club nerds, and now it feels like they've pulled the rug out from under me, which pisses me off...!

Even when Tomonaga walks, or stops in the center of the runway, cheers erupt.

I watch her with bitter resentment.

What's with that? A white dress.

Acting all pure and innocent like that...what, is she a virgin or something?

My evening dress should be way sexier and prettier...!

I remember, when I returned to class yesterday...!

☆ ☆ ☆

The maid café is packed even at the end of lunchtime.

Kageno "Satsuki! Welcome back! How'd it go?"

Well, I think I'll place high, but...that Tomonaga girl is such an eyesore...!

"Well, Miss First-Year might be a close race."

Kageno-chan seemed relieved and muttered that a lot of people who saw the beauty contest pre-PR have been coming by since earlier...!

Kageno "You did great! But, uh, something crazy is happening next door...do you know about it?"

I said with a bitter feeling,

"That Yukari Tomonaga girl from the class next door is in the beauty contest. She's showing off in a maid outfit."

Kageno "Tomonaga? Was there a girl like that? The mysterious beauty everyone was talking about for a while?"

"Mysterious beauty? Sounds like some light novel title otakus would love (lol)."

Sure, both Class 5 and Class 6 are packed, but...it's so frustrating...!

Class 6 is...way more lively.

I said I'd go take a look, and when I peeked into Class 6 next door,

Tomonaga "Yes! Iced coffee and a sandwich set, right? ...Yes! Ah, thank you so much for the support! Ah!"

Yukari-chan is so cute!

Such a natural airhead!

Just like in the documentary!

I recorded it!

Suddenly, Osada, dressed in black, approaches with a serious face,

Osada "We do not allow recording or filming in our establishment. Hey."

The boys from our class surround the otaku-looking guy who recorded it and make him delete the images from his phone.

Anyway, Class 6 is super crowded.

...More than ours...!

A girl competing in the beauty contest doing menial work like that...!

Well, whatever, if she's busy with maid duties, that's convenient for me.

Returning to Class 5,

"Kageno-chan! I'm preparing for tomorrow!"

Kageno-chan hurriedly says,

"Satsuki! Be a maid! We're short on people! If you work hard as a maid here, you'll gain fans who'll vote for you tomorrow!"

"Even if I scrape by with extra votes, I won't win! I need to come up with a strategy! I'm taking off the maid outfit soon, so handle the staff however you want, Kageno-chan!"

Shaking off Kageno-chan's attempts to stop me, I get ready to leave!

Of course, I'll take off the maid outfit and let everyone come contribute to the maid café.

...I've already lost interest in this mass-produced maid outfit.

☆ ☆ ☆

In the end, I went home early, but I kept thinking things over, which is why I settled on the evening dress. I can't change my outfit now, and no special strategy is coming to mind.

If anything, maybe I'll shorten the hem a bit to make my legs look longer and sexier? That's about it.

After seeing that,

Masaki "Satsuki, you're the best...!"

"Geez...my dress is gonna get wrinkled...ah...!"

I didn't come up with any real strategy...just, I guess, replenished some feminine charm? Some lovability?

That's important, right?

☆ ☆ ☆

The first half of the main event, the date outfit check, is over.

How did I do? Cheers don't always translate to votes, but...I can't deny I'm at a disadvantage.

I even asked my boyfriend Masaki to cooperate, to ask his friends to vote for me, but...!

Honestly, I feel like I'm at a disadvantage...!

This is all because of that girl, and Kousuke and Tanaka from the film club!

So frustrating! Why me!

Losing to some nobody who just popped up out of nowhere!

I change clothes while feeling anxious.

The final uniform check is next.

Everyone's in the same uniform, so the difference in raw material really stands out.

Since we're all girls, I glance around and notice,

Tomonaga "...What are you looking at? Don't do anything underhanded, okay?"

Huh? That sounds so rude...!

I hate this girl.

Whether I win or lose, I've got to show off my looks!

There's nothing more I can do.

I've polished myself to the max.

Look closely! I'm the prettiest and cutest, right?!

In my uniform, I walk down the runway and stop in the center.

Huh? Something feels off?

This murmuring feels creepy?

Doesn't that girl...look like the one who insulted Yukari-chan?

Eh?...In a uniform, she kinda does?

Huh? The awful girl who badmouthed Yukari-chan?

Awful girl? This one?!

The commotion is getting bigger?!

What is this?

I can feel the crowd's malice? What is this?

It's so scary, everyone is looking at me with contempt and disdain...!

Did I do something?!

Because I dumped Kousuke?

Because I got three failing grades?

Because I skipped out on preparing for the maid café?

Because I bullied someone low on the class hierarchy?

Anyway, I can feel the crowd's malice swelling.

The beauty contest headquarters at the announcer's table are frantically discussing what to do.

If this continues, someone might throw something, or it could turn into a riot!

What's that?! So scary!

For now, the uniform check is suspended...and at that moment, Tomonaga steps out onto the runway!

I'm not even done yet!

The crowd quieted down.

And with deafening cheers,

Yukari! Yukari! Yukari!

Yukari-chan! I found the crappy woman who insulted Yukari-chan!

Should we do it? Should we do it?

Absolutely unforgivable!

The audience starts to make a fuss!

Scary!

Tomonaga: "Everyone! It's okay! She's not the one! Please don't be so angry!"

Huh? She's not?

Yukari-san is so kind...!

Are you okay? Are you protecting her?

It's not her. I see.

Things calmed down with a single word from Tomonaga.

Truly scary...

The first-year division ended.

Next, the second-year and third-year divisions would follow, leading to the announcement of results...

It's frustrating, but this time, it's probably Yukari Tomonaga's victory.

Given the crowd's reaction.

This year's beauty contest wasn't decided by looks or appearance.

I was made to realize that such things can happen...

Tomonaga: "Huh? Why are you making a face like it's already over?"

As I was thinking it was already over and that a beauty contest I couldn't win didn't matter, Tomonaga approached.

...Did things calm down because of her words, after all...? Should I... not thank her?

She probably has some demands too.

Tomonaga: "If I win Miss First Year, please apologize. For insulting me so much that day during summer vacation."

What is she talking about? She's getting carried away!

The results haven't even been announced yet, but she's so sure of her victory!

"Huh? Insulting?"

I decided to play dumb.

I just teased her a little, didn't I?

Tomonaga: "Tanaka-kun, who was there that day, recorded that scene and it's being broadcast in a documentary with eyes hidden. That's why everyone recognized you and holds such hostility towards you."

"Huh? My footage is being used without permission! I'm the one who wants an apology!"

Tomonaga looked at me with cold eyes,

Tomonaga: "Well then, I'll tell them that it was actually Mishima-san who said those abusive words. I covered for you because I didn't want the beauty contest to be canceled, but really..."

Wait, it's really bad if that hostility is directed at me.

"Alright. I'll apologize first, I'm sorry. Is this good enough?"

Tomonaga: "Of course not! Saying such terrible things, and then 'I'm sorry' is not enough! Fine, I get it. I'll tell the truth after it's over."

Even if it's the truth, it's horrible! Why me?!

I want to cry!

Still, facing such hostility, school life would be too terrifying...!

I steeled myself and bowed deeply,

"I'll apologize first.... Yukari Tomonaga-san.... I'm sorry for making fun of you for getting dumped and laughing at you for being fat during summer vacation.... Is this good enough?"

Tomonaga: "Please don't ever get involved with me again after the beauty contest is over, okay?"

Tomonaga left...

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Tomonaga! Kousuke! Tanaka!

Is that documentary thing the problem?!

Because of it, I'm being harassed, exposed to malice, and even the awards ceremony for the beauty contest I was looking forward to has been taken away!

After this, there was the beauty contest awards ceremony, but I had no interest anymore, so after watching Miss Hokusho being called and the winner crying her heart out with cold eyes, I quietly descended from the stage and quickly went home.

Seriously, unbelievable!