NTR Kousuke

Chapter 62

Culture festival, day two, 17:00

I had promised beforehand that there was something I needed to tell Kousuke-kun.

But... my plans changed, didn't they?

I told him, feeling sorry, that I'm now dating Kuzu-kun.

My wish to still get along was rejected, and he spoke to me as if spitting out the words.

Kousuke "Yeah, that's why the other day you said to me, 'Don't cheat, okay?' I wouldn't do it, so it never even crossed my mind."

Episode 49: Refer to the next meeting.

I was shocked.

For Kousuke-kun to say something like that!

Sure, I was wrong for leading him on, but... I thought he'd support me in the end, so I felt betrayed.

Starting the next day, during the substitute holiday, I spent two full days with Kuzu-kun.

It was the first time I was wanted as a girl, so it was embarrassing but... I was happy.

I understand why Kousuke-kun is upset, but there's nothing I can do about it, right?

Kuzu-kun whispered in my ear that it's already in the past, and I nodded, urging him to continue in a sweet voice...

After the break, I went to school with Kuzu-kun.

Am I a bit of a celebrity now?

As we walk, I can hear people whispering rumors about us.

The title of Miss Hokusho feels ticklish and embarrassing...!

Everyone calls out to me.

Their voices are friendly.

For someone like me, who used to be a chubby introvert until recently, it's a bit hard to get used to, but their voices feel pleasant.

Everyone affirms me because I worked hard!

The world has changed!

Now, I just need to maintain this and create a new place for myself!

I enter the classroom.

Morning! Good morning!

Many people greet me, now that I'm part of the top clique of girls.

I return their greetings carefully, making sure not to let my guard down.

Osada "Morning, Yukaricchi."

"Good morning."

I'm weak against Osada-san.

She has such an intimidating presence, this person.

Her face is beautiful, yet she's a gyaru.

She's quite pretty, but I think it's a disadvantage that her intimidating aura overshadows her beauty...

Osada "Looks aren't everything, you know."

"Yes!"

How did she know?! That's the kind of thing that scares me...

Osada-san glares at me sharply and asks with a hint of irritation,

Osada "Hey, Yukaricchi? You're not doing anything you can't tell people about, right?"

"Of course not! I'm just a plain, introverted girl!"

Well, I've become a noticeable introverted girl now, though...

Osada-san doesn't even try to hide her suspicious expression,

Osada "Then, what's this about?"

She quietly hands me a photo...?

!!

A photo of me and Kuzu-kun entering a love hotel?!

W-Wh-Why?! I hurriedly hide it!

"Does it look like we're going in...?"

I desperately tried to brush it off.

Osada-san doesn't even bother hiding her irritation now,

Osada "...There's also a photo of you coming out, you know?"

The second photo is of me and Kuzu-kun coming out of the love hotel, arm in arm?!

I hurriedly hide this one too; this is bad...!

I was saved from this pinch by Kuzu-kun, and then...

How did this happen?! I think back...

☆ ☆ ☆

With one week left until the culture festival, most things were done.

I had filmed the PV for the beauty contest,

And we'd wrapped up filming for the film club!

Just as Osada-san said, I'm secretly getting attention...

Well, as Osada-san told me, I just need to keep a low profile until the day of the event.

All that's left is the final push for the beauty contest and helping with the class's maid café preparations, right?

Osada "Yukaricchi, dieting must be tough for you, right? You can rest. Everyone's okay with that, right? Yukaricchi is focused on attracting customers!"

Osada-san is surprisingly kind.

Of course, it's probably because there's a benefit for her, and if I get cocky, she'll definitely put me in my place...

She keeps a close eye on the class, and even though she's a gyaru, she's smart and takes good care of others.

Honestly, dieting is so tough and unbearable.

I'll take her up on her offer and rest at school.

Can someone buy me a protein milk? Please?

I'm tired of it, but it's the only thing I'm allowed...

Once this diet is over, I'm going to chug a sweet drink with a long name from Starba, okay?

I declared to Kousuke-kun that I wouldn't see him until the meeting at the end of day two of the culture festival, so it's boring.

When I'm bored, I start focusing on my bad condition.

I'm hungry, I want something sweet, I don't want to move.

My impulses are stronger than ever!

I feel sluggish and unmotivated, it's unbearable.

My weight is 52kg. I want to lose another 2kg...

Even though I'll do a water cut right before, I still have nearly 6 days of self-control and exercise ahead of me.

Preparations for the culture festival continue, and the maid café setup is going well.

We're competing with Class 5 next door, but objectively, our Class 6 is ahead in progress and completion... Osada-san is capable.

Everything is on schedule, or rather, we're progressing so well that we have some leeway, and morale is high.

That's it for today!

Osada-san announces.

Time to go home. As everyone starts moving,

Osada "Hey, Yukaricchi? You're not with your diet buddies today, right? We're heading to round2, so how about joining us for a bit? It could be a nice change of pace."

What should I do?

But if I'm alone, I might end up eating something... If it's round2, I can move my body and refresh myself, right?

I nodded at Osada-san's suggestion,

Two stations by train, and there's round2 in a building near the station.

It's a famous multi-purpose amusement park where you can play everything from video games to darts, billiards, and active games on a time-based system.

We go in for a 3-hour course, everyone having fun together.

Even though it's everyone from class, they're people who know me, so it's okay to take off my wig, right?

Ahh, that feels refreshing!

We put our bags and uniforms in one spot, and everyone heads off to play whatever they like.

...But since I'm an introvert, I tend to end up alone at times like this.

Tap, someone taps my shoulder from behind, and I flinch!

? "Tomonaga-san...? Uh... long time no see?"

There was Kuzu-kun!

The one who harshly rejected me during summer break at the bicycle parking lot?!

And who spread it around as a funny story! Because of that! Me!

I was furious with Kuzu-kun! I had so much I wanted to say!

However,

Kuzu "Sorry! I know an apology isn't enough... but I wanted to apologize... I heard from Osada-san that you'd be here today, so I secretly followed! It's only natural for you to be angry, and if you're mad, you can hit me or slap me! But please, let me apologize. I can't stand being misunderstood... I..."

Kuzu-kun looked down with sad eyes...

His voice and attitude were completely different from the Kuzu-kun I remember who rejected my confession...?

Raising his head once and then lowering it again, Kuzu-kun's gentlemanly and earnest demeanor had a refreshing sincerity that made me view him favorably.

I decided to hear him out for now.

...I resented him, but even so, he was the boy I liked since middle school.

If possible, I'd be happier if the events of that day turned out to be a lie.

Of course, my feelings are with Kousuke-kun!

But since I liked this boy so much back then, I thought it'd be nice if some misunderstanding could cleanly end that old love.

Kuzu-kun lifted his head, his face suddenly shining with the smile that once captivated me, and spoke to me.

Back then, I loved this smile so much.

But this smile was never directed at me...

Since Kuzu-kun was cool and popular, there were always flashy beauties or cute girls by his side.

Back in middle school, I was only defended once when someone mocked me for being fat and gloomy.

At that time, I saw a girl by Kuzu-kun's side looking at him with admiration, my heart pounding as I watched, but Kuzu-kun never turned his gaze toward me.

Kuzu "...Sorry, no matter how many times I say it, it's not enough..."

Kuzu-kun explained that Mishima-san witnessed that scene and, even though he tried to clarify, Mishima-san spread a terrible rumor that Kuzu-kun had insulted me and made me a laughingstock!

Since we were classmates from the same middle school and he valued me, he admitted he was clumsy with words and might have sounded harsh without meaning to, apologizing again with a dejected look.

"Okay, I understand, it's fine now."

Thinking about what happened earlier, I accepted Kuzu-kun's apology.

I'm glad the boy who was my first love wasn't a cruel, malicious person.

I was filled with joy that my memories weren't tainted.

Seeing Kuzu-kun apologize repeatedly with such sincerity and kindness made me so happy that I couldn't help but laugh.

Since we're here, why not play spotche together?

Kuzu-kun touched my hand—did he bump into me by accident?

No! I have Kousuke-kun!

As I quickly pulled away, Kuzu-kun apologized again.

Huh? Is he more innocent than I thought?

I couldn't help but smile at his sincerity and cuteness.

As the two of us laughed together, Osada-san passed by,

Osada "Kuzu-kun, Yukaricchi is a straightforward and easily influenced girl, okay? Don't do anything weird."

Did Osada-san glare at him and drive the point home?

After Osada-san left, Kuzu-kun scratched his head and said,

Kuzu "Osada-san is scary!"

"I know! But she's smart and a reliable big sister figure."

I played spotche with Kuzu-kun, and I made more progress in sports than I expected.

Since we're from the same middle school, we take the same train station.

He treated me politely as a girl and even escorted me close to my house.

The next day, he suggested we go to school together, and we promised to hang out as friends from the same middle school,

and ended up commuting to and from school together. I never thought a day like this would come!

That good mood was shattered in an instant.

When I went to school with Kuzu-kun, my indoor shoes were missing.

Heading to the classroom in slippers, I found my desk had been vandalized.

Osada-san had warned me that standing out would be bad, and I realized this is what she meant...

From yesterday's happiness, my feelings turned to the worst kind of fear and dread... Who would do something like this?

Seeing my desk, Osada-san clicked her tongue and instructed someone to bring a spare desk from the empty classroom.

I spent the time feeling restless and anxious, right before the first period started,

Kuzu "Ah, Tomonaga-san! I found your indoor shoes in the incinerator!"

The boy who was my first love came to my rescue with a refreshing smile in my moment of crisis!