NTR Kousuke

Chapter 138: My Position [side Nozomi Tachibana]

In the evening, after finishing shopping with Nagase-san, I went back home for a bit.

Well, "went back home" just means I left my backpack there, grabbed the bag with the return gift, and headed to the Tachibana family by bike.

The time was around 16:00.

I parked my bicycle in the parking lot in front of the Tachibana family's house.

...There were three small snowmen.

These are the snowmen the siblings made together, right?

As soon as I rang the doorbell, the door opened!

It's an old house, so there's no intercom.

Nozomi: "Hey! Welcome!"

"...Is this a sushi restaurant or something?"

...You're not Sho, you know...!

I'm not good at comebacks.

Nozomi flashed a huge grin,

Nozomi: "Hehe—! Come on in, come on in!"

"Well, I'll come in, then?"

I've been coming here for years, so I know my way around.

I greeted Sho's grandparents, who were in the living room next to the entrance.

Prompted by Nozomi, I was shown into the guest room and told to sit and wait, okay?

So, I sat down on the cushion in the Japanese-style room like she said.

Apparently, neither Sho nor his younger brother Hii-chan were home yet.

We've known each other a long time, but it feels weird coming in when Sho isn't here...!

Nozomi: "Thanks for waiting!"

Nozomi brought in some Japanese tea, and we chatted a bit over tea, but...?

Nozomi, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?

She's sweating for some reason? Not talking at all...?

Even when I ask, she just says she's fine... Is she really? Are you sure?

I'm pretty sure that dress she's wearing today is a famous brand hand-me-down from Rena Kashii, right?

Sho mentioned it before—he said it's Nozomi's best outfit...?

☆ ☆ ☆

Kousuke-kun? Kousuke-nii-chan? side Nozomi Tachibana

Kousuke-kun is... coming to the Tachibana family...!

Isn't it about time?

Maybe my older brother will be home? Maybe Hii-chan will come back, too?

But there's a chance he'll come while those two aren't here, right?

Even at the end of our strategy meeting on the way home,

Best Friend 1: "It's better if you don't talk."

Best Friend 2: "Just keep smiling, okay?"

Best Friend 3: "You should wear your lucky underwear, just in case?"

Seri: "...That's not entirely wrong...?"

Seri, really? I'm trusting you on this?

I want him to see me not as his best friend's little sister, not as a little sister figure, but as a girl in my own right.

That's my wish. It gets confusing since my name is Nozomi, which means 'wish', huh?

While I was vaguely thinking about that, Kousuke-kun's face was suddenly close!

Kousuke: "Nozomi? Are you okay? Did you go out somewhere?"

...Because I'm wearing that pretty hand-me-down dress from my senpai so elegantly, Kousuke-kun thinks I've been out.

Since I'm just smiling and not talking at all, he's misunderstanding and thinking I'm sick or tired, and is trying to have me lie down...?

Eh—! Lie down?

What's going to happen? Cuddling? Head-patting and snuggling would be nice!

Just like my best friends said!

Not talking and just smiling—Operation Best Outfit was a success, wasn't it?!

*And yes, I am wearing my lucky underwear.

While I was grinning to myself,

Kousuke: "Well, I shouldn't overstay and tire you out, so I'll head home. Take care, Nozomi."

Kousuke-kun's gentle smile made me giggle! But... wait! You just got here!

I jumped up and made sure to show him I was fine!

Kousuke-kun, tilting his head, was rummaging through his bag and said, "If you're really okay, that's good..."

Kousuke: "Thanks for the chocolate on Valentine's. Here's something for you in return. I think you'll like it...?"

With that, he pulled out a big plastic box, like a bucket.

"Open it?" he said, so I did as I was told...!

The container, looking just like a bucket, was packed full of sweets!

Are these from that bulk candy store we went to the other day?

My brother's taste is the same, so it made me smile a bit.

Colorful chocolates, candies, ramune, gum, and all sorts of cheap snacks were stuffed in every gap.

Whoa?!

I couldn't help but get excited!

"Thank you! Kousuke-kun!"

Kousuke: "Well, you're my cute little sister, after all, right?"

With that, he patted me on the head.

The warmth of his big hand, just like my brother's, made my cheeks flush...!

...But, a little sister figure... a cute little sister...

I was happy about the return gift, but it also made me feel like he still saw me as a kid...

Hii: "Me too! Let me join in, too!"

Hii-chan, my younger brother, came home!

I'll give Hii-chan some head pats, too!

Come here!

Brother: "What are you doing?"

My brother came home just as Kousuke-kun was patting my head and I was patting Hii-chan's head, and smiled as he watched the scene.

Then, looking at the bucket,

Brother: "Oh! That much? Kousuke, you really went all out!"

Kousuke: "Nozomi, who's like a little sister to me, made handmade chocolates for the first time and gave them to me, you know? It made me happy to see how much she's grown."

Brother: "I get it."

Geez! Before I knew it, all my siblings started doting on Kousuke-kun!

"Wanna play Momotetsu? Like, for 99 years?"

Kousuke: "...If we do, I won't be able to go home today."

After playing for a while, Kousuke-kun had to leave.

...I was happy, but you know? All those sweets and being treated like a little sister... it made me realize again that my place is as my best friend's little sister or little sister figure, and while I was glad for the return gift, I felt a little lonely.

...I know I can't help it, and I get that I'm still a kid, but there's a part of me that feels frustrated about it.

When it was time for dinner, Kousuke-kun headed home.

I walked him to the entrance to see him off.

I even walked him outside.

Kousuke: "You really don't have to see me off all the way out here... You're such a good girl, Nozomi."

Kousuke-kun smiled kindly.

(I... I'm not a kid, though.)

I puffed out my cheeks a bit to show my protest!

Then,

Kousuke: "...Cheap snacks are nice, but since you're looking more and more like a girl, I got you some of these fancy sweets, too."

With that, Kousuke-kun took a small box out of his backpack and gave it to me.

Bye-bye! I waved until he was out of sight, then hugged the box and went inside my house.

I shared the sweets with my older brother and Hii-chan and we had munch-munch time!

I might complain, but the sweets are so tasty.

☆ ☆ ☆

Alone in my room, I opened the box Kousuke-kun gave me.

Pakari.

Inside were these things called macarons.

Ah, they're the ones that are super popular with girls.

They're definitely delicious, cute, and fancy sweets.

I'm not saying I dislike them, okay? But, like, they're really expensive, and they don't last long?

There are only six inside, but they're still pretty pricey, you know?

I'm the kind of girl who prefers quantity over quality.

Kousuke-kun is really stylish.

Since Hokusho's nearest station is a terminal station, I'm sure he's familiar with these kinds of things.

He's definitely a city boy.

※There aren't any shops selling macarons in Shinkawa Town.

The next morning, I met up with my best friends at club activities.

"How was it? How was it!" they asked, of course.

I told them everything, no holding back.

I mostly just smiled and handled things in my best outfit.

When I was sweating and silent, they thought I was sick and were super nice to me.

...Cute little sister... It's a phrase that feels happy but also a little lonely, you know?

A big assortment of cheap snacks! The bucket (?) was full.

I was happy, and my mood went up... but I'm still being treated like a kid, aren't I?

When I said that with my mood a little down,

Best Friend 1: "That much is definitely love!"

Best Friend 2: "He called you a cute little sister! He said you were cute!"

Best Friend 3: "Yeah! This is just the beginning!"

Being comforted like that... makes me want to cry...

Seri: "Anything else? Was there anything else?"

"...When he was leaving, he gave me extra macarons... I think it's because I'm from the countryside..."

Since I was looking so down,

Best Friend 1: "Hey, we're all from Shinkawa Town! He didn't mean it like that!"

Best Friend 2: "Yeah, yeah! Macarons are nice—so jealous!"

Best Friend 3: "...Macarons are expensive, right? Giving you macarons on top of a mountain of cheap snacks means he really cares about you!"

...That's why... being comforted just makes me even sadder...

Seri: "...No, Nozomi! Look at this!"

Seri, who'd been quietly tapping on her phone, suddenly shouted out in surprise!

Whoa! What is it?! My best friends crowded around to see.

Best Friend 1: "What is it, what is it? For White Day?"

Best Friend 2: "As a return gift? What do macarons mean?"

Best Friend 3: "...You are special...?"

"""Wha—what did you just say!!??"""