NTR Kousuke

Chapter 67

I won Miss Hokusho, and wearing a crown and cape over my uniform, I took commemorative photos!

After that, I did a commemorative parade on the first floor in that outfit! My popularity scares me!

Then, I returned to Class 6, reported to Osada-san, and got worked like a maid again...

Hey, shouldn't I have a higher status than Osada-san by now?

...But, I'm too scared to defy her...

Thanks to my Miss Hokusho effect, the maid café is booming! It's so busy it's overwhelming!

Osada-san talked to Class 5 next door and proposed a partnership! We started redirecting customers.

?

We're supposed to be competing, right? Shouldn't we stop this?

Osada "Even without doing that, haven't we already won? Any more and we'll just keep customers waiting, building up their frustration. Class 5 gets more sales, and we can't handle any more anyway, so it's a win for all three sides, right?"

Osada-san smirked.

I really can't tell if she's a bad person or a good person.

The only thing I'm sure of is that she's scary.

The culture festival ended without any issues.

The second day of the culture festival, 17:00, as promised with Kousuke-kun. Next to the gymnasium behind the school building.

I'm supposed to meet him here.

Now, what did I say last week again?

"On the second day of the culture festival at 17:00, I'll be waiting next to the gymnasium. I want to tell you about the thing I asked you to listen to the other day. I'll work hard to finish it by then. There's the beauty contest, the class's maid café, and Kousuke-kun, you're busy too, right? So, I won't message on LINE or meet up! In the meantime, I'll push myself, and build up, build up, build up!"

※As a result, I built up the readers' stress.

Was that how it went?

And then we kissed, didn't we...

Winning Miss Hokusho and being fatefully tied to Kuzu-kun right there must have reached Kousuke-kun's ears... or maybe he was even at that place.

So much has changed in just one week.

My environment and the circumstances around me are changing moment by moment.

I've adapted to it... and seized what I could, that's all.

I feel a little bad for leading him on, but... it couldn't be helped, right?

I'm sure Kousuke-kun will understand.

Kousuke-kun's efforts... I'll just say it's thanks to Kuzu-kun, but that's fine, right?

He's been by my side so much since summer break, so it'll probably be okay!

If anything, he might still like me even now...

※I laughed at how shameless that sounded.

Kousuke-kun arrived.

Kuzu-kun behind me gets a little tense.

It's okay, Kousuke-kun is gentle and kind, right?

...But Kousuke-kun's gaze is harsh...!

I'm a little scared, so I lower my eyes.

Does he have to look at me like that?

Since it's a bit hard to talk about, I wish Kousuke-kun would speak up instead...

As I'm thinking that, Kousuke-kun opens his mouth,

Kousuke "...Congratulations on Miss Hokusho... ...Good job,"

Phew! He congratulated me!

I worked so hard!

...I looked up, but Kousuke-kun's gaze is so scary I look down again... Why is he looking at me like he's blaming me?

"Yeah, thanks to everyone, I won! ...Thank you..."

Phew. Kousuke-kun lets out a sigh.

Is he angry? I see. But he likes me, right?

Won't he forgive me? If possible, I want him to keep liking me.

After all, he's the first boy I kissed, and it's not like I started hating him or anything, right?

Even I got rejected by Kuzu-kun, but if feelings remain, there might be another chance, right?

※This is the downside of otome games.

Kousuke "So? What's this about? The thing you wanted me to listen to? What do you want to say?"

I can't help but feel disappointed by Kousuke-kun's cold tone... Is he angry?

He's someone I liked, so I wished he'd send me off with a big heart without burdening me...

But, settling things cleanly is important too, right? After all, I'm Miss Hokusho!

"...I've... decided to go out with Kuzu-kun. ...Thank you for everything until now..."

It's not like I was dating Kousuke-kun, and I only vaguely said I had something to tell him, so it's not cheating or betrayal, but I still need to do the right thing, right? As a person!

So, I hope Kousuke-kun will kindly support me with a big heart, okay?

My feelings don't seem to reach him,

※I don't want the current Yukari telling me about doing the right thing lol

Kousuke "...That's it? If there's nothing else, can I go now? ...Be happy."

Saying what he wanted to say, Kousuke-kun tries to leave on his own...

Isn't it better than getting into a fight? I think, but then,

Maybe bothered by Kousuke-kun's tone, Kuzu-kun says,

Kuzu "Isn't that attitude why Yukari-san got fed up with you?"

Kousuke "Huh? Kuzu-kun, was it? Why are you even here?"

Kuzu "Because you might lose it and say awful things or resort to violence or rape, right?"

※Kuzu-kun has allegations of inappropriate behavior with girls from other schools.

Don't fight over me, okay?

Kuzu-kun too! Is he smirking and provoking out of a sense of superiority over Kousuke-kun?

And Kousuke-kun, is he irritated because I was taken from him...?

Both of you, watch your tone! It's a draw in this fight! You're both at fault! I try to intervene, but,

Kousuke-kun says with a look of utter disdain.

For the first time, I see him look at someone like they're filth on the roadside, with disgust in his eyes,

But with just a smile on his lips,

Kousuke "Heh! They say a crab digs a hole to match its shell, don't they?"

※It means people think and act according to their own level,

But it's also a jab that small-minded people can only judge others by their own standards.

Kuzu-kun doesn't seem to get it, with a question mark over his head.

A proverb about crabs? Sounds familiar?

Kousuke "So, you know? Since you think you'd resort to insults! Violence! Rape! You suspect others would do the same, right? That's what I meant."

Kuzu "...You're saying that?!"

※As the author, I love the situation where Kuzu-kun is dumbfounded until it's explained and then gets mad.

They're fighting over me again! I have to stop them!

It's my fault, right? You can't let go, can you?

"Kuzu-kun! Kousuke-kun! Don't fight, okay?"

I step in between them, but,

"There's no point in fighting. I'm leaving."

I start to feel really sorry for Kousuke-kun,

At least, I'll try to approach him honestly so we can make up...

"I'm sorry, I know an apology isn't enough, but... can't we be friends again?"

And then!

Kousuke "Be friends again? I'm not doing that. I've fulfilled my promise. I'm going."

As if saying he only kept his promise to help with a diet, Kousuke-kun spat out the words.

...I'm a bit disappointed, I guess?

I wanted the man I liked to have a big, generous heart.

Kousuke-kun probably doesn't even know that I was in a pinch this past week or that Kuzu-kun helped me.

※You're the one who declared you'd cut off contact.

If he knew, he'd be thanking Kuzu-kun instead of insulting him...

He doesn't know, so it can't be helped.

That's why I don't want them to fight. With sad eyes, I look back and forth between them. With this...

However, Kousuke-kun spat out venomous words.

Kousuke "That crab proverb from earlier. Yukari-san, you're the same, right?"

Huh? Why?

Kuzu-kun didn't get it, but I understood it perfectly, you know?

"Eh? The crab one? It means you think others are like you because you are that way, right?"

Kousuke-kun, with an expressionless face,

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

Episode 49: Refer to the next meeting.

Eh? Are you saying I cheated?

Do you say something like that to a girl?

I felt a little disappointed.

If it were a guy, you know?

Even if a girl cheated and was at fault, I'd want a guy to be man enough to pay alimony and end things.

※It's based on that legendary... thing.

Is he just thinking in a way that suits himself? Maybe I misjudged him...

Just because my feelings wavered a little, to be treated with that kind of attitude...

I feel like I'm starting to distrust men...

※Look who's talking.

I'm glad Kuzu-kun, who's by my side, is a superior man,

a sincere, dependable, and serious guy who suits my tastes!

※There's no such fact.

Today is the day I became Miss Hokusho! Let's forget about this!

I went home and told my family about winning the beauty contest!

The best day of my life! I've switched my mindset!