NTR Kousuke

Chapter 69

I explained that the source of her pride, the title of Miss Hokusho, might be stripped away.

Yukaricchi looked shocked, her face pale,

Yukari "Huh? White turbidity?"

"It's not white or turbid."

Yukari "I'm gonna throw up..."

"What, are you some country bumpkin?"

Yukari "...Pressure?"

"Tomonaga, you've got some nerve, huh? No, I'm serious. I'm trying to let you know, but you won't listen, and you're stirring up rebellion..."

Seriously, she's beyond help.

Yukaricchi... no, Tomonaga is honest, or rather, a shallow girl.

I knew that, so I've been trying to cover for her in various ways, but she pulled a move way beyond my expectations...

I don't feel the need to protect her even if I get bitten for it.

It leaves a bad taste, so I'll just tell her what I've learned now...

"It's being considered due to complaints received by the student council. They might call you in tomorrow? There could be a hearing or something."

Yukari "Huh? But that was a film club project, right? A documentary about me going on a diet, right? Even if it's promotion, it's okay to let my class or clubmates and supportive friends know about it, right? Why? Why? It's something the film club shot as a club, isn't it?"

Well, yeah, that's true.

I think so too.

Yukari "That's right, it's not something to criticize a film club project over, is it? It's not something that negates the club's activities or efforts!"

Tomonaga probably feels like not just herself, but the documentary she starred in is being criticized.

Well, I get that, but it's not my problem.

Yukari "Such complaints are unfair! Tanaka-kun and the others won't stand for our work being talked about like that!!"

I don't owe her any loyalty anymore, but I'll tell her anyway,

"Whether they stand for it or not... The biggest complaint is coming from the film club itself, you know? They're saying your Miss Hokusho title is unfair. They claim the film club over-supported you, making a biased documentary that manipulated votes and severely undermined the fairness of the competition. The documentary won't be submitted to external film contests, and they're going to discard it."

Yukari "Huh? Tanaka-kun and the others? Huh? Why? Are they returning kindness with betrayal?!"

※ Says you.

"I thought you and the film club were close, that there was trust. So even if it seemed sly, I collaborated—or rather, piggybacked—on their planning with makeup, costumes, and this time's audience draw. I was busy... that's an excuse, I took it lightly and put it off. I'll go apologize right away."

Tomonaga is stunned.

"But, didn't I ask you yesterday if you'd done something unspeakable to someone? What I heard today while gathering info is that Yukari Tomonaga, while hinting at dating Kousuke Saito-kun who devotedly supported her diet, dumped him and gave credit to Kuzu-kun, earning her a reputation as a promiscuous girl. ...That rumor is spreading, you know? This is my last warning, okay?"

Tomonaga seems to realize something and desperately apologizes to me, but,

"I absolutely hate cheating and NTR. I really can't stand it. We're totally incompatible, so bye-bye!"

Gal "Ai-chan looks tough, but she's super pure, you know?"

Gal "Poor Saito-kun, but not dating her was the right call!"

Serious Girl "Seriously unbelievable, she's got some nerve biting the hand of Osada-san who protected her despite her harshness!"

The entourage joins in, hurling insults.

It's fine, I don't need to do anything more; she's going to face tough times ahead anyway, right?

More importantly...

I turn politely toward them; actually, since earlier, a boy has been discreetly filming from the corner of the classroom.

"You're from the film club, right? I've seen you filming Tomonaga multiple times. Sorry for the delay, I'm Osada from Class 1-6. Could you introduce me to the person in charge of this documentary? I want to apologize."

The inconspicuous boy with glasses stops filming,

and bows slightly,

Tanaka "I'm Tanaka, a first-year from the film club. ...I'm friends with Kousuke-kun, Kousuke Saito, who was mentioned earlier."

Yukari "Eek! Captain Tanaka?!"

Tomonaga is shocked; yeah, I just noticed it too.

What is this? Does he have some kind of stealth ability?

Tomonaga, while scared of Tanaka, approaches with a flattering smile,

"...Tanaka-kun? Um, will you listen to me? ...About Kousuke-kun's situation? ...It's a misunderstanding... Yes, a misunderstanding...!"

With a sad face, a pained face, I'm watching in disbelief thinking, wow, she's quite the actress, isn't she?

She definitely looks beautiful right now, and since Tanaka-kun over there had shining eyes while filming Tomonaga, I thought maybe this Tanaka-kun likes her?

Tanaka "...Is that... so? You didn't betray Kousuke-kun... right? Right?"

Tomonaga's face lights up instantly,

Tomonaga "Yes! That's right! There's no way I'd betray him! After all, we were together so much... right?"

Tanaka "...I see, I see! That's right, isn't it?"

Tanaka-kun smiles happily.

Tomonaga also smiles happily.

Tomonaga "So, um? About the complaints regarding my Miss Hokusho title? Can't something be done?"

Tomonaga takes Tanaka-kun's hand in a pleading, coaxing manner, begging him.

...Tanaka-kun looks like the typical shy guy not used to girls, but...

Tanaka-kun, while smiling brightly,

Tanaka "There's no way it can be done, right? Do you even realize what you've done? I can't even face Kousuke-kun...!"

Tomonaga "...Huh? Why?"

Tanaka-kun laughs as if amused,

Tanaka "I... I used to like you, Tomonaga-san..."

Tomonaga "Huh? Then why?"

Tanaka "Because of Kousuke-kun. Back when my best friend and I were bullied, Kousuke-kun and Sho-kun fought the bullies one-on-one to save me... Giving up on the girl I liked was easy... But for things to turn out like this..."

※ Refer to the main story's confrontation series; middle school Kousuke and his best friend Sho confronted the bullies.

Tomonaga is completely overwhelmed by Tanaka-kun.

There's no trace of a shy guy anymore, just an angry man.

Tanaka "I can't forgive myself or you, ever! Just watch! After all the help Kousuke-kun gave, to treat him like that! I'll make sure you regret it!"

Yukari "Eek! For something like that? Really?"

Tanaka "...You're still saying it like that? We were saved by 'something like that'! My best friend and I! I have nothing more to say to you!"

Tanaka-kun turns to me, apologizes for his rudeness, and asks me to come to the film club's clubroom tomorrow during lunch break.

I tell him I'll be there, and we part ways for now.

Tomonaga... you're not just losing your place in class, but everywhere else too, huh?

I start to say something but stop.

She might not understand even if I tell her, right?

Some things can only be learned through pain.

Leaving the stunned Tomonaga behind, we exit the classroom.

Now then? It seems the student council didn't receive any photos of Kuzu and Tomonaga at a love hotel?

Who on earth? Who took those photos?

Why did they take them? For what purpose?

Grudge, personal vendetta, jealousy? If so, why weren't they submitted to the student council or the school?

Why were they put in my desk?

There must be someone's scheme at play, but I don't have enough pieces yet, just vague guesses at best.

...Well, whatever, the pieces will come together eventually, right?

I declare, "Disband!" and decide to go buy a strawberry milk at the vending machine.

When I'm deep in thought, nothing beats strawberry milk!

☆ ☆ ☆

Osada Ai, heading to the vending machine, runs into her boyfriend there.

Ai "Ah! Ryo-kun!"

Ryo "Hey, Ai (Ren)! Good work!"

Ryo-kun is a first-year in the sports department, a scholarship student in the baseball club.

Osada and he were from the same middle school. When they entered high school, Ryo confessed, and they started dating, though Ai is completely smitten.

He calls her 'Ren' because he can't grasp that 'Ai' is written as 'Koi.'

Ai corrects others who call her that, but she lets only Ryo get away with it.

Ai "Geez! Are you drinking protein milk again?"

Ryo "This stuff is the best, hands down!"

Ai "You need to get your nutrients from proper meals! Your body won't grow otherwise! Balance your diet!"

Ryo "I know, I know! More importantly, I didn't get to see your maid outfit at the cultural festival, Ren. I wanna see it!"

Ai "Geez! Don't change the subject like that!"

Tap tap. Ai, blushing bright red, playfully hits Ryo's shoulder!

They're quite the lovey-dovey couple.

Ryo-kun is a muscle-brained, refreshing handsome guy. His academics are a mess, but he's straightforward and sincere.

Ai loves Ryo so much! Of course, Ryo loves Ai just as much!

After chatting for a bit, the two say bye-bye.

They wave at each other until they're out of sight, and Ryo's buddy teases them as they part.

Friend "Ryo, don't you know how scary Osada-san is? She's super intense and totally terrifying!"

Ryo looks puzzled, then says with a surprised expression,

Ryo "Of course I know? She's got her own set of rules she follows. But in front of me, she's always cute, you know? Oh, maybe I'm the first in the world to discover this concept...!"

Friend "The world calls that a gap moe or tsundere, you know?"

Ai and Ryo. The two of them are doing pretty well together.