NTR Kousuke

Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Kousuke as Never Seen Before [side Mishima Satsuki]

Tomorrow is finally the opening ceremony—the very last day of spring break.

I'm here in the Hokusho High School gym in my school uniform...

Because I came to watch the basketball club's game with Yukari.

Let's go back a bit—to last week.

I had gotten a failing grade and my promotion was in jeopardy, so I somehow managed to finish all the extra assignments over spring break and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I'd been meeting up with Yukari twice a week even during spring break, and for the first time in my life I felt the joy of having a real best friend.

Basically, we'd spend a lot of time talking, listening, just chatting away as girls do.

We're different types, but there are things we click and don't click on—and that's okay? That's how I feel about me and Yukari.

...But, one of the things we don't click on is the whole Kousuke issue.

I've been dating Kousuke for a long time, so honestly, I think I know more about him than Yukari does.

Yukari really thinks highly of Kousuke—she's always like, "He helped me out, I did something bad to him," that kind of stance.

...Hmm? Is it really that big a deal?

Honestly, I don't think Kousuke is all that great of a guy...

That's why I broke up with him, after all.

But I'll admit, lately there are some parts where I might have misjudged him a bit.

After breaking up with Kousuke, I started dating Masaki Yamamoto. Back then he was cool, tall, came from a rich, glamorous family, totally flashy and urban—he seemed like this amazing guy, so I let him sweet-talk me.

*Yeah, I switched over while I was still dating Kousuke.

...But after his family went bankrupt in the fall, he changed.

Forget glamorous—now his family has no money and he's in trouble.

Well, that can't be helped, but then he started skipping finals and make-up classes without permission because the media was after him, and now he's repeating a year. He even tried to drag me into it, saying, "Let's do another year or just drop out and become a YouTuber or VTuber!"

We're already over... All that's left is to break up cleanly.

Comparing Kousuke and Masaki now? I'm starting to think maybe Kousuke comes out on top.

But still? Is he really that great? I can't help but question it.

When I talk with Yukari, we're like, "Back when we first met, or even until around fall, we never dreamed we'd get this close, huh?"

And every time, Yukari starts talking about how much Kousuke helped her.

"Kousuke always supported me, helped me succeed at dieting. He was so kind, we have so many memories!" she says, blushing as she reminisces, then—

Yukari: "...I betrayed Kousuke-kun... I can't even face him..."

Like that.

Is it really something to worry about that much?

I dumped him pretty harshly, told him not to talk to me, but then when I need something, I just talk to him normally.

When I say that, even the usually gentle, open-hearted Yukari seriously scolds me about that one thing.

...Why? Didn't Yukari also decide Kousuke wasn't a big deal and cut him off?

When I say that, Yukari just looks sad and drops the subject.

She never talks about Kuzu-kun, but when it comes to Kousuke, she's so talkative.

We were having that kind of conversation that day too.

Yukari says Kousuke is amazing.

Academically, he's been in the top 10 lately, he led his class to win the outstanding class award at the culture festival, and apparently he became a regular on the club in his first year and was a key player in getting the team to the top 8 in the prefecture at the winter tournament. Even the student council president Ichinose personally invited him to join the council.

...But Ichinose-kaichou aside, I have a bad impression of the student council thanks to Nagase.

And our class also won the outstanding class award at the culture festival with our maid café anyway.

Academics... Yeah, I guess that's impressive. Even if it's a new school, being in the top 10 at a preparatory school like Hokusho while doing club activities... I kind of want him to teach me just the studying part.

But the thing that bugs me is that club!

I've never heard of our basketball club being strong. And he became a regular there?

Even that prefectural top 8 in winter—I heard they got totally crushed.

Isn't it not that big of a deal? Kousuke played table tennis in middle school, and baseball in elementary school, you know?

He only started after entering high school, right? So it's probably not that impressive after all.

But then, rare for Yukari, she says—

Yukari: "Kousuke-kun! He worked so hard all through summer vacation, training with everything he had every day! ...He said he wanted to work even harder now because he'd been through hard times..."

Huh.

But Yukari, you don't know much about sports, right? I don't really get it either.

Then—

Yukari: "Then! The day before the opening ceremony! On the very last day of spring break, the basketball club is having a practice game with a team that made the top 8 in the prefecture! Let's go watch! We'll sneak up to the second-floor seats so we don't get in the way!"

At Yukari's unusual suggestion, I decided to go along, thinking, "Maybe I'll check it out."

Neither of us really knows much about basketball anyway.

We can just grab tea on the way home afterward.

That's why I'm here in this gym with such a casual attitude.

Sitting next to me, Yukari is watching with a slightly nervous look.

Yukari: "...There are upperclassmen and managers who helped me with my diet... I can't face them..."

Then you shouldn't have forced yourself to come.

Thinking that, I watch the game from the second-floor seats with a slightly downward view of the court.

There's Kousuke...

Kousuke is about the same height as me.

So among the basketball players, he's on the short side.

(See, I knew it.)

Even a beginner knows—height is important in basketball, and being short is a disadvantage.

The second-floor spectator seats are pretty crowded.

Even though it's a weekday during spring break, there are quite a lot of spectators.

A know-it-all student on the other side was explaining that the other team is also a top 8 team, but based on past achievements they're ranked higher. Apparently, they have a good first-year player too.

(With all these big players, Kousuke might just disappear out there.)

That's what I thought, but surprisingly, Kousuke stands out.

Because he's playing the position that leads the offense with the ball.

On defense, he's on the front line.

Before I knew it, I was watching only Kousuke.

Just like back in the old days.

My emotions would rise and fall with Kousuke's plays.

Kousuke's handsome face is shining with sweat, and he's got this super happy expression...

Even to an amateur, Kousuke's movements are quick, and the ball seems glued to his hand when he dribbles.

The offense moves on Kousuke's passes, and the momentum shifts with his steals.

Even though he's small, he moves all over the court like a spring, darting everywhere!

He drives with dribbles, passes, and if needed, takes the shot himself—before I knew it, I was totally absorbed in cheering for him.

Ah, I get it now—Kousuke must have gotten totally absorbed in basketball after starting high school.

I'll never make fun of him again.

The game stays neck-and-neck and heads into the second half.

Even during the interval, I kept my eyes on Kousuke.

Next to me, Yukari sighs.

Yukari: "...See? Kousuke-kun is amazing, isn't he? You can tell he's really trying, right?"

"...Yeah."

I just couldn't take my eyes off Kousuke...