NTR Kousuke

Chapter 163

Chapter 163: I Would Never Do That! [side Mishima Satsuki]

During lunch break, Yukari brings up Kuzu-kun again.

The location is the courtyard. There are plenty of other kids chatting on benches besides us.

I'm drinking tea, and Yukari's having a strawberry au lait.

Honestly, I'm surprised.

Up until now, there've been chances to talk about this, right? I know we were busy with the risk of repeating a year, but I even got the impression Yukari was deliberately avoiding the topic of Kuzu-kun.

With a serious expression, Yukari says,

"Satsuki, so you really weren't the one who messed with my desk or my shoes, right?"

Nodding, I reply,

"Of course not. Back then, I thought I could win without doing anything shady like that. I'd pretty much forgotten about you. Even with the beauty contest entry, I was like, 'Who's that?'"

Yukari, seeming convinced, says,

"You'd be a loner if I hated you now, wouldn't you? You wouldn't lie about this, right? You're proud of how you look, Satsuki... you wouldn't stoop to something like that...!"

I feel like she low-key dissed me for being a loner, but... she believes me, right?

Yukari thinks for a moment,

"Then who? Who would do something like that? Nobody was paying attention to me back then, and I hadn't even done anything to make people hate me yet..."

...I want to say it too.

"...Honestly, I've wanted to say this for a long time. I know Kuzu-kun is your ideal prince or whatever, but... Kuzu, no, Kuzu-kun is honestly a total jerk."

*Today's 'look who's talking' moment.*

Yukari gives a wry smile but says nothing.

Still, I can't stop.

"Not that I'm trying to defend myself, but you and I were enemies back then. But Kuzu turned your confession into a joke and made fun of you! Even after you started dating, he was still hitting on Nagase Aya! Someone like that isn't good enough for you, Yukari!"

When I say this, putting some force behind my words, Yukari smiles and says,

"In a way, maybe he is. Useless woman and a scummy man... a lid for every pot, right?"

Yukari gives a lonely smile.

I don't think Kuzu has any feelings for Yukari anymore, and someone like him isn't good enough for her.

I really think those two should break up.

I tell her that, but Yukari just silently shakes her head.

"...It wasn't just the shoes or the desk, you know...? There was even a time when I was walking with Kuzu-kun and got attacked with a hammer. Remember? I told you about it before, right?"

?

"Wasn't it a box cutter?"

"...So you really were listening, Satsuki?"

See Chapter 163: Transfer.

Isn't that awful? Seriously!

Yukari looks at me with a serious gaze,

"...Of course I didn't do anything like that, I swear on our friendship."

Yukari nods.

☆ ☆ ☆

At that time,

Kuzu: "W-w-what?! I didn't hear anything about using a blade... What if someone got hurt...?"

☆ ☆ ☆

Yukari thinks for a moment,

"You're right... Some of the things he said were weird, like he didn't know... Back then I was so out of it, I couldn't see what was really going on..."

With all this coming together, the conclusion is there really were a lot of suspicious things about Kuzu-kun's behavior in the fall.

Kuzu... How could you treat Yukari like that! I'm convinced Kuzu is the bad one here!

Yukari says the one who gets tricked is at fault, and that she's to blame for doing something stupid...

So she says she's made her peace with it.

And then, to clear up bad rumors about Osada and improve Kuzu-kun's reputation,

she muttered that she swore "not to break up."

"Yukari! There's no need to keep a promise like that! Especially if it goes against what you want! Osada too, Osada!"

*As expected of Satsuki.*

Yukari insists she's indebted to Osada-san and can't just break her promise.

Until a few days ago, Kousuke-kun was her only support, but I betrayed her.

...She mutters, like she's given up, that maybe this is what she deserves.

...Is there really nothing I can do? Even when my best friend is suffering...!

I mumble in frustration,

"Why Yukari...? Isn't it someone else's fault? I'm sure it is! Someone out there is up to no good!"

Yukari sighs and says,

"Satsuki, you're in high school, right? Stop whining and face what you've done, okay?"

"...All I did was switch to a better boyfriend, so it's not like I did anything wrong... right?"

Then, from the bench behind us, back to back,

???: "Hehehe! Don't you want to hear what an outsider thinks about all this?"

The one who spoke from the bench behind us... judging by her uniform ribbon, she's a first-year. I don't know her.

A pretty cute girl with bouncy, chestnut-colored, curly hair.

With her big, striking eyes and a cocky look, this girl says,

???: "Right now, I can give you advice from a strategist's perspective!"

"...I'm not really into people who go on about strategists or generals, you know? Pass!"

I cross my arms to make an X and turn her down, and she slumps back onto the bench, looking disappointed.

Yukari just silently watches with an odd expression...

She keeps glancing over at us, obviously unable to let it go, and Yukari finally speaks up to her... even though she could've just ignored her....