NTR Kousuke

Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Suspicious Person!

Late April, Monday. Every day, I check my shoe box, locker, and inside my desk when I open them... there's always this tension.

Especially on Mondays, I get jumpy thinking, "Is there another letter in there or something?" as I check.

Tanaka-kun also casually checks the surroundings and secretly records with his camera, then reviews the footage, but there's nothing suspicious, and no suspicious people show up either.

Just yesterday, Nozomi came by, gave me cookies, and things felt warm and fuzzy, but now it's back to this.

The hurtful rumors about Airi-senpai that suddenly spread since last week.

Of course, the one most hurt is Airi-senpai.

Even if the three of us defend her or try to squash the rumors.

"The basketball club is being seduced, lol"

"She's like the queen bee, lol"

"Princess of the otaku circle (lol)"

The rumors just keep coming, as if to mock her.

As for Airi-senpai,

Airi: "...Girls' relationships are surprisingly messy, you know? Even if we seem friendly, behind the scenes? Stuff happens, so? I think it'll pass, you know? I might have gotten too close to everyone because I'm so into being manager? Ahaha..."

That's what she says.

In reality, the rumors keep morphing like that and spreading.

The only reason they haven't totally taken root is because Airi-senpai isn't the type to make enemies, and people who know her don't believe them.

Even so, just the fact there are people who get caught up or amused by the rumors is enough to wound Airi-senpai...!

The captain, when it's just the guys,

Captain: "Why Airi the manager...! There's no one as good as her! She works so hard supporting us, giving it her all! Why would anyone talk trash about such a great girl!"

He was super pissed.

After practice, when it was just the two of us during solo practice time, I talked to the captain.

I told him about the letter I got a while ago, the one that said, "Be careful of Tendou Airi."

Captain: "Kousuke! Why! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

He grabbed me roughly by the collar.

The captain might be kind of an idiot, but he's a cheerful and kind guy.

I know he's not the type to be violent to underclassmen, but I was still surprised.

...Well, I can't blame him. I'm pissed too.

If I find out who the main culprit is, I want to go yell at them!

I call out to the captain and explain how things went.

The letter only said, "Be careful of Tendou Airi."

I already told Airi-senpai about the letter, and she's being careful going to and from school.

During club activities and so on, both Tanaka-kun and I are being cautious too.

Captain: "...Tanaka-kun?"

"...That's him."

Tanaka-kun greets us while holding up his digital video camera,

Tanaka: "...I'm Tanaka."

Captain: "Whoa! How long have you been here?!"

Tanaka: "Since about the time we finished the final warm-up."

Captain: "That's way earlier! Is this our first time meeting?"

Tanaka: "...I've been in the gym for quite a while, waiting for Kousuke-kun and all..."

Tanaka-kun looks like he's about to cry, but that's his special skill!

Apparently, even on Tanaka-kun's camera, no suspicious person has shown up...

Captain: "I see... Got it. With that letter, all we can really do is warn everyone to be careful. Sorry, Kousuke, for grabbing you like that."

"...It's totally fine."

The captain thought it over with me too.

If we tell all the club members about the letter, it'll just rile things up and won't help.

If... and I doubt it, but if a club member is the culprit, then they'll know everything.

The captain mutters that at the very least, he doesn't think it's anyone from the second or third-year basketball club...

The captain asks, what about the female managers?

They all seem to look up to Airi-manager like an older sister...

But? Even Airi-senpai said that the girls' world can be pretty messy?

What about the first-years? Do any of them have a reason to go that far? I guess spreading rumors isn't out of the question?

The first-year boys, on the other hand, seem more like loyal minions, practically swearing allegiance to Airi-senpai?

On the way home, the captain, Tanaka-kun, and I kept discussing our theories.

The conclusion we reached was,

"There's nothing we can do, but just keep a close eye on Airi-senpai and not stir things up."

"There's no guarantee the letters will stop here—there might be more."

It's frustrating, but all we can do is keep watching as usual.

Absolutely deny the rumors!

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The next morning, on the way to school.

Tanaka: "About what the captain said yesterday? Honestly, it wouldn't be weird if the next letter shows up soon or if the person who sent it tries to contact us, right?"

"...Yeah, that's true."

Tanaka: "If you think like the enemy, they might make another move right before Golden Week, or try again right after to keep it fresh. So you need to be extra careful around Golden Week, Kousuke-kun."

"...Yeah, you're right."

Talking like this makes everything seem suspicious.

And thinking that way, during lunch break, that person showed up.

Came looking for me.

??: "...You're Kousuke Saito-senpai, right?"

...A first-year? A cute, energetic girl with chestnut hair flipping outwards came to see me.

Who is she? I don't know her. She smiles at me with a captivating smile, talking as if we know each other.

Alarms are going off inside my head.

There's no way a cute girl would just walk up to me without Sho knowing about it!

??: "Fufu♪ Don't be so on guard♪"

Who wouldn't be on guard after being told that?

I can't hold back anymore,

"...Pretty bold for a first meeting, huh?"

The girl, looking a bit flustered,

??: "Come on, don't be so suspicious, okay? I'm...?"

She touches her well-shaped chin with her finger,

Smiles brightly at me,

??: "Let's see, who's your favorite strategist, Kousuke-kun? Has anything unusual happened lately? Can we talk a bit somewhere around here?"

I grabbed her hand!

...I was so freaked out, I pulled her by the sleeve and ran out of the classroom!

Finally, they made contact from the other side!

I was sure this suspicious girl was either involved with the letter or someone connected to that person!

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The scene caused an uproar in Class 1!

What? A first-year? Kousuke-kun, bold move!

The sudden lunchtime drama in second-year Class 1, the elite class, became the talk of the school! Kousuke-kun, who stands out as a special advanced student and basketball club member, suddenly in a romance!

That usually silent guy running off hand in hand with a cute first-year girl!

Osada Ai looked exasperated, and Nagase Aya watched in a daze,

The three members of Nagase Aya's group...

Takahashi: "Kousuke-kun just left, huh? ...Aya?"

Ninomiya: "What's up? Aya? Your face looks like a clay figurine, lol."

Nagase Aya chases after Kousuke, who's leaving at high speed, just with her head.

With a clunky move like she was missing some oil, she turns her face back to the two and forces an awkward smile,

Nagase: "...Hohoho."

Aya's usual cheerful and cute smile was now all twisted up.

Even that was so cute that Takahashi-san—

Takahashi: "Aya is just so cute."

Ninomiya: "Huh? That's what you're focusing on?!"

Ninomiya Niina was shocked by Takahashi.

The Nagase group was peaceful again today.

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