NTR Kousuke

Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Wanting to Protect.

"...And that's how we lost."

Airi "Such overwhelming athletic ability... If it had been a proper forty-minute game, Kousuke-kun would have won, right?"

"...Yeah, maybe, but it's still frustrating."

Airi "3-on-3 is a bit different, after all, isn't it?"

After finishing club activities and with the coach having left, I was chatting with Airi-senpai during a break in our extra practice.

Airi-senpai listened intently and analyzed the story about us losing to Sho's team in the 3-on-3 at the reunion during spring break. She's probably worried about the rumors, but... the basketball club is fully backing Airi-senpai, taking a firm stance to deny the rumors.

During club activities, we make sure she's so totally absorbed she forgets about everything else and only thinks about basketball, and we try so hard that she feels her efforts as manager are truly worth it! I think that's the very best thing we can do for Airi-senpai.

Airi "By the way, I'm really looking forward to the three days of joint practice with the strong schools during Golden Week, aren't you?"

"...It's definitely going to be brutal...!"

We're going to visit two other high schools in the city, taking turns at each school for joint practice, and then have a match at the end. For all three days it's a round-robin to decide the rankings.

It's close by so it's not a training camp, but the practices are going to be tough.

Airi-senpai smiles, looking so happy,

Airi "Matches really get the blood pumping, don't they? I'm retiring this summer, after all. This is my last year, so it's special."

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

The captain and Airi-senpai and the others retiring... I can't really imagine it yet...

Starting tomorrow, we have club activities every day during the holidays, and after three more days of school we'll be into Golden Week.

Airi "I can't wait for the joint practice. So much has happened that I just want to lose myself in basketball for a while."

"...I'll definitely win for you, Airi-senpai."

I want to produce a clear result—victory—for all the hard work Airi-senpai has put in.

When I say it with a serious face, Airi-senpai looks blank for a moment, then lowers her head.

When she looks up, her face is bright red,

Airi "Geez!"

Whap! Whap!

The way Airi-senpai squints her eyes like (> <) and playfully hits my shoulder is so cute, I can't help but smile.

Then, a voice rings out across the gymnasium at dusk.

?? "Airi—! Airi! I heard! What are you guys doing?! If you can't protect Airi when she's hurting, there's no point in being by her side!!"

...Yeah, long time no see, Sahori-senpai.

Sahori-senpai came into the gym in casual, everyday clothes...

Didn't you already graduate?

Still... even though I think "there he goes again," his words about not being able to protect her when she's struggling hit home.

Sahori "If I were here, I'd never let you feel that way! I'll be by your side again!"

Sahori approaches Airi-senpai, theatrically lamenting with exaggerated gestures.

Airi-senpai hides behind me like she's scared.

Airi "Senpai, please stop following me around."

Wait, he's been stalking her?

Sahori "Airi! I still love you! That's why I just visited your house! Tell that housekeeper a little more for me!"

The housekeeper at Airi-senpai's home is a college girl who's worked part-time at the Tendou house since way back, treats Airi-senpai like a little sister, and apparently sees Sahori-senpai as her sworn enemy.

Sahori "She's always chasing me with a bamboo broom, splashing me with water even in winter, or throwing dirty rags at me! And every time, she just says, 'I just got distracted because you talked to me while I was cleaning.' Can you believe it?"

Airi "You brought it on yourself!"

Airi-senpai shouts loudly from behind me.

Kumada "Who's this? Some old man?"

Washio "Outsiders aren't allowed in here, you know?"

Sahori, a little intimidated by the size of the new club member Kumada,

Sahori "You haven't heard? The ace of this place—Sahori—that's me!"

As Sahori proudly introduces himself, the first-years respond,

Kumada "Oh, the captain said to kick you out if we saw you!"

Washio "There's no way a legendary alumni worthy of respect would show up here."

Sahori "Wait, I'm a legend?"

Sahori doesn't seem too upset about it,

Washio "I heard you're just a hopeless guy."

Sahori "Date Otoko!"

While they're having a comedy-like back-and-forth, the first-years surround Sahori.

I've been feeling something off, so I finally ask what's been on my mind...

"Senpai, have you gained weight?"

Sahori "Ugh?!"

Basketball club is tough. Even if you slack off, you still burn a lot of energy.

I'd noticed he'd gotten more solid after retiring... but his face looks even rounder now than when I saw him at last month's farewell party...

He used to be a pretty good-looking guy with sharp features, but now it looks like everything's just bunched up in the center of his face...

Sahori "You really have no filter, do you?! Do you have to say that kind of thing?!"

Sahori snaps at us, complaining.

Airi "You did the same! Before! When I! Gained two kilos! You teased me about it for ages!!"

Airi-senpai's snapped!!

Still blushing bright red,

Airi "I'm back to normal now! Don't look!"

I never thought she was fat anyway.

...Honestly, talking about weight with girls is just a minefield...

If only the captain were here...

Actually, if it were the captain, she'd probably say this:

I'm not usually the kind of guy who says this sort of thing, though.

Still shielding Airi-senpai behind me,

"Sahori-senpai, Airi-senpai will always be protected by me (us). It's not your place to step in anymore."

*Airi heard it as "I'll protect you!"*

Sahori-senpai is left dumbfounded, and even Airi-senpai is too, leaving a weird atmosphere...!

But then, everyone joins in,

"Yeah, yeah! Get out of here—!"

Everyone chased Sahori out!

If we left him alone, he'd end up bothering Airi-senpai and even hitting on Nagase-san before leaving, you know?

"How does he even have the nerve to show his face?"

"Who told him we were here?!"

"He's got a round face now!"

"You haven't been studying, have you?! No way!"

While everyone was making a racket about chasing Sahori out,

Sahori's words,

If you can't protect Airi when she's hurting, there's no point in being by her side!

Those words alone stab bitterly into my heart...!

I have to do something—no matter what!

...I want to protect Airi-senpai.

What should I do to make that happen? How can I fix this?

...There's only one person I can think of, so I decided to visit them after the holidays.