NTR Kousuke

Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Practice Participation Invitation [side Nozomi Tachibana]

Today is finally the day of the practice participation invitation♪

A holiday that falls at the start of Golden Week—today is the day!

Even though it's a day off, I put on my uniform and I'm about to head out!

I'm perfectly prepared with nothing forgotten! And yet, right?

Sho: "...Wait a sec?"

My older brother, who always tells me to get going early, stops me just as I'm about to dash out the door.

...My older brother is a worrywart, you know?

I really think doing things at my own pace but early is best for this kind of stuff.

If you're worried, why not just come along?

Sho: "You fool. The supervising teacher is here, you know?"

The person my older brother pointed at, opening the front door and coming in, was...Kousuke-kun?!

Why?!

Sho: "I'm counting on you, Kousuke."

Kousuke: "...Okay."

I hurriedly get my bike ready and hop on.

While riding alongside Kousuke-kun, I ask him why he came.

Kousuke: "...Well, because I was worried, obviously? Both your older brother and I are worried about you, Nozomi."

(What did he say? My older brother?)

Even as I'm thinking that, I'm so happy that I can't stop smiling, and I pedal my bike briskly to Shinkawa Station, which takes about twelve or thirteen minutes.

Kousuke: "Kashii-san said she doesn't ride a bike because her legs stick out and it's unladylike."

"Ah—she said she only wears pants when she rides a bike."

With all the chatting, we got there in no time.

Before I knew it, we arrived at Shinkawa Station.

Kousuke: "...So, you know? Personality really matters, so answer properly, okay? And be sure to mind your manners and respond clearly, got it? Absolutely no causing trouble, okay?"

"Okaaay♪"

Kousuke: "...Do you really get it? I'm worried. Absolutely no fights, violence, or incidents, got it?"

"I get it!"

My older brother and Kousuke-kun sure are worrywarts, huh?

I really am loved, aren't I? I'm not going to cause any incidents or anything, okay?

When we get to Shinkawa Station, I look so out of place compared to the high schoolers who just breeze through the gates with their commuter passes, while I, a middle schooler, have to buy a ticket to get in.

Kousuke-kun waits for me just past the ticket gate, walking beside me while explaining today's events and everything else... Doesn't it feel kind of like a boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend?

I kind of like it.

My little heart is pounding...!

What if...just what if?

What if I get into Hokusho High School as a scholarship student?

The time we overlap would only be for a year, but...

Could we go to school together every day?

Today I'm just the little sister, but...maybe?

If we could go to school together every day...wouldn't that be wonderful?

"...Kousuke-kun...where do you get on?"

The people scattered around the platform are pretty spaced out.

Is there a good place to get on, I wonder?

It'd be a roundabout trip to come pick me up at home, so we'd probably meet at the station or on the platform, right?

Just imagining that scene makes my heart flutter...! I love it!

Tanaka: "...Right about here is close to the terminal station's ticket gate, so I use it a lot, you know? Long time no see, Nozomi-chan?"

"Whoa?!"

It's Tanaka-kun?!

Out of all my older brother's friends, Tanaka-kun is the one with the least presence,

Like, sometimes when Kousuke-kun comes over, I'll look at the table, think there's a lot of tea, and then realize Tanaka-kun's there! It's always a surprise.

The snacks he gives me are usually chocolates.

I'm so surprised,

"Tanaka-kun? How long have you been here?"

Tanaka-kun laughs, going "Eheh!"

Tanaka: "We met up at the ticket gate, didn't we?"

he says, so I tilt my head.

Huh? Was Tanaka-kun already here back when I was getting all fluttery about feeling like a boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend?

It's not like Tanaka-kun did anything wrong, and I don't dislike him or anything.

But still, give me back my just-the-two-of-us atmosphere!

Thinking that, I beg Tanaka-kun for a snack.

...All my older brother's friends give me snacks☆

Kousuke: "...Nozomi? Tanaka-kun is older than you, right? How about a greeting?"

Kousuke-kun is so strict about this kind of thing!

He's polite himself, but if someone like Narumi-chan talks casually, it really bothers him.

...Tanaka-kun...he always appears out of nowhere like a ninja, and today he's getting in the way—!

So, to Tanaka-kun, I greet him...?

"Domo, Tanaka-san. Tachibana Nozomi desu."

When I greet him with a blank expression, Tanaka-kun's face kind of twitches,

Tanaka: "Nozomi-chan? You sometimes call me a ninja, but isn't that the greeting of a character who kills ninjas?"

* See: Ninja Slayer.

"Greetings are important, it's written in the Kojiki."

Tanaka-kun laughs as he tries to smooth things over with Kousuke-kun, saying, "Well, that's just Nozomi-chan for you,"

Tanaka: "If you become our underclassman, maybe we could go to school together like this every day for a year?"

"Ninjas must be destroyed."

He said it! The thing I wanted to say to Kousuke-kun today! Tanaka-kun beat me to it! Ninjas must not be forgiven!

Bonk! Kousuke-kun's karate chop lands on the top of my head.

Kousuke: "Nozomi? Tanaka-kun is your senior, and a friend of mine and Sho, you know?"

"I'm sorry. I got carried away."

In a manga, this would be where you say 'karma'.

* Karma.

Once we get off at the terminal station, it's about ten minutes to Hokusho High School!

It's beautiful and big!

Kousuke: "If anything happens, just tell me, okay? I'll be here until after lunch."

Tanaka: "I'll be here too, in the film club!"

I have to write my name in something like a visitor's log by the entrance, get something like an entry pass, and pin it to my chest.

Kousuke-kun heads to the gymnasium, Tanaka-kun to the clubroom building.

I head to the tennis club's indoor practice facility, get ready, and then it'll be time to join practice, I think.

I'm pretty sure it was this way?

...It's this way, right? Am I okay?

Hokusho High School is beautiful and spacious.

Since it's a holiday, the crowded area is pretty empty and it makes me anxious...!

??: "Huh? There's a cute girl here? Where did you wander in from, little princess?"

A guy with a fresh-looking, handsome-ish face starts talking to me?

...I don't like this person...

??: "Would you like me to show you around, princess?"

Now I get it.

He's looking at me, but not really seeing me.

He just saw a cute girl who looked lost, started talking in a show-offy way to get my attention, and maybe, just maybe, score some points with me!

"I'm fine, domo."

??: "Wait, aren't you here for the tennis club's practice invitation? I'm a second-yea—"

I shook him off in an instant! This guy! Did he just grab my arm?!

Glance, glance?

Luckily, there's nobody around...?

I've totally snapped...

Even if it was only in a small voice! My fighting spirit, another swing!!

"Trash Dragon Flash!!!"