NTR Kousuke

Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Overconfidence and Self-Destruction [side Nozomi Tachibana]

We had lunch in the cafeteria.

It was mostly chicken, lots of veggies, plenty of volume, and I thought it was delicious.

...I want dessert.

Young Lady: "Hmph, well, I suppose this is about what I expected. Exactly as unimpressive as I thought, hmm?"

...She's so irritating...!

After lunch, we're matched up for some games. Each of us gets to play two matches!

And right away, my first opponent is that young lady...!

Coach really knows what's up, huh?

The afternoon session begins,

Young Lady: "...Sarashina Sara, is it?"

"...Nozomi Tachibana. I'm going to knock that cute face of yours right off, lol."

Sara: "I'll rip that pasted-on smile right off your face, you know?"

Sarashina stares at me with a serious face, provoking me because she can't stand my smile.

"It's not like I'm doing this because I want to, you know."

Sara: "Huh?"

The match begins!

I wasn't wrong about her being the best mover among the girls.

This Sarashina is balanced and strong!

Especially her power!

Lately I've been focusing on speed and technique, but... yeah! Power really is strength!

She's honest, straightforward, and strong, so while I go head-to-head with her, I try to gradually shift the pace to my own!

But Sarashina's no slouch either, and this is a one-set match of six games. So, whoever gets to six games first wins, but it's a heated 5-5 battle. And since it's just one set, you don't need to win by two—simple rules.

If I use something like Tornado Axel and get a foul, it'll put me at a disadvantage for the scholarship student race... so I have no choice but to play straight.

Still, it's tough—Sarashina's really strong, huh?

I heard at lunch from the others that she's a top-class player from the neighboring prefecture.

We didn't face each other at last year's regional tournament. Didn't know her.

30–30, just two points left to decide the winner.

There's only one deuce per game.

That's when I remember!

"Time!"

Oh, I get it. This 120% smile and the chest pads are what's making this so hard!

I secretly take them off.

So the others don't notice... quietly.

Then I drop the pasted-on grin and go back to my usual face! That fired-up, natural grin I get in a match!

And the match resumes!

I keep aiming for the edges that were hard to hit earlier, and the match ends with my loss!

...I couldn't adjust my feel for it...

Frustrated. Really frustrated.

Giving my opponent a handicap by underestimating them and losing—what an idiot move.

I'm so embarrassed I could die.

...Losing because I held back. I can't even face my older brother.

Coach: "Game set, match won by Sarashina."

I shake hands and hurry away...!

On the verge of tears, I check my racket, adjust the strings, and try to calm myself down for the next match...

I can't calm down!

The racket my older brother bought me, throwing a match with my precious Wilson, the promise I made to my brother—I soiled it all myself...

Losing is one thing, winning or losing always has some luck to it.

But losing because I tied myself up...

The way I lost with this Wilson my older brother bought me with all that hard-earned part-time money is just disgraceful.

"...I'm sorry, Wilson... I'm sorry, big brother..."

I hugged Wilson and cried...

Just focus on doing my best! That's all I thought about as I set my sights on the second match.

My second opponent was two tiers below Sarashina, so I focused and won handily. ...If only I could've done that from the first match...

Feeling heavy with regret and remorse, I listened to the coach's summary, heard the call to dismiss, and headed to the locker room in despair.

I left the tennis club's practice court and was heading to the locker room.

Sara: "...Tachibana? Do you have a moment?"

"...No, see you later."

As I try to walk past her and head for the locker room, she grabs my arm... Don't touch me!

I almost snap instantly and go to draw my slapper!

...I'm the worst... Trying to resort to violence just because I lost...

I quickly twirl my slapper and stow it away in the hidden pocket at the bottom of my sports bag, and, reflecting on myself, head for the locker room.

My overconfidence. Lately, since Kashii-senpai's been busy and I haven't been getting crushed at tennis, I got cocky.

Kashii: "Nozomi-chan? It's for your own good too, you know?"

Getting beaten over and over by a senpai who, despite her cute face, hits strong, fast, and nasty shots—I never had time to get arrogant.

But in just the short time since senpai's been too busy to come, I've become so ridiculously full of myself...

I got some results at a few tournaments? Got an offer about being a scholarship student? Let that go to my head?

So I played with a forced smile and chest pads, then, when I was about to lose, took them off, messed up my sense of things, and self-destructed, lol

Sara: "...!"

Sarashina is so noisy.

Ignoring Sarashina, who keeps trying to talk to me by my side, I leave the locker room with a sullen face and head for the terminal station.

I have no more business here.

It all depends on how the summer tournament goes, right?

I still have lingering attachment to the Hokusho scholarship, but after that disgrace, I have no right to complain if they drop the offer.

I walk briskly through the school!

Right now, I don't even want to see Kousuke-kun...! I just want to go home! Hug Hii-chan and hole up in my futon!

But Sarashina keeps following me! So annoying!

I'm seriously getting irritated at this point! And just then—

Scum: "Ah! You, the JC from earlier! You really did it, huh! It really hurt! My butt—! There's a mark—!"

That pervert from before?

The pervert from before is furious, grabbing my arm,

Scum: "Seriously! What are you doing! What about my butt, huh?!"

The perv is getting heated up... Should I smack him again?

I start to reach for the slapper in my high socks...!

Scum tries to grab my hand to stop me, but...?

It's not there?! Oh right, I put it away earlier?

Crap, what do I do?

Sara: "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?! Molester! Molester! There's a molester here—!! He's preying on a middle school girl—!!"

Sarashina's scream, who's been tagging along since earlier, echoes out!

In an instant, a crowd forms around us?!

Scum: "N-no! That's not it! This middle school girl—!"

Boy: "First, let go of her, Kuzu."

Girl: "He was reaching for the girl's skirt!"

Scum is restrained in a flash.

Girl: "...Yeah, this girl was walking around looking downcast. I heard her scream and rushed over, and he was grabbing her arm..."

Boy: "I heard a girl scream and rushed over, and this guy was reaching for her thigh!"

Scum: "She had a weapon on her thigh!"

Even while being restrained, Scum claims I'm carrying a weapon!

...But I don't have it right now, do I?

Girl: "Excuse me? Sorry, okay?"

The lady said she wanted to do a quick body check, so I let her.

I mean, I'm not carrying anything, right?

Scum: "Eh?! No way?!"

...Didn't big brother say something about this before?

Sho: "When a villain says 'No way!' like that, it usually means they're about to get kicked off the stage, you know? (laughs)"

Huh? Is this bad? What's going to happen?

Is this going to turn into a problem?

I didn't do anything wrong, right?