NTR Kousuke

Chapter 19

For the first time, I went to my best friend's part-time job place, ate hamburg steak curry with Tomonaga-san, and got to meet my best friend after a long time!

That night, I heard that a classmate who enrolled in a baseball powerhouse school aiming for Koshien was returning home from the dormitory after a long time, so about 14 boys from Shinkawa Junior High gathered.

At a nearby riverside park, we all brought snacks, drinks, and junk food at night, talked, played, and even played basketball!

We played and made noise until midnight!

Since our junior high didn't have a basketball club, some people chose the basketball club in high school, and we exchanged information.

Huh? That kind of practice? Oh! That kind of offense too? That's helpful.

Basketball got super exciting, and Shou, as always, had incredible stamina, dominating with sheer athleticism. He's also great at defense... subtle but a tough player to deal with. He'd be great in the basketball club, but apparently, he has an enemy there.

Learning countermeasures from a senior at his part-time job? I see.

Tanaka-kun was watching with a smile. Occasionally, he was filming with a camera.

That guy who went to the baseball powerhouse school and Aoi, a handsome guy who also enrolled at Toko High School like Shou, were both competing fiercely at the center position under the basket, with such intensity it felt like you could hear squishing sounds. I want them in our club. Apparently, Shou and Aoi play 3-on-3 at night with the manager and university students at Shou's part-time job place. I want to join...!

Some gal classmates who heard about it also showed up, making it feel like a mini-reunion.

Lately, I might have forgotten the spirit of having fun like this... It's nice once in a while.

Now, Tomonaga-san's diet is almost reaching two weeks.

Occasionally, she eats high-protein, low-fat, low-sugar meals and calorie-cut pancakes at my best friend's part-time job place to let off steam, but it looks tough.

However, her weight is definitely dropping! Right now, that's the only thing keeping Tomonaga-san going.

Now, in our basketball club, we're having a training camp for about three days starting the day after tomorrow, on 8/7.

The first day, we invite nearby schools for intense physical conditioning menus followed by practice matches.

The second day, we head to a nearby university to join their practice and then play matches against university students.

The third day, with fatigue piling up, the alumni come to train us hard and play practice matches—a tough schedule for a 2-night, 3-day camp. We'll use the school's training camp facilities.

Airi "So, I'd like to ask for your help with shopping together?"

Tomorrow, we'll split into several groups for shopping to prepare for the training camp the day after!

Food team, drinks team, training camp facility cleaning and organizing team, equipment team, and laundry team—five teams in total.

Apparently, the managers will each lead a team with first-years assigned to them.

The food team seems to be the most troublesome since they handle the main shopping and cooking with the club budget.

So, at Airi-senpai's suggestion, she wants Tomonaga-san to help out as a temporary manager.

The managers are pretty busy, so they need more hands, and since there's a lot of moving around and heavy lifting, it's good for her diet!

I see... that might be a good idea?

And so, temporary manager Yukari Tomonaga was born.

Since I was on duty, I was polishing balls alone after practice when Airi-senpai came over with a bright smile and suddenly made an announcement.

Airi "So, about tomorrow's shopping... Kousuke-kun! I've decided on you!"

"...Me?"

Airi "...I thought you'd say something like 'That's Pokémon!' or something!"

☆ ☆ ☆

Sorry for digressing, but even though she's a senior, Airi-senpai is cute.

During last year's summer break training camp, there was a recreation event after dinner with the advisor present where if you drew a lot, you had to do an impersonation.

Airi "...Pi, Pikachu♪"

Apparently, everyone was agonized by how cute she was!

By the way, Sahori-senpai, despite always telling others what to do, adamantly refused to do an impersonation when he drew the lot,

So it became Airi is Pikachu♪ Sahori is selfish!

That's what they said, apparently.

A second-year senior said,

"Generally, beautiful girls do either Pikachu or Crayon Shin-chan when asked to impersonate, and it turned out to be true! Compared to that, Sahori-senpai is..."

And right after that, the two of them started dating. Apparently, the basketball club shed tears of blood mourning the loss of Airi-senpai.

☆ ☆ ☆

After finishing polishing the balls, I returned to the clubroom.

Being nominated by Airi-senpai for tomorrow's shopping, the other club members envied me.

Of course, other managers are also nominating first-years, but doesn't the food shopping team need more people?

After changing, I looked for Airi-senpai to suggest if we should call more people, but

Airi "Kousuke-kun? Can't you listen to what your senior says?"

She laughed while looking a bit annoyed.

Airi-senpai is cute.

...That's why she's scary...

I can't say it, but I feel scared when I sense a girl.

Airi "So! After morning practice tomorrow, let's change and meet up at 1 or 2 PM, okay?"

While nodding,

"...Understood..."

Airi "You're so stiff! Relax! Okay? Like a hangout! A date! An outing! Something like that?"

Giggling, Airi-senpai made me step back a little, just a little.

Airi "Are you embarrassed?... Then, for tomorrow's meeting? Should we? Exchange addresses and LINE?"

Huh? Is that necessary?

Airi "Huh? You're making a face like 'Is that necessary?' It's necessary, right?"

She gave me a scolding look.

I've been feeling uncomfortable for a while now.

Airi-senpai is an attractive girl. Even though she's older, she's definitely one of the most popular girls among the second-years.

On top of that, she's also "Sahori-senpai's girlfriend."

...Is it because of the way Satsuki dumped me?

I've developed some weird obsession with purity or something.

Airi-senpai knows that I got dumped.

"...I, I got dumped recently... My girlfriend was taken by someone else. ...Is that why? I feel resistant to exchanging contact info with someone else's girlfriend or going out just the two of us...!"

To Airi-senpai, who's been so helpful to me, saying something like that,

I feel guilty for refusing her kindness and showing my weakness.

But I can't ignore my discomfort and aversion, so I end up spilling my feelings.

Prompted by my senior, I also end up talking a little about what happened with Satsuki.

Airi "I see, that must've been tough, huh? That's why you've been working so hard lately..."

Airi-senpai listened quietly. Do I still want someone to listen to me?

I'm such a weak guy, pathetic.

Airi "Ah, but, maybe you don't need to worry about it?"

About what?

Airi "I, well, with my senior. Sahori-senpai and I... we broke up."

Airi-senpai's face, which had been smiling until now, clouded over.

The clear sky from earlier suddenly turned cloudy, with dark rainclouds covering the entire sky.

...And then, the rain started falling slowly, gradually getting stronger...