NTR Kousuke

Chapter 21

I rate this Saitou Kousuke-kun the highest among this year's first-years.

He joined the club with no prior experience, but he had talent.

Though he's short in height, his speed, passing sense, and intelligence are extremely high, and mentally, he's calm and gutsy, with an hardworking attitude that doesn't shy away from defense or mundane training.

He possesses both stability and the boldness to deviate from conventional strategies, truly qualities befitting a point guard!

...He's the complete opposite of Sahori-senpai. That's my impression.

Sahori-senpai is tall, a player with explosive power, shooting sense, and unpredictability in scoring, an intuitive type with high scoring ability. On the flip side, his mentality is unstable with inconsistency, he dislikes hard work, gets frustrated when losing, and becomes complacent when winning. As an ace, he has confidence and pride, and when directed positively, he displays incredible scoring talent as a genius type.

The two are polar opposites, and it's not easy to put into words, but their thinking—offense ⇔ defense, fast break ⇔ ball possession, individual skill ⇔ team play, Kinoko no Yama ⇔ Takenoko no Sato—completely clashes in every way.

During the third-years' final game, he was dissatisfied that Kousuke-kun, still a first-year, got to play, and he felt intense resentment at being used as a decoy by Kousuke-kun when he was exhausted and couldn't move, harboring a competitive streak against a first-year despite being a third-year himself.

Watching that was painful.

The junior I've taken under my wing and grown fond of, and my boyfriend, a senior, just don't get along at all.

I've been bothered by this for a while now.

Since when did it start? Was it after I started feeling dissatisfied with him that I began comparing them? I might have been comparing them without saying it out loud.

And then, while drinking coffee (?), I end up venting to Kousuke-kun.

Sahori is all looks! I know that's what people say about him.

But you know, I'm pretty popular myself, yet that was the first time someone pursued me so passionately! Everyone else would back off after I said no once or twice, but he didn't care and kept trying over and over.

He's tall, handsome, knows a lot of things I don't, has a masculinity that doesn't care when I say no or reject him, his selfishness is kind of cute, and as a confident, talented older guy who takes the lead, I didn't think he was as bad a person as everyone says.

Even after I turned him down multiple times, he persistently invited me on dates or outings without giving up.

It's a bit weird to say it myself, but I'm kind of a sheltered girl, you know? But he didn't care about that and kept pursuing me?

His masculinity in declaring his feelings for me even in front of others somehow won me over before I knew it...

Kousuke "...So, why then?"

Kousuke-kun asks with a curious look.

Kousuke-kun is pretty expressionless and quiet. But through basketball club activities, I've learned that there's actually a lot of expression hidden in that blank face, and his silence comes from thinking before speaking, so it doesn't bother me at all anymore.

I can feel it myself—a cold anger and hot jealousy swirling in my chest.

"...He cheated on me! While we were dating, and I know of at least three times!"

Kousuke "...Sahori-senpai's womanizing and cheating nature is..."

Kousuke-kun trails off with a short, exasperated tone.

"I knew it! But I forgave him because he'd laugh and say I was the most important, yet he did it over and over! Things had been rocky since around May this year. We talked about it a few times, but he'd just try to brush it off. And then last week, I found out again. So I told him we should part ways! ...That's why he hasn't shown his face since August, right?"

Kousuke-kun's face lights up with an 'Ah! That's right!' expression.

I end up crying here, remembering all sorts of things... because there were plenty of good memories too.

"When I found out about his cheating last week, I thought to myself. For example, Kousuke-kun is still hurting and devoted to his ex-girlfriend, while my boyfriend cheats on me repeatedly and doesn't care about hurting me... Thinking about that made me feel so empty. So, last week, I brought up breaking up... I should've done it sooner, right?"

Seeing me cry, Kousuke-kun catches his breath.

But, without saying anything on purpose, Kousuke-kun just stays by my side.

He looks off into the distance a bit, not focusing too much on me, just naturally.

That somehow makes me feel at ease.

I put on a bit of a brave face and say,

"So, I'm free now! That's why Kousuke-kun doesn't need to worry. Whether it's exchanging addresses or dating, it's not cheating, no problem!"

Kousuke-kun nods with a face like he's got ??? over his head.

I glance at Kousuke-kun repeatedly, speaking in a slightly exaggerated tone,

"Even with a boyfriend like that, he did help fend off confessions. Once this story gets out after summer break, I might get asked out a lot again, huh? What a hassle!"

Kousuke "...That sounds tough."

He's got a face like that's all he can say!

Even after that, Kousuke-kun silently listens to my complaints and jokingly sad stories with little nods, and seeing the small expressions in his blank face, I can tell he's listening with his whole being, which makes me happy.

Part of me was hoping he'd try to hit on me right away, but if he had, I might've been a bit disappointed?

But Kousuke-kun is a gentleman; he doesn't say a single word to take advantage of my heartbreak, only offering words of concern and comfort throughout.

This boy is definitely someone I can trust, no doubt about it, as a listener.

Then, I walk with Kousuke-kun to the station together.

What a reliable junior. I've got to pull myself together too!

But, what should I wear for tomorrow's shopping trip?

I'm not planning to get a new boyfriend right away, but I can't help being a little conscious of Kousuke-kun.

I wonder how tomorrow's shopping trip will go?

☆ ☆ ☆

Sahori-kun would joke around or clearly dodge the topic when Airi-san was trying to have a serious conversation. Eventually, he tried to brush it off with kisses or intimate stuff, which made the usually gentle Airi snap in anger.