NTR Kousuke

Chapter 30

The new semester feels kind of strange, doesn't it?

You see someone every day, and then suddenly you don't see them during the long break.

Meeting again after summer break feels a bit embarrassing or awkward somehow.

Though, things go back to normal pretty quickly.

Long time no see!

Did you get tanned?

You've slimmed down!

I take my seat while watching these kinds of greetings being exchanged.

I saw Koji almost every day at basketball club, and I met up with Hiroshi once last week.

Nagase-san "No greeting for me, Kousuke-kun?"

Even during summer break, she kept pestering me...

Nagase-san, sitting next to me, is as healthy and beautiful as ever.

With her ponytail and expressive face, she captivates the boys.

Lately, she's been teasing me a lot about Tomonaga-san and Airi-senpai.

"...Morning, Nagase-san."

Nagase-san "You haven't paid me any attention since that day I wasn't feeling well, have you??"

...Yeah, being a seat apart feels like a safe zone.

My fear of women.

But seriously, the only girl in my grade I talk to is Nagase-san.

I haven't really spoken to Satsuki since starting high school, and with Tomonaga-san, it's only been since summer break.

For someone as quiet as me, Nagase-san is definitely the girl I talk to.

But I don't actively start conversations with her or anything.

"...Nah. Isn't this about normal?"

Nagase-san puffs up her cheeks in annoyance,

Nagase-san "Huh? Really? Most of the other boys come up and talk to me a lot, you know? Like Yamamoto-kun... Kousuke-kun, you only respond and never approach me yourself."

True. I can't exactly say I'm scared of girls.

"...Yeah, true."

Nagase-san seems to notice something and suddenly brightens up,

Nagase-san "Is something bothering you? Want your older sister to listen?"

Kousuke "...Airi-senpai already fills the older sister role."

She puffs up her cheeks again.

Nagase-san "That's exactly the problem! Talking about other girls while chatting with a girl shows a lack of tact... ...Sorry."

Hey, don't apologize.

Maybe she remembered the whole thing about Satsuki rejecting me, because an awkward atmosphere settles in.

"...Don't worry about it. ...But, I'm kinda sad we'll be separated with the seat change this new semester."

Nagase-san is refreshing and healthy, brightening up everyone around her.

I'm really grateful for that atmosphere; I genuinely feel that way.

Honestly, the seat next to Nagase-san is considered a prime spot that everyone envies.

There were even a lot of negotiations to switch seats.

Nagase-san "Huh? Really? Isn't that just polite small talk?"

She teases me with a smug grin.

Ugh, this girl is such a hassle.

Nagase-san "Well then, since we'll be separated, let's exchange addresses to stay in touch, okay? You dodged it last time. ...Why is it that boys who don't need to ask force their addresses on me, but when I suggest exchanging, I get turned down...?"

Nagase-san mutters under her breath.

"Fine, let's exchange them."

I exchanged with her to avoid complications. I've already exchanged with Tomonaga-san and Airi-senpai anyway.

If I mention I exchanged with those two first, it'll definitely cause drama.

The opening ceremony ends, and it's time for homeroom.

Apparently, tomorrow's schedule is packed, so they're doing the seat change today.

Once that's done, we're dismissed for the day.

Nagase-san "Huh? We're changing seats already?"

I glance at Nagase-san, who looks kinda shocked, while thinking it'd be nice if Koji or Hiroshi ended up close by.

Nagase-san "Kousuke-kun, Kousuke-kun. We exchanged addresses for this reason. Even if our seats are apart, let's stay on good terms, okay?"

She smiles mischievously, but somehow looks a bit lonely.

I'm weak to that kind of expression.

"...I enjoyed being next to you, Nagase-san. Hope we're close again soon, okay?"

Nagase-san makes a face like she's half-crying, half-laughing,

Nagase-san "Finally realized how great I am? Despite how I look, I'm quite popular, you know? You missed out, huh? You should've been friendlier while we were next to each other!"

Yeah.

I nod. The seat change begins.

Everyone draws lots one by one; my turn is coming up soon.

*Bing*

I got a message on LINE on my smartphone.

Nagase-san?

I look beside me, but she's staring at her smartphone, not looking my way.

When I first sat next to Kousuke-kun, I thought he was quiet and expressionless, and maybe he wouldn't talk to me!

*Bing*

But I quickly realized that even though he's not expressive, he's a good person and a hard worker!

*Bing*

You even confided in me about Mishima-san, and we've been able to talk a lot and get closer, so I'm sad about being apart.

*Bing*

Ah, it's my turn.

My new seat is on the opposite side by the window, a bit toward the back.

It's the complete opposite of my current spot by the corridor near the front.

I look at my lot while heading back to my seat and make eye contact with Nagase-san.

Nagase-san must've finished drawing her lot too.

Teacher "Alright, move to your assigned seats!"

Everyone starts moving.

Of course, I do too. It's still a bit hot, but a window seat in autumn feels nice.

You can see the courtyard beautifully, and the air feels fresh.

Is there something in that pond? I've never been to the benches in the courtyard, have I?

Even if your seat changes, you're still in the same class with the same people.

But changing seats shifts relationships, perspectives, atmosphere, and even the order you get called on.

A new round of neighborly interactions is about to start.

As I turn to greet my new neighbor,

I see a familiar healthy beauty with a ponytail glaring at me with narrowed eyes.

Nagase-san "You're just staring at the courtyard! I've been glaring at you this whole time! I was waiting for you to say something like, 'I'm glad we're next to each other again!'"

Hasn't Nagase-san been puffing up her cheeks all day today?

Trying not to sound too blunt,

"...I'm glad to be with you again, Nagase-san."

Nagase-san looks down.

Huh? Still on LINE?

Are there more messages from Nagase-san on LINE?

You'll still pay attention to me even if we're apart, right?

It's lonely to be separated when we've always been next to each other, isn't it?

Let's stay close, okay?

I stare intently at Nagase-san.

I feel like teasing the bright red Nagase-san just a little.

"...Let's stay close, okay?"

*Bang!* Nagase-san, now completely red, stretches out her arm and taps my shoulder three times, *tap! tap!*

Nagase-san: "I sent that LINE message because I thought we'd be apart! Geez! That's just like you!"

While grumbling complaints, Nagase-san was smiling brightly.

Since there are no club activities, she makes me treat her to Häagen-Dazs on the way home,

Nagase-san: "It's a scam! I was convinced we'd grow distant if we were apart! Again! Next to me! Geez, I have no choice, do I?"

The girl with the ponytail next to me changes expressions so often today that I never get tired of watching her.

That's the kind of girl she is.