NTR Kousuke

Chapter 8

And the next day, when I head to school,

Whisper, whisper.

As expected. Just as I predicted...

Two of my calm friends hurriedly approach me, pulling me into the hallway.

Hiroshi: "Kousuke!"

Koji: "There's a rumor going around that you did something awful to Mishima-san...!"

As I thought.

But since I sent a message on LINE, these two friends already know the situation.

"Yeah, it's all made up. I settled things yesterday, though..."

I let the two of them listen to the recorded content.

I also show them that the timestamp is from yesterday.

I've already explained the situation last night to people from the same school on LINE, letting them know that inconvenient rumors about me might spread.

☆ ☆ ☆

Satsuki: "Some people know that Kousuke and I were dating, right? Not many, but I mentioned it too. ...If that's the case, the timeline with Yamamoto-kun wouldn't add up, would it? So! I want it to be said that we broke up amicably much earlier! And that it was Kousuke's fault!"

"Huh? Why? You cheated, so you're the one at fault, Satsuki, aren't you?"

Satsuki: "If that's the case, people will think badly of me and Yamamoto-kun! Anyway! When couples break up, it's always the guy's fault! Even in divorces, the wife usually gets alimony, doesn't she!"

"...It's obvious that the at-fault spouse pays alimony in a divorce! There's no doubt that the one who caused the divorce through cheating or violence is at fault."

Satsuki: "Huh? So you're saying I'm the bad one? Unbelievable! You just said you loved me so much, and now you're blaming me with that same mouth!"

Episode 6: Refer to 'Meeting for the Last Time'

☆ ☆ ☆

Both of them are taken aback.

That's the situation.

I act dejected, though not all of it is an act.

Hiroshi and Koji look indignant with displeased expressions.

After all, she herself admitted to overlapping dating periods and insisted that I be made the one at fault—I've got definitive proof of her words.

I have no intention of spreading it myself. But if someone asks, I'll answer.

Satsuki clearly calls me by my name, Kousuke, and the recording on my smartphone includes the date and time.

Hiroshi and Koji said they'd spread the word that the rumor isn't just false but a malicious lie.

Even so, several people mention it to me during the day.

It's such a hassle to keep playing the recording app for everyone! But if I slack off, there are plenty of guys and girls who believe the rumor that I'm the bad guy, Satsuki is pitiful, and Yamamoto is the hero who saved her, and they come at me aggressively.

During lunch break, Ayaka Nagase from the seat next to me speaks up.

Ayaka: "Kousuke-kun, are you tired? Today seems tough for you, huh?"

Kousuke: "...Yeah, kinda. We broke up cleanly, but... I'm exhausted from these false rumors..."

I naturally put on a sad face.

Everyone's been listening to it, but what's the content like?

With that said, I let Nagase-san listen too, but,

Ayaka: "That's awful! It's all for her own convenience! She doesn't care about Kousuke-kun's feelings at all!"

Nagase-san, shaking her ponytail and looking all puffed up with anger— tons of the boys are staring at her!

...I get it. She's a girl with expressive features that draw attention. Is it what you'd call a healthy kind of allure?

According to Nagase-san, there are two rumors.

The first is that Kousuke and Satsuki were never actually dating, and Kousuke was head over heels for Satsuki, spreading rumors like that, but Satsuki didn't know! Recently, Yamamoto-kun and Satsuki started dating!

The second is that Kousuke and Satsuki were kind of dating, but Kousuke's possessiveness and DV caused her trouble, and Yamamoto saved her, so the two started dating!

That's it.

Somehow, the first rumor feels like something Yamamoto spread, and the second feels like Satsuki's doing.

The former has subtle malice, with minimal damage to everyone involved, a low-risk, low-return safe bet that might quietly take hold.

The latter benefits only Satsuki and Yamamoto, making me, Kousuke, the sole villain! It's more scandalous and spreads easily, seeming to garner sympathy for Satsuki's side at first glance, but since some people have heard her say she was dating me, it inadvertently confirms that we "were dating."

(Even if they say we were dating now...)

Since it's so scandalous, a lot of people go, "Really?!" and it reaches my ears too.

If I've prepared countermeasures, I can dispel it, and moreover, if you think about who spread the rumor and who benefits from it, it quickly becomes clear who's behind it and whose scheme it is.

The low-risk, low-return rumor being spread continuously would be tougher for me. It would make it as if nothing ever happened between us, and even if I say I was told something like this and play the recording, there's a chance people might turn around and think, "What's with this guy?"

...Objectively, Satsuki's words are so harsh that I might still get some sympathy, though.

While sorting through these thoughts and talking to Nagase-san,

Ayaka: "You seemed pretty shocked yesterday, but... you're so calm... amazing!"

(I'm not amazing... It's just the bare minimum defense for a guy like me who's been cheated on...)

While thinking that,

"It's because Nagase-san and everyone else encouraged me..."

That's right, during lunch break, Tanaka-kun and others were saying stuff like, "Get evidence for something like that! Someone should stick with you! Let's record it!" and that's when I thought, "Ah, I'll just record it!"

On the day Satsuki insulted me and unilaterally declared our breakup, I didn't have the composure for that at all.

Nagase-san gave me strength!

Today ended up being a day of letting several people listen to the recording of my conversation with Satsuki and explaining the situation.

After school,

Even during basketball club practice, people bring up the rumor.

I calmly explain it again.

Sahori: "Nah, you probably did something scummy, right?"

Sahori-senpai is a third-year and our ace. But he's a vulgar guy who helps the strong and crushes the weak, so I feel no respect for him at all.

Shou said it before: people can only judge others by their own capacity. I really think that's true.

?: "Sahori-senpai says things he doesn't mean. Kousuke-kun, sorry about that, okay?"

The one following up is the second-year female manager, Airi Tendou.

Airi-senpai, as we call her, is our source of comfort.

Airi-senpai has glossy brown long hair, slightly droopy eyes, and a curvy, elegant young lady vibe—she's known as a gentle beauty at school!

She's kind and smart. Though she's not good at sports, she wholeheartedly takes on all the behind-the-scenes work for the basketball club—a caring older sister figure!

Her one and only major flaw is... that Sahori-senpai from earlier is her boyfriend...

Sahori is sleazy, Airi is healing! That's the basketball club's motto (lol)

Airi: "...Kousuke-kun wouldn't do something like what's in the rumors, right?"

Feeling glad that she tilts her head and naturally trusts me, I let her listen to the recording.

Airi: "Yeah, yeah. I knew it, right? I'll talk about what I heard now, okay? Don't let it get you down, alright?"

Airi-senpai really is healing.

Sahori should seriously be grateful to Airi-senpai and live with that gratitude. That's what I think.

For a few days, I kept dispelling the rumors every time I was asked about them.

Naturally, that didn't sit well with Satsuki.

Three days later, when we passed each other, she glared at me with an intense look.

...No, I seriously don't get it.

Why do I have to be her punching bag?

You're the one who spread malicious lies, aren't you?

I didn't play the recording evidence on my own. I'm only letting those who come to ask me hear it, okay?

If you have any idea about this, Satsuki, you should take steps to stop the rumor from spreading, right? (lol)

Even so, I didn't feel like actively dispelling the rumor and loudly proclaiming Satsuki's fault.

And so, I somehow managed to endure the malicious rumors that were spread about me.

I threw myself into studying and club activities with all my might to prove myself.

It was also to distract myself from the heartbreak.

Remembering it made me feel so frustrated and sad that I thought I'd go crazy.

Even though it turned out like this, I did love Satsuki.