NTR Kousuke

Chapter 130: Screwed Up

Former Captain: "Huh? You came after stopping by the hospital? What? Where? Where are you feeling bad?"

Still, we're teammates.

The majority look worried.

I almost said something snarky, but thankfully kept my mouth shut.

...If he was actually injured or sick, I'd feel way too guilty...

Sahori: "...More importantly... Don't you want to see everyone today, just in case?"

That "cool guy" face just feels off.

Third-Year: "...You're a ronin and your house is pretty close, so you'll probably be able to come, right? You'll come back to see Airi, the manager, again, won't you?"

The first- and second-years make sour faces.

...Honestly, it feels like he's come around more since retiring.

But,

"I can come again, and I will... But meeting each other as high schoolers... that's only now. I..."

He's really dragging it out.

With his handsome face, jumping ability, height, and sense—Sahori-senpai has everything we want and plenty of things we don't want, too.

You can tell he's trying to act cool.

Even the Captain picks up on it and looks a bit annoyed.

Sahori: "...If you can't trust me, that's my own lack of virtue. It can't be helped. Even so, I love basketball, and I love the basketball club..."

The Captain comes over and whispers in his ear.

Captain: "Hey, apparently Sahori-senpai's been hanging out with a lot of those health-conscious college girls lately?"

"Ah, so that's why he's been spouting those catchy phrases we've heard somewhere before?"

Captain: "Around New Year's, he was talking about things like 'commitment,' 'mindset,' and 'self-branding.' Probably just talking big again... But I'm worried that maybe Tendou, the manager, will get taken in again..."

In the center of everyone, Sahori wears a pained expression and talks about his love for basketball and the team.

Even Airi-senpai, who rejected Sahori in front of everyone, listens for a bit.

Sahori: "...Ugh! Even so, I want to spend this time... with everyone... with all of you!"

Third-Year: "...So? In the end, was the hospital visit for an injury? An illness? You had some symptoms, right?"

Sahori: "...Ugh...! Even so, right now, this very moment..."

Sahori-senpai is acting like a tragic hero.

I'm getting over it, but is it because he won't say any symptoms?

I'm starting to think it's nothing serious, or maybe it's something else entirely.

Even so, everyone is sympathetic and worried about Sahori-senpai.

It's like the Sahori Theater—everyone watching his every move.

...Airi-senpai! She looks super worried!

She never thinks badly of others! This is bad!

Captain: "Kousuke, assist."

"...Yeah."

The Captain sets Sahori up.

...I thought, maybe for the last time, but I don't even want to call him senpai anymore.

Captain: "What kind of symptoms do you have? Pain? Discomfort?"

Sahori: "Well... If I had to sum it up in a word? I guess... discomfort? But even so, I...!"

Yeah, yeah.

Captain: "But we're worried, you know. Like, did you get hurt during play today? Or if it's an illness, will it affect you? Did you get any medicine?"

Sahori: "Yeah, I got medicine."

Captain: "Oh? What kind? I'm worried about you, senpai."

Sahori: "Thanks, I don't want everyone to worry...! All of you I love, and Airi, whom I adore...!"

Airi: "...Senpai..."

Airi-senpai is worried about Sahori.

Airi-senpai is too kind to cut Sahori off, and Sahori is good at clinging to people's feelings like this... Honestly, they're a perfect match, like natural enemies.

It's like watching the world's pattern of a capable, kind woman unable to break away from a hopeless guy.

...After all the effort Airi-senpai put into rejecting Sahori, if she gets swayed by this, what kind of bad guys will she fall for in the future? Even as her junior, I think Airi-senpai deserves a sincere, devoted guy.

Captain: "...So, what kind of medicine did you get? I'm worried."

The Captain keeps saying he's worried, while trying to get Sahori to say his actual symptoms or diagnosis—injury? Illness?

Sahori dodges and tries to keep everyone worried, making weird evasive moves.

Third-Year: "He's right, you got medicine, huh?"

The third-year senpai opens Sahori's shoulder bag without asking and takes out the medicine.

That's the kind of comfort you get from being in the same year.

Sahori yells, "Don't open it without asking!" and reaches out to take it back.

Third-Year: "Hey!"

The third-year passes the medicine to the Captain.

Sahori gets into defense mode with a speed and precision he never showed during his active days. Hey! Do that in the actual game!

The Captain tries to pass the medicine to Airi-senpai, but Sahori blocks with intense defense!

Here comes eye contact from the Captain!

I got the hint right away.

I open up a search on my phone, and as soon as I'm ready, the medicine's paper bag comes flying in with a no-look pass!

I quickly type in the name of the medicine and search.

"...It's chlamydia infection."

*A type of STD, with various symptoms.

The Sahori Theater falls silent.

Sahori's face says, "I've been found out!"

How could he put on such a tragic act for a doctor's visit for an STD... Maybe he should've joined the drama club?

First-Year Manager: "Senpai, don't come near me!"

Second-Year Manager: "...Unbelievable. So dirty!"

Third-Year Manager: "...Airi-chan! If you get close, you'll catch it! Never, ever get back together with him!"

The Captain, me, and Koji all nod in agreement.

Airi-senpai's gentle expression suddenly freezes, and then, teary-eyed and fuming,

Airi: "...Playing with people's feelings again... You're the worst...!"

Sahori: "...Huh? Did I screw up again?"

Sahori is bombarded with criticism from all sides.

Is he that desperate to be in the spotlight? Attention-seeker! After being called out, Sahori gives up pretending,

Sahori: "Gaia is whispering to me to shine even brighter...!"

With that, the female managers in particular shower him with outrage, everyone's earlier concern flipping on its head, and before I knew it, the fairy who kept rewriting his own black history was gone.

...If he could have done that during his active days, he could've shaken his marker and we would've won more games...

With the former Captain's sigh, the send-off party for the club came to an end.

Senpais, thank you for everything.

...Sahori Toshin was Sahori Toshin until the very end...