NTR Kousuke

Chapter 133: Effort, Results, and Happiness [side Mishima Satsuki]

11:40

I am standing in front of the staff room.

My homeroom teacher contacted me and said the results of the staff meeting are out.

...It would've been fine to tell me over the phone, but they said they'd talk to me in person as part of an interview, so even though it's spring break, I was told to come to school...

I wish the first thing they'd say is, "You're moving up a grade!"

I don't want to hear anything except that I'm moving up—I can't accept anything else.

I'll do anything, just please spare me from repeating a year.

Really, I'd do anything to avoid being held back...

Even though it's been spring break for a few days after the graduation ceremony, I haven't enjoyed it at all because of this stress over whether I'm moving up or being held back—I can't relax!

Of course I know it's my own fault. But! But!

Calm down? Yukari should have met with the homeroom teacher a little while ago.

Probably, out of consideration for how I'm feeling, she won't tell me the result.

She said she'll be waiting at the entrance.

I gather my courage and knock on the door...!

☆ ☆ ☆

My homeroom teacher is sitting with arms crossed, looking serious.

Homeroom teacher: "Mishima, you're here. ...The staff meeting was pretty divided in opinion."

Hyu! My throat tightens.

Unanimously? Because Mishima did her best? "Let's move her up! Plus, she's pretty!"

Is that... not the vibe?

"...Haha, is that so?"

No matter what I'm really thinking, I make sure to act polite so I don't upset the teacher.

...But the staff meeting's over and the result is already decided, right? So it's meaningless, isn't it?

"So?"

I prompt them to get to the point.

The homeroom teacher still looks grim.

Homeroom teacher: "...So, I pushed for you to really work on improving from now on! But they said, 'It's not about the future, the problem is the failing grades in the first and second semesters, right? If she hasn't learned and understood, she should repeat the year and study again!'"

Why! That's so mean! Teacher, fight back!

That's what I think, but for now I stay quiet...

Homeroom teacher: "There were a lot of opinions like that. You were right on the borderline. Mishima Satsuki, you can move up a grade. But your spring break is going to be filled with assignments. For every subject you failed—English, science, and math—you'll have assignments. Submit them at the start of the new semester. ...If what you hand in is really lacking..."

Gulp, I ask again.

"...If I hand them in?"

Homeroom teacher: "...You'll get the worst evaluation right after starting your second year. You might even get held back right away. Listen, this is a threat. But if you slack off, you'll be held back in no time. If it weren't for the results of the recent finals, you would've been right at the cutoff for repeating. You really just barely made it—congratulations on moving up, Mishima. Don't let your guard down from now on, okay?"

Haha.

Hahaha!

"Thank you very much!"

I bow my head!

Assignments? I don't want them! But it can't be helped!

I can move up! I avoided repeating a year!

I get to be a second-year with Yukari!

...I wonder if Yukari was okay?

Even if I move up, if Yukari doesn't, I won't be happy at all!

I rush to the main entrance!

She's there! Yukari!

Yukari, still in her uniform, looks worried and pale.

Are you okay?

"Satsuki, were you okay?"

Yukari notices me and hurriedly asks!

I smile and say,

"I'm fine! What about you, Yukari?"

Yukari lets out a big sigh.

"I'm fine too. Thank goodness!"

Yukari gives me a big hug.

I hug her back, though a bit shyly.

...Yukari, who used to be so skinny, now looks like she did back when we first met in summer... or maybe?

Maybe even more so?

...But Yukari is beautiful enough.

I love her chubby belly, her big chest, and her cheerful face!

"I'm so glad! Really glad!"

"I'm so glad! I really am!"

The two of us hug each other!

I never knew I could feel this way!

Next year too, I get to go to school with Yukari!

The two of us head home together.

Sharing our complaints from the past few days.

At the station, on the platform, and on the train, our conversation never ends.

But today, both of us are at our limit.

After all that tension and relief, we're just exhausted—it's impossible today!

So we agreed to celebrate together another day.

Yukari gets off first. I ride to the next stop, Shinkawa Station.

I get off the train.

What is this? The world looks so bright and dazzling!

It was a short time, but I studied hard, we encouraged each other, helped one another, set goals, and achieved them with effort.

How wonderful, this self-esteem! I've never felt this way before...!

I'm not alone—the joy of working hard together with someone special and achieving something!

...?

Is this what they call déjà vu? A sense of having seen this before?

Haven't I felt this way before...?

What is it? I feel uneasy.

...Like I'm forgetting something important...?

When was it? When did I feel like this?

☆ ☆ ☆

The two of us, back in the day.

About a year ago. Hokusho High School entrance exam results.

There it is! My exam number is there!

As soon as the results were posted, I checked the acceptance notice online too! Both Kousuke-kun and I passed!

Kousuke-kun's face lights up and he praises me with a smile...!

Kousuke: "...Satsuki, you did great! You overcame your weakness in science and math, didn't you?"

I'm so happy I could cry! No, I was crying.

Honestly, Hokusho was a bit out of my league, but I just really wanted to go to high school with Kousuke-kun! That was all I cared about.

"It's all thanks to you, Kousuke-kun, for giving up your own time to teach me...!"

"...With Satsuki's grades, Hokusho was tough, but you really made it. ...You really did your best, Satsuki."

"...Kousuke-kun! Kousuke-kun!"

I hugged Kousuke-kun!

Kousuke-kun turned bright red and hugged me back...

I wonder what kind of high school life awaits us now?

What will we be like a year from now?

Now we can go to the same school again next year!

...If I remember right, it was the day after our first kiss....

☆ ☆ ☆

Flashbacks to memories from about a year ago.

They're not memories I forgot, but ones I turned my eyes away from.

I knew this feeling.

The happiness of working hard together with someone important, helping each other, reaching a goal, and sharing the joy of that accomplishment.

A relationship between two people that makes you look forward to the future.

...Kousuke was the one who taught me that.