NTR Kousuke

Chapter 140: Proposal!

In the middle of spring break, with March about to end, I came to OreKare with Airi-senpai.

Because Airi-senpai had asked me to come during White Day return gifts.

During club activities and on regular days, Airi-senpai always keeps her distance from me.

She only stays by my side when necessary, and she's always watching over me and the other club members, paying close attention to prevent overwork and injuries.

In both name and reality, she's established herself as "the basketball club's big sister"—a gentle, reliable, and trusted older sister!

And now, that big sister is craving curry!

On a day that worked for both of us, the three of us headed to OreKare again.

We entered the restaurant just as the lunch rush was ending.

Kagetora: "Herasshuu!!"

That greeting with way too much personality again...?

The owner, Kagetora-san, took care of us during the culture festival's burger shop, so I know his face well. Sho spotted me and came over with a big smile.

Sho: "Welcome!"

Airi: "Come!"

Airi-senpai repeats the ending with a sweet smile, tilting her head.

Sho laughs and—

Sho: "Hello! I'm glad you came back again!"

While I'm quietly grinning, Sho starts smirking.

Sho: "Kousuke, bringing the same girl here twice means...?"

Kousuke: "...She's my senpai, from club. Someone I respect and trust."

Sho: "...If you say so, I'll go with that!"

Sho, always teasing...!

We look over the menu at the table... Did the Shin-kun set from last time end already...?

*Because it wasn't profitable at all, when his wife came back after giving birth and found out, Kagetora-san was made to sit in seiza and got scolded.

Sho: "Yeah? The usuals are always good, but the keema curry with beans is delicious too, you know?"

Airi-senpai is hesitating, and even her indecision is beautiful.

She's swayed by Sho's recommendation.

Airi: "They have that? How unusual... What should I do?"

"Want to share?"

Airi: "...To be honest, I was thinking spicy standard would be fine... How about you, Kousuke-kun? Are you good with spicy?"

"...About average."

Airi: "...Then that won't work... I'll take the curry tasting set, then! Spicy, and I'll have the bean keema curry and the white fish coconut curry, please!"

"...Then, hamburger curry, large, normal spiciness."

Airi: "The daily curry here is always something rare. This place is amazing, right?"

At first glance, it looks like a family restaurant, but you can really feel the owner's passion.

The portions are big, and it's delicious.

While I'm talking about stuff like that with Airi-senpai, that girl shows up again. Kureha-san, Towa Kureha.

Kureha: "Hello! Kousuke-kun! Tendou-san!"

Airi: "Just call me Airi!"

Kureha: "Eeh! I can call you Airi-san? Then just call me Towa!"

This girl... She's seriously always here, isn't she?

With long, glossy black hair, and pale skin—she's stunningly beautiful.

Even though she got rejected by Sho after confessing, she keeps making moves on him.

...She's apparently the master of OreKare. Master?

*See main story

Kureha-san is beaming, and I end up saying it at the same time.

Kureha: "Kousuke-kun, you always bring a girl here, don't you?"

"...And Kureha-san, you're always here, aren't you?"

After a brief awkward silence—

""...We all have our reasons...""

The timing overlaps, and the three of us burst out laughing.

Kureha-san and Airi-senpai seem to be on the same wavelength—they've been laughing and talking nonstop, just like the other day.

It feels like Kureha-san really looks up to Airi-senpai, who's kind of like an older sister.

Sho: "Thanks for waiting! Don't get in the way, okay? Towanko?"

As the curry is being served, Kureha-san gets a warning from Sho.

Because she's so puppy-like, Towa (To-wa) → Towanko, apparently.

In the end, Kureha-san only returned to her own table while eating, but as she finished, she naturally drifted over to ours again.

The three of us—Airi-senpai, Kureha-san, and me—ended up talking a lot.

About the differences between Toko High and Hokusho High, and about basketball. There was never a shortage of topics.

Just as we're about to wrap things up, Kureha-san suddenly says something outrageous.

...Now that I think about it, Sho mentioned this before.

He said Kureha-san is sheltered, but she's got a lot of initiative and unique ideas, so if you're not careful you'll get dragged into her schemes.

With sparkling eyes, Kureha-san makes a proposal to me and Airi-senpai!

Kureha: "Airi-san! Kousuke-kun! I have a great idea!"

"...Sho told me once. When people say 'I have a great idea!' they're usually up to no good."

Kureha: "Come on, just trust me, okay? Let's go on a double date with the four of us! Please? Airi-san! Kousuke-kun! Please, help me out!"

Kureha-san begs us, trying to get our sympathy.

She confessed to Sho, but he said he likes someone else—this samurai-like boy just won't budge.

Her rival is that Rena Kashii!

She's beautiful, cute, and smart! It's been a tough battle.

So, to at least get him to see her as a girl, she's hoping for a double date?

He's so serious that if you try to ask him out without a good reason, he'll always say no!

Airi: "Is Kashii-san really that pretty?"

"...Yeah, she really is. Actually, Sho has been head over heels for her since fifth grade."

Airi: "...He's crazy about her, huh... That's wonderful. Even someone as beautiful as Eien-chan can't get through to him? D-double date... That's kind of embarrassing. But I want to help Eien-chan find love."

Airi-senpai seems on board.

"...So, should we plan it out?"

Airi: "Please! I'll be the one to ask Sho-kun!"

And so, with Airi-senpai asking Sho, "Let's go on a double date, Sho-kun!" the double date with Sho and Kureha-san, and me and Airi-senpai, was set in motion.

Kureha: "Thank you! I'll help out on your end too!"

Airi-senpai and I glance at each other.

Airi-senpai blushes a little and fidgets.

Airi: "...T-this is tricky... Being told it's a double date..."

Even though she's the one who told Sho, "Let's go on a double date!", Airi-senpai seems troubled but also super happy, and I realized girls can be complicated.

...A date? ...Rehabilitation? Airi-senpai is so charming it gives me chills.

But I can't stay like this forever, either...

And so, with everyone's feelings getting tangled up, the double date plan kicked off!