SomaRead | NTR Kousuke

Chapter 100: National Center Test and That Guy.

At last, the university entrance National Center Test starts this weekend.

I'll be on that side of things in two years too, so I'm worried...

I'm aiming for the national university named after our prefecture.

A lot of people at school are aiming for that one too.

For example, I heard Airi-senpai and Nagase-san are also aiming for Prefectural National University.

If you get into the special advanced class through class assignments in your second year, your chances go up a lot.

We get several people passing every year.

First, I need to finish up the third semester cleanly, then get into the special advanced class!

Because of that, the mood at school is a little hectic.

First- and second-years are acting normal, but the third-years are a bit on edge.

Well, I'll be in their shoes in two years, right?

I have to work hard.

Thinking that, I keep moving forward, juggling both studying and club activities.

I loosen up my stiff body from classes and studying at home by going all out in P.E. and club activities—training hard!

I like that tense feeling before a tournament or a match, but I actually like this little break period, too.

But this period is important—daily training is even more important than special training before a match! That's what Airi-senpai always says, and I've been inspired to keep up this plain, tough body transformation.

I was able to get results in games too, and with such a well-thought-out menu, there's no doubt about Airi-senpai's abilities as a trainer.

"Me too!"—that's what the captain and my friend Koji said when they raised their hands, hoping for special training, but since Airi-senpai couldn't handle too many people at once, those two looked all dejected after being turned down. Still, since Airi-senpai is weak to pushy requests, she started making menus for the captain and Koji as well after New Year's.

Those two are serious, but they're also a little lovestruck as they get coached by Airi-senpai.

...I quietly go through my menu.

After club activities, I usually stay behind for about an hour of extra practice.

I've always done this.

On the court on the other side of the gym, there's the girls' basketball club.

It's about the same over there, too—when they finish up, the cleanup and extra practice group get moving.

Nagase-san is over there, and once again, Sahori-senpai is chatting with her, all smiles.

Nagase-san is easy to talk to, so she just laughs awkwardly and brushes it off.

Even from a distance, Sahori-senpai is getting all hyped up by himself, while Nagase-san just gives awkward nods.

Even from far away, you could see how Nagase Aya, flushed and sweaty in her oversized T-shirt and shorts, really stood out.

Some of the boys' basketball club are watching, too.

You guys really shouldn't be doing that, you know?

That's what I'm thinking when—

Airi: "Kousuke-kun. How's the menu? Is it too much or too hard?"

Airi-senpai came over to me.

Senpai, you're doing both manager duties with the other managers and trainer duties—thanks for your hard work.

"...It's okay. I was thinking about it as a possible drive pattern, so how about something like this?"

Airi: "Yeah, I think that's good. Having options gives you more leeway, and just making the opponent guess adds variety, right?"

There's no point in adding variations that don't work, but you do need a few different weapons.

I use my best friend Sho as a reference.

My best friend Sho has always been running since we were kids to make up for his lack of stamina.

He's not that fast in sprints, but in long-distance, I can't beat him at all.

Sho's special move, both in soccer and basketball, is the sudden stop.

From top speed, he can suddenly halt with his powerful legs and hips!

You need different muscles for that than you do for just picking up speed.

I'm going to show how that works.

Can I get past Airi-senpai with my dribble?!

First try, Airi-senpai couldn't stop her momentum at top speed, her body got thrown off, and I got free easily.

"I see..." Airi-senpai murmurs.

Airi-senpai doesn't have high physical ability, but she's got good eyes and watches closely, so her feedback is always spot on.

Second try, Airi-senpai loses her balance again.

Airi: "I see... but isn't that more tiring than you'd expect?"

"...Yeah, it is. That's why if I use it twice and get in their heads...?"

As a player, Airi-senpai is pretty average, with no special physical traits, but she's amazing at spotting weaknesses, analyzing, and her "girl power" is off the charts.

Third try,

Airi: "Like this! What if you get marked up close like this?!"

"...?!"

True...! The point of the sudden stop is to fake them out by not letting your body or legs catch up from top speed...! But if you're marked so close you can't hit top speed...

But you know? If you're marking up close, the marker has to move even more, so their stamina drains fast. And if you get dodged while sticking close, you can't keep up.

I think it's actually better to keep a little distance so you can react and stay with them...

munyu

munyuu

poyoon

...Airi-senpai is totally pressing up against me...!

Marking up close is dangerous!!

I stop Airi-senpai!

This is dangerous.

With a question mark over her head, Airi-senpai tilts her head.

Airi: "What's wrong, Kousuke-kun? Something feel weird? Is it your foot? Let me see?"

Lately, Airi-senpai has understood my fear of girls and keeps a good amount of distance. But at heart, she's a worrywart and always looking out for her juniors—she's a kind and beautiful big sister.

It's hard for me to say... your chest is touching me...

If I mentioned that during serious practice, she'd probably just scold me: "Why are you even thinking about that?!"

So as I hesitate to say it—

Nagase: "Stop! Stooop! Tendou-senpai! Sexy attacks are cheating!"

Nagase-san comes running from the other side of the gym at full speed—

And Sahori-senpai comes running after her, but way behind. So slow.

Even if he's a test-taker... isn't Sahori-senpai getting a little too sluggish?

Airi-senpai is the spiritual pillar of the basketball club, everyone's anchor.

Sahori-senpai, on the other hand, always gets tired at the most important moments and is useless then,

"Airi is the pillar, Sahori doesn't run."

—that's what everyone in the basketball club always says.

Sahori-senpai spits as he complains.

Sahori: "Airi! Cut it out! Your boobs are pressing on Kousuke?!"

Nagase-san is laughing, but draws a hard line at no touching.

Sahori-senpai isn't laughing—he's got that "those are mine!" attitude.

Airi: "...We've already broken up, so you have no right to say anything, senpai."

That's a strong rejection for Airi-senpai. Still, Sahori keeps pushing.

...Can I just call him "Sahori" now...?

But anyway! Airi-senpai turns to me with that "never mind him" look,

Airi: "...Kousuke-kun? Was I... touching you?"

I can't lie to those big, honest eyes...

"...Yeah, that's why I stopped..."

Airi-senpai's face turns so red it looks like steam's about to come out, and she hangs her head.

She hugs her assertive chest with both hands and, in a tiny voice,

Airi: "Sorry! I'm so sorry! ...Sorry for such a stupid thing..."

It's really not something you'd call "modest"...

That soft, springy feeling left on my elbow and back is hard to forget...

But honestly, it's kind of terrifying... I'm scared of girls...!

Koji: "Kousuke gets all the luck! Why?!"

The captain is staring at me like he's about to cry tears of blood.

Koji... I've got my own problems, you know...!

Sahori-senpai is still fired up. Even though he had been hitting on Nagase-san up until now,

Sahori: "Even if we break up! You still have to love me! Don't cheat on me!"

Airi: "We already broke up, didn't we? Isn't this not cheating? We broke up because you cheated, right? You're always bragging about being with college girls!!"

Sahori: "It's fine if I do it! But you can't!!"

Airi: "That makes no sense! We're not even together anymore!"

Sahori: "I don't want Airi to belong to other guys!"

Airi: "I'm not a thing!"

Sahori is the worst... Just as I'm about to step in and say something,

Sahori's usual absurd selfishness explodes again,

Airi: "...Wouldn't it be better to study for the Center Exam than do this?"

Airi-senpai delivers the line in an ice-cold voice.

It's rare for Airi-senpai to be so harsh, so she draws everyone's attention.

Airi: "Oops! Silly me! That's how it is! Well then, I'm going back to my manager duties!"

Airi-senpai waves a quick "sorry!" with her hand and leaves.

Honestly, Airi-senpai is so kind, warning her ex about his Center Exam like that.

Sahori-senpai snorts through his nose, then tries to intimidate me,

Sahori: "Hey, Kousuke. That bouncy body is mine, got it?"

"..."

Well, she's not mine. But she's definitely not yours either.

Sahori snorts again and says to me,

Sahori: "Airi probably doesn't know since she's only a second-year, but I've got a designated school recommendation, okay? No matter how high a score I get, I can't go to another school. The exam is just a formality, you know? Tell Airi about it later, will you?"

Huh?

I preface it with "this is just what I've heard," since it's only what I know.

"...As a risk for students taking university entrance exams via designated school recommendation, there's research showing they lack perseverance during job hunting in their third year because they didn't see the exam process through to the end, and often don't get good results. There's a notable academic gap between those who barely make it through general admissions by working hard until the last minute and those who use recommendations, and that gap rarely closes before graduation. Also, getting accepted early can make you get too relaxed and bother the majority who are aiming for national and public universities through standard exams. That's why high schools require recommended students to take the Center Exam, and if their score is terrible, there's even the threat of having their recommendation revoked. I think it's meant to make you keep studying seriously until January at least. Of course, you can't enroll anywhere except the university you got in through your recommendation."

Sahori gives me a puzzled look,

"Sorry, can you say that again?"

I repeat myself.

Long lines are exhausting.

Sahori: "...Haha... I can't stick around here! See ya! Later, underclassmen! Aya-chan! Bye-bye♪"

Senpai leaves drenched in an incredible amount of sweat.

Was he just treating this as a commemorative exam or something?

I heard he's pretty efficient and around the middle of the class, though...

Please, seriously, don't let designated school recommendations affect the underclassmen.

"...Nagase-san, you've always got it rough, huh?"

Nagase: "...If you think so, then... well, whatever. Just weird guys everywhere."

Nagase-san stretches both hands up with a big "nn!" and says "bye-bye!" as she heads home.

When she stretched and went "nn!", her armpit and belly button flashed, and all the boys, including Koji, were glued to her.

I think Nagase-san is way too defenseless.

I stayed for a little more self-practice before heading home, but the captain and Koji played defense right up against me.

I see, it was great practice for breaking through tight defense!

☆ ☆ ☆

Counting the main story only, this makes 100 chapters of Sahori-senpai and Airi-senpai's story!