Chapter 2: The Growing Pile of Victims
And so begins the middle school arc.
It’s a perfect day for the entrance ceremony, blessed with clear skies. I slip into my brand-new sailor uniform and head out with Mom to pick up Yuu-kun. When I ring the intercom at his place, he and his mom appear at the door, Yuu-kun looking sharp in his gakuran.
“Morning, Yuu-kun! Morning, ma’am!”
“Morning, Rei-chan.”
“Good morning, Reiko-chan. Oh my, don’t you look lovely in that sailor uniform~”
“Hehe, thank you! Yuu-kun, you’re looking pretty cool in your uniform too♪”
“Uh, th-thanks…”
My straightforward compliment, paired with the charm of my adorable sailor outfit, hits Yuu-kun like a one-two punch, turning his cheeks red first thing in the morning. Oh, how I want to shatter that cute, cute brain of his…
For the record, Yuu-kun actually has gotten kinda cool. Around the middle of sixth grade, something shifted in him. He started hitting the books and working out like crazy. Puberty helped, too—his chubby frame stretched out into height and muscle, and before I knew it, he’d turned into a lean, sharp-looking kid. He even started caring about his appearance, dressing better and grooming himself. Honestly, he’s practically a heartthrob now.
…Or maybe I should say he’s become a problem. Truth be told, the old, dorky Yuu-kun was more convenient for my plans. I tried to coddle him, saying stuff like, “You don’t have to push yourself!” or “You’re perfect just the way you are!” But he brushed me off, saying, “I need to do this to keep standing by your side, Rei-chan.” Tch, stubborn jerk.
Giving up on holding him back, I flipped my strategy to earning his gratitude instead. I coached him on fashion, skincare, even tagged along for his jogs—anything to help him become a full-on hottie.
“Haa…! Haa…!”
“C’mon, Yuu-kun! One more lap! You got this♥ You got this♥”
“R-Rei-chan… your cheering feels kinda… off…”
“Boys need sunscreen too, you know? Hold still, I’ll put it on for you.”
“Tch, that tickles, Rei-chan…”
I also used the “Yuu-kun improvement project” as an excuse to flirt and rack up more affection points. All part of the setup for his eventual brain-shattering, of course. Thanks to my efforts, Yuu-kun’s now leaning hard into heartthrob territory. You’d think that kind of glow-up would make him cocky, but nope—my brainwashing… er, guidance—kept him humble and kind. Perfect for a “stolen-from” guy, right?
While I’m lost in these memories, the entrance ceremony rolls on without a hitch. I tune out the principal’s cookie-cutter speech, pose for the class photo, and breeze through the usual first-day events. By noon, we’re free to go.
“Same class, huh? That’s awesome, Yuu-kun!”
“Yeah, I’m really happy we’re together, Rei-chan.”
After school, Mom and I join Yuu-kun and his mom for lunch at a family restaurant. Since we kids are weirdly close, the Netora and Tachibana families have become tight. Yuu-kun’s mom even seems to think I’m her future daughter-in-law, and I’m fully leaning into that roleplay. Of course, I’m planning to get stolen in the most brutal way possible, shattering Yuu-kun’s brain to bits, so both families are in for some awkward times. I’m basically a walking disaster.
“Fuyuki-kun’s in our class too! Let’s all keep rocking it together♪”
“Yeah, I’m so glad I’m not in a different class. Without you two, I’d probably struggle to make friends…”
“Oh, come on, don’t say that! You’ve got tons of great qualities, Yuu-kun. You’d make friends in no time, even without me or Fuyuki-kun.”
Blessed by the NTR gods, I naturally landed in the same class as Yuu-kun. Even if we’d been split up, I’d have found ways to make it work, but this is just perfect. And Fuyuki-kun, our best friend NTR candidate, being in the same class? Pure luck. I’ll make sure the three of us hang out tons, setting the stage for a messy love triangle.
Get ready, Yuu-kun. You’re getting stolen soon. I’ll plant some trauma, send you a video letter for good measure, and make sure you’re a sobbing wreck. You’re the “stolen-from” guy—brace yourself for the thrill of having your brain shattered. Got it!?
“…By the way, Yuu-kun? Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Huh?”
“Ugh… I put a lot of effort into looking good today, you know?”
I puff out my cheeks, feigning a pout, and fiddle with my uniform’s ribbon for effect. Finally catching on, Yuu-kun scratches his cheek, blushing.
“Uh, Rei-chan…”
“Yes? What’s that?”
“Y-Your uniform… it looks really good on you.”
“…That’s it?”
“Uh… I-I think you look cute.”
“Hmm, acceptable.”
I flash a satisfied smile. Mom and Yuu-kun’s mom, watching the whole thing, grin mischievously.
“Well, well, looks like Yuuki’s gonna be wrapped around Reiko-chan’s finger~” his mom teases.
“Sorry about our daughter, Yuuki-kun. If you don’t like it, just put your foot down. She seems to go for guys who push back,” my mom adds.
“Mom! Don’t say weird stuff to Yuu-kun!”
Sorry, Mom. That’s about my NTR scenario preferences, not my taste in guys.
A few days into middle school life, I’m in the classroom after school, chatting cheerfully with some of the girls in my class.
“Reiko-chan, decided on a club yet?”
“Hmm, I’m still kinda on the fence. I’m leaning toward something cultural, though…”
For my grand NTR plan, I need to keep both Yuu-kun and Fuyuki-kun—my two hotties—close. If I played it straight, I’d probably get some serious shade from the other girls. To dodge that drama, I’ve leaned hard into the communication skills I honed in my past life as a sleazy homewrecker. I’ve already climbed the school’s social ladder like a pro. Not to brag, but I didn’t spend my last life stealing partners for nothing. Ugh, what a scumbag I was.
“Whaaat? Reiko-chan, you’re crazy good at sports, right? Isn’t it a waste not to join? I heard the basketball and volleyball seniors were scouting you!”
“Haha, I mean, I’m decent at sports, but I don’t have the grit for a club like that.”
“Oh, c’mon, don’t be so modest~”
I flash a sheepish smile at the teasing, upbeat girl. The other girls and some of the outgoing, confident guys join in, half hyping me up, half poking fun. It looks like a wholesome scene on the surface, but in my head, I’m coldly analyzing the situation.
Kids aren’t dumb—they can weigh pros and cons just fine. Thanks to the looks I’ve polished since childhood and my carefully crafted “nice girl” vibe, most of the girls have decided it’s smarter to cozy up to me than to pick a fight. The boys? Well, that goes without saying.
As I’m mulling this over, my best friend NTR candidate, Fuyuki-kun, and my beloved stolen-from boy, Yuu-kun, join the conversation.
“Man, if we had a girls’ soccer team, I could’ve practiced with Rei,” Fuyuki-kun says with a sigh.
“Rei-chan and Fuyuki-kun used to play soccer together all the time, right?” Yuu-kun adds.
“Get this—she’s a girl, and she’s better at soccer than me!” Fuyuki-kun grins.
“That was ages ago! You’d totally beat me now, Fuyuki-kun,” I shoot back.
“Real talk, though, it’s such a waste for Rei to skip sports. I mean… how about, y’know, being the soccer team’s manager or something?”
Oh, there’s that sweet NTR aroma. Sneaking around behind Yuu-kun’s back as the soccer team manager, getting all messy and tangled up with Fuyuki-kun? I wouldn’t say no to that. But sadly, I’m not scheduled to get stolen until high school, so I’ll have to reluctantly pass. Gotta stick to the script—ad-libbing’s a recipe for a sloppy NTR.
“Hmm, manager, huh? Not totally uninterested, but…”
“Rei-chan’s got all that know-how on nutrition and coaching, too. If you became manager, I bet Fuyuki-kun and the whole team would be thrilled,” Yuu-kun chimes in, innocently backing Fuyuki-kun up. He’s completely oblivious to Fuyuki-kun’s ulterior motives, showing off the perfect cluelessness and naivety of a true stolen-from boy. Love it.
I’ll admit, I’m pretty proud of my coaching knowledge. I’ve devoured stacks of training manuals for Yuu-kun’s workouts and even used my own body as a guinea pig to make sure everything’s safe. A top-tier NTR heroine doesn’t skimp on expertise. Not that I’m gonna flaunt it, though.
“My coaching’s just amateur stuff. I can’t hold a candle to the advisors or seniors who’ve studied it properly. Sorry, Fuyuki-kun, I think I’m sticking with a cultural club. Actually, Yuu-kun and I are going to check some out today.”
“Gotcha. Can’t force ya. Hope you and Yuuki find a good club,” Fuyuki-kun says with a shrug.
“Thanks! Alright, let’s go, Yuu-kun.”
With that, I grab Yuu-kun’s hand and head out of the classroom.
“R-Rei-chan, we’re in middle school now, so maybe we shouldn’t…”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
“B-But I mind…”
“…”
Fuyuki-kun watches our cozy little exit with a pained expression. That gloomy look on a charming pretty boy? Chef’s kiss. Thanks for the meal.
＊
…Haa.
I, Kurushima Fuyuki, watch Yuuki and Rei walk away in silence, letting out a heavy sigh to vent the dark feelings pooling in my chest. Yuuki and Rei are both dear friends—I mean that from the bottom of my heart, and I thought our bond would last forever.
But as Rei grows more beautiful by the day, and Yuuki keeps up with her, getting stronger and sharper, I’ve started to feel something ugly—jealousy, maybe even resentment. If I’d met Rei before Yuuki did. If I were her childhood friend instead of him. Wouldn’t I be the one holding her small hand right now?
I hate myself for these pathetic thoughts, staring up at the sky in disgust.
“Netora-san and Tachibana-kun are so close, huh?”
“No kidding, they’re totally dating. Like, full-on couple vibes.”
As Rei and Yuuki leave, the girls who were buzzing around her earlier start gossiping.
Stop it. Don’t make me hear this.
“Hey, Kurushima-kun, you went to the same elementary school as them, right? Are they, like, together?”
“…Nah, it’s not like that. Rei’s just super overprotective of Yuuki. It’s more like a big sister vibe than a couple thing.”
I spit out those ugly words, a mix of truth and wishful thinking, burning with self-loathing as I do.
＊
I, Yuuki Tachibana, have the cutest childhood friend in the world.
“Sorry for dragging you along, Yuu-kun. You don’t have to pick a club just to match me, you know? Go for what you like.”
Rei-chan gives me an apologetic, bittersweet smile as she walks beside me. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from staring like an idiot, totally smitten.
Her name’s Reiko Netora—Rei-chan to me. She’s been by my side since kindergarten, my most precious friend.
“No, it’s cool. I was planning on a cultural club anyway, so checking them out with you is actually a big help. I’d probably be too shy to go alone…”
“Ugh, Yuu-kun? Being humble is one of your charms, but you’re in middle school now. You gotta step it up a bit!”
“Haha… yeah, I’ll try.”
Her pouty “Hmph!” as she puffs out her cheeks fills me with affection. We keep walking through the cultural club building, checking out the options.
“So, we’ve seen a bunch. Any clubs catch your eye, Yuu-kun?”
“Hmm, the gardening and handicraft clubs seemed kinda cool, but I’m not sure… What about you, Rei-chan?”
“Me? Well… I was kinda thinking it’d be nice to join the same club as you… Just kidding~”
Her shy smile makes my chest tighten. If I’m not imagining things, she might actually like me… I think. I love Rei-chan too, obviously, and I’ve gained a bit of confidence compared to before. Part of me dreams of being more than friends, but I’m terrified of ruining our “close childhood friends” vibe. I just can’t take that final step.
“Alright, next up is this one,” Rei-chan says, stopping suddenly.
I check the sign on the clubroom door.
【Literature Club】
It’s a little embarrassing, and I’ve kept it a secret from everyone except Rei-chan and Fuyuki-kun, but I’ve always loved reading poetry and song anthologies. So, the Literature Club is honestly a top contender for me.
“Excuse us~” Rei-chan calls out, knocking before opening the door.
“Eek! H-Hi!?”
The moment the door swings open, a loud crash echoes through the room as something collapses. Rei-chan and I turn toward the noise—a corner of the clubroom. There, in a pile of toppled books, a small hand reaches skyward like a scene from a zombie flick.
“H-Help…”
Hearing a faint voice from the pile, we rush over.
“S-Sorry! Are you okay!?” I stammer.
“Yuu-kun, let’s clear these books!” Rei-chan urges.
After a few minutes of frantic digging, we manage to rescue a girl from the book avalanche.
“Th-Thank you… I was organizing the bookshelf, but I got startled when someone came in…”
The glasses-wearing girl shrinks back, looking apologetic. She’s probably a Literature Club member. Her timid vibe and nervous glances make me feel a strange sense of kinship.
…Wait. Isn’t she—
“Hey, aren’t you Shirase-san? From our class?” Rei-chan says.
“Y-Yes… that’s me. H-How did you know my name…?”
“Duh, we’re classmates!”
Rei-chan’s words jog my memory. Shirase Yuri. She’s in our class, but… she’s super quiet, always reading alone during breaks. I didn’t even know she was in the Literature Club.
“Wow, Shirase-san, you’re in the Literature Club? I had no idea since we haven’t talked much,” Rei-chan says.
“Y-Yeah… I’ve always loved books… I thought it’d be nice to, um, make friends with similar interests…”
“That’s awesome! I read a fair bit too. I wish I’d talked to you sooner, Shirase-san.”
“R-Really? …I’ve, um, always wanted to talk to you too, Netora-san…”
Rei-chan listens to Shirase-san’s halting words with a bright, patient smile, never rushing her. It’s like watching a younger me with her, and I can’t help but feel warmed by the sight. Rei-chan’s the type who can’t resist looking out for shy kids like me or Shirase-san.
“—Oh! More importantly, are you okay? There were some heavy hardcovers in that pile, like foreign books. You didn’t hit your head, did you?”
“~!?”
Rei-chan leans in, gently cupping Shirase-san’s cheek to check her face. Shirase-san’s cheeks flare red, and she stumbles back a step. I totally get it—Rei-chan’s done that to me plenty of times. Her face is so perfectly pretty it’s honestly bad for your heart, more thrilling than it should be.
“H-Hya! I-I’m fine!?”
“Really? Hmm… still, head injuries can be scary. Mind if I take a quick look, just to be sure?”
“Fweh!? N-No, it’s fine! Really, it’s nothing…”
“Okay, hold still~”
“W-Wah… y-you smell so nice… f-fu…”
Rei-chan pulls Shirase-san into a hug, checking her head for injuries. It’s probably fine since they’re both girls, but, uh, Rei-chan’s chest—starting to get pretty noticeable—is right in Shirase-san’s face. Not that I’m jealous or anything, but is this normal for girls? Shirase-san’s breathing sounds kinda heavy, and it’s… mildly concerning.
—Squelch.
For a split second, I swear I hear something like sludge bubbling up from Rei-chan. Nah, she’s basically a reincarnated angel, so my ears must be acting up. I brush it off.
When Rei-chan finally releases Shirase-san from the hug, she grabs her small hands tightly.
“Shirase-san, I really want to join the Literature Club. Is that okay?”
“R-Rei-chan?”
Out of nowhere, Rei-chan’s decided to join the Literature Club. Her sudden move leaves Shirase-san’s face red as an apple, looking like she’s about to collapse from Rei-chan’s overwhelming closeness. I’m a little worried for her.
“W-W-Welcome! I-I’d love that…”
I don’t know what clinched it for Rei-chan, but knowing her, there’s probably some deep reason I can’t grasp. I trust her judgment completely, and since I was already interested in the Literature Club—plus, I’ll admit, a tiny part of me wants to be in the same club as her—I fill out the application form right there alongside her.
“Lesbian NTR route secured…”
“Huh? Did you say something, Rei-chan?”
“Nope, nothing at all~”
She tilts her head cutely, and I chalk it up to my imagination. So adorable.
＊
The most important thing in NTR? A heart that cares for others!!
Hello, Reiko Netora here. You might think I’m full of it, but I’m dead serious. Getting betrayed by someone you don’t care about or insulted as a “pathetic loser” over a video letter just sparks anger or murderous rage. NTR only works because of the love and friendship built between the stolen-from guy and the stolen girl. When that bond is shattered, it creates a cataclysmic brain-breaking void—a cosmic sandstorm of emotional gears grinding to dust.
In short, love is the heart of NTR. Loving someone and breaking their brain are two sides of the same coin. I’m not even sure what I’m saying anymore, but basically, my job is to pour toxic love into someone, making them utterly addicted to me. By drowning them in affection, I dull their reasoning and judgment, seizing control of their fate. That’s my core strategy—steering things to my advantage.
Never let someone else hold the reins of your life and death!
I issue that warning in my head. Consider yourself warned: if I end up controlling your fate, it’s on you. I’m steadily losing my grip on sanity, but whatever, too late now.
So, while I’m teetering on the edge of madness and reason, I spot a new target (interloper candidate) early in my middle school days.
＊
I, Yuri Shirase, can’t pinpoint when I started feeling uneasy around boys. Maybe it was in kindergarten, when the neighbor kid, Kazu-kun, mocked my glasses. Or in elementary school, when a classmate hid my book as a prank. Or maybe when puberty hit, and I started noticing creepy stares at my annoyingly growing chest. Each incident was small, but the accumulated disgust, paired with my sensitive teenage heart, grew into a mild case of androphobia.
Before I knew it, people treated me like something fragile—too awkward to bother with. I wasn’t bullied, but I was the “weird girl” nobody wanted to deal with. Honestly, if I met someone like me, I’d probably act the same way.
In middle school, I slouched to hide my chest, which drew those gross looks, and buried myself in books to shut out unwanted contact. Books are great. They don’t mock me, don’t care if I stumble over my words, and give me stories and knowledge as much as I want. I told myself I didn’t need friends as long as I had books. It was partly bravado, but not entirely a lie.
“Morning, everyone~!”
Even so, there was someone I admired. The moment she walked into the classroom, the air seemed to brighten, blooming with energy. Flawless white skin, glossy black hair, perfectly refined features, and big, beautiful eyes. Hiding my flushed cheeks and racing heart behind a book, I stole glances at her.
Her name is Reiko Netora—Netora-san. Everyone’s favorite, beautiful, kind, and approachable despite her perfection. Like a heroine straight out of a story, she became my idol in no time. I’d never dream of being like her, but if I could just be her friend… that alone would be the best memory of middle school.
But that’s all it is—a thought. Her orbit is filled with sparkling, top-tier people from the school’s social elite. There’s no room for a plain, gloomy girl like me. She probably doesn’t even know my name, considering we’ve only exchanged a word or two.
And that’s fine. Watching her from afar, so vibrant and beautiful, is enough to soothe me, to give me a spark of energy. Wanting more would only lead to trouble.
Or so I thought.
After school, I’m holed up in the Literature Club room, escaping into the world of books. Honestly, I never wanted to join a club, but this middle school forces everyone to pick one, so I grudgingly chose the Literature Club since it’s closest to my hobbies. I’d hoped—maybe a little naively—that I might make a book-loving friend. No such luck. Turns out, this club’s a dumping ground for people like me. Most members are ghosts, just names on the roster, and today, it’s just me in the room. The advisor’s super hands-off too—aside from signing my application, we’ve barely spoken. Apparently, as long as we churn out one poem or story a month, we can do whatever. It’s chill, but… is this club even functional?
“…Hm.”
My eyes drift to the bookshelf in the corner. Either the advisor or another member must’ve been here, because the books are a bit messy. I’m the type who can’t ignore something like that once I notice it, so I start tidying up.
“Ugh…!”
The top shelf is just out of reach. I could grab a stepstool, but too lazy for that, I stretch up on my tiptoes instead. I’m pretty tall for a girl—over 160 cm, taller than most boys my age. Combined with my annoyingly large chest, it draws attention I don’t want, which is usually a curse. But in moments like this, it’s handy.
“Almost… there…!”
Knock knock.
A knock comes from behind me while I’m balanced precariously.
“Excuse us~”
“—!?”
That voice. The beautiful, sweet voice I adore.
“H-Hya!?”
Startled, I lose my balance, and the next moment, I’m buried under an avalanche of books spilling from the shelf.
“…Hey, aren’t you Shirase-san? From our class?”
“—! Y-Yes… th-that’s me…”
Am I dreaming? My idol, Reiko Netora, suddenly shows up at the Literature Club and knows my name despite us barely talking…
“Wow, Shirase-san, you’re in the Literature Club? I had no idea since we haven’t chatted much,” she says.
“Y-Yeah… I’ve always, um, l-loved books… I thought it’d be nice to, uh, make friends with the same interests…”
She listens to my stammering, clumsy words with a bright, happy smile, saying she wishes we’d talked sooner…
“Shirase-san, I really want to join the Literature Club. Is that okay?”
What is this? It’s too perfect to be real. Oh, God, please—if this is a dream, just kill me now. I’d rather die than wake up after tasting this sweet poison.
But the dream doesn’t end. It keeps going.
“Um… hey, Shirase-san, what do I write here?”
Netora-san, looking puzzled, sits next to me as she fills out her club application. Too close, too close, too close! Our shoulders are touching! She’s so soft! And she smells amazing!
“Uh, th-that’s the motivation section, but the advisor’s pretty lax, so you can probably leave it blank…”
I try my best to explain without letting my emotions—or desires—show, and she beams at me, thanking me.
“Thanks, Yuri-chan! …Oh!”
“Fweh!? Y-Yuri-chan…!?”
“S-Sorry, Shirase-san! That was too familiar, wasn’t it…?”
She looks crestfallen for calling me by my first name, so I rush to reassure her.
“N-No, it’s fine! Totally fine! …I mean, if you’re okay with it, I’d, um, be happy if you called me Yuri…”
“Really!? Then call me Rei, too, Yuri-chan♪”
What is this ridiculously cute creature!? Too adorable!!
“…Uh, kinda feels like you and Shirase-san totally forgot I’m here, Rei-chan…”
“—Right, just stamp it and submit it, and you’re good.”
“Okay, guess I’ll take it home and turn it in tomorrow. Thanks for all the help, Yuri-chan!”
“N-No problem… Rei-chan.”
When was the last time I called someone by their first name? Even setting aside my crush, my heart feels strangely buoyant, filled with the joy of making a new friend after so long.
“See you in class tomorrow!”
With that, she spreads her arms and pulls me into a hug.
“Hyu!?”
My heart nearly stops. The boy with her—uh, what was his name? My head’s too full of Rei-chan to remember—says something.
“Rei-chan, just saying, even between girls, that could count as harassment.”
“What’re you talking about, Yuu-kun? This is totally normal for girls!”
Is it? As a loner, I wouldn’t know this kind of “normal.” But if she says it’s normal, it probably is.
I’m starting to accept it when—
“…Hehe, yup, totally normal. No need to hold back, Yuri…”
“!?”
A sultry, spine-chilling whisper tickles my ear. The next moment, Rei-chan pulls away, flashing her usual radiant smile like nothing happened.
“Let’s head home, Yuu-kun.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow, Shirase-san.”
I watch them leave the school, stunned.
“…Normal. This is… normal…?”
My hand brushes my ear, as if chasing the echo of her whisper. Deep in my heart, I hear something—something I’d buried—starting to crumble.
＊
Everything’s going according to plan.
Back home, I, Reiko Netora, am downright pleased with today’s haul. I’ve secured Yuri Shirase as my SSR-tier lesbian NTR candidate. I clocked her orientation from the moment we started school. How? Because in my past life as a homewrecker, I didn’t just steal straight couples—I meddled in yuri relationships too. Yup, I committed the eighth sin of humanity: worming my way between sapphic lovers.
With my keen eye, it was obvious Yuri’s gaze on me was… different. I’m a modern NTR heroine, inclusive of all orientations, so I had to recruit her. Her being in the Literature Club was perfect. I lured Yuu-kun into visiting the club, staged a cute little “romantic” encounter, and boom—lesbian NTR route acquired. I might’ve gone a bit overboard with the heavy flirting, but crossing gender barriers for NTR calls for some bold moves. Yuu-kun didn’t notice, so it’s just collateral damage. Necessary expense.
With Fuyuki-kun and Yuri-chan, I’ve got two interlopers locked in, but that’s not enough. Plus ultra. My NTR knows no limits.
So, it’s time to give Yuri-chan a makeover.
“Uh, R-Rei-chan?”
“Hehe, don’t worry, Yuri-chan. Just relax…”
“Y-Yes…”
After school, I’ve invited Yuri-chan to my place and sat her down in my room. With a provocative little smile, I gently touch her cheek, handling her like fragile glass.
“Your skin is so pretty… so soft, I could touch it forever.”
“W-W-Wah… R-Rei-chan, um, maybe that’s enough…”
“Heh, sorry, sorry. Ready to get started?”
“P-Please…”
What’s on the menu? Not some sci-fi enhancement surgery—school-appropriate makeup lessons.
It all started a few hours ago.
“Yuri-chan, ever tried makeup?”
“M-Makeup? N-No, I don’t know anything about that… Isn’t it, like, banned at school?”
“Super flashy gal-style makeup’s a no-go, but subtle stuff’s fine. Tons of girls in our class do it.”
During a chat in the Literature Club room, I brought it up. Yuu-kun, by the way, is off at the arcade with Fuyuki-kun and some other guys. Best friend NTR needs a solid bond between the stolen-from guy and the interloper, so go deepen that bromance, boys (toothy grin).
“Hey, if you’re up for it, how about letting me do your makeup?”
“Wha!? N-No way… I’d just look like a gloomy nerd trying too hard. People would laugh…”
“Ugh, don’t say that! You’re gorgeous, Yuri-chan. Your figure’s amazing—I’m honestly kinda jealous.”
It’s true. Her messy hair and bad posture hide it, but Yuri-chan’s a stunner. Flawless skin, a curvy, eye-catching body—just a little polish, and she’d be unrecognizable. As someone who keeps tabs on her interlopers, I’ve already dug into Yuri-chan’s past. A perfect NTR heroine never slacks on intel.
From what I found, Yuri-chan wasn’t exactly bullied in elementary school, but she was subtly ostracized. Probably jealousy from girls over her looks and teasing from boys too shy to be honest. That’s what twisted her into the shy, bookish girl she is now. But honestly, that’s inconvenient for me.
I can handle the hate from keeping Yuu-kun and Fuyuki-kun close with my social finesse, but adding Yuri-chan to the mix complicates things. She’s not exactly a social butterfly, and her understated beauty makes her a prime target for other girls’ attacks if she joins our group. Even tanking the hate myself has limits, and Yuri-chan would likely shrink away and ditch the group eventually. She’s already hesitant, barely interacting with me outside the club room. Sigh.
But I’m no lazy NTR heroine content with the status quo. The solution? Power up Yuri-chan so she fits seamlessly into our group.
“Please! I’ll make you adorable, I swear!”
“Ugh… f-fine. If you’re that insistent, Rei-chan…”
She reluctantly nods, and I grin. Too easy.
“Yes! Let’s head to my place!”
“Y-Your house!?”
“Can’t exactly relax at school, right? …Hehe, getting any weird ideas?”
I flash a suggestive smile, and Yuri-chan turns beet red, flustered. Perfect. Gotta keep pushing before she can think straight. Interloper seduction tactics work just as well for an NTR heroine.
“All done!”
“W-Wow… this is amazing… Rei-chan, are you, like, studying to be a beautician or something?”
“Pfft, you’re exaggerating. You were already a gem.”
Looks like the makeover’s complete…
I sweet-talked Yuri-chan into it with my silver tongue and nimble hands, and while I was at it, I got to play with her hair a bit too.
Back when I was working on Yuu-kun’s glow-up plan, I studied haircuts to turn him into a total hunk. Even now, I occasionally mess with his hair to tweak his charm levels.
Yuri-chan, post-transformation, is honestly a head-turner on any city street—a legit beauty. I might be a tad biased, but I’m not denying it.
“The cut’s one thing, but the makeup itself was a breeze, right? No foundation, just stuff you can grab at a dollar store or cheap brands, so it’s super wallet-friendly.”
“U-um, yeah. I think… I could manage this…”
Yuri-chan’s cheeks flush faintly, not from my usual teasing seduction but from a bubbly, excited thrill.
Yup, looks like she’ll start doing her makeup on her own without me prodding.
“When you’re new at it, use as little as possible. Spend too long, and the balance gets all wonky, so just slap it on quick and clean. After that, it’s all practice.”
“G-got it! I’ll… I’ll do my best!”
Her sparkling eyes can’t hide her joy, and I can’t help but feel a little giddy myself. Meddling like this? Totally worth it.
People often get the wrong idea, but I love my NTR guy Yuu-kun, my stealers Fuyuki-kun and Yuri-chan—all of them—equally. I adore them.
It’s just… my way of showing love’s a bit twisted, and I can’t help but want to shatter their brains. It’s a bad habit, but I’m not budging on it.
It’s like, “I wanna kill you, but I don’t want you dead.” What a tragic monster I am, huh?
If I were some modern isekai hero, they’d probably take pity on my sadistic streak and comfort me with open hearts. Nah, scratch that—if I met a creep like me, I’d yeet them into oblivion in a heartbeat. Life’s a mess, ain’t it?
“Alright, this is for Yuri-chan’s makeup debut!”
On our way out, I hand her a little compact mirror as a gift.
It’s just some cheap thing I had lying around my room, but getting her in the habit of checking herself out isn’t a bad idea—another one of my nosy little schemes.
“N-no way, Rei-chan! I can’t take this! You’ve already done so much…”
“Haha, it’s not some big fancy deal. It’s just a cheapo mirror.”
“B-but…”
“Seriously, don’t sweat it. I just want that mirror to scream, ‘My friend Yuri-chan is this damn gorgeous!’ That’s all.”
“Ugh… jeez, Rei-chan! You tease me way too much! …But, thanks. I’ll treasure it, okay?”
Yuri-chan clutches the compact to her chest like it’s some precious heirloom. It’s honestly just a cheap trinket, so I feel a bit awkward, but seeing her so happy makes it worth it.
—The next day, the classroom buzzed with whispers when Yuri-chan walked in, her whole vibe transformed. But that’s a story for another time.
“Yuri-chan, morning!”
“M-morning, Rei-chan… Um, how do I look?”
“Yup, just as I thought—my bestie’s the cutest girl in the world! ♪”
＊
Now, time for some damage control.
See, I screwed up my chart management, and before I knew it, my NTR boy Yuu-kun turned into a straight-up hottie. Ever since we hit middle school, girls have been swarming him like moths to a flame.
I’ve been doing my best to cling to Yuu-kun whenever I get the chance, flaunting our mutual crush vibes to keep the vultures at bay. But some girls are like, “Screw it, I’m shooting my shot!” and go for him anyway. So far, Yuu-kun’s been turning down every confession like a pro, keeping things under control.
—How do I know all this? Duh, I’ve been stalking Yuu-kun. Use some common sense. A top-tier NTR queen doesn’t miss a beat.
Still, this situation’s way too risky to ignore.
If Yuu-kun ever got stolen by someone else, I’d be clinging to him like a desperate leech, with no shame or dignity left.
And even if I did, all I could do is dangle the promise of “the ultimate brain-shattering experience” to keep him. Yeah, no way that’s gonna work.
Lately, I’ve been so focused on charging up Yuri-chan’s NTR power with some girl-on-girl bonding that I’ve slacked on Yuu-kun’s maintenance. Time to drive a wedge in a little deeper.
＊
“Ugh… midterms are coming up, huh…”
At lunch, me—Yuuki Tachibana—was eating with Rei-chan, Fuyuki-kun, and Shirase-san, who’s gotten tight with Rei-chan lately. Fuyuki-kun let out a sigh, muttering under his breath.
“What, you hate ‘em that much? Don’t you usually ace your tests without even trying, Fuyuki-kun?”
Rei-chan tilted her head curiously at Fuyuki-kun’s gloomy expression.
“I mean, sure, I can pull average scores without breaking a sweat, but that’s not the same as liking studying. Plus, club activities get canceled during exam season.”
“Yeah, fair point. I’m not exactly a study nerd either.”
Rei-chan nodded in agreement, but Shirase-san looked at her, surprised.
“R-really? I kinda thought you were super smart and loved studying, Rei-chan…”
“Haha, I give off that vibe? If we’re talking smarts, Yuri-chan’s got that bookish charm, but studying’s not exactly her thing either, right?”
“Whoa, Shirase, you’re not that sharp? Even with those glasses?”
Fuyuki-kun’s blunt jab made Shirase-san shrink, pouting in protest.
“Ugh… t-that’s such a stereotype about glasses…”
“Yeah, Fuyuki-kun, Rei-chan, you’re both being a bit mean.”
“Oops, my bad. Didn’t mean to dunk on you or anything…”
“Hehe, sorry, sorry! Don’t be mad, Yuri-chan!”
While Fuyuki-kun apologized sheepishly, Rei-chan grinned and threw her arms around Yuri-chan. Those two are so close. It’s… it’s… kinda heartwarming.
Rei-chan’s got a rep as one of the top five beauties in school, but Shirase-san’s been turning heads lately too, ever since her glow-up. The two of them together? It’s like a dazzling aura.
“…Oh, hey!”
Rei-chan, still clinging to Shirase-san, lit up like she’d just had a genius idea and pitched it to us.
“How about a study group?”
“““Study group?”””
Her sudden suggestion made all three of us echo in unison.
“I’ve always kinda wanted to do one, y’know? Like in dramas or manga.”
Rei-chan’s eyes sparkled as she beamed at us.
So cute. Wanna marry her.
“I get what you mean, Rei. It’s like a classic trope. Club’s on break anyway, so I’m down.”
“I-I’m okay with it too… if everyone else is…”
Fuyuki-kun and Shirase-san nodded along, then all three turned to me.
My answer to Rei-chan’s invite? Obvious. But I’ll say it properly anyway.
“Count me in, of course.”
“Yay! I love you guys!”
Rei-chan’s pure, unfiltered affection and that dazzling smile made my face heat up.
…God, I really, really love Rei-chan.
She might not know, but since starting middle school, I’ve had a few girls confess to me.
I turned them all down with, “There’s someone else I like,” but those girls are incredible. Facing the fear of confessing to someone you love? That takes way more guts than a coward like me could ever muster.
Using Rei-chan as my excuse to reject them feels like I’m betraying their courage. So, bit by bit, I’ll try to close the gap with her. It’s the least I can do to honor their feelings.
“This’ll be fun, right, Yuu-kun?”
“Haha… yeah, might as well make studying fun, huh, Rei-chan?”
I gave her a shy smile, dodging her radiance.
If this study group could bring us even a little closer… I let that slightly impure thought linger.
Nichaa…
＊
“Hey, everyone! Come on in!”
A few days after Rei-chan suggested the study group for midterms, it was the weekend, and Fuyuki-kun, Shirase-san, and I were invited to her place.
Her house was picked because it’s the most convenient spot geographically for all of us.
“S-sorry to intrude…”
“Been a while since I’ve been to your place, Rei.”
“Sorry for barging in. Oh, Rei-chan, this is from my mom—for everyone.”
As I slipped off my shoes, I handed Rei-chan a paper bag. Inside were some yokan sweets from a nearby confectionery.
“Wow, thanks! Let’s dig into these during a break later, okay? ♪”
Rei-chan’s practically bouncing with excitement over studying together. It’s so wholesome—and insanely cute.
…But, uh, her outfit’s making it a bit hard to know where to look.
It’s almost June, and the weather’s warming up. Some days, you’re already sweating under the sun. Today, Rei-chan’s rocking a sleeveless collared white shirt and short shorts—a cool, casual look.
It’s a total departure from her usual prim-and-proper vibe, all lively and energetic, and it suits her. She’s adorable. But the amount of skin showing is… well, it’s got me, Fuyuki-kun, and even Shirase-san’s eyes wandering.
…Wait, Fuyuki-kun I get, but why’s Shirase-san acting shy too?
Brushing off the weird vibe, we followed Rei-chan to her room.
“No one else is home right now, so make yourselves comfy.”
“Huh? Where’re your mom and dad?”
“Mom and Dad pulled the ‘We don’t wanna disturb your studying’ card and ditched for a date. They’ll be back by evening, I think. I’m grabbing drinks—barley tea cool with everyone?”
“Oh, Rei-chan, I’ll help!”
“Sweet, thanks. Boys, get your textbooks and stuff ready!”
As Rei-chan and Shirase-san left the room, I started setting up for studying as told, but Fuyuki-kun suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
“…Hey, Tachibana.”
“What’s up, Fuyuki-kun?”
Fuyuki-kun’s got this dead-serious look on his face, and I can’t help but raise a puzzled eyebrow. He beckons me closer with a quick wave, and I lean in, half-confused.
“…You see that?”
“Uh, see what?”
“Y’know… that. Rei’s outfit today.”
“Huh? I mean, yeah, I saw it…?”
I’m not quite catching what Fuyuki-kun’s getting at, my head practically sprouting a question mark. Then he drops an absolute bomb.
“…It was pink, right?”
“Huh!?”
“Her underwear, man. Rei’s. You could totally see it through her shirt.”
“Pfft!?”
What the hell is this guy blurting out!?
“Wha!? H-Hold on…! Fuyuki-kun!?”
“Shh, keep it down, idiot! Don’t play innocent—you saw it too, didn’t you?”
“W-Well, I mean… it’s not like I meant to look, it was just… y’know, hard to miss…”
“And, like, hasn’t Rei’s chest gotten bigger lately? Not as much as Shirase, but still.”
“Oh, you noticed too, Fuyuki-kun? I mean, Rei-chan doesn’t even wear a cami or anything, so at school, you can kinda see through her summer uniform too. Should we, like, say something to her?”
“Man, you’re way more of a perv than I thought…”
I’ve never had a chance to talk about something this crude with someone so close, so my energy’s all kinds of weird right now.
I almost start rambling with Fuyuki-kun about whether Rei-chan’s got some kinda sexy vibe going on, but the sound of the door opening snaps us both back to reality.
“—Crap! We’re screwed!”
“Wha!? F-Fuyuki-kun!?”
We were huddled together, whispering like a couple of conspiring idiots, and when we scramble to pull apart, I lose my balance and end up pinned under Fuyuki-kun in this awkward, toppled-over mess.
“Sorry for the wait, guys—…huh?”
Rei-chan, carrying a tray of barley tea glasses, freezes like a deer in headlights when she sees us.
Uh, what’s with that reaction?
Is she that shocked just because we haven’t started setting up for studying?
“No… no way… Me, getting Yuu-kun stolen by a guy!?”
Rei-chan mutters something under her breath, but neither Fuyuki-kun nor I can make it out. We just exchange glances, both of us sporting giant “?”s over our heads.
＊
Chill, JUST CHILL. I—Reiko Netora—am calm now.
For a split second, the idea of Yuu-kun getting stolen sent a delicious shiver down my spine, but it’s obviously just a misunderstanding.
I stalk Yuu-kun daily, so I know he’s straight as an arrow. His phone bookmarks? All wholesome stuff like pure-hearted older-sister types or lovey-dovey childhood friend tropes—typical teenage boy tastes. No doubt about it.
Why do I know his bookmarks? Easy—social hacking.
Pro tip, Yuu-kun: using your birthday as your PIN is a bad move. I mentally scold him. If I keep snooping through his phone, that’s on him now. That’s just how it works.
“C’mon, you two, what’re you goofing off for? Get ready for studying already!”
Snapping out of my freeze, I act like nothing happened, passing out the barley tea from the tray and urging them to prep.
Oh, seating arrangement? Yuri-chan’s next to me, Yuu-kun’s straight across, and Fuyuki-kun’s diagonal.
Putting the boys up front? Pure strategy for charm-point management.
My outfit today’s a thin white shirt, so my cute pink bra’s totally visible. Teenage boys mix up lust and love all the time, so a little spicy fanservice goes a long way to boosting my appeal. Easy peasy.
If I pretend to focus on studying and keep my eyes on the desk, it’s easier for the boys up front to sneak peeks. For Yuri-chan next to me, I’ll just dial up the skinship to keep her hooked. Probably the fastest way to handle it.
“Alright, let’s get started!”
“““Sure!”””
So, the study group kicked off, and about three hours later, we’d covered the entire exam scope in no time flat, so we called it quits.
Now we’re munching on the yokan Yuu-kun brought, playing some games together.
Honestly, a first-semester middle school midterm is like a tutorial for exams. I wasn’t planning a hardcore study session from the start—more like a fun hangout. Everything’s going as planned.
For the record, our academic ranking goes:
Me > Fuyuki-kun > Yuu-kun > Yuri-chan.
Yup, the glasses girl’s dead last. Still, Yuri-chan’s only slightly below average, so with my help, she’s fine.
Yuu-kun’s a bit above average, while Fuyuki-kun and I are probably in the top single digits school-wide.
I’m cheating with my past-life knowledge, but Fuyuki-kun? He’s a legit all-star, acing both sports and academics in his first go at life.
With his fresh-faced good looks, it’s no wonder girls throw shade at me for keeping such a prime catch on a leash without dating him.
He’s already pretty poisoned by my charm, though, cutting off every girl who confesses to him. I feel a twinge of guilt for the girls he’s rejected, but as someone dead-set on the NTR route, I’m not backing down.
“NTR’s a perverse fetish!” “Think about the other person’s feelings!” Pfft, am I supposed to gaslight myself with that nonsense? Hard pass.
So, time to get to the real goal of this study group—tying a nice, tight knot between me and Yuu-kun.
＊
The study group—well, it was more playtime than studying, but whatever—wrapped up as the sun started to set, and me—Yuu Tachibana—and Rei-chan’s crew called it a day.
“Man, that was fun! Let’s do this again, Yuu-kun!”
“Haha… it was supposed to be a study group, y’know?”
“Hey, we studied plenty, didn’t we?”
Rei-chan puffs out her cheeks in mock protest at my half-joking grumble.
It’s not like either of us is actually mad—just our usual playful banter. Shirase-san jumps in to back her up.
“U-um, yeah. Rei-chan’s really good at explaining stuff… it was super clear…”
“Yuri-chan, you’re so sweet and honest! Unlike someone who’s been getting all cheeky lately.”
Rei-chan wraps her arms around Shirase-san, ruffling her hair, and Shirase-san flails, eyes wide and flustered.
Shirase-san’s got this thing about guys—probably me and Fuyuki-kun included—but thanks to Rei-chan pushing us to hang out as a four-person squad, she seems way more comfortable now.
I heard Rei-chan had a hand in Shirase-san’s recent glow-up too. That part of her—always dragging people into the spotlight—hasn’t changed since forever. It makes me a little nostalgic.
“…She’s really kind, or maybe just a meddler…”
“Hm? You say something, Yuu-kun?”
“Just that you should let Shirase-san go already. It’s getting late, and even if we’re all in walking distance, her parents might worry if she’s out too long. She’s a girl, y’know.”
“Hm, good point. Alright, Yuri-chan, see you at school!”
“U-um, yeah. Thanks for today, Rei-chan… I-I’m really glad you invited me.”
Rei-chan and Shirase-san link fingers, giggling and reluctant to part. Those two are so tight…
“Alright, sorry, but can you two walk Yuri-chan home, Yuu-kun, Fuyuki-kun?”
“Sure thing. Our routes are mostly the same anyway. It’s getting dark, so I’ve got enough sense to escort a girl home.”
“Let’s go, Shirase-san.”
“Th-thanks, Kurushima-kun, Tachibana-kun. Bye, Rei-chan!”
“See ya at school!”
With the setting sun nudging us along, we left Rei-chan’s place.
A few minutes into the walk, Shirase-san, who’d been quietly nodding along to me and Fuyuki-kun’s chatter, suddenly spoke up.
“…Hey, Tachibana-kun.”
“Hm? What’s up, Shirase-san?”
“Did you forget something at Rei’s place or what?”
“N-no, it’s not that. Um… you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but…”
“?”
“Are… are you and Rei-chan, like, dating?”
“Wha!? H-Huh!?”
“Damn, Shirase, you just went for it…”
I nearly choke, and Fuyuki-kun gives her a half-stunned look. Shirase-san hurries to explain.
“S-Sorry! I-I didn’t mean it in a weird way! J-Just, like, I was worried I might be getting in the way of you and Rei-chan. S-So, um…”
“Haha… it’s fine, really. You just caught me off guard. Nah, me and Rei-chan aren’t like that. So don’t worry about being a third wheel or anything, okay?”
“Wait, the way you put that makes me sound like the oblivious third wheel. That how you see me, Shirase?”
“Eek!? N-No, I didn’t mean it like that at all…!”
Shirase-san’s frantic flailing makes me and Fuyuki-kun burst out laughing.
For the rest of the walk, Fuyuki-kun kept teasing her, which was kinda mean, but it somehow made us feel closer to Shirase-san. Call it a wash, I guess.
“So… Rei-chan’s not dating anyone…”
“Rei and Tachibana are… I dunno, like family or siblings or something. Right, Tachibana?”
The banter kept flowing, and after dropping Shirase-san off at her place, Fuyuki-kun and I split up to head home.
After dinner, I’m sprawled on my bed, fiddling with my phone, when a notification from the messaging app pops up on the screen.
It’s from Rei-chan.
【REIKO: Yuu-kun, you free right now?】
【YUUKI: Just messing around with a game, so yeah, I’m good. What’s up?】
【REIKO: Wanna double-check something—did we maybe swap notebooks during the study group?】
Attached to the message is a photo of Rei-chan holding my notebook.
I dig through my bag and, sure enough, there’s a notebook labeled “Reiko Netora” mixed in with my stuff.
【YUUKI: Crap, sorry! Looks like I grabbed your notebook by mistake!】
【REIKO: Ugh, figured as much—】
【REIKO: Sorry to bug you, but is it cool if I swing by your place to grab it?】
【REIKO: There’s something I really need to check!】
【REIKO: Thanks!】
【REIKO: Heading over now!】
【YUUKI: Hold up—】
Before I can even type “Wait,” the intercom buzzer rings in my ears.
I bolt out of my room and fling open the front door, and there’s the girl I was just texting, standing there with a mischievous grin.
“Surprise! ♥”
Rei-chan sticks out her tongue, and her cuteness hits me like a truck. Still, I steel myself and deliver a light chop to her pretty forehead.
“Ow!”
“Rei-chan? I know it’s only a five-minute walk to my place, but a girl wandering out alone at this hour? Not cool.”
“Ugh… but Yuu-kun’s partly to blame for not noticing the notebook mix-up…”
“Fair, my bad. But if you’d told me, I would’ve just brought it to your place. Also, you were already at my door before you sent that message, weren’t you?”
She sticks her tongue out again, trying to play it off, so I land another chop. So cute.
“Yuu-kun? What’s all the noise at the door—oh, Reiko-chan!”
My mom pokes her head out from the living room, probably hearing the commotion.
“Good evening, ma’am. Sorry for dropping by so late.”
“We mixed up our notebooks at the study group earlier, so she came to grab hers.”
“Oh, dear, you could’ve just told Yuu-kun, and he’d have brought it over.”
“That was my plan, but…”
“Yuu-kun, make sure you walk Reiko-chan home afterward, okay?”
“Of course, that’s the plan.”
Mom nods at my response and heads back to the living room.
“Hang on a sec, I’ll grab your notebook—”
“Coming in!”
“Wait, Rei-chan!”
Before I can stop her, she kicks off her shoes and strides into my room like she owns the place.
“Wow, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve been in your room, Yuu-kun!”
“Ugh… it’s fine, I guess, but did you really need to come all the way in just to grab your notebook?”
“It’s not fair that I’m the only one whose room got seen, y’know?”
“You’re the one who volunteered your place for the study group.”
I let out a sigh and grab her notebook from my bag in the corner.
“Thanks!”
I turn around, and… she’s lounging on my bed, sprawled out like it’s her own.
This… this is hitting me hard.
Like, really hard.
But, c’mon, this calls for a lecture.
“…Rei-chan.”
“What’s up, Yuu-kun?”
“Sit properly.”
“Huh?”
“Now.”
“Uh, okay.”
At my words, Rei-chan makes a weird face but sits up on the bed in a proper seiza pose.
“Rei-chan, we’re in middle school now. Sure, we’re still kids, but we’re at that age where we need to start being mindful of, y’know, guy-girl boundaries, don’t you think?”
“Uh, huh…?”
She’s clearly not getting what I’m driving at, so I rub the crease between my brows and keep going.
“You’re a girl, Rei-chan. Barging into a guy’s room like this, flopping on his bed… being so carefree around guys isn’t exactly safe, you know.”
“Mmph, I don’t just do this with anybody, okay? I trust you, Yuu-kun.”
…Does that mean she doesn’t see me as a guy?
Honestly, hearing that from the girl I like stings like hell. I’m kinda on the verge of tears.
“…Still, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you, Yuu-kun. I’m reflecting… a little.”
“A little, huh? Whatever. But seriously, between the no-notice visit and your vibe today, you’re acting kinda off. Something up?”
When I ask, she scratches her cheek, looking a bit sheepish.
“Haha… well, the study group was so fun, but after everyone left, I got… kinda lonely. So I thought, maybe I could bug Yuu-kun for a bit.”
“Geez, Rei-chan, you’re secretly such a softie.”
“I’m a delicate maiden, I’ll have you know!”
She fake-laughs like some fancy lady, and I can’t help but crack a wry smile.
Even if she doesn’t see me as a guy, the fact that she picks me to lean on when she’s lonely makes me want to scream with joy. I’m such a mess.
“Alright, enough messing around. Let’s head out. I’ll walk you home, so c’mon, up you go.”
“Fiiine.”
I clap my hands to nudge her, and Rei-chan shifts out of seiza to stand up from the bed.
“—Whoa!?”
Maybe her legs were numb, or the bed was just a bad spot to stand—probably both. Rei-chan loses her balance and starts to topple off the bed.
“Rei-chan!?”
I rush to catch her.
She instinctively grabs onto me, but her momentum pulls us both backward, and she falls with me still holding on.
“Wah!?”
“Eek!?”
Next thing I know, we’re in a classic setup: her flat on her back on the bed, me hovering over her.
“Uh, s-so… Rei-chan? You okay…?”
My face feels like it’s on fire as I stammer, trying to play it off.
“…U-um, uh, Y-Yuu-kun…”
Her face, inches from mine, is probably as red as mine—maybe redder.
“…Y-Your… hand…”
“Huh?”
I follow her gaze to my hand.
My right hand’s… touching her chest, which is starting to fill out.
“—!”
This is bad.
Move your hand. Now.
Get off her and grovel.
My brain’s blaring alarms, but turns out I’m way weaker to temptation than I thought.
I can’t move my hand. I can’t pull away. I’m frozen, prioritizing the warmth of her under my fingers.
“…N-No…!”
She lets out a scared whimper.
—And just like that, my first love’s over.
In just about the worst way possible.
Her rejection hits me like a bucket of ice water, chilling the back of my brain.
I’m such a pathetic, ugly mess. As she stares at me, her lips move.
“…I-I haven’t… showered yet, so… no…”
—Huh!?
Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s muttering something totally incoherent. My brain grinds to a halt.
Her words don’t register as meaning—just sound passing through my ears.
It takes a few seconds after the vibration of her voice hits my brain for my thoughts to creak back into motion.
…So, like, if she had showered, she’d be okay with… that kind of thing with me—
Beep-beep-beep-beep!
““—!?””
A shrill electronic sound cuts through the silent room where we’d been staring at each other.
Snapping back to reality, I spring off Rei-chan like I’ve been electrocuted.
“Oh, th-that’s my phone… I-I’ll get it, okay?”
Rei-chan, smoothing her messy hair, presses the phone to her ear.
“Hello? Mom? …Yeah, I’m still at Yuu-kun’s place. Uh-huh, milk? Got it. I’ll grab some at the convenience store on the way back.”
Looks like the call’s from her mom.
It’s not like anything happened with Rei-chan, but I can’t shake this awkward, guilty feeling.
She finishes the call and turns to me, her eyes darting nervously.
“Um, s-so… I-I’ll head out now, okay?”
“Y-Yeah…”
We exchange stilted words, and she stuffs her notebook—the whole point of this visit—into her bag, heading for the door.
“…”
“…Rei-chan?”
She pauses at the door, turning back with a slightly pouty, almost annoyed look.
“…You’re not walking me home?”
“Huh? I-I mean… is that okay?”
“You’re gonna let a girl walk home alone at this hour?”
“R-Right, yeah, let’s go.”
“Mm…”
After that moment, I figured she’d hate being alone with me, but apparently not.
I’m dizzy with a mix of fear and joy—emotions I can’t even control—as I set out to walk her home.
＊
Plan = Success.
I—Reiko Netora—delete the “alarm” from my phone while flashing a wicked grin at an angle Yuu-kun can’t see.
This whole sequence was the true goal of the study group event.
My aim? To make Yuu-kun realize, “Hey, I’m basically spoken for,” and tie him down so he doesn’t stray to some other girl.
Sure, I’ve tamed Yuu-kun into a sweet, herbivore-type guy who wouldn’t make a move in that situation, but he’s still a hormonal middle school boy. The chance of him falling for some random chick on a whim isn’t exactly zero.
So, I staged this little scene to drill into his head, “If you’re bold enough, you can have this girl.” It’s mind control to keep his eyes locked on me.
With Yuu-kun’s personality, he’ll stick to our comfy, mutual-crush limbo without much effort. It’s not hard to nudge his psyche into staying put.
If he just musters the guts to take one step forward, he could claim the girl he’s pined for forever. With that setup, no random temptress is gonna sway him—I’ll make sure of it.
A top-tier NTR queen’s brainwashing game is top-tier too.
Where’d the setup start? From the very beginning—all of it was planned.
I swapped our notebooks on purpose. I used my Netora-style martial arts to guide Yuu-kun into pushing me down on the bed. And the cherry on top? That fake phone call via the alarm function to interrupt at the perfect moment.
I feel like some dark, filthy-rich mastermind toying with death game contestants. Ugh, I’m such irredeemable trash.
But unlike those shadowy tycoons, I’m not treating Yuu-kun like a disposable plaything. He’s my precious, precious partner—my sacrificial lamb, cherished and adored. So, sure, I might look like a creature of darkness, but deep down, I’m totally on the side of light.
Moving on from that tangent.
Yeah, this plan’s pretty roundabout, but it’s not like I’m chickening out of getting physical or going soft. I double-checked the chart, and this is the play.
Hooking up with Yuu-kun right now wouldn’t be bad, but since I’m set on pulling off the NTR in high school, becoming a couple now would definitely fizzle out.
Emotions have an expiration date.
Three years is more than enough time for fiery love to cool into a gentle ember. Feelings, for better or worse, die with time.
True brain-shattering NTR isn’t a static state—it’s the dynamic shift, that fleeting moment when hope flips to despair.
A soft, sunlit warmth won’t cut it. Only the searing blaze of love, frozen in an instant, makes for real NTR.
I want to savor it… Yuu-kun’s fresh, juicy despair, the taste of his brain breaking…
A few lines ago, I called myself a creature of light, but now I’m sounding like a full-on dark-attribute monster.
Anyway, the issue is that becoming a couple too early would calm the lovey-dovey vibes before the NTR payoff.
To get stolen at the peak of new-relationship bliss, I need to keep Yuu-kun simmering a bit longer.
One other headache: I’m still torn about whether to sleep with Yuu-kun.
To avoid screwing up the BSS route, I’m locked into becoming his girlfriend eventually, but what comes after is the problem.
The classic move—sleeping with Yuu-kun, then getting stolen by another guy and going, “He’s so much better… ♥”—is peak NTR, no question.
But picturing Yuu-kun, wrecked by “If I’d just been braver sooner…” after I lose my virginity to someone else? That’s so good I could lose it just thinking about it.
Dammit! Why!?
Why didn’t I get some busted reincarnation cheat like save-scumming or time loops!?
If I had that, I could experience every NTR scenario!
Screw you, reincarnation gods! I’m seething with righteous fury.
But whining about what I don’t have won’t help. Life’s about playing the hand you’re dealt. I steel my resolve.
“…”
Walking side by side with Yuu-kun on the way home, I start by leaning into my “pure, innocent girl” card to fluster him. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
＊
“Practice on the same day midterms end? You’re really into soccer, huh, Fuyuki-kun.”
The last day of midterms.
School let out at noon, and I—Fuyuki Kurushima—was alone in the park, kicking a soccer ball around when she—Reiko Netora—showed up.
“Gotta keep sharp, or I’ll get rusty fast. I messed with the ball a bit during exam week, but it’s been a while since I could kick it freely without worrying about people watching!”
Noticing she’s in sportswear, I send a high pass her way.
“Hup! There!”
“Nicely done. Your athleticism’s no joke, Rei.”
She traps the ball with her chest and shifts seamlessly into juggling it.
I give her some honest praise for her smooth moves, and she flashes me a cocky grin.
“Heh, getting a little mesmerized?”
“Pfft, as if. I’ve seen tons of players better than you. That’s not enough to make me swoon.”
…Hoping she doesn’t catch the feelings I’m hiding, I brush her off with a sharper jab than I meant, and she puffs out her cheeks cutely.
“Mmph, you and Yuu-kun have gotten all grown-up since middle school. So not cute!”
Rei fires back with a jumping volley, sending the ball my way.
…This girl’s athleticism is unreal. Why’s she wasting it in the literature club?
“Where’re Tachibana and Shirase?”
“They’re both wiped out from exam stress, so I’m flying solo today.”
“C’mon, first-semester midterms aren’t that tough. They okay?”
“Probably just drained from the whole event vibe. They’ll be fine with the tests… I think.”
“You think? Don’t leave me hanging like that.”
We keep passing the ball back and forth, bantering lightly.
The feel of the ball.
The scent of the breeze.
The casual chatter with Rei.
It all feels so good, and my cheeks loosen into a grin.
—Right now, I’ve got her all to myself. That dizzying joy burns alongside a wave of self-loathing.
“…So, you and Tachibana fighting or something?”
“…Huh?”
My sudden verbal pass catches her off guard, and the ball drops right onto her head.
“Ow! …Uh, why?”
“You and Tachibana go way back. I can tell when things are off between you two.”
“Haha, you’re pretty observant…”
She scratches her cheek with a wry smile. Looks like I hit the mark.
“So? What’s the deal?”
“Mm… it’s not like we’re fighting, exactly. Just… kinda awkward.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I give a dry chuckle at her vague answer.
“You don’t have to spill if you don’t want, but c’mon, I care about you just as much as Tachibana does, y’know? Don’t leave me out of the loop.”
…That’s a lie. Deep down, I can’t stand the idea of Rei and Tachibana sharing secrets I’m not privy to.
I mask my ugly jealousy with a fake “worried friend” act.
“Ugh… fine, I guess it’s okay to tell you… It’s not a big deal, but…”
“Yeah?”
“So, uh… the other day, Yuu-kun… kinda touched my chest…”
“…What?”
A voice colder than I thought I could muster slips out.
At the same time, a vile resentment toward my so-called best friend surges up.
…I scramble to cover it with a forced, “Oh, that’s it?” tone and expression. Lucky for me, Rei doesn’t notice my slip.
She’s too busy blushing and waving her hands frantically, making excuses.
“I-It wasn’t like he was trying anything weird! It was totally an accident! B-But, y’know, it’s still embarrassing, so… I’ve been kinda distant with Yuu-kun lately…”
“Pfft… man, that’s such a dumb reason, I’m actually relieved.”
“Dumb!? How’s that dumb!? If you accidentally touched my boobs, you’d get all awkward too, right!?”
“Nah, wouldn’t faze me. We’ve known each other forever—something like that’s not gonna mess with us.”
She’s adorable when she gets all worked up—and no, not through Tachibana’s lens. Right now, she’s looking at me, and I can’t help teasing her.
“Maybe if your chest was as big as Shirase’s, I’d care a little.”
“Ugh, you’re the worst!? You’re looking at Yuri-chan like that!? Acting all clean-cut sports guy at school, but you’re just a pervy kid! …And don’t act like I’ve got nothing!”
“Compared to Shirase, you kinda don’t, though.”
“Compared to Yuri-chan, most girls don’t!”
Our back-and-forth’s like a comedy skit, and I’m cracking up when Rei suddenly grabs my hand.
“—Huh?”
And then she presses my hand against her chest.
“You’ve got eyes, don’t you, Fuyuki-kun!? I’ve got something, alright!”
The soft sensation through her thin sportswear sends my brain into a tailspin, and I choke out words in a panic.
“Wha—!? You—!? Idiot, what’re you—!?”
“Huh? …Oh!”
Finally snapping out of it, Rei’s face goes pale, and she lets go of my hand, dropping into a full-on dogeza.
“…S-Sorry for the unsightly display… P-Please, just don’t call the cops…”
“Stop it, idiot. I’d be the one getting reported.”
I hurriedly pulled her up, scratching my head to hide my nerves and letting out an exaggerated sigh.
“Just make up with Tachibana already. You’re clearly not in your right mind.”
“I have no comeback for that…”
“Ugh… all this nonsense’s got me thirsty. I’m hitting the vending machine. Wait here.”
“Y-Yeah…”
Hoping she doesn’t notice my heart’s about to burst out of my mouth, I turn away and head for the vending machine at the park’s edge.
“…”
I clench the hand that touched her, replaying her warmth and softness like it’s a dream I can’t let go of.
“…Was that too much? Nah, for puberty-struck boys, you need that kind of impact. Yup.”
Rei’s muttering something in the distance, but the breeze carries it away before it reaches my ears.
＊
Alright, after pulling off that lucky perv moment at Yuu-kun’s place, I—Reiko Netora—am plotting my next move.
For now, I laid on the mutual-crush vibes hard. No need to worry about Yuu-kun getting snatched by some other girl anytime soon.
If anything, the bigger risk is I overdid the charm and Yuu-kun jumps the gun with a confession.
Ideally, I wanna hold off on dating him until high school, but if he confesses now, after all the teasing I’ve done, I’d pretty much have to say yes. Gotta cool it with the touchy-feely stuff for a bit.
So, my focus for now? Scouting potential stealers and boosting the charm points of my NTR targets—Fuyuki-kun and Yuri-chan.
“Morning!”
With that in mind, I bounce into the classroom, flashing a dazzling smile and greeting everyone.
“Yo, Netora-san!”
“Hey, Netora!”
“Hot as hell out there, and you’re this chipper already?”
I grin and wave lightly at the classmates who respond. Building class-wide charm points is a key routine for an NTR queen.
The bright, bubbly, everyone’s-favorite gal—that’s me. And then, behind Yuu-kun’s back, I get corrupted by some stealer… Ugh, so good.
Since I’m here, might as well grab a little snack.
My target? The corner of the classroom where my classmate Yamada-kun’s quietly reading a book.
“Morning, Yamada-kun!”
“M-Morning, Netora-san…”
Average build, average looks, shy personality. If I hadn’t botched Yuu-kun’s glow-up plan, middle-school Yuu-kun probably would’ve ended up like this guy. I plop both hands on his desk and hit him with my sparkliest puppy-dog eyes.
“Listen, listen! I read that light novel you were into the other day, and it was so good! I legit cried!”
“Huh? Oh, uh… you actually read it? I thought you were just messing with me…”
“Haha, what’s that supposed to mean? That’s harsh! Anyway, I binged all the volumes, so if you know any other cool ones, you gotta tell me!”
“Uh, well… there’s this other one from the same label…”
As I’m chatting animatedly with Yamada-kun, a girl from class slides into the conversation.
“Reiko, you and Yamada-kun are getting pretty chummy lately, huh?”
“Yup! He knows all sorts of cool books, and it’s super fun talking to him. Right? ♪”
I flash a bright smile, and Yamada-kun blushes slightly, scratching his head.
“Uh, y-yeah…”
“Oh, sorry! Didn’t mean to make a scene first thing in the morning.”
“N-No, it’s fine. I, uh, kinda like talking to you too, Netora-san—”
“Morning, Rei-chan!”
Yuu-kun’s voice cuts in from behind as he arrives at school.
With a quick bit of blood-flow control, I make my cheeks flush and turn to him with a perfect “lovestruck maiden” expression.
A top-tier NTR queen can manipulate her blood flow like it’s nothing. Am I even human?
“Hey, Yuu-kun, morning! Catch ya later, Yamada-kun!”
“Y-Yeah, later, Netora-san…”
As I walk off with Yuu-kun, Yamada-kun watches us go with a look that’s half-resignation, half-sorrow—like he’s telling himself, “We’re from different worlds. Don’t dream above your station.” A quiet despair wraps around him.
Whew, didn’t expect such a tasty treat this early in the morning. Thanks, Yamada-kun!
I’ll swing by to mess with you again sometime, so you better savor my “otaku-friendly gal” routine when I do. Dig in!
Oh, and sadly, Yamada-kun’s out of the running for stealer status. Shy, average guys are NTR victim material, not stealer material—lacking the raw power for the role.
If he were some depraved, fetish-crazed creep, I might’ve considered him for the “introvert stealer” slot, but he’s too good-natured, so he’s relegated to my snack tier. Here’s to future fun…
“Yo, Rei!”
“Morning, Rei-chan!”
“Fuyuki-kun, Yuri-chan, morning!”
Our usual four-person crew gathers around my desk—a typical morning scene before homeroom.
“It’s so hot today, huh? Supposed to hit over thirty degrees, right?”
“Ugh, brutal.”
“Well, a little heat makes pool class feel amazing.”
“Oh, yeah, good point!”
Yup, today’s the first pool day of the year. For an NTR queen, this is one event I have to milk for all it’s worth.
Let’s start with a light jab.
“Ta-da! Since first period’s pool class, I wore my swimsuit underneath.”
I casually flip up my skirt, showing off the school swimsuit underneath, and Yuu-kun and the others blush hard. Charm-point quota? Cleared.
Then I got chewed out by Yuu-kun and the gang.
What for? The skirt-flipping, swimsuit-showing stunt, obviously.
“Rei-chan? That’s really not okay for a girl to do.”
“Rei, c’mon, you gotta stop with that stuff.”
“I agree with Tachibana-kun and Kurushima-kun.”
Getting scolded by all three, I put on my best “I’m sorry” pout. Shun.
What else am I supposed to do? An NTR heroine’s gotta have loose morals and even looser defenses.
Even if a stealer comes on like a total creep or gropes me in public, an NTR heroine’s only supposed to whimper, “P-Please stop…” and never think to threaten a lawsuit. That’s the saintly vibe of an NTR heroine.
Of course, I keep all that to myself and play the remorseful card with a meek, “Okay…”
Acting all prim and proper, huh, you little kittens? I saw all three of you staring at my lower half when I flipped my skirt.
Anyway, pool class time.
In the changing room, I do the classic “Yuri-chan, you’re huge!” yuri bait to rack up her charm points, then head to the poolside.
The pool’s split into boys’ and girls’ areas, with students lining up on each side.
“Wow, Fuyuki-kun’s abs are insane. Look, Yuri-chan!”
“D-Don’t look! Ugh, swimsuits show off everything… I hate this…”
“Yuri-chan, you’ve got an amazing figure—own it!”
While tossing out some yuri-flavored banter, I sneak a little wave at Yuu-kun and Fuyuki-kun when our eyes meet. Oh, and Yamada-kun too, for good measure.
“Shirase’s chest is unreal…”
“Netora-san’s legs are so long…”
“Shirase-san’s boobs are crazy…”
“Rei-chan’s waist is so tiny…”
“Shirase is stacked…”
I pretend not to notice the boys’ lustful stares, flashing sweet smiles while we do warm-ups.
Class is self-reported, split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced lanes. I can swim like a pro, but I pick the beginner course to stick with Yuri-chan. Plus, it’s chill.
“I thought for sure you’d go for the advanced course, Rei-chan…”
“Yuri-chan, zip it! It’s self-reported, so who cares? I just wanted to swim with you.”
We float around with kickboards for a few dozen minutes, just chilling.
“Alright, the rest of the time’s free swim!”
The teacher’s call gets a cheer from the boys.
The girls are all, “Boys are such kids,” but c’mon, we were all in elementary school last year. It’s fine.
“Rei, why’d you pick the beginner course?”
Fuyuki-kun calls out to me from near the lane rope separating the boys’ and girls’ areas while I’m floating around.
Prey’s walked right into my trap. Guhehehe!
Hiding my trashy inner thoughts, I flash a cute smile and chat with him across the rope.
“What’s the big deal? We’re not racing or anything.”
“Tch, I was hoping for a rematch from our elementary school days.”
He’s staring hard at my face—probably trying not to look at my chest. So gentlemanly, but it’s so obvious it’s almost awkward. Perfect for a pure-love, consensual-type stealer role. Yes!
“Where’s Yuu-kun?”
“Hm? Practicing backstroke over there. Wanna call him over?”
“Nah, don’t wanna bug him. If you wanna swim, you can head over too, y’know?”
“Unlike someone who faked their skill level to slack off, I swam my ass off during class, so I’m good.”
I puff out my cheeks cutely at his teasing jab.
No Yuu-kun around, so of course he’d prioritize chatting with me in my swimsuit. Just as planned.
“By the way, Fuyuki-kun, your abs are wild. Totally shredded.”
“…Isn’t that kinda sexual harassment?”
“Says the guy who was talking about my chest the other day.”
“Ugh, you pull that card, and I’ve got nothing…”
“Haha, my bad, my bad. But seriously, they’re impressive. Total guy vibes—I’m into it.”
Grinning slyly, I reach out and touch Fuyuki-kun’s abs.
“Wha—!? H-Hey, what’re you—!?”
“Wow, they’re rock hard! You drinking protein shakes or what?”
I flash a cheeky grin while my fingers playfully knead Fuyuki-kun’s abs.
The goal? Obliterate his fetishes, naturally.
Fuyuki-kun’s pretty popular, and he’s got no shortage of girls hitting on him.
Sure, for the stealer role, I don’t care if he dates someone else along the way as long as he ends up stealing me. But if he stays single? That’s honestly more convenient.
“Not to brag, but I’ve got my abs pretty toned too. Wanna feel?”
“—!”
So yeah, I’m messing with Fuyuki-kun’s head, hoping to make it so he can’t get off to anyone but me. Just playing the innocent-seduction card, you know?
But my grand plan hits a snag.
“Alright, free time’s over! Everyone, get out of the pool!”
“Aw, time’s up.”
At the teacher’s call, I kick through the water, pulling away from Fuyuki-kun. I know when to quit—a true NTR queen’s got finesse.
“Catch ya later, Fuyuki-kun!”
“…”
Watching Fuyuki-kun climb out of the pool, face red as a beet and moving way too slowly, I feel a tiny pang of guilt. Okay, maybe trying to wreck his fetishes in the middle of pool class was a bit too lawless. My bad.
“…Oh, crap, I forgot my underwear.”
“Rei-chan!?”
My mutter in the changing room makes Yuri-chan’s eyes go wide.
Yeah, this was a legit screw-up on my part.
I got so caught up in the skirt-flipping, swimsuit-showing chaos that I spaced on everything else. Lesson learned.
“For now, I’ll just throw on my gym clothes under my uniform to cover it up.”
“R-Really? That’s gonna be okay?”
“As long as I don’t move too much. Probably.”
If I had Yuri-chan’s massive assets, this might’ve been trickier, but lucky for me, I’m still rocking the slender vibe. No jumping around, and I should be fine.
“…So yeah, I’m not wearing any underwear right now.”
“Why would you tell us that, Rei!?”
Might as well turn my screw-up into a chance to mess with Yuu-kun and Fuyuki-kun’s heads. A true NTR queen turns blunders into opportunities.
＊
A month later, and time’s flown by.
“It’s… over…”
“Which ‘over’ are you talking about, Yuu-kun?”
Finals are done, and summer break’s right around the corner.
We held another study group with the usual four, helping Yuu-kun and Yuri-chan boost their grades. Gotta aim for the same high school, you know? Especially with Yuu-kun—it’s practically a must for my NTR chart.
That said, college plans aren’t just up to us—parents are a factor too.
Aiming for a school that’s too easy for our current grades or one with crazy tuition is a no-go.
So, we’re targeting a public prep school. Sounds surprising, but those places often lean into a hands-off, “respect student autonomy” vibe (read: they’re lax because their students are already overachievers). That looseness works great for my NTR chart—gives me plenty of wiggle room.
Parents usually won’t crush their kid’s dreams of aiming high, even if it’s a stretch.
Real talk, though? With our current grades, Fuyuki-kun and I are fine, but Yuu-kun and Yuri-chan are in a tougher spot.
Still, there’s plenty of time. With my past-life knowledge in my back pocket, I can carry them no problem. Plus, if I crank up the rom-com moves and stoke their love and lust, that romance boost should push them over the line. I’m calling it now.
“Wanna do a little ‘we survived finals’ party?”
College talk’s for later, though.
Finals just ended, so I don’t wanna kill the vibe with heavy stuff. Instead, I pitch a celebration to the group.
“Sounds good. Maybe hit up a family restaurant?”
“I kinda wanna move around a bit.”
“I-I’m fine with whatever, as long as we’re together…”
Hmm. Somewhere we can eat and be active?
How about that new sports complex with bowling and karaoke?
“What about that place? The new one with all the sports stuff.”
“Oh, the one with the arcade and karaoke? Yeah, that works.”
With everyone on board, we split up to change into comfy clothes before heading out.
And so, here we are at the sports complex.
“Th-This is my first time at a place like this…”
“They’ve got all sorts of weird sports to try—it’s a blast. What should we do first?”
The classic move would be to aim for a clumsy-sport-turned-lucky-perv moment, but since I’ve already shown Yuu-kun and the others I’m a total jock, that’s a no-go. Too unnatural and way too obvious.
Instead, I’ll play the “supporting Yuri-chan” card to rack up some yuri-NTR points with skinship.
“W-Wah! R-Rei-chan! H-Help…!”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry—here, hold my hand!”
I swoop in to save Yuri-chan, who’s wobbling like a newborn fawn on roller skates.
She wipes out a few times, and I cushion her fall, letting her hands graze my chest in the process.
“S-Sorry, Rei-chan! A-Are you okay?”
“No biggie, no biggie. Oh… but, uh, your hands are kinda… y’know?”
“—Eek!? N-No, I didn’t mean—!”
“Haha, Yuri-chan, you’re freaking out too much. It’s just us girls—no need to stress!”
Nice, nice. This kind of sneaky event is so good!
The way Yuri-chan’s eyes turn all beastly for a split second? Chef’s kiss.
Getting a front-row seat to watch my stealers wrestle with their desires? That’s an NTR queen’s privilege.
It’s like watching a raw, unfiltered movie…
“Haha, you and Shirase-san are so tight, Rei-chan.”
“…Yeah.”
Whoops, Fuyuki-kun’s giving Yuri-chan a subtle side-eye. Ugh, I hate sharp kids.
Stealers fighting each other is the last thing I need. Do you know how hard I work to secure my marks? Read the room—my room.
“Oh, that looks fun!”
To clear the weird vibe, I hop on the rodeo machine.
The up-and-down motion gets the boys hunching over, neatly overwriting Fuyuki-kun’s suspicions.
“Summer break’s almost here, huh?”
After burning through the sports activities, we’re chilling at the food court, chatting about our summer plans.
“I’m basically living at club practice. Only like four days a week, though.”
“Huh, less than I thought. I figured you’d be at it every day.”
“Honestly, our team’s not gunning for national titles or anything. I give it my all, obviously, but for me, soccer’s more about fun than going pro.”
Fuyuki-kun’s surprisingly chill take on soccer catches my ear as I listen to everyone else’s plans.
“I’m probably just visiting my grandma’s place during Obon.”
“My dad’s throwing a fit about wanting to go camping, so I’ll probably tag along.”
“Haha, Yuu-kun’s dad has always been obsessed with camping. He used to drag me along too, remember?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind it, honestly. What about you, Rei-chan?”
“Pretty similar to Yuri-chan, I guess. Just hitting up my parents’ hometown for a bit.”
I nibble on some lukewarm fries, putting on a slightly lonely smile.
“Summer break’s gonna be awesome, but not seeing you guys every day… kinda bums me out… Just kidding!”
“Haha, Rei-chan, you’re such a softie.”
“Y-Yeah, I kinda figured you were like that…”
“No helping it, huh? Look, I made a group schedule on the messaging app. Everyone toss in your free days, and we can figure out when to hang out.”
Fuyuki-kun ruffles my hair as I blink in surprise.
“I mean, it’s a long break. Obviously, we’re gonna hang out.”
“Yeah, let’s hit up all sorts of places together!”
“U-Um, I kinda wanna try wearing yukata with Rei-chan…”
“You guys…”
I let my eyes get just a little misty and look away.
Quota met.
At an angle they can’t see, I flash a Nichaa grin, smugly pleased at securing summer break time with my NTR crew.
“Whoa, you crying? Moved by our epic friendship?”
“Ugh, I hate that side of you, Fuyuki-kun!”
“C’mon, Fuyuki-kun, don’t tease Rei-chan too much.”
Sorry, guys, but I’m the one playing you.
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