I Received an NTR V*deo - Episode 24

“Hey, hey, Yujiro! Isn’t this adorable?”
“Yeah… it’s cute.”
Megumi had invited me out shopping at the mall.
She clung to my arm, cheerfully browsing through the displays. We eventually ended up at an accessory shop, where she now admired the rings.
“I want a matching pair like these.”
“Matching? I like that idea.”
“Right? Isn’t it sweet, wearing something that symbolizes being together with the one you love?”
The one you love, huh?
How can she say that—after everything she’s done?
Right now, I can’t even see Megumi as human.
She feels more like a monster wearing a person’s skin.
But I can’t break up with her. Not yet.
If we ended things now, the only ones who’d walk away satisfied would be Megumi and Netori. That’s not justice. It doesn’t sit right.
So, until this twisted game ends, I’ll play my part.
Let me take my revenge. Slowly. Deliberately.
I just have to be patient.
“Maybe I’m not really into it.”
“Huh? That’s fine. Let’s just get them anyway.”
“But they’re kind of expensive.”
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Right?”
She’s being unusually insistent.
I don’t know what’s going on in her head. Did Netori put her up to this? Is she trying to patch things up to hide the guilt?
I smiled, playing along.
“We’ll get them next time, okay? Even if not now, we’ll still be together.”
“Yeah!”
That radiant smile of hers…
I don’t know if it’s genuine or just another act—but either way, it doesn’t make me happy anymore.
“We’ll always be together from now on.”
“Sure. It’s fine to buy a pair, but let’s make sure they’re good ones. When I have more money, I’ll get you something really nice.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”
Megumi gripped my arm tighter.
“I’m so happy.”
“Ah…”
“It’s nice, just the two of us. I only have Yujiro… and Yujiro only has me. Even when we’re old and gray, we’ll still be together.”
The way she says it, smiling like that, is chilling.
She lies so easily. So smoothly.
At this point, it’s almost impressive.
“…Hmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a little tired. Want to sit down for a bit?”
“There’s a café over there. Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Megumi looked a bit pale.
Once we were seated with drinks, she seemed calmer—her brightness returning like nothing had happened.
“Yujiro…”
“What is it?”
“I promise—we’ll be together forever.”
“You don’t have to keep repeating it. I plan to take good care of you, Megumi… as long as you do the same for me.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
No problem? There’s already a huge one.
Still, I smiled and kept up the act.
At least until everything is resolved.
“……”
“You don’t look well. Are you okay?”
Megumi’s complexion had worsened. She took a deep breath, then frowned.
“…Sorry. I think I’ll go home for today.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
After parting ways with Megumi, I made my way to Hoshina’s neighborhood.
She’d invited me over, and though it was still early evening, the weather was nice and the walk felt peaceful.
Hoshina greeted me in casual clothes, the kind of outfit that screamed carefree gal. Just seeing her brought a strange sense of comfort—like her presence washed away the heaviness Megumi left behind.
“Sorry for calling you over.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s been a gloomy day anyway. I’m glad.”
“Were you busy earlier?”
“I went out with Megumi for a bit.”
“…I see.”
Hoshina suddenly fell silent at her front gate.
What is she thinking?
I glanced at her face, curious.
“What’s wrong? You’re acting a little off.”
“Maybe I’m being weird. I’m just… annoyed.”
“Annoyed?”
“Well, weren’t you just with Megumi? Maybe I’m jealous.”
“Jealous? I’m only with her because I have no choice.”
That’s when it hit me.
Why would Hoshina be jealous?
But the conversation moved forward before I could dig into that.
“I know… but even I’m surprised by this side of me.”
She stared at me.
I couldn’t say anything—I just returned her gaze.
“It’s strange. I never felt jealous over Netori. Then again, I’ve never liked him.”
“But you do like me.”
“I guess I do. You’re helping me find happiness, after all.”
“That’s why I came over—just for a walk.”
Hoshina began walking, and I walked beside her.
“Yeah. I just wanted to walk with you, Yujiro.”
“It’s a good change of pace for me too. I’m happy to be here.”
The quiet neighborhood surrounded us.
Cooking smells drifted from nearby homes, mingling with the fading sunlight and the sound of distant laughter.
So ordinary… but it all felt strangely new.
“Yeah… I thought so.”
“What did you think? Explain it.”
Hoshina looked up at the sky, eyes narrowed happily.
I looked up too.
“My search for happiness is over.”
“…I don’t get it.”
“I thought you’d understand, but maybe you don’t see it the same way.”
“I can’t know unless you tell me.”
“Then guess.”
She gave me a mischievous grin.
I seriously tried to read her thoughts.
“Maybe… taking an evening walk isn’t so bad?”
“Wrong.”
“Are you feeling envious of those happy families?”
“Nope. This is about my own happiness.”
Her happiness?
So, she’s saying she found it.
“When your search ends, that means you’ve found it, right?”
“Yup. I’ve found mine.”
She hooked her pinky finger with mine.
I looked down at our joined hands.
I’ve touched her fingers before—but this was different. This was intimate.
“You sure about this?”
“Yeah. I think for Yujiro… it depends on how he feels. Even though you’re a germaphobe, it’s not about logic. You avoid what you dislike, but you don’t avoid what you don’t dislike. You’re not comfortable with most things… but this seems okay.”
Our pinkies remained linked.
It was such a small connection—easy to break with just the slightest motion.
But to Hoshina, that tiny link meant something much more.
The gap between our official relationships widened, but our hearts grew closer.
The coldness I once feared had begun to melt, like snow thawing in the spring. From her fingers, I could feel a warmth like summer.
Something was changing in Hoshina.
And something was changing in me, too.
The sky was dyed red as I looked at her.
My heart pounded.
“There’s something I need to tell you, Yujiro.”
“Me too.”
“Maybe… it’s the same thing.”
“I think it is.”
She turned to face me—but didn’t let go of my pinky.
“I’ll tell you when it’s all over.”
“No… let me say it first. I need to.”
“Okay. But when?”
“I don’t know yet. But I think it’s soon. Very soon.”
Me and Megumi.
Hoshina and Netori.
And the mess with Netori and me.
I can feel it. The end is coming.
“Let’s enjoy the rest of this walk. We’ve come a long way to get here.”
“Then… is this walk our penance?”
“Hmm… maybe it’s heaven?”
“In that case, let’s enjoy heaven while we can. It’s just a walk, after all.”
It really was just a walk.
But for some reason, it felt like heaven.
A feeling Megumi never gave me.
Why did it feel so blissful now?
Maybe because—