The day after the prefectural tournament ended, the time had finally come for Sophia to officially join the club as a manager.
The coach had asked her to wait until the tournament was over, so she was set to join the day after the finals—but it seemed like she still wasn’t mentally prepared yet.
“You okay?” (Kento)
I glanced at Sophia, walking beside me, and called out to her.
“W-W-W-What do you mean…!?” (Sophia)
Standing in front of the school gate, Sophia was more nervous than I had ever seen her before.
She had a strong attachment to the baseball club, and perhaps the idea of jumping into an unfamiliar group, especially one full of boys, was weighing on her.
Up until now, she had always kept boys at a distance, refusing to let them get close. It was probably a huge hurdle for her to start getting along with them now.
Ever since her decision to join was finalized, she had been acting strangely, and I figured that was the reason why.
Though for some reason… she was acting distant toward me as well.
Even though we were going to the same place today, she had tried to go separately. She had also stopped asking for head pats after studying with Jessica-san.
If anything, she had even stopped making eye contact with me entirely.
She must really be struggling to keep her composure.
“You don’t have to be so nervous. They’re all good guys, so you’ll be fine.” (Kento)
Sophia always had bad rumors following her, but not a single club member was against her joining.
If anything, they all seemed to be welcoming her with open arms.
“I-It’s not like I’m nervous over something like that…” (Sophia)
Turning her face away with a pout, Sophia averted her gaze.
She was as stubborn as ever.
“Ah, Kento-kun, Sophia-chan, good morning!” (Nadeshiko)
As we stepped through the school gate, a bright and gentle smile greeted us.
It was none other than the school’s Madonna, Kujouin Nadeshiko-san.
She must have been waiting for us, knowing that Sophia was joining the club today.
The two of us bowed and returned the greeting.
“Finally, this day has come. I’ve been looking forward to this, Sophia-chan.” (Nadeshiko)
With a cheerful smile, Kujouin-san approached Sophia.
Back when they hadn’t spoken before, she had seemed a bit wary of Sophia. But lately, perhaps thanks to having lunch together, they seemed to have gotten quite close.
More than that, I had a feeling Kujouin-san actually liked Sophia.
That’s probably why she had gone out of her way to wait here, and compared to how she interacted with the other junior managers, her demeanor towards Sophia felt noticeably closer.
“This is all thanks to Nadeshiko-senpai and everyone in the baseball club. Congratulations on your victory.” (Sophia)
Sophia, who had grown more comfortable with Kujouin-san, expressed her thanks and congratulations with a mature smile.
She wasn’t great at socializing, but if she could manage polite formalities like this, she’d probably get along just fine with everyone.
Even in the long run, it didn’t seem like she’d have much trouble.
“Mm, thank you. But honestly, the things I did were pretty minor. Both your joining and our victory were thanks to Kento-kun working really hard. Of course, that’s not to say the rest of the baseball club didn’t give it their all too.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san said this as she turned her gaze toward me.
Since she was a kind and considerate person, she was probably saying this to raise Sophia’s opinion of me.
It was just flattery, so I shouldn’t take it too seriously.
If anything, a huge factor of our victory was thanks to Shuuto.
Of course, his ability to shut down strong opponents was one thing, but his mere presence had a huge positive impact as well.
Having an ace gave us a sense of security during matches while simultaneously putting pressure on our opponents.
—Of course, that didn’t mean we won solely because of Shuuto’s strength.
“Kujouin-san’s ability to gather information and create data played a huge role in helping us.” (Kento)
In truth, her ability to gather information was on another level.
Not only did she have many friends from other schools, but her refined demeanor, humble attitude, exceptional looks, and natural communication skills allowed her to easily get close to people. Thanks to that, she was able to collect information and videos on opposing players.
On top of that, she was smart, so her data was not only accurate but also easy to understand.
Since my playstyle heavily relied on analyzing data for both offense and defense, her insights had been a tremendous help to me.
To be honest, when it came to data compilation, Sophia was probably just as capable as Kujouin-san. However, expecting her to gather information at the same level as Kujouin-san would be unreasonable, so after Kujouin-san graduated, things might get a little difficult.
“Kento-kun, you’re really good at giving compliments.” (Nadeshiko)
“I’m just stating the truth.” (Kento)
Suddenly, I noticed Sophia puffing out her cheeks slightly, giving me a sidelong glare.
She looked somewhat displeased.
“What’s wrong?” (Kento)
“Eh?” (Sophia)
When I called out to her, Sophia blinked in surprise.
…Wait, does she not even realize it herself?
Since her reaction was different from what I expected, I couldn’t shake off a sense of unease.
“No, it just seemed like you wanted to say something…” (Kento)
“—!” (Sophia)
At my words, Sophia visibly gasped, as if she knew exactly what I was talking about.
Then, as if trying to escape my gaze, her eyes wandered while she desperately tried to think of something.
A few seconds later, once she had seemingly made up her mind, she hurriedly spoke.
“I-It’s just your imagination…!” (Sophia)
Her voice came out slightly rougher than usual, and for some reason, her face had turned a bit red.
I didn’t think I had said anything to make her upset, though…?
“A-Anyway, I’ll go from here with Nadeshiko-senpai…!” (Sophia)
It was as if she were outright saying she didn’t want to be with me, as she tried to leave with Kujouin-san.
Since our destination was the same for the most part, I didn’t see the need for us to split up…
“Hmm~? We’re going to the same place, so why don’t we just go together? You’ve come this far with Kento-kun, after all.” (Nadeshiko)
As Sophia hurried to leave, Kujouin-san tilted her head with a smile on her face.
If it were her, she had probably already noticed that Sophia was trying to avoid being with me and was deliberately keeping her from leaving.
Most likely, she was giving us time to talk so that Sophia and I wouldn’t bring any awkward tension into practice.
“If Nadeshiko-senpai and I are with Kento-kun, we’d stand out too much…” (Sophia)
“It’s fine. Everyone already knows that Kento-kun and I are in the same club, and most people know that you and Kento-kun are siblings too. So, I don’t think anyone would find it strange if we walked together.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san blocked off Sophia’s escape route with a dazzling smile, countering her attempt to slip away with logic.
If she were in one of her more absentminded moments, it might have been different, but when she was aware of the situation, there was no getting past her with excuses or half-baked reasoning.
Sophia seemed to understand that as well—
“…I suppose so.” (Sophia)
—And, as if resigning herself, she returned to us.
However, by placing herself next to Kujouin-san, she created an artificial wall between us.
…Had I somehow ended up making her dislike me again without realizing it?
“…Well, I guess it’s fine for now.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san placed a finger on her chin, looked up at the sky as if deep in thought, and then muttered something softly with a smile.
It seemed she had no intention of interfering further.
She had definitely noticed Sophia’s strange behavior, yet she wasn’t stepping in to smooth things over between us. That probably meant she had an idea of why Sophia was acting this way.
Since it wasn’t like there was an actual problem, and we still had to introduce her to the other club members, I figured it was best not to poke at the situation too much.
With that in mind, I decided not to push the conversation with Sophia any further. Instead, I chatted casually with Kujouin-san as we made our way to the clubroom.
◆
“—Shirakawa Sophia desu. Starting today, I’ll be working as a manager. It’s a pleasure to be here.” (Sophia)
“““““She’s here!””””” (Club members)
The moment Sophia finished her introduction in front of the gathered team, the club members erupted in cheers.
Some even whistled loudly—clearly, they had been eagerly awaiting her arrival.
While I was happy to see my imouto so warmly welcomed, at the same time… I had a bad feeling about today’s practice.
After all, our coach was smiling ear to ear, enjoying the situation way too much for my liking.
“Ok, you lot. Since you must still be tired from the tournament yesterday, I was planning to end the morning session with just basic training and give you the afternoon off—but it looks like you’re all brimming with energy, huh? With the regional tournament coming up, we might as well go all in with practice, right?” (Coach)
My bad feeling turned out to be right on the mark. With a refreshingly cheerful smile, the coach had just dropped a bombshell.
This wasn’t just about extending practice into the afternoon.
He was declaring that both the morning and afternoon would consist of grueling, Spartan-like training.
The team members, who had been told after the match yesterday that “tomorrow’s practice will be just in the morning,” reacted with a collective shock.
Only Shuuto seemed eager, muttering, “Practice is better anyway.”
“Coach, we don’t have lunch, though…” (Team captain)
The captain, perhaps hoping for some leniency, hesitantly raised his hand to appeal to the fact that no one had brought food.
But if something like that could sway him, he wouldn’t have said anything in the first place.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged meals for everyone.” (Coach)
“………” (Club members)
Realizing that the coach was completely serious, the entire team fell silent.
Though he was doing his best not to show it on his face, it was clear that the coach’s decision had left the team feeling disappointed.
I glanced at Sophia.
She was still standing next to the coach, looking uncomfortable and often casting her gaze downward.
…It couldn’t be helped, I suppose.
I wasn’t too keen on playing this kind of role, but—
“Coach, because the China Tournament is coming up, shouldn’t we take the opportunity to rest when we can? If we’re still tired and unfocused, training will be inefficient, and the risk of injury increases.” (Kento)
When I raised my hand to speak, everyone looked at me in surprise.
The coach, however, was already wearing a smirk, as if he had known I would say something like that.
Seeing that expression, I immediately realized I’d walked straight into his trap.
“What’s this, Kento? It’s rare to hear you say something like that, considering you’re always so focused on practice.” (Coach)
“No, I just thought about what would be best for the club…” (Kento)
I gave the usual polite response, but in reality, the reason I spoke up was because I felt that, if things kept going this way, Sophia would end up blaming herself for what was about to happen.
Even though the club members were making a ruckus, if it hadn’t been for her, that wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Of course, no one would actually blame her, but she, as the main cause of it, would likely worry about it.
That’s why I intervened, but when I thought about it, I realized that the coach must have already anticipated the club members’ reaction to Sophia joining and knew I would step in to protect her.
This whole situation had been carefully orchestrated, and the coach had probably planned it in advance.
What a mischievous person he was.
Well, if I hadn’t intervened, we probably would have had a brutal practice for real.
“Fine, I’ll let it slide this time, but it’s a one-time deal.” (Coach)
The coach said that, then gave Sophia a look, signaling her to continue her introduction.
It might have been the coach’s consideration, knowing that the club members getting too rowdy would make Sophia uncomfortable.
At least now, the club members wouldn’t be making a fuss.
I glanced at everyone’s faces, and they looked relieved.
They were probably exhausted, so this was for the best.
“……..” (Shuuto)
Well, it seemed like one person wasn’t too happy about it, though.
Ah, my stomach hurts.
“Um… actually, there’s something I’d like to thank you all for.” (Sophia)
With the room falling silent, Sophia hesitated a little, finding it hard to speak, but she continued with polite words.
I could tell what she wanted to say, but thanking everyone in this situation felt off, and I had a feeling this was going to lead to something a bit awkward.
But I couldn’t stop her, so Sophia opened her mouth to continue.
“Last week’s match was tied to my joining the club, and thanks to everyone’s hard work, I was able to join. So, thank you very much—” (Sophia)
“Don’t get the wrong idea. We didn’t do it for you.” (Shuuto)
As Sophia was speaking with a serious and grateful attitude, a sharp interruption came out of nowhere, cutting into her words.
I had a feeling this would happen… I shifted my gaze toward the one who had spoken.
It was none other than Shuuto, the same person who had been glaring at me earlier.
“Kuragane-kun, she’s speaking right now, so…” (Nadeshiko)
“No, it’s fine. Let him say it.” (Coach)
Just as Kujouin-san hastily tried to stop Shuuto, the coach intervened.
Whether the coach wanted to see how Sophia would respond or whether he agreed with Shuuto’s stance, I couldn’t say for sure. But I really hoped he wouldn’t let this go on.
Even if I tried to stop it now, the coach would most likely put a stop to me, too, so… What should I do?
As I stood there, watching the situation unfold, Shuutou continued speaking, despite Sophia’s confused expression.
“We were just playing for ourselves. There is no reason for you to thank us, nor is there a reason we owe you any thanks.” (Shuuto)
Without caring about the accusing stares from the others, Shuuto said exactly what he wanted to.
As usual, Shuuto was far too blunt, and it made my head hurt.
I understood what he was trying to say, but he really needed to think about his phrasing a little more. At this rate, all he was going to do was make Sophia angry.
“I knew it… I really dislike this person…” (Sophia)
When I glanced at Sophia to check if she was about to shout, I saw her mutter something quietly under her breath.
She was trying not to show it, but it was clear she was expressing her dissatisfaction.
The other members of the club were glaring at Shuuto as well, though they were holding back their anger for the coach’s sake. There was no doubt in my mind that they’d be voicing complaints to him later.
“—Sophia, what Shuuto meant is that you don’t have to feel like you owe a debt or something.” (Kento)
Realizing things might get worse, I raised my hand to explain to Sophia.
It would be troublesome to have to explain this one by one later, so I figured I should just clear things up for everyone right now.
This time, everyone turned to look at me with surprised expressions.
“Even with the whole situation involving the challenge, the baseball team was only playing for themselves. So, just because Sophia was able to join, it doesn’t mean that you need to feel like you owe a debt or you need to do something in return. Shuuto was just trying to say that you don’t have to feel burdened by this thought, and should just focus on doing your best as a manager.” (Kento)
As I finished explaining, the club members all exchanged glances, their faces full of uncertainty, as if thinking, “Wait, that’s not quite right, is it?”
No one seemed to take Shuuto’s words in the way I had intended.
However…
“Didn’t I just say that?” (Shuuto)
Shuuto indirectly confirmed what I had said, making the situation even more awkward.
“Ehhh…?” (Club members)
Because of that, everyone wore an indescribable expression.
I understood what they were thinking.
It was the same thing I had thought just a few moments ago.
“Is this… Is this guy a tsundere…?” (Sophia)
It seemed that Sophia had come to understand that Shuuto hadn’t meant anything malicious by his words.
But it was so unexpected that she seemed genuinely confused.
Because of that, she had blurted out exactly what she was thinking.
And that, of course, became the new source of tension.
“Are you trying to start a fight with me…?” (Shuuto)
Shuuto, who had interpreted the tsundere comment as an insult, glared at Sophia with a sharp look.
It was clear he wasn’t just being awkward; he was genuinely angry.
Well, it was understandable. Being called a tsundere like that when that’s just how he talks was insulting in his eyes.
“Shuuto, wait…! Sophia didn’t mean any harm…!” (Kento)
“In this case, isn’t it worse when there’s no ill intent…?” (Shuuto)
“Well, maybe, but let’s just calm down for now! You know, it’s in front of the coach…” (Kento)
The coach is strict when it comes to arguments among the team.
If things go badly, the afternoon practice and intense drills that had been canceled earlier might come back.
That’s something I definitely want to avoid, and besides, Shuuto respects the coach. If I bring up the coach, he’ll likely calm down.
“…Yeah, I guess you’re right.” (Shuuto)
As expected, Shuuto quieted down.
This is really nerve-wracking today.
“Thanks. I’ll talk to Sophia properly later.” (Kento)
“Yeah. Speaking of which, I also have something I want to talk to you about, Kento, about earlier.” (Shuuto)
“…I figured.” (Kento)
It seems like Shuuto was still holding a grudge over the comment I made against the coach.
Just when I thought the crisis was over, here comes another one.
Well, I figured we’d talk about it later when we were alone, so it wasn’t too big of a deal.
“By the way—” (Shuuto)
Shuuto shifted his gaze back to Sophia, as if he had something else to say.
Seeing him look at her like that, Sophia tensed up, probably thinking he was about to pick a fight again.
This girl sure has strong defense instincts, huh…
“You don’t have to thank us, but you should thank Kento, the coach, and Kujouin-san. They’ve been the ones working behind the scenes for you.”
Shuuto said this while pointing at me with a smug look on his face.
To him, it was probably just stating the obvious.
But Sophia, who was on the receiving end of that, looked stunned.
And it wasn’t just her. Every single member of the team, except Kujouin-san, was shocked as well.
It was clear that Shuuto’s words had caught everyone by surprise.
It was a surprising turn of events, but I hoped this might help clear up some of the misunderstandings the team had about Shuuto… at least a little bit.
“I understand, I’ve already expressed my thanks…” (Sophia)
“Well, that’s fine then.” (Shuuto)
It seemed that Sophia’s response had satisfied Shuuto, and he gave a snort of amusement.
It looked like he wasn’t planning on saying anything more.
Afterward, Sophia gathered her thoughts and began speaking again—but I, unusually, shifted my gaze to the coach, who had been letting the team do whatever they wanted.
Normally, he would have intervened much earlier, so why had he been so passive?
As I pondered this, Sophia had finished speaking.
Then, after the coach jokingly warned us not to injure ourselves while trying to look cool, he gave the instructions for practice.
We all started warming up, but—
“Coach, aren’t you being a little too hard on Kento-kun…?” (Nadeshiko)
“No, no, I just want him to grow more. He’s the center of the team, so he needs to work on his mental strength and leadership.” (Coach)
“But it’s such an important time for him. Please don’t put too much pressure on him.” (Nadeshiko)
“Don’t worry, he’s not that soft. You know that as well as I do, right?” (Coach)
The coach replied, his voice full of confidence. From the way he was grinning, it was clear he was enjoying the conversation with Kujouin-san. Given the expression on his face, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of something troublesome, though I doubted he’d increase the intensity of the training at this point.
◆
“Good job. You holding up alright?” (Kento)
During the break, I called out to Sophia, who was focused on a piece of paper with Kujouin-san beside her. It seemed she was learning how to write up the score.
“Hmm, I’m not tired at all. I haven’t been doing anything physical.” (Sophia)
Sophia didn’t look up from the paper but answered me nonetheless.
From what I could tell, Kujouin-san had left the other managers to handle the drinks and equipment, while assigning Sophia tasks that required more mental effort. With more managers on the team, it seemed like they were distributing roles according to each person’s strengths.
…Honestly, though, I figured the real goal was to have more people capable of handling data and scoring.
Currently, even though I was helping with the data side, the only one among the managers who could do it effectively was Kujouin. It looked like none of the other managers had quite grasped how to write up the score yet.
To be honest, Kujouin-san’s burden is too heavy, so it’s good that Sophia joined.
Not to mention, Kujouin-san is good at managing people, and she keeps a proper eye on everything, so I trust she won’t push Sophia too hard.
Thanks to Kujouin-san, I can focus on practice without worrying about the kind of person who tends to overdo it.
Also, the fact that I don’t have to worry about Sophia causing any issues is because Kujouin-san is by her side.
Of course, I can never say that to her face.
“I know she’s very smart and quick to get things done, but she’s still new. We’ll teach her without rushing, so Kento-kun, you can relax.” (Nadeshiko)
“Yes, thank you. By the way, Sophia, do you think you’re getting along with the others?” (Kento)
It seems that Sophia had already met the other managers when she was spectating with Kujouin-san during the match, but whether she’s getting along with them is another matter.
However, Sophia turned away awkwardly when she heard my question, so it seems things aren’t going too well.
“Um… I talked with them a little, but I wouldn’t say things are going well.” (Sophia)
“Is it because you’re being careful with your words?” (Kento)
“Yeah.” (Sophia)
Sophia understands that there can’t be any fights within the club, so she’s trying to avoid provoking anyone and making an effort to be considerate.
However, this seems to make talking even harder for her.
That said, since she’s already gotten used to Kujouin-san, there’s no need to worry too much.
“I think this problem will fix itself over time, so Kujouin-san, please take care of Sophia until then.” (Kento)
“Hehe, Kento-kun, you’re quite a fine onii-san (older brother).” (Nadeshiko)
“You think so?” (Kento)
Feeling embarrassed, I scratched my cheek with my finger and gave a wry smile.
Indeed, from the outside, I probably look like a brother who’s overly concerned about his imouto.
In reality, Sophia does emanate a bit of a troublesome imouto aura, so it’s not entirely wrong.
Well, that’s what makes her cute.
“………” (Sophia)
Before I knew it, Sophia was looking at my face again, as if she wanted to say something.
However, as soon as our eyes met, she quickly looked away.
If she has something to say, she should just say it…
“Sophia—” (Kento)
“—Kento, you’re always talking to Shirakawa-san, that’s so unfair…!” (Shouta)
“—Huh!?” (Kento)
Suddenly, someone threw their arm around my shoulder from behind, and I was startled, turning to see who had done it.
I recognized the voice, but it seemed like Shouta was crying as he put his arm around me.
“Why are you crying…!?” (Kento)
“This is a cry of frustration…! You’re the only one getting all the attention…! I wanna talk to Shirakawa-san too…!” (Shouta)
I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but this is probably what you’d call jealousy from a guy, right?
Since the match where Sophia joined, a lot more women have been coming up to talk to me, so maybe Shouta’s been holding a grudge about that.
“Isn’t it fine to talk normally…?” (Kento)
If I went at it too aggressively, Sophia would probably dislike it, but there shouldn’t be a problem with interacting casually.
“It’s not allowed, the coach didn’t let us…!” (Shouta)
“Eh?” (Kento)
“So, it’s forbidden…! The coach said not to talk to Shirakawa-san until she’s fully settled into the club…!” (Shouta)
It seems that some sort of restriction was put in place while I wasn’t aware of it.
“Is it just you, Shouta?” (Kento)
“It’s everyone in the club…! Why do I have to be the only one forbidden from doing it!?” (Shouta)
I thought only Shouta was being banned for aggressively approaching the girls, but it seems that isn’t the case.
That said, it’s odd that I didn’t know about this…
“After the game where Kento-kun hit three home runs, you went over to talk to Sophia-chan, right? After that, all the club members were gathered and told not to do it. Otherwise, everyone would want to talk to Sophia-chan, and it would cause a ruckus.” (Nadeshiko)
My confusion was quickly cleared up by Kujouin-san.
Once I had met the conditions, Sophia’s membership was already decided, so the coach probably took action right away.
Given that many club members would have tried to close the distance with Sophia, who had previously been difficult to approach, the coach’s decision wasn’t wrong.
Now it makes sense now why no one approached Sophia even though it was break time.
“Could it be that I’m also crossing a line?” (Kento)
“Of course not. If anything, Kento-kun, you should be supporting her.” (Nadeshiko)
I was worried, being a club member myself, but Kujouin-san laughed at me lightly, as if somewhat exasperated.
Since I live with Sophia as her brother, it would be strange for me not to talk to her, so perhaps that makes sense.
“Right, Kento is special…! I know that, but…!” (Shouta)
It seems Shouta understands that there’s no problem with me talking to Sophia, and he emphasized that point.
That said, it makes me wonder what his problem is.
“But still, isn’t it a bit much to act all lovey-dovey in front of everyone…!?” (Shouta)
“…… Huh?” (Kento)
What is this guy talking about?
I couldn’t help but think that, but Shouta looked completely serious.
“Well, isn’t that obvious? You two were talking so happily and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company…! And this morning, you were walking together like a couple…!” (Shouta)
Wait, what is Shouta even talking about?
I was actually talking to Kujouin-san, so there’s no way I was being lovey-dovey with Sophia, and this morning, we were just talking normally.
Is he seeing things? I was about to open my mouth to argue.
But then…
“~~~~~!” (Sophia)
For some reason, Sophia suddenly ran off.
Her profile, which I caught a glimpse of, seemed to be completely red.
“Wait, Sophia!? Where are you going!?” (Kento)
I called out to her, but Sophia didn’t even look back.
I had thought she was unusually quiet, but I didn’t expect her to run off like this.
“A-Ah, should I have not said that…?” (Shouta)
Shouta, thinking that Sophia must be angry and left because of him, suddenly turned pale.
Shouta seemed to lose all color from the unexpected situation.
It was definitely his words that caused it, but at the same time, it was Sophia’s overreaction, so I didn’t think it was something to blame him for.
At the very least, if it were her usual self, she would have just ignored it.
It was clear that something was off with her since the last match.
“Girls care about things like that, so you should think carefully before saying things like that.” (Kento)
I didn’t mean to scold him too harshly, but I had to warn him, just in case the same thing happened again.
“Ugh…!” (Shouta)
Surprisingly, Shouta, whose mental fortitude was fragile when it came to relationships, seemed to take my words to heart.
“Anyway, I need to go after Sophia. If she skips practice on her first day, it’ll affect everyone’s opinion of her.” (Kento)
I didn’t think she would actually leave, but there was still a possibility, so I had no choice but to chase after her.
However, if I didn’t return before practice resumed, there was a chance that, regardless of the coach, Shuuto might try to push Sophia out.
I couldn’t afford to waste too much time.
“Hmm, wait. I’ll go.” (Nadeshiko)
Just as I was about to run after her, Kujouin-san grabbed my hand.
It wasn’t surprising for her to act this way, given how caring she is…
“She’s my imouto, so I can’t trouble you with this, Kujouin-san…” (Kento)
“But right now, I’m the one in charge of Sophia-chan. Besides, things like this are usually easier for girls to talk about with each other, right?” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san tilted her head cutely and gave me a sweet smile.
She really was the kind of person who was always so kind.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than just that.
“Do you have an idea of what might be causing Sophia to act this strangely recently?” (Kento)
There was something in Kujouin-san’s words that piqued my interest, so I decided to ask her about it.
She had been with Sophia during practice, and it seemed like Sophia had started warming up to her. It was possible that she had confided something to her.
“Well, there is something that comes to mind.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san smiled a little awkwardly.
That smile… Could the cause of this be something related to Kujouin-san?
If that’s the case, I wasn’t sure whether it was okay to let her handle this.
However, until just earlier, Sophia didn’t seem to have any aversion to Kujouin-san. In fact, they had seemed to get along well during practice.
More than anything, I trusted Kujouin-san’s character, so it seemed best to leave this to her.
“Yeah, she might have something on her mind, so could you listen to her?” (Kento)
“Leave it to me.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san nodded with a beautiful smile and was about to rush off to follow Sophia.
“—Ah.” (Nadeshiko)
But then, it seemed like she had remembered something, and she stopped in her tracks.
She turned on her heel and looked at Shouta.
“Kannagi-kun, I understand you’re excited that Sophia-chan joined, but please think about your words and actions. If the coach finds out about what happened earlier, you’ll get in trouble.” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed that what Kujouin-san had remembered was a warning for Shouta.
Kujouin-san wasn’t someone who liked to reprimand others, especially not juniors, but it seemed that Shouta’s earlier behavior had crossed a line for her.
Well, considering that Sophia had run off because of it, it was understandable.
“I’ll be more careful…” (Shouta)
“Mm-hmm, if you calm down, I think you’ll find more girls will approach you. Do your best.” (Nadeshiko)
With that, Kujouin-san said, and this time, she really headed toward Sophia.
She knew exactly how to handle Shouta’s feelings gently, making sure not to hurt him too much. That was impressive.
Now, with any luck, Shouta would calm down…
“Wait, wait!? Does this mean…!? If I calm down, does that mean Kujouin-san will accept me as her boyfriend!?” (Shouta)
“…How did you get to that conclusion?” (Kento)
Even though he had just been told to calm down, Shouta excitedly blurted out something completely off the mark. I couldn’t help but ask for his reasoning.
“Well, think about it!? When she said ‘If you calm down, girls will talk to you,’ it means you’re attractive, and since Kujouin-san said that, it means she thinks I’m the kind of guy she likes when I’m calm, right!? So—!” (Shouta)
“That’s not how it works. If you take women’s words like that literally, all you’re doing is setting yourself up to get hurt.” (Kento)
If you’re someone with good communication skills, flattering the other person to improve their mood is a common tactic.
In fact, there are times when such compliments are subtly meant to convey the opposite—”I’m not interested in you.”
If you take those words too literally and believe them, it can end up causing embarrassment or trouble.
“But…!” (Shouta)
“Also, if you make a move on Kujouin-san, you’ll get on the bad side of the captain and others, right? In both senses.” (Kento)
Kujouin-san isn’t just the school’s Madonna; she’s also considered the idol of our club.
Naturally, many members are interested in her.
And, since relationships within the club are prohibited, making a move on her would cause trouble in more ways than one.
“I know that, but…!” (Shouta)
Even though I had warned him, Shouta didn’t seem ready to give up just yet.
I understand that it’s easy to get caught up in the idea when someone is as attractive as Kujouin-san, but…
“Well, even if you want to date Kujouin-san, make sure to confess after she retires.” (Kento)
Nine times out of ten, what Kujouin-san said earlier wasn’t romantic interest towards Shouta. However, if Shouta genuinely wanted to confess, there was no reason for me to stop him aside from the club’s rules.
Once Kujouin-san retires, making any romantic advances within the club would no longer be an issue, so he could go ahead if he wanted.
Whether they end up dating or not would be up to Shouta, and his responsibility.
That said, he gets excited every time he sees a pretty girl. Does he just want any beautiful girl?
I think he should pay more attention and get to know someone well before deciding to pursue them. It’s better to focus on one person and really go for it, but, well, it’s ultimately up to him.
Still… I’ll be keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t make a move on Sophia.
◆
<Sophia’s PoV>
“What am I doing…?” (Sophia)
I had run away to the back of the school building where Kento-kun usually practices during lunch, and now I was holding my head in my hands, thinking about what I had just done.
Kento-kun had tried to talk to me, but not only could I not look him in the eye, I had acted so strangely…
And then, when I was called out for seeming like a couple, I ran away without thinking.
He and Nadeshiko-senpai must have thought I was weird, and even though it was just a break, I might get scolded for leaving the field.
On my first day, I had already made a bad impression.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have joined after all…?” (Sophia)
I had wanted to do my best for the club, but because of my feelings for Kento-kun, I ended up doing something that might have disrupted the club’s atmosphere.
Even if they called me a nuisance, I wouldn’t be able to deny it.
“――That’s not true.” (Nadeshiko)
“Eh…?” (Sophia)
I heard a soft, comforting voice from behind me, and I slowly turned around.
There stood Nadeshiko-senpai, smiling even though she was drenched in sweat.
“Hah… hah… I knew it was here… Sophia-chan, you’re amazing. I’m not good at sports, so I’m out of breath, but… you’re not even breathing heavily…” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed like Nadeshiko-senpai had chased after me this entire time.
When I had left Kento-kun and the others, I had slowed down, so I wasn’t that tired… but seeing her struggle like this made me feel bad.
“I-I’m sorry, it’s my fault…” (Sophia)
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who followed you on my own.” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai shook her head and approached me with a smile.
It didn’t seem like she was angry about me running off suddenly, but honestly, I was still scared that she might scold me.
However, she quickly erased that fear with a smile that was so kind and warm, it almost felt like a mother’s love.
“I’m sorry about Kannagi-kun. The coach had already warned him, but it seems like he couldn’t hold back his desire to talk to you.” (Nadeshiko)
“No, there’s no need for you to apologize…” (Sophia)
I hadn’t run away because I didn’t want to talk to Kannagi-kun or because I disliked what he did.
I was sure Nadeshiko-senpai could tell that much.
Even though she knew the reason I ran away, she tried to distract me with her words, apologizing as if to reassure me.
“Are Kento-kun and the others angry…?” (Sophia)
Since it’s still during club activities, even if it’s break time, I wondered if anyone might be upset about me leaving the field.
I asked hesitantly.
“No one’s angry, not at all.” (Nadeshiko)
“And the coach…?” (Sophia)
When it comes to situations like this, I imagined that the coach, as the person in charge of the club, would be the most likely to get angry.
He’s usually a kind older man, but I’d heard from Kento-kun that he can be strict about the club’s rules and training, so I thought he might be mad at me.
“Heh, you don’t need to be so scared. It’s true that the coach was away at the time, so he didn’t know about it, but he’s actually surprisingly broad-minded. He understands students’ situations, so as long as you come back and try to fit in with the team, it’s not a problem.” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed the coach wasn’t angry, so I let out a relieved sigh.
If I had been kicked out of the club on the first day, it wouldn’t have been funny, so I was really glad.
But—
“Well, how should I put it… Isn’t this a bit too lenient on me…?” (Sophia)
It feels strange to say this when I’ve been treated specially, but allowing me to leave the field freely until I get used to it seems like quite a generous arrangement for a top-tier team.
There’s a possibility that other members might start complaining, and more importantly, it would cause trouble if I just disappeared without notice.
So why…?
“I told you, the coach is someone who understands students’ situations. People have different personalities and circumstances, so if you treat everyone the same way, the team won’t function well. That’s why he’s flexible depending on the student, and to put it another way, the coach is someone who really takes the time to understand each individual. Of course, he’s careful not to let any sense of unfairness arise, though.” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai said this with a smile and a wink.
In my case, it seems like the coach thinks that, since I haven’t been able to get along well with others in the past, it’s unlikely that I would suddenly adjust to group life right away.
Since I ended up running away like this, I couldn’t really argue with that.
I think that Nadeshiko-senpai staying with me is also part of the coach’s consideration.
“I’ll be careful not to cause any trouble…” (Sophia)
“No one thinks you’re a bother. I actually enjoy having you around, Sophia-chan.” (Nadeshiko)
“That can’t be true…” (Sophia)
“Are you saying that I’m lying?” (Nadeshiko)
I had said that thinking there was no way she wouldn’t find it troublesome, but Nadeshiko-senpai tilted her head with a smile.
It was a gentle smile without any pressure, but from her earlier words, I could see a certain sharpness to her.
With just one sentence, Nadeshiko-senpai had put me in a position where I had no choice but to admit that “Nadeshiko-senpai doesn’t think I’m a trouble and enjoys being with me.”
If I denied it any further, I’d be accusing her of lying.
It was a clever move, far more effective than continuing a pointless argument.
Considering when she brought up the no-dating rule earlier, I didn’t think she was just a kind, soft-hearted senpai.
—Of course, she wasn’t the type to put on a friendly face in public and secretly plot bad things behind the scenes either.
“I don’t think you’re lying…” (Sophia)
“I see, I’m glad. I really do enjoy being with you, Sophia-chan.” (Nadeshiko)
I couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly be so enjoyable about being with someone like me.
At the very least, even I wouldn’t want to be friends with me.
But now that I had acknowledged it, there was no way I could say anything to doubt it.
“I… don’t know what to do…” (Sophia)
Feeling that I couldn’t take up any more of Nadeshiko-senpai’s time, I decided to honestly share the troubles I was carrying.
Nadeshiko-senpai, still wearing her gentle smile, slowly opened her mouth.
“Is it about your relationship with Kento-kun?” (Nadeshiko)
As I thought, she seemed to understand.
She had seen us eat together during lunch breaks before I joined the club, so maybe it was just that I had been easy to read.
“Well… we’re siblings, but due to our parents’ remarriage, we’re actually siblings with no blood relation… But people, like Kannagi-kun earlier, sometimes see us as a couple… And that makes me worry that I might cause trouble for Kento-kun because of the club’s rules…” (Sophia)
I didn’t mention that I liked him, just the fact that I was troubled by the current situation.
If I were just acting normally, people wouldn’t see us as a couple just because we were step-siblings. But the more we got along and spent time together, the more we seemed to appear like a couple.
I personally didn’t want to quit the club, but more than that, I absolutely didn’t want Kento-kun to have to leave.
After all, he’s been working so hard at practice… If he were to leave because of me, I wouldn’t be able to face him.
“Sophia-chan, you’re really serious, aren’t you?” (Nadeshiko)
“Serious…?” (Sophia)
“Yeah. I don’t think there’s anyone else who’s thinking so deeply about club relationships as much as you.” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai laughed as if it couldn’t be helped and gently took my hands in both of hers.
The unfamiliar skinship made me tense up.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault you’re feeling troubled. Don’t worry… Even if there are rumors that you two are a couple, the coach won’t just believe the rumor. He’ll make sure to confirm the facts properly, and he’ll be very careful with something like a forced withdrawal. At least, there’s no way that you’d be forced to leave the club just because the rumors exist.” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai seemed to trust the coach quite a lot.
It was true that in a club that was putting so much effort into training, there were promising players like Kurogane-kun and Kento-kun, and the coach would likely do everything he could to prevent anyone from quitting.
Above all, there was no way they could allow someone to be kicked out by mistake, and it wasn’t something that could be done lightly.
“So, is it really fine as long as we don’t acknowledge that we’re dating?” (Sophia)
That was the part I was most concerned about.
If we’re allowed to ignore it and not acknowledge it, then there would likely be many members secretly dating, which would defeat the purpose of the rules.
In that case, if it clearly appeared that we were dating, wouldn’t we be forced to leave the club even if we didn’t admit it?
That’s what I was afraid of.
“Well, if something like kissing was caught, that’d be a problem… But, as long as you’re not doing something like that, I think you’d be fine?” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed that I had been overthinking things. As long as no one caught us in a situation that could be conclusively judged as dating, there wouldn’t be an issue.
That being said, it did make me wonder if there were any members who were secretly dating.
“Well, I get what you’re saying, Sophia-chan. In our case, rumors are probably more likely to spread than for others, huh?” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai and I seemed to stand out, making us easy targets for rumors at school.
Just the other day, simply being together had caused a bit of a stir.
Naturally, if there was even a hint of a guy around, it would likely spark a rumor.
There was just no way it wouldn’t.
“That’s why this is my advice. If you let it bother you, people will think you’re being conscious of it, so just act normal. And if anyone brings it up, just say, ‘Of course we’re close, we’re siblings.’ That should be enough. On the other hand, if you keep obviously avoiding him like you are now, that’s actually more suspicious, you know?” (Nadeshiko)
With a playful wink, Nadeshiko-senpai said this and gently pressed her finger against my nose.
Even though there was only a one-year age difference between us, to me, she seemed so much more mature.
For a moment, a lot of the weight on my heart was lifted.
Not only did I receive advice, but she also gave me a good hint on how to avoid misunderstandings from those around me.
“Thank you, Nadeshiko-senpai. It really helped to have someone listen.” (Sophia)
“Don’t mention it. This is part of my job as a senpai. If you ever have any troubles or worries in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me, okay? I’m always happy to help.” (Nadeshiko)
With a playful tone, Nadeshiko-senpai said that before swiftly turning on her heel.
“Now then, shall we head back to the field? Kento-kun is waiting for you too.” (Nadeshiko)
With those words, she smiled innocently and extended her hand toward me.
Not only did she have the graceful and mature presence of a saint, but she also had this warm, childlike friendliness that made her so easy to approach. No wonder everyone adored her.
As I gazed at that radiant smile, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration—she was such a bright and wonderful person.
Illustration of Sophia pouting
Suddenly, I noticed Sophia puffing out her cheeks slightly, giving me a sidelong glare.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
I felt like this was more of a build-up for Nadeshiko as a love interest more than anything. For a second, I thought that she maybe knew about Sophia’s feelings but I guess not.
Btw I just remembered that a couple of chapters ago, our MC mentioned a certain younger female cousin whom he hasn’t met in a while. Maybe that cousin is the new kouhai character we saw in the illustration.
Footnote:
- None