And when I arrived behind the school—
“Oh… you’re here.” (Sophia)
Someone was already there. The moment she saw me, she started fiddling nervously with her hair, unable to stay calm.
“Sophia…? You’re here?” (Kento)
I hadn’t expected to see her there, so my voice came out hesitant as I called out to her.
That didn’t seem to be the right thing to say, as Sophia began to shift her gaze around restlessly, looking visibly anxious.
“I-I mean, I just wanted to hear your thoughts on the food! It’s not like I wanted to eat together or anything…!“ (Sophia)
She rattled off in English, which was a clear sign that she was flustered. It was a habit of hers that only came out when she was really shaken.
I must have asked a bit too insensitively…
“You’re slipping into English again. Take a deep breath and calm down.” (Kento)
I softened my voice and put on a gentle smile, hoping to help her relax.
“Oh, I’m sorry…” (Sophia)
Sophia quickly came to her senses, turning her face away in embarrassment.
I knew she didn’t mean any harm, so I had no intention of scolding her.
“We shouldn’t waste time. Let’s eat.” (Sophia)
She was holding a bento box in her hands, making it clear she had intended to eat here.
Since she already knew that I often ate or practiced my swings behind the school, she’d probably come here hoping we could eat together.
Even though she had left the house early to study, she had still walked to school with me this morning. Maybe this was her way of staying close, not just as someone living under the same roof, but as family.
“Um, you don’t mind eating together, right, Shirakawa-kun…?” (Sophia)
“Of course I don’t mind.” (Kento)
I replied immediately with a smile.
There was no way I could dislike it—if anything, I was happy.
“I see… That’s a relief…” (Sophia)
Sophia let out a soft sigh of relief, placing a hand on her chest as if to calm herself.
However, when she realized I was watching her, she panicked slightly and spoke again.
“Ah, um… I was just curious about your thoughts on my cooking… Well, I actually came because I wanted to eat together…” (Sophia)
The moment of happiness vanished in an instant.
Apparently, she really had come just to hear my feedback on her cooking.
I couldn’t quite catch the English part, but realizing I had misunderstood and gotten excited over nothing made me feel a little embarrassed.
Thank goodness I didn’t say anything out loud.
“You don’t need to worry. Your cooking is always amazing, Sophia.” (Kento)
I smiled warmly at my overly concerned little sister, who had gone out of her way to come all the way here just to hear my feedback.
This wasn’t flattery — every dish Sophia made was genuinely delicious.
Knowing her, she was probably spending even her lunch breaks studying. I wished she would just eat her lunch in the classroom without worrying about me.
That was the thought behind my words — but then…
“~~~~~!” (Sophia)
For some reason, Sophia’s face turned bright red, and she started squirming in embarrassment.
“…Huh?” (Kento)
“Y-You’re so unfair! Saying something that sweet with such a wonderful smile out of nowhere — how am I supposed to handle that?! I need to mentally prepare myself for things like that!” (Sophia)
I had no idea what I did wrong, but Sophia was rambling at an incredible speed.
The only word I managed to catch was “smile,” but the rest flew right over my head.
From the looks of it, though, she seemed really upset…?
“Did I say something to make you mad…?” (Kento)
“Ah…” (Sophia)
Sophia’s eyes widened slightly, and she bit her lip as if she realized something.
When I asked, Sophia seemed to snap back to reality and gasped softly.
Then, she clutched her head in her hands.
“Ahh, I messed up again…! Why do I always, always do this…!” (Sophia)
With her back turned to me, she muttered something in English under her breath.
From the looks of it, she seemed to be regretting something…
“Let’s eat. No point wasting time.” (Kento)
Since she didn’t seem to have any ill intentions, I decided to change the mood by gently urging her.
“Ugh… I’m sorry…” (Sophia)
Muttering an apology, Sophia sat down next to me, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The fact that she came to sit next to me so naturally made me happy, and I found myself not caring at all about the little things that had happened earlier.
“Don’t worry about it.” (Kento)
After all, I was starting to get used to Sophia acting a little strange every now and then.
The truth is, Sophia acting strangely isn’t that unusual anymore.
Especially over the past few days, the frequency of these moments has increased, but as long as a few words can bring her back to normal, I don’t see it as a problem.
After that, the two of us ate the bento Sophia had prepared while chatting.
“—Ah, the sports festival, huh? I hope I get picked for an easy event.” (Kento)
As I savored the delicious food, we ended up talking about the upcoming sports festival.
Even though we have the prefectural tournament coming up, the school’s sports festival is just around the corner, too.
I’d prefer to focus on the tournament, and I definitely don’t want to risk getting injured, so I’d rather choose an event with minimal strain.
…Though, of course, everyone thinks the same way, so getting into those events can be tricky.
“I’d prefer an easy event too…” (Sophia)
“How are you with sports, Sophia?” (Kento)
From what I saw during our game of catch, she doesn’t seem like she has bad reflexes.
But she also doesn’t come across as someone who actively participates in sports, so I’m curious how she really feels about it.
“I’m not trying to brag, but I’d say I’m pretty good at it. Back in middle school, I had the best results in the physical fitness test among all the girls.” (Sophia)
Sophia said this in a matter-of-fact tone with a composed expression.
She wasn’t boasting; it was likely the truth.
A girl who was not only smart and incredibly beautiful but also good at sports. A true example of someone who excelled in both academics and athletics. Truly unfair.
“Then, wouldn’t your classmates want you to participate more actively?” (Kento)
“The special admission students all hate the sports festival, so they don’t care about winning. Besides, the Sports Course will win anyway.” (Sophia)
Sophia’s point wasn’t wrong.
As the name suggested, the sports course was made up of students who were there for sports. Naturally, those with better athletic abilities would gravitate there, and in an event like the sports festival, they would dominate.
Given that, it made sense that students from other courses might not feel very motivated to compete.
“Plus, there’s no one who would ask me to join.” (Sophia)
Sophia said with a self-deprecating smile.
Since becoming family, our relationship had grown closer, but her situation at school hadn’t changed. She still seemed to stand out in a way that made her distant from others.
She had an image of being solitary, and it seemed like her classmates were still afraid of her.
“Don’t you ever try to get along with others?” (Kento)
“I don’t mind being alone.” (Sophia)
Sophia turned her gaze away awkwardly, beginning to fiddle with her hair.
A while ago, I probably would have believed this was her true feeling.
But now, knowing the kind-hearted person she was, it didn’t seem like her real thoughts.
I had always thought something might have happened in her past, and now I was starting to think that perhaps Sophia pushed others away as a form of self-defense.
Perhaps, like the girls from the other day, she had been bullied or harassed in the past?
And as a defense mechanism, she had grown cold, only to have that coldness become her image, making it difficult for her to set boundaries with others.
Thinking back, it made sense why she had been so cold to me when we first met.
She had probably mistaken me for someone like those girls back then, just based on my appearance.
I was glad that the misunderstanding had been cleared up.
“Well… you don’t have to be so scared. I’m here now, so maybe you should try getting along with others? If anything happens, I’ll handle it.” (Kento)
I must have reached that conclusion on my own without really talking it through with her.
I had stepped into territory I probably shouldn’t have, and Sophia looked at me in surprise, as though she wasn’t expecting that from me.
“Ah, no… sorry, I said something weird…” (Kento)
I quickly apologized before she could say anything, realizing what I had done.
However, Sophia didn’t respond to my apology. Instead, she silently continued eating her lunch, looking down at her food.
Did I upset her…?
In the awkward silence that followed, I continued eating my lunch as well, but then I heard her mutter something softly.
“…I knew it… you really are something, Shirakawa-kun…” (Sophia)
As I sat in the awkward silence, eating my own lunch, Sophia mumbled something under her breath.
When I glanced her way, it seemed like she had just looked up at me, and our eyes met perfectly.
But she quickly looked away.
…What should I do…?
Having little experience with situations like this with girls, I had no idea what the right thing to do was.
Maybe it would help if I could say something thoughtful right now…
“If I end up causing trouble with others, it would be a hassle for you, wouldn’t it, Shirakawa-kun…?” (Sophia)
While I was lost in thought, Sophia asked me, as if checking my reaction.
She had broken the heavy atmosphere herself, so I appreciated that and decided to speak up.
“Of course, I’d rather not have any trouble, but…” (Kento)
That’s a given.
Everyone would naturally want to avoid conflict if possible.
“But sometimes, it can’t be avoided. And when something happens to you, I’d prefer you didn’t try to handle it alone. I’d be happy if you relied on me, and I’ll never think it’s a bother, so I want you to rely on me.” (Kento)
When people try to handle things alone to avoid troubling others, it can sometimes backfire and make things worse.
Actually, it happens sometimes even in the baseball club. There are things you can only notice from the outside, or people around you can see things more calmly, so, at the very least, I’d want you to ask for help.
I wasn’t the type of person to think being relied on was a burden or a hassle, so my intentions weren’t that selfish.
“…That’s unfair… to be able to say such things so casually…” (Sophia)
For some reason, Sophia turned her face away.
She’s been doing that a lot lately… but I don’t think she dislikes me, right…?
“What would you do if I really brought trouble every time…?” (Sophia)
“That’s an extreme example.” (Kento)
But with Sophia, it’s not impossible.
She tends to stand out, for better or worse.
There are probably others who’ve taken notice of her, just like those girls from before, and it’s possible that a lot of people don’t like her cold demeanor.
As she tries to get along with others, there’s a chance that some might try to make things difficult for her.
“You don’t need to hold back. After all, I’m your brother, and there’s no need to be distant between family.” (Kento)
“――!” (Sophia)
When I answered with a smile, I heard Sophia gasp.
She still wouldn’t face me, but I wondered what kind of expression she was wearing right now.
“Well, in all seriousness, I’d appreciate it if you relied on me. If some annoying or strange person bothers you, feel free to pass them off to me.” (Kento)
Sophia probably only knew how to fight back when people picked on her.
Anyone who would go out of their way to provoke someone like her was clearly trying to get a rise out of her, so just responding would probably only give them what they wanted.
Especially since she doesn’t ask for help from others, it might be better for her to just pass the issue to me.
At the very least, I’m more used to dealing with those kinds of people.
“Aren’t I… being spoiled too much…?” (Sophia)
Sophia, having apparently taken my words in a different way, glanced at me from below, asking with a sideways glance.
I was drawn to her gaze, but I made sure to keep my face neutral as I spoke.
“This wouldn’t be spoiling, right? Asking for help when you’re in trouble is normal.” (Kento)
“…I see… Thanks…” (Sophia)
It seemed she had come to understand, and she thanked me.
When she thanked me so sincerely, it made me feel a little awkward.
“You can save the thanks for when I actually get a chance to help you.” (Kento)
As I said that, I closed my lunchbox.
“Thank you for the meal, it was really delicious.” (Kento)
I didn’t have the best vocabulary, but today’s meal had truly been fantastic. I felt it wasn’t fair to have Sophia make me lunch every day, considering how much of a burden it must be, but I couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy to have such delicious food every day.
“It was nothing. Are you going to practice your swings now?” (Sophia)
“Yeah, that’s right. You’re heading back to class, right?” (Kento)
“…Well, there’s nothing to do in the classroom, so I’ll watch.” (Sophia)
I thought she’d return to study in the classroom, but after closing her lunchbox, Sophia sat down and hugged her knees with both hands.
It made me a bit embarrassed and nervous to be watched practicing but I couldn’t tell her to leave. If I did, she might think I was rejecting her. So, I kept quiet.
“I don’t think it would be anything interesting to watch…” (Kento)
“You don’t have to worry about that, I won’t disturb you either.” (Sophia)
Hmm… I think it would be better to go back to the classroom rather than watch someone practice their swings like this…
Well, if she decided not to return, there’s nothing else for me to say.
Having made that decision, I started my swings as usual.
For some reason, she was watching me with a smile, seemingly enjoying it.
Eventually, the alarm on the phone I had set went off—
“Shirakawa-kun’s form is just like Riley Clark’s, isn’t it?” (Sophia)
Sophia, understanding that my swings were finished, spoke up.
I was surprised by what she said.
“How did you know…?” (Kento)
It would be one thing if he was an active player, but the person she mentioned had passed away when I was ten.
If she’d been watching professional baseball since she was little and knew about his achievements, I could understand, but she had said she wasn’t interested in baseball.
Normally, there’s no way she should know.
“After you mentioned him, I searched for videos related to him and watched them yesterday.” (Sophia)
Even if she had searched and watched, could she really have figured it out after just one night?
…No, actually, since she had already deduced that my swing was the same as Clark’s, it was probably possible for someone as smart as her.
I had always thought she was quite intelligent, but it seemed Sophia’s memory was extraordinary.
“I thought I understood how amazing you were, but… wow, Sophia, you really are on another level…” (Kento)
“W-What? It’s nothing to boast about, though…” (Sophia)
When I sincerely expressed my admiration, Sophia blushed slightly, looking embarrassed, and avoided my gaze while fiddling with her hair.
“I’d heard you admired him and looked up to him, but… to have your batting form be so similar means you really like that player, don’t you?” (Sophia)
As she said this, Sophia gave me a meaningful look.
To me, it looked like she was expecting something.
Could it be that she actually liked talking about things like this…?
“Well, he was the one who got me into baseball. Becoming a player like him is my goal.” (Kento)
“…So in your eyes, Riley Clark is really that cool, huh?” (Sophia)
“By the time I found out about him, he was already the cleanup hitter on his team—the best batter. He was considered a star player. For me, seeing him for the first time was a shock.” (Kento)
If I closed my eyes, I could still remember it.
It was the final inning with a three-run deficit—two outs, bases loaded. A situation where it seemed like there was no way out, but also a chance for a comeback.
The atmosphere in the stadium was intense, and it was a moment that must have been under intense pressure.
At that moment, Clark hit a home run with a single swing, leading his team to victory.
When I was young, I didn’t fully understand the rules of baseball or the significance of a team’s victory, but when I saw him hit the ball into the stands, make a fist pump as he rounded the bases, and get greeted at home plate by his jubilant teammates, I thought he was incredibly cool.
“Wow… If you liked him that much, don’t you have any memories with him?” (Sophia)
As we headed to the clubroom to return the bat, Sophia dug deeper into Clark’s story.
I was surprised that she was so interested in this kind of thing, but I recalled the memories from when I was a child.
“Since he was a pro, I didn’t have many opportunities to talk to him… but once, I selfishly asked my dad to take me to the training camp of the team Clark played for. I was able to talk to him a little, but… Clark only spoke English, and I couldn’t understand a word he was saying.” (Kento)
Even as a child, I understood he was a foreigner, but back then, I thought all foreigners could speak Japanese.
Especially since Clark was a catcher, which was rare for a foreign player, I thought he might be an exception.
“Well… it’s not uncommon for foreign players to come to Japan with an interpreter.” (Sophia)
Sophia said with a wry smile as if understanding the situation.
From what I heard, it seemed that Clark had a young female interpreter with him.
But at the time, I didn’t know what an interpreter was, and there was no woman around him who looked like she could have been one.
It was probably just bad luck that the interpreter happened to be away at that moment.
“So, what did you do when you couldn’t understand each other?” (Sophia)
“Ah, well, Clark noticed I was having trouble, so instead of words, he picked me up and held me. It was embarrassing, but it made me really happy… And he also gave me a signed ball.” (Kento)
It wasn’t exactly being held, more like being lifted up in a “high-high” sort of way, but at that time, I was in the lower grades of elementary school, so I was embarrassed by the attention.
But more than that, I was just happy to be treated like that by the player I admired.
Above all, the signed ball was a treasure I would keep for life, and I still proudly display it on my desk.
“Hehe… So that’s how it was.” (Sophia)
Sophia, listening to my story, smiled happily, looking very entertained.
However, she quickly looked off into the distance with a gaze that seemed to be focused on something far away.
“That’s so like Dad… I wonder if I looked like that to him sometimes…” (Sophia)
Sophia muttered softly, almost as if she was reminiscing. I couldn’t help but become captivated by her.
When we were alone, she had started to show softer expressions from time to time, but this look was even gentler than any I’d seen before.
What could she be seeing in her eyes right now?
It almost felt like there was still a side of Sophia that I didn’t know yet.
I couldn’t help but think that it would be nice if one day, I could come to understand that side of her as well. As I thought this, I continued to watch her profile.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
Sophia’s main rival isn’t even Kujouin at this point, it’s her own tsundere tendencies. Speaking of which, Sophia has gotten really deredere hasn’t she? I like it, gimme more!
Footnote:
- None