“Coach, Kujouin-san, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Would that be alright?” (Kento)
The day after the incident with Sophia at night, I headed over to coach and Kujouin-san, who were talking to each other after practice.
It was convenient that they were both here.
“Kento-kun?” (Nadeshiko)
“Hah, you’ve got quite the determined look on your face. What’s up?” (Coach)
Kujouin-san looked at me with a puzzled expression, while coach grinned in amusement as he turned toward me.
“I know it’s a bit selfish of me to bring up something personal before the tournament, but…” (Kento)
“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s a coach’s job to make sure the players are in their best condition for the competition.” (Coach)
“That’s right. Feel free to say whatever’s on your mind.” (Nadeshiko)
Coach crossed his arms with a smile, while Kujouin-san looked at me with a warm, radiant expression.
Because it was these two, I felt I could bring this up.
“I know it’s a topic we already discussed on the bus after the match… but I’d like to have my sister, Sophia, join the club as a manager.” (Kento)
I tried to explain as simply as possible, and though Kujouin-san didn’t say anything, her surprised expression spoke for itself.
When Shuuto tried to recruit her, she had refused so adamantly, yet now my stance had done a complete 180, and I was the one trying to bring Sophia into the club. That was probably why they were surprised.
“What made you change your mind?” (Coach)
The coach stared intently at my face.
He didn’t seem angry, but it was clear he was curious about my sudden change of opinion.
Since he wasn’t trying to pressure me, I didn’t feel particularly uneasy.
“Sophia wants this. That’s why I want to support her.” (Kento)
“Shirakawa-san…?” (Nadeshiko)
It must have been difficult to imagine coming from Sophia, as Kujouin-san murmured her name with a look of surprise.
I had felt the same when Jessica-san first told me, so I couldn’t blame her.
“Shirakawa Sophia said that herself?” (Coach)
“Yes, I heard it directly from her.” (Kento)
I had expected the coach to ask for confirmation, so I immediately nodded in response to his question.
The coach was a laid-back and fun guy outside of baseball, but he didn’t like actions taken without the person’s genuine will behind them.
Especially when it comes to actions or opinions that are merely influenced by others rather than stemming from one’s own will, he tends to reject them outright.
On the other hand, if it’s something the person truly desires, he is always willing to offer his full support.
“—Then it’s fine, isn’t it? I have no reason to refuse.” (Coach)
I hadn’t been too worried, but the coach grinned cheerfully.
He had been the one trying to provoke Shuuto into recruiting Sophia in the first place, so it wasn’t surprising that he wouldn’t object now.
Even though he was a coach for the sports program, he was still a teacher, so he must have heard the rumors about Sophia. Yet, he didn’t oppose the idea.
“I welcome her too. If there’s anything you need help with, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll gladly cooperate.” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san nodded with a smile.
Since she had interacted with Sophia directly and even mentioned that she was a very good girl, she likely had no concerns.
“Now I get why you wanted to consult Kujouin too. I’ve heard plenty of bad rumors about Shirakawa Sophia. You want her to be accepted by the other club members, right?” (Coach)
The coach winked and asked with a playful grin.
As expected, he had already figured out what I was thinking.
“Well… yeah. There will definitely be some club members who feel uneasy about her joining.” (Kento)
Given that she was famous for not getting close to others, the idea of her joining a baseball team—a sport that relies heavily on communication—was bound to rub some members the wrong way.
Considering that this team was seriously aiming for to win the Koshien tournament, it wouldn’t be surprising if some players wanted to eliminate any potential uncertainties.
At the very least, her presence would cause some unease.
“Well, I don’t think you need to worry too much about that. Once they know you’re involved, they won’t be concerned, right?” (Nadeshiko)
“Huh?” (Kento)
“Kento-kun wouldn’t do anything that harms the club. If there were any issues with Shirakawa-san, you’dmake sure to address them before letting her join. Everyone trusts you on that.” (Nadeshiko)
“Exactly.” (Coach)
As I tilted my head in confusion, Kujouin-san added with a smile, and the coach nodded in agreement.
Realizing the level of trust they had in me made my back feel strangely itchy.
“Kujouin beat me to it, but if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll help however I can.” (Coach)
“Thank you…” (Kento)
The warmth in the coach’s words made me bow my head deeply in gratitude.
I was truly glad that he was our coach.
—Well, it was precisely because he was the coach that I was standing here now.
“Really, don’t hesitate to ask for anything, okay?” (Nadeshiko)
“Kujouin-san… In that case, if I may ask something right away?” (Kento)
“Sure, what is it?” (Nadeshiko)
“Would you have lunch with me tomorrow?” (Kento)
“……” (Nadeshiko)
Taking her words to heart, I invited her to lunch, and Kujouin-san froze on the spot.
And then—
—With an almost audible boom, her face turned bright red as she let out a strange sound.
…Huh?
“Ohh~ You’re quite smooth, aren’t you?” (Coach)
As I stood there confused by Kujouin-san’s reaction, the coach smirked and threw in a teasing remark.
This guy never misses a chance to mess with me…
“No, uh… Sophia isn’t used to interacting with people, so I thought it would be good for her to get closer to Kujouin-san first. I figured that out of everyone in this school, you would be the best person to get along with her, given how kind you are…” (Kento)
Sophia, having been helped by Kujouin-san before, always behaved politely toward her.
Even when they passed each other in school, I had seen Sophia bow her head in greeting, even if she didn’t say anything. When Kujouin-san accompanied her to see the teachers, she had been nothing but respectful.
More than anything, Kujouin-san had an almost supernatural ability to get along with anyone. If there was someone best suited to help Sophia get used to people, it was her.
Of course, I had already gotten Sophia’s approval beforehand.
“A-Ah… Y-Yeah, that makes sense…! You two always eat together, after all…! Of course, I’d be happy to join you…!” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san, seemingly understanding my intentions, nodded vigorously, looking a little flustered but determined.
She was quick to catch on, which was a relief.
However, as the coach watched our exchange, he suddenly muttered—
“You better be careful… One day, some girl’s gonna stab you…” (Coach)
—A strangely ominous warning.
“Don’t just say something that scary out of nowhere!?” (Kento)
“Nah, I’ve kind of suspected it for a while, but you’re in pretty deep, you know?” (Coach)
I thought he was just joking, but the coach placed a serious hand on my shoulder, looking genuinely concerned.
Wait, did I say something that bad…?
Sure, Kujouin-san was incredibly popular with both guys and girls, and there were probably plenty of students who wanted to have lunch with her, but…
“Ah, there are people you’ve been eating with before, right? Is that going to be okay…?” (Kento)
Kujouin-san usually ate lunch in her classroom, and given her popularity, there had to be people she regularly ate with.
If she had to turn them down just to join us, I’d feel guilty about it.
That was probably what the coach was worried about, too.
“Mm, you don’t have to worry about that. If anything, I’m more concerned about whether I’d be intruding…” (Nadeshiko)
After nodding reassuringly, Kujouin-san tilted her head slightly and looked up at me, as if trying to gauge my reaction.
She knew that I usually had lunch with Sophia, so she was probably wondering if she’d be getting in the way of something.
To be honest, a part of me was disappointed.1
But right now, Sophia’s feelings took priority over anything I might feel.
“Rather, having you there would be a great help.” (Kento)
“I see…” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san let out a relieved expression and tucked her hair behind her ear with her fingers.
Being as considerate as she was, she must have been more worried than I thought about whether she would be intruding.
“Well, with you guys, things probably won’t turn into a battlefield. Good luck.” (Coach)
Perhaps realizing he was no longer needed, the coach waved his hand lazily and walked off.
Since he had already offered his support, I knew he’d help if I asked, so there was nothing to worry about anymore.
“We’re meeting at the usual spot behind the school building, right?” (Nadeshiko)
“Yes, that’s correct. Sorry for the trouble, and I appreciate it.” (Kento)
“Mm, I’m looking forward to it.” (Nadeshiko)
With just those words, Kujouin-san turned and lightly ran off.
She was still in her jersey, so she had probably gone to change.
Then, as if taking her place, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind.
“—So, you’ve decided to let Shirakawa Sophia join the team?” (Shuuto)
“Shuuto…” (Kento)
When I turned around, Shuuto was standing there, now changed into his uniform, staring at me intently.
For someone like him, who wanted me to focus solely on baseball, this situation probably wasn’t to his liking.
“Are you against it?” (Kento)
“Hm? Why would I be?” (Shuuto)
When I asked, he looked at me with a puzzled expression.
…Huh?
“I was in favor of her joining from the start. I’m not going to suddenly oppose it now.” (Shuuto)
“That’s true, but… There are a few issues that need to be resolved before she can actually join. I need to take action for that to happen—doesn’t that bother you?” (Kento)
At the very least, I had to focus on something unrelated to baseball.
That wasn’t what Shuuto wanted.
“…Saying it doesn’t bother me would be a lie.” (Shuuto)
Shuuto shoved both hands into his uniform pockets and leaned against the clubroom wall.
His gaze was directed toward the night sky, where countless shining stars floated.
“That’s an unusually indecisive statement from you.” (Kento)
Shuuto was the type to speak his mind clearly, for better or worse. For him to say something so ambiguous was rare.
“I don’t think it’s good to be thinking about anything other than baseball before the tournament. Especially for you, Kento. You already spend twice—no, three times as much time as anyone else analyzing and preparing for the matches. You shouldn’t have room for anything else.” (Shuuto)
Shuuto had a point. As a catcher, I had to study the data and watch the videos of not only our upcoming opponents but also potential ones. I needed to analyze their pitching patterns and devise strategies for our own battery.
On top of that, my batting style wasn’t based purely on instinct or raw talent—I relied on careful analysis of the opposing pitchers’ repertoire and their battery’s patterns to predict the next pitch. That meant even more preparation was required.
Unlike the cleanup hitters from powerhouse schools, who could rely on their natural hitting instincts and daily practice, I had to make sure I was fully prepared for every at-bat.
“I won’t let it affect the team.” (Kento)
“You’re going to cut into your sleep time to prepare? That’s just going to affect your condition on game day.” (Shuuto)
“…So, you are against it after all?” (Kento)
Since I couldn’t refute his logic, I decided to hear him out instead.
It wasn’t a lie that he said he wouldn’t oppose it, but the more I listened, the more it sounded like he was opposing it.
I wanted to know why he said he wasn’t against it if that was the case.
“That was only one complaint. Of course, if there’s something that can bring more benefit, I’d naturally agree.” (Shuuto)
“Are you saying that, for Sophia’s sake, I can push myself beyond my limits? But that’s just baseless—” (Kento)
In other words, it was just something the coach had said.
Shuuto didn’t voice it, but I could tell it irked him.
“Baseless? There’s evidence. In the summer tournament, Kento carried everyone’s feelings and produced results. That’s more than enough reason to trust you.” (Shuuto)
He was referring to the summer tournament—probably the semifinal and final.
I was used as a pinch hitter in both the semifinals and the finals, where I was entrusted with crucial moments in both matches. It seemed like that was the example Shuuto was drawing on.
“That was just two instances…” (Kento)
“Exactly. But in those two games, you were extraordinary. And just the other day—when you were taking care of Shirakawa Sophia, I saw the same intensity. In the semifinal and final, you carried the feelings of us and the third-years. And in that last match, if you put in more effort for Shirakawa Sophia—then it all makes sense.” (Shuuto)
Shuuto, who had been staring at the night sky, now turned his gaze back at me, his eyes filled with a powerful resolve.
Shuuto’s gaze was serious.
In other words, he truly believed that when I carry the emotions of my teammates or when it’s for someone important, I can bring out more than my usual strength.
And he was probably trying to say that on the day I was looking after Sophia, I showed something close to the level I had in the semifinals and finals of the summer tournament.
It was true that I had been more focused than usual that day.
“But if that’s the case, then doesn’t that mean I can bring it out when I’m pushed during a match?” (Kento)
I figured that I hadn’t yet been under that kind of pressure in an official game, but if I could show the same strength as during the summer tournament by carrying my teammates’ emotions, then Sophia’s presence wouldn’t really make a difference.
Shuuto should understand that.
“Our goal is to win the Koshien.” (Shuuto)
“Where did that come from…?” (Kento)
I was caught off guard by Shuuto suddenly changing the topic, my confusion showing.
“We’ll be facing schools with monsters, with players who are called beasts—especially those with star players. Against schools like that, it’s too late to act once we’re pushed. There are games where we won’t even have the chance to get to you in the final inning. So, I need you to be ready to handle that pressure, always. For that, Shirakawa Sophia is necessary.” (Shuuto)
So that’s the reason Shuuto was so insistent on Sophia.
It seemed like Shuuto thought that if it was for Sophia, I could maintain the highest level of focus from start to finish.
In reality, it wasn’t that simple, but…
“I get what you’re saying, Shuuto. You’re saying that the benefits outweigh the risks, and that’s why you’re okay with welcoming Sophia, right?” (Kento)
It seemed that Shuuto was still only thinking about baseball, as always.
“It’s not just that.” (Shuuto)
“Huh? There’s more?” (Kento)
“Yeah, actually, this part is more important.” (Shuuto)
I thought the conversation had ended, but apparently, there was something even more important to discuss.
What could it be?
“It’s not just the coach or Kujouin-san—if there’s anything you need, you can count on me too. If we resolve the Sophia situation quickly, we’ll be able to enter the next tournament in the best condition, right?” (Shuuto)
I couldn’t help but take a sharp breath at Shuuto’s words.
I never expected that he would offer to help with something outside of baseball.
“If we can’t make it in time for the tournament, you don’t need to force yourself, Kento. Even if it’s the first match, I’ll pitch. And until we face a tough team, you can take a more calculated approach with your lead, not just try to strike them out.” (Shuuto)
Even though he’s the ace, Shuuto won’t pitch every game.
In fact, the coach’s policy is to not rely solely on him, but to use other pitchers when possible in order to prevent wasting Shuuto’s talent and energy.
Since the coach is someone who retired from professional baseball due to an injury, this policy is even more important to him. However, it seems that Shuuto is willing to pitch despite going against that policy.
Not only that, but if we’re facing a high school that can be handled with pure strength, it looks like he’s willing to go with a more aggressive approach, ignoring the finer details of the pitch strategy.
The truth is, for someone like Shuuto, who is considered the number one player in the prefecture, it’s actually harder to rely on a “hit and run” strategy against teams other than the top-ranking ones. That’s because his fast, hard-hitting fastballs and sharp, well-executed breaking balls are so difficult to hit, it’s almost a challenge just to make contact.
However, if he keeps striking batters out, Shuuto’s stamina and arm will wear out. That’s why a strategy that involves making batters hit the ball rather than striking them out is necessary, and I was analyzing the opponent to plan that lead.
So, if he’s okay with taking a more forceful approach with strikes, then my burden will be lighter.
“…I never expected you’d say that. Thanks.” (Kento)
I decided that, even though I wouldn’t want to rely on him too much, if it came down to it, I would lean on Shuuto. It felt like the right thing to do, especially since he was the one who offered his help first.
“I’m the one who practically dragged you into this, Kento. I’ve always felt I need to repay you for that favor from back then.” (Shuuto)
I can understand what Shuuto is saying.
However, I should be the one who’s grateful.
The reason I’m here right now is all because of him.
“—Yeah, if anyone complains about Shirakawa Sophia joining, I’ll shut them up.” (Shuuto)
“—!?” (Kento)
As I was silently thanking Shuuto in my heart, I heard something rather ominous.
“If we do that, then Shirakawa Sophia could join right away, don’t you think?” (Shuuto)
After facing Shuuto for so long, I knew that look.
He was serious.
“Please don’t…! It’s definitely going to end badly if you do that…!” (Kento)
“What!? You can’t turn down someone’s kindness like that…!?” (Shuuto)
“No, I get it! I know you’re saying it out of kindness, Shuuto, but please, just don’t!” (Kento)
I could only see a future filled with arguments, and if I forced her to join like that, I knew that somewhere down the line, someone’s dissatisfaction would explode.
“If there’s ever a time I need your help, I won’t hesitate to ask, but for now, trust me and leave it to me!” (Kento)
“Is that so…? Well, if you say it like that… I understand.” (Shuuto)
It seemed like Shuuto had decided to just quietly watch.
Thank goodness… I almost ended up with an unexpected bombshell just before the tournament…
With the discussion wrapped up, I headed home, and Shuuto returned to the dorm.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
Man, that was so smooth. Even I didn’t expect MC suddenly asking Kujouin out for lunch 😂
I spent an entire day yesterday finishing Wuthering Waves 2.1 content. Trying to reach fishing lv 12 was such a pain. Well, at least I got Phoebe… at the cost of like $70 😢
Thanks for the tl~
Thanks for the TL!
Also, good luck for your next pulls!