Illustrations

Prologue

『――I was fooled.』

When I― Shirakawa Kento came back home, there was Sophia

Frost-san, a celebrity at our school, who mumbled English with a
sullen expression on her face.

As her name suggests, she is a foreigner, apparently from the UK.

Her natural pale blonde hair attracts everyone’s eyes, and her
crisp blue eyes make everyone take a step back.

She has an exceptionally beautiful face that is distinctly different

from Japanese people and is even said to be the prettiest girl in
school.

There are probably only a few students who don’t know her.
After all― she is very famous for being a solitary flower.
 Chapter 1: A New Family

“Oh!? Look, Kento, it’s the ‘Solitary Flower’!”

Lunchtime― as I was heading to the cafeteria with Kannagi

Shouta, also a member of the baseball team, Shouta’s tension
suddenly rose.

When I looked in the direction he pointed, I saw a beautiful girl

walking gracefully with her beautiful blonde hair blowing in the
wind.

She is Frost-san, who has been at the school for only a month and
is well-known throughout the school.

She is very cute, but is said to be very cold towards others.

She is always alone and is called the Solitary Flower.

“I think it’s disrespectful to call her that…”

“Eh, doesn’t it make her cool?”

When I said what I thought, Shouta tilted his head back with a
skeptical look on his face.

He’s a cheerful and nice guy, but he’s a little bit insensitive.

Well, that can be his strong point as well, so it’s a bit difficult to
point it out.

“I don’t think it’s a nickname that was given to her in a positive way.”

“Hmm? Nevermind that, we don’t see each other very often because
we’re in different school buildings, so let’s ask her out for lunch!”
“…Are you insane?”

Even if he doesn’t know what the nickname means, Shouta is

aware of the rumours about her.

What kind of thinking process does he have to think about asking

her out?

“She’s cute, so why not?”

“No, it’s obvious that she’ll refuse― hey, wait…!”

Shouta didn’t listen until the end and went towards Frost-san by
himself.

It can’t be helped.

I’ll watch from a distance here.

I don’t want to get caught in the middle of all this.

“Frost-san, hello! If you don’t mind, could we―!”

“Who? Don’t talk to me so casually.”

“Ah, my name’s Kannagi Shouta, but―.”

“I don’t know you. I feel disgusted, so don’t talk to me ever again.”

“…………”

Apparently, the rumours were true.

Indeed, this would be an impossible task.

To be honest, I thought it was no wonder she was called the

‘Solitary Flower’.

“―Kento…”

“G-Good job for even trying…”

I gave my friend, who came back with teary eyes, a piece of my

mind.
 I couldn’t do any more harm to the person who came back with
an outrageously cold reply by giving him a good advice.

“She’s so scary…”

“Well, I’m sure she’s popular just for her looks, and I think she was
wary of strange boys all the time.”

Her blonde hair often stands out amongst the Japanese, who tend
to have black or brown hair.

Her skin is whiter and more beautiful than ours, and her face is as
cute as an idol’s.

There is no way ordinary boys would leave such a beautiful girl

alone.

In fact, even Shouta went to make a move on her just by seeing

her.

If she is constantly being approached like that, it’s no wonder she’s

fed up with it.
“She has a cute face, but it’s such a waste…”

“That’s up to her, isn’t it? At any rate, there’s a competition coming

up, so don’t cause any trouble, okay?”

“I know. I won’t do anything stupid.”

“That’s good. She probably likes to be alone by herself like that.”

…Or rather, if that’s the only reason, I don’t think she’d be so cold.

Maybe she had a bad experience in the past.

But I, a stranger who is not even her classmate, don’t know that,
and I don’t think I will be involved with her in the future.

So I don’t care any more.

―At least, that’s what I thought at the time…

***
 Three months have passed since then, and here we are today― I
never thought that the day would come when we would face each
other as brother and stepsister.

When my father told me her name, I was really surprised.

And for some reason, she’s always been hostile to me…

“Well, what did you say ……?”

I’m pretty sure it was me that she was looking at, and there’s no
doubt in my mind that she was saying it to me.

So I reacted to her―.

“Hmph…!”

She turned her head away from me.

What’s this?

Why is she being so grumpy?

 It was only a minute or two ago that she came into the house.

At the time, she seemed rather in a good mood, which I couldn’t

imagine from her previous reputation at school.

And yet, the moment she saw my face, she suddenly became
grumpy.

Perhaps she hadn’t heard that there are boys in this house?

“Ah~ um, let’s introduce ourselves first. Kento, go ahead.”

I guess my father didn’t expect Frost-san’s attitude either.

He seemed perplexed, and nudged me.

This doesn’t make sense, but I can’t let the mood deteriorate any
further.

With my back facing my father, I smile and open my mouth.

 In times like this, first impressions count.

“It’s nice to meet you, thanks for looking after my father. I’m his son,
Kento. I’m a freshman in high school and I’m on the baseball team.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Kento-kun.”

As I finish my introduction, Frost-san’s mother, Jessica-san, smiles

back at me.

I’ve already met her a few times, she’s my father’s new wife, and
she’s going to start living with us today.

She used to work as an interpreter when she first came to Japan,

but now she’s an English teacher.

Her hair is a darker shade of blonde than Frost-san’s.

She has the same blue eyes as Frost-san, but the impression she
gives from her eyes is completely different, and she looks gentle and
mild-mannered.

Above all, unlike Frost-san, one feminine part of her is quite large.
 Frost-san looks like she’d look good in a kimono, but Jessica looks
like she’d look good in a gravure swimsuit.

“…………”

“Huh!? Murderous intent!?”

While I was distracted by Jessica-san, Frost-san was glaring at me

with eyes overflowing with murderous intent.

Even though winter has not yet started, it felt extremely cold.

A girl who shoots out absolute zero temperatures is a real thing?

“Sophia, you should introduce yourself too.”

Jessica-san spoke to Frost-san with a smile, although I’m not sure

whether she was unaware of the exchange of eyes between us, or
whether she was aware of it and just let it slide.

“I’m Sophia, that’s all.”

“Come on, do it properly.”

Her introduction, which could be described as overly brief, made

Jessica laugh wryly.

“I’m sorry, Kento-kun, but as I told you beforehand, my daughter

Sophia goes to the same Seijou High School as you do. You’re both
in the same first year, but in different departments, is that correct?”

“Yes, we’re both in the same general course, but she’s in the Special
Preparatory Course while I’m in the Sports Course. So we haven’t
known each other until now.”

Even though we are both in the same general course, to be honest,

we are completely different.

Her course is an elite group of selected few, who are particularly

focused on their studies.

Among them, Frost-san is a genius, who has been topping the

tests ever since she entered the school at the top of her class.
 Conversely, the course I’m in, as the name suggests, focuses on
sports clubs, and to be honest, my academic ability is quite low.

That’s why the classes are different and the school building is also
different.

In addition, there is a regular course in the regular department,

which has the largest number of students because it is attended by
the general student population.

By the way, our high school is private.

“How do you know my course…? Could it be that you’re a

stalker…?”

“No, wait, you’re very famous at school, you know!? Don’t be

ridiculous!”

I hurriedly corrected Frost-san, who had an uncomfortable

expression on her face, as if she was taken aback.

This girl doesn’t know how famous she is!?

“Sophia, you’d better stop this or I’ll get angry, you know?”

“―!”

What on earth just happened?

Frost-san, who had been so aggressive until just now, instantly

became quiet with a single statement from Jessica-san.

Jessica-san did not give a harsh remark, but rather, it was in a

very gentle tone of voice while smiling at her…

And moreover, if you look at Frost-san she was starting to sweat

profusely.

…Could it be that Jessica-san is quite scary?

“…………”

As I was questioning that, a silent pressure came over me.

Of course, it is Frost-san who is putting such pressure on me.

 To make sure Jessica-san doesn’t find out, she backs up a little
and gets in behind her, silently glaring at me.

Most likely, she thinks I’ve made her angry.

As they say, Frost-san seems to be very nasty after all.

―Our parents remarried and from today we will become siblings,

but I can’t help but feel uneasy about our future because of the
trouble that is sure to ensue.

***

“―Where have you been?”

When I came home at night after my routine, I bumped into Frost-

san at the door.

She was supposed to be at cram school, but it seems that she had
already returned home.

“I was just out playing, that’s all.”

“At this hour, and wearing your jersey as well?”

Frost-san looks at me with narrowed eyes, as if in doubt.

The time is just past 9:00PM.

It’s the end of the summer holidays now, so I’m sure many
students are having fun at this time…

“Is there a problem?”

“Hmm, you’re like a delinquent.”

When I asked her, she snickered at me.

I knew she always had a bad character.

“Frost-san, why didn’t you take at least today off from cram school?”

It was our first day as a family, so we might have gone out for
dinner.
 But since she went to cram school early, there was no such
development.

Heck, we could have had a feast…

“You as well, I heard you were at club activities in the morning.”

Frost-san, not liking my reply, retorted in a sulky voice.

“I did take the afternoon off, didn’t I?”

It was an important time for us during the tournament, but I took

it off because I had to prioritize my family.

I didn’t have anything to complain about.

“I even attended cram school on the way, you know?”

Apparently, what she wants to argue is that she missed the school
in the morning.
“You could have taken the afternoon off…”

“Afternoon classes are longer, so it was the obvious choice. Instead,

it was you who should have taken the morning off.”

Indeed, Frost-san is right, considering the practice time.

However―.

“No, no, the meaning of the same day off before and after the face-
off would be different, wouldn’t it?”

I went to club activities before the face-to-face meeting.

Although that meant I had to delay the meeting, I tried to be with

her properly after the meeting and after we became a family.

She, on the contrary, prioritized cram school time instead of family

time.

I think the meaning there will change.

“Either way, it’s not the same if you’re going out to play.”

“It’s all because you went to cram school. You know…!?”

“Oh please, don’t push the blame to others.”

I didn’t blame anyone, she went to cram school, so I prioritized

my own time too.

After all, if I stay behind, I might get in the way of my father and
Jessica-san.

If Frost-san had been there, I wouldn’t have had to worry about it,
but now that it’s just the three of us, I’ll be more considerate of the
situation.

Although they are remarried, they are still newlyweds now.

I’m not so stupid that I don’t know what that means.

“Anyway, I can tell you one thing.”

 Frost-san continues to speak, perhaps because I have fallen silent.

“My studies are more important to me than you.”

And then she said something very harsh.

I understand what she is implying here.

It is only natural that studying is more important to someone who

used to be a stranger to you.

But would you normally tell them that?

“―Where are you going?”

The next thing I know, she’s turned her back on me.

I guess she wants to say that the conversation is over.

“It’s none of your business.”

She said that and walked away― going towards the bathroom.
 Dammit, I wanted to take a bath too…

I had only fooled her into thinking I had gone out for fun, when in
fact I had been training.

I do think it’s not a good thing that I lied to her, but it’s also
surprising to know that there are actually people who don’t like
someone who works hard.

In fact, when I was in middle school, my teammates and

classmates made fun of me once or twice for staying home alone to
practice, or for doing nothing but playing baseball.

There are people everywhere who make fun of others who work
hard, and by looking down on them, use them as a tranquiliser for
themselves not to work hard.

Since then, I’ve decided not to show my efforts to others.

I especially don’t want people like Frost-san, who make fun of

others, to see me working hard.
 At any rate, thanks to my stop at the batting centre after my run,
my sweat was already dry, and even if I went there now… I would be
socially killed if I was in the middle of taking off my clothes, so I had
no choice but to give up.

***

About thirty minutes after a light argument with Frost-san―.

“Can I talk to you?”

While I was watching a video in my room, there was a sudden

knock on the door and I heard a gruff voice.

There is only one person who can make such a voice.

I didn’t even imagine that Frost-san would approach me herself…

“What’s up?”

“May I come into your room?”

“…………”

I look around the room.

The bookshelves in the room are lined with baseball magazines,

baseball and training books, as well as old videos of professional
baseball and Koshien Stadium.

Above all, there are many posters of a certain foreign player on

the wall, whom I have admired for a long time.

I don’t want other people to see them.

“No, I’m coming out. Give me a second.”

I said so and went out into the corridor, being extra cautious so as
no one could see inside the room.

“You’re behaving as if you don’t want me to see inside your room.”

Naturally, Frost-san, who has a keen eye, would have pointed this
out if I made such a suspicious move.
“I’m a guy with the same age as you, I have a lot of things I don’t
want the girls to see.”

“Wha!?”

How did she interpret my words?

The white face of hers instantly turned bright red.

It’s an unexpected reaction.

『You beast…!』

Frost-san glared at me reproachfully with a reddened face.

I see, she’s quite reserved with stuff like this, isn’t she?

The last thing she said was in English, but as you’d expect, I know
at least what a ‘beast’ is.

“My bad. So, what did you want to talk about?”

“…………”

I tried to apologize, but Frost-san kept staring at me and wouldn’t

say anything.

Since she came to me, she was the one who wanted to talk to me,
so I kept quiet and waited for Frost-san to cut to the chase.

Then she suddenly takes a deep breath and looks at me with a

stern expression.

“I’ve just had a bath, as you can see. I don’t want to catch a cold
talking in the corridor, so could you let me into your room?”

She is currently dressed in peach-coloured pajamas and her hair is

slightly damp.

Time-wise, she probably came straight to my room after leaving

the bath.

I honestly don’t care if she has just had a bath or not, but she is
deliberately trying to get into my room, probably because I am
trying to hide my room from her…
“Why should I? Are you interested in what’s in my room?”

『T-That’s not it…! I’m just…!』

Perhaps because she was flustered, she started speaking in

English again.

When she lived alone with Jessica-san, she would have spoken
English at home, and perhaps she has a habit of speaking English
when she is flustered.

The reason this is not a rumour at school is simply because no

one has ever seen her when she gets flustered.

I don’t exactly understand what she’s saying, but I know she’s in

denial anyway.

“The fact that you want to go in means you’re interested, right?”

『~~~~! I-I’m not interested…! I’m not interested at all, so could
you please stop saying nonsense…!?』[TLN: Bro, is she really a
Kuudere? I swear to god, she’s acting like a Tsundere ]

Perhaps she’s not comfortable with this kind of talk, she started
talking very fast.

However, I’m not very good at English to begin with, so if she

speaks quickly like this, I can’t understand what she’s saying at all.

“Hey, talk to me in Japanese, not English.”

So I asked her to speak in Japanese.

Frost-san, realising that she was speaking in English, made a

deliberate coughing sound, and looked at me with a sharp
expression.

But her face is still red.

“O-Okay, fine, whatever! I’ll talk to you here!”

 I don’t know how she came to this conclusion from the flow of the
conversation earlier, but she probably thought it was a bad idea.

It was a wise decision from her to withdraw at this point, as I was

planning to poke her without hesitation now that I had found a
weakness in her.

…Well, I heard rumours that she was a very cold girl with no mercy
at all, but I don’t have the impression that she is as difficult to get
hold of as the rumours say.

She could be bossy, pompous or overbearing, but she could also

be approachable if she showed an initial reaction like this.

“So again, what were you trying to tell me?”

I was not going to poke around in a bad way, since she had
already accepted the situation.

If someone has something to say to you, then you should quickly

ask them what they want and end the conversation.

“I’m sorry I called you a delinquent earlier…”

“…Eh?”

What kind of unreasonable demands is she going to impose on

me?

I was bracing myself for this, but Frost-san apologized to me.

“Like I said, I’m sorry for what I said earlier…”

She must have thought I was asking back.

She grimly turned her face away and said the same thing again.

I didn’t know she was capable of apologizing…

I feel bad for saying this, but it was very unexpected.

“What made you become like this…?”

“Don’t look at me like you’re looking at something you don’t

understand. I just thought I was wrong.”
 Did Jessica-san get angry with her in some way?

Even so… it’s so weird to see her apologize so honestly.

“Well, I hope you realized it was just a misunderstanding…”

To be honest, it’s a bit scary because she seems like a different

person.

Will there be a heavy downpour tomorrow?

“But that doesn’t mean you should hang out late at night, though.”

Apparently, the conversation isn’t over yet.

Perhaps the main subject is this one.

In the end, it seems that she came to complain.

―Though I say that, but it’s not as cold as when we first met.
“We’ve just become a family and I don’t know if it’s right to say
things that might force you to, but it’s dangerous to go out and play
late at night, so please stop.”

Frost-san slightly took her gaze off me and asked me for a favour,
crossing her arms in disapproval.

After all, it was a little different from the image I had envisioned.

If it was her I was listening to, she would have ordered me to do

things without question and without thinking, but surprisingly, she
took the method of a request.

She even waited for me to come out of my room, so she’s

probably not a bad girl.

―Nah, I still think she has a terrible personality.

“I see, I’m sorry. Well, I’m not a delinquent, so don’t worry about
that.”

“Yeah, I don’t think you’re a delinquent. You seem to be more

frivolous though.”
“…………”

What? Why are you naturally picking a fight with me like this?

What was that apology you just made?

It’s true that I’ve been called a frivolous guy more than once or
twice.

But I’ve never been a man who goes around preying on girls, and
not to mention, I’ve never been in a relationship before. [TLN: Same
bro.]

I’m not trying to be frivolous, I’m just being careful about my

appearance and behavior to avoid making enemies as much as
possible.

“Ahaha, that’s harsh.”

I responded with a fake smile, even though I was a bit confused.

 In reality, I would like to say something back, but to be honest, I’m
having a hard time grasping Frost-san’s character.

If she’s really not a bad person, then we have become brother and
stepsister and I want us to get along.

If that’s the case, I definitely should avoid unnecessary conflict.

“Are you going to stop going out at night?”

Ah really, just as I was thinking that, she asked a troublesome

question…!

‘I’ll think about it.”

I’m not going to stop training in the future.

I nodded my head because I didn’t want to create a conflict, but if

I was found out going out at night, it would make things even more
complicated.

Which is why I said it like that, however―.

“So you don’t want to listen to me, do you?”

As expected, she won’t be fooled by this much, will she?

It’s a bit of a mess right now.

If I told her now that I’m out training― she wouldn’t believe me.

Above all, I don’t want other people to know that I’m working
hard.

“Don’t be so blind. It’s not going to happen any time soon, but hey,
I’ll stop.”

“What on earth are you doing out there so late at night?”

“It’s got nothing to do with Frost-san, right?”

“Oh, is that so? As your little sister, I need to make sure my brother
isn’t doing anything strange. Don’t you think so, too, Onii-chan?”
 Apparently, I had given her the opportunity to take advantage of
me.

I thought she didn’t approve of the brother-sister relationship, but

she’s clever enough to take advantage of it.

The mean, testing eyes that are pointed at me are so attractive

that they are almost a reward for those who like that kind of thing.

I hate to say it, but I don’t have the slightest inclination towards it.
[TLN: Nah bro, you mentioned it already, so stop with the cope.]

“Just because we’re a family doesn’t mean we have to tell each other
everything, does it?”

“Of course it doesn’t. But even so, a normal family wouldn’t allow
their family member to go out so late at night.”

Now, I’m in trouble.

She’s right about what she’s saying, so she won’t back down until I
tell her.
 The reason she came all the way to my room was probably
because she thought our parents would stop her if she talked in the
living room.

I don’t know how I’m going to cover it up.

“Just because I’m out at night doesn’t mean Frost-san and the others
are in any danger. Is that not good enough for you?”

“What if something happens to you?”

“Eh?”

The completely unexpected reply made me stop speechless.

『I-I’m just worrying about you because we’re siblings, I don’t have
any other intentions, okay…!?』

As I froze, Frost-san’s face, which should have gone back to white,

turned slightly red, and she hastily added another remark.
 However, I did not understand anything she had just said because
it was in English, probably because she was flustered.

“W-Why…?”

『W-What do you mean why!? Is it that strange!? We’re a family

now, isn’t it normal to be worried about each other…!?』

Frost-san’s face turned even redder, as if she thought I was stirring

things up, and she began to ramble on again.

“I don’t understand English, so please say it in Japanese…”

I can understand that she is desperately trying to say something,

but there is nothing I can do as long as I don’t understand the
language.

So when I asked her in Japanese as before, Frost-san looked

aghast.

After all, she seems to be speaking English unconsciously.

“Ahem…”

She coughed deliberately and looked at me with a sharp

expression again.

For some reason, she even looks kind of cute when she goes this
far…

She appears more like a clumsy girl than a cold girl…?

As I thought about this, she turns her gaze away from me.

And then―.

“It’s only natural to worry about your family…”

She says shyly while fidgeting.

What’s this creature, a tsundere? [TLN: See, it even says tsundere

here, they lied to us in the synopsis!]

“Erm, umm… I see, so you’re worried about me…”

 Could it be that she’s just tsuntsun because she can’t be honest?

No, yeah… seriously, I thought it was a bit cute…

“I-Is it that weird!? We’re a family now, isn’t it normal to be worried

about each other…!?”

How many people can worry about someone who was a stranger
until yesterday, just because they have become family?

In the first place, it might be difficult to even recognize them as

family.

At least, I’m still trying to recognize Frost-san and Jessica-san as

family, and I still feel very much like a stranger.

And yet, she’s―.

『―Sophia, don’t fight, okay?』

 When Frost-san was red-faced and angry, Jessica-san noticed
something was wrong and came up the stairs to us.

Well, if she was shouting that loudly, she would be heard

downstairs, at least in the corridor.

That said, Jessica-san was also speaking English, not Japanese.

Despite the calmness in her voice, Jessica-san may be upset on

the inside.

…Well, if her daughter and her new son were fighting, it would be
natural for her to be upset.

Just like what I thought, they are usually speaking in English.

『We’re not fighting…』

『You shouldn’t be angry, either.』

『No, it’s not like that…』

 While saying that, Frost-san looks at me resentfully.

I’m not good at English, so I don’t know what she’s saying, but I
could tell what she was trying to say from the atmosphere.

Maybe she’s blaming me.

―No, it’s my fault. ……?

『Anyway, let’s talk in your room. Sorry about this, Kento-kun.』

『Ah, wait, mum…!』

Jessica-san laughs in annoyance and pushes Frost-san back.

She then went into Frost-san’s room.

I think she probably wanted to quickly settle the matter so that

there would be no further trouble and our relationship would not
deteriorate.
 However―.

“I’m absolutely certain that Frost-san hates me now…”

Frost-san became the bad person in the flow of events.

Jessica-san is kind, so I don’t think she’ll get really angry, but she’s
likely to make… a small complaint.

…No, from the way I felt at lunch, she might be quite angry with
Frost-san.

If that happens, the hostility towards me will swell up even more

in Frost-san’s mind―.

“Is my life from now on really going to be alright…?”

I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

***
『You were looking forward to having a big brother… Why did you
two get into a fight?』

When she pushed me back and took me to my room, mum looked

at me sadly.

I know it’s understandable to be sad when a daughter and son

fight… But to be honest, we didn’t have a fight.

However, it was a slightly rough exchange.

It was because I had a lot of irritation towards him.

I think back to about a month ago― a hot, sunny day.

I was at the baseball stadium in perfect disguise, wearing a black

wig, sunglasses and a mask.

The semi-finals of the prefectural tournament were taking place

there, and our school was playing.
 I have loved baseball since I was a little girl because of my father’s
influence, and on that day I even went out of my way to take a day
off from cram school to cheer for the team.

The development was a pitchers’ versus pitchers’ battle.

Of course, the fielders played good defence, but the aces of both
teams pitched close to their best, and no runs were allowed until the
seventh innings.

The score came in the top of the eighth innings― that is, when
the opposition attacked.

They took advantage of a few chances created by an outfielder’s

error and scored the first run.

Then, in the bottom of the ninth innings― when we were losing

by a single point, drama ensued.

《―Oioi, they’re bringing out a first-year player at this point? Are

you insane, coach!?》
 With two outs, the only runners on base were the two runners on
second and third.

In that situation, a first-year student like me came out as a

substitute batter.

―A few days later, mum told me that he was going to be my older

brother.

When his name was given over the announcements, I could hear
some unease and frustration from the supporters’ seats, triggered by
a voice leaked by an Ojii-san who seemed to be a parent.

I think the parents and the general students who were there to
cheer on the team didn’t like the idea of leaving it to the first years at
an important moment because they wanted the team to win.

But― with just one swing, he silenced everyone present with a

pleasant sound.

It was the next pitch, after the first ball pitch had been sent off.

He did not miss a high, sweetly pitched straight ball and caught it
perfectly with the centre of his bat.
 The moment he hit the ball, the hall fell silent and everyone was
breathlessly following the path of the ball with their eyes.

And then, as he stepped into the stands― everyone on our side of

the support stands stood up and cheered so loudly that the hall
trembled.

The way he silenced the people around him who had looked down
on him with his ability and led his team to victory was cool in my
eyes.

After I got home, I watched the recorded TV broadcast over and

over again.

The look on his face when he was standing in the batter’s box was
so serious…

I never imagined that he would be such a goofy, frivolous-looking

man…!

When mum told me about him, I thought, “Is this fate…!?” I wish I
could get the excitement I felt before back now…!
『Sophia?』

As I was thinking about the semi-final and what had just

happened, my mum looked into my face.

I shouldn’t have, I was talking so passionately about it.

Well, I was just speaking from my mind, so I didn’t bother anyone.

『I’m not good with people who seem so light-hearted.』

Changing my mind, I make a slight smile and cover it up.

But I’m not lying about this either.

What I hate, or rather dislike the most, are frivolous goofballs.

I came to Japan when I was five years old because of my father’s

work.

At that time, I still remember that I couldn’t speak Japanese yet

and the children around me kept their distance from me.
 And not only that, some of the children made fun of me because I
looked different from those around me and could not speak the
same language.

I didn’t understand what they were saying.

But I only knew that they were making fun of me by the looks on
their faces.

This continued after primary school, and even in middle school,

there were boys who made fun of my appearance.

They were invariably noisy, loud and frivolous goofballs.

That’s why I hated them.

Well, when I started to treat them coldly, they stopped making

funny jokes.

Instead, I remain as alone as I have been since I was a child.

『……?』

Mum tilted her head curiously because I was alone in my thoughts

again.

Although she can be scarier than an ogre when she gets really
angry, Mum is basically kind and has a touch of innocence in her.

I’m sure she’s taken many men captive, not just the two fathers I
had.

『Kento-kun is not a bad boy, so don’t try to pick a fight with him.
It’s fine to say what you want to say, but you have to think about how
you say it, or you’ll be in trouble when you go out in the world.』

In Mum’s eyes, everyone is a good boy.

So I don’t trust my Mum’s eyes.

However― I couldn’t say that because she would be very angry if

I did.
『I’ll try to get along with him as well as I can.』

『Yeah, I think that’s good enough for now. If you live together,
you’ll soon realise that Kento-kun is a nice boy.』

Is that really the case?

I don’t think so.

The more I lived with him, the more I disliked him.

『Anyway, I understand what you’re saying. I’ll try not to get into a
fight with him as much as possible.』

I don’t want to upset my mum, so I’ll try to avoid fighting.

If I see him face to face, I’ll probably complain about it… Then I’ll
just not get involved.
『Yeah, promise me that, okay? I’m going to go back then, is Sophia
going to study again now?』

The conversation seemed to be over and Mum stood up with a

smile on her face.

Apparently, she didn’t get angry with me.

I smile back at her, relieved.

『Yeah, I can’t afford to drop my grades.』

As a special student for my studies, the school has given me a full

exemption from tuition fees.

Therefore, I can’t afford to drop my grades, and daily study is

essential.

『Don’t overdo it, okay? Don’t study all the time, do what you
want to do, okay?』
『Studying is what I want to do.』

I can’t put an extra burden on my mother as long as I’m attending

school now because of my selfishness.

If I don’t have to pay for school just by maintaining my grades,

then I can’t force myself to drop them.

『…Children should be more indulgent to their parents.』

For some reason, Mum patted me gently on the head with a lonely
expression on her face.

Sometimes Mum makes this kind of expression.

Why did she make this kind of face― I didn’t know.

Does Mum not want me to do my best…?

As I stared at the back of Mum’s head as she left the room, I felt
bewildered.
***
<Kento’s PoV>

“Frost-san, may I have a word with you?”

I got out of the bath and went straight to Frost-san’s room.

Jessica-san was in the living room, so I guess they had already

finished talking.

I’m trying to be friendly with Frost-san, because I don’t want to

make her any more apprehensive about us, even though we’re
supposed to be in a new relationship.

…Well, she definitely holds a grudge against me, and I want to

resolve it before the anger swells up as the days go by.
But―.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

She replied in a very cold voice.

 Apparently, she was furious.

“No, I’m sorry I gave Jessica-san the wrong idea, but can I talk to
you anyway?”

Perhaps she is rooted in the fact that she has been wronged.

Maybe that’s why she won’t come out.

“I’m not mad at you.”

“But then, why aren’t you willing to come out?”

“Talking to you is a waste of time.”

I’m not getting anywhere at all.

It seems like she’s trying to distance herself from me completely.

Hmmm, is it possible that she’s still holding onto the fact that I’ve
been flippant about going out and having fun?
 Looking at her responses, it seems that she is deliberately trying
to make me hate her.

Maybe she wants to make me not get involved by making me hate

her.

Thinking back, the person I’ve heard rumours about and seen at
school is the one I’m with right now.

This is probably how she repels boys who invite her to hang out
with them.

“I’m troubled…”

I scratch my head.

I can’t even talk to her.

I didn’t expect her to lock herself in her room.

To be so angry that you lock yourself away – it’s as if you’re the

Great Goddess of Heaven Amaterasu, who is said to have locked
herself away in the Amano Iwato. [TLN: If you want more context,
just look up Amano Iwato Shrine]

In terms of beauty, Frost-san is beyond anything realistic.

Rumour has it that some students revere her.

―I wish I had a trick to attract her interest, but unfortunately, I

have no other talent than baseball.

Now, I really don’t know what to do…

Should I bring Jessica-san?

―No, she’s going to get too angry.

“I like ramen when it comes to food, what do you like, Frost-san?”

At any rate, I decided to throw the question.

 I guess Frost-san doesn’t want others to step in, but it seems that
none of the students have ever been close to her, who continues to
adopt an attitude of rejection of everyone around her.

That means you can’t wait for Frost-san to treat you.

If you want to get on with this kind of person, you have to get
involved, even if it annoys them.

After all, it is better to be annoying to the person than to be

indifferent to them.

As long as you get involved, you may be able to find a way to win
them over.

“Relationships used to give me a lot of trouble in the past…

Nowadays, I’m rather good at getting along with other people.”

I mutter to myself, not talking to anyone.

There was no reply to the question I had posed earlier.

 I guess this is Frost-san’s way of appealing that she doesn’t want
to talk.

But I wasn’t going to give up just because of this.

I sat with my back against the door of my room and opened my

mouth again.

“I’m not very good at studying. My dad is a mathematics teacher,

but I got just average marks in middle school, and I hear Frost-san
gets great grades, but I wonder if you study a lot.”

“…………”

“What’s your speciality? Mine’s Physical Education. Well, it might

not be the same as studying.”

“…………”

“Ah, Frost-san, do you like manga and anime? If you have any
recommendations, I’d like to know.”

“…………”
 Yeah, she keeps stubbornly ignoring me.

She truly is a stubborn girl.

Well, this much was to be expected.

I’m not giving up yet.

―I kept asking her questions including some small talks.

The result was―.

“Fufufu, I see…! So you’re going this far just to ignore me, huh…!?”

No matter how many questions I asked, she never replied.

As you can imagine, it’s not like she’s sleeping… so far, isn’t her
personality twisted after all?

I’ve already asked her so many questions that I’m about to run out
of topics…
 Speaking of questions I haven’t asked yet―.

“Hey, like I already said, I like baseball, what kind of sports does
Frost-san like?”

This was a question I had been avoiding because I somehow

couldn’t connect this cool girl with sports.

But I’m running out of ideas, so this is the only thing left I can ask
her.

If this doesn’t work, I’ll give up for today―.

“Hey, why are you so reluctant to give up?”

“―!”

Not the answer to the question I threw at her.

But for the first time in an hour and a half, she did respond.
 Maybe she finally broke down.

“Because I want to be friends with Frost-san― can’t I?”

“After being so cold and even ignoring you― why do you want to be
friends with me? Are you an ‘M’?”

“An ‘M’―!?”

This person, whenever she opens her mouth, nothing but bad
words come out!

I want to complain, but I hold back.

At last, she finally spoke to me, but if I get angry here, it will all be
for naught.

“I don’t want to be dominated, of course. As expected, I’m not an

‘M’, okay?”

I continue to open my mouth while adding that.

“It’s because we’re a family―but I’d be lying if I said that. It’s
because I don’t want Jessica-san and the others to worry.”

“…………”

When I answered honestly, Frost-san fell silent.

Perhaps I could have complimented her and said that Frost-san

was attractive.

But somehow I felt that if I responded that way… the rift between
me and her would deepen even further.

So I answered honestly.

“So are you okay with us being tentatively close friends for the first
time? As long as we are friendly on the surface so as not to worry
our parents.”

“No, that’s not it. If we can get along, I want to. Everyone would
rather be good friends than bad friends, wouldn’t they?”

“…Surprisingly, you say some decent things.”

 No wait, how low does she think of me…?

What have I said or done since she arrived that has been so
damaging to my reputation?

I don’t know.

There are so many things about her that I don’t know, or rather,
don’t understand.

But there is one thing I do know.

She was dumbfounded and instead of getting angry, she chose to

talk to me.

As I thought, she is not simply a cold person.

If she was really a cold person, she would have said something
like, “You’re annoying!” while being angry.

“What do I look like to Frost-san?”

“…A frivolous man.”

“Eh? Sorry, I don’t understand English. What did you just say?”

For some reason, Frost-san’s reply suddenly came in English, and

I couldn’t understand what she meant.

Surely I didn’t say anything that would get on her temper, right…?

And her voice, it was calm.

“It was nothing.”

“If you’re going to fool around, does that mean you actually said
something really awful?”

Otherwise, there would be no need to deceive her.

“Some people would say it’s a compliment, wouldn’t they?”

“What did you just say…?”

 At least for Frost-san, I can tell it’s not a compliment.

It’s getting kind of amusing here.

“Hey, can I ask you one question?”

“You ignore other people’s questions a lot, but then you go and ask
your own?”

With the air lightened, I chuckled back at her in a mischievous

way.

But I soon realise that this is a bad move that will make her angry.

Hurriedly, I tried to rectify the situation, but then―.

“If you answer this, I’ll answer yours as well.”

I get a very unexpected response.

“Okay, what do you want to ask me?”

 I can’t let this opportunity pass me by.

Unless it’s a really bad question, I’m going to answer it.

“What is baseball to you?”

“Eh…?”

“Why do you play baseball?”

Why is she asking me this…?

I don’t know what she’s trying to accomplish here.

Baseball is probably none of her business, and if she wants to

know about me, there are other things to ask.

So what’s the point of her going to all this trouble to ask me what I
think about baseball…?

“You’re not going to answer me?”

 As I was thinking, she hastened to hurry me along.

The point is, it seems that’s what she wants to know.

I don’t know what she’s after, but it’s not something I can’t answer.

If this is going to bring me closer to her, even just a little bit, then
there’s only one option for me to choose.

“It’s worth living for.”

“It’s worth living for…?”

“I like watching and playing baseball, and I have goals I want to

achieve. I even think I was born to play baseball.”

This is not a lie or an exaggeration.

It’s what I really think.

 If I take baseball out of my life, I really don’t know what I’m going
to do.

“What’s your goal? To go to the Koshien?”

“If I had to say in terms of goals I want to achieve in high school, it

would be to win the Koshien championship.”

Of course, I want to go to the Koshien.

But I don’t want to just go to the Koshien.

As long as I’m going to be there, of course I want to win the

championship.

“Winning the Koshien Championship…”

Will I be ridiculed?

This summer, we didn’t make it to Koshien.

 We came so close but lost in the finals of the prefectural
tournament.

’Get past the regionals first before saying that’, is something I

thought she would say.

But―.

“I think it’s amazing.”

What she said back to me was again unexpected.

Because of the door, I couldn’t see her expression.

But from the way her voice sounded, I thought she was smiling.

Of course, it wasn’t a stupid, sarcastic smile, but a pleased, happy

smile.

Apparently, I and everyone else at school didn’t understand her at

all.
 ―After that, Frost-san started to answer my questions, as
promised.

But it was already late, so we couldn’t talk much.

To be honest, if you ask me if we were getting along, I wouldn’t

say so while nodding my head in agreement.

After all, we were talking through the door from start to finish.

However, I am sure that the distance between us has shortened.

And above all― this one incident completely changed my image

of Frost-san.
 Chapter 2: Envy and Jealousy

The summer holidays are over and it’s a top-level depressing

opening day for students.

With the summer heat still raging, the school was in turmoil.

“Hey, have you heard about it? Someone said that Frost-san’s
surname has changed!”

“I heard about it! It’s not Sophia Frost anymore, it’s Shirakawa
Sophia now!”

“I like her new surname too! It fits her image!”

Even in my class, which is in a different school building, there was

a lot of commotion like this.

It’s only the first day, but rumours spread so fast.

“But apparently― some students saw Frost-san coming out of

Kento’s house…”
 Ack―!

My heart jumped as soon they mentioned me.

“Huh? Kento? You mean, THAT KENTO?!”

Then, the eyes of the students who heard the story turn to me.

I knew I would be found out at some point― but I never thought

people would know about it on the very first day..

Did I underestimate Frost-san’s influence…?

“K-K-Kento!? What’s the meaning of this!?”

Naturally, Shouta, who was in the same class as me, also heard the
conversation and came up to me breathlessly.

“Calm down, Shouta…”

“How could I be calm about this? Are you trying to get a head
start!?”
“No, what do you mean by getting a head start…”

“Because you are doing so! Frost-san’s surname is now Shirakawa,

which means she married Kento―!”

“If someone says no, then it’s not. In the first place, how can a high
school student even get married?”

When my friend said something outrageous, I wanted to let out a

sigh of exasperation.

I never expected such a misunderstanding to happen.

“Then why is Frost-san a Shirakawa now?!”

Shouta’s presence must be convenient for those around him at

times like this.

Even if it is a difficult question to ask, he will not hesitate to ask it.

Thanks to him, the whole class was listening carefully to our

conversation.
“My dad remarried her mother. That’s why her surname changed.”

I knew they would find out at some point, so I made sure Frost-
san knew if I was allowed to talk about it.

She really seemed very reluctant to talk about it, but I got her
consent because she knew it would be a hassle if it was discovered
by mistake.

“Ehhhh, what’s with that manga-like development?! You’re making

me so jealous…! After all, you’re living together under one roof,
right…!?”

Why is it that you are so quick-witted about these things?

I really wish he didn’t notice.

“Kento, please switch places with me…! I’m her fan…!”

I guess they couldn’t take it any longer.

The boys started getting into the conversation.

 Or rather, they’re a fan…?

Frost-san is not a celebrity, you know…?

“I want you to switch places with me too…! I’ve been a follower of

hers since the first day I started at school…!”

Umm, that’s still stalking even if you haven’t done anything bad,
you know…?

Surely this guy is not the reason why Frost-san is so cold to

others, right…?

“Pfft, you guys are not thinking straight.”

As if to turn the tide, the handsome guy from the football team
makes a quirky gesture of raising his glasses with his fingers.

Well, he doesn’t actually wear glasses. [TLN: Bruh, I just got

reminded of Keima Katsuragi from KamiNomi with the gesture but
he’s wearing glasses though lmao.]
 As such, that guy said the following―.

“Onii-san, please introduce me to your sister!”

He holds out his right hand and bows his head vigorously.

You aren’t that different from the rest, you know?

“I see, I should also refer to Kento as Onii-san…!”

“Can I…. go out with Frost-san!?

“There’s no way that’s going to happen. Stop it, she’ll just blame me.”

I let out a sigh at my classmates who are ridiculously flippant.

If they use me as an excuse to get close to her, I wonder what

kind of retribution will be waiting for me at home.

It’s terrifying just to think about it.

“But seriously, how nice it would be~. I mean, I could fake an
accident and bump into her in the bathroom or see her underwear
or something like that, right?”

As my head began to hurt, Shouta said something that made it

hurt even more.

Is this guy not afraid of anything?

“In case you do that, you’ll be socially erased. Didn’t you know that,
like really?”

Even if it was a family member, she would do it without a second

thought.

She would probably turn him in to the police with a very cold
stare, as if he were looking at rubbish.

“Even though It was an accident!?”

“They won’t let you get away with such naïve thinking…”
 In fact, a tag is hung on the door to indicate whether the
bathroom is in use or not, so that you don’t run into each other in
the bathroom.

If you fail to see this and go in and see her naked even if it’s not
intentional― you’re not getting away with it.

As for underwear, well, I could if I wanted to- but the risk of being
caught rummaging through the washing machine or basket is too
great for me to even think about doing it.

“Unless you’re prepared to end your life, you shouldn’t do it…”

No kidding.

“Frost-san, even though she’s cute, she’s so cold towards others…”

Despite the excitement of my classmates, not all of them are

envious of me.

No matter how cute she is, there are those who fear her coldness
and prefer to watch from a safe zone.
“But hey, maybe she would be nicer to a family member?”

And then there are those who have faint hopes.

In some manga and anime, people are treated differently as soon

as they become family, but in reality it is not always that easy.

“It’s like she doesn’t care about me, and she’s so cold and unfriendly,
it makes me sick to my stomach every day, you know?”

“””””I see…”””””

I replied with a distant look in my eyes, and my classmates looked

at me as if they were looking at a miserable person.

I guess they finally understood how I felt.

Reality is like this.

After that, my classmates settled down and I was left alone.

 I guess they realised that it was impossible to get along with Frost-
san even if they tried to win me over.

***

“―But you know what, I actually envy you, you know?”

As I was changing into my training clothes and heading out onto

the field, Shouta gave me a look of envy as he said that.

“You still say that…? You’ll never get close to her even if you guys
became family.”

“No, no, you don’t just understand, do you? At the very least you
have a better chance of getting close to her than the guys who just
go to the same school as her.”

Shouta has a really strong mentality.

Even though he was treated negatively by her as soon as he

entered the school, he still hasn’t given up on her.
“―I don’t really care, but if you’re so preoccupied with women that
you miss my ball, I’ll k*ll you, okay?”

While I was talking to Shouta, I suddenly heard a cold voice from

behind me.

When I turned around, I saw my teammate of the same height as

me― Kurogane Shuuto, turning his sharp eyes towards me.

Frost-san is the most beautiful girl in school, but this guy has such
a well-defined face that he is a candidate for the most handsome guy
in school.

He has the personality of a prince, but he’s a stoic, baseball-

obsessed man.

And his ability is also genuine.

His 147 km fastest straight from his left arm is of the highest level
and floats up and down the field.

He has also mastered four breaking pitches and has good control,
so there are not many batters who can hit him.
 Because of his ability, he has been the ace of the team since the
summer even though he is a freshman.

According to what I have heard, professional scouts are already

taking notice of him.

He is also a top-notch batter and will eventually be active in the

world as a professional dual-threat player.

He and I are partnering up as a batting team at the moment.

“Do I look like the kind of guy who usually misses the ball so much
that you have to worry about it?”

The air has become tense, so I smile back, conscious of making

the atmosphere more relaxed.

“If that were the case, someone would’ve been a regular starting
catcher by now.”

Shuuto snickered back at my words.

 In other words, it’s all right.

We can’t afford to have someone we don’t know who might drop

the ball at any time as our regular catcher.

“Shuuto, my guy…! As I always say, there’s a better way to phrase

it…!”

I don’t really mind, but Shouta seems to have taken notice.

He usually dislikes Shouta’s harsh tone of voice, and I sometimes

see him get angry like this.

It’s not that Shuuto has any bad intentions either….

“What good does it do to be nice? Wouldn’t it be better for both of

us if we were honest?”

“I’m just saying, even if you’re going to be honest, there’s a better

way to say it…! The only one who can catch your ball with the
current members is Kento, right? You’re the one who’s going to be in
trouble if Kento quits as regular catcher…!”
“I never said anything to Kento about him quitting the catcher’s
position, did I?”

Shuuto is this kind of guy.

He’s just a straightforward, soft-spoken man who says what he

thinks.

There is no malice there.

That’s why I can hang out with him normally.

Compared to someone else who has a lot of wickedness in her,

this guy is a lot kinder.

“Ha!? Didn’t you just say so…!?”

Shouta, not understanding what Shuuto meant, still pokes at

Shuuto.

“What I said was that if it seems like he’s going to be taken out, then
the regular catcher is going to be someone else.”
“Like I said, that’s―!”

“Shouta, calm down. If I’m the regular catcher’s keeper, that means
it doesn’t look like I’m missing out, does it?”

Since we weren’t getting anywhere, I interrupted the two of them

with my body between them.

If the coach sees us fighting, all three of us will get an increased

amount of time on the special program.

After all, he’s the kind of guy who punishes others with a smile…

“See, that’s what I meant?” [TLN: Honestly I got lost with all the
baseball shenanigans, I tried TL-ing this with how much I can
understand from text alone.]

In response to what I said, Shuuto tilts his head curiously.

He seems to be saying, “What an obvious thing to say.”

“Oh, I see…”
 Shouta also seems to understand and nods his head as if his anger
has subsided.

Personally, I want the two of them to get along, but I think they’re
too incompatible as people.

“Can’t you say it more clearly…?”

Shouta looks at Shuuto, frustrated.

“Maybe you’re just an idiot?”

And Shouta returns the retort with a look of disapproval.

“Wait, wait, wait! Why are you guys trying to fight again right away?”

If they start fighting again after I’ve stopped them, then it’s
pointless.

Why did I even stop them in the first place if this was going to
happen anyway?
“This guy is the ace. If it wasn’t for Kento, the team would collapse.”

“If we don’t make it to Koshien with this guy as ace, it’s your fault,
right?”

“Huuuuh!? You―!”

“Ah~, I know, I know, I know! If we don’t get along, we’ll get scolded
by the coach!”

I forcibly separate the two of them.

If this continues, the coach will definitely come to them.

If that happens, it will be a collective responsibility of all.

“Let’s get back to the subject for now, but don’t worry Shuuto. I’m
also a baseball fanatic. There’s no way I’m going to ignore that.”

I reply to Shuuto’s concern.

Once the conversation is over, he will leave.

“Hmm, if you say. But If you crumble, we won’t be able to win
anything.”

After saying that, Shuuto went ahead of us.

He’s really not a bad guy, but…

“As usual, I don’t understand what kind of a man he is… Baseball

isn’t something you play alone…”

“… No, I guess it’s because he knows that…”

I mutter to myself so that Shouta can’t hear me.

In baseball, a single strong player is not enough to win the game.

The teammates’ strength is essential, just as a pitcher who keeps

getting outs will never win without a hitter who can score runs.

That is why he demands the same level of commitment and

strictness from those around him.
 With the third-year players out of the team, Shuuto is probably the
one who feels the most regret over the summer defeat.

“Well, a guy who plays pitching should be confident like that. He’s
more secure in the game that way. Above all, his ability is real.”

It’s not quite right to say that if we didn’t make it to the Koshien
because of Shuuto― it actually means it would be our fault.

At least as far as I know, Shuuto is the best pitcher in the

prefecture.

“As always, Kento continues to be kind and tolerant.”

“It’s not like that. I just have admiration for people who are
hardworking and determined.”

―Yeah, he’s a lot better than those who make fun of people who
don’t work hard and are trying their best…

“Kento?”
 For a moment, something dark comes up in my mind, and Shouta
looks at me curiously.

I smile back at him.

“No, it’s nothing. I’m sorry, I left something in the clubroom, can you
go ahead?”

“Really, that’s unusual. I’ll go ahead then.”

The honest Shouta went ahead of me with a smile.

He is a good guy as always.

I took a deep breath as I watched Shouta’s back as he walked

away―.

“You still seem to be having a hard time as usual.”

―At the same time, a voice called out to me from behind again.
 When I looked, I saw a beautiful girl with long, beautiful black hair
blowing in the wind, looking up at me with a smile.

“Sup, Kujouin-san!”

I bow my head and greet her.

Her name is Kujouin Nadeshiko-san and she’s one of my seniors.

She’s the manager of the baseball team, but she’s also a celebrity
at school because she’s the second most beautiful girl after Frost-
san.

However, when it comes to popularity, she is the most popular,

surpassing Frost-san.

She is, after all, too good-natured.

 Rumour has it that she receives confessions once or twice a
month.

“Mhm, hello, Kento-kun, you’re always great at babysitting the two

of them.”

Babysitting… well, depending on how you look at it, it does feel

like it’s babysitting, doesn’t it?

“We’re teammates, so it’s only natural.”

“Fufu, it’s not natural, you know? At least, I don’t think there is
anyone in our club who can take care of those two as well as Kento-
kun.”

Those two, I’m guessing it’s mainly Shuuto.

He’s a very competitive guy, and even if he’s playing against a

senpai, he’ll talk back to them without a second thought.
 As for Shouta, he can be dangerous and often makes mistakes
when you take your eyes off him, but basically he’s a good guy who
gets on well with others.

Well, there are some seniors who are a little bit surprised when he
does something wrong.

“If you say that, the captain and vice-captain will cry, you know?”

“Don’t worry, I know Kento-kun would never tell them anything, and
I didn’t say anything bad about them.”

I was given a precautionary warning first.

Of course, I’m not going to go out of my way to tell them, and it

won’t help even if I do.

“Are you aiming for something by trying to incite them?”

“Do I look like the type of person who would pull a stunt like that?”

Kujouin-san tilts her head with a strange, skeptical look on her

face.
 Being stared at by those pure and innocent eyes, I began to feel
bad.

“You’re not someone who would scheme anything evil, but you must
have something you want to ask me, don’t you?”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered to talk to me before the

club activities started.

She would have been busy.

“Kento-kun you’re too perceptive, did you know that?”

It seems my prediction was right, and she smiles in annoyance.

“Of course, you weren’t trying to incite me to take care of them.

Afteer all, you kinda said that it’s all in my head, you know? But then
that would make me talk to you, won’t it?”

I’m an underclassman, so she should just talk to me normally…

Could it be that my presence makes it hard for her to do so?

“So what did you want to ask me?”

The warmups are about to start, so I ask what she wanted to talk
about.

“I heard that Kento-kun and that Frost-san are now siblings?”

Somehow, I thought this might be the case due to her timing… but
it seems that she is still concerned about Frost-san.

She is an elegant woman with a clean, neat and graceful

atmosphere, but she is also a high school girl.

She seems to be interested in these rumours.

“You seem to get caught up in the news quickly, don’t you?”

“It’s the talk of everybody in the school.”

I guess I should assume that the whole school is talking about it.
 Frost-san might complain about it when I get home.

‘It’s not like there’s anything special about us becoming a family,

though.”

I stuck around in front of the room for a long time and barely
managed to have a conversation with her, and there hasn’t been any
progress since then.

It seems that she’s busy with cram school and I’m busy with
baseball― but it’s not like we don’t have time for each other.

We spend time together at home, but she stays in her room except
for meals and baths.

I wonder if she’s really avoiding me.

“Even if there’s nothing going on, I think the change in environment

can be stressful. Especially when you suddenly have a member of
the opposite sex of your age in your family.”

“Hmm? Are you talking about Frost-san?”

 By saying something about getting stressed out, I thought she was
talking about Frost-san being prone to stress.

“I’m referring to you, Kento-kun.”

However, she smiled back at me, as if she had no choice.

I’m being stressed out?

…There are too many factors that come to mind…

“Isn’t it still stressful when you have to take care not to get into
trouble, or when you lose the space you used to be able to relax in?”

“Well, it can be a pain in the @ss, I suppose.”

It seems like she’s going to listen to me complain, so I answer

what I’m thinking without hesitation.

“That’s right. And, moreover, you’re dealing with that Frost-san… If

something happens, don’t hesitate to talk to me about it, okay? Just
having someone to talk to would make a difference, and I might be
able to help you in some way.”
 I knew it, Kujouin-san is way too nice of a person.

Even though we are teammates, we are still strangers, so it would

have been fine to leave us alone… but this is her way of looking out
for me.

“Even though you’re a team manager, it’s hard for you to care about
the mental health of your teammates, isn’t it?”

Our club is a strong school, so it’s a tense place.

Practice is so hard that many drop out soon after joining the club,
and there is extreme competition for regulars.

There is jealousy when younger members get regular places, and

pressure from upperclassmen who are just told that they have been
given priority.

Although it varies from person to person, there are probably not a

few club members who are suffering mentally.
“Of course, I don’t have the conceited idea that I can take care of the
mental health of everyone in the club, you know? In fact I don’t even
think I can do it. I don’t have any expertise in that kind of thing. But
at least I think I can be there for them if they need it.”

That’s probably why I’m trying to listen to her.

“Well, it might be different if you have one person on your side.”

At least you don’t have to feel sorry for yourself alone.

It is not unusual to find a way forward by just talking to someone,

and in that sense, people like Kujouin-san are appreciated.

“Yeah, yeah. I can’t do it like Kento-kun, and as long as Kento-kun is

around, I know the other members of the club will be fine. But you
know―”

Kujouin-san, who had been speaking in a light-hearted manner as

if she were laughing, stops her words there.

Then she looked me in the eye with serious eyes, while her lips
were smiling.
“I’m just wondering, when Kento-kun is distressed, who is there to
listen to you? This is just my guess, but you don’t have anyone right
now, do you? Then I thought maybe I’d like to be in that position.”

For a moment there, my heart skipped a beat.

It’s not something nice, like a flutter, but more of an impatient

feeling.

I thought she was giving me a little insight into her mind.

In terms of getting some advice from, there are people I can rely
on, such as the captain and vice-captain.

But there’s nothing I feel like I can open up to them at the

moment.

The coach is another one, but I couldn’t bear to discuss personal

matters with him during the tournament.

She might have seen through all that.

“In the first place, you have never given others any sort of emotional
support, have you?”

I was unsure of what to do, and decided to cover it up by shifting

the subject.

“Fufu, it’s not good to underestimate the manager, you know? I keep
an eye on the club members, especially during practice, even during
breaks, as well as how they behave at school, okay?”

Kujouin-san says confidently.

Was that the reason why I often felt her eyes on me?

I have a feeling she’s not doing that as a manager, though.

“Naturally, I also know that Kento-kun encourages and listens to the

club members who seem to be struggling behind the scenes.”

Why did she suddenly change to honorifics?

I swallowed my tsukkomi.
 It probably doesn’t mean much.

“It’s not that big of a deal, you know? It’s simply that if you can do
something about it― that’s all that matters. There are also club
members who quit without doing anything about it, so it’s not as big
a deal as you might think, Kujouin-san.”

The catcher, is a key part of the defensive line and gives

instructions to his teammates during games.

Without establishing a relationship of trust at such times, it can

lead to losses, and I don’t want them to play defensive with negative
feelings, so I just talk to them when I notice them.

Besides, it’s reassuring to have a good player in the team.

I didn’t want them to quit as much as possible, because sometimes

a player who hasn’t had a chance to make a name for himself
suddenly blossoms and grows.

“Well, I don’t care what you think. More importantly, we’ve gone off
topic. In any case, I just want Kento-kun to talk to me when you’re in
any kind of trouble, so don’t hesitate to come and tell me, okay?”
 She said this and moved away with a smile on her face.

She probably went to prepare drinks and onigiri (rice balls) for the
club members to eat between practices.

Although it is annoying to be overvalued, perhaps it would indeed

be gratifying to be able to ask for advice about Frost-san.

She is in the same position as Frost-san at school, so she might

understand the discomfort she is having and can give me an opinion
from a girl’s point of view.

If anything bad happens revolving around Frost-san, it might be

good idea to ask for her advice.

“Now then, it’s time for me to go as well―”

“Ke~n~to~?”

Suddenly, with a jerk, someone grabbed me by the shoulders.

One after another, what is happening today…

 When I looked, it was the captain of our club, with an angry sign
on his forehead and a drawn smile on his face.

“Ca-captain…?”

“You’re cohabiting with Frost-san, and you’re keeping our club idol
Kujouin-san to yourself, how is it that you’re the number four?”

Why is he angry towards me…

I didn’t do anything wrong.

“I’m not cohabiting with Frost-san, and Kujouin-san was just trying
to help me with my problems―”

“Shut up, I’m too jealous of you for a long time now…! As
punishment, go round the ground a hundred times!”

“That’s unreasonable of you!?”

Thus, I was made to run around the ground as a punishment―

naturally, when the coach came, he asked me why, and the captain
who had done something selfish was angered.
 The coach said, “A man who is pampered by a beautiful girl is the
enemy of men”, so for some reason my personal training menu had
been doubled.

He’s a strict coach, but he also likes to have fun and enjoy himself,
so it seems that he got a bad joke out of me.

Sometimes he does these unreasonable things half-jokingly… and

honestly, I’m used to it.

…But still, d@mn it.

***

It was around 10:30PM on the day the school was in an uproar.

I was currently in my room, playing with my phone, waiting for the

bathroom to be empty.

This was because Frost-san had gone in first again.

 While I was waiting, I had some free time, so I was looking at
foreign baseball articles.

“Why is it only images here…? I can’t translate it…!”

I’m not good at English, so even though I was relying on a

translation tool to read the article, I was having trouble reading the
part where the player said that, thanks to the fact that it was made
into an image.

It’s a pain in the ass to type it in manually… I wish someone would

translate it for me.

“―Hey, can I have a word with you?”

A sudden knock on the door and a gruff voice can be heard.

It seems that she came, after all.

“What’s the matter…?”

I slowly open the door, feeling fearful.

“What’s the matter you ask― Wait, what’s wrong with you? You’re
acting weird for some reason…?”

Frost-san, who clearly had an angry expression on her face, sees

my awkward movements out in the corridor and calls out to me
worriedly.

I guess she’s not a bad person after all…

“It’s no big deal. It’s just that today’s practice was tough.”

I had to do twice as much as I normally do, so of course my

muscles ached.

“Hee~, so you’re doing your best huh.”

Frost-san looks at me like that and mutters something in a

whisper.

She was smiling, but was she perhaps pleased to see my body
being torn to shreds?

She’s too much of an S… [TLN: Smile~ Sweet~ Sister~ S_?]

“Don’t you have something more important to say than that?”

To be honest, I want to finish quickly and sit down because it’s too
hard to stand.

So I tried to hurry her up.

“Oh, yes, that reminds me! What are you telling people about your
relationship with me!?”

And I wished I hadn’t done anything unnecessary.

I should have just let her forget about it like that…

“In what way do you ask…? We’re a normal family or we’re just
siblings?”

That’s how I’m explaining it to others, which is confirmed by her

in advance.

I don’t think this is something she should be complaining about

now, right…?
“Then why are they saying that I’m dating you or flirting with you
every day or― I’m apparently spoiling you!”

“Huuuuuuuuuuuh!?”

Her face was flushed red and she said bitterly, I unintentionally
raised my voice.

“W-What do you mean!?”

“It’s one thing after another, there are rumours about it in my class
and so on! I heard that someone from the sports course had said
so!”

When I was told that it was someone from the sports course, for a
moment, the face of Shouta crossed my mind.

Could it be that guy misunderstood and told others?

No, I’m sure he wouldn’t do something like that.

 Maybe the people around him made up stories for fun, and the
other students who heard them believed them.

“I wouldn’t lie like that, you know…? There’s no benefit for me.”

“I wonder about that? It’s possible that you wanted to go out with
me, and make it look like I’m trying to repel others getting close to
me!”

Frost-san folds his arms and looks at me like I’m an idiot with a
reddened face.

I’m tempted to ask her where she gets her confidence from― but
it’s probably because she’s the most beautiful girl in the school and
people around her are pampering her.

Maybe some guys have tried to get close to her in the past using
such tactics.

“If that was the case, would Frost-san go out with me so that other
guys would stop approaching you?”
 Assumptions are tricky, so I thought about how I could clear up
her misunderstanding and decided to convince her by interrogating
her.

“That’s not possible.”

“Right? Even you should be able to understand that. So there’s no

need for me to go out of my way to try and repel others from you.”

“…………”

Hearing my words, Frost-san looks at me disapprovingly and

thinks.

With this, I really hope she understands now…

“But people are making fun of it and gossiping about it… That’s
what I hate so much…”

In the meantime, she seemed to understand that it wasn’t my fault

and shared her frustrations with me.
 She’s a girl who’s been talked about a lot and I can understand
why she doesn’t like being gossiped about in this way.

Even I’m having trouble with it.

“Well, you have to let the rumours go. I’ve had my share of envy and
jealousy.”

“Ara, so you do have some pride in yourself.” [TLN: She did say ara
here.]

“…………”

Strange, I thought she was talking about the hardships we both

had to go through, but she responded confidently.

No, sure, for some people, maybe that’s what makes them feel
better about themselves…

“You’re right, the mere change of your surname is enough to cause a

commotion at school.”
 I was a bit displeased with the situation, so I returned the words
with a little sting to it.

However―.

‘It’s because the other party was you, isn’t it?’

She narrowed her eyes in disapproval.

“Eh…?”

I couldn’t understand her and I tilted my head back.

“How can you be a catcher if you’re so perceptive?’

I was ridiculed for it.

That’s strange, why is she making fun of me?

Moreover―.

“How did you know I was a catcher?”

 I’m pretty sure I’ve never told her.

So how did she narrow it down to me being the catcher?

“Ah―!”

Frost-san gasped as I pointed this out.

Then she immediately began to panic.

『I just happened to hear people talking about it…!』

She is speaking in English, so she is obviously agitated as

expected.

Did something go wrong…?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, why are you panicking…?”

I had no idea at all, so I asked her.

『It’s not that I’m interested in you or that I knew you from watching
you at all, don’t get me wrong…!』 [TLN: I still have no idea how
they arrived to the conclusion she’s a Kuudere in the synopsis when
clearly she’s acting like a tsundere here.]

Yeah, I have no idea what she’s saying at all.

She was talking fast as if she was trying to make it sound like a
circus, and I couldn’t understand her at all because I’m not good at
English.

“If you don’t calm down, Jessica-san will get angry with you again,
you know?”

She was talking too loudly, and if I didn’t, Jessica-san would come
up.

As I thought, she was afraid of her, Frost-san huffed and became

quiet.

Then, she stared at me with a red and embarrassed look on her

face.
“It wasn’t my fault…”

It’s not like I did anything, she was just freaking out on her own.

I hadn’t done anything I needed to apologize for, so I didn’t know

what to do, and I looked down at the phone I was holding.

And then―.

“Isn’t that…?”

Somehow, Frost-san caught my gaze and looked at the screen of

the phone, and tilted her head with a skeptical expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“English, you can understand it, after all?”

Apparently, she saw the English on my phone and misunderstood.

“No, I don’t understand, okay? The website translates it for me, so I
can just read it.”

“But isn’t that in English?”

She pointed at my phone with a questioning look on her face.

“This is an image, so I can’t translate it… That’s why I’m having

trouble reading it.”

If I could read it, I wouldn’t be in such a bewilderment.

“Hmmm~…”

Frost-san stares intently at the smartphone screen again.

Oh, what could this mean?

“‘People say that I’m amazingly great, and if you only look at the
results, my record might be great. But the defence is not something I
do alone as a pitcher. Many times I have been saved by the excellent
plays of my teammates, and because of that, I was able to be the
winning pitcher. Moreover, ‘When you are overconfident that you
have everything to do with the result, you’re finished in team
sports’.”

She went to the trouble of translating it for me.

She didn’t translate everything from English into Japanese, but

used English in places to make it easier for me to understand.

Frost-san is a natural at English.

Should I have asked her to translate it from the beginning?

“As expected…”

『―Ah. You can’t even read this stuff because all you do is play!』

When I praised her, Frost-san turned her face away with a pout.

I don’t know what she said, but I think she was probably
complaining because of her facial expression and the roughness of
her voice.
 The slight redness of her cheeks is probably due to the fact that
she was dragging out the temper tantrum she had just had.

If only this loathesome aspect of her would go away, life with her
wouldn’t be so bad…
 Chapter 3: Life With Just the Two of Us

“Alright then, Kento, Sophia-chan, the two of us are heading out.”

(Kento’s father)

Two weeks had passed since the start of school. It was a Thursday.

Father and Jessica-san were about to leave for their honeymoon.

“Both of you, get along, okay? If anything happens, don’t hesitate to

call us right away.” (Jessica)

Jessica-san was probably worried about leaving just me and Frost-

san behind.

Considering she’d seen us arguing before, it couldn’t be helped…

“Don’t worry. Frost-san and I will get along just fine.” (Kento)

“That’s right~ we’re good friends.” (Sophia)

It was their long-awaited honeymoon.

After all they’ve done for us, I wanted to ensure they could enjoy it
to the fullest.

That’s why I was pretending that we were getting along.

Of course, deep down, I was extremely anxious about our

relationship.

“Recently, the two of you have been eating together and talking
more, right~?” (Jessica)

Ever since hearing about their honeymoon plans, I’d been acting like
that in front of them, and it seemed Jessica-san had come to believe
it.

The two of them left the house with relieved smiles.

And with that—

“Just because they’re not here doesn’t mean you can try anything
weird, okay?” (Sophia)

She shot me a very cold glare.

Her true colors came out quickly.

“I’m not reckless enough to risk that.” (Kento)

Even if we were alone with no one watching us, doing something

weird would lead to her socially erasing me from society.

If I so much as peeked at her in the bath, touched her underwear, or,

god forbid, tried to push her down, she would undoubtedly hand me
over to the police without hesitation.

Unlike Shouta, who acts without thinking of consequences, I can’t

bring myself to do something so reckless.

“Who knows? Men are beasts, aren’t they? If no one’s watching, they
might suddenly attack.” (Sophia)

Frost-san hugged her body tightly and shot me a sharp glare.

Did she really think I would actually try something like that?

“With the way you’re saying it, it almost sounds like you’re hoping
for that kind of thing.” (Kento)

I got a bit irritated and decided to retaliate.

“H-Haa!?” (Sophia)

Whether it was because she hadn’t expected me to talk back or

because I hit the mark, Frost-san turned bright red and let out a
high-pitched noise.

I had expected her to respond with the usual cold glare, so I was
taken aback by her reaction.

It’s moments like these that throw me off balance.

“If you’re going to go so far as to say it, doesn’t that mean you’re
expecting it?” (Kento)
Usually, I would back down in situations like this, but today, I
decided to try giving a bit of a retort.

She was clearly flustered, so I thought I might have a chance of

winning this round.

“A-Are you stupid!? A-Are you still half-asleep or

something?!” (Sophia)

—I thought, but then she fired back in English, and I had no hope of
winning.

I didn’t even understand what she was saying, so there was no way
to continue arguing with her.

This is so unfair…

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry. But we’d better have breakfast or we’ll be
late.” (Kento)

Unlike Father and Jessica-san, who were off on vacation, we still had
school.
Especially for me, since I had morning practice, I couldn’t afford to
take my time and risk being late.

“You’re leaving it at that?!” (Sophia)

“I told you, I don’t understand English.” (Kento)

“Ah… sorry…” (Sophia)

As Frost-san approached, I teased her with a troubled smile, and she

apologized with a downcast expression.

This was a routine exchange we had done countless times, so by

now, even she probably felt a bit embarrassed.

“So, is speaking in English just a habit for you?” (Kento)

“Yeah, well… when I was little, it was all English, and even after I
started speaking Japanese, we used English at home, so it just slips
out…” (Sophia)

She probably made a conscious effort to speak Japanese most of the

time.
Given that, it was understandable that it would slip out without
thinking.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful…” (Sophia)

It’s surprising that she can apologize so honestly like this…

“It’s fine, no big deal.” (Kento)

“Eh…?” (Sophia)

Frost-san looked at me, surprised.

“Sure, it’s a problem if the other person can’t understand, but on the
flip side, it also means things won’t escalate into a fight, right? The
argument stops there, so it’s a pretty good stop-gap.” (Kento)

For me, it’s frustrating not knowing what’s she saying, and I really
wish she’d speak in Japanese, but if I think about it in another way, it
feels like her speaking in English actually helps release the tension.
At least, when Frost-san starts talking in English, I can tell she’s
probably angry, but I never feel any negative emotions from it since I
don’t understand what’s she saying.

However—

“What’s that… I don’t get it…” (Sophia)

Frost-san placed the back of her right hand against her mouth,
turning her face away from me.

I wasn’t sure if she was being careful this time or if it was because
she wasn’t flustered, but since she muttered in Japanese, I
understood what she was saying.

Whatever it was, it seemed like I didn’t quite agree with my opinion.

That aside—

“…Why are you blushing again…?” (Kento)

Her blush had faded earlier, but it was back again, so I couldn’t help
but ask.
After all, given the flow of the conversation, it didn’t make sense for
her to be blushing.

“I’m not blushing…! What kind of eyes do you have!?”

(Sophia)

But it seemed like I had stepped on a landmine, as she glared at me

sharply.

She had switched back to English, and it was clear she was very
flustered.

“Sorry. Anyways, let’s eat breakfast.” (Kento)

She was fine, but with morning practice waiting for me, I really didn’t
have much time.

I had wanted to talk about what to do with dinner as well, but at this
rate, it would just make things worse.

I decided to leave the dinner talk for later in the evening, quickly eat,
and head out.
With that in mind, I ate my breakfast, but—

“……” (Sophia)

I found myself being stared at intensely by Frost-san, sitting right

across from me.

She was definitely holding a grudge or something…

“—Hey, Kento, aren’t you heading home yet?” (Teammate)

After club activities, I was walking towards a different part of the

station, away from the ticket gate, when one of my teammates called
out to me.

“Ah, I’ve got a little errand to run.” (Kento)

I needed to go pick up Frost-san.

She attends a cram school about a fifteen-minute walk from this
station, but her classes end late, so normally, Jessica-san picks her
up by car.

However, since Jessica-san was away on her trip today and the
streets would be dangerous at night, she asked me to pick Frost-san
up, since it seemed like we had been getting along recently.

That said, it was already past 8:30 PM.

Her cram school finishes at 9:00 PM on weekdays, so I’d have to wait

for a bit.

“…I can smell a woman’s scent.” (Teammate)

“That’s not the case. Look, the train’s coming.” (Kento)

I brushed off my perceptive teammate and headed toward Frost-

san’s cram school.

As I waited there—

“You’re really here…” (Sophia)

Frost-san came out of cram school, giving me a look that was clearly
filled with disdain.

“Isn’t that expression a bit harsh?” (Kento)

I went out of my way to pick her up, and she looked at me like that…

“Well, because…” (Sophia)

Frost-san turned her gaze toward the other students from the cram
school.

I quickly understood what she meant.

“Wait, is that guy Frost-san’s boyfriend?!” (Student)

“Frost-san has a boyfriend…!” (Student)

“She gives off such an unapproachable vibe, how did he even

manage to win her over!?” (Student)
It seemed like Frost-san was getting attention not only at our school
but also at cram school.

Since a guy had come to pick her up, it looked like everyone had
assumed we were a couple.

“My head hurts…” (Sophia)

“Yeah, this… sorry about that.” (Kento)

I had thought it would be better to wait near the cram school, but in
hindsight, I should’ve met her at a more distant spot to avoid
causing any misunderstandings.

“Sorry if your friends misunderstood you…” (Kento)

“I don’t have any friends, so it doesn’t matter…” (Sophia)

“……” (Kento)

Despite the commotion, no one seemed to want to talk to her, so I

got the sense that she didn’t quite fit in at the cram school either.
I wondered if she was okay with it.

“Anyway, what should we do for dinner? Should we eat out?” (Kento)

I asked, partly to change the subject.

“Eat out…” (Sophia)

However, Frost-san’s reaction was a bit hesitant.

I couldn’t tell if she liked the idea or if she didn’t want to.

“What’s wrong?” (Kento)

“I… haven’t really eaten out much…” (Sophia)

Ahhh, I see now.

Since she had almost no experience doing so, she probably didn’t
even know if it would be a good idea or not.
“Well, let’s try eating out then. Anyway, there’s no one here who can
cook.” (Kento)

Until now, Jessica-san had been handling the housework.

I had club activities, and Frost-san had her studies, so she had been
taking care of everything else for us.

Even though Jessica-san must have had a hard time with work,
we’ve been relying on her.

Because of that, we never had the chance to do any housework

ourselves, and I thought neither of us could cook but…

“Hmph, I can cook.” (Sophia)

Frost-san looked at me with a pouty expression.

“Wait, you can cook!?” (Kento)

“Before our parents remarried, I used to make breakfast and help

cook on days when there was no cram school. Did you think I
couldn’t cook? Are you making fun of me?” (Sophia)
It seemed like she thought I was mocking her, as she shot me a cold
look.

I’d never seen her cook before, but if she had been helping Jessica-
san with cooking, then she was probably good at it.

It made sense that she hadn’t helped out since the remarriage;
maybe she wanted to give my dad and Jessica-san some time alone
together.

“Then… will you cook for us?” (Kento)

“…I’ll make breakfast tomorrow. Let’s eat out tonight.” (Sophia)

She’s making breakfast tomorrow…!?

Before she came into my life, I never had the chance to eat a girl’s
home-cooked meal, except for cooking practice in class.

The onigiris served by the baseball team don’t count.

So, this opportunity—having a girl cook for me—was something I
really wanted to cherish.

And to think that it was Frost-san, of all people, who would be

cooking for me—it was truly special.

“Well then, I’ll look forward to tomorrow morning. What do you feel
like eating tonight?” (Kento)

“Even if you ask me, I’m not sure…” (Sophia)

It seemed like she really hadn’t had many opportunities to eat out.

Jessica-san always cooked at home, and it didn’t seem like she had
any friends to go out with, so it was understandable.

“Then, how about we go to a family restaurant?” (Kento)

A family restaurant offers a variety of dishes, so even someone who’s

a beginner at eating out like her should be able to find something
she wants.

“Mm…” (Sophia)
It seemed like she was convinced, as she nodded slightly.

For once, she seemed unusually docile.

Was she nervous because she wasn’t used to this?

As I made my way to the family restaurant, I noticed something odd.

“……” (Sophia)

At the entrance, Frost-san unexpectedly pinched the sleeve of my

shirt from behind with her fingers.

“W-What’s wrong?” (Kento)

Her unusual behavior caught me off guard, and I felt a bit flustered.

“Eh—Ah…!” (Sophia)

It seemed like she hadn’t realized she was grabbing my sleeve, and
when she noticed, she quickly let go of her fingers.
Then, her face turned slightly red as she glared at me.

No, I didn’t do anything wrong…

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to eat you or anything.” (Kento)

She looked clearly nervous, so I tried to ease the tension with a

smile.

“It’s nothing, really…” (Sophia)

Frost-san said that, but it was clear she was trying to act tough.

It wasn’t exactly tsundere, but I still found it kind of cute.

We were led to a table once we entered.

“……” (Sophia)

Frost-san was looking at the menu quite seriously.

Seeing her like this felt refreshing.

I decided on what I was going to order and waited for her to choose.

It’s probably better to wait for her to decide what she wants before I
call the waiter.

Otherwise, it might feel like I’m pressuring her.

As I waited—

“Hey.” (Sophia)

She called out to me.

“Have you decided?” (Kento)

“It’s not that… What are you going to order?” (Sophia)

It seemed like she was curious about what I was going to get.

“I’ll go with this, the Cheese Chicken Italian Steak.” (Kento)

I pointed to the chicken steak on the menu, piled with lots of cheese.

“Is it good?” (Sophia)

“Well, I like it, at least.” (Kento)

That’s why I’m ordering it.

“Hmm…” (Sophia)

Frost-san looked at the menu again, deep in thought.

Then…

“Alright, I’ll have that too.” (Sophia)

She decided to order the same thing as me.

“Are you sure?” (Kento)

“I don’t really know which one to pick, and I keep getting confused,
so if I just go with what you’re having, it can’t go wrong, right?”
(Sophia)

Indeed, if she didn’t know what to choose, it makes sense to go with

someone who does.

For someone like her, who usually trusts only herself and does her
own thing, it was an unexpected choice.

“……” (Sophia)

However, she seemed to be reconsidering, staring at the menu again.

“Do you want something else?” (Kento)

“It’s not that… it’s just… this.” (Sophia)

The next thing she pointed to was a pancake dish, topped with
chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

It also had vanilla ice cream on the side. Needless to say, it looked
very delicious.
“Why not just order it as a dessert?” (Kento)

If she’s bringing it up, it probably means she wants it.

“But… it’s kind of expensive…” (Sophia)

It costs about 500 yen including tax, so it’s a bit pricey for a dessert.

Still, I think it’s fine for a change.

“It should be fine every now and then, right? I have money.” (Kento)

Jessica and the others left enough for food expenses.

At this price, it’s no problem.

Still, something seemed to be bothering her, as Frost-san hesitated.

“You’re not used to eating out, right? It’s fine to treat yourself when
you’re here.” (Kento)
I couldn’t understand what she was hesitating over, but if she
wanted it, she should just go for it.

No one here would get upset over it, and there wouldn’t be any
problems.

“……But if I eat this… I’ll get fat…” (Sophia)

Frøst-san mumbled something quietly.

Her voice was so soft that I couldn’t catch what she said.

“Sorry, what did you say?” (Kento)

“………” (Sophia)

I was just asking, but for some reason, she turned red and glared at
me.

Did I step on some kind of landmine…?

“Uh…?” (Kento)
“Come closer.” (Sophia)

She gestured for me to come closer, clearly not wanting others to

hear.

As I leaned in, she whispered.

“If I eat this, I’ll get fat…” (Sophia)

She quietly shared her concern.

Her breath brushed against my ear, and I had to fight the urge to
react to the tickling sensation.

“Didn’t expect you to worry about that…” (Kento)

“Is that a problem? I’m still a girl, you know?” (Sophia)

It seemed she didn’t like my response, as she glared at me sharply.

I didn’t mean to provoke her, but…

“No, it’s just that, I think you’re very slim, Frost-san. You don’t really
need to worry about that.” (Kento)

Compared to others her age, she had a notably slender figure. At the
very least, she didn’t need to be concerned about weight at her
level.

“――!? I-I’m not good with compliments like that…!” (Sophia)

It seems that mentioning her figure made Frost-san flustered again.

She was surprisingly sensitive about it…

If I’d met her now, I probably wouldn’t have believed the rumors
about her being the ‘Solitary Flower’ at school.

She’s so easily flustered and full of openings.

“Anyways, like I said, I think it’s fine every once in a while.” (Kento)

Since I had already decided to ignore whatever she said in English, I

repeated my point.
However, it seemed that she didn’t like being ignored, as Frost-san,
with her face flushed red, stared at me with a sharp gaze.

Handling girls is tough…

“Alright, I’m ordering now.” (Kento)

Not wanting to be scolded for dragging this out, I pressed the call
button.

Then, I ordered two Cheese Chicken Italian Steak rice sets and the
pancake with chocolate sauce.

“You ordered without asking me…” (Sophia)

Frost-san, who hadn’t decided what to eat yet, gave me a look of

dissatisfaction.

“Come on, it’ll be fine.” (Kento)

If she didn’t want to eat, I’d just finish it myself.

Well, she would probably eat it anyway.

“—Here’s your order.” (Waiter)

First, the Cheese Chicken Italian Steak with rice was served.

“You have to cut it yourself…” (Sophia)

“Just cut it into a size that’s easy to eat. Do you know how to cut it?”
(Kento)

“…Are you making fun of me?” (Sophia)

I asked out of kindness, but I got a glare in return.

I guess she does know how to cut a chicken steak.

She must have eaten it at home before.

“I’m just being considerate, so don’t get mad.” (Kento)

“I’m not mad or anything…” (Sophia)

She said that while starting to cut into the chicken steak with a knife.

“It’s so tender…” (Sophia)

She seemed surprised that the knife cut through so easily.

“The flavor’s good too.” (Kento)

When I said that, Frost-san blew on the steak to cool it down and
then took a bite.

“It’s really delicious…” (Sophia)

After chewing, she looked very surprised.

I wonder what she had been expecting.

“Jessica-san’s homemade cooking is great too, but eating out isn’t so

bad, right?” (Kento)
She seemed to be enjoying her meal, so I couldn’t help but
comment, acting like I understood her reaction.

Then, she gave me the usual glare again.

“You don’t really eat out much either, do you?” (Sophia)

Since we live together, our eating habits are pretty similar.

Of course, she’s well aware that I don’t eat out often.

Before Dad remarried, I didn’t eat out much either, so it was pretty
accurate.

“Well, I do go out to eat during field trips or training camps with the
baseball team…” (Kento)

I made sure not to mention eating out “with friends”, just in case.

She might be envious, even if she doesn’t show it on her face.

“I don’t think it’s good to be flexing about that…” (Sophia)

“No, that’s not what I meant…” (Kento)

Why do I have to be the one on the defensive?

I thought I had been considerate…

After that, as we ate, her mood improved, and I breathed a sigh of

relief.

It was clear that she really enjoyed it.

Then, when the pancake dessert arrived—

“………” (Sophia)

Frost tried to hold back her excitement, but she couldn’t hide her
restlessness. She seemed unable to wait any longer.

After all, she’s a girl, so she probably loves sweets.

I quietly watched as she took her first bite.

Frost-san cut the pancake into bite-sized pieces and then, with some
whipped cream on top, brought it to her mouth.

“D-Delicious…!” (Sophia)

“――” (Kento)

The moment she took a bite, her face lit up with a bright, joyful
expression, and I couldn’t help but hold my breath in awe.

The smile she has right now, contrasted with her usual cold
expression, had an incredible destructive power.

I couldn’t help but think that… she’s so cute.

“Why are you staring at me… Do you want it?” (Sophia)

As I was captivated by her smile, she looked at me suspiciously.

“No, it’s not like that…” (Kento)

“…Here.” (Sophia)

“Huh?” (Kento)

For some reason, she stabbed her fork into the pancake she had
been eating and offered it to me.

She had even thoughtfully added some whipped cream and ice
cream to it.

“I’ll let you have one bite.” (Sophia)

A bite…? Wait, isn’t this like… an indirect kiss…?

Though I thought about it, I could easily imagine that if I pointed it

out, Frøst-san would get flustered.

Since I definitely didn’t want to cause a scene in the restaurant, I

decided not to say anything unnecessary and just accepted her kind
gesture by taking a bite.

As a result—

“Wow, they’re so lovey-dovey…” (Customer)

“To do the ‘ahh’ thing in public… That’s amazing…” (Customer)

Two girls, dressed in casual clothes, sitting at a table across from us,
were blushing as they stared at us through the glass.

They seemed about our age, but… I really hoped they weren’t from
the same school.

“~~~~!?” (Sophia)
It seemed like Frost-san finally realized what she had done, after
hearing their words.

She let out an indescribable sound and started to squirm.

“I-It’s not like that…! I didn’t do it on purpose, it’s just… I

wasn’t aware of it… I didn’t mean to—!” (Sophia)

Frost-san was desperately trying to explain in English, and I could

tell she was making excuses.

I couldn’t understand a word she was saying, but somehow, I got the
general vibe and flow—at least, I think I did.

“There’s no way, no way, no way… I can’t believe I just did

an indirect kiss with him…!” (Sophia)

In front of me, Frost-san’s face was bright red as she muttered to

herself, and I couldn’t help but feel terrified.

When we get home, there’s no way I’m going to be erased or

something, right…?
At that moment, I couldn’t help but be genuinely worried.

“Hey, you should eat your food quickly, or the ice cream is going to
melt!” (Kento)

I tried to redirect her attention to the pancakes, hoping it would help

lift her mood. I really didn’t know how else to handle it.

“Y-You’re right… Nothing happened between us. Nothing at

all…” (Sophia)

Frost-san started eating the pancakes again, so I guess she came to

terms with it.

But since she was still speaking in English, it was clear her nerves
weren’t entirely settled yet.

In fact, it seemed like she was trying to hide her unease by acting
nonchalantly as she ate.

…Though, honestly, she wasn’t hiding it very well.

“Forget about that indirect kiss, okay!? I didn’t mean anything by it!”
(Sophia)

Frost-san’s angry voice echoed through the otherwise silent train.

I had chosen an area with fewer people, thinking it would bother

fewer people, but maybe if there had been more people around, she
would have kept her voice down.

“I understand…” (Kento)

“Do you really get it!?” (Sophia)

She kept asking me with a still-flushed face.

It was a bit too much, honestly… but I could understand why she
was so worked up.

“No matter how many times you ask, I can only say ‘I understand,’
you know…?” (Kento)

I’m nodding properly, so what else does she want me to do?

“Haa… You shouldn’t have eaten it…” (Sophia)

“Wait, you’re the one who started it, right…?” (Kento)

I never asked her to feed me, nor did I say I wanted to eat it.

She misunderstood on her own and tried to feed me.

…Well, I guess it’s also partly my fault for going along with the
indirect kiss even after noticing it…

“You were the one who looked like you wanted to eat it…” (Sophia)

“That was… because Frost-san—” (Kento)

I was about to say something, but suddenly, I froze.

That was close.

What in the world was I about to blurt out…?

“What about me?” (Sophia)

Just when I thought I managed to stop myself in time, she was quick
to catch on.

She probably realized that I had stopped speaking because it was

something I didn’t want her to know.

“…It’s nothing.” (Kento)

“Hmm, is it something you need to hide? What exactly were you

going to say?” (Sophia)

Thinking she had the upper hand, Frost-san peered into my face
with a sly grin.

If I put it into words, it would be more embarrassing for her than for
me… but from the flow of the conversation, I hoped she’d realize it.

“Is it something you can’t say?” (Sophia)

As I kept quiet, she moved her face closer as if silently urging me to

speak.
She sure is a sadist, isn’t she?

“Your face… is too close…” (Kento)

“――!?” (Sophia)

As soon as I voiced my thoughts, her face turned bright red in an

instant.

I didn’t think she’d get this close, but it seems like she wasn’t even
aware of it.

“W-W-What kind of naughty thing are you thinking about?!”

(Sophia)

Yeah, as usual, I couldn’t fully understand what she was saying, but
judging from her expression, I was probably being scolded.

But, strangely enough, I didn’t feel angry.

Honestly, I think it’s not so bad that she ends up speaking English
when she gets flustered.
“Sorry.” (Kento)

“—?!” (Sophia)

I found it a bit amusing, so I couldn’t help but smile and apologize.

That made Frost-san gasp again and turn her face away with a huff.

For some reason, her cheeks were even redder than before.

“What’s with that smile… I didn’t really think you did

anything wrong, I just said it in the heat of the moment…
Sorry…” (Sophia)

She was muttering something, but of course, since it was in English,

I could barely make out what she was saying.

I did catch the apology at the end, though.

I could understand what “sorry” means at least.

The more I talk to Frost-san, the more her original image of being
cold and distant seems to crumble.

I really don’t think she’s a bad person, she’s just clumsy and
awkward.

At this rate, if the right opportunity came, I feel like we could get
along much better.

I thought of this while looking at Frost-san’s profile, as she still

wouldn’t look at me.

After getting off the train…

The roads in our rural area are either dimly lit by streetlights or
completely dark with no lights at all, so it’s not as bright as the city
streets.

By late night, everyone is usually home and asleep, leaving the

outside eerily quiet.
Because of this, some people might find the night roads scary, and—

“…………” (Sophia)

It seems that Frost-san is the type of person who feels that way.

As soon as we left the station, she quietly pinched the sleeve of my

jacket with her fingers.
—No, that’s unfair…!

I couldn’t help but shout this in my mind.

I honestly think it’s unfair for someone like her, a cool and beautiful
girl, to nervously pinch the sleeve of my clothes like that.

It’s just too much of a gap in her usual demeanor.

Honestly, it’s way too cute.

“—Hey.” (Sophia)

“Wh-what is it?” (Kento)

She suddenly spoke to me, and I jumped a little as I asked.

“Tell me something funny.” (Sophia)

And just like that, she threw an unexpected request at me.

“Why all of a sudden…?” (Kento)

“It’s not like there’s any deep meaning or anything…” (Sophia)

Could it be that she’s scared and trying to distract herself ?

If that’s the case, then I should tell her something interesting to

distract her—but there’s no way I can do that.

That’s not really my area of expertise.

“I can’t think of anything off the top of my head…” (Kento)

“You’re such a boring guy…” (Sophia)

“Ugh…!” (Kento)

Her quiet mutter stung, and I felt it.

If she was going to mutter, I’d prefer it to be in the usual English I

can’t understand.
Actually, since she usually mutters to herself in English, I think she
intentionally said it in a way I could understand.

“By the way, are club activities going well…?” (Sophia)

It seemed like she was so uncomfortable with the silence that she
decided to change the topic.

And instead of talking about herself, she brought up a topic related

to me—so I was honestly surprised.

“What do you mean by ‘going well’?” (Kento)

Since she opened up the conversation, I wanted to expand on it as

well. So, I asked her what exactly she meant by that.

“Um… like the tournaments?” (Sophia)

Right now, the regional qualifiers for the fall tournament were going
on, right after the summer break.

It wasn’t a tournament-style competition, but rather a league format.

If you ranked first in the league, you secured a spot in the prefectural
tournament, and if you came second, you’d play against the second-
ranked team from another league. If you won that match, you’d also
make it to the prefectural tournament.

By the way, our school’s last match is scheduled for the day after
tomorrow.

Well, she probably doesn’t even know that the tournament is

happening right now.

“Actually, we’re in the middle of the tournament right now.” (Kento)

“I know that much… That’s why I asked… Well, I already

know the results…” (Sophia)

Frost-san muttered something with an annoyed tone as if she was

complaining.

Did I say something that upset her…?

“Heh~ I see. I didn’t know because I wasn’t interested.” (Sophia)

She glanced at me again, and for some reason, she had a smug,
almost mocking smile on her face.

I didn’t understand what kind of change in her mood had just

happened, and it made me a little nervous.

Is she sick or something?

“If you’re not interested, I can stop talking about it…” (Kento)

“If you’ve already brought it up, then keep talking about it.” (Sophia)

When I tried to stop, she got annoyed again.

I don’t think I did anything that would make her upset…?

Anyone with even a little bit of interest might want to know the
current results after hearing that a tournament is happening, but
since she claims not to care…

However, with the way she was looking at me, silently urging me to
continue, I couldn’t just drop it.
“Well, for now, we’re undefeated, so at least second place in the
league is guaranteed. If we win the next one, we’ll definitely be first
and go to the prefectural tournament without any issues.” (Kento)

I kept the explanation short, thinking she wouldn’t want all the
details if she wasn’t interested.

“Hmm, so our school is good at baseball, huh? That’s impressive.”

(Sophia)

It seemed like she wasn’t really interested, as she didn’t ask about
what kind of tournament it was, or why it was a league format. In
fact, she didn’t even seem to know that our school was strong.

Our school often makes it to Koshien1, so even students who don’t

play baseball in elementary and junior high school usually know
about it, and we even get awards for it at school… but it seems she
just doesn’t care about baseball, or even about what’s going on
around her.

From what I’ve seen of her, it seems like she’s all about studying.

“By the way, we’re the runner-up in the summer prefectural

tournament, you know…” (Kento)
“Now that you mention it, I had forgotten about that… But—”
(Sophia)

She stopped mid-sentence, as if suddenly realizing something.

“Never mind, it’s nothing…” (Sophia)

Then, she turned her face away, looking embarrassed.

“No, stopping the conversation there makes it even more curious…”

(Kento)

What she was about to say was far more intriguing than what I had
just stopped talking about.

“I just thought it might be bad to say it, you know…” (Sophia)

It seems like she stopped herself out of some sense of guilt.

Considering how she had been so merciless with her sharp remarks
until now, I couldn’t help but wonder why she had stopped.
“Are you saying I’d get angry?” (Kento)

“Well, yeah… You’d probably get angry.” (Sophia)

Hearing that made me even more curious.

What on earth was she about to say?

“I won’t get angry, so tell me.” (Kento)

“There’s no way I’d believe that.” (Sophia)

Fair point.

I wouldn’t believe me either.

“I won’t get angry” is a phrase often used by parents and teachers,

but it’s rare to not get scolded afterwards.

“It’s fine. I can promise you that, unlike other people, I’ll keep my
word with you, Frost-san.” (Kento)
Because the consequences are terrifying.

I’m sure she’d hold a grudge and get revenge somehow.

At least, it would be a hundred times better to just swallow my anger

instead of making her hate me.

“W-What’s with that… You’re making it sound like I’m

special or something…?” (Sophia)

She stopped walking and turned her face away with a pout.

It’s a bit hard to tell in the dim light, but I get the feeling her cheeks
might have turned slightly red.

Sometimes, I don’t understand why she acts like this.

Could it be that my Japanese isn’t getting through to her properly?

—No, I don’t think that’s the case…

I don’t know how long Frost-san has been in Japan, but her
Japanese is very fluent.

I’ve never seen her struggle with understanding Japanese, and not
only is she at the top in modern literature, but she also excels in
classical literature.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine she wouldn’t understand Japanese.

If there’s one thing she might not understand, it’s probably just
idioms or proverbs, things even native Japanese speakers have to
look up to understand.

“Are you not going home?” (Kento)

We had been chatting, and we were almost at our house, but since
she stopped walking, I stayed behind with her.

“……..” (Sophia)

Well, I ended up getting a pretty dissatisfied glare from her.

“Don’t glare at me like that…” (Kento)

“I have a lot of things I want to say to you.” (Sophia)

Does that mean she’s been holding a lot of anger towards me?

It sounds like I might be getting some harsh words thrown at me.

“Let’s get back to the conversation. You said you wouldn’t get angry,
so don’t get angry, okay?” (Sophia)

However, instead of complaining, she seemed willing to answer my

question.

For me, it was better to talk about that “potentially angering topic”
rather than being bombarded with harsh words.

“Yeah, I’ll keep my promise.” (Kento)

When I nodded, she slowly opened her mouth.

“I think being a runner-up is impressive… but… you can’t go to

Koshien with just being second place. The value of second place is
really different from first…” (Sophia)
I see now why she stopped talking earlier.

Indeed, for some people, this could be a sensitive topic.

It’s a delicate matter, for sure.

“I understand what you’re trying to say, Frost-san. The difference

between first and second place may only be one, but that gap might
as well be the difference between heaven and earth. For players,
whether they make it to Koshien or not is everything.” (Kento)

Only one team from the prefecture can go to Koshien.

With second place, the door to Koshien is closed.

For those aiming for Koshien—whether it’s after three years of high
school, or even earlier through Little League, Senior League, or
Junior Baseball2—it’s a culmination of nearly their entire youth, and
if they don’t make it, all that effort ends in disappointment.

The shock of that must be unimaginable.

I’ll never forget the tears of the third-year students when they lost in
the summer final.

“You really won’t get angry, huh…?” (Sophia)

Apparently, my response surprised her, and Frost-san said this in a

somewhat regretful tone.

“Well, there are definitely some that will say that a person not even
playing shouldn’t be the one telling them this, but personally, I don’t
think what you’re saying is wrong, Frost-san. In fact, I even
sympathize with it. There’s no reason for me to get angry about
that.” (Kento)

“…………” (Sophia)

Frost-san fell silent and stared at my face intently.

I had no idea what she was thinking, but since she didn’t seem
angry, it seemed fine to not worry about it.

—But then again, I couldn’t relax.

After all, she was the so-called most beautiful girl in school.

Of course, she was very cute.

Up until now, she had often acted with a sharp attitude and always
seemed to be making faces that suggested she disliked me, so I
hadn’t thought much of it.

But now—

She was staring at me without any hostility, just like a normal girl,
and it made my heart race.

This is strange… Why am I getting so nervous around Frost-san…?

“W-What’s with the sudden staring…?” (Kento)

“It’s not like there’s any deep meaning behind it…” (Sophia)

With those words, Frost-san turned her face away.

She didn’t say anything else, and we both fell silent, the air between
us growing heavy with silence.

The quietness took over, and a rather awkward tension settled

between us.

I felt like I had to say something—so I quickly opened my mouth.

“Well, that’s exactly why just getting to the Koshien is valuable. I

think it’s really harsh that even being runner-up doesn’t guarantee a
spot, but the sense of achievement when you actually make it there
must be incredible, right?” (Kento)

Since I’ve never been to the Koshien myself, I’m just imagining it.

But when the players, coaches, and everyone around them

celebrated after winning the prefectural tournament and securing
their spot at Koshien, it was like a festival.

It’s something that holds a lot of value, and I think it’s something to
be incredibly happy about.

“I think so too. But—” (Sophia)

She stopped her words there and looked at me again.

“Your goal isn’t just to make it to Koshien, right?” (Kento)

The expression on her face was very warm.

She was looking at me with a gentle gaze, her lips slightly curved
into a smile.

I was surprised that she remembered what I said, and even more so
that she was showing me such a face.

Just how many sides of her do I not know…?

“Yeah, that’s right. My goal is to win Koshien.” (Kento)

“I expect you to show that you’re not just all talk.” (Sophia)

The gentle expression she showed for a moment disappeared, and

with a mischievous look, she stared at me.
“Well then, let’s hurry up and go home. I need to take a bath and do
the laundry too.” (Sophia)

Frost-san, now facing forward, looked like she was in a good mood.

Her expressions changed so quickly, and I felt like I saw so many

different sides of her today.

Getting to know her like this—strangely, it made me feel happy.

“Yeah, I need to take a bath too.” (Kento)

So, I smiled and went along with her words, but—

“――!? That wasn’t an invitation to go in together or

anything, okay!?” (Sophia)

For some reason, she turned bright red and got angry.

Did she think I meant we should take a bath together?

…No, that can’t be it.

We’re not even dating, so there’s no way I would think about taking
a bath together.

But then, why is she getting flustered again?

Her face looks even redder than before…

“Calm down…” (Kento)

“There’s no way I can be calm…! You understand, right!? If

you come in without asking, I’m going to get mad, you
pervert!” (Sophia)

Hmm, isn’t she getting riled up?

I don’t really get it, but… the more she talks, the angrier she seems
to get, so it’s probably better to leave her be.

After that, I lightly ignored the loud barrage of English from Frost-
san as she kept ranting, and entered the house.

◆
<Sophia’s PoV>

“I messed up…” (Sophia)

Back in my room, I held my head in my hands, now that my mind

had cooled down.

How could I have misheard so badly to think he said, “Let’s take a

bath together”?

Between the incident at the family restaurant and today, I wanted to

throw away all the memories of it.

It was such a huge mistake for me that I couldn’t even bear it.

“Really, I’ve let my guard down too much around him…”

(Sophia)

It’s true… Maybe just a little, I’ve been reassessing how I think about
him.
When we first became family, I only saw him as a frivolous-looking
guy, but, he’s been considerate at home, and hasn’t tried to force his
way into my space.

He’s different from the typical frivolous-looking guy who loves

women, isn’t he?

More than anything, the conversation we had before made it clear to

me that his passion for baseball was real.

His determination to aim for the championship at Koshien, not just

participating but winning it, was something I even admired.

Looking at how he fought hard to become a regular player despite

the tough practices at a powerhouse school, I realized he’s not just
all talk—he’s a person with real grit.

And even after practice, when he must have been exhausted, he still
came to meet me, put up with my bad attitude, understood my
feelings at the family restaurant, and didn’t reject my thoughts on the
way home—now that I think about it, he might actually be a good
person.
…But there’s still a possibility he’s just pretending to be kind to get
close to me.

In fact, acting like a good person and then taking advantage of a girl
who’s let her guard down seems like a typical tactic for a frivolous,
wolf-like guy.

And yet, I found myself in the perfect trap—getting happy over

pancakes, feeding him with an “ah~n”, and even grabbing his sleeve
on the way home because I was scared of the dark. I might be
playing right into his hands.

I could try to stay cool and distant, but…

“Maybe it’s worth trying to get closer to him on purpose and

see how he reacts…” (Sophia)

If I get too close, he might let his guard down and reveal his true
nature, at which point, I can pull away immediately and never trust
him again.

Even if his true nature doesn’t show, I can still make up for the
mistake I made earlier.
With that thought in mind, I decided to head back to the living room.

<Kento’s PoV>

“—Hand over your practice uniform.” (Sophia)

After returning to her room and calming down, Frost-san came back
to the living room and extended her hand.

“Eh…?” (Kento)

“Don’t ‘eh’ me. It’s probably covered in dirt, right? I’ll wash it before
taking a bath, so hand it over first.” (Sophia)

Apparently, Frost-san was planning to wash my practice uniform.

…Frost-san?

What’s gotten into her?

It feels suspicious, like there’s some hidden motive…

“I was planning to wash it myself…” (Kento)

“Doesn’t mom usually do it? You’re not very knowledgeable about

laundry and stuff, so I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll do it for you.”
(Sophia)

“No, I do know how to wash clothes. I’ve done it myself during trips
and training camps…” (Kento)

Since entering high school, the team manager has been handling
washing the practice uniforms and jerseys, but back in middle
school, I had to wash them myself.

In fact, I even had to wash my senpais’ uniforms, so there’s no way I

lack knowledge about doing laundry.

“—Tch. Stop complaining and hand it over already…! If I don’t do it

now, the laundry won’t be done, and I won’t be able to go to bed
early…!” (Sophia)

For some reason, she seemed adamant about being the one to wash
it.

Does she think I’m incompetent or something?

Since this isn’t in English, she doesn’t seem flustered. As she said,
she probably just wants to get it done quickly.

“Alright then, I’ll take you up on your offer. Thanks. But don’t get
mad if it stinks of sweat, okay?” (Kento)

Her image has been shifting recently, but until a little while ago, I
could easily imagine her getting mad despite suggesting to do it
herself.

Actually, I’d even imagine her hurling insults my way.

But now—

“Of course, I’d get mad.” (Sophia)

――We were in sync.

“You’ll get mad!?” (Kento)

This was absurd and completely unreasonable.

“Heh, I’m just kidding. If you’re sweating, it just means you’re giving
it your all, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t get mad over that.” (Sophia)

Frost-san chuckled through her nose, a smile appearing on her face.

However, the smile wasn’t unpleasant—it was lighthearted, even

cheerful.

“……….”

I found myself staring at her.

A joke…?

Frost-san… made a joke?

Tomorrow, it might not just start raining cats and dogs—it might
snow.

—Though it’s still summer.

“What is it…?” (Sophia)

Frost-san’s cheeks were faintly flushed as she cast a dissatisfied

glance my way.

She must have seen right through what I was thinking…not.

It was more likely that she noticed me staring and glared at me

because of it.

“It’s just… I didn’t know you told jokes, Frost-san.” (Kento)

“Even I say them sometimes. Very, very rarely.” (Sophia)

So, basically almost never?

Honestly, this was the first time I’d ever seen her make a joke.

“You should try saying them more often.” (Kento)

“It’s not my style.” (Sophia)

Indeed, I can’t imagine Frost-san joking around on a regular basis.

If I ever saw her cracking jokes nonstop, I’d suspect it was a

doppelganger with a similar face. That’s just how rare it is for her to
joke around.

“More importantly, hurry up and hand over your practice clothes.”

(Sophia)

It was already late, and she clearly didn’t want to waste any more
time.

Urged on, I hastily pulled out my practice clothes. And then—

“(Sniff, sniff )…” (Sophia)

For some reason, she started smelling them.

“Oi!?” (Kento)

What on earth is this girl doing!?

“This is… quite the smell.” (Sophia)

“Of course it is!” (Kento)

After sweating so much, the practice clothes were practically soaked.

Naturally, the smell was intense, bad enough that even I didn’t want
to sniff them.

“…I’ll just wash these for now, so you should hurry back to your
room.” (Sophia)

“Eh? Why?” (Kento)

Not understanding why she was urging me to leave, I asked.

“You’re always in your room, aren’t you?” (Sophia)

She had a point—usually, I spent most of my time in my room.

But that was only because I wanted to give Dad and Jessica-san, the
newlyweds, some privacy.
Right now, both of them were out. I figured I could just stay here,
watch some videos, and wait until she was done with her bath.

“Is it inconvenient for you if I’m here?” (Kento)

When I asked, Frost-san frowned.

“I’m scared you’ll peek into the bathroom.” (Sophia)

Ah, so that’s it—she’s being cautious.

I’ve never tried to peek at her before, nor have I done anything to
make her feel unsafe. But perhaps the conversation we had earlier
on the way home left a lingering impression.

Plus, it’s our first time being alone together. With Dad and Jessica-
san gone, it’s only natural that she’d feel a heightened sense of
wariness.

In that case, it’s probably best to comply.

“Got it. Let me know if you need anything.” (Kento)

However—

“Ah, I forgot my bag…” (Kento)

I had only taken my phone with me and left my bag in the living
room. I figured I could grab it later after my bath, but if Frost-san
noticed it, she’d probably make a fuss.

It should still be fine to go back now without upsetting her.

Thinking that, I returned to the living room—

“…” (Sophia)

—She was still there.

I had assumed she’d head straight to the changing room, but for
some reason, she was standing there, holding my practice clothes,
completely spaced out.

As I was about to call out to her, I noticed—

“(Sniff, sniff ) Yeah, no matter how many times I sniff it, it’s a
really strong smell… But… surprisingly, it’s not that bad, I
guess…” (Sophia)

—It wasn’t that she was spaced out, but rather that she was sniffing
my practice clothes.

What!?

Why is she sniffing them again!?

The shocking sight was so unexpected that I froze in place.

“…” (Sophia)

She was still sniffing them, completely absorbed in the act.

I mean, seriously, what is going on here…?

I really need someone to explain this, because I can’t for the life of
me understand Frost-san’s actions right now.
“Um…?” (Kento)

“Eh!?” (Sophia)

When I called out to her, she spun around with a jolt, looking
completely startled.

“N-No, it’s not what it looks like…! It’s not like I’m thinking
it has a strange but kinda nice smell or that it’s somehow
addictive or anything…! This thing stinks and it’s
unbearable…!” (Sophia)

She blurted out excuses with a bright red face, desperately trying to
explain herself.

She seemed to be speaking so frantically that it didn’t seem like she

was asking why I came back. It almost felt like she was making
excuses.

She was definitely flustered, but could it be… that she was actually
enjoying the smell…?

No, that can’t be it… right?

There’s no way she’s one of those closet perverts?

“I-I’m going to go wash this and take a bath…!” (Sophia)

“Ah, wait…!” (Kento)

She suddenly ran out of the room with the practice clothes in hand,
seemingly heading toward the changing room.

“Seriously, what the hell is going on…?” (Kento)

I could only tilt my head, utterly confused by her inexplicable

behavior.

<Sophia’s PoV>

“Haa… haa… I never thought he’d come back… I ended up

running away without thinking…” (Sophia)
In the changing room, I pressed my hand against my chest to calm
myself down.

My heart was pounding loudly, so loudly that it felt almost too much
to bear.

Was it because I ran, or was it something else…?

“…This is the clothes’ fault…! It’s… giving off such a… good

scent!” (Sophia)

I looked down at the practice clothes I was holding in my arms.

Even though it was soaked in sweat and reeked with a strong odor,
for some reason, the more I smelled it, the more I couldn’t stop.

It was strange.

This was definitely wrong.

Is this really just the smell of sweat…?

Honestly, I thought I’d feel more disgusted.

But instead, this smell was making my heart race and making my
body heat up.

“Come to think of it, this scent… it was faintly coming from his body
too…” (Sophia)

He hadn’t taken a bath yet, so the dried sweat was still on him.

It seemed like he had tried to mask the scent with some kind of
spray, but there was still a faint trace of it lingering.

Could it be because of that…?

—No, no, that can’t be it!

There’s no way I would get excited just because of his scent… That
would never happen!

I shook my head fiercely, trying to clear my thoughts.

Because, there’s absolutely no way… that could be the case…

“Anyway, I need to wash this…” (Sophia)

For a moment, I thought it would be a shame to wash it, but it was

probably just my imagination.

I wasn’t that kind of person… or at least, I shouldn’t be.

That’s right… I’ve never felt like this before, not even once…

When I think about it normally, it’s impossible.

I reminded myself of that and forcibly switched my mindset.

“Okay, let’s see…?” (Sophia)

I began to remove the dirt and sand from his practice clothes,
remembering how I watched mom wash clothes before.

Once enough of it came off, I used water to lift the dirt away.
Even if it was just by imitation, I started scrubbing it clean.

—All while trying to ignore the loud, frantic pounding of my

heartbeat.

<Kento’s PoV>

“—I’m done. You should hurry up and take a bath now.” (Sophia)

While in my room, Frost-san called out to me through the door.

After that strange incident earlier, I had retreated to my room,

hoping to avoid any awkward encounters. Yet, she seemed
completely unbothered by it.

Even after all that, her composure is impressive. As expected of a

cool, beautiful girl…

“Yeah, I’ll go.” (Kento)

“…(Sniff, sniff ).” (Sophia)

“—What!?” (Kento)

As I stepped out of my room, she suddenly sniffed me as we passed

by each other.

What on earth is this girl doing!?

“Wait, why are you sniffing me!?” (Kento)

“I-I just thought you smelled sweaty, that’s all!” (Sophia)

When I called her out, Frost-san replied, clearly flustered.

Wait, could it be that she actually likes the smell of my sweat…?

The sudden sniffing, her nervous reaction when I pointed it out, and
the fact that she was sniffing my practice clothes when left alone—
all of it seemed to point in that direction.

“Just go take your bath already…!” (Sophia)

She kept speaking in English as she pushed me toward the
bathroom.

She was probably telling me to hurry up and get in.

“I’m going! I’m going! Stop pushing me so hard!” (Kento)

She shoved me so insistently—maybe to hide her embarrassment—

that I scrambled to stop her.

Since I could hold my ground easily, I wasn’t actually being moved,

but leaving her flustered and panicking near the stairs felt too risky.

“I-It’s not like I have some kind of smelling fetishist or

anything…! Don’t get the wrong idea…!” (Sophia)

What on earth has she been desperately trying to excuse herself for
this whole time?

Moments like these really make me feel how inconvenient it is when

she’s speaking in English.
“Frost-san, please calm down…!” (Kento)

“Ah…” (Sophia)

My voice seemed to finally bring her back to her senses.

Realizing how out of control she had been, her face flushed a bright
red.

—Wait, isn’t this the same mistake all over again!?

“It’s fine. I didn’t see or hear anything. For now, I’ll just go take a
bath, right?” (Kento)

Though quite forceful, I changed the subject abruptly to stop her

from spiraling out of control again.

“Y-Y-Yeah. If you don’t go in, I can’t start the washing machine”

(Sophia)

Perhaps relieved by the change in topic, Frost-san began speaking in

Japanese again.
Seriously… Dealing with her usual cool demeanor is one thing, but
handling her panicking state is its own challenge.

That said—when she’s like this, it’s oddly not a bad feeling at all.

In fact, sometimes, I even find her a little cute.

“Just put your clothes in, and I’ll run the washing machine. For
towels and underwear, if you put them in the usual basket, I’ll—”
(Sophia)

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing something.

I have a bad feeling about this.

“If you touch my underwear, even by mistake, I won’t forgive you.”

(Sophia)

Her gaze turned icy as she said this.

In our household, the process for laundry is typically the same: first,
clothes are washed, then they are hung in the bathroom to dry, while
towels and underwear are placed in the washing machine and run
through a wash and dry cycle.

So, things like underwear and towels that we don’t put in the
washing machine immediately are placed in the laundry basket.

This time, it seemed we would follow the same procedure.

In other words, since she went to take a bath first… her underwear
is currently in the laundry basket.

“I’ve never touched it before, so why would I start now?” (Kento)

“You never know. Our parents aren’t here today. Besides, there is no
way for me to verify that you haven’t touched them all this time.”
(Sophia)

It seems the fact that we’re alone together is making her feel on
edge.

I wish she could trust that I’ve never touched anything even behind
her back but… from her perspective, I understand why she can’t feel
completely safe.
“Just rest assured. I’m not going to take such a risk.” (Kento)

I’m not Shouta, so I wouldn’t do something so dumb.

The risk far outweighs any potential benefit, anyway.

“If you sniff it, I won’t forgive you!” (Sophia)

“Why would I sniff it?! I’m not a pervert!” (Kento)

Being accused of something outrageous, I couldn’t help but retort.

However—

“S-Shut up…!” (Sophia)

For some reason, I ended up being scolded.

“Wait, why am I the one getting yelled at…?” (Kento)

Not understanding how the conversation had taken this turn, I tilted
my head in confusion.

Given the situation, it should have been perfectly natural for me to

deny it.

Then why did I get scolded…?

“J-Just forget what I said…” (Sophia)

It seemed I wasn’t in the wrong after all. She turned her face away
awkwardly.

“Forget about it…? Is that really okay?” (Kento)

“It… it’s not okay… but just leave it at that…” (Sophia)

What exactly is she bothered about?

Was there something inconvenient about continuing the

conversation?
A part of me wanted to press her further, just to fluster her as
payback but—yeah, I kind of feel sorry for her somehow.

“Alright, then let’s change the subject. I’ll hang the laundry in the
washing machine for you. It’s not like your underwear’s inside or
anything, so you don’t mind if I handle it, right?” (Kento)

Since it was already late, and today Frost-san had taken an especially
long bath, any further delay would cut into her sleep time.
Considering she had washed my training clothes, helping with the
laundry seemed like the least I could do.

And besides, she’d be making breakfast tomorrow morning too.

“It’s fine, just that… you have morning practice tomorrow, right? I
leave later than you, so maybe I should handle it.” (Sophia)

“Even if you leave later, you always wake up early to make breakfast,
don’t you? That just means you’ll wake up even earlier tomorrow if
you’re cooking for me.” (Kento)

“The effort you put into moving your body compared to me sitting in
a chair all day is completely different, so don’t worry about me.”
(Sophia)
Could it be that she’s unexpectedly the caring type? Or maybe she’s
just bad at relying on others.

She tries to do everything herself when she could just leave some
things to me.

“Don’t you get sleepy during class?” (Kento)

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m not like you all.” (Sophia)

“Ugh, well, that’s true…” (Kento)

Students in the Special Preparatory course like her likely listen

carefully in every class.

On the other hand, in the Sports course, it’s common to see students
nodding off during class.

Of course, anyone caught sleeping is reported to the coaches or staff

and gets an earful, so everyone tries their best to stay awake.
Still, staying alert during boring classes can be a struggle. Before you
know it, your consciousness starts drifting away.

“Besides, I’ll still be up studying anyway.” (Sophia)

“…Seriously? Even after all that work at cram school, you’re still
going to study more?” (Kento)

I had heard from Jessica-san that the reason she stays in her room
so much is because she’s studying.

I knew she studied even after coming back from cram school, but I
didn’t realize she stayed up this late doing it.

Since she hardly ever comes out of her room, I never really knew
when she slept.

“Being top-ranked but not getting arrogant, and still working hard at
your studies—it’s really impressive.” (Kento)

I respect anyone who puts effort into something, whether it’s sports
or academics.
If someone excels and doesn’t let it get to their head, that’s even
more admirable. But if they’re proud of their achievements and
share it, that’s only natural if they’ve put in the effort.

“…It’s just that I’m slow to catch on… If I don’t push myself
this much, I can’t stay at the top…” (Sophia)

But for some reason, her expression clouded over, and she gave a
self-deprecating smile.

I wonder if there’s something she’s worried about.

“…Maintaining effort isn’t something everyone can handle

constantly.” (Kento)

I didn’t really understand what she had murmured or why she

looked so down. But seeing her self-deprecating smile, those words
slipped out of my mouth naturally.

“What do you mean…?” (Sophia)

Of course, Frost-san gave me a confused look, surprised by my

words, since they came out of nowhere.
“Some people hate putting in effort, and some can’t keep going even
if they want to. There are also those who give up after putting in a lot
of work but not seeing any results. But despite all that, Frost-san, you
are amazing for being able to keep it going.” (Kento)

These weren’t words meant to flatter or get close to her. It was just
how I truly felt.

“In my case, the results came out…” (Sophia)

“Because you never stopped working hard, right?” (Kento)

“—!” (Sophia)

She froze, taking in a sharp breath at my words.

She must have some idea about what I was talking about.

When I saw how hard she pushed herself, to an almost abnormal

degree, I thought that perhaps she was putting in effort because she
had to.
People pushing themselves like that often think effort is the only way
to get results.

Maybe it’s because I’m the same kind of person, but I felt like I
understood her way of thinking.

“It’s not necessarily true that just because you get results, it’s
because of effort, right…?” (Sophia)

Whether she meant to or not, she tried to shift the focus of the
conversation.

But since she brought it up, she must care about what I was saying,
one way or another.

So, I felt like I should respond.

“Sure, there are those rare ‘monsters’ in the world who get results
without putting in much effort.” (Kento)

They exist in sports, too.

There are those who hate effort, mock it, and continue to achieve
results purely based on their raw talent.

It’s not just sports, though.

In any field, there are always those “monsters” who can achieve
results with little to no effort.

“But for most people, they can’t get results without putting in effort.
So, when results are achieved, I think it’s because the effort was
made.” (Kento)

Only a tiny handful of people can achieve results purely on talent.

Most people, at the very least, have to put in effort to climb up to

where they are.

Of course, the amount of effort needed might vary depending on

someone’s natural talent, but that doesn’t mean effort isn’t
necessary.

More than anything—

“Also, if two people have the same level of talent, the one who puts
in more effort is the one who will win.” (Kento)

Anyone can understand this, even a child. If you assume both have
the same level of talent, the one who puts in more effort will have
the advantage just from experience.

For example, honing your physical strength through training is one

thing, but experience also plays a crucial role.

The ability to make quick decisions in critical moments, knowledge

of the competition and sport, and strategy—all of these are honed
through experience.

There’s no such thing as a guaranteed win, but there’s no doubt that

experience creates a significant advantage.

Statistically speaking, the person who puts in the effort is the one
more likely to win.

“To be so passionate about it… that’s not like you.” (Sophia)

“Is it really that passionate…?” (Kento)

I didn’t intend to get so worked up about it…

“You’re trying too hard to encourage me, it’s creepy…” (Sophia)

“O-Oi!?” (Kento)

Sure, I wanted her to understand the greatness and value of her

effort, but I wasn’t trying to flatter her.

“Our conversation’s been off-track halfway through.” (Sophia)

“You’re the one who changed the subject…!” (Kento)

“Hehe… but I was a little happy to hear that.” (Sophia)

“――!?“ (Kento)

She unexpectedly flashed a cute smile.

*Thump*—my heart skipped a beat.

“W-What’s up with that…?” (Kento)

I muttered to cover up the heat rising to my face.

Because, seriously… that’s cheating.

“Just a little. Maybe about this much.” (Sophia)

She made a small gap between her thumb and index finger,
emphasizing her words.

She’s probably trying to emphasize how happy she was with just that
tiny gap.

But there’s almost no space at all…?

“Was there really a need to emphasize that…?” (Kento)

“I just don’t want you to misunderstand or get any weird

expectations. Even if you tried to hit on me, it’d never work.”
(Sophia)

When exactly did I try to hit on her?

This is a completely baseless accusation…!

“I’m not going to try and hit on you…” (Kento)

“Who knows?” (Sophia)

She tilted her head cutely, staring at my face intently.

Could she really think that I was hitting on her?

…No, there’s no way.

“There’s no way, so stop worrying about it.” (Kento)

Sure, there were times when I thought she was cute.

But actually hitting on her? I would never think of that.

After all, I’m not experienced enough with women to even try that.

And when it comes to someone like Frost-san, there’s no way I’d do

that.

“What’s with that ‘I’m not interested’ look…?” (Sophia)

For some reason, she glared at me with a dissatisfied look.

This is strange.

Why am I getting glared at in this situation…?

I just said I wasn’t trying to hit on her, so normally, she should feel
relieved, right…?

Dealing with women really is complicated…

Anyways, I need to change the atmosphere—

“That aside, effort is a good thing, but overdoing it isn’t good, you
know?” (Kento)

Wanting to escape from her glare, I decided to steer the

conversation back.

“But you just said effort is a good thing.” (Sophia)

At this, she once again looked dissatisfied.

However, the glare she gave me wasn’t one of hostility—it was more
of a look of disagreement, so it didn’t really affect me.

“There’s a term called ‘overwork,’ right? Whether it’s practice or

studying, doing too much isn’t good.” (Kento)

Overdoing practice can lead to injuries, which in turn would reduce

practice time or cause breaks that could hinder progress.

Anything done excessively can lead to negative results.

“That’s true for practice, but studying is different, right? The more
you do it, the better.” (Sophia)

“Even if it means cutting into your sleep?” (Kento)

I hadn’t intended to bring this up.

I knew it would lead to an argument if I did.

But seeing how little she seemed to understand, I couldn’t help

myself and let it slip out.
“…I do sleep properly.” (Sophia)

She’s a smart girl so she probably understands what I’m trying to say
without needing me to explain it all.

The fact that she turned away was a clear sign that she had
something in her mind.

Considering it’s so late and she’s still trying to study, it’s no surprise.

“If you wear yourself out, it’ll be for nothing.” (Kento)

“Leave me alone. You don’t know anything.” (Sophia)

This time, she glared at me with eyes full of clear hostility.

It was the same kind of glare she used when we first became a
family, the one meant to keep people at a distance.

Out of all the recent glares, this one felt the sharpest.

It was clear that this was something she didn’t want to discuss.
“I’m sorry. But please, don’t overdo it.” (Kento)

“It’s none of your business.” (Sophia)

No, this isn’t going anywhere.

She’s acting like a stubborn child, refusing to listen.

I knew this would happen, that’s why I was trying not to say
anything…

“I won’t say anything about your studies. But we should divide the
housework. That way, you can make time for sleep, right?” (Kento)

I understand how much she values her studies, and if she’s this
stubborn, convincing her is impossible.

It’s better to reduce her burden in other areas.

“I’ll do the laundry.” (Sophia)

“This stubborn girl…” (Kento)

I couldn’t help but feel like she should’ve at least let me handle
something.

At this rate, we’re getting nowhere.

“Then, breakfast—” (Kento)

“I’ll make it.” (Sophia)

“…………” (Kento)

What, is she sulking now?

Is she getting so stubborn because she’s sulking?

“Either way, you can’t make breakfast, can you?” (Sophia)

“Well, no, I can’t… But when I get out of the bath, I’ll just go to the
convenience store and grab some bread or something.” (Kento)
I wasn’t particularly attached to making a home-cooked meal, and
honestly, I was fine with just bread when it came down to it.

It wasn’t that uncommon for a high school student’s breakfast to be

just bread.

However—

“No, that’s not good. You’re still growing, so you need to eat a
proper, balanced meal.” (Sophia)

It was an unusually maternal comment from Frost-san.

Was she talking about herself, or was she concerned about my

health?

Either way, she’s really stubborn.

At this point, trying to convince her would be a waste of time if she’s

not going to budge.

So, I decided to let her have this one.

In exchange, I could get her to compromise somewhere else.

“Alright, I’ll cook the rice then—” (Kento)

“I’ll do it.” (Sophia)

“Are you planning to do everything!?” (Kento)

I couldn’t help but raise my voice at her persistence.

At this point, I couldn’t just stay silent. She was pushing my limits.

“Cooking the rice is part of the making the meal, isn’t it?!” (Sophia)

Frost-san, seemingly startled by my outburst, took a small step back

before offering her explanation.

I felt bad about scaring her, but still…

“We were talking about dividing the tasks, right? Why do you insist
on doing everything yourself ?” (Kento)
“Because sleep is important for athletes…” (Sophia)

“Are you saying you’re going to sacrifice your own sleep just to make
sure I get mine?” (Kento)

Hearing something like that made me think that, at her core, Frost-
san must be a kind person. Despite probably not liking me, she’s
prioritizing me. But that’s going too far.

“Sleep is important for everyone, not just athletes. It’s important for
adults, and especially for kids like us. That means it’s just as
important for you, Frost-san.” (Kento)

“Well, that might be true, but…” (Sophia)

It seemed like she was starting to agree with me, but something still
seemed to be bothering her.

“When it comes to priority, you’re the one doing something

physically demanding… so shouldn’t you come first?” (Sophia)

“We’re the same age, and on equal footing. There’s no such thing as
‘priority’ between us. Dad and Jessica-san would be mad if they
overheard that.” (Kento)
Those two, even though we’re not all related by blood, have never
prioritized one of us over the other. They’ve treated both of us with
the same care as if we were their own children.

Sure, there might be some differences in how they treat us based on

gender, but the priority isn’t based on whether we’re doing sports or
studying.

“Both of them have nothing to do with this…” (Sophia)

“You’re the one saying strange things. Between us, there’s no such
thing as one being prioritized over the other. Isn’t that enough?”
(Kento)

She used to always act as if she didn’t care about what others
thought. So, why was she saying something like this now?

If something in her had changed, that was a good thing, but it didn’t
mean she should neglect herself.

“…Can you even cook rice?” (Sophia)

It seems like she’s started looking for flaws in me, now that she’s run
out of things to say in response.

“I’ve definitely cooked rice before, so you can rest assured about
that.” (Kento)

If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be pushing this hard.

If I were to say something so confidently and then reveal I couldn’t

cook rice, that’d be a real joke.

“I see…” (Sophia)

Frost-san pauses for a moment, thinking.

Is she still trying to argue?

For now, I waited for her to come to a conclusion.

“—Alright. Then, I’ll leave the rice cooking to you.” (Sophia)

It seemed like she finally understood my point, and she gave in.
It took so long… I really felt that.

“Yeah, leave it to me.” (Kento)

And so, I became the one in charge of cooking rice the next day.

After taking a bath and finishing the laundry, I secretly helped with
hanging it up as well.

Of course, she complained about it, but I managed to convince her

that it would be more efficient for the two of us to do it together and
that the workload distribution felt better this way.

And then, the next morning—she didn’t even wake up on time.

 Chapter 4: Lies and True Appearances

<Sophia’s PoV>

“――――――!” (Sophia)

Someone was banging on my door, loudly and relentlessly.

I could hear a voice too, but my consciousness was so hazy that I

couldn’t make out what they were saying.

What on earth is going on…?

I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy, and I couldn’t move properly.

My body felt exhausted…

“Frost-san! Are you alright? Or are you just sleeping in there!?”

(Kento)

Finally, the fog clouding my mind began to clear, and I started to

recognize the voice.
It seemed the person calling out to me was Shirakawa-kun.

“Why are you so loud—” (Sophia)

As I murmured to myself, an unpleasant thought suddenly crossed

my mind.

“Wait, what time is it right now――!?” (Sophia)

I quickly checked my phone screen, and I could feel blood draining

from my face.

There’s less than ten minutes before Shirakawa-kun usually leaves

the house.

“I-I’m sorry…!” (Sophia)

Panicking, I apologized through the door.

Since I had just woken up, I couldn’t open the door.

I didn’t want him to see me in such a disheveled state.

“Thank goodness, you were just asleep…” (Kento)

Even though I’d overslept and broken my promise to make breakfast,

his voice sounded genuinely relieved rather than angry.

Maybe he had been anticipating the worst, thinking I hadn’t woken

up at all.

No wonder he was noisy outside my room.

“I’m sorry, I overslept…” (Sophia)

“You’ve been studying so hard, so it’s no surprise you’re tired. Are

you feeling okay?” (Kento)

Even though he had every right to be upset, he not only reassured

me but also continued to worry about me.

His kindness made my chest ache just a little.

“I’m fine. Really, I just overslept.” (Sophia)

The truth was that my body still felt sluggish, but I didn’t want to
make him worry any more than he already had, so I lied.

Besides, this fatigue was proof of my poor self-management.

It wasn’t something I could use as an excuse for oversleeping.

“I see. That’s good, then. You’ve still got plenty of time before you
need to leave, so take your time to get ready.” (Kento)

He had morning practice, so he always left the house earlier than

most students.

Thanks to that, I still had plenty of time before I needed to leave the
house.

“More importantly, I’m sorry… I couldn’t make breakfast…”

(Sophia)

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I just had rice with furikake1. Actually, I’m the one
who should be apologizing.” (Kento)
Did he need to apologize?

Why?

“Did you do something…?” (Sophia)

“Well, I thought maybe you weren’t feeling well, so I looked it up

online and tried turning the leftover rice into porridge. I’m not used
to cooking, so it might not taste great… I did taste it, though…
Sorry for doing something unnecessary.” (Kento)

Hearing his apologetic tone, I felt a complicated mix of emotions.

On one hand, I was happy that he had taken the time to make
porridge for me, considering how busy his mornings were, but on
the other hand, guilt surged over me. I had inconvenienced him,
failing to follow through on the things I’d promised and even things
I’d said myself.

“Why are you apologizing? You did that for me, didn’t you? Thank
you.” (Sophia)
Pretending to stay calm, I forced out words of gratitude, but that was
all I could manage.

I was genuinely relieved to have the door between us right now.

If we were talking face-to-face, I might have been so overwhelmed

with guilt that I couldn’t say anything.

After all, the reason he was feeling guilty, despite doing it out of
kindness, might be because of the fact that I often complain about
even the little things to him…

“Hearing that makes me feel better. Well, I’ll head out now. If
anything happens, let me know. And don’t force yourself to eat the
porridge if it doesn’t taste good.” (Kento)

With that, he left with heavy footsteps.

Talking with me must have eaten into the remaining time he had left.

Leaning against the door, I slowly slid down to the floor and covered
my face with my hands.
“I’m such an idiot… Really, such an idiot…” (Sophia)

As memories of everything that had happened since I met him came

rushing back, I sank deeper into self-loathing.

If I could, I would like to go back to the summer vacation days.

But it was impossible to return to the past now.

—I kept repeating this thought to myself

After about ten minutes had passed, I lifted my head.

“――I need to at least make up for this…” (Sophia)

Honestly, I wanted to disappear entirely, but I knew that regretting

everything wouldn’t change anything.

That’s why I decided to take responsibility and fix my mistakes

myself.

Fortunately, there was still time.

If I quickly cooked the rice now, I’d be able to make it on time
without being late.

With that thought in mind, I hurried downstairs to wash the rice.

After setting the washed rice in the rice cooker, I was about to start
getting ready for school—when my hand reached out toward the
bowl of porridge left on the table.

It would be such a waste to let something he made for me go cold.

“――It’s delicious…” (Sophia)

He had said it might not taste good, but the rice was perfectly soft,
and the saltiness was just right.

When I added the umeboshi2 that had been left alongside it, the
added sourness made it even tastier.

He must have thoroughly researched and carefully prepared it so

that I could enjoy it.
“Now my chest hurts even more…” (Sophia)

Imagining him tilting his head, staring intently at his phone, and
earnestly making porridge, I felt a tight squeeze in my chest that I
couldn’t shake.

<Kento’s PoV>

“Haa… today was rough. The coach’s been really fired up lately.”
(Shouta)

After finishing morning practice and leaving the clubroom, Shouta

muttered tiredly.

“There’s the prefectural tournament in two weeks, so they’re

probably expecting a lot from us.” (Kento)

This week marked the end of the league matches, and next week,
the second-place teams from each league would compete for the
remaining slots.
Once that was over, the prefectural tournament would begin
immediately the following week.

Of course, the coach was going to be passionate about it.

“Still, we’ve got a game tomorrow, right? Does he really need to

push us this hard…?” (Shouta)

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you just quit?” (Shuuto)

From behind Shouta and me, Shuuto chimed in, his tone calm and
indifferent.

That remark made Shouta’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Again with that…! Are you okay with losing an important defender
at a time like this!?” (Shouta)

Shouta was the regular shortstop in our team.

Of course, if he left, the position would open up.

“Someone else will just take the vacant spot. Our team isn’t short on
talent.” (Shuuto)

That was one of the strengths of a powerhouse school.

Not only do they scout players, but talented athletes who want to
make it to Koshien naturally gather, so there are several players for
each position who could have been regulars at other schools.

Even if someone left, replacements were readily available.

“If you have a problem with the coach’s methods, then you should
leave the team.” (Shuuto)

I see, so that’s what Hiiragi was upset about.

Despite his calm demeanor, he admired the coach.

That’s why he seemed angry at Shouta for complaining about the

coach’s approach.

“Why do I have to listen to you…?!” (Shouta)

“Because you’re the one complaining—” (Shuuto)

“Alright, that’s enough, you two.” (Kento)

Before things could escalate further, I stepped between them.

This kind of thing is exactly why Kujouin-san says I’m always playing
mediator.

“First off, Shouta was just venting because he’s tired. He doesn’t
actually think the coach’s methods are wrong, right?” (Kento)

“O-Oh, of course not.” (Shouta)

When I looked at Shouta, he nodded quickly.

It had been clear from the way he was talking that he didn’t mean it
seriously.

“Honestly, though, complaining about something like that just shows

a lack of grit, doesn’t it?” (Shuuto)
Even though the misunderstanding about what Shouta meant was
cleared up, Hiiragi still wasn’t letting it go and jabbed at him again.

“Everyone perceives things differently, don’t they? Besides, if we

outright ban venting like that, people will just bottle up their stress,
and even more might quit.” (Kento)

I understood what Hiiragi was trying to say, but his approach felt too
forceful. It’s one thing to have expectations of others, but forcing
them to comply is another.

“If they want to quit, they should just quit…” (Shuuto)

“That’s not right. The same goes for what you said to Shouta
earlier—Hiiragi, you should learn to value your teammates more.”
(Kento)

“What…?” (Shouta)

Hiiragi frowned, glaring at me, clearly not pleased with my words.

“For starters, I can confidently plan a pitching strategy that relies on

forcing grounders because Shouta is holding down the shortstop
position. If it were someone else, I might have to switch to a
strikeout-focused strategy. And if that happens, your pitch count will
increase, leaving you more fatigued in the late game. You’d also end
up playing fewer matches as a result, wouldn’t you?” (Kento)

Hiiragi might be our ace, but ultimately, it’s my job as the catcher to
decide the game’s pitch distribution.

Hiiragi usually doesn’t shake his head, so he probably doesn’t have

any issues with how I lead.

That’s exactly why he might not have considered what it means to

adapt the strategy, but for me, adjusting the pitch selection based on
our team’s strengths is a given.

If, as Hiiragi suggests, teammates start leaving, the overall level of

defense will naturally decline.

When that happens, relying solely on his pitching, how far does he
think we could advance?

Honestly, I don’t believe we’d make it to Koshien.

The accumulated fatigue and increased risk of injury would only

make things worse.
“Heh… It’s rare for Kento to give a lecture.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi scoffed, staring intently at me.

He didn’t seem like he was listening, but the fact that he wasn’t
arguing back meant he understood.

“If something is obviously wrong, of course I’ll speak up. In Shouta’s

case, he’s not just a defender but also our leadoff batter. He’s the
fastest on the team. There’s no way we can afford to lose such a
valuable asset, right?” (Kento)

Even though we could replace someone if a vacancy arose, losing a

player who had fought hard to secure their spot as a regular would
inevitably weaken the team.

With the tough requirement of taking first place in the prefectural

tournament, deliberately lowering our strength at the last minute
seemed outright foolish.

“Haa… So even someone like this is indispensable, huh?” (Shuuto)

“Someone like this?!” (Shouta)

Shouta snapped in frustration at Hiiragi’s exasperated sigh.

These two…

“It’s the same with everyone else. Hiiragi, I respect your dedication
and discipline, but pushing that onto others isn’t right. And telling
someone to quit is absolutely out of the question. Some people rise
to the challenge at their own pace and improve.” (Kento)

“…Yeah, I get it.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi seemed to think for a moment, but he didn’t argue and

nodded in agreement.

I half-expected Hiiragi to say something like, “At their own pace? Are
they really making an effort? Or are they just satisfying themselves
with the illusion of effort?” But maybe he decided to hold back,
knowing I’d have a rebuttal ready.

Since it seemed like he understood for now, I figured the

conversation was done.
“Haa… I don’t think I could ever win an argument against Kento…”
(Shouta)

Shouta muttered, having watched our exchange.

“No, I’m not really good at verbal fights, you know?” (Kento)

I mean, I always lose to Frost-san when it comes to that.

Besides, I don’t like fighting in the first place.

“Well, I can’t imagine you ever getting into a fight, Kento. You seem
like you’d get along with anyone. I bet you’re all lovey-dovey with
Frost-san at home too.” (Shouta)

Shouta added with a look of envy as he glanced at me.

Despite everything I’ve told him before, he still doesn’t get it.

“Ahaha… stop it. Seriously, I’ll get scolded at home for this.” (Kento)
Shouta’s teasing must be because of that rumor Frost-san mentioned
before.

Just when it felt like the distance between us was starting to close, if
rumors about us being lovey-dovey spread even more, it could undo
all the progress we’ve made.

I really couldn’t let that happen.

“—Wait, speak of the devil… isn’t that Frost-san over there?”

(Shouta)

“Huh?” (Kento)

I followed Shouta’s pointing finger and spotted a blonde-haired

beauty peeking at us from behind the clubroom building.

It was definitely Frost-san.

“What’s she doing…?” (Kento)

She had no reason to be near the field.

And the way she was silently watching us… was a little unsettling.

I haven’t done anything to upset her this time… right?

As I thought that, Frost-san stepped out from behind the building

and slowly started walking toward us.

She must have noticed that we had spotted her.

“H-Hey, she’s coming this way…!” (Shouta)

“Why are you so excited? Clearly, she has business with Kento, not
you.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi sighed in exasperation at Shouta, who was getting visibly

excited. Shouta, in turn, pouted, and the two looked like they were
about to start bickering again.

But before they could, Frost-san reached us, and they both fell silent.

“Is something wrong…?” (Kento)

Like Hiiragi said, out of the three of us, it was most likely that she
needed me for something.

So I decided to ask.

“May I borrow him for a moment?” (Sophia)

Ignoring my question, Frost-san addressed Shouta and Hiiragi with

her usual cool demeanor.

“Y-Yes, of course! Feel free to do whatever you want with him—boil

him, roast him, anything!” (Shouta)

Clearly thrilled to be spoken to, Shouta cheerfully handed me over.

This guy, acting like it’s none of his business, says whatever he
wants. What’s he going to do if I really do get boiled or roasted?

“Is it something you can’t talk about here?” (Shuuto)

Unlike Shouta, Hiiragi—completely uninterested in girls—fixed her

with a cold gaze.
For a moment, Frost-san seemed to flinch under his sharp stare.
Considering Hiiragi’s height of 182 cm, it was no surprise that a girl
like her might feel intimidated.

But she quickly regained her composure and returned a similarly icy
look.

“It’s a family matter. It has nothing to do with you, does it?” (Sophia)

As expected, she was strong-willed.

Hiiragi was quite the handsome guy, but his sharp gaze and rough
way of speaking were enough to intimidate most girls. They’d be too
scared to speak after just a glare… Yet here she was, directly
responding to him.

“Is this something that needs to be discussed all the way out here on
the field?” (Shuuto)

I understood what Hiiragi was trying to say.

If it was a family matter, she could talk about it at home, anytime. So

why come all the way out here to discuss it?
Still…

“Don’t glare at her like that. She’s here because she has business
with me, right?” (Kento)

I thought it was a bit much for Hiiragi to intimidate her, so I placed a

hand on his shoulder to stop him.

No matter what reason she had for being here, it wasn’t right to treat
her dismissively.

“So she’s your younger sister huh, the so-called ‘Solitary Flower’?
She did say it was a family matter, after all.” (Shuuto)

Despite me stopping him, Hiiragi continued.

Frost-san, who understood the meaning behind that nickname,

looked irritated by the mention of it.

“So, what’s the problem?” (Kento)

I moved to stand between Hiiragi and Frost-san, positioning myself
in front of her as a shield, just in case.

“You’re protecting her?” (Shuuto)

Naturally, everyone here understood what I was doing, and Hiiragi

took the chance to press me on it.

“She’s family, after all.” (Kento)

I gave a smile and shrugged my shoulders.

I thought I understood Hiiragi’s personality to some extent.

He wasn’t the type of person who would hurt others without reason.

However, if there was a clear intention behind it, he wouldn’t

hesitate to hurt someone.

And I had an inkling that Hiiragi might direct that kind of harshness
at Frost-san.
His straightforward words could hurt her, even if she doesn’t show it.

That’s why I needed to fully shift the focus onto me.

“…………” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi stared intently into my eyes.

He was probably trying to figure out what I was thinking.

Even though we’d only known each other for about a year, we’d
spent a lot of time together. More importantly, we were the ones
who had been most serious and honest with each other.

As much as I thought I understood Hiiragi, he probably understood

me just as well.

“Heh, you’re not pushing her away, you’re protecting her… I see.”
(Shuuto)

Hiiragi muttered to himself, seeming to come to some sort of

realization.
It was hard to catch exactly what he said, since it was under his
breath.

As I kept an eye on his movements, he leaned in closer to my ear.

“When did she become so important to you?” (Shuuto)

“—!” (Kento)

I froze at his unexpected words.

“What are you talking about…?” (Kento)

“Playing dumb, huh? Fine, whatever.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi pulled away from me and shifted his gaze toward Frost-san.

“So, the rumors about a girl troubling Kento… I guess that’s not the
case, huh?” (Shuuto)

It seemed like he was now addressing Frost-san directly.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about…” (Sophia)

Naturally, Frost-san, not understanding the context, tilted her head

in confusion.

“Hiiragi, stop saying weird things.” (Kento)

I quickly stepped in to stop him.

“It’s not strange, is it? It’s an important question.” (Shuuto)

As I had suspected, Hiiragi seemed to be questioning what was

really going on between me and Frost-san.

“Don’t worry, it’s not what Hiiragi thinks, and I’ll keep my promise.”

What Hiiragi was probably worried about was the promise I made to
not let Frost-san distract me from baseball. The fact that she came
all the way to the field and that I protected her seemed to have
gotten to him.
“Yeah, I expect you to keep that promise. Well, what I was worried
about wasn’t that… Seems like it was unnecessary concern after all.”
(Shuuto)

It seemed the conversation was over.

Or so I thought…

“…Just so you know, if you try to get in our way, I won’t forgive
you.” (Shuuto)

He glanced back one last time, glaring at Frost-san.

In response, she instinctively pinched the sleeve of my shirt with her

fingers.

Fortunately, it seemed like neither Hiiragi nor Shouta had noticed.

“That’s not how you should say it. Besides, she has nothing to do
with our situation. Don’t just assume things about her.” (Kento)
As Hiiragi mentioned, if I were to actually lose focus because of
Frost-san, the fault would lie entirely with me. She wouldn’t be to
blame.

Of course, there was always the possibility that she might do

something to make things difficult for me, but she was a earnest
person by heart, so I didn’t think she would intentionally interfere.

As for my mental stress—honestly, I felt like it had decreased a lot

these past few days.

“…I think this is the first time I’ve seen you so worked up.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi, looking at my face, unusually shrugged his shoulders.

“No, I’m not angry or anything…” (Kento)

“Really?” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi tilted his head in confusion.

It seemed I had looked angrier than I thought.

“Anyways, it’s fine as long as she doesn’t interfere. Looks like the two
of you are getting along well.” (Shuuto)

Hiiragi waved his hand dismissively as he headed back to the school

building.

“What was that guy… I don’t get it.”

Frost-san furrows her brows in anger after Hiiragi had said his piece
and left.

Well, I couldn’t really blame her for being upset about how he
acted…

“O-Okay, I’ll head to the classroom first! I’ll see you later!”

Shouta, who was clearly trying to avoid the tense atmosphere, left,
following Hiiragi.

It wasn’t like Shouta to act like this, but with Frost-san in such a bad
mood, he probably figured it was better to leave than stick around
with her.
Which left me alone with Frost-san—just the two of us—and my
stomach began to hurt.

“U-Um… sorry about what Hiiragi said.” (Kento)

I apologized quickly, deciding to take the initiative.

In situations like this, it’s best to act first.

“You shouldn’t apologize for that… I mean, you were just protecting
me… thank you…” (Sophia)

I hadn’t expected it to work, but this approach surprisingly got

through to Frost-san. Instead of the irritated remarks I had braced
myself for, I ended up receiving a genuine thank you.

Maybe this method wasn’t so bad after all.

“Hiiragi can be easily misunderstood by his words and actions, but

he’s not a bad guy, really… Please don’t misunderstand him.” (Kento)

“Not a bad guy… with that attitude…?” (Sophia)

I had tried to cover for Hiiragi, but I could see the doubt on her face.
It seemed like it wasn’t convincing at all.

Well, I couldn’t blame her. It probably sounded too hard to believe

with how rude he was.

But really, he wasn’t a bad guy. He was just a baseball fanatic, and he
couldn’t stand anyone interfering with that…

“He’s Kurogane-kun, right? I can’t believe you can be teamed up

with someone so intimidating…” (Sophia)

Intimidating?

Her words were so unexpected that I couldn’t help but wonder.

“You think guys are scary, Frost-san?” (Kento)

I was also surprised that she knew Hiiragi’s last name.

“Of course… All guys are scary.” (Sophia)

She didn’t seem like someone who would think that, though…

Could it be that the reason she keeps people at a distance is because

of that? But if that were the case, she should get along with the girls
better… There was still so much I didn’t understand about her.

“Ah, anyway… about what I came here for… is it alright if I talk to

you about something?” (Sophia)

The tense atmosphere Frost-san had earlier faded, and she began
fidgeting restlessly.

I understood that she had to get to the point quickly, since school
would start soon, but… why did she suddenly become so restless?

“Ah, what’s wrong?” (Kento)

“Well… it’s not really a big deal, but…” (Sophia)

She said that, almost as if setting up a defense, and for some reason,
she looked down.
As I wondered about her behavior, I noticed that, in addition to her
schoolbag, she was holding something in her hand.

It was probably a lunch bag.

And it looked more like a men’s lunch bag than a women’s one.

Wait…?

Doesn’t she usually eats in the cafeteria, just like me…?

I’d seen her a few times either heading to the cafeteria or eating
there, so I assumed that was correct.

Or rather, I’d never even seen her prepare a bento at home.

As I was thinking that—

“T-This… it’s a thank you for this morning…!” (Sophia)

Suddenly, she thrust the lunch bag toward me.

She tightly shut her eyes, looking embarrassed, and her face was
bright red.

She seemed to be struggling just to hand it over.

Did she make this just for me…?

“Thank you…” (Kento)

I glanced down at the bento box inside the bag that she handed me.

“This… you made this yourself, right…?” (Kento)

“Y-Yes, well… I couldn’t make breakfast, so… this is my apology…”

(Sophia)

She really was an earnest person, after all.

Oversleeping is something that happens to everyone once in a

while—it’s unavoidable. But the fact that she still took the time to
make this for me despite already waking up so late…
“You didn’t have to go that far…” (Kento)

“It’s nothing, really. I can make something like this in no time.”

(Sophia)

“I see, as expected of you… Thank you, I’m really happy.” (Kento)

“—!?” (Sophia)

When I expressed my thanks with a smile, her already red face

turned even redder.

Then, she quickly turned her face away.

“That’s not fair…! To show such a smile here, that’s too

much…!” (Sophia)

She was muttering something under her breath, but what was that
about?

If I somehow made her angry with that, I don’t even know

anymore…
As I watched her, she started taking deep breaths (*Suu… Haa…*)

Once her breathing calmed down, she turned back to face me.

Her face was still red, and she was lightly sweating, trying her best
to put on a cool expression.

“Ahem…!” (Sophia)

For some reason, Frost-san deliberately cleared her throat.

“S-Since I went through the trouble of making lunch for both of us,
we could, um, use this as a chance to strengthen our family bonds
and—” (Sophia)

*Ding-dong-ding-dong!*

*Ding-dong-ding-dong!*

Just as Frost-san was speaking, the morning bell rang, almost as if to

interrupt her.
“Ah, no way, it’s already this late…! We need to get to our
classroom!” (Kento)

We were still on the field, so if we didn’t rush, we’d be late.

Being late would be no joke, and Shouta and the others would start
having weird suspicions again.

“Come on, Frost-san, you need to hurry too! It’d be bad if we’re
late!” (Kento)

She was holding her school bag, which meant she had come directly
to the field instead of heading to the classroom.

Naturally, if we stayed like this, we’d definitely be late.

“Ugh… I was trying so hard to invite him to lunch to make up

for things, and now it’s come to this…! It’s all Kurogane-
kun’s fault…!” (Sophia)

Once we parted ways at the separate building, I heard Frost-san

shouting something in English.
Was what she was about to say that important…?

Well, if it was really that important, she’d probably message me later

on my phone.

Thinking that, I stopped worrying about it and hurried toward the

classroom.

<Sophia’s PoV>

“――What do you want to talk about?” (Sophia)

The day I handed Shirakawa-kun the homemade lunch, for some

reason, I had been called behind the school building by a group of
girls from the General Course, via a letter.

My body felt heavy since the morning, and I was already feeling
worse after the situation at the field, so being called here was the
worst.

If it were a guy, the chances of it being a confession were high, but

with girls…
“Oh~ you actually came without running away.” (Girl A)

“Haha, you’re such a serious one!” (Girl B)

“Ugh, this is so annoying. Let’s just get it over with.” (Girl C)

“Don’t say that, we need to properly get back at her. A-chan, you
hold a grudge, right?” (Girl D)

Waiting for me were a group of four gals.

The letter only had one name written on it, but it seemed they had
planned to come as a group of four from the start.

I didn’t recognize the name, but it was clear who they were—those
girls who would always bother me every time we met.

It seemed like they disliked me, constantly harassing me.

Just the other day, they had accused me of something, and I had to
report them to the teacher.
“It’s not really like I hold a grudge or anything…” (Girl A)

“Eh~? But you were so sad about Kento-kun being taken, right?”
(Girl B)

“Don’t exaggerate… It’s not like that at all…” (Girl A)

The girl with a more downer personality sighed while fiddling with
her smartphone.

She was always sighing and acting bored whenever I saw her, clearly
different in vibe from the other three.

Yet, she always stuck with them, which was strange.

But right now, there was something more important to focus on than
all of that.

Kento-kun…?

Could it be that she’s a fan of him…?

Surprisingly, Shirakawa-kun has fans at this school.

After his achievements in the summer and because he’s usually kind
and considerate of those around him, there are students who are
drawn to those aspects of him.

It seems like the number of his fans has been gradually increasing,
and sometimes I receive letters expressing dissatisfaction about the
fact that he and I live together.

She’s probably one of them.

“I don’t really get what’s so great about him, though~ Shuuto-sama

is way more handsome. And also, he’s the ace of the team.” (Girl B)

“I know right.” (Girl C & D)

The words from the pink-haired, girly girl were met with nods from
all the others, except for the downer girl.

Shuuto-sama… I’ve never seen anyone call someone from the same
school “sama” in real life…
I understand they’re talking about Kurogane-kun, but to me, who
faced him this morning, I don’t see his charm at all.

That person is just scary.

Shirakawa-kun is far better—well, never mind…

“Can you stop talking among yourselves after calling me out here?
What exactly do you want?” (Sophia)

I actually had somewhere to be, but I came here specifically for this.

I just want this to end quickly.

“Don’t be so cold. We just want to make up with you, that’s all.” (Girl
B)

The girl who seemed to be the leader said this with a smirk, saying
things she didn’t mean.

It was clearly a lie.

More than anything, one of them had just said “get back at her.”

“Is it that you can’t do anything unless it’s four against one?”
(Sophia)

I tried to act like my usual self, wearing a mocking smile.

If they laid a hand on me, expulsion could be a real possibility.

Even if they wanted to get back at me, there wasn’t much they could
do.

“Tch, you’re as annoying as ever.” (Girl B)

“You’re acting all high and mighty, looking down on everyone except
yourself, aren’t you?” (Girl C)

“You’re really the worst, you know?” (Girl D)

The three of them closed in, one step at a time.

In contrast, I slowly backed away.

“What, are you running away? Are we that scary to you?” (Girl B)

“It’s not that. It’s just that I don’t know what you might do, so it’s
better to keep my distance. You guys seem like the stupid kind, after
all.” (Sophia)

“Whenever you open your mouth, you’re such an annoying woman.

Don’t worry, though, we don’t plan on using violence.” (Girl B)

“Yeah, exactly. We just want you to apologize. On your knees, in

front of us.” (Girl C)

What on earth were they saying?

They clearly wanted to humiliate me, but I didn’t need to listen to

them.

“By the way, you’re famous for being smart, but it’s honestly kind of
stupid for you to come here all alone.” (Girl B)

“It’s not that, Ri-chan. She probably has no friends to bring with her.
You know, a solitary flower and all~” (Girl D)
“Ah, I get it now. Well, with a personality that bad, I guess it makes
sense~” (Girl B)

“…………” (Sophia)

They were saying whatever they wanted, not knowing a thing.

That’s why I couldn’t stand these shallow, thoughtless people.

“What’s with that defiant look? You really think you’re in a higher
position than us, even now?” (Girl B)

The leader, who had been smirking with a disgusting smile,

suddenly shifted to an expression that was borderline threatening.

So, this was her true nature.

“Hey, don’t lay your hands on her. Things will get complicated
afterward.” (Girl A)

“We get it, don’t worry, A-chan. We’re not that stupid.” (Girl B)
After saying that, they glanced at the downer girl, and then reached
for my clothes.

“No…!” (Sophia)

I instinctively slapped the hand that was coming toward me.

What were they planning to do…!?

“Ouch! Ugh, look at that. It’s all red.” (Girl B)

“Wow, it really is! Should I tell the teacher about this?” (Girl C)

“Hehe, then Frost-san—no, Shirakawa-san might get suspended for

using violence.” (Girl D)

Crap, I walked right into their trap…!

Even though I thought that it was already too late.

Once I struck out, I was at a disadvantage.

“It’s because you reached for my clothes…!” (Sophia)

“Do you have any proof ?” (Girl B)

The leader-like girl tilted her head with a clueless expression.

So fake…

“Proof…? Well, you don’t have any proof that I slapped you either!”
(Sophia)

“No, no, DNE testing? Was it?” (Girl B)

“Haa… It’s called DNA testing.” (Girl A)

“Yeah, DNA testing! A-chan, you’re so smart~ If we have that done,

we could prove that Frost-san did it, right? And—” (Girl B)

The leader looked at the downer girl.

“If we edit the video we took and only show the part where
Shirakawa-san hit us, we can make it look like she was the one who
did it.” (Girl B)

“——!” (Sophia)

I’ve been set up…

Since she had been fiddling with her phone from the moment I
arrived, I hadn’t paid much attention, but it turns out she was
recording the video…

“What are you going to do? You don’t want to be suspended, right?
Then, apologize by getting on the ground. If you do that, we might
forgive you—” (Girl B)

“Don’t joke with me! Who would do that?! Even if you edited the
video, and I can’t deny that I was the one who slapped you, in the
end, you were the one who reached for my clothes first! The
teachers will believe me over you, given my usual behavior! Besides,
forcing someone to bow down like that is a crime called coercion!”
(Sophia)

I desperately rattled off my points.

If I gave in to people like this once, I’d be nothing more than a
doormat for them from then on.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“…A-chan, it didn’t work.” (Girl B)

The leader girl shot a cold look at the downer girl.

“I told you, someone like her who thinks things through wouldn’t be
easy to trick. And the one who insisted on doing this is—” (Girl A)

“Ah, whatever. I thought maybe it could work since she’s the type to
rush in alone without consulting anyone. Anyway, you’re talking
about crimes, but?” (Girl B)

“She didn’t record anything, so if we just play dumb, it’ll be fine.”

(Girl C)

“Oh, right.” (Girl A)

I started to see it more clearly.

Just because they’re always together doesn’t mean they’re all on the
same page.

It’s not just friendship—they probably have some shared interests or

benefits that keep them together.

If I could just get away while they’re distracted…

“Ugh, this is getting so annoying.” (Girl B)

The leader-like girl walked over to a rusty faucet nearby.

What was she planning to do? I stayed alert, watching her closely,
and then she grabbed the connected hose and twisted the handle
hard.

“Eh—ah!” (Sophia)

The water shot out forcefully, hitting me directly.

“R-Rii-chan, that’s going too far!?” (Girl C)

“We just wanted her to bow down and that was supposed to be the
end of it!” (Girl D)

It seemed this wasn’t part of the plan, as the other girls were
shocked.

I had underestimated her.

“Ugh… seriously, that’s going too far… The teachers are going to
find out…” (Girl C)

“If we say she accidentally got splashed while we were playing with
water because it’s hot, it’ll just be a warning, right? Anyway, make
sure you get a good shot. Her underwear is a rare sight~” (Girl B)

The leader-like girl smirked as she spoke, and I quickly covered my

chest with my hands.

The water had made my clothes cling to my body, and my bra was
visible through the wet fabric.

“Hey, hey, you guys better help cover this up too.” (Girl B)
“Wait, Rii-chan!?” (Girl C)

“No way, us too?!” (Girl D)

The leader-like girl splashed water not just on me, but also on the
two girls, excluding the one with the phone. Then, she drenched
herself from head to toe as well.

To go this far without any hesitation…

“She’s crazy…” (Girl A)

The downer-type girl muttered the words I had been thinking.

The other three were too busy splashing water around to notice.

That leader-like girl was a dangerous person.

If I stay here, I have no idea what they’ll do to me.

I need to escape…
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going? We’re not done talking
yet.” (Girl B)

As I tried to run, my hand was grabbed from behind.

“Let go…!” (Sophia)

“There’s no point in getting you wet if we don’t get a proper shot,

right? Let me take the picture.” (Girl B)

“No…! Somebody, help me…!” (Sophia)

Without thinking, I cried out for help.

“Heh, finally, that expression. After all the times you mocked me,
now it’s time to make you suffer even more—” (Girl B)

“—Suffer more, huh?” (?)

“Of course, I’m going to make you—wait, huh…?” (Girl B)

She must have sensed something was off.

The voice didn’t belong to anyone here, and it made her turn toward
where the sound had come from.

“Looks like you’re making quite a scene.” (?)

The person who appeared from the corner, looking confused and
furrowing his brows, was Shirokawa-kun.

“Sh-Shirokawa-kun…!” (Sophia)

The moment I saw his face, I called out his name before I could even
process the thought.

In a desperate situation, an unexpected light shone through.

“Why is Kento-kun here…?” (Girl A)

The downer-type gal, now pale, stared at Shirakawa-kun.

He approached her and spoke.

“Let me guess… you’re Rindou Arise, right? Could you delete that
video?” (Kento)

“Y-Yes…” (Girl A)

Rindou-san, the downer-type gal, quickly started tapping away on

her phone at his request.

The fact that he knew her name meant… they must have talked
before.

“What do you think you’re doing!?” (Girl B)

Naturally, the leader-like gal was furious, as all the effort they had
put into their plan was now in vain.

But by the time she was angry, Rindou-san had already finished.

“I deleted it…” (Girl A)

At this point, no amount of anger would change anything.

“Ah… I remember that you used to come to support so often… such
a shame.” (Kento)

Shirakawa-kun nodded but didn’t offer any words of thanks. Instead,

he stared at Rindou-san with cold eyes.

Just that was enough to make her slump to the ground as if her legs
had given out.

It seemed that being as sharp as she was, she understood what

those cold eyes and words meant.

“Uh, w-we didn’t mean to take it this far…” (Girl C)

“Yeah… It was Rii-chan who did it on her own. We were just

dragged into this…” (Girl D)

“What are you two saying!?” (Girl B)

Realizing they were at a disadvantage with Shirakawa-kun’s arrival,

the two girls decided to distance themselves from the leader.
As they said, it was the leader-like girl who had gone overboard,
acting on her own, but…

“I saw everything. Yes, it was Rii-chan over there who threw the
water, but before that, didn’t you all harass Frost-san?” (Kento)

Whether he was bluffing or had really been watching from the start, I
couldn’t tell.

But, just as he said, the others were equally guilty in my eyes.

“I didn’t do anything…” (Girl A)

Rindou-san, who had collapsed on the ground, muttered quietly.

Since she was a fan of Shirakawa-kun, it must have been painful for
her to be disliked by him.

I could understand why she wanted to explain herself.

However…
“By staying with them and not stopping it, you’re just as guilty.
Besides, you lent them your knowledge, recorded the video, and
cooperated with their schemes. No matter the reason, it’s not
something that can be forgiven.” (Kento)

“――Ugh…” (Girl A)

Rindou-san’s eyes welled up with tears at Shirakawa-kun’s calm

words.

He likely understood that there was some reason why they were all
together, from the way they interacted with each other.

It was probably because of power dynamics within the class or

something similar.

But even so, being an accomplice wasn’t something that could be

excused.

…For just a moment, I felt a little sorry for her…

“What do you think you’re doing, acting all high and mighty? Do you
think you’re the hero here? What are you going to do, without any
evidence of us doing anything? Maybe you shouldn’t have erased
that video after all?” (Girl B)

The girl, who seemed to be the leader, hadn’t given up yet. She
glared at Shirakawa-kun, her eyes narrowed with anger.

“Since you don’t seem very smart, let me teach you something.
Eyewitness testimony counts as evidence, you know that, right?”
(Kento)

Shirakawa-kun turned his gaze toward me.

So, I nodded and spoke up.

“Uh, yes, eyewitness testimony of an incident is usually accepted as

evidence.” (Sophia)

“With that, don’t think you can talk your way out of this just because
you’re drenched from head to toe in water. Did you think you could
get away scot-free?” (Kento)

I had never seen him this angry before.

At the same time, his presence felt safe and reliable.

The fear I had earlier had completely disappeared.

“…Tch, you’re so disgusting. Acting all serious with this nonsense.”

(Girl B)

She turned on her heel as if trying to escape.

The two other girls tried to follow her, but—

“Hold it.” (Kento)

Shirakawa-kun stopped them from running.

“What, is there something else? If you want to snitch to the teachers,

go ahead.” (Girl B)

It seemed like she was trying to act defiant.

“You don’t seem to be regretting this at all, so let me make it clear.
This girl is someone important to me, someone I consider family. If
you lay a hand on her again, you won’t get off easy.” (Kento)

“…!? ” (Sophia)

I was shocked by his quiet but angry words.

Me… Important!?

What is he saying at a time like this?!

“Gross, seriously gross.” (Girl B)

“Ah, Rii-chan, wait for me…” (Girl C)

“Don’t leave me behind!” (Girl D)

“Shut up! You guys sold me out, so remember that!” (Girl B)

The girls argued as they walked away.

—Wait, there’s still one left, though…

Shirakawa-kun walked toward the remaining girl.

…He’s not even going to talk to me…

“Do you regret it?” (Kento)

“Of course…” (Girl A)

“Even if you regret it, what you did won’t go away.” (Kento)

He said something unusually cold.

I had always thought he was someone who couldn’t be cold to

others.

“Well, isn’t it possible to start over?” (Kento)

It seemed my assumption wasn’t wrong after all.

His expression remained cold, but he extended a hand to her with
his words.

“How… do I do that?” (Girl A)

“Figure it out yourself. It’s not something I should show you.”

(Kento)

As he said that, he glanced at me briefly.

Wasn’t that already giving her the answer?

“…Right.” (Girl A)

She seemed to understand, standing up and walking toward me.

“I’m sorry for what I did… I used you for my own sake…” (Girl A)

I don’t know what she’ll do from here, but first, she needs to
apologize to me for the terrible things she did.

Or at least that’s why Shirakawa-kun looked at me.

“I get it, wanting to avoid things because you don’t want it
happening to you, or needing to go along with others to fit in— I
understand that feeling. I’ve often been on the receiving end of that.
But I can’t forgive you.” (Sophia)

If she thinks that apologizing will make everything okay, she’s

gravely mistaken.

The perpetrators think that an apology will fix things, but it doesn’t
clear up the victim’s feelings at all.

“I understand… I don’t expect to be forgiven for something like

this…” (Girl A)

It seems she truly gets it.

“Good, then. I don’t know what you’ll do, but I expect you to show
your sincerity from here on.” (Sophia)

Whether I forgive her or not depends on her actions from now on.

This is how it should be…right?

When I looked at him with that in mind, he looked so surprised.

What’s with that face…!

Could it be that he thought I was going to yell at her and refuse to

forgive her!?

That’s definitely the kind of face he’s making, right!?

Seeing that clearly disrespectful expression, I couldn’t help but think

that, but since he had helped me, I forced myself to hold back.

And then—

“Thank you…” (Girl A)

I was suddenly thanked by Rindou-san.

I felt strangely conflicted.

After all, it wasn’t something I should be thanked for.

She then bowed her head apologetically before leaving.

I want to believe that wasn’t just an act.

“Are you okay?” (Kento)

Once we were alone, he finally spoke to me.

This guy isn’t doing this on purpose, right…?

“Yeah, I’m fine…” (Sophia)

I nodded quietly, still a bit bothered by being left alone, but I didn’t
want to worry him any further. The physical exhaustion was
growing, but I kept it to myself.

…Come to think of it, how exactly did he end up here?

“Um—” (Sophia)
“You’re going to catch a cold if you don’t change soon. But, of
course, you can’t walk around the hallway like that… Wait a
moment.” (Kento)

I was about to ask, but for some reason, he walked off toward a
corner. Then, he picked up a phone that had been on the ground and
started fiddling with it.

…Why was there a phone in that place?

“Hello, is this Kujouin-san? Actually—” (Kento)

He made a call and started speaking.

He was probably explaining the situation, but I had no idea who he

was talking to…

“They’ll be here soon, so just wait a little longer. In the meantime, let
me give you this.” (Kento)

“This…?” (Sophia)
Through a chat app, he sent me a video that had recorded
everything from earlier.

It looked like he had been recording the entire thing too.

“It seemed suspicious, and I had seen those girls harassing Frost-san
a few times, so I decided to record it just in case.” (Kento)

With solid proof in hand, and yet, he didn’t even hint at it to the girls
earlier—this guy sure knew how to play his cards. A catcher, indeed,
he was no easy opponent…

“If we use this, you’ll be able to explain why you’re wet to the
teachers, and we can get those girls punished. Whatever punishment
they end up getting, it’ll be their own fault.” (Kento)

Even if they were to face harsh consequences, there was no need to

feel sympathy for them.

“—Sorry to keep you waiting… Wow, you’re really soaked…”

(Nadeshiko)

After a short while, a beautiful woman with black hair came up to us.
I recognized her on TV; she was the manager of the baseball team.
Her name was Kujouin-senpai, if I remember correctly.

In her hands were a few towels and a jacket from a tracksuit.

“Sorry to interrupt your lunch break.” (Kento)

“No, it’s fine. I just finished eating, actually. Plus, I’m happy you
relied on me.” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai smiled warmly, a genuinely kind expression on her

face.

I had heard rumors about her before, but seeing her up close, I could
tell she really was a kind-hearted person.

…They must be really close to each other…

“Thank you. If I went with her, it might cause some

misunderstandings, so I was Kujouin-senpai could handle the rest
since you’re more trusted with teachers.” (Kento)
“Yeah, it’s also easier to handle things between girls. I’ll talk to the
teachers and make sure to get a spare uniform for her, so don’t
worry.” (Nadeshiko)

After saying that to Shirakawa-kun, she turned to look at me.

“This is the first time we’re talking to each other, right? I’m Kujouin
Nadeshiko, a second-year in the General Course. I’m sorry for what
my kouhais did to you.” (Nadeshiko)

She bowed deeply.

“Why are you apologizing, senpai…?” (Sophia)

I couldn’t understand why she was apologizing, so I asked without

thinking.

“Well, since they’re from the same course, as a senpai, I need to

apologize. Also, I don’t want everyone in the General Course to be
seen the same as those who harmed you.” (Nadeshiko)

I see… That makes sense.

People often tend to judge others by the groups they belong to.

If even one person does something wrong, everyone in their group

is often judged the same way.

That’s why the school takes strict measures to control students’

behavior, to prevent any bad rumors from spreading.

“Let me help with your hair.” (Nadeshiko)

She draped a towel over my hair and began gently drying it.
“I can do it myself…” (Sophia)

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Everything here is fresh, so don’t worry. I’ll help
wipe your body when you change.” (Nadeshiko)

She really seemed like a caring senpai.

Even though we have no real connection, and I’m known for being
cold to others, she’s still helping me.

“This is my spare jersey, but you can wear it for now.” (Nadeshiko)

After drying my hair, she put the jacket of the jersey over my
shoulders.

“Eh, but my clothes are all wet…” (Sophia)

“It’s fine. It’s actually better if you take them off first, but I’m sure
you’re worried about being seen, right?” (Nadeshiko)

Since the only male here is Shirokawa-kun, as long as he doesn’t

look—well, it’s not like I can tell him not to.
Since we were outside, who knew who might be watching, and the
thought of being in my underwear without a shirt on top was both
embarrassing and unpleasant.

“Your clothes are see-through, so I’ll make sure to cover you up like
this so no one can see.” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai’s attention to detail is remarkable.

I wonder if being a manager has helped her become this considerate.

“Well, I’ll take her with me now. What about you, Kento-kun?”
(Nadeshiko)

After putting the jersey on me, she turned her gaze to Shirokawa-
kun.

She calls him Kento-kun… by his first name.

“If I go with you, it would defeat the purpose of having you come, so
I’ll return a little later. I’ve already handed over the video to Frost-
san.” (Kento)
“I see, understood. I think the teachers will probably come to ask
you about it later, so please be ready to talk to them.” (Nadeshiko)

“Got it, please take care of her.” (Kento)

We left Shirokawa-kun behind and headed back toward the school

building.

On the way there…

“Frost-san… Hmm, maybe I should call you Shirokawa-san for

now?” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai spoke up as we started walking.

“Either way is fine…” (Sophia)

“I see, then I’ll call you Shirokawa-san. Are you close with Kento-
kun?” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed like SKujouin-senpai was trying to make small talk to
avoid an awkward silence between the two of us. Or maybe she was
just curious about my relationship with him…

“No, in fact, I think we’re on bad terms…” (Sophia)

I answered honestly.

I figured there was no point in lying here.

“Well… rumors can be exaggerated, so I didn’t believe everything I

heard… but I don’t think you two are actually on bad terms.”
(Nadeshiko)

Although I wasn’t sure which rumors Kujouin-senpai was referring

to, it seemed like she didn’t quite believe me when I said we weren’t
close.

“Why do you think that…?” (Sophia)

“It’s just a woman’s intuition, I guess. I could tell just by watching the
two of you.” (Nadeshiko)
She hesitated for a moment.

“Also, I’ve never heard him get angry before.” (Nadeshiko)

It was true that Shirokawa-kun had never raised his voice. Since
Kujouin-senpai arrived, he seemed particularly calm. Still, to her,
something had probably felt off.

“You see, he really dislikes conflict. He’s in a position where he has

to keep his teammates together, so I think he just hates when
relationships sour. He’d rather brush things off with a smile, or speak
carefully to avoid making things worse… He doesn’t like leaving
things unresolved. For him to get that angry… I think it means
you’re really important to him.” (Nadeshiko)

I couldn’t help but gasp at her words.

Even though we often clashed and I would snap back at him, it was
probably because I was the one pushing his buttons too much.

More importantly, he actually said that I was an important person to

him.
If someone who’s been observing him also says the same thing then,
it must be true.

What should I do? My heart is starting to race…

“Honestly, I was worried, but it looks like you don’t dislike Kento-
kun anymore, which is a relief.” (Nadeshiko)

“Dislike him…? Well, he did help me earlier, so…” (Sophia)

I said that much, but then I suddenly realized.

I haven’t thanked him yet…

“U-Um, is it okay if I go back for a moment?!” (Sophia)

“Huh? Did you forget something?” (Nadeshiko)

“I… I didn’t thank him…” (Sophia)

“Ah…” (Nadeshiko)
When she heard my words, Kujouin-senpai looked surprised.

And then—she quickly broke into a kind smile.

“Yeah, that’s something you definitely need to tell him. It’s fine, let’s
go back.” (Nadeshiko)

I’ve met a lot of people, but I’ve never been around someone I don’t
mind spending time with as much as her.

I’ve heard she’s the most popular person at school, but it’s probably
not just because of her cute looks.

I can understand why so many people are drawn to her.

Maybe even he…

“—Huh? He’s not here…” (Sophia)

When we returned to the back of the school building, he wasn’t

there.
Where could he have gone…?

“He’s this way.” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai, who seemed to know something, smiled and

pointed towards a corner deeper inside.

Now that I think about it, he came out from that direction earlier…

I walked toward the corner.

—Whoosh! Whoosh!

What is that wind-cutting sound…?

Suddenly, I heard a sound like wind cutting through the air, and I
became confused.

As I got closer to the corner, the sound grew louder.

Peering around the corner, I saw—

“Ha…!” (Kento)

There was Shirakawa-kun, in his school uniform, swinging a bat.

“He always practices here during lunch break. Normally, he eats in

the cafeteria first, but since he has his bento today, it looks like he
came straight here after class.” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai, explaining, pointed out the bento I had given him,

which was placed in the corner.

Has he not eaten yet…?

“Why is he practicing his swing in secret like this…?” (Sophia)

“Well, he’s actually hiding. He doesn’t want anyone to see him

putting in the effort.” (Nadeshiko)

“Why…?” (Sophia)

I looked at Kujouin-senpai, not quite understanding.

“Apparently, things happened in the past. He doesn’t do it to be
praised, but for his own growth, so he avoids creating unnecessary
conflicts.” (Nadeshiko)

Did he have issues with teammates because of his effort? It’s hard
for me to imagine.

“That said, wouldn’t it have been better to not bring me along if

that’s the case…?” (Sophia)

Knowing that he was trying to hide, she hadn’t stopped me. In fact,
she had even told me where he was.

“Kento-kun will probably be upset with me for bringing you here. But
I think someone should know about his hard work. He tends to be
misunderstood because of his appearance and attitude. People think
he only gets results through talent without putting in any effort. Well,
it’s partly because he acts that way, though.” (Nadeshiko)

My chest hurt.

Even though I knew she didn’t mean it that way, it felt like she was
talking about me.
I am one of those people who had also judged him based on his
appearance.

“Do you often see him like this, Senpai?” (Sophia)

I asked, sensing it from the way she spoke.

“Ahaha… I might be misunderstood if I say this, but I sneak a peek

during lunch break unless I have something else to do. I mean, he’s
kind of cool, right?” (Nadeshiko)

…What kind of misunderstanding is she talking about?

I was curious, but asking felt a bit scary.

“Aren’t you going to say anything to him?” (Nadeshiko)

“Just wait a moment, please…” (Sophia)

I watched him swing the bat.

His posture was wide, with his back hand held high, and the bat
angled towards the pitcher as if preparing to throw.

His legs were firmly planted, and as he rotated his hips, his front leg
stretched out sharply while his back leg briefly lifted off the ground
during the swing.

Yet, his head barely moved at all during the swing.

I noticed this when I reviewed the footage repeatedly.

This batting form… it’s just like my dad’s.

“…Sorry, but if you stay here for too long in those wet clothes, you’ll
catch a cold.” (Nadeshiko)

“Eh—” (Sophia)

“Hey, Kento-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?” (Nadeshiko)

While I was still confused, Kujouin-senpai called out to Shirokawa-

kun.
“…Seriously?” (Kento)

He must have been deeply focused, as he didn’t notice us until he

was addressed. He quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed.

Just as Kujouin-senpai had said, he probably didn’t want anyone to

see him practicing his swing.

“Is there something you forgot?” (Kento)

“If you’re talking about something being forgotten, I suppose it’s

something like that. Look, Shirakawa-san.” (Nadeshiko)

A gentle push was given to my back.

I walked over to Shirakawa-kun’s side and looked into his eyes.

“Um… I forgot to thank you… Thank you for helping me…” (Sophia)

“Eh, that’s all? You didn’t have to come all the way here to say that.”
(Kento)
Shirakawa-kun scratched his cheek with his finger, his face slightly
reddened, as his gaze shifted away from mine.

He seemed embarrassed.

“It’s important to express your gratitude. Well then, Shirakawa-san,

shall we head to the staff room?” (Nadeshiko)

It seemed like she was ready to move on since the task was finished.

She probably wanted to leave quickly since having me stay in wet

clothes would lead to a cold.

However…

“Ah, um…” (Sophia)

I hesitated at Kujoin-senpai’s words, still having something I wanted

to say.

“Is there something else on your mind?” (Kento)

Noticing my hesitation, Shirokawa-kun seemed to realize something
and asked me first.

“Did you not eat your lunch yet…?” (Sophia)

“Ah… sorry, I was planning to eat it later. Can you wait a bit before
asking for my opinion on it?” (Kento)

It seemed like he thought I was concerned about his feedback on the

lunch.

“That’s not it… I haven’t eaten yet either… After finding the teacher
and changing out, would it be okay if I came back here?” (Sophia)

I had originally planned to visit him during lunch. I just wanted to

make up for what had happened before, even if only a little.

“…” (Kento & Nadeshiko)

Both Shirokawa-kun and Kujouin-senpai froze, seemingly caught off

guard by my question.

It must have been so unexpected for them.

“Ah, well, it’s not that I have any ulterior motive…! I just cooked after
a long time, so I’m curious about your thoughts on it…!” (Sophia)

Flustered by the awkward atmosphere, I hastily made an excuse.

That wasn’t what I meant, but it just slipped out of my mouth.

“I see… But, do you have enough time…?” (Kento)

Shirokawa-kun, who seemed to have understood, looked at his

phone with a troubled expression.

Since quite a bit of time had already passed during lunch, if I had to
report to the teacher and change out, there might not be much time
left to eat.

“…If the timing is too tight, I can contact him for you. How does that
sound?” (Nadeshiko)

Kujouin-senpai, who had been listening to the conversation, kindly

offered that suggestion.
I figured it would be my responsibility to contact him, but I realized
she was probably thinking about the possibility of me getting stuck
with the teachers for too long.

If that happened, I wouldn’t have time to contact him, so it would be

much quicker if she did it for me.

“You’re right… I’m sorry, could you please do that?” (Sophia)

In response, Kujouin-senpai smiled faintly, her expression tinged

with a hint of sadness.

“Yeah. I’d love to join you too… but unfortunately, I already ate, so I
can’t eat with you guys.” (Nadeshiko)

It seemed she wanted to eat together after all.

“……” (Sophia)

“Come on, Shirokawa-san. If that’s the case, we need to hurry, or

we’ll run out of time!” (Nadeshiko)

As I stared at Kujouin-senpai, deep in thought, she grabbed my arm.

“Well then, Kento-kun, I’ll contact you later.” (Nadeshiko)

“Yes, I’m sorry for the trouble.” (Kento)

“It’s fine. It’s for my cute kouhai, after all.” (Nadeshiko)

With that, she smiled and pulled me along.

After that, I explained everything to the teachers, and with Kujouin-

senpai’s support, they immediately believed me. Thanks to her
skillful explanation, they decided that we would discuss the details
after school, and I was able to borrow a spare uniform.

After repeatedly thanking her, I went to the changing room to

change. Once I finished changing, I went to find Shirakawa-kun, and
we enjoyed eating lunch together.

By the way, this is a side note, but based on the video, the actions of
the girls were judged to be malicious, and the one who seemed to be
their leader was expelled, while the other three received a one-
month suspension. The leader was expelled because her actions
were deemed too dangerous, and they couldn’t let her stay at the
school.
It was all their own fault, so I think it was for the best.

However, regarding Shirokawa-kun…

“There’s no guarantee that something like today won’t happen again,

so if it does, don’t hesitate to call me. After all, I’m technically your
brother… okay? Well, I hope things don’t end up like this again, and
that you can get along better with those around you.” (Kento)

While we were eating lunch, he gave me a troubled smile and gently

warned me in a roundabout way.

<Kento’s PoV>

“Kujouin-san.” (Kento)

After club activities ended, I called out to Kujouin-san, who was

washing the water jug.

Because of that, not only Kujouin-san but also the other managers
turned their gazes toward me all at once, making me feel a bit
awkward.
“Oh, Kento-kun, good work. What’s up?” (Nadeshiko)

“Thank you for what happened during lunch. Um… when you were
alone with her, she didn’t do anything rude, did she…?” (Kento)

I thought she’d be okay, but I wanted to make sure, just in case.

With the way she usually acts around me, she might have casually
said something hurtful, even to people who had done something
kind for her out of goodwill.

“Hehe, I don’t know what you’re worried about, but she was a very
sweet girl. Rumors are just rumors, after all.” (Nadeshiko)

She clearly understood exactly what I was concerned about.

Relieved that there hadn’t been any issues, I let out a quiet sigh of
relief.

However—

“Wait, could it be… are you talking about Frost-san!?” (Student)

The other managers looked at me with expressions of extreme
surprise.

Even though I hadn’t mentioned her name, they seemed to figure it

out.

“That’s right?” (Nadeshiko)

Kujoin-san tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

“A really good girl…? I’ve spoken to her before, and she just gave me
a cold response…” (Student)

“Yeah, it was like she didn’t even want to be talked to! She was super
scary…” (Student)

“Totally, she felt like an actual ice queen…” (Student)

It seemed that not only Shouta but also a few others had tried their
luck and failed miserably.

Everyone here is so socially adept…

“Is that so? Well, in my case, I think it had a lot to do with the
circumstances—” (Nadeshiko)

For some reason, Kujouin-san glanced at me briefly.

“Maybe some prince on a white horse managed to melt her icy

heart.” (Nadeshiko)

Then, with a meaningful remark, she smiled at me.

“Wait, what are you even saying!?” (Kento)

She said something outrageous, and my face immediately grew hot.

This has to be a complete misunderstanding because of the lunch

exchange at noon…!

“Ah~~” (Students)

The other managers, for some reason, nodded in apparent

agreement, all while staring at my face.
The girls are all in the General Course, but I wonder if rumors with
exaggerated details about Frost-san and me being lovey-dovey are
spreading.

“Kujouin-san, please don’t say things that might cause weird

misunderstandings…!” (Kento)

“Is it really a misunderstanding?” (Nadeshiko)

She stared intently at my face with innocent eyes.

“Ugh… I have errands to run after this, so I’m just going to change
and head home…!” (Kento)

I didn’t feel like I could win an argument with her, just like with
Frost-san, but in a different way.

No matter how much I try to explain myself, I always end up losing

before I even notice.

“He ran away.” (Student)

“Definitely ran.” (Student)

“That’s rare.” (Student)

The managers behind me were saying whatever they wanted, but I

chose to ignore them.

By tomorrow, they’ll probably forget all about what happened today.

…Probably.

“Haa… it might have been unconscious, but it hit the mark, didn’t
it…?” (Nadeshiko)

“Senpai…?” (Student)

“Mm, it’s nothing. Let’s hurry up and finish cleaning so we can head
home.” (Nadeshiko)

“Okay~!” (Student)
Hearing the energetic voices from behind, I reflexively turned
around to see the managers briskly resuming their cleanup.

It seemed our conversation was over.

“I hope they don’t get the wrong idea…” (Kento)

With that thought, I entered the clubroom and quickly changed my

clothes.

Some time later—I went to pick up Frost-san from her cram school.

……

“Oh, there she is.” (Kento)

Having already drawn attention before, I decided not to worry about

the eyes around me and waited near the cram school. Soon, I
spotted Frost-san.

But something felt off.

Wasn’t she wobbling a bit…?

Her steps looked unsteady.

Now that I think about it, it was unusual for her to have overslept
this morning… I wonder if she’s okay?

“Frost-san, are you okay?” (Kento)

I quickly called out to her.

“Ah, Shirakawa-kun… You came to pick me up. Thank you…”

(Sophia)

When Frost-san noticed me, she smiled brightly.

…She definitely has a fever, doesn’t she?

She’s been acting strange all day.

I mean, normally, she wouldn’t smile at me like this just because I

came to pick her up… right?
“You look unwell. Could it be that you’ve got a fever?” (Kento)

What came to mind was the incident during lunch when water was
poured on her.

Even though it’s summer, if she was already feeling unwell and then
got soaked, it wouldn’t be surprising if her condition worsened and
she developed a fever.

“I’m fine… It’s just that today’s lessons were difficult, and I
overworked my brain a little too much…” (Sophia)

No… she doesn’t look fine at all.

Still, even if I pressed her about it, I doubted she’d be honest with
me.

If anything, she might get upset and insist on going home alone.

In her current state, I’d be in trouble if she made such a selfish

demand, so I decided to just keep an eye on her for now.
“What about dinner? Do you want to eat out on the way home?”
(Kento)

If she’s feeling this bad, cooking would probably be impossible.

That’s why I asked, but…

“Sorry, would it be alright if we just got a convenience store bento

today…?” (Sophia)

Seems like even eating out seemed too much for her.

As I thought, her condition seemed pretty bad.

We should get back home quickly so that she can rest.

“Got it. Let’s grab a bento and get you home to rest.” (Kento)

“Yes, thank you…” (Sophia)

We bought bentos from the convenience store at the station, took

the train, and returned home.
After changing into casual clothes, we began eating—but…

“……..” (Sophia)

Frost-san’s chopsticks barely moved.

“Are you really okay…?” (Kento)

“Sorry, I don’t seem to have much of an appetite right now. I’ll eat it
later…” (Sophia)

Saying this, she closed the lid of her bento.

“If you’re feeling unwell, let’s go to visit the doctor.” (Kento)

I thought it would be better to have her checked before her

condition worsened further.

The night clinic should be able to see her.

However—
“I’m fine… It’s just that I’m tired from everything. I’ll go rest first.”
(Sophia)

With that, Frost-san left the living room.

She seemed to be in pretty bad shape… but if she said she’d rest,
then maybe it was fine.

For now, I decided to prepare the bath and wash my practice

clothes.

After washing my practice uniform and getting the bath ready—

“Frost-san, the bath is ready. Can you take it?” (Kento)

I went to call out to her.

She always takes the bath first, and warming up her body might help.

But there was no response from inside.

Had she already fallen asleep?

“If you’re not going to bathe, it’d help if you could at least bring out
your wet uniform for washing…” (Sophia)

Still, there was no response from inside.

“So, no answer after all…” (Kento)

If she’s asleep, there’s no need to wake her up.

With that in mind, I was about to leave the room, but—

“Is she really just asleep…?” (Kento)

A bad feeling crept over me.

If she’s only sleeping, that’s fine.

I’ll deal with the scolding later.

But if she wasn’t sleeping and had fainted instead—thinking that, I
hesitantly opened the door to her room.

And there she was—Frost-san, slumped over her desk.

“Hah… hah…” (Sophia)

“Hey, are you okay…!?” (Kento)

Her breathing was clearly irregular, so I quickly placed my hand on

her forehead.

“It’s burning up…! You’ve definitely got a fever…!” (Kento)

Frost-san’s temperature was far from normal. It could easily be close

to 40°C.

“I’m… fine… it’s just… a cold…” (Sophia)

Her consciousness seemed hazy.

In her right hand was a mechanical pencil, and on the desk were a
reference book and a partially filled notebook.

Even in this condition… She said she’d rest, but she was still
studying…

“Idiot, why are you studying!? Just rest already!” (Kento)

I was so angry that I couldn’t help but shout at her.

“Be… because…” (Sophia)

“No excuses! Wait here, I’m calling an ambulance right now!”

(Kento)

If it were just a fever, I would’ve considered taking a taxi, but with

her barely conscious, she needed medical attention immediately.

I called for an ambulance and waited for it to arrive.

After accompanying her to the hospital—

“It’s just a cold. She was already worn out from accumulated fatigue,
and staying in wet clothes made her condition worse.” (Doctor)

—It wasn’t a severe infection or anything serious.

I let out a sigh of relief.

I had been asked if there was anything that could have worsened her
condition so I mentioned her wet clothes.

“She just needs to rest, right?” (Kento)

“Yes, give her the prescribed medicine and ensure she stays quiet.
The fever should go down by tomorrow morning.” (Doctor)

Thank goodness…

She really made me worry…

I gently stroked Frost-san’s head as she slept.

I can’t stand losing someone close to me again.

I was relieved that it was just a cold that would get better with rest.

Afterward, I thanked the doctor, paid the medical fees, and collected
her medicine.

Then, I carried her on my back, took a taxi, and brought her home.

“Make sure you rest properly, alright?” (Kento)

I laid Frost-san on her bed, placed an ice pillow under her head, and
softly stroked her hair once more.

“Mm…” (Sophia)

Right after I stroked her head, Frost-san’s eyes slowly opened.

Ah… I messed up…

It seemed my stroking had woken her up.

“Shirakawa… kun…” (Sophia)

“Sorry, I woke you up…” (Kento)

Her mind must still be in a haze.

Her eyes were glazed over and feverish.

I really felt bad for waking her up…

“………” (Sophia)

Right after that, she grabbed my hand, which I had pulled away from
her head.

“Huh—?!” (Kento)

W-Wait, is she mad that I accidentally woke her up, or is she mad
because I touched her without permission…?

I thought that might be it, but then…

“I… want you to keep doing this…” (Sophia)

I wasn’t scolded, but for some reason, she grabbed my hand.

“Frost-san…?” (Kento)

“Sophia…” (Sophia)

“Huh…?” (Kento)

“I’m not Frost anymore… So, please call me Sophia…?” (Sophia)

In a voice that was unusually sweet, like a cat’s purr, she made a
request that almost sounded like a plea.

What on earth happened to her?

Was she feeling affectionate because of the fever…?

“Don’t you mind?” (Kento)

I had thought for sure that she’d dislike being called Sophia, so I
always called her Frost-san.
That’s why, now, when she asks me to call her Sophia, I feel a little
lost.

“Mm… I want you to call me Sophia…” (Sophia)

It seemed that, contrary to what I thought, she actually wanted to be

called Sophia.

Now that I thought about it, it made sense. If her last name had
changed, it would probably feel strange to still be called by her old
family name…

She hadn’t said it sooner likely because of her personality.

“Well then…” (Kento)

It was rare for me to call a girl by her first name, so I felt nervous.

My throat had somehow dried up without me noticing.

But then…
“Sophia…?” (Kento)

I managed to force the words out, calling her name.

“Ah… ehehe…” (Sophia)

She was definitely still out of it from the fever.

She gave me a cute smile, almost like a young child.

“Is this okay?” (Kento)

“Mm…” (Sophia)

She nodded happily, and perhaps satisfied, she closed her eyes.

However, she was still holding my hand tightly, not letting go.

“I guess it can’t be helped, right…?” (Kento)

If this was the usual Frost—no Sophia, she would probably be noisy.
But now, she had grabbed my hand, so I couldn’t just leave.

I didn’t want to wake her up by trying to pull my hand away, so I

decided to wait until her grip loosened.

More importantly, even though the doctor said her fever would go
down by morning, she still had a fever for now.

It seemed like just a cold, but it might be better to take care of her
just in case.

“Zzz… Zzz…” (Sophia)

Thanks to the medicine, her breathing became more even, and I

could hear the steady sound of her sleep.

She really might recover by the next day.

“Still…” (Kento)

I couldn’t help but stare at her sleeping face.

When she was awake, she seemed cold and even emitted an
intimidating aura, but seeing her like this, she looked like a typical
girl her age.

She was so cute, to the point where people would compare her to
idols. Watching her sleep made me understand why everyone would
want to fuss over her.

She was really cute.

Above all, her earlier childlike smile kept replaying in my mind.

“Her room is surprisingly girly… I thought it’d be more bare.”

(Kento)

With nothing else to do, I absentmindedly looked around her room.

She must like pink.

The curtains, mats, bed, and furniture were all in shades of white
and pink.
There were also lots of stuffed animals—cats, dogs, rabbits—making
the room feel girly.

I thought that if I were to give her a stuffed animal for her birthday,
she’d probably be really happy.

“—What am I thinking?” (Kento)

There was no way she would accept a gift from me.

It would probably just end with her thinking I was creepy.

…But, as I looked at her today, I couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful
that maybe, just maybe…

“Well, chances are that she’s acting like this because of the fever.”
(Kento)

If that were the case, it’d be pretty sad if she would reject a gift from
me.

I might even start doubting people altogether.

“She sure likes to push me around…” (Kento)

Maybe it’s partly because I never really had close female friends, but
even then, there’s no girl who messes with me this much.

Ever since I started living with her, my daily life felt like it had been
turned upside down, like I was living in a completely different world.

And from here on, she’d probably continue to push me around.

“But, you know… maybe this kind of life isn’t so bad after all.”
(Kento)

Especially over the last couple of days, I couldn’t deny that, deep
down, I had enjoyed it.

At first, when we started living together, I felt nothing but dread, but
now, being with her doesn’t bother me at all.

Little by little, it seems like we’re getting more comfortable with

each other.

“I hope you get better soon.” (Kento)

I said that while staring at her sleeping face.

I waited until her grip loosened, and then when her hand was no
longer holding mine, I quietly left the room to take care of my own
things.

I soaked in the lukewarm bath, washed both her wet uniform and my
own clothes, and hung them up to dry. After that, I threw the
laundry—underwear and towels—into the washing machine.

Once everything was done, I returned to her side, took her hand
again, and sat by her, staying close to her.

—Of course, when she woke up in the morning, I’d let go of her
hand.

<Sophia’s PoV>

“――Mnn?” (Sophia)

The soft chirping of little birds slowly woke me up.

I didn’t remember going to sleep last night… but somehow, I had
drifted off.

When did I—

“――You’re awake?” (Kento)

“…Eh?” (Sophia)

My mind froze for a moment as his face appeared in front of me.

Why… why is he here? Why is Shirakawa-kun in my room…?

“~~~!? W-what are you doing!? Why are you in my room!?” (Sophia)

“Calm down, your fever will go up again if you get worked up.”
(Kento)

“That’s impossible…! You’re in my room, you must have done

something weird—!” (Sophia)

I stopped myself there, realizing something.

After living with him for a while, I’d come to learn something about
him—he’s not the kind to do anything reckless.

There was no way he would do something like taking advantage of

me while I was in bed.

So, there must have been another reason for him being here—and
then I recalled his words: “Your fever will go up again if you get
worked up.”

…Ugh… My head is starting to hurt…

“Hey, you’re holding your head. Does it hurt?” (Kento)

He asked gently, clearly concerned about my actions.

“It’s not that… It hurts, but it’s not that kind of pain…” (Sophia)

“…?” (Kento)

He tilted his head in confusion, not understanding what I meant.

But I didn’t want to explain it.

My head really does hurt… How could I complain to him, the one
who took care of me?

“Are you really okay?” (Kento)

“Yeah, I’m fine…” (Sophia)

It’s just my heart that hurts; my body has fully recovered.

I owe that to him for taking care of me.

“I’m glad to hear that.” (Kento)

He must have really been worried about me.

He gave me a genuinely kind smile.

“—-!” (Sophia)
That smile made me hide my face in the blankets.

“Hey, are you really okay…?” (Kento)

“I told you, I’m fine…” (Sophia)

It’s just that right now, I can’t show my face…

“But your ears are red. Did your fever come back…?” (Kento)

I lifted the blanket up to cover my face, but it seemed I wasn’t fully

hidden.

“Baka…“ (Sophia)

This fever wasn’t caused by a simple cold, but something else

entirely.

He’s usually sharp, but when it comes to things like this, he’s so
dense…
“…Well, just don’t overdo it. If you’re still tired, you can sleep some
more.” (Kento)

It seemed like he misunderstood why I hid under the blanket.

But right now, it was more convenient for me that he thought that
way.

Since he didn’t seem like he was planning on leaving the room, he

was likely going to continue taking care of me.

“You’re not sleeping, are you…? You should sleep in your own
room…” (Sophia)

“I’ll sleep properly later.” (Kento)

“I see…” (Sophia)

He was so stubborn that no matter how much I tried to persuade

him, he wouldn’t rest until I did.

So, I decided to take advantage of his words and allowed myself to

fall asleep again.
Of course, I made sure to turn my back to him and close my eyes so
he wouldn’t see my sleeping face.

And when I finally woke up, it was already noon.

“Ah, you made porridge again…” (Sophia)

When Shirakawa-kun brought the freshly made porridge to me, I

couldn’t help but smile a little.

But I didn’t want him to see me in such a sloppy state, so I quickly

looked down.

“Your fever’s gone, but your cold’s not fully healed yet. It might not
taste great, but please eat it.” (Kento)

“You don’t have to be so modest…” (Sophia)

I already knew it tasted good enough.

“Do you have the strength to eat?” (Kento)

“If I said no, would you feed me…?” (Sophia)

I glanced at him, hoping for an answer.

He shifted his gaze nervously, scratching his cheek in

embarrassment.

“Well, if you can’t muster the strength, you might burn yourself
trying to eat. Sophia, if you don’t mind, I can feed you.” (Kento)

His face had a faint blush, and it was clear that he was embarrassed.

Even for someone like me, he still recognized me as a girl.

Strangely enough, I felt happy about that now.

In the past, I would have hated being treated this way.

“Well… I don’t want to burn myself, so—wait a minute.” (Sophia)

I suddenly paused, feeling that something was off.

“What’s wrong…?” (Kento)

He asked, but he wouldn’t look me in the eye.

It felt like he knew what I was going to say.

“What did you just call me?” (Sophia)

“……S-Sophia.” (Kento)

Shirakawa-kun turned his face away and, looking flustered, called

my name.

So I wasn’t mistaken after all!

“Why are you suddenly calling me by my first name…!?” (Sophia)

“No, it’s just that Sophia told me to call her that…!” (Kento)
“I did!? There’s no way I—!” (Sophia)

I was about to argue, but then a bad memory crossed my mind.

…No, wait. I didn’t want to think about it.

It was faint, but I could clearly remember saying something like that
in my dream, acting all cute and clingy toward him.

Except, that wasn’t just a dream…!

“~~~~!!” (Sophia)

Embarrassed, I buried myself deep into the blanket.

I can’t take this anymore!

Why do I have to keep going through such embarrassing

situations…!?

What in the world did I even do…!?

“U-Um, are you okay…?” (Kento)

Just like before bed, Shirakawa-kun spoke with a worried tone.

“If there’s a hole, I’d want to crawl into it…” (Sophia)

No, actually, I just want to disappear…

This is enough shame for a lifetime…

“Well… if you don’t like it, I can go back to calling you Frost-san…?”
(Kento)

Seeing me writhing in embarrassment, he must’ve misunderstood

and thought I didn’t like it.

Shirakawa-kun made that suggestion.

“……It’s fine… I don’t care anymore…” (Sophia)

“No, but…” (Kento)

“I said it’s fine!” (Sophia)

If I let him switch back to calling me by Frost, it would just make it

seem like I’m actually conscious of it…!

Even though I’m going through all this embarrassment, I need to

make sure he doesn’t think I’m aware of him…!

That’s right, I just need to stay calm, stay calm…

“Well, if Sophia is fine with it, then I guess it’s fine…” (Kento)

When he called me by my name, an uncomfortable yet pleasant

feeling washed over me.

It was like a mix of embarrassment and happiness… that kind of

feeling.

“Won’t you eat your porridge? It’ll get cold…” (Kento)

As Shirakawa-kun said, if I don’t eat it now, the porridge will get

cold.
He had made it for me, so it would be rude to let it cool down.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right… I, I mean, I might accidentally burn myself,

so… um…” (Sophia)

I said that as I poked my face out from under the blanket, trying to
steer the conversation back to the earlier exchange.

Having never really relied on anyone before, I didn’t know how to

act when I needed to depend on someone.

Especially after I’d treated him so badly, I couldn’t suddenly become

honest and clingy… so I ended up coming up with an excuse.

“Got it…” (Kento)

He said, his voice tense, as he awkwardly took the porridge from my

hand.

Then, after blowing on it with his breath, he scooped it up with the

spoon and offered it to me.

“Here, ah~n.” (Kento)

“…Ah~n.” (Sophia)

When it came time for him to feed me, the embarrassment surged
within me, but I obediently opened my mouth.

As the spoon entered my mouth, I used my lips to pull out just the
porridge inside.

When the spoon left my mouth, I slowly began to chew.

“It’s delicious…” (Sophia)

“I’m glad to hear that.” (Kento)

When I honestly shared my thoughts, he smiled happily.

Just seeing that smile made my heart race.

“Take your time to eat, okay?” (Sophia)

He said that and once again offered me the spoon with more
porridge.

Not wanting this moment to end, I took him up on his offer and
slowly continued eating the porridge.

And then, when that warm and comforting moment came to an

end…

“Thank you for the meal.” (Sophia)

Having finished the porridge, I put my hands together and bowed

my head.

It was really delicious.

My mom’s cooking is also very good, but this porridge has a

different kind of deliciousness.

It was, how should I say, something that warmed my heart…

Though I could never say that to him.

“It was a simple meal. Since you just ate, don’t overdo it, okay?”
(Kento)

“Yeah, I know.” (Sophia)

“I’ll go wash the dishes, so if you need anything, just call me.”
(Sophia)

He said that and got up from his chair.

He’s really considerate…

“I’m sorry, not only did I make you take the day off from club
activities, but I’ve also made you take care of me…” (Sophia)

I was about to continue, but suddenly, an unsettling feeling crossed

my mind.

He usually went to club practice at this time.

Normally, today wouldn’t have been any different.

But today…

“Wait, isn’t there a tournament today!?” (Sophia)

Today is Saturday, right!?

It’s not like it’s actually Friday, or some kind of mix-up… is it!?

“…You knew?” (Kento)

He turned back toward me with a troubled smile as he was about to

leave the room.

That expression and those words made the blood drain from my
face.

“Hurry up and go…! You still have time to make it, right…?!”
(Sophia)

The match at our school was the final match of today.

If he left now, he should still make it before the match started.

“There’s no need to panic. I’ve already informed the coach that I’m
taking the day off.” (Kento)

“No, that’s not good! You’re a regular, right!? If the starting catcher
isn’t there, the team will be thrown off balance…! And besides, if you
skip the match, there’s a penalty…!” (Sophia)

The catcher is the cornerstone of the team.

If such a person isn’t present on the day of the match, it’s inevitable
that the teammates will feel uneasy.

And someone who skips the game might even get demoted to a
substitute.

“Our team isn’t that fragile. Luckily, it’s just a district qualifier, and
since it’s a league match, even if I’m not there, we won’t lose to
today’s opponent. More than that, it’s hard for them to replace me…”
(Kento)

“But still, the position that you worked so hard to get…!” (Sophia)
“Even if I get dropped from being a regular because of the penalty,
I’ll just win it back again. More importantly, if you get that worked
up, your fever’s going to rise again. Calm down.” (Kento)

He spoke about the game as if it were someone else’s problem, not

at all concerned.

Even though I wasn’t the one actually playing baseball, I could

imagine just how difficult it must be to secure a regular spot on a
prestigious team.

And yet, because of someone like me…

“Please… go to the game… please…” (Sophia)

I stood up from the bed and, almost desperately, grabbed onto his
clothes.

“Sophia…” (Kento)

“I can’t bear to keep troubling you like this…” (Sophia)

I managed to squeeze the words out, trying to convey my feelings to
him.

“You’re sick, so it can’t be helped. It was because of those General

Course kids that your health worsened, and with our parents not
here… My coach understands, so don’t worry.” (Kento)

Perhaps because I was holding onto him so tightly, he gently stroked

my head, trying to comfort me.

It lightened my mood just a little, but I couldn’t continue relying on

him like this.

“I’m already fine now… And if this continues, I’ll just become the
kind of woman Kurogane-kun described—someone who gets in the
way…” (Sophia)

I knew he was kind, so he wouldn’t mind missing the game because

of me.

He’d probably explain things well to everyone around us.

But the fact that I was holding him back wouldn’t change.
I had done so many awful things to him already, and now I was
hindering him at such an important moment… I couldn’t bear it.

“…I understand. I’m sorry.” (Kento)

Once again, he gently patted my head.

It seemed like my feelings had reached him.

“Don’t apologize… Shirakawa-kun, you didn’t do anything wrong…”

(Sophia)

He had just been kind to me.

He was sacrificing himself for me.

So, there was nothing for him to apologize for.

“I was pushing my own feelings onto you, so I felt that I had to

apologize for that.” (Kento)
“What’s with that… you’re being too serious…” (Sophia)

He must have been referring to the fact that he was trying to take
care of me even at the cost of missing the game, but there was no
one who would criticize him for that.

I, too, felt happy about his feelings and how much he was doing for
me.

It was just that I didn’t want to be the one to hold him back.

“I’m sorry… you probably didn’t get enough rest to prepare for the
game…” (Sophia)

Now that Shirakawa-kun was determined to go to the game, I

apologized for something else that was on my mind.

Normally, he should have rested properly before the game, but

because of me, he ended up staying late to take care of me.

If he ends up playing poorly because of insufficient rest, it would all

be my fault.
I couldn’t complain if I got blamed for it.

“If… if anything happens… if something goes wrong… you can

blame me without hesitation… I mean, it really is my fault…”
(Sophia)

I was afraid that if I said it too clearly, it might actually happen, so I

carefully chose my words to express my feelings to him.

“This is a choice I made on my own. You didn’t force me into it, so I

can’t blame you for anything.” (Kento)

Shirakawa-kun gave me that gentle smile again.

He was such a kind person…

“But—if you’re really worried that then, I absolutely can’t lose

today’s match.” (Kento)

“Shirakawa-kun…” (Sophia)

“I promise, I’ll definitely win.” (Kento)

He said that with a smile and immediately left the room.

He must have been in a hurry to get to the venue before the match
started.

Honestly, I wanted to go watch, too… but I couldn’t be that selfish.

So, today, I decided to stay quietly at home and wait for his return.

“…My body feels so hot…” (Sophia)

After he left the house, I lay down on my bed and started thinking to
myself.

There was something I had realized up until now.

Shirakawa-kun was, without a doubt, a good person.

And not in a way that was some kind of act or a way to try and win
my favor.
He was a genuinely kind-hearted and good person.

Even after I had been so cold toward him, he would always help me
if something happened. And if I made a mistake, instead of blaming
me, he would cover for me.

Normally, if someone who’s been rude to you made a mistake, you’d

be justified in scolding them… but he never did that.

The person I had once thought was frivolous—where had he gone?

Even though he still looked the same, he seemed like a completely

different person now.

Above all, I’ve come to realize something.

He’s not only serious about baseball, but he’s also putting in the
effort behind the scenes.

A person like that… there’s no way I could hate him…

In fact, when I think about all the things he’s done for me up until
now…

“No, I can’t… I can’t think like that anymore… It’s just too selfish,
isn’t it?” (Sophia)

When I recall everything I’ve done to him, I can’t imagine what

could possibly come next.
 Chapter 5: A Date With Just the Two of Us

“Good job, Kento-kun. You were amazing out there.” (Kujouin)

When I boarded the bus after the match, Kujouin-san, who had
already taken her seat, patted (*pon-pon*) the seat next to her.

It was clear she wanted me to sit there.

“No, I don’t think it was that special…” (Kento)

Following her lead, I sat down beside her and looked at Kujouin-san.

“Two home runs, a triple, and a double. Your last at-bat ended with a
walk, but you still racked up nine RBIs. And you call that nothing
special? The prefectural tournament in two weeks looks even more
promising.” (Shuuto)

On the seat across the aisle, Shouta sat grinning at me as he rattled

off my batting stats.

What’s with that smug look…

“I’m looking forward to your performance as the cleanup hitter next
time, too.” (Kujouin)

And then, with a smiling face, Kujouin-san added some pressure

from beside me.

Everyone sure says whatever they want…

“Still, you were even more focused than usual today. Did something
happen?” (Shuuto)

“Well, that’s—” (Kento)

I couldn’t exactly bring up Sophia, so I decided to dodge the

question with something vague. Or at least, that’s what I thought…

“—Isn’t it obvious? It was the power of love on full display.” (Coach)

“Coach… please don’t say weird things.” (Kento)

The coach, who was thirty-two and had the vibe of a friendly uncle
outside of practice, absolutely loved teasing people like this.
And right now, I was his chosen target.

“It’s not weird—it’s the truth, isn’t it? You pushed yourself harder
than ever because you didn’t want to disappoint your girlfriend
waiting for you at home, right?” (Coach)

The coach flashed a sly grin my way.

It was as if he could see right through me.

“Hey, don’t say that…! I never said anything like that, right?!”
(Kento)

All I told the coach was that Sophia’s condition had improved
enough for her to come to the venue and that she wanted to watch
the game. I didn’t even hint at any sort of promise between us.

“I figured something was up since you were mostly by yourself

today, but could it be… Did Shirakawa-san catch a fever?” (Kujouin)

Kujouin-san, sharp as ever, looked at me with concern.

So the coach hadn’t mentioned it to everyone…

“Well, yeah… But her fever went down by this morning, so it’s all
good.” (Kento)

“That’s good to hear.” (Kujouin)

Kujouin-san flashed me a cute smile, making the whole situation feel

a bit lighter.

In moments like these, I was grateful that Kujouin-san never said

anything harsh.

The problem was…

I glanced over at Shouta.

He had his hand on his chin, as if deep in thought, but he probably

already had an idea that it was related to her.

I just hoped he wouldn’t say anything weird to Sophia…

“Hmm… If that’s the case, why not have your girlfriend join the
baseball team?” (Shouta)
When Shouta finally spoke, it was something I never could have
expected.

“Haa?!” (Kento)

I couldn’t help but raise my voice.

“Oh, that’s not a bad idea. Why not go for it?” (Coach)

And then the coach, clearly enjoying himself, jumped right on board.

This guy was definitely having way too much fun with the situation.

“Shouta, you… After telling her not to get in our way, what are you
even saying…?” (Kento)

“If she’d drag us down, that’d be a problem. But if she could actually
help, wouldn’t it be better to have her around? I don’t fully get it, but
I’ve heard before from coach that this kind of thing can be a source
of strength. And knowing you, Kento, it makes sense that you’re that
type. Coach himself said it wasn’t a bad idea.” (Shouta)
This coach worshipper…!

Don’t just take everything the coach says at face value!

This guy just wants to mess with me…!

—Or so I wanted to yell, but I couldn’t exactly do that on a bus with

the coach and my senpais around.

“Coach, aren’t you going to stop him…?” (Kujouin)

Since Shouta seemed completely serious about this, Kujouin-san

turned to the coach.

Considering Shouta’s nature, he might actually act on this idea, so I

was hoping the coach would step in and put an end to it. But—

“Sounds interesting. Let him be.” (Coach)

—expecting anything from this guy was a waste of time.

Actually, he’s the root of all this in the first place.

“Maybe I should go talk to her about it today…” (Shouta)

“Wait, Shouta? No, seriously, stop. Don’t do it. She’s busy with her
studies, okay?” (Kento)

Seeing Shouta rubbing his chin, looking like he was seriously

considering it, I hurriedly tried to stop him.

He could negotiate all he wanted, but there was no way she,

someone so devoted to her studies, would agree. All I could see was
a future where I’d be the one getting scolded later.

Things were finally going well between us, and there was no way I
was letting it go back to the way it was before.

“Her presence clearly gives you strength, right? You were super
focused today, and the results speak for themselves—” (Shouta)

“Stop it…! Seriously, just stop!” (Kento)

“Kurogane-kun, Kento-kun clearly doesn’t want this. You should

leave him alone.” (Kujouin)
Unlike the coach, who was laughing like he was having the time of
his life, Kujouin-san actually tried to stop Shouta.

In times like this, she really was reassuring.

“Well~ I also think Kento’s girlfriend is essential for the team to

make it to Koshien. It wouldn’t hurt to at least try asking her—”
(Coach)

“Coach~?” (Kujouin)

When the coach took his teasing up another notch, Kujouin-san

called out to him with a cheerful smile.

Oh no, that smile…

“W-What is it, Kujouin?” (Coach)

“Do you enjoy bullying your students?” (Kujouin)

Kujouin-san rarely got angry.

In fact, she’d never shown any anger towards a kouhai like me.

But that didn’t mean she was incapable of it—after all, she was
human.

And when she did get angry, it looked like this: a bright smile
masking a menacing aura that loomed behind her.

Usually, it was the coach, getting carried away, who ended up

provoking her.

“Alright, everyone! Let’s have a review session before we get back to

school!” (Coach)

The coach, visibly sweating, awkwardly shifted the conversation,

addressing the group in an overly casual tone.

“Coach?” (Kujouin)

But Kujouin-san wasn’t about to let him off the hook.

“—Ahem. Shouta, what I said earlier was more of a joke, or at least,
something that varies from person to person. While it’s true that
Kento focused and delivered results, any influence from Shirakawa
Sophia is purely speculative. Above all, imposing our expectations
on someone else is absolutely not okay, so drop the idea of asking
her. Got it?” (Coach)

Understanding exactly what Kujouin-san was after, the coach, still

sweating profusely, reluctantly scolded Shouta.

“If the coach says so, I get it. My bad, Kento.” (Coach)

True to form, Shouta listened to the coach without complaint and

seemed to give up on the idea.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

At least now, I was safe from any further headaches.

“Ah, as long as you understand, that’s fine. Kujouin-san, thank you as

well.” (Kento)

“It’s fine. This is part of my role, after all.” (Kujouin)

She’s probably the only one who can keep the coach in check.

At times like this, she’s incredibly dependable.

After that, the reflection session began—but…

“Five innings, and we scored nineteen runs. Against today’s

opponent, we should’ve hit twenty. Especially the lower batting
order—did you lose focus after the big scoring spree in the first
inning?” (Coach)

“No, not at all…!” (Team)

“Then why are you swinging at obvious balls? Your pitch selection is
way too sloppy. Depending on your attitude in practice, I might
replace you with someone else.” (Coach)

“Yes, sir…!” (Team)

Once the meeting started, the coach transformed into a completely

different person, exuding a serious and intense atmosphere.
I couldn’t help but genuinely respect how the coach was able to
switch gears like that.

If he had kept goofing off during serious moments, it would’ve been

a problem.

“Starting next week, we’ve got the prefectural tournament.

Tomorrow will be a full rest day to recover from all the fatigue, but
we’ll be working hard again next week, so be ready. Everyone, make
sure to get today’s score from the manager and reflect on it.” (Coach)

A rest day tomorrow, huh…

The schedule had it listed as practice, so I had been expecting that.

“Kento-kun, do you have any plans for tomorrow?” (Kujouin)

As I was thinking about what to do, Kujouin-san smiled and asked

about my plans for tomorrow.

Well, it was probably just casual conversation.

“No, not really…” (Kento)

“Then—” (Kujouin)

“But, I’m worried about… Frost-san’s condition, so I’ll probably stay

home.” (Kento)

I thought her cold would be better by today, but it was still best to
keep an eye on her.

After all, she was likely to push herself and try to study again.

“—Oh, I see, it’s a cold… Make sure you take good care of her,
okay?” (Kujouin)

“…? Yeah, of course.” (Kento)

For some reason, Kujouin-san turned her eyes away awkwardly, and
I couldn’t quite figure out why.

After that, an uncomfortable atmosphere settled in.

◆
“—I’m home.” (Kento)

When I got home, I called out from the entrance.

However, there was no answer.

She probably wasn’t in the living room.

I hoped she was just resting in her room, but if she was studying…
I’d have to scold her a little.

“Yeah, not in the bathroom either.” (Kento)

The sign on the door said “Unused,” so I opened the door without
hesitation.

““…………”” (Both)

For some reason, there was Sophia, completely exposed with her fair
skin on full display.
Yes, she was in her naked state, not wearing a single piece of cloth.

Sophia was holding a towel in her right hand, and from the fact that
her whole body was wet, it seemed like she had just finished her
bath and was trying to dry off.

Her skin, flawless and beautiful, was exposed in a way I hadn’t seen
before, and the sight was so alluring that I couldn’t help but stare—
“KYAAAAAA!” (Sophia)

Of course, she came to her senses and immediately went to the door
and slammed it shut.

“Don’t mess with me! So you’ve finally shown your true

colors…!” (Sophia)

And she was back to shouting in English with all her might…

She looked incredibly angry.

Wait, didn’t I check the sign?

I thought to myself and double-checked the sign on the door.

Yep, it still said, “Unused”.

“My head hurts…” (Kento)

Even if I told her the truth, she probably wouldn’t believe it.
She’d think I secretly changed the sign.

So, at this point, there’s nothing I can do about the situation…

I’m the one who ended up enjoying it, so I figured I should just
explain the situation and apologize for now.

“I’m sorry, it was my mistake. The sign said ‘Unused,’ so I didn’t

think twice about entering, but I should’ve checked the sounds
inside before coming in.” (Kento)

Or, I could’ve knocked first.

I was at fault for neglecting those steps.

“We’ll talk later…! For now, just leave…!” (Sophia)

This doesn’t look good and I was told to leave.

I could understand that much English, but maybe it would’ve been

better if I hadn’t.
I could feel my chest ache, realizing I had once again made her upset
with me.

“Ugh, all the effort I’ve put in… down the drain. I honestly feel like
crying right now…” (Kento)

I placed my hand on my forehead and sighed, looking up at the

ceiling as I left the changing room.

Ten minutes later—

“You’re here, right…?” (Sophia)

She called out from in front of my room.

I quickly stepped out and bowed to her.

“I’m sorry about earlier…” (Kento)

“Just… forget about it.” (Sophia)

I had thought she was going to scold me, but instead, she turned her
face bright red and looked away shyly.

Is she really not mad…?

“But it was my mistake…” (Kento)

“I was the one who forgot to change the sign, wasn’t I…? Now that
you mention it, I don’t remember changing it…” (Sophia)

It seemed like she was properly acknowledging her mistake.

That was surprising…

I honestly thought she wouldn’t admit it.

“Will you forgive me…?” (Kento)

“Forgive you…? No, I’m the one at fault here… So, um, for seeing
me like that, I hope you’ll forgive me for getting angry…” (Sophia)

She really has changed…

It’s like she’s a completely different person.

Even if it was a mistake on her end, the old her would never have
forgiven someone for seeing her naked.

“No, if you’re forgiving me, then that’s fine. Of course, I’m not angry
at all.” (Kento)

Given the dangerous situation earlier, it was understandable that she

would be angry.

On top of that, I had enjoyed the situation, so there was no way I

could blame her.

“Thank you… Can I ask you something…?” (Sophia)

She let out a sigh of relief, her hand resting on her chest, and then
looked up at me with puppy eyes.

I swallowed nervously at her gaze, but I nodded quietly.

“Well… I’m sorry… I misunderstood you… I’ve been rude to you
until now, and I’m really sorry…” (Sophia)

Sophia deeply bowed her head in apology.

The turn of events was so unexpected that my mind froze for a

moment.

For a second, I even wondered if this was a dream.

It was surprising to me that she was apologizing and reconsidering

her view of me.

“What’s with the sudden change…?” (Kento)

I couldn’t help but ask.

After all, I had no idea what had caused her to change so much.

“I’ve had a lot to think about… Especially recently, there have been
moments where I’ve really had to face my own mistakes…” (Sophia)
I wondered what exactly she was referring to.

The time I took care of her might be one thing, but I also wondered
if she was talking about the time I helped those girls out.

But, to be honest, those actions felt like basic human decency.

It seemed strange that I would be seen as someone who wouldn’t do

such things.

—So, she must have thought I was a cold-hearted person who

wouldn’t do that kind of thing for others…

“Well, if the misunderstanding has been cleared up, then it’s fine. If
you’re willing to face things properly from now on, there’s no
problem at all.” (Kento)

After everything that had happened recently, my impression of

Sophia had changed too.

I no longer had any negative feelings about living with her. As long
as she continued to treat me like she had been lately, there wouldn’t
be any issues.
If you want me to forget about the past, I will.

“Thank you…” (Sophia)

“There’s no need to thank me. More importantly, you just recovered,

so you should rest properly.” (Kento)

I appreciated her coming to apologize, but if we needed to talk, we

could do that later. Right now, it was better for her to take it easy and
rest.

“Ah, the match…” (Sophia)

As I was about to lead her back to her room, she asked about the
result of the game.

She must have been thinking about it all this time while waiting at
home.

“Of course, we won, just like I promised.” (Kento)

She probably blamed herself for what happened, so I absolutely
couldn’t afford to lose.

Though I denied it to the coach, I truly believe that the reason I was
able to concentrate so well today was because of her.

“That’s great… Congratulations on making it to the prefectural

tournament.” (Sophia)

“――!” (Kento)

After letting out a relieved sigh, she congratulated me with a very

cute smile.

My heart started pounding loudly, and I reached out to grab both

her shoulders, spinning her around.

“Eh…?” (Sophia)

Of course, she was confused by my sudden action.

“As I said earlier, you need to rest. I’ll go buy dinner, so send me a
text about what you’d like.” (Kento)
I was probably blushing right now because I felt extremely hot.

I didn’t want her to see my face, so I tried to cover it up like this.

“I’m already feeling fine though…” (Sophia)

“It’s important to rest when you’re just getting better.” (Kento)

I gently pushed her back, and reluctantly, she went back to her
room.

“—Phew… that was close…” (Kento)

Once I returned to my room, I leaned against the door and sat down
on the floor.

Her smile, coming out of nowhere, had an unbelievable destructive

power.

Honestly, it felt unfair.

She had been distant and cold until now, but suddenly she showed
me such a sweet smile— it was way too effective for a guy with no
experience with women…

Living with a girl like that from now on… I wasn’t sure if my heart
could handle it in a different way.

By the way, the message that Sophia sent me was:

[Rather than buying something, I might prefer Shirakawa-kun’s

porridge…]

It was so incredibly cute that I ended up being taken in once again.

“Huh…? No club activities today…?” (Sophia)

The next morning—while I was washing my face in the bathroom,

Sophia walked in.
“Today’s a rest day. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be training hard again
for the prefectural tournament, so they told us to take it easy.”
(Kento)

“A rest day…” (Sophia)

For some reason, Sophia stared at me intently.

Did she need something?

“What about you, Sophia? Do you have cram school today?” (Kento)

“No, mine’s on break too. Apparently, there’s a cold going around at

the school.” (Sophia)

Both of us had the day off—it was a rare coincidence.

Usually, neither of us spends the entire weekend at home.

That being said…

“A cold is going around… Could it be…?”(Kento)

I instinctively glanced at her, thinking of a possible cause.

“Th-that’s not it…! It was already spreading around before

that…! If anything, I was the one who caught it from
someone else…!” (Sophia)

Even though the distance between us had lessened, it seemed her

habit of switching to English when flustered hadn’t changed.

Since she denied it, it probably wasn’t her fault.

So, it must have been going around from the start.

“Well, since you have the day off, why not take it easy again today?
You’re always studying so much anyway.” (Kento)

While I figured she was probably fine now, I still hoped she’d rest if
possible. Otherwise, she’d just dive back into her intense study
sessions.

“Ah, but…” (Sophia)

As expected, she hesitated the moment I suggested taking a break
from studying.

I understood how important it was to her, but overdoing it wasn’t

good. Somehow, I needed to get her to rest properly.

“Perhaps it’s uncomfortable to take a break?” (Kento)

“Well, that’s yes, but…” (Sophia)

What’s going on?

It’s rare for her to sound this hesitant.

Could it be that her reluctance stems from something else entirely?

“If you have something you want to say, just come out with it. No
need to hold back, right?” (Kento)

At this point, we weren’t the kind of people to hold back with each
other.
She used to say whatever she wanted without hesitation not too long
ago.

“Um, well… since we’re both free today, maybe… maybe we could
go somewhere…?” (Sophia)

Sophia hesitantly fiddled with her index finger while her gaze cast
downwards, avoiding my face.

“Eh?” (Kento)

I tilted my head reflexively, not expecting her suggestion.

“W-Well, I just wanted to thank you…! For helping me and taking

care of me while I was sick—that’s all! There’s no hidden meaning
behind it…!” (Sophia)

She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed red as she earnestly

explained herself.

Since she was speaking in Japanese, she probably wasn’t panicking.

The redness in her face might simply be due to the natural
embarrassment of her age.
Honestly, I was surprised she invited me, but—this could be a good
change of pace for her.

She’s always been tied up with cram school and self-study, without
much time to enjoy herself. Spending time like this could do her
some good.

The only problem is… I have no experience hanging out with girls.

“Alright, let’s go out.” (Kento)

“Really!?” (Sophia)

When I agreed, Sophia’s face lit up with a radiant smile.

She must have mustered a lot of courage to ask me.

Feeling my heart race at her expression, I tried to respond with a

smile of my own.

“Yeah, it’s important to have fun sometimes. Is there somewhere

you’d like to go?” (Kento)
“Ah…” (Sophia)

I thought she might have a plan in mind, so I asked, but her

expression darkened immediately.

Did I just step on a landmine…?

“Something wrong?” (Kento)

“……” (Sophia)

Sophia stayed silent, her gaze falling to the floor again.

She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, looking as though

something was weighing heavily on her.

I couldn’t think of anything I might have said to upset her.

“If there’s something on your mind, feel free to tell me.” (Kento)

I repeated similar words to her again.

After all, I can’t read minds—unless she puts it into words, I won’t
know what’s bothering her.

If something is troubling her, I’d like to hear about it.

“Sorry… I’ve never hung out with friends before… so I don’t even
know where to start.” (Sophia)

Sophia spoke in a quiet, downcast voice, clearly lacking her usual

energy.

I see. By asking her where she wanted to go, I ended up putting her
in a tough spot.

As always, she’s so earnest, in a way that’s almost endearing but also

a little troubling.

“You don’t need to stress about this alone. I only asked if there was
somewhere you’d like to go. You don’t have to decide, and if you’re
unsure, we can figure it out together..” (Kento)
I just wanted to respect her feelings if she had a place she wanted to
go. I wasn’t trying to make her decide.

If she didn’t know where to go, then I could decide for her.

…Though, to be honest, my ideas are probably as basic as they

come.

“Like I said before, is there really no place you’re curious about or

want to see?” (Kento)

I asked her again, clarifying my intent to avoid any

misunderstanding.

But—

“No… I really don’t know where I’d want to go…” (Sophia)

She shook her head from side to side.

Since she’d never shown interest in going out to play, maybe she
didn’t even know what kinds of options were out there.
It seemed like I’d better make the suggestions myself.

When it comes to classic spots for a guy and a girl to hang out
together…

“How about an amusement park?” (Kento)

I mentioned the first place that came to mind, somewhere I thought

would be fun to visit with her.

“An amusement park…” (Sophia)

“Do you not like the idea?” (Kento)

She softly repeated the words “amusement park” as if savoring

them, and I couldn’t quite grasp what she meant, so I asked.

Then, she eagerly nodded her head up and down.

“I want to go to an amusement park…!” (Sophia)

“Great, then let’s get ready and head out!” (Kento)

And so, we decided to head to the amusement park.

After changing my outfit, I returned to the living room and—

“How do I look…?” (Sophia)

I was captivated by the sight in front of me.

She was wearing a sleeveless summer sweater in a soft pink shade

on top and a white mini-skirt on the bottom.

Her usual casual outfits were more conservative, so seeing her in

something that revealed more skin was a first for me.

Honestly, I was surprised she even owned something like that.

“It looks really good on you…” (Kento)

Lacking the words to say anything more eloquent, I could only

manage such a simple comment, though I genuinely meant it.
More than anything, she looked so stunning that it was hard to keep
my excitement in check.

“I see… that’s a relief.” (Sophia)

It seemed like she had worked up the courage to wear this outfit,
and now she was visibly relieved, gently placing a hand over her
chest.

“That’s a rare outfit for you…” (Kento)

To be honest, it was at a level where I didn’t know where to look.

I felt an urge to keep her like this all to myself and not show her to
any other guys.

“I thought it might be better to wear something easy to move in…

and since it’s my first time, I picked the one that I thought would
make you happiest…” (Sophia)

I caught the first part, but in the latter half, she mumbled softly while
looking down, so I couldn’t catch what she said.
“Sorry, what did you say after ‘something easy to move in’?” (Kento)

“I said that since it looks like it’s going to be hot today, I thought
something cooler would be better.” (Sophia)

When I asked, she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled
as she answered.

This was too much—she was seriously too cute…

Wait, am I dreaming right now…?

If this turns out to be a dream, I’d seriously cry.

“Uh… well, let’s head out then.” (Kento)

Trying not to let my admiration show, I left the room first.

I had to be careful… one wrong move and she’d probably go back to

her usual distant attitude.

That was something I definitely didn’t want to happen.

 ◆

“So this is an amusement park…” (Sophia)

After taking the train and bus to an amusement park near the sea,
Sophia blinked in awe as she gazed at the entrance.

“You’ve never been to an amusement park before?” (Kento)

“I was never taken to one because I’d draw too much attention.”
(Sophia)

I figured being too good-looking could be troublesome.

Even now, she was attracting a lot of attention.

With how cute she is, it couldn’t be helped.

“If you don’t like being stared at, we could get you a hat to cover
your hair. They probably sell some at the shop.” (Kento)
“I’m already used to people staring, so it’s fine.” (Sophia)

I asked out of concern, but it seemed it was unnecessary.

To be accustomed to this level of attention on a daily basis… that’s

pretty incredible.

If it were me, I don’t think I could handle it.

“If it’s too much, just let me know.” (Kento)

“Yes, thank you.” (Sophia)

I was struck again by her smile, my heart racing as if I were facing a

completely different person.

It felt like I was interacting with someone else entirely, and my heart
might not be able to handle it during this date — or the amusement
park trip. By the time the day ends, I might just die from the
excitement.

“What do you want to ride first?” (Sophia)

“You can decide, Sophia.” (Kento)

I wanted her to have a great time today, so I thought it would be best

to let her choose what she wanted to do.

But then—

“I don’t know…” (Sophia)

She returned a troubled smile.

If she’d never been here before, I guess she wouldn’t be familiar with
the attractions.

It seemed like it would be better if I took the lead.

“Well then, how about we start with that one?” (Kento)

I pointed to the roller coaster, a signature attraction of the

amusement park, full of thrilling excitement. The screams of the
people currently riding it could be heard, and it sounded like they
were having a lot of fun.
“……” (Sophia)

Sophia stared at the roller coaster, frozen in place, not moving at all.

I wondered what was going on.

“Are you… scared of it?” (Kento)

I chose it thinking she’d enjoy a thrilling ride like that, but if it turns
out she doesn’t like such things, it might be better to skip it. I didn’t
want to force her into something she wasn’t comfortable with.

“F-Fufufu…” (Sophia)

As I waited for her response, she suddenly started laughing.

Her laugh sounded strange, and I instinctively took a step back.

“Sophia…?” (Kento)

“Don’t underestimate me. A ride like that is nothing to me…”

(Sophia)
Sophia smiled with a faint trace of sweat on her face.

This… definitely feels forced.

Even as I thought that, she headed off alone toward the roller
coaster ride.

“If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to push yourself, you
know?” (Kento)

I caught up to her and tried to stop her.

“I’m not scared or anything. Shirokawa-kun wants to ride this, right?”

(Sophia)

She was definitely putting up a brave front. It seemed like she was
trying to respect my choice since it was the first attraction I
suggested.

But having her push herself for my sake doesn’t sit right with me.

“You’ll regret it, so let’s not do this.” (Kento)

“I’ll be fine.” (Sophia)

Maybe because I was very persistent, she pouted and crossed her
arms.

Now she’s definitely sulking.

With things as they were, her stubbornness meant she wouldn’t

listen to reason, and in the end, we ended up riding the roller
coaster.

And then—

“Kyaaaaaa!” (Sophia)

While riding a roller coaster for the first time in her life, she let out a
tearful scream.

“Ugh…” (Sophia)
After getting off the roller coaster, Sophia slumped onto a bench,
completely drained.

It must have been terrifying for her.

“Are you okay…?” (Kento)

Since this was entirely my fault, I felt genuinely sorry for what had
happened.

“I’m fine…” (Sophia)

But despite her words, she didn’t look fine at all.

I should probably go buy a drink, but leaving her alone makes me

uneasy. She’d likely get hit on by someone, and in her current state,
she wouldn’t have the energy to fend them off.

“Let’s go get a drink. Can you stand?” (Kento)

“…” (Sophia)
When I spoke, she turned her pale face toward me.

As I thought, it might be too much for her…

“Can I borrow your arm…? I think I can walk with that.” (Sophia)

Even so, she seemed determined to go. Since she didn’t have the
strength to walk on her own, she was planning to lean on my
shoulder for support.

“Yeah, of course. Go ahead.” (Kento)

I turned my right side toward her.

And then—she clung tightly to my right arm.

“!?” (Kento)

“It’s just easier to balance this way…! There’s no deeper meaning

behind it…!” (Sophia)
Her face, however, was clearly flushed red.

Just as she said, leaning her full weight on my arm instead of simply
resting her hand on my shoulder might actually make it easier for
her to move.

But still, this was something couples would normally do…

This is bad—my heart’s racing so much it feels like it might

explode…

“If it helps you keep your balance, then I guess there’s no choice…!”
(Kento)

Overwhelmed by embarrassment and nerves, I found myself going

along with her reasoning.

“Exactly, it can’t be helped…!” (Sophia)

Sophia nodded earnestly, trying to justify her actions.

From the outside, people were probably thinking, “What’s up with

those two…?”
After buying some drinks and sitting down on a bench—

“I’m sorry…” (Sophia)

She apologized, covering her face with her hands as if embarrassed.

She looked like she was regretting it a lot.

“Uh, well…” (Kento)

I really didn’t want her to snap back to reality so suddenly…

I mean, I even went along with it too, so…

“I’m not bothered by what happened earlier, you know?” (Kento)

“It’s not just that… I insisted on riding the roller coaster, and now
look at me…” (Sophia)

Ah, so that’s what she meant…

“It’s fine. I get how you feel. We’ve got plenty of time, so let’s just
take it easy for a while.” (Kento)

“――!” (Sophia)

I said it with a smile, hoping she wouldn’t dwell too much on it, but
she abruptly turned her face away.

Wait, does she think I’m being creepy!?

“…………” (Sophia)

I stared at her, worried, and to my surprise, she slowly began to

scoot closer to me, keeping her back turned.

Then―

*Thunk*

Our bodies lightly bumped into each other.

“Eh!?” (Kento)
I hadn’t expected her to get so close, and my surprise escaped as a
shout.

Meanwhile, she still had her face turned away from me, but now her
left arm was pressed lightly against my right arm.

Her cool skin gently touched mine, and my heartbeat picked up as if

I’d just started sprinting.

What led up to this…?

“Sophia…?” (Kento)

“I-I just wanted something to lean on, that’s all…” (Sophia)

When I called her, she explained it as such.

But since we were sitting on a bench with a proper backrest, she

could easily lean against that instead. Moreover, she wasn’t even
putting her weight on me—just lightly pressing against my arm.
Her excuse of needing something to lean on was clearly a lie, but… I
didn’t feel like pointing it out.

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess it can’t be helped…” (Kento)

“Yes, it’s… something that can’t be helped…” (Sophia)

What exactly “can’t be helped,” though? Neither of us seemed to

know, and the atmosphere grew strangely awkward and a little
ticklish.

Could it be that she has a surprisingly clingy side?

When she had a fever before, she was pretty clingy too…

Considering how she usually acts, I couldn’t imagine her being

clingy at all.

“Um… Sophia, why do you work so hard at studying?” (Kento)

The awkwardness of the silence was starting to get to me, so I threw

out a random question to keep the conversation going.
“Because… it’s important.” (Sophia)

She answered honestly, without any sign of irritation or annoyance.

It’s true; we’re always told that studying is a student’s primary

responsibility. It has a huge impact on our future paths, so there’s no
denying its importance.

But is that the only reason?

“Everyone knows it’s important, but there aren’t many people who
work as hard as you do, Sophia. I honestly think that’s amazing.”
(Kento)

Plenty of people ignore what their parents and teachers have told
them since they were kids and avoid studying.

Honestly, I’m one of those people who didn’t put much effort into
studying either. If I could skip class, I would.

That’s why I think Sophia is genuinely incredible for always putting

in so much effort to study.
“If you put it that way… Shirakawa-kun, you’re working hard at
baseball too.” (Sophia)

“In my case, it’s because I like baseball… Isn’t it normal to work

hard at something you love?” (Kento)

“Even so, I think that depends on the person…” (Sophia)

Well, that’s true to a certain extent. How much effort someone puts
in can vary based on their goals and reasons.

For people who just enjoy doing what they love, there’s no need to
focus on winning, so they don’t have to put in so much effort. On the
other hand, those who strive to be the best at something have to put
in much more effort.

My goals are to win the Koshien and become a pro, so working hard
is only natural for me.

“Do you like studying, Sophia?” (Kento)

Given how much effort she puts into her studies—like some kind of
study fanatic—I considered the possibility.
But—

“I guess… I don’t really like it that much.” (Sophia)

Apparently, that’s not the case.

All the more reason her dedication is truly remarkable.

“And yet you work so hard…” (Kento)

“Well, I have to… I don’t know if you’re aware, but… I’m a

scholarship student. So, I can’t let my grades drop.” (Sophia)

I had a vague suspicion.

Being in a Special Preparatory Course and entering as the top

student likely meant she fell under the school’s scholarship program.

“I see. You want to avoid putting too much burden on our parents,
right?” (Kento)
Unlike public schools, private schools inevitably cost more. However,
scholarship programs often cover tuition fees, entrance fees, and
sometimes even textbook and uniform costs.

Of course, there are different tiers of scholarships, but anything that

eases the parents’ burden is a good thing.

“Yes… In my case, though, I chose this school out of my own

selfishness…” (Sophia)

That was news to me.

She’d never talked about this before.

I’d always found it curious that someone as brilliant as her, who

could have easily gotten into the top school in the prefecture, chose
to attend this school. But it seems she had her reasons.

“Selfish?” (Kento)

“That is… I’m sorry, I can’t tell you right now…” (Sophia)
I thought for sure she would open up given the conversation, but it
seems it’s not something she can easily talk about.

If it was about getting into her dream university or something, she

would probably share it casually… So maybe there’s an issue she’s
dealing with?

“I see. Well, whenever you’re ready to talk about it, I’d be happy to
listen.” (Kento)

If she doesn’t want to talk, I can’t force her.

I’ll just have to wait until she’s ready to share on her own.

“I’m sorry…” (Sophia)

“There’s no need to apologize. Everyone has things they don’t want

to talk about.” (Kento)

I’m not in a position to criticize someone for keeping secrets. After

all, I still don’t let her into my room.

“—Anyway, how about we head to the next attraction?” (Kento)

After some casual chatting, it seemed like Sophia had recovered
quite a bit, so I stood up and invited her to move on.

“Yeah… I want something more laid-back this time.” (Sophia)

Sophia stood up with a slightly troubled smile and walked next to

me.

It seemed like she was done with the intense rides.

As she requested, I decided to bring her to the Ferris wheel.

Then…

“………” (Sophia)

When it was our turn, I had her go in first, but when I sat across
from her, she deliberately moved to sit next to me.

I was happy, but at the same time, it felt really embarrassing.

“We’re so high up… It’s beautiful…” (Sophia)

Looking out the window at the view, Sophia let out a soft, thoughtful
voice.

She seemed to be admiring the sea, lost in the beauty of it.

“Do you like the view?” (Kento)

“I don’t think anyone would not like it.” (Sophia)

That might be true.

A beautiful view can be calming and sometimes even awe-inspiring.

If she likes to look at scenic places, next time, I could bring her to a
suitable place.

…Next time, huh?

When will that be?

Both of us are usually so busy. It’s rare for our days off to line up like
this.

There might not be another opportunity like this until the end of the
year.

“I want to go to the sea…” (Sophia)

While we were looking at the view together, Sophia mumbled

quietly.

“You want to go there now?” (Kento)

The sea is right there, just as we can see from here.

We’d have to leave the amusement park, but if she wants to go, I
want to respect that feeling.

But then…

“I’m sorry, I meant it in the sense of wanting to swim…” (Sophia)

“Oh… but now, well…” (Kento)

It’s mid-September, so the beach season is over. Though the hot

weather is still around, it’s probably not the best time to swim—
especially with jellyfish likely being an issue.

“Yeah… so maybe next year, or something…?” (Sophia)

Sophia glanced up at me for a moment. She seemed like she wanted

to say something, but perhaps…

“Want to go together next year, if we can?” (Kento)

I decided to invite her, thinking about how she might feel. The idea
of going to the beach meant we’d both be in swimsuits… and just
making such a bold invitation made my heart race.

But if I could go with her, I would be genuinely happy.

“Ah…” (Sophia)

Sophia’s cheeks flushed faintly. It seemed like she was aware of what
I was thinking too.
But…

“I-If you want to go together, I guess I could go with you…?”

(Sophia)
Her reply was a bit hesitant though.

Strange—she had seemed so eager to go earlier, so why did her

response feel like this?

Maybe I had misunderstood something…

“Well, it’s not impossible but…” (Sophia)

“You could just say that you wanted to go alone.” (Kento)

When I created an escape route in my response, I was met with a

sulking look.

I don’t understand.

I really don’t understand her feelings.

Is it that she just wants to go to the beach and wants me to tag along
as a companion, or does she actually want to go with me? Which is
it?
I don’t even know how she sees me…

The reason we became closer could simply be that she’s changed

her view of me from a stranger to more of a brother figure…

“Well then, let’s go together one day.” (Kento)

For now, it seemed like the right thing to do was to invite her, so I
gave it a try.

And then…

“Since you’re the one who said it, you’d better not break your
promise, okay…?” (Sophia)

It seemed like I got a roundabout “okay”.

There were still some things I didn’t quite get, but… well, since we
can go together, I guess it’s fine.

The problem is that I have to wait almost a whole year… well, I got
something to look forward to at least.
After that, we went on some classic rides like the merry-go-round
and the teacups.

Then, something caught my eye—

“There’s a haunted house? Want to go in?” (Kento)

“Absolutely not…!” (Sophia)

When I invited her to the haunted house, Sophia shook her head
vigorously and refused.

It turns out, she’s surprisingly scared.

Now that I think about it, she was also afraid when we walked down
a dark street.

“I was just joking.” (Kento)

“You’re so mean…” (Sophia)

When I said it with a smile, she shot me a sulking look in return.

Her cheeks were puffed out a little, making her look just like a child.

Even this childlike side of her made me think she was incredibly
cute.

Somehow, almost everything she did seemed cute to me.

…I might be in serious trouble.

“What should we do next?” (Kento)

“Anything except the haunted house and the roller coaster…”

(Sophia)

“I know that.” (Kento)

I gave her a troubled smile as she sulked.

That’s right, I had forgotten because the mood had changed, but she
was the type to hold grudges.
It would probably be better not to tease her too much.

“There’s also a swing ride, you know? It’s not scary at all, and it’s
actually really refreshing.” (Kento)

Of all the rides I used to go on as a kid, that one might have been my
favorite.

“……” (Sophia)

For some reason, Sophia was staring at me with narrowed eyes,

suspiciously.

Is she doubting me…?

“You don’t need to give me that look. It’s not a lie, you know?”
(Kento)

“……Shirakawa-kun, you can be a bit mean sometimes…” (Sophia)

She was still pouting, her lips pushed out in a sulky expression.
Maybe she still thinks that I’m lying and trying to scare her again.

Maybe she even thought I mentioned the roller coaster out of

meanness, to trick her into riding it.

This probably started with me trying to get her into the haunted
house earlier.

After that, she probably assumed I was deliberately being mean to

her.

Looking back, I shouldn’t have said it was a joke.

“Just try riding it first. It’s really fine, so don’t worry.” (Kento)

“It’ll be too late by then?!” (Sophia)

Well, that’s true. If we ride it and she finds out I was lying, she’ll
experience the fear for herself, and by then, it’ll be too late.

But this time, it really was safe, so I just dragged her into the line
without letting her worry.
“……” (Sophia)

“You don’t need to make a face like it’s the end of the world…”
(Kento)

When we sat on the swing, she tightly gripped the chain above her
with a pale face.

She probably wasn’t afraid of heights, just scared in general.

“You’ll regret this later…” (Sophia)

It seemed like she was really terrified, her eyes losing their usual
light.

It really is fine, though…

What happened afterward was—

“Shirakawa-kun, let’s ride it again…!” (Sophia)

She ended up really liking it, so I was spared from any grudge she
might have.

After riding it about three times, she suddenly suggested we ride the
ferris wheel again, so we headed over there.

“You really liked the ferris wheel, huh?” (Kento)

“Yeah, this might be my favorite… Can we ride it at night too?”

(Sophia)

As we gazed at the view from the Ferris wheel, she asked with
anticipation.

“Of course. I’m sure the night view is just as beautiful.” (Kento)

“…I wish I could see it.” (Sophia)

Since tomorrow she’d have school, cram school, and club activities,
we planned to head back before sunset for an early rest.

If she really wanted to see it, I considered pushing back our return
time… but…
“Wanna stay here until night?” (Kento)

“Mm, it’s fine for today.” (Sophia)

I asked just in case, but she shook her head.

It seems she really can’t neglect her studies after all.

If there was one thing I understood about her, it was that she was
serious, and studying was important to her, so it couldn’t be helped.

I hope we can come back to the amusement park together again

sometime… but I wonder when that will be.

It looks like she enjoyed everything that happened today, so I think

she’d probably want to come again.

Well, the person she might want to come with might not necessarily
be me…

◆
“That was fun…” (Sophia)

On the way back from the amusement park, when we got on the bus,
Sophia smiled as she sat next to me.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. It wasn’t so bad for your first time right?”
(Kento)

“Yeah, I think I really had fun for the first time in a while.” (Sophia)

Aside from the roller coaster ride, she had been laughing and
enjoying herself the whole time.

She wasn’t the type to smile much normally, so that must have been
her way of letting loose.

Honestly, it was really cute to see her like that.

“I think it’s good to do a little bit of fun stuff like this, not just study
all the time, you know?” (Kento)

“That’s a separate matter.” (Sophia)

“Ah…” (Kento)

Damn, I thought I could get her to agree with that logic.

Well, she was working hard on her studies, so I probably shouldn’t

get in the way of that too much.

From an outsider’s perspective, it’s almost worrying how much she

crams in her studying…

“But Shirakawa-kun, if someone told you to quit baseball and just go

play, you’d refuse, right?” (Sophia)

“Yeah, I would.” (Kento)

That’s exactly what happened back in middle school when I couldn’t

get along with some classmates.

“It’s the same thing. Don’t worry, I’m doing it within my limits.”
(Sophia)

What about the fact that you collapsed just recently, though?
—But I can’t exactly say that.

It was because those girls splashed water on her so that definitely

played a part.

“Still… I’ve realized that taking breaks is necessary sometimes…”

(Sophia)

It seems like coming to the amusement park today was the right call
after all.

Even if it’s rare, if she can take breaks like this on her own, I won’t
have to worry as much.

As I was thinking about such things…

“That’s why… if I ever need a break, can you help me…?” (Sophia)

Somehow, I got dragged into this.

“Help…?” (Kento)
“Well, you see… I don’t know how to take breaks, so you have to
show me, Shirakawa-kun…” (Sophia)

I see, so basically, she wants me to take her out like I did today.

Since she’d never been to an amusement park before, it’s likely she
really doesn’t know many places to have fun.

For a moment, I thought it was an invitation for a date… damn it.

“Yeah, sure. Next time when we’re free, let’s go out again.” (Kento)

Since it’s rare for our days off to match up, that frequency should be
just right.

When I have some time, I’ll need to find places to take her… for a
date, I mean—somewhere to have fun.

“It’s a promise, so if you break it, I’ll be mad.” (Sophia)

“Alright, alright.” (Kento)

She said it with a hint of embarrassment, her cheeks flushed as she
said something surprising, and I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly
in response.

I thought she’d become a bit more honest with herself, but it seems
like she couldn’t completely change that fast.

But I find this part of her cute, so I’ll take things slow and go along
with it.

“…Hey, can I ask for one last selfish thing…?” (Sophia)

I thought the conversation was over, but it seemed like she still had
something to say.

“It’s not like it has to be the last thing, but what is it?” (Kento)

“Well…” (Sophia)

She hesitated, her gaze wandering as if she was unsure about how to
ask.
What could she be about to say?

I waited for her to speak, and then she said it:

“I want to play catch…” (Kento)

Once again, she said something I never expected.

Catch ball?

Why?

That thought crossed my mind, but… if I asked, she might

misunderstand and think that I didn’t want to do it.

So, I swallowed those words.

“By the time we get home, it will probably be sunset, so we won’t be

able to play for too long… but of course, it’s fine.” (Kento)

I decided to play catch with her.

When we got home, I pulled out two gloves that I used to use.

“Here, take these. Sorry if they smell a bit.” (Kento)

I had kept them in good condition, but with age, they had picked up
a smell. Since I didn’t have any new ones, she’d just have to deal
with it.

“You had gloves too… not just a mitt?” (Sophia)

Sophia looked at the gloves with surprise.

A mitt is something used by catchers and first basemen, separate

from a regular glove.

Honestly, if someone wasn’t interested in baseball, it wouldn’t be

surprising if they confused a mitt and a glove for the same thing…
but surprisingly, she seems to have some knowledge of the game.

“This glove… well, it’s the one I used when I played catch with my
dad.” (Kento)
My dad liked baseball too, and we used to play catch a lot back in
the day.

But after I kind of gave up during middle school, we stopped playing.

“Do you know how to catch and throw properly?” (Kento)

“Yeah, no problem.” (Sophia)

Sophia said this with a proud expression.

She looked confident, but… I couldn’t imagine her playing baseball.

“Well then, let’s head to the park.” (Kento)

We walked to a nearby park.

After some light stretching, we began playing catch.

“Haa…!” (Sophia)

Paan!
The ball that came flying towards me was so fast and precise, that it
was hard to believe it came from a girl.

It had a beautiful backspin that made it look almost mesmerizing,

and it was clearly not a throw from an amateur.

“You’ve played baseball before…?” (Kento)

I had been watching her form when she threw the ball. Her upper
and lower body worked together seamlessly, and she focused all her
strength on her fingertips with a beautifully executed throw.

“I’ve never played before.” (Sophia)

But she insisted she had no experience.

“No way. That throw doesn’t come from someone with no training.
You clearly learned from someone.” (Kento)

If that wasn’t the case, then she must be a natural talent.

If that were true, I’d suggest she start playing women’s baseball right
away.

“Well, my dad taught me.” (Sophia)

“Wait, your dad?” (Kento)

When did he ever teach her that? He didn’t even teach me how to
throw properly.

I thought that, but then she continued…

“I mean my other dad, who already passed away, he was really good
at baseball. We used to play catch together all the time.” (Sophia)

I see, it’s her late father…

That answer made it clear why she had wanted to play catch.
Playing catch must have been an important memory of her time with
him.

“He must have been an amazing person.” (Kento)

“You can tell?” (Sophia)

“Not many people can teach such a perfect form.” (Kento)

To teach someone, you need the knowledge yourself; you can’t pass
on what you don’t understand. Throwing with such a clean backspin
isn’t as simple as just explaining it. The way her straight pitch
rotated, almost perfectly vertical, was something I had only ever
seen Shouta pull off before her.

If I could, I’d love to have met her father before he passed away.

…Though, if he were still alive, she and I might never have met in
the first place. It’s a wish that could never be fulfilled.

“Fufufu…” (Sophia)

She smiled softly, clearly happy that I praised her father. Just seeing
that smile warmed my chest.

“Hey, I have something I want to ask. Would it be alright?” (Sophia)

“Of course, go ahead, no need to hold back.” (Kento)

As we continued tossing the ball back and forth, our conversation
mirrored the rhythm of our throws.

“Why did you start playing baseball?” (Sophia)

I’d been asked about my thoughts on baseball before, but no one had
ever asked me why I started. It seemed she was curious about that
too.

“When my dad took me to watch a professional baseball game, I saw

the players on the field excelling. I just thought they were really cool,
and that’s what got me into it.” (Kento)

I kept the explanation short and simple. There are probably

countless players out there who started baseball for the same reason
as me.

“Do you have a player you look up to?” (Sophia)

“Yeah, though he’s no longer with us. He’s been my idol since I was a
kid.” (Kento)
“……” (Sophia)

When I said that and tossed the ball back, she caught it and froze in
place. Then, she stared at me intently.

“What’s wrong?” (Kento)

“What’s that person’s… name?” (Sophia)

Sophia looked at me with a serious expression. I don’t understand

why she was looking at me like that…

Even though he’s no longer here, and mentioning his name wouldn’t
change anything…

“You’re not going to tell me…?” (Sophia)

“…” (Kento)

A faint voice reached me, and I instinctively held my breath.

I couldn’t understand why she seemed so hung up about this
subject, but with her pleading tone, there was no way I could dismiss
her question.

“Riley Clark. He’s a former professional who I respect the most and
always thought was the coolest.” (Kento)

When I answered honestly, her eyes widened in surprise.

And then—

“Just as I thought… Maybe it really was fate that brought us

together…“ (Sophia)
—with an expression of pure happiness, she smiled.

I couldn’t fathom the reason behind her reaction.

But—her smile, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, was so

captivating that I couldn’t help but be captivated.
 Epilogue

<Sophia’s PoV>

After we finished playing catch, I happily returned home with him. I

immediately took a bath and then returned to my room.

Right now, my heart is pounding really fast, and my entire body feels
like it’s burning with warmth.

That’s just how happy I was about today’s events.

The date with him at the amusement park, and the time we spent
playing catch together at the park, were both precious moments for
me.

But more than that, there was something else that made me even
happier.

“Fate, huh… Things like this really do happen…” (Sophia)

I took out a photograph I had carefully hidden inside my desk
drawer.

It was a family photo taken when I was little.

Needless to say, it’s one of my most treasured possessions.

“Hey, Papa…” (Sophia)

I spoke to the man in the photo, who was smiling brightly.

The young me, cradled in his arms, wore a blissful smile.

I’ve lost count of how many times I wished I could return to that
moment.

That’s how much my Dad meant to me, how much I loved him.

And now, I had something I wanted to tell him.

“Someone remembers you. They said you were someone

they looked up to.” (Sophia)
I thought I was the only one left who still remembered Dad.

I’m sure Mom remembers too, but she’s found someone new to love.

I don’t think that’s a bad thing, and I’m sure Dad would be happier
knowing she hasn’t let grief hold her back.

I had wholeheartedly wished her well in her remarriage.

But—even so, there’s still a part of me that feels lonely.

Because it feels like Dad’s presence has slowly faded away.

But there was someone who still remembered Dad, someone who
had etched him into their heart even now.

That fact made me incredibly happy.

More than anything, I thought he was by far the most wonderful man
I had ever met.
“He’s kind, hardworking, and a truly amazing person. I’m so
glad I met him. I believe that, with him, my dreams will
come true. Papa, please help support him from heaven.”
(Sophia)

After saying that, I carefully placed the photo back such that it
wouldn’t get damaged.

Then, I shifted my thoughts.

“I kept thinking that his personality was too good to be

true… but I’ll throw thoughts away. Not to mention, fate
doesn’t happen often… and if he ends up liking me, nothing
else matters. But still, what should I do…?” (Sophia)

I found myself troubled over how to close the gap between us.

There was no way I could approach him honestly.

I had never interacted with someone that way before, and even if I
tried hard to be honest and rely on him, memories of how I’d acted
in the past would come rushing back.
To be honest, even I know that I’m clumsy when it comes to
relationships.

So maybe it’s best to do what I can, in my own clumsy way.

Fortunately, he’s kind, so if I approach him, I think he’ll let me stay

by his side.

By taking it slow and steady, it might be possible to gradually close

the gap between us.

“First, I need to change how I address him… He calls me

Sophia, so I should call him Kento… Kento-kun? A
nickname… no, that doesn’t suit me. Calling him onii-chan…
no, that would be embarrassing. It feels safer to stick with
Kento-kun… but I’ll have to figure out how to naturally make
the change…” (Sophia)

And so, I found myself wracking my brain over how to shorten the
distance between us.
 Credits:
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Japanese Mangas & Novels

Translation
Neosekai Translations and VampiraMTL