Category: British Stepsister

<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 thought 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.

---

TL Notes:

Thanks for reading!

I hope these girls don’t make another reappearance, I’m not even gonna try to remember their names. It didn’t feel right to split this into parts, which is why this one is so long.

---

1. None

<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.

---

Thanks for reading!

I wished the author picked another name instead of Shuuto. Shouta and Shuuto is just too confusing for my brain to handle.

I’ll apologize in advance if the baseball part didn’t make sense since I don’t play baseball and I don’t really know about the various roles and positions and whatnot.

---

1. Furikake is a dry Japanese condiment sprinkled on top of cooked rice, vegetables, and fish, or used as an ingredient in onigiri.
2. Salted Japanese plums

“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.

---

Thanks for reading!

I can’t believe that after the two of them argued for so long, she didn’t even wake up on time 😂

Maybe she was sick or something?

Ehhh I hope the whole effort conversation wasn’t too confusing. I tried to make whatever sense I could out of it.

I have absolutely no idea what’s Special Preparatory course or Sports course refers to in Japanese high schools. It sounds like a college/university thing.

---

1. None

<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.

---

Thanks for reading!

Yeh man, MC ain’t a pervert, like sniffing someone’s clothes behind their back? Who would do such a thing… oh.

I’m looking forward to Sophia’s slow realization into finding out that she’s a pervert.

---

1. None

“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?” (Sophia)

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.

---

Thanks for reading!

If you’re confused about the competition stuff, they were initially talking about the ongoing competition to secure a spot in the prefectural tournament. The ongoing tournament is held in league format where second place could still have a chance to make it to the prefectural tournament.

They started talking about Koshien later, which I think only the 1st-place winner of the prefectural tournament can go.

---

1. The National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as “Summer Koshien”, is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament. It is the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan.
2. I don’t know baseball so this statement is probably wrong somewhere.

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.

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Thanks for reading!

Yeh, this girl ain’t no kuudere man, she’s just 100% tsundere. I guess she’s also a bit of a klutz considering the indirect kiss.

Also, this chapter is looooong, I have no idea how many parts I’m gonna have to split this into.

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“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?

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Thanks for reading!

You probably noticed already, but I used bold sentences for when Sophia speaks in English.

For those of you who still rmb me, I’m still busy with my army stuff, but I’m bored outside of them, so I figured why not continue translating. It’s just that the pace won’t be as quick as before.

This series looks cute enough for me to translate, and it’s recently got a second volume so that should keep me going for a while. Hopefully long enough for my other series to receive a new volume.

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Last updated: 12th December 2024

Spoilers up to Vol 1 Chapter 3 Part 1

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Main characters

Shirakawa Kento
The MC. He’s a member of his high school’s baseball team.

Sophia Frost / Shirakawa Sophia
THe main heroine. She’s a British girl with blonde hair and blue eyes who is MC’s classmate. She also became MC’s stepsister when her mother remarried.

Side characters

Kannagi Shouta
Part of the baseball team together with MC

Jessica
Sophia’s mother. Also MC’s mother after getting remarried.

Kurogane Shuuto
Part of the baseball team together with MC. Apparently very handsome.

Kujouin Nadeshiko
Manager of the baseball team. Second most beautiful girl after Sophia.