Believing She Has Been Reincarnated into a Baseball Game, My Little Sister Is Aiming for the Koshien, While I Give It My All to Keep Her from Finding out That It’s Actually an Ntr Game - Chapter 51

Riko might be in danger.

I have no clue why going to Koshien would mean Riko’s death—it doesn’t make any sense, and I can’t believe it. But… Riko and Nomo know something. Something I don’t.

Even if that’s not the case, there’s a big issue. The fact that Riko wasn’t the least bit disturbed when talking about her own death—how is that even possible?

That’s just wrong.

If she’s aware she already died once in her past life, she should reject it all the more.

Yeah. At the very least, Riko is hiding something from me. And without a doubt, it’s something that’s been gnawing at her heart.

I can’t just let that slide. Not even for a second. I have to do something. I have to save her!

“Help me out, Maika…!”

Seven minutes later, I was clinging to my beloved Maika, tears running down my face. Yeah. No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t figure anything out.

“What’s wrong, Kyugo?”

It was the night before the semifinals.

While Riko was enjoying a mochi mochi bath, I was sitting on my bed, clinging to Maika. I buried my face in her soft belly, and she gently stroked my head. Her squishy tummy felt nice.

“Ugh… It’s Riko… Riko, she…! Ugh! There’s no way I can face tomorrow’s match like this… I can’t think about anything else but Riko…”

“I see, I see. Well, it can’t be helped… Why don’t you talk to your bride?”

“Maika…! I love you.”

Since the very first day of our reincarnations, our bed meetings always end up like this.

“…Sigh…”

After I explained everything I knew, Maika let out a deep sigh, looking incredibly tired.

“That girl… She knew she was dead this whole time, didn’t she? But now that I think about it… She never questioned you saying that you rejected her proposal 14 years ago. I thought that was strange. If she didn’t recognize that she’d been dead for two years, then to her, it should have been 12 years ago.”

“You’re right… So, it’s confirmed then, huh…?”

“Even so, it just raises another question: why did she hide it? I never really understood that girl, even back then.”

“No, Maika, you understand Riko way better than I do. That’s why I need your help… I can’t just let this slide. If my precious sister is carrying something so heavy, I can’t just do nothing…”

“Well, we’ll have to take it one step at a time.”

With my head resting on her plush, thick thighs in their short shorts, Maika stroked my hair, speaking calmly. If she didn’t do this, I wouldn’t be able to keep it together.

“So, who exactly is Nomo-kun? I get that Riko might know about her past life, but for Nomo-kun to know about Riko’s death in her past life… And the fact that he even knows about reincarnation?”

“Oh, you’re right. Thinking about it calmly, that makes sense. It’s natural to assume he’s also a reincarnator like us… Wait, that’s it! I knew it! He knows things he shouldn’t! He mentioned Shohei Otani, Ichiro, and Nomo Hideo! He even talked about Kiyohara, Matsuzaka, and Saito Yuuki!”

There are no professional baseball players with those names in this world. The closest equivalents are players with similar names, like Otani Toshiya.

“Well, that settles it. Otani, Ichiro, Nomo… and Kiyohara, Matsuzaka, and Han-kachi Prince, huh? If you make a name for yourself at Koshien, maybe you’ll be called the Extreme Heat Prince.”

“No way. That’d be bad. For two reasons.”

Mainly because it’d expose me as a cheater and because of personal insecurities.

“Oh yeah… Hm? By the way, Kyugo, how did Otani and Han-kachi Prince even come up in conversation?”

“Let me think… Oh, right. Nomo said he hated Otani, Ichiro, and Nomo, but he liked Kiyohara, Matsuzaka, and Saito Yuuki. Now that I think about it, that’s a pretty weird grouping.”

The latter three are famous players too, but objectively, the former three are legends, standing above the rest. Sure, there are contrarians who dislike famous players, but in that case, it’s still odd that he’d like the other three. Kiyohara, Matsuzaka, and Han-kachi Prince are just as famous, especially for their stardom at Koshien.

Wait a second.

“That sounds like one of those ‘what do they have and don’t have’ riddles… Oh! I think I get it! Kiyohara, Matsuzaka, and Han-kachi Prince all had massive success at Koshien and even won the tournament. They’re legends of Koshien. On the other hand, Otani, Ichiro, and Nomo never had a chance to shine at Koshien. Otani and Ichiro didn’t win a single game, and Nomo didn’t even make it to the tournament. But despite that, they became legends in pro baseball and even in the Major Leagues.”

“…I see.”

Additionally, some might argue that for the latter three, Koshien was the peak of their baseball careers. Of course, they achieved great things afterward, but especially in the case of Matsuzaka and Han-kachi Prince, it’s often speculated that the strain they put on their arms during Koshien affected the rest of their careers.

“Nomo-kun’s comments about burning out in high school baseball… He really reveres Koshien, doesn’t he? If someone like that knows about Riko’s past life…”

“So, the person who reincarnated as Nomo would have to be someone like that. But…”

“…Yeah, sorry, I still can’t think of anyone like that… We were probably the ones who dreamed the most about Koshien, after all…”

Yeah, Maika, Riko, and I all watched that miraculous Koshien game… a match that seemed touched by some magical force… Wait…?

…Hold on.

Now that I think about it, Maika, Riko, Dad, and I all reincarnated with appearances that resembled our past lives. If that same rule applies, Nomo should have too.

But Nomo’s appearance (albeit changed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional) is exactly how I remember him from the game.

So, does that mean someone who looked exactly like Nomo in his past life reincarnated? No, Riko didn’t know anyone like that.

One possible explanation for this phenomenon… is that he didn’t have a physical body in his past life.

If he didn’t have a body, then the rules that apply to us wouldn’t apply to him, and he would have had no choice but to possess the body of Nomo Makoto in this world.

That would explain everything.

“…Seriously…”

I feel like I’m about to say something incredibly embarrassing… but I can’t just not report it, so I mumble in a small voice,

“…I used to call him ‘Mr. Monster’…”

“Huh?”

“Riko called Nomo ‘Mr. Monster.'”

“…………”

On her thick thighs, Maika and I lock eyes. Neither of us says a word. It’s not that we don’t want to say anything—it’s just that whatever we’re thinking seems too ridiculous to put into words. But despite that, the assumption both Maika and I are making seems too plausible to ignore. The more we try to deny it, the more everything just fits.

After a moment of silence, Maika is the first to speak.

“Well, um, for now, how about we go with that assumption? You know, just to move things forward, since we don’t have any other leads.”

“There’s no other option anyway… But even if we go with that, I still have no clue what Riko’s thinking.”

In fact, this assumption only makes Riko’s intentions more confusing.

“Hold on.”

Meanwhile, Maika seems to have thought of something, placing her left hand to her mouth in contemplation. Her right hand continues to stroke my head. Bliss.

“If Nomo’s true identity is tied to that, and he was talking about how Riko would die if you went to Koshien, then there’s probably a connection there… You might want to deny it, but…”

“No, because that doesn’t make any sense. How could my going to Koshien lead to Riko’s death? And why would Riko, of all people, want me to take her to Koshien so badly…?”

“That’s exactly it. I don’t want to say it, but… the truth is, Riko wants to die.”

“…………”

“You need to think about why she wants to die. It doesn’t make any sense, does it? She was given the chance to live again, but why does she… And she remembers her past death… No, maybe because she remembers it is exactly why… Wait…”

Maika’s eyes suddenly widen in realization. Did she figure something out? Of course she did—she’s Riko’s sister and knows her way too well. It’s creepy, honestly.

“Hey, Kyugo. Could it be that…”

“What do you think you’re doing having a lap pillow session behind your foolish sister’s back, Onii-san?”

“…………!? Riko…”

From the crack in the door, I could see Riko’s round, sparkling eyes peeking in at us.

Fresh out of the bath, her skin still warm and soft, Riko plops down next to me with a wide smile.

“My thighs are much softer and smoother than Maika-chan’s, you know? Here, Onii-san, go ahead.”

She pats her soft, smooth thighs poking out from her shorts, showing them off proudly. Gulp…

“Gulp…? You cheater.”

Maika’s fingers dig into my cheek with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

“Riko, you’ve been listening to our conversation, haven’t you? Well, guess what—it’s out in the open now. So go ahead and confess everything.”

“Ufufu♪ What are you talking about, Maika-chan? What’s important now is that we all get a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s big day. Onii-san, come rest on my soft, mochi-like thighs tonight.”

“If you keep dodging like that, Kyugo won’t be able to sleep, and he won’t be able to focus on the game.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it, Onii-san, Maika-chan. I’ll tell you everything once Koshien is over.”

“Hmph. I thought so.”

“You thought so?” Riko tilts her head slightly.

“Koshien is your boundary, isn’t it? It’s been suspicious for a while now, with how you kept emphasizing that part.”

“…………”

Maika’s observation leaves Riko silent, though her smile remains.

“There’s something tied to that, right? Kyugo going to Koshien is some sort of line for you. And that line is tied to your death. In your mind, going to Koshien equals death.”

“Ufufu, Maika-chan, you’re saying some strange things. Now, Onii-san, let’s get you ready for bed.”

“Riko, I already know. I’ve figured it out. You plan to die to beat me, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

The one who let out that involuntary sound was, of course, me. My sisters’ escalating tension left me frozen like usual, but Maika’s words finally forced me to react.

Meanwhile, Riko’s smile doesn’t falter, though her movements stop entirely. Her hand, which had been reaching out to stroke my head, slowly lowers. Too bad.

Of course, Maika doesn’t hesitate for a moment, continuing her pursuit.

“You think the only way to be Kyugo’s number one is to die, right? You remember what happened after you died in our previous life. Kyugo shut himself off from the world, stopped paying attention to me, and spent those two years consumed by thoughts of you. You watched us, didn’t you? Even after you died.”

“――――”

I was left speechless. I couldn’t fully understand what Maika was saying, but I could feel the frustration, sadness, and regret in her words. And when I turned my eyes to Riko, who was receiving these words…

“…Pfft. Ufufu… Ufufufufufufu! Oh, Maika-chan… really… Ufufufufufu!”

Riko suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach, her eyes tearing up. What the…?

“You’re absolutely right, Maika-chan.”

“…………!” “I knew it.”

Wiping away her tears, Riko continued to smile.

“And in return, let me guess why you were able to figure out what I was thinking, Maika-chan.”

“I don’t need to hear it.”

“Maika-chan, two years ago, you wanted me to die, didn’t you?”

“Of course not!!”

Maika’s furious shout shook the air, her hand abandoning my head to grab Riko. She glared at her, eyes burning.

“Yes, you did♪ You wanted Onii-san’s feelings all to yourself. I can tell, because I’ve felt that way for a long time.”

“No!”

“You thought that with my death, you could monopolize Onii-san’s feelings. You could take everything from me and become his true number one. Don’t worry, I would’ve felt the same if our roles were reversed. When I was lying in that hospital bed, I despaired, knowing that if I died, that’s exactly what would happen.”

“Stop! Why do you always…!!”

“But! It turned out the opposite! Too bad! Ufufu♪ When I died, Onii-san became fixated on me, and forgot all about your devotion! He only looked at me! I managed to control Onii-san’s heart through my death! Finally, finally, finally! I became his number one♪”

“You…”

Riko’s face turned red with bliss, as if she had just succeeded in confessing her love. Maika, completely dumbfounded by her bizarre behavior, was left at a loss for words.

“Riko, what are you even saying…?”

I barely managed to speak, my voice weak. Hearing me, Riko turned that euphoric smile toward me, pulling me gently onto her lap. Maika, who had momentarily lost herself, snapped back to reality, only to find my head resting on Riko’s lap as she softly stroked my head.

“Onii-san? You’ll keep your promise to Riko, right?”

“Riko…”

“You’re going to Koshien, Onii-san♪ No matter what obstacles my clumsy self throws at you, with Maika-chan by your side, you’ll overcome everything and make it to Koshien♪ And then… I’ll die♪”

“Huh…?”

“Because of Maika-chan’s dedication, I’ll die♪ And then, the game will be over♪ Maika-chan won’t have any chance of a comeback♪ Onii-san will forever keep his eyes on me, the dead Riko♪ I’ll be your number one, forever♪ Alone at the top♪”

“――――”

“So please, Onii-san. Take Riko to Koshien, won’t you? With Maika-chan at your side, kill the mochi mochi Riko♪”