Chapter 70: Afterstory & Prequel – 3: Before Reincarnation

“Hey, Kyugo. Can female managers join club activities during spring break?”

“Huh?”

It was seven in the morning, at the dining table in the living room.

The hand I had been extending toward the rolled omelet froze mid-air. That’s how baffling Maika’s question was to me.

Maika sat down in the chair across from me, fiddling with her sleek black hair that she was so proud of. Now that she was in high school, her long hair suited her even more. Not that I’d ever say that out loud. And even if she showed off her blazer uniform, I’d definitely keep my thoughts to myself.

“Well, you know, last year, you started practicing in March, right? So, can’t managers join early too?”

As if it were nothing, Maika said this, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and politely said, Itadakimasu. I used that moment to sneak a glance at her ever-growing chest.

Seriously, what the hell? Stop getting so curvy. I don’t want to see my sister like this. Damn it…

“Yeah, I did start participating in spring break practice, but…”

As Maika opened her eyes, I shifted my gaze back to the rolled omelet. Since she wasn’t even looking at my face while she was talking, this was fine.

“But I officially joined after the entrance ceremony. Normally, that’s how it works. You only start practice after officially joining. I was an exception because they were expecting me to be a regular player in the spring tournament.”

“I see. Then, even more so for a manager. But at least observing should be fine, right? I’ll ask Ogikubo-senpai for permission on LINE.”

“Huh? Wait, hold on. First of all—”

Since when did she get close enough to our chief manager to be messaging him personally? Sure, she’d been helping out at games since last year, acting like a parent chaperone and all, so she got along well with the managers and the parents’ association. But Dad seems to be disliked for some reason. That guy manages to get on everyone’s bad side wherever he goes.

“First of all, what?”

“…Why are you so casually trying to become a manager for our baseball team?”

“…Huh? Well, obviously, it’s because I’ll be going to the same high school as you starting in two weeks. If I’m going to be a manager, it’ll naturally be for your team. There’s no helping it. It’s just common sense. Are you stupid? A musclehead? Here, don’t pick out the mushrooms. I made sure they have a texture you won’t dislike.”

“I don’t need this.”

“No. Mushrooms are rich in vitamin D and dietary fiber. You decided to build your body through real food instead of relying on supplements, remember?”

“This isn’t about the mushrooms. I’ll eat the mushrooms, but I don’t need you joining the team. I didn’t hear about this, and there wasn’t any talk of it in the first place.”

That’s a lie. If Maika’s perfectly roasted mushrooms were on the table, even shiitake would taste delicious. And while I hadn’t heard it directly, I had a vague idea she was planning to become our manager.

I had vaguely suspected it but didn’t address it until late March. And now that the words had come out of her mouth, I was rejecting the idea for the first time.

Looking back, I’m such a trashy guy. Trash, or rather, just a kid. A bratty high schooler, really. Like those kids who irrationally push back against their family’s help during adolescence or keep their distance from the childhood friend they actually like because of their oversized egos.

Yeah, that’s exactly what I am—a high schooler in the middle of adolescence. And both of those examples apply to how I treat Maika.

“…Why do I have to take orders from you? Whatever club I join is my choice.”

Maika had paused for a moment when I spoke but resumed eating with an annoyed tone. She didn’t even glance in my direction.

“Why? Well, because…”

“Because?”

Because… yeah. I didn’t have anything else to say. There wasn’t a reason I could voice. There were reasons I couldn’t say, though. Reasons I couldn’t even put into words if I tried.

So basically, if it turns into an argument, I don’t stand a chance. I’ve never won a verbal fight against Maika. Our fights always end with me slinking away in defeat or with Maika, despite logically winning, getting too emotional, snapping, or even crying. For the record, the former outcome happens about 80% of the time. Right, time to slink away again.

Just as I muttered, “Crap, I’m gonna be late for practice,” and tried to shove the rest of my breakfast into my mouth, an unexpected lifeline came from beside me. A soft, squishy lifeline.

“I agree with Nii-san. I don’t think Maika-chan is suited to being a high school baseball team manager. And honestly, I won’t allow any more underhanded moves from you. Just because you’re one year older than me, you get way too many advantages when it comes to getting close to Nii-san. It’s unfair. Right, Nii-san♪?”

A soft and squishy body wrapped itself around my right arm. The sweet voice and scent mingled together, gently stimulating my senses, as always. The squishy beauty clinging to me was my younger sister, Riko, who’s two years below me. Today, like every other day, she was both outwardly and inwardly very squishy. So squishy!

“That’s right, Riko. Exactly. I don’t know much about this ‘advantage’ business, but Maika’s personality and lifestyle just don’t suit being a baseball team manager. Or a manager for any sports team, really. She shouldn’t join any sports team at all, right, Riko?”

“Well, as long as it’s not the baseball team, I don’t care.”

Apparently, she didn’t care about the others. Also, she clearly understands the “advantage” thing perfectly well. Riko has always been competing with Maika over who can support me better. She’s my adorably squishy little sister, who also happens to be a total bro-con. Too cute.

But when my too-cute little sister says something like, “Maybe Maika-chan should just become a soccer team manager and flirt with guys over there,” it puts me in a terrible mood. So, I decided to squish her cheek and change the subject. In other words, time to slink away again.

“Nii-san, as happy as I am about the cheek squishing, please refrain during meals.”

“Alright, then I’ll pat your head instead. By the way, your hair’s grown a bit.”

“Yes, I was thinking of growing it out a little. Does it look unkempt?”

“No, it looks super cute. It really suits the pure and elegant Riko.”

“Ufufu♪ I knew Nii-san would say that, so I decided to grow it out♪ And Nii-san is getting bigger and more rugged by the day. You look so cool♪”

Riko pressed her cheeks with both hands and smiled brightly. Her genuine joy and unfiltered compliments made it clear she meant every word, which made me grin too. All those hours of training were worth it…! Though I’m still far from my target physique…!

“…Hmph. I see. That’s how it is, huh. Hmph.”

Meanwhile, a dark and ominous aura began emanating from another direction. Ugh…

“Well, Maika, that’s how it is. Two against one. We win.”

“Whatever. Fine. Doesn’t matter. I didn’t care about you that much in the first place. I’ll join the soccer team instead.”

“Don’t mess around. I’ll cry.”

“Why would you cry? Seriously, why? Kyugo, why would you cry if I became a soccer team manager?”

“Pfft. You won’t join anyway. In the end, Maika-chan just wanted to be a manager because of Nii-san, didn’t she? Someone with a squishy belly like hers could never handle being a manager for a hard-core sports team.”

“Y-yeah, exactly, Riko. Someone like Maika, with a squishy belly, could never handle being a manager. Especially not for the soccer team.”

“My belly is not squishy! Die! Just go to practice already! Here, take your lunch! Die!”

“Pfft. I won’t die, though. There’s no way I’d die. I’m sixteen, and Riko is still fourteen. I’m a young and squishy maiden, you know. There’s no way I’d die before Nii-san keeps his promise to take me to Koshien, right, Nii-san♪?”

“O-oh. Yeah. I’ll absolutely keep that promise. I’ll definitely take you to Koshien, Riko.”

“～～～～っ! Ugh! Ughhh! See, this is exactly what I hate! You two are always so grossly clingy! Seriously, get a clue! People are watching!”

What started as a spat between Maika and me had devolved into yet another wrestling match between Riko and Maika. Well, that’s probably for the best. Maika and Riko have always been at each other’s throats as sisters, but I’m still not used to the recent tension between Maika and me.

Even so, if I’ve ended up with these kinds of feelings for my own sister, it’s probably healthier for her to hate me.