Chapter 70: Afterstory & Prequel – 6: The Trial

In the clubroom building after practice, specifically in the baseball team’s room.

Admiring the club members who, regardless of the situation, diligently complete practice, I sat on a folding chair. Surrounding me were over thirty buzz-cut guys and two girls in tracksuits. Some first-years, unable to fit inside, were peeking in from the doorway. Heck, there were probably even some nosy soccer players in the crowd. I could hear their “way-way” noisy chatter from outside, so it was obvious. It was Takase from my class. That guy, the third-string goalkeeper, is only good at spreading rumors.

And there, sitting across from me on another folding chair, her knees nearly touching mine, was the new manager with her sleek black bob haircut.

“Well then, shall we begin the trial?”

“Why is the chief manager taking charge? This is where the captain, as the captain, should act as the judge! This captain will bring down judgment upon the traitor, Kyugo!”

“Mitaka, shut up. You’re already disqualified as a judge for being so emotional. Whether Kyugo-kun had a girlfriend, an ex, or someone he used for his convenience and discarded, I, who can suppress any personal anger or sadness, am the one best suited to deliver a fair judgment.”

Hearing Ogikubo-senpai’s words, the club members exchanged glances. Though their veins were bulging in anger and their breathing was heavy, everyone seemed to begrudgingly agree with her opinion.

No, no, no. Why am I even on trial in the first place? I haven’t done anything wrong. Relationships? There’s no way I could manage something like that. Because the one and only person I’ve ever had feelings for is someone I can never be with.

“Kyugo-senpai.”

As emotionless as ever, Nakano turned her sharp, almond-shaped eyes toward me.

“Do you really not remember? I’m Nakano. Nakano Sana. We were in the same middle school art club.”

“Ah, the art club… Nakano… Oh, wait. That Nakano?”

“Yes, that Nakano.”

Nakano’s eyes seemed to widen slightly. She might’ve been a little happy.

The art club was the one I’d nominally joined back in middle school. Our middle school required students to join a club, but since I was playing hardball baseball in an external junior league, I couldn’t join the school’s soft baseball team. So, I ended up in the art club because it was the least demanding and had no issues with ghost members. I only showed up about ten times over three years, and even then, it was mostly just to check on Maika or Riko, who were also in the art club.

So, yeah.

I barely interacted with the other art club members.

Sorry, but I can only vaguely remember you. And even in that vague memory, you’re really blurry. Actually, I might as well say it—I don’t know you. Who are you, seriously?

“So, Nakano-san, Kyugo-kun used and discarded you, huh? Disgusting. Kyugo-kun, you’re sentenced to death. Or alternatively, 15 years of no ejaculation.”

“That’s just your fetish at this point, and either way, it’s a death sentence. Where’s the fair judgment in that, you degenerate chief manager?” Half of the male club members were already gripping metal bats, while the other half gazed at me with envy, leaning forward slightly. This baseball club is beyond saving.

“That’s not it. Nakano fell for Kyugo-senpai on her own, confessed to him on her own, and was rejected on her own.”

Nakano stated this in her usual calm and composed tone. Even when surrounded by the furious upperclassmen, she didn’t flinch. Her nerves were steely. There’s no way I would forget being confessed to by a girl like this.

Seriously.

What? Huh? This cool-headed girl confessed to me? Me? I don’t remember that. There’s no way. I’ve never been popular in my life.

“Oh, so that’s how it was.”

“Yes. So, Chief Ogikubo, please retract your rude statements about Kyugo-senpai. Kyugo-senpai is a prince. There’s no way he would treat a woman in such a way.”

“Ehh…”

That “ehh” escaped my lips, of course.

Nakano’s words, calm as ever, carried a sharp undertone. Even Ogikubo-senpai seemed thrown off, stumbling over her words before weakly squeezing out, “I-I’m sorry, Kyugo-kun.” The surrounding members stood there, dumbfounded. Outside, the third-string goalkeeper was still making noise. Damn it, by tomorrow lunchtime, the entire school will know about this.

“Kyugo-senpai, that’s how it is. Nakano followed you to this high school and joined the baseball club.”

“That’s… heavy.”

Do I even have that kind of value? I’m just a baseball-obsessed siscon. And by siscon, I mean I adore Riko. My sole focus is taking Riko to Koshien. Beyond that, I’m a hopeless wreck of a human being. Honestly, even with baseball, I wouldn’t have made it this far without Maika’s support.

“Do you think it’s heavy? Back in middle school, because of strange rumors, I gave up too easily. But now Nakano knows that those rumors were false and understands Kyugo-senpai’s true feelings. That’s why I’ve decided to be more proactive this time.”

“Rumors…? Wait, don’t tell me…”

Is it about how… I’m extra? I’ve always pretended to be smooth and uncovered, but did Takase (the second-string goalkeeper back in middle school) see something during that school trip…?

“Yes, that’s right. That horrible, baseless rumor tarnished your reputation and dignity, and I can never forgive that. It’s shameful that I believed it, and I deeply regret it. I apologize.”

“Ah, yeah, right. That was a complete fabrication.”

“Of course! Kyugo-senpai is Nakano’s ideal prince, after all.”

“Ugh…!”

It’s painful. Heartbreaking. So being smooth really is the ideal for women… This is too much. With my extra skin, I’ll never live up to that ideal.

“Nakano doesn’t expect us to start dating immediately. I’ll work hard to become a woman worthy of Kyugo-senpai. Please wait for me, Kyugo-senpai.”

With a determined gaze and sincere words, Nakano—her expression slightly tinged with a faint blush—delivered her declaration.