I Thought I Was Dead After Getting Stabbed While Protecting a Girl From a Random Attacker, but a Goddess Gave Me a Special Reward and Brought Me Back to Life in My Original Body—Now, All These Girls Are Coming on to Me!? - Chapter 53: My Sister

Chapter 53: My Sister…

I see, I won, didn’t I?

After the match ended, I lined up for the greetings, but both my legs cramped badly, and I couldn’t stand.

Honestly, I don’t remember much about the final moments, not completely, but I don’t recall how I managed to pull through.

Only when Makabe-senpai and the other fielders mobbed me did I realize the match was over.

Now, I’m in the stadium’s medical room.

After that, the coach lent me a shoulder and brought me here, and now I’m lying on a bed icing my legs.

Strangely, I don’t feel the exhaustion I felt during the match anymore.

It’s probably the adrenaline. I think in a bit, I’ll feel completely worn out.

The coach left to join the team for the award ceremony.

In my condition, I sadly have to skip the ceremony.

Well, this award is just the starting point, and if I can stand on the field until the end at Koshien, that’s enough.

…I’m bored.

The ceremony takes about an hour, they say.

So, I’m stuck here with nothing to do for an hour.

I wish I had my phone, but going to get my stuff with my legs like this is reckless…

I should probably sleep to recover some energy, but even though my body is exhausted, I can’t feel sleepy at all.

This is really troublesome…

While I thought about this leisurely, someone knocked on the medical room’s door.

I’m the only one here, so I have to answer, right? But if it’s a stranger, that’d be super awkward.

“Come in!”

“Big brother!”

My cute little sister, Sakuya, burst into the room.

“Ugh!”

I sat up quickly, and she dove straight for my stomach.

It feels like every time I meet Sakuya or the girls, this happens.

Well, it’s fine.

Behind Sakuya, Dad and Mom followed into the room.

“Congratulations, Ryu!”

“You were awesome! That’s my son!”

“Thanks, both of you. You too, Sakuya.”

While thanking them, I gently patted Sakuya’s head as she lay on top of me on the bed.

“Oh, sorry, Sakuya, I’m dirty right now, so could you move a bit? I changed and wiped off the sweat, so it’s probably fine, but…”

“Really? You don’t smell bad at all.”

Can you stop sniffing my chest like that?

I was sweating like crazy earlier, so there’s no way I don’t smell.

“Let me see your legs,” Dad said.

I turned my heavy legs toward Dad and rolled up my pants.

“They’re pretty warm. I’ll massage them a bit. Tell me if it hurts.”

“Okay.”

Dad slowly worked on my stiff calves.

“I’ll check your shoulders later, but you might get a fever tomorrow.”

“That bad?”

“Yeah. Your muscles are quite inflamed. It doesn’t seem like there’s damage, but you should rest for a while.”

“That makes me a bit worried.”

“What are you saying? You’ve got those cute girlfriends.”

“I mean, relying on them from the start feels wrong, doesn’t it?”

Sure, I’d be happy if the girls supported me, but expecting it and acting on it feels… off, right?

“Then, I’ll do it!” Sakuya said.

“Sakuya?”

“I’ll support you! We’re going back tomorrow evening, right?”

“That’s fine, isn’t it? We’ll pick you up around 5 p.m. tomorrow, so stay at Ryu’s house until then,” Mom said.

“Is that okay? The three of us could sightsee or something…”

“We’re going shopping. But Sakuya’s not into that, right?”

“Yeah! I’d rather have fun with big brother!”

“It’s a bit lonely as a mom to hear that…”

It seems tomorrow Sakuya will help me out, and that’s settled.

I’m grateful for it, but…

“Are you sure, Sakuya? You could enjoy Fukuoka a bit…”

“It’s fine! I just want to be with big brother!”

“Thanks.”

“Well, shall we go watch the ceremony?” Dad said.

“Yeah, we left Yuna-chan and the others behind. We need to let them know Ryu’s okay,” Mom added.

“I worried everyone, huh?”

“Make sure to thank them properly later,” Dad said.

“Of course.”

Dad and Mom left the room after saying that.

But for some reason, Sakuya stayed.

“You’re not going?”

“Big brother…”

Sakuya sat up on me.

She leaned closer, aiming for my lips…

“Sakuya, stop.”

“It’s no good, right? Because I’m your sister…”

“Wait, that’s not it.”

She tilted her head cutely.

My sister is adorable.

But that’s not the point right now.

“I haven’t properly responded to your feelings yet.”

I think things like this should happen after our feelings are clear.

So, I want to face her feelings head-on.

“I realized something. Back when Shiki challenged me.”

“Realized what?”

“I really, really like you, Sakuya.”

“Like… you like me!?”

“I’ve always loved you as a sister, and that’s still the main feeling. But I noticed I’m starting to see you in that way too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. When I thought about Shiki taking you away, I panicked a lot.”

“Big brother… I…”

“When you first told me your feelings, I didn’t fully get it, but now I can say it confidently.”

I took a deep breath and spoke.

“I love you, Sakuya. I really do.”

“Big brother!”

Sakuya hugged me tightly again.

“This isn’t a dream, right? I’m not passed out from heatstroke or something?”

“It’s real, don’t worry.”

“Can I be your girlfriend? With Yuna-neechan, Makoto-san, and Kanade-san, can I be part of your family?”

“I’d beg you to be.”

“Can I kiss you, then?”

“Not if someone sees, but just a little.”

“Okay!”

Sakuya puckered her lips, waiting for a kiss.

Wait, didn’t you just try to kiss me yourself? Now you want me to do it?

Well, time to step up as a man.

I leaned toward her face and gave her a light, brief kiss.

It was just a moment, but I felt her warmth and the softness of her lips.

“Hehe… hehehe…”

Sakuya smiled happily.

If I protected that smile, all this exhaustion was worth it.

“Here’s to us, Sakuya.”

“You too, big brother!”

About an hour later, while cuddling with Sakuya in the medical room, someone knocked on the door again.

Sakuya, who was lying on my bed and clinging to my waist, quickly stood up and fixed her clothes.

The coach, with my parents, entered the room.

“Minase, how’s your condition?”

“Nothing special so far. It might get bad once the adrenaline wears off, though…”

“I see. For today, let your parents take you home. We’ll handle the cleanup.”

“But…”

“You’re the hero today, so take it easy for once.”

“Got it. Thank you.”

The coach patted my back gently and left the room.

“You okay? Can you stand?” Dad asked.

Come to think of it, I haven’t stood up since getting here.

“Here goes… oh?”

I tried to stand from the bed, but my knees gave out, and I collapsed.

Sakuya caught me by the shoulder.

“It’s okay. Take it slow.”

“Thanks, Sakuya.”

Sakuya naturally supported me.

This is why I keep falling for her.

“Oh?” Dad said.

“Oh my…” Mom added.

A stadium staff member brought a wheelchair.

I felt hesitant to use it, but since they prepared it, I decided to accept their kindness.

“I’ll push!” Sakuya said.

“Thanks.”

It’s not that I’m holding back with the others, but since I’ve spent so much time with Sakuya, I can rely on her more easily.

As we left the medical room, Kanade, Makoto, and Yuna were waiting in the hallway.

“Ryu-kun!? Are you okay!?” Kanade asked.

“Should we go to the hospital? I’ll carry you,” Makoto said.

“I know a sports medicine doctor; I’ll call them now…” Yuna added.

“Wait, wait, calm down, I’m fine.”

I calmed the three panicking girls as they saw me in the wheelchair.

“Everyone, calm down. Big brother’s okay,” Sakuya said.

“Sakuya-chan…?” Kanade said.

“Oh my…?” Makoto said.

“…?” Yuna said.

The three girls seemed to sense something from Sakuya’s calm demeanor.

I have a feeling I’ll get interrogated when we get home.

As Sakuya pushed me, and we left the stadium with my family, the baseball team was waiting.

“Minase-kun! Are you okay!?” someone asked.

“I’m fine, just too much lying down, so my legs are weak. I’ll recover soon.”

“Minase! You’re something else!” another said.

“We’re set for next year too!” someone else added.

Since I went straight to the medical room after the match, I couldn’t celebrate with everyone, but talking with them now made it sink in.

I’m going to Koshien…

I suddenly remembered what Yuna said when I got stabbed in the stomach.

‘So, Ryu’s generation will clinch the first Koshien appearance.’

It really worked out.

Most of all, I’m glad I didn’t let Nogata-senpai’s summer end halfway like that…!

Our summer is far from over…!