Kanzaki Ryou hurried toward the Kitauji group, raising his arm high as he called out his sister's name.
Hearing her brother's voice, Kanzaki Kumiko lifted her Euphonium and ran straight toward him.
"Kumiko! Your Ni-chan missed you so much!"
Kanzaki threw his arms open, catching his sister as she rushed into him. His big hand vigorously rubbed her soft, jellyfish-like hair.
"Ni-chan~"
Kumiko nuzzled against his chest with a content little purr, like a spoiled kitten.
After nearly a full minute of doting, Kanzaki finally released her and looked her over from head to toe.
"Kumiko looks adorable in that sailor uniform."
"Hmph!" Kumiko pouted, cheeks pink.
Kanzaki laughed, then declared dramatically, "Your performance earlier was amazing! Ni-chan loved it—loved it—LOVED it!"
Kumiko's shy smile brightened. "I practiced a lot…"
Just then, Miyuki, who had been silently observing, walked over. He scrutinized the two siblings' faces.
"Hiss… you two look ridiculously alike."
"Of course we do—we're twins!" Kanzaki glared at him. Then he gestured.
"This four-eyed guy is my partner—Miyuki Kazuya."
"Miyuki, this is my sister, Kanzaki Kumiko."
Kumiko gave a polite bow. "I am Kanzaki Kumiko."
"Aha, I'm Miyuki Kazuya," he replied.
Kanzaki immediately kicked his leg. "Why are you laughing like an idiot? Talk properly."
Miyuki dodged instantly and fired back.
Kumiko laughed. "Ni-chan, stop messing around."
Just then, several girls in sailor uniforms approached. Kanzaki and Miyuki straightened up like soldiers, immediately wiping off their nonsense expressions.
"These are my classmates and senpai," Kumiko said.
Kanzaki raised his hand politely. "Hello, everyone. I'm Kumiko's brother, Kanzaki Ryou."
"I'm Hazuki Katō!" the lively brown-haired girl said, raising her hand.
Cute.
"Kawashima Midori," the fluffy blonde girl said softly.
Also cute.
Then stepped forward a long-haired beauty with glasses, extending her hand with a charming smile.
"I'm Tanaka Asuka—Kumiko-chan's beloved senior."
Kanzaki lightly shook her hand. "Asuka-senpai, Kumiko talks about you often."
"Oh? Really? What did she say?" Asuka immediately leaned in.
"Senpai, please don't—!" Kumiko panicked.
"Hehe, did she say bad things about me?"
Before Kumiko could respond, the final girl approached—cool, stoic, elegant.
"Youichi-kun. Long time no see."
Kanzaki blinked.
"Kōsaka Reina? Didn't expect you to be at Kitauji."
They had attended the same middle school. While not close, they recognized each other.
"Hm. Some special circumstances," Reina replied quietly.
Kanzaki nodded—he already knew her situation.
They chatted for a few minutes, even Miyuki being gradually pulled into conversation. Soon the Kitauji members began gathering to return to school.
Kanzaki opened his backpack.
"I bought some gifts for you all."
"Waaah! Gifts!"
"So pretty!"
"Eeeh! There's food too!"
Hazuki and Midori buzzed around him like excited sparrows, calling him "Ryou-niichan" so often that Kumiko almost puffed up like an angry hamster.
"Thank you for this," Asuka said, cradling her gift carefully.
"Please continue taking care of Kumiko," Kanzaki bowed slightly.
Asuka laughed. "You don't have to ask—I adore my cute Kumiko."
He then handed a gift to Kōsaka Reina. She accepted it with a quiet nod, but her ears were red for some reason. Kanzaki didn't question it.
Finally, he turned to Kumiko.
"Kumiko. This one is yours."
He handed over a small crystal gift box. Kumiko hesitated. "Should I open it here?"
"It's okay."
"Alright…"
She opened it—and froze.
Inside sat a beautifully encased crystal block. Within it—embedded perfectly—was a slightly worn baseball.
Below, a plaque read:
"No. 1 Home Run."
"Ni… Ni-chan… this is…?" Kumiko whispered.
Kanzaki pinched her cheek gently. "It's that ball."
Kumiko's eyes instantly filled with tears.
No matter how old she grew, her Ni-chan always thought of her first.
"I'll treasure it forever," she said softly.
Kanzaki patted her head. "Go on, don't keep everyone waiting."
"Bye, Ni-chan…"
She reluctantly stepped backward, staring at him until she vanished into the lineup.
"Tsk… the brother is a siscon, and the sister is a brocon," Miyuki snickered. "Disgustingly wholesome."
"Huh? You have something to say?" Kanzaki turned—only to see Miyuki holding a pink envelope.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this? Some girl asked me to give it to you."
"Huh?"
Kanzaki took the envelope—no name written.
"…Which girl?"
"That black-haired quiet one," Miyuki answered.
Kōsaka Reina!?
Kanzaki's stomach dropped.
No way.
His mind flashed back to middle school—the time he beat the living daylights out of a blond punk harassing Kumiko.
He vaguely recalled Reina was involved too.
Was that her 'hero saved the beauty' moment!?
Reina glanced back at him just then—then immediately turned away, cheeks pink.
Kanzaki quickly hid the envelope.
After the Kitauji bus left, he clapped Miyuki's shoulder.
"Let's go. It's our turn now. I'll take you around Kyoto."
"You're treating!"
"Fine."
That night — Kyoto trip
After a long day of touring, they took the last Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
"I'm dead… absolutely dead…" Miyuki groaned.
"No more special-forces tourism… that was worse than Coach Kataoka's training…"
"Whose fault was that!?" Kanzaki barked.
"You stopped to chat with girls every five minutes!"
"Liar! You walked like a damn snail while texting your sister!"
They bickered all the way back to Seidou.
May 25 — Kanto Tournament Finals
Seidou fought their way to the finals, overcoming each opponent. In the semifinals, they once again clashed with Inashiro—Seidou won 2–1 in a fierce battle.
Now, they stood in the Kanto Tournament finals against Hakuryu High School of Gunma.
The stadium, able to hold 30,000, was packed to the brim.
Cheer squads on both sides erupted. The brass bands battled with their instruments, flooding the field with sound. With no home-field advantage, momentum became everything.
Mid-game summary
After six innings:
Seidou: 4 runs
Hakuryu High : 3 runs
Nanjo Taishi's pitching was beginning to be read. Their opponents' stolen-base tactics were razor sharp.
Coach Kataoka made the call.
Kanzaki Ryou to the mound.
With only a one-run lead in the finals, Kataoka couldn't risk using Tanba.
Kanzaki and Miyuki locked in and completely shut down Hakuryu High School.
Kanzaki struck out 9 batters in a row, overpowering the entire lineup.
He even hit a clutch single to drive home an insurance run.
Seidou High School — KANTO TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
As they exited the stadium, reporters swarmed.
Kataoka was flooded with interviews.
Kanzaki and Miyuki quietly slipped away, hats low, and sneaked straight onto the bus.
"You're like a cockroach fleeing cameras," Miyuki said.
"Interviews are pointless. No benefit," Kanzaki muttered, collapsing into his seat.
"You only pitched 3 innings. Why do you look dead?"
Kanzaki raised a limp hand. "Let me sleep…"
Miyuki touched his forehead.
"No fever."
"You're the fever!"
That evening — back at Seidou
A celebration exploded across campus.
The next morning, Kataoka made an announcement that shocked everyone:
"In three days: Red-White Scrimmage. Veterans vs. Freshmen."
"And starting today—ALL FIRST STRING JERSEY NUMBERS ARE RESET."
The entire team froze.
Upperclassmen felt the pressure like a guillotine to the neck.
Freshmen buzzed with excitement.
The summer roster would be decided soon.
The competition for the Ace number would begin.
"Ryou, I don't think we'll be in the scrimmage, right?"
Miyuki whispered.
"Who knows? Not interested," Kanzaki replied.
"It's unlikely anyway… the Coach wants to evaluate the new guys."
Kanzaki nodded.
Summer was approaching—
and with it, the real battlefield.
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