The So-Called 'Solitary Flower' is a British Beauty Who's Awkwardly Attached to Me Now That She's My Stepsister - V1 Chapter 2 Part 2

Volume 1 Chapter 2 Part 2: Envy and Jealousy

 

 

Translator: AJ1703

 

 

“―But you know what, I actually envy you, you know?”

 

　As I was changing into my training clothes and heading out onto the field, Shouta gave me a look of envy as he said that.

 

“You still say that…? You’ll never get close to her even if you guys became family.”

 

“No, no, you don’t just understand, do you? At the very least you have a better chance of getting close to her than the guys who just go to the same school as her.”

　

　Shouta has a really strong mentality.

 

　Even though he was treated negatively by her as soon as he entered the school, he still hasn’t given up on her.

 

“―I don’t really care, but if you’re so preoccupied with women that you miss my ball, I’ll k*ll you, okay?”

 

　While I was talking to Shouta, I suddenly heard a cold voice from behind me.

 

　When I turned around, I saw my teammate of the same height as me― Kurogane Shuuto, turning his sharp eyes towards me.

 

　Frost-san is the most beautiful girl in school, but this guy has such a well-defined face that he is a candidate for the most handsome guy in school.

 

　He has the personality of a prince, but he’s a stoic, baseball-obsessed man.

 

　And his ability is also genuine.

 

　His 147 km fastest straight from his left arm is of the highest level and floats up and down the field.

 

　He has also mastered four breaking pitches and has good control, so there are not many batters who can hit him.

 

　Because of his ability, he has been the ace of the team since the summer even though he is a freshman.

 

　According to what I have heard, professional scouts are already taking notice of him.

 

　He is also a top-notch batter and will eventually be active in the world as a professional dual-threat player.

 

　He and I are partnering up as a batting team at the moment.

 

“Do I look like the kind of guy who usually misses the ball so much that you have to worry about it?”

 

　The air has become tense, so I smile back, conscious of making the atmosphere more relaxed.

 

“If that were the case, someone would’ve been a regular starting catcher by now.”

 

　Shuuto snickered back at my words.

 

　In other words, it’s all right.

 

　We can’t afford to have someone we don’t know who might drop the ball at any time as our regular catcher.

 

“Shuuto, my guy…! As I always say, there’s a better way to phrase it…!”

 

　I don’t really mind, but Shouta seems to have taken notice.

 

　He usually dislikes Shouta’s harsh tone of voice, and I sometimes see him get angry like this.

 

　It’s not that Shuuto has any bad intentions either….

 

“What good does it do to be nice? Wouldn’t it be better for both of us if we were honest?”

 

“I’m just saying, even if you’re going to be honest, there’s a better way to say it…! The only one who can catch your ball with the current members is Kento, right? You’re the one who’s going to be in trouble if Kento quits as regular catcher…!”

 

“I never said anything to Kento about him quitting the catcher’s position, did I?”

 

　Shuuto is this kind of guy.

 

　He’s just a straightforward, soft-spoken man who says what he thinks.

 

　There is no malice there.

 

　That’s why I can hang out with him normally.

 

　Compared to someone else who has a lot of wickedness in her, this guy is a lot kinder.

 

“Ha!? Didn’t you just say so…!?”

 

　Shouta, not understanding what Shuuto meant, still pokes at Shuuto.

 

“What I said was that if it seems like he’s going to be taken out, then the regular catcher is going to be someone else.”

 

“Like I said, that’s―!”

 

“Shouta, calm down. If I’m the regular catcher’s keeper, that means it doesn’t look like I’m missing out, does it?”

 

　Since we weren’t getting anywhere, I interrupted the two of them with my body between them.

 

　If the coach sees us fighting, all three of us will get an increased amount of time on the special program.

 

　After all, he’s the kind of guy who punishes others with a smile…

 

“See, that’s what I meant?” [TLN: Honestly I got lost with all the baseball shenanigans, I tried TL-ing this with how much I can understand from text alone.]

 

　In response to what I said, Shuuto tilts his head curiously.

 

　He seems to be saying, “What an obvious thing to say.”

 

“Oh, I see…”

 

　Shouta also seems to understand and nods his head as if his anger has subsided.

 

　Personally, I want the two of them to get along, but I think they’re too incompatible as people.

 

“Can’t you say it more clearly…?”

 

　Shouta looks at Shuuto, frustrated.

 

“Maybe you’re just an idiot?”

 

　And Shouta returns the retort with a look of disapproval.

 

“Wait, wait, wait! Why are you guys trying to fight again right away?”

 

　If they start fighting again after I’ve stopped them, then it’s pointless.

 

　Why did I even stop them in the first place if this was going to happen anyway?

 

“This guy is the ace. If it wasn’t for Kento, the team would collapse.”

 

“If we don’t make it to Koshien with this guy as ace, it’s your fault, right?”

 

“Huuuuh!? You―!”

 

“Ah~, I know, I know, I know! If we don’t get along, we’ll get scolded by the coach!”

 

　I forcibly separate the two of them.

 

　If this continues, the coach will definitely come to them.

 

　If that happens, it will be a collective responsibility of all.

 

“Let’s get back to the subject for now, but don’t worry Shuuto. I’m also a baseball fanatic. There’s no way I’m going to ignore that.”

 

　I reply to Shuuto’s concern.

 

　Once the conversation is over, he will leave.

 

“Hmm, if you say. But If you crumble, we won’t be able to win anything.”

 

　After saying that, Shuuto went ahead of us.

 

　He’s really not a bad guy, but…

 

“As usual, I don’t understand what kind of a man he is… Baseball isn’t something you play alone…”

 

“… No, I guess it’s because he knows that…”

 

　I mutter to myself so that Shouta can’t hear me.

 

　In baseball, a single strong player is not enough to win the game.

 

　The teammates’ strength is essential, just as a pitcher who keeps getting outs will never win without a hitter who can score runs.

 

　That is why he demands the same level of commitment and strictness from those around him.

 

　With the third-year players out of the team, Shuuto is probably the one who feels the most regret over the summer defeat.

 

“Well, a guy who plays pitching should be confident like that. He’s more secure in the game that way. Above all, his ability is real.”

 

　It’s not quite right to say that if we didn’t make it to the Koshien because of Shuuto― it actually means it would be our fault.

 

　At least as far as I know, Shuuto is the best pitcher in the prefecture.

 

“As always, Kento continues to be kind and tolerant.”

 

“It’s not like that. I just have admiration for people who are hardworking and determined.”

 

　―Yeah, he’s a lot better than those who make fun of people who don’t work hard and are trying their best…

 

“Kento?”

 

　For a moment, something dark comes up in my mind, and Shouta looks at me curiously.

 

　I smile back at him.

 

“No, it’s nothing. I’m sorry, I left something in the clubroom, can you go ahead?”

 

“Really, that’s unusual. I’ll go ahead then.”

 

　The honest Shouta went ahead of me with a smile.

 

　He is a good guy as always.

 

　I took a deep breath as I watched Shouta’s back as he walked away―.

 

“You still seem to be having a hard time as usual.”

 

　―At the same time, a voice called out to me from behind again.

 

　When I looked, I saw a beautiful girl with long, beautiful black hair blowing in the wind, looking up at me with a smile.

 

“Sup, Kujouin-san!”

 

　I bow my head and greet her.

 

　Her name is Kujouin Nadeshiko-san and she’s one of my seniors.

 

　She’s the manager of the baseball team, but she’s also a celebrity at school because she’s the second most beautiful girl after Frost-san.

 

　However, when it comes to popularity, she is the most popular, surpassing Frost-san.

 

　She is, after all, too good-natured.

 

 

 

　Rumour has it that she receives confessions once or twice a month.

 

“Mhm, hello, Kento-kun, you’re always great at babysitting the two of them.”

 

　Babysitting… well, depending on how you look at it, it does feel like it’s babysitting, doesn’t it?

 

“We’re teammates, so it’s only natural.”

 

“Fufu, it’s not natural, you know? At least, I don’t think there is anyone in our club who can take care of those two as well as Kento-kun.”

 

　Those two, I’m guessing it’s mainly Shuuto.

 

　He’s a very competitive guy, and even if he’s playing against a senpai, he’ll talk back to them without a second thought.

 

　As for Shouta, he can be dangerous and often makes mistakes when you take your eyes off him, but basically he’s a good guy who gets on well with others.

 

　Well, there are some seniors who are a little bit surprised when he does something wrong.

 

“If you say that, the captain and vice-captain will cry, you know?”

 

“Don’t worry, I know Kento-kun would never tell them anything, and I didn’t say anything bad about them.”

 

　I was given a precautionary warning first.

 

　Of course, I’m not going to go out of my way to tell them, and it won’t help even if I do.

 

“Are you aiming for something by trying to incite them?”

 

“Do I look like the type of person who would pull a stunt like that?”

 

　Kujouin-san tilts her head with a strange, skeptical look on her face.

 

　Being stared at by those pure and innocent eyes, I began to feel bad.

 

“You’re not someone who would scheme anything evil, but you must have something you want to ask me, don’t you?”

 

　Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered to talk to me before the club activities started.

 

　She would have been busy.

 

“Kento-kun you’re too perceptive, did you know that?”

 

　It seems my prediction was right, and she smiles in annoyance.

 

“Of course, you weren’t trying to incite me to take care of them. Afteer all, you kinda said that it’s all in my head, you know? But then that would make me talk to you, won’t it?”

 

　I’m an underclassman, so she should just talk to me normally…

 

　Could it be that my presence makes it hard for her to do so?

 

“So what did you want to ask me?”

 

　The warmups are about to start, so I ask what she wanted to talk about.

 

“I heard that Kento-kun and that Frost-san are now siblings?”

 

　Somehow, I thought this might be the case due to her timing… but it seems that she is still concerned about Frost-san.

 

　She is an elegant woman with a clean, neat and graceful atmosphere, but she is also a high school girl.

 

　She seems to be interested in these rumours.

 

“You seem to get caught up in the news quickly, don’t you?”

 

“It’s the talk of everybody in the school.”

 

　I guess I should assume that the whole school is talking about it.

 

　Frost-san might complain about it when I get home.

 

‘It’s not like there’s anything special about us becoming a family, though.”

 

　I stuck around in front of the room for a long time and barely managed to have a conversation with her, and there hasn’t been any progress since then.

 

　It seems that she’s busy with cram school and I’m busy with baseball― but it’s not like we don’t have time for each other.

 

　We spend time together at home, but she stays in her room except for meals and baths.

 

　I wonder if she’s really avoiding me.

 

“Even if there’s nothing going on, I think the change in environment can be stressful. Especially when you suddenly have a member of the opposite sex of your age in your family.”

 

“Hmm? Are you talking about Frost-san?”

 

　By saying something about getting stressed out, I thought she was talking about Frost-san being prone to stress.

 

“I’m referring to you, Kento-kun.”

 

　However, she smiled back at me, as if she had no choice.

 

　I’m being stressed out?

 

　…There are too many factors that come to mind…

 

“Isn’t it still stressful when you have to take care not to get into trouble, or when you lose the space you used to be able to relax in?”

 

“Well, it can be a pain in the @ss, I suppose.”

 

　It seems like she’s going to listen to me complain, so I answer what I’m thinking without hesitation.

 

“That’s right. And, moreover, you’re dealing with that Frost-san… If something happens, don’t hesitate to talk to me about it, okay? Just having someone to talk to would make a difference, and I might be able to help you in some way.”

 

　I knew it, Kujouin-san is way too nice of a person.

 

　Even though we are teammates, we are still strangers, so it would have been fine to leave us alone… but this is her way of looking out for me.

 

“Even though you’re a team manager, it’s hard for you to care about the mental health of your teammates, isn’t it?”

 

　Our club is a strong school, so it’s a tense place.

 

　Practice is so hard that many drop out soon after joining the club, and there is extreme competition for regulars.

 

　There is jealousy when younger members get regular places, and pressure from upperclassmen who are just told that they have been given priority.

 

　Although it varies from person to person, there are probably not a few club members who are suffering mentally.

 

“Of course, I don’t have the conceited idea that I can take care of the mental health of everyone in the club, you know? In fact I don’t even think I can do it. I don’t have any expertise in that kind of thing. But at least I think I can be there for them if they need it.”

 

　That’s probably why I’m trying to listen to her.

 

“Well, it might be different if you have one person on your side.”

 

　At least you don’t have to feel sorry for yourself alone.

 

　It is not unusual to find a way forward by just talking to someone, and in that sense, people like Kujouin-san are appreciated.

 

“Yeah, yeah. I can’t do it like Kento-kun, and as long as Kento-kun is around, I know the other members of the club will be fine. But you know―”

 

　Kujouin-san, who had been speaking in a light-hearted manner as if she were laughing, stops her words there.

 

　Then she looked me in the eye with serious eyes, while her lips were smiling.

 

“I’m just wondering, when Kento-kun is distressed, who is there to listen to you? This is just my guess, but you don’t have anyone right now, do you? Then I thought maybe I’d like to be in that position.”

 

　For a moment there, my heart skipped a beat.

 

　It’s not something nice, like a flutter, but more of an impatient feeling.

 

　I thought she was giving me a little insight into her mind.

 

　In terms of getting some advice from, there are people I can rely on, such as the captain and vice-captain.

 

　But there’s nothing I feel like I can open up to them at the moment.

 

　The coach is another one, but I couldn’t bear to discuss personal matters with him during the tournament.

 

　She might have seen through all that.

 

“In the first place, you have never given others any sort of emotional support, have you?”

 

　I was unsure of what to do, and decided to cover it up by shifting the subject.

 

“Fufu, it’s not good to underestimate the manager, you know? I keep an eye on the club members, especially during practice, even during breaks, as well as how they behave at school, okay?”

　　

　Kujouin-san says confidently.

 

　Was that the reason why I often felt her eyes on me?

 

　I have a feeling she’s not doing that as a manager, though.

 

“Naturally, I also know that Kento-kun encourages and listens to the club members who seem to be struggling behind the scenes.”

 

　Why did she suddenly change to honorifics?

 

　I swallowed my tsukkomi.

 

　It probably doesn’t mean much.

 

“It’s not that big of a deal, you know? It’s simply that if you can do something about it― that’s all that matters. There are also club members who quit without doing anything about it, so it’s not as big a deal as you might think, Kujouin-san.”

 

　The catcher, is a key part of the defensive line and gives instructions to his teammates during games.

 

　Without establishing a relationship of trust at such times, it can lead to losses, and I don’t want them to play defensive with negative feelings, so I just talk to them when I notice them.

 

　Besides, it’s reassuring to have a good player in the team.

 

　I didn’t want them to quit as much as possible, because sometimes a player who hasn’t had a chance to make a name for himself suddenly blossoms and grows.

 

“Well, I don’t care what you think. More importantly, we’ve gone off topic. In any case, I just want Kento-kun to talk to me when you’re in any kind of trouble, so don’t hesitate to come and tell me, okay?”

 

　She said this and moved away with a smile on her face.

 

　She probably went to prepare drinks and onigiri (rice balls) for the club members to eat between practices.

 

　Although it is annoying to be overvalued, perhaps it would indeed be gratifying to be able to ask for advice about Frost-san.

 

　She is in the same position as Frost-san at school, so she might understand the discomfort she is having and can give me an opinion from a girl’s point of view.

 

　If anything bad happens revolving around Frost-san, it might be good idea to ask for her advice.

 

“Now then, it’s time for me to go as well―”

 

“Ke~n~to~?”

 

　Suddenly, with a jerk, someone grabbed me by the shoulders.

 

　One after another, what is happening today…

 

　When I looked, it was the captain of our club, with an angry sign on his forehead and a drawn smile on his face.

 

“Ca-captain…?”

 

“You’re cohabiting with Frost-san, and you’re keeping our club idol Kujouin-san to yourself, how is it that you’re the number four?”

 

　Why is he angry towards me…

 

　I didn’t do anything wrong.

 

“I’m not cohabiting with Frost-san, and Kujouin-san was just trying to help me with my problems―”

 

“Shut up, I’m too jealous of you for a long time now…!　As punishment, go round the ground a hundred times!”

 

“That’s unreasonable of you!?”

 

　Thus, I was made to run around the ground as a punishment― naturally, when the coach came, he asked me why, and the captain who had done something selfish was angered.

 

　The coach said, “A man who is pampered by a beautiful girl is the enemy of men”, so for some reason my personal training menu had been doubled.

 

　He’s a strict coach, but he also likes to have fun and enjoy himself, so it seems that he got a bad joke out of me.

 

　Sometimes he does these unreasonable things half-jokingly… and honestly, I’m used to it.

 

　…But still, d@mn it.