"Onii-chan."
A soft, sweet voice came from outside the door.
Kanzaki Ryou rubbed his eyes and looked up, immediately spotting a chestnut-haired girl peeking in through the doorway, her twin tails bouncing like jellyfish.
"Ohayo, Kumiko," he mumbled sleepily.
Kumiko walked to his bedside and sighed as she stared at her brother, who was still lying sprawled out in bed.
"Breakfast is ready."
No response.
"Onii-chan!"
Ryou reluctantly sat up, wiped the corner of his eyes, and muttered, "My sister energy is low… I need to replenish it."
Kumiko rolled her eyes in disgust. "I know you're a siscon pervert, but do you have to show it so openly?"
"Hey, Kumiko."
"Hm?"
"Has anyone ever told you your personality is terrible?"
"No, now hurry up and eat!"
Bang!
Kumiko slammed the door shut on her way out. Ryou chuckled quietly.
After getting dressed and washing up, he came to the dining room, where his older sister Mami and younger sister Kumiko were already waiting.
"Ohayo, Ryou," Mami greeted with a smile.
"Ohayo," Ryou replied.
"Hurry and eat. Aren't you going to Tokyo today?" Kumiko urged.
Sitting across from his sisters, Ryou clasped his hands and said together with them, "Itadakimasu."
As soon as they began eating, Ryou devoured his food like a starving ghost.
Seeing this, Mami smiled gently. "Ryou, are you really sure about going to Tokyo to study baseball?"
"Yes, I'm going," he said firmly.
"But no one's even come to recruit you yet," Kumiko interjected.
Ryou glanced at her. Kumiko instantly looked down at her plate, regretting blurting it out.
"I'm strong," Ryou said seriously, as if her doubt had wounded his pride.
"I know," Kumiko replied softly.
Despite her teasing, Kumiko had always admired her twin brother. Ever since kindergarten, he'd been devoted to baseball—his dream, his passion. But his shameless siscon side never failed to irritate her.
Ryou nodded with a satisfied grin. "That's exactly why I have to go to Tokyo—to offer my talent to them!"
The twins had attended the same schools since childhood. In junior high at Ooyama Kichikita, the baseball club wasn't particularly strong. Even with Ryou's efforts, they never made it past the top eight. Naturally, powerhouse schools had no reason to notice him.
"Ryou's amazing," Mami said with relief. "Once he sets his mind on something, he never changes it."
Her words brought back a memory—Ryou telling her, If I didn't choose my own path, and I regretted it later, who else could I blame?
"Heh." Ryou took a long gulp of milk, then asked, "So, how's college life treating you, Mami?"
"Me?" Mami puffed out her chest proudly. "Your sister's going to be the next brass band president!"
"Wow, really? That's awesome!" Kumiko's eyes sparkled in admiration.
After breakfast, Ryou returned to his room to pack. He would only be gone overnight, so he didn't bring much.
Backpack on, baseball in hand, he glanced in the mirror. "Handsome as ever," he said with a smirk.
When he entered the living room again, Mami came out as well, ready to leave for her own commitments.
"Kumiko and I will see you off at the station," she said.
Ryou shook his head. "No need. Just wait for my good news at home."
As he put on his shoes, Kumiko called out softly, "Onii-chan."
He turned, smiling. "What's this? Does Kumiko want to give her brother a good-luck hug?"
Without warning, Kumiko stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Hm?"
"Don't move," she whispered. "I'm replenishing my sister energy."
After a brief moment, she let go, met his gaze, and said firmly, "You have to succeed. Otherwise, I'll never play the euphonium for you again."
Ryou chuckled and patted her head. "Yes, ma'am."
Two hours later, the Shinkansen arrived in Tokyo.
1 PM, Seidou High School.
Even during winter break, the prestigious powerhouse school's baseball club remained active. Dozens of players trained tirelessly under the cold sky.
Following the signs, Ryou arrived at the baseball field—just in time to hear someone roaring in frustration.
"Tanba! What kind of soft pitching is that?!"
A tall, broad-shouldered upperclassman was yelling across the field, bat in hand.
"You're so timid, no wonder you can't even make the bench!"
"I… I want to pitch," the pitcher muttered.
"Didn't eat your lunch, huh?! Louder!"
"Yes, sir!"
But even after that, every pitch was hit cleanly by the batter.
"Hm. A decent curveball," Ryou muttered after observing a few throws.
The pitcher—Tanba Koichiro—was still a shy first-year. Back then, he lacked presence, nothing like the composed ace Ryou remembered from the future.
"It's a good pitch," said a calm voice from behind him, "if only his personality were stronger."
Ryou turned around—and his eyes widened.
Tall, graceful, confident, with a composed air behind her glasses—and, admittedly, a rather eye-catching figure.
"May I ask who you are?" Ryou asked, though he already knew.
"Takashima Rei," she replied with a faint smile. "Vice-President of the Seidou High Baseball Club."
"Kanzaki Ryou," he introduced himself. "Third-year junior high, from Kyoto. I'm a pitcher."
Her glasses caught a brief glint of light. A third-year junior high student… and a pitcher?
"It's winter break now, isn't it? Why did you come all this way to Seidou?" Rei asked.
Ryou met her gaze squarely and declared, "I want to become the best pitcher in Japan."
The words echoed with absolute conviction.
For a brief moment, Rei felt her heart tremble.Standing before her, Kanzaki Ryou radiated an aura—a brilliance born of pure, unshakable confidence.