Stealing Spree

With Nagai falling into disbelief, Sumire's confidence skyrocketed. She stepped out of the batter's box, her grip on the bat still firm. She turned to Nagai with a proud smile, "I told you, I earned it."

I gave Sumire a proud nod before turning my attention to Nagai, who was still standing there, stunned by what she had just witnessed.

Looks like it's about time for me to step up. Was Nagai too far gone with her malice? Probably not. But I had to admit, seeing Sumire like that was quite the sight. She shut down the dissent so quickly and efficiently it was almost comical.

"Nagai, are you satisfied with the result?" I started as I walked over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She was still in shock, her eyes still glued to the home run plate.

If this was a guy, I probably wouldn't care too much about her feelings but upon observing them, I could tell that this all stemmed from both of them loving the sport. Nagai couldn't accept the fact that she was replaced while Sumire had never shown her true abilities. With this challenge ending in Sumire's win, Nagai was halfway to admitting it. But she wasn't fully defeated. I knew that.

Slowly, Nagai's trembling eyes shifted to me as I approached, the weight of my hand on her shoulder seemingly grounding her back to reality.

"Satisfied? What else can I do but accept it? She is..." she stuttered out, the smugness replaced by a hint of defeat.

"The better player," I filled in the blanks for her. Nagai's eyes snapped to me, her pride obviously bruised. "But that doesn't mean you're not good. Far from it. It just means Sumire has worked harder for it. And you know what, Nagai-san?"

Her eyes searched mine, hopeful for a shred of consolation or perhaps a loophole in my words.

"You're not that far off either. In fact, if you keep up the good work, I'm sure you'll get another chance to prove yourself. And Sumire," I turned to her with a stern look, "Don't let this get to your head. You still have room to grow."

"I know that, senpai! Nagai, you're my teammate. I'm not mad at you for not accepting my appointment but... I've worked hard to get here. And I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel bad," Sumire spoke up, her voice filled with sincerity and a hint of remorse.

What a good girl. She deserves some praise, no?

"Sumire's right, Nagai-san. It's not about being superior or inferior. It's about growth and passion. And I can see that you're also quite passionate about the sport," I said, patting her back before walking to the vending machine to get us some drinks.

I could feel Sumire's gaze on me, probably wondering why I was doing this. But I knew that if there was no chance of reconciliation, Sumire would've given back the position to avoid conflict. She's quite influenced by Chii. Someone who just loves doing what she loves. That can be seen from her passion for Yue's music and the sport.

But Nagai, she was a bit different. Competitive. And that's not a bad trait. But it can be quite destructive if it's not channeled properly. That's why I stepped in to mediate.

Of course, the easiest way for this was to pummel the defeated girl further until she quit the club. But won't that be detrimental to Sumire? That wouldn't sit well with her. So... Here I am, untying the knots of their conflict.

I handed them both a drink and then helped Nagai up to sit on the bench at the side of our line. Sumire followed us and I had her sit next to the girl. Understanding my intention, the girl flashed a pleasant smile before squeezing my hand again.

Following that, she turned to her clubmate.

"Nagai, I know you're upset. And it's okay to feel that way. But let's not let this ruin the fun we can have playing together. After all, we're both here because we love softball." Sumire spoke gently, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Nagai looked at her, then at the bat in her hand, and finally at me. She took a deep breath, the tension visibly draining from her shoulders.

"You're right, Kohinata-san. I'm sorry for how I've been acting. It's just..." she trailed off, her voice quieter.

"It's okay to be competitive, Nagai-san. It's what makes you strong. But remember, the most important thing is to enjoy the game," I said, placing my hand on Nagai's shoulder.

Somehow, that made the girl blush but I brushed it off, letting Sumire take the floor again. "You know, Nagai-san. I've never told anyone but I used to watch your games. You're quite amazing. Your batting skills are something that I aspired to reach when I was still a benchwarmer. And I'm sure you're still a valuable player to our team," Sumire said earnestly. That sounds like the truth. From what I heard from her, she wasn't in the starting position during her first year. But Nagai is. Maybe if Chii was here, she would also recognize this other junior of hers.

Nagai's eyes grew wide at the revelation. She took a sip of her drink, processing Sumire's words. It was clear she wasn't expecting such genuine praise from the girl who took what she thought was rightfully hers.

"T-thank you. I... I may be slacking off. My skills dropped. Coach and Captain... they..." Although her words were fragmented, the message was clear. Nagai felt she was being outshone and forgotten by her own team.

"Shall we play more, then? You know... You're here to hit some balls, right?" Sumire flashed a grin at Nagai, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of competition, but also with a warmth that suggested she had no intention of holding a grudge.

"Okay! I... I won't lose again!"

"Oh. Come on. Let's not turn it into a competition." Sumire giggled before turning to me, "And senpai. It's your turn! Step up to the plate. We're already good here."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm, "Alright. I'll give it a shot."

And with this, I grabbed the bat that Nagai dropped and walked to the plate, leaving the two girls.

But as I was walking away, I heard them continue their conversation.

"... I think I have one thing I'm envious of from you again, Kohinata-san."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Your boyfriend... He's so cool."

"Y-yeah, he is." Sumire's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, and she turned to me with an awkward smile.

I just winked at her, pretending I hadn't heard their conversation before facing the pitching machine.

The first few swings were a warm-up, but I could feel their eyes on me. I wasn't a sports person. I just didn't have an interest in investing too much time in it. Just like with tennis. This could be a chance for the two to build a good relationship so... I have to make it worth it. And just like this, the remaining time that I paid for this lane was spent with the three of us playing in turns. I never hit a home run but the two girls would praise each other whenever they would hit one before consoling me for my lack of skills.

Also, I still played the role of the attentive boyfriend, always there to serve my girl. Every time that happened, she'd blush and hit me lightly on my chest before leaning to me, asking me to spoil her more.

Nagai who was watching all those with a hint of envy but thoroughly convinced of our relationship. And despite that, she still tried to get my attention...

Really, I should let my hair grow again. This charm is becoming a double-edged sword.

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