Tsukishima Wakaba was already well-known among Yakushi High School students.
Not just because she visited often—
but because she always came to watch Kitamura Kou practice.
So when she appeared, the team greeted her naturally.
"Hello, Tsukishima-san!"
Wakaba smiled warmly.
But then—
someone noticed the girl beside her.
"…Um, who's that?"
Wakaba nodded gently.
"That's my younger sister, Tsukishima Aoba. She's a third-year at Seishu Academy Junior High and will likely join Yakushi next year."
A quiet buzz spread through the group.
Then—
chaos.
"Although I don't want to admit it… she's already taken…"
"Yeah… Kitamura's way too lucky…"
"If he weren't on the team, I'd beat him up myself… Waaah…" someone dramatically wiped imaginary tears.
"That guy… tricked the cutest girl in school into his grasp—unforgivable!!!"
"Unforgivable!!!"
"Unforgivable!!!"
The group grew more and more fired up—
until someone suddenly said:
"So… we're all part of the same group, right?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Yeah."
"I'm in."
"Me too."
"Same."
They nodded at each other.
Then, in perfect unison—
"WE ARE THE TSUKISHIMA BODYGUARD SQUAD!!! OUR MISSION: DEFEAT KITAMURA KOU AND PROTECT TSUKISHIMA-SAN!!!"
A pause.
Then—
"…Wait."
"Next year… another Tsukishima will join, right?"
"And she's still single…"
"…We might have a chance."
"LONG LIVE!!! LONG LIVE!!!"
Kitamura Kou stood there, completely expressionless.
"…Akaishi, you joining this?"
Akaishi Osamu shook his head.
"I refuse to associate with such a disgraceful group."
Then he looked at Kou—
serious.
"…But Kou. If you ever hurt Wakaba…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I won't forgive you."
Kou sighed.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
Meanwhile—
Wakaba stood quietly beside Momiji, smiling as she watched everything unfold.
"Thank you for earlier."
The flippant man approached Aoba.
"That throw—your form was incredible. You're no ordinary girl."
Aoba shook her head.
"I'm just a normal third-year junior high student."
Then she asked, gently:
"…Are you okay? Did you hurt your foot?"
The man laughed.
"It's an old injury. I'm fine as long as I'm not running from debt collectors, women, or thieves."
Aoba gave an awkward smile.
"…I see…"
"Want me to walk you home?"
"No need."
Aoba bowed politely.
"My sister and the others are waiting. Thank you."
And she left.
"Aoba!"
Wakaba and Momiji waved as she returned.
"Let me introduce you," Wakaba said. "This is my sister, Aoba. And these are the Yakushi players."
Aoba bowed.
"Hello. I'm Tsukishima Aoba. I'll be joining Yakushi next year. Please take care of me."
"Don't be so formal," they laughed. "We're already friends with Kou!"
"By the way… where are the coach and Raichi?"
"I don't know," Mishima Yuta said. "Probably somewhere practicing swings."
Kou shrugged.
"Whatever. I'm heading out. Tell Coach if he asks."
Then—
he walked off.
"Kou! You were amazing today! That walk-off—so cool!"
Momiji's voice rang out.
"Don't call me by my first name like that!" Kou protested.
"High school student Hikari!" Momiji beamed.
Kou froze.
"…You're impossible."
"Kou."
Aoba's voice cut in.
"I heard you're the ace."
She tilted her head.
"…So what's with the '8' on your jersey?"
Kou bristled.
"Didn't I tell you? I'm a secret weapon."
"Do you even understand what that means?" Aoba shot back.
"Do you?"
"Obviously I do!"
"Wakaba… why do those two always fight?"
Momiji giggled.
"They used to fight all the time when they were kids, too," Wakaba said with a soft laugh.
"Let's eat something," Momiji said, tugging Wakaba's sleeve.
"We just ate!" Aoba protested.
"That was then! I'm hungry now!"
Wakaba gently separated them.
"Aoba… you're so grown up, but you act like a child sometimes."
"Hey—"
Kou seized the moment.
"Yeah, she's like a little kid."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Aoba rolled up her sleeves.
"You want to fight?!"
"Alright, Kou, stop it."
Wakaba smiled.
"Let's find something to eat. You must be hungry."
Kou glanced down.
"…Is it okay if I'm still in uniform?"
"It's fine," Wakaba said warmly. "Maybe someone will ask for your autograph."
"Yay! Let's go eat!" Momiji cheered.
The four of them walked forward—
their shadows stretching long under the setting sun.
Until finally—
they faded into the distance.