"Ring, ring, ring, ring! Ring, ring, ring!"
The phone rang loudly, but Aoba didn't even glance at it, her eyes fixed on the baseball news playing on TV.
"Hello, Tsukishima residence."
Momiji walked over while carrying NOMO and picked up the receiver.
"Aoba, it's for you."
"Who is it?" Aoba called from the living room.
"Someone named Nakano."
"Nakano?"
Aoba walked over with a puzzled expression and took the phone.
"Hello? …Oh! You're from the class next door. Uh… yeah. What? No, it's fine, I'll handle it myself. Right… okay, got it."
She hung up.
"Another date invitation," Momiji said confidently, as if this had become routine.
"Seriously, why are there so many nosy people during summer vacation?" Aoba complained, clearly irritated. "Wakaba is prettier than me, has a better personality, and is way more popular. Why don't they bother her instead?"
"Because Wakaba already has Kou," Momiji replied matter-of-factly. "Even if they're bold, they wouldn't call here."
She took a bite of her biscuit and continued casually, "You've been getting a lot of calls lately. Isn't there at least one guy you'd consider dating?"
Aoba was speechless and quickly looked for a way to dodge the topic.
Momiji, however, had no intention of letting her escape.
Hiding behind the door, she lifted NOMO up and down like a puppet, continuing her teasing.
"You're at that age already, you know. And you've been pretty free lately, haven't you?"
"Shut up! Stop nagging!"
Aoba grabbed a fan and threw it at her.
Startled, NOMO's expression seemed almost human. Momiji quickly caught the fan, then suddenly remembered something.
"Ah! Right—speaking of first love, that guy's here again."
"That guy?" Aoba frowned.
Whether it was fate or something else entirely…
Even though Junpei Azuma hadn't driven Aoba home after the last game, he had run into Ichiyo Tsukishima while picking up his younger brother, Azuma Yuhei, at the Tsukishima batting center.
And from that moment on—
He was completely smitten.
Since then, whenever he had time, he would drop by the Clover Café just to chat with Ichiyo.
And today was no exception.
"Oh? So you don't have a boyfriend right now?" Azuma Junpei asked casually as Ichiyo worked behind the counter.
"…Weren't we just talking about the weather?" Ichiyo blinked, completely unable to follow his train of thought.
"Haha—right, right, of course."
Azuma laughed awkwardly before quickly changing the subject. He handed her a note.
"If you ever need vegetables or fruit, just call this number. I'll personally deliver the best produce at the lowest prices."
Ichiyo glanced at the paper.
"But your shop is quite far from here, isn't it?"
"What are you saying?" Azuma grinned, a straw between his lips. "As long as there's love, distance doesn't matter."
Ichiyo stared at him silently.
Sensing danger, Azuma hurriedly switched topics again.
"How many points?"
Aoba suddenly pointed at him and asked Momiji.
Momiji said nothing. She simply raised a small board with the number "6" written on it.
"…What kind of score is that?" Azuma asked, confused.
"Don't mind it," Aoba replied flatly. "We're just casually rating guys who try to get close to Ichiyo."
"Six out of ten… that's pretty subtle," Azuma muttered, stroking his chin.
"The full score is 100," Aoba corrected loudly.
"…That's harsh."
Then Aoba turned to Ichiyo.
"By the way, Ichiyo-nee, why haven't we seen Wakaba today?"
"Tomorrow, Kou and the others are playing against Seido High School, right?" Ichiyo replied. "Yakushi High School had practice today, so she went there early this morning with Kou to watch."
"Tch… I still don't see what's so great about that guy," Aoba muttered.
"Yakushi High School?" Azuma perked up. "You mean the one that defeated Ichidaisan a few days ago?"
"Yeah. Weren't you at that game?" Aoba asked.
"I was," Azuma nodded. "I suddenly felt like watching high school baseball again after all these years… and I didn't expect such an incredible match."
He smiled faintly.
"It's a fascinating team. Every player looks like they genuinely love baseball. Watching them made me think… I wish my younger brother could play in an environment like that."
"Your younger brother?" Aoba tilted her head.
"Huh? You didn't know?" Azuma looked surprised. "I thought you two recognized each other when I saw you in your Seishu Academy uniform."
He grinned.
"You're a first-year on the Seishu baseball team—the cleanup hitter and first baseman, right?"
Aoba fell silent.
If anything… you feel more like their dad, she thought, mentally comparing the two brothers with completely opposite personalities.
"So, you're all going to watch Yakushi's game tomorrow, right?" Azuma said enthusiastically. "I can give you a ride."
"That's not necessary. It would be too much trouble," Ichiyo declined politely.
"It's no trouble at all! I'm interested in the game anyway," Azuma insisted.
"Oh, right—Ichiyo-nee," Aoba suddenly said, "Momiji wants to go swimming. I'm going with her."
"Oh? Swimming?" Azuma's eyes lit up. "What kind of swimsuit are you wearing?"
"A pink one-piece," Momiji answered sweetly.
"…What a kid wears doesn't matter," Azuma said, patting her head dismissively.
Momiji immediately raised her board again.
This time, it read:
2
"Don't stay out too late!" Ichiyo called after the two as they headed out.
Even after the door closed, their voices could still be heard faintly.
"I'd rather spend time with those poor boys than stay with my sister!" Momiji's voice rang out.
"Stop nagging!" Aoba snapped.
Azuma watched the scene with a smile.
"You four sisters really get along well."