Three months have passed since then and here we are today-I never thought that the day would come when we would face each other as brother and stepsister
When my father told me her name, I was really surprised.
And for some reason, she's always been hostile to me
"Well, what did you say.....?"
I'm pretty sure it was me that she was looking at, and there's no doubt in my mind that she was saying it to me.
So I reacted to her,
"Hmph-"
She tumed her head away from me
What's this?
Why is she being so grumpy?
It was only a minute or two ago that she came into the house.
At the time, she seemed rather in a good mood, which I couldn't imagine from her previous reputation at school
And yet, the moment she saw my face, she suddenly became grumpy.
Perhaps she hadn't heard that there are boys in this house?
"Ah-um.. Let's introduce ourselves first. Kento, go ahead."
I guess my father didn't expect Frost-san's attitude either.
He soomad perplexed, and nudged me.
This doesn't make sense, but I can't let the mood deteriorate any further,
With my back facing my father, I smile and open my mouth.
in times like this, first impressions count...
"It's nice to meet you, thanks for looking after my father. I'm his son Kento. Im a freshman in high school and I'm on the baseball team."
"Nice to meet you, too, Kento-kun"
As I finish my introduction, Frost-san's mother, Jessica-san, smiles back at me.
I've already met her a few times, she's my father's new wife, and she's going to start living with us today.
She used to work as an interpreter when she first came to Japan, but now she's an English teacher.
Her hair is a darker shade of blonde than Frost-san's.
She has the same blue eyes as Frost-san, but the impression she gives from her eyes completely different, and she looks gentle and mild-mannered,
Above all, unlike Frost-san, one feminine part of her is quite large.
Frost-san looks like she'd look good in a kimono, but Jessica looks like she'd look good in a gravure swimsuit.
"....."
"Huh? Murderous intent!?"
While I was distracted by Jessica-san, Frost-san was glaring at me with eyes overflowing with murderous intent.
Even though winter has not yet storted, it felt extremely cold.
A girl who shoots out absolute zero temperatures is a real thing?
"Sophia, you should introduce yourself too."
Jessica-san spoke to Frost-san with a smile, although I'm not sure whether she was unaware of the exchange of eyes between us, or whether she was aware of it and just let it slide.
"I'm Sophia, that's all."
"Come on do it properly."
Her introduction, which could be described as overly brief, made Jessica laugh wryly.
"I'm sorry, Kento-kun, but as I told you beforehand, my daughter Sophia goes to the same Seijou High School as you do. You're both in the same first year, but in different departments, is that correct?
"Yes, we're both in the same general course, but she's in the Special Preparatory Course while I'm in the Sports Course. So we haven't known each other until now."
Even though we are both in the same general course, to be honest, we are completely different.
Her course is an elite group of selected few, who are particularly focused on their studies.
Among them Frost-san is a genius, who has been topping the tests ever since she entered the school at the top of her class.
Conversely, the course I'm in, as the name suggests, focuses on sports clubs, and to be honest, my academic ability is quite low.
That's why the classes are different and the school building is also different.
In addition, there is a regular course in the regular department, which has the largest number of students because it is attended by the general student population.
By the way, our high school is private.
"How do you know my course. Could it be that you're a stalker..?"
"No, wait, you're very famous at school, you know!? Don't be ridiculous!
I hurriedly corrected Frost-san, who had an uncomfortable expression on her face, as if she was taken aback
This girl doesn't know how famous she is?
"Sophia, you'd better stop this or I'll get angry, you know?"
What on earth just happened?
Frost-san, who had been so aggressive until just now, instantly became quiet with a single statement from Jessica-san
Jessica-san did not give a harsh remark, but rather, it was in a very gentic tone of voice while smiling at her..
And moreover, if you look at Frost-san she was starting to sweat profusely.
Could it be that Jessica-san is quite scary?
"....."
As I was questioning that, a silent pressure came over me.
Of course, it is Frost-san who is putting such pressure on me.
To make sure Jessica-san doesn't find out, she backs up a little and gets in behind her, silently glaring at me.
Most likely, she thinks I've made her angry.
As they say, Frost-san seems to be very nasty after all.
-Our parents remarried and from today we will become siblings, but I can't help but feel uneasy about our future because of the trouble that is surely to take place.
.....
.....
.....
.....
-Where have you been?"
When I came home at night after my routine, I bumped into Frost-san at the door.
She was supposed to be at cram school, but it seems that she had already returned home.
"I was just out playing that's all."
"At this hour, and wearing your jersey as well?"
Frost-san looks at me with narrowed eyes, as if in doubt.
The time's just past 9:00PM.
it's the end of the summer holidays now, so I'm sure many students are having fun at this time..
"Is there a problem?"
"Hmm, you're like a delinquent!"
When I asked her, she snickered at me.
I knew she always had a bad character.
"Frost-san, why didn't you take at least today off from cram school?"
It was our first day as a family, so we might have gone out for dinner.
But since she went to cram school early, there was no such development.
Heck, we could have had a feast..
"You as well, I heard you were at club activities in the morning."
Frost-san, not liking my reply, retorted in a sulky voice,
"I did take the afternoon off, didn't I?"
It was an important time for us during the tourmament, but I took it off because I had to prioritize my family.
I didn't have anything to complain about.
"I even attended cram school on the way, you know?"
Apparently, what she wants to argue is that she missed the school in the morning.
"You could have taken the afternoon off.."
"Afternoon classes are longer, so it was the obvious choice. Instead, it was you who should have taken the morning off."
Indeed, Frost-san is right, considering the practice time.
However.
"No, no, the meaning of the same day off before and after the face-off would be different, wouldn't it?
I went to club activities before the face-to-face meeting.
Although that meant I had to delay the meeting, I tried to be with her properly after the meeting and after we became a family,
She, on the contrary, prioritized cram school time instead of family time
I think the meaning there will change.
"Either way, it's not the same if you're going out to play."
"It's all because you went to cram school, you know..!?"
"Oh please don't push the blame to others."
I didn't blame anyone, she went to cram school, so I prioritized my own time too.
After all if I stay behind, I might get in the way of my father and Jessica-san.
If Frost-son had been there, I wouldn't have had to worry about it, but now that it's just the three of us, It'll be more considerate of the situations
Although they are remarried they are still newlyweds now.
I'm not so stupid that I don't know what that means.
"Anyway, I can tell you one thing."
Frost-son continues to speak, perhaps because I have fallen silent.
"My studies are more important to me than you!"
And then she said something very harsh.
I understand what she is implying here.
It is only natural that studying is more important to someone who used to be a stranger to you.
But would you normally tell them that?
"-Where are you going?"
The next thing I know, she's turned her back on me.
I guess she wants to say that the conversation is over.
"It's none of your business."
She said that and walked away-going towards the bathroom.
Dammit, I wanted to take a bath too...
I had only fooled her into thinking I had gone out for fun, when in fact I had been training.
I do think it's not a good thing that I lied to her, but it's also surprising to know that there are actually people who don't like someone who works hard.
In fact, when I was in middle school, my teammates and classmates made fun of me once or twice for staying home alone to practice, or for doing nothing but playing baseball.
There are people everywhere who make fun of others who work hard, and by looking down on them, use them as a tranquiliser for themselves not to work hard.
Since then, I've decided not to show my efforts to others.
I especially don't want people like Frost-san, who make fun of others, to see me working hard.
At any rate, thanks to my stop at the bathing centre after my run, my sweat was already dry, and even if I went there now... I would be socially killed if I was in the middle of taking off my clothes, so I had no choice but to give up.