"As today is the first official day of school, some new members are joining the team. Though, some of the first-years have already completed the spring training camp with the team."
The coach exclaimed towards the gathered players. There was a significant difference in the appearance of the newcomers and those who already went through a week of hellish training. The older boys and early-coming first-years looked sore and tired.

The new boys introduced themselves, and after their brief presentation, the coach started talking again.

"Apart from the players, our team acquired two new managers, Miss Umemoto and Miss Natsukawa."
The two first-year girls bowed shyly as a loud greeting echoed from the crowd of boys. Slightly taller Natsukawa with short light hair and a kind face, and slightly shorter dark-haired Umemoto wearing pigtails and a cheery smile on her face, were joining the team.

"We will also be welcoming a new assistant coach today, but she is now running some errands regarding her entering the club. Therefore, we will gather again at the end of the practice. Now dismiss!"

"Did he say "she"?"
Murmurs could be heard from the splitting crowd.

"I heard it too! Hope she's hot!"

"But what is a female assistant coach even for here?"

A lot of whispers we going around, but they faded just as quickly as they started as the practice began.

Around that time, Kai was initializing her move. She was kind of annoyed, as she only set her stuff up that day, and now she was changing dorm rooms again. The positive aspect was that in the end, she got to have her own room. The short girl was moving from the students' dorm to the players'. It was the coach's idea, and despite Miss Takashima's slight disagreement, Kai decided to go through with it.

After cleaning up her new room, moving all her stuff, and informing her roommates, she was finally slowly walking toward the practice fields. As she passed the last of the school buildings, an enchanting view opened in front of her eyes. The size of the grounds was honestly surprising for Kai.

"Magnificent, isn't it?"
A familiar voice echoed from behind her.

"It indeed is."
The short girl nodded, turning toward the tall woman.

"The practice is almost over, so let's go. The coach wants to introduce you to the players."
Miss Takashima gently patted Kai's shoulder, but the girl wrenched under the touch. Ever since her injury, she grew uncomfortable about people touching her back.

"Uh, sorry. Reflex."
Her face red, she was feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No worries," the assistant manager gave her an understanding smile.
"Let's get going."

Kai was feeling weird just standing there. She knew what she signed up for, but still, the number of people in this club was enormous. The boys were slowly gathering on the field.

So many tall people! The black-haired girl was overwhelmed.

Kai wasn't a nervous person. She never had any problem talking in front of a class or student assemblies in her middle school. But who wouldn't be anxious with a hundred intimidating tall guys glaring at you?

"Attention now!"
The coach thundered.
"Let me introduce our new assistant coach, Miss Jiiroi."
He signaled to Kai, who was shyly standing few steps behind him alongside the tall woman, to step out and talk.

"Um..."
She gulped. The boys started muttering again, most of them confounded by the girl's appearance. But her tongue untangled the moment she took a glimpse of the one familiar face. She couldn't help but be amused by his surprised expression.

"Hi, there!"
She exclaimed loudly confidently.
"My name is Jiiroi Kai. I'm looking forward to working with you."

She finished her short speech with a slight bow. The boys gave her a confused reply, a noisy greeting.

"Regarding the joining of Miss Jiiroi, there is some more information I need to relay."
The coach got back to speaking again.
"She is on a post of a healthcare specialist, meaning that she's here to take care of minor injuries acquired during practice and so. But she is also a first-year student at our school. Because of that, Miss Jiiroi was moved to stay in the players' dorm. Therefore, you'll have constant availability of her services. But for you, it also means that there is now a girl around all the time. Hence, you guys need to start behaving like human beings all the time."
The head coach stated with a stone-solid face.

All the eyes were now on her. The curly-haired girl could feel her face instantly turning red, but the falling dusk was keeping her from nervousness.

"I want you to be considerate toward all our new female members, you understand?"
A loud roar echoed from the crowd of boys as an answer to the coach's question.

"Now go, have some food."
He dismissed the players.

Kai turned back toward Miss Takashima and saw her talking to one of the senior managers. She slowly made her way closer to them, not wanting to disturb the conversation. The woman caught a glimpse of the short girl and beckoned at her.

"Fujiwara-chan, this is Jiiroi-chan, the new assistant coach. Jiiroi-chan, this is Fujiwara-chan, our second-year manager. I was just asking her to show you around."
The tall woman smiled warmly.

"It's good to meet you, Fujiwara-senpai."
Kai greeted the other girl politely.

"Same here, Jiiroi-chan. And please just call me Takako."

Another nice person. The short girl sighed in relief in her head.

"Okay, then please call me..."
Her sentence was interrupted by a loud familiar voice and a soft pat on her head.

"Kaai, long time no see!"
She reached for the hand rested on the top of her head. And an unexplainable feeling of irritation spread through her body.

"Look, Kazuya, I am in the middle of a conversation here, so don't disturb. Also, can you, please, stop touching my hair?"
She took his hand into hers and slowly removed it from her black locks.

"Come on, why so angry? I just came to say hi. Plus, I, too, have all reasons to be upset. Why did you never tell me you were coming to the same school?"
His words were filled with anger, but his voice was packed with excitement. He was too obviously happy to see Kai.

"You never asked."
She pouted.
"Now go before they eat you all the rice."

But Miyuki just chuckled.
"You'd have to let go of my hand first."

The blood rushed into the short girl's face immediately as she swiftly released her grip. She didn't realize she was still holding onto his hand.

The boy burst into his usual annoying laughter.
"Well, see you later, Pipsqueak."
He turned away and left, and Kai got back to the other two females.

"On the second thought," the boy jogged back, "Takako-san, I have one thing to ask you for."

"Oh, what do you need, Miyuki-kun?"
She tilted her head to the side.

"For the sake of the health of the whole team, don't allow Kai to work with food. Please."
His face seemed dead-serious.

"O-okay...?"
The older girl replied, confused, as the boy made his way toward the cafeteria again.