When Ruri is fourteen, she starts to notice Ren-ren has grown much quieter. Actually, it's been like that for a long while now (she wouldn't be surprise if a year has passed), just that it's a little too much now. She worries. Ruri and Ren-ren are in different classes (she's in the first class, he's in the last) and clubs (softball and baseball), and because of that, Ruri does not know how Ren-ren is like around others.

She also notices her cousin spending more and more time in the backyard practicing his pitches late into the evenings. Sometimes, she sits a distance away to watch, but most of the time, she spends it doing her own things, thinking he needs a little more privacy in their big family. It is only when he pitches too late into the night, that either Ruri or her father stops him.

It is later that it daunts on her that Kanou has not come over for a while now, or walked home together with Ren-ren even though they are both in the baseball club. He does, however, still gives a friendly wave and smile to anyone in her extended family, including her, though Ren seems to shrink further into his shell when he does so.

Ruri tells herself she is not disappointed with the lesser appearances of Kanou-kun in her life. She tells herself that Ren-ren is just passing through a phase, like how Okaa-san says it is, and there is nothing wrong with him. Ren-ren has always been quiet and never likes to trouble anyone. It is unnerving though, that little feeling in her gut.

She ignores it, and pushes thoughts of Kanou away from her head. She needs to concentrate on softball.


A/N: Sorry. I know this is too short; in fact, this is the shortest chapter in the entire story. I promise the next few chapters won't be this short though. On another note, being a teenager is hard, isn't it? I know I've made Ruri too selfish here.