"I wonder what's taking them so long." Rena kept holding Maria as she was sitting in the stands.
"Shion's probably talking too much to her, so she's forgetting to change." Mion giggled as she sat next to Rena. "She said she wanted some time to talk to Rosa, so I figured that must be it."
"Shouldn't you have changed, though?" Keiichi asked, lying down on the lower row.
"The team has Irie, Rosa, and Shion helping coach them, and I don't feel like playing." Mion smiled.
"And I'm going to be too busy watching Maria." Rena smiled as she patted Maria's head.
"Oh ho ho ho!" Satoko laughed while being one of the only ones in the baseball uniform now. "Just wait til you see me win this for the team."
"I'm ready to see that." Rika smiled, also in a uniform.
"I'm sure she'll do a great job." A voice said, getting all of them to turn around and see it was Rosa. "So, how do I look?"
"You look great." Mion smiled. "Love the ponytail."
"It's so kyute." Rena danced as she got up and moved closer. "Don't you think so, Maria?"
Maria just looked up at Rosa. She didn't smile, but she wasn't about to cry either. She just looked up at her.
"Do you not recognize Mama with her hair like this?" Rosa giggled. Once she talked, Maria smiled and reached up for her. Rosa smiled as she lifted her out of Rena's arms.
"Let me guess," Mion said, walking closer. "Shion told you it was better to have your hair like that for the game?"
"Yep." Rosa nodded. "I asked her why she didn't do the same to her hair, and she told me she didn't want to confuse everyone."
"Confuse everyone?" Keiichi raised an eyebrow as he turned his head to look at Rosa.
"Cause Mion also has a ponytail and didn't want people confused on which was which." Rosa giggled
"That sounds like Shion." Rena giggled.
"So I asked her if I could do something else instead so she wouldn't have to worry about that." Rosa smiled.
"Something different?" Mion raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean different?" Satoko stood next to Mion, also curious.
"Look for yourself." Rosa pointed behind them, and they turned to see Shion standing there with a different hairstyle.
"Hey guys." Shion smiled as she blushed.
Shion was in the same uniform as Rosa, but her hair was now in a double ponytail. Each one curved to the side instead of going straight down.
"Wow…" Mion's eyes were wide, looking at her. "Shion, you look good with that."
"It's kyute." Rena smiled.
"Really?" Shion kept blushing.
"I think it looks nice." Keiichi smiled, now sitting up.
"How'd you come up with that, Rosa?" Satoko asked, turning toward Rosa.
"That's how I used to wear my hair when I was around Shion's age." Rosa smiled. "I thought I was too old for that hairstyle, so I thought I'd give it to Shion instead."
"I think it's cute." Rika smiled. "It's a nice change from what Shion usually does."
"Thanks guys." Shion smiled, still blushing from all the compliments.
"I bet Maria will look so kyute with that hairstyle when she's older and has longer hair." Rena smiled as she patted Maria's head. Maria looked back up at her, smiling.
"Actually, I think she looks cute with short hair." Rosa smiled as she looked down at Maria. "Plus, her hair looks thicker than mine, so it's probably better to keep it short."
"Oh, yeah," Rena said, rubbing some of Maria's hair between her thumb and finger. "Guess I never noticed that before."
"Short hair is better anyway." Satoko crossed her arms and grinned. "I don't have to worry about it covering my eyes or anything like that."
"It also makes you look more adorable." Rosa giggled.
"I told all of you I'm not the adorable one!" Satoko stomped before pointing at her best friend. "I told you, that's Rika!"
"Nipah." Rika smiled
"I didn't say you specifically. I just said short hair makes you look more adorable." Rosa giggled.
"Ehh?" Satoko blushed as her eyes were wide.
"I mean, Rena also had short hair, and I think she looks adorable with it." Rosa continued, now facing Rena.
"You're embarrassing me!" Rena covered her face with her hands as she turned away.
"Maria," Rosa looked down at her daughter. "Say Rena if she looks adorable with short hair."
"Rena." Maria smiled.
"Not you, too, Maria!" Rena blushed as she started spinning.
"Maybe I went overboard." Rosa sweatdropped as she watched Rena.
"Nah," Mion said as she stood next to her. "This is normal for her."
"I think that terrifies me more." Rosa sighed.
"I take it you're ready for the game." Irie walked up, grabbing their attention.
"I guess so." Rosa smiled as she turned to face him. "I still don't know anything about baseball, but I'm willing to help in any way I can."
"That's good to hear." Irie smiled back. "Like I said, you don't need to be an expert. Just helping the kids warm up and cheering them on during the game is enough."
"I guess that's easy to do." Rosa sighed.
"By the way," Irie turned to Shion. "Love what you did to your hair."
"It was all Rosa's idea." Shion smiled. "I was fine just wearing a hat, but Rosa told me she wanted to try something, and now my hair is like this."
"Can we stop with all the talking!?" Satoko yelled. "We have a game to prepare for!"
"She's right." Rosa giggled as she walked over to Rena."I take it you don't mind holding her?"
"Of course I don't, don't." Rena smiled as she took Maria and held her. She looked down and smiled at her. "Hi again."
"Alright." Rosa smiled as she turned to Irie. "I'm ready to start helping out."