The Start of a Love Story

Spring, First week of Class Three Years Ago.

On the grounds of the school, students bustling around could be seen. Some are holding flyers and handing them out to other students. It was the first week of school and the students are busy organizing and inviting members for their clubs.

During the free period, The now first-year higschool student Sophie was walking around the school. Although she already made up her mind to apply for the Drama Club, she still chose to look around the other clubs just in case they caught her eyes. Students are allowed to be a member of two clubs, as long as the student's schedule would not conflict.

Her feet brought her to the sports field.

Since ISOA is a prestigious academy, it of course has high-level school teams. The school focuses in four sports. Namely Baseball, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball. Since these clubs are were able to produce outstanding results, most funds and support from the school budget go to them. If another sports club want to compete for the school's support, they can only do so by producing a more outstanding result than any of the other teams which is very difficult. These four sports club are in national level after all.

Sophie was attracted by the boisterous sounds from the sports field. Both the exclusive court and field for the Tennis and Baseball Team could be found in these area. She saw that both have a tall and sturdy metal screen with holes as big as a kid's hand covering the Tennis courts and baseball field.

Especially for the baseball field, the metal screen that's serving as a wall was as tall as 15 feet. (Okay, just please imagine Seido's baseball field and Seigaku's tennis court.)

On the baseball field, Sophie saw that there was an ongoing practice. She saw boys in baseball Jerseys that were practicing batting. Sophie walked closer to the field until she's by the screen in order to look closely. For someone like her who is not athletic, the scene where people hit the balls no matter how the coach threw them was amazing. If it was her, forget hitting the ball, the bat would probably end up hurting someone.

Clang!

Sophie flinched when a ball hit the screen near her. She tried to calm her heart and looked at the ball rolling on the ground. The impact of the ball against the screen made her realize that the baseball must be heavy. The first thing she thought is that 'that would definitely hurt if it hits you.'

A student wearing black T-shirt soon walked to get the ball. Sophie realized that the student must be a new recruit and was now serving as a ball boy. The guy picked the ball up and unintentionally looked at her.

...

...

Sophie's eyes widened.

"It's you!"

The guy only looked at her before turning around.

"Hey!" Sophie called to him. "Its me! Do you not remember me?"

Justin looked at her again.

"Dont remember."

Sophie was dumbfounded. In that two words, her confidence was shot down again. Is she that forgettable?

"Hey Justin, do you know her?"

She heard another guy who must be also a new member.

"No." Justin briefly answered.

Now in bad mood, Sophie turned around to leave.

'Unbelievable! That guy, that guy was really something else.'

Well, at least she know his name now.

She didn't know that while she was leaving, Justin was watching her.

"Do you really not know her? Man, she's really beautiful." The other guy said.

"Hey! Dont dilly dally there!" The coach shouted.

Both Justin and the other guy immediately went back to the field.

And so, with the determination to make Justin acknowledge her presence, Sophie started pestering Justin.

Although she was now a member of the Drama Club, she always managed to free her time to go to the baseball field to see Justin. Soon enough, the whole baseball team know her.

Maybe because Sophie was beautiful, she was always given a preferential treatment especially from the opposite sex. When the baseball team once asked her why she is there, Sophie immediately, albeit with embarrassment told them that she was there for Justin. After that, Sophie was allowed to enter the bleachers inside the field. She made sure to never bother them though, especially if they are training or in practice match.

She cannot remember how it started, but one day, Justin started eating with her on lunch time. Sophie didn't know why, but she also started to bring two portions of food whenever she cooks food for lunch.

Even though they belong to different class, they started spending time with each other, although none of them showed any romantic interest with each other at first. For some reason, they became comfortable when they were together. For Sophie who started to become famous because of her beauty, Justin became a sturdy tree that she could take shelter from when she gets tired of people's attention. Maybe because Justin looks scary and was always frowning that nobody dared to approach her whenever she's with him.

For Justin, Sophie became a comforting presence that could relax him.

Soon, aside from eating lunch together, they started to walk together while going home. It wasn't a problem because both if them live in the same neighborhood. Justin always stayed late for baseball practice but Sophie would always wait for him to go home.

They didn't know when it changed, but their friendship soon became an ambiguous relationship.

People started asking about their relationship but they didn't know how to answer. They know there was something, but both of them too scared to confirm anything. Their days continued like that.

It was only six months later that something happened.

While Sophie was in the middle of being confessed to, Justin interrupted.

"Hey. Don't you think that its rude to ask her to be your girlfriend when she already has a boyfriend?"

Huh? Both Sophie and the senior student confessing to her looked at Justin in surprise.

"Sophie has a boyfriend? That can't be. Everyone knows she's single." The senior student denied.

"She's. Taken." Justin said firmly.

The other guy didn't give up. "No way. Her friends told me she's single. You're lying. Tell me then, who's her boyfriend?"

"Me."

For a moment, there was silence.

"W-what?! That can't be!"

Everyone started talking. It was a big news!

However, Sophie heard none of those. She was looking at Justin with surprise and something else.

"Sophie, is he really your boyfriend?" The senior asked.

She looked at the senior who apparently cant believe what's happening before she looked back on Justin's face like she was searching for something.

He was looking at her indifferently while chewing a bubble gum. He raised his eyebrow as if to say 'what?'.

It was not a confession. It was definitely far from a confession. But it made Sophie's heart pound.

A dazzling smile full of happiness broke out from Sophie's lips. She looked so radiant, so happy that Justin and everyone else was momentarily dazed. This was the first time that Justin saw her smile this bright.

She clutched Justin's arm and with a voice full of satisfaction, she said:

"Yes. He's my boyfriend."