Chapter 10: Roughly Okay, your level 1
Chika, hearing Moeha’s story, was visibly intrigued by the new tale.
“Wow, that really happened…”
“The impact of crushing a top-tier team like Raimon Middle School single-handedly was huge. For a while, the school was buzzing with ‘A supernova has appeared!’ and reporters swarmed the place.”
What the heck? This is completely news to me.
Is the communication gap between us brothers this bad?
“Hmm, but it’s weird… How can someone that good be unknown?”
“Rumor has it, he only trained privately before coming to Shuchiin.”
That’s right. Rin never joined a soccer team, training solely with a personal coach our dad arranged.
Dad always emphasized fundamentals, and the mess from my soccer team days probably influenced that too.
Honestly, Dad didn’t plan to let Rin join a team until high school.
But when I got into Shuchiin as a sports scholar, it must’ve sparked something in Rin.
He stubbornly insisted on joining Shuchiin Middle School’s soccer team, and our parents had no choice but to agree.
Moeha, still brimming with material, continued excitedly.
“And guess what shocked me the most?”
“Hmm?”
“He’s the son of Suzuki Ryoma and Suzuki Wakana!”
“—No way, really?!”
Chika’s jaw dropped at Moeha’s words.
I stayed quiet since it’s awkward to admit, but hearing my parents’ names from someone else feels odd.
To us kids, they’re just annoying parents always away on overseas trips.
But to people my age or a bit older, their names carry serious weight.
“…Is that what a genetic golden spoon looks like? I’m kinda curious to meet him!”
Chika, oblivious that he’s sitting right next to her, closed her eyes, lost in imagination.
While Moeha passionately recounted stories to Chika, Kei was still grumbling.
“Hmph, so what if he’s good at soccer and has famous parents? His personality’s trash.”
“Well, Kei’s bound to feel that way.”
What did my brother do to make Kei hate him this much?
Miyuki and I are close, so we’ve been to each other’s houses and met each other’s siblings.
But our siblings have no connection.
Since I quit sports and kept my parents’ identities secret to avoid attention, Kei probably hasn’t linked me to Rin.
“Can I ask what happened?”
Chika’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“…Well.”
“I’ll explain instead!”
Moeha jumped in as Kei hesitated.
After the Raimon match, Suzuki Rin’s popularity skyrocketed.
He had everything—top-tier soccer skills and good looks.
People naturally flocked to him.
He found it annoying, but his cold demeanor only added to his charm, keeping the crowd around him endless.
One day, a female classmate asked him.
“Suzuki-kun! Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Nope.”
“Any plans to get one?”
“Nope.”
Despite his curt replies, the girl didn’t give up.
“Come on~ Don’t be like that. Look! What about Kei, our class’s top beauty?”
Hearing her name, Kei was startled but slightly hopeful.
No teenage girl would be completely uninterested in a handsome athlete.
Anticipating his response, she was crushed by Rin’s words.
“Hmph…”
After staring at Kei for ten seconds—
“…Not interested in an ugly girl like her.”
He turned his head sharply.
“Ughhh—! That jerk pisses me off!”
Kei clutched her head, fuming.
Who knew she had such a fiery side?
Thanks to my brother, I’m seeing all sorts of new things.
But Miyuki, radiating a menacing aura, looked seriously upset.
“Hey, Hotaro.”
“What?”
“…Apologize on behalf of the Suzuki family.”
Miyuki’s eyes blazed.
His sister-complex meter hit critical after hearing Kei was called ugly.
He’s the only one here who knows Rin’s my brother, so I get why he’s acting like this.
I turned to Kei and apologized.
“Sorry, Kei.”
“Huh…? Why’s Hotaro-oppa apologizing? Suzuki’s a common name in Japan.”
True, Suzuki’s the second most common surname here, so it makes sense she’d think that.
“Yeah, just…”
Sorry my brother’s such a prick.
I’ll give him a good thrashing at home.
‘…But something’s off.’
If Rin genuinely thought she was ugly, he’d have stayed silent.
He’s a bit of a tsundere.
For him to bluntly deny her like that, I’d bet it means, ‘Hmph, she’s kinda pretty…’
Just a guess, though. No certainty.
“Still, when we talked about the high school sports scholar recently, he didn’t seem that bad…”
“…?”
My name came up?
As Moeha tried to continue, Kei nudged her to stop.
“Moeha, that story…”
“Huh, why?”
Whisper whisper…
“—Oh!”
Moeha’s face turned red at Kei’s whisper.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
She didn’t know I’m the sports scholar.
No surprise—who’d guess the student council general affairs guy is one?
I don’t care much.
I haven’t done anything notable as a scholar, and it’s weirder for a middle schooler I barely meet to know me.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.”
“So big-hearted! No wonder Unnie called you the buff-back…”
“TCHHH—!”
Chika lunged, pinching Moeha’s cheeks again.
What’d she say to set her off?
Chika’s lightning-fast intervention meant I missed it.
I waited a beat and asked Moeha, holding her swollen cheeks.
“If it’s okay, can you finish that story?”
“Ow ow… Sure, here’s what happened…”
Rin’s stock was soaring daily.
In the classroom, middle schoolers played their “versus” game.
Rin could dominate Shuchiin’s high school team.
He’d crush it in the EPL or La Liga.
He could reach his dad’s level, and so on.
People hyped him up, but Rin just let them talk.
One story, though, got a reaction.
After class, during a break, two boys were chatting.
Known for gossip and shamelessness, they had bad reps.
“Hey, that Shuchiin high school sports scholar. Total fraud, right?”
“They rejected tons of geniuses, and last year’s pick was a nepotism case. My brother says he’s awful at sports.”
“Rin would’ve earned his spot, but that guy? Shuchiin’s shame…”
Bang!
Rin suddenly kicked his desk, silencing the room.
The two boys, startled, stammered.
“S-Suzuki…? What’s wrong…?”
“Did we say something? If so, sorry…”
“…”
Rin paused, then asked quietly.
“You really think that?”
“About the nepotism guy…?”
“Yeah.”
The boys exchanged glances, then one scratched his head.
“Well, no achievements, can’t even play. If not nepotism, then what…”
“Idiots. There’s a limit to cutting yourself down.”
The boys were thrown off by Rin’s sudden jab.
“Idiots? What’s that supposed to mean!”
Not wanting to look weak, they raised their voices.
Rin crossed his arms.
“…You planning to go to Shuchiin High?”
“Of course, been here since kindergarten. No other options…”
“You’re trashing your own school as a place where dirty tactics work, yet you’re eager to stay through high school. If it’s that corrupt, why stick around?”
Rin’s cold words left them speechless.
“W-Well…”
“Don’t cheapen your school or yourself.”
Rin stood and left the classroom.
The boys, dumbfounded, apologized, and the matter closed.
Rumor has it, his female fanbase exploded after that.
My reaction to the story:
‘…Still fully possessed by that chuuni spirit, little brother.’
But what’s this inexplicable joy?
My brother, who’s icy at home, cares enough to get mad over my reputation.
He’s thinking of me, even if he hides it.
My lips curled up on their own.
The student council room chatter wrapped up, and with dismissal time, everyone headed home.
I opened the front door and greeted my brother for once.
“Yo, I’m back.”
“…Yeah.”
He didn’t even glance at me, glued to a Real Madrid match on TV.
He’s a diehard fan.
When Dad was active, he’d stay up all night as a kid to watch.
I glimpsed Dad on the bench occasionally.
With his assistant coach experience piling up, he might get a head coach offer soon.
“Hey, want anything to eat?”
Feeling grateful, I wanted to cook something nice.
We usually make whatever when it’s our turn, so asking his preference was rare.
I was ready to show off my skills, but…
“…Don’t need it.”
He shot me down.
Probably means he already ate, but his attitude’s the same as ever.
Back in the day…
‘Big bro, let’s play soccer!’
‘You’re the best at soccer, big bro!’
He was that cute.
Time’s cruelty stole all his charm. Harsh world.
Since he didn’t want food, I fixed myself a quick meal.
Then, an idea sparked.
This could thank my brother and get revenge for Kei.
I approached Rin.
“…Wanna have a match?”
He bolted upright, his usually indifferent eyes wide.
“You serious?”
“Yeah, unless you’re scared.”
“Come outside. I’ll crush you.”
Ditching his game, he headed for the shoe rack.
Didn’t know he was that eager to face me.
Guess I’ll grant his wish—no holding back, though.
Breathing the cool evening air, we stood at the nearby futsal court.
Warming up, Rin spoke.
“What’s with the sudden challenge?”
“You don’t want it?”
“…If you’re begging to get crushed, I won’t stop you.”
Meaning, ‘No, I’m cool with it…’
When will he just be honest?
After stretching, Rin bounced the ball, glaring fiercely.
“I’m going first.”
“Go for it.”
Rin advanced, circling the ball with step-overs.
‘That move alone probably dominated middle school.’
Speed makes even basic tricks deadly.
Both our parents were speed demons, and Rin inherited that explosive pace.
But knowing his move makes it easy to counter.
‘The moment his pace spikes—now!’
I timed it, placing my foot where he’d break through—
Thwack—
“Ugh!”
Rin’s advance was stopped as I stole the ball.
Bouncing it under my foot, I asked.
“…My turn?”
“Shut up and come at me.”
His cold eyes blazed.
Haven’t seen that look in a while.
It’ll make his reaction to that line even better.
Before dribbling, I grinned and asked.
“So, little bro. Get my level yet?”
“…What?”
The second I spoke, I charged with the ball.
Rin, hyper-focused, readied for anything.
I tilted slightly right.
‘Well, well…’
His right side was locked tight.
No angle there.
I faked left with a body feint—
“No you don’t…!”
Rin reacted, his sharp cut aiming for my ball.
A solid move that’d steal from most players.
Nice one, little bro.
But you’re not there yet.
As I leaned left, drawing his balance—
Tap!
“…Tch!”
I spun a Marseille turn, flipping direction and blowing past him.
Total victory for me.
Rin’s eyes burned with frustration at being outplayed.
I poured cold water on him.
“Still finding it boring, wanna die?”
“…??”
A fleeting look of shock—‘How do you know that?’
“Hmph, pointless talk.”
He brushed it off, diving back in.
Nice try, but that was just the start.
“Little bro, know what?”
“To me, soccer’s medical treatment…”
“This is a hospital… I’ll cure your ignorance now.”
“Come at me. I’ll save you.”
“…!!”
Rin’s simmering patience finally snapped.
“Just… shut up!!”
His “achievements” being remixed live broke him.
He charged like an enraged bull.
Kei’d love this sight.
“Hey, watch how you talk to your big bro.”
I dodged his cuts effortlessly.
Watching him flail like a fish on a cutting board, I smirked.