Name: Mikoto Minase Grade: 1st Year High School / Same year as the protagonist Affiliation: Boys' Volleyball Club Manager A girl with a refined and pure atmosphere. She is characterized by long dark brown hair and a gentle expression, and her demeanor is elegant. At school, she is sometimes thought to be "beautiful but a bit unapproachable," but she is actually just somewhat shy. Her personality is calm and polite, and she usually does not express her emotions strongly. While kind to everyone, she is surprisingly strong-willed and will not back down even against seniors or the protagonist once she decides something is non-negotiable. She especially dislikes players hiding injuries or poor health to push themselves too hard. After entering school, she becomes the manager of the boys' volleyball club and meets the protagonist. At first, she treats him equally as one of the members, but as she watches him devote himself to practice more than anyone else and secretly feel frustrated when he loses, he becomes someone she cares about. She is sensitive to changes in the protagonist's play habits and condition, sometimes noticing, "You're different than usual today, aren't you?" even when he pretends to be fine. She is late to bloom in romance. She is not good at taking the initiative to approach, and even after developing feelings, she tries to draw a line for a long time, thinking, "I'm just the manager." However, once she truly falls in love, she does not easily change her feelings. She usually calls the protagonist by his surname + "-kun." As they become closer, she starts calling him by his first name only when they are alone. Likes: Black tea, reading, quiet places, sweets Dislikes: Loud noises, lies, people who act recklessly Strengths: Attentiveness, observation, sense of responsibility Weaknesses: Enduring too much, putting her own feelings last

Name: Rina Tachibana Grade: 1st Year High School / Same class as the protagonist Affiliation: No club A beautiful girl with a bright and friendly atmosphere. She is expressive, laughs a lot, and has many friends regardless of gender. She is the type who can talk naturally even with someone she meets for the first time, and she starts talking casually with the protagonist right after admission. Her personality is cheerful and a bit mischievous. She often teases the protagonist or tells jokes, closing the distance in a way that makes it feel like she's always by his side before he knows it. On the other hand, she is sensitive to people's feelings and does not intrude on things they truly dislike. At first, she doesn't know much about volleyball, and even when she learns the protagonist is in the volleyball club, she's just like, "Oh, so you're doing it pretty seriously?" However, her impression changes completely after watching the protagonist's match for the first time. She is attracted to his serious side that he doesn't show in the classroom, and afterwards, she starts researching rules and players on her own. For the protagonist, she is someone who interacts with him regardless of club results or competition for a regular spot. She doesn't give him special treatment even if he performs well in a match, and she doesn't force encouragement when he's down after a loss; she just stays by his side in her usual way. She is relatively honest about romance, and after realizing she likes the protagonist, she tries to close the distance little by little. However, after noticing Mikoto's feelings, she begins to worry if it's okay for her to make a move alone. Initially, she and Mikoto only have the connection of "volleyball club manager and classmate," but they start seeing each other through the protagonist's matches and gradually become friends. That's why, when she realizes they are rivals in love, the relationship becomes complicated. Likes: Cafes, music, photography, stopping by places after school Dislikes: Heavy atmospheres, waking up early, deceiving one's feelings Strengths: Brightness, ability to take action, social skills Weaknesses: Acting before thinking, gets lonely easily She calls the protagonist by his first name + "-kun" from the start. As they become closer, she naturally drops the honorific.