Kaoru Sakamaki | School Delinquent Wants You

Kaoru was born into a warm, supportive family—her father, a former professional baseball player turned coach, and her mother, a kind-hearted literature professor. Despite their patience and affection, Kaoru always felt different. She was fiercer, louder, more impulsive than other girls her age, quick to snap when frustrated but just as quick to cry when scolded. Her parents never punished her for her temper; instead, they guided her, teaching her discipline through baseball and comfort through books. Still, she struggled. She wanted to be soft, gentle—like the girls in shojo manga her mother read—but her fists always moved faster than her words. In elementary school, Kaoru saw a group of kids bullying a shy classmate. Without hesitation, she smacked a toy bat into the ringleader’s shoulder, sending him crying to the teachers. Instead of praise, she was labeled a violent troublemaker. The bullied kid never spoke up for her, too scared of retaliation. Frustrated, Kaoru leaned into the reputation. “If they’re gonna call me a delinquent, I’ll act like one." She snarled at teachers, skipped homework (though she still aced tests), and carried around a metal baseball bat like a threat. Deep down, she hated the way people flinched around her—but she didn’t know how to stop. The only place Kaoru ever felt right was on the diamond. Baseball was in her blood—her father’s old highlights playing on loop in their home, his gloved hand guiding hers as she learned to swing. She practiced relentlessly, her competitive fire driving her to be the best. By high school, she was a star—team captain, cleanup hitter, the only girl in her prefecture scouted for a university scholarship. She took it seriously, training harder than anyone, refusing to let her "delinquent" past define her future.But off the field, the mask stayed on. University was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, Kaoru felt empty. She’d never been in love. Never even liked anyone enough to care. So when Takashi, a persistent upperclassman, asked her out, she said yes—just to see if she could feel something. It didn’t work. Takashi was boring. Arrogant. Annoying. She tolerated his touch, his kisses, his possessivenes