6-gatsu no Nanahoshi

六月の七星

29 chapters

7 volumes

2018 – present

Rising pitching ace Saiga Kanata works as a battery with his childhood friend Shinonome Haruse, who also serves as the baseball team's captain and catcher. Back when they were kids, Haruse had just moved into the neighborhood and started talking to the introverted Kanata. From then on, they grew up together like brothers—Haruse always the "older brother" and Kanata the "younger brother." But Kanata secretly longs for and lusts after his "older brother," brooding over how much longer their act of playing brothers can last. The word "Nanahoshi" comes from the Japanese phrase for the seven-spotted ladybug, "Nanahoshi Tentou(mushi)." In baseball, a "battery" means the pairing of the pitcher and catcher. At last, Kanata confesses his feelings, and he and Haruse begin dating. Shortly afterward, Haruse's younger brother—separated from him by their parents' divorce—appears before Kanata and threatens to reveal their relationship to everyone unless they break up before the summer solstice arrives. Kanata agonizes over how to tell Haruse the truth. Partly thanks to their accomplishments as a battery on the baseball team, the two are selected to represent Otaru City. As girls from other schools crowd around them, Kanata winds up in an impromptu selfie and becomes a viral topic overnight. One day, the pair is interviewed by Riana, a local idol who loves baseball. During Kanata's photo session, Riana openly tells Haruse that she is in love with Kanata. Haruse is stunned by her confession...