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Besides, it's just practice with それに〜

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of Besides, it's just practice with それに〜.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 11 » Page 122

Urushi plays three shogi games at once against the other members of the shogi club. After she wins all three, she worries she has hurt their confidence right before the upcoming tournament.

うるし:
「いやいや!!みんなよくやってたぞ」
“No, no! You guys did great!”
Literal: “No, no! Everyone was doing well.”
それにただの練習(れんしゅう)だ」
Besides, it's just practice.”
Literal: “Besides, it is only practice.”

Key Points

1それに adds another reassuring reason
  • Urushi first praises the club members’ play, then uses それに to add that the loss does not count for much because it was only practice.
2ただの練習(れんしゅう)だ softens the loss
  • ただの means “nothing more than” or “just”, downplaying the match as practice.
  • The plain keeps the reassurance direct and casual.
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