1.11 Professional critics

Ishida decided to directly abandon Akihiko in this build up. He already had no feelings for him. After waiting for 2 weeks he was already out of patience. He tried to play well with the rest of the team trying to get his sync back with the other players after leaving Akihiko. It was barely manageable but he had no other option, atleast he had to maintain his position in the team.

Akihiko seeing that Ishida had stopped talking to him treating him like used trash, he didn't feel surprised but his heart had broken, not because Ishida left him but because he finally raised that Haruto had really been in love with him. All the while Ishida was the one playing with him. It didn't even take Ishida a week to show his true colors. Although he had faced bottleneck he could still play enough to maintain his position but he deliberately played badly to see if Ishida really loved him.

He felt like he had been slapped in the face a hundred times when he thought of the day he injured Haruto and later planned to drug him. Why did he do that? why was he so selfish? If only I had understood Haruto more and hadn't been so selfish. The more he thought about it the more his face burned. He had, like a dog followed Ishida's every command and even harmed someone who loved him.

He really wanted to win Haruto back, tell him that he is sorry, at this point he didn't even care about basketball or people, he only cared about what Haruto thought of him.

Did he hate him? But Akihiko knew the truth, Haruto thought nothing of him, he didn't even hate him. This was a serious blow to Akihiko. For the first time in his life he cried because of the pain in his heart. He remembered Haruto's face the first time he met him. His eyes were beaming as he was looking at me play. Later he clapped his hands and cheered saying, wow you're so cool, I want to play with you. That was the day Akihiko really fell in love with basketball. No, I fell in love with Haruto.

He wanted Haruto to look at him, to compliment him, to cheer for him. Although Haruto doesn't see me now, he will surely see me when I start playing well again. I will definitely get you back Haruto, I will definitely make you mine again. After these thoughts, Akihiko too started playing and in the week before the championship he got his position as the starting center back.

Ishida was very confused, how did this happen?Wasn't he not able to play anymore and now that I have abandoned him he becomes like this. He was really taken aback but thought this was good for him so he tried to get his partnership back. A slap in the face was that Akihiko refused to even acknowledge him, treating him like air, even in court he refused to acknowledge him. Ishida realized that his dog had abandoned him and now he had to play alone when he is not even properly in sync with everyone.

Ishida was really nervous since there was only a week before the championship. He really wanted to use this championship as a stepping stone to greater feats but now he could only be assigned substitute who barely got to play.

As the time for the match approached, the weather was also getting colder. It was not harsh coldness but Akihiko's heart was frozen. He still couldn't get Haruto to acknowledge him. Shu XinYi on the other hand was also very nervous. Today was the 3rd of this month, and Shu XinYi had already asked Mr.Arai out for the dinner today. He was really convincing saying that he didn't want the passes to go to waste since he spent a lot of money on them. Since Mr.Arai had sponsored him and treated him so well, it was only right to invite him to dinner.

Mr.Arai had never allowed anyone to have private dinners with him even in business dinners he barely ate. He wanted to refuse the boy but he couldn't even try to say no. The boy had used a lot of his own savings to manage a pre-ordered dinner. He agreed, He already had Breakfast with the boy, one that he made at that. What more is a private dinner he just has to go eat and come back right?

Shu XinYi was waiting in the lobby for Mr.Asahi but it was Mr.Arai who arrived wearing a black overcoat. He looked like an underworld boss and the people in the lobby had all turned their faces to stare at him. Shu XinYi was impressed by his dressing sense but he thought that it was too eye catching at this rate he would have to eat vinegar for a lot of this life.

"Good evening Mr.Arai, you look well. I have to trouble you for today." Shu XinYi walked up to Mr.Arai and said.

"Good evening, Let's go" Mr.Arai said trying to maintain his coldness but he was really admiring the boy wearing a beige turtle neck sweater and black jeans. If it was anyone else wearing this simple outfit, they wouldn't even enter Mr.Arai's eyes. Now that the boy was wearing he couldn't take his eyes off. The black ring with a deep blue stone that he was wearing as a necklace. The red stud mark. The beaming eyes. Everything. He was obsessed. He wanted it all, only for himself.

Mr.Arai didn't even reprimand himself this time, He had already realized that he was infatuated with the boy. Now it had turned to obsession. Although people are in control of their actions, their emotions however come like a tide and engulf them ever so skillfully that when they realize, they are already drowning. Mr.Arai was the same, In the last two months he had been watching over the boy through his secretary and sometimes himself. He told himself that it was only because he was a sponsor looking over the boy's performance. Later on he started overlooking him through Asahi when he went to malls or at dinners, obviously not without the knowledge of the boy. Anywhere away from his sight, he didn't want the boy to disappear.

Shu XinYi was quiet during the car ride. Mr.Arai and him maintained a very serene environment. Shu XinYi didn't question why Mr.Arai was driving today.

"You can call me Ken from now on." Mr.Arai said after some internal struggle, this much opening is fine. It's not like Mr.Arai didn't want this .. haruto that is.

Shu XinYi looked at Mr.Arai trying to see if he was joking, he wasn't.

"O-Ok Mr.Ken Ah do you have any allergies like for sea food?"

"No, Not that I know of. But sea food is fine."

"Mr.Ken can I ask you a question?"

"hmm?"

"Was it you who sent me the SD card? I don't mean to blame you in fact I want to thank you for doing that."

"Thank me for telling you that your boyfriend is cheating on you?" Mr.Arai had said this very cautiously.

"Ex-boyfriend, besides I would know sooner or later. It is good that I got to know when I did. I got to realize my true self and my feelings. So I want to thank you."

Sure enough the boy had some knowledge or doubt about Akihiko cheating on him. He felt good knowing Haruto had gotten over Akihiko and even called him an ex. He didn't affirm or deny and just silently drove the car to the restaurant. The dinner had already started to prepare before they arrived. Their table was in a relatively quiet place. They sat down and Shu XinYi opened the wine bottle filling both of their glasses very naturally.

The fried crab was served with a few side dishes and the waiter cracked the crab shell for them. Shu XinYi let Mr.Ken take the first potion Since he was the host tonight. He saw as Mr.Ken ate the meat and waited for him like he wanted to hear some critics from Mr.Ken. Realizing his weird yet strangely familiar behavior, Shu XinYi was a little taken aback. Why did this feel like deja vu like it had happened a lot of times. He felt that the next second Mr.Ken wil critic one thing or another.

"The flesh is only mildly soft, like it was cooked in a hurry and the spices have not settled in, the red spice is overuse-" Both Mr.Ken and Shu XinYi were taken aback. Mr.Ken was really confused as to why he criticed the food, although what he said was true, but Mr.Ken never cared about these things. When eating with the boy he had the urge to critique the food.

Shu XinYi thought that this was just a coincidence moreover he was making a face like he wanted to hear some comments. He no longer thought about the strangeness of the moment and continued eating the crab meat.

"Do you like this?" Mr.Ken asked when he looked at the boy eating.

"I like anything that tastes delicious, true the crab is not perfectly fried, it still tastes good So I like it." Shu XinYi honestly said.

"This tastes good? I can make it better." Mr.Ken said with a hint of pettiness.

"hmm I have some doubts about that." Shu XinYi played along.

"You score 10 3 pointers in your first match and I will make you fried crab, how about it." Mr.Ken

"Really? Ok fair enough" Shu XinYi.

How is that even close to fair, in any of the situations only Master benefits Snow silently thought.

Seeing that the boy's mood had settled after the breakup Mr.Arai was also in a peaceful mood. After eating crab they ate a little of every side meal and tasted some different wines of the restaurant. Along the way this dinner had become a review where both of them tasted a lot of things of this so called 5 star restaurant. Although the food was good it was not exquisite.

They returned together to the hotel. Akihiko was waiting in the lobby for Haruto. Today was Akihiko's birthday and Haruto had booked a dinner for them. After the breakup they obviously weren't going. Haruto just wished him in the morning practice and nothing else. He wanted to find Haruto to apologize to him but when he went to find him, Mr.Asahi told him that Haruto was gone with Mr.Arai. Where they were gone, Akihiko could naturally guess. His heart was burning with rage he really hated Mr.Arai for taking Haruto away from him. He could only wait in the lobby for Haruto, to apologize to him.

He felt even more enraged when he saw Mr.Arai and Haruto come in together and they were even smiling like they had a good time. He got up and walked to them interfering their alone time. The lobby was empty except the receptionist and the few bell boys.

"Haruto you are back, I was waiting for you. I have something to say to you privately." Akihiko approached.

"Whatever you have to say you can say it now and don't take your time. Haruto needs to have proper rest." Mr.Arai said in a cold tone.

"I can't say it here it is a private matter between us or Mr.Arai you think you are so close to Haruto that you can listen in to his private life." Akihiko was really angry at Mr.Arai who was interjecting.

"Akihiko, Mr.Arai is right you can speak whatever you want to, here. Next time if you are rude to Mr.Arai I will not tolerate. There is nothing private between us that Mr.Arai can't hear. If there is then you should be wise enough to know that even I don't want to hear it." Shu XinYi really was angry, why was this zero brained bitch calling out Mr.Arai? It was only now after two months that Mr.Arai started opening up to him, if he hears things like this won't he lose morale?

Both Mr.Arai and Akihiko were surprised. Mr.Arai was ready to walk away since what Akihiko said seemed right but when the boy spoke against Akihiko and defended him his heart skipped a beat. Seems like he really is over Akihiko this is good. Haruto had never scolded or been rude to even his friends, this showed that, him and Haruto are not even friends much less lovers, Akihiko's heart really burned.

Akihiko hardened his heart and said what he wanted to say: "Haruto, I broke up with Ishida. I was wrong and you were right. You always loved me sincerely so please give me a chance to pay you back with my sincerity."

"I didn't love you for a price, Akihiko, I loved you because I really did love you. I wanted nothing in return except your time and loyalty. Our time is over whether you break up with Ishida or not. Next time please don't embarrass yourself like this."

Haruto said this and walked away after saying Good night to Mr.Arai. He didn't look back He didn't even say bye. No he will surely come back he loves me he will love me I know He will.

The next two days all the people participating in the championship were very busy. The players and the coaches were busy in training and stratagizing. The sponsors were busy in the discussions with the organizers. The audience was busy eating melon seeds.

Shu XinYi was more than prepared for the champion, he had a plan for Ishida as well as Akihiko. To bring a virus code from this world they had to become a higher existence while the protagonist who completed the world have to go down a different path from the original. The protagonist further had to become an existence lower than the protagonist.

For Ishida he had a really good plan and moreover he had to do nothing and just play well for the plan to execute itself. For Akihiko, well he will bring his own downfall.

The championship had organized the matches well, it was a 7 week event. The first eight matches were in the first week. Shu XinYi and the other team members naturally went to all other matches apart from theirs. It was good to know what kinds of tactics the other teams used.

"I like this, All the teams here are really good. I like it when there is some competition. I hope the team we are against is good too." Nomura said while watching a match.

"Aren't you too optimistic about the situation" Someone in the team said.

"It's called confidence brother and what good will worrying and pessimism bring me huh?" Nomura said with a triumphant smile as if he has already won their tomorrow's match.

That night was a very serene one. Although some players were nervous but all had a peaceful sleep for the night after spending some time with their own team and hearing words of encouragement. Specially Shu XinYi who slept like a dead pig for the night. Although Shu XinYi could do without a month of sleep without breaking a sweat he still liked resting for the night since he had nothing to do. Ofcourse, Akihiko and Ishida were wide awake, both of them were not only very nervous but also scared.

Ishida had tried to play in sync with the team but he just couldn't, Although his play was good he couldn't match with the other players' pace. His position was a second substitute point guard. This was a big blow to Ishida, Not only was he a substitute but a second substitute at that. After Akihiko started to ignore me this all happened, that bastard dog I will surely teach him and his boy toy a lesson.

Akihiko was not thinking of anything his mind was blank but he still couldn't sleep. For the previous two days he hasn't been able to eat or sleep properly. Even while playing he has to use all of his energy to play good enough to survive in the team. His thoughts were messed up in this time. He didn't understand why would he even listen to Ishida and be used by him. Was he so weak that someone like Ishida could easily manipulate him? Why would anyone love someone like me? But Haruto did he really did love me but I injured his hand trying to take away his future opportunities and later tried to drug him so he lives his life as a cripple and more importantly cheated on him and lied to him. Why would he still love me after knowing all that? No he has to love me he has to love me back.