𝐌𝐘 𝐈𝐍-𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃 [Kozume Kenma]

29. REALITY

~ KENMA ~

"Hey, you're early." I said, picking up the phone.

"Yeah," I heard Fire mumble, clearly not in the mood. "He bailed."

"Oh, damn, I'm sorry. I feel so sorry for him. What an idiot."

From what I've heard from Fire and Shiro, this was the eighth time Akaashi had cancelled plans last minute in twenty-nine days. And if I wasn't tripping, the ratio of times when he did show up versus when he didn't was exactly three to eight.

Fire managed to laugh softly, warming my heart with a sense of satisfaction. "Yeah, what an idiot. But I guess he did have a valid reason."

"And that is...?" I asked skeptically as we spawned in the terrorist base.

"His volleyball training went over time. Again." She tried to justify, though she sounded a little annoyed.

No, she was very annoyed. It was confirmed the moment she ditched her MR-96 for Dual MTXs. I shuddered. A lot of people were going to die tonight. Thank heavens we were allies and that friendly fire was disabled.

"That hardly classifies as valid."

Wasn't it a basic requirement for people to make time for their partners? And perhaps show up to dates? I mean, I hadn't really dated before but I was pretty sure not leaving a girl waiting alone was just common courtesy.

"I see where you're coming from but I feel like it's different with him. He goes to a volleyball powerhouse school and his parents have high expectations of him. Not to mention he's extremely hard on himself, too." She said, her tone shifting from mad to sympathetic within a matter of seconds. "I think volleyball is really important to him."

"But you should be, too." It genuinely angers me, the way she was quick to defend Akaashi. "You are just as important, if not, more." Way more.

I turned the corner and headshotted a camper squatting by the bomb site. It was so frustrating, hearing her talk like that, as if she wasn't good enough. If only she could see herself the way I saw her. If only she could see the captivating glimmer in her eyes whenever she spoke of games or the delicate smile that graced her face in moments of excitement.

"And to think you dumped me for this guy," I muttered, not bothering to hide my irritation. "Hey, look, we just won."

The bomb hadn't even been planted and we had already killed off all five co-ops. I guess that made two of us who were annoyed.

"Aw, I'm sorry," Fire said with a small laugh. As much as I loved hearing her laugh, this was no laughing matter. "Look, he asked me out and given the situation, I was in no position to reject him."