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7:45 A.M
My car pulled up to the Tokyo dome with time to spare before the big conference. I made my way into the building and to the conference hall. Coach Shimura ordered me and the rest of the team to get here ahead of the crowds so we wouldn't get swept away in the madness and to stand in the back away from the interviewers since today wasn't about us. Easier said than done for me since I liked the attention on me, now everyone would be focused on Sato. 'Another reason to be suspicious of this guy.' I noted to myself.
"Hey, Y/N, over here!" A voice calling out my name sliced through my thoughts like butter, a voice I recognized all too well. I turned around with a smile plastered on my face, "Fia!" I greeted back just as cheerfully. I made friends with many people on the cheer team, but Fia was the one I was closest to. Throughout my five years of doing this, me and her have become thick as thieves. She threw her arms around me in a tight embrace, "I've missed you!" She said. I squeezed back, "I've missed you too." I chuckled.
Fia broke off our hug and started pulling me over to the wall lining the entrance to the door. She spoke a mile a minute about many things but one stood out to me above the others, "Have you seen that new guy yet?" She asked me, "Who, that Ken guy?" I questioned back, "Yeah, I'm so excited to see him!" I answered back excitedly, tugging on my arm harder, "What do you think he's like?" She asked, "Superficial and fake for the cameras." I replied honestly, "What, no way!" She took slight offense by the way her face told it, "He's so nice, and sweet, and kind, not to mention attractive." I could see the blush forming on her face, "Do you think he's single?" She whispered to me.
"Frankly, I don't really care. You already know my opinion of him." I told her. We leaned against the wall with our cheer team and the baseball team, ready to see our new member. It felt like forever standing there, some folks filing in and taking any empty seats they saw. But as the minutes ticked by, the place became packed to the brim. Now I understood why Coach had us back here.
A very loud voice rang out over the sound system, "For the last few weeks, one name has dominated the headlines in what is sure to be a historic moment in baseball." The voice began, "In just three days, Giants fans will welcome a legend to the new Tokyo dome as Ken Sato returns to the land of his birth." Paparazzi waited anxiously by the wooden doors of the entrance, ready to take even a single photo of the legendary Ken Sato. I rolled my eyes at their eagerness.
"Now please join me in welcoming him back to Japan, the newest member of our Giants family," The cheers from the fans waiting outside grew louder by every word he spoke, "Ken Sato!"
The doors flung open and he walked in. One after the other, cameras flashed furiously as Ken made his way to his seat. He briskly strolled his path to the front and sat down, "Alright, who's first?" I said into the microphone.
Questions flew at him left and right, he looked determined to leave no question unanswered. "I do it for the fans.", "It's all about fundamentals.", "No, no, no. What I said was I'm the greatest "living" player". All stuff to make him seem more modest and all stuff I've heard from many other player's mouths. Only reason why people took what he said to heart was because he looked good while saying it.
Hearing the fifth million 'Bro' from him was starting to drive me crazy. I needed something, anything, to make me not want to leave the room. And thankfully my prayers were answered. A woman in a dress suit rose from her chair, "Mr. Sato, why did you leave Japan?" She asked. He flashed an expression of being taken aback, "I-I'm sorry, what's your name?"
"Ami Wakita." She responded.
"Hold up, you're the Tigers fan, right." He joked, some in the crowd chuckled along with his jab at her, including me, "The question isn't who I root for, Mr. Sato, the question is why on the verge of your first championship you chose to walk away and start over? Some suggest it was emotional stress due to," Someone in the back interjected, "This is Baseball, not gossip hour." They chastised her, "Guys! Play nice, ok?" Ken raised his voice to calm the crowd, "I'm happy to answer the question. Ms. Wakita, please, continue." He said softly.
"Thank you." She continued. Then, she brought up something that even I was a little taken aback by, "Some speculate your departure was connected to the loss of your mother. Some unfinished family business." Now she really had my attention. Never would I had thought that she would ask someone like that to someone like him in a room where almost everyone adored him. Either serious guts or lack of common sense was in her side.
Ken clearly didn't like his mother being brought into all this, his body language spoke volumes, "My apologies, Miss Wakita," He stood abruptly, "Unfortunately, I have a fan event to attend." A bold face lie told to the audience like it was nothing, "I'll be looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of days." He leaned into the plethora of mics propped up to his lips, "I promise, the Ken Sato show will be in full effect."
