Heartstrings & Homeruns | Kenji Sato

CHAPTER 16

WARNING R18+: This chapter contains sexual content that may not be suitable for close-minded readers.

Chapter Sixteen: Discarding Insignificant Relics of the Past

I arrived early at the Yomiuri Giants’ stadium, trying to shake off the sense of unease that clung to me as my father was no longer here to make things complicated for me. The board members had decided to boost the team’s publicity by inviting a fan to observe the practice and mingle with the players. It was supposed to be a light-hearted event, but when I saw who the lucky fan was, my stomach dropped.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Yori, my ex-boyfriend, stood there with an infuriatingly smug smile. The last person I wanted to see was him, especially in my professional environment. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

"Yori," I said, forcing myself to remain calm.

Yori turned, his grin widening. "Asami! Didn’t expect to see you here."

"Likewise," I replied coolly. "What are you doing here?"

"Won a contest," Yori said, shrugging with faux modesty. "Lucky me, huh? I get to hang out with the Giants."

"Lucky you," I echoed, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "I hope you enjoy the day."

Yori's eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. "You look good, by the way. Better than when we last saw each other."

"Thanks," I said, my smile tight. "You haven’t changed much."

Yori laughed, though there was a hint of something darker in his voice. "Come on, don’t be like that. I thought we could at least be civil."

My patience wore thin. "Civil? You mean like when you cheated on me? I’ve had my fill of your version of civility."

Yori’s smile faltered. "Look, I know I messed up. I’m trying to make amends."

"Trying to make amends?" My voice rose with disbelief. "You think a day with the Giants makes up for how you treated me? Nice try, Yori, but you’re not fooling anyone."

"Hey, I’m trying here," Yori snapped, his facade slipping. "But if you’re just going to be a bitch about it—"

"A bitch? Is that the best you’ve got?" My eyes flashed with anger, my voice rising.

Several players, including Kenji, turned to look at the commotion. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I couldn't afford to lose my professionalism, not here, not in front of everyone.

"Maybe you should try a mirror; it might help you see why you’re so miserable," I continued, this time my voice was neutral as I lowered its volume in order to prevent the players from hearing our argument.

Yori’s face turned red. "You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you? Always playing the victim."

I took a step closer, my voice low and dangerous. "I don’t need to play the victim when you’re a walking disaster. You’ve got a knack for making everything about yourself, but you know what? You’re a joke. A terrible one."

"Oh, really? Maybe I’m the joke, but at least I’m not stuck in some dead-end job pretending to be a savior." Yori’s temper flared.

My eyes narrowed. "Dead-end job? Better a ‘dead-end’ job than your pathetic attempts to stay relevant. You’re not just a joke; you’re yesterday’s news with a huge ego."

"Watch it, Asami," Yori growled. "You’re stepping on thin ice."

"Thin ice?" I scoffed. "You’ve got no room to talk about ice when you’re the one who melted away any semblance of decency you ever had. Face it, Yori, you’re just a bitter has-been who tries to hide behind charm."