Heartstrings & Homeruns | Kenji Sato

CHAPTER 17

Chapter Seventeen: The Dilemma of Disputes and Desires

The morning after that wild encounter, I woke up feeling a mix of satisfaction and unease. The memory of last night was still fresh in my mind—how I’d taken control of the situation, how I’d pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. I couldn’t deny that it had been exhilarating, but as the subtle sunlight filtered through the curtains, reality started to set in.

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft, golden light across the room. Kenji was still asleep beside me, his arm draped possessively over my waist. I watched him for a moment, taking in the peaceful expression on his face, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath. It was a rare sight to see him so unguarded, and I couldn’t help but smile.

But as much as I wanted to stay in bed with him, I knew the day ahead would be anything but peaceful. I gently slid out from under his arm, careful not to wake him, and padded over to the window. The sun was just slowly starting to rise, casting it's morning glow over the city.

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a mix of emotions as I stared out at the city. Last night had been… intense. Yori’s call, Kenji’s reaction—it had all happened so fast. And now, in the light of day, I couldn’t help but wonder what the consequences would be. Yori wasn’t the type to back down easily, and I knew he wouldn’t take Kenji’s provocation lightly.

But it wasn’t just Yori I was worried about. My relationship with Kenji was still so new, so fragile, and I couldn’t shake the fear that everything could come crashing down around us. I’d already let my past with Yori interfere once, and I didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tried to sort through my thoughts. There was so much to think about, so much to consider. But before I could dwell on it any longer, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist from behind.

“Morning,” Kenji murmured, his voice still thick with sleep as he pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “What are you doing up so early?”

I leaned back into his embrace, letting his warmth and presence calm my racing thoughts.

“Just thinking,” I replied softly, turning my head to give him a small smile. “There’s a lot going on, and I couldn’t sleep.”

Kenji’s arms tightened around me, and he rested his chin on my shoulder, gazing out the window with me. “You’re worried about Yori, aren’t you?”

I nodded, not bothering to deny it.

“And us,” I admitted. “I’m just… I’m worried, Kenji. Worried that everything is going to fall apart.”

Kenji was quiet for a moment, his thumb gently stroking my side as he considered his response.

“I get that,” he said finally, his voice steady and reassuring. “But we’re in this together, Asami. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.”

His words were exactly what I needed to hear, and I felt some of the tension in my chest begin to ease. Kenji had a way of making me feel safe, grounded, even when everything around us felt uncertain. It was one of the things I loved most about him.

“I know,” I said, turning in his arms to face him. I reached up, cupping his face in my hands as I looked into his eyes. “I trust you, Kenji. And I want this—us—more than anything.”

Kenji smiled, a slow, tender smile that made my heart skip a beat.

“Good,” he said, leaning in to kiss me softly. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”