Heartstrings & Homeruns | Kenji Sato

CHAPTER 22

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Rather Interesting Reunion

It was one of those rare quiet afternoons at the training facility. No major injuries to attend to, no emergency calls from Coach Shimura, and a surprisingly calm schedule. I had just settled into the staff lounge with Shota, enjoying a cup of coffee during our downtime.

"You know," Shota said, breaking the comfortable silence, "these moments are rare. Should probably savor it before the next disaster strikes."

I smirked over my cup. "Don't jinx it. You know the moment you say something like that, chaos follows."

Shota chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Fair enough. But still, not every day we get to just... relax."

Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Kenji strolled in. His hair still damp from a post-workout shower, he exuded his usual easy confidence. His eyes immediately found mine, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"So, this is where you hide when you're not saving lives," he teased, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. "In the lounge with Shota? Should I be jealous?"

I raised an eyebrow, smirking right back. "Maybe."

Shota groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Oh, great. Here we go again. Can you two not flirt in front of me? Some of us are trying to enjoy a peaceful break."

I laughed, but Kenji didn't let up. He slid into the seat next to me, casually placing a hand on my shoulder. "You know, Shota, you could learn a thing or two from us. Maybe then you'd stop acting so awkward around-"

Kenji didn't get to finish his sentence. The door swung open, and Coach Shimura walked in with his usual air of authority. Instinctively, Kenji and I flinched apart, putting what felt like an entire football field of distance between us. Shota stifled a laugh, almost choking on his coffee as he saw us scramble.

"What's going on in here?" Coach Shimura's voice was casual, but I could feel my heart racing.

"Nothing, Coach," Shota replied, managing to keep a straight face. "Just talking shop."

Kenji flashed Shota a warning glare, but Shota just grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. The tension in the room was thick, and I could tell Kenji wasn't happy about it. But just as Coach Shimura left after making himself coffee, Kenji turned back to Shota, eyes narrowed.

"You've got a big mouth, you know that?"

"Yeah, well," Shota shrugged, "maybe I should mention to Coach what I didn't say."

Before the conversation could go any further, the door opened again, and I instinctively straightened, thinking it might be Coach Shimura. Kenji and I quickly put some distance between us, as if trying to pretend there was nothing to hide. But instead of the coach, it was someone I hadn't seen in years.

"Toru?"

My voice came out as a surprised whisper as I stared at the man who had just walked in. Toru Kirishima-now dressed in a sleek, expensive suit that screamed "business mogul"-stood in the doorway with the same confident grin I remembered from our college days. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp eyes scanned the room before landing on me.

"Sammy," Toru greeted, his voice smooth and familiar. "Been a while, huh?"

For a moment, I was frozen in place, the flood of memories almost overwhelming. Toru had been more than just a friend in college. He, Harumi, and I had shared something... unique. An intimate friendship that had blurred the lines between study partners, best friends, and casual lovers. Those were the days of reckless fun, late-night study sessions, archery lessons, and parties where I went by my fake name, Samantha-"Sammy," as Toru had called me. We'd shared a lot, but as time went on, our lives had naturally drifted apart.