1.13 Pitiful; all of us

This really was poetic beginning of an end for Ishida. All he wanted in life was to be remembered by many. Not even getting a chance to play and having his name removed from the player list as if he never existed. His mental balance had shifted and he was no longer able to remain calm and collected. He was really scared but also did his best to survive in jail. His father was underground and he could no longer even have contact with him.

This feat came to be because Mr.Kenjiro started to take interest in Nomura, In the original he and Ishida had partnered up for mutual benefits and Mr.kenjiro had decided to overthrow the 3rd sponsor's company by sending a different email of the same sort. Mr.Kenjiro really was a mysterious and powerful man, he had the means to overthrow established companies just by a single file. Well as long as Mr.Kenjiro doesn't intercept him Shu xinYi will let him be, otherwise he would have to use underhanded means to get Mr.Kenjiro out of the way.

Having one less point guard didn't effect the team's efficiency at all. From the next week the elimination rounds will start, Any team with more than 3 losses will be directly eliminated and the final teams will then compete with each other to decide the winner. The strat was pretty simple, don't lose. Shu XinYi had a two hour practice today after the Ishida commotion was settled. He came back from the training arena as soon as he was finished. After showering and changing into comfortable clothes he sat down on his bed. The sun was still up so he didn't have anything to do.

He opened up the basketball forum in his laptop and saw the news and posts. He saw that Haruto's popularity rating was among the top ten.

Iamkratos: "He's sponsored by the JJ group , No.08 really does deseve this sponsorship."

BadboyINN: "+2 The back to back 4 3 pointers were so satisfying to watch in court, I can't do it even if I play alone."

LittleBunny: "+100 he looks so beautiful of course he is able to do that, have you seen the way he smiles and flicks his hair (¤ ‿ ¤)"

Gamemaster: "+1 he's ok with his skill. If he did a 2 second break and followed by countering their power forward, he could have scored 3 more shots easy game but he lacks knowledge and only cares about winning. well a plus point for carrying his lousy team."

The opinions of the internet were not for the faint of hearts. Shu XinYi read for a while but he was easily bored.. More then that he was pent up. He wanted to hear Mr.Arai so he called him. Mr.Arai had already sent Asahi to inform Haruto of having dinner together tonight. The call was picked up immediately.

"Hello Mr.Ken, Are you busy?"

"Is there something you want to ask?"

"Uh yeah umm did you have any trouble dealing with the Ishida situation, since it was all caused by me you know," this was bullshit Shu XinYi was just really wanted to talk to Mr.Arai, since the dinner last time he had no actual contact with him. Even in the match he really wanted to find Mr.Arai watching him but he didn't. He was a man after all, no matter what, he had his issues to resolve. Shu XinYi's breathing was a bit ragged while saying this but if Mr.arai asked he would just say he was doing push ups before.

"No not a big deal I don't want you to be troubled by this okay?" Mr.Arai asked in his soothing stren voice. It almost touched Shu XinYi. His hand movements fastened, just a little more.

"Okay. Umm Mr.Arai thank you for helping me out you really are a good person." Shu XinYi wanted to scream his moans out for Mr.Arai to hear but he gulped his voice down trying to reach climax silently.

"hmm No problem. so uh ... what are you doing right now. Are you busy?" Mr.Arai

"No, I was jussst um... i UH ahem, yeah I was going for a shower, I uh will see you tonight. Bye Mr.Ken" Shu XinYi hung up immediately with a red face. He was too ashamed of using Mr.Arai's voice to deal with his vigor. He looked at his wet hands and went to take a cold shower even in this cold weather. He was too desperate just now he really did want Mr.Arai, but this sort of behavior was really uncalled for, Shu XinYi couldn't help feeling guilty.

Shu XinYi clothed himself in nice warm clothes. A plain light purple sweat shirt and pants. Not too formal, not too cozy. He got out of his room to find Akihiko in the corridor. Akihiko didn't say anything. So what is he a stalker now?

Shu XinYi waited for akihiko to make a move but he just stood leaning against the wall looking at him. Shu XinYi didn't bother with him and moved towards the elevator. "Mr.Arai he.. Is he better than me?"

Shu XinYi looked calmly at Akihiko and asked him back a question: "Was Ishida better then me?"

Akihiko hung his head low his voice horse as he said: "I ... i am sorry." Haruto again looked at him with calmness replying: "I allow you to forgive yourself and not repeat this mistake. I have somewhere to be Akihiko let's not make things difficult for each other."

Shu XinYi excused himself and went up the elevator. This allowed Akihiko to know that Haruto no longer found him guilty but had also got nothing to do with him anymore.

Shu XinYi was kind of nervous to face Mr.Arai after the phone call. He was too shameless too desperate. He rubbed his ear a few times which helped him calm down. When Mr.Arai opened the door to welcome the boy he saw the boy evade his eyes a little and then shyly greeted him. He let the boy enter and guided him to the couch. "You can rest for some minutes i still have some preparation to do in the kitchen."

"If it isn't a bother, can I come in your kitchen to see the process of making you know." The boy said while trying his best to be confident. Mr.Arai was captivated, he couldn't refuse, he let the boy follow him into the kitchen and let him watch. He didn't think he would actually feel nervous now with the boy watching. He carefully peeled the vegetables for the salad and prepared the table till the crab was in the last stages of making. He prepared the table and the food and went to wash his hands. Shu XinYi washed his hands and sat down at the table.

Mr.Arai filled their glasses with some apricot wine and started cracking the crab efficiently so none of the meaty parts went to waste. He put some meat on Haruto's plate that was neatly dressed. Shu XinYi saw that Mr.Arai was waiting for him to eat. The smell was too good, Shu XinYi knew himself to be a big glutton, he was gulping hard just looking at the crab meat. He slowly cut out a piece of meat and dipped it in sauce bringing it to his mouth and bit into it. Heaven. Shu XinYi was in heaven, it was too good.

The flesh was soft but crunchy to chew the taste had settled in perfectly. Shu XinYi never cared about the quality of food a lot when eating but he did recognize it. This was top class. He ate bite after bite of the meat with different sauces and pickles. In two minutes he had finished the whole serving. It really was too good, Shu XinYi's mouth was filled like a rabbit he didn't even realize he had left his table etiquette far behind having his lips dripping with sauce.

Mr.Arai watched the boy eat like a bunny eating the tastiest carrot, his face slightly turning red and his peach blossom eyes curving up like he was drunk. Mr.Arai knew he could cook well, but he never liked to do it, not even for himself but now looking at the boy he thought he wants to cook for this little bunny for a lifetime. When they are old enough and unable to chew he would arrange the best nutrient packets fruit flavoured ones for little bunny. Mr.Arai smiled a gentle smile looking at Haruto, sauce dripping from his mouth. He wanted all of him. All of you is mine little bunny.

But this is a far fetched feat, Haruto is still a young man this sponsorship is only his first stepping stone. He has a long way to go from here. I am only a sponsor why will he be willing to spend a lifetime with me? Haruto can't we be something more? Obviously Mr.Arai wouldn't ask these questions out loud, even he didn't know what more did he want from Haruto. He waited for the boy to critique the food. The boy smiled looking at Mr.Arai and wiped his face before saying "Mr.Arai how do you know to cook like this? It is too good. I am not worthy of having this meal but it suits my taste so well that I want to monopolize this."

Haruto drank some wine politely, making sure he didn't say anything too out of line. You have already monopolized it Mr.Arai thought , he had never cooked for someone else nor was he planning to. Mr.Arai said "I didn't really learn it, It was like an instinct, when I want to cook I can just tell how to do my best."

"That's raw talent Mr.Ken If you opened a restaurant with your own recipes it would definitely be a true 5 star."

"Don't want to." Mr.Arai said without a second thought.

"Why?"

"What if someone wants to monopolize my food? then wouldn'tthey be disappointed?"

Shu XinYi turned red he hangs his head low. Even though it was a little joke it tickled his heart directly. This feeling, he wanted to keep it. He was about to raise his head to laugh a little for show but he felt a hand slightly brush past his left ear. He looked at Mr.Arai who was still looking at his left ear, he reflexively touched his ear trying to calm his nerves.

"Is something wrong Mr.Ken?"

"I don't mean to be rude asking... That bead mark is it inherent?"

"No it's not, It's my special birth mark. Is it weird? even if you say it is, let me tell you it is a part of me that I accept and cherish." Shu XinYi said honestly and raised his eyebrows a little in a questioning arrogant way.

"Huh No no um I like it, it looks beautiful, something that makes you, you. I like it." Mr.Arai said honesty.

"You like it?" Shu XinYi said tilting his head a little making an innocent face.

"Huh? I mean to say I don't think it is weird so uh it is I mean it looks good on so uh I like it. Ahem you should try this side dish it goes well with the crab." Mr.Arai desperately tried to change the topic.

Shu XinYi let him be and cut a piece of meat from the crab neatly, placing it into Mr.Arai's plate "Worry less about if I will eat or not. Aren't I here to review your cooking, I will try everything without being polite so you Mr.Ken should get a taste of your own food no? helps one identify their short commings better. Go on Bon appetite." Shu XinYi clicked his glass with Mr.Arai's and started eating diligently. He tasted everything.

After giving a low burp he excused himself finally having his fill. He was too happy tonight. Even though the food was heavenly he liked it a 100 times more having it with Mr.Arai. Today he saw that Mr.Arai can actually be shy it's kind of cute.

"Mr.Ken now I am hooked. This is too good. If in the future I am not able to eat normal crab meat it's all your fault."

"In the future we can -" Mr.Arai said without thinking then finally got into his senses. What future? There will be no WE in the future.

"we can ??" Shu XinYi gave a curious look, finally Mr.Arai thought of something about their future together.

"In the future maybe we can meet again." Mr.Arai said kind of evading his eyes.

"Huh are you willing to sponsor me again?" Shu XinYi pushed him a little with his words.

"No I mean maybe in the future we can meet just as friends then I can cook dinner for you." Mr.Arai

"As freinds?" Shu XinYi said and smiled. Sure enough it would take time to open up this shut in. He is more than willing to be with him even as friends. The physical stuff ... Shu XinYi eyed the Mr.Arai in black attire with his collar bone showing and his peck peeking out a line, Aah whatever I can definitely be patient. He can't, maybe the wine really was getting to him, he really wanted to get a taste of Mr.Arai's lips his body his everything and wanted Mr.Arai to ravage him mercilessly.

"Yeah as friends, We can't?" Mr.Arai had noticed Haruto's gaze looking at him. His eyes were a little hazy his mouth slightly parted. Mr.Arai gulped at this sight. The clothes are getting in the way Mr.Arai thought he wanted to take them all of and see his slightly blushed skin. He wanted him. He wanted to be with him. Mr.Arai tried his best to calm his rising vigor. This was too obscene, He wanted little bunny too badly.

Shu XinYi didn't reply to his question instead he said half drunk "If I can remain patient then yes we can go as friends too Mr.Ken. If I can't remain patient then well." Shu XinYi paused and gulped looking down at Mr.Arai's body and continued "I will just have a nice one time meal." Shu XinYi was a little out of breath his breathing was really fast so much that he was panting slightly.

Mr.Arai heard the meaning in the boy's words but he was utterly confused. Freinds too? then what else did the boy have in mind regarding their status? Maybe it's not as hopeless as he thinks. He saw the boy who was panting a little with his face red and eyes hazy. Mr.Arai was on the verge of losing control and taking the boy right here, doing him till he comes back to his senses.

Even though he allowed himself to be optimistic he didn't want to rush the situation. He wanted to clear out his feelings with the boy first in his sober state before going to the physical level. Although it was impossible for him to not do anything in this state after having longed the boy these previous two months and now finally understanding his feelings, he didn't want this to end up in a one night stand. If that happens and the boy tries to leave again he really will go crazy this time. Again?

Mr.Arai got up from his chair and helped Haruto up, he bought him to his bedroom and laid him down on the bed.

He saw that the boy was still panting but was on the verge of dozing off. He put his hand the boy's eyes closing them and then kissed his head lightly saying "Sleep little bunny you are drunk, I hope you don't regret saying this stuff in the morning." He didn't find it weird at all calling him little bunny.

Shu XinYi wasn't all the way drunk he could still remain sober after all he had a very good tolerance but he really was tired after today's emotional feat. He didn't want to let this moment go so he confessed. Shu XinYi grabbed the hem of his collar with his last bit of consciousness saying in an almost desperate manner "I won't I won't. Isn't it possible to love me Ken? am I that hopeless ? I really have fallen for you since the day we met. I pathetically even bought this ring for you, I tie it around my neck everyday because it is too important to me. You have become too important to me. Haa.. Don't say anything tonight, just let me rest okay."

Shu XinYi looked at Mr.Arai to make sure he understood his words, that it was Shu XinYi who was saying them and that he really meant it. Mr.Arai was too stunned to react, the boy's hand on his collar was slowly losing it's strength. He gripped the hand tightly and said "Okay rest well tonight." he kissed the hand he was holding very lightly and returned the hand, covering the boy with a quilt letting him rest.