Chapter 7: 1.6 Peaches
The lunch was finally served after almost two hours after take off. Shu XinYi was really hungry. He waited until Mr.Arai finished saying his order to the host. There were 3 meal options and Shu XinYi selected chicken rice with bread. The host went away after writing down the order and came back with a tray after almost 10 minutes. The host set up the extended table in the middle of the two seats and set their food and cutlery.
Host: "Drinks sir?"
Mr.Arai and Haruto: "Peach cocktail."
Host: "Yes sir. Alcohol levels?"
Haruto: ....
Mr.Arai: "Normal for me, mild for him."
The host nodded and turned to his tray fiddling with some bottles and in just two minutes an Icy peachy smell had fermented the air. The host left after serving the drinks.
"Do you also like peach cocktails Mr.Arai?" Shu XinYi asked barely maintaining his calm face. Mr.Arai intently looked at him instead of answering and Shu XinYi sort of avoided his eyes. Mr.Arai finally answered "Not really, atleast not until now but... I know that you like it. In the dinner meeting they had many options but you just got two glasses of peach wine. So I thought today I should try it to see if it really is good." His manner of speaking is really that of a fine gentleman.
"Umm .. Mr.Arai how come you were focusing on me so much you even know I like peaches and had 2 glasses of peach wine?" Shu XinYi carefully asked. He didn't want to be too hopeful. Mr.Arai answered in a very matter of factly tone "Ofcourse because I am your sponsor and I have to overlook your health and performance, I'd naturally want to know your Alcohol consumption levels." When Shu XinYi heard this he was still avoiding Mr.Arai's eyes and said "Ah right it's obviously because you are sponsoring me, haha this cocktail is really good isn't it?" Shu XinYi awkwardly said trying to avoid the previous subject.
Shu XinYi was in a mood difficult to describe, on one hand he knew that Mr.Arai was not even human and just an existence in this world; although he was behaving as a human in this world, his character was that of a cold distant man so for him to like Shu XinYi, or even Haruto, after only 3 4 days of meeting was almost impossible. On the other hand, he was still in a "relationship" with Akihiko and he is also in this world for a purpose so he shouldn't be distracted by a mere attraction and end up failing. Living through all these 20 worlds he had been alone not even a friend he could fully trust, except Snow. Everything around him was foreign, even people who were humans were so foreign. He wanted to escape these worlds because he didn't feel like he belongs here but what he was most scared of was that if he does escape what if the outside world is still foreign to him? what if he didn't find someone or something to belong to? to hold on to? What if I go back and I don't even have a home to go back to?
These random thoughts caught Shu XinYi off gaurd, This was the first time Shu XinYi had the urge to cry. Not when he died multiple times in previous worlds. Not when he was betrayed and abandoned by people close to him but a random comment from this person who probably isn't even human, who he has known for only for 4 days. Ken saw the boy wasn't eating and looking out the window in daze, he was about to call him to eat when he saw a tear drop silently roll down his cheek. The boy was still in daze and the tear drop rolled down his chin and with a plop onto the floor.
Ken was really caught off gaurd, he had no idea what to do. He has never really seen someone cry much less comforted someone. He thought about why the boy was crying but couldn't come up with anything. Ken was really uneasy he had the urge to hug the boy and rub his ear telling him everything is going to be fine and that he will stay with him. Before he could make sense of his emotions, Ken had already gotten up and moved towards the boy.
Shu XinYi was still in daze, he didn't even know he was crying, when he felt a hand rubbing his left ear. He moved his face to see Mr.Arai's face magnified, too close, he thought while his eyes widened as he said "M Mr.Ar Arai what are you doing?" Both Ken and Shu XinYi regained some senses and Mr.Arai sat down back at his seat, saying very awkwardly "You started crying suddenly So uh I Uh did... that to um comfort you."
Shu XinYi was shocked as he touched his face and sure enough his cheeks were wet, he wiped his eyes and said "Ahem .. I was just thinking about something and got lost in thought, sorry you had to see this and um.. do you always comafort people by rubbing their ears?" Shu XinYi asked while also rubbing his ear. His previous sadness was somewhat dissipated and he had calmed down. Mr.Arai saw the boy get in a better mood so he asked "Was it because of your boyfriend that you cried what is his name uh.. Akihiko? and no I have never comforted someone."
Shu XinYi smiled hearing the last sentence and said "Haha seems so. Mr.Arai why do you think I will cry because of Akihiko? I told you it was just somethings I thought of, it does not have anything to do with him." Mr.Arai smiled and said: "Really, that's good then I don't want your relationship to become an obstacle for you."
Shu XinYi's previous sadness was all gone, that's right, there is no need to worry about what might happen, right now he should find a home in this current world. He was even in a playful mood "Yes what I said is really true, also I don't just like peaches but all sorts of common fruits especially juicy fruits but I don't like two fruits in particular, I won't eat any of them even if they are mixed in with other things or even when I am really hungry." Shu XinYi said with his eyes beaming at Mr.Arai as if saying ask me ask me. So Mr.Arai gave a little heartfelt laugh and said "Then which ones don't you like?"
Shu XinYi's smile brightened and he said "I'll give you two chances to guess the names of both the fruits by the end of these four months, Since this is the first time you are actually overlooking a sponsor yourself it should be somewhat challenging for you, also you are not allowed to spy on me privately or ask from anyone else, so do you accept?" Mr.Arai's intrest in the boy only grew more with the time he spent with him, he laughed once again and said "Sure, and if I do guess correctly then what do I get?"
Shu XinYi picked up his peach cocktails and drank a sip from it savoring it in his mouth before swallowing it. Then he looked at Mr.Arai and said "I will teach you how to comfort someone, so that the next time you don't go rub someone's ear." Mr.Arai laughed and called for the host who Iced the two cocktails again. Mr.Arai raised his glass and so did Haruto, they cheered on this little challenge and ate in silence. The rest of the flight was unsurprisingly very harmonious.
If, Asahi, Mr.Arai's secretary was here he would surely be surprised looking at His boss who laughed, two times at that, even accepted the boy's impulsive challenge. Mr.Arai was known to be cold and distant, this claim was not baseless, he had a very serious attitude and was always vigilant. Even his business smiles were cold. For him to take the initiative to involve in a boy's impulsive feats was really unimaginable.
They arrived at the airport when the sky was already darkening, Shu XinYi followed everyone out of the airport and stood with his team. A bus was waiting for their arrival but the players were still making themselves familiar with the foreign environment. The local language of Country Z was English and almost all the people present knew beginner level English. The sponsors had arranged private cars for themselves.
They reached the hotel which was owned by the JJ group, Although Mr.Arai rarely visited country Z, he had spread the jj group's foundation far and wide. The top 7 floors were all booked for the players for 4 months. The top 3 floors all had a single penthouse for the 3 sponsors. and the other 4 floors below had 3 suite rooms. Everyone was assigned their rooms. The 3 coaches obviously got 3 single rooms. The rest of the 9 rooms were shared between the players Shu XinYi got a single room as expected. Akihiko and Ishida got assigned in different rooms but same floor, different from Haruto.
Shu XinYi got in one of the many elevators after he got his key, Before the door could close Mr.Arai entered and then before the door closed the second time, Akihiko and Ishida entered. Shu XinYi had one word in mind after facing this situation, drama. The elevator was spacious and they were all in a comfortable distance.
Ishida was the first one who spoke "Mr.Arai can you suggest me some local specialties, It's my first time here, I was rude to you at the dinner so allow me to apologize by treating you today." Mr.Arai only asked a simple 3 word question: "Are we familiar?" So cold Shu XinYi thought. Ishida had already grown some thick skin after the dinner and knew that Mr.Arai was very difficult to please so he continued "If we don't spend some time together then how are we supposed to get familiar. hmm."
Mr.Arai was still unchanged as he said "I came here for Haruto, so It is enough that I am familiar with him." Ishida's eyes twitched a little and he turned to Haruto and said: "Isn't it interesting how Mr.Arai only choses to make himself familiar with you out of all of us, I wonder how this came to be." Shu XinYi was beaming in his heart when he was caught in this drama but he made his usual I don't know anything I am just passing by face and said: "Um so is he supposed to get familiar with you then?"
Ishida's smile brightened as he said: "Well that wouldn't hurt now would it, we are part of the same team after all."
Shu XinYi looked at Ishida as if he was looking at a first grade idiot and said in a matter of factly tone "Hasn't Mr.Arai already said he doesn't wish to make himself familiar with you, are you dumb or just obtuse to not realize this. Also Mr.Arai is not a player nor your sponsor so he has no reason to accept your advances. Mr.Arai was right, you do need a nanny to teach you even basic things like what a NO means and that the world doesn't revolve around you."
Ishida was really angered now and when he looked at Mr.Arai who had a light smirk hanging on his face he became even more angry. He really wanted to teach this bastard a lesson. He didn't say anything else and got off at his own floor with Akihiko. Akihiko looked back and said: "I'll text you in a while ok." Akihiko too was angry. How come he became so familiar with Mr.Arai, having other men behind my back, he really is a viper. This amount of brain damage was really worrisome.
After the two got out Mr.Arai spoke with a tone of indulgence, "How come your boyfriend doesn't say anything to defend you, while his friend is insulting you? Is he worthy of your love?" Shu XinYi found it intresting, his way of questioning, "I know who is worthy of my love and who is not. Akihiko can do what he wants, he will face the consequences of those actions sooner or later." Hearing the boy say vague words and not giving him a straight answer he understood that this topic was a no go . Even on the flight he didn't talk about Akihiko and just carefully dodged the subject.
"There is a local winery not far, they make fruit wines and wanted me to invest in their company. I haven't replied to them since I don't know the scope of their products." Mr.Arai said looking at the mirror in the elevator. Shu XinYi heard this and met his eyes through the mirror saying: "So professional Mr.Arai, I will go with you as you have sponsored me so I would like to help you out but Don't worry I am not so easy to figure out, my senses are very sharp so you have to try harder to win the challenge."
They went to their respective rooms. Due to the change in times they would face some jet lags but the coaches had already adjusted the training times in a way that they get back to their sleeping schedule in a week. Right now almost all of them were full of energy after the 6 hour flight and because of their jet lag, so they went out to get themselves familiar to the city. The only mode of transport approved for them were cycles. Or with their sponsors in their private cars if they had to go somewhere far.
Shu XinYi got dressed and took a cycle around the block he got familiar with the road between the arena and the hotel, they really were close a 15 minute bicycle ride. After that he directly came back just in time for dinner. They could have their breakfast and dinner provided in the hotel buffet. The buffet was private Since other people were also staying here. They even had private elevators for the top floors.
Shu XinYi entered the buffet area and found his coach, he had to confirm something. After the drama in the elevator Shu XinYi realized that the academy had only sent a coach and no one else to manage the players. He took some food in his plate and sat down after asking the coach. He very naturally asked "Coach are you the one managing the players sponsored by the academy?" The coach looked at him and laughed saying. "No, it's Mr.Kenjiro who will be managing them, Mr.Kenjiro's boss and Ishida's father are working on a project together they have agreed to send Mr.Kenjiro to look after both of their players as a form of loyalty. You don't have to worry, Mr.Kenjiro is very good at his job."
Sure enough Shu XinYi felt that Mr.Kenjiro would be be someone to look out for. There must be some background going on and Mr.Kenjiro is not just a totem of trust. But he felt it was more of a business matter then a team matter. So he decided to just watch from the sideline while being vigilant.
The training schedule was really affective and their routines returned to normal after the week. Shu XinYi was busy with training and so were other players Including Akihiko and Ishida. The 3 coaches together were no joke. They were too harsh with their training methods. Shu XinYi didn't see Mr.Arai for a whole week not even at breakfast or dinner. He was really concerned and wondered if he was to marry Mr.Arai, would he have to become a shut in too. "Master, please have some dignity, you can be barely called freinds and are not even on first name basis and you are thinking about life after marrige." Snow said reminding him of the reality.
"What's with having hopes and dreams aren't we all just hollow specs of dust, the only thing that we have is hopes and dreams otherwise we'll scatter becoming nothing" Shu XinYi said. Snow was really suspecting that his master was high right now. So Snow decided to leave master with his antics. By now Shu XinYi could freely use his right hand and he was even enjoying playing basketball with the new team and really get a hang of it. Though he had played basketball before it was not on a professional level so he still had some learning to do, and if there was one thing Shu XinYi like doing, it was learning new things and mastering them.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone