Capítulo 8: 1.7 BBQ
Shu XinYi was not only busy with practice but also trying to make some calculation about the world and it's circumstances. So far he didn't know why or how these worlds came to be or what were the codes obtained from completed worlds used for. Or why there were few human source codes and many more unanswered questions.
Shu XinYi and Snow talked, trying to form theories but they needed more information to actually come up with the facts. Ishida meanwhile was trying his best to teach Haruto a lesson. He was talking to Nomura Kyoushi the third human source code in this world. "Just give him a little dose, I don't care how. Take him to dinner some where. Who cares, do anything but before the medical test, Have some drugs run through his veins. I will pay you well after the job is done."
Nomura was not only a technical genius, he was a very capable executer. He had worked with major gangs in the city before, but he got caught once and Ishida helped with his bail. Although he doesn't trust Ishida he will still work for the right amount of money. As a keepsake he has many interesting photos of Ishida with many men. Especially the ones with Akihiko. There is no such thing as moral code for Nomura, if Ishida tries to blame him or leave him hanging he won't hesitate to use these pictures.
Nomura took the little bottle with three pills from Ishida. The medical test was after a week so he had enough time to inject the drugs in his system. He wouldn't notice within 24 hours that he has consumed drugs but if a drug test is done then it will clearly show. This was a very malicious weapon, only one dose could get the person addicted like crazy. Even just getting three pills would take a fortune.
Shu XinYi had already started training regularly, his whole body was covered in sweat. He stopped after doing the last lap around the feild. They were in the training arena right now and other teams were present here too. He sat on the bench and drank some water, looking at other players who were training. He thought of something and said to Snow "Ishida and Akihiko have been very peaceful, obviously they are going to try something, My guess is that the third Human, Nomura is going to approach me soon. Do you think if Nomura wasn't there, Akihiko and Ishida wouldn't be able to complete the world?"
Snow answered after evaluating: "Yes Master, Although Ishida has powerful backing, he still needs to maintain a good public image to get popular. If there was no Nomura, he would be having his scandals leaked everywhere even before he became famous. Also without Nomura's help who, Haruto trusted, Haruto most probably would not have gotten into drugs and even started playing basketball again for himself eventually outshining Ishida."
Shu XinYi listened and replied: "This Nomura is very sharp, he obviously will have some keepsake in case Ishida turns his back on him. It is clear that the human source codes play a very vital role in completing the worlds. I wonder what kind of people they would be like in real life, If that even exists." Shu XinYi showered and changed ready to go back to the hotel.
For the next five days nothing happened apart from the coach telling them that they would be having a medical test in two days. The blood type, sugar levels, bone and muscle condition, drug test and what not would be tested. This was done to make sure that the emergency situations in the court were handled effectively moreover to make sure a player is eligible to take part. If more then 4 players in a team are ineligible, the whole team will be dismissed.
They had already been told about the test in the dinner meeting, the coach was only reminding them. Shu XinYi heard the coach's reminder then headed to the private buffet to get breakfast. Shu XinYi was busy taking food for himself when he heard someone say from behind him "Mr.Haruto, Mr.Arai is waiting for you in his pent house, He has something important to discuss about your first project as a sponsor. Also don't worry about your breakfast or training, you'll know when you meet him"
Shu XinYi turned to look at Asahi who had a very robotic voice, if not for this world being not very technologically advanced, Shu XinYi wouldn't even doubt this man was an android. This was the first time after arriving here that Mr.Arai finally took the initiative to call him. "Snow, we haven't seen each other in 12 days, do you think our romance will finally blossom?" Shu XinYi started heading to the elevator, after handing Asahi the plate he was yet to fill.
Snow corrected it's Master saying: "YOU haven't seen him for 12 days, Mr.Arai on the other hand has been keeping watch on you, sometimes personally sometimes his secretary. I don't know about romance but a pervert sure is born." Shu XinYi too suspected this, he felt like he was being watched but he just thought it must be Ishida or someone sent by him. He didn't expect it to be Mr.Arai.
Mr.Arai who was currently sitting on the sofa waiting patiently for the boy, hadn't expected himself to behave like this either. For the first day he was observing as a sponsor and so he didn't put any effort to hide himself. On the second day he wasn't sure if he was just overlooking as a sponsor or something else. Every time he watched the boy train, he would notice many small details. Like how the boy waved a hand through his bangs to shave off the excessive sweat or how he would pour water over himself from his water bottle to dispel of the heat and then raising his shirt to dry his face. When the boy sensed someone looking and turned his face, Mr.Arai subconsciously hid, He didn't know why he tried to hide. For the next few days Asahi was looking over him reporting back to Mr.Arai but soon Mr.Arai wanted to see the boy so he just dropped the pretense and thickened his face and observed him once in a while when the boy was training.
Shu XinYi walked out of the elevator and before he could knock, the door opened. Mr.Arai looked at Haruto and greeted him, inviting him inside. Shu XinYi looked around a little and sat on the sofa. The pent house was huge, it even had a bar and a swimming pool. Mr.Arai sat down opposite him and opened "A fashion branch of the JJ group has just inaugurated in the city. They will be launching their second collection after the championship starts. You will be having a photoshoot wearing their new collection. It will take 3 to 4 days. There will be guides present to help you pose. It will not take your training time and you can take a break if you are tired. Do you have any problems with this?"
Shu XinYi heard Mr.Arai say and he agreed "No, no problems, So when do we start?"
Mr.Arai got up from the sofa and went somewhere, Shu XinYi thought he was going to bring some clothing samples or something but instead he came back carrying a plate.
Shu XinYi smiled while looking at the plate with different sorts of pickled fruit. Mr.Arai set down the plate on the table and said "Not soon but it should be done by the end of this month, do you have your measurements?"
Shu XinYi picked up several red grapes in his hand and ate then one by one, he really did like eating juicy fruits and even fresh fruit scent. The fruits present were all his favorite but he deliberately didn't eat some and avoided them. "No, I don't. I don't know how to do proper measuring of myself. Don't worry you can ask the coach, he has all of our measurements since we needed it for the new team jersey."
Mr.Arai nodded indicating he understood. Mr.Arai watched as the boy cherry picked some fruits and deliberately left out some. This boy is very amusing he thought. Mr.Arai asked politely: "About the medical test, are you confident you'll pass?"
"Yes, I have been well and no I don't do anything that will harm my body." Shu XinYi decisively answered.
Mr.Arai : "So how is you training going?" he asked this for only making conversation.
Haruto looking intently at a Mr.Arai and tilted his head, innocently saying "Shouldn't you already know?"
Mr.Arai : *ears turn red*
Shu XinYi was laughing on the inside. Is Mr.Arai, the cold CEO... embarrassed? Mr.Arai quickly recovered saying "Ahem , I was just asking about your perspective of the training routine, if you are okay with it or want some changes."
Shu XinYi replied smiling "No, It is perfect for me."
"Have you always lived alone? or do you have someone in your home back in country A?" Shu XinYi was in a daze as he reflexively asked this question after looking around the huge empty furnished space. He recovered and said hurriedly "Aah I didn't mean to be rude and pry like this. I am sorry um so I should take my leave now and about the photoshoot I'll inform Mr.Asahi of the days I am free and also give him my measurements by today." Shu XinYi got up to leave when he heard Mr.Arai say: "Okay make sure you train well and send me your medical test results." Shu XinYi agreed and hurriedly got out. He went to the training arena to sweat off.
Mr.Arai was still sitting on the sofa thinking about the boy's question. This was not the first time someone asked him something like this. But when the boy asked him the same thing, he felt a very peculiar feeling in his heart like he had been alone and empty for a while, for a really long while. Like he was waiting for something to happen. His heart was pained and he really wanted to ask the boy "If I said yes I have lived alone, would you accompany me?" Mr.Arai then further thought about his own question, accompany as what? Friend, companion or someone even closer?, at this thought he finally got back in reality.
Shu XinYi on the other hand had plans to make Ishida's life a bit easier. He intercepted his other team members at the training ground, "We have been here for almost two weeks and haven't had a dinner party as a team." The other players joined him saying "Yes let's go to one tomorrow, Since there won't be any practice the next day and we can stay up late at night." another joined and said "let's go to a BBQ corner. I haven't had roasted meat since the day we arrived." Shu XinYi only gave an idea and the rest of them followed.
Shu XinYi had the perfect plan in mind. Sure enough both Ishida and Akihiko were more than happy to join the BBQ party. Ishida thought that this was the perfect time to mix in the drugs, and since they were going at an outside location then they wouldn't be suspected at all. Ishida caught eyes with haruto and thought, Haruto you really are giving us this golden chance yourself how pitiful. Shu XinYi also thought, yes I am giving you this golden chance to be kicked in the butt by my noble feet (｀∀´)Ψ.
Shu XinYi went home and said to Snow "Be sure to record the moment, Nomura spikes my food or drink and send it directly to my phone. I will use it if necessary but I think just a mere suspicion should be enough for the coaches to investigate the matter." Snow agreed to it's Master without any argument. The team players today were extra chatty during the training, they had already found a very cosy and famous BBQ hub nearby the hotel. After practice they informed the coaches they would come back late. They showered and changed then went to the BBQ hub.
It was the prime time for all sorts of men and women to enjoy roasted meat for dinner tonight. Shu XinYi and the team booked two tables and started ordering. They didn't order any alcohol since the coaches had strictly ordered them not to drink alcohol today. This was fearly reasonable since it would affect their medical exam tomorrow.
After enjoying some beef skewers Shu XinYi was really hoping for something to happen at this time when he heard someone yell "Aah isn't that Chris and Kylie OMG they just announced their relationship a few days ago, I am their biggest fan" everyone had turned their attention to the girl who just screamed and proceeded to look where she was looking, outside the glass window there was a relatively pretty couple but definitely not a celebrity presence, maybe she had mistaken them. Wait a minute Shu XinYi thought as he turned around. Although he was sure it had happened he still asked Snow: "Is it already done?"
Snow: "Yes Master"
Shu XinYi: "The drink?"
Snow: "No,Liquified and poured over the skewers."
Shu XinYi picked up the Juicy mutton skewers, Although he could not tell any difference he could still smell something extra added which normal people won't be able to detect, pity he can't eat these skewers but there was another more important problem.
Shu XinYi: "did you record?"
Snow: "Yes but it is useless there is no way you could've recorded that so now you just gotta question him."
Shu XinYi couldn't just question Nomura since their was nothing to suspect he can't say he had a system that could record everything or that he has an inhuman level of smell, even if he does say that he has good senses he can't fully blame Nomura or even any of the other players. Shu XinYi picked up the skewer and decided to just say he had good senses atleast he there would be some sort of investigation but at this moment he felt a rush of air, feeling someone hold his hand and he heard a very robotic voice say "Don't eat that. Mr. Nomura just poured something over it. This needs to be investigated, Mr.Nomura please follow me back to the hotel the rest can stay here and return at their own time, Mr.Haruto don't worry everything else is clear, make sure you take care of your health."
Everyone on the table was shocked even Shu XinYi was in a daze when Mr.Asahi took the meat skewer from his hands and packed it in a container and walked out with Nomura. Nomura didn't refute anything and just silently followed, If he was out of the team he would make sure so was Ishida, so he wasn't worried. They got back to the hotel and directly went to Mr.Arai's penthouse.
"Why do you bring me here and not the coaches or my sponsors?" Nomura asked confused.
"Mr.Arai will investigate the matter himself before making any decisions for the team on his behalf." Asahi answered and after they reached the penthouse Asahi went back down to do God knows what.
Mr.Arai was already waiting on the sofa, his aura was deathly cold he had Already seen the video Asahi sent and was really angry at this guy what did he intend to do to his .. to Haruto. "Would you like to explain yourself or would you like me to come up with one in front of the police ?" Mr.Arai asked not delaying the subject.
Nomura was deciding if he should lie or just say the truth when Asahi who had left 5 to 7 minutes ago came back and said "It is an A class drug, highly addictive even one dose is enough. The effects of taking the drugs first time only show after 24 hours if digested. A single dose is very expensive and difficult to get. Mr.Nomura is neither rich nor has a powerful backing. I will take my leave sir." Just 5 minutes and he has already found out that much, Mr.Arai shouldn't be muddled with. Nomura decided to tell the whole truth he knew.
"It was Ishida, He gave me the drugs and told me the methods. He was paying a high amount to get the job done. He didn't want Haruto to pass the medical test or Haruto to interfere with his life any further. Why he doesn't want Haruto on the team I don't know, but I have a very solid guess which maybe 90% truth or atleast half the truth."
Mr.Arai listened to Nomura who was not nervous instead he was decisive and firm "What is this guess?"
Nomura smiled and said "What do I get out of telling you Mr.Arai?"
Mr.Arai's face twitched as he said: "If you can guess, then I can too. You can leave I will report my findings to the police"
Nomura changed tactics and said: "How about we help each other Mr.Arai? You make sure that my position in the team is safe and sound and you dissolve the drug matter. While I stay here in the team and make sure to inform you If I know Ishida is trying anything like this again. Moreover I will tell you my guess and it's not baseless I have evidence too. After seeing it you can decide if I am useful to keep around or not. I am sure YOU will find this evidence very intriguing." Nomura watched Mr.Arai who didn't seem to refute him and turned to take a camera out of his bag.
He took out the SD card and gave it to Mr.Arai and said: " this is yours you can take your time checking it" Mr.Arai took the SD card and inserted it in his laptop slowly viewing the photos. Nomura watched trying to find some change in Mr.Arai's eyes but saw nothing, he was a little nervous when Mr.Arai said: "Ok I will dissolve this matter. If I even sense you of doing anything suspicious I will deal with you myself. As for Ishida do you have any solid evidence against him?"
"No, Ishida keeps his hands clean making others do his dirty work, He is a kind of person who will play with you until you are useful then throw you away if he finds a better toy or gets bored with you. He wants to use Akihiko and Haruto is coming in his way so he wants him out. There is no love or such involved. It will be difficult to collect evidence but not impossible. I will take my leave now Mr.Arai I hope you are a man of your words."
Nomura got up to leave and before walking out he said without looking back: "Also you should have a conversation with Mr.Kenjiro you will surely find some interesting things." After saying this he really left.
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