บท 92: 92. Talk With Suzaku

"Akihiko-senpai, Do you have some time? I want to talk to you," said Rei, reaching them.

Both of them turned back towards him and Akhira noticed the expression on Rei's face and immediately could make out that it was about the talk which happened yesterday. He found it better that it would be better if only both of them would solve this problem as a pair and could bring more growth to the team.

Akhira turned towards Suzaku and said, "Suzaku, I will get going. I have some work at home to do. So you complete talking with Rei and go home." and walked away without waiting for a response from Suzaku.

Suzaku was confused and only muttered, "He told me he was free, but what's with sudden work. Oh! Well, I will ask him tomorrow." and turned towards Rei.

"Tell me Rei, what do you want to talk about?"

"Can we sit somewhere comfortable, Senpai?"

Suzaku accepted seeing there was no harm done and both of them walked out of the school. They made their way towards the same park that Rei came with Akira and Shiro and where he got to know about Suzaku's problem.

Sitting down on a bench, Suzaku turned towards Rei and asked, "So, what is it?"

Rei felt nervous as the moment came and slowly asked, "Can we talk about the summer tournament, Senpai?"

Hearing this question and Rei's expression, Suzaku knew that Rei knew what happened. He sighed as he muttered out loud, "Those idiots couldn't keep their mouths closed. It's ok Rei, you don't need to get worried about it. I am sure I am already over it." and got up.

Suzaki did not want to have this conversation with anyone, after all, that happened. Even though he just said he was over the incident, deep inside he couldn't hide the fact that he still feels the burden and loss he got from that tournament pulled him down.

Noticing his reply, Rei immediately stretched his hand and caught the hem of Suzaku's shirt, stopping him.

"Senpai, I know how you feel. I understand and have been there. Even if it is not a similar experience, a sense of burden, and loss, I experienced it. Try to talk about it, I am your partner after all."

Suzaku stopped for a second and looked back at Rei. He thought about Rei's words but eventually shook his head and said, "No, Rei. This is something you probably Don't know. It is something I have to face on my own." and walked away.

"It doesn't have to be like that, Senpai. Even though I do not know your personal feelings, the time when my father died, I felt the same burden and loss as you do now." noticing him walk away

Suzaku stopped in his tracks, hearing Rei. Even though Rei did not shout, it was still audible because of the quiet park. He was shocked by what he heard and doubted his own ears for a second. He turned around and asked, "What did you just say?"

Rei only nodded with his head low and said, "Yes, I lost my father at a young age."

"But the Kamizato family."

"Shirogana-san took me in after I lost my father. He and my dad were very close friends, and I knew him as he trained my basics when I was a child sometimes. My dad was the whole reason I started playing the game and once I lost him, I also lost my passion for the game."

Suzaku remained quiet and slowly made his way towards the bench and sat again.

"Shirogana-san took me in and gave me a new family. I stopped playing the game I once loved after that. Every Time I saw Sora or his sister, Meiko play the game I felt loss and burdens on me."

"Then how?" murmured Suzaku.

Taking a deep breath, Rei replied, " It was the surrounding people, Senpai. It was because of Shirogana-san and his family I could slowly come out of my shell, I locked myself into. They supported me when I said I didn't want to play baseball. My childhood friend of mine made me remember the promise and passion I once had and led me to be where I am.

If they were not there around me to help, I know I will still be out of the game. It is precisely because I got family and friends to talk about anything; I was able to come back. So Akihiko-senpai, you need not carry that burden on your own. We play as a team. Everyone in the team would be more than willing to share it with you."

Suzaku slowly nodded and Rei said, "Just remember senpai, you have your friends who you played alongside you for the sake of the team for the past 3 years. You have a coach who can help you whenever you have any problems in the game. You have Yoshimitsu, who is now reliable to watch your back when anything goes wrong, and finally, you have me as a partner and a person who can catch for you."

Suzaku once again nodded and remained silent. Having told everything he had to, Rei also remained silent. After a while Suzaku was the first to break the silence, " You are right, Rei. I shouldn't have shouldered everything just because I am the ace. Baseball is a sport we play as a team, we win as a team or even lose as a team. Thanks for helping me out, Rei."

"It's ok senpai, you don't have to thank me for this." and stood up. Checking the time he said, "Ok then senpai, I will go now, it is already late." and waved his hand, making his way out.

Suzaku looked at Rei's retreating figure and thought, 'Partner ha. Seems like this year, we really do have a better chance.' and stood up.

Having completed talking with Suzaku, Rei was on his way back home. His thoughts wandered around the camp he heard from the 2nd years.

'A camp would be the right thing for us. We have yet to gauge our strength now. There is still a month left for it. Hope I can get as much experience as I can from it.'

Reaching home, Rei went straight to his room and took a bath. As he came down, he noticed Sora and sat beside him. He told him about his talk with Suzaku and Sora nodded, saying, "Good, now it will be better if he really takes that burden away." making Rei nod in return.

Having completed his dinner with the rest, Rei went back to his room to continue his daily workout and practice after getting his homework done for the day. Getting tired from the workout, he slowly slumped on his bed and drifted off to sleep.