"Come on, run. You're better than this, Kaito." I said, clapping my hands as he ran around the field.
"I'm tired, big bro. I just want to eat." He said.
"You'll have to train harder if you want to be a good soccer player. Don't give up now, okay?"
"But big bro. did you have a problem with my big sis? Do you guys know each other?" He asked, his hands on his waist while panting.
"Ah... just ignore that. We aren't acquainted. We just happened to meet somewhere." I answered, picking up the ball and throwing it towards him.
"But she kept asking how we met. She's been acting kinda worried."
"That's not the point, Kaito. Let's play, okay?"
"Okay, if you say so." He said, kicking the ball towards me.
We kept meeting each other for practice for some more days. Akane dropped by sometimes, with the other guy.
"Hey, you must be Oshiba Atsushi, right?" He asked on the second visit.
"Of course, I am."
"Haha, hmm... I'd love to thank you for always looking out for my little brother here. He... usually doesn't like staying home, so I'm really glad that he found a 'playmate'"
"Ah... no need to thank me. He probably doesn't like the idea of you being there, so he leaves." I said, juggling the ball.
"Hahaha, that's probably the reason. It's quite painful since I'll be his brother-in-law in a few years."
"Huh?"
"Oh, you weren't told?"
"Kuroba," Akane called, glaring at him.
"Kuroba? Pfft... what a weird name." I said, walking towards the goalpost, trying to hide my confusion.
"Kaito! Come on, break time's over." I said, kicking the ball towards him.
"Sure!"
I looked towards Akane and Kuroba, and it looked like she was trying to console him.
"If you had someone else then don't lead me on Goddammit," I muttered, looking away.
"Atsushi, can we talk, please?"
"Now you're using my first name? I don't get you, Yamazake-chan."
"Atsushi, please let's stop this."
"Stop what? What exactly should we stop? It's not like I'm doing something wrong."
"Okay... I'm sorry for what's going on."
"Uh-huh? So, what now? I don't give a shit about your daily life. You shouldn't apologise for that."
"Atsushi, you're making this..."
"He's here. You should probably get back to him. I'm sorry if I sounded a bit angry. I'll tell you this moment that I don't care. It's not like we're going out or something. You can do whatever you want and I won't give a fuck." I said, walking out.
"Wait, At..."
"Help me tell Kaito that he should be here early tomorrow. I'll be doing some important things in the evening. " I said, walking out.
"God! Can you believe that?!" I asked, throwing my bag on the bed.
"Who the hell's calling me?" I asked, trying to pick up my phone.
It fell off my hand as I tried to see the caller's ID.
"Argh Dammit! I'll just check it later."
"Atsu, Atsu-kun."
"Hmm? Leave me alone." I said, rolling on the bed.
"Atsushi, wake up!"
"Hmm?" I asked, sitting up from the bed and rubbing my eyes.
"Atsu, my boy!"
"Oh my God, Uncle!" I shouted, standing from the bed.
"Look, I'm here too," Akatsuki said, waving at me.
"Akatsu! You're here too?"
"Yeah of course. We both came to..."
"You have to ask how he's been before you go straight to talking business."
"Oh, you're right. So Atsushi, you've not been picking up my calls."
"Oh, that's right. My phone." I said, looking around my bed for it.
"Ah, found it," I said, bending to pick it up.
"You didn't even see it," Akatsuki said, sitting on a chair with his dad.
"I'm sorry, I'll go freshen up," I said, walking out of the room.
We walked towards the field where Kaito stood, waiting for my arrival.
"Big bro!" He shouted, running towards me.
"Kaito," I called, patting his head.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, Kaito, this is my uncle and here's his son, Akatsuki. Uncle Kisho and Akatsuki, this is Kaito. We've been playing together for a while." I introduced them to each other.
"Ah, you've been training with this kid?"
"Haha, don't tell me you're still much of a loner." Akatsuki laughed as I frowned at him.
"I'm not, as you can see."
"I think he is, I've not seen any of his friends," Kaito said.
"Kaito..." I called as Akatsuki burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Ha..." I sighed, picking up the ball and throwing it towards my uncle.
"Let's train," I said.
"Wait, big bro. That evil man said he'll be coming to join us." Kaito said.
"Evil man?" The three of us asked, looking at each other.
"Oh, you mean the guy with the weird name?"
"Yeah."
"Tsk."
"Who's that, Atsu?"
"Ah... you'll see when he comes," I said, walking into the field.
"Wow, you've gotten better at playing soccer, Atsushi. Your cousin brother told me about it but I wanted to see it on my own."
"Haha, it's nothing. Wait... he told you about SW East?"
"Well, yeah, coincidentally, I happened to have been there before." He said, looking away.
"Wow, Uncle, are you for real?"
"Yeah, but I'm sorry I can't give you any details now." He said.
"Oh... is that so?"
"What are you guys on about?" Kaito asked.
"It's nothing. Just some adult stuff."
"Adult? I'm an adult too."
"Oh come on Kaito, don't rush to be an adult so soon." Someone said as we all turned to see Akane and her 'boyfriend'.
"Hey, hey come on," Akatsuki said, looking at her surprised.
"Hmm?" Uncle asked, looking from me to Akatsuki and then back at the duo.
"Big sis. Why have you come?" Kaito asked.
"Can't I come to see you?" She asked, smiling at him.
"Atsushi. Were you aware of this?" Akatsuki whispered.
"I just happened to find out a few weeks ago," I said, looking away.
"Let's continue, Uncle, Akatsu."
"Akatsuki, you're here," Akane said, walking towards him.
"Ah... Akane. Wow, never knew I'd run into you here. Mm." Akatsuki said awkwardly.
"I just happen to live around here." She said.
"But Akane, seriously, what's going on? I thought you and Atsushi had something going on?"
"Well..."
"A-ka-tsu-ki..." I called.
"Ah... coming, bro." He said, running towards us.