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Chapter 10 - Intense pressure

As I opened the door, the sight of Hana standing there sent my heart racing. But the moment I registered her presence, panic surged through me like ice water. Rika was inside, and I had no idea how I would explain that to Hana without causing a scene. I could feel the weight of the secret pressing down on me, threatening to suffocate everything I had built.

"Hey, Yuki," Hana greeted softly, her eyes searching mine for something—perhaps reassurance, perhaps understanding. "Can we talk?"

"Uh, yeah," I stammered, my mind racing. "But maybe we should go somewhere else? My place is a bit… messy." I cringed internally at my excuse, wishing for a way out of this awkward situation.

She raised an eyebrow, concern flickering across her face. "Messy? Are you okay? You seem a little off."

I forced a smile, desperately trying to appear nonchalant. "Just… you know how it is. School's been busy." I could feel my heart thumping in my chest, the urgency to avoid any further questions overwhelming me. "Let's go to that nearby bar. It's quieter there."

"Alright," she said, her expression softening. I was relieved that she didn't press the issue further. As we stepped outside, I took one last glance back at my apartment, where Rika was likely still trying to process the chaos unfolding in my life.

The bar was dimly lit, a cozy corner of the world where the worries of life felt temporarily suspended. As we slid into a booth, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at me. Rika was alone in my apartment, wondering what was happening, while I was here with Hana, trying to salvage a conversation that felt heavier than the weight of the world.

"I'm glad we could talk," Hana said, her voice low as she glanced around the bar. "Things have been… complicated lately." 

"Yeah, I can imagine," I replied, wanting to reach out and reassure her that I was here for her. "You know I care about you, right?"

She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. But then her expression darkened. "It's not just about us. I've been followed by some of Akira's guys. They've made it clear that they're not happy with me hanging around you."

A chill ran down my spine at her words. The shadow of Akira still loomed over my life. "That's not okay, Hana. You should be safe," I said, my voice tight with concern.

"I know, but I feel threatened. I think… I think it might be best if we break things off," she said, her voice shaking slightly. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The thought of losing her felt unbearable, and the weight of my choices pressed down harder.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "You can't just decide that. We can figure this out together. I'll protect you."

She looked at me, her eyes glistening with uncertainty. "But what if I'm putting you in danger, too?"

"We'll find a way," I insisted, trying to muster confidence I didn't entirely feel. "I won't let anything happen to you. We'll get through this."

Just as we began to ease into our conversation again, she caught a glimpse of something that made her facial expression change. A familiar face sat at the bar, leaning against it casually, a sly grin stretching across his lips. One of Akira's goons. Her instincts finally kicked in. "Yuki, we need to go. Now."

I followed her gaze, my eyes widening as panic settled in. "Is that…?"

"Yes, we need to leave before he sees us," she urged, slipping out of the booth, I  grabbed her hand. We navigated through the throngs of people, my heart racing as I scanned the bar for any other signs of danger. The exit was just a few steps away, but I felt like every moment dragged on, every second stretching into eternity.

"Where should we go?" she whispered urgently, glancing over her shoulder.

"Anywhere but here," I replied, pulling her toward the back exit. I could feel the weight of my heart pounding against my chest, the stakes feeling impossibly high. As we slipped out the door and into the cool night air, I could still sense the danger lurking behind us.

We dashed through the alley behind the bar, the adrenaline flowing through my veins as I pulled Hana closer to me. "Are you okay?" I asked, breathless as we stopped to catch our breath.

"I think so," she said, looking up at me with wide eyes. "That was too close."

"Yeah," I replied, trying to shake off the tension. "But we're safe now." 

As we walked, I felt the gravity of our conversation hanging in the air. "Hana, I don't want to lose you. Not like this."

She stopped, turning to face me. "Yuki, I… I care about you. But I can't keep putting you at risk. You need to focus on your team and the tournament."

The thought of the tournament loomed over me like a storm cloud. "I'll figure it out. I promise," I said, trying to convince both her and myself.

After a moment of silence, she nodded, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Okay, but let's just take it one step at a time. We'll figure this out together."

The night ended with an uneasy truce between us. We both understood the stakes, but the reality of the situation was daunting. As I dropped Hana off at her house, I felt a sense of foreboding settle over me. I knew that things were about to get more complicated.

The next day dawned bright but overshadowed by anxiety. The championship tournament was upon us, and our new team, the Yoroshi Knights, was set to face off against the Seiryu Dragons. As I stepped onto the court, the atmosphere buzzed with energy, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread creeping in.

As I scanned the opposing team, my heart sank. There, at the forefront, stood the very goon we had escaped from the bar last night. I glanced around, noting the other players—each one a familiar face, each one a member of Akira's circle. The realization hit me like a thunderbolt: this match was not just about basketball; it was a battleground.

My teammates were rallying together, but I could feel the tension brewing within me. The stakes had never felt higher, and the pressure was mounting. As the referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the game, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. 

The match was about to get intense.