004

*to you or to me* he asked

*my apartment is closer and the coffee is already waiting* she grinned. He helped her unlock the door and escorts her inside, toward the kitchen, where she flopped onto a chair.

*would you like coffee too? * she asked. But Genzo was already making coffee, Keyla looked stupidly out of the laundry

*don't look so irritated, I'll do it* and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She couldn't believe it, her heart was leaping... only she still had to wait, even if the signs were obvious. They drank coffee and joked around, they didn't even notice that it was getting dark and the clock showed 1 o'clock. Genzo jumped up, it was training day again

*I don't like to leave you alone, but afterwards it's training. And we need to get some sleep* Keyla secretly wished that he would stay, but she didn't say it, she actually liked it that he didn't take advantage of it.

*Genzo..*she interrupted, her eyes fell down

*what's my little one* he broke the silence. But she couldn't tell him and pressed her head against his chest because he was standing in front of her. Again a few minutes passed before he broke free this time. She understood him, he must be fit.

*oh Key, I can't pick you up later, I have to do something first*

*no problem* she replied. He kissed her forehead again and left. She wished so much that he would kiss her properly. But she didn't tell him that, not yet. Keyla decided to sleep on the couch to avoid struggling up the stairs and going to the hospital after all.

She had trouble falling asleep because of the pain and also woke up a few times. The clock showed 8 o'clock. She called Mr. Mikami.

*could you please take me to the hospital, Kojiro accidentally knocked me over yesterday and I sprained my ankle

... alright thank you

The training had already started by then, Mr. Mikami had driven her to the hospital and then had to continue. Keyla's phone rang, strange she hadn't given her number to anyone but the trainer and why should he call now, since he had just seen her. She looked briefly but didn't recognize the number. But it was just a text message

 *hey my little one where are you, I'm worried Genzo*

*How did he get my number? Did he ask the coach* she mused. She was called, the doctor examined her and bandaged her foot and prescribed crutches. At least that way she could move from A to B. Out of the hospital, she texted Genzo back

 *I'll be right there, don't worry Key*

It took a few minutes, but she managed well with the crutches. And finally hobbled onto the soccer field.

The boys looked at her in disbelief

*now don't look like that, you know how boisterous Kojiro can be* and stuck his tongue out at him. He didn't even know what was happening to him and just grumbled to himself. Genzo was clearly worried. But Keyla didn't see that or didn't want to and did her job

*Hikaru how are you, did your foot recover? *

*yes, thanks Keyla, everything is fine again

*Tsubasa, how are you? *

*Much better, thanks*

*Genzo, how's your shoulder? *

*no pain at all* just came back

*otherwise all fine, or does anyone have problems? * but Keyla's worries were unfounded, everyone was fit, so if nothing came up they could fly to the World Cup in 2 days without any problems. Still, Keyla would take another look at the injuries afterwards, just to be sure. *Keyla are you coming with me? * asked Tsubasa worried and looked at her foot

*yeah, it looks worse than it is, I only have the crutches so I can get from A to B by myself. And if Ryo gets cheeky again* she added a little more quietly. But everyone heard it and had to laugh

*everyone listen here, we'll meet here at 12 noon the day after tomorrow and then drive from here to the airport*, Mr. Mikami announced they can rest again tomorrow before the plane leaves early the day after tomorrow.

Keyla rested for a few more minutes before heading home. It was more strenuous than I thought with crutches. But what was that, Genzo didn't wait at all today.

*What happened, was it because of Kojiro? * No, she couldn't believe that, that would mean he was jealous. She walked, more or less she hobbled home and looked a bit off the path Genzo, with a stranger. But she didn't want to disturb her and went on. When she got home, she actually wanted to take a shower when her phone rang... an SMS

 *it's not what it may have looked like, Genzo*

She was confused, she hadn't thought anything about the meeting. She didn't think about it any further and went to take a shower. When she was done, she heard the doorbell ring. She limped down the stairs and started when Genzo stood in front of her, out of breath.

*what's the matter, what are you doing here* she looked confused.

*I wanted to see you, explain it to you, you didn't react to my message* Keyla still looked stunned, she only got a text message. She looked at her phone and winced *5 texts* she mumbled.

*Genzo, I was taking a shower, I didn't notice, I'm sorry*, obviously relieved, he explained to her that the girl was Misugi's caregiver/friend. But she didn't really care.

*Genzo, we're not together, so you can do whatever you want* Genzo gasped... he hadn't let her know that he found her more than just nice, he did.

*sit down, I'm just getting dressed* only now did Genzo see that Keyla was standing in the doorway wearing only a towel, he had disturbed her while she was taking a shower. *take a coffee* she called from the bathroom. When Keyla sat down at the kitchen table, fully dressed, not only did Genzo have a coffee, he had made her one too. Those butterflies again. That winged feeling again. *it's too good to be true* she thought, unfortunately not so quietly, but in a way that he could hear and he grinned at her.

*sorry, that shouldn't come across like that* Keyla knew that there was no point in making excuses, at least he had heard it. She shifted a bit in the chair, wishing the floor would open up or she would just deflagrate in mid-air.

*oh Key, you don't have to apologize for that, I think it's nice to spend time with you too* if she actually understood it correctly, Keyla took a big sip of coffee, at least she didn't have to answer, because for once she couldn't think of anything a. But thank God Genzo took the initiative and got up and walked around the table and stood next to her before taking her hands and pulling her up, knowing she would have to hold on to him anyway, stand on the injured foot at least she couldn't all the time. So, willy-nilly, she had to lean against him. Keyla looked a bit puzzled, but Genzo looked deep into her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes... It was all over for Keyla, it was what she wanted the whole time and now didn't know what to do with herself and her feelings. She leaned against Genzo's chest to feel his closeness, to inhale his wonderful scent and hoped that he would never let her go. When she just stood there after 10 minutes, she wanted to sit down, but Genzo wouldn't allow that, not before he had kissed her on the lips. It was the most beautiful moment in a long time. Keyla got up after a short pause, Genzo was still standing next to her because she hadn't said anything since the kiss. She put her arms around his neck to look him in the eye this time and then kiss him, but longer than he had before. Those soft lips, she couldn't believe it, all this time she didn't know how he felt and then something like that. Keyla was on cloud nine. But when she looked at the clock, she felt sick, as it was already well after midnight. He kissed her again before he had to go. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he had to because his parents were visiting, but they were leaving tomorrow.

*good night my little one, sleep well* were his words, gave her a quick kiss and disappeared into the night. Keyla sat in the kitchen for another hour and drank another coffee, she thought about the evening all the time

She quickly texted him

 *Hey Genzo, sorry to bother you. The evening was beautiful. But tell me, do you know where Kojiro lives exactly, not that I'll run into him again, Key*

When Genzo read the message, he wasn't sure if he should write her where Kojiro lives or not, he knew that it could end badly. But it's at night, she won't do anything stupid* he thought to himself

Keyla's phone beeped

 *154-004 Shizuoka 3-6-20

Don't do stupid things Genzo*

Keyla's eyes sparkled again because she knew what she was going to do afterwards, and she fell asleep with that thought as well.

It was 9 o'clock, Keyla got ready because she wanted to go, she wanted to go to Kojiro and confront him. A big sip of coffee and she was on her way. It was a half hour walk to Kojiro's address, but it took her longer because of her crutches, but that didn't stop her. Now she also understood Genzo's reaction, why he went for a run here in the park. It was only a few meters and her eyes started to sparkle again until a text message reached her

 *Where are you? Genzo*

But Keyla didn't want to be stopped, so she ran another 100 meters and then stood in front of the house. She rang the bell and waited for a response...when no one answered, she sat in front of the door and waited, she didn't want to give up that easily and success came after 10 minutes because Kojiro had come home and saw Keyla. Keyla blocked his way because she wanted answers. Why he was jogging there, why he made an appointment with her and wanted to kiss her and why the hell he attacked her like that in the bar and whether it was perhaps no coincidence that he bumped into her in the park. Not even Kojiro could withstand the devastating look she had and to her astonishment he began to answer calmly, but turned his back to her, whereupon she stood in front of him

*that jogging was really a coincidence, the date and the rest was selfish because I didn't want to begrudge Genzo the chance of him meeting anyone and I have to admit it was intentional in the park, but not that you hurt yourself* he admitted

Keyla got even more angry than she already was and didn't realize that Genzo was standing behind her. The moment Kojiro said that to her, she was so angry that she lashed out, but Genzo held her hand tight. He admonished her that he wasn't worth it

*you're really lucky Kojiro that Genzo is there, I probably would have torn you up* with that she left, pulling Genzo with her and just leaving Kojiro standing. But you could tell how it was working in his head and he finally thought about what he had messed up. Genzo was there by car, because it was a long way

After 10 minutes of silence Keyla burst into tears

*how can someone be so wrong just to hurt others* she just didn't get it. Genzo stopped, took her in his arms and comforted her because he also saw how vulnerable she could be and gave her a tender kiss, whereupon Keyla calmed down and they drove on.