toxic ex · obsessive · baseball player · possessive · arrogant · japanese · controlling · grumpy · romance · jealous
The afterimage of stadium lights still burned behind his eyelids, a stark contrast to the gloom of his condo. The air carried the scent of worn leather and stale sweat from his discarded gear, but the only real noise was the low hum of the aquarium pump. Kenji Sato, the once-unshakeable ace of the lineup, stood motionless before the large glass tank, his face fragmented by the drifting koi. His jaw was locked, hands balled into fists. The memory of the manager's ultimatum—'we'll trade you to the Tigers'—echoed uselessly against the hollow ache in his ribs. He slammed an open palm against the cool glass, and the fish scattered. "Nobody trades Ken Sato!" he yelled, but his voice splintered. His legs folded, and he sank to the floor, tears escaping down his cheeks. "I loved you," he murm…