Chapter 529: Unwanted Attention


    ?


    Though Hiro tried to focus on his training the weight of the criticism was hard to ignore. Every time he opened his phone, he was bombarded with opinions-some supportive, but many harsh and unforgiving.


    The voices of doubt began to creep into his mind, making him question whether he had made the right choice.


    One evening, after a grueling practice session, Hiro sat alone in the locker room, staring at his phone. Thetest headline shed on the screen: "Hiro Takahashi: Professional or Heartless Son?"


    He clenched his fists, the conflicting emotions swirling within him like a storm. The praise and the criticism were like two sides of the same coin, and he found himself unable to escape either.


    During his trip to the hospital, he had already sorted his feelings. Yet now, upon finding himself in the middle of such chaos, he was starting to dwindle.


    Just then while he was staring at his phone, the door creaked open, and Naoto stepped inside. Instantly, he hid his phone.


    But Naoto had already seen him frowning. Recently, he seemed like something was troubling him. And since he was already familiar with his situation, he was also aware of the matter that was troubling him.


    "Still bothered about the news?" Naoto asked.


    "Nah, I''m already over it," Hiro responded with a calm.


    He might be looking calm right now. But Naoto could still see through the facade he had put on. So, he couldn''t help but frown.


    Recently, he and others in the team had made every attempt to defend him. Even the coach of the national team had stepped forward to defend him.


    But it wasn''t enough. Though Hiro never talked about it they were partly at fault too. After all, it was he and Tatsuki who had prevented him from leaving.


    So, he couldn''t help but shake the feeling of guilt.


    "I know you''re a tough fellow Hiro. But truth be told if it weren''t..."


    Just as he was about to apologize, Hiro interrupted him, "No, you''re not the one to me"


    The way he responded made it seem as if he could tell what he was about to say.


    Naoto was a little taken aback when he heard him.


    "The media is just exaggerating the matter" he added. "And I''m thankful for what you two have done for me. If not for you two, I might have regretted my decision. So, please don''t feel guilty"


    It was the first time that he had talked so much after he returned.


    For some reason, he hadn''t talked much after he returned. It was as if something terrible had happened. Seeing him in such a state had made them worried.


    However, finally, he had opened up.


    Naoto stared at him deeply, weighing his options. It seemed like he truly didn''t hold the two ountable for the cmity that had fallen upon him.


    Naoto felt d that he didn''t hold any ill feelings towards them.


    "I''m d that you think so. But still, let me apologize," Naoto said firmly.


    And it didn''t seem like he was going to be persuaded.


    Hiro let out a helpless sigh as he said, "In that case, I ept your apology"


    Later when Hiro was about to head home, he received a message. It was a message from the manager, asking to see him in the office before heading home.


    At first, it got him curious.


    What made him want to see him in the office alone?


    He was right before him in the training ground a moment ago. So, if he had something to say he could have said it before.


    After pondering about it on his way to the manager''s office, Hiro thought of two possibilities; one, he wanted to discuss tomorrow''s match, and the other he wanted to talk about his present affairs.


    He preferred the former to thetter.


    Since he was tired of exining. Almost every day people woulde to him asking him about the matter. So, he would like to cut some ck from thinking about the matter.


    Knock! Knock!


    Hiro knocked on the door.


    A mature voice sounded from inside, "Yes, enter"


    Hiro pushed open the door and stepped inside, "You wanted to see me, sir?"


    Before him, Manager Haruki was scribbling something on the tactics board. But when he heard Hiro''s voice, he ceased his action to address him.


    It seemed like he was preparing tactics for tomorrow''s match.


    Since he returned from international duty, it''d be his first match. But when he nced at the board, he failed to find his name. It appeared that the manager was nning to keep him on the bench for tomorrow''s match.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It didn''t sit well with Hiro.


    Though he had been acting a bit strange recently, he hadn''t performed poorly in the training. Neither was he exhausted.


    So, why was he getting dropped from the starting eleven?


    Getting benched for absolutely no reason annoyed Hiro. However, he couldn''t disy his annoyance in his face. After all, it would be unprofessional tosh out.


    Also, he might have called him to discuss the matter regarding it.


    So, he patiently awaited the manager to reveal the purpose of the call.


    "Oh, Hiro. You''re here. Come have a sit," he said in an amicable tone.


    Hiro took on the offer and sat before him. Manager Haruki himself sat down as well.


    "Tell me, how are you doing?"


    Didn''t he see him on the ground before? So, why was he asking about his condition, right


    now? Hiro felt a little puzzled when he heard him.


    Nheless, he answered with a straight face, "I''m fine, sir."


    "Good, good. You shouldn''t feel pressured."


    The manager mumbled while nodding his head.


    "I wanted to discuss something with you regarding tomorrow''s match."


    Seems like he had guessed it right. He wanted to discuss tomorrow''s match. So, Hiro leaned


    closer as he said, "Am I getting benched?"


    Well, after finding that he wanted to discuss the match, Hiro didn''t have to hide what he had found out. So, he went for the topic directly.


    "Ahh, you must have seen the board. You''ve got quite an extraordinary vision," Haruki


    praised him, attempting to lighten the mood.


    Then all of a sudden, he became serious, "Yes, you''re right. I''m benching you..."