That Was Fun

"I want to apologize. Apology is what is a human thing to do. It is right to apologize. Violence is terrible. I never punched someone before."

"You are not apologizing!!!" Akari said as serious as ever. "If you apologize, it means you admit that you are guilty. That is not the best option now."

We were still in my old apartment. I was looking at all the collectible items on my wall, some cool signed basketballs. I was dreaming of playing basketball right now. I didn't play in ages. I don't even have anyone to play with.

"Toma, are you listening to me? You are not apologizing!"

Akari's face was so peaceful and soothing, even though she is serious now. Her face was still radiating warmth to me, like a cup of hot chocolate.

I was still lost in my thoughts and how I don't like to shoot even. I just like to push with people and jump and stuff. I would have been a terrible basketball player. I hate three-pointers. It is so dumb. Why would something count three points? I would go only for two. I like two points more.

"Toma, you are not listening to me at all, are you?"

"I am, I am. I will apologize, though. It's my decision to make. But I will protect you and your reputation."

"No, Toma, the media will destroy me anyway. If you go and apologize, it will be even worse."

"I am doing it. Sorry, Akari. You know that I love strategizing with you and choosing the best option to get things done, but this time I think I went overboard. I need to deal with consequences."

"Toma—" Akari grabbed my hands. "People get away without consequences all of the time. Some people murder a bunch of people with bad decisions in government. Some people kill people intentionally and get away with it, and they don't care about apologizing for it."

"I am not like other people. I will never be. I get what you are saying, my love, but I was protecting you, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I still punched someone, so apology is needed. Even if he sues me, I will deal with it. Love, we are a super couple. We are a power couple. That is what people see when they see us. But the real power comes in kindness. The real power is being able to help others. That is what I always want to do."

"Okay, Toma. I won't force you anymore to not apologize, but please think it through carefully and choose words carefully."

"I will. Thank you, love."

"You are calling me 'love' more and more now?"

"Yes. Do you not like it?"

"I prefer when you call me Akari or Aka."

"Sure."

In one of, if not the one, most important facility in Japan, Akari was standing in front of Sachiko.

Sachiko wore an orange suit. Orange suit. He looked like one big, powerful orange that you can't make juice from.

He had some stupid glasses on his face and was swamped with some papers.

"What do you want, Asahina?" he asked grumpily. "You came here in the center of power. Ha ha ha, I am joking. You are doing amazing. But yeah, about what you want, I am serious. Get on with it and then go and don't bother me."

"I have two things, sir."

"Woww." Sachiko left papers on the table to pay close attention.

"First, I think you know that I could be your competition for the position in a few years."

"Wowww." Sachiko was blown away by directness, but he also appreciated it. And with a simple hand gesture, signaled Akari to continue.

"I will give up on that. Just please protect Toma. That is my first ask."

Sachiko said, "Of course I will. What else?"

"I am pregnant."

"Congrats."

"Yeah."

"What about it?"

"At one point, I will have to be absent, so I was thinking about someone else doing more of the heavy lifting in that period, but I want the Minister of Finance to still be my position when I am back."

"Sure."

"Thanks."

"Good luck, Akari. If in a few years you still decide to go to war with me, I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't lose, so take care of yourself, and then in a few years, try it."

Akari was standing there, not believing her ears. A tear dropped from her eye.

"Sir."

"Yes, Akari?"

"Your suits look ridiculous."

"I know."

The media was going crazy about the famous actor punching a reporter of a big news outlet. Toma went on TV and offered a sincere apology.

The Prime Minister of Japan went on a TV station live to protect the young actor from media and public scrutiny.

"He was protecting his pregnant wife, and he offered a sincere apology. This is a great young gentleman. I beg the public and media to have consideration for his mistake. He is still young and learning. Thank you."

I was on the set of the new action movie, and the filming was ending. Today is the last day. We finished almost everything. Now it is up to the editing table to make us look better than we actually do.

Probably my dream of basketball playing won't come true, but I will call some friend that I never call. Maybe he would go for a quick ball.

"It is 11 p.m., almost midnight, Toma. I never expected to play basketball at this time of the day."

"Yo, we didn't play in ages. Ever since my dad would take me here, I didn't go much after that."

"Let's play like we did back then. I was always beating you and your father back then. Now I am older."

"Thanks for coming, Sachiko. I know you are a busy man."

"Ha, busy. You don't even know."

"Still having an affair with your secretary?"

"No, I stopped. It was that obvious, ha?"

"Yes, pretty much."

Swoosh. Dribble and score.

"You got the moves, Toma. You distracted me with that." Sachiko said and rolled up the sleeves and loosened the tie. Ugly green tie.

Just two guys playing basketball. The style of play was all but pretty. Just pushing and punching and using body weight to gain advantage. Very little shooting, only from close, nothing from distance. The defense was hard. No matter how you look at it, you are getting punched. No fouls. You just get an elbow to every part of your body and head.

It was amazing. Pure bliss.

"One fifty-five after midnight. I think I am dead. I can't play anymore."

"Same."

We shook hands. And as we were about to walk off the field, the reflectors that were providing us with light just shut down.

"Ha, they shut those things off, huh?"

"Now we can't play even if we would want to."

We both started going each on our way, slow steps, almost like wanting to stay in this moment forever or even for a little bit more.

I turned around and said loud to Sachiko, "Please take care of Asahina at work."

"Sure."

And that was it. We both went our ways to be with our better halves, to be with the women that were making us happy after every hard day. This was an amazingly happy moment for me. I can't wait to share it with Akari.

Sachiko was slowly walking towards his car, thinking, "That was fun."