As the day dragged on, more participants arrived, filling the remaining rooms. Clearly we had been given different times to arrive. Kenji stayed in my room, stretched out on the floor, me on the bed.
“I’m starving,” he groaned, rubbing his stomach. “If I’d known we wouldn’t eat all day, I’d have had a bigger breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving,” I admitted. “And I really need to pee. Did Kanshisha-san say anything about bathrooms?”
“Nope. Maybe we have to use the Sakamotos’ bathroom,” he joked.
I rolled my eyes. “Highly doubt it.”
Kenji propped himself up on his elbows, looking at me. “I’m really glad we found each other again, Akiko. I missed you.”
His words softened something inside me. “I missed you too. Having you here makes this whole thing less terrifying.”
“Terrifying? You? I’ve never seen you afraid of anything.”
I smiled, but the truth was, I was terrified. Not of the training but of failing. Of not being enough. “Thanks, Kenji. It’s good to know someone has my back.”
“Always,” he said, his voice steady and sincere. “If anyone gives you trouble, they’ll have to deal with me.”
The thought warmed me, though I didn’t want anyone to think I needed a man to protect me. Still, it was comforting to know Kenji was in my corner.
“Thanks,” I said softly.
Kenji stood, stretching. “I should head back to my room before Kanshisha-san catches me. Don’t want to get kicked out on the first day.”
I stood, too, wrapping him in a quick hug. “Here’s to our new journey,” I said.
Kenji leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Don’t forget to lock my door,” I reminded him as he left.
He locked the door, and I sat on the bed, staring at the bare walls. My stomach growled. The day had been long and strange, and unease crept back as the silence settled over the dormitory.
Suddenly, the dormitory door banged open. Kanshisha-san’s voice cut through the stillness, and my heart jumped. This was it—the start of whatever we’d signed up for.
CHAPTER SIX
Goose bumps appeared on my arms, not from the cold but from the uncertainty of what was about to happen. I was about to meet my fellow apprentices. Would they accept me? Belittle me? Or worse, sabotage my chances? I rubbed my palms against my uniform to dry the sweat that seemed to collect out of nowhere.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to calm. This wasn’t the time to unravel.
I straightened my uniform and tugged at my belt until it fit snugly. I drew a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. “You’ve got this, Akiko,” I whispered to myself.
With my chin up and my back straight, I reached for the doorknob, ready for my entrance, and immediately froze. The door wouldn’t budge. I jiggled it harder and gave it a few solid tugs, but nothing.
I stepped back and let out a frustrated sigh. My grand entrance, foiled by a single dead bolt.
Of course it’s locked. Why wouldn’t it be? I had Kenji lock it just in case Kanshisha-san checked.
I glared at the door as if that might intimidate it into opening, but then a faint sound of footsteps approached.
A click and then the door creaked open to reveal Kenji’s familiar grin. “Need some help?” he teased, already stepping aside to let me through.
“You’re lucky you’re still charming,” I said with a smile, brushing past him into the hallway.
The faint murmurs of other voices drifted through the hall as the other apprentices exited their room, all wearing their uniforms. These were strangers who could become either my friends or my enemies. I stiffened slightly at the thought but forced my shoulders to relax.
“You ready for this?” Kenji asked, falling into step beside me.
I glanced at him, his confidence contagious. “You bet I am.”
