I shook my head. “I need to handle this myself. If you’re there, it might look like I can’t deal with a simple locked door on my own.”
Kenji shot me a look. “You think he’ll judge you on something like that?”
“Why else would my door be the only one with a lock?”
We filed into the dining room. Taka and Dori pounced on their bentos and started shoveling food into their mouths. Iron Face had caught them roaming the compound, and their punishment had been no dinner. Judging by the way they were inhaling their breakfast, I’d say they learned their lesson.
“That’ll teach them,” Kenji muttered, settling into the seat beside me.
As soon as Iron Face left the room, Miyo couldn’t resist stirring the pot. He cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “I heard we’re getting our first challenge today,” he sang with a smile.
“What makes you so sure of that, Tire Boy?” Sana asked, speaking through a mouthful of rice. His eyeliner looked heavier today. He must have sneaked it in.
“Never mind how I know. Just be grateful I clued you in,” Miyo replied. “And I prefer Yokohama Boy. Get it right next time.”
“Whatever.” Sana waved him off with his chopsticks.
“But we’re competitors now,” Kaiyo said, adjusting his uniform over his belly. “You had an edge, and now you’ve lost it by telling us.”
Miyo shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know the challenge, so it’s not like I gave much away. Next time, I’ll tell everyone but Sana.”
Sana sneered, unimpressed by Miyo’s threat. “You know we have a challenge but don’t know what it is? What good does that do us? Tell us who told you and maybe you’ll prove your usefulness here.”
“No can do,” Miyo replied, lifting his bento box to funnel the last rice into his mouth.
Kenji leaned toward me and whispered, “You believe him?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “He comes off as harmless, but it could be a strategy. It’s a competition.”
Kenji nodded, his eyes scanning the room with quiet calculation.
Taka balled up a napkin and lobbed it at Miyo. “Hey, are you and Iron Face bunk buddies now? Is that how you’re getting your info?”
The jab earned a few laughs, but Miyo didn’t flinch.
Iron Face reentered the room, and the laughter died instantly. “It’s time for chores,” he announced, his voice as sharp as ever. He read from a piece of paper.
He rattled off the assignments, pausing dramatically before my name. “Bathroom—Akiko Ono.” His eyes lingered on me, his expression icy, causing me to question whether I had projected my annoyance onto my face.
Kenji got laundry duty. Jiro, yet again, was given an easy task: something with reservations.
Iron Face folded the paper. “Your first challenge is ready for you,” he said, his tone ominous.
Everyone turned to Miyo, whose smug grin widened. Even Iron Face caught the look, causing Miyo to drop it immediately.
“After I inspect your chores, I’ll explain the challenge. Prepare!”
Prepare? For what? You’ve told us nothing!
As Iron Face turned to leave, Kenji nudged me. “The lock, this is your chance.”
I jumped up, my heart pounding. “Kanshisha-san, may I ask something?”
He stopped outside the room but didn’t turn, clearly annoyed. “What is it, Akiko?”
I swallowed hard. “The lock on my door, it doesn’t make sense. It’s a fire hazard and unnecessary. Could it be removed?”
Iron Face slowly turned to face me, his expression colder than ever. “Your room used to be a storage room. That’s why there’s a lock.”
