Reina’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes sharpened. “Winning, surviving—they’re often the same in Kage Ryu. The challenges are designed to look deceptively easy but are far from it. What happened to that young man during the first challenge was unfortunate.”
I wanted to ask about Miyo and find out more, but I stopped myself. Reina had taken a risk by sharing this information with me. Pushing her too far might undo everything.
“Why are you telling me this?” I finally asked, keeping my voice steady.
“Because I want you to succeed,” she said without hesitation. “You’re the first woman to ever enter this program. That’s monumental, Akiko. You’re breaking barriers just by being here. But this program isn’t kind to anyone, especially someone like you. If I can give you even the smallest advantage, I will. Women need to champion each other, don’t you think?”
I nodded, a swell of pride and gratitude rising in me. Reina wasn’t just offering me advice; she was rooting for me, believing in me like no one else here did.
Her demeanor softened as she reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. “But remember, Akiko, trust is a dangerous thing here. Even the people you think are on your side might not be. Stay focused, and don’t let your guard down.”
Her words were meant to comfort me, but they chilled me instead. Also, why did Reina’s support feel like it came with strings attached? Was she genuinely trying to help me, or was this another test? Or worse, a way to set me up for failure?
As we finished our meal, Reina leaned back with a faint smile. “You have great potential, Akiko. Don’t waste it.”
Reina whisked me back to the compound with seconds to spare. As I climbed out of the vehicle, she offered a parting warning. “The program is designed to break you. If it doesn’t, it means you belong.”
I’d just shut the door to my dorm room when Iron Face showed up to escort us to dinner.
“Where did you go?” Kenji asked as we walked. “You never came back to your room.”
“I’ll tell you later. Too many ears listening right now. Plus, I’m starving.” I rubbed my stomach for added effect, trying to change the conversation.
During dinner, I ate like someone who hadn’t been fed in days, polishing off my bento box faster than anyone else. Kenji kept sneaking glances at me, but I ignored him, focusing on the meal as if it were a performance I needed to nail.
Once we were back at the dorms, Kenji and I settled into my room. It was the farthest from the others, giving us a semblance of privacy. Kenji always stood by the door for a minute or two, listening to make sure no one was lurking in the hallway. He would join me on the bed only when satisfied, where we always sat side by side with our backs against the wall. His long legs dangled off the edge, brushing against the floor.
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you okay? You seem off.”
“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice betrayed my uncertainty. But I knew what Kenji was waiting for. An explanation. “I’m just not sure where to start. The whole thing feels surreal.”
“Start at the part where you said you’d meet me back at the dorms,” he prompted.
I did, recounting every detail of my unexpected encounter with Reina. His expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief, then to worry as I described the events of the evening. When I finally finished, he stared at me silently as if trying to process everything.
“She singled you out just because you’re a girl?” he finally asked, his brows knitting together.
“Kenji, you say that like it’s a trivial thing,” I said, pulling my hand back. “I’m the first woman ever admitted to this apprenticeship program. Isn’t that reason enough for Reina to want to meet me and offer her support?”
“But that’s not all she did. She gave you valuable information,” he countered, his voice tinged with irritation.
“I know,” I said, exhaling sharply. “And now you know.”
Kenji’s expression darkened. “She’s trying to help you, Akiko. Not me.”
“Hey.” I grabbed his face with both hands, forcing him to look at me. “Why are you acting like this? This is a good thing. She’s trying to help us.”
“No, she’s trying to helpyou,” he spat.
“She never told me to keep it a secret.” That was a lie, of course. Reina had explicitly told me to keep our meeting and conversation between us. But Kenji didn’t need to know that.
Kenji sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sure she just assumed you would.”
I leaned closer, locking eyes with him. “Look, Kenji, we’re getting off track here. The important thing is we”—I pointed to him, then myself—“now know the points aren’t everything. It’s getting to the end that matters. And the challenges? They’re like Trojan horses. They’ll look easy and harmless, but they’re far more dangerous and harder. That’s the key takeaway. We have an edge now. You and me.”
His cheeks flushed, embarrassed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…I was worried. You disappeared without a word. For almost two hours, I had no idea where you were or if you were okay. I thought maybe something happened to you.”
I backed down and hugged his arm, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Kenji. I didn’t think about how it would look from your perspective.”
