“Did he believe you?” Her voice was inquisitive.
Kaiyo shook his head. “I don’t think so. He took me to the training kitchen, though. One of those masked men treated my back and bandaged it. It helps keep the uniform from rubbing against it.” He adjusted the part over his belly.
I moved up alongside Akiko, reached around her, and patted Kaiyo’s shoulder lightly. “Well, it’s good to know Iron Face isn’t a total asshat, right?”
“I can’t believe he even bothered to check on you,” Akiko said.
“It could’ve been worse,” Kaiyo said, glancing at Akiko before looking at me. “Kenji spun us to the right just in time. I’ve got him to thank for only catching part of the whip.”
I shrugged. “Eh, we got lucky. I was blindfolded, but I guess I have this sixth sense about protecting people.”
Kaiyo’s face broke into a broad smile, his eyes filled with relief. “Yeah, Kenji. Perfect timing.”
I shot Akiko a quick wink, hoping she’d notice. Maybe she’d finally see that I could protect anyone I chose.
As we approached the dining room, Jiro slowed, angling himself to enter alongside Akiko and me. Subtle, my ass. He was as obvious as a neon sign. Before he could pull his move off, I stepped between him and Akiko, guiding her forward with a hand on her shoulder.
“Good morning,” Jiro said with fake politeness.
But Akiko was already inside the dining room by then. I shot Jiro a pointed sneer before following her inside, keeping my body between them.
At breakfast, Akiko and I usually talked quietly or not at all, but that morning, Jiro was doing everything he could to catch her eye. Like hell I’d let that happen. Every time her gaze drifted his way, I steered it back to me. Cockblocked him. The smug bastard didn’t deserve even a second of her attention.
“Do you think you’ll get bathrooms again for chore duty?” I asked, knowing the answer but wanting to keep her focused on me.
“For sure,” she said as if she’d already resigned herself to it. “Need a sparkling-clean bathroom? I’m your girl.”
“I wish I could trade places with you.”
“Really? Why?”
I shrugged. “To give you a break. Make things a little easier.”
“Please.” She laughed. “I can clean those bathrooms with my eyes closed. I’ve got it down to a science.”
Iron Face appeared, barking out chores. As expected, Akiko got stuck with the bathrooms again, and I got laundry. Perfect. Not only could I not keep an eye on her, I had to spend the morning wondering whether Jiro would “accidentally” cross paths with her.
Once we were outside, I pulled her aside.
“I have an idea,” I said. “Help me with my chores first. Then, when we’re done, I’ll help you. That way we can stay together the entire time. Iron Face only inspects at the end. He never said we couldn’t help each other.”
Akiko hooked her arm around mine, and for a second, I thought I’d won her over. God, it felt good, even after all this shit we’d been through. But then she hit me with a stiff arm straight to my heart.
“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me,” she said, “but really, I’m fine. It’s easier for me to do the bathrooms by myself. I’ve got a system. It goes by fast.”
“It’s just that…you’re my friend. We were best friends as kids, and I lost you once?—”
“Kenji, I’m just cleaning bathrooms, not dodging knives. It’s the crazy challenges we need to worry about.”
“I just don’t want to lose you again. That’s all.”
“I don’t want to lose you, either, but we have to focus our energy on the challenges, not chore duty.”
I moved in closer, brushing my lips against her forehead. She didn’t pull away immediately, which gave me hope. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tightly until she gently stepped back, glancing around.
“I don’t give a shit if anyone sees us,” I said, holding her gaze. “I care about you, Akiko, and I don’t want to hide it. You feel the same way, don’t you?”
She hesitated. “I do, but now isn’t the time. Everyone already thinks I’m here because Chef Sakamoto knew my father, not because of merit. Don’t take this the wrong way, I love everything you’re doing for me, but I don’t want to give them another reason to hate me.”
