“Felt more like a punch,” I muttered.
“Anywhere else hurt?” His hands moved over me in a frenzy, checking for other injuries.
“No, just my face,” I replied, knocking his hands away. “I’m fine, Kenji.”
“Fine? Someone sucker-punched you, Akiko. This was a cheap shot.” His jaw clenched so tightly that I thought his teeth might crack. “Do you remember anything? Anything at all?”
I closed my eyes, trying to sift through my brain fog. “There was someone in the bathroom. I heard them talking to themselves, maybe standing in front of the mirror. Then I peeked out, and bam.”
Kenji’s lip curled in disgust. “It was Jiro.”
“What?” I frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“Because he’s obsessed with you, that’s why. He thinks you want him back.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why would he think that? And how does wanting me back equate to punching me in the face?”
Kenji shrugged. “He’s an asshole, Akiko. Who knows what goes on in his tiny brain? Plain and simple, he wants you out of this competition. He’s jealous. I could tell earlier when we exchanged words.”
“What words?” My frown deepened. “What did you say?”
“Just that he needs to back off. He didn’t take it well, obviously. I know you think he’s all innocent, but he’s not. He’s dangerous.”
I sighed, trying to process his accusations. The thing was, I couldn’t completely dismiss them. Jiro had been watching me too closely, too often. And that kiss… A mind game? Or something real? I didn’t dare mention it to Kenji; he was already on a witch hunt.
But this? This was different. This wasn’t flirting or subtle manipulation. Someone had actually hit me. Hard. It was a wake-up call. I was a target now, whether I liked it or not.
Kenji helped me to my feet. I wobbled slightly, leaning into him for balance. His arms wrapped around me, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head, the gesture protective but smothering at the same time.
“Why don’t we head back to the dorms instead of the library?” he suggested. “You could use some rest.”
“No.” I pulled away from him, straightening my uniform. “I can rest after the competition. Right now, I need to prove that I belong here. We’re going to the library.”
Kenji stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re still shaky. Let me take care of you.”
“Kenji, you’ve been great, but you need to stop treating me like a fragile porcelain doll. I can take care of myself.”
“But I can protect you.”
“Kenji,” I said firmly, my voice rising, “I don’t need you to protect me!”
He flinched as though I’d slapped him. But I couldn’t let this continue. I couldn’t be his protection project. Without waiting for a response, I marched out of the bathroom.
“Wait, Akiko, I’m sorry!” Kenji called after me. “I’ll come with you to the library.”
“Please don’t.” I glanced over my shoulder, my tone firm. “I need some time alone right now.”
I walked away without looking back, refusing to give him a sliver of hope he could follow. Some distance would do us both good.
Honestly, I didn’t even feel like going to the library. I was too worked up, angry about getting hit, and frustrated with Kenji’s overbearing behavior. Without my realizing it, my feet carried me past the library and into the maze, where the towering hedges offered a quiet escape.
Left, right, a dead end or two, and I eventually found myself at the four-way intersection with the fountain. I perched on the edge of the circular stone, stretching my legs out. The height of the hedges created the illusion of being someplace else, anywhere but trapped inside the Sakamoto compound.
As I relaxed, the crunch of gravel underfoot reached my ears. Someone was approaching. My first thought was that Kenji was coming to find me. I ducked quickly down one of the pathways, pressing myself against the thick hedges. A few seconds later, Reina appeared, her poised figure passing by the fountain.
What’s she doing here?
The wife of a madman strolling the grounds alone. How could I resist? Without much thought, I followed.
