“Exactly. After this is over, there’ll be plenty of time to talk about us.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
“Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong except try to sneak into my room in the middle of the night.” I gave him a pointed look. “Are you sure it wasn’t you those other nights?”
“I swear to God, Akiko. Tonight’s the first time.”
I studied him for a moment. “Fine. But you need to go.”
“Can I stay?” he blurted out. “I mean, just to sleep. I promise that’s it.”
I hesitated. “Just sleeping, right?”
“Just sleeping,” he said, raising his hands in surrender.
Against my better judgment, I let him stay. We climbed into the small, uncomfortable bed, and his arm draped over my waist as he pulled me close. His body was warm and comforting, and I found myself relaxing. Maybe I’d been too hard on him.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.Sun Tzu’s words echoed in my head. I wasn’t sure if Kenji was a friend or a foe. But I needed to keep him close if I wanted to survive until the end.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Iron Face stood in the dining room doorway, his cold eyes scanning each of us. No one dared touch their food while he remained.
After a moment, he drew a breath. “After lunch, I will teach a class for you.”
I waited for him to explain what the class would cover, but he gave nothing away, as usual. No details, no hints.
“This is not a challenge and will not count toward the six you are expected to complete,” he added before turning and leaving without another word.
It struck me then that I didn’t know anything about Iron Face’s background. Was he even a chef? Could we actually learn anything from him? Judging by the expressions on the others’ faces, I wasn’t the only one with doubts.
“Does this mean we’ll have an exam?” Kaiyo asked, stuffing his mouth with rice.
“Why isn’t Chef Sakamoto teaching the class?” Dori chimed in, rolling his eyes. “We haven’t learned a damn thing from that guy.”
“Whatever it is, I hope it’s something physical,” Taka sneered, his eyes cutting to me. “Some people here need a lesson on getting hit.”
I ignored him, as I always did.
“Hey, Akiko,” he added, leaning forward with a grin. “This is one class where you’re not the teacher’s pet.”
Had the others noticed the way Reina kept glancing and smiling at me?
On and on, Taka and Dori threw insults my way. Kenji sat beside me, his chopsticks moving mechanically from his bento to his mouth as if he couldn’t hear them. It was strange, as he’d always been the first to defend me. Why was he silent now, when I needed him most?
Taka kept it up until Jiro finally spoke. “Still mad about Akiko shoving you to the ground the other day?”
Kaiyo’s laugh was loud and sudden. “Akiko threw you on your ass? I need to hear this story.”
“Shut up, Kaiyo. That never happened,” Taka snapped, his face reddening.
“Yeah, if anything, she was the one about to get her ass handed to her,” Dori added, puffing up beside Taka. “If it weren’t for her boyfriend here.” He jerked his thumb at Jiro.
“I’m just calling it like it is,” Jiro said, smirking. “She knocked you back when you tried to block her path.”
Taka’s face darkened. “Funny, coming from the guy who wouldn’t stop poking fun at her and now suddenly feels the need to defend her.”
“Jealous?” Jiro quipped, raising an eyebrow.
