“Wait, did I say something wrong?” he called out, his voice laced with confusion.
No. You said everything right.
As I marched on, I clenched my fists at my sides, wishing the cool night air could numb my heart.
I rushed into the dorms, footsteps echoing faintly down the empty hallway. Reaching my room, I shoved my door open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind me. I leaned against the wood, squeezing my eyes shut to steady my breathing.
Tears pricked at my lashes, and I swiped at them angrily. How could Jiro still manage to affect me like this? I thought I’d buried those feelings long ago, yet here they were, surfacing with brutality.
Then, movement. I held my breath as a figure stirred in the shadows near my bed, the dark silhouette sharpening into focus.
“Where were you?” The voice was quiet but unmistakable. My eyes adjusted to the dark, and there was Kenji, perched on the edge of my bed, elbows on his knees and hands clasped tightly together.
“Kenji?” I forced my voice to remain calm despite the creepy feeling that overcame me. “What are you doing here?”
He switched on the small lamp, and the dim yellow glow warmed the room. “I was worried about you,” he said calmly as he stood, his figure looming closer. “You disappeared without saying anything. I thought something might’ve happened.”
“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a tiny smile I didn’t feel. “I just needed some air.”
“Air?” His voice rose. “You think it’s smart to wander off alone in the middle of the night? This place isn’t safe, Akiko. You know that. How am I supposed to protect you if you won’t tell me where you are, always?”
“Kenji, I don’t need protecting,” I said firmly, taking a step back until my body pressed against the door. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”
His gaze punched right through me, unrelenting. His voice dropped, low and menacing. “You’re not handling anything. You’re acting like you’re untouchable, like the rules here don’t apply to you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do.” His lips curled into a cold smirk. “You’re the special one here. Wait, what did Jiro call you? Oh yes, the trailblazer. The one who has no problem accepting help from him or Reina, but when it’s me, suddenly, it’s a no-go.”
“Kenji.” My voice cracked, fear bleeding through. “Leave. Now. Please.”
He tipped his head. “Why won’t you answer me? Where were you? Who were you with?”
“I went for a walk.” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to project confidence while nausea churned in my stomach. “Do I need your approval now?”
His laugh was low and soulless. “How can I protect you if you keep shutting me out?”
“Kenji, we’ve already talked about this. I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“Yes, you’ve said that many times. Why is my help labeledsuffocating?” He took a step closer, his presence growing like a shadow. “That’s what you think, isn’t it?”
“That’s not true. You know I appreciate you.”
“For us to survive, we have to trust each other.” His words crawled under my skin as he closed the distance. “And I’m starting to feel like you don’t trust me anymore.”
I shifted uncomfortably, my back pressed flush against the door, no room left to retreat. “You’re overthinking this, Kenji. We’re still a team. We’ve come this far together, and we’ll make it to the end. But right now, I need you to leave.”
His chest heaved, his breathing ragged like he was wrestling with a dark thought. For a long moment, he stood there, his frame rigid, his gaze searing into mine.
Finally, he let out a slow, reluctant breath. “I’m only trying to help,” he said, but there was nothing soft about his tone.
He reached for the doorknob, and I quickly moved to the side. He hesitated at the door, his hand lingering on the frame for a moment before he finally stepped into the hallway.
The second he was gone, I shut the door and wedged the chair beneath the handle, the scrape of wood against the floor breaking the silence. My hands shook as I backed away from the door, exhaling a shaky breath. Something about this place was making everyone change.
CHAPTER THIRTY
JIRO TACHIBANA
