“I am, and we will continue.” Reina’s laughter echoed through the compound like a madwoman’s. “The final Kage Ryu challenge,” she declared, “is Hi no Odori, Dance of Fire!”
“Run, Akiko!” I shouted, struggling against the masked men. “Run! The challenge is rigged! You’re not meant to survive it!”
But Kenji’s arms locked around Akiko, trapping her. “You’re staying right here,” he hissed.
“Kenji, what are you doing?” Akiko screamed, struggling against him. “Let me go!”
“No,” Kenji growled. “You will compete with me in the next challenge. I will win, and you will lose. Because I was meant to be the next great chef.”
“This is insane!” Akiko cried, her voice breaking. “What is happening here?”
“I told you, Akiko,” I said, my voice hoarse and desperate. “This is all a setup.”
But as I looked at her, all I saw was utter fear in her eyes. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I could save her.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
AKIKO
Kenji held my arms tight in his grip as he maneuvered me ahead like a wobbling shopping cart he was determined to control. His fingers dug into my skin, a bruising reminder of his strength. In front of us, the masked men, those silent, faceless enforcers, had Jiro restrained. Their movements were methodical as they shoved him forward like he was nothing more than cargo.
Reina was at the head of the procession. Her chin held high, her back ramrod straight, exuding an air of triumph. But this time, she wasn’t trailing Chef Sakamoto like the obedient wife she pretended to be. No, she led the way, and the once-revered master followed behind her, his shoulders slumped, his steps hesitant, as her guards prodded him along. He looked like a broken man who had finally realized the empire he thought was his had been a facade.
“I can’t believe you’re working for Reina, Kenji,” I said, twisting my head to look at him. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing,” he replied, his voice cold and robotic. “It’s just my time. I’ll take over where Chef Sakamoto left off.”
“Do you honestly believe that?”
“Tell me you’re not falling for Jiro’s explanations,” he snapped. “He tried to outsmart Reina and got his ass handed to him.”
“I don’t believe anybody anymore,” I said, my voice rising. “You’re all nuts as far as I’m concerned. And I still don’t understand why we must go through this. I already deferred to you! What if you make a mistake and end up getting injured or worse? Why chance it?”
“I’m not worried about that because I know the challenge. I know how it works.”
“Then why do it? Why do I have to risk my life? Do you really want that?”
“It’s the rules. You agreed to it when you came here.” A cruel smile spread across Kenji’s face. “Akiko, you had your chance. I tried to be with you, but you blew me off for your ex, only to find out he’s been lying to you this entire time. You deserve what’s coming.”
Fear gripped me tighter as his words sank in. This wasn’t the Kenji I grew up with, the boy who used to make me laugh when I was sad or stand up for me when others tried to push me around. That Kenji was gone, replaced by someone unrecognizable.
I could kick myself for ever letting him into my room earlier, for believing even for a second that the bond we once had might still exist. He’d used everything he knew about me, every weakness, every vulnerability to manipulate me. And I’d fallen for it.
“Where are you taking me, anyway?” I asked, trying to mask my fear. We weren’t heading to the training kitchen or the area where our last challenge took place.
“Someplace special,” Kenji said with a smirk. “The Sakamoto residence.”
The Sakamoto mansion—or monstrosity, as I had come to think of it—was a two-story colonial home with six massive columns out front, each like a marble sentinel guarding the entrance. Windows lined the facade, too many to count. It resembled a government building or a museum more than it did a home.
Reina led the way up the gleaming white marble steps, her heels clicking sharply against the surface. Chef Sakamoto followed behind her like a scolded dog. I couldn’t help but feel pity for him, even now.
Inside, the mansion was just as grand and cold as its exterior. The foyer was a gluttony of marble and gold, with twin staircases curving up to the second floor. Every detail, from the ornate moldings to the polished wood railings, screamed wealth and power.
We didn’t linger in the grandeur for long. Reina directed us to a small stairwell that led down one floor. The shift in the atmosphere was immediate. The opulence gave way to a stark, sterile basement, industrial in its design. The walls were lined with heavy-duty steel panels, like those found in a commercial kitchen, and the floor was smooth white concrete. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant, like I imagined a morgue would. There were eight round tables scattered across the space, each with two chairs. Dim spotlights in the ceiling cast a muted yellow glow on each tabletop, giving the room cheap-cocktail-lounge vibes.
Reina turned to face us, her voice rising above the tension. “In this challenge, the final remaining apprentices, Kenji Sanada and Akiko Ono, will battle as servers.” Her smile was so grand that the corners reached her eyes. “Waiting tables in a restaurant can be chaotic. Unexpected obstacles can thwart your path at any moment. The objective is simple: Fulfill your orders.”
She gestured to a long table off to the side, where trays laden with dishes and drinks were neatly arranged. “Each table is assigned an order. Whoever has the fastest time serving their tables wins. Kenji will go first.”
