Page 55 of The Dragon 1

The good thing was that they all seemed entertained by me passing them, so I never felt insecure.

And if I was truthful to myself, I studied them with the same inquiring wonder.

I tucked my mace into my back pocket. “Yep. . .I’m Ms. Palmer.”

“These are gifts from Mr. Sato.” He handed the box to me.

I grabbed the big package wrapped in shiny gold paper, thanked god it was light, and set it on the carpet.

Then, he pulled out another package from a bag I hadn’t realized he had on the side. This was wrapped in gold too and appeared to be the size of a thick book.

Why is Kenji giving me gifts?

I took it and looked at the boy. “You said I needed to sign something. Right?”

“Yes. You also have to answer the question in here,” he gave me a crimson envelope. “I’m to stay until you read and answer the letter.”

“Alrighty,” I opened it with no problem and slipped the crisp red sheet of paper out.

Black lettering decorated it.

Kenji hadn’t wasted a lot of words.

Only two sentences existed on the page:

To my naughty Tora,

Be dressed and ready for a date with me at 8pm tomorrow.

“How is this even a question?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “This is an order.”

He shifted his face to the ground and did a horrible job of hiding his chuckles.

Kenji has so much audacity.

I rolled my eyes.

So Kenji wanted a date, even after I harmed his special area? Hmm.

Maybe he likes getting kneed.

I’d have to ask him tomorrow, right when I begged for the return of my recorder.

However, with Zo’s rising anxiety over my kneeingthe Dragon, I had to make sure that Kenji and I were cool. It wouldn’t be right for me to come visit Zo in Tokyo and leave with a Yakuza gang pissed at him.

I’ll go on this date for Zo. That’s it.

I said to myself like that was the only reason why I would go. I also ignored the way my body warmed at the thought of seeing Kenji again.

“Do you have a pen?” I asked. “I have an answer for hisorder.”

“Here you go.” He pulled out a rainbow-colored one and gave it to me.

I balanced the sheet on top of the box and wrote down my own message.

Dear Kenji,

I’m sorry for kneeing you in your groin but I don’t appreciate lots of unwanted groping. If you can keep your hands and lips to yourself, then I promise no further knee battles in your future.