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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

We had left the library holding hands, but I slipped my hand free after a few steps. I didn’t want anyone who saw us to think there was something official between us, because there wasn’t. At least not yet. We were friends, and that’s all anyone needed to know.

“I’ll meet you back at the dorms,” I told Kenji when we reached the split in the path. “I need to use the bathroom.”

He offered to wait, but I waved him off. “I think I can handle a bathroom break alone.”

Kenji hesitated before giving me a relenting nod. “All right. Don’t take too long.”

I stepped inside the bathroom, pausing at the entrance. It was empty. The stalls were unoccupied, and the showers were quiet. Just me. The silence was oddly comforting after the chaos of the past few weeks.

I was halfway through my business when the sharp sound of heels echoed across the tile floor. Heels? My pulse quickened. The clicking grew louder, deliberate, until it stopped just outside my stall. I froze. Every nerve in my body was on high alert. Whoever it was wasn’t leaving. I considered staying put, but my legs were already starting to go numb. No choice. I had to face whoever it was.

I flushed the toilet, squared my shoulders, and opened the door.

Standing there was Reina Sakamoto.

“Uh…” My voice caught. Why was Chef Sakamoto’s wife here?

“Hello, Akiko,” she said, her voice warm yet precise, like she’d rehearsed this moment a hundred times.

I walked to the sinks and washed my hand. “What…what are you doing here?” I stammered, trying to process the sight of her in this dingy bathroom. She looked out of place, her flawless designer outfit clashing with the worn tiles and harsh lighting.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” she said as if reading my thoughts. “Come with me.”

Instinct took over. I followed as she led me out of the bathroom, past the dormitory, and straight to the sealed steel doors. My breath hitched as the doors opened for us like magic, revealing the world beyond the compound.

The fresh air hit me like a wave. It was crisper, cleaner, sweeter than I remembered. I hadn’t realized how stifling the compound was until now.

Reina led me to a sleek black Mercedes where a driver waited, holding the rear door open. She climbed in first, then turned to me, her smile inviting me inside. I hesitated.

“What’s the matter? Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Excuse me?” I blinked, caught off guard.

“I’m taking you to an early dinner,” she said. “Get in. Quickly.”

I knew getting into the car was breaking the rules, but how could I say no? I climbed in, and the door closed behind me with a soft thud. The car pulled away from the compound, and I was filled with equal parts dread and curiosity.

Reina broke the silence first. “When we return, you will attend dinner as usual,” she said, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. “Eat your food, even if you’re not hungry. No one must know you left. You’ll be in trouble if they find out.”

Trouble? But you took me out of the compound!

“I understand,” I said.

“Good.” She finally turned to me, her expression softening. “I won’t be able to protect you if word gets out.”

Tell me I didn’t just kick myself out of the program for a meal.

The car sped through narrow streets, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was some kind of test or, worse, a setup. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I stared out the window.

“Don’t worry.” Reina’s voice was calm and even soothing. She placed a hand on my thigh. “My intention isn’t to get you in trouble. But I thought the risk was worth it.”

“Worth it?” I echoed, turning to her. “For what?”

“To get to know you better,” she said simply. “You’re the first woman to ever participate in Kage Ryu. That’s a big accomplishment—unheard of, really. I’m impressed, Akiko. And I’m cheering for you.”

Her words caught me off guard. Of all the people in the program, I never expected Chef Sakamoto’s wife to be in my corner.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Reina had picked out a small, posh restaurant specializing in French fusion food. The menu was unfamiliar to me, and when she offered to order for us both, I quickly agreed.

I couldn’t help but appreciate Reina’s smile as we ate and talked. It was warm and inviting, yet a sharpness in her eyes kept me slightly on edge. It wasn’t threatening, but something about it felt rehearsed, as though this dinner was more than just a friendly outing.

“You’ve come so far, Akiko,” Reina said as she cut into her lamb gracefully. “Just make sure you don’t lose sight of the end. The points don’t matter as much as you might think. My husband will choose whoever he feels is most deserving.”

I paused my fork briefly. Her words completely contradicted everything Iron Face had told us. “But…Kanshisha-san said the points determine the winner. That they’re everything.”

Reina gave a soft laugh, almost pitying, and sipped her wine. “He says a lot of things. The truth is, my husband is looking for more than just skill. Points are a part of it, but they’re not the deciding factor. He’s looking for resilience. Adaptability. Someone who can handle anything.”

I didn’t know what to say. Her words spun in my head, raising more questions than answers. Were the points a facade, a way to distract us? If they weren’t the true measure, then what was?

“Every challenge will seem simple,” Reina continued, her tone dropping to a near whisper. “Mundane, even. Don’t be fooled by that. Preparation is key to surviving.”

I flinched at her choice of words. “Surviving?” I asked cautiously. “Don’t you mean winning?”

Reina’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes sharpened. “Winning, surviving—they’re often the same in Kage Ryu. The challenges are designed to look deceptively easy but are far from it. What happened to that young man during the first challenge was unfortunate.”

I wanted to ask about Miyo and find out more, but I stopped myself. Reina had taken a risk by sharing this information with me. Pushing her too far might undo everything.

“Why are you telling me this?” I finally asked, keeping my voice steady.

“Because I want you to succeed,” she said without hesitation. “You’re the first woman to ever enter this program. That’s monumental, Akiko. You’re breaking barriers just by being here. But this program isn’t kind to anyone, especially someone like you. If I can give you even the smallest advantage, I will. Women need to champion each other, don’t you think?”

I nodded, a swell of pride and gratitude rising in me. Reina wasn’t just offering me advice; she was rooting for me, believing in me like no one else here did.

Her demeanor softened as she reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. “But remember, Akiko, trust is a dangerous thing here. Even the people you think are on your side might not be. Stay focused, and don’t let your guard down.”

Her words were meant to comfort me, but they chilled me instead. Also, why did Reina’s support feel like it came with strings attached? Was she genuinely trying to help me, or was this another test? Or worse, a way to set me up for failure?

As we finished our meal, Reina leaned back with a faint smile. “You have great potential, Akiko. Don’t waste it.”

Reina whisked me back to the compound with seconds to spare. As I climbed out of the vehicle, she offered a parting warning. “The program is designed to break you. If it doesn’t, it means you belong.”

I’d just shut the door to my dorm room when Iron Face showed up to escort us to dinner.

“Where did you go?” Kenji asked as we walked. “You never came back to your room.”

“I’ll tell you later. Too many ears listening right now. Plus, I’m starving.” I rubbed my stomach for added effect, trying to change the conversation.

During dinner, I ate like someone who hadn’t been fed in days, polishing off my bento box faster than anyone else. Kenji kept sneaking glances at me, but I ignored him, focusing on the meal as if it were a performance I needed to nail.

Once we were back at the dorms, Kenji and I settled into my room. It was the farthest from the others, giving us a semblance of privacy. Kenji always stood by the door for a minute or two, listening to make sure no one was lurking in the hallway. He would join me on the bed only when satisfied, where we always sat side by side with our backs against the wall. His long legs dangled off the edge, brushing against the floor.

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you okay? You seem off.”

“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice betrayed my uncertainty. But I knew what Kenji was waiting for. An explanation. “I’m just not sure where to start. The whole thing feels surreal.”

“Start at the part where you said you’d meet me back at the dorms,” he prompted.

I did, recounting every detail of my unexpected encounter with Reina. His expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief, then to worry as I described the events of the evening. When I finally finished, he stared at me silently as if trying to process everything.

“She singled you out just because you’re a girl?” he finally asked, his brows knitting together.

“Kenji, you say that like it’s a trivial thing,” I said, pulling my hand back. “I’m the first woman ever admitted to this apprenticeship program. Isn’t that reason enough for Reina to want to meet me and offer her support?”

“But that’s not all she did. She gave you valuable information,” he countered, his voice tinged with irritation.

“I know,” I said, exhaling sharply. “And now you know.”

Kenji’s expression darkened. “She’s trying to help you, Akiko. Not me.”

“Hey.” I grabbed his face with both hands, forcing him to look at me. “Why are you acting like this? This is a good thing. She’s trying to help us.”

“No, she’s trying to help you ,” he spat.

“She never told me to keep it a secret.” That was a lie, of course. Reina had explicitly told me to keep our meeting and conversation between us. But Kenji didn’t need to know that.

Kenji sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sure she just assumed you would.”

I leaned closer, locking eyes with him. “Look, Kenji, we’re getting off track here. The important thing is we”—I pointed to him, then myself—“now know the points aren’t everything. It’s getting to the end that matters. And the challenges? They’re like Trojan horses. They’ll look easy and harmless, but they’re far more dangerous and harder. That’s the key takeaway. We have an edge now. You and me.”

His cheeks flushed, embarrassed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…I was worried. You disappeared without a word. For almost two hours, I had no idea where you were or if you were okay. I thought maybe something happened to you.”

I backed down and hugged his arm, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Kenji. I didn’t think about how it would look from your perspective.”

He nodded but remained tense. “It’s not like you could’ve texted me, but man…I was really worried.”

“So, you’re saying you missed me?” I teased, flashing him a playful grin.

“More than missed you.”

Hearing the sincerity in his voice made my heart ache in the best way. His concern wasn’t just friendship; it was something more profound, and it felt good to be cared for like that. Still, I wasn’t sure how to respond without opening a door I wasn’t ready to walk through.

“She’s not what I expected,” I said, shifting the focus to Reina. “I thought I was in trouble, but she quickly eased my fears. I get the feeling she disagrees with her husband’s methods and feels conflicted.”

“It could be.” Kenji rested a hand gently on my thigh. “Promise me something.”

“Sure, anything.”

“If Reina contacts you again, you’ll tell me. No secrets, Akiko.”

“I promise.” Another lie. How many promises would I break before this was all over?

“I just…” He hesitated, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I can’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to you. I lost you once before. I?—”

I pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here.”

As I looked into his eyes, my thoughts drifted to Reina’s parting words. The information she’d shouted out through the car window, the one thing I hadn’t shared with Kenji, hung heavy in my mind. I hoped keeping that secret wouldn’t come back to haunt me.