Page 16

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Two days had passed since my secret dinner with Reina, and I was still wrestling with Kenji’s claim that there was a hidden agenda behind Reina’s reaching out. Was it truly about women cheering on other women, or was there something more?

Reina had warned me that the challenges were designed to be deceptive. We were supposed to be fooled. That was the test. But did that thinking extend to every encounter we had in the program? Was my meeting with Reina part of the same manipulation? If so, I couldn’t trust what she said or believe she had my best interests at heart.

Still, she’d seemed so genuine during our meeting. I never would have questioned her motives if Kenji hadn’t planted that seed in my head. Now I was twisted, second-guessing myself, overthinking every word, every smile, every gesture.

Akiko, you still have nearly four more weeks to go and five more challenges to survive. It’s too early to break down. Stay strong.

During breakfast, I was quieter than usual. Kenji picked up on it, of course, and kept asking if I was okay. I brushed him off with a smile and a quick excuse about being tired. I didn’t want to get into my sleepless nights, the constant doorknob jiggling, or the doubts swirling in my head.

For the first time, I looked forward to chores. Bathroom duty again. Perfect. A chance to be alone and away from everyone. I scrubbed the tiles harder than necessary, trying to shake the funk out of my head.

After lunch, Iron Face surprised us by allowing us to explore the compound. The Sakamoto residence was still off limits, but everything else was fair game. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was Reina’s doing. From the way Iron Face sneered at us, it certainly wasn’t his idea.

Like kids on the first day of summer break, Kenji and I took off immediately. We wandered along the moat, marveling at the wildflowers and the darting fish. Everything was immaculate, yet I’d never seen a landscaping crew. Maybe they came at night.

We avoided the others hanging out in the open pavilion and followed the pebbled path leading to the library.

“You want to research?” Kenji asked.

“No, let’s stick with the path and see where it takes us.”

“The Sakamoto residence is beyond. Iron Face said it’s off limits.”

“Oh, Kenji, stop being such a worrywart. We’re just skirting past it, that’s all.”

A narrow pathway led between tall hedges. We realized it was the start of a maze when we stepped inside.

“This is so cool. An actual maze!” I grabbed Kenji’s arm with excitement.

“I know. That means this place is bigger than we thought.”

We reached a T intersection.

“Your choice,” Kenji said.

I grabbed his hand and led him right. Left. Left again. Dead end.

“You think there’s an exit?” Kenji asked, looking around.

“There has to be. What’s the point of a maze without an exit?” As soon as I said it, I realized a maze without an exit wouldn’t be out of the question. Nothing here was what it seemed.

We backtracked to a small stone fountain at the center of a four-way intersection.

“It doesn’t even feel like the maze should be this big,” Kenji said. “We should’ve left some sort of marker on a hedge or something.”

“I can’t decide if getting lost here is dangerous or just embarrassing.”

“I vote embarrassing. I can deal with that.”

Eventually, we emerged on the other side. My breath caught as a large Japanese garden spread out before us. Cherry blossoms and maple trees dotted the area. Azaleas, irises, and peonies added vibrant splashes of color.

We followed a path of stepping stones bordered by stone lanterns and water basins until we reached a pond filled with koi fish. We sat on a bench under a cherry blossom tree, its branches forming a pink canopy overhead. The water reflected the blossoms, making it feel like we were in a bubble of pink light. Birds sang, and squirrels scurried across the grass, giving me a fleeting sense of peace.

Kenji rested his arm around my shoulder, his warmth drawing me closer. “Do you think this is the Sakamotos’ private area? It’s a lot nicer than the other parts of the compound.”

“Iron Face never mentioned a garden,” I replied, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I say we feign ignorance if we get in trouble.”

We sat in the sanctuary of the garden, an untouched haven amid the chaos of the program. It was serene and surprisingly romantic. For a moment, the stress of the competition and the haunting memory of Miyo’s screams melted away. The gentle rustling of sakura petals in the breeze soothed me as I leaned into Kenji’s chest.

Our conversation flowed naturally, peppered with playful teasing and lingering touches. It felt different, though—more intimate. Kenji wasn’t just the boy from my childhood anymore. He had grown into a confident man, his features sharpened with maturity. His steady presence was comforting to my nerves.

With my head against his chest, I listened to the timbre of his voice as he spoke further about his dream restaurant. His vision was so clear and purposeful that it made me forget, for a moment, where we were.

But guilt crept back in, uninvited and sharp. Reina’s warning, her cryptic words, replayed in my mind. She had painted a picture of survival, and it gnawed at me. What if Kenji and I were destined to turn on each other?

Kenji must have sensed my shift. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly, glancing down at our entwined hands. His brows furrowed as though he was searching for the cause of my unease.

I mustered a smile and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Nothing,” I lied. “What happened since our arrival here… It’s a lot to process.”

Kenji tilted my chin up with gentle fingers, searching my eyes. His gaze lingered, and the world around us faded for a moment. His lips descended on mine, tentative at first but quickly deepening into something more. His hand slid into my hair, anchoring me as his kiss stole my breath.

Butterflies danced in my stomach. His kiss was an escape, a promise, and a challenge all at once. My hands gripped his shirt, holding on as though letting go would mean thrusting myself back into the darkness of this place.

When he finally pulled away, his lips curved into a sheepish grin. “Was that okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to…”

“It was more than okay,” I said. “It was perfect.”

His shoulders relaxed, and he chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. “Good. For a second, I thought I had overstepped.”

“Not at all,” I said as I traced patterns on the back of his hand. “There’s just so much happening here. My mind keeps snapping me back to reality and how everything feels like a trap and trust is an issue.”

“You can trust me,” Kenji said, his voice firm and unwavering. “Not even an army of undead samurais could stand between us.”

I giggled despite myself. “That’s oddly specific.”

“I’d fight them all,” he said, his smile softening. “You have no idea how far I’d go to protect you.”

His words sent a warmth spreading through me. I wanted to believe him, to trust in his loyalty. Yet Reina’s parting words echoed in my mind, a warning I couldn’t ignore. “Your biggest threat here isn’t the challenges. It’s your friend, Kenji.”