Page 21

CHAPTER TWENTY

KENJI SANADA

We lined up outside our rooms, waiting for Iron Face to escort us to breakfast. Akiko smiled at me, and for a moment, I felt on top of the world. Seeing her in a good mood was reassuring. But then I caught Jiro at the other end of the hall with a smug grin plastered across his face. Was she smiling at me or at him? My stomach twisted. When I glanced back, she was already staring at the wall again.

On the walk to the training kitchen, Jiro kept looking over his shoulder at Akiko. The bastard turned his head every few steps, making a point of it. I stepped in front of Akiko, blocking his sightline.

And because I can’t resist an opportunity, I placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her gently like we were something more than teammates. Petty? Maybe. But revenge tasted sweet.

Akiko tilted her head up at me, brow crinkling. She looked so cute when she did that, even if I knew she was about to call me out.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” I put on my best innocent smile.

“You keep moving me left and right like a chess piece. It’s making me dizzy.”

“Am I? Sorry, didn’t even realize. I’m starving. Are you hungry?”

She frowned slightly, probably not buying it. “Very.”

“You know what I’m thinking?” I said, leaning closer. “Once this ends, I’m taking you on a proper date.”

Her brow softened, and a smile appeared. “Really? And where would that be?”

“It’s a surprise,” I teased. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Just then, she reached out for Kaiyo’s arm, grabbing his attention.

“How does your back feel?” she asked.

He winced when he turned to her. “It’s fine. Last night, Iron Face came to my room and asked about my injury. For a second, I thought he wanted to send me home.”

“What did you say?”

“I lied and told him I was fine.”

“Did he believe you?” Her voice was inquisitive.

Kaiyo shook his head. “I don’t think so. He took me to the training kitchen, though. One of those masked men treated my back and bandaged it. It helps keep the uniform from rubbing against it.” He adjusted the part over his belly.

I moved up alongside Akiko, reached around her, and patted Kaiyo’s shoulder lightly. “Well, it’s good to know Iron Face isn’t a total asshat, right?”

“I can’t believe he even bothered to check on you,” Akiko said.

“It could’ve been worse,” Kaiyo said, glancing at Akiko before looking at me. “Kenji spun us to the right just in time. I’ve got him to thank for only catching part of the whip.”

I shrugged. “Eh, we got lucky. I was blindfolded, but I guess I have this sixth sense about protecting people.”

Kaiyo’s face broke into a broad smile, his eyes filled with relief. “Yeah, Kenji. Perfect timing.”

I shot Akiko a quick wink, hoping she’d notice. Maybe she’d finally see that I could protect anyone I chose.

As we approached the dining room, Jiro slowed, angling himself to enter alongside Akiko and me. Subtle, my ass. He was as obvious as a neon sign. Before he could pull his move off, I stepped between him and Akiko, guiding her forward with a hand on her shoulder.

“Good morning,” Jiro said with fake politeness.

But Akiko was already inside the dining room by then. I shot Jiro a pointed sneer before following her inside, keeping my body between them.

At breakfast, Akiko and I usually talked quietly or not at all, but that morning, Jiro was doing everything he could to catch her eye. Like hell I’d let that happen. Every time her gaze drifted his way, I steered it back to me. Cockblocked him. The smug bastard didn’t deserve even a second of her attention.

“Do you think you’ll get bathrooms again for chore duty?” I asked, knowing the answer but wanting to keep her focused on me.

“For sure,” she said as if she’d already resigned herself to it. “Need a sparkling-clean bathroom? I’m your girl.”

“I wish I could trade places with you.”

“Really? Why?”

I shrugged. “To give you a break. Make things a little easier.”

“Please.” She laughed. “I can clean those bathrooms with my eyes closed. I’ve got it down to a science.”

Iron Face appeared, barking out chores. As expected, Akiko got stuck with the bathrooms again, and I got laundry. Perfect. Not only could I not keep an eye on her, I had to spend the morning wondering whether Jiro would “accidentally” cross paths with her.

Once we were outside, I pulled her aside.

“I have an idea,” I said. “Help me with my chores first. Then, when we’re done, I’ll help you. That way we can stay together the entire time. Iron Face only inspects at the end. He never said we couldn’t help each other.”

Akiko hooked her arm around mine, and for a second, I thought I’d won her over. God, it felt good, even after all this shit we’d been through. But then she hit me with a stiff arm straight to my heart.

“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me,” she said, “but really, I’m fine. It’s easier for me to do the bathrooms by myself. I’ve got a system. It goes by fast.”

“It’s just that…you’re my friend. We were best friends as kids, and I lost you once?—”

“Kenji, I’m just cleaning bathrooms, not dodging knives. It’s the crazy challenges we need to worry about.”

“I just don’t want to lose you again. That’s all.”

“I don’t want to lose you, either, but we have to focus our energy on the challenges, not chore duty.”

I moved in closer, brushing my lips against her forehead. She didn’t pull away immediately, which gave me hope. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tightly until she gently stepped back, glancing around.

“I don’t give a shit if anyone sees us,” I said, holding her gaze. “I care about you, Akiko, and I don’t want to hide it. You feel the same way, don’t you?”

She hesitated. “I do, but now isn’t the time. Everyone already thinks I’m here because Chef Sakamoto knew my father, not because of merit. Don’t take this the wrong way, I love everything you’re doing for me, but I don’t want to give them another reason to hate me.”

“You think they’ll be jealous?”

“I think it’ll look like I have another person in my corner, and it’ll just make them angrier. It could work against you too. They might target you.”

“If they try, I’ll deal with them,” I said, waving off her concern. The others didn’t scare me, not even Jiro. I wouldn’t let anyone come between us. I wish she knew I’d do anything for her.

“Kenji,” she said, her tone dropping into that calm, cooing register that always fucking wrecked me. “Our goal is to make sure we’re the last two standing. It’ll be hard enough getting to the end. No need to add to the difficulty, okay? You understand what I’m saying?” She rubbed my arm gently.

“Fine,” I muttered, looking away briefly, only to feel her lips brush my cheek in a quick peck.

“Go do your chores, and I’ll do mine. We’ll meet up after, okay?”

Before I could answer, not that it was really a question, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Damn it. I came on too strong. Why do I always do that? I’ve got a good thing going here. I just need to rein it in. I can’t let my feelings screw this up.

What Akiko needed at the moment was strength. She needed to see me as her rock, her safety net. That’s what women liked in men: stability and confidence. Not a lovesick puppy dog following them around, wagging his damn tail. I knew we’d be perfect together. She just needed to see it too.

As I headed to my chore duty, I spotted Jiro in the distance, leaning casually against a small structure, that same smug grin plastered on his face. I’d had enough of his bullshit. My fists clenched before I realized it, and I stormed toward him.

“What’s so funny, huh?”

Jiro straightened, still grinning like an idiot. “I’m just enjoying the day. Clear skies, warm sun,” he said, spreading his arms wide like some damn philosopher. “What’s not to like?”

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in mock concern. “But you, Kenji? You don’t look like you’re having such a great day. Trouble in paradise? Someone leave you in a hurry?”

“Shut up. You have no idea what you’re talking about. And from now on, stay the hell away from Akiko.”

Jiro’s grin widened, taunting me. “Oh? And who’s going to stop me? You?”

“Damn straight.” I got right up in his face, chest heaving, daring him to make a move. “I see the way you look at her. Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work. She has no interest in you, bro. Just give up already.”

I bumped my chest into him, knocking him back a step. His smug grin faltered, and I thought for a second I’d shut him up for good. But then he snarled, fists clenching, ready to throw down.

Before he could swing, Iron Face materialized out of nowhere, his expression pure fury. “Why are you two just standing here? Get to work!”

Jiro’s grin snapped back into place, daring me to wipe it off his face. “Watch yourself,” I said.

He leaned back, smirking, and delivered the line that sent every ounce of blood in my body boiling. “Nah, I think I’ll keep watching her. I used to love the curve of her ass when she climbed out of bed after I ruined her.” He paused, feigning mock surprise. “Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t know much about that, would you? First base still out of reach?”

The bastard. My vision went red. Every instinct screamed at me to swing, to slam him into the ground and pound his face until he didn’t have one anymore. But Iron Face was standing right there, and I couldn’t risk it. Not yet.

Jiro sauntered away, Iron Face shoving him along. I stayed rooted in place, trembling with rage. Every step Jiro took was punctuated by a laugh, making my fists itch to strike.

One thought burned as I headed toward my chore duty: I can’t let him take her from me. She’s mine!