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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

AKIKO

I woke up having to pee badly. The short walk to the bathroom building, though only next door, left me exposed during a time when I had to watch my back. I tried my best to resist, to will the urge to go away. But tonight, the pain in my abdomen was too much. If I’d had an empty bottle, I might have used it. But I didn’t.

Grumbling under my breath, I changed into my uniform and slipped outside the dorms. The night air was cold, and the compound was eerily silent as I hurried to the bathroom. The lights inside were always on, which I appreciated.

I darted into the last stall, relieved myself, and was standing at the sink when the door opened.

Kenji walked in.

I froze, my mind racing through possible escape routes.

Run back into the stall.

Pretend I didn’t see him.

Wave and walk past him like nothing was wrong.

He spotted me immediately, and his gaze locked onto mine.

“Don’t worry, Akiko,” he said, his voice low and tired. “I’m not here to hurt you or anything like that. Just need to take a whiz.”

He scratched the back of his head as he yawned and walked past me to the urinals. For a moment, he seemed…normal.

“It’s a pain in the ass, coming all the way over here to use the bathroom,” he mumbled.

“What?” I asked, still on edge.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I said they should connect the two buildings. It’d be a lot easier.”

“Uh, yeah. They should.”

From where I stood, Kenji looked nothing like the predator I saw at meals or in passing. His hair was messy, his posture slouched. He almost looked like the boy I’d grown up with.

He flushed the urinal and came to the sink beside me, studying his face in the mirror as he washed his hands.

“Two more challenges,” he said, his voice quiet. “And then we’re free of this place.”

“Yeah,” I said cautiously. “Two more.”

His eyes met mine in the mirror. “I’m tired of this. It’s draining. To be honest, it’s not worth it.”

His tone was so casual that I almost let my guard down.

“And it’s driven us apart,” he added. “Cost us our friendship.”

Was he apologizing?

“I can’t wait to sleep in my bed,” he continued. “To have a toilet just a few steps away. And if I never hear Iron Face’s voice again, I won’t lose any sleep over it.”

I hesitated, debating whether to bring up Jiro’s plan. Kenji seemed calm, reasonable even. But could I trust him?

“About the challenges,” I began, testing the waters. “I was thinking?—”

“We should all team up and help each other to the end?” Kenji interrupted.

I blinked. How did he know? It felt like he’d been in the room with Jiro and me.

“Uh, yeah,” I said carefully. “I guess you were already thinking that.”

“It makes the most sense,” he said, lowering his voice. “The last thing we need is to turn on each other. But I think…” His eyes flicked to the ceiling. “I think that’s what they want.”

I followed his gaze, unease erupting across my skin. Did he really believe we were being watched right now?

“So, you think it’s a good idea?” I asked.

“I do,” Kenji said. “But it’ll only work if all three of us participate. Genuinely.”

“Jiro’s willing,” I said quickly. “I mean, if I tell him, he’ll go along with it. Let’s finish this safely.”

Kenji yawned and dried his hands on his uniform. “We can talk more at breakfast tomorrow. Let’s head back to bed.”

He led the way out, his steps slow and heavy. As I followed him back to the dorms, I watched his silhouette, his head tilted forward like he was already drifting to sleep.

When he disappeared into his room, shutting the door softly behind him, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

It’s important to keep your guard up, Akiko—the sharpest knife in the kitchen is the one in your back.