Chapter Seventy Seven: What the Fan Protects
Christina's arc: Bend or Break
I walked through the once-exhausting hallways, rejuvenated after sleeping in Rika's classroom. I had her call Hoshikawa and tell her that I wasn't feeling well, which was partially true. The hallways were stripped bare of students, and the thought made me smile.
So, Antwon, you glided through the halls after leaving early every day… Now, you'll only glide when I want you to.
As I made my way to the cafeteria, I came across the orange-haired girl and the boy she sat with; they were sharing something in solidarity. I ignored them.
"E-excuse me. Ms. Tetsusen," the boy called out, with my name whispered.
I stopped pushing down my growing irritation.
"What do you want?!"
Oh, well.
He walked up to me, clasping his hands to his chest like a scared beast.
"Do you know…what happened to Carter since they caught the woman who attacked me?"
Attacked him… I don't remember him in the reports.
I brushed my hair out of my face and rested my hands on my hips.
"What do you mean when you say that she attacked you?"
He shrank in size, and I shrank away from the idea of performing softness for another boy that wasn't mine.
"I'm not angry at you; I didn't know you were attacked, too."
He nodded.
"I was attacked in Minobu while I was taking out the trash. She grabbed me. I screamed, but…no one came. S-she dragged me into an alleyway." He reached for the orange-haired girl's hand. She was slow to give it. "She stabbed me a few times, but I don't think that she wanted me to die there. But I would have, had Antwon not stopped her."
That stupid boy! Why would he put himself in danger for someone else?
"He pushed her off of me and told me to run. But I don't know what happened; it sounded like they were fighting, or she was…"
I'll ask him when I return.
I closed my eyes and slightly lowered my head. I thought about waking up with him this morning and holding him before I departed. My body felt warmer.
"Antwon is fine; I promise."
His eyes watered, and he moved closer to me.
"Please tell him that I'm thankful," he broke down into tears, "Without him, I would have died." He collapsed, but the orange-haired girl caught him, and she, too, was crying. There was something off about the way she cried that unsettled me.
"Stop crying. Antwon will be back soon, so tell him yourself."
He dropped to the floor, releasing the girl's hand, and bowed respectfully.
The orange-haired girl's face regained its emotionless expression immediately. She wiped her face.
"Excuse me for my earlier display. Typically, my composure is not compromised, yet when my…bro is distorted, his feelings emanate in frequencies I cannot regulate. Do you know of Antwon's location?" She said.
Was it concern that made her ask?
I tapped my chin with my right index finger.
Would telling her spread rumors…it wouldn't hurt me.
"He's…at our house, recovering," I said, as I waited for her physical response.
"I see. Did you procure him from the hospital the other day?"
"I did."
…
Did that make you angry, girl? Did you secretly want to steal away with what's mine?
I smirked.
"Come along, Kai, or our seat will be compromised," she said before walking off.
The boy slowly picked himself up from the ground and bowed again.
"Thank you, Ms. Tetsusen."
They walked off, and I stood alone in the empty hallway.
Every time I encounter that…girl, she never bows, addresses me accordingly, or fears my fucking presence. Was she raised in a hole?
The bell rang. Closed doors crept open.
***
The cafeteria was loud as students muscled for seats. I looked around for Sakura, anticipating her pleading for familial time with my consort. I spotted Nakamura and the orange-haired girl at their usual seat, but without Antwon sitting with them, they seemed more pathetic than usual.
I walked over toward them, thinking that I could use this as a meeting place since it was bereft of value.
When I approached, not even Nakamura stood to bow.
My blood ran cold.
I sat down, and neither of them acknowledged me. The orange-haired girl continued eating, and Nakamura…she didn't have anything before her. She simply hunched over the table, eyes closed, and murmured something.
"Disregard her current state," the orange-haired girl said, still shoving food in her mouth.
I looked back at Nakamura and contemplated hitting her to get her attention. I also considered a blow for interfering with my fight with Antwon's sister. Although without her, I might have killed Antwon's sister.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked.
"I'm unable to answer that with precise accuracy, for the focal point of her dilemma stems from parental deficiency. However, without empirical data, finding concise variables—"
"I'm sorry that I asked." I retrieved my lunch from my bag. Opening it, I realized that there was more food than expected. The boys in the kitchen had overcompensated to win my favor because I was getting my lunch from Antwon.
A loud growl followed by a low moan caught my attention.
"Nakamura?"
She stayed hunched over and fixed her glasses.
"I-I'm sorry, Ms…Tetsusen. I…will go away."
"You don't have to go away, just eat something, so I don't have to listen to your stomach eat itself."
"I can't…ma'am. I can't afford it."
I rolled my eyes.
"You've come with food daily, so don't lie to me."
"Well, Antwon brought it for me."
So, Antwon fed the poor and saved people? Just how much food did he make her? Eventually, I'll bring him back; he'll sit with the same group because he knows them, and if they tell him that I let one of them starve, he'll push back even more.
I sighed and then slid my lunchbox to Nakamura. It hit her elbow, and she looked at it with bewilderment.
"W-what? I couldn't, Ms. Tetsusen."
"Look, it's too much for me to eat alone. Besides, I'll just have Antwon make me something when I go home. Not to mention, I'd look bad if I sat here and let you starve."
Nakamura looked at the box of plenty before her with uncertainty. Then she looked at me. I nodded, and she started eating.
…
"Now, about your lack of ceremony." She looked up from the lunchbox like she'd been caught. "You both failed to bow when I arrived."
"Well… y-your… The—"
"Your position only applies to the corporeal plane, while my fealty is to that of a cosmic essence, which you cannot comprehend in your current state," Jenie said.
I studied her expressionless face, searching for cracks in her facade, but she was so resolute in her declaration that it made me want to punch her in her soulless face.
"She is…one of Crimson High's special students…" Nakamura said.
"I…see."
A tray was forcefully placed on the table to my right, shaking the foundation.
"I'm here," Sakura said. She sat down with urgency, stepping over the benches like a drunk, as Trish would have.
Once Sakura was seated, they all stared at me as if I had summoned them to deliver some sermon.
I turned to Nakamura, ignoring Sakura.
"Nakamura, why didn't you stand up and bow? Must the Veil or I educate you?"
Nakamura choked and nearly jumped out of her seat.
"I… didn't see you, and, well, your mom told me that…I wasn't allowed to…Ms. Tetsusen."
She dropped the food back into the box and held her head low. Her eyes dropped to the table, and she bit her bottom lip, as if pain would ease the situation.
Since when did Nakamura have any dealings with that drunk? It could be a lie…I'll kill her if it is.
"Sister-in-law, we need to talk," Sakura said in a slightly elevated voice.
I felt a nerve twitch in my cheek as I turned to Sakura.
"Dearest sister of my consort, wait your turn to address me, or else you'll only see pictures of your brother every other year, do you understand me?"
Sakura tensed up with wide eyes and then folded, dropping her head, too.
"When the hell did you talk to her, Nakamura?"
She shrank in her seat, head just as good as bowed.
”Well…after your fight with…” Her eyes darted across the table, finding Sakura. "Your mom stopped by my house…said she wanted to—"
I raised my hand, ceasing any further explanation. She was here that day; she probably saw Nakamura stop me from hurting Sakura and took it as a personal insult toward the Iron Fan Court.
"That's enough, Nakamura. I trust what you say."
Trust be damned. When Trish wants someone dead, it's typically all it takes to see it done, but why didn't she kill Nakamura? What's her play?
"Sakura. I'll make an arrangement at some point in the future for you to see my consort.”
She sprang back from her defeated slump, but she didn't say anything.
She's learning.
I reached over to my lunch box and pulled an onigiri out.
Something is off. I told Trish to leave Antwon alone; I even asked Subaki to keep an eye out for her bullshit.
I took a bite of the onigiri. Flaky salmon wrapped in warm rice warmed my cheeks.
But Subaki and Trish are close, too fucking close. Maybe I should have told my father, maybe I should have left him with him.
No, I'm overthinking this. Yua is there. Maybe I'll give her a call to calm my nerves.
I pulled out my phone, knowing it was prohibited, knowing that no one would say anything to me, and called Yua.
The phone rang.
…
Why the fuck is she taking so long?
"Yua, speaking, your grace."
Honorifics…she's not alone.
"Where is he, Yua?"
"Mr. Carter is here with me."
"Good."
I looked at Sakura, who looked at me with the most pathetic expression I'd ever seen.
I sneered.
"Put him on the phone, Yua."
…
The silence was damning. Was she lying to me?
"Um…he's busy? Oh, wait. Yes, Sir," she said to someone else.
"Yua—"
"Hello, my heart."
I covered my face. I'm happy that my father is with them, but I don't want to speak with him right now.
"Hello, father. Where is my consort?" Sakura sighed, and I delivered a soul-slicing glare.
"We are fixing his hair. My goodness, Christina. The work it takes just to maintain this rope-like style is taxing."
"Oh, I didn't know that you were privy to foreign hairstyles."
He laughed obnoxiously. So he didn't know about foreign style.
"Darling, I went to an expert."
An expert on rope-like hair…in Kokiri?
"I…didn't know that we had an expert on hand."
"Of course not, Christina. Don't be silly. We are with his father in Yamanashi. He's such a sweet soul."
My hand trembled. My eyes darted around the cafeteria.
Is he fucking insane! When Trish finds out…
"Go home, right now," I said with shaky breath.
"But Antwon isn't—"
…
No. This works. I can bend it to my advantage.
"Stay… Relax, Father. I will join you soon. Please give the phone back to Yua."
I smiled at Sakura.
"Yua, Yua, come pick us up…the fan folds if anything happens to my serenity."
"Oh… Yes, your grace. I will be there shortly."