Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Four: My Body Answered Differently

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

Watanabe sat down next to me, like he fucking belonged there. It sent shivers down my spine. Then he pulled out a bento box wrapped with a red ribbon and slid it to me.

I reached out and stopped the damn thing halfway.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Watanabe?"

"Isn't it obvious… I'm feeding you. You're going to need it to keep your strength up," he said, pushing against the bento box.

"Take your lovers' quarrel to another lunch table, Sakura," Antwon said, grinning like he did something.

"That's rich coming from you," I said. "Why don't you shut up, lie against your fucking queen, and get fucking fed."

Antwon frowned. Christina held more rice to his face, and he fucking ate it.

Fucking figures.

Then I could smell food.

Then there was food right under my nose.

"Watanabe, what the—"

I stared at him the same way I stare at Antwon when he does something fucking stupid, but my focus started to slip as what felt like glazed fish melted against my tongue.

"As I said, you need to keep your strength up, dear Sakura."

Antwon whistled.

Christina glared.

My eyes watered.

It's actually really good, but I shouldn't…

"Are you going to chew it forever, or will you eventually swallow it, Sakura?"

I didn't even know I was chewing.

I swallowed.

"Who the—"

He held food to my face again, and I jerked away.

"Stop it!"

…

"I think she likes it," Antwon said to Christina.

"I know she does, but she seems unnerved by male affection, hani. Maybe she could learn a thing or two from watching us."

Antwon pushed off of Christina and sat upright.

"Well, there goes that," Antwon said.

Christina blinked in confusion.

Watanabe held food to my face again.

Watanabe giggled.

"If you two were related, I'd call you an ill-fated pair of twins. He can't manage female affection, and you would sooner starve than accept my kindness."

"Shut up," we both said.

"Look, Watanabe—"

"It's Touma."

"I already told them that we weren't really together."

…

I looked around at the table. Everyone pretended not to hear what I had said. Everyone except Christina, who watched Touma.

I know I made a deal, but he never even told me what the hell relaxing a boy meant, and now that I know that Christina didn't do anything perverted with Antwon, I really don't care what the hell it means. I just need to clear my name… I wonder if he'll let me keep the food. Does that make me a bad person?

"Sakura," Watanabe said, playing with the ribbon. "You may believe your claim was disingenuous, but I felt the weight of your words, dear Sakura," he said, holding a handkerchief to my face.

"What are you doing now, Wa–"

He shoved more food into my mouth.

"It's Touma," he said.

…

Then he wiped my mouth.

I could hear whispers.

My heart raced.

Touma scooted too close.

"Stop resisting, Sakura," Watanabe whispered in my ear.

I turned to look at him, but he buried his nose into my neck, and my face burned.

"You know that we must keep up appearances," he said before breathing me in.

"W-what are you—"

"It's only right we learn each other's scent. You should do the same, Sakura."

I blinked, but all I could see was Christina staring at me.

He inhaled again, and my body burned.

I squeezed my legs together and gripped my jacket.

"S-stop," I whispered.

"Okay, but you must always call me Touma, okay?"

Everything throbbed.

"T-Touma, please."

The bell rang.

Touma stood up.

"Okay, my dear, take me to class."

Then he walked toward the cafeteria door.

I slammed my hands against the table.

"I should have slapped his ass… Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why do I feel like this?"

"It's because you're excited, dear sister, and regardless of whether you liked it, your body answered differently."

Antwon stood up.

Nakamura passed him a different bento box than the one he had given her.

"It's clean," she said.

"Cool. Oh, and, Sakura, that's disgusting. Develop some self-control, loser."

Fucking asshole!

Christina stood up, and the other students stood still.

"Hani, don't be so mean. She just had her first taste of the powerful draw of male nature."

"I don't act like that, so don't make it sound like we're all the same."

Then they exited the cafeteria.

The other students started toward the exit once Christina was gone.

This is so embarrassing! Why can't I ever react right around him? I mean, who the fuck is he anyway?

"Sakura… May I call you Sakura?" Nakamura asked.

I lay across the table and groaned.

"Sure."

"Come, Kai, we must depart," Jenie said.

"Then can you call me… Tiffany?"

"Sure, why not? We're friends, right?" I groaned out loud.

"W-well, S-Sakura."

I looked up at Tiffany, who was covering her face.

Damn, what the hell is wrong with her? I get that being on a first-name basis is kind of big, but it's nothing to geek out about. Honestly, I'm starting to feel real stupid thinking she would do anything with my brother. She was an okay teacher, but damn if she isn't a sad sight as a teenager.

Huh, the feelings are gone.

"Hey, it's okay. Just calm down, okay?"

"Okay. I just wanted to say you shouldn't be embarrassed about how you feel, regardless of what Carter said. It's a perfectly normal reaction, okay?"

Okay. Thanks, Ms. Nakamura.

"Yeah, hey, do you know why Watanabe is so damn important? I mean, he practically made Ms. Igarashi bow and shit?"

…

Tiffany tensed up.

"Y-you truly don't know?"

I nodded.

"Touma Watanabe is the son of Naomi Uta Watanabe."

I narrowed my eyes and shrugged.

Tiffany sighed.

"Naomi Uta Watanabe is the head of the Crimson Council."

"Oh, you mean the seven old bitches under the queen?"

"Um, yes; however, some believe the Council is running the Crimson Veil, and Jade Akagiri is just a figurehead. But that's just conjecture."

I stood up, picked up the bento Watanabe had left behind, and continued eating.

"Damn, I wonder if he even cooked this. That also explains all the mean-mugging suitors. I guess I better get my ass ready to be kicked by everyone."

Tiffany walked over to me and grabbed my bag.

"Let me help you, and if you're concerned about your claim—"

"It was fake!"

…

"Okay, well, if you're worried about your posterior, you can ask Ms. Tetsusen for protection."

We started toward the exit.

"Nope, I'd rather take my ass-kicking and be done with it all."

Tiffany pushed the red door open.

I shoveled food into my mouth as she held the door for me.

"Are you sure, Sakura?"

"Fuck yeah! I can go a lifetime without feeling like that again."

"Enjoying the food, dear heart?"

I choked on a piece of karaage.

Watanabe patted me on the back.

"O-oh, please excuse me," Tiffany said before setting my bag down and running off.

"Wait, Tiffany!"

Don't leave me alone with this asshole… Fuck.

***

"Hey, hani, why did you tell Sakura she was disgusting?"

Antwon shrugged.

"I mean, when she reacted to Watanabe."

…

"Come on, Christina. Sakura claims him, then treats him like shit, and you're okay with that?"

"So… that's why you called her disgusting?"

Antwon opened the door to math.

"Yeah, why else would I be upset?"

Is he serious… maybe he is part idiot. Oh, well, he's my part idiot.

"You're right, hani. She should be more appreciative of the boy she claimed."

"Whatever, I'm over this."