I’m My Own High School Rival: Nakamura’s Arc: Heritage

  Christina forcefully pressed my head on her left shoulder, stroking my hair. “I guess you ate the unagi after all, Antwon,” Jenie said, sitting next to a blushing Kai. I thought about what she meant by eating the unagi because the unagi was delicious.

  In my past life, as Knox, this would have been a god-sent blessing, but I know this is a mistake; for the sake of Christina’s future daughter, I have to find a remedy for her mother’s affection.

  “Are you hungry, Hani?” she said, holding food to my mouth, alerting me to the colossal mistake I made by kissing her in the hallway. But I am hungry… If I eat it, I’m basically saying I want this… right?

  I salivated. My mouth opened, and I ate the unagi I made for Christina. I chewed, letting the flavors blend, twisting my emotions.

  She held me tighter as she prepared the next bite, “Did you spill any?” she asked, cooing like we had done this before. If I’d known how dangerous it was to kiss her, I would have just let her hate me.

  I knew how to deal with her wrath, but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of treatment.

  The cafeteria murmurs grew.

  I suppose we were a spectacle now.

  My eyes drifted to Nakamura, who was sitting with us; her face was soft, and her eyes were red around the edges, like she had been crying, too. Had she been crying because Christina kissed me… Maybe kissing changes people… If Nakamura and I had kissed in her room, would that have given her the courage to claim me herself?

  Why not you, why not your claim, Tiffany? Was I not good enough with all my broken pieces? I chewed the next piece of food, and Christina kissed the top of my head. Maybe I could wish for a third chance, but I doubt that Jenie would get it right.

  Murmurs faded into whispers.

  My stomach sank.

  Jenie: Antwon, for the sake of peace, finish your meal.

  Jenie slowly pinched a clump of sticky rice with her chopsticks.

  “Um, J-Jenie,” Kai whispered. “What happens if…” he said, shaking her shoulder.

  “Fret not, Kai. For you are safe.”

  Listen to this soft-hearted fool—Fret not, Kai—I don’t see what she’s supposed to protect him from at—

  “What in the actual fuck, Antwon!” Sakura’s voice rang throughout the cafeteria, catching everyone’s attention.

  I choked on the rice from the unagi. Oh, shit! I tried to stand up, I tried to run, but Christina’s hand forced me back down, and she stood instead.

  Sakura was doing her angry walk, shoulders hiked up, neck dropped down, appearing smaller but wider as she walked.

  “You tricked me into thinking you had run out of the school, made me miss two classes, and now you’re cozying up to this… this—

  “Watch your words, girl, or I’ll make you regret them this time.” I looked up to see them facing off again, like two storms clashing. Sakura closed the distance quickly. Her body tensed up, like she was about to strike. I finally stood, but Christina glared at me.

  “I thought that I made it clear that I didn’t want you around my little brother,” Sakura said through her teeth.

  Christina didn’t say anything; she just gazed into Sakura’s eyes. I don’t know if 15-year-old Christina is on the same level as adult Christina.

  The cafeteria went numb as we waited in anticipation. I was so damn lost in the moment and my own dilemma that I forgot about the powder keg I was standing on.

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  “Hey, Sakura. Let’s talk, okay?” I said, but neither girl looked at me.

  “Your brother has decided, Sakura.” She pumped her chest out, making herself seem bigger than she actually was.

  “That's Sakura Carter to you. and this time I won’t walk away until we settle this, Tetsusen.” Sakura pumped her chest out, too.

  “That’s Ms. Tetsusen. Don’t think because we’re in-laws now that you can call me what you damn well please.”

  In-laws… I didn’t accept your claim.

  The flashed teeth and nasty looks, and… I grew bored, I grew hungry, and started eating.

  If this were the full extent of what I had to deal with, this would be okay.

  Sakura’s eyes shot at me, and I choked. “Fucking seriously? You’re eating!” she said. In that moment, Christina acted. My jaw dropped as rice and eel fell to the floor; the cafeteria gasped in unison.

  Christina Tetsusen had kissed… my sister!

  Sakura… fell backwards, pushing away from Christina; I felt the impact of her fall. “What the fuck!” she said, wiping her mouth. “What the hell was that!”

  I looked at Christina, “Yeah, what the hell was that, Christina?”

  Blue gems softly settled on me. “Now, choose,” she said, holding her hips. …kiss…choose… bet…

  “Y-you mean from earlier?” Christina nodded. Sakura stood up, and punches followed. But her punches were wild, emotional, and Christina had no trouble dodging them. After all, it’s easier to fight someone unhinged, and that kiss did more damage than Sakura, or I thought.

  Jenie: Antwon, you must intervene.

  H-how the f… f…! Now is the time for cursing, Jenie!

  Jenie: Vulgarity is unnecessary.

  Christina grabbed one of Sakura’s wild punches and pulled her in to deliver a solid slap that resonated throughout the muted cafeteria, which enraged her more. I wanted my body to move, but I froze, feeling smothering heat.

  My vision started to blur, and I felt sick to my core.

  My throat tightened, and I began to sweat. “Stop… please.” But Sakura had landed her first clean blow to Christina’s side, and my world dissolved into smoke. No lunch crowd or fighting girls, just thin air and darkness.

  I listened, but couldn’t hear anything.

  “W-where am I…” Fires erupted around me in brilliant lights. The heat was unnatural. “What’s going on!” I stood, hunched over, fighting for air.”

  “I’ll even raise him myself.” Words that echoed within the darkness, sending shivers down my body. I blinked, and Jade appeared before me, but this time there was no Christine or Sakura between us. “T-this isn’t real,” I said, turning to run back into the school building. But it wasn’t there, just fire and darkness… “Oh, no.”

  I leaned forward to sprint, but I could feel the roots of my hair being ripped out of my skull, forcing my surrender; Jade had grabbed me by my ponytail. “You belong to the Veil, Antwon!” I looked up, and she grinned daggers, then something pierced my side, and I screamed.

  It’s not real… I made… a wish.

  “Are you okay, Antwon? Say something… Antwon,” a voice called out from within the fog. I could feel a hand rubbing my back, and the visage of Jade faded into mist, but the pain remained. I bit my bottom lip to soothe my tears, but pain rarely nullified pain. A hand gently guided my chin, and I followed. “It’s going to be alright, Antwon.”

  The fog solidified and shattered, revealing the lunchroom. “Look at me, Antwon.” I gazed into Tiffany’s red eyes, afraid of what I had just experienced, but I remembered the fight. I searched for Sakura and Christina and found them with Christina on top of Sakura’s back, pinning her, while Nakamura held me in her arms.

  “S-stop,” I said with faded breath. Christina raised her fist and struck Sakura in her side, while bending her arm behind her back. Sakura yelped in pain, then gritted her teeth. Everything she said is happening; she is being hurt because of me. Christina’s fist came down hard on Sakura’s side, and she screamed—the world became blurry behind wet eyes. “P… please don’t hurt her.”

  Why am I… so weak?

  “Antwon… I’m really sorry—I couldn’t protect you,” Nakamura said. She let me go, and I felt the absence of her warmth for the first time. She walked toward Christina and Sakura.

  Christina raised her fist again, but at a different angle, like she was aiming for more than a side shot. “Take a fucking nap!” Christina said. But before she could drop another hammer onto Sakura, Nakamura grabbed her wrist.

  “No!” Nakamura said. I-I couldn’t take my eyes off Tiffany.

  “Ms. Tetsusen, she has had enough!” Nakamura shouted. Her voice boomed over the pandemonium, forcing silence. Christina looked at her with fire and fury. She rose, releasing Sakura’s arm, which flopped down next to her side.

  Nakamura was still holding on to Christina’s wrist when she stood. “Nakamura, have you forgotten yourself?!” Christina said, ripping her arm away, but Nakamura released her before the yank affected her.

  “Ms. Tetsusen, you’ve won; your claim is solidified—there is no need to cause any more pain,” Nakamura said. But something about the way she moved reminded me of… her before the wish, of the teacher who stood before the Crimson Veil, and gave her life protecting the students she taught.

  “Who do you think you’re talking to, Nakamura? I could—” Christina said, reaching for Nakamura’s face.

  “Kill me? I’m aware. But right now, you should focus on Antwon’s decaying emotional state. Christina’s hand stopped, and her blazing blue eyes softened as they settled on me. But I was focused on Nakamura’s eyes, and her burning conviction.