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

  My footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, masking my soft sobs. Each step sent pain throughout my body. Ms. Hoshikawa let me leave earlier again, hoping it would help me escape another ass-whooping. After all, word spreads fast in this school.

  I turned the corner slowly, checking for anyone too groomed. As I walked, I came across a familiar scene: Jenie was talking with the same boy from the other day.

  I wonder if she wrote him back.

  Jenie: Affirmative, Antwon. I transported a satisfactory retort to an otherwise conciliatory situation.

  I sighed. Stay out of my—Whatever. Are you sitting with me again?

  Jenie: Correct.

  He looked nervous, clutching a piece of paper with both hands and avoiding eye contact with Jenie.

  Is that your note to him?

  I slowed as I passed to maintain contact with Jenie.

  Jenie: Yes, he is holding my rejoinder, ciming misperception, in treating lucidity.

  I’m not going to pretend like I know what you said, Jenie.

  I stopped walking. The idea that she wrote her entire letter using cryptic nguage made me cringe.

  Jenie: I refrained from expressing myself and abridged my retort with a friend's succor.

  Sure…

  "So... This letter means that..." the boy said stammeringly. The poor thing nervously blushed.

  Jenie, we need to work on your communication skills, but in the meantime, can you just show the poor guy what the letter meant?

  Silence.

  Jenie stepped in the boy's direction, closing the distance and forcing him to back into the wall. My heart pounded.

  W-what are you doing, Jenie?

  "Fret not, Kai, for you are safe with me."

  He lowered the letter to his side, and she reached up, running her fingers through his hair, causing him to shiver. He bit his lip and quietly nodded.

  I should leave. Watching feels so wrong, but… I couldn’t move.

  Jenie leaned in close enough to share breaths, and I clutched my jacket with both hands. Their eyes locked. He leaned down, making up for Jenie's height difference.

  He closed his eyes.

  My heart hammered.

  They kissed and—

  I sighed. This was weird.

  For goodness' sake, close your eyes, Jenie.

  Jenie: How will I know when to cease if I cannot see him?

  ***

  Despite everything, Antwon remained at school; he sweetly made me a bento box, although it wasn't as lovely as Sakura's bento from the other day. He then brought a bento to Sakura, but the delivery, consisting of bows, appeared more formal. However, something Jenie has done has upset Antwon, who keeps gring at her across the table.

  "Antwon, how are you recovering?”

  He pced a piece of octopus in his mouth, "I'm fine," he mumbled.

  Jenie wasn't eating. She sat there, staring back at Antwon.

  "So, Jenie, where is your lunch?"

  "Well, Jenie," Antwon echoed, "tell Nakamura about the meal I caught you eating in the hall."

  I didn't know what he meant by eating in the hall, but I'm positive I'd find out.

  "Okay— I don't know what that means," I said.

  “My sustenance will arrive shortly," Jenie said.

  A young boy slowly approached our table. He looked worried. Antwon smiled at him, alerting Jenie, who turned in her seat and patted the bench beside her. The young man smiled and hurried over. He sat down and pced a bento box in front of Jenie.

  Antwon's face was red with warmth, his feet rhythmically patted the ground, and food became the least of his focus.

  The young man removed what looked like Tamagoyaki and held it to Jenie’s mouth, pcing a hand underneath her chin, protecting her uniform; it was so carefully and lovingly done that I started to blush. While she was chewing, the boy held her hand. Every bite made the rosy tint in his face rise.

  "Jenie, who is this?" I asked, quietly desiring something simir in this life.

  She swallowed.

  "This is Kai Tanaka. He is," Jenie looked at Antwon as if searching for simpler words, "he's my bro."

  Kai blushed and moved closer to Jenie, hugging her arm. Antwon cpped softly, and I was having a panic attack because another student had made a wild procmation at an age that didn't make sense.

  However, Jenie didn't come off as a normal girl.

  Antwon sighed; his joy turned into sorrow that pouted into existence.

  "Antwon, what's wrong?" I asked, wanting to comfort him.

  "Antwon is encountering profound covetousness and fervor for a reproductive partner."

  Antwon aggressively smmed his drink on the table and gred menacingly at Jenie.

  To react that strongly, it must be true. Maybe that's why he tricked my parents into believing we were dating. Perhaps he really wants someone to love.

  "Well, if that's all you've wanted, you should have told me." Christina's voice surprised us from behind, causing us both to jump.

  ***

  Tiffany and Kai jumped out of their seats and bowed before Christina. Jenie and I, however, kept our butts pnted.

  "It's okay. Stay seated because if you don't, I'll have to make a show out of Antwon."

  Kai and Tiffany sat down slowly.

  Fat chance of that ever happening.

  "As for you." Jenie covered her bento box and pulled it away as if Christina were here to steal it.

  "What the hell was that for?" Christina scowled, not knowing what to do.

  I giggled because the thought never crossed my mind.

  "Tsk, whatever.”

  “Nakamura," Christina said.

  I hated it when she targeted Tiffany. Everything Christine, Christina’s future daughter, said was true. Christina was a vicious bully.

  I turned to see the queen of the Fan Queen shoot an evil eye at poor Tiffany, who shuddered and slid away from me.

  And Christina sat between us as if it were her seat, and only she could sit next to me.

  Her leg brushed mine.

  This would have been attractive in my past life, but I’ve seen what she’s like.

  "Really, Tetsusen? You would sit with us, common folk? Should I ask the others for a temporary throne?"

  She turned to me with an angry yet stern look.

  "Cut the crap, Antwon. Till now, I’ve tolerated you because you’re a gaijin. But the time to learn is over.”

  "Or what? Are you going to sic the Veil on me?"

  She closed her eyes as if to stay off her anger. She took a deep breath.

  "Look, I'm sorry that happened. I had limited knowledge about them jumping you.”

  The look on her face was genuine, but my bruises didn’t care about her sincerity.

  She touched my shoulder, and Kai gasped.

  "They'll dig my grave behind the school for this touch."

  "Ha, they wouldn't fan the fme, Antwon."

  I rolled my eyes and continued eating with renewed strength.

  I'm going to need all the energy I can get to endure the next beating.

  "I'm a bit hungry,” Christina said, but she didn’t have a tray or a meal with her.

  “Nakamura, that looks tasty.”

  There is no way she's telling Tiff to give up her bento.

  Tiffany slid her box over to Christina, as if her statement was an order from the crown itself.

  I leaned over, intercepting the sliding box, and slid it back. I’m tired of Christina bullying those around her, but what could an ant do to a mountain?

  "What the hell do you think you're doing, Antwon—"

  I grabbed some squid out of my bento box.

  Pinched it between my chopsticks and shoved it into the Fan Queen's mouth.

  "I'm sick of you bullying people. You want food? Take mine, your highness."

  She scowled at me, but she didn't take my head off or remove the squid. After a moment, I withdrew my chopsticks, half-expecting a sp. She held my stare. She started to chew. Physically, I couldn’t beat her, and we both knew it. But I could redirect her from Tiffany.

  Huh. I thought she would have spat it out, but she’s enjoying it instead.

  She swallowed, so I prepared a piece of teriyaki and held it to her face.

  “Is this really happening…” another table said.

  She firmly bit the chicken teriyaki, causing me to grip my chopsticks nervously. And for a moment, I thought she would break my chopsticks, but instead, she started chewing slowly.

  I slid my chopsticks out of her mouth.

  I marinated the chicken overnight. I'm so proud of the results...

  I set the chopsticks on the bento and slid it over to Christina.

  I had been so caught up in the moment that I had not realized what I had done. I hunched over, supporting my face with my hand.

  The cafeteria was buzzing with whispers.

  I had just fed the Fan Queen in front of her subjects, priming myself for another encounter.

  Christina wiped her mouth with courtly manners.

  Nakamura was shocked.

  Jenie ate her lunch, as usual.

  Christina grinned and slid closer to me, pushing me close to regret.

  I thought about how Sakura reacted to me feeding Tiffany and knew I couldn’t let that happen with Christina.

  "Why did you stop, Antwon. I was enjoying myself,” Christina smugly said.

  I shook my head, hoping she would take the hint, knowing she wouldn't

  “Antwon, I don’t know if you’re oblivious, brave, or a genius,” she said sarcastically.

  “Oh my god. He fed Christina Tetsusen.” A girl announced as if I couldn’t hear her.

  “Do you think they’re dating or… You know?”

  Oh, please go back to eating your lunch.

  My eye twitched at the question. I didn’t understand the question. If I were oblivious, how would I know?

  She picked up an onigiri, and my mouth watered. I only made two today, but I used pink salmon cores because they’re my favorite.

  She went to bite, and I tried to snatch the onigiri from her, but she caught my hand.

  She didn’t squeeze hard. She held my wrist as Christine once did, and my heart throbbed.

  I was never good at hiding my feelings; Christina could tell, and I was sure my face took on a soft, longing look.

  My stomach growled, reminding me that I had forfeited my meal.

  Christina scooted closer to me, invading my space, and drove me to the edge of the bench.

  That look wasn’t for you, Christina.

  She gred at me, and I braced myself for her royal punishment.

  She held the onigiri to my mouth and waited.

  She’s crazy. I’m not letting her feed me—

  The smell of the warm rice danced on my tongue long before it touched my lips. I could feel myself swaying to the pink salmon and its majestic texture.

  I leaned in, absorbing its aroma. I—

  I yanked the onigiri from her hand, facing away from her, and started eating it like I’d been in prison for the past few periods.

  Eat from that pampered hand? I don’t think so.

  Loud sighs could be heard from around the cafeteria, spreading like wildfire.

  I swallowed.

  Why was she here at our table… Jenie, every time I ask her, she deflects the question. Help me.

  I waited for a response.

  Jenie: Antwon, consider explicitly conveying your discomfort.

  I’ve been telling her to get lost—

  Christina grabbed the second onigiri

  Jenie: You have not. Furthermore, I will not intervene in your personal dispute for the sake of Kai’s safety.

  She smiled at me, hinting at another attempt to feed me.

  You’ll pay for this, Jenie.

  Christina ate the onigiri, bringing me relief and irritation because I wanted that.

  I wanted it all, damnit; it was my lunch.

  She picked up my chopsticks and clicked them together, and the table fell silent.

  “The reason I’m still here despite your childish attempts to chase me away is that you need proper education in Kokiri etiquette.”

  Christina picked up a piece of octopus and ate it. My mouth watered in response.

  She chewed slowly while pointing my chopsticks at me.

  She swallowed. “Not bad, Antwon.” I could feel the nerves under my skin fre up whenever she said my name.

  “Leaving you in this state would look poorly on the court if I didn’t educate you in the proper way to interact with Bloodline sprouts or cn heads.” She smiled, looking at the rest of my lunch, digging a juicy piece of teriyaki chicken out. “You can thank me by making me lunch, daily.”

  Why does this feel like extortion?

  “I don’t get it; if this is Veil territory, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in some other school?”

  Christina smirked. “This is what I mean, Antwon. You’re clueless, so let me fill you in.” She pushed the bento to the side and sat professionally with a straight back and csped hands.

  ”The Veil and Court have had a long-sting political alliance for the st ten decades. To show good faith and continuity, each cn sends their bloodline sprout, me in this case, to a school in their allies' territory.”

  Her smile grew scary, malicious. “However, the sprouts weren’t friends in the past, but Jade and I are damn good friends. Do you know what that means, Antwon?

  ” Sleepovers?”

  ”No, you little shit. It means I have some pull over the Veil boys, so behave.”

  ***

  I swallowed my hunger because it was all I could do. The Fan Queen made it clear that I was to call her “Ms” before her st name, bow, greet her first, and even swoon on demand, and Sakura didn’t do anything. But what could she have done?

  Rumors of my chastising spread to my fourth and fifth-period csses. Even the teachers were concerned, asking me if I wanted to leave early, if I wanted my parents called, and if they wanted me to contact her mom, as if her dad didn’t exist.

  However, the school day was over, and Sakura had baseball practice because she made the team.

  “Nakamura!” I ran out of the building on a beautifully sunny afternoon. Nakamura turned her head, and the sun shone perfectly behind her.

  “Oh, hey, Carter—“

  I grabbed her hand, hugged her arm, and watched the tint rise in her face.

  ”A-Antwon, what are you doing?”

  Nakamura may not remember standing up to the Veil—to Jade—but I do. I’m thankful for that moment. It showed me what genuine conviction looks like. I just don’t understand why I’m part of her second chance.

  “We are going grocery shopping so that I can make dinner for you and your parents. And then, I’m going to make you a bento box.”

  “Antwon, you don’t have to do all of that.”

  “Yes, I do because you're walking me home from now on.”

  AnnouncementThe Etiquette of Hunger: https://suno.com/s/UmpinV3XC2sDoJXv