Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Two: First-Name Basis

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

I stomped down the hallway toward Igarashi's class.

"Sakura, wait for me," Watanabe said, panting. "Where are you rushing off to?"

"Stop following me, Watanabe, before one or more of your freaking suitors decide to bash my brains out—"

"It's Touma."

"And stop calling me Sakura."

…

"Why? You've claimed me, Sakura, so I'm officially yours."

No fucking way! I didn't claim a guy before I was thrown into this weird bullshit past, and I ain't doing it this time.

"Nope, I didn't sign shit, and I ain't going to sign shit. But you got what you wanted, so enjoy."

Watanabe's footsteps hastened. Then something wrapped around my arm.

Ugh. "Knock it off already," I said.

"No, if we're going to sell us, then we need to fit the part. Besides, you act as if you don't enjoy my company, Sakura—"

"Don't call me that, and I don't… I mean, sure. In a perfect world, every girl wants a guy, right? But this world isn't perfect, and I don't want you because I'm not noble. I don't want to fight to keep you, and I refuse to sign any documents giving me custodial… whatever."

"But, Sakura—"

I stopped, looked at Watanabe, and gritted my teeth.

"It's Carter; do you hear me? Yeah, we've worked together in our breakout group, but I'm not on a first-name basis with you, or any boy other than my brother, and he is a jackass."

I shook my right arm until Watanabe let go.

"Now, I may die for what I'm about to do next, so go back to class, Watanabe—"

"It's Touma."

I frowned; then I knocked on Ms. Igarashi's door.

The door opened.

Rika Igarashi, the woman who saved my brother, stood before me.

"I, um, need to speak with Christina Tetsusen."

…

"No," Ms. Igarashi said.

…

"W-why not?"

"Whatever you wish to speak with Ms. Tetsusen about can wait."

"But it can't!—"

Watanabe took me by my arm.

"Excuse me, Ms. Igarashi, but we wish to seek Ms. Tetsusen's blessing. While we know our timing is of great inconvenience, we simply could not wait," Watanabe said.

Ms. Igarashi bowed.

"Oh, forgive me, Lord Watanabe. I didn't know she was with you."

…

Lord?

"Should I announce you?"

Announce him?

I looked at Watanabe, who smiled back.

"No need. I'd like to make it a surprise."

Ms. Igarashi sighed. "Very well. Please come in."

She stood to the side, and I rushed into the classroom.

The other students were working in groups, too, but my target was at the back of the classroom.

***

I locked in on Christina and stomped my way toward her.

"You," I said, pointing a finger at her.

"I am me," Christina responded, still sitting at her desk next to my brother, looking all smug.

I bit my bottom lip.

"What did you do to him?" I asked, my finger switching from Christina to Antwon once I was close enough.

"Whatever the fuck I want, and be mindful not to point that dirty fucking finger at me again, unless you want it snapped off!" Christina screamed, rising from her seat.

Antwon sighed, and then tugged at her skirt.

"Well, I'm trying, hani, but your fucking sister is losing her mind. Don't worry; I'll help her find it."

I gritted my teeth.

I don't think I can wait the full thirty days to kick her ass!

"Oh, I didn't know your brother was betrothed to the Queen of Iron, Sakura. Is that why you were so eager to claim me?" Watanabe said, reclaiming my arm again.

"Oh, Touma Watanabe. This is quite the surprise. So, this is where your newfound confidence came from, dear sister. Are you trying to earn the Council's backing before you challenge me again?"

What the fuck is she talking about? It's Carter, asshole.

"Well, damn," Antwon said. "I never thought I'd see the day you claimed a boy, Sakura."

"I didn't claim him!" I said, punching Antwon's desk. "As for you," I said, pointing at Watanabe, "I told you to stop following me and take your ass back to class."

The class erupted into whispers.

Fuck! I don't need this shit spreading!

"It was a beautiful declaration amongst potential suitors who were too afraid of doing it themselves," Watanabe said; then he pressed his arm against his forehead. "Then Sakura braved a potential strike and led me out of class, holding my hand tightly."

All fucking lies!

"Watanabe, stop," I whispered.

He touched my left cheek. Then he pressed his left cheek against my right cheek and whispered, "Only if you call me Touma from this point forward."

…

I sighed.

"Touma, can you—"

The chatter broke into hysteria.

Then the bell rang.

***

"Could you please slow down?" Watanabe asked.

"Shit, that was the bell, Watanabe—"

"You promised to call me Touma, Sakura."

"Just go to your next class and leave me alone while I try to figure this out."

"You promised… Besides, I saved your life."

He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers.

"I understand keeping up a bullshit image—"

"Shh, don't talk too loudly, Sakura dear. Oh, should we make nicknames?"

"No."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to class."

"Which class are we attending next?"

…

I stopped at the top of the stairwell and looked at Touma.

"Look—"

"You better call me Touma."

I sighed.

"Touma, I'm okay with you using me as a shield, but you are crossing major lines: holding my hand, pressing your face against mine, and telling Christina that we are together."

"Maybe, but we needed a bigger audience to ensure permeation, dear."

We stepped onto the first floor and made our way down the hallway.

"Stop it. Don't call me dear; don't you nickname me either. Fuck! Go pollute someone else's airspace."

"Oh, be nicer to me, dear, or you're going to make me cry," Touma said.

Then he raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before pressing our joined hands against his face.

I stopped again.

Fuck… am I going to be late for all my classes?

I wiggled my hand free, turned to Watanabe, and bowed.

"I'm sorry for not respecting your social position. Use my claim, okay, but please go away, Touma."

…

"Wow, I'm moved, Sakura."

"Moved enough to stay away from me, Touma?"

…

"Sakura, do you think you could learn to like me?"

…

The bell rang.

"What? I'm, um, not sure, and that was the late bell. Now, I'm late for math."

"You didn't answer my question, Sakura. Could you learn to like me?"

He reached up and touched my face with both hands.

"What are you doing?"

He brought his face close to mine, like he was going to kiss me, then brushed past my lips, grazing my cheek, and resting his head on my right shoulder.

Stop it, stop it, stop it! People are watching!

"Could you—for me, Sakura?"

I grabbed his shoulders and his whole body tensed up.

"That's enough out of you, Watanab—e"

I squeaked as he dragged his nose across my neck, inhaling gently.

I pulled him off of me.

"Are you crazy? You can't just go around learning people like that!"

"Sakura," Touma said, touching his bottom lip. "Your face is red."

"That's because of what you did—"

"Well, you're stronger than me, so if you didn't want it, you could have pulled me off of you at any time."

I growled.

"If you want me to stop, just answer my question."

…

"Maybe, okay."

"That's not going to work for me, Sakura dear."

…

I sighed, then looked at the floor.

"Yeah, okay. Do… you think you could—"

"Not a chance. Now, let's go to math."

"What! No, I'm going to math—"

"I'll also have to switch my schedule to match yours."

"Why?!"