Chapter 14:
As soon as Iku and Dojo walked into the office on the next day of work, Komaki burst out laughing as all the other Task Force members started grinning.
"Haha, they came to work together!"
"Aww, just look at them."
Iku froze. They weren't holding hands or anything, so how do they know?
Shibasaki, who was there for no particular work-related reasons, smiled at them. "Ah, Kasahara. I'm sorry, I accidentally mentioned it to Major Genda."
Iku stared at her. 'Accidentally' mentioned it?! And to Major Genda, of all people!
Dojo couldn't even say a word as everyone continued making fun of them. Just then, thunderous footsteps could be heard coming towards the office. The door burst open and Genda appeared.
"Why is it so loud in here?! People, get to work-" He stopped midsentence when he saw Dojo and Iku in the center of attention. Immediately, he started grinning.
"Dojo! Kasahara! Haha, how's it going?!" He started laughing along with Komaki.
Dojo cleared his throat. "Major, I believe we have a lot of work to complete…" He started heading towards his desk.
"Don't be so serious! I mean, it's only about time that you and Kasahara-"
"Major Genda!" Dojo looked slightly annoyed at his superior officer. "Right now we're should be doing our job, instead of talking about irrelevant things."
Genda looked incredibly amused. "'Irrelevant?!' This isn't irrelevant! Why, I'm sure, if it weren't for Komaki who came with up with the battle plan for the mission, you guys wouldn't have gotten together so quickly!" He laughed again, then stopped when he saw the look on their faces.
Iku looked like she was about to faint, and Dojo was frozen, staring at him with his eyes wide.
"…What?"
Iku opened and closed her mouth a few times, not completely sure of what she should say. "I-I-instructor Komaki came up with the battle plan?!"
Genda looked at them oddly. "That's right." He laughed again. "That was one awesome plan, too! I always knew he had it in him!" He continued laughing as he returned to his office.
Iku was still staring into space, trying to absorb the information. Instructor Komaki! It was him all along! I should've known!
Dojo's face was red, from both embarrassment and slight anger. He whirled around, looking for Komaki, but he was nowhere in sight. He stormed out of the room, intending to interrogate him as soon as he finds him.
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As soon as lunch break started, Iku walked out into the hallway, still in a daze. It was Instructor Komaki…
She stopped and frowned. What about Shibasaki? If she didn't tell me to go to the bookstore the other day…and she suddenly disappeared at the hospital check-up…
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She quickly headed towards the lunch room, deciding that the best way to find out was to ask her.
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Holding her lunch, Iku decided to eat while waiting for Shibasaki. Although she was curious, the level of her hunger was much higher. She noticed Dojo and Komaki two tables away, but she decided to sit at the usual spot she shared with her roommate.
As soon as Shibasaki arrived, she attacked her with a load of questions.
"Shibasaki! What happened that day at the hospital check-up?! How did Instructor Dojo know I was there?! Did you tell him?! Why did you insist I go to the bookstore?! Was it all planned?! It seems a little too much to be a coincidence!"
Shibasaki laughed. "So you finally realized? But you know, without my help, and Instructor Komaki's interference and brilliant planning, you never would've gotten a boyfriend so quickly."
"What?! You were doing everything behind my back?!" Iku's face was completely flushed. "Wait…but all Instructor Komaki did was come up with the battle plan. Wh-" She paused when she saw an evil smirk suddenly appear on Shibasaki's face.
"What?!"
They turned to see Dojo up on his feet, staring at Komaki with a disbelieving look.
"You changed all my schedules?!"
Smiling, Komaki motioned for him to sit back down. "I didn't change them all, I just made a couple of small adjustments."
Sitting down, Dojo put his head in his hands and muttered. "I thought it was weird that the dentist's appointment I had the other day was suddenly canceled."
He suddenly looked up. "Wait a minute. There was also the book you wanted me to pick up for you at the bookstore…"
Komaki smiled. "There was no such book to begin with."
Iku and Dojo looked at each other as Shibasaki and Komaki started laughing.
Neither of them could form coherent thoughts.
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"I can't believe it was them all along…" Iku mumbled as she and Dojo made their way back to the dorms.
Dojo sighed, and glanced at her. "But from what you've told me, Shibasaki made it pretty obvious. Why didn't you realize?"
"What? How could I know she was that…underhanded? And what about you? Didn't you hear from her about the hospital check-up? Why didn't you realize?"
He hesitated. "I-idiot. My mind was…preoccupied."
"Preoccupied? By what?" Iku pouted, muttering, "You should've realized."
Dojo sighed. Even now, she's still as clueless as ever. And that Shibasaki, she actually had the guts to lie to me about Iku's injuries getting worse.
He reached up and patted Iku's head warmly. "You blockhead!"
"Huh? What did I do?"