(A/N: Well, this took ages to write. Terribly busy with my career and life tbh. But here we go. Hoping that you'll enjoy this chapter as much as I did when I wrote it).

Chapter 3

By: Aztec999

Senju's smile remained frozen on her lips even though her right eye twitched slightly with the way the newly arrived woman hugged and draped herself over Mikey's personal space like they were longtime friends or something like that.

"Carol?" Mikey smiled pleasantly at her and returned her hug politely although there was a slight surprise coloring his voice.

"I'm so glad to see you again Manjiro!" She exclaimed out in dulcet tones and Senju hated to admit it but her voice sounded nice just like her face.

Senju observed her from head to toe.

Was this the one Emma was talking about?

The woman was taller than Mikey. Well almost anyone could easily tower over him except her given his height resembling of a dwarf. She was curvaceous and plump despite wearing a kimono because the dress itself hugged her body like a second skin accentuating her well-endowed derriere and her breasts that were obviously twice as bigger as hers because of how it would almost burst out of her clothing. Was that even real? She had a long, platinum hair that cascaded silkily on her back and a set of jade green eyes framed with thick and long eyelashes which made it more striking and expressive. Her cheekbones were high and she possessed a pair of well-shaped eyebrows which added more beauty to her face. She also got a pair of full, sexy lips which was highlighted because of the red lipstick she wore that night.

Overall, she was a one drop dead gorgeous woman.

And if this was the one that she might've compete with according to Emma, then she'll probably bail out now because she can already see herself losing in this kind of game.

Don't get her wrong. She was a naturally competitive and determined type of person. Heck, when it came to fighting and contests in school she always participated and gave it her all.

Except for this one.

How can she even win this thing and fucking seduce Mikey when her competitor looked like a full-grown woman and a bombshell who stepped out of a magazine? She knew herself that she wasn't ugly but she wasn't that too beautiful either. Although she had a body and curves like a woman and pair of well-endowed chests, she always hid it by wearing baggy clothes and put on a chest binder to hide her breasts because it got in the way during her training in the karate school and competition where she needed to be fast and agile.

But it didn't hide the fact that she somewhat understood on why Emma disliked this lady. The woman was damn clingy and didn't know the concept of personal space. She acted like she was Mikey's girlfriend already even though she's not. Yet.

Senju's thoughts and observations were cut off when she heard Emma speaking once again.

"Well, he prefers to be called Mikey than Manjiro y'know." Emma remarked casually, crossing her arms on her chest as one of her eyebrows rose at the mere sight.

"Emma." His grandfather warned her slightly before Carol laughed coyly with her hand on her lips.

"Of course, my bad. I just remembered that he doesn't mind it when I used to call him like that just like the old times."

Senju resisted the urge to scoff but her brows spoke in volumes.

Just that saccharine smile and overly sweet laughter made her irritated for some unknown reason.

And why would she feel this way when her only agenda was to help Emma to pry this woman away from Mikey and nothing else?

It's not like she's attracted to him or some shit.

No. Nada. Zilch.

She won't even date him for real even if the world was ending in the future.

She's not that fucking desperate.

'Well, you should be if you promise Emma to get off that leech from Mikey.' Her mind scoffed at her inwardly which made her want to strangle her own brain sometimes.

Before Emma could retort at Carol's words, their grandfather's voice chimed in.

"Now, now we should continue this kind of pleasantries and conversations inside the house. Carol-san, you should probably eat seeing the buffet that we have prepared for our guests. You too Senju."

Senju smiled pleasantly at him. "Yeah. Thank you." Her eyes darted over to Emma who still wore a sour expression on her face and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes and went over to her direction.

"What's up with you? Fix that frown of yours." Senju whispered urgently.

"Sorry I just can't stand it when that woman hangs on my brother like a koala." Emma whispered back with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Well, it can't be helped when they're close as kids." Senju whispered as she watched Mikey followed his grandfather back inside the house while Carol walked beside him with her arms linked on his closely.

Didn't this woman know the concept of personal space?

"In her dreams. She was always the one who tried to get close to him even if Mikey wasn't keen or interested on her presence." Emma replied as she narrowed her eyes at the two walking too closely together.

"Right now, we can't really do anything about it except to observe and probably intercept in a subtle way if that woman tries something funny to Mikey. So, our best course of action is to follow them inside and have that family dinner with her as your grandpa kindly puts it." Senju replied with a sigh leaving her lips.

"You're right." Emma let out an exasperated breath before she faced her. "Also, now's your chance. Don't let the opportunity slip and let her win." She added with a grin on her face and left her behind to follow her grandpa before she could even retort in response.

It only made Senju sighed deeply and planted her hands on her hips.

'Well, it can't be helped. It's showtime.' Senju thought to herself, inwardly wishing that things were going to be smooth sailing from now on.

The Sano household was a quaint yet organized and clean most of the time. One would think that the house was always a messy one because it consisted of having rowdy brothers living in there but, even if they didn't participate in the household chores most of the time, they also grew up not to be too much of a messy person and knew when to put things back to their place after getting it.

Senju's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets upon seeing the dinner table filled with trays of food when they reached the dining area at last.

She knew that there was a buffet…but she didn't realize that this buffet consisted of food that can feed a group of people who were attending a feast or some sort.

This family event was lavish and extravagant even in her tastes.

It was rare seeing the Sano family really going out in preparing for this event.

Hence, this might be really, really, extra special.

It even put more pressure on her because she knew she couldn't fuck this up.

Emma had expectations from her and well…she couldn't let her down and let Mikey be snagged by that woman who was leeching on him that it almost made her gagged to be honest.

It renewed her sense of determination and vigor.

With that purpose and thought cemented inside her mind, she finally joined the Sano's for their family dinner.

They finally started to have dinner with Senju trying to throw some surreptitious glances and observations from the side.

As usual, Carol talked animatedly and conversed easily with the topics in hand even though Senju could sense how shallow she can be. You know the kind of thing that people do in gatherings that grates on someone's nerves?

Yeah, that one.

Carol tried to converse and include Mikey in the conversations even though the latter sported his usual disinterested look as always.

Senju shouldn't be just observing like a statue here. She had a promise and agreement towards Emma and that was to pry away Mikey from the woman's clutches.

"Oh, Mikey why don't you try this? It's one of our specialties from our store. You might like this cherry pie." Senju offered smilingly and she inwardly congratulated herself for appearing and sounding like this even if all she wanted to do was to slam the pie across his face upon remembering those petty fights and arguments that she had with the male in the past.

Mikey blinked at her a few times, not expecting her actions.

Senju wanted to smirk and wanted stomped her foot on the ground at the same time.

She wasn't that worst you know. She's capable of being civil and diplomatic damn it.

She needed to think that this was for her mission and promised with Emma.

"Hmm… Thanks I guess…" Mikey trailed off, eyeing her dubiously before he took his fork and started to fork the pie and ate it, chewing it slowly.

Mikey still thought that she was pranking him or pulling his leg but to his surprise it tasted divine and good.

The flavor bursting into his mouth and melted along his tongue which made his eyes widened briefly.

Senju wasn't pulling his leg or kidding this time just to be petty with him.

She honestly told him that it was good.

What. The. Fuck.

"It tastes good." Mikey's voice muffled due to him chewing the pie inside his mouth.

"Mikey, table manners." Emma warned him before she smiled sweetly at him. "See? The Akashi's pies are the best. And Senju is one of the proud members and owners of their shop." She added proudly, smirking slightly when she saw Carol's eyes twitched at the remark.

"Oh really? That's good to hear." Carol feigned a pleasant laughter behind her hand, acting coy and whatnot.

"The Akashi family is well known for their homemade sweet pastries especially their pies." The grandfather commented with a proud smile on his face, seemingly unaware of the growing tension between the three women at the dining table. "Aside from Senju being one of my top students here in dojo alongside with my grandchild, Mikey, she's also skilled at making delicious pies just like her siblings." He added.

There was a genuine smile etched on Senju's face at the grandfather's remarks. It looks like she didn't need to hype herself anymore as the elderly was doing it on behalf of her unknowingly.

"Well of course grandpa. This is Senju and her family that we're talking about. The Akashi's are just full of talented people." Emma piped up and sent her a smile but Senju could see a satisfied look in her eyes when they spotted Carol feigning an awe look around her face.

Senju realized that this might be so difficult after all.

But maybe she shouldn't talk so soon.

Because it might've jinxed some things.

Well, it already as Senju almost dropped her fork to the ground when the Sano's grandfather finally uttered those words.

"Since you've had a long trip going here Carol-san, would you want to sleep for the night here? We've prepared and cleaned some available guest rooms for the night for those who might live far and can't commute that easily back to their homes in the middle of the night."

Carol's face looked like it hit the jackpot.

'What a long night...' Senju scoffed inwardly as she exchanged glances with Emma.