"Half the track team, the tennis regulars, and Captain Tennoji heard Nakatsu. You know how much of a gossip Megumi Tennoji is." Kadoma looked pointedly at Ashiya "By now the whole school knows he confessed to you so what are you going to do about it?"
"After I spread around that rumor about him and Imaike Komari?" Nakao's expression showed her disapproval of this development. "He was bragging about her homemade cookies the other day, so what happened?"
"Relax guys. It's just a phase he's going through. Nakatsu will probably see another cute girl during the class trip and forget about me."
That evening Nakao watched Ashiya enter the cafeteria with Sano when suddenly Nakatsu came between them and put his right arm around Ashiya's shoulder. She saw Sano take a step to the left and slow his pace while Ashiya…did nothing. That idiot didn't tell him off, didn't remove his arm, or even try to move away. Nakao was going to teach Mizuki Ashiya how to discourage unwanted attention; a year of being rebuffed by Nanba gave her plenty of experience.
"Mizuki, why were you so gloomy this morning?" Nakao slouched into the plastic seat on her right.
"I fell asleep watching a movie with Sano last night. I know I should be more careful but he's just so-"
"Don't worry about it so much. If I had the chance to watch a movie alone with Minami I'd stop at nothing to cuddle."
"Hey did you guys hear we're going to Hokkaido for the school trip this year?" Kadoma slumped into the open seat on the left.
Ashiya nodded "You should have seen Sekime's face when they announced the tour of Sapporo and Otaru. Nakatsu yelled 'A four day gourmet feast!' and Noe got all teary."
"The school doctor is one of the chaperones; he called us miscreants." Kadoma shrugged "I told Kujo which guys were in my group and his eyes got this glint-"
"Like mysterious almost fatal accidents are about to happen?" Nakao leaned forward tilting her head to meet Kadoma's eyes "There is probably a reason his nickname is Carnage."
"What's your point?" Kadoma titled her head at Nakao "Anyway, I'm staying here because I want to get Kujo to kiss me."
"That's such a huge step." Ashiya recalled Sano kissing her when they were stuck in a ravine last August.
Nakao and Kadoma looked from her to each other thinking that it was probably a step backward from back scrubbing.
"That was the worst ever." Nakao looked truly grieved "I refuse to shop with guys again. How could you stand to be pulled around by that American and the monkey?" She paused for a moment to see if Ashiya was going to talk or continue sitting there with a dopey grin. "You didn't get a chance to buy much, did you?" Hmm, wrong topic. "You didn't get a chance to spend time with Sano, did you?"
"He pushed me against the wall by the doors and his arms on either side to protect me from getting crushed on the train." She still remembered exactly the way he smelled and the feel of his strong steady heartbeat under her palm.
"At this rate the two of you will definitely hook up before graduation in two years." Kadoma smiled at Ashiya then turned to Nakao "So did you two get everything you need for the trip?"
"I mostly went to see how much of a rift Julia and Nakatsu made between them." She gestured to an oblivious Ashiya, still lost in her thoughts about Sano.
"How bad is it?"
"Sano and Ashiya didn't have a moment to themselves until the train ride home."
"Exactly like you and Nanba now that he's seen Julia's long curly blonde hair."
"Why are we friends, again?"
"Because we are." Kadoma thought for a moment "Is there any way to circumvent Julia and get her attention away from Ashiya? Any possibility of hooking her up with Nakatsu and eliminating both threats?"
"They antagonize each other on purpose and argue in two languages."
"I am really sorry, Nakao. Please open the door, Senri." Ashiya sat with her back to Nakao's door hoping she wasn't apologizing to an empty room. "I'm so sorry."
After several minutes Nakao whispered roughly "You don't even know what you did, do you?"
"Well, yes. Minami asked if Julia was available and I said 'Yes' because she is." Ashiya felt awful knowing that she was still crying.
"You understand nothing. It took more than a year to get Nanba to initiate a greeting when we pass each other. After a thousand times of approaching him, he finally came into the lounge to watch me play for a minute before his usual Saturday night clubbing. You had Sano practically handed to you on a platter so you cannot comprehend what you did to me by giving Julia to Nanba."
"But she hates guys like him."
"You think that makes any difference? He doesn't have the ability to see anything except her hair."
"Um…Nakao? I'm really sorry I betrayed you." Ashiya bit her lip thinking of ways to make this right. "He doesn't tolerate bullying or fighting…um, I'm going to talk to Julia about this." Maybe if she punches him or if that doesn't work Dr. Umeda may know what turns his nephew off. If nothing else perhaps Julia might be persuaded to go back to California before the end of the term.
"Sho-kun, are you certain you want to do this?" Despite learning that she was more experienced than he thought, Kujo wasn't sure she knew what she was asking.
"Sir, I want you to be the one to teach me." Kadoma glanced up at his displeased expression "Unless you don't believe I'm ready, sir."
Kujo was certain that she had some ulterior motive behind that innocent smile. "The Tekki shodan is a horizontal kata, Sho-kun. Cross your left foot in front of your right."
"Sir, if it's horizontal do you really want me to cross my legs, sir?" Kadoma bent her knees slightly placing the outside of her left foot a finger's breadth from the outside of her right foot.
Kadoma waited patiently with the pure childlike expression Ashiya often wore. Kujo hesitated to say the next step unsure if she meant this as a game. "Step to your right in a wide stance."
She stepped into a straddle position with right arm extended thumb side up and held it blinking her wide eyes at him. "Is this wide enough for you, sir?" He took note of her left fist in line with her bottom rib and decided to play along because she was more familiar with the kata than innuendo.
Kujo stepped behind her to better correct her block position "The purpose is to protect your chest."
"You like my top? I thought you were a leg man, sir." She moved through a series of punches ending with her right arm bent at shoulder level.
"Hold your right fist level as you step to the left."
"Sir, should my knees come up to my ribs when I-"
He put two fingers over her lips "If you say one more word this training session will end. Now twist at the waist."
"Sir, I thought you…you liked..." Kadoma stood with her heels together and fists pressed to her legs for a moment then tried to bolt for the door.
Kujo scooped her into his arms before she took a third step "Sho-kun, stop struggling and listen to me." He tried to think of the best way to explain while she attempted to escape "Shotaro, please."
Kadoma stopped pushing and turned her face away to hide the tears.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to your brother about us yet. Once I make my intentions clear you will be thoroughly explored and savored my Sho-kun so don't do this again." He knew she didn't think of playing this game on her own. She mentioned Mizuki Ashiya and Senri Nakao a couple of times before. This was beyond Ashiya which meant he'd have a discussion with Nakao.
A/N: Sending Kujo after Nakao doesn't mean I'm hating.