All the way to Murakami's the next day, April feels a mixture of confusion and confidence. Which is a weird mixture, really.
At one moment she feels all confident because she did her best last night and she managed to show some of the things Karai had taught her.
And then she feels confused again because she remembers Karai's touch and how good it had felt and how much she had enjoyed it.
She keeps telling herself that yes, it had been nice, and yes, she had enjoyed, but no, it cannot happen again. Ever.
She has a boyfriend, a sweet, tooth-gapped turtle-boyfriend. And she loves him.
She's told him so on so many occasions. And he's told her how much he loves her. So this is the real thing, isn't it?
It doesn't matter that every time these three words came over her lips, she felt a little pang in her heart. It doesn't matter that it has always been easier to reply with, "Love you too".
It doesn't matter because she loves him nonetheless.
She loves Donnie.
And how could she not?
He's gentle and nice and sweet and a genius, and he's saved her life and this planet countless times.
And he loves her. He shows her with every time he looks at her, with every breath he takes, with every time he says her name.
That's true love.
She cannot forget that.
Donnie loves April, April loves Donnie. It's as easy as that. Period.
She has reached Murakami's now, but she hesitates.
She could go now, leave Karai waiting, abandon her training, and everything is going to be fine. She could tell Karai to leave her alone once and for all.
Karai might get angry, she might attack her, but the pain coming from a bruised body is easier to bear than these thoughts.
Pain vanishes after a while. She isn't sure if these thoughts would.
She's about to turn around and just go, but she changes her mind.
At least she has to tell her personally.
April takes a deep breath and enters the restaurant.
Karai's already waiting, like always. And April takes the seat next to her, as always.
But from then on, everything is going to change. April knows that.
She just wants to place her order first, that's all.
And when Mr. Murakami turns away to prepare her pizza gyoza, April braces herself for telling Karai what she should have told her days ago.
But Karai speaks up before she can.
"You weren't being as cute as last time," she says. April looks at her from the corner of her eyes and realizes that Karai doesn't only sip her usual cup of sake, but that there is a plate of pizza gyoza in front of her, too.
"And by 'not as cute' I mean as in 'trying too hard'," Karai explains before she shoves a piece of pizza gyoza into her mouth, munching it slowly.
"You're always cute, by the way," she mumbles.
"Thanks," April says.
"I'm happy that my training is paying off so quickly," Karai continues. "Although that stop you carried out in the middle of that rooftop was way too risky."
That was because you were watching me! April wants to tell her, but instead she only says, "I know."
"I am going to show you some more tricks next week," Karai says.
"Can't wait!" April replies before she realizes that this conversation took a turn she didn't intend.
She decides that it doesn't matter. She can still tell Karai that she abandons her training tomorrow. No need in ruining a nice evening at Murakami's because of it.
When Mr. Murakami places her plate of pizza gyoza in front of her, April realizes something else. It makes her freeze for a moment, her cheeks heating up.
Wait a minute! Did Karai just call me cute!?