I sat on Sakaki's hand, my legs crossed as he bench-pressed me. My mind was in turmoil from the comment Miu's teacher had made. He wasn't the first to think that Akisame and I were more than close friends and while I knew I was an affectionate person, I didn't understand how this mistake kept being made.
I didn't work today and had come straight to the dojo after I awoke, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tank top instead of my usual work clothes for once.
I sighed and looked down at the karate master's stern face, hoping he could help me.
"Why is it that people always think Akisame and I are together?" I asked him.
"Well," he grunted. "You two are pretty close, and it seems like you have this strange bond."
"Bond?" I asked. "How so?"
"Well," he mused. "If you're sitting next to each other, you always end up touching. You both also seem so comfortable with each other."
"Should I not touch him?" I asked. "If people keep getting the wrong idea, should I not act so friendly around him?"
"Hey, I didn't say that," Sakaki said. "If you suddenly did that, you'd hurt his feelings. Akisame trusts you a lot and enjoys your company. It would upset him if you were suddenly distant with him. Personally, I wouldn't care what the fuck other people thought. It's your life and they can kiss your ass."
"After you get your hand off of it, right?" I teased. Sakaki blushed, but did not stop lifting me.
"Yeah right," he said. "If I did anything 'improper' with you, the whole dojo would be out for my head."
"You exaggerate," I said, flippantly.
"I don't," he said. "You don't get it, do you? You're like family here, babe. We all love you and Miu adores you. If you stopped coming around, we'd be very upset and hunt you down."
"Awe," I said, touched. "You're gonna make me cry!"
"Man, don't cry," he said. "I can't handle a girl's tears." I smiled and wiggled in Sakaki's grip.
"Hey, don't move around!" he barked.
"But your opponent isn't going to sit still," I pointed out. "Plus, my butt is going numb." Sakaki laughed and stood, throwing me up in the air and catching me.
"I could always just toss ya around," he said, launching me into the air again. I laughed and let him, finding it fun.
"Shio, don't drop her," Akisame said from the porch.
"Here, Akisame, catch," Sakaki said and threw me to Akisame, who easily caught me. I laughed and squirmed in his arms.
"That was fun," I said. "Do it again!"
"Apachai wants to play!" Apachai cried, running in between the two men.
"Catch her, if you can!" Akisame said and launched me high in the air so that I sailed over Apachai's head and landed easily in Sakaki's grip.
"Guess we're playing monkey in the middle," he said, throwing me back over Apachai's head.