Chapter 7 — The First Scandal
444 Words
Mia
I didn’t speak to Kai after that.
Not because I hated him.
Because I didn’t know what I felt.
Anger?
Disappointment?
Confusion?
Maybe all three.
The worst part was…
I understood why he hid it.
And that made forgiving him harder.
Because if he was a stranger, it would be easy.
But he wasn’t.
Not anymore.
───
My next match was supposed to be my focus.
But everyone noticed something was wrong.
“Mia.”
Aiko looked worried.
“You’ve been staring at the same spot for five minutes.”
I blinked.
“Sorry.”
She lowered her voice.
“Is this about Kai?”
I immediately looked away.
“No.”
Aiko smiled.
“That was the fastest lie I’ve ever heard.”
I sighed.
“I just don’t understand him.”
She tilted her head.
“Maybe that’s why you’re interested.”
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
Because I didn’t have an answer.
───
The match started.
I tried to focus.
But my opponent was aggressive.
She pushed forward.
Hard.
Too hard.
My foot slipped.
I fell.
The crowd reacted.
Pain shot through my shoulder.
The referee stepped forward.
But before I could move—
Someone crossed the barrier.
“Kai!”
Everyone froze.
Including me.
He wasn’t supposed to be there.
Not on my side.
Not during my match.
He looked furious.
Not at me.
At my opponent.
“She struck after the point was called.”
The referee looked confused.
“What?”
Kai pointed.
“She continued after the stop.”
The judges reviewed the footage.
And he was right.
The point was removed.
───
I stared at him.
After everything…
he still protected me.
When the match ended, I found him outside.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
He looked at me.
“Done what?”
“Interfered.”
“You were hurt.”
“I could have handled it.”
“I know.”
The answer surprised me.
“You know?”
He nodded.
“That’s the difference.”
I stared.
“What difference?”
His eyes softened.
“I don’t protect you because I think you’re weak.”
A pause.
“I protect you because you matter.”
My heart stopped.
───
Neither of us noticed the person standing nearby.
A photographer.
A student journalist.
Someone holding a camera.
And the next morning…
the entire school saw the picture.
Kai Nakamura.
Holding my injured wrist.
Looking at me like I was the only person there.
The headline spread everywhere:
“RIVAL KENDO CAPTAIN CAUGHT WITH ENEMY TEAM MEMBER.”
And underneath:
“Are Mia Hayashi and Kai Nakamura more than rivals?”
- Writer
