Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: We Must Sleep Together

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

"What happened, Your Grace?" Tetsuzaki asked, sitting beside me on the sofa.

When we woke up, Antwon, who typically showers first, volunteered to go last. But he was teary-eyed, and everyone assumed it was my fault. His sudden bursts of anger between crying fits were what pissed me off.

"I'm here if you want to talk about it, or if you want me to make him disappear, Your Grace," Tetsuzaki whispered.

I sighed, crossed my arms, and waited because waiting was all I could do. Well, not really all I could do.

Sakura walked into the room, drying her hair, and sat in the single chair across from me. I wasn't sure if she had noticed her brother's shitty attitude, but I wasn't going to tell her if I didn't have to.

As she dried her hair, Sakura kept looking at me like she wanted to talk.

"So, Ms. Tet—"

"You mean sister-in-law," I corrected.

…

"Right, sister. Did you sleep well? There was a loud thump from Antwon's room early this morning, which startled me. Do you know what it was?"

I sighed.

"Yup, it was the sound of Antwon staying up over a—"

The bathroom door flung open.

"You assholes used up nearly all the hot water! Now, what am I supposed to do? What? You idiots never shared hot water with normal people who can't afford personal water heaters, or some shit? You can all piss off!"

The bathroom door slammed closed.

Sakura whistled and slowly turned her attention back to me.

"Someone's cranky. What the hell happened?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose before running my fingers through my hair.

"Look, he was reading this stupid book for the majority of the night. I didn't notice that he was still awake until I saw him, so yeah, he's tired. I knew he would be. When I told him to stay home because I didn't want him falling asleep in class, he told me to kick rocks. Whatever that means."

"So, you interrupted his reading session?"

…

"So what?" I said, shrugging my shoulders.

Sakura set the towel on the floor and picked up the brush beside her. She brushed her hair and smoothed out the rough spots with her hand.

"So, that mouthy asshole can go without sleep. Will he crash in class? For sure. Did the school notify me every time he did? Absolutely. Did his grades ever drop? Only in math. But the one thing you do not fuck with—"

I scowled.

"I mean, you shouldn't mess with him while he's reading, sister, or else he gets like this."

The bathroom door flew open, and Antwon slowly made his way across the hallway to his room.

Sakura and I stared at each other for a moment.

"How do I…remedy this situation?"

She tied her hair in a ponytail.

"Ride it out; let it run its course and try not to kill him as it does."

A loud wailing came from Antwon's room.

"Good luck, sister, because I'm walking to school today."

***

This whole damn day was a dumpster fire of shit.

I dragged myself to homeroom, passing gossipy boys who talked too damn loud. To make matters worse, Ayame drove us to school because Yua supposedly took the night shift. Since Sakura walked to school, the little shit, Ayame, forced me to sit in the front seat because she refused to let me sit next to Christina.

Typically, I wouldn't give a shit because I don't want to be next to her anyway, but being told what to do by Ayame is beneath me as a person.

My eyes started to tear up. A warm feeling wrapped itself around me. What if Christina just needed a hug the way Shimeko needed one?

I bit my bottom lip to fight back the feeling.

I walked into my homeroom, took my seat, and lay down.

I hate it when I'm right, but I hate it more when other people are. This day sucks.

"Hey, Carter. Can I call you Carter, or do you prefer Mr. Carter now?" a familiar voice asked.

The warmth vanished. Heat took its place.

It was that one girl who promised to 'watch my back' when Shizuka was turning boys into bloody art pieces.

A lot of help she was. I still got stabbed, and Kai nearly died. Now, the crazy silhouette is just chilling inside my head.

"Um, who are you again?"

She gave me a sad look, like me not remembering her name because of her lack of importance was my fault, or something.

"My name is… Mina Takano, but you can just call me Takano," she said in a low voice.

"Okay, I'm just going to call you Mina."

Her eyes lit up. Then she composed herself.

"I-if you want to, that's fine. But there's no pressure, okay?"

Mina fixed her hair, then stopped abruptly.

"Anyway, I wanted to make sure that you were okay because you don't normally sleep in homeroom, and all."

My anger faded. Before I knew it, I was wiping tears from my face. Then the warmth settled around me.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing… just thank you for noticing, is all."

Mina stared at me, but the most memorable thing about her was the beauty mark under her lip near the right corner of her mouth.

…

Why am I noticing this now? It's not like I hadn't seen her before, but she kind of just blended in with everyone else.

She placed her hands on my desk. She smelled of jasmine.

My eyes grew heavy—so heavy that they closed. When I opened them, I was in Mina's arms.

Whispers broke out around us.

"Didn't she learn from what happened last time?"

"Just don't tell Tetsusen."

"I'm transferring to a different homeroom."

…

"Mina, why are you holding me?"

"Well—" she said loudly enough for the classroom to hear, "you dozed off and started to fall, so I caught you. It was, like, the human thing to do…"

She helped me back to my seat, and I lay on my desk.

"That's dangerous; I heard that the little blond monster dragged you out of school for comforting me last time. Is that true?"

"W-well, she wanted to talk without disrupting… everyone."

…

"What's that even mean? Everyone?"

"Nothing," Mina said before returning to her seat.

Well, that was strange.

The bell rang.

***

For the first time since I switched all my classes to his, I didn't want to be in the same room. Less than five minutes after science started, he started nodding off like I said he would. With every fucking nod, the teacher would glare at me, as if she wanted me to do something.

Well, at least she has the good sense not to say anything to me. I'll persuade Rika to let him sleep in class.

The teacher glanced at me and fixed her hair.

…

What the hell does that mean?

I shrugged my shoulders, and she pointed at Antwon, who had finally fallen asleep.

I could wake him up and punish him for reading that damn book, but it'll cause an argument. If that shit happens, I won't let him slip away with victory. If he blows up on me in school, I'd burn his world to save face.

I held up my arms, forming an 'X', and then I pointed at her.

She walked over to Antwon, and I held my breath because I was worried about him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Carter, but you need to—"

Antwon looked up, but I couldn't see his face. For a moment, I swear her hair stood on end.

"I, um, just wanted to make sure that you were okay, Mr. Carter."

What a chickenshit. How about you be a teacher and tell him that he can't sleep in school? Why do they hire these repugnant people to guide the future of my country if they can't even manage a fifteen-year-old boy?

…

Antwon stood up without warning, and my chest pounded. Then he turned around and walked to my desk, which was just behind him. He looked at the boy who sat next to me, but I didn't see what spooked the teacher; he looked tired.

Antwon sighed.

"Move. I want this seat for the day."

"But I've always sat—"

Antwon slid the desk aside, clearing a path to the boy, and got real close to him. He whispered something, but I couldn't make it out. I swear I saw flashes of green. The boy's face went pale.

"Do you understand? As much as it stings my tongue to admit it, she's mine, so scram."

The boy nodded and moved like someone had lit a fire under his ass.

Once he was seated, I slid the desk back into place. I figured he wanted to lie down some more.

…

H-he said I was his!Oh, by the goddess's grace, this is probably the highlight of my day—

Antwon grabbed the leg of my chair and pulled himself to me, although I don't think that's what he intended. Then he hugged me. No, he embraced me. He even placed his head on my shoulder. I could feel his nose against my neck as his breathing steadied.

Slowly, I wrapped one arm around his back and held his head with the other.

It just got better. This is like the greatest moment of our lives, Antwon. We're going to look back and tell our kids about how I tamed your outrage before an audience of peers, if I can call them that. I, with a will of iron, held you against my shoulder, sheltering you from anything and everything that would shatter your fragile state.

The teacher glanced at me again and pointed at her shoulder. Then it clicked that she wanted me to wake Antwon. So, I waved her off because no one would disturb my prince.

***

Damn, I feel great. Not counting my crying spell this morning, I've been extraordinary. What was more impressive was how I handled The Dangers of Emotional Manipulation. I tore through every question and was allowed to leave early because of it.

I yawned.

I'm still tired. Damn, I don't think I want to eat lunch or interact with Shimeko's diary. I just want to sleep in my bed, preferably alone.

The hallways were still empty enough for me to make it to the cafeteria without being bothered.

Lunch used to mark the halfway point, but since mandatory clubs started this week, it's just an ugly reminder of what I used to have: Time with Nakamura, Emiko, and Kito, who probably still hated me.

I pushed the red cafeteria door open. Jenie, who also gets out early, was already at our table. I sat down, made sure the space where my head would be was clean, and folded my arms into a makeshift pillow.

Jenie didn't react to any of it. Instead, she did the same old lunch prep: she placed Kai's food first, then hers. It was like she measured everything they ate, and he wasn't allowed to drink sweets.

I mean, I saved him from Shizuka, but Jenie is killing his taste buds.

"Hi, Jenie."

She stared at me without moving. A low growl came from her throat. Then she leaned forward. She clenched her chopsticks and then started mouthing something.

"For goodness' sake, Jenie. Just say, 'Hi, Antwon,' and move on with your life."

…

"Greetings, Antwon. You seem highly dysregulated today."

"What the hell are you talking about, Jenie? I feel immaculate. This may be the best day I've had since I was stabbed."

She split her boiled egg in half and gave Kai, who wasn't here yet, the larger half.

"You gave Kai the larger half, Jenie."

"Yes, Kai is still growing and requires more nutrition at the moment. Eventually, circumstances will invert, forcing me to consume more than my typical spread in an attempt to satiate another organism. However, that sequence of events has not commenced; therefore—"

I yawned.

My eyes grew heavy.

I found myself drifting in the void.

***

The bell rang, and Abby pulled me aside, allowing other students to exit Ms. Hoshikawa's classroom. She kept glancing at the crowd. I followed her glance back to Christina Tetsusen, who was walking out of the door.

"Tiffany," Abby whispered. "Something strange happened with Antwon in science. You're going to freak out."

I touched my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. Christina was rather joyous in History and Softness Training, regardless of Carter's drowsy state.

"Abby, I'm not typically one for gossip, but do tell me before my mind comes up with suppositions," I said.

"Girls, as much as I appreciate your enthusiasm for Softness Training, I'd like to enjoy lunch, too," Ms. Hoshikawa said.

"Sorry, Ms. Hoshikawa," we both said before making our way out of the classroom.

"Okay… get closer," Abby said, pulling me closer. "Listen, Antwon was sleeping in class, and when the teacher tried to wake him, he had this crazy, mean look in his eyes."

"Oh."

"Shh."

A few boys passed by, and Abby slowed her pace.

"Okay, they're gone. Anyway. The science teacher almost jumped out of her skin. Then he got up and bullied poor Jinno out of his seat by Tetsusen."

"Oh, okay."

My stomach growled.

"Doesn't this worry you, Tiffany?"

I fixed my glasses the way Ms. Igarashi does in class.

"Abby, Mr. Carter is no longer anyone's concern other than Ms. Tetsusen's. So, you shouldn't stress about his well-being. I'll call you, okay?"

I touched the red cafeteria door.

"Okay, Tiffany."

Upon entering the cafeteria, I found what I had begun to call my social circle, and it made me smile.

I sat down, and Christina Tetsusen, the future Queen of Iron, bestowed a bento box on me. However, she had to slide it around a sleeping Antwon.

"Well, are you going to wake up Sleeping Beauty?" Sakura asked Christina.

"Why the fuck would I do that, sister-in-law? Clearly, he's still tired. Besides, no good would come of it," Christina said, shooting Sakura a nasty look.

…

Sakura picked up some sticky rice on her chopsticks. Kai fed Jenie and then took a bite out of half an egg.

I opened the bento box Christina gave me, picked up the chopsticks, split them, and started eating.

"It's going to fuck up his sleep cycle if you don't wake him right now. Do you want him to sleep in class every day?" Sakura asked.

"Shit, you wake him up if you care so damn much," Christina responded.

"Sister, are you afraid of waking Antwon?"

Tetsusen raised her fist, as if to pound the table, and lowered her fist slowly.

The salty, hot salmon melted on my tongue.

"I am not," Christina sneered.

…

"If you both genuinely desire Antwon's immediate revival, I'm not opposed to providing the desired outcome," Jenie said.

Christina and Sakura stared at each other before grinning. Then I remembered what Abby told me.

"I would hold off—"

Sakura and Christina glared at me, causing me to force a clump of rice into my mouth.

"Go ahead, Jenie," Sakura said.

Jenie reached over to Mr. Carter.

Ms. Tetsusen giggled.

Sakura covered her face.

But when Jenie touched Mr. Carter's arm, her eyes widened, she gritted her teeth, and her eyes rolled back in her head.

***

"Why are you still pretending to be someone you’re not, Knox, when you could be much more than any man? With the position you’re in, you only have to sleep with the heir of Iron and claim her power as your own," Shizuka’s silhouette said.

I didn’t realize how angry I was. Well, not too angry because she couldn’t touch me yet. If she stretched her arm out, she could almost graze my face.

"Don’t you want to talk about something else, like the weather, or something?"

"We could talk about your past, but I can visit your memories on my own, Knox."

"It’s Antwon. Knox’s crispy ass is no longer here. Did you miss that part?"

She rubbed her face with the back of her fingers. Why didn’t she rub her face the normal way? Why ask the woman who carves art into boys why she does what she does?

"Do you hate me, Knox?"

"It’s Antwon, and that goes without saying. You did stab me, after all."

"So, you say."

I almost wish she had the memories of the real Shizuka so she could understand why I dislike her so damn much, but she only remembers the moments in the shard.

"Look, it hasn’t been a blast, so let me sleep before I try to get real happy about—"

"This place," Jenie said, clearer than normal voices outside of the void.

"Wow! That sounded like Jenie was right behind me."

Shizuka tilted her head like she was looking past me.

"Alright, I’ll play your game," I said.

I turned my head slightly because if I turned around, that nut job would probably grab me by my ponytail and pull me in to knock me out.

"J-Jenie? Why are you in my head?" I asked.

"Antwon, this place isn’t—"

Jenie grabbed my arm and moved me to the side. Then, without words, she held out her left arm and brought her right hand to her left shoulder, striking some weird pose.

"Jenie?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shizuka start floating toward Jenie at a fast pace.

…

Once Shizuka was close enough, Jenie swatted her away, shattering her into tiny red orbs that reminded me of a shotgun’s blast. Then she held out her palm, and all the orbs came rushing back to her hand, forming a marble.

"Holy hell, Jenie. Are you telling me that it’s safe to sleep again?"

"Antwon, listen. This place is—"

But before she could finish, she dissolved.

Shit, there goes my explanation.

Jenie may have been gone, but Shizuka’s marble was still there. Then the void started to shake around me because someone was shaking my body.

***

"Let go of my hani, you orange-haired weirdo, before I break every bone in your fucking body," Christina yelled.

She really yelled that. She yelled that in the cafeteria. She yelled that with people around…which means she’ll do it!

I sprang to my feet and blinked a few times, unblurring my vision. Then I found Christina pressed against my right shoulder.

I looked around, and I was right to panic. The whole cafeteria was watching our little lunch table with our big issues. But I could fix this.

I lifted my right arm and wrapped it around Christina. But before I could bring my left arm around her, someone grabbed it; Jenie grabbed me.

We stared at each other, and then she frowned. Jenie never shows emotion, but, I mean, she was touching me.

"Antwon," she said louder than needed, practically yelling. "We must sleep together from now on!"

My jaw dropped.

Kai’s eyes got watery.

Christina started to let go of me.

"Oh, shit," we all said, and by all, I mean the whole damn cafeteria.