I’m My Own High School Rival: Nakamura’s Arc: Heritage

  I tapped the tip of my right shoe against the forward right leg of my desk. I thought my mother's presence would bolster my claim, but it didn’t.

  Antwon’s fucking sister challenged me in front of his homeroom, and I didn’t beat the living hell into her. And what was with that “kiss each other” line?

  “Okay, class. Today, Antwon will assist us in our Emotional Manipulation avoidance training.” Hoshikawa announced.

  I rested my head on my left hand while tapping my desk with my right. Screw this. My claim still holds. I glanced at Antwon, sitting in front of the class next to an empty chair. I’m bestowing grace onto his ass, and he won’t accept it… I leaned back into my chair and crossed my arms.

  “So, would anyone like to go first?” I could feel everyone’s eyes waiting for me to act.

  What the hell did Igarashi say to him?

  “I-I guess we can begin… if it is okay with—”

  “It’s fine!” I shouted. The class tensed up, except for Antwon, who crossed his arms and glared at me, too. Antwon dragged his hand across his face, but his green eyes still held mine.

  “You got something to say to me, Antwon?” I said, pounding my fist on the desk. “And I don’t mind you looking at me, but fix the way you’re doing it, now.” We both stood up, squaring off at a distance.

  “You’re out of your damn mind, Tetsusen! Stop making the class uncomfortable, and stop acting like you own me,” he said, swinging his fist in the air. The class gasped. That fool has no clue about what he is doing.

  I leaped over my desk, and the classroom went quiet. Hoshikawa took a few steps back from Antwon, who didn’t budge as I approached him.

  His eyes grew narrow as he looked down at me, reminding me of how tall he was. “What,” he said as softly as a whisper. Even for all his bluster, he was smart enough to know when to settle down. “Let’s talk in the hallway.” Antwon’s eyes quickly searched the room, looking for reactions, finding none before settling back on me.

  “Fine,” he mumbled before turning to the door. We passed through a fog of gazing eyes, every step feeling like judgment, and every mouth too afraid of the power I wielded to speak up.

  ***

  “Well, here we are,” he said, holding his arms out. But I didn’t know what I wanted to say to him. I’m losing you. You’re more important than you think. Stop pissing me off for the sake of seeing me mad. I stepped closer, fists clutched at my sides.

  Antwon stepped back in response. “Don’t think I won’t fight back, Tetsusen—”

  “Don’t call me that!” My pace quickened, and his did in response. Antwon’s back hit the wall. I felt his warm hands grab my shoulders as I pressed my face against his chest, breathing in the boy fighting my claim.

  “W…what are you—”

  “I’m… I’ve done everything right…” The words rattled out, weaker than I wanted. “I’m the daughter of the most powerful clan, I can spoil you, love you, treat you better than anyone in this fucking school, but you push me.”

  He squeezed my shoulders. “Tet—Christina.”

  “What must I do to be enough… Antwon, why won’t you…” Something warm and unexpected rolled down my cheeks. I was irredeemable. He would hate me now. I brought my fist up to his chest and gently pounded. “Why not me, why not my claim?” Had someone else claimed him before me, and he was hiding this truth?

  Stolen novel; please report.

  His arms wrapped around me, embracing my collapse. “T-there is nothing wrong with you. I’ve loved you before I knew you existed, because I know the joy you’ll bring me.” Then accept my claim and be mine. “However, I’m not right for you.”

  I listened to his explanation while feeling his pulsing heart beat.

  “I… I’ve convinced myself that everyone else is wrong to justify my own worldviews, but I’m broken. And you shouldn’t have to fix me.” I felt his hand brush against the top of my head. I looked up to see his soft green eyes melting into mine, as his gentle hands wiped away my tears.

  I reached for his face but hesitated. Antwon looked away, which shattered me.

  I closed my eyes, afraid to face this shitty reality, and I could feel Antwon’s lips pressed against mine. His hand gently held the back of my head. Was this submission… acceptance… what? I don’t care because it’s happening.

  I gripped his coat, pulling my body into his, wanting it to last. And then he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away.

  “Wha…” He stood awkwardly, covering himself. “Oh…” I smiled. “We can… go to the—”

  “Don’t even, Christina. Just give me a moment.” My heart raced up and down the empty hall without moving my feet.

  “Antwon, I.” I could hear murmurs from Hoshikawa’s classroom. “Give me a second.” I walked to the door and kicked it hard, but not too hard. “Go back to your damn seats.” Assholes. All of them. I turned back to Antwon, who was okay now.

  “Listen,” he said, walking toward me. “I’m going back in, but you should get cleaned up first.” I nodded because his concern for my social image was inexplicable, and I love it.

  ***

  I splash cold water on my face, wiping any trace of tears. I closed my eyes and thought back to his embrace, which made me smile. Is this what it feels like, being in lo—

  “Aww, you’re glowing, darling.” I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who it was.

  “Why are you in the girls’ bathroom, Mom?” I grabbed a paper towel and wiped the water from my face. I could see her stupid reflection in the mirror, but I still looked at her. “Your skirt is too low.”

  She sighed. “Okay, Mom.” I smiled when I wanted to frown. “Your dad likes it.” I shrugged because he would be into short skirts. The two of them are like feral animals when they’re together. “So, tell me about the kiss.”

  I turned to her with wide eyes. Her neatly wrapped bun and pristine, professional outfit didn’t match her typical trashy garb. “H… how did you know?” I said, finding her open-toe dress shoes.

  “I was spying on you, of course.” My eyes raced to her face.

  “Spying!?” I looked around and started checking under the stalls for feet.

  “I’ve already done that, Kitten. So, you’ve kissed, but did he openly accept your claim?” She started to rub her hands together, like they were cold.

  “No, but he kissed me.” My heart pounded because she was right.

  “Whatever, just ensure shared mutuality before you start glowing all over the place. And stop crying.” I blushed.

  “Shut your damn mouth, Mom,” I growled, walking out of the bathroom.

  “Wait, Christina. I’ll come with you.”

  ***

  As we walked back to Hoshikawa’s classroom, I felt uneasy. My mother’s words were forcing reasonable doubt into my conviction. What if the kiss meant nothing to him? My eyes dragged along the red and white checkered floor, and I found myself biting my thumbnail.

  And then I felt gentle pats on my back. “Relax, Kitten. I’m sure if you ask him, he will tell you.” That didn’t make it any better because Antwon was brutally honest, which is one of the qualities I liked about him.

  “Isn’t that your boy there?” He was leaving early, as usual. My pace increased into a full sprint. “Antwon!” I shouted, losing force because of my stride. He quickly looked up, finding me, and extending his hand, which I grabbed. But he swung me around him until I was behind him, looking at my mom over his shoulder.

  “I’m tired of seeing you everywhere I go!” I looked at his face to see him scowling at the Queen of the court like she was dangerous.

  “A-Antwon… What are you—”

  “Stay behind me, Christina. I think this woman is the one killing boys.” The focused look on his face was astonishing. Was he, a boy, trying to protect me from my mother… I broke out into a hysterical laugh.

  “Me, the killer?” My mother said, pointing at herself. “I slew many men in my day, but nothing they didn’t enjoy, sweety.” My laughter stopped because her comment had killed the moment, sickeningly.

  “Great; a killer and a pervert,” he said, blocking my body with his hand.

  “And… a mother,” I said, pushing his arm down.

  https://suno.com/s/mTTltZl9Y8AQwsu7