Chapter 12: Confrontation in the dojo

Monday crept in with a sky still hung with the remnants of weekend clouds.
The classroom buzzed softly with the hum of early chatter and chairs scraping against the floor.

Yasu sat in his usual seat by the window, silent as ever—but something had changed.
His chin rested on his hand, his eyes fixed on the glass, though he wasn’t really seeing the outside.

When Hoshiko-sensei walked in with her usual energy, offering her lighthearted “Good morning, everyone,” he didn’t flinch. But he didn’t look up either.
Not even when she passed near his desk.

She noticed.

Her gaze lingered for a second longer than usual, eyebrows lifting subtly, but she moved on, beginning the lesson without a word.

Throughout class, Yasu avoided eye contact.
Even when she cracked one of her usual slightly-off jokes—“Come on, mitochondria isn’t just the powerhouse of the cell, it’s practically the CEO”—and a few chuckles spread through the room, he didn’t react.

Hoshiko glanced at him again, this time longer.

Something was off.

When the bell rang and the students began to pack up, she leaned against her desk, watching as Yasu moved to stand.
Before he could leave, her voice called out.

“Yasu-kun. Stay a moment.”

He hesitated, eyes flicking toward her, then gave a slow nod and returned to his seat, waiting as the classroom emptied.

When the last student disappeared through the door, Hoshiko tilted her head, arms crossed.

“You're being strange today,” she said bluntly. “What’s going on?”

He averted his gaze. “Nothing.”

She gave a theatrical sigh, then smiled lightly.

“Good. Then you won’t mind coming with me.”

His eyes returned to her face in surprise. “Where?”

“You’ll see. You’re not going to lose anything by following your teacher, right?” she grinned. “Just trust me for once.”

There was a playful glint in her eye—mischievous, maybe even teasing.

Yasu looked at her for a beat longer, then stood with a reluctant shrug. “Fine…”

They walked in silence through the hallways, neither of them speaking.

Eventually, she led him down a corridor he rarely used—past the music room, past the storage areas—until they stopped before a wide sliding door.

Yasu blinked.

The Judo clubroom?

She pushed it open. The gym-like space inside was empty, mats spread out neatly on the floor. The light from the high windows gave the space a muted glow.

“Wait here,” Hoshiko said casually. “Don’t run off.”

She disappeared behind a side curtain, leaving Yasu standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

He glanced around. The space smelled of wood and dust and old sweat. It was quiet enough to hear the distant thudding of a bouncing ball from the gym on the other side of the building.

After a few minutes, she returned.

Yasu’s eyebrows shot up. “...What?”

“Didn’t expect this, huh?” she said with a grin, tying her black belt with a confident pull. “I was in the judo club back in high school.”

Her stance shifted automatically—grounded, balanced. There was a subtle power in the way she moved.

Yasu blinked. “You were…?”

“Mm-hm,” she replied, rolling her shoulders. “Tournaments and all. You wouldn’t think it, huh? Pretty sensei with a dangerous past.”

She winked.

Yasu narrowed his eyes. “Why are we here?”

“I felt like remembering old times.” She stepped forward and raised her hands, motioning for him to come closer. “So? Let’s spar.”

He took a small step back. “Why should I fight you?”

“Because I asked nicely?” she said with a smirk. “Come on, Yasu-kun. Humor me. I’m feeling nostalgic.”

He sighed. Deeply.

But then nodded.

“...Fine.”

He took off his blazer, setting it aside, and walked onto the mat with hesitant steps.

“Ready?” she said, her tone shifting to something more serious—yet still playful underneath.

“Not really,” he muttered.

They circled.

Yasu had never done judo in his life. But Hoshiko didn’t go full force—she kept her movements soft, testing, nudging.

Still, their bodies brushed more than once, and the closeness made his ears flush.

He didn’t know where to place his hands.

She did.

In one smooth motion, she grabbed his wrist and collar, gently pulling him forward and off balance.
He stumbled, caught himself, and they both ended up closer than expected—too close.

Her breath was warm on his cheek. She didn’t step back.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” she said quietly.

He flinched.

“That obvious?”

“Mm-hm,” she nodded. “You're not subtle.”

Yasu looked down, focusing on the space between their feet.

“It’s nothing. Just… forget it.”

“I don’t want to forget it,” she said, her voice still light but edged with curiosity. “Tell me.”

He took a breath.

“I saw you,” he said.

“Saw me?”

“Saturday. In town.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Oh? …And?”

He hesitated, then spoke flatly—emotionlessly, as if reciting a fact.

“You were with a guy. You looked... close. I just thought—never mind. I guess I didn’t expect you to have a boyfriend.”

She blinked—then laughed.

“Boyfriend?”

He didn’t respond.

“Yasu-kun,” she said, amusement in her voice. “That was my little brother.”

He glanced up.

“...Your brother?”

“Yeah. He came from out of town. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. We always hang out when he visits.” She gave him a sideways smile. “He’s annoying, but I love him.”

Something shifted in Yasu’s chest.

A tight knot that had sat there since Saturday… loosened.

He didn’t show it on his face, but part of him—deep inside—felt light again. As if the clouds had moved, even just a little.

“Oh,” he said simply.

They stood there in silence for a while.

Hoshiko stepped back at last, brushing invisible dust from her gi.

“Y’know,” she said, “you’re kinda cute when you’re jealous.”

He turned sharply. “I’m not—!”

“Mm-hm,” she hummed, clearly unconvinced.

He looked away.

She grinned.

“Anyway, thanks for humoring your old teacher today. It was fun.” She stretched her arms up lazily, then turned toward the door. “Let’s call it even.”

He nodded, still processing everything. But the stiffness in his posture had faded.

As they stepped out of the dojo, Hoshiko added, more softly this time:

“Next time, just ask me. I’m not that mysterious.”

Yasu didn’t answer.

But this time, when she walked ahead of him down the hall, he followed without hesitation.